Chapter seventeen: Draco and Hermione's story
When they entered the kitchen two chairs had been set in the middle of the room. They took their seats and waited for the others to come in. First there were Dumbledore and Snape, followed by McGonagall and the Weasleys plus Harry. Lupin closed the line.
When Ginny was about to close the door, Ron hastily came in at the last minute.
"Sorry...forgot the time." He mumbled.
Dumbledore waved his hand at Draco and Hermione.
"Tell us your story."
Hermione cleared her throat.
"Most of it you already know. I was captured and thrown into the cozy dungeon of Malfoy Manor. When I woke up, Draco came in with two buffoons and started to beat me. After he had sent them away he helped me up and told me he was with us. He took me to his room and hid me there in a secret room, only accesable through his own. I don't know how long I stayed there. Maybe two days...I don't know."
Dumbledore nodded patiently. "Continue."
"I probably stayed there longer. But then Draco, as he tried to get some secret information out of his father, turned Lucius Malfoy suspicious. Draco figured that we had to leave while we still had the chance. We fled that night. He told me about a cottage in the forest. I had to go there and wait for him. He went back inside."
She looked at Draco's face. It had become empty at the mention of his father's name. Now came the hard part.
She layed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He gave her a thankful smile and she felt it was alright to continue.
"I waited the entire night. He finally came, but was badly injured. He had gone back to send you the letter, but was captured on his way back. His father- His father tortured him."
She felt him wince at the memory.
"And he had managed to escape. But it took a few days before we were able to travel. We knew the only way to return here safely was by keeping a low profile."
Draco nodded. "Yes." He said, taking the task upon him to tell a part of the story.
"We had to lay low for a while. And for us...that meant to go muggle. We rented a room in a muggle hotel and stayed there two days, planning our next move. We knew they'd find us sooner or later, so we had to hurry. When we returned the second evening the hotel owner told us about a gentleman who had asked about a young couple, like us. He hadn't left his name, but his description fitted that of my father. We quickly packed the neccesities and left."
"But as we tried to climb out the window and down the balcony, the rope tore and we fell down. I was already on the ground, but Draco couldn't walk. His leg felt broken. He told me to run, but I wouldn't leave him at the mercy of that foul-"
"So we ran." He cut her off. "We tried to, at least. It was dark. The little alleys were like a maze. We ran, but then, I knew it was too late. My father came out of the shadows, his wand stretched out. Behind us, others aproached."
--- FLASHBACK ---
"Run!" he moaned as he reached for his leg.
"No! I won't let them get you. I'm not leaving you behind!" she yelled
She helped him up, his arm over her shoulder. They took a few steps. He nearly shouted with pain.
"Ungh....you must."
But she violently shook her head. "No. I won't. Take my hand."
She tried to help him take more steps but he winced at every one, masking the pain by biting his lip.
"Hermione, please, just go. I can't walk, my leg is broken. I'm not going to take you down with me. I love you. Now go!"
Hermione's face was stained with tears. "I can't leave you behind, God knows what they'll do to you. Please, I'm not leaving without you. If you don't go, I don't go."
He looked at her. He knew that he had lost, but he would not be the reason of her capture. He took a deep breath and got to his feet.
"Lean on me, quick, they're close."
He leaned on her and together they managed to run down the alley. A dead end, quick, back again, different alley, no wrong way. They turned around.
"Aarhg!"
A man stood in their way. The tip of a wand emerged from the shadows.
"Nice to see you too, my son. I see you've found our little runaway prisoner." Lucius' voice sounded icy. Like a knife, cutting through the darkness.
"No!" Draco shouted.
He tried to stand in front of her protectivly, but fell to the ground, clutching his leg.
Lucius stared at him.
"Yes...I though as much. You never were a true Malfoy. This was only to be expected from a failure."
Hermione knew his words were breaking Draco.
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare call him a failure. You are evil. How can you call your son that?"
"I have no son."
The silence came over them like a heavy cloak. It was only broken when Lucius snapped his fingers.
"Dolohov. Mulciber."
Two men stepped out of the circle and nodded. Lucius turned around. The two Death Eaters stepped forward and grabbed both of them in a headlock. Hermione was forced to her knees.
"Quiet filth!" someone hissed, as she whimpered.
In the darkness she searched for his hand. He squeezed it, only once. Then they were roughly put back on their feet. She heard Draco yell in pain as he was dragged up.
They were dragged along the alley and forcefully pushed into a dead ended passageway. There was no one they could call for help, this was a deserted place. Their hands were tied. She could see that one of the Death Eaters was holding a plastic ball.
She glanced at Draco, her eyes wide with fright. He didn't respond, his eyes were empty. Silently he followed the veiled men, his arms limply by his side. All hope left her body in one moment. They had been found again. And they wouldn't live long enough to escape again.
The plastic ball was now offered to her. "Take it Mudblood." A female voice hissed.
Too scared to refuse she took it. Draco was pushed in her direction. "You too, traitor."
Draco placed his hands on the ball. The Death eaters shaped a circle around them. Scared, she stared around at their masked faces.
Suddenly she felt a strange but familiar jerk in her stommach. Her feet were lifted from the ground. The world around her was disolving.
man am I tired. I went to a party Monday night and returned at three a.m. the next morning...I went to a party that same Tuesday night and returned at three a.m. in the morning...I've got another party I'm going to tonight, maybe one tomorrow as well and I might just go to the one on Sunday. You see, all my friends passed their exams and received their diploma last night, so they're celebrating like mad! I still have one year to go. I'm soooooooo gonna miss all of my friends...sniff...I really am...oh well, that's only part of life I suppose...
Dark Angels: I know exactly how you feel. I mean, all those friends are gonna get new friends from the university they're going to go to. And they'll need time for their studies, so they won't really be able to stay in contact they way they used to. But I'm really happy for them and I hope everythig works out for them. I'm just gonna miss my friends like hell...
CrazyCruzet212: thank you so much
Mojo the Rock Chick Munchkin: Yeah, somehow I prefer Hermione with Draco over Hermione with Harry. Though in some stories it can work really really well
Hd4ever: Hope you liked my opinion. But you have to write what you want to write. Don't just follow my opinion blindly, because I'm just me and this is just one story. I'm flattered that you do value my opinion this much though I hope the story works out!
Nia Redavni: thanks for the review
CozzaGirl16: It's not neccesarily Ron who caught them. It might be someone else...okay you're right, it IS Ron. Hehe. The next chapter will be the second half of their story, so I hope you liked this one.
Riddleness: Yeah, I agree. That romance came on rather quick, didn't it. But sometimes you just have to do it that way, because you can't scrape the story on for too long. And writing it this way felt good. And Ginny and Harry...well at least she knows how she feels. Harry still has a big mess in his head to figure out...thanks for reviewing.
Sportygirl-that-loves-hpb: thank you I plan on finishing this story. I never start writing one just to stop somewhere in the middle, what would be the point of that? Glad you like it.
Right...I'm off to the land of daydreaming. I'm really looking forward to the party tonight...so...I'd better get some rest and I'd better get my friends some presents...too bad I'm almost broke...that's because I already bought the rest of my friends birthday and exam gifts. And of course a birthday pressent for my brother, who's going to turn 21 on july the 5th. Parties take a lot of energy out of you... I'll see you all at the next chapter, sorry for the somewhat latened update!!!!!!!!
- Raven55