WhoOp!~ FINE!!! Haha. I'll work on "well-rounding" my characters
as well as I can. (I've never been good at this kinda stuff. Sorry!)
Disclaimer: I am in no way smart enough to make Harry potter, therefore no DUH I didn't. psh.
Ok. You know what? I'm going to change that Ginny doesn't pair up with ne1 cuz I don't know how to fit her in this story nemore. SORRY!~
"Oh crap! This isn't good. Oh god," he panicked, cursing on and on. "Um...damn. Um...what are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know, but calm do-" she kept coughing. The puddle of blood slowly grew larger.
"I can't calm down, you're coughing up a hell of a lot of blood. Shit."
Christiana's eyes fluttered open. "What's going on? Why are you talking so loud?" her eyes moved from Draco to Maralinda then to the puddle of blood. Her eyes grew, "Oh My Gosh!" She fainted.
Draco sighed. This wasn't getting anywhere. "Hermione!" he called.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked sleepily. Her voice was distant.
"Don't go all 'I'm-smarter-than-you-so-shut-the-hell-up-and-go-away' on me. We've got a -- ok, two situations here. Well, literally one. Oh whatever. Mara's coughing up a lot more blood then I thought we even had in our freakin' body and Christiana fainted seeing all the blood,"
"Well, you seem to have it all figured out, why don't you tell me what's going on?" she threw back at him.
Draco glared at nothing. "Fine! I can't believe I'm asking this. But, you're smarter than me; therefore, I need your help"
"Was is that hard, Malfoy?"
"Yes"
"Fine! The only thing that could make you cough blood is if you're punched or poisoned. Has anyone punched Mara?"
"Not that I know of"
"Well then, she's most likely been poisoned. So...oh gosh"
"So...what?" she didn't answer, "Hermione!"
"Malfoy...Um...Draco..."
"Oh my god. You said my first name...this can't be good" He prepared for the worst.
"Draco...she's dying" I sat there shocked.
No. She couldn't be dying. He looked down at her; she had stopped coughing a while ago and had fallen asleep. He stroked her hair gently, her hair surrounding his fingers. He felt his eyes swell up. A warm tear slid down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away. He wouldn't cry, he would find a way to save her. He had to. He just had to. He tried moving his right leg, which had long fell asleep, out from under Mara. Pain shot through it. He winced. The sudden movement aroused Mara from her sleep. "D-Draco?" her voice quivered.
"Mara?" he asked, his voice showed concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm. I-I'm c-c-cold" she shivered. Had they dropped the temperature in the cells? Or was this the poison working? He wasn't cold at all, but he might have gotten used to it.
Christiana eyes fluttered back open. Her hand went straight to her head, which had hit the floor hard when she fainted. "Ow" she noticed Mara awake and shivering, "Oh, Mara. Are you okay?" She scooted around the puddle of blood, next to Draco.
"It-it's co-cold" she managed to get out.
Draco pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Has it gotten colder?" he asked Christiana.
She shook her head, "Not that I noticed"
Draco sighed. He kissed Mara's temple. "It's going to be okay" He had to find a way out of the cell and fast
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Voldemort sat in his chair in front of his fireplace, Lucius, at his desk writing, his quill scratching on the parchment. A tall, blonde-haired lady, the one that had given Draco, Mara and Christie food, walked in.
"Did she drink it?" Voldemort asked.
"Yes, master"
"Good"
Lucius turned around in his chair, "How long does she have left?"
"I'm not sure. About two days, I suspect."
"That long? Normally the potion kills the victim in less than 24 hours"
"Yes. She's strong, but I don't know exactly how strong, Lucius. She was able to withstand my Imperius Curse." Voldemort explained, disgust in his voice. "Go see how she's doing." He ordered the lady. To Lucius, he said, "Bring Harry Potter to me"
"Yes, master" they both answered.
~+~ Hermione, Harry n Ron ~+~
Hermione had woken up Ron and Harry, and brought them to the back of the cell. She told them of Mara's condition.
"She might be what?" Harry whispered, totally shocked.
"You heard what I said," Hermione said hastily. They were whispering in case someone heard them, especially Mara who didn't know her own condition. She looked around their cell. There was writing on the walls, most in other languages none of them knew. Obvious blood stains covered the walls. They had noticed a distinguishable stench of blood when they had been thrown in the dungeon also.
After hearing the news of Mara, Ron had turned pale, unable to talk, staring at the bars that stopped him from rushing over. Footsteps echoed throughout the dungeons. They crawled close and closer to each other. Hermione kept her hears open, motioning the boys to stop talking. All three listened. A female voice spoke, "Why does master want the girl gone?"
"She's strong. She can stop him from obtaining ultimate power," a male voice answer, obviously Lucius.
"I see, the lady said, her footsteps stopped.
Lucius walked straight to their dungeon cell. Ron turned whiter than before; the color totally disappeared from his face, hands trembling. Both Harry and Hermione slowly turned. Lucius's grin was pure evil. "Harry Potter. I thought I would be dead before you and my son joined forces."
"We didn't join forces. We all came because they're both our friends and we knew we shouldn't leave them here with the likes of you or Voldemort. We knew you would kill them and we couldn't let that happen," Harry said through gritted teeth. Lucius just laughed. It echoed loudly, the sound was dreadful enough to make everyone in the dungeons to wince. "What do you want, Lucius?"
"I don't want anything but to see my master's domination over both the wizard and muggle worlds. But, my master would like to see you, Potter. He wants to torture you, and he has appointed me to conduct it," he frowned slightly. "Why he just doesn't kill you off I don't know. I, personally, would like to kill you right now, in front of your friends," his grin grew stronger. He snapped his fingers and vines wrapped around Hermione and Ron's arms and legs, suspending them in the air, so they couldn't run. The vines also covered their mouths, so they couldn't scream. Lucius slowly opened the dungeon door, walking in. Harry backed up against the cell wall. Lucius smirked and with a wave of his wand, more vines came and wrapped around Harry's legs, causing him to trip. Lucius walked over and kneeled down. "You think you can escape that easily? Tsk tsk. I thought you knew better, Potter" Lucius taunted. The vines around Harry's legs released when Lucius grabbed him, pulling him to his feet. Pushing him out of the cell, Lucius kept careful watch, alert, ready if he tried to run. Grabbing Harry by the collar, Lucius sneered, "Don't worry," seeing the fear in Hermione's eyes. Not fear for herself, but fear for Harry. For Maralinda. And for Christiana. They were the three most powerful according to what she heard the lady say. Harry had the protection and the skill, while Mara and Christiana had a power Hermione, Harry and Ron didn't know about. They didn't need wands at all. "We're just going rough him up a little bit. Then it's all up to Voldemort."
~+~ Christiana, Maralinda and Draco ~+~
"Is she okay?" Christiana asked Draco. Draco gave her a look, absolute fear in his eyes. ' Is she going to die? ' He heard in his head. He looked into Christiana's deep blue eyes, they, too, were filled with terror. Draco hesitated but nodded slowly, looking down at Mara, who was fast asleep. "Oh god. Oh god," she kept repeating, her breaths getting shorter as she started to hyperventilate.
"Christiana! Don't start not breathing. We've got enough of a problem already," he claimed, pointing to Maralinda. She nodded, regaining her breath. "We need to talk to Ron, Harry and Hermione, but I think they separated us for a reason."
They heard footsteps and voices. Draco recognized them: his father and the lady who told them to feed the poison to Mara. Draco motioned to Christiana to be quiet, hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer.
As they came into vision of Draco and Christiana, the lady stopped, while Lucius continued walking.
"Draco!" the lady whispered urgently. Draco eyed her with suspicion. "Look, I'm sorry for tricking you into poisoning your girlfriend," as he heard this, he turned bright red, hearing Mara be referred to him as 'his girlfriend', "but I must trick Voldemort into trusting me. You must believe me Draco, you too Christiana."
Draco sighed, "I can't believe I fell for that. It's like number two on the 'when trapped by your worst enemy, don't do' list. It's right after don't look the other way when your enemy has a lethal weapon. Damn."
"Draco. You have to trust me on this. There is an antidote for her state. You're going to have to somehow retrieve it."
"Why should we believe you?" Christie commented, not trusting the lady at all.
"I don't know." The lady explained. Lucius's laugh rang through their dungeon cell. All three of them winced. The lady eyed Draco.
"Ok, fine." Christie gaped at him. The lady nodded and left.
"How can you trust her?!" Christiana asked frantically, "I can't believe this!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I know the look in my family's eyes when we lie, she wasn't lying!" He explained.
Christiana's mouth dropped, "Family?"
Draco nodded, "She's my aunt, Helen. My father's sister. She first thought my father being a death eater was preposterous. Then one year ago, she came running into our mansion begging my father to help her become one herself." He shrugged, "Hadn't really thought about it being sabotage."
~+~ Hermione and Ron ~+~
As soon as Lucius locked the cell bars, the vines keeping Ron and Hermione released them, sending them straight to the floor.
Dropped by surprise, Ron fell flat on his face. "Oomph. Stupid gravity. You'd think they'd at least drop us gently," he stated as he rubbed his head. He heard a sniffling sound come from Hermione. "Aw, Hermione. Don't go all blubbery on me. You're the smartest here. You've got to help us escape."
"We can't escape now. They've got Harry. We have to save him. Mara, too." She managed to get out between her sobs.
"I know, but we have to escape or somehow plan an escape with Malfoy and Christiana without them hearing, which isn't exactly possible without you." Hermione remained silent. "Harry would want you to not think about his safety, but your own. You know he's thinking of you right now."
Hermione slightly shook her head, "He's probably thinking about Mara. Saving her is his first priority. Malfoy's too." She sighed.
"Don't think like that, 'Mione. Harry cares for you. You've been his best friend for how long? 5 years?"
"But you're his best friend. I'm just the cheat-sheet for you guys." She muttered, even though she knew it wasn't true.
"You really think the only reason we keep you around is for answers?" Ron asked, astonished. She just nodded, hesitating a bit as if thinking it over a bit before answering. "You're wrong. No offense, but if you haven't noticed, we don't care that much about our marks rather than our friendship. Harry likes you, more than just a cheat-sheet. Probably because of these damn hormones he likes being around you better than me sometimes." Ron smiled sheepishly. He'd leave it to Harry to tell Hermione his true feelings and his dream.
Hermione couldn't suppress her giggles. "You really think Harry's attracted to me? You got to be out of your mind, Ron"
Ron laughed, "Hermione, Hermione. If I weren't freakishly obsessed with Christiana, you'd be my top choice!"
"What? You guys have a list or something?"
"Of course," he claimed sarcastically. "Top ten hottest girls at Hogwarts."
Hermione laughed. Her laughed was instantly cut to an end when they heard more footsteps. They came closer and closer. A lady, slender with sheer blonde hair to her waist, opened the cell gate. "Follow me. If you try to escape you will eventually be caught and killed. I don't recommend it" she commented sternly. Ron and Hermione got to their feet, their eyes on the lady at all times. The lady carried a smile on her face and her wand in her hand, ready to react if either tried anything. She led them past four dungeon cells, and then stopped. She hastily opened the fifth cell, ordering them inside. Sitting back down on the ground, Hermione and Ron's eyes still gazed into the lady's hazel ones. She smiled an angelic smile, "The Antidote is upstairs, third door to the right. The black one with silver traces inside. Feed it to the one sick." Her eyes became soft and kind. "Please trust me" she scooted toward the next cell, where they heard Draco and Christiana's voice.
~+~ Draco, Maralinda and Christiana ~+~
"Hey" Draco greeted, sadness and fear still in his voice. His hopes for saving Mara from the cold grips of death were slipping away by every second.
"I moved your friends into the next cell," she pointed to the direction of Ron and Hermione.
"Thanks..." Draco thanked.
Christiana eyed Draco's aunt. She didn't look harmful or evil. Her right eyes put faith in her mind and hope filled her body once again. "Yeah, thanks" Christiana gave Helen a warm smile.
Helen's eyes widened with alert as they heard more footsteps. She looked into Christiana's eyes, "Switch" she stated and fled.
Switch? Christiana was baffled by Helen's final word. What did she mean by switch? Switch what? Was she supposed to switch something with something else? "Christie? Malfoy?" her thoughts were interrupted by Ron's voice.
"Hallo Weasley." Draco dully replied.
Christiana elbowed him. "Hello Ron"
"Who was that lady," he asked.
"Draco's aunt."
"You have an aunt, Malfoy?" Ron asked surprised. Draco just grunted in reply, his hand combed through his pale, blonde hair, a disgusted look on his face. "What? Don't like her? She seems pretty cool."
"Yeah." They heard Hermione's voice. "She told us where the antidote is."
Draco's silver eyes came to life after he heard Hermione's comment. Christiana noticed his eagerness to ask but stopped himself from asking, wanting to keep his reputation if word got out. "Where is it?" Christiana asked for him.
"Um...up the stairs, second...no. Wait, third door to the right," she thought for a moment, "Yeah. That's right. What's your aunt do anyway? She asked curiously.
"Something like a scholar, I think. She studies higher-level witches and wizards or something. She knows everything they can do, and their whole past. At least, that's what she did before my uncle died. I'm not exactly sure how he died though. My god-damn dad brought me up to hate them because they hated him being a death eater." Draco sighed. "I never understood why my aunt just stopped researching about people. She was like a good Samaritan type of person."
"You said she studied higher-level witches. Do you mean mages?" Christiana asked, her eyes lighting up.
Draco shrugged. "Maybe. I guess something like that."
"Oh! I'd like to meet a mage one day." Hermione squealed. "I wonder what kind of powers they have!"
~+~ Harry ~+~
Lucius kicked Harry right in the back. He stumbled, but kept his balance. Harry had been led upstairs, into a round room, no escape to be seen. A Death Eater blocked every door. All their eyes bore into Harry. He, in return, glared back at them. Lucius stepped forward, drawing his attention. He distracted Harry by tying his blonde hair in a ponytail, smirking the whole time. Pain shot through his back for only a second as someone punched him. As on instinct, his leg shot up and Harry spun around, kicking the man behind him. "Tsk Tsk" Lucius cackled, "You let your guard down"
"Harry grinned, making Lucius's smirk disappear, "That'll never happen again"
~+~ Dungeon ~+~
It seemed like forever had gone by since anyone last spoke. Ron was asleep, Draco was comforting Mara, who work up every once in awhile, her cold spells getting worse and worse. Hermione was busy mumbling to herself, trying to think of ways to escape and help Maralinda and Harry. Christiana sat with her back to the wall blocking them from Hermione and Ron, across from Draco. Her eyes closed, thinking.
She gasped. "Switch! That's what your aunt meant!" she exclaimed, getting Draco's attention. "You said your aunt studied higher level witches, or in other words mages, right?" Draco just nodded, absolutely confused by Christiana's sudden outburst. "That means she would know all about Mara and me."
Hermione spoke up, obvious hearing Christiana's sudden realization, "What? But wouldn't that make you mages!"
Christiana giggled, "Did you ever doubt it? How do you think that storm started the day we were kidnapped?"
"That was you?" Draco asked surprised.
Christie shook her head, "That was Mara. She's more in tune with weather than I am. And plus, she was the one that was pissed and sad at the same time. I'm more into conversions. But how could your Aunt have known that I was a mage?"
"Uncle Gregory...He was a diviner. That's why she couldn't continue researching. After she finished researching you two, she didn't know who else to study because Uncle Greg helped her."
"Why are you guys talking so loud?" Ron finally woke up.
As Hermione filled Ron in on what just happened, Christiana was explaining this switch deal with Draco.
"Do you just like, switch bodies?" he asked.
"Nothing so simple, Draco. It's more like...you switch your blood..." she tried explaining
"What?"
"Um...I can switch anything with Mara, but this one, it's something like switching our health. Understand?"
Draco narrowed his silver eyes at her, "No. Not at all"
"Fine. Plain and simple. I become poisoned, and Mara becomes health."
"What?!" Ron practically yelled, causing Hermione to elbow him.
"Shush, you git!"
"Look, Ron. It's the only way possible. Plus, Mara's good at plans. She can help Hermione get the antidote and for you guys to help Harry. The only thing someone will do is give her some of your energy. That doesn't switch."
Draco volunteered, "I'll give some."
Christiana shook her head. "Mara knows how to do energy conversions, pretty much the only conversion she knows, too."
Christie, are you sure about this?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, of course. I trust you guys. You won't let me die."
Draco carried and laid Maralinda down in front of Christiana. Christie rubbed her hands together, concentrating, the incantation running through her mind.
"You're having doubts, aren't you?" Draco whispered to Christiana. She nodded slowly. "I understand if you don't want to do this." Christiana stared at him, not believing him at all. "Okay. I'm selfish. I want Mara back, but you said yourself she could help us more than you can. Not to be cruel or anything." Draco crossed his arms, trying to prove his point.
Christiana fiddled with her a lock of her blonde hair. "I know I have to do this, Draco." He just nodded. "I would stand back. There's always this weird energy surge through the air when we do conversions." Draco backed to the other side of the cell. "Ron? Hermione? Back up okay? The wall might fall," she warned.
She took a deep breath, held Mara's hands within her own, closed her eyes and started the incantation. (A/N: I am SO making this up right now, sorry! I'm typing weird sounding words. Lolz) *Actar isht Gorn. Parth brell slockish. Juth kemithe tu. Tarath feth dreth*
The air around Christie and Mara crackled. A large force sent Draco flattened against the wall. He tried keeping his eyes open, but was forced to shut them. The last thing he saw was Christie being hurled across the cell, knocking into the wall. He heard the wall connecting Ron and Hermione's cell from theirs crumble and fall...
WhoOp~ lolz. How you like? (I'm SORRY if the grammar is bad. And I'm SORRY if I didn't "well-round" my characters very well.
*missy*
Disclaimer: I am in no way smart enough to make Harry potter, therefore no DUH I didn't. psh.
Ok. You know what? I'm going to change that Ginny doesn't pair up with ne1 cuz I don't know how to fit her in this story nemore. SORRY!~
"Oh crap! This isn't good. Oh god," he panicked, cursing on and on. "Um...damn. Um...what are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know, but calm do-" she kept coughing. The puddle of blood slowly grew larger.
"I can't calm down, you're coughing up a hell of a lot of blood. Shit."
Christiana's eyes fluttered open. "What's going on? Why are you talking so loud?" her eyes moved from Draco to Maralinda then to the puddle of blood. Her eyes grew, "Oh My Gosh!" She fainted.
Draco sighed. This wasn't getting anywhere. "Hermione!" he called.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked sleepily. Her voice was distant.
"Don't go all 'I'm-smarter-than-you-so-shut-the-hell-up-and-go-away' on me. We've got a -- ok, two situations here. Well, literally one. Oh whatever. Mara's coughing up a lot more blood then I thought we even had in our freakin' body and Christiana fainted seeing all the blood,"
"Well, you seem to have it all figured out, why don't you tell me what's going on?" she threw back at him.
Draco glared at nothing. "Fine! I can't believe I'm asking this. But, you're smarter than me; therefore, I need your help"
"Was is that hard, Malfoy?"
"Yes"
"Fine! The only thing that could make you cough blood is if you're punched or poisoned. Has anyone punched Mara?"
"Not that I know of"
"Well then, she's most likely been poisoned. So...oh gosh"
"So...what?" she didn't answer, "Hermione!"
"Malfoy...Um...Draco..."
"Oh my god. You said my first name...this can't be good" He prepared for the worst.
"Draco...she's dying" I sat there shocked.
No. She couldn't be dying. He looked down at her; she had stopped coughing a while ago and had fallen asleep. He stroked her hair gently, her hair surrounding his fingers. He felt his eyes swell up. A warm tear slid down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away. He wouldn't cry, he would find a way to save her. He had to. He just had to. He tried moving his right leg, which had long fell asleep, out from under Mara. Pain shot through it. He winced. The sudden movement aroused Mara from her sleep. "D-Draco?" her voice quivered.
"Mara?" he asked, his voice showed concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm. I-I'm c-c-cold" she shivered. Had they dropped the temperature in the cells? Or was this the poison working? He wasn't cold at all, but he might have gotten used to it.
Christiana eyes fluttered back open. Her hand went straight to her head, which had hit the floor hard when she fainted. "Ow" she noticed Mara awake and shivering, "Oh, Mara. Are you okay?" She scooted around the puddle of blood, next to Draco.
"It-it's co-cold" she managed to get out.
Draco pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Has it gotten colder?" he asked Christiana.
She shook her head, "Not that I noticed"
Draco sighed. He kissed Mara's temple. "It's going to be okay" He had to find a way out of the cell and fast
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Voldemort sat in his chair in front of his fireplace, Lucius, at his desk writing, his quill scratching on the parchment. A tall, blonde-haired lady, the one that had given Draco, Mara and Christie food, walked in.
"Did she drink it?" Voldemort asked.
"Yes, master"
"Good"
Lucius turned around in his chair, "How long does she have left?"
"I'm not sure. About two days, I suspect."
"That long? Normally the potion kills the victim in less than 24 hours"
"Yes. She's strong, but I don't know exactly how strong, Lucius. She was able to withstand my Imperius Curse." Voldemort explained, disgust in his voice. "Go see how she's doing." He ordered the lady. To Lucius, he said, "Bring Harry Potter to me"
"Yes, master" they both answered.
~+~ Hermione, Harry n Ron ~+~
Hermione had woken up Ron and Harry, and brought them to the back of the cell. She told them of Mara's condition.
"She might be what?" Harry whispered, totally shocked.
"You heard what I said," Hermione said hastily. They were whispering in case someone heard them, especially Mara who didn't know her own condition. She looked around their cell. There was writing on the walls, most in other languages none of them knew. Obvious blood stains covered the walls. They had noticed a distinguishable stench of blood when they had been thrown in the dungeon also.
After hearing the news of Mara, Ron had turned pale, unable to talk, staring at the bars that stopped him from rushing over. Footsteps echoed throughout the dungeons. They crawled close and closer to each other. Hermione kept her hears open, motioning the boys to stop talking. All three listened. A female voice spoke, "Why does master want the girl gone?"
"She's strong. She can stop him from obtaining ultimate power," a male voice answer, obviously Lucius.
"I see, the lady said, her footsteps stopped.
Lucius walked straight to their dungeon cell. Ron turned whiter than before; the color totally disappeared from his face, hands trembling. Both Harry and Hermione slowly turned. Lucius's grin was pure evil. "Harry Potter. I thought I would be dead before you and my son joined forces."
"We didn't join forces. We all came because they're both our friends and we knew we shouldn't leave them here with the likes of you or Voldemort. We knew you would kill them and we couldn't let that happen," Harry said through gritted teeth. Lucius just laughed. It echoed loudly, the sound was dreadful enough to make everyone in the dungeons to wince. "What do you want, Lucius?"
"I don't want anything but to see my master's domination over both the wizard and muggle worlds. But, my master would like to see you, Potter. He wants to torture you, and he has appointed me to conduct it," he frowned slightly. "Why he just doesn't kill you off I don't know. I, personally, would like to kill you right now, in front of your friends," his grin grew stronger. He snapped his fingers and vines wrapped around Hermione and Ron's arms and legs, suspending them in the air, so they couldn't run. The vines also covered their mouths, so they couldn't scream. Lucius slowly opened the dungeon door, walking in. Harry backed up against the cell wall. Lucius smirked and with a wave of his wand, more vines came and wrapped around Harry's legs, causing him to trip. Lucius walked over and kneeled down. "You think you can escape that easily? Tsk tsk. I thought you knew better, Potter" Lucius taunted. The vines around Harry's legs released when Lucius grabbed him, pulling him to his feet. Pushing him out of the cell, Lucius kept careful watch, alert, ready if he tried to run. Grabbing Harry by the collar, Lucius sneered, "Don't worry," seeing the fear in Hermione's eyes. Not fear for herself, but fear for Harry. For Maralinda. And for Christiana. They were the three most powerful according to what she heard the lady say. Harry had the protection and the skill, while Mara and Christiana had a power Hermione, Harry and Ron didn't know about. They didn't need wands at all. "We're just going rough him up a little bit. Then it's all up to Voldemort."
~+~ Christiana, Maralinda and Draco ~+~
"Is she okay?" Christiana asked Draco. Draco gave her a look, absolute fear in his eyes. ' Is she going to die? ' He heard in his head. He looked into Christiana's deep blue eyes, they, too, were filled with terror. Draco hesitated but nodded slowly, looking down at Mara, who was fast asleep. "Oh god. Oh god," she kept repeating, her breaths getting shorter as she started to hyperventilate.
"Christiana! Don't start not breathing. We've got enough of a problem already," he claimed, pointing to Maralinda. She nodded, regaining her breath. "We need to talk to Ron, Harry and Hermione, but I think they separated us for a reason."
They heard footsteps and voices. Draco recognized them: his father and the lady who told them to feed the poison to Mara. Draco motioned to Christiana to be quiet, hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer.
As they came into vision of Draco and Christiana, the lady stopped, while Lucius continued walking.
"Draco!" the lady whispered urgently. Draco eyed her with suspicion. "Look, I'm sorry for tricking you into poisoning your girlfriend," as he heard this, he turned bright red, hearing Mara be referred to him as 'his girlfriend', "but I must trick Voldemort into trusting me. You must believe me Draco, you too Christiana."
Draco sighed, "I can't believe I fell for that. It's like number two on the 'when trapped by your worst enemy, don't do' list. It's right after don't look the other way when your enemy has a lethal weapon. Damn."
"Draco. You have to trust me on this. There is an antidote for her state. You're going to have to somehow retrieve it."
"Why should we believe you?" Christie commented, not trusting the lady at all.
"I don't know." The lady explained. Lucius's laugh rang through their dungeon cell. All three of them winced. The lady eyed Draco.
"Ok, fine." Christie gaped at him. The lady nodded and left.
"How can you trust her?!" Christiana asked frantically, "I can't believe this!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I know the look in my family's eyes when we lie, she wasn't lying!" He explained.
Christiana's mouth dropped, "Family?"
Draco nodded, "She's my aunt, Helen. My father's sister. She first thought my father being a death eater was preposterous. Then one year ago, she came running into our mansion begging my father to help her become one herself." He shrugged, "Hadn't really thought about it being sabotage."
~+~ Hermione and Ron ~+~
As soon as Lucius locked the cell bars, the vines keeping Ron and Hermione released them, sending them straight to the floor.
Dropped by surprise, Ron fell flat on his face. "Oomph. Stupid gravity. You'd think they'd at least drop us gently," he stated as he rubbed his head. He heard a sniffling sound come from Hermione. "Aw, Hermione. Don't go all blubbery on me. You're the smartest here. You've got to help us escape."
"We can't escape now. They've got Harry. We have to save him. Mara, too." She managed to get out between her sobs.
"I know, but we have to escape or somehow plan an escape with Malfoy and Christiana without them hearing, which isn't exactly possible without you." Hermione remained silent. "Harry would want you to not think about his safety, but your own. You know he's thinking of you right now."
Hermione slightly shook her head, "He's probably thinking about Mara. Saving her is his first priority. Malfoy's too." She sighed.
"Don't think like that, 'Mione. Harry cares for you. You've been his best friend for how long? 5 years?"
"But you're his best friend. I'm just the cheat-sheet for you guys." She muttered, even though she knew it wasn't true.
"You really think the only reason we keep you around is for answers?" Ron asked, astonished. She just nodded, hesitating a bit as if thinking it over a bit before answering. "You're wrong. No offense, but if you haven't noticed, we don't care that much about our marks rather than our friendship. Harry likes you, more than just a cheat-sheet. Probably because of these damn hormones he likes being around you better than me sometimes." Ron smiled sheepishly. He'd leave it to Harry to tell Hermione his true feelings and his dream.
Hermione couldn't suppress her giggles. "You really think Harry's attracted to me? You got to be out of your mind, Ron"
Ron laughed, "Hermione, Hermione. If I weren't freakishly obsessed with Christiana, you'd be my top choice!"
"What? You guys have a list or something?"
"Of course," he claimed sarcastically. "Top ten hottest girls at Hogwarts."
Hermione laughed. Her laughed was instantly cut to an end when they heard more footsteps. They came closer and closer. A lady, slender with sheer blonde hair to her waist, opened the cell gate. "Follow me. If you try to escape you will eventually be caught and killed. I don't recommend it" she commented sternly. Ron and Hermione got to their feet, their eyes on the lady at all times. The lady carried a smile on her face and her wand in her hand, ready to react if either tried anything. She led them past four dungeon cells, and then stopped. She hastily opened the fifth cell, ordering them inside. Sitting back down on the ground, Hermione and Ron's eyes still gazed into the lady's hazel ones. She smiled an angelic smile, "The Antidote is upstairs, third door to the right. The black one with silver traces inside. Feed it to the one sick." Her eyes became soft and kind. "Please trust me" she scooted toward the next cell, where they heard Draco and Christiana's voice.
~+~ Draco, Maralinda and Christiana ~+~
"Hey" Draco greeted, sadness and fear still in his voice. His hopes for saving Mara from the cold grips of death were slipping away by every second.
"I moved your friends into the next cell," she pointed to the direction of Ron and Hermione.
"Thanks..." Draco thanked.
Christiana eyed Draco's aunt. She didn't look harmful or evil. Her right eyes put faith in her mind and hope filled her body once again. "Yeah, thanks" Christiana gave Helen a warm smile.
Helen's eyes widened with alert as they heard more footsteps. She looked into Christiana's eyes, "Switch" she stated and fled.
Switch? Christiana was baffled by Helen's final word. What did she mean by switch? Switch what? Was she supposed to switch something with something else? "Christie? Malfoy?" her thoughts were interrupted by Ron's voice.
"Hallo Weasley." Draco dully replied.
Christiana elbowed him. "Hello Ron"
"Who was that lady," he asked.
"Draco's aunt."
"You have an aunt, Malfoy?" Ron asked surprised. Draco just grunted in reply, his hand combed through his pale, blonde hair, a disgusted look on his face. "What? Don't like her? She seems pretty cool."
"Yeah." They heard Hermione's voice. "She told us where the antidote is."
Draco's silver eyes came to life after he heard Hermione's comment. Christiana noticed his eagerness to ask but stopped himself from asking, wanting to keep his reputation if word got out. "Where is it?" Christiana asked for him.
"Um...up the stairs, second...no. Wait, third door to the right," she thought for a moment, "Yeah. That's right. What's your aunt do anyway? She asked curiously.
"Something like a scholar, I think. She studies higher-level witches and wizards or something. She knows everything they can do, and their whole past. At least, that's what she did before my uncle died. I'm not exactly sure how he died though. My god-damn dad brought me up to hate them because they hated him being a death eater." Draco sighed. "I never understood why my aunt just stopped researching about people. She was like a good Samaritan type of person."
"You said she studied higher-level witches. Do you mean mages?" Christiana asked, her eyes lighting up.
Draco shrugged. "Maybe. I guess something like that."
"Oh! I'd like to meet a mage one day." Hermione squealed. "I wonder what kind of powers they have!"
~+~ Harry ~+~
Lucius kicked Harry right in the back. He stumbled, but kept his balance. Harry had been led upstairs, into a round room, no escape to be seen. A Death Eater blocked every door. All their eyes bore into Harry. He, in return, glared back at them. Lucius stepped forward, drawing his attention. He distracted Harry by tying his blonde hair in a ponytail, smirking the whole time. Pain shot through his back for only a second as someone punched him. As on instinct, his leg shot up and Harry spun around, kicking the man behind him. "Tsk Tsk" Lucius cackled, "You let your guard down"
"Harry grinned, making Lucius's smirk disappear, "That'll never happen again"
~+~ Dungeon ~+~
It seemed like forever had gone by since anyone last spoke. Ron was asleep, Draco was comforting Mara, who work up every once in awhile, her cold spells getting worse and worse. Hermione was busy mumbling to herself, trying to think of ways to escape and help Maralinda and Harry. Christiana sat with her back to the wall blocking them from Hermione and Ron, across from Draco. Her eyes closed, thinking.
She gasped. "Switch! That's what your aunt meant!" she exclaimed, getting Draco's attention. "You said your aunt studied higher level witches, or in other words mages, right?" Draco just nodded, absolutely confused by Christiana's sudden outburst. "That means she would know all about Mara and me."
Hermione spoke up, obvious hearing Christiana's sudden realization, "What? But wouldn't that make you mages!"
Christiana giggled, "Did you ever doubt it? How do you think that storm started the day we were kidnapped?"
"That was you?" Draco asked surprised.
Christie shook her head, "That was Mara. She's more in tune with weather than I am. And plus, she was the one that was pissed and sad at the same time. I'm more into conversions. But how could your Aunt have known that I was a mage?"
"Uncle Gregory...He was a diviner. That's why she couldn't continue researching. After she finished researching you two, she didn't know who else to study because Uncle Greg helped her."
"Why are you guys talking so loud?" Ron finally woke up.
As Hermione filled Ron in on what just happened, Christiana was explaining this switch deal with Draco.
"Do you just like, switch bodies?" he asked.
"Nothing so simple, Draco. It's more like...you switch your blood..." she tried explaining
"What?"
"Um...I can switch anything with Mara, but this one, it's something like switching our health. Understand?"
Draco narrowed his silver eyes at her, "No. Not at all"
"Fine. Plain and simple. I become poisoned, and Mara becomes health."
"What?!" Ron practically yelled, causing Hermione to elbow him.
"Shush, you git!"
"Look, Ron. It's the only way possible. Plus, Mara's good at plans. She can help Hermione get the antidote and for you guys to help Harry. The only thing someone will do is give her some of your energy. That doesn't switch."
Draco volunteered, "I'll give some."
Christiana shook her head. "Mara knows how to do energy conversions, pretty much the only conversion she knows, too."
Christie, are you sure about this?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, of course. I trust you guys. You won't let me die."
Draco carried and laid Maralinda down in front of Christiana. Christie rubbed her hands together, concentrating, the incantation running through her mind.
"You're having doubts, aren't you?" Draco whispered to Christiana. She nodded slowly. "I understand if you don't want to do this." Christiana stared at him, not believing him at all. "Okay. I'm selfish. I want Mara back, but you said yourself she could help us more than you can. Not to be cruel or anything." Draco crossed his arms, trying to prove his point.
Christiana fiddled with her a lock of her blonde hair. "I know I have to do this, Draco." He just nodded. "I would stand back. There's always this weird energy surge through the air when we do conversions." Draco backed to the other side of the cell. "Ron? Hermione? Back up okay? The wall might fall," she warned.
She took a deep breath, held Mara's hands within her own, closed her eyes and started the incantation. (A/N: I am SO making this up right now, sorry! I'm typing weird sounding words. Lolz) *Actar isht Gorn. Parth brell slockish. Juth kemithe tu. Tarath feth dreth*
The air around Christie and Mara crackled. A large force sent Draco flattened against the wall. He tried keeping his eyes open, but was forced to shut them. The last thing he saw was Christie being hurled across the cell, knocking into the wall. He heard the wall connecting Ron and Hermione's cell from theirs crumble and fall...
WhoOp~ lolz. How you like? (I'm SORRY if the grammar is bad. And I'm SORRY if I didn't "well-round" my characters very well.
*missy*
