Ok, so the next chapter is here, the end is nearing and Hermione and Draco still did not find the way to switch back..tsk tsk :D Hope you enjoy:)
XXXTHURSDAYXXX
"Silencio" whispered deep male voice, covering the entire room with a silencing charm and thus prohibiting any sound escaping through the walls.
Three dark clothed figures, which one them was the speaker, then soundlessly strolled through the darkness of the boy's dormitory to the last bed on the left. The shortest one of them waved his wand in the air ordering the bed curtains to fly open, revealing the sleeping form of Draco Granger.
"You won't be needing this anymore!" sneered a female from underneath the hood of her robes. Then she reached for Draco's wand lying on the night stand and with single move, snapped it in half. The shortest figure joined her in with a low chuckle.
"Let's go. He is expecting us." Whispered the first one stoically, not participating in the joke of other two. He waved his wand and all three and Draco disappeared with a quiet cracking noise.
XXXFRIDAY-MALFOY-MANORXXX
Hermione had no idea what the time was, or the date. Only thing she perceived was the thick heavy darkness surrounding the usually well-lit dining hall of the manor. All the dark crimson window curtains were tightly closed, letting only a few streaks of evening glow in. The air was getting heavier with every new person apparatting in. There were already about twenty-five of them and she knew them all. Many of them were family friends or Lucius's coworkers at the ministry, some she recognized from school and few she only met through the meetings. There was a quiet chit-chat going on all around, but Hermione did not join any. She was paralyzed with fear.
It was this morning when her father informed her that the Dark Lord called in an early meeting and that she is expected to attend. This could only mean something bad. Her initiation wasn't until tomorrow and no person without Dark Mark was allowed to those meetings, so why would Voldemort want her there? She wasn't stupid, she could think of tens of different reasons, one worse than other. The whole day felt like waiting for the execution. Which also might be the case, thought bitterly Hermione.
She took a deep breath just to make sure she won't forget to breath. Somebody lightly squeezed her shoulder and she turned to look in the eyes almost identical to hers. Lucius smiled at her in a very polite manner, but she could see the weariness in his face, too.
"Dad?" forced out Hermione while looking back at the people on the opposite side of the room. She felt like running and hiding in the back of some old wardrobe like she did, when she used to play hide-and-seek with her mother. When she was little she was sure that nobody will ever find her there.
Lucius petted her head and said in very fatherly caring way: "Worry not, princess…"
Hermione forced a tiny smile and was about to say something, when the main door flew open and the Dark Lord himself walked in, followed by three other Death Eaters. Hermione's breathing stopped as she watched tall pale wizard pass by and continue to the head of the table. She did not notice the lack of oxygen in her lungs, nor Lucius tightly holding her hand like a little child's. Only thing she could see was a motionless body of brown haired male levitating between the three men as they walked through the crowd.
"No.." peeped Hermione as the tears welled up in her eyes. She would recognize him anywhere, even though his hair brown hair was sticky with dirt and dried blood, his left eye was swollen shut and a ugly opened wound was disfiguring his otherwise flawless face. She squeezed her eyes shut in attempt to stop the tear from coming. Lucius squeezed her hand little harder and she opened her eyes back up.
Draco. The name resonated in her head again, again and again.
"My dear friends," stated Voldemort in his typical hissing voice and his lipless mouth curved into something vaguely resembling a smile, but Hermione's eyes refused to leave Draco's body and the heavily bleeding cut on his side.
"I have gathered you here in preparation of a big event" he continued lightly like as he was announcing an opening of new museum exposition. "Tomorrow, young Miss Malfoy will join our circles and I hope she will be just as loyal and deserving as Malfoys always were." Hermione looked around the room, all eyes on her. With a shaking head she made a little head bow towards the Dark Lord, never looking at him.
Voldemort gave a low chuckle like he was 'adoring' her cuteness, but the following words had a poison spilled all over them: "But, of course, my favour must be deserved." He paused a little in thought, but then he added coldly, making sure that everyone has heard: "Tomorrow, she will kill for me this… pathetic lowlife mudblood!" he pointed at Draco and Hermione world stopped. She didn't hear when Voldemort explained importance of loyalty, neither when he pointed out the importance of killing one of the Dombledore's students. Then he left.
XXXLATER-THAT-NIGHTXXX
"Draco" he heard low whisper in the distance. Everything around him was jet black… or were his eyes closed? He couldn't tell and his body seemed to defy every order to move. What? Where? His thoughts were scattered and blurry. Then there was the voice again, calling his name, this time just inches away: "Draco".
He felt his chin being lifted and some slimy liquid being poured down his throat. It tasted awful, but he wasn't able to cough or spit it out.
"You need to wake up" said the voice again desperately and this time Draco was actually able to feel his eyelids fluttering open. It was Hermione, her piercing silver eyes sparkling. She handed him another vial with a green liquid. Still very fatigued, Draco managed to pour at least half of the potion into his mouth without spilling it. The effects were immediate. His head stopped spinning and he was finally able to properly move his arms and legs. He stretched his body into sitting position, his eyes still getting used to the darkness around him.
"Quickly! Can you get up?" she asked and pulled on him arm for balance.
Draco finally composed all his thoughts and started to perceive clearly. They were in a small cold room with stone walls and no windows. The air was cold, but not crisp, and smelled with a hint of mold. Basement? Thought Draco and after one more look around he judged that is calculations were correct. They were, indeed, in a basement and he knew exactly in which one. The catacombs under Malfoy Manor were kilometers long and build on several levels, but he still could recognize them. It was a part of his house, for Merlin's sake!
He didn't have much more time to think about it, because Hermione started to pull him forcefully up.
"We need to get out of here. Now!" whispered Hermione and with her wand up she walked to the small wooden door.
"Where is my wand?" asked Draco after he searched all his clothing and the ground he was lying on before Hermione showed up. "And what's going on?" he added after second thought. He had no idea what happened. Last thing he could remember was going to sleep at his dorm room and now he was here. He rubbed his temples in attempt to stop the upcoming headache.
"You- you don't remember?" Hermione stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. He shook his head no. Strange expression of sadness combined with regret appeared on Hermione's face before she spoke slowly: "Draco, the Death Eaters broke into Hogwards…I- I don't know who'd helped them, but they took you here and Voldemort…" her voice slowly trailed off, but there was no need to finish that sentence, because Draco decided to do it for her: "and Voldemort wants to kill me."
It all fitted in like a puzzle. Draco was a muggle-born Gryffindor, or at least that's what everybody thought, so he was an obvious target. If Voldemort kills him, it will show his power against Dumbledore. It will show that Voldemort is able to infiltrate into the Dumbledore's safe haven, Hogwards, and even other houses than Slytherin.
"No" said Hermione after a while with her head down. He looked at her and their gazes met.
"No, he's not going to kill you…"she paused: "He wants me to do it."
XXXXXTo-BE-CONTINUEDXXXX
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