Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry. J K Rowling and Warner Bros. does. And
I totally disclaim "I'm with you" by Avril Lavigne.
I am so unbelievably sorry about leaving it so long before I posted, this was one of the hardest chapters I had to write. It took a lot of hours on the phone with Cari trying to figure it out and then exchanging the chapter several times to make sure we were both happy with it. Plus I spent almost a month in Sydney and we're both doing out last year of high school and Cari is moving so it's been pretty hectic and frankly, I think you should be glad to at least have this chapter. Look for the next chapter, I like to say next week, but realistically in about a month. And oh yes, horray for J K Rowling Book 5 is out on the 21st of June!!!
Chapter 10 - Rescuing Hermione
Draco tossed and turned all night, waking every few hours sticky with sweat and tangled in his large bed sheets. In the few hours he did sleep, his dreams were filled with horrible images of Hermione back in his hotel bathroom, he relived the scene over and over again, until the blood, the tears and the pain became too much for him to stand and he woke.
Draco left his room just before sunrise, he didn't bother with breakfast or a shower or any other morning pleasantries, he was so completely focused on Hermione he only barely remembered to get dressed. Flinders Cabin seemed the only logical place Harry and Ron would be so, obviously, that's where he went. Just as the sun was beginning to come into view over the horizon, Draco heard a deep rumbling, something sounding very alien to this world, rounding the corner Draco's eyes met with an unexpected sight, a sight he made sure would be imprinted in his mind for a long time. Harry and Ron asleep on a bench, the deep extra terrestrial rumbling, he realised, was nothing but Ron snoring loudly. 'Finally,' he thought, 'I have proof that the Weasley's really are aliens.'
After taking in the irony of the situation, Draco began to think of what he was going to do. Hermione was indeed in danger, but even now the Old Draco and his wicked ways began to shine through once more. The Old Draco. Where did that come from? To think of his wicked self as old implied there was a new less wicked Draco. And he wasn't sure he was ready to change. But perhaps it wasn't a decision, perhaps it just happened.... Draco looked at the sleeping boys and thought of how he would feel if he were suddenly friends with them. Friends with them? He would never be friends with them. Even if he wanted to be friends with them, they wouldn't even contemplate it. Come to think of it. Why the hell am I contemplating such a thing?
The sun was now fully visible in the morning sky and Harry and Ron were beginning to stir, Draco ducked out of sight, as the boys began to stretch. Both boys sat up and bid each other good morning, before trudging down the street towards the entrance to Flinders Cabin. Draco followed behind just out of sight, but always in ear shot.
"Harry, what are we doing here?"
"Saving Hermione"
"But what if it's a trap, what if Malfoy is setting us up, what if he is planning to deliver us to Voldemort?"
"Ron, life is full of what ifs, but to me the biggest and most important what if is, what if it's not a trap and Hermione is in danger? Can you afford to take that chance?"
"Wise words Potter." Draco said coming out of the shadows. Both boys had turned to confront Draco, "It doesn't sound like you care about her much, Weasley," he continued, "your worried about your ass more than hers."
"Forgive me if I find it a little hard to believe that you have a heart, Malfoy, let alone find enough compassion in it to help her."
"Don't insult me, Weasley, you have no idea what has happened in the last few days. Just to ease your mind, she is in trouble and if I did want to deliver you to the Dark Lord, don't you think I would have done it before now?" Draco's voice was sharp, annoyed, threatening, daring Ron to fight him. Draco knew just how to aggravate Ron's short temper, over the years he had developed a voice and a look he used only when dealing with Ron. He had narrowed it down to an art.
Sensing danger, Harry stepped between the two boys, who looked as if they were ready rip each others throat out. "Enough," he said firmly, "I'm hungry." Harry added those last two words as if it was just another day and it was just about time for lunch.
After a few confused looks and more deadly glares between Ron and Draco, the three of them found themselves in a nearby muggle café eating foccacias for breakfast. Draco explained what had happened in the last few days, although he left out the part about dinner, the kiss and his feelings towards Hermione. 'It would only make things worse' he decided. Harry and Ron had a lot of questions for Draco, to begin with Ron wanted to know more about the first night, when Draco saved Hermione's life, Hermione had mentioned something about it in a letter but she was very vague, and even Draco had skimmed over it. Draco argued at first, preferring not to tell them, but eventually gave in. Two against one weren't good odds.
Ron was stunned. 'Kidnapped. Hermione was almost... Dead. Killed. Murdered. She hadn't done anything. She was innocent. Oh, Hermione. Who? I'll kill them!'
"Who? Why? Harry, we have to do something." Ron said aloud.
"We can't Ron. Its over now. They can't hurt her anymore. Now we just need to focus on saving her from Voldemort. Okay?" Harry was calm and sensible, even though he too, was shocked and angry that someone could do that to her. He was also angry at Hermione which he found surprising. Angry that she could let herself get into that sort of situation.
"As much as I never thought I'd say this, Harry's right. We have to focus on now."
Draco lead Harry and Ron to the run down, old house in which Hermione was being held, they scoped the area trying to find the best way to get in and out without being noticed. Although each of the boys was anxious to get Hermione out, all agreed it was best to wait until nightfall, at least that way the dark of night would hide them, if nothing else. After their entrance and exit points had been located, they headed back to Draco's hotel room for a shower and a bite to eat. Draco tried to organize some sort of plan or strategy, Harry didn't like the idea.
"Look, Malfoy," Harry explained, much to Draco's disgust, "in my experience, plans are useless, I have never gone into anything with any sort of a plan. I just take it as it comes because life with throw something at you that you weren't expecting and it will throw your plan completely out of proportion."
"Life will throw something at you? Please Potter," Draco drawled, "are you telling me that in all your encounters with the Dark Lord, you never once had a plan? That when, or should I say if, you defeat him, you will do it, not having planned it beforehand?"
"The only plan I have, is to get everyone out alive, you, Hermione, Ron, and me, if I can." Harry's eyes showed, if nothing, his genuine concern for everyone's lives, Malfoy's included.
"Don't bother yourself with me, Potter. I can look after myself."
"I know, but even the best of us can use a hand sometimes."
Draco looked at Harry, he soon realised, Harry had one of the purest souls in the world, muggle and wizard alike, he harbored no hate for anyone, although he was bordering on the hate line with the likes of Voldemort and his cronies, but still even then, even after his parents died, he still doesn't hate... Innocents were hard to come by these days, that's why he has to destroy Voldemort, because he's an innocent. Seerers, true seerers, must go crazy when he's around; granted he probably hasn't meet a true seerer, but his aura I swear must be pure white.
Harry checked his watch, 10 am. He groaned.
"Oh, you can't be serious. 10 am? That's it! We have to wait another," he paused, it had been a while since he'd done any sort of math so it took him a few seconds, to figure out just how long they had to wait till night fall, "9 hours until dark. Oh, this sucks! What are we suppose to do till then?"
Harry and Ron, who had just gotten out of the shower, (a/n: Ron that is, only Ron, don't be gross!) both looked at Draco, who seemed content sitting there biting his nails.
"Don't do that." Ron said finally after it was obvious Draco was going to ignore Harry's question. "It's a disgusting habit," he told him, "I use to do it too, then mum put this spell on my nails and whenever I bit them they would turn bright red, I was constantly teased by my brothers for wearing nail polish, I tell you, that stopped me quick smart."
"Quick smart?" Draco said with a cringe, "I am not trying to pick a fight or anything, but really, quick smart? Who says that anymore? Apart from my mother."
"Actually," Ron admitted, "I got that saying from my mother!" He wasn't angry, not in the least, "it is kind of stupid, isn't it?" he said with a grin.
***~~~***
After Draco had left, the Death Eaters grabbed her; she struggled to keep her balance as they pulled her through various doors and corridors, until finally she was dumped at the feet of none other than Lucius Malfoy. What a humongous surprise, that was. After a fierce interrogation and a few brutal blows to the head, Hermione was to go to the dungeons. The Death Eaters made a move to grab her.
"I can walk by myself," she snapped at them.
Lucius Malfoy just chuckled, "Let her walk," he said to the Death Eaters and waved his hand indicating they should leave.
"Mr. Malfoy, Sir, just one more thing." Hermione said.
Hermione grabbed the gun she had hidden in her robes and pointed it towards Lucius and pulled the trigger. Click. Nothing. Empty. 'Damn.'
"What is that? Some useless muggle contraption? Give it here. And get out of my sight."
Hermione threw the gun at Lucius.
'Okay, so maybe that wasn't too successful. But I'm sure I'll find another way to get out.'
Apart from the beating Lucius gave her, they hadn't really done anything too terrible to her. The Death Eaters, that is. She was in a dungeon, a sort of prison cell, you know the deal, dark, gloomy and damp with only the disgusting animals to keep you company, like rats and cockroaches and such. The Death Eaters didn't bother to put a watch on her specifically, which Hermione thought was very weird, seeing as though she was the prisoner most likely to be rescued. This was like a bad dream, like a movie, she struggled to remember a muggle movie with which she could compare her situation. She failed.
'Is this what my life has been reduced to? A movie? A sad, sorry movie?' she thought to herself, 'Yes, that is exactly what my life has been reduced to, a movie. So that's how I'll get out, now, pretend Hermione, you are Jodie Foster, what would you do? Check what I have with me.'
Hermione checked her pockets, a tissue, a hair tie and some chewing gum. Fantastic.
Hair tie, tie while fighting, flinging the hair tie, using the hair tie as a sling shot.
'Okay, not to worry. Now the only way to get out is the door, so let's check the door.' The door also was a complete bust, tightly shut and locked, it didn't even rattle when she shook it. Hinges, tight.
"Dammit!" She said aloud.
'Gee, maybe I shouldn't have told Draco to leave me here.'
She gave a big rat a nudge out of the way and sat on the cold, stone ground. Absentmindedly, she began to sing a song that caught her hear on the muggle radio, a few days ago. "..Isn't anyone tryin to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Wont you take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I dont know who you are
but I...... I'm with you..."
***~~~***
Under Harry's remarkable invisibility cloak, which Draco had decided he wanted rather badly, the three boys snuck into the building. It was empty, well, at least the first section was, as they moved through doors and along corridors, they had glimpsed several Death Eaters playing wizard chess, of all things and just talking in general. Rounding a corner, they immediately came to a stop as they found themselves face to face with Richard Parkinson, Pansy's father, talking with another Death Eater, Harry didn't recognize. They slowly moved towards the wall, praying none of the floor boards creaked, and flattened themselves against it until the conversation was over.
"Did Lucius ever find out what that muggle thingy did?" The unknown Death Eater asked.
"Yes, it was something called a gun, the girl got it from the draw of that muggle Zabini (Blaise's father, check the spelling on that) killed. It's a muggle weapon used for killing. If I found out some mudblood teenager tried to kill me, she'd be dead before she hit the ground, but Lucius just thinks it's funny. He is one," Richard stopped, searching for the right word, "strange man. Strange, but powerful. And if all goes to plan, Young Draco Malfoy will in following in his father's footsteps and once he and Pansy are wed, I will be in a position of some influence."
Draco cringed at the thought of ever becoming his father and worse still, marrying Pansy. It just wasn't worth thinking about, but at least now, he had hope, one beautiful glimmer of hope. And her name was Hermione.
The men moved along and they were alone once more.
"Urgh," Ron said quietly, "they're going to make you marry Pansy? Poor you."
"I know, it's disgusting, isn't it? She's happy about it. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one who suggested it. She's so," Draco paused, "repulsive."
"Shut up." Harry held up his index finger to silence them both. "Hear that?"
Ron and Draco both listened. A voice rose from below and drifted through the corridor. The words were muffled, but they could tell it was a song of some sort. Harry and Ron who had heard Hermione sing on a number of occasions recognized her voice immediately, she wasn't fantastic at singing, but at least now they knew where she was. They quietly followed the voice down the hall; with every step the song became clearer, Harry recognized it from. They soon found the door she was behind, and it was guarded by none other than Goyle's father, um, well, Goyle. Now the only question that remained between Hermione and her freedom was, how on earth do they get past Goyle without using magic?
"So, got any ideas Mr. we-don't-need-a-plan?" Draco asked Harry sarcastically, knowing full well he wouldn't.
"Hey, it's not his fault; it's not as if he knew this was going to happen." Ron argued, rapidly coming to Harry's defense.
"Well, you have to be pretty stupid not to expect a guard at the door! Idiot."
Ron, realizing he didn't have a come back, did the first thing he thought of, he flew at Draco with his fists clenched. He hit Draco at full force knocking him backwards, completely out from under the cloak, Draco grabbed onto the front of Ron's shirt and Ron fell back with him. Goyle could hear their argument, and having a similar IQ to his son, could not quite place the where the voices were coming from, that was, of course, until Draco fell out of nowhere, landing in front of him with a bang.
"Young Mr. Malfoy? What are you doing here? Who is that?" Goyle spluttered.
"Mr. Goyle. Fine job. Fine job. Me and my friend and here to see the prisoner. So if you would be so kind as to open the door..."
"Sorry, Young Master Malfoy, I was told not to let you in, and that if you were to arrive you were to see your father straight away."
"See. I knew this wasn't going to work. Now we're going to die and it's all your fault." Ron said, as he shoved Draco.
"My fault, oh that's rich! You're the one who pushed me out!" Draco shoved Ron back.
"What?" Goyle asked dumbly
"Well, you're the one who went all, 'Got any ideas Mr. we-don't-need-a- plan?'"
"You didn't have to get so angry about it!"
"Who are you kidding? You don't know me at all! You don't know any of us at all, not even Hermione, you might think you do, but you don't!"
"Do not bring Hermione into this." Draco said rather harshly. "Listen Mr. High-and-Mighty, We'd all be out of here with Hermione if you had just listened to me.
"Well, sounds to me like you think you can do fine by yourself, so what did you need me for?" Ron's fists were clenched and his face was crinkled in a dangerous scowl.
"Maybe I don't need you" Draco lied.
"Well, why don't you just stay here and rescue Hermione, and I'll go back to England and we'll both get what we want." Ron suggested, not meaning a word of it.
"That's fine with me"
"Fine with me too"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Um, guys?" Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder, finally getting there attention. It seems that while Ron and Draco were arguing, Harry had taken it upon himself to get Goyle out of the way. Harry indicated towards Goyle bound and squirming on the ground, near the door. He had found some old electrical cords running along the wall under the carpet and used them to tie Goyle up and Gag him. Ron and Draco were rather impressed, especially since they didn't notice him doing it.
"Wow," Ron said, simply.
"Um, yeah. Good stuff." Draco acknowledged Harry's work. He was very impressed, but didn't show it. After all, it wouldn't be Draco if he did.
***~~~***
The dungeons were obviously magical, there was no mistaking it. It had been enlarged to fit in nine gloomy, rat infested cells, Hermione was bounding around in the fourth cell along. And yes, she was literally bounding around the cell, she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, jabbing and punching thin air. Harry, who had done such a good job with Goyle, was at the door watching for any other Death Eaters, Ron, of course, had joined him, preferring to hang around with Harry rather than Draco.
Draco moved slowly past the prisoners, one was cowering in the corner, the other was swirling in a circle in the middle of the cell with his arms out and the third was unconscious on the floor. Then there was Hermione. She continued to amaze him. Even after spending countless days in a damp dungeon, she was still...Hermione.
"That's my girl. Always the fighter." Draco smiled at her; she stopped in mid punch, her cheeks quickly turning red from embarrassment.
"Draco, you came back." She grinned at him, "thanks."
"So, ah, let me just have a look at this door," Draco glanced at the lock and the hinges, both tightly secured. He shook a bit. "Ah, bad news. I'll be right back."
Hermione watched Draco race back to the door and disappear through it. Thirty seconds later Draco reappeared and to Hermione's complete surprise, Ron followed him to her cell.
"Ron? Oh my gosh! Ron!" Hermione reached her arms through the bars and pulled Ron into an attempted hug.
"Are you okay?" Ron's eyes were wrinkled with concern.
"I am now."
"Great. Fine. We're all great. Could you, you know, the door!"
"Oh, right yeah! Let's get you out of here." He winked at Hermione and moved towards the lock. He pulled out some wire from his pocket and carefully pushed in inside the lock, then began to wiggle it around. Ron had learnt to pick a lock from the twins, who had found it a useful piece of knowledge, especially during the holidays when they weren't allowed to use magic. After a minute or so, Draco began to get frustrated.
"Could you hurry it up? We don't have all day!"
"This is a delicate process. Unless you're my brothers, who have got it down to an art, they can do it in 30 seconds, but they aren't here are they so you are just going to have to be patient these things take time. In fact this could take up to 10 minutes-" Click. Ron stopped, the lock had popped opened, "or it could take a few minutes."
"Fantastic," Draco grinned, "let's go."
Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and they jogged towards the door, they were almost to the door when Hermione stopped and let go of Draco's hand. He turned to find Ron staring into the cell of a man, doing what looked like some sort of Ballet. Hermione slowly walk up to him. Draco followed; stand on in the left side of him, Hermione was on his right.
"What about him?" Ron asked, directing the question to Draco, "What going to happen to him?"
Draco was silent. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me, Malfoy; tell me he's not going to end up like that guy." Ron pointed at the unconscious, possibly dead, man in the cell next to him.
"There's nothing we can do, he's already crazy." Draco eyes were downcast, "Father always says turning a man crazy is best kind of torture, worse than death, he says that once a man's gone crazy there's nothing left for him."
"I am so sick of this!" Ron turned around and walked towards the door.
***~~~***
Goyle had wiggled around so much, Harry ending up hitting him over the head and knocking him out, just to keep him still. Harry wondered why they were taking so long to get Hermione out. It had been almost 10 minutes already. Ron came back first, silent but clearly distraught, he grabbed the cloak and held it open for everyone to get under. Draco and Hermione came out holding hands; they too were silent and upset. Harry wanted to hug Hermione, but he didn't, it seemed inappropriate somehow. He wasn't sure what it was but it was definitely...something.
They all climbed under the cloak and although it was a bit of a squish, they made it under, not one bit of them showing. They moved slowly in order to keep every part of them covered. They were moving slowly back the way the boys had come, when they heard a voice floating down the hallway. There was no doubt who owned that voice.
"Lucius." Draco whispered softly, more to himself than anyone else.
"Out of the way or he'll hit us," Hermione whispered.
They slowly backed up into a dark corner. Each of them held their breath, not daring to make any sort of noise. Lucius came barging around the corner with two more Death Eaters in tow, between the two other Death Eaters was another prisoner. The prisoner was limp, unconscious probably, he was held under each armpit by the Death Eaters, one on each side, and his feet were dragging behind. They couldn't see his face because his head was lolling around, but one could only imagine what it looked like. Terrible. Lucius was loudly declaring to the prisoner that it was all his fault. They weren't sure what was his fault, but it can't have been very good.
"Stop it, Hermione. That tickles," said Ron.
"What? I'm not touching you."
Ron glanced at his shoulder and staring back at him was a dirty great big spider, he gasped quietly, knowing he couldn't make a sound. Harry clamped his hand over Ron's mouth, letting him breathe through his nose. Draco flicked the spider off Ron's shoulder, but Ron was still breathing heavily and shaking slightly. There was a cry of outrage and Lucius came storming past.
"Everywhere!" He demanded "Look everywhere! The girl is gone. She can't be far; she hasn't been gone too long."
The Death Eaters scattered and Lucius was left alone with one other Death Eater, he was very young, only just recruited. Harry recognized him; he was in the year above them, a Hufflepuff boy, if he remembered correctly. But Hufflepuff? He couldn't have been, Death Eaters come from Slytherin. 'Not all of them,' he reminded himself; 'Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor.'
"Mr. Malfoy, Sir?" He prompted.
"Ah, dammit!" Lucius growled. "If they don't find her, I'm dead. I knew we should have done something to weaken her. But, Master wanted her strong, didn't want to harm her, wanted her for his own. I can't believe this. I only just persuaded him to keep her locked up, but we were never permitted to speak of her parentage. If we didn't speak of it, she wasn't a mudblood."
"Master wanted to have her for his own?"
"Yes, Lewis. He was going to marry her when she turned 18, he thought it was time he had an heir and he was who she chose to mother it."
"That's why she was captured?"
"No, he decided after she was captured. He's never actually met her."
"I don't understand."
"You'll never understand, boy," Lucius said harshly. "That's why you were put in Hufflepuff. Now, if you repeat anything I have told you without permission, I will have your head. Do you understand THAT?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Now, find her."
The hall was empty once more, but none of the invisible teenagers moved a muscle or said a word for what seemed like 5 minutes. It was Hermione who broke the silence.
"We have to go." That was all she said, and they all left.
End Chapter 10
Did you like? You better have, I spent so long on this chapter. Anyway, I was wondering, how do I get bold and italics on to my story? If any of you know email me, but make sure you something about it in subject because otherwise I'll just delete it. Email crookshanks_86@hotmail.com
Thanks, Lozza. XXXOOO
I am so unbelievably sorry about leaving it so long before I posted, this was one of the hardest chapters I had to write. It took a lot of hours on the phone with Cari trying to figure it out and then exchanging the chapter several times to make sure we were both happy with it. Plus I spent almost a month in Sydney and we're both doing out last year of high school and Cari is moving so it's been pretty hectic and frankly, I think you should be glad to at least have this chapter. Look for the next chapter, I like to say next week, but realistically in about a month. And oh yes, horray for J K Rowling Book 5 is out on the 21st of June!!!
Chapter 10 - Rescuing Hermione
Draco tossed and turned all night, waking every few hours sticky with sweat and tangled in his large bed sheets. In the few hours he did sleep, his dreams were filled with horrible images of Hermione back in his hotel bathroom, he relived the scene over and over again, until the blood, the tears and the pain became too much for him to stand and he woke.
Draco left his room just before sunrise, he didn't bother with breakfast or a shower or any other morning pleasantries, he was so completely focused on Hermione he only barely remembered to get dressed. Flinders Cabin seemed the only logical place Harry and Ron would be so, obviously, that's where he went. Just as the sun was beginning to come into view over the horizon, Draco heard a deep rumbling, something sounding very alien to this world, rounding the corner Draco's eyes met with an unexpected sight, a sight he made sure would be imprinted in his mind for a long time. Harry and Ron asleep on a bench, the deep extra terrestrial rumbling, he realised, was nothing but Ron snoring loudly. 'Finally,' he thought, 'I have proof that the Weasley's really are aliens.'
After taking in the irony of the situation, Draco began to think of what he was going to do. Hermione was indeed in danger, but even now the Old Draco and his wicked ways began to shine through once more. The Old Draco. Where did that come from? To think of his wicked self as old implied there was a new less wicked Draco. And he wasn't sure he was ready to change. But perhaps it wasn't a decision, perhaps it just happened.... Draco looked at the sleeping boys and thought of how he would feel if he were suddenly friends with them. Friends with them? He would never be friends with them. Even if he wanted to be friends with them, they wouldn't even contemplate it. Come to think of it. Why the hell am I contemplating such a thing?
The sun was now fully visible in the morning sky and Harry and Ron were beginning to stir, Draco ducked out of sight, as the boys began to stretch. Both boys sat up and bid each other good morning, before trudging down the street towards the entrance to Flinders Cabin. Draco followed behind just out of sight, but always in ear shot.
"Harry, what are we doing here?"
"Saving Hermione"
"But what if it's a trap, what if Malfoy is setting us up, what if he is planning to deliver us to Voldemort?"
"Ron, life is full of what ifs, but to me the biggest and most important what if is, what if it's not a trap and Hermione is in danger? Can you afford to take that chance?"
"Wise words Potter." Draco said coming out of the shadows. Both boys had turned to confront Draco, "It doesn't sound like you care about her much, Weasley," he continued, "your worried about your ass more than hers."
"Forgive me if I find it a little hard to believe that you have a heart, Malfoy, let alone find enough compassion in it to help her."
"Don't insult me, Weasley, you have no idea what has happened in the last few days. Just to ease your mind, she is in trouble and if I did want to deliver you to the Dark Lord, don't you think I would have done it before now?" Draco's voice was sharp, annoyed, threatening, daring Ron to fight him. Draco knew just how to aggravate Ron's short temper, over the years he had developed a voice and a look he used only when dealing with Ron. He had narrowed it down to an art.
Sensing danger, Harry stepped between the two boys, who looked as if they were ready rip each others throat out. "Enough," he said firmly, "I'm hungry." Harry added those last two words as if it was just another day and it was just about time for lunch.
After a few confused looks and more deadly glares between Ron and Draco, the three of them found themselves in a nearby muggle café eating foccacias for breakfast. Draco explained what had happened in the last few days, although he left out the part about dinner, the kiss and his feelings towards Hermione. 'It would only make things worse' he decided. Harry and Ron had a lot of questions for Draco, to begin with Ron wanted to know more about the first night, when Draco saved Hermione's life, Hermione had mentioned something about it in a letter but she was very vague, and even Draco had skimmed over it. Draco argued at first, preferring not to tell them, but eventually gave in. Two against one weren't good odds.
Ron was stunned. 'Kidnapped. Hermione was almost... Dead. Killed. Murdered. She hadn't done anything. She was innocent. Oh, Hermione. Who? I'll kill them!'
"Who? Why? Harry, we have to do something." Ron said aloud.
"We can't Ron. Its over now. They can't hurt her anymore. Now we just need to focus on saving her from Voldemort. Okay?" Harry was calm and sensible, even though he too, was shocked and angry that someone could do that to her. He was also angry at Hermione which he found surprising. Angry that she could let herself get into that sort of situation.
"As much as I never thought I'd say this, Harry's right. We have to focus on now."
Draco lead Harry and Ron to the run down, old house in which Hermione was being held, they scoped the area trying to find the best way to get in and out without being noticed. Although each of the boys was anxious to get Hermione out, all agreed it was best to wait until nightfall, at least that way the dark of night would hide them, if nothing else. After their entrance and exit points had been located, they headed back to Draco's hotel room for a shower and a bite to eat. Draco tried to organize some sort of plan or strategy, Harry didn't like the idea.
"Look, Malfoy," Harry explained, much to Draco's disgust, "in my experience, plans are useless, I have never gone into anything with any sort of a plan. I just take it as it comes because life with throw something at you that you weren't expecting and it will throw your plan completely out of proportion."
"Life will throw something at you? Please Potter," Draco drawled, "are you telling me that in all your encounters with the Dark Lord, you never once had a plan? That when, or should I say if, you defeat him, you will do it, not having planned it beforehand?"
"The only plan I have, is to get everyone out alive, you, Hermione, Ron, and me, if I can." Harry's eyes showed, if nothing, his genuine concern for everyone's lives, Malfoy's included.
"Don't bother yourself with me, Potter. I can look after myself."
"I know, but even the best of us can use a hand sometimes."
Draco looked at Harry, he soon realised, Harry had one of the purest souls in the world, muggle and wizard alike, he harbored no hate for anyone, although he was bordering on the hate line with the likes of Voldemort and his cronies, but still even then, even after his parents died, he still doesn't hate... Innocents were hard to come by these days, that's why he has to destroy Voldemort, because he's an innocent. Seerers, true seerers, must go crazy when he's around; granted he probably hasn't meet a true seerer, but his aura I swear must be pure white.
Harry checked his watch, 10 am. He groaned.
"Oh, you can't be serious. 10 am? That's it! We have to wait another," he paused, it had been a while since he'd done any sort of math so it took him a few seconds, to figure out just how long they had to wait till night fall, "9 hours until dark. Oh, this sucks! What are we suppose to do till then?"
Harry and Ron, who had just gotten out of the shower, (a/n: Ron that is, only Ron, don't be gross!) both looked at Draco, who seemed content sitting there biting his nails.
"Don't do that." Ron said finally after it was obvious Draco was going to ignore Harry's question. "It's a disgusting habit," he told him, "I use to do it too, then mum put this spell on my nails and whenever I bit them they would turn bright red, I was constantly teased by my brothers for wearing nail polish, I tell you, that stopped me quick smart."
"Quick smart?" Draco said with a cringe, "I am not trying to pick a fight or anything, but really, quick smart? Who says that anymore? Apart from my mother."
"Actually," Ron admitted, "I got that saying from my mother!" He wasn't angry, not in the least, "it is kind of stupid, isn't it?" he said with a grin.
***~~~***
After Draco had left, the Death Eaters grabbed her; she struggled to keep her balance as they pulled her through various doors and corridors, until finally she was dumped at the feet of none other than Lucius Malfoy. What a humongous surprise, that was. After a fierce interrogation and a few brutal blows to the head, Hermione was to go to the dungeons. The Death Eaters made a move to grab her.
"I can walk by myself," she snapped at them.
Lucius Malfoy just chuckled, "Let her walk," he said to the Death Eaters and waved his hand indicating they should leave.
"Mr. Malfoy, Sir, just one more thing." Hermione said.
Hermione grabbed the gun she had hidden in her robes and pointed it towards Lucius and pulled the trigger. Click. Nothing. Empty. 'Damn.'
"What is that? Some useless muggle contraption? Give it here. And get out of my sight."
Hermione threw the gun at Lucius.
'Okay, so maybe that wasn't too successful. But I'm sure I'll find another way to get out.'
Apart from the beating Lucius gave her, they hadn't really done anything too terrible to her. The Death Eaters, that is. She was in a dungeon, a sort of prison cell, you know the deal, dark, gloomy and damp with only the disgusting animals to keep you company, like rats and cockroaches and such. The Death Eaters didn't bother to put a watch on her specifically, which Hermione thought was very weird, seeing as though she was the prisoner most likely to be rescued. This was like a bad dream, like a movie, she struggled to remember a muggle movie with which she could compare her situation. She failed.
'Is this what my life has been reduced to? A movie? A sad, sorry movie?' she thought to herself, 'Yes, that is exactly what my life has been reduced to, a movie. So that's how I'll get out, now, pretend Hermione, you are Jodie Foster, what would you do? Check what I have with me.'
Hermione checked her pockets, a tissue, a hair tie and some chewing gum. Fantastic.
Hair tie, tie while fighting, flinging the hair tie, using the hair tie as a sling shot.
'Okay, not to worry. Now the only way to get out is the door, so let's check the door.' The door also was a complete bust, tightly shut and locked, it didn't even rattle when she shook it. Hinges, tight.
"Dammit!" She said aloud.
'Gee, maybe I shouldn't have told Draco to leave me here.'
She gave a big rat a nudge out of the way and sat on the cold, stone ground. Absentmindedly, she began to sing a song that caught her hear on the muggle radio, a few days ago. "..Isn't anyone tryin to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Wont you take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I dont know who you are
but I...... I'm with you..."
***~~~***
Under Harry's remarkable invisibility cloak, which Draco had decided he wanted rather badly, the three boys snuck into the building. It was empty, well, at least the first section was, as they moved through doors and along corridors, they had glimpsed several Death Eaters playing wizard chess, of all things and just talking in general. Rounding a corner, they immediately came to a stop as they found themselves face to face with Richard Parkinson, Pansy's father, talking with another Death Eater, Harry didn't recognize. They slowly moved towards the wall, praying none of the floor boards creaked, and flattened themselves against it until the conversation was over.
"Did Lucius ever find out what that muggle thingy did?" The unknown Death Eater asked.
"Yes, it was something called a gun, the girl got it from the draw of that muggle Zabini (Blaise's father, check the spelling on that) killed. It's a muggle weapon used for killing. If I found out some mudblood teenager tried to kill me, she'd be dead before she hit the ground, but Lucius just thinks it's funny. He is one," Richard stopped, searching for the right word, "strange man. Strange, but powerful. And if all goes to plan, Young Draco Malfoy will in following in his father's footsteps and once he and Pansy are wed, I will be in a position of some influence."
Draco cringed at the thought of ever becoming his father and worse still, marrying Pansy. It just wasn't worth thinking about, but at least now, he had hope, one beautiful glimmer of hope. And her name was Hermione.
The men moved along and they were alone once more.
"Urgh," Ron said quietly, "they're going to make you marry Pansy? Poor you."
"I know, it's disgusting, isn't it? She's happy about it. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one who suggested it. She's so," Draco paused, "repulsive."
"Shut up." Harry held up his index finger to silence them both. "Hear that?"
Ron and Draco both listened. A voice rose from below and drifted through the corridor. The words were muffled, but they could tell it was a song of some sort. Harry and Ron who had heard Hermione sing on a number of occasions recognized her voice immediately, she wasn't fantastic at singing, but at least now they knew where she was. They quietly followed the voice down the hall; with every step the song became clearer, Harry recognized it from. They soon found the door she was behind, and it was guarded by none other than Goyle's father, um, well, Goyle. Now the only question that remained between Hermione and her freedom was, how on earth do they get past Goyle without using magic?
"So, got any ideas Mr. we-don't-need-a-plan?" Draco asked Harry sarcastically, knowing full well he wouldn't.
"Hey, it's not his fault; it's not as if he knew this was going to happen." Ron argued, rapidly coming to Harry's defense.
"Well, you have to be pretty stupid not to expect a guard at the door! Idiot."
Ron, realizing he didn't have a come back, did the first thing he thought of, he flew at Draco with his fists clenched. He hit Draco at full force knocking him backwards, completely out from under the cloak, Draco grabbed onto the front of Ron's shirt and Ron fell back with him. Goyle could hear their argument, and having a similar IQ to his son, could not quite place the where the voices were coming from, that was, of course, until Draco fell out of nowhere, landing in front of him with a bang.
"Young Mr. Malfoy? What are you doing here? Who is that?" Goyle spluttered.
"Mr. Goyle. Fine job. Fine job. Me and my friend and here to see the prisoner. So if you would be so kind as to open the door..."
"Sorry, Young Master Malfoy, I was told not to let you in, and that if you were to arrive you were to see your father straight away."
"See. I knew this wasn't going to work. Now we're going to die and it's all your fault." Ron said, as he shoved Draco.
"My fault, oh that's rich! You're the one who pushed me out!" Draco shoved Ron back.
"What?" Goyle asked dumbly
"Well, you're the one who went all, 'Got any ideas Mr. we-don't-need-a- plan?'"
"You didn't have to get so angry about it!"
"Who are you kidding? You don't know me at all! You don't know any of us at all, not even Hermione, you might think you do, but you don't!"
"Do not bring Hermione into this." Draco said rather harshly. "Listen Mr. High-and-Mighty, We'd all be out of here with Hermione if you had just listened to me.
"Well, sounds to me like you think you can do fine by yourself, so what did you need me for?" Ron's fists were clenched and his face was crinkled in a dangerous scowl.
"Maybe I don't need you" Draco lied.
"Well, why don't you just stay here and rescue Hermione, and I'll go back to England and we'll both get what we want." Ron suggested, not meaning a word of it.
"That's fine with me"
"Fine with me too"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Um, guys?" Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder, finally getting there attention. It seems that while Ron and Draco were arguing, Harry had taken it upon himself to get Goyle out of the way. Harry indicated towards Goyle bound and squirming on the ground, near the door. He had found some old electrical cords running along the wall under the carpet and used them to tie Goyle up and Gag him. Ron and Draco were rather impressed, especially since they didn't notice him doing it.
"Wow," Ron said, simply.
"Um, yeah. Good stuff." Draco acknowledged Harry's work. He was very impressed, but didn't show it. After all, it wouldn't be Draco if he did.
***~~~***
The dungeons were obviously magical, there was no mistaking it. It had been enlarged to fit in nine gloomy, rat infested cells, Hermione was bounding around in the fourth cell along. And yes, she was literally bounding around the cell, she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, jabbing and punching thin air. Harry, who had done such a good job with Goyle, was at the door watching for any other Death Eaters, Ron, of course, had joined him, preferring to hang around with Harry rather than Draco.
Draco moved slowly past the prisoners, one was cowering in the corner, the other was swirling in a circle in the middle of the cell with his arms out and the third was unconscious on the floor. Then there was Hermione. She continued to amaze him. Even after spending countless days in a damp dungeon, she was still...Hermione.
"That's my girl. Always the fighter." Draco smiled at her; she stopped in mid punch, her cheeks quickly turning red from embarrassment.
"Draco, you came back." She grinned at him, "thanks."
"So, ah, let me just have a look at this door," Draco glanced at the lock and the hinges, both tightly secured. He shook a bit. "Ah, bad news. I'll be right back."
Hermione watched Draco race back to the door and disappear through it. Thirty seconds later Draco reappeared and to Hermione's complete surprise, Ron followed him to her cell.
"Ron? Oh my gosh! Ron!" Hermione reached her arms through the bars and pulled Ron into an attempted hug.
"Are you okay?" Ron's eyes were wrinkled with concern.
"I am now."
"Great. Fine. We're all great. Could you, you know, the door!"
"Oh, right yeah! Let's get you out of here." He winked at Hermione and moved towards the lock. He pulled out some wire from his pocket and carefully pushed in inside the lock, then began to wiggle it around. Ron had learnt to pick a lock from the twins, who had found it a useful piece of knowledge, especially during the holidays when they weren't allowed to use magic. After a minute or so, Draco began to get frustrated.
"Could you hurry it up? We don't have all day!"
"This is a delicate process. Unless you're my brothers, who have got it down to an art, they can do it in 30 seconds, but they aren't here are they so you are just going to have to be patient these things take time. In fact this could take up to 10 minutes-" Click. Ron stopped, the lock had popped opened, "or it could take a few minutes."
"Fantastic," Draco grinned, "let's go."
Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and they jogged towards the door, they were almost to the door when Hermione stopped and let go of Draco's hand. He turned to find Ron staring into the cell of a man, doing what looked like some sort of Ballet. Hermione slowly walk up to him. Draco followed; stand on in the left side of him, Hermione was on his right.
"What about him?" Ron asked, directing the question to Draco, "What going to happen to him?"
Draco was silent. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me, Malfoy; tell me he's not going to end up like that guy." Ron pointed at the unconscious, possibly dead, man in the cell next to him.
"There's nothing we can do, he's already crazy." Draco eyes were downcast, "Father always says turning a man crazy is best kind of torture, worse than death, he says that once a man's gone crazy there's nothing left for him."
"I am so sick of this!" Ron turned around and walked towards the door.
***~~~***
Goyle had wiggled around so much, Harry ending up hitting him over the head and knocking him out, just to keep him still. Harry wondered why they were taking so long to get Hermione out. It had been almost 10 minutes already. Ron came back first, silent but clearly distraught, he grabbed the cloak and held it open for everyone to get under. Draco and Hermione came out holding hands; they too were silent and upset. Harry wanted to hug Hermione, but he didn't, it seemed inappropriate somehow. He wasn't sure what it was but it was definitely...something.
They all climbed under the cloak and although it was a bit of a squish, they made it under, not one bit of them showing. They moved slowly in order to keep every part of them covered. They were moving slowly back the way the boys had come, when they heard a voice floating down the hallway. There was no doubt who owned that voice.
"Lucius." Draco whispered softly, more to himself than anyone else.
"Out of the way or he'll hit us," Hermione whispered.
They slowly backed up into a dark corner. Each of them held their breath, not daring to make any sort of noise. Lucius came barging around the corner with two more Death Eaters in tow, between the two other Death Eaters was another prisoner. The prisoner was limp, unconscious probably, he was held under each armpit by the Death Eaters, one on each side, and his feet were dragging behind. They couldn't see his face because his head was lolling around, but one could only imagine what it looked like. Terrible. Lucius was loudly declaring to the prisoner that it was all his fault. They weren't sure what was his fault, but it can't have been very good.
"Stop it, Hermione. That tickles," said Ron.
"What? I'm not touching you."
Ron glanced at his shoulder and staring back at him was a dirty great big spider, he gasped quietly, knowing he couldn't make a sound. Harry clamped his hand over Ron's mouth, letting him breathe through his nose. Draco flicked the spider off Ron's shoulder, but Ron was still breathing heavily and shaking slightly. There was a cry of outrage and Lucius came storming past.
"Everywhere!" He demanded "Look everywhere! The girl is gone. She can't be far; she hasn't been gone too long."
The Death Eaters scattered and Lucius was left alone with one other Death Eater, he was very young, only just recruited. Harry recognized him; he was in the year above them, a Hufflepuff boy, if he remembered correctly. But Hufflepuff? He couldn't have been, Death Eaters come from Slytherin. 'Not all of them,' he reminded himself; 'Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor.'
"Mr. Malfoy, Sir?" He prompted.
"Ah, dammit!" Lucius growled. "If they don't find her, I'm dead. I knew we should have done something to weaken her. But, Master wanted her strong, didn't want to harm her, wanted her for his own. I can't believe this. I only just persuaded him to keep her locked up, but we were never permitted to speak of her parentage. If we didn't speak of it, she wasn't a mudblood."
"Master wanted to have her for his own?"
"Yes, Lewis. He was going to marry her when she turned 18, he thought it was time he had an heir and he was who she chose to mother it."
"That's why she was captured?"
"No, he decided after she was captured. He's never actually met her."
"I don't understand."
"You'll never understand, boy," Lucius said harshly. "That's why you were put in Hufflepuff. Now, if you repeat anything I have told you without permission, I will have your head. Do you understand THAT?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Now, find her."
The hall was empty once more, but none of the invisible teenagers moved a muscle or said a word for what seemed like 5 minutes. It was Hermione who broke the silence.
"We have to go." That was all she said, and they all left.
End Chapter 10
Did you like? You better have, I spent so long on this chapter. Anyway, I was wondering, how do I get bold and italics on to my story? If any of you know email me, but make sure you something about it in subject because otherwise I'll just delete it. Email crookshanks_86@hotmail.com
Thanks, Lozza. XXXOOO