The sun shined through the window into his eyes waking him up. He chose not to move. He didn't want a repeat of the previous day and thought that if he didn't move than nothing would happen. He knew however that that wasn't possible.
Ron sat up and looked out the window. There weren't many clouds in the sky and the sun reflected off of the snow that had fallen recently making it appear brighter. He thought back to Hermione the night his parents had found her and the snow that had turned red. He imagined her in the basement the same way.
A knock on the door caught his attention. He stood up and walked over to the door. "Who is it?" He asked hesitantly.
A voice responded "Me Weasley."
Ron cautiously opened the door letting the youngest Malfoy into the room. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess. He looked as if he hadn't slept all night.
"Are you alright Malfoy?" Ron asked trying to show some kindness to the boy who had been trying to help him out.
"It's none of your concern" he responded briefly. He added "The Dark Lord wants to see you soon for…" he paused trying to describe the things that were to be done. He then continued "…business. If you're not out in twenty minutes than someone will be in to force you out. Meet in the dining room which is down the stairs on the right."
Ron didn't care however. His thoughts drifted back to the one thing that he did care about. "How's Hermione?" He asked.
Draco simply kept his eyes on the ground as he headed back out the door only saying "You'll see her soon."
Ron slammed the door behind him, angry for not getting a straight answer. He was afraid to see her the way he was going to. He wanted to see him as himself and not as a prisoner. More than anything he wanted to see her somewhere else, somewhere safe.
Slowly he turned back to the door and opened it. He realized that the curse that bound him to the room must have been lifted since he was asked to meet them soon. Carefully Ron surveyed the surrounding areas only to realize that he was alone. He walked out and headed down the stairs where Draco had told him to go but instead of going right he went left. He cautiously looked around once more to make sure he was alone and headed towards stairs that led down further. It was here that he noticed bars.
As he approached them his thoughts wandered. He knew what he was going to find but was afraid to see. He reached the bars and looked around. In the corner he saw a sleeping figure with brown hair and covered in blood.
"Hermione!" He screamed as softly as he could. The girl before him didn't stir scaring him a little. He called her name once more, a little louder. This time she picked up her head and looked towards Ron. At the sight of him her eyes widened and she quickly jumped up, wincing in pain as she did so, and ran towards him. She reached through the bars and grabbed his hand. He noticed tears in her eyes.
"Ron is it you?" She asked, afraid that it was the same Ron she had encountered the day before.
"It is Hermione, I swear it is" he said trying his best to hug her through the bars. He pulled her as close as he could without hurting her. "I'm so sorry" he whispered over and over. That was all he could manage to say as he too began to cry.
"It's okay" she assured him. "It wasn't you. I saw you go away and someone else take over. I love you too Ron. I know it wasn't you." It was the first time she had told him. But they couldn't dwell on that just yet no matter how happy it made them.
Ron could feel her cold skin against his and she was gently shaking. He didn't want to let her go but he leaned off of her a little to get a better look. He noticed the covered wounds that were strewn across her body by his hands. The blood was seeping through. Her face was pale and her eyes were filled with pain and tears.
"I'll get you out of here Hermione. We'll find a way" he said to her as he squeezed her hand tighter. She tried to squeeze back but could barely do so. This was the first time Ron sensed how helpless she was.
Hermione looked down at their hands and then back up with a heartbreaking look on her face. "I didn't scream" she said. "I can't do it in front of you or them. If I scream I will be pleasing them and hurting you. I won't do it."
Ron hushed her and brought her back in for a hug. He whispered in her ear "Don't worry about it. You don't deserve to be in this much pain. It's not fair. I swear I'll figure it out."
A hand gripped his shoulder and spun him around. Ron came face to face with Draco as Hermione had fallen to the floor. "What are you doing? If you get caught you'll be killed. Get upstairs" Draco said as pushed Ron up the stairs.
Ron walked up the stairs backwards as Draco forced him up the stairs. The last thing he saw was Hermione looking up towards him as he turned the corner as her eyes turned dark.
A/N: I'm sorry it's so short and that it's a little delayed. It's the most dreadful time of the year: finals week. So once it's over hopefully the updates will come up faster. Please review!
