Hermione and Sirius entered the castle and headed for the Headmasters office. As they walked the halls, the hair on the back of Sirius' neck began to stand up. The closer they got to Dumbledore's office the eerier things became. His body stiffened as he readied himself for whatever lay ahead. He'd never been in the castle when school was out. Stopping at the end of the hall on the second floor, he whispered the password, and the gargoyle moved to reveal the door. As the door opened the duo stepped inside and the stairs began to twist. When they stopped Sirius opened the door to his grandfather's office only to find it empty. Wasting no time he wrote a message to Harry. Along with Hermione he ran to the west tower, which housed the Owlery. After sending the owl, the pair of turtle doves were looking forward to returning home to family, friends, and of course a few selected members of the Order of the Phoenix.
This time as they approached the second floor, Sirius swore he saw a shadow at the end of the long hall. He tucked his fiancée behind him, both drew their wands, and together they made their way out of the castle and off Hogwarts grounds so they could apparate home. Everyone, who had ever read Hogwarts: A History, knew that the castle and its grounds were surrounded by ancient magic to stop those from entering by stealth.
Sirius Black and Hermione Granger had barely stepped outside the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Hermione had recently tucked her wand away, when shouts of Expelliarmus rang through the afternoon sky. Sirius' wand landed a few feet away from its owner. Once again he pulled Hermione behind him, making absolutely sure she was safe, and prepared himself for whatever was out there. Although, he pretty much knew.
A short distance away, a voice spoke. One Sirius recognized well and had loathed his entire life, one that had always contributed to his past of bad memories. "Well, if it isn't my idiot of a cousin. Don't tell me you've come back. My poor aunt, stuck with this for a son." She said in a haughty tone.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, I should have known you would be one of Malfoy's lap dog. Your husband get thrown into Azkaban?" Bad memories began to swirl around Sirius' head. He tried desperately to shake them as he faced the voice of his cousin which came from somewhere to his right.
Then a group of six, all of whose faces were hidden behind the hood of their cloaks, Regentulas Mindflak and Walker Jugson included, stepped out from behind the bushes. All were laughing sinisterly at the wand less person standing before them. The group formed a circle around Sirius and Hermione pointing their wands. "Well, well, if it isn't Sirius Black." Mindflak began, but stopped as soon as he caught sight of Hermione. "And ah yes of course I remember you, tell me Black who is THIS pretty little thing. Surely she can't be in love with YOU."
Sirius growled, yet he kept himself as calm as possible. "I thought I explained the consequences of your return near me, or my family."
"Pushy, aren't you?" Sirius snarled keeping a grip on Hermione. "Bring her to me" Mindflak ordered.
"What a pretty little mudblood." Bella said as she looked over Hermione. Sirius snarled as he tightened his grip on his lover. He was nearly foaming at the mouth.
"Bella, you have always been a good for nothing trollop, who relied on her master's coat tails for protection." Sirius snarled. By now he was doing nothing to attempt to quell his seething anger.
Bellatrix Lestrange laughed sinisterly. "And you, have always been a shame to your family name. You didn't have the decency to stay dead in first place." Sirius flinched at the sound of it. His lifetime of bad memories began to leak into his mind like water through cracks in the floor
Sirius felt her being wrenched from behind him and fear began to overtake him. Before he could gather his wits Hermione stood beside Mindflak and Jugson extremely pale and scared. "So, my dear, you have the extreme pleasure of watching us, kill him." He nodded his head in Sirius' direction.
Hermione tried to speak; yet she couldn't find her voice. She desperately wished she could quell her quivering knees, and shaking hands. 'Damn it Hermione, think of a way out of this, you're supposed to be the clever one!' She thought to herself, as she stood completely clueless. She tried desperately to form a plan, as she felt hands roaming her body. "Oh the things we could do with you." The other men snickered.
"Get your filthy hands off of her!" Sirius snarled. He was fighting an uphill battle with two voices, which were screaming at him to do two different things. One told him to lunge at the men and protect Hermione even if he didn't have a wand. The other told him to stand his ground. As a hand brushed roughly against her lip she took the opportunity to bite him hard and escape back to the safety of Sirius as Mindflak howled with pain.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Sirius enquired as he embraced her fiercely.
"Yes." She muttered into his chest.
"You, good for nothing, slut!" the man snarled clutching his bloody hand. "You'll pay for that.
Sirius tucked Hermione behind him once again feeling a lump in her cloak pocket, he gave her a questioning look and in return he got a nod that was not detected by any of the goons that were holding them hostage. He gently and unnoticed slipped his hand into her cloak and found her wand. He kept his expressions neutral as he pulled it out and kept it in between himself and Hermione.
The odds were definitely against them, but he had to try, something. Anything was better than being stuck here, taunted, and harassed by Malfoy's thugs. Sirius bellowed "Stupefy!" aiming his wand at Mindflak. Just as quickly "Protego!" burst forth from his lips encircling them in a protection charm, but to Sirius and Hermione's horror "Avada Kedavra!" rang through the stagnant air. Sirius pushed Hermione to the ground as the unforgivable curse went whizzing by them. Whirling around he bellowed "Petrificuls totalus!" The young man for whom the hex was destined had also put up a shield charm.
Sirius swore loudly as a beam of purple light was deflected at them. He didn't quite hear the words, but he could tell that it was one of the three unforgivable curses being fling at him again. He rolled to the side, making sure to keep Hermione tucked underneath him. Hexes and curses, some of which Hermione had never heard before, were traded at an alarming rate until all six men were out cold.
Sirius and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and embraced each other extremely glad that this was over. "You know what Mindflak said about me throwing you away. I would never do so. I promised you a while ago, I would always love you and want to be with you, no matter what happens. I still do. Now more than ever I want you to become Mrs. Sirius Black." Sirius let his guard down as Hermione nodded and smiled softly into his chest. He stood there for a few minutes forgetting where they were as they embraced. He bent his head to kiss her gently.
Before he could press his lips to hers, he felt her go rigid in his arms, the spells he had placed on the men had worn off. He was horrified as he stared at the lifeless body in his arms. He tried his best to quickly gather his wits, but before he could, two of them grabbed him from behind, bound, and gagged him before their captor's dissapparated away to an unknown location. Sirius had some idea where they were going, yet he hoped that he was wrong.
Harry Potter sat in the garden with Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore talking as the owl landed on his chair. Taking the parchment from the silver owl's leg, he unfolded and read.
Harry and Remus,
It's been an eventful day. A very eventful day. Could use some time with friends.
Meet us where lemon drops make things twist.
Sirius
Harry handed the note to Remus who read it again. "What's he trying to tell us?" He asked as he walked over to the former professor and sat on the arm of his chair. Remus frowned and looked at the head master. "I'd say Malfoy's men found them, but they escaped and are at Hogwarts. They are asking for help." He saw the old man nod and they all made their way into the house.
They informed the order guards that were there and together with Minerva McGonagall and Mad Eye Moody they made their way to Hogwarts in hopes that everything would be okay. When they arrived they were greeted with quite a startling sight. Droplets of blood littered the ground. Professor McGonagall felt Harry flinch beside her. He had a bad feeling inside of his gut. "Looks like an all out war broke out here." He muttered. The bad feeling inside of him multiplied significantly by the second.
Dumbledore bent down and examined the ground carefully muttering spells as he went. "Everyone, inside to my office, where we are safe. Indeed something has happened, however we shall not discuss it here. " The group made their way inside. Each silently praying for the return of Hermione Granger and Sirius Black.
Once inside the safety of Albus Dumbledore's office, Harry sat in silence as the few select members of the Order of The Phoenix conversed quietly in the corner. While the minutes ticked by, Harry grew increasingly agitated at the silence. After all, they were discussing matters that concerned him too. "Where have they been taken?" Harry asked, the agitation in his voice clear.
"That's just the thing, Mr. Potter, we do not know where they have been taken. Rest assured, we will find them. We just need more time." Dumbledore said as he kept his voice calm and re assuring.
Harry snorted. He thought of all people the members of the Order of the Phoenix would be able to find his godfather and best friend quickly. He was about to retort when Remus shook his head and mouthed 'Don't even think about it, Harry.' He narrowed his eyes at Remus and sat quietly fuming in his chair. He was thinking that a walk around the castle would do him some good about now and without so much as a word to the others he slipped out of the room.
Then there was a head floating in Dumbledore's fireplace. It belonged to Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Ah Kingsley, good news I take it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Albus, I have received some news. We've found them. No reports on their condition yet, but we have found them. They're in a cave, just behind one of the six waterfalls in the Pennine Mountain chain, although we have no idea which one. We may have to search each one of them individually." Dumbledore nodded his thanks to the wizard in his fireplace before turning around to find a vacant chair.
He looked at Remus, who nodded in response and stepped outside to see the young wizard walking back up the hall towards the office. "Harry, Sirius and Hermione, they've been found."
Harry grinned broadly at him and ran back into the office. "Where are they?" He knew they probably would argue about him going with them, but he was determined to be there when they found his godfather and best friend.
"They are located somewhere in the Pennine Mountain chain, behind one of the waterfalls, scattered throughout the magnificent mountain range." Harry ran a hand through his hair, a gesture he'd picked up from Sirius, making it look messier than ever before.
"Don't worry, Potter, we will find them." Professor McGonagall said reassuringly. Harry nodded and flopped back down into his chair feeling like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders, yet the young wizard was still extremely anxious. He heaved a sigh.
Together, the group formed a foolproof plan. Professor Dumbledore stood, as did the others and gave them a few last minute instructions. The elderly wizard picked up an empty box that once held Ice mice and muttered, "Portus." This created a port key to their intended destination. "Okay, three-two-one." Harry felt the familiar hook somewhere behind his navel and was thrown forwards with Remus and Dumbledore on either side of him.