A/N: I would like to thank my reviewers, Biblioholic88 and May Houston, for
their input. To all others who have read the story, I hope you continue to
do so, and that you follow their example and review too. ;)
Chapter 2
Hermione and Ron waited silently outside of Hogwarts' gates. Shrouded in the invisibility cloak, they watched as the potions master disappeared with a soft pop. Hermione let out the breath she had been holding and murmured the locating spell she had learned from Professor Flick. Thankfully it was all but unnoticeable and Snape had no reason to search for such a spell.
Wishing Harry had been able to come, Hermione gathered her courage and concentrated on the image. Grateful for the extra lessons she had taken from both Professor Flick and Professor McGonagall, she reached for Ron's hand, and they Apparated with an echoing pop.
There was a moment of disorientation as the world faded. Then it abruptly sprang back with an almost audible snap. Used to the side effects, Hermione quickly steadied herself, making certain that the cloak still covered them. Ron stood next to her, though just barely. He looked as though he were about to fall over; his face was slightly green, contrasting sharply with his bright red hair. If the circumstances had been different, she might have laughed. Instead, she put a finger to her lips. He gave her a withering look of scorn and rolled his eyes.
They were in a dark room, lit only by a few flickering candles. Cold, grey stone surrounded them, reminding Hermione of the dungeons in Hogwarts. She smiled wryly; she'd never imagined that she would long to be there.
Ten yards in front of them stood a semi-circle of black-robed wizards. Their figures cast looming shadows in the candlelight. Fortunately, they faced the opposite direction, the object of their attention hidden from view. Hermione and Ron had never seen Voldemort's face but they had no desire to; Harry's descriptions had given them all nightmares.
An anguished cry tore through the room, causing them to start. It continued, rising in pitch until it sounded almost inhuman. The two shivered slightly, imagining the amount of excruciating pain needed to produce that noise. Mercifully, the scream suddenly stopped as the person was released. Amidst the whimpers of agony, a chilling voice spoke.
"Ah, Cornelius. You forget the price of disappointing me. I set you a simple task and you offer excuses. I grow weary of it. Answer me truthfully, my dear boy, can you accomplish what I asked, or must I find a more.loyal.servant to replace you?" Voldemort's icy voice drifted to the corner where the two were hiding.
Ron looked at Hermione in shock. "Fudge?" he mouthed. She glared at him, afraid that any movement might reveal their presence. Thankfully, for once he got the message. They turned back to the conversation.
"P-p-please my lord, try to understand, it's impossible. It simply cannot be done. There is."
"Enough!" the Dark Lord's voice became deadly. "The only reason I kept you alive before was your position as Minister of Magic. But now, you have failed me one too many times."
"Avada Kedavra!" There was a flash of bright green light and another scream filled the air. Worse than any before, it held the pain of fleeing life.
It stopped.
"That," Voldemort said coldly into the sudden silence, "is the price of failure."
At that thinly veiled dismissal, the Death Eaters started to disappear. Clearing her head with a quick shake, Hermione took a hold of Ron's shaking hand again and, Disapparated.
A/N: And a big fat thank you to my editor and best friend, the Second In line after the Supreme Ruler of Life, the Universe, and Everything, and the one who got me hooked on snarky Snape, Naseem
Chapter 2
Hermione and Ron waited silently outside of Hogwarts' gates. Shrouded in the invisibility cloak, they watched as the potions master disappeared with a soft pop. Hermione let out the breath she had been holding and murmured the locating spell she had learned from Professor Flick. Thankfully it was all but unnoticeable and Snape had no reason to search for such a spell.
Wishing Harry had been able to come, Hermione gathered her courage and concentrated on the image. Grateful for the extra lessons she had taken from both Professor Flick and Professor McGonagall, she reached for Ron's hand, and they Apparated with an echoing pop.
There was a moment of disorientation as the world faded. Then it abruptly sprang back with an almost audible snap. Used to the side effects, Hermione quickly steadied herself, making certain that the cloak still covered them. Ron stood next to her, though just barely. He looked as though he were about to fall over; his face was slightly green, contrasting sharply with his bright red hair. If the circumstances had been different, she might have laughed. Instead, she put a finger to her lips. He gave her a withering look of scorn and rolled his eyes.
They were in a dark room, lit only by a few flickering candles. Cold, grey stone surrounded them, reminding Hermione of the dungeons in Hogwarts. She smiled wryly; she'd never imagined that she would long to be there.
Ten yards in front of them stood a semi-circle of black-robed wizards. Their figures cast looming shadows in the candlelight. Fortunately, they faced the opposite direction, the object of their attention hidden from view. Hermione and Ron had never seen Voldemort's face but they had no desire to; Harry's descriptions had given them all nightmares.
An anguished cry tore through the room, causing them to start. It continued, rising in pitch until it sounded almost inhuman. The two shivered slightly, imagining the amount of excruciating pain needed to produce that noise. Mercifully, the scream suddenly stopped as the person was released. Amidst the whimpers of agony, a chilling voice spoke.
"Ah, Cornelius. You forget the price of disappointing me. I set you a simple task and you offer excuses. I grow weary of it. Answer me truthfully, my dear boy, can you accomplish what I asked, or must I find a more.loyal.servant to replace you?" Voldemort's icy voice drifted to the corner where the two were hiding.
Ron looked at Hermione in shock. "Fudge?" he mouthed. She glared at him, afraid that any movement might reveal their presence. Thankfully, for once he got the message. They turned back to the conversation.
"P-p-please my lord, try to understand, it's impossible. It simply cannot be done. There is."
"Enough!" the Dark Lord's voice became deadly. "The only reason I kept you alive before was your position as Minister of Magic. But now, you have failed me one too many times."
"Avada Kedavra!" There was a flash of bright green light and another scream filled the air. Worse than any before, it held the pain of fleeing life.
It stopped.
"That," Voldemort said coldly into the sudden silence, "is the price of failure."
At that thinly veiled dismissal, the Death Eaters started to disappear. Clearing her head with a quick shake, Hermione took a hold of Ron's shaking hand again and, Disapparated.
A/N: And a big fat thank you to my editor and best friend, the Second In line after the Supreme Ruler of Life, the Universe, and Everything, and the one who got me hooked on snarky Snape, Naseem