Chapter 2: A Painful Memory...
By: Elizabeth M. Potter
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"Hermione! Over here!" He whispered loud enough for me to hear. He was sitting on the floor, his back being supported by this huge rock which, most likely, was part of the roof. At first I couldn't see him, but as I slowly and quietly turned around the boulder, I had a clear view of him. He was at a perfect hiding place, which was great for him for he was hurt. I could see the blood seeping through his clothes and the deep cuts on his arms. I couldn't believe it was him, the one who hardly ever got hurt (except in Quiddtich). Yet it IS he. I can never forget those eyes and who they belong to.
I quietly ran to him and put my arms around him, giving him a hug. "I can't believe you're alive!" I whispered. "I thought I lost you." I couldn't hold them back; my tears just flowed out.
"Shhh... It's okay. I'm fine," he whispered as he put his arms around me. "I'm fine, just a bit scratched, that's all." I let out a little laugh. He can only make it seem like it's nothing when it's actually the opposite. "Actually, I'm not...I can't seem o breath."
"Huh?" And then I realized that I was hugging him a bit to hard. I pulled away and looked at him. I blushed and I apologized. "I guess I can't stand it any more. I don't want to see you like this. You look half-dead or is it half-alive? Never mind that...we have to get out of here."
"I know...but I can't leave them here. I got t-" He stopped. "What's wrong Hermione? Why are you gapping like that? Oh..." finally realizing it.
"THEM?! Harry, you didn't tell me there were prisoners here? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. It may not seem odd to you, but it is to me. Why? He never really kept anything away from me, especially things as critical as this. He didn't want me here did he?
"I-I..." He stuttered and couldn't answer. I know why.
"You didn't want me here, right? That's just it, Harry, you wanted to do this all by yourself, huh?" He knows that I could help. He knows that he shouldn't do things as dangerous as this by himself. He knows he can count on me...
"Yes...I mean no...It's just that I didn't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to suffer just like Sirius did. You know I don't want you, Ron, Sirius, and all the people I care about to get hurt. I care too much, which is why," he took my hands in his. "I didn't tell you. Gods knows what could have happened to you. Look at me for Merlin's sake! I just couldn't do it."
I looked deep into his eyes. He was telling the truth. He must really care about me...no...us enough to make him sacrifice himself for such a dangerous mission. He's too good to be true. His words were pure honesty. God, I must be very lucky to have such a friend, I don't deserve someone like him. His words really touched me that I just couldn't help but let my tears free.
"No...I didn't want to make you cry." He raised his right hand a wiped away my tears.
"I can't seem to help it," I sobbed quietly, which was true. "I just didn't know you cared-"
"Don't ever get the idea that I don't. You're special to me, you're like a sister to me," and I looked up at him. Did he really say that? My heart just dropped when he said the word 'sister'. I guess that's what I'll always be to him, a sister. I forced a smile, I couldn't let him realize what it really meant to me. "I will always care for you, Hermione, always, and don't you ever EVER forget that, all right?" He finished with a smile. There was nothing else to do but smile back. "I won't" I promised. With that I helped him up and we started to figure out a plan in which we and the prisoners could get out safe and with out being noticed by...
"Me?"
We froze. We recognized the voice. There is no way in hell we could ever forget such a voice. We were scared to turn around, or at least I was. We eventually did turn around and we come up face to face with him, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, Voldemort himself...
"I must admit that that was a very well thought-out plan of yours. Just forgot that there are a lot of Deatheaters here, a lot since you broke in. Actually, I was expecting you to break in alone. Much easier for me to enjoy your torture and then of course, your death." He sneered. He slowly walked up to us, his robe brushing the floor with every step he took. "You death in deed." He raised his right hand, which was holding his wand, and pointed it to us. I shook from fear and I guess Harry noticed it because he brought me closer to him, sort of protecting me from what was going to happen. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise." He whispered softly. All I could do was nod.
"Oh, the hero makes a promise to his beloved. How degrading. You, a pureblood, loving a," giving me a cold glare, full of hatred. "muggle-born." He said it with such hatred, that I couldn't believe that there was such powerful force. I couldn't hold it, again, I let my tears fall. Harry hugged me tighter, somewhat letting me know that that was not what he thought of me. "I don't even know what's so great about muggle-borns. Filthy, little vermins, that's what they are. You don't deserve to li-"
"Shut up!" Harry shouted. "They DO have the right to live! They a-"
"What do you know?!" He came a bit closer to us. "Wait, I remember. You're mother was one of them! How could I have forgotten? How rude of me," he said. I noticed that Harry was red, anger was bubbling inside of him, and it scared me. This was his mother that he was talking about, a subject that is very sensitive to him. And the way that Voldemort is talking about Lily, Harry could get really ugly. It's a side of him that I am afraid of, afraid that if let out, anything could happen. "It was such a pleasure to finally get the chance to kill her. Stupid muggle-born she was. James was even more stupid to fall in love with her," At this, I noticed that Harry's grip on me was stronger. I was scared. "I see that it affects you greatly when I talk about your parents in that way." He chuckled. "What? Wittle Harry wants his mommy and daddy?" He laughed. Harry's grip became stronger, somewhat hurting me. "Face it Harry. THEY ARE DEAD! And who killed him? ME!" With that he laughed once more, a laugh that would scare anyone. A laugh that will always stay in my nightmares.
Harry at this point started to move, but I held him back. He looked down at me. I shook my head. He gave me a nasty glare that will always stay with me, it was really painful. I know he hates it when someone talks about his parents like that. His parents that gave up their life for him, so he can live. "Don't," I warned, "He is doing this out of pleasure. Don't give him that!" I pleaded with my eyes that he somehow let some of it go. "DO NOT GIVE HIM THAT! You are strong Harry, I know it. Let it go, please. Just let it go. Do it for me, Harry, do it for the prisoners and me. They are counting on you to free them. I am counting on you!" I said forcefully. I just had to let it get to his brain.
"What's this? You, giving him advice? You better shut the hell up, if you knew what was good for you, you bitch. I will surely enjoy killing you." and he pointed his wand at me. I froze. This couldn't be happening. I'm just fifteen years old for Merlin's sake. I can't die now. No, I have so much to do. I can't. I cried once more. I felt stupid because I never was this sensitive. I felt even more stupid that I was crying in front of my worst enemy. I shook my head in denial. I will live.
"What? You don't want me to kill you? No one does, but do I listen to anyone? No, not even to a muggle-born. Did you think I listen to you? Stupid bitch." He came slower, wand still pointing out to me. "Yes, I will truly have fun killing you. And guess what? There is nothing you could do about it. He laughed evilly, if you can laugh any more evilly. At this point I was backing away from him. Harry had let me go quite some time ago and I noticed that he was no where. I searched the crumbled room and yet there was no sign of him. I started to panic. How could he have left me? Did I really angered him enough to just leave me here. What was even more surprising was that Voldemort had let him go. I kept looking around, hoping that he was still here, hiding somewhere.
"Looking for scar-face, are you? Did you really think that he'd help you. You are just a muggle-born! Can't you get that in your brain! He ran away, not even looking back. Why would he anyway? You think that what he said was all true?" He asked.
"Stop it." I replied softly.
"It was all a lie," he continued.
"Stop it." I repeated.
"No one cares for muggle-borns. Why would we? They are all..."
"Stop." I pleaded.
"worthless..."
"Stop." I said, this time a bit louder.
"pieces of fuckin' trash..."
"Stop!"
"good-for-nothing..." he taunted.
"Stop!" I yelled. I covered my ears, not able to listen anymore.
"crap, and not even deserving to live!" He yelled.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" I shouted. I sobbed hysterically for he had said such horrible things of muggle-borns. I couldn't take it anymore. It was far worst then what Malfoy had said back in second year. "WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT!" I continued. "We are not like that..." I whispered as I slumped down to the ground. I covered my face with my hands, trying to hide my tears from him, trying not to pleasure him in his torture. "We are not..." I whispered, more to myself than to him.
"Oh how I enjoy this. Too bad that now you have to die. Sorry you can't even say good-bye to your lover-boy. I would have loved to see his face, no sign of worry at all. Oh well." He raised his wand once more. "Say you prayers, muggle-born, no one can save you now..." he said with a laugh.
I just stayed kneeling there, right in front of him. I couldn't move, I knew my end has come. Why bother to try fighting it. I slowly put my hands down, right on my lap, and cried. I just hoped that it wouldn't be painful. Oh Merlin, why did this had to have happened to me? What did I do to deserve such things. Please take care of my family. Also take care of all my friends; Ginny, Seamus, Neville, Sirius, Lavender, Ron, and of course, Harry. Harry. Why did he have to leave me here? Please let him know or at least feel that I'm sorry for whatever I did to anger him and/or to make him run. I'm really sorry. Hopefully, I'll be with his parents, also looking down on Harry. I looked up at him, the one that had killed the parents of one of my beloved friends, and the one that was going to kill me. I glared at him. I looked at him with hatred. I hated him more than I ever did before. And I always will. He smiled evilly at me, noticing the hatred in my eyes. He opened his mouth to say the spell. My eyes became filled with tears, and it became blurry. I didn't hear anything except the fast beating of my heart. I then saw a green light. Then it was black.
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A/N: That took me forever just to write! I didn't think that it would last so long! At this rate, I'd be in my mid-20's by the time I finish this story. I will try to write up the next chapter soon. I have school to worry about, especially since I have Saturday School this week. Yeah, you may think that I'm a bad person. No, I don't get in trouble. I'm a good girl. It's just that I walked out, in protest of cutting our teachers. If you guys wanna know about this, e-mail me then. Anyway, thanks to all those that did review. Please, you guys! If you read, please review! I really like to hear from you guys. I wanna hear what you guys think and I like to hear advice on how to make it better. PLEASE REVIEW!
Now do not think that Hermione did die here. SHE DID NOT DIE! Next chapter is about ???. You will just have to wait and see. ;) Until next time...
Yours Truly,
Elizabeth M. Potter