Chapter Five
How did he find her? Hermione didn't understand anything that was happening. One second she was stomping through the snowy forest angry about the hell that damned Lord Voldemort brought to their world and the next she was held tightly against the chest of one the fiercest, most dangerous Death Eaters in existence. Was it all just a terrible dream she would soon wake up from? She could only hope.
The wizard tightened his grip on her. No longer able to deny that this was really happening, she tried not to panic. That wouldn't help anyone. She no longer had her wand and she was physically no match for the cretin, but at least she could keep her wits. Maybe.
"Do you remember what I said to you in the bookshop?"
A heavy sigh exploded out of Hermione. What a perfect night she was having. Weary down to her bones, she began to doubt she had enough energy left in her to fight another battle. There was a limit to a person's strength and she was certain she'd reached it. Was it wrong to want it all to be over?
"Yes, of course I remember. One doesn't usually forget when a cold-blooded murderer threatens to kill them. Go ahead. Let's get it over with. I'm tired."
Her voice didn't even sound like her own. What was wrong with her? She'd never given up hope before. Even the Hermione from just a few months earlier would've been kicking and screaming, trying to scratch Dolohov's eyes out. The loss of hope was dangerous.
"You don't know what you're asking for, girl."
"Doesn't matter. I'm exhausted. Just get it over with."
Far in the back of her mind she heard a whisper that sounded suspiciously like Kingsley's voice. She tried to ignore it. If he knew she had been captured and just quietly went to her death without so much as a struggle, he would be ashamed. He had been so adamant that she do whatever was necessary to survive. Would he understand that she was just too tired to keep fighting?
Before Dolohov could respond to her uncharacteristic defeated attitude, another loud pop cracked through the still night air. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. Just what the horrible evening needed - more Death Eaters. At least she could content herself with the very real possibility that her ordeal was soon to be over.
"What..?"
She opened her eyes at the sound of the familiar voice. Thorfinn looked both surprised and very, very worried. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the ridiculous predicament. Dolohov didn't have the same confusion. His laughter was chilling. Hermione feared the clearly insane man.
"Look who broke the Taboo, Rowle. Weren't you just talking about her a few days ago?
It bothered her to know she was the topic of discussion amongst Death Eaters. Though certainly not surprising considering who her best friend was, she didn't like knowing nonetheless. What would Thorfinn have to say about her anyway? Was he bragging to his fellow hooded and masked mates about how close he was able to get to her? He could've easily killed her or kidnapped her each time he showed up at her house.
When she dared to look closer at Thorfinn, she could see he was conflicted by what was happening. Maybe he really meant it when he told her to run away. Dolohov tightened his grip enough to make her gasp. Thorfinn took a step closer in their direction.
"Rowle and I owe you and your little mates for the cafe. Looks like we'll have to settle for just you right now."
Thorfinn took another step. He wasn't very good at concealing his thoughts and emotions when he was upset. Could she rely on him to save her from the mess she found herself in? If he was willing to help her once, maybe he would again. A small hope that all was not lost grew in her chest.
"You should let her go, Dolohov. She's nothing to us. Just a weak, little girl."
Dolohov laughed again.
"Did you forget how displeased the Dark Lord was when we failed to catch them in that cafe? Because I haven't. Nearly bit my own fucking tongue off when the Malfoy brat crucioed us. She deserves to be punished at least as much as we were."
The hope died. There was no way that the madman Dolohov was going to let her go just because he was asked. No, it was becoming increasingly likely that she wouldn't survive the night's ordeal. Maybe it was all for the best.
"Of course I remember what happened. We fucked up our mission. Allowed three teenagers to best us. We deserved to be punished. The Dark Lord was right."
"Well, now's our chance to pay back the little bitch. Give her what we got. Have a little fun torturing her. It's been too long for me. When she's dead, we can turn her body into the Ministry and collect the reward. I'll even share it with you."
How could anyone speak so calmly and casually about torturing a fellow human being to death? Hermione knew it was likely that Antonin Dolohov held a grudge for what she did to him in the Department of Mysteries based on what he said to her in Flourish and Blotts, but she never would've imagined he could hold her against him and speak so candidly as if she wasn't even there.
"I don't want the reward money. I want you to let her go."
"You're weak, Rowle. You wouldn't have lasted a day in Azkaban."
"Perhaps not, Grandpa, but physically I'm stronger than you are. All those years in Azkaban dulled your reflexes. I could get the witch away from you and kill you before you had time to react."
Everything just grew more and more surreal. Hermione couldn't be sure she could trust what she was hearing. Maybe it was all just some sick, twisted dream she couldn't wake up from. Were two Death Eaters actually arguing over what they were going to do to her? Why did Thorfinn even care? Part of her hoped he would just give up and they could get on with the inevitable. She was exhausted enough already. Dolohov laughed again. She was beginning to loathe the sound.
"Youth isn't everything. There's something to be said for experience. Besides, this is none of your concern. The little bitch and I have history. It's time we settled it."
Once more Hermione expected to be dead before the sun rose. The wizards could argue all they want about what they were going to do, but she had that sinking realization one supposedly got when they reached the end of their life. She was surprised by the calm resignation she felt. Maybe it was all for the best. She really was tired of fighting and running and being afraid. Death might be just the escape she needed. She just wished the two of them would hurry up and decide what they were going to do next.
"The Dark Lord doesn't care about her. He wants Potter."
"This isn't about the Dark Lord. Like I said, we have history. This is personal."
Thorfinn turned his full attention to Hermione.
"If you tell us where your little mates are, Princess, we can work something out."
She nearly laughed. The fact that he would ask her to betray her friends was further proof he didn't know her at all. Why was he so insistent on saving her life when she was a complete stranger? All he did was make her brain hurt.
Dolohov scoffed. His grip on Hermione tightened. At least she didn't have to question his motives. He hated her and wanted her dead. It was simple.
"'Princess'? Ugh, I see now. You just want to fuck her, don't you, Rowle?"
His statement might have been crude, but it didn't seem to be a lie. Thorfinn grew angrier. Answering the question wasn't important. All three of them knew it was true. Hermione knew it when he nearly kissed her in her parents' garden even if she tried to deny it.
"Fine. You can fuck her before I kill her, but she's going to pay for what she did to us in the cafe."
For a large man, Thorfinn was blessed with the ability to move swiftly. Before either Hermione or Dolohov even noticed him stir, he had already closed the distance between them to punch the other wizard in the side of his head. He lost his grip on his captive as he fell to the ground, but she wasn't free. Thorfinn grabbed her instead. Though his grip wasn't as tight or painful as Dolohov's had been, she was no less afraid. Death was one thing. Torture was another. She wasn't sure she had the strength, physically or mentally, to endure torture. And if the massive blond planned on fucking her against her will, she didn't know of a worse torture.
Of course based on how furious Dolohov was when he jumped back up to his feet, there was always the possibility he would kill Thorfinn before he had a chance to touch Hermione inappropriately. It was evident that the two men didn't have much use for each other. They might have been partnered on a few missions, but their relationship didn't extend beyond orders. Dolohov looked like he was going to kill them both.
Why didn't she stay in the tent with the boys? All of this could've been avoided it she'd simply remained calm and not stormed off into the forest. One tiny mistake and her life was over.
"You do not want me as an enemy, Rowle."
"No, I don't, but I also don't want you as a friend. We can come to some sort of arrangement. She doesn't have to be hurt."
Dolohov scoffed again. He turned his full attention to Hermione. It was unnerving making eye contact with him. There was no way to pretend he wasn't crazy when looking right at the evidence.
"Is your cunt made of solid gold?"
His focus was back on Thorfinn before she could say anything. Not that she wanted to dignify his disgusting remark.
"There are other witches. Find one. She's too much trouble and not even pretty enough to justify it."
Prepared to duel his fellow Death Eater, if necessary, Thorfinn released his hold on Hermione to push her behind his back. She was tempted to start running. Without a wand, it wouldn't take them long to catch her. She didn't want them to be even angrier. At least behind Thorfinn's large frame she had some protection from Dolohov. The older wizard scared her a thousand times more than Thorfinn.
"If you harm a single hair on her curly head, I'll go straight to the Dark Lord and tell him what I overheard you telling Selwyn last week."
Thorfinn's threat seemed to do the trick. Dolohov narrowed his eyes, but his wand dropped to his side. That was curious. Whatever he said must've been serious to get Dolohov to stand down. Was there dissension in Lord Voldemort's ranks? Could that somehow be used to her advantage? For a reason she didn't understand, Hermione was no longer wishing for a swift death. Funny how so much could change in just a short period of time.
"Fine. We won't kill the bitch yet. What do you propose we do with her now?"
A third pop interrupted their discussion. By the way both wizards raised their wands prepared to battle, the newcomer wasn't expected. Hermione peered around Thorfinn's back to see who it was. She nearly groaned. Why wasn't she surprised? Her night just kept getting better and better.
"My aunt wants to know what's taking so long. She told me to make sure neither of you was dead."
Draco rolled his eyes. When he saw Hermione, he changed from being annoyed to shocked.
"Granger, you broke the Taboo?"
He scanned the immediate area to see if there was anyone else around.
"Yes, she did and Rowle and I were having a disagreement how best to handle it."
"Do I need to tell my aunt..?"
His sentence wasn't even complete before Dolohov had his back up against a tree and his wand pressed under his chin. Knowing full well the potential danger he was in, Draco didn't dare fight back. He held up both of his hands in a clear sign of surrender.
"If you even think about telling your crazy fucking aunt what's happening here, you're going to live the rest of your short, painful life without a tongue. Is that clear?"
Draco emphatically nodded. Satisfied he'd frightened him enough, Dolohov released him. Worry was all over his face. He either hadn't learned to keep his features impassive or he was overwhelmed. When he cleared his throat, he seemed a little less concerned.
"What are you going to do with her?"
Dolohov sighed.
"Apparently, we're not going to kill her tonight, but beyond that, I don't know. What is it, Rowle? What are we going to do with her?"
"We're going to take her somewhere safe where we can hide her until we have some idea what to do next. Do you know of a place like that, Malfoy?"
"Actually, I think I do."
Hermione didn't know what to think. When she was first captured, she resigned herself to the likely possibility she was going to die very soon. But what now? She was more afraid of the unknown. She couldn't trust one Death Eater, let alone three. Each of them had their own agenda and she was sure she wouldn't like any.
"Promise me you'll be careful. If you see that bastard again, do whatever it takes to get away from him. I mean it, Hermione. Anything."
Kingsley's words echoed through her mind. She made him a promise that she would do whatever was necessary to survive. He would be extremely disappointed to know how close she had gotten to giving up, how she'd actually asked Dolohov to hurry up with his plans. She didn't want to disappoint Kingsley again. Even if the night on the thestral was indeed the last night she ever saw him, she wanted him to be proud of her.
"We will have to be careful though. The curfew is already in effect."
"You don't mean taking her there, do you, Malfoy? That sounds too risky."
"No, Rowle, the boy may have a good idea. No one would suspect an Undesirable to be hidden there."
"But there are Death Eaters swarming all over the area, Grandpa. There's a higher risk of her being discovered."
"Maybe, but there's less chance she'll try to escape."
They may as well have been seeking another language for all the sense they were making. Hermione didn't understand where they were taking her nor did she expect any of them to explain. By not turning her over immediately to either the Ministry or Lord Voldemort, she knew they were all taking a serious risk. She still didn't understand why they would even bother. She was their enemy.
Once it was decided amongst the men where she would be taken, they finally turned their attention back to her. Thorfinn cast a spell to bind her wrists together before picking her up to toss her over his shoulder. She started to protest at being manhandled. Dolohov quickly silenced her with another spell. The pleased grin on his face proved he'd wanted to do that for a long time. Thorfinn was kinder. He lowered his voice to a soothing whisper.
"Please don't struggle, Princess. Trust me when I say it'll be easier for you if I'm the one to carry you."
There was a warning in there he didn't have to say out loud. Left to the care of Antonin Dolohov, she would be in serious trouble. The unstable man held a grudge he wasn't about to just get over. Only the threat Thorfinn made about revealing what he overheard kept him in line. What was it that had so much power over him? She wanted, no, she needed to know. Somehow she would need to figure out how to convince Thorfinn to tell her or Dolohov himself. She could be persuasive when it was required.
Being flung over Thorfinn's shoulder was mortifying and indignant. She hated every second even as she knew he was right about him being the easier of the options. Before they left the Forest of Dean behind, Draco conjured a blindfold for her eyes. Just when she thought it couldn't possibly get worse, it did. If she hadn't been silenced the three of them would've been shocked by the number of appalling words she knew.
"I should've taken you back to my flat months ago when I first warned you I would. Could've saved us all some grief."
Hermione almost wished he'd done the same too. Months of danger and fear and near-starvation could've been avoided if she'd been tucked safely away in a warm flat as Thorfinn's personal prisoner. Of course as soon as she allowed herself to think such thoughts, she knew they were wrong. Harry and Ron needed her to help with the horcrux hunt. If she hadn't been there from the beginning, how much would they have gotten done? It was unfair to try to take credit for all of their successes. Each of them had their own gifts and talents to contribute. Without one piece, the other two would struggle. It was no coincidence that she and Harry nearly died in Godric's Hollow without Ron. The three of them needed each other. She worried her boys would put the hunt on hold to search for her once they knew she was missing. They couldn't afford to waste time.
"Don't worry, Princess. I've got you."
If she could speak, Hermione would've said something rude in response. Why did he feel so protective of her? It was bizarre. They'd never been friends nor did she have any plans to change that in the future.
Apparition was uncomfortable to begin with. Enduring it when one was upside down was even worse. It was a good thing their scavenging for food hadn't been terribly successful as of late or she would've thrown up all over Thorfinn's back. After additional consideration, she wished she would've. It was the least he deserved if she pushed away the very real knowledge that he'd saved her life.
"No, Malfoy, you can't be serious. It was bad enough when you suggested the village. This is too much."
"Hate to say it, but I agree with Grandpa on this. This won't work."
"No, no, it will. I promise. It's secluded. No one goes near it. Even Death Eaters are afraid of it. And there's a tunnel onto the school grounds. Even when Hogwarts is in session, I can sneak in and bring food from the kitchens."
Did anyone else note the desperation in Draco's voice? It was important to him that they agree to hide her in that spot. Why? Hermione had a suspicion where they were, but until the blindfold was removed from her face, she couldn't be sure.
"Fine, Malfoy. We'll look at it, but if Rowle and I don't like it, we're going somewhere else."
Hermione had to rely on the three wizards to get her inside their proposed prison. Unable to move or see, they passed her around like she was nothing more substantial than a doll. Even blinded she could tell their entrance wasn't as simple as a door. She heard the sound of wood cracking and some kind of metallic squeaking. Were they pulling boards off and popping the nails? If she had any chance of a successful escape, she needed to pay attention. Maybe it would help later.
"Since this was your idea, Malfoy, you go first. If you're not immediately killed by whatever is already in there, Grandpa will follow and then I'll hand Princess over."
Dolohov scoffed.
"Who made you in charge?"
"I'm not going to just drop her in there without anyone to catch her and I don't trust you won't just run off with her if I went in first."
Hermione began to shiver. All of the arguing and deliberation wasn't helping. Could they not just pick a warm place to put her or go ahead and kill her? If they waited much longer, there wouldn't be much of a choice. It was the middle of winter and their current location was much colder than their last.
"She's freezing. We need to get her inside, preferably before someone walks by and sees us."
That seemed to be the motivation they required. Soon Hermione felt herself being lowered down through a tight space. Two sets of hands reached out to help her on to solid ground. She didn't like feeling either of them touch her. When Thorfinn picked her up again, it was only marginally better. Why couldn't she just walk herself?
"So this is what it looks like inside. I've always wondered."
"Everything is broken, Malfoy. And filthy."
"Shouldn't you be used to filth after so many years in Azkaban, Grandpa? Wasn't that all part of your experience that made you stronger and would've broken someone like me?"
"Not everything is a joke. Yes, Azkaban was filthy. All the more reason I'd prefer not to live in filth now that I'm out."
She wished she could scream at them all to stop bickering. Surely torture and death wouldn't be worse than what they were subjecting her to. It would be tiresome to spend any length of time with them and unbearable to do so together.
"It's nothing that can't be fixed or cleaned with a spell. There's a room upstairs that I've already fixed."
"Why? Why would you ever come in here?"
Draco cleared his throat. Hermione didn't have to see his face to know Thorfinn's question made him uncomfortable. There was enough tension in the air she could feel it.
"Because it's quiet. It's not always easy to sleep in the castle."
Though she was sure no one's curiosity was fully sated with Draco's answer, the subject was dropped. Soon she could hear the creaking of old wooden steps and she felt Thorfinn climbing. It didn't take long to enter the room. Thorfinn carefully set her down on her feet. When he removed her blindfold she first saw Dolohov casting numerous spells on the bedroom door that she knew were intended to keep her inside.
Annoyed to be reminded she was a prisoner, Hermione turned to look at the rest of the bedroom. Just as she suspected, they were inside the Shrieking Shack. All of the furniture might have been repaired and every corner scourgified of all dust and filth, but she recognized the room where she and Harry found Ron lying on a bed with a broken leg. A chill went through her. That night hadn't gone well for any of them. There was little reason to believe her own fate would be much better.
A fire quickly blazed in the fireplace, warming the room at once. Even with the benefit of sleeping inside a tent, it had been a long time since Hermione last felt warm. She stared at the bed with the clean linens. Not caring that she knew all three wizards were watching her every movement, she kicked off her shoes and removed her coat. She pulled back the blankets to crawl in. If they weren't going to kill her, she could at least spend the night in an actual bed.
When she woke up she would do as Kingsley begged her if she ever got caught. There would be some way to survive and make her escape. She couldn't see the sense in trying to find it when she could hardly keep her eyes open. The moment her head hit the pillow she was asleep.