"Ron!" Harry yelled. Where his friend had been only a few seconds ago, there was nothing now. "Where did he go?" he asked.
"I don't know," Dumbledore replied. "But don't touch anything. Severus, you didn't accidentally happen to have a portkey in your bags?"
"No, why would I?" Severus shook his head. "I guess someone wanted to get me somewhere," he assumed.
"Yes. But who? And why?" Harry asked. "And where's Ron?"
"I still have many enemies, Mr. Potter," Severus snarled. "I'm still marked as a traitor to those who escaped Azkaban." He turned towards Dumbledore. "When I was at Diagon Alley, I had the feeling of being followed, but I couldn't see anyone. Maybe it wasn't just paranoia. Maybe someone slipped the portkey into my bags and hoped I would touch it while unpacking. But yesterday, I was preoccupied with a potion and then there was Hermione. She looked ill and I sent her to Poppy. I didn't think of unpacking."
Harry looked up at his Potions teacher. He seemed to be worried sick about Hermione, although he tried to hide it. But a muscle under his left eye twitched and his hands shook a bit. Snape seemed to notice, too, because he tucked them into his pockets. But what had he said? He had been too preoccupied to unpack his purchase? With Hermione's health? 'Odd,' he thought. It wasn't like Snape to be worried about anyone.
Harry wondered just how close he and Hermione were, when he became aware of everyone staring at him.
"What?" he asked. "I mean, sorry. I didn't listen."
"I asked you to go up to your Common Room and alarm Professor McGonagall. Tell her to come to my office," Dumbledore repeated. "You and Miss Weasley may join us, too," he added.
Harry nodded and went to do as he was asked.
+~*#
"Stupefy", Lucius Malfoy yelled, pointing his wand at Ron. Immediately, Ron felt his body go numb and seconds later, he lost consciousness.
Hermione mouthed a toneless 'no' and saw Ron's lifeless body drop to the floor. He hit the concrete hard with his head, and a bloody cut appeared on his forehead.
Malfoy levitated Ron's unconscious form to a chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He seemed to think about what to do with Ron.
"Tie him up," he told Pansy, who was still watching. When she was done, he tested the ropes and when he was satisfied with their strength, he awoke Ron.
"Enervate!"
Ron groaned. Half of his face was covered in blood. Hermione knew that head wounds normally bleed a lot, but that was more than a lot of blood.
She panicked.
She wouldn't get out alive. Lucius Malfoy would torture her and probably rape her. He would kill her and he would kill Ron and there was no one who could help them. There was just no way they could find them in time. Malfoy could start his little killing spree right now, and there would be nothing to stop him. She was helpless, bound and – figuratively spoken – naked. And she would probably be naked – literally naked – by the time Malfoy finished whatever he would do to her. And Ron.
She couldn't help it. A single tear ran down her cheek. She was angry and terrified at the same time. She was helpless, and yet felt as if she had to do something… anything.
"What do you want that pathetic cry baby for, anyway, Lucius?" Pansy asked. She and Malfoy stood next to each other in the middle of the room. Ron was still a bit dizzy, it seemed. The knock on his head had probably caused a concussion.
'Baby?' Hermione thought. 'Oh my god.' She blanched even more. The baby! What would Malfoy do if he found out? She tried to hold back the tears but her feelings betrayed her. At least she didn't cry and sob and break down completely. That wouldn't help her. She had to stay calm.
But it was too much. He was going to kill her, and he would kill her and Severus' baby. And he didn't even know! She couldn't die without letting him know. She cursed herself for not telling him earlier when she'd had the chance to.
"Oh, just have a little fun," Malfoy sneered. He laughed. "Don't worry, Pansy. The mudblood slut doesn't mean anything to me. I just want to give her something she won't forget for the rest of her life," he said, still laughing. "And that won't be long."
Pansy smiled now. "Will you let me kill her?"
"Of course, dear," he said. "And you may have a little fun, too. Mr. Weasley here seems to be in need of a little attention."
Ron's head jerked up. A terrified look in his eyes, he looked from Malfoy to Pansy and back. Hermione could tell what was on his mind right now. It was the same she was thinking over and over again. 'God, please, no.'
"I think I will just hurt him a bit," Pansy said with a cheery voice. It made Hermione sick.
Pansy went over to where Ron was tied to the chair. She pulled out a knife, a sharp hunting knife, and moved to stand in front of Ron. With a swift motion she cut off the buttons of his robe and shirt. The way she held the knife and performed the movement told Hermione that she was used to this. She wasn't the girl Hermione knew any more. Yes, she'd never liked Pansy. She was a Slytherin and therefore mean and ruthless and brutal. But she'd never pictured her as a cold-blooded murderer. Somehow she'd still thought that Pansy was more subtle than slicing someone open with a knife. But the devilish grin and the flicker of insanity in Pansy's eyes proved her wrong.
Pansy lay her left hand on Ron's chest and he shivered and struggled to get away from her touch. But the ropes held tight.
She slapped him hard on the face.
"Don't move," she told him. And began cutting his exposed flesh. Ron's screams still echoed in Hermione's ears, long after he got hoarse and somewhat apathetic.
+~*#
Severus got more and more nervous. She was missing over five hours now. Didn't they know what the sick mind of a Death Eater could come up with in five hours' time? Didn't they know what he – or they – could have done to her by now? How could they stay so calm?
The fingers of his right hand drummed a fast rhythm on Dumbledore's wooden office desk. He was sitting in one of the chairs and listened to their useless babble.
He couldn't sit still anymore. He had to do something… anything, or he would go insane.
He stood up and began pacing.
He grabbed Potter's map and checked it again. Maybe she was safe in her dormitory and it was only Weasley who was missing. 'Yes, Severus,' he thought sarcastically. 'And if you believe in it really hard, Longbottom will be Potions Master in two years… Stop dreaming already!' Of course she wasn't there, but neither was one of his other students. He frowned.
"Where's Pansy Parkinson?" he asked.
Everyone looked up, puzzled expressions everywhere.
"What?" asked Minerva.
Impatiently, he replied, "Miss Parkinson. She isn't in the Common Room with Zabini and Malfoy. So where is she?"
Minerva grabbed the map. "What are you saying? Another missing student?" She studies the map and then handed it to Albus Dumbledore, who shot a look at it and rose from his seat.
"Well, I suppose we let the students assemble in the Great Hall. It is safer for them to be together. Minerva," he addressed the stern looking woman. "I have to ask you to keep an eye on them. Otherwise there would be chaos, and I don't think we need that right now."
Severus didn't listen. Pansy Parkinson was missing. Why? Why would a Death Eater kidnap a fellow Slytherin, pure-blooded and practically engaged to a Malfoy? Why her? And why now? It didn't make sense.
"It doesn't make sense," he murmured and shook his head.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
He looked up. Again, he was the centre of attention. "I don't think Miss Parkinson has been kidnapped," he said. "It doesn't make sense. She would have been the perfect Death Eater. Only few women ever joined in – they usually left that for their husbands and concentrated on having an heir – but I'm sure Parkinson would have received the Mark. She's cruel. And she doesn't seem to have a conscience. I never told anyone, but half of the injuries along the Slytherin girls were inflicted by her. She was and is the leader of the Slytherin girls. I always thought I could change her. And that Draco may have a good influence on her." He saw the sceptical look Potter gave him and ignored it. He didn't have the time nor the wish to explain the depth of Draco Malfoy's character to him. "I was wrong. But when the Dark Lord was defeated, I thought she was safe."
He sat down, sighing. "Every Death Eater knew about Little Miss Perfect. Her father always bragged about his little girl, especially since his son was such a disappointment. He's rather poor at casting the Unforgivables, and even messes up the easiest spells. He was no use at all as a Death Eater. But Pansy, she was the pride of her family. Not one Death Eater would dare touch her. Not unless he wanted to risk being skinned alive."
"Skinned?" Ginny Weasley echoed in a flat voice. She looked pale, and disbelieving. Potter squeezed her hand reassuringly and Severus felt a pang of jealousy in his heart. He missed Hermione, more than he could have thought possible. And he was worried and terrified. What if whoever kidnapped her was torturing her right now? A sick feeling in his stomach, he closed his eyes. 'Don't think about it,' he told himself. But he couldn't help it. 'Oh, God, what if they harmed the baby?'
He stood up again, rubbing his forehead. His hand felt cold and he shivered. "I think Pansy Parkinson kidnapped Hermione," he finally said. "Someone should search her belongings. I don't think she did it on her own."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I think you are right, Severus." He sighed. "I was so blind all these years," he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. But Severus, standing directly in front of his desk, had heard it.
"No, you weren't," he replied. "I should have told you years ago."
"Well, it doesn't help to feel guilty now," he said, standing up. "Minerva, could you please get all the students together. I will be down in a minute to explain things." He turned towards Potter and Ginny Weasley. "I don't want you two to worry. Harry, please take this to the Owlery-" he held out a thin envelope which Potter took "-and send it to the Ministry of Magic."
Potter stood up and went out of the door.
"Miss Weasley, I'm sorry about this, but I think we need to inform your parents bout Ron's disappearance. Could you send them an owl?"
Ginny nodded and followed Potter.
Now, Severus and Dumbledore were alone. "I suppose we two will have a look at Miss Parkinson's things."
Severus nodded and let the way to the dungeons.
+~*#
After what seemed like eternity, Pansy finally put the knife away. Ron's chest felt numb. He saw all the blood and he could still feel his skin burn from the touch of the cold steel, but he didn't feel pain. 'Hey, maybe I'm in shock,' he thought. He didn't really care.
He was petrified. Even if he wasn't bound to a chair, he doubted he would have been able to move. It was worse than facing Voldemort. He knew Voldemort and he knew how to face him. This was completely different. He had always thought Pansy was a spoiled brat who was just following a family tradition being in Slytherin. He'd never thought that she could be so cruel and violent and heartless. She didn't seem to mind the stains of blood – his blood – on her clothes. Or on her hands. He stared at her hands. Blood on her hands. He realized that the situation was more serious that he'd thought earlier.
No one knew where they were or who held them prisoner. 'By the way, how did Malfoy manage to escape Azkaban?' Ron thought. 'Wasn't he supposed to be locked away for about seventy years at least?' But then again, he still didn't care.
He didn't know where they were. He couldn't reach his wand, and his chest burnt like fire every time he tried to move. He couldn't feel his wrists, either. His hands had to be tied pretty hard, judging by the prickling feeling he had in them.
Suddenly he realized that it was suspiciously silent. Looking up, he saw Malfoy standing in front of Pansy. She had a lascivious smile on her face. He drew her into a fierce embrace and they kissed passionately. They didn't seem to notice that they had an – involuntary – audience. Or they just didn't mind. Hastily, Malfoy unzipped his pants while Pansy removed his shirt. Then he was naked. Her bloody hands left red prints all over his body.
Ron saw Hermione close her eyes. But he couldn't look away. He had to see what would happen next.
It was disgusting. Malfoy quickly removed Pansy's clothing and started to kiss her again. Both seemed a bit impatient, Pansy even more than Malfoy. She grabbed his cock, hard, and he groaned. 'It looks like a red buoy now,' Ron thought without humour. He couldn't avert his eyes, even though he tried.
"Fuck me," she said.
All Ron could think while he watched their brutal copulation was that his blood was now inside Pansy Parkinson. He wanted to scream, throw up, cry, be home this instant, with a cup of hot chocolate and a tuna sandwich in front of him.
Instead he watched.
+~*#
"Nothing," Severus sighed. They had searched Pansy's dresser and her trunk, they had even looked under the bed. But they had found nothing.
"Don't worry," Dumbledore said calmly. But it just rose Severus' anger.
"Don't worry?" he echoed. "I guess it's a little late for that. And it's all my fault. I should have listened to her. I shouldn't have let her wander off alone. I should-"
"You could have done nothing, Severus," Dumbledore interrupted him. "I know you care for Miss Granger, and she cares for you. That's the reason why you have to stay cool. You are no help otherwise."
"HELP?" he yelled. "How could I possibly help her? Haven't I done enough yet?" He began pacing again. "I didn't find the answer to what had hit us, she did! I hadn't known about the love potion and I wouldn't have found the antidote – or knew who to write to for it – without her. She is the one that is a help. I haven't done a thing for her – except getting her pregnant!"
"You what?!" Minerva McGonagall entered the dormitory and came towards Severus.
Dumbledore approached her and lay his hand onto her arm. "Minerva," he said, his calming voice oddly comforting to Severus. "I'm afraid you don't know all the details. And I would appreciate it, if you didn't judge anyone by what you heard."
Minerva just stared at him, and – with a sideway glance at Severus – nodded. "All right, but I want to know the whole story once this is over," she demanded.
"Of course," Dumbledore assured her. "I wanted to talk to you, anyways." He smiled reassuringly. "Now, why are you here? And who's watching the children?"
"I left them with Hagrid," she said, pulling something out of her pocket. "This just arrived. Urgent owl from the Ministry."
Dumbledore took the sealed envelope and opened it. His face grew serious and when he looked up, his face was shadowed by worry. "Lucius Malfoy escaped from Azkaban. Two days ago, they assume."
"Two days!" Severus exclaimed. "Why didn't they tell us?" He was shocked. Lucius Malfoy! It was worse than he had imagined.
"They didn't know. Apparently, Malfoy managed to get hold of a wand and performed a strong curse. They say that apart from his wife and his son, only a niece visited him in the last month."
"Lucius Malfoy doesn't have a niece," Severus said. His mind was racing. Every second, his brain would come up with another sick image of what Lucius Malfoy – and Pansy Parkinson – could do to Hermione. "It was Pansy, I bet."
Dumbledore sighed.
"I can't take this any more," Severus said, his voice free from emotion. "I want to talk to Draco. Maybe he knows where his father is hiding. And maybe we will find Hermione there."
"I don't think that's a good idea," replied Dumbledore. His calm demeanour started to annoy Severus.
"I don't care," he shouted. "Do you have any idea of what Lucius Malfoy is capable of? And together with Pansy Parkinson, he would be twice as dangerous. That sick bastard was the worst of all Death Eaters. And he really is insane. He will… I can't even think about it! And I won't let it happen without trying everything I can!" He stormed out of the room, heading for the Great Hall.
+~*#
Hermione had her eyes still closed. She hadn't wanted to watch them. They were disgusting and frightening and pervert and… she didn't know. And didn't want to know. Wasn't Pansy supposed to marry Draco? And now his father was testing her, or what? They were just sick. Sick bastards without a trace of honour or something that resembled a conscience.
Hermione had her eyes closed, but she couldn't shut out the noises; the moaning and groaning, the cries of lust and pain, and the laughter.
She tried to pretend to be somewhere else. It didn't work.
She tried to think of something else. It didn't work.
She tried to list the twelve uses of dragon blood. It didn't work.
But finally, after what seemed like forever, the noises finally stopped and it was silent again. She heard Pansy and Malfoy getting dressed – at least she assumed by the sound of rustling clothes and a zipper. She leaned her head against the cold stone and wished to be anywhere but here. Didn't work.
Suddenly, she felt a hot hand on her cheek. She didn't have to open her eyes to know that it was Malfoy. But she opened them nevertheless, just to show him that she wasn't intimidated. Of course she was terrified to no end, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her this weak. She turned her head away and straightened her shoulders. Head high, she said, "Don't touch me!" Her voice didn't even tremble.
But Malfoy only smiled viciously and took a key out of his pocket. "Don't worry, mudblood. You'll get yours soon enough." He opened the lock that held the chain on her left wrist. "Don't try to run away. It wouldn't help. You can't escape." He opened the second lock. Now only her feet were bound. "Pansy's got your wand, and she's upstairs. My wand will be pointed at you. One false move and I'll curse you, understood?"
She nodded. Her mind was racing. That was her chance, maybe the only one she got. She had to think. And then it hit her. She could feel it inside her pocket. The gift Severus had given her last Halloween, before the antidote started to work. She slid her hand into the pocket. The black cylinder was small enough to be hidden in her hand.
When Malfoy bent down to unlock the chains at her feet, she whispered, "Get Severus" and held her hand open. The cylinder rose into the air without a sound and flew towards the stairs. In no time it had disappeared completely. Ron watched her with a puzzled look, but she just shook her head. "Later," she mouthed.
He nodded and resumed staring at Malfoy.
"Where do you take me?" she asked, rubbing her wrists. Red marks were visible where the heavy chains had cut her skin. It hurt a lot.
"Upstairs," he said, standing up. "Come on."
She went to the stairs, surprised that she could still walk. She didn't know what she had to expect upstairs, but she knew that there was hope again. She just hoped she would last that long.
A/N: Tada! Lots of violence, dirty words, panic, action (yes, this time even some of that kind of action) and then hope!
I'm at my parents' house and brought this and the next chapter with me… just to make you happy (I still haven't got Internet at my new flat).
Please Review!