Binding
By: Koi
Gah!!!!! [Bows to the readers and sobs] I am SOOOOOOOOO incredibly sorry that this took so long to come out. You have no idea how badly I wanted to type this, but I got grounded from the computer for coming home way after curfew, and my Dad finally let me get on to type this. Course, I would have written it out at school and had a couple of chapters to post, but my grades aren't too happy, and classes are a freakin pain in the @$$... so....
Please don't be mad. I'll try to have another chapter out within a week, but no promises. We have these stupid state wide tests next week called TAAS, and this year is Exit-level, so if I don't pass them I hafta take it again next year.
I'm rambling, aren't I? I probably should shut up...
Oh, sorry it's so short, too. The next one will be longer (or so I think...)
Chapter Six
Dinnertime rolled around to find five students crowded around a table in the empty library with books and sheets of parchment pilled up around them. A house elf friend of Harry's, named Dobby (who was terrified of Malfoy and had to be bribed with socks to be around him), had little problem with bringing them dinner there in the library, and they all sat around and nibbled on bits of food.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had taken the news surprisingly well. Harry had actually seemed slightly relieved that he wouldn't have to be fighting a fellow student.
"I've got it!" Hermione's exclamation caused four sets of eyes to focus on her questioningly. She blushed as she realized that she'd been a bit loud, but shrugged and turned the book she'd been reading around so the others could see.
For the past couple of hours, they'd been focused on the sole mission of discovering where Lucius would be holding Draco's father. It would have to be someplace associated with Dark Magic, that was certain, but there were hundreds of these places in the Magicking world.
Now, though, Hermione pointed to a tiny article in the book. "See, this place here is called Devil's Island. It's just off the coast of French Guiana in South America. It says here that it `was one of several extremely harsh French Wizarding prison colonies.' The others were all destroyed, but this one wasn't for some reason." She pulled the book back to face her. "Course, the Muggles all think it was just a regular prison colony, and they use it as a tourist resort."
Malfoy sighed. "What makes you think my brother will be there?" He asked. "There are tons of places he could be."
Hermione grinned triumphantly. "I figured you'd ask that." She flipped through another book until she reached a photograph. "This is a picture of the prison camp when it was still in use six years ago." She pointed to one of the scowling prisoners in the middle. "And guess who this right here is.
Usagi squinted and looked at the angry man, who was now making rude gestures at her. "That's Lucius." She said after a minute. She looked at her boyfriend. "Your brother was at Devil's Island? How did he ever escape?"
Draco shrugged and turned back to the picture. "Says here, under the photograph, that these prisoners were all released after the prison was shut down two years ago. They all went before the Ministry and were granted freedom."
Harry nodded. "Well, now that we know where to go, all we have to do is figure out what to do when we get there." He said.
"Ummm..." Ron looked around the table hesitantly. "Did anyone think to wonder how we're going to get there?" He asked.
~*~
The next day passed by slowly for the five gloomy teenagers. Ron's point had sent them all to thinking, and not even Hermione could figure out how they would get all the way to South America.
And now wasn't the time to be in a situation like this, either. Exams for the end of the term were in two days, then Winter Vacation would start. That meant they had two days to figure out how to get to South America and rescue the Elder Lucius Malfoy and get back before Dumbledore found out.
Lucius had given them one week to decide, and Draco was still set against Usagi not trading herself. But with only six days left now, they were running out of time. After exams, they'd have only two days to get there. Or else Lucius would probably kill his father.
The fifth year part of the table was unusually silent that morning. Usagi and Hermione were reading over one book together, and Harry and Ron were both looking through another. Their excuse to the other students was that they were studying for exams, and they seemed to buy it.
None of the four teens looked up at the familiar whooshing sound of owls filled the Great Hall. Not until, at least, a large black owl fluttered down before Usagi. Then, the Japanese girl glanced up and grinned.
"Luna!" She exclaimed. "You've got the replies?" The owl dropped a white envelope down and hooted softly. Usagi held out a piece of toast, which Luna grabbed before flying off. Then, the blond grabbed the letter and ripped it open.
She read through the parchment quickly, smiling even more as she did. Harry looked at her curiously. "Is that from your friends back at your old school?" He asked.
Usagi nodded. "Yeah, and they have great news." She looked around. "Their school ended term a few days ago, so they decided to come and visit. They received my letter halfway, so now they're here at Hogwarts!"
She stood, her toast and eggs forgotten. "I'm going to go meet them. I'll see you guys in class later." She turned, then paused. "Oh, do me a favor. Tell Draco what's going on if he doesn't know already." Then she was gone.
End
Chapter Completed February 16, 2002 at 3:01 PM
Yup, that's short. Course, I couldn't keep writing cause the chapter would end up being too long (which I'm sure you people wouldn't mind). Expect the next chapter out within a week or so... I hope...
By: Koi
Gah!!!!! [Bows to the readers and sobs] I am SOOOOOOOOO incredibly sorry that this took so long to come out. You have no idea how badly I wanted to type this, but I got grounded from the computer for coming home way after curfew, and my Dad finally let me get on to type this. Course, I would have written it out at school and had a couple of chapters to post, but my grades aren't too happy, and classes are a freakin pain in the @$$... so....
Please don't be mad. I'll try to have another chapter out within a week, but no promises. We have these stupid state wide tests next week called TAAS, and this year is Exit-level, so if I don't pass them I hafta take it again next year.
I'm rambling, aren't I? I probably should shut up...
Oh, sorry it's so short, too. The next one will be longer (or so I think...)
Chapter Six
Dinnertime rolled around to find five students crowded around a table in the empty library with books and sheets of parchment pilled up around them. A house elf friend of Harry's, named Dobby (who was terrified of Malfoy and had to be bribed with socks to be around him), had little problem with bringing them dinner there in the library, and they all sat around and nibbled on bits of food.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had taken the news surprisingly well. Harry had actually seemed slightly relieved that he wouldn't have to be fighting a fellow student.
"I've got it!" Hermione's exclamation caused four sets of eyes to focus on her questioningly. She blushed as she realized that she'd been a bit loud, but shrugged and turned the book she'd been reading around so the others could see.
For the past couple of hours, they'd been focused on the sole mission of discovering where Lucius would be holding Draco's father. It would have to be someplace associated with Dark Magic, that was certain, but there were hundreds of these places in the Magicking world.
Now, though, Hermione pointed to a tiny article in the book. "See, this place here is called Devil's Island. It's just off the coast of French Guiana in South America. It says here that it `was one of several extremely harsh French Wizarding prison colonies.' The others were all destroyed, but this one wasn't for some reason." She pulled the book back to face her. "Course, the Muggles all think it was just a regular prison colony, and they use it as a tourist resort."
Malfoy sighed. "What makes you think my brother will be there?" He asked. "There are tons of places he could be."
Hermione grinned triumphantly. "I figured you'd ask that." She flipped through another book until she reached a photograph. "This is a picture of the prison camp when it was still in use six years ago." She pointed to one of the scowling prisoners in the middle. "And guess who this right here is.
Usagi squinted and looked at the angry man, who was now making rude gestures at her. "That's Lucius." She said after a minute. She looked at her boyfriend. "Your brother was at Devil's Island? How did he ever escape?"
Draco shrugged and turned back to the picture. "Says here, under the photograph, that these prisoners were all released after the prison was shut down two years ago. They all went before the Ministry and were granted freedom."
Harry nodded. "Well, now that we know where to go, all we have to do is figure out what to do when we get there." He said.
"Ummm..." Ron looked around the table hesitantly. "Did anyone think to wonder how we're going to get there?" He asked.
~*~
The next day passed by slowly for the five gloomy teenagers. Ron's point had sent them all to thinking, and not even Hermione could figure out how they would get all the way to South America.
And now wasn't the time to be in a situation like this, either. Exams for the end of the term were in two days, then Winter Vacation would start. That meant they had two days to figure out how to get to South America and rescue the Elder Lucius Malfoy and get back before Dumbledore found out.
Lucius had given them one week to decide, and Draco was still set against Usagi not trading herself. But with only six days left now, they were running out of time. After exams, they'd have only two days to get there. Or else Lucius would probably kill his father.
The fifth year part of the table was unusually silent that morning. Usagi and Hermione were reading over one book together, and Harry and Ron were both looking through another. Their excuse to the other students was that they were studying for exams, and they seemed to buy it.
None of the four teens looked up at the familiar whooshing sound of owls filled the Great Hall. Not until, at least, a large black owl fluttered down before Usagi. Then, the Japanese girl glanced up and grinned.
"Luna!" She exclaimed. "You've got the replies?" The owl dropped a white envelope down and hooted softly. Usagi held out a piece of toast, which Luna grabbed before flying off. Then, the blond grabbed the letter and ripped it open.
She read through the parchment quickly, smiling even more as she did. Harry looked at her curiously. "Is that from your friends back at your old school?" He asked.
Usagi nodded. "Yeah, and they have great news." She looked around. "Their school ended term a few days ago, so they decided to come and visit. They received my letter halfway, so now they're here at Hogwarts!"
She stood, her toast and eggs forgotten. "I'm going to go meet them. I'll see you guys in class later." She turned, then paused. "Oh, do me a favor. Tell Draco what's going on if he doesn't know already." Then she was gone.
End
Chapter Completed February 16, 2002 at 3:01 PM
Yup, that's short. Course, I couldn't keep writing cause the chapter would end up being too long (which I'm sure you people wouldn't mind). Expect the next chapter out within a week or so... I hope...