A/N: Happy early Halloween! My favorite holiday :-)
Sadly, there is no Draco in this chapter :-( but don't worry! It is still very much enjoyable. I do love pureblood drama.
Goyle was more than a little surprised when he heard a knock on his and Daphne's front door Sunday morning, and that surprise was only magnified when he went to answer it and found Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom standing outside of his home.
"Is Draco all right?" he asked automatically, not seeing any other reason as to why they might be here.
"Uh … yes, of course," said Harry, a little thrown off by the question. No one else they had visited cared about the wellbeing of Draco Malfoy.
"Then why are you are?"
Harry and Neville looked at each other. "We have decided to step up our search for Hermione Malfoy," said Harry, almost cringing at the sound of the name, "so we are visiting everyone in the local wizarding community and seeking any information."
"Really?" Goyle raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Harry said.
Goyle smiled. "You know, if you want to search the houses of former Death Eaters, you're going to have to come up with a better cover story than that."
Both Harry and Neville turned white. They weren't sure when Goyle had stopped being the idiot he was in school but, if it was recently, it could not have happened at a worse time.
"As it is, I have nothing to hide," said Goyle, opening the door wider. "Come on in. Have a look around."
Harry stepped inside. "It's just a precaution, Goyle. No one thinks you -"
"I really don't care what you think, Potter." He paused. "Does Draco know you're here?"
"No," Neville answered a little too quickly as he entered just behind Harry.
"Hmm," said Goyle, leading them into the parlor.
"So why are you answering the door?" asked Harry, getting straight to the questioning. "Don't you have a house-elf for that?"
"Daphne sent him on some errands early this morning," he answered. "She normally has a lot for him to do on the weekends."
"And is Mrs. Goyle home?" asked Neville, eyeing the weird abstract art on the walls. He found it a bit unsettling.
"She's around here somewhere," said Goyle, following Neville's eyes. "All of the art in this house was chosen by my father-in-law. I don't care for it much." He walked towards the open doors in the back left of the room. "Daphne!" he called.
Daphne looked up at the stairs as she heard her husband calling for her.
"Who's here?" asked Blaise as he sipped on the tea she had just brought him. While he wasn't normally the Mudblood's guard on the weekends, Pansy had to do something for her father and wouldn't be here until later.
"I'm not sure," Daphne said, glancing over at Hermione, who was still fast asleep in her cell. "I'll be right back."
Daphne headed up the stairs and out into the hallway, practically running into Goyle as he walked by, looking for her. She shut the door quickly, nearly fainting when she saw Harry and Neville following just behind him.
"You called?" she said as casually as she could manage.
While Goyle was extremely curious as to why his wife had just come out of the basement, he decided it would be best not to question it in front of their current company. "Yes. It seems the Aurors have stepped up their search for Mrs. Draco Malfoy, and our old school chums were lucky enough to be chosen to come here and speak with us about it."
The sarcasm was not wasted on Harry and Neville, but Daphne was too tense to appreciate it. "Why do you want to speak with us?" she asked, fidgeting with her hair. "We don't have any information." She glanced ever-so-slightly at the door to the basement. Only Goyle noticed.
Blaise could hear everything they were saying from the bottom of the stairs. Daphne was doing a horrible job of sounding calm, and he was beginning to feel a bit on edge.
A shuffling sounded behind him. He turned to see Hermione's eyes fluttering open as she moved her head to listen. The exact moment she realized Potter was one of the voices upstairs was all too evident in her face.
It was too risky to cast a silencing charm on the room, or on her with two Aurors in the house who were capable of detecting that sort of magic, especially when freshly cast, so Blaise charged into her cell before she even had a chance to fully focus and grabbed her.
Hermione struggled as Blaise threw his hand over her mouth. She bit him and, when he flinched, she tried to scream. Blaise grabbed her harder this time, pinning her arms with one hand and holding her mouth with the other.
Hermione kicked and squirmed, eventually fighting her way back out of his grasp.
"HAR -"
Blaise tackled her to the ground and clutched tightly onto her throat. "Keep quiet, Mudblood!"
Hermione couldn't breathe. She gagged and gasped for air, her hands clawing at his while she tried to pry him off of her. No matter how hard her nails dug, or how much she writhed beneath him, his hold on her was not budging. And then the entire world started to go black.
"Well, if you insist on wasting your time here, I might as well serve you some tea," said Daphne, eager to get Harry and Neville far away from where they currently stood.
She started walking to the kitchen without waiting for an answer. The others all followed, Goyle glancing slyly at the basement door.
Suddenly, the tightness on Hermione's throat released and she was able to breathe again. She gasped and choked for air, having to sit upright to find her breath. When her breathing became steady again, she looked up to see Blaise pointing his wand at her.
"Make one sound and I will not hesitate to use the Cruciatus Curse on you. Over and over again until you blackout from the pain, if not more. There will be no time for you to scream."
Hermione was about to tell him to go screw himself when she suddenly remembered the baby. She knew that Blaise was not bluffing and sniffled several times before finally nodding. Even after she complied he stayed in position, just in case.
"So when was the last time the two of you saw Hermione?"
Daphne and Goyle looked at each other while she poured the tea. "It must have been the wedding for me," she said, hoping they wouldn't notice the way she blushed.
"I saw her around the Ministry practically every day," said Goyle. "So it was probably the day she disappeared, but I don't really recall."
"Did you ever see anything suspicious?" asked Harry. "Like someone following her, for instance."
"I don't really think I would have noticed something like that," answered Goyle. "Unless they were blatantly obvious."
"Would you mind if I used your loo?" asked Neville.
"Sure, it's -"
"This way," interrupted Daphne, leading him in the opposite direction of their closest washroom, which was right next to the door to the basement.
Goyle could feel himself getting very nervous, though his mind hadn't quite hit why that was yet. He took a seat at the table and began sipping on his tea.
"I saw Draco a couple of days ago," he said, not knowing what else to talk about with Harry. "Didn't seem to be doing too good. Any change?"
"Probably not. He's been pretty miserable ever since it happened. His aunt got him out of the house all of yesterday and Sophie and Phillip plan to drag him to work this week."
"Anything to keep him from sitting there and staring at that damn clock," said Goyle, smiling.
"Actually, as of yesterday he cast a spell on his pocket watch connecting the two. Now he can stare at 'MORTAL PERIL' all day long."
"Excellent," said Goyle with a sigh.
They were both silent while they sipped their tea.
After a moment passed, Goyle said, "Be honest, Potter. You're not here because I'm under suspicion. It's Daphne, isn't it?"
Harry frowned into his teacup. "This is just a routine visit. Every local wizard will be receiving one, especially those who work at the Ministry."
"And why is that?"
"We have reason to believe that is where Hermione was when she disappeared. If that's true, then someone who works there must know something."
Daphne and Neville walked back into the kitchen.
"Are we about done here?" asked Daphne, glancing around nervously.
"We just have a few more questions to ask," said Harry, pulling out a notebook and a quill. "First, do either of you recall where you were the night of Friday, August thirtieth?"
"I believe that was the night everyone in my department at the Ministry went to the Leaky Cauldron together," said Goyle. "We were probably there from around eight o'clock until almost two in the morning. Feel free to check with them."
"We will," said Harry, writing something down. Then he looked at Daphne.
Her eyes darted around nervously. "Uhh … normally when I know Goyle is going to be out late I have Pansy come over. But I don't really recall that specific day."
"Actually, we went to the Parkinsons just before we came here and Pansy claims she was also at the Leaky Cauldron that night with Theo Nott," said Neville. "I was there that night myself and I recall seeing them. As well as you, Goyle."
"Oh, umm … well, I must have been here."
"By yourself?" asked Harry.
Her eyes darted towards the hall where she could just make out the door to the basement. "I … I must -"
"Weren't you not feeling well that night, Daph?" asked Goyle, trying to shut his wife up before she dug herself a deeper hole. "I remember I owled you that afternoon inviting you out but you sent one back saying you needed to stay in bed." That wasn't a lie but, even at the time, Goyle very much doubted that Daphne had been sick.
"I … I do recall not feeling well a couple of weeks ago. Was that the thirtieth?
"I'm almost positive it was," Goyle said. "I am sure I still have the owl somewhere in my office. I can look for it and bring it to you tomorrow if you want, Potter."
Harry didn't buy it. Now, more than ever, he was convinced that Daphne was, in fact, involved. That was already more than they could have hoped for.
"No, that's quite all right," he said, scanning the other questions written in his notebook to see what would be relevant to them. There was only one. "So, I know there has been talk about this for the last several months, but when did the two of you first hear about this most recent 'prophecy'?"
Daphne and Goyle looked at each other again. "We heard about it a long time ago," she said.
"And when was that?"
Daphne pretended to think about it. "Just after the holidays, I believe." New Year's Eve, an hour until midnight, to be exact. Her father had recited it for fun at his annual party.
"And who told you about it?"
"Her father," said Goyle.
Daphne's eyes bulged.
"And who told him?"
Goyle shrugged. "You will have to ask him. Anything else?"
"Yes," said Harry. "Upon hearing the prophecy, who did you think it was about?"
"That's a stupid question," said Daphne. "Everyone knows it's about Draco and that Mud - uhh … Hermione."
"But did you come to that conclusion on your own, or were you told it was about them?"
"Who cares? It is about them."
"We were told," Goyle answered for them, "but I think we would have reached that conclusion on our own, anyway."
"I'm sorry, but why is this important?" asked Daphne. "Is knowing the answer to a question like that really going to help you find her?"
"No," said Harry. "The Ministry is currently trying to get a better understanding for prophecies, to see if whoever it involves is set in stone from the beginning, or if we choose those involved ourselves."
"So you're, like, taking a poll?" she asked.
"Exactly." Harry smiled before chugging down the rest of his tea. "Thank you for this," he said, handing Daphne the cup. She took everyone's and used her wand to clean them before sticking them back in the cupboard.
Harry and Neville started heading for the exit, with Daphne and Goyle just behind them. Daphne's breathing quickened a little as they passed the door to the basement. Goyle stopped walking for a second and looked at it.
Daphne turned around and practically gasped when she saw him standing there. "Are you coming?" she asked almost desperately.
Goyle said nothing. He walked past her and she grabbed his hand as they followed Harry and Neville to the foyer.
"Sounds like Potter's leaving," said Blaise as he stepped out of Hermione's cell, not lowering his wand until it was locked behind him. "What a good girl you were. Perhaps I will reward you later." He winked.
Hermione grabbed her blanket and pulled it over her. She didn't want him to see as she stroked her stomach. If she could just confirm that she wasn't pregnant she definitely would have taken the risk just now. That very well might have been her only chance of escape. But she knew what the Cruciatus Curse did to babies, and she refused to let history repeat itself. If she was pregnant, she wanted to keep this baby. No matter what she had to endure.
Blaise licked his lips. Hermione grimaced. Well, she certainly wasn't going to endure that.
"Go fuck your married girlfriend. And then go fuck yourself."
"Such a foul mouth for the Gryffindor princess." He laughed
"You both repulse me."
"Does repulsion turn you on?"
Up in the foyer, Goyle and Daphne were just shutting the door on Harry and Neville, who said they very well might come back at a later date.
"Well, that was weird," Daphne said as soon as they were gone. "Do you think they think we're guilty of something?"
"Not 'we', Daphne. 'You'. And yes, I do."
Daphne went white. "Me? Why me?"
"You tell me," he said, walking into the parlor and towards the back left doors.
"Where are you going?" she asked, following after him. "Gregory, wait!"
Goyle entered the hallway and stopped in front of the door to the basement.
"What are you doing?" Daphne screamed, running over to him.
Goyle pushed her away and opened the door.
"Gregory, stop!"
She grabbed his arm but he quickly snatched it away and started descending the staircase.
Blaise, hearing the commotion, was quick to slip into the shadows. Hermione stood up and walked over to the bars just as Goyle came into view. His eyes bulged when he saw her.
"Gregory!" Daphne was just behind him and still trying to pull him away.
He turned and shouted, "What the hell have you done?"
"NO! No, Gregory, it wasn't me! I was just there! It was an accident!"
"An 'accident'? What kind of bloody accident ends with our friend's wife in a cage in our basement?"
"I-I …"
"Let her out of there!" he demanded.
"I … I can't do that."
"And why not?"
"She … she's heard stuff, Gregory."
"So what? Wipe her memory clean and send her on her way."
"We tried! She keeps fighting it! She's too strong! You think I want to keep her here? Hell no! I want her gone! But I won't go to Azkaban! Who knows how much time they will make me serve for this? And for what I did to that other witch -" Daphne threw her hand over her mouth.
"What other witch?" asked Goyle.
Daphne started to cry.
"Daph, you need to tell me. What other witch?" he repeated.
Hermione was about to say something when she saw Blaise pointing his wand at her from the corner. He had his finger up to his lips.
"I … I didn't mean for it to happen, Gregory! I never thought she would …" Daphne gulped … "she would lose …"
Goyle's face sunk as he realized. "Draco's friend Sophie. You were there?"
Daphne cried harder.
Goyle's face grimaced. His hands clenched into fists and he slammed one into the stone wall beside her. "Dammit, Daphne! How could you have been so fucking stupid?"
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "Please, Gregory …" She reached for his hands but he pulled them away.
After several deep breaths, he looked at his wife and said in a deep, hoarse voice, "I'm letting her out."
Daphne shook her head, but she did not stop him as he walked over to Hermione's cell and took out his wand. Blaise took a step forward and moved his focus from Hermione to Goyle.
"Look out!" Hermione yelled, pointing at Blaise.
Goyle turned just in time to see Blaise shout, "Stupefy!"
He fell backwards, hitting his head on the bars before sinking to the ground. Daphne screamed and ran over to him, cradling his head in her lap.
"Why did you do that?" she shouted at Blaise.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you rather I let him set her free so we could all go to prison?"
"He never would have done it!" she cried.
"Yes, he would have," said Blaise, opening the door to the cell directly across from Hermione's. "Now, help me get him in here."
"He is not a criminal!"
"We're not going to keep him here for long, Daph! We just need somewhere to put him while we go and get your father."
"My father?"
"Yes, your father. If Potter is going to be stopping by then we need to come up with a better fucking plan! Now help me!"
Daphne leaned down and gave Goyle a kiss on the top of his head before standing up. Both she and Blaise cast Levitation Spells to move him into the cell. Blaise made sure to grab Goyle's wand before walking out and locking the cell behind him.
"Let's go," he said.
Daphne looked reluctant as her eyes darted between Goyle and Hermione. "But we've never left her alone before."
"She'll be fine. The main reason for stationing someone here was to keep Goyle from finding out, and that doesn't exactly apply anymore. Now, let's go."
Daphne took one last look at Goyle before nodding and following Blaise up the stairs.
As soon as they were gone, Hermione sat back down in her cell and frowned over at Goyle's still form. She had always figured he would found out eventually, but she never thought it would be this messy. The worst of it all was how much he seemed to really love Daphne, something she could never comprehend. The weird thing was that Daphne seemed to love him too. And Hermione had been convinced for a while now that she despised Blaise, so why was this affair still happening?
Hermione sighed as she continued to watch him. None of this would have happened if Pansy was here like she was supposed to be. She never would have threatened Hermione with the Cruciatus Curse and she would have been able to scream for Harry. What a bad day for her to not be here. The fates really weren't on Hermione's side.
It was at least an hour before Goyle began to stir. First his fingers twitched, then his legs, until, eventually, he was shooting up, appearing a little discombobulated as his eyes focused. They landed on Hermione.
Goyle blinked several times. Then it seemed to hit him that his head hurt, because he cringed and touched it.
Hermione tore part of the sleeve on her shirt and dipped it in the glass of water they had given her that always refilled itself. "Here," she said, tossing the wet rag from her cell to his.
Goyle caught it and held it to his head. "Thanks." He kept glancing at her and then quickly looking away. "Have … have you been down here the whole time?"
"Yes," she answered. "Though they did bring me upstairs off and on for the first couple of days to try and use the Imperius Curse on me."
"You were upstairs?"
She nodded.
"In my house?"
She nodded again.
"I feel like such an idiot. I seriously had no fucking idea."
"I know," she said. Her hands were fidgeting nervously in her lap. "Have you seen Draco at all?"
Goyle pulled the rag away and looked at it. It was drenched in blood. He suddenly felt woozy. "I saw him a couple of days ago. He's a real wreck."
Hermione tore off part of her other sleeve, dipped it in water, and threw it at him. He caught it and applied the new rag to his head wound.
"Draco told me what he said to you. The night you disappeared."
Hermione's bottom lip quivered. She had almost forgotten about that.
"He wants you to know how sorry he is, and how he really didn't mean it. Bloody bastard always was too fucking smart. He musta somehow known deep down that I would be able to get the damn message to you."
"Well, if you ever get the chance to return the message, tell him I don't care about that." Hermione's eyes became glossy. "I was already ready to go home and forgive him when I got locked up here."
"Please, don't cry," he said, looking over at her. "I'm sorry I couldn't help, but Daphne did a horrible job convincing Potter of her innocence. I'm sure he'll be back."
Hermione hoped so, but she couldn't rely just on Harry to get her out of here. She needed to explore all of her options. "What are you going to do, Goyle? When they come back here they're going to want you to decide."
Goyle sighed and shrugged. "What am I supposed to do? My wife is involved, one of my oldest friends is involved, I'm sure my father-in-law is involved …"
"So is your father," she added. There was no point in sugarcoating this.
Goyle chuckled. "Why am I not surprised? If I get out of here and tell Draco and Potter where you are … everyone I know will be sent to Azkaban." He paused. "I think I'd rather stay locked up."
"So … so you won't help me?" Hermione asked, gripping onto the bars.
Goyle looked over and her and frowned. "I don't know, Granger. There is no win, win here."
"It's Malfoy," she corrected. "Hermione Malfoy. Your childhood friend's wife, and if you are given the chance to get me out of here you have to take it."
Goyle turned and looked to the floor of his cell.
"Goyle … Goyle, look at me," she demanded.
He took a deep breath before turning back and meeting her eyes with his.
"Goyle, I think I'm pregnant."
His eyes widened.
"I can't stay here any longer. I need to get home to Draco. He needs to know."
"Do they know?" he asked, motioning upstairs.
Hermione shook her head. "Only Pansy, and she's agreed not to tell for now. Please, tell me you'll help me."
"I … I'm not a Legilimens, Grange - uhh … Malf - I mean, Hermione. They aren't going to let me out of here unless they know I'm on their side, and I won't be able to fake it. The only opportunity I had to help you just passed and I failed. I failed miserably. I knew Daphne was acting funny about the basement and I shoulda investigated it when Potter was here, but I didn't. I wasn't sure what I was going to find down here but I honestly didn't think it would be you."
The door at the top of the stairs creaked open and then slammed shut. Both of them looked up, holding their breath as someone descended the stairs. Pansy appeared a moment later, carrying some sort of thermos. Their breath released.
Pansy looked around for Blaise, her eyes squinting and then widening when they landed on Goyle. "Holy fuck." She took a step closer to him. "Did I miss something?"
"Clearly," said Hermione.
"You're bleeding," said Pansy, noticing the bloody rag he had tossed aside and the other one he was holding to his head. "Did Blaise do this?"
"He did," said Goyle, removing the rag. It wasn't doing much good anymore.
Pansy's nostrils flared. She went over to Hermione's cell and handed her the thermos. "Here. It's supposed to help people in your condition get their proper nutrients." She glanced around her cell. "Have you even eaten today?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Bloody buggers!" she yelled before storming up the stairs. "Have to do every-fucking-thing myself!"
Pansy came back a few minutes later with a sandwich and an apple for Hermione, and a healing potion and a medical bag for Goyle. She used her wand to bind him before opening his cell door, feeding him the potion, and taking a look at his head.
"You banged it up pretty bad," she said before taking some liquid out of her bag. She poured it on a clean rag and dabbed it on his cut. "Why are you down here, Goyle?"
"Daphne was acting weird about the bloody door when Potter came by, so I came down to investigate. Blaise got me with a Stunning Spell from behind when I tried to let her out." He nodded towards Hermione.
"Well, that was stupid of you."
"Yes, I realize that."
After the wound was cleaned, Pansy used her wand to cast a simple healing spell and wrapped his head in gauze. Once that was done, Pansy left his cell and unbound his wrists.
"Thanks, Pans," said Goyle as she sat down against the wall. "It already feels better."
"I can't believe Daphne left you down here like that. Dumb bitch needs to get her priorities straight."
"Don't call her that," he said sternly.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "I don't know why you feel the constant need to defend her. She hardly deserves it."
Goyle sighed. "Neither do I."
At least an hour must have passed with all of them sitting there in silence before they heard voices and footsteps upstairs.
Pansy stood up and looked at Hermione. "The thermos, Granger."
"I told you, it's Malfoy now," said Hermione, tossing her the thermos.
"And I told you I'm not acknowledging that."
The door to the basement opened and several sets of footsteps echoed down the stairwell. They all watched as Gorden Goyle appeared first, his eyes scanning the room until they came across his son.
"You locked him in a cage?" he shouted at Blaise, who came down the stairs behind him.
"What else were we supposed to do?" Blaise said defensively.
"And what the hell has happened to his head?"
"Yes, Blaise," said Pansy stepping forward. "The next time you surprise me with a new prisoner, I would appreciate it if you made sure they weren't bleeding to death before you leave them here."
"What?" shouted Daphne, pushing past Blaise and running to Goyle's cell. She reached out for his head, but he stepped away from her touch.
"It's just one fuck up after another with you, isn't it, Mr. Zabini?" said a woman stepping off the stairs. She was wearing a long cloak with a hood over her head so Hermione couldn't make out her face, but the voice was definitely familiar. "Before long every cell down here will be filled with your mistakes."
Blaise's face tensed as his fists clenched by his sides.
"Let him out of there!" shouted Gorden.
Blaise stepped forward and unlocked the cell. Goyle stepped out and punched him in the jaw. "That's for leaving me bleeding, you fucker."
Hermione could not hide her smirk. While Blaise crouched over and rubbed his jaw, he caught sight of it, his eyes burning into hers. She winked.
"Find something funny, Mudblood?" he shouted, running up and slamming his body against her cell.
"Just you." Her smirk widened.
Blaise was about to open her cell and do who knows what to her when the woman pulled him back. "There are more important matters to attend to than your little schoolyard feud, Mr. Zabini."
Blaise took several deep breaths through his flaring nose before stepping back, never taking his eyes off of Hermione.
"Gorden, I believe it is time you had a discussion with your son. Please, take him upstairs and deal with this now."
Gorden nodded and took Goyle by the shoulder, leading him out of the basement. Before ascending the stairs, Goyle took one last look at Hermione, his eyes already apologizing for whatever was about to happen.
"Daphne, go with your husband," said Arron Greengrass, stepping off the stairwell. Hermione figured he had been there the entire time, but the largeness of the Goyles definitely created a bit of a claustrophobic feel down here.
Daphne nodded and followed, Blaise's eyes never leaving her until she was out of sight.
"Ms. Parkinson, I'm going to need you to stay down here with the prisoner," said the woman. "With Harry Potter lurking around everyone's homes, we have very important matters to discuss about Mrs. Malfoy's future."
"Or lack of it." Blaise smirked.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at him. Now it was his turn to wink.
The woman led the way up the stairs, with Arron and Blaise just behind her. Once they were gone, Pansy sat back down against the wall.
"You shouldn't egg him on like that."
"Why not?" Hermione huffed. "I'm not afraid of Blaise Zabini."
"Well, maybe you should be," said Pansy very seriously. "You're a sitting Pygmy Puff in that cage, and Blaise and Draco have always had an unhealthy rivalry. They've competed for things their entire lives, namely women. You don't know how gratifying it would for him to screw Draco's wife, and he would not be afraid to force himself on you if necessary."
"Blaise doesn't want me," Hermione said confidently.
"Yes he does. He wants you because Draco has you. The only reason he hasn't done anything about it yet is Daphne. Whatever feelings he thinks he has for her have been holding him back, but the more she clings to Goyle the more frustrated he becomes."
"That's not -"
"The only reason he wanted her in the first place was because she's the lone Slytherin girl in our year that Draco never shagged."
"That seems a bit extreme, don't you think?"
"Of course it is! But Draco had just left Goyle and Daphne's wedding with Astoria, the witch Blaise was supposed to marry. He'd won again, so what did Blaise do? He shagged the bride! Only minutes after he shagged me, by the way."
Hermione's face recoiled in disgust.
"My thoughts exactly," said Pansy.
"Daphne slept with Blaise on her wedding day? Does she have no respect for the sanctity of marriage?"
"Guess not." Pansy smiled. "But I think it's more about her daddy issues."
Hermione sighed and leaned back against the wall. "You Slytherins all have so many bloody issues. How am I supposed to keep track?"
"Maybe you should just always hold that sharp tongue of yours. It would do us all some good."
Hermione looked over at her and scowled. "Fine. I won't encourage Zabini. Even though it is quite tempting." She smirked.
Pansy smirked back. "You know, it's a shame you're a Mudblood. You would have made a damn good Slytherin."
"So I've been told."
Quite some time passed before Hermione and Pansy heard any commotion going on upstairs. By the sound of it, even more people had arrived.
"This isn't good," Pansy said suddenly, her eyes gazing upwards.
Not even a minute later, the door to the basement opened and someone was running down the stairs. Blaise appeared and waved his wand at Hermione, binding her arms and legs. He opened her cell and threw her over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" asked Pansy, standing up.
"Come along, Pans. A big announcement is about to be made."
Blaise headed up the stairs with Pansy at his heels. She locked eyes with Hermione, looking almost as nervous as the witch being carried.
They entered the parlor and Blaise put Hermione down on a chair in the center of the room. She looked around. Everyone she had seen since being kept in captivity was here. Pansy went and sat next to her mother and father, who were sharing a sofa with Arron Greengrass and Quincy Nott. Goyle was sitting on a different sofa between his father and Daphne, slumped down with his elbows on his knees. He couldn't even look at her.
Wiley Rosier was in an armchair with Quinn standing just behind him and the woman in the cloak just in front of him. Hermione could just make out a closed-mouthed smile beneath her hood. It was just so familiar …
"So we are all in agreement about Hermione Malfoy's future, are we not?"
No one said anything, but Pansy raised her hand. The woman nodded at her.
"I believe I would like to know what was discussed before I agree to anything."
"Don't be difficult, dear," said her mother, grabbing her hand and pulling it down.
"I'm sorry, I was under the impression I was part of this. After all, I'm the one playing bloody guard every weekend."
Mrs. Parkinson flushed in embarrassment.
"It is quite all right, Mila. Your daughter has a point," said the woman in the cloak. A hand slipped out of her sleeve. Hermione was surprised to find scarred, pink flesh that looked like it must have been burned pretty badly. The woman quickly pulled it back in. "After much consideration, everyone here feels that keeping Mrs. Malfoy prisoner is causing more trouble than it's worth. Therefore, we have decided to eradicate the problem."
"And by eradicate you mean …"
"Kill, yes."
Before Hermione could stop herself, she let out a gasp. Everyone laughed as she began to struggle with her binds.
"But what about the prophecy?" Pansy asked, bringing the attention back to her.
"Well, if she dies then that means we must have gotten it wrong. These things always have a way of playing themselves out, Ms. Parkinson. Now," the woman turned back towards Hermione, "the next thing we need to discuss is how we are going to do this. Should we make it quick with a Killing Curse or -"
"I think slow and painful would be best," said Quinn, licking his lips. "Besides, Zabini and I were hoping to have a little fun with her first."
Hermione looked at Blaise. He winked, only making her struggle harder.
"I wouldn't mind getting in on that," said Rosier, smiling.
"Does anyone object to that?" asked the woman.
No one said anything, but Goyle finally sat up and locked eyes with Hermione, looking torn. He was just about to raise his hand when Daphne yanked it down. She whispered something to him, making his whole face sink. Hermione got the feeling that, right now, it was either her or him, and Goyle definitely seemed to be choosing himself. She didn't even try to stop herself from crying.
"All right, then. Gentlemen, you are free to do as you wish with her. Just make sure to drop her body off somewhere her husband will find when you're finished."
"My pleasure," said Blaise, skipping forward.
"NO!" Hermione screamed, trying to kick at him with her bound legs. He grabbed her waist and pulled her forcefully to her feet. "Get off me!"
"You won't be screaming that later tonight," he whispered into her ear.
"NO! No, I won't let you!" Hermione cried as Blaise picked her up, making sure to purposely graze his hand across her breasts. "Please, no!"
Wiley and Quinn came over to help him carry her away. They had just gotten her kicking and screaming over Blaise's shoulder when someone suddenly screamed, "STOP!"
They all turned to see Pansy on her feet, holding her hand dramatically out in front of her.
"You cannot kill her!"
"And why not, Ms. Parkinson?" asked the woman, taking a step closer.
Now that all eyes were on her, Pansy seemed to have lost a bit of her courage. Still, she stood firm and looked the woman in the eyes. Maybe. It was hard to tell with that cloak.
"Because you will be destroying the whole prophecy when we are currently the ones with the upper hand."
"Really? How so?"
"Because …" Pansy looked at Hermione, unsure if she wanted to continue. Then she saw Blaise and the lust infused fire already burning within him, and she knew she could not let him win. For Draco. "Because the power is already in our hands."
Everyone looked at her curiously.
"I've been watching her this past week, and I really have to wonder how none of you have noticed what I have."
More curious looks.
"Think about it. When two people are married or … or hearts are joined, what do they do?"
"Consummate it!" shouted Goyle, finally catching on.
"Exactly!" said Pansy. "And when two people consummate their marriage, they sometimes create …" She urged them on with her hands.
Everyone glanced around at each other but no one seemed to get it. Pansy rolled her eyes. She was in a room full of morons.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, she's fucking pregnant!"
"Language, Pansy!"
"Sorry, Mum."
The entire room was silent, not one person moving as they let what Pansy had just said sink in.
"Mr. Zabini, put her down," said the woman in the cloak after a long, heavy pause.
Blaise did as he was instructed. He tried to lift Hermione's shirt to get a look at her stomach but she yanked it back down.
"She has been vomiting a lot," he said, scanning her up and down. "Could the prophecy really be about a baby?"
"Of course not!" shouted Hermione. "Because that's stupid."
"You're just saying that because you secretly can't wait for me to fu -"
"Blaise, that's enough!" shouted Daphne, rising to her feet. "Whatever the hell you do to her outside of this room is your bloody business but, for now, you need to shut the hell up and help us figure this out."
Blaise smirked, clearly thinking Daphne's little outburst was out of jealousy, but after she sat back down and began comforting a visibly distressed Goyle, it became very clear where her motivation came from.
The woman in the cloak, who still had her eyes on Pansy, suddenly looked over at Hermione and took several steps forward, scoping her out as she closed the distance between them.
"Are you pregnant, Mrs. Malfoy?"
Hermione looked over at Pansy, who was urging her on. While she knew she shouldn't be furious with her for just saving her life, she could not help but feel betrayed that she had blabbed her secret. Hermione never planned for those three men to have their way with her. She always expected to escape. Failure was not an option. And now … now she would be watched even closer than before. If these people truly thought they had something to gain by keeping her here.
"I don't know," she said, half-honestly. Without physical proof she was still not ready to believe it.
Hermione could just make out the woman's frown. "Ms. Parkinson, I am leaving it up to you to administer a pregnancy test. And find out the day of conception while you're at it. If it happened any time but the wedding night, I'm not interested."
"Why the wedding night?" asked Pansy.
The woman turned and looked at her. "Because that was the night two opposite hearts joined together as one, was it not?"
"Uhh … all right. But -"
"Oh, just figure it out, will you?" The woman headed for the fireplace and tossed in some Floo powder. "I will be back tomorrow night for the results." She stepped into the green flames and said, "Hogsmeade," before being sucked away.
"You better do this right, Pansy. For all our sakes," said her mother before Flooing to her own residence, followed shortly by her father.
Pansy sighed as soon as they were gone. "I need to see your potions books, Daphne."
Daphne gave Goyle's hand a squeeze before standing up from the sofa and guiding Pansy out of the room.
Blaise, Quinn, and Wiley were still standing uncomfortably close to Hermione. She was still bound, but attempted to hop away, anyway. Blaise put a hand around her waist and pulled her back.
"What's the rush? Just because we don't have to kill you yet, doesn't mean we can't have any fun while we wait."
Goyle's head snapped up. He stood up from the sofa and marched over to Hermione, using his wand to unbind her feet. "Go ahead and have a seat over there, Hermione." He motioned to the sofa he had just vacated. "This might take a while and I hear pregnant women aren't supposed to be on their feet for long periods of time."
"Don't worry about that, Goyle," said Blaise. "What I had in mind wouldn't require her to stay on her - Oomph!"
Goyle punched Blaise in the exact same spot he had earlier, only this time with even more force behind it, successfully knocking the other wizard to the ground. "This is my bloody house, Zabini, and you will respect me in it!"
"Actually, it's my house," said Arron Greengrass, standing up. "But, I am afraid, Mr. Zabini, that if my son-in-law does not want you touching the lady I must comply. Please, have a seat, Mrs. Malfoy."
He motioned to the same sofa. Hermione stared at it for a moment before finally going over and taking a seat all the way against the left arm, away from Goyle's father. Goyle followed after her and sat protectively on her other side.
"Well, this was a waste of time," said Quinn, walking to the fireplace. "I'll be back tomorrow night. Hopefully, by then we can have some fun."
Wiley left just after him, followed closely by Quincy and Arron, who went to the Leaky Cauldron together. That left just Hermione, Goyle, Goyle's father and Blaise in the parlor.
Tensions were running high as Goyle and Blaise had an intense staring contest. Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably, finding herself listening closely for any sign of Pansy and Daphne's return.
The silence was deafening, and Hermione ended up standing and pacing just to stop thinking about how quiet it was. It seemed like forever before Pansy and Daphne returned.
"We have a slight dilemma," said Pansy, holding a rather large book. "The pregnancy potion requires a hair from the father. I've found three different ones with three different sets of ingredients, and the only one that doesn't ask for it wants his left ear. Can't quite figure out why."
Hermione didn't know whether to be relieved or horrified. There was no way they were going to -
"I'll get it," said Goyle, rising to his feet.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" asked Blaise, cocking an eyebrow.
Goyle shrugged. "Dunno. But, other than Hermione, I'm the only one in this room Draco even remotely trusts, so I'd say I'm our best bet in getting it."
"As much as I'd like to let you do that, Son, I am under strict orders not to let you out of this house," said Gorden, also standing.
"Then go and bring Mr. Nott back here. Have him use Legilimency on me to see if I can be trusted," he suggested. "I'll go ahead and tell you right now what he'll find. I don't want to be involved in this whole damn situation, but it seems unavoidable now. I won't betray you because I don't want you or Mum or Daphne to go to Azkaban, but I don't want Hermione dead either. So, if this will keep you all from killing her, I'll do it."
Gorden frowned. "I'm afraid, Gregory, that her death is inevitable. She will die at the end of all this. The only question is when."
Hermione, who had already stopped her pacing, suddenly felt faint. She fell back but was surprised to feel someone catch her. She looked up to see Goyle hovering above her. He must have leaped over the bloody sofa to get to her that quickly.
"Only time can determine that," said Goyle, picking her up and setting her back down on the sofa. "Now, go get Mr. Nott. The sooner we do this, the better."
Gorden opened his mouth, as if he was going to protest, but shut it quickly and nodded. He went to the fireplace and Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron in search of Quincy Nott.
As soon as he was gone, Goyle looked at Pansy and said, "Go get everything else ready. As soon as I get the okay, I plan on being back quickly."
Pansy nodded and left the room.
Goyle sat back down next to Hermione. Daphne scowled at her before going to his other side and taking his hand in hers. Blaise sat in the chair Hermione had been forced to sit in earlier and just stared at all of them. For the first time since they had brought her here, Hermione was really starting to miss her cold, secluded cell.