CHAPTER 27

It was dark. Not just the blackness but the gloom that spread around them. The looming sense of dread kept them on edge as they all waited for their signal. The Order members stood outside the Malfoy Manor waiting for their signal to get in.

A loud noise disrupted the silence and the order members all disillusioned themselves. They made their way quietly towards the back gate of the manor. The noise was supposed to distract the Death Eaters and had served its purpose as the two death eaters who stood guard on the rear side of the castle rushed to aid their friends in helping against whatever had attacked them. A new order member names Denny who was hiding in the opposite gate to the rest of them had cast the spell where he waited with half of them. By the time their group made it inside the manor, Hermione knew that the others were already in a duel.

Though they were meant to attack and arrest as many death eaters as they can, being THE GOOD GUYS, it was their first responsibility to make sure the prisoners were freed. Hermione led the way to their group which included James, Sirius, Remus and Dorcas. She was the only one who had been inside the Manor, with Sirius having broken his ties from the family before Narcissa was married. Though Hermione wasn't much aware of the rest of the manor, she had a fair idea of where the cells to hold prisoners where from the back door.

"Why do we have to stand guards here? While others have fun." A voice said and Hermione stopped in her track. They were a turn away from them. She motioned them to keep quiet and James cast the Silencio around them.

"Quiet Rowle. I am not here to hear you whining." Another voice said angrily. "I am as much struck as you are." Hermione recognized him as Avery Jr.

"Do you hear it Avery?" Rowle said suddenly. "Something is happening here." His suspicion was evident in his voice.

"Now." She mouthed to her friends. It would be a disadvantage for their side if they joined the others outside. Before anyone could raise their wands, two red stunners hit them and they fell to the cold stone floor below them. Everyone was surprised to see the ever so composed Dorcas twirl her wand in her hand with a smirk.

"What?" she said, "They were in the group that attacked Gideon." Everyone knew that the aforesaid Prewett brother and she were dating. With a flick, Remus tied the two of them and shoved the portkey that was linked to the cells in one of the Order headquarters.

They found no one else in there. It was quiet easy from there to reach to those who had been captured however this made Hermione uneasy and saw that her suspicions were mirrored in all the faces around. It shouldn't have been easy. Even if they had made a great plan, was it possible to actually have nailed their mission. No. Something was wrong. But they were in too deep to turn back now. There were two prison cells and they decided to divide there. Hermione teamed up with Remus and Dorcas while the other two were in the next one.

It was dark inside. "Lumos Maxima." Remus said.

A whimpering sound made them look down. Hermione was more than shocked to see the person infront of her. It was even a shock that she recognized him. He looked so different from when she knew him.

"Do..Don't k-kill me!" He begged with a sob. The huge cut on his arm was visible to her. "I-I" He started but Hermione stopped him pressing a finger to her lips.

"We are here to help you." Dorca said. Inside the room there were three more people and two children who could have been twins but Hermione didn't know. They grouped the people handed them the portkey. With a pop they were gone and the trio was joined by their other friends. It was time for them to join their friends outside.

"Help." A figure on the darkest corner of the room whispered and they all turned to look at him. They hadn't noticed him standing there and were quiet shocked that they had missed him. Hermione went closer to look at his face and offer him help.

Remus knew something was wrong when he went inside the prison cell. He could almost feel the dread and fear in his vein. Along with it there was Moony inside his head shouting to take Hermione and run away. He could smell him inside the cell but thought the smell lingered only because he might have come inside some time ago. However, as Hermione walked toward the person in the corner, every cell in his body screamed.

"Hermione, don't go near him. RUN!" He shouted panicked as Hermione stopped but too late as she was near him. The others around him raised their wands around them and he realized a minute too late that they were all surrounded now.

The person grabbed her wand as he shouted and suddenly he had his hand , already a claw , even without the full moon, against her throat. His mouth so close to her that it was dangerous.

"Well, Well, Look who's here. Pup. This isn't an ideal way to meet your Alpha." Greyback drawled, his face evil.

He could feel the fear in his blood. For a second, he saw fear flicker through her expression but she hid it too quickly. He had heard the account of her capture by Greyback and knew that the same thing was crossing her mind as Greyback snatched her wand and threw it aside.

James, Sirius and Dorcas were already duelling two at a time.

"Leave her, Greyback." He said his eyes flashing amber.

"Is she yours?" he asked looking amused. Remus knew if he even thought she was his mate, he would take her away from him. When Remus had refused to join his pack as his eldest, Greyback had vowed to take everything from him until he breaks and join his side. His claws were already digging in her neck and Remus knew even the slightest increase in pressure on her neck will tear her skin.

His eyes drifted to her face and he swallowed down the fear that rose in his chest. She looked at him and then looked down and looked at him again. She moved her hand a little and Remus knew instantly what she was trying to say. He gave a small nod, just the slightest movement of his head, hoping that no one noticed it.

Hermione took his hint and with as much strength she could muster, elbowed him in his stomach. Greyback howled in pain and his pain was doubled when Remus shot a cutting spell on him followed by a stunner, however he dodged in time to escape the Stunner.

The dueling around them was intense and Hermione looked around for her wand, her wand was lying behind Greyback and no one was free to do the summoning charm for her. She wanted to help her friends, who were taking two at time, she wanted to help Remus who was dueling the person he hated the most and there she was standing unable to help any of them. What if her presence could save someone, she had argued. Now she wondered what if someone died just because of her.

A moment later her fear seemed to turn true as she heard Remus shout, "More coming."

"Its time for Plan Z." James said.

They all agreed. It was funny because the Plan Z was to leave. But saying it Plan Z would confuse the death eaters and make them feel that they were up to something. It was obviously James and Sirius who had proposed this.

Dorcas popped out from in front of them just as Lucius Malfoy came into picture. By now, Remus had managed to stun Greyback and turned to see a spell aimed at Hermione who had rushed to take her wand. She couldn't leave the manor without it. She heard a loud thud and turned to see Remus on the floor as a yellow light him. Blood gushed out of his chest and he coughed in his own blood as Lucius Malfoy towered over them. Another spell at Hermione, she tried to cast a shield wandlessly but it was too weak and she felt her body freeze.

James rushed to his friend's side and held the portkey.

"NO." He shouted. "I won't leave without her." They had to portkey in pair and Remus and Hermione shared a portkey. James looked over at Hermione who was too far from them to take and when she gave him a nod, James took his arm.

"You need help." He said while Sirius cast a shield around them to stop the hexes that came their way.

"NO." Remus howled.

"You need help mate. I will get her back. I promise."

The last thing he saw was a red light hit Sirius square on his chest.

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