Harry awoke in the early hours of the morning. Yesterday, after everyone had went over the plans to the point of sickness, they had dispersed and planned on meeting in the apartment that night, precisely at 7:00.
They wanted to begin their mission with the cover of darkness. Yes, it was the Sahara Desert, but you never knew who could be watching.
Harry had not slept well. He knew Rose was in trouble, he could feel it. He swore he had heard her yell to himin his dreams?
He stretched, getting rid of the aches in his tense muscles. He looked around the room. It now looked so empty without Rose's things scattered around, her makeup laying on the now barren dresser, her warm body sleeping peacefully next to him.
What is she doing now? He couldn't stand to think about the answer. Something deep inside of him knew that she was not all right. He shuddered as a strong feeling of nausea came over him.
"Tonight," Harry said quietly to himself, "Just hold on till tonight."
He got up hastily from the messy bed and pulled on a white T-shirt over his bare chest. He walked out into the empty hall, his sweaty feet sticking to the cold floors. He slumped down on the couch and watched the bright sun make its way in through the windows.
He would have enjoyed the experience if it had not been for the constant churning of his stomach. He looked over and saw his old picture album sitting on the side table. He picked it up, blew a few dust bunnies off and proceeded to open the ancient book.
Inside were the familiar pictures of his parents and him as a baby. He smiled weakly as he took in their happy faces as they smiled at him through the picture.
He flipped through them, feeling better as he watched the smiling people from his past. He went slower when he got to his older years at Hogwarts. He had been given a Muggle camera from Hermione for his sixteenth birthday and had used it constantly.
He smiled as he saw one that Ginny had taken of him, Ron, and Hermione standing by the lake.
It had been the last day of school and it was sweltering hot, but Ginny had insisted they had one taken. They all looked sweaty, but their smiles were pure and happy. Ron was standing in the middle, overshadowing the other two. His eyes were squinted because of the sun, but in the picture he was laughing. He had told them a joke right before the picture had been taken and had thought it was the funniest thing. Hermione stood next to him with a hand on his shoulder. She looked more composed and very pretty with her bushy hair kept up in a sloppy bun high on her head.
Harry looked at himself. His eyes shone a bright green behind his characteristic glasses. His arm was around Ron and his hand rested on Hermione's.
Harry sighed as he remembered his past. Where did the time go?
****************
Hermione woke to the soft sound of Ron's snores. She smiled to herself despite the present situation and turned to gaze at her Ron.
He was lying on his back, his mouth slightly open. One of his hands was tucked under his fiery red hair and the other rested upon his slowly rising-and-sinking chest.
Hermione placed her hand on his chest rubbing it softly up and down. She just stared at his face, her eyes content to rest upon its beauty.
Her mind flashed back to her Hogwarts days. Who knew that she and Ron would end up like this? Hermione had actually had a crush on Harry most of her youth. She knew Ron had liked her, but she had never responded to his attentions. Her heart went out to him as she realized how much she had missed. How could I have been so blind? The man of my dreams in front of me this whole time, and there I was, too pig-headed to realize it.
She stopped her rubbing as she watched him stir. His lips mouthed unheard words and his hands moved to his face. She smiled as she watched him rub his eyes open and take an incredibly cute yawn.
To her delight, he looked her way and his face broke out in a boyish grin.
"How long have you been watching me?" he said with a playful voice.
"I'm not suretime is lost when I am with you," Hermione replied, placing a warm hand on his bristly chin.
"You're so sweet," he said, placing a tender kiss on her fore head. "I wish I could make love to you."
Hermione gave him a confused look. "Why can't you?" she asked, sounding very disappointed.
Ron smirked, "Because, I know my breath smells horrendous."
Hermione chuckled and slid her arms around him.
"You know what?" she said, as she gently slid atop him, "I don't care." With that she placed her mouth sweetly upon his. She could feel him smile against her lips, but they then began to kiss in earnest.
Hermione moaned slightly as Ron slid his warms hands up under her nightshirt and massaged her skin.
They rolled over a couple of times, getting completely tangled within the sheets.
Hermione could care less. She was with the man she loved. She let his loving kisses intoxicate her for the rest of the morning.
*************
Harry woke with a start, hearing voices in the hallway. He had fallen asleep looking at the pictures. To his relief, he actually felt very rested. He looked at his watch, 11:00.
"Hey Harry," Hermione said cheerfully as she and Ron breezed into the room. Her face changed from a sweet smile to a frown as she realized Harry's unhappiness.
"Did you get much sleep?" she questioned, now more concerned.
"Yeah, I just took a little nap actually. Don't worry bout me, Mione." Harry tried to give her the most reassuring look he could muster.
Ron had sauntered into the kitchen and made him and Hermione cups of coffee.
"You want some more coffee?" he asked Harry, with a little crack in his voice. Harry had no doubt what he and Hermione had just been up to.
"No, I'm fine. Actually could you bring me some water?" Harry felt this would refresh him. He was feeling more depressed than ever. He tried not to let it show. The last things his friends needed was a wet blanket.
"Sure thing, mate," Ron cheered.
"Have you had any breakfast?" Hermione asked, plopping down next to him.
"NoI'm really not that hungry."
Hermione turned and gave him a stern look. "Yes, I know you may not seem hungrybut food will be good for you, trust me. Breakfast is on me," she said with a smile. Harry couldn't help but smile back. Hermione always seemed to make the worst situations seem better by adding a practicality to them.
Hermione leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. He squeezed her knee and watched her get up and bustle to the kitchen. She accepted the coffee cup from Ron, thanking him with a lingering kiss and then began to prepare the meal.
Ron stumbled over to the chair opposite Harry and sat down with a dreamy look on his face.
"Good morning, eh?" Harry said with a smirk on his face.
Ron snapped back and looked at Harry sharply, "You didn't hear us did you?" he asked with a shocked look on his face.
Harry chuckled at his friend's behavior, "No, no. Don't worry bloke. I was fast asleep. But, it's really obvious the way you're walking around with that dreamy look on your face."
Ron frowned and made a face that made Harry burst out laughing.
"Gone?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head, chuckling with silent laughter.
Ron shrugged, "I suppose it can't be helped. Hermione just does that to you."
Harry's smile faded, thinking of his own love for a certain woman.
"She'll be okay," Ron said comfortingly, obviously sensing Harry's sudden change in attitude.
"I hope beyond all hope that you're right" Harry muttered.
"I am," Ron stated confidently, "Tonight, we will go into this hell hole, rescue her valiantly, kill all the bad guys, and get home in time for the sunrise. Sound good?"
Harry gave Ron and exasperated look. "I can't believe you can be so confident about this, Ron."
"I'm sorry Harry," Ron replied, looking sullen, " It's just I have a gut feelingit will be okay. I know this must be hell for you. Rose is a wonderful woman and I can only imagine the anxiety you're going through. But I trust my gutand my gut says she will hold through, and we will find her. I know this sounds super cheesybut love will prevail, my friend. It always does."
Harry smiled slightly at his friend's speech. He was feeling a glimmer of hope make it's way through his body.
***************
Rose made her way down the long, steaming hall, carrying her tray of meager and disgusting food. All the workers ate here and Rose had grown accustomed to the vulgarity of it.
She seated her self next to another woman who gave her an evil grin. She sported a mouth of missing teeththose that were still intact were completely black. Her eyelids drooped and she cackled as Rose tried to smile politely back.
Rose looked away quickly and met two bright blue eyes staring back at her.
They belonged to the man who had confronted her earlier. She could only assume he was a mole. She looked into his face. His face was smudged with dirt and his chin was stubbed with bristly hairs. His eyes were a bright blue, and his brown hair was shaggily cut, as though with a knife.
He looked away and proceeded to slurp down the watery soup. Rose looked down at her own plate, frowning as she took in the stale, crumbly bread, the watery soup filled with chunks of soggy vegetables, and the dirty glass of water.
She felt her stomach take a sudden lurch. She really wasn't hungry and actually felt quite nautious, but she knew she needed some sort of food in her body. Not if it's poison, a small voice in her mind said. Quit being so spoiled Rose. Your going to eat what you get, get used to it.
Rose took a big gulp and began to slurp down the soup. She took fast gulps, trying to get the food down as fast as possible.
"Slow down, mate," the man from across the table mumbled.
Rose looked up and gave him slight smile. "Trying to get the process of digesting this so called food done as soon as possible."
"I've gotten past that stage," he said making a funny face, "Now I've actually learned to enjoy it a little. The vegetables aren't that bad if you eat them with your bread. They sort of blend in with itplus it softens the bread."
"Thanks for the advice," Rose said winking.
The man chuckled. Rose couldn't help but like him. Rose looked around, thinking to herself that he was being rather risky talking to her in such a friendly manner. To her relief there was no one else sitting around them. The lady with ugly teeth had left and now they were alone, save a rowdy group of obese men sitting down at the end.
"What is your name?" Rose asked the man. She knew he probably wouldn't give her his real one, but she might as well call him something.
"You can call me Wolf," he said with a smirk, "How about you?"
"I'm Rose."
"Now there's a name you won't find often around here," he said with a chuckle as he looked around at their dreary surroundings.
"How long have you been here?" she asked curiously.
A frown came over Wolf's face, "Ohabout three months I would say."
"I'm so sorry," Rose whispered, feeling a great pity for the man.
Wolf gave her a searching look. "You look a lot like Oliver," he said quietly.
Rose really wanted to ask him how he knew her brother, but she noticed a husky man walking in their direction.
She just gave Wolf a blank look and then directed her attention to the man walking up.
"You, Muggle," he said pointing to Rose. Wolf stirred in his seat.
"Yes?" Rose asked sounding pissed.
"You're wanted by my master. Follow me."
Rose gave Wolf one more glance. He looked back with a sympathetic look on his face. His eyes help empathy and kindness. She hoped beyond hope he would make it out of this place eventually.
She quickly got up from her seat and followed the husky man to what she could only imagine would be another round of torture.
***************
Two hours earlier
"Is this everyone?" Harry asked importantly as he looked around at everyone standing crowded in the foyer of the apartment.
"Yes," Hermione stated as she counted over the heads, "Ready?"
They were all going to Apparate to the hotel and then disperse from there. They were going to go in triplets, trying to go for the subtle look.
Harry nodded to Hermione's question. Everyone else did the same.
"So everyone knows where we're Apparating to?" Hermione checked sounding slightly worried.
Everyone nodded again. No one seemed like they were able to speak.
Hermione nodded back. "Okayon the count of three we Apparate. Onethree!"
That was the last anyone heard. Hermione felt the familiar swirling sensation come over her as her surroundings blurred in front of her.
In a short while she was standing behind a shabby looking building, next to an incredibly smelly dumpster.
She looked around and saw everyone just as they had been a few minutes before, except in a totally different setting.
She turned to look beside her at Malfoy, who had gotten out what looked like a compass, but the needle was swirling around rapidly.
"What's that Malfoy?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"This, Weasley, is a Wumpass. It will lead you to where ever you want to go. As long as I keep my mind on that place, we should be all right. So please, if you don't mind, shut up so I can concentrate."
Ron gave Malfoy an evil look, but Draco took no notice. He took Ginny's hand and led the way.
"I'm going to go ahead with Ginny and Sirius," Draco said lazily as he walked ahead, looking as though he was concentrating very hard.
Sirius looked very sullen but walked along, a little behind the couple. Harry watched with growing nerves as the three disappeared into the dimming sunlight.
Forty minutes later it was Harry's group's turn to go. He,
Ron, and Hermione stood in a line and walked in long strides towards their destination. They knew where to go, for when Draco had first gone he had left tiny stones in the sand, leading them to the entrance.
Finally, they arrived. The cactus did indeed look like a wizard. Harry slowly looked around for signs of the others. He did not see anyone. For a moment a flood of fear swept over him.
But suddenly they all appeared. He, Ron, and Hermione all jumped.
"Invisibility Charm," Draco said curtly, "Just a precaution."
"Nice," Hermione breathed. Ron gave her an annoyed look. He obviously wouldn't admit anything Malfoy did was "nice".
"What do we do now?" Ginny asked stepping up next to Draco. He looked down at her with worried eyes.
"We go in," he said softly.
Harry walked up to the cactus and after searching the bark, he found the light inscription of the Dark Mark.
"Here is the mark. Is everyone ready? Arm yourselves. We go into the unknown."
He gave everyone a determined look and they just stared back, each one looking as if this were some sort of nightmare.
Harry turned around, feeling his stomach turn to lead. He slowly brought up his wand and placed it on the mark. He saw it glow a brilliant red.
"Password," a voice from the mark hissed.
"Mercanian," Harry said with a hateful tone. The mark turned its normal color and then the cactus jumped aside, leaving a large tunnel, just as Malfoy described it.
Harry heard slight gasps from the crowd of people waiting to jump in.
He felt Ron come up behind him.
"You ready Harry?"
"YeahI'll go first."
"Good luck."
Harry nodded, but did not look up. His head was too full of fear to face his friend. Before Harry knew what he was doing, he quickly stepped forward and took a small jump into the hole.
He felt himself falling. Falling and falling. For a time he wondered if it would ever end, until finally he felt his feet land on the floor. Harry jumped when he heard a voice.
"Who is it?" a man said, coming forward. He was burly and had long, greasy black hair.
Harry didn't stop to think. He pointed his wand at the man and quickly shouted Stuptefy! The man stopped dead in his tracks and fell flat over on the floor.
Harry could hear footsteps coming from the hall. He stood where he was until Ron and Draco had come down from the tunnel.
"What happened?" Ron asked loudly.
"A man was hereI stunned him. More are coming quick!"
Just then three men burst into the room, wands drawn. By this time Draco had sneaked into a corner. Harry and Ron with good reflexes ducked down as three curses shot towards them. They ricosheyed off the walls and hit two of the men.
Draco came out from the shadows and stunned the other man. He wiped his brow and walked towards the other two, who were now joined by Ginny and Hermione.
"Draco are you alright?" Ginny asked shrilly as she rushed forward to greet him.
"Yes. Do not worry about me, Gin. The sooner I can get you out of here the better."
Ginny grunted. "Well, Draco, I'm sure you won't have any problems with thatyou being a spy and everything." She was obviously still upset about the secret he had kept from her.
"Ginnydon't be upset. I'll explain everything later. Pleaseplease, forgive me."
Ginny's face softened and she looked into Malfoy's face with watery eyes.
"If you were anyone else I might be able to refuse. But alas, Draco, you are my weakness. I forgive you."
Harry stood and watched this dialogue with interest. No one else seemed to be paying attention to them. In that short time, everyone else had managed to get down.
They seemed to be in a dark room, dimly lit. But two giant doors, now wide open seemed to lead to a dark hallway.
"Shouldn't we get going?" Fred asked impatiently.
"How the hell are we supposed to find Rose?" Wood asked angrily as he stepped forward to speak with Harry.
"We can use these men's robes for a disguise," Hermione suggested. "I don't think we should all go in quite yet. Let's not totally blow our cover."
"That only leaves four people who can go in," Ron stated.
"Good for you, Weasley. You can count," Malfoy jeered.
Ron chose to ignore Malfoy, but in the dimness of the room, Harry could see his face going red with held in anger.
By this time Wood had stepped forward.
"Rose is my sister. I'm going in. I don't care how amateur I am at this, I don't think I can just sit here and watch other people save my sister."
Harry nodded and added, "That's fine Wood. I'll be one too."
Harry and Wood proceeded to undress two of the guards.
"Harry, you can't go without me and Hermione," Ron said in a rush pulling Hermione forward with him. The rest of the crowd smiled slightly, expecting this.
So there it was. After a little while the four of them had gotten on the guard robes. They were long and black, made of an extremely heavy material. They all pulled up the hoods so their faces were hidden. They hoped with all their might that they wouldn't be recognized. Hermione had perfomed a disguise charm on Harry's scar, so it just blended in with the rest of his skin.
"I'd take cover within the shadows of the room. If any more come, surprise them and stun them. It will wear off in three hours, so we have time."
"Be careful, Harry," Sirius stated as Harry began to leave. Harry turned to look at his godfather.
"I will, Sirius."
With that, the four turned around and walked through the large entrance into the dark hallways, where they could faintly hear the sounds of people talking, and fires cackling.
*************
"So glad you could make it," Mercanian cheered as Rose was pushed into what she considered the torture room.
"Did I really have a choice?" she spat back, slumping into a near-by chair. She was already so exhausted.
"No, but just the thought of making your life a living hell makes me squirm with happiness."
"How sweet," Rose sneered rolling her eyes. Her fear of this man was ebbing away by the second. She really was too pissed to put up with his crap.
"I'm sure you won't find this so sweet," Mercanian roared as he pointed his wand out and yelled Animanus!
Rose suddenly stiffened in her chair, overcome with a searing pain through her head. She clamped her hands over her skull in reaction. She could hear her ears ringing and she shouted at the top of her lungs. Her eyes blurred with tears, but she made out Mercanian's form come over and kneel in front of her.
"It hurts doesn't it?" he asked calmly. Rose didn't reply. She had begun to tremble from the pain. Her brain seemed to be pulsing inside of her skull.
"YesI thought so. How about his?" He pressed both of his hands on her clammy cheeks. She whimpered at the touch. They were freezing cold and made her face burn even more in contrast to the burning heat it was producing. Tears rolled down her stinging face as his sharp nails dug into her delicate skin.
But through all this pain, Rose felt a strange feeling inside of her. A voice inside of her was screaming, He's coming!
"He's coming," Rose whimpered involuntarily.
"What?" Mercanian asked, releasing his death grip from her face.
Rose couldn't answer. She just slumped over taking in deep breaths, the pain in her head slowly subsiding.
*************
Harry, Ron, Wood, and Hermione stopped in front of two giant steel doors.
"Let's go," Ron said with a determined tone.
Harry made to open them, but before he could place his hand on the handle, they were swung open, revealing a huge chamber filled with burning fires and working people. Right in front of them stood three men and two women in the same suits the four of them were wearing.
"What are you doing outside?" one of the men asked them.
Harry thought quickly and answered, "There was a false alarm. Some stupid kid got himself down here. But don't worry, we got it all taken care of." He tried to give them an evil grin, but their faces looked doubtful.
"Rightare you sure we don't need to inspect the-"
"Yes, we're sure," Wood interjected roughly, "Best we all get back to work. I hear Mercanian is in a bad mood tonight."
The five all had appalled looks on their faces.
"How dare you call our Master that? You are not fit to utter his true name."
"Damnmy bad. I should go punish myself right now. You want to help me with that guys?" he asked, looking around at Ron, Hermione, and Harry, doubtfully.
They all gave him stern looks and pretended to be angry.
"I'm ashamed," Hermione scolded, "Follow meI know what to do with you."
The other five had satisfied looks on their faces and sauntered off. Harry sighed inwardly, hoping the others near the tunnel wouldn't run into trouble.
The four of them walked around the chamber aimlessly.
"Bad move," Wood whispered to himself.
"Don't worry about it," Hermione soothed, "You didn't know. Just remember, Mercanian is Master around here."
"So how in hell are we supposed to find Rose?" Ron asked skeptically.
"Ask someone?" Hermione reasoned, looking into a nearby fire.
"Wouldn't they get suspicious?" Harry asked. "We probably need a reason to see her."
"Hmmm," Wood pondered, " We could say she's needed by Mercanian?"
"What if she already is with Mercanian?" Hermione checked.
"How about we just weasel it out of them?" Ron suggested.
Harry looked at him with a pondering look, but his thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling to them.
"You four! What are you doing?"
They all jumped and turned to look at another man coming towards them. He carried a long, leather whip that slid menacingly across the floor behind him.
"Ohwe were just going to getshe is needed to work in the fires." Harry said this quite shakily. He didn't like thinking when he was caught off guard.
"Rose? You mean the Muggle bitch they brought down here?"
Harry flinched and fought the strong urge to beat the crap out of the man standing in front of him, but Hermione stepped forward.
"Yeahher. You know where she is? She left without informing us of where she was going."
The man was looking at them doubtful and with squinted eyes, as if he was trying to recognize them.
"Yeah" he said slowly, "She's with Mercanian. Doesn't she go there about this time?"
"Oh yeah! Merlin, it's been one of those days," Hermione made up quickly. Their ignorance was becoming more and more apparent by the second.
"Well, we better be going," Ron said quickly, "Don't want to be late."
They all quickly left the man, who was still giving them a dangerous look, and headed out the nearest door into a dank, narrow hallway.
"Damnit, we're being so stupid," Ron groaned.
"It's not our fault we don't know anything about this place," Wood pointed out, "We're doing the best we can."
They all shut up as two guards came out of a door in front of them. They were walking just ahead of the four and they all listened in to their conversation.
"I wonder what Mercanian did to her today?" one of them asked.
The others cackled. Harry had a sick feeling they were talking about Rose.
"I have no ideawhat could be worse than Crucio Rutiatis?"
Harry's stomach gave a sudden lurch. He looked around at his friends who all had appalled looks on their faces. They obviously were thinking the same thing.
Crucio Rutiatis was a form of the Cruciatis curse. This was probably the most painful of them all. It was meant to burn the receiver from the inside out.
"Who knowsI can't wait to find out. It's time to retrieve her."
Harry's heart jumped at the welcoming news. They were going to Rose.
He mouthed the words, "Follow them" to the others and they nodded their comprehension.
So the two ahead of them wouldn't get suspicious, the four lagged behind and only caught glimpses of where the two were going, then they would rush on just in time to catch another glimpse of them.
Finally the two stopped in front of a door and unlocked it with a shining gold key.
"This is it," muttered Wood, "Should we go attack?"
Harry shook his head. "Let's just follow them insee what they do. But arm yourselves."
They all nodded, each one looking pale and frightened.
They all rounded the corner and headed towards the door.
**************
Fred paced around the room anxiously, kicking up the dirt on the dusty ground.
"Fred," hissed Ginny, who was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed, "Stop doing that, you know I'm alergic to dust!"
"Whatever," he replied, and began to walk towards her, but on his way he tripped on his untied shoelace and fell flat on the ground. Dust went up everywhere, including all in Ginny's face.
Everyone turned apprehensively towards her and she covered her hands over her face.
"She's gunna blow," Fred commented, sliding back.
Ginny made a whimpering sound and then sneezed. It wasn't really a loud sneeze, but it echoed around the room, making it seem ten times louder than it really was.
Everyone held their breath, looking daggers at the two of them.
"What's that sound?" Cate asked fearfully as the rest of the intruders stood quietly in the warm darkness.
"Footsteps," whispered Draco.
"They're coming," stated Sirius, "Hide where you can, surprise is everything."
They all dispersed into the shadows, each one trying to surpress the loud thumps of their hearts and the raggedness of their breathing.
Suddenly the doors burst open, flooding the room with light.
There were eight of them. Men or women, no one could tell. Large hoods covered their faces.
"Are you sure you heard something?" a woman's voice said quietly.
"Positive. I knew those four looked suspicious," a man replied gruffly.
Draco and Sirius, who were standing next to each other, slid behind the group of wizards as they walked into the room.
Draco came up behind one and shouted "Stuptefy!" and the wizard slumped to the ground. Sirius punched the another one in the face as he turned around to see who yelled the spell. The others ran out from the shadows where they were hiding and began to yell spells and throw punches as fast as they possibly could.
Fred and Arthur took on one who had charged them. Fred shouted Expelliarmus right when Arthur had shouted Stuptefy. The result was quite interesting. The man slumped to the ground, looking unconscious and sprouting what looked like twigs all over his body.
In the mean time, Draco had lost his wand by Expelliarmus and now had resorted to manual violence. He had kicked one person in the back, just as they were about to shoot Sirius with a curse. Draco, in return had gotten a nasty punch in they face, followed by another in his stomach. Draco fought the urge to throw up and kicked the person back in the stomach, shooting them back six feet on the ground. Draco quickly ran over and grabbed their wand out of their limp fingers and shouted Stuptefy!
Two men were cornering Sirius, their wands pointed towards him.
They were both chuckling softly under their hoods, which made Sirius uneasy.
One of the men raised his wand and started, "Avada-", but he was interrupted. Cate had shouted Expelliarmus just in time and the man's wand fluttered out of his hand, into hers. The other man, taken by surprise, was then hit soundly in the face by Sirius and then left unconscious after Sirius stunned him.
Fifteen minutes later, the guards were down.
They all looked worse for the wear. Arthur was sitting on the ground panting. He had just had the wind knocked out of him by a punch in the stomach.
Draco, who was sporting a bloody lip and a black eye, was leaning over Ginny who had been stunned. He stroked her face and muttered Revivo. Ginny stirred and looked up into Draco's eyes.
"Hello beautiful," Draco said.
"Is everyone okay?" She asked, getting up slowly.
"Yeah, don't worry." Ginny suddenly realized Draco's lip and eye and gasped.
"Oh, honeylet me fix that for you." She placed her wand on his lips and muttered a healing charm she had learned. Ginny was great at Charms and within five minutes Draco was good as new.
"Feeling better?" she asked sweetly.
"I don't think my healing treatment is done yetmy lips still hurt a little."
Ginny smirked. "Maybe this will help." She leaned in and kissed Draco softly on his pale lips. He encircled his arms around her, oblivious to the other people in the room. To his disappointment she tilted her head back. Draco sighed and kissed the side of her neck.
"You do realize we have a woman to save," Ginny remarked sternly.
"Let Potter do the savingI have the only woman I care about right here."
Ginny looked into Draco's pale eyes.
"I love you Draco Malfoy," she said softly, rising to her feet. She helped pull him up and he stood a few inches taller than she did.
"As I do you, Ginny Weasley."
"Excuse me for butting into this touching momentbut we need your healing charm Gin," Fred said with a sly grin on his face.
Ginny reluctantly looked away and busied herself with fixing Sirius bloody head.
"How much time do they have left?" Cate asked Draco.
"An hour and a half," he replied grimly looking at his watch, "Wonder what Potter's doing now?"
*************
As Harry neared the door, he heard the whimper of a woman. He felt a strong surge of nausea but clutched his hands into fists and stormed into the room.
To Harry's horror he saw what unmistakably had to be Mercanian holding Rose against the wall, his hands over her throat. She was shaking uncontrollably, eyes looking into his, fear and anger apparent in her face.
The two guards looked around at them, but before they could do anything Mercanian had turned and spoke to them.
"Ah, you are lucky, Rosethe guards have come." He released her and she sighed heavily and slumped down on the floor, resting her head on her knees.
Harry nearly died watching her suffer like this, but he stood still, waiting for Mercanian's orders.
"Why are there so many of you?" he asked curiously.
Hermione stepped forward, "We thought you may need help, Master."
He gave her an approving look and walked away again towards Rose. Harry sucked in a sharp breath as he grabbed her fiercely by the arm and pulled her upward. She yelped in pain and struggled to get free of his painful grip. She bit his hand harshly, drawing blood. He yelled in pain and through her at them. She landed in Ron's outstretched arms with a whimper.
"Take her away," Mercanian growled, sucking the cut Rose had made.
Rose did not look at their faces, but closed her eyes wearily. Ron and Harry had taken her by either arm and were gently leading her out the door.
"Where are you taking her?" one of the other guards asked as they exited the room.
"We'll take care of it," Wood answered curtly, "You can go on to your business." Rose jerked up slightly, recognizing the voice.
The other two looked suspicious but slightly relieved. "You sure? She's a fierce one, she is."
Wood nodded and they all turned away abruptly and walked quickly forward. Rose turned to look at them and her face drained of all color.
"Oliver? Harry? Ron? Hermione?" She asked weakly, stopping suddenly and looking at them all with rapidly moving eyes.
"Yes, Rose, we're here now," Oliver said, taking a step forward and stroking her bloody face.
Tears began to flow down her face. They all started when they heard voices coming from the hall.
"Talk later," Ron whispered in her ear as they again proceeded to drag her down the hall.
Rose whimpered softly in comprehension. Harry discretely took her cold, clammy hand and held it tightly within his own. He couldn't bear to see her suffer so. She glanced up at him with a blank expression on her face. He could not read what she was thinking. He then remembered the last time he had left her- he had gone with Thaurthoniel.
Damnit, he thought inwardly, I've been such a bastard to her!
She removed her glance and looked forward at the oncoming person; a single guard who looked vaguely familiar
"Merlin," Hermione breathed and stopped abruptly when the man came upon them.
Harry realized what had happened and he felt the color drain from his face when he realized who it was.