A/N

Merry late Christmas! I hope you all had a lovely time! Deck the halls!

I don't usually do this type of thing, but for those of you who like Doctor Who, pay attention! There's a wonderful author called Whouffle-Shipper-Forever, who writes Harry Potter and Doctor Who. They've written separate stories for each, as well as crossovers. Personally, I'm not a Whovian, but even then I think their fics are great. So Whovians, please go check out the author! Also, people who like the idea of Fremione, you go there too!

[Disclaimer: I don't own HP. Which is why I'm writing fanfiction.]

Chapter 25

Hermione clutched at her arm as they appeared at their destination, falling onto the ground. She felt a searing pain go through her arm as she fell. But the fire that was burning its way through her left arm stopped as quickly as it had started.

'Hermione? What's wrong?' Harry helped her up, worry evident in his eyes.

'My arm. As soon as we disapparated, it started burning, and then stopped when we arrived.'

'You got hit by a dark mark curse, didn't you?'

'Yeah.

'I told you to get it checked.'

'Other people were more hurt.

'Just becau-'

'It's fine now, stop worrying. Let's set up our wards and tent, okay?'

Harry nodded, and started saying the incantations required for protection wards. Hermione took out the tent from her bag and began setting it up. It was a new tent, so she had no clue as to what it would look like from the inside.

Within five minutes, they were both done. The tent was up, surrounded by a dome of advanced protection spells and detective charms. Hermione ducked through the tent flap into the living room of the tent. It had a few large sofas with a coffee table. There was a small kitchen on the side, by the living room. Further exploration showed them three bedrooms, two with small en-suite bathrooms and one family bathroom outside the third.

'Good buy.'

'Thanks. It was on sale.'

She placed the bag down on the table before bringing Crookshanks' house out and letting the yowling cat out. He immediately went to sit underneath the sofa, deciding to groom himself.

'I think we should get a good idea of our surroundings,' said Harry.

'Like walk around the area a bit?'

'Yeah.'

'Alright. But we have to make sure we can actually find the tent after we leave the protective charms. And we'll need disillusionment charms.'

'Use a fidelius charm. It'll make the place unplottable but let us find it.'

She lifted her wand and said the incantation, making sure to include Harry in the spell. Then they both placed disillusionment charms on themselves, but Harry put his invisibility cloak on anyway.

After that was done, they headed out of the tent and past the protective spells, into the forest.

Tall birches surrounded them, and she could hear the birds in the trees. A squirrel darted out from behind a branch before leaping onto a different pine. Small rays of light were filtering through the leaves above them. It was a picture perfect May afternoon. Life went on, here in the muggle towns. They had no clue about the many battles of the wizarding world, happening practically amongst them. Blissful ignorance.

They walked through the trees and plants, checking for any magical signatures. There were none, as predicted, but of course dark wizards would have erased their signatures. Still, it was worth checking. After ten minutes of walking, they reached the outskirts of the forest, coming to a small village.

'Should we go see the village?' Harry asked her as they looked at the village down the hill.

She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. 'I don't think there's any need. Let's head back to the tent.'

They turned and walked back through the trees until they reached their protective spell boundary. She could feel the sheer force of magic as she walked through it, causing goosebumps to rise on her arms.

Both went to their separate bedrooms in the tent. Hermione sat down on her bed, allowing her mind to finally just think about the situation at hand. Ron and Malfoy were in a dungeon. They could be hurt at any moment. Or worse. She had no clue how long it could take to find them.

She thought back to the muggle village less than a mile away from them. They didn't have magic. Sometimes, just sometimes, magic scared her. The muggle in her was constantly in awe of the things that happened around her. But the muggle in her also wondered how wizards and witches learnt important life lessons, if everything was available to them with a flick of their wands. The muggle in her knew that magic could do wonderful or terrible things.

But now was not the time to think about the shortcomings of the magical world. Ron and Malfoy needed her help right now. In a way, she felt that was to blame for their capture. Nott was after her. And in trying to get her, he captured them. It wasn't fair on Ron and Malfoy. It should've been her.

Dwelling on it won't help, she reminded herself. Feeling guilty wasn't going to save them.

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NOTTPOV

He looked down the long table, stroking the owl on his shoulder. A feeling of glee came over him, gazing down at the many faces turned towards him. All there to do his bidding. All there to help him achieve his rightful position in the world. The power made him stronger. He stood up, and silence fell over the room as they waited for his words.

'My fellow deatheaters. It has been four years since the battle was lost. Four years of hiding from people intent on getting rid of us. At long last, we have all found one another again, and are ready to establish an army once more. The war has started once more, whether they know it or not.'

Applause broke out on the table. He smiled at the deatheaters before making eye contact with one sitting near him, and not clapping. He beckoned them over as the others began talking amongst themselves.

'Parkinson, my dear. Why aren't you smiling with everyone else?'

'I'm not your damned dear, Theo.'

'That's beside the point. Why aren't you happy?'

'Another war? Seriously? We lost so many people in the last one!'

'But we didn't win it. So we need to keep fighting for our cause. We are in hiding. We can't go anywhere without being judged. '

'Our cause? Or your cause? You don't give a shit about whether there are mudbloods in our society. You just want more power.'

'And you do care about the cause? I think you've become a mud-lover.'

'I just want to stop hiding. I want to walk down Diagon alley without a disillusionment charm. A war isn't the way to go about it!'

'I don't see any other way. If we win this war, we'll be free.'

'And what about the other side? How many years after the victory will it take them to fight back? We can't have a bloody war every few years!'

'That's not your choice to make. They're listening to me.'

'Fine. I'm going to the damn light side then.'

He looked at the witch standing before him. He could see the anger glinting in her dark eyes, her dark hair framing her pretty face. Looked like she had finally grown a backbone. Too bad it wasn't in favour of their cause though. He'd simply have to reduce her to a coward once again. Just like the rest.

'Listen, Parkinson. You're not changing sides whether you like it or not. You can't. There's no way. Even if you left us, how likely is it that the light side will accept you?'

She said nothing, indicating to him that he had proved his point.

'Now, go see Goyle. He'll tell you which tasks you can do.'

'But Goyle's in charge of the menial tasks!'

'Exactly. Now go.'

She glared at him before leaving, causing him to grin. She was afraid of him, deep down. She was never able to defy him. He then left the room quietly, heading towards his own room. There was something he needed to do. Something which involved tracing a certain mudblood using a dark mark summoning curse.

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DPOV

Draco estimated that another two hours or so had passed. His legs were cramping, so he stood up and decided to walk over to the other side of the cell.

'Got a blasted cramp,' he muttered when Weasley looked up at him.

'Already? It hasn't been that long, Malfoy.'

'I'm sorry but some of us aren't used to living on the floor of a dungeon.'

'Sorry but wasn't the Slytherin common room in a dungeon?'

'We didn't sleep on the floor, unlike some peasants in Gryffindor.'

'Well seeing as our common room was in a tower, and yours was in a bloody dungeon, I think it's you that should be used to this life. Oh wait, but it's not like that, is it? Your highness has never experienced anything but luxury has he? Well, Malfoy. Welcome to the world of someone fighting on the good side. If you're an auror for the ministry, you have to accept the fact that someday, someone will chuck you into a dungeon.'

'I don't accept losing. I refuse to accept things like defeat. You Gryffindors may call it courage, but I call it being dumb.'

Both men glared at each other from across the cell.

'On the same side, and still fighting? Some people just don't grow up.'

Both men turned in surprise at the sound of the familiar female voice. Weasley stood up, peering into the gloom but only seeing a silhouette. Draco frowned. He knew that voice. But he couldn't place it.

The woman laughed. 'You know they've moved on when they can't even remember who you are. Lumos.'

He stood, shocked at seeing the woman in front of him. Her dark hair was pulled back into a long ponytail, falling perfectly behind her, over her black deatheater robes. He saw the small nose that turned up slightly at the end, and the full pouty lips. Her eyes, in the wandlight, appeared to be a mix between green and blue. Pansy Parkinson was one of those people whose eyes were never definite. They changed depending on mood and day, varying between hazel, green, and sometimes blue. It was so odd seeing her again. She was so different, but still the same.

'Cat got your tongue, Malfoy?'

Malfoy? Since when had they been on second-name basis?

'Pansy. I haven't seen you in a while.'

'Indeed.'

'You're working with Theo?'

'Prisoners don't ask questions, Malfoy.'

He looked at her in disbelief. What had happened to Pansy?

Weasley spoke up. 'So, Parkinson. Why're you here then, seeing as you clearly aren't here to save the love of your life.'

Pansy turned to him, and raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Weasley looked at her bemused expression before pulling an 'are you thick' face. 'Malfoy. I'm talking about Malfoy.'

So much for Weasley being wise and mature.

The brunette woman looked at redhead in disgust before shaking her head and straightening her posture. 'Come with me.' She unlocked the cell with a wave of her wand. With a second gesture, she had bound their wrists with an invisible rope, which also enabled her to pull them along.

Weasley stumbled as she pulled on the rope, before laughing dryly. 'Guess she isn't here to rescue you then, Malfoy. Tough life isn't it.'

Draco said nothing in response as they were pulled along the narrow passageway. He needed to let Granger know.

Granger. We're being taken to the meeting right now. I don't know what's going to happen, but I doubt it'll be good.

For a few moments there was no response, before he suddenly heard her voice in her head.

Shit. Any clues what will happen?

No but I'll keep telling you. Probably a few Cruciatus curses. Maybe some others.

She said nothing for a few seconds before asking a question. You know when you made this link? You said you could help against mind attacks. Can I do that?

Granger, you don't need to do that.

Just tell me how.

No. Your mind is already vulnerable. I'm not letting you share a bloody attack with me.

So you just share the pain? Like help them resist it?

Aw shit. He had given her a clue. Just forget it Granger.

Pansy stopped walking to tap on a brick with her wand. The wall vanished, revealing large double doors behind it.

We're at the meeting. Can't keep talking once I'm in there. Nott is a strong legilimens.

Okay. Stay alive, please.

He closed off the connection as they were pulled along into the room. Rows of deatheaters lined the sides. All eyes were on himself and Weasley.

Pansy raised her wand, summoning two chairs which crashed straight into the backs of their legs, causing them to fall backwards onto the seat. Instantly chains sprung up, holding them in the chairs.

She then walked away, towards the end of the room. Draco turned his head to see where she was going. Sure enough, at the end of the grand room, stood Theodore Nott, a smile on his face.

A/N

Please leave a review! And for Thursday, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2014 has been a wonderful year and I hope 2015 brings you a fab time! :D

Airborne Kites ;)