Hello guys! I know my updates can be a slightly slow at times, however it can be a tad difficult with my busy work predicament! This is technically half of chapter 28...but i know some people have been asking for quicker updates so i thought i would throw this part out to you now! I hope you guys enjoy! Thanks for being (mostly) pretty patient! ;) x
Chapter 28
"Bellatrix...there is a command on the girl for her to be left unharmed."
"She's not dead is she? What are you moaning about you miserable sod? It's a mudblood, you cant just expect me to let her skip away carefree. She insulted me by not even looking the slightest bit frightened at my presence!"
"Just because she is not dead does not constitute for unharmed. The Dark Lord will punish us both for this. Patch her up and send her back."
"I am not done with her yet Lucius! She hasn't even screamed for me yet... I think I may be losing my touch…"
The voices seemed to float through her as Hermione could only stare listlessly at the shoes in front of her. The pain had ebbed away to nothing but she was still unable to move, she could feel wetness around her mouth and on her face, looking down to realise it was her own blood. I wonder if I'm going into shock...
Her stomach constricted as she let out a wheezy cough, splattering blood onto the boots in front of her, creating a disgusted grunt from the owner of the feet. "For fuck sake Bella, she is dying on my floor." The voice snapped. "Do you know how expensive these rugs are? Blood stains are extremely difficult to get out of Chimaera skin, even with the best of elf magic!"
She tried to assess her injuries but the pained died very early on in the attack and she found she was unable to find the location of where the blood was pouring from. They hadn't healed her, so she should have still been able to feel the cuts that Bellatrix had made to her, yet she felt nothing. Another bonus to this wonderful potion of mine by the looks of it. I need to log the findings in my notepad... Yet she knew logically she also needed medical attention and fast, her eyes were feeling heavy as she was finding it difficult to keep them open.
Suddenly she felt herself being jerked up by the back of her collar, trying to focus her eyes she found herself face to face with the sharp grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy. He stared at her for a moment, before sneering, "What on earth have you done to her? How long did you have her under the curse?"
A laugh echoed from behind her, "What one?"
"Crucio, you crazy bitch. If you've made her into another Longbottom we're dead!"
"Five to ten minutes at a time, no more! I mixed it up with a few slicing hexes and threw her against the walls a few times... She shouldn't be mush just yet surely!"
"And when did she stop fighting and screaming?"
"That's what I am saying Lucius! She didn't start!"
His gaze returned to Hermione's with an unmasked look of surprise as the room became eerily silent; she was fighting to keep her eyes open as the elder Malfoy kept his assessing stare at her.
"Miss Granger, can you hear me?" His voice sounded weird to her ears, although she wasn't sure whether it was because of the blood loss or the fact that he actually seemed concerned. Opening her mouth she tried her best to form a half intelligent sentence but her mind was going foggy.
Sharpen up Hermione. This is not the time for sleep.
"Yes...However, if you don't want me to die, you need to get me some help…" There was no pleading in her voice; she simply uttered what she had comprehended from his conversation with her torturer. In all honesty she wasn't afraid of if she was killed, simply that she would be one less useful tool in the fight in this war. And that, in her opinion, was a waste.
"I didn't say I didn't want you to die."
"-Then I suggest you take me off your rug. The only cleaning spell that I know of that will deal with blood on Chimaera skin will tint the fur white permanently." She used the last of her energy to point to the stone floor just to the side of them. "...It would be better if you let me bleed out over there, stone is easier to wash."
Bellatrix broke out in hysterical laughter behind her but Lucius simply looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "Do you have no value for your life you stupid child?"
"My opinion of my value is of no consequence...I have no control in this situation...You either kill me or you don't. And if you don't then I really...really suggest you get me medical attention, I have lost a lot of blood and I am trying really hard to keep myself conscious... I am... l..." by the end of her speech she was slurring her words as her head dropped forward. Her efforts to keep herself awake were failing as her eyes dropped without her permission. She felt the only thing holding her up let go as she found herself once again hitting the floor, yet still she could not get her eyes to open.
"Damn it Bella!"
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His patience was wearing more than a little thin, stopping his pacing he turned back to the Headmaster still sitting calmly behind his desk. "I am telling you Albus, the man is sending his goons on a wild goose chase. Like any of the trolls would even have the intelligence to comprehend what is even being asked of them. I'd be surprised if Goyle Senior even comes back alive."
Dumbledore stroked his beard; the mischievous glint in his eyes making Severus wonder as to if the old man enjoyed how much he annoyed him. "What if it wasn't trolls...what if it was something else?"
Severus threw up his arms as he dropped himself down into his chair, "It is Troll valley! What else could they be bloody looking for?"
"He has a point" Draco piped in from the sofa in the corner, lazing more than a little comfortably, "When I overheard father claiming that Goyle had been sent with a group of low rank death eaters to Pirin in Bulgaria there was only one thing that came to my mind. Trolls."
"What else resides in the valleys and mountains found in Pirin?" Albus replied to the both of them, popping another lemon sherbet into his mouth.
"Pirin? …mountains, cold lakes and the occasional mountain nymph… its unhabital land Albus. The only thing that can live in such uncomfortable terrain are Trolls and…" Severus paused his eyes going back to at Dumbledore, "…Dragons."
"Well blast my bollocks off and call me Wendy…Dragons?" Draco laughed, pushing himself up into sitting position.
"You always were so wonderfully descriptive, Draco... Yes, you fool, dragons." Severus sneered, giving the boy a glare. However his glares were as effective on the younger wizard as a water gun would be on the Dark Lord's potential new pet.
"But Dragons are harder to control than trolls. Impossible even. What on earth would he want with such creatures?"
"Maximum impact I would be my only guess…Albus do you think that we should get in touch with Charlie Weasley? He might be able to aid us in this if this is what the Dark Lord is planning."
"I think that would be a wise…" His sudden pause made the two Slytherins turn to each other in confusion. The look on the headmaster's face making Severus more than a little concerned.
"Albus? Is everything ok?"
The headmaster's gaze turned back to Severus, "you must forgive me, but we are about to have unplanned company."
Before Severus or Draco was able to respond the door blasted open as the room filled with a chorus of shouts as the two men that Severus dreaded seeing on a daily basis flew into the room like a couple of mother hens that had lost their chicks. He smirked for a moment at the imagery before the noise became too much for him to bear.
"Silence!" he boomed, making everyone in the room jump, all apart from Dumbledore that was still sitting in his chair looking at the chaos in front of him. "You do realise that we can't understand you both when you're squawking together like a couple of crows." He growled from his chair, and realised that the neither one of the young wizards had even noticed him in his chair near the fireplace or Draco still lazing on the sofa. Yet as they did he watched as Weasley turned to his godson, his face red; however whether it was because of anger or due to the intensive running that he had completed was yet to be seen.
"You!" He spat as he pointed his wand at Draco, "You knew! You fucking knew!"
And I have my answer.
Draco cocked an eyebrow at the Gryffindor but didn't respond more than pulling out his own wand.
Oh, for fuck sake.
Pushing himself out of his chair he moved quickly to put himself between the brimming hatred between the trio, yet as he did Weasley's wand direction went to Severus's chest. "Try it Weasley and trust me it will be the last thing you do." He uttered just loud enough for him to hear, applauding the sight of the red head's persona faltering at the thought of trying to duel with him. Potter beside him pulled out his wand and stepped next to him, giving Severus a look of pure hatred.
"You both knew! We know it! You both were in on it! Is that why you're here? Trying best to cover your tracks with the headmaster?"
Dumbledore stood up and slammed his hand on the desk, "Enough! Harry…Ron…what on earth is this about?"
The boys jumped at the sound of the headmaster loud shout making them snap out of whatever fury they seemed to be directing towards the two Slytherins. Harry turned back to Dumbledore but kept his wand firmly in his grip, and it was only then that Severus noticed that he was shaking.
"Hogsmeade was attacked by Death Eaters… Hermione stunned me and stopped me from helping to fight. She shoved me and Ron in a broom cupboard…but they heard us so she stayed outside to make sure they didn't come looking for us."
Severus suddenly felt sick; she still got protection from the Dark Lord. She can't be harmed. Dumbledore jumped up and raced to the fireplace, shouting for Minerva. She rushed through within seconds.
"Albus?"
"Minerva, contact the Ministry, there has been an attack in Hogsmeade. Take as many of the professors as possible and head down there, you have the list of students that had permission, find them and bring them back."
Her face was white as a sheet as she nodded and turned, hurrying back the way she came. Dumbledore looked back at Harry but it was Severus who spoke. His focus on trying to remain calm at the thought of Hermione in danger was slipping with every second.
Our last conversation was of me breaking her heart…
"Where is she now, Potter?"
"They took her." He snarled as he turned back, "Your lot. They fucking took her, but not before throwing a few slicing hexes at her and leaving a trail of her blood behind."
Severus took a step towards him, his restraint holding on by a mere thread as he tried not to throw a few dark curses of his own at the boy in front of him. "Boy, I need a god damn name!"
"Like you don't know! You and him!" he spat back pointing at Draco behind him who had now jumped up and was trying to get past him, Severus pushed him back, he couldn't afford a bloodbath until he knew where Hermione was.
"Harry! I said enough! Answer the professor's question; we have not got time for these squabbles!" Dumbledore shouted his impatience at the situation shown very clearly through his voice. It seemed to work as the young wizard slowly lowered his wand and turned away from Severus with one last glare.
"We don't know everyone who attacked, but Bellatrix was the one who took her after she was finished slicing her up…"
A quiet curse from behind him was the only thing that broke up the sudden silence, the two Gryffindor wizards turning to Draco, their confusion clearly evident.
"Aren't you happy Malfoy?" Ron whispered. "You're finally rid of her…and it was your family that did it. Go on; smile proudly, that way when I kill you I can literally wipe the smile off your fucking face for the last time."
"I would prefer to be rid of you two fucktards than Granger, and for your information I had no idea that was going to happen… But I'm willing to see how your dueling techniques have improved, Weasley. Let's see if that disgusting hand me down wand can even spurt out a simple stunning spell." Draco posed himself ready for attack but before either party could even utter a syllable Severus spelled all three of their wands into his hand.
"Tell me one decent reason why I shouldn't break all your damn wands?" he growled. "You are all meant to be assets in this war and yet you sit here and squabble like children. I have not got time for this!"
"Malfoy is not an asset!"
"I am more of an asset than you Weasley, so you can toddle off and go fuck yourself! When was the last time you put your life in danger for the cause? Because all I've heard is how you and Potter hid in a fucking cupboard and let your best mate take a good beating for you."
He lurched forward as he tried to get to Draco, yet Severus was quick enough to grab him and throw him back, causing him to fall onto the floor and slide back.
"I have not got time for this shit." He sneered turning to Dumbledore, "I'll deal with Bellatrix, and you can deal with your precious Gryffindors." He slammed the wands on the table and not waiting for a response. He didn't need one, he knew where she was and he wasn't going to wait any longer just to help Dumbledore calm down Potter's bruised ego. He was already out the castle before he heard the shout behind him, "Will you slow the fuck down?!" Draco gasped as he ran to catch up. "God you run fast."
He didn't stop but glared at the young wizard keeping pace next to him. "Go back Draco."
"Are you crazy? You're going to take on my nutter of an aunt on your own? Don't be an idiot; she's not going to be alone. If she's with Rodolphus you're going to need help and if she's with father I can come in as a nice little distraction."
Severus stopped, looking down at Draco, "Draco. Go back. That is an order. Do not make me use magic to do it." He pointed his wand at the younger wizard, "How will it look for us both to go and save her? You have no reason to go. I understand that there may be a friendship budding between the two of you, but if they know that they will use it against you…just like they would use mine."
It seemed to work as Draco stopped his slow walk towards him, his face scrunched up in sudden realization. "Fuck…I didn't even think."
"That's the problem. Neither of us did." He turned to keep walking, not stopping even with Draco's sudden shout of good luck.
I'm going to need more than luck. He thought as he turned to apparate I'll need a fucking miracle.
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"Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur…Vulnera Sanentur…" She mumbled as her shaky hands tried to cover some of the deeper cuts on her arms. She guessed that the shakiness was down to the loss of blood, and even with the blood replenishing potion that had been forced down her throat by Lucius Malfoy, it would be no use without trying to heal the wounds that were letting it out again. Yet her talent for wandless magic was beyond poor and to admit it was leaving a sour taste in her mouth.
"Damn it! Vulnera Sanentur!" she shouted and yet even with all her focus it did nothing. She was still sitting in the middle of a dark dungeon unable to even help heal herself. Her eyes grew wide at a sudden revelation, she was feeling frustration. Squinting in the darkness she looked at her watch, for what she could make out it was about nine in the evening.
"The potion shouldn't be wearing off this soon… I have a good two more hours left until it begins to wear off…" A sharp pain sliced itself down her shoulder, she let out a gasp as she placed her hand to where the pain was coming from, feeling the deep gash that resided there. The pain continued to get worse as suddenly she was starting to feel all the wounds that she was unable to feel before. Every cut, every broken bone suddenly alerted her to their status. She let out a scream as she became overwhelmed with all the pain as it hit her all at once.
A door in front of her flung open, yet she was unable to move as the dark shadow from the hallway came towards her. "Now she starts screaming?" a hand wound its way into her hair and pulled her up into standing position, however the pain in her legs made her unable to stand properly.
"You are an odd mudblood, you face death and natter about cleaning spells but leave you in a dark room for more than a couple of hours and you're screaming bloody murder!" the force of the hand pulled her forwards toward the door and she stumbled through it the light hit her eyes, blinding her temporarily. She didn't recognize the voice but from what she gathered he had witnessed her unusual behavior in front of Lucius and Bellatrix.
"See? Not dead!" Bellatrix snorted from the corner as the hand holding her hurled her on the floor in front of her, letting out a scream as she fell on what she assumed was her broken right leg.
"I'm sorry; did you think this was acceptable? That because the girl isn't dead that I would be fine about this?" The cold detached voice snapped; she didn't have to look up to know who it was, her body already reacting to his presence.
That is the same tone he took with me when he told me he didn't care about me anymore…oh god, I don't think I can take it…
Her whole body seemed besieged by the physical pain that the potion had hidden from her, as the emotional ache started to creep back in she felt as if she was going to go crazy. Her head began to feel as if it was constricting under the pressure with every cold word he barked. Keeping her arms wrapped around her she kept her eyes closed and her head down on the floor needing the hard cold surface to have something else to focus on.
"Ahh Severus, your fucktoy is fine! If I wanted her dead you would have found her body in the pub. I was just taking a little bit of frustration out on her. It's been so long since our master let us out on a raid…she was the juiciest I could find! You shouldn't begrudge me my playtime."
"She is our main way of alienating Potter and you've decided to use her as a fucking pin cushion, Bellatrix." She heard the sound of footsteps getting closer to her yet she could not bring herself to bring her head up off the cold floor. It was the only stable thing around her at that moment and she needed an anchor as her body seemed to fight against her. She felt hands around her and suddenly she was pulled away from the ground and lifted into the arms of the man that cause her the greatest pain. As the memories flooded in and drowned her mind she could do nothing else but scream in agony, as both her body and heart seemed to crumble in agony. His scent invading her nose, his hard chest mocking her frail form against him and yet the worse thing was his voice. The tone no warmer than when he told her of his disgust.
"Well, well! It seems Sevy is able to do what I couldn't! Did you know I had that mudblood under my curse for fifteen minutes and she didn't utter a peep! Now I have a challenge!"
She knew that both of them was still relying on her act of being besotted with him, and yet as he picked her up all she could do was show them the complete opposite.
Whatever is going on with me, I can't let him down in this. It could get him killed if he is shown to be a liar.
Mustering the last of her energy she pulled her arms around his neck, and placed her head in the crook of it, "Severus… I'm scared. Take me home." She sniffled; making sure it was loud enough to be heard. "I was so scared I'd never see you again." Pain etched in her chest as she kissed his jaw, noticing him flinch as she did so.
Even when he has to fake it he shows how much he can't stand me. She tried her best not to cry, and instead focused on keeping her eyes shut against his neck and trying to block everyone out.
"I think your mudblood is broken Sev. She didn't even seem to care about her own life a couple of hours ago, yet here she is sniveling up to you."
"I suppose I have a gift... Now. I need to take her back and deal with the mess you made. You better hope that a couple of healing spells and an oblivate will clear up your mess, because if it doesn't then you'll be the one explaining to the Dark Lord." He sneered back, pulling Hermione closer to him causing her to whimper.
"But I'm not finished with my fun just yet!" Bellatrix moaned. "If you're going to oblivate her memory anyway, why don't you join in?"
"I don't have the energy to both participate and clear up your mess, woman. Some of us have fucking work to do." He replied as he turned round, not stopping at the sound of demands to stop behind him. She would have been concerned for his safety at the way he just seemed to leave yet she had nothing more left for him other than pure bitterness.
Do not look at him. Do not look at him. Do not look at him.
Keeping her eyes tight shut she listened to her own words over and over again as she felt them exit the house as the cool air hit her, hoping to keep herself within some sort of sanity. Soon we will be back at Hogwarts, and then I will be able to get back to my chambers and more of that damn potion.
She felt the pull of them apparating and let out a cry as the appeared just outside the castle grounds, the pain of the movements making her even more aware that her body was well and truly damaged. She felt the body holding her relax slightly as he moved swiftly through the schools grounds yet he kept silent and for that she was eternally grateful. The thought of him chastising her at that moment in time would have been enough to put her over the edge, not that in her own opinion she had done anything wrong.
She had saved Harry and Ron from a disastrous one sided battle against Death Eaters that neither one of them were ready to face. Yet thinking back on it she did not know whether she would have been able to stand in the way of her friend's fierce determination without the help of the potion. The guilt of the knowledge that there were probably many innocent people who had a worse fate than her may have been helped with hers, Harry's and Ron's help. The pain intensified at the thought and she felt herself gritting her teeth as her body started to spasm, the arms that held her seemed to hold her closer as she heard him curse.
"We're nearly there. Stay with me...Please." He whispered shakily under his breath, but she had heard it and she found her body shook more because of it. The cuts and broken bones almost intensifying further at his words as she bit her tongue trying to keep herself from screaming. She felt the blood slip down from the side of her mouth as her mouth filled with the copper taste. Her body continued to shake not only because of the shock relating to the injuries but through pure unadulterated anger. Focusing what was left of her energy and restraint she forced herself to look up at her savior to find he was looking right back at her. As his fearful eyes met hers she mustered all her power to give him one last sneer.
"You have no right to demand anything off of me." She whispered back with all her strength, giving him the harshest look she could at that moment in time. "If I don't want to stay, you have no fucking right anymore to stop me." Her body finally betrayed her and completely shut down, throwing her into darkness once more.
