Enchantress of the Day and Night
Kneazle
Disclaimer: All characters/ideas belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastics, etc, K.A. Applegate's EverWorld, Fern Gully: the Last Rainforest, Mist of Avalon (the movie), Aladdin, Ever After, Chocolat, The Count of Monte Cristo, Enchantress of the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl, Cirque De Soliel, Princess Mononoke, The Vision of Escaflowne, Rayearth: the OVA, Record of Lodoss War, Tekken: The Motion Picture, Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6, Pretty Solider Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z-GT, Babylon Tokyo, X-Men: Evolution, The Princess Bride, "Disney's Atlantis", Sweep by Cate Tiernan, Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce, The Dragon's Tapestry, The Prism Moon and The Taker's Key by Martine Bates, Circle of Three by Isobel Bird, Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing, Bibliomania.com, Wiccan.com, Feri.com, Exodus by Julie Bertagna, the movie (2001) Brotherhood of the Wolf, Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers), Mel Gibson's Braveheart
**~**
Chapter Thirteen
The moon shone in the inky black sky, creating an eerie yellow glow to the earth. Hermione could feel the pulse of the earth underneath her feet as she, Harry, Ron, Draco, Oliver and Lavender left the Black Clan and moved towards the shoreline.
"You know," spoke Ron softly as he faced the darkness in front of them, "We'll make it to the Mystic Lands faster if we split up."
"That's preposterous!" snapped Draco. "Do you want everyone to be captured? We have a better chance together."
"We'll slow each other down if we're together," argued Harry, understanding his best friends' thought process. "I think it will be fine."
Oliver frowned. "I don't like that. Who would go with whom? And how will we contact each other?"
"We'd use owls, of course," said Ron logically, "And there are bands of elves, gypsies and exiles out there that can help us."
Hermione shook her brown head. "I don't like that. I don't like the idea at all, and I wouldn't want any harm to come to any of you."
"It wouldn't be your fault if anything did, Hermione," said Harry, wrapping an arm around her waist as the two of them walked together. Their hips hit whenever they took a step, and Hermione deliciously savored every moment.
"And where would we all go?" interrupted Draco, coming between Harry and Hermione with a glare at Harry.
Hermione watched and smiled inwardly as Harry frowned and puffed his chest out as if ready to shout at Draco, but it was Ron who spoke.
"Lavender and I will go back to Talamanca to see if there is anyone there ready to engage into battle. You Hermione, Harry and Oliver will go to the Mystic Lands because you're needed there the most. Draco can go off by himself."
"Thank you very much, Weasel. That just made my day," sneered Draco, who crossed his arms over his green shirt and rolled his eyes. "However… I am fine with this idea."
"You are?" asked Hermione, surprised. "Why?"
"I have some unfinished business," he said slowly, looking at Hermione meaningfully.
Harry, Ron, and Oliver sputtered, knowing they shouldn't trust Malfoy for anything. Hermione, however, nodded and the matter was settled.
"Do we all agree then?" she asked, looking at everyone in turn. When no one objected, she nodded and sighed. "All right then. Off you go, Ron. Promise me you'll be careful."
"I will," he agreed, nodding seriously. His sapphire eyes for once were serious and calm, not the usual joyful and energetic he was.
Hermione hugged him, and then stood back as Harry clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder in a manly fashion. He whispered something to him, which made Ron grin cheekily – a striking resemblance, Hermione thought, to his older brothers Fred and George.
Draco had already begun walking away when Hermione noticed and called him to stop for a moment.
She caught up with him and stopped just a bit behind, watching. "Are you sure about this, Draco?"
"Of course, Hermione."
"You realize that you'll be putting yourself – and Ginny – in danger's way, right?" she continued to prod.
Draco turned his head slightly, his hair catching in the glow of the moon, changing his features into a milky white skin tone and his hair as golden as wheat. "I know, Hermione," he repeated, strongly. "And you know that I wouldn't do this unless I knew that it would help you."
"I know, Draco, I know. I just want to be sure…"
"That I'm not a traitor?"
"No. I know you're not." She paused. "I just want you to be safe. If anything would happen"—
"Nothing will, so stop worrying. Now, go back to Potter. He's missing you already, and glaring at me. Tell him not to worry."
"I will." Hermione turned and started to go back.
"Hermione?" Draco called, making Hermione stop.
"Yes Draco?"
He paused, before blurting, "Thank you for believing in me."
She smiled, before turning and walking back to where Oliver and Harry were waiting for her. There was a lot that needed to be done within the next couple days.
**-**
Draco walked quickly towards the grove of trees that stood out against the bleak landscape surrounding the Black Clan. He was supposed to have met Ginny there hours ago, but the capture at the Black Clan had taken longer than he had hoped for.
Swallowing a lump of fear that was lodged in his throat, he wondered if getting Ginny involved had been the right thing to do. He couldn't very well leave her back in Talamanca, especially now that he looked back and thought about the first conversation they had. Knowing Ginny as he knew her now, Draco was sure that she would have followed him – or tried to – to find Potter.
If only she was over that silly crush! He wasn't at all for her. Ginny needed someone who could protect her, and wasn't in love or destined to be with the Enchantress. Ginny needed… well… someone like him, actually. Draco was the perfect example of someone that she deserved, and in all honestly, Draco mused, he needed her. She wouldn't tarnish his already blemished reputation, or care about his Dark Mark. She knew him for who he was, and that was why she liked him… as a friend.
Sighing, Draco stepped into a small clearing, where he saw Ginny huddled around the small fire she had conjured. It seemed that when she wasn't around Hermione, she was able to perform her magick wonderfully.
The Enchantress must intimidate her. Poor Ginny, to be overlooked all the time by Hermione, understood Draco. Shaking his head, he stood behind her and this brought a smile to his face. She didn't even know he was there, and she continued to hum a tune softly to herself.
"Ginny?" he finally asked.
She gasped
and turned, a hand flying to her breast as she clutched something tightly to
her. "Draco! I didn't hear you there!"
He gave her a smirk. "Of course
not. What is it that you have there?"
Ginny looked down and then back at him. "It's something I was working on while I waited for you." She held it out to him. "It's a necklace… a protection necklace that my mother always used to make for me."
Draco took it, and ran a finger over the sweet smelling reeds that she used. She had burnt symbols and letters into the reed in certain places, creating an elaborate design.
"Will you wear it for me?" she asked quietly.
Draco started, his hand fisting over the necklace. "Are you sure? Do you want me to?"
"Very much so," continued the shy girl, who was now looking down at the flames. Draco observed her for a bit more before he nodded (unseen by her) and slipped the reed necklace around his neck, tying the strands at the back. He tucked it under the collar of his green shirt and offered his hand to Ginny.
"They've started moving. Let's go."
She stood, and with a flick of his wrist, the flames were snuffed.
**-**
Ron wheezed as he nearly tripped over another log. He and Lavender had been traveling towards the West – towards where the Bay of the Night was. There, they would be able to rent a fisherman's boat and travel back towards Talamanca and find people and others who would want to help support the Enchantress.
Unfortunately, they were lost. Very lost.
All around them was mist, clinging to the trees with hanging leaves and moss that obscured the path in front of them, and all around were bogs with weird noises coming from them.
"Lavender, do you know where you are going?" questioned Ron, glancing to the young blonde beside him. The young woman furrowed her brow and let her blue eyes glance about the bog.
"Umm… I think I lost all sense of direction about two hours ago," she muttered. "I can't even sense anything anymore… but I do get this vibe…"
Ron shuddered, "Yeah, it's called 'Go home now'!"
**-**
Draco and Ginny kept a good hundred yards behind Hermione's group, watching as their light bobbed and flickered in the darkness. They watched as they stayed in a tight-knit group, their silhouettes appearing and disappearing from time to time.
"Where are they going?" whispered Ginny, shivering slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself. Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Dunno. I think they're going to the Mystic Lands," he replied, his gray eyes narrowing. "Hermione didn't say – but she knows we're here."
Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "Me too?"
"Especially you," answered Draco coolly. "Don't think I know all about your jealousy. I know that you too had a bit of a row a while ago."
Ginny sighed. "Not really. It was about something that wasn't as important as it first seemed to be."
"Harry isn't important?" Draco looked pleased at that.
Ginny laughed. "Not anymore, Draco. Not anymore, and actually –" She was going to say more when something caught her eye. She moved her hand and hesitantly ran her fingers over Draco's arm. "Draco, why is your mark raised?"
Glancing down too late, Draco saw Ginny's fingers delicately run over the fleshy mound below his shoulder and trace over the Dark Mark there.
"Ginny, no!" the heed came too late, as her fingers hit the Dark Mark. Draco felt the familiar tugging in his naval that told him they were being transported somewhere. He closed his eyes and prayed Ginny wasn't tagged along.
When his eyes opened, he saw that he and Ginny were in the middle of an open field surrounded by Death Eaters starring at him. Voldemort stood in the center of the field near him.
"Well, well," he hissed, "What a pleasant surprise. What do we have here?"
Ginny stood on shaky legs and glared at Voldemort. Draco kept Ginny near him, and used his body as a shield between her and Voldemort.
When they didn't say anything, Voldemort nodded. "I see that you chose a different path from your forefathers." Nodding towards Lucius, who was glaring at his son from underneath his cape's hood, Voldemort continued, "A spy… how… intriguing. I hadn't thought that you would be able to turn."
"It happens," snarled Draco, "deal with it."
Voldemort's eyes widened. "Really." He then glanced at Ginny, who was staring at him in defiance. "A Weasley. Honestly, Little Malfoy – you could have done better."
"Maybe I could have," replied Draco haughtily, feeling Ginny stiffen beside him, "But I didn't want to."
That was enough to cause murmurs to spread throughout the Death Eaters. When Voldemort leered at Ginny, two unknown Death Eaters came forward and picked her up by the arms.
"Hey! Put me down! What are you doing? Draco, help!" Ginny screamed, kicking and flailing everything she could, while shouting at the top of her lungs. "Help! Draco!"
"What are you going to do, now, Little Malfoy?" whispered Voldemort, bending down to speak in Draco's ear as he watched in horror as Ginny was taken away from him. "Who are you going to trust? How are you going to save her? Just what are you going to do to ensure your safety and hers?"
"Anything," replied the young man, his eyes rooted on the spot where Ginny last stood. The gray had faded to a nondescript cloudy colour, glazed over as if he had nothing worth living anymore. "Whatever you want."
"Excellent," hissed the villain, "excellent."
**-**
Something was wrong. Hermione knew it the second she felt the shift in the wind, and the night grow quiet.
Harry and Oliver were speaking quietly about something when she placed a hand on each of their shoulders to quiet them. It didn't take long for her to pinpoint the problem.
Out of nowhere, Death Eaters appeared through the darkness, their small staffs glowing with an eerie white light at the end of them.
Harry and Oliver placed Hermione between them as they watched the Death Eaters close in on them, in a circle.
"Hello Poppet," one sneered, before they attacked. Hermione, Harry and Oliver never had a chance.
**-**
"And where is Dumbledore, Little Malfoy?" asked the Dark Lord. "Where is he hiding with his happy little troop?"
"I don't know," replied the young man sullenly. He had just given away Hermione's secrets and felt like shit. He had betrayed her, after all the faith and trust and leeway she had given him since that day when she told him that they were leaving. She always knew that he was on their side, and never questioned it. But now he was questioning himself.
What would have been different if he hadn't told Voldemort where they were? Was he just speeding up the inevitable? He certainly hoped not – but he wanted Ginny back. He really cared for her.
Dammit – I don't just "care" for her, he thought darkly, his eyes flashing. I love her.
"Fine," spat the warlock, wannabe-sorcerer. "And how about Miss Brown?"
"Brown?" asked Draco. Who was that?
Voldemort's gaze narrowed. "Lavender Brown, that seer."
Draco nodded. "Went off with Ron Weasley to the West. Don't know where they are now, but they were going to Talamanca."
Voldemort nodded at a couple other Death Eaters, and within seconds, there was a popping noise letting Draco know that they had apparated out and were now hunting Lavender and Ron.
Draco swallowed the bile that was rising in his throat. He couldn't believe he was doing this. He hung his head in shame, and ignored the prickly feeling that was in the corner of his eyes.
Across the room, Severus Snape was watching the unfolding events with carefully masked indifference.
He was wondering what Draco was doing at first, spilling all his secrets and made Severus wonder if he picked the wrong young man to be a fellow spy with him. Of course, it was when he began watching his eyes that the true story opened.
Draco did not want to reveal the secrets he knew; he just thought that it was going to save him and the Weasley girl that he had unintentionally brought to the revel with him.
His gray eyes, when he first arrived in the Death Eaters, were gray – pure steel. Now, as he fought against telling Voldemort the answers he desired, he saw something different. Instead of those steal gray eyes he thought he would encounter Severus saw stormy gray eyes filled with emotions and his own thoughts. His father's voice wasn't in his head anymore, telling him what was right and wrong – and Voldemort wasn't controlling him.
Draco Malfoy was going to save himself and that Weasley girl anyway he damn well pleased – even if he was going to do it recklessly.
Well, thought Severus with finality, I might as well go out with a bang when he decides to do it, shaln't I?
**-**
Sirius and Remus kept their heads down as they passed through another small, darkened village. They had all been like this, filled with frightened people who didn't trust strangers, thought their next-door neighbor was a Death Eater, and refused to give either Remus or Sirius the time.
"This is a lost cause," muttered Sirius darkly. "We'll never find someone to support us and Dumbledore."
Remus frowned. "They should. He's been protecting them since he was under Clovis's tutelage."
Sirius snorted. "Try telling that to these people." He jerked his head towards the town center, where it was completely deserted. "They're too scared to come out of their own houses. We can't even protect them if they are doing this!"
"I know, Padfoot, now calm down." Remus glanced around. "The best thing to do is either make a speech in front of no one, or leave a poster."
"How about… no?" Sirius muttered, before sighing and giving in. "Fine. Fine… let's leave a bloody poster and get out of here. Dumbledore needs us with him in the frontlines, not here in the Mystic Lands trying to convince people we're not Death Eaters."
Remus nodded. "Agreed." He took his staff from his side and waved it in the air once, muttering something under his breath, when a parchment appeared on the tavern's wall, with bright colours and VICTORY written in bold print across the top with a picture of a Death Eater cloak smashed beneath a Phoenix Order robe.
"That should do the trick," said Remus, proud of his work.
"Oh yes. The trick called, 'it's going in the rubbish'," snorted Sirius. "Then you take the poster, and dump it in the rubbish. Voila!"
Remus shook his head. "You're bonkers."
**-**
Lavender and Ron continued to walk through the bog, not knowing which way they were going. Since they had agreed that they were lost nearly two hours ago, and got lost two hours before that, they hadn't done much talking.
So when Lavender let out a tiny, "oh!" Ron was immediately at her side.
"Lavender? Is something wrong? Are you okay?" He asked, bending near the now-crouching young woman. She was hissing in pain, her eyes clenched tightly together. Her hands wound themselves into her hair, pulling and tugging.
She tilted her head back and gave a little scream. She didn't hear Ron's voice calling her name.
Lavender stood in the middle of a large wheat field, her hands brushing the bronze coloured plant. She looked around, and saw in the distance a group of men fighting each other. She shuddered and looked in the opposite direction.
There, a couple feet away from her stood Hermione, in a clearing where there was no wheat. She was wearing her Enchantress clothes, and her hair was blowing across her face in the wind.
She was chanting, but Lavender couldn't hear anything except for the whistle of the wind as it blew over, around and across the field.
She moved to where Hermione stood, watching as the ground beneath her feet began to glow green, before it spread out around her and up in jets of light; the magic was being blow around Hermione by the wind, never straying too far from her.
As she neared the end of her chant, she raised her arms to the sky, where heavy dark storm clouds gathered directly above her. Lightning cackled across one, before a couple bolt struck the ground near the Enchantress.
Lavender fought back a scream, jumping back at lightning appeared a few feet from her. She watched in growing horror and awe as Hermione's arms came down in an arch suddenly, and watched as the lightning began striking the ground in small bolts where Death Eaters were situated.
She saw something with black hair and scarlet robes fly past her – and turned to see Harry going after a group of Death Eaters. He darted this way and that, ducking hexes and curses, before shouting some of his own.
The air was heavy with humidity and electricity as the storm above them continued to rage. No rain had spilled yet, but Lavender thought it would only be a matter of time.
Then, out of nowhere, a loud clap of lightning shook the ground, and made Lavender glance at Harry, who had ignored it. He jumped into a fray of Death Eaters and had the upper hand when the lightning bolt struck the group.
Harry fell to the ground, and did not get back up.
Lavender's gasp brought her out of the premonition, and back in reality. She felt Ron's arms around her, felt him rocking her in comfort.
But the comfort is not only for myself, she realized, catching a stray thought of his, as he didn't shield his mind from her.
"Are you all right?" he muttered into her hair, holding her close as he spoke. Lavender nodded, not knowing exactly what to say. Instead, Ron continued. "I was so worried… I was calling your name but you didn't answer… you were just crouching, clutching your head, I didn't know what to think… and those noises you made! Gods above! I was never so scared in my whole life!"
They settled down into a quiet embrace. Finally, Ron asked, "Are they always like that?"
"No," replied Lavender softly. "They've never been that strong before. That… painful."
"If I knew something to take the pain away…" offered Ron, letting the sentence hang.
"I know," whispered Lavender. She didn't even have to read his mind to know what he was thinking. She wished it too. "I know."
So, they sat for a couple of minutes, enjoying the feel of holding one another close. In the background, a frog ribbited, and somewhere a bubble popped in the bog.
But it was another 'pop' that made Ron raise his head. "What was--?"
He never finished his sentence, as in that moment, ten men wearing black robes, and wielding what looked like a twig in their hands surrounded him and Lavender.
The one closest to Ron grinned sadistically before his fist swung out and caught Ron on the temple.
Then there was blackness.
**-**
Draco stood in the shadows of the rock caverns that Voldemort had decided to inhabit in the Enchanted Forest. There was no roof above them, and the moon shone down on the five young people who were brought tied up to Voldemort.
Voldemort himself was pacing back in forth in front of prisoners, enjoying the feelings of superiority that was running through his veins.
"Welcome my enemies," he hissed in his cool voice, "I trust your journey here was a comfortable one?"
No one spoke. Voldemort strode forward and grabbed Hermione's chin in his long, white spindly fingers, forcing her to look at him.
"Hermione!" three voices shouted in unison, glaring at Voldemort as they did so.
"Ah yes," mused aloud Voldemort in a quiet, nostalgic voice. "Hermione… the… Enchantress." The last word was drawn out in disdain.
Hermione glared at Voldemort but kept her mouth shut.
"Now tell me, girl, how you were chosen to be the vessel of this enormous amount of power that you have inside of you? A young girl, no older than seventeen, to carry the burden of the whole world on her shoulders?" the snake-like young man leaned close to Hermione, looking in her eyes for some flicker of fear. He received none.
Instead, he released her chin and stood straight again. "I have no patience for the likes of you," he said carelessly, at the other prisoners. He glanced at the Death Eaters who brought them in. "Take them to the dungeons. Make sure they aren't… too comfortable."
He gave one final grin as he sauntered to his throne, his back to the group who wildly protested and shouted and kicked and cursed the day Voldemort was born.
As Hermione began to shriek, he turned and with a sharp voice and small smirk, said, "no – leave her with me. I want to deal with her personally."
Hermione's eyes widened at the implications, and Harry began to struggle madly against the two Death Eaters who were trying to hold him.
"My lord! Potter is trying to fight us!" one gasped as the other eluded a swift kick to his stomach. "What shall we do?"
Voldemort gave a casual glance at the young man. "I don't know. Why don't you… punish him? Nothing too drastic, mind…"
And with that said, Harry, Ron, Oliver and Lavender were dragged away from the cavern, past Draco who had stepped into the light to see what Voldemort was doing.
"Malfoy!" sneered Harry as he was dragged by. "You traitor!"
Flinching at the name, Draco tried to sink back into the shadows that had been his sanctuary only minutes ago, but now Oliver and Ron were shouting at him.
"How could you betray us?"
"Why? How could you?"
"You're no
better than your father!"
"Hermione believed in you!
Trusted you!"
The last one made Draco physically fall back against the stones, clutching and clawing at it to hold himself up. The air had been taken from his chest, and he took in deep gulps of air to breathe.
You did it for them, you did it for them, he kept reminding himself, watching as they were hauled away into the darkness.
"It was for the best," a ghostly voice floated about him, with a brush of air, as Severus Snape passed the young man. He was heading towards the dungeons.
For the best, echoed Draco in his head. It's always for the best.
**-**
The dungeons were damp, and had a stale air. There was hardly any light, except for the flickering of candles and torches that lined the wall, making a path towards the cell that Harry, Ron, Lavender and Oliver were going to be placed in.
They passed moaning captives and screaming prisoners, begging for mercy and driven insane by the tortures they endured.
Harry felt sick, and clamped his teeth together, swallowing convulsively.
"In you go," muttered one of the guards that were holding Harry. Together, he and his Death Eater partner threw Harry headfirst into the cell, smirking as they head him hit the opposite stonewall. Oliver, Ron, and Lavender tumbled in after him.
As the cackling guards left, Ron cursed and asked in a feeble voice, "Are you all right, mate?"
Harry groaned and rubbed the back of his head, where the wall and he connected. It was sticky and warm with blood, but other that the stars he had seen, Harry knew he was all right. "I'm okay. The rest of you?"
"Fine."
"Superb," came Oliver's dry voice.
Harry grinned in the dark despite himself. "Glad to hear that, Wood. So… any ideas on how to get out of here?"
"You can try, but the bars are spelled," came a new voice, one that was familiar but not heard often.
Harry turned to the sound, and as his eyes adjusted to the dark, saw the outline of a young woman with reddish hair. "Ginny? What are you doing here?"
The young woman stepped out from her dark corner, her arms crossed and eyes wary. "I could ask you the same thing."
"We were captured and brought here," retorted Oliver. "But you – you were in Talamanca. How on earth could they have captured you?"
"Because I wasn't in Talamanca." The girl bit her lower lip before looking away from the three men and shrewd eyes that belonged to Lavender.
"What do you mean?" demanded Harry in a low voice. "Why weren't you in Talamanca, Ginny?"
"I can't say."
"The hell you can't!" thundered Ron. "Tell us."
"Yes," said Oliver, a grin on his face. "Tell."
Ginny sighed, and turned her back on Ron, Oliver and Harry. Lavender began to chuckle softly.
You don't want to tell them, do you, little Weasel? Echoed her voice in Ginny's head. Uncrossing her arms, Ginny glanced over her shoulder and glared at Lavender.
BUGGER OFF! She snarled in her mind, setting imaginary walls between her and the Seer.
"Ginny?" asked Harry. "Why won't you tell us?"
Ginny turned slightly and addressed Harry. "Because you'll get mad."
"I doubt that," he replied, his eyes warm and comforting.
"Ha!" she snorted, tossing her red hair over her shoulder. "Please… don't ask it of me."
"Ginny," began Harry in a low, soothing voice as if he were hypnotizing a scared animal. "You can tell us. It's not like we can do anything right now, anyways, in this cell."
Finally, after a moment of silence, they saw Ginny nod and bow her head in submission. "Fine," she grumbled, before speaking quietly, "Draco and I were transported here."
"How?" asked Oliver, feeling confused. "Draco was with us, until we split up."
"He was," she agreed, "But I was following all of you. When Draco broke from the group… well, we met up and his Dark mark burned… and I touched it…"
She closed her eyes, waiting to hear Ron's explosion of curses and demands, but everything was eerily silent in the dungeons – if you exclude the moans of agony and pain.
"Why were you with him, Ginny?" asked Ron instead, in a small voice, one that was filled with confusion and hurt.
"I can't tell you that." She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, ignoring the burning sensation in her stomach… something that felt much like guilt.
Sighing, she heard Ron mutter something and settle himself on the floor, next to Lavender. She saw Harry turned and slide against the wall, before sitting on the floor with Oliver next to him. She didn't know what to do or say anymore.
Everything was going so wrong…
**-**
"So, my little Enchantress… what shall we do with you?" asked Voldemort, enjoying Hermione's fidgeting hands.
"I don't know. How about letting me and my friends go?" asked Hermione in a very calm voice. Inside, she was quivering in fear, but instead she quirked an eyebrow at Voldemort, showing she was unafraid of him.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that," he sneered.
"Oh well," shrugged the girl. "So then why don't you tell me why you want me? I'm hardly a consolation prize if you fail against Dumbledore's army."
"Oh, on the contrary, you are," derided Voldemort, taking time to glance down at his spindly fingers and nails. "Do you honestly have any idea of how much power you have in you?"
"Nope," replied Hermione, hoping to play dumb. Of course she knew, she had been training for this day forever. She knew her limits and where she got her power and the balance she needed to keep in check – she wasn't just some dumb teenager who thought they knew everything in the world. She knew she didn't know everything, but she hoped she one day could.
Sighing, Voldemort sat on his throne with his back straight, but looked like he was completely comfortably in a lounging area. "That's a shame. However, I do know what you can do – and I could use that power more than you'd ever be able to."
Hermione felt her anger stirring, but closed the lid on it as quickly as she could. If she let her emotions go out of control, Voldemort would sense her control of power and that was one edge she hoped to keep over him.
"Really," she drawled. "And what would you use my power for?"
"Nothing that would interest you," he said dismissively.
Hermione sighed. "Well, I suppose we're at an impasse then."
Voldemort regarded her for a couple of seconds, steeping her fingers before agreeing softly. "Yes. It seems we are."
The two glared at each other, before Voldemort looked away, behind her. "Ah, Avery, Bones. Take her to the dungeons where her friends are. We are done."
"Yes Milord," the two Death Eaters said, bowing together before leading Hermione away from Voldemort.
You'll get yours, Voldemort, she thought, glancing over her shoulder and glaring darkly at that man who wanted to rule Gaea. I won't let you win.
His eyes bore into her as she was led away.
**-**
Hermione reached the dungeons without the guards ever having to touch her. She wondered if they were afraid of her, or if it was because she was acting acquiescent.
"In here," one said gruffly, shoving her into the now open cell. She stepped in, flinching slightly as the bars clanged shut behind her. She let out a wobbly sigh as they left, and sunk down on the floor.
"Hermione?" asked a voice. She glanced up to see someone crawling towards her. As they entered the torchlight, Hermione recognized Harry's ebony hair and emerald eyes.
"Harry," she breathed, hugging him close as they reached for each other. "Are you okay?"
"Are you? What did Voldemort want with you?" he asked, planting kisses along her temple, jaw, cheek and eyes. Finally, his lips descended on hers, and they shared a long and passionate kiss before someone coughed behind them.
"All right, show's over. Can we think of a way to get out of here, please?" asked Ron, sounding a bit miffed.
Hermione laughed, "Sure Ron," before sitting next to Harry, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Hermione? Are you sure you're fine?" came neither Harry, Ron, Lavender nor Oliver's voice. Hermione turned, her jaw dropping open.
"Ginny?" she gasped. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Draco?"
"Well, gee, Hermione, isn't he up there?" the petite red hair smiled, pointing above them to where Voldemort's lair was.
"You knew?" choked Harry, glancing at his love.
Sheepishly, Hermione nodded. "Draco told me. I knew Ginny was with him… although, he never said why."
She sent a look at Ginny, who blushed scarlet. "I can explain that… but… can you come here, Hermione?"
Nodding, Hermione left Harry's arms and walked to where Ginny was crouching in the dark, together they sat against a wall and stared into the darkness before them.
"I'm sorry," Ginny said suddenly.
"Why?"
"Because the reason Draco and I began to follow you was because I wanted Harry for myself, and Draco said he wanted you," sighed the girl. Hermione glanced at her.
"Do you still?"
"Want Harry?"
"Yes."
There was a pause, before Ginny sighed and smiled. "No. I want someone else now."
Hermione grinned at her friend, before reaching out to grasp her left hand. They twined their fingers together and she squeezed, showing her friend that she understood.
"So what happened?" she asked.
"I don't know. Something changed… I wanted Draco, not Harry. I began to care for the young man who pretty much kidnapped me," she let out a small laugh. "I bungled things up, I know that Hermione. I don't know how you can consider me a friend still, after what I did… and now we're all here."
Hermione shrugged. "Everyone makes mistakes, Ginny. Things will always work out in the end." She stopped, thinking of what she was going to say, and let her words come out carefully. "You're still my best friend, no matter what. So the road was a little bit bumpy – I got Harry, and you got Draco, and we're both happy. It worked out, and what's in the past is in the past, where it belongs. We can't change it, but we can build on it."
Hermione glanced at her friend. "Do you love him?"
Ginny smiled at Hermione. "I think I do."
Hermione smiled back. "I'm glad."
**-**
The group sat in the darkness for a long period of time, before they heard the sound of a Death Eater coming towards their cell. They watched as he approached in the torchlight, with Voldemort behind him.
Stopping in front of the cell they were in, Voldemort grinned sadistically. "How cozy." He took in the way Hermione was in Harry's arms, and how close everyone sat around her.
"Well, I'm afraid that I must do something I really don't want to do," he sighed in mock-regret.
"And what's that, Voldemort?" snarled Harry. "Come to kill us?"
"Sadly, no," he replied. "I'm letting you go."
There was a shocked silence. Finally, Ginny gasped, "why?"
Voldemort laughed. "Why, it gives more fun for the chase. Besides, my Death Eaters will round you up during the battle. I think it'll be more fun if you die that way, don't you?"
"Not particularly, no," muttered Oliver.
The cell bars creaked open, and the occupants blinked before stepping out cautiously. Once they were, the cell disappeared behind them, Voldemort was pointing at a soft light that was off to one side – a light they never noticed until now.
"That is the way out, in the middle of the Enchanted Forest," he leered at them, before saying in a soft, deranged voice, "Now run. Run as fast as you can, because the game is only beginning."
**//\\**
AN: Okay people, this will be the last update for EDN until July 19 or so. I will be on vacation, so I hope you're all satisfied with this. I have the outline for the next (and last) two chapters ready and will be starting it ASAP. Now that school's out, there will be more time to write! Keep reviewing, and thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! ~ Kneazle [June.26.03]
