Hermione woke up numb from the cold. The chilled uneven stone floor underneath her body began to register on her skin and she sat up rubbing her head. First, there was the matter of her throbbing head. A partial headache and a severe wound on her scalp. Trying to remember the last thing that happened was causing her head to throb even more now turning into a migraine.
It took a few seconds before she stopped all her movements and remembered what happened last night. Every vivid and vile detail.
Voldemort announced that Antonin was the one she will be handed off to. He was given the specific task of keeping her alive and nothing more. She was only to be kept alive for the slim hope that Harry Potter or his idiotic friend would try to rescue her and for some sick experiment Voldemort had yet to reveal. But the night didn't end there, Hermione tried to speak out and taunt the Dark Lord by telling him that his plan was a lost cause. That her friends wouldn't be stupid enough to come here. Immediately regretting ever opening her mouth because the next thing she knew she received painful after painful spell directed towards her body. That is when she fell unconscious.
A bitterly cold chill streamed into the room from underneath the old wooden door that locked her into a strange room. It had one small unopenable window, old cracked marble, the walls painted a dark navy blue and a cot on the floor in the corner. The room was average sized but the feel about it was off. It felt like a dungeon but it wasn't one.
Hermione began to pick herself off the cold floor and moved to the window to gain some sort of concept of where she was. The endless tree line didn't give her any clues. All she knew was she was in a strange room and it was almost night time.
There was a creak coming from behind her and Hermione turned her head to see Dolohov. Standing there in his black robes, unbrushed and unruly black hair with a dark beard, he had a very menacing aura. His height and build intimidated her until she backed herself into the corner.
"Look who decided to wake up" He taunted her.
Hermione didn't respond but instead held her breath. She knew any wrong move and she was done for.
"Come," he said. She was trembling but hesitatingly walked over to him, stopping a good foot away from him. This is when she realized how large he actually was. Looking straight she was facing his chest. His shoulder was broad and he didn't seem like he was a real person. He showed no signs of breathing or moving, just a statue.
"As you are aware, I was given you as a gift from our dark Lord." Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat.
His hand rose and she flinched. But instead of hitting her he grabbed the ends of her hair and twirled it in his fingers.
"I would have to be a stupid and blind wizard if I didn't admit you are an exceptionally attractive mudblood. I was given no other instruction that to keep you alive. I will leave the rest open to my own interpretation"
His hand stopped playing with her hair and trailed down to her chest. She backed away step by step but he did not back down.
"I am not known to have a good temper girl" he warned.
Antonin gripped the front of her shirt violently, it knocked the air from her lungs when he pulled her close. His other hand gripped her hair with such a grip she swore some hair got pulled out. His mouth was on her neck viciously biting and running his teeth along it. Hermione begged him to stop and he did not give up.
He threw her back onto the small and dirty cot laying on the floor. The cot is thin enough that when she fell, her head did a small thump on the floor but not enough to injure her. His hand began to tear her bottoms off. The second they were off, his hand started to feel around her most private area. Hermione started to cry and trying to break away but his body held her down.
The evilest and devious smile played on his face. "I love when they fight it"
Lucius Malfoy waited patiently and expected the worst when the rest of the death eaters were dismissed. The long table began to disappear as the last of his 'guests' left from the third meeting in two days.
Voldemort stalked towards his like predator to his prey about to make a jump. Observing his every breath and move.
"I should have you dead right now for the betrayal your son has caused to my efforts," he said. His yellow crooked teeth made visible from the disgust and hatred in his voice. Lucius didn't respond so Voldemort could continue.
"Your disgrace of a son has decided to betray his trust to us. Especially to you. Injuring his own mother and family to save a worthless mudblood. Now how does that reflect on you, Lucius? Your own heir and blood spitting on the very life you gave him"
he paused.
"But, you have been a great asset to me. You are within my inner circle and have given me direct links to the Ministry. To kill you would be a flaw in my plans. But know that when I find that boy and have him within my grasp he will be begging for his new alliance to save him"
Voldemort allowed his serpent to slither up his robes and they both disappeared in a whirl. Lucius let go of the breath he was holding and gripped the stone above the fireplace with his head down. His nausea began to hit full force and beads of sweat began to form on his face.
No more than 24 hours ago all seemed well. His son was back home and the family had their time together. He did admit that they were not a perfect family but it was his family none-the-less. Now his son betrayed him and it broke his heart more painfully than expected.
He began to reason with himself as to why this happened. Did he do something wrong? Has he not bad his personal philosophy clear enough? Has he pushed the boy so bad that it strayed him away? None of those questions registered in his head. Nothing made sense anymore. But despite the heartache and pain, he caused Lucius, he still urged to find him and make sure he is safe.
The first thought that came to mind was the floo in the kitchen. He needed to get to Hogwarts, that was the only logical place Draco can be since he was protected there. With a handful of Floo powder, we threw it and demanded to be in the Headmasters office.
Albus Dumbledore watched shocked at the usually well-groomed and suave Lucius Malfoy stumbling out of the floo with unruly hair, unshaven and disheveled. He examined him from across the room and it seemed like he posed no threat but instead needed assistance.
"Where is my son?" He demanded.
"I cannot tell you," Dumbledore said.
Malfoy felt his heart rate rise and panic flood his brain. If he wasn't here, where did they take him? Did the ministry take him? Was he kidnapped by the Order?
"Albus…I never asked anything of you. Just tell me where my son is. Where is Draco? Is he safe?"
Albus saw the pure desperation and anguish in the man's eyes as he begged for his son. Never in a million years had he thought he'd see the day that the once proud aristocratic Malfoy be before him begging. His heart broke for the man because it seemed he was at the end of his wits. Albus led him to the armchair close to his desk.
"He is safe my boy. I cannot tell you more than that."
"Who took him?"
"Like I said, I cannot tell you more than that"
That is when he broke. His breath became quick and heavy. He held his hands to his face and began to let out an angry sob. Everything in his world had begun to crumble around him and he did not know how to deal with it. Even the last remaining brick of sanity began to tumble as Dumbledore told him he can't tell him where his son is.
"I have a question for you Lucius." Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "You must hear me out. Not only for your safety but also for Draco's."
Lucius lifted his head and waited for him to speak.
"You have seen first-hand what the dark lord can do to a family. He is the cause of tearing yours apart. He is driving you to madness no matter how much you deny being in his clan. I have seen him do much worse. There have been bloodlines extinguished, families torn apart, the most respectable of people turned into cavemen by him. Luckily your son has seen the horrors that can be caused and ran from it. The only thing I ask of you is to reconsider your position."
Lucius stood up with unexplainable rage. "How dare you old assume my connections with the Dark Lord and you try to insult me"
"Lucius, calm yourself. Just think about what I said."
Lucius paced to the other side of the room and wiped his tear stained face.
Albus approached with caution "I am offering you safety"
"At what cost Albus? That I lose everything and that I abandon every single thing that my side has fought for."
Both men allowed there to be silence as they both thought to themselves.
"I am not strong enough old man.I am too deep in" Lucius whispered.
"May I bring in someone that will help in this decision?"
Malfoy raised up and eyebrow and stiffened. Albus turned towards Fawkes. He puts the top of his head and as if reading his mind the Phoenix flex out the window and within minutes was back on his desk.
The floor exploded in green flames as Severus Snape walked out. The instant he made eye contact with a very confused Lucius, both eyes darted to Dumbledore.
"Severus, how are you?" Albus asked politely.
"This isn't the time for formalities. What is going on Dumbledore?"
Albus decided this was the perfect time to take a seat in his old leather chair behind the desk. What was about to happen can either go magnificently well or deathly wrong.
"Lucius, as you well know Severus is a very trusted member of the Dark Lords circle just as you are. But he is also a well trusted and highly resourceful member of the Order of the Phoenix."
Lucius couldn't believe his ears. He has known this man since Hogwarts and not even once had he thought of him as a traitor. There was not a single indication nor clue about this.
"What are you leading to?" Lucius asked as he kept a deadly stare at Severus.
"Severus is able to go in and gather information for the Order. He remains safe and protected by both sides. As a very helpful part of our efforts, Severus is kept safe in the order, there were no sacrifices made. But there is a very different part that you could play. Severus is in his circle but you are part of his inner circle. You know things that even Severus cannot tell us. In exchange for this information and your loyalties to the Order, we offer you protection from any prosecution and contact with Draco"
The glare he kept on Snape soon traveled to Albus.
"So you are telling me that you want me to spy on you?" he said with a snarl.
"Yes. Like I said, in exchange for this I will allow you to contact your son. You will not be prosecuted. You will remain under our protection as long as your information is true and helps us defeat him."
Malfoy ran his hand through his hair and contemplated. He knew in the back of his mind that Voldemort had dwindling chances of winning this war. With every move Potter made, Voldemort grew weaker but assured them they were going to be victorious. With all options laid on the table, it seemed that this would be the only way he can protect himself and his son. His own ego was keeping him in the way of giving in. This went against everything that he believed in his head but his soul and heart told him that this was the only way towards freedom and peace.
"I accept."
Draco sat on the large couch in the Weasley home. Molly came into the room and saw the blonde boy staring off into space with his head tilted.
"Here you go Draco. I hope this helps." She handed him a bowl of stew.
Arthur sat in his lounging chair and watched as the usually rude and cruel young man took the bowl with care and thanked Molly.
It was very odd to have Draco in the Weasley home but this was the only place he could go before the Order decided if they will take him. Draco knew that he had said some awful things about the family but he seemed to have gotten some of it wrong. For the first time in a very long time when he entered the home, Draco felt like it was a home. There were pictures of the Weasley's everywhere as well homemade blankets and little objects that seemed to have no place.
He finished his stew and placed it on the coffee table.
"I don't even know how I can begin to thank you," he said.
Arthur smiled at the Malfoy " Don't you worry Draco. It is our pleasure. You reconsidering your position is more than enough for a thank you."
Draco smirked and smoothed his hair back.
"I just feel like I don't deserve your hospitality after all I have said and done. It honestly stunned me that you even offered."
Molly summoned tea for the three from the kitchen to float in. Each cup floating into each individual's hand.
"You are trying to choose your own path and we want to help you with that. What's said is said and whats done is done. Not only on your end but on our end as well. Let us move past that and go from here-on-out alright? Molly smiled.
Molly tried to sympathize for the boy. He has been raised in such a cold environment. He was raised to be tough and to follow the set rules or else he would disappoint someone. She felt his greatest fear at the moment was a disappointment. Draco went from building stone walls around himself in order to not get hurt or distracted from his families rules. But now he knew that it was too late to turn back and he had to plan for the future.