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Chapter 23

"Well, well, well. Welcome to Malfoy Manor, Mr. Potter."

"Professor Snape?"

"Very good, Potter," said Snape.

Harry looked back at Hermione and Ron. They shrugged. "Sir, are you ok," questioned Hermione.

Snape's eyes flashed, but he said nothing.

"Where's Ann," asked Harry slowly.

"Never mind that," said Snape pulling out his wand and pointing it at the three of them.

"What are you doing," shouted Ron.

"Come with me, now," said Snape loudly.

"You're out of your mind," said Ron grabbing Hermione and Harry by the back of their robes and pulling them backwards. "Let's get out of here," he said.

Snape raised his wand and cried out, "crucio." Ron fell to the ground screaming in agony.

"Ron," Hermione screamed dropping next to him. She held him tight against her trying to stop his twitching. "Stop it," she cried to Snape.

In a flash, Harry pulled out his wand.

"Expelliarmus," cried Snape three times and Harry, Ron, and Hermione's wand flew toward him.

Ron stilled in Hermione's arms. "Are you ok," she cried. He nodded and groaned painfully.

"What the hell do you think you're doing," said Harry stepping in between Snape and Hermione and Ron.

Snape raised his wand again.

"No, wait," yelled Hermione she extended her hand trying to pull Harry back. "Don't."

"Get up and come with me," repeated Snape in an almost monotone voice.

Harry almost screamed in frustration. Once again he had foolishly put Ron and Hermione in danger by jumping into a situation before thinking things through. And now not only were the three of them in very serious trouble, but also Ann was somewhere in the house in trouble as well.

"Harry, help me," said Hermione putting one of Ron's arms around her and lifting him up. Harry went to Ron's other side and helped Hermione pull him to his feet.

Snape waved his wand at them motioning for them to step in front of him. The three friends stepped in front of Snape and begin moving slowly through the house.

"That way," said Snape pointing toward a staircase leading down. "Down there." They walked slowly down the staircase. The staircase opened up into a large hallway. Snape pointed his wand at one of the doors. "Aloha Mora," he said and one of the doors flew open. "Get in." He pushed Harry from behind and the three of them tumbled into the dark room. The door slammed behind them plunging them into total darkness.

"Damn it," yelled Harry.

"Harry," came a voice in the darkness.

"Ann," questioned Harry. Harry began feeling his way through the darkness. "Where are you?"

"Here," she said reaching out and their hands met.

"Ann," he said in relief. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "I'm so sorry."

"What happened," he asked.

"I don't know. I was searching the house when someone came behind me. I tried to get away, but whoever it was held me too tightly."

"We heard you scream," said Ron weakly from the corner of the darkened room.

"Ron? Was that you? Are you ok?"

"Your father hit him with the Crucio curse," explained Harry.

"My father's here," asked Ann excitedly.

"Did you not here what Harry said," snapped Hermione. "He performed an unforgivable curse on someone."

"There's a logical explanation for that, I'm sure," said Ann.

"Oh please," muttered Hermione. She ran her hand over Ron's forehead. "Ron are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes, Hermione. Stop fussing," said Ron taking her hand in his and giving it a soft squeeze. "We have to figure out how to get out of here."

"Harry, did you really see my father," asked Ann quietly. "Was he ok?"

"Yeah, I saw him," said Harry with an edge.

"Did he really perform an unforgivable curse on Ron," she asked even more quietly.

"Yeah," said Harry.

"That can't be right," said Ann. "He would never."

"Well he did," snapped Hermione from the corner. "And now because of him, we're stuck in here and God knows what's going to happen now."

"Hermione, it'll be ok," said Ron sitting up and resting his back against the wall. "We've gotten out of worst situations before."

"How," asked Hermione in frustration. "Thanks to Ann, nobody knows where we are and now we don't even have our wands."

"Nobody twisted your arm to come," snapped Ann back.

"Yeah, like Ron and I were really going to let you lead Harry off by yourselves."

"All right, enough. Both of you," snapped Harry. "We have to stick together."

Hermione said nothing, but turned her attention back to Ron.

"What are we going to do, Harry," asked Ron. "Hermione's right, without our wands we're defenseless."

"I still have my wand," Ann piped up.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at Ann. "Why didn't you say that before," asked Hermione.

"Never mind," said Harry trying to avoid an argument. "That's great then, we can get out of here."

"No, I tried already. I can't open the door," said Ann.

Hermione stood up. "Give me your wand."

Ann handed it over wordlessly.

Hermione took the wand in her hand and pointed it at the door. "I hope this works," she said. "Using another wizard's wand is always hit or miss." She cleared her throat and uttered several series of incantations before they heard the faint click of the door.

"You did it," said Ann in amazement.

"You haven't seen the best of it," said Ron proudly, getting up.

Harry nearly laughed. "Come on, let's get out of here. Quietly." He took Ann's hand and guided her out of the room, looking left and right before leaving. Ron moved toward the door, taking Hermione's hand.

"Ron," she whispered as they followed Harry and Ann out. "Don't you think it's odd that they took our wands, but left Ann with hers?"

"Don't believe in luck?"

"Not for us, not in this situation."

Ron sighed. "Let's just keep a close eye on her."

Hermione nodded. "I think I'll hang on to her wand for the time being."

"Don't worry, we'll get out of this," he said. He gave her hand a tight squeeze. "I've got your back, Hermione."

She smiled. "Always."

The four made their way down the hall quietly and carefully and each of them became steadily more uneasy that they ran into no obstacles.

"How do we get out of here," whispered Harry.

"That way, I think," said Ron pointing right. "We left our brooms on the south side of the house."

"Wait," said Ann stopping short. "What about my father."

Ron and Hermione practically ran into her and Harry. "Are you mad," asked Ron.

"Didn't you hear what we said back there," asked Hermione is exasperation.

"I'm not leaving here, without my father," said Ann stubbornly.

"Then you're staying here alone," said Hermione.

"Ann," said Harry trying to reason with her. "We can't do this by ourselves. Now that we know where your father is, we can get help."

"This is all my fault. I can't leave him here, please," she begged.

"No, Ann. No. We're getting out of here, even if I have to carry you out," said Harry threateningly.

"Harry," began Ann.

There was a loud noise from around the corner and Ann, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all experienced momentary panic. Harry pushed Ann and Ron back against the wall, allowing Hermione who had Ann's wand out and ready easy access.

As much concentration as she had, Hermione nearly dropped her wand when the person making all the noise showed himself.

"Professor Lupin," she gasped.

Harry, Ron, and Ann rushed forward peppering the professor with questions. "How did you find us? What are you doing here?"

"Not now kids," said Lupin. "I've got to get you out of here."

"Professor Lupin, my father," began Ann.

"Not now, Ann," said Lupin sharply.

"I think now's the perfect time," said the cold calculated voice of Lucius Malfoy from behind them.

Remus turned quickly, putting himself between Malfoy and his students. "Malfoy," he said through gritted teeth. "I suggest you get out of our way."

Malfoy smiled. "Without allowing the girl to see her father."

"What have you done to my father," said Ann.

"Ann," said Lupin sharply.

"Please, Mr. Lupin. Let her speak."

Harry pulled Ann back, putting a vice grip on her hand.

"No," asked Malfoy. "Then maybe we should just bring our old pal Severus out. Severus," he called over his shoulder. "Could you come here please?"

Snape walked slowly into view.

"Dad," whispered Ann frantically.

"I must say, Ann," said Malfoy stepping forward. "I wasn't sure your father was up to this task."

"What are you talking about," asked Ann.

"Well it became very clear to me that you never had any intention of turning over Mr. Potter to the Dark Lord, despite what you were feeding to my son. So, Severus and I got to talking and we came up with the perfect bait to lure Mr. Potter here by himself."

"That's a lie," said Ann angrily.

"We knew with the right bait you'd go running to Potter for help and the Golden Boy would never be able to pass up the chance to be a hero again."

"Dad is that true," choked out Ann.

Snape stood perfectly still.

"Dad, answer me," said Ann through gritted teeth. "Answer me," she shouted.

Slowly the corners of Snape's mouth turned upward.