Chapter 12
Two days later found Hermione researching more on the expulsion of ghosts than on the entry to Malfoy Manor. She was curled up with 1001 Banishments and Exorcisms for Fun and Profit. Harry had been explicit. They needed to release Snape not only painlessly, but in full retention of his sanity. She sighed, now if only he hadn't tried to get Harry to do the noble thing.
She rose from her chair head throbbing. "Fuck!" and she threw the book against the wall.
Nine heads snapped up. Ron's mouth was actually hanging open.
"What?" she glared at them all, and stormed towards the dorms.
"Ron, I think you should go see to her." Harry said slowly. "You might want to take her something for the pain."
Ron nodded, and accepted the small potion bottle from Ginny. "It's not armadillo bile, is it?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and smacked Ron. "No, I keep that special for you."
Harry watched as Ron took a piece of parchment and scribbled on it, finally sticking it on the bulletin board.
November 10th – Hermione Grainger shouted 'Fuck!' and threw a book.
(Ok, I'd like to defend myself here. Ron makes a big deal out of this, but if you had to research a painless way to banish a spirit and retain full sanity, see how long it takes you to throw a book and swear. - Hermione)
They had just a few more hours until sunset. The moon was just a pale sliver, and their cloaks would be almost as good as invisibility cloaks until they entered the house. If Draco had not been lying, they would be fairly effective inside as well, as the house is mostly wrapped in deep shadows.
They cleared off the table, took out their plates and set the table properly for once. It was a ritual Harry had decided to start. From here on out prior to each foray they would eat a decent meal using plates, and drinking from glasses.
(This is a great passage, and a testament to Harry's integrity. It's also 100% true. From this moment on we never moved against the death eaters without a proper meal. Though at times 'proper meal' may not have been a wholly accurate description, but he meant well, and it meant so much to us all. – Cho)
The meal was almost light hearted. Ron and Hermione returned after she drank the pain killer, and entered into the conversation freely. They ate the meal savoring it, and enjoying the atmosphere as well as the company and food itself.
Three hours later, they were shouldering rucksacks and making mental checklists of gear. Harry looked at the fireplace and sighed. He hated the floo network. A small pinch of powder, and the flames glowed green. "Tempus Cabin" and he was pulled into the network. He tumbled out into a small cabin about four miles from Malfoy Manor. It was here that they would move into the grounds.
The cabin had been used by Snape to come and go from Malfoy Manor while alive. Snape had explained that he found the cabin and secretly had it connected to the floo network. It was just inside the wards that protected Malfoy Manor so their entry would be unnoticed.
Ten figures left the cabin moving swiftly, but quietly in teams of two. They moved without making sounds only gestures. Ahead the manor house stood almost dark. Harry smiled. All the better to move in on you. He made eye contact with Ron. He had seen three death eaters ahead. He lifted three fingers, and pointed them out. Ron and Hermione readied the potions. He looked at Ginny, and winked at her.
She smile back, licked her lips and blew him a kiss.
Damn, she is going to be the death of me. He thought tearing his mind away from the unspoken promise. Focus Potter. Focus. Death eaters now, Ginny later.
He looked again watching the movements of the wizards. His hand was mid drop when the first vial hit. The three death eaters were still trying to cast when Cho and Justin moved in on them.
Only one survived the fight. "You have about three minutes to live." Harry explained to the man on the ground. "So make them worthwhile. Tell us what we want to know."
"You won't kill me Potter." The man's voice was familiar to Harry.
"Well, perhaps not." Harry answered. "I mean to say is I won't kill you. But I am sure Cho would take a great amount of satisfaction in it. I remember you now. You were one of the scum that attacked Cedric and myself. You were the one that cast Avada Cadabra on him, aren't you? 'Kill the spare.' I believe was all Voldemort had to say, wasn't it?"
Cho's eyes darkened dangerously. "You killed Cedric?"
The man looked at her. "I was under orders."
Cho looked at Harry. "Leave him to me."
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear for a full minute. Cho's face softened and in the end took a hard edge to it. "I understand Harry."
"So, tell me then." Harry turned to their captive. "Where are the students and staff being held?"
"Go to hell Potter."
"Ohhh, wrong answer." Harry stood up, and reached for Ginny's pack. He came out with a vial of clear liquid. He showed it to the death eater. "You do of course know what this is?"
The death eater blanched. "Y-yes."
"Now, I'd hate to waste this on someone who is going to die anyway. So talk of your own free will, or I will administer this, and you will answer me." He unstoppered the vial allowing the scent to waft to the man. "It's veritas serum, alright, and I will get the answers."
He told them what Harry wanted to know. After a few minutes Ron had revised his plan and explained it to them. Cho's eyes never left the man, hatred burning in her like a furnace.
They got ready to leave. Harry placed a hand on Cho's shoulder their eyes met and he spoke to her gravely. "Don't tarry, we have a lot to do tonight."
The death eater who Harry realized he didn't even know, or care what his name had been died a minute later.
(Ginny explained in the beginning of the book that we could care less what you thought of us. She's right. You sent Aurors to these people, and they had nice long trials and most were pardoned it was bullshit. Every one of Voldemorts' supporters came flocking back to him save Severous Snape. There was no control, they were scum, and deserved to die like scum. Cho had lost someone special, and so did I. – Susan)
They slid closer to the manor, each taking care that their partner was with them and ok. Silence cloaked them as they moved forward almost as effectively as the darkness. They found the servant's entrance where Draco had told them it would be. Hermione looked at the door and waved her wand "Aloha Mora" the door stayed closed. Ron reached over, and turned the handle. It was unlocked.
"What bloody fool leaves doors unlocked?" Hermione asked frustrated.
Harry had to stifle a chuckle. "Apparently Lucius Malfoy."
The kitchen was deserted, and they had easy access to the main halls, the dungeon entrance was their first goal. This door was open as well, causing Ron some discomfort. "Is Malfoy just an imbecile? Who leaves their doors wide open?"
Harry was feeling his share of doubt as well. Indeed who would leave such an easy pathway into the manor. Unless… "It's a trap." Harry stated. "We were set up." They were poised about to enter the dungeon. "We need to get out of here now."
They headed back towards the kitchen, finding the door leading to that room closed and locked. "Shit." Ron glared at the door as if willing it to open. "This was too bloody easy."
Harry grinned. "Ok then, follow me."
They headed back to the dungeons. "Harry, have you lost it mate? Remember, trap, bad guys?"
Harry looked at Justin and grinned again. "Right you are, but now we know it's a trap, so we won't be surprised." He eased a vial of the magic drainer into his hand. "Just be ready."
They moved into the holding area, to find a knot of students. Many were beaten; some had been abused with more than just hands and sticks. Fury built in all ten of them. They freed the students, and Ron started a fire in the fireplace. He threw in a bit of powder, and the flamed turned green. "It's connected." The students fled Malfoy Manor for Hogwarts.
One of the older Ravenclaws looked at Cho. "There are more students deeper in; they are setting a trap you know."
Cho smiled back, no humor was found in her eyes or bearing. "I know. It's the worst mistake of their lives, and their last."
He was taken aback by her mannerisms, and her attitude. "Keep everyone in the Great Hall until we get there." Harry snapped the seventh year out of his staring at Cho. "Now get out of here."
They progressed carefully thought the dungeon, and found, much to their outrage and horror a room where several of the female students were being forced to service death eaters. The men never knew what hit them. The ward potions hit them leaving them powerless against the magic used against by the Companions. Since the Death Eaters relied on magic to protect them, they were unable to even put up a fight. The girls were released from their bindings, and given what clothing could be found. Harry hated sending them back alone, but he knew they'd never get another shot at this.
The rage burned deep inside all of them now. These were their friends, and classmates, housemates. Their outrage became as a purging fire.
The next room held the remaining captives. As with the first group, they were malnourished, and had been obviously beaten. Harry was sick with revulsion. He made note of some names, and the students were sent back to Hogwarts.
There had been no one here; apparently they had been enjoying themselves in the room with the female students. As the last student left, Harry noticed a door. He pointed to it, and they split into teams automatically Ron and Hermione were closer to the door, and eased it open.
Inside was a chamber that Harry wished he had never seen. The students who didn't survive were here. They had been preserved, much the same way Hermione had preserved Fudge until they could arrange to bury him.
All in all Harry added twenty five names to his book. Fury burned cold in his eyes. They left the bodies, tears streaming down their faces as they made note of names. Harry simply wrote, and swore under his breath.
With all the energy he could muster, he conjured the phoenix to mark this spot. They all gathered around Ron who set the watch for 'six am' and waited a second for the pull. Malfoy Manor vanished, and they were met with chaos in the Great Hall.
They tended to the injured as best as they could, and attempted to assure the students that they were safe now, and took them to their common rooms. At this rate Harry thought leading the Gryffindor students back to their common room. We need to get some help. We can't keep treating these kids; they need their parents, or at least adults.