Chapter Seven: And so it awakens, deep curiosity

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"No one in your life is with you constantly. No one is completely on your side." - Tim Rice, Chess

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So you're leaving? For good?

A single nod of the head, a breaking of a heart.

You said you would stay forever…

No one stays forever. You should know that.

And I should…

After so many heartbreaks, so many slammings of doors, so many gone… lost

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Falling…Falling…Nothing above but a faint blue dot of the distant sky. Below all that can be seen is the never ending darkness, the engulfing void… my death.

All around, faces stare out from the darkened wall, reaching, but the invisible wall holds them back, keeps them from escaping their small prison cell.

The faces…their faces… they hold such pain, such anguish, such anger.

As I fall, flashes keep entering my mind. Draco standing over me, sword in hand and prepared to strike. Hermione watching me closely, then breaking into laughter, "Sorry, you just looked so-" and another one of Dumbledore telling me something I couldn't hear…

Half-moon spectacles perched on his nose and the smile that hid everything on his lips.

Ron…a shuffle of memories all collided into him. A slideshow of each moment they had ever shared laughing.

All of them, such precious memories of my life. Is this it? Death?  I don't understand. Where am I going? The wind keeps rushing, but the sensation of falling doesn't bother me. I feel lightheaded, but not like my stomach is in my mouth.

I can see something beneath me now… something pale…

A speck of light growing larger and larger. A room and the ground rush up to meet me as my feet connect to the ground. I collapse to the floor from the contact, but where pain is expected there is none.

I rise to my feet and open my eyes ~~~

Harry lifted up onto his arms, groggily wiping sleep filled eyes. When finally he could look around fully, the sight he saw wasn't as pleasant as he had hoped it would be. Before him, across the aisle was the cell that contained some of the order and Dumbledore. Harry saw that Dumbledore's gaze was focused on him.

"You shouldn't have come here, Harry. Saving us is no task for a nineteen year old boy."

"I couldn't just leave you here, by yourselves. Who did you think would come, the ministry is corrupted and pretty soon the world will be too. We need you guys out of here." Harry paused before saying, "Where's Lupin? Is he in there with you?"

Dumbledore didn't say anything, simply nodded his head forward.

Harry turned his gaze to the beaten figure that was barely even recognizable as the man it used to be. "Oh my God," Harry scuttled across to the other side of his cell on his knees. "Lupin," he whispered. "Lupin, Lupin, Lupin!" His voice got louder with each call. "Dumbledore, is he alive?"

"For now, ever now and then we hear a ragged breathe, but I don't know how long it will last. They beat him, tortured him… He wouldn't tell them where you were."

"What?! Why? Why didn't he tell them," Harry began in hysterics, laying his head on the cell. "It could have saved him all this pain."

"But it would have cost you your life. Lupin knew that… He loved you, Harry." Dumbledore took in a deep breath, "I'm sorry Harry. I have to take a nap, my body isn't what it used to be." After a few minutes, Dumbledore's snoring filled the silent prison.

"I will get out of here… If only for avenging him," Harry promised, even if the stone walls and scurrying rats were the only things to hear his vow.

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"And to your left the library," Draco said boringly. "Well, that's about it." Draco turned around. "So, how did you hear about our plan to rule the world," He asked sarcastically.

"Uh…well," Hermione crinkled her eyebrows. This was Draco Malfoy? What had happened to him since they had graduated last year? He seemed so different. He was actually making jokes. Draco Malfoy was making jokes some of which were actually funny.

Hermione tilted her head to the side, perplexed. Had she actually shared a laugh with her arch enemy? All part of the act… part of the act…

"Miss DeBose?" Draco raised his eyebrow, "Are you okay?"

Snap out of it, Hermione. Answer the guy. "Halle," Hermione smiled. "You can call me Halle. I actually heard about your plan through a friend, who heard it from… a friend."

"Ah, you don't seem like the type of person who would be attracted to this type of project. Anyway, let me show you to your room." Draco brushed past her, heading down the hall. "Follow me." Not even waiting to see if she actually listened, Draco began, "Over a thousand years ago, when people still hung witches and feared magic, this place was founded. Amazing that-"

"I know," Hermione interrupted him. Smiling, she said, "Amazing that the four founders would be brave enough to actually do such a thing."

"Exactly. Well, here it is," Draco stopped in front of a door.

"I guess I'll see you at dinner?"

"I may or may not be there," Draco shrugged.

"Goodbye," Hermione waved before shutting the door. Oooh, Hermione, even worse. Flirting with the enemy.

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Good and evil? There's such a fine line between the both of them. Some even stand with one leg on either side. Trying to mess with the minds of both, teasing, toying…

Friends, even really good friends could be plotting behind your back. Plotting with the enemy and how would you ever know?

How does anyone know who truly will stick with them through the rest of life's bumpy roads. Who's to say whether the one who actually stays is the person who least expected or the one you though would be there till the end?

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Voldemort rose from the chair, walking around his desk until he stood directly in front of the three demons. "You know what I want."

They all nodded obediently. "And I take it that you know where to find it?"

Again all three heads were nodded. "Good, get out of my face and retrieve it. You have 24 hours."

Voldemort turned away from them, waiting until he heard the door close behind the retreating footsteps before apparating to his room. He tired of all these stupid followers. For once he wanted someone who could get the job done, exactly how he asked it to be done without any drawbacks. Hopefully these three are the answer.

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Hermione snuck out of her room, walking quietly to where she knew the dungeon was located. When someone passed, she would nod confidently. That was the ticket, act like you were important and like you had somewhere to go. Seemed to be working anyway. She silently descended the stairs, her eyes falling on the entrance. When she collided with something, a flash of blonde hair and the scowl that she had come to recognize made her snap, "Watch it, Mal- I mean, Draco, so good to see you again so soon."

Draco raised an eyebrow as he straightened his robes, "Where are you off to, Miss DeBose?"

"I'm going… well, I just thought I would wander around a little. Get to know the building; I thought I would check out the library."

"Right. The library." Draco crossed his arms, staring at her like he was looking through to her soul. Hermione began to think he didn't believe her. "I used to know someone who loved the library. She didn't like me too much, but I would always see her there. You kind of remind me of her, though I don't know why. You two are completely different. Gryffindor," Draco waved away the conversation. "Well, I must be on my way. Be careful, Miss DeBose, there are those around here that would hurt you if given the chance."

Draco began to walk away when Hermione's voice made him turn back around, "Halle, I told you to call me Halle."

"Halle," Draco smiled. "Be careful."

Hermione shook her head. He was definitely not who he used to be. That or he was always nice except to those who are Gryffindor…and Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Hermione laughed softly at the list. When she stepped of the bottom step, Hermione made a quick dash for the dungeon entrance.

The hallways towards the dungeon were always dark and gloomy. Shadows played on the wall, making it easy to think someone was following you. Hideous Gargoyles and statues lined the walls, stared down at you from the ceiling. The smell as you continued to go deeper into danger only continued to worsen into a mixture of vomit, urine, spilled potions that had failed. It was enough to make Hermione gag.

Through the foggy darkness, she could make out the door leading into the cellars. A place once used for more evil purposes than what the school had placed, a place once again reverted to its horrific past.

She pushed open the wood door, assaulted instantly by a sick wave of the metallic scent of blood. Harry?

She walked into the dimly lit room, torch light flickering off the walls. Her foot hit something soft causing her to stumble. "Oh my God, Lupin…?" Hermione knelt beside him, cradling his beaten face. Her trembling fingers felt his pulse, faint but there. "What happen to you?"

"He was beaten trying to protect me," a horse voice came from behind her.

"Harry," she turned around to see him leaning against his bars, back facing her. It was the figure of a tired man. Tired of all the blood shed, all the hate, all the tragic loses. "I'm glad to see you're okay, Harry."

"Why did you come?"

Hermione looked down at Lupin's face. "I don't think this is the right time to be having this conversation."

"It's the perfect time. It may be the last time you see me… alive."

Hermione clenched her eyes tightly to keep the tears from falling, "Don't say that! I'm going to get you out of here."

"How?"

"I don't… I don't know," she whispered, defeated.

Beneath her hands, Lupin stirred. His unfocused eyes barely saw her, barely registered.

"What are you doing do here?" A harsh voice snapped, grabbing her by the dress and yanking her to her feet. "Who are you?"

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Draco, after colliding with Hermione, continued to his destination: Voldemort's office. Knocking first, to see if anyone was in there, he pushed open the door. It was empty, like he suspected it would be.

Walking over to Voldemort's desk, Draco began to shuffle through papers. Maps, books, random letters, notes all littered his desk and all unimportant to Draco. Where was the scroll? Where was the text mentioning him?

Draco's eyes scanned the room, landing on a table in the corner. There! The old parchment lay, covered, but in his sight and in his grasp. He pulled the paper out from underneath the rest, rolling it open.

He skimmed over the paper. When he was finished, he slowly placed down the scroll with shaky hands. That was why Voldemort wanted him? He would have never guessed. He would have lain in the spider's den until…

Until it was too late.

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In a dark room, hidden from the rest of the castle, a creature opened his eyes.

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So you're sticking with me for life, you say?

How can you ever know what fate has in store for you… for me?

You don't believe in fate? A shake of the head and small smile, "I believe I choose what to do next."

Well then, please tell me how to choose not to die.

Please tell me how to choose not leave the best friend I ever had when that drunk crashed into her on the speeding highway.

Please tell me how to choose to tempt fate, the wicked seductress, the foolish player, the warped teacher… so many names for life…  

Please tell me how…

I just want to know…

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