The Party In The Dungeons
Chapter 5 - Hostages
Disclaimer - No, I don't own any of these characters.. Unfortunately :( Oh well. Please R&R!
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It was as if time had slowed down, almost to a stop. Draco layed on the ground after having the Cruciatus curse on him. He was sore all over. Voldemort had then yelled at him
'You are weak, pathetic. You don't deserve to keep the name Malfoy!' The words echoed over and over in his mind. He then watched as Voldemort raised his wand and screamed
'Avada Kedavra.' Draco knew what that spell would do to him, but still he sat frozen on the spot. He saw the flash of green light come out from Voldemort's wand, as if in slow motion. He stared at the light coming towards him. Then, out of no where, something hard pushed at his side and he was thrown flat on the ground. The green light flew straight over his head. The thing that had bumped into him screamed, and then fell silent and limp. Draco's eyes fluttered. Everything was blurred. He slowly moved his hand to his face and felt something warm and sticky on his cheek. When he put his hand back down, he saw that it was covered with blood. He heard more screams echoing around the room, and pounding on the floor. He breathed deeply and pushed the thing on top of him off him. He choked back a scream when he saw it was not a thing, but a person. A person he knew. Ronald Weasley. His eyes were opened, a terrified look of shock on his face, his mouth twisted into a silent scream of terror. He was dead.
Draco tore his eyes away from him, and looked around the room. He gasped when he saw another thing that had kept him alive. Harry and Hermione were standing back to back in the middle of the room, surrounded by Death Eaters. A silvery coloured dome was surrounding them also, and seemed to be repelling any spell sent their way. Wands both raised, they were sending off spells towards the Death Eaters that kept them trapped. But it was no use. Everytime a Death Eater fell, another one would take its place in the circle. There were too many for them to fight off. Draco watched as Voldemort laughed, a cold, high pitched laugh, watching them fight for their lives. Something near Voldemort caught his eye. Ginny. Ginny was no longer unconcious. She was on her knees beside Voldemort, watching in despair as Harry and Hermione fought off the Death Eaters. She screamed, tears pouring down her face. Her face strained as though she was trying to move but did not have the energy to do so. It seemed that she, as Draco once was, was held back by an invisible force, for she did not move. Draco saw that no one was paying any attention to him. No one looked at him. They all thought him to be dead. Voldemort laughed again.
'Stop!' Voldemort yelled. His Death Eaters immediately put their wands down and turned to him, as they had most likely done before. Very few Death Eaters lay unconcious on the ground. 'Let me speak to them!' He said. The Death Eaters parted so that Voldemort could see Harry and Hermione more clearly. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances. Voldemort walked forward slowly. He flicked his finger behind him, and Ginny was forced to follow him.
'What do you want now Voldemort?' Harry spoke up bravely, as Voldemort approached. Voldemort laughed.
'I am willing to make you a little deal Harry Potter. I am willing to exchange her life, ' he carelessly pointed to Ginny, 'For yours... and hers,' Voldemort added, pointig to Hermione. Harry jaw dropped.
'Me and H-Hermione?' Harry stuttered.
'Yes, you and your filthy Mudblood friend.' Harry's eyes narrowed.
'What? You don't think it fair? I think it is very fair Harry Potter, for I could kill you all, right now. If you don't accept, then I will have no choice but to kill you all.' Harry hesitated before he spoke again.
'But how do we know you will not harm Ginny?' Harry said finally.
'I will leave here, with you two and my Death Eaters, and she will stay. Good enough deal for you?' Voldemort sneered cruelly.
'B-But you sealed the room. She will not be able to get out. She will be trapped!' Harry choked. Voldemort flicked his wand towards the entrance. A white light shone on the wall and a door appeared. Voldemort nodded at one of his Death Eaters, who walked over to the door and opened it, to reveal a familiar part of the dungeons.
'Satisfied?' Voldemort asked, narrowing his eyes.
'Take me. Let Hermione go free. She hasn't done anything wrong!' Harry said, exasperated.
'She's a Mudblood. She has done something wrong from the time she was born. How about this. I will kill her first so that she doesn't have to hear your screams!' Voldemort threw his head back and laughed, his high, cold laugh Harry knew too well. Harry shuddered, but stayed where he was, not going to be fooled by Voldemort's words.
'Well you have no choice. Now you are mine!' Voldemort said. He walked forward, straight through the barrier, as if it were not there, that Harry and Hermione had used to protect themselves and grabbed them by the shoulders. He pulled them out of the silvery glow that surrounded them, and threw them to his group of Death Eaters. The Death Eaters grabbed them. Harry and Hermione screamed, kicked, and tried as hard as they could to get away, but to no avail.
'You are never going to get away with this Voldemort!' Harry yelled.
'Good will prevail over all evil! You can never win!' Hermione screamed. Voldemort just laughed.
'We'll see about that you filthy Mudblood. We'll see how much you win when your dead.' Harry and Hermione struggled again at these words, but nothing they did would release them from the death-grip of the Death Eaters that held them. Then they were gone. With a pop. All the Death Eaters, Voldemort and Harry and Hermione were gone. Ginny collapsed to the ground and started sobbing hysterically. Draco got up silently and walked over to her. He knelt down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. He felt her body tense.
'Don't worry Ginny, its me, Draco,' Draco said softly. Ginny immediately raised her head. Her face was streaming with tears, and her eyes were all red from crying.
'Don't worry? Don't worry? How can I not worry? My brother just died for you, and my two friends have been taken by Voldemort, probably to suffer the same fate, and you tell me not to worry?' Ginny screamed, throwing herself on the ground, more tears spilling down her already tear-stained face. Draco bit his lip, trying too, not to cry. Ron had sacrificed his life for him, and Harry and Hermione and sacrificed theirs for Ginny. Why? The question bugged Draco, and he couldn't shake it off. He looked back at Ginny, who was lying on the ground, still sobbing.
'Ginny please, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just trying to make you feel better! I care for you, I really do, and I don't like to see you like this,' Draco said slowly. Ginny lifted her head and looked into his eyes. He wasn't lying, or playing around. He meant what he said. She could see it in his eyes. Overcome with emotion, Ginny let out another sob and buried her face into Draco's chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Draco felt other movement in the room. He quickly span his head around and saw that the people who had been stunned before were starting to stir. He had almost forgotten they were there. Softly he patted Ginny on the shoulder. She stirred and lifted her head, looking deeply into his eyes.
'The others are beginning to stir. I must go and alert Dumbledore,' Draco said. Ginny nodded and sat up. Draco stood up and gave his hand to her. She sat there for a moment, then put her hand in his and stood up. She swayed but Draco grabbed her.
'Are you alright?' Draco asked.
'Yes, I'm fine. Come on we have to get help... oh!' Ginny stumbled again and tripped. Draco leaped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her up before she fell to the ground. She quickly shook Draco off her and continued to stagger off towards the door. Draco ran after her and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to look at him.
'Ginny, let me help you! Your hurt!' Draco cried. Ginny tore her eyes away from him and stared into space, frowning.
'Ginny please?' Draco pleaded.
'Everyone has sacrificed themselves for me! Put their lives in danger and at risk! The least I can do is to help the people dragged into this mess,' Ginny said, glaring at him. She pulled her hand away from him and ran out the door, ignoring the pain searing through her body. Draco stood there, frozen to the spot. Then tore after her.
Ginny ran as fast as she could up the stairs, not knowing where she was going, but hoping that she would run into someone who could help. Just not so literally. As Ginny was running up the third flght of stairs, she ran straight into someone. She looked up. It was Dumbledore.
'Professor Dumbledore.. An accident.. In the dungeons... Many people are hurt.. They need your help-' Ginny began. Suddenly Draco came running up the stairs.
'Professor, please, you must come to the-'
'Dungeons, yes I know. Young Miss Weasley has already informed me of this. Quickly, show me the way.' With that, Draco and Ginny quickly led Dumbledore down the stairs and to the room in the dungeons. Dumbledore's usual kind blue eyes were now filled with fury. He turned to Draco and Ginny.
'Draco, I must ask you to get Professor's Snape and McGonagall. Ginny, I would also ask you to alert Madam Pomfrey,' Dumbledore said. Draco and Ginny quickly hurried out of the room. Without a word, they separated and went to find the teachers they were set to find. Ginny ran up the stairs and down the corridor to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey must have heard her running for as soon as Ginny reached for the door, it sprung open, and Madam Pomfrey stood in the doorway. Taken by surprise, Ginny hesitated.
'Yes what is it?' Madam Pomfrey snapped.
'There's been an accident in the dungeons. Professor Dumbledore told me to alert you.' Ginny started to turn away but Madam Pomfrey grabbed her shoulder and turned her back around, her face suddenly alert.
'An accident? What happened? How many people are injured?' Madam Pomfrey demanded. Ginny sighed.
'Voldemort. Many people are injured... and some are.. Some are.. I-I gotta go!' Ginny quickly span around and ran down the corridor, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's shrieks and yells, trying to call her back.
She ran back down to the dungeons and found Dumbledore kneeling down beside Ron's body. Ginny felt fresh tears sting her eyes, and she let them fall, not ashamed to cry. She fell to her knees and put her head in her hands. Sobbing uncontrolably, she didn't notice the other four people enter the room. Nor did she notice when one of them kneeled down beside her and put their arm around her shoulders. She didn't even notice when she was carried to her dorm and placed in her bed.
All she did was cry. She cried herself to sleep, full of dreams and horrors of everything that had happened that night. Dreams of Harry and Hermione telling her it was all her fault for their deaths. Ron screaming at her because if she had of listened to him and not gone to that party, nothing would have happened to them.
She woke up gasping, covered in cold sweat, and shivering uncontrollably. She looked over at Hermione's empty bed and knew that she would never see Hermione in it again. Fresh tears began to well up in her eyes as a wave of dread, guilt and fear washed over her.
Everything in her life had changed that night. It would never be the same again. Ron had sacrificed himself for Draco, but why? Why would he give his life for someone he has always hated? And why did Harry and Hermione be so stupid as to let themselves be taken hostage? Ginny held her head in her hands. Her mind was loaded with questions, but none she could answer. She sat on her bed, arms around her knees in the empty dormitory. Lavender and Parvati were in the hospital wing and Hermione was... well Ginny didn't like to think where she was.
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A long way away, in a place unknown yet to Ginny or even herself and Harry, Hermione was going through a hell of a lot more problems than Ginny could even imagine.
'Get up Mudblood,' someone spat at Hermione, who lay unmoving on the ground.
'I said get up you filthy Mudblood!' The person repeated kicking Hermione painfully in her side. She winced in pain, but the kick was nothing compared to the torture she and Harry had been getting since they arrived here in this.. Mansion.
When they had been apparated from the party, they arrived in a large hall of what looked to be a very large house, or manor. Harry and Hermione were dragged up a flight or two of stairs, led down a few corridors and taken into a rather large room. It was there that they were teased and tortured by innurmerable Death Eaters, and Voldemort himself. Hermione ached all over. It felt as though every part of her had been cut or bruised. If most likely had. When Voldemort had 'finished' with them, they were taken down into a small, damp room under the house. The walls were made of cement, the ground and walls were slightly damp and it was freezing down there. The Death Eaters had thrown down two thin rags, filled with holes, which they used as blankets. Harry had suggested that this was because Voldemort didn't want them dying. yet. Hermione shuddered at the thought. What exactly did Voldemort want with them?
'Crucio!' Hermione screamed out in agony, as a pain like one thousand needles being stuck into you again and again seared throughout her whole body. The Death Eater responsible for the pain laughed cruelly, then lowered his wand.
'Now get up, filth,' the Death Eater repeated once more. Hermione, wanting almost anything not to feel that stabbing pain again, staggered up. Hermione stood up, holding her head high, averted her gaze from those of her captors. Suddenly Hermione received a blow to her stomach, causing her to fall to her knees on the ground. Something hard hit the side of her head with a force, knocking her to the ground. The side of her cheek hit the cold, damp floor, her eyes fluttered shut and she knew no more.
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Harry too, was going through the same thing as Hermione, but perhaps worse, for his captor was Lord Voldemort himself.
Harry winced in pain as he was thrown into the hard stone wall. Voldemort showed no mercy. This was exactly as he had planned it to be. Voldemort flicked his wand at Harry and he was thrown sideways to the floor. He felt blood trickle from his mouth to the ground, but he did not wipe it away. He staggered up and faced Voldemort, holding the wall for support.
'Why did you not take Ginny as well as Hermione and I? Would not three captives be better than two?' Harry asked. Voldemort laughed.
'Do you not see, Harry, the brilliance in my plan?' Voldemort smiled. 'Surely that Mudblood loving fool Weasley will come after you, because she will feel guilty for leading you to your deaths. But everyone will know what she will try to do. More people will go after her, trying to save her life. But all will die. You see Harry, I have many plans, and if one fails another will take its place. I will eventually be ruler of this Earth and control all who live on it,' Voldemort laughed as he told Harry his plan.
'You will never gain full control over this Earth Voldemort. There will always be people who will set out to destroy you-'
'Ah, but that is where they will fail. It is perilous to even think of challenging me. I always come out in the end Harry,' Voldemort said, turning his back on Harry and began walking to the opposite side of the room.
'You will never win Voldemort. Good will always triumph over evil-'
'Good will never truimph over evil!' Voldemort spat, turning around instantly.
'The good are restricted by certain rules which make them the people they are. They could never kill ruthlessly like the evil, which is their weakness. With these rules Harry, the good will always have certain boundries that they will never cross, certain boundries that the evil don't. They will always in one way or another be restricted. The evil however, have no weaknesses.' Voldemort finished, and turned his back to Harry once more.
Harry closed his eyes. He was exausted, thirsty and hungry. They hadn't been fed or given anything to drink. Nor given much chance to rest before the next tourture session. Harry shuddered at the many memories. Many of these memories were just a blur now, though only one day had past since they had be brought to this accursed place. The countless time that both he and Hermione had been struck down by the Cruciatus Curse had begun to drown his memory, washing away any positive thoughts. Harry knew he had to be positive, he knew, that to beat this, he had to think that there were people out there who would come, and save them. But he also knew that that was very unlikely. Most would think them to be dead. Like Ron.
He winced at the thought of his best friend, dead, just like that. Harry had seen Ron leap from where he was standing, infront of Malfoy, scream in agony and then lie still, forever. Harry had screamed at him, yelled and tried to pull him back, but Ron ignored him and leaped as though it was something he must do. But why? Why would Ron save Malfoy? Why did he have to go? Harry felt tears sting his eyes, and didn't notice as they fell down his cheeks. Voldemort turned around.
'Ha! Even you realise defeat when you see it Harry Potter. Even you cannot have blind hope that you will one day be free of this place and me, and continue life in peace. You see that Harry Potter? You are crying. Crying because you know you cannot win. There is no way out.' Harry shuddered, but said nothing. Voldemort continued.
'Now I will give you a choice, though I will get it my way from force or by your own free will. You can either stay here, for as long as I wish it, and be tortured each day, for mine and my Death Eaters pleasure and be put under the Imperius Curse and do as I wish you to do. Or you can join me, on my quest to rid the world of Mudbloods and any one who dare stand in my way. The choice is yours Harry Potter. The choice is yours...' Voldemort said, turning around once more.
'Now could be my chance to attack him. Take him by surprise while his back is turned.....' Harry thought.
'Do not even think of attacking me Harry Potter,' Voldemort said suddenly without turning around. 'This house is full of Death Eaters who will kill you if you manage to get out of here. Trust me, they will not hesitate to kill the famous Harry Potter...' Harry froze. It was as if Voldemort had read his mind. But surely not...
'I have had enough!' Voldemort said, raising his voice slightly. Suddenly the doors burst open and two Death Eaters came inside. The one in front pointed his wand at Harry, yelled 'stupefy' and watched as Harry fell to the ground in an unconcious heap.
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When Ginny had finally managed to regain her composure, she had gotten up off her bed at had a long cold shower. She then got dressed, threw on a robe and rushed down into the Common Room. The Common Room was empty. Ginny looked out the window. It was still quite early. 'The others are just be asleep....' Ginny thought hopefully. Ginny tore her eyes away from the emptiness of the Common Room and walked through the portrait hole. The walked slowly down the corridors. When she reached the stairs, she got a prickling sensation on the back of her neck, as if someone was watching her. She span around but no one was there.
'Its just my imagination.....' Ginny told herself, but quickened her pace as she walked down the stairs. As the reached the corridor that the Hospital Wing was on, the stopped again. She was sure she had heard footsteps, but they had stopped when she had stopped. She took one step, and heard a faint one at the same time. Alarmed, Ginny broke into a run, racing to the Hospital Wing. The footsteps grew louder and louder, but Ginny didn't dare turn around.
They didn't seem to be copying hers anymore. It was as though they didn't care about being discovered. Suddenly Ginny felt a hand around her mouth and another around her waist. She gasped and tried to scream, but all that came out was a muffled cry. She kicked as the person lifted her off the ground and dragged her back down the corridor. She hit his arms as hard as she could with her hands, but it was as though he felt no pain.
He continued onwards down the corridor until he reached the door he wanted. He opened it and walked inside, closing the door abruptly behind him. Inside the room the walls were covered in purple curtain, the ground carpeted in purple and cushions, sofas, chairs and everything else in the room was the same colour. Every different imaginable shade of purple filled the room.
Ginny gasped in amazement when she was that the flames in the fire place too were mysteriously purple. Cushions and bean bags were scattered everywhere on the floor. Sofas were placed around the edge of the room, draped in purple material and covered in purple cushions. A large glass table, in the colour purple of course, stood in the middle of the room. On top of that stood a single rose. Mysteriously enough, the rose bud was purple, but the stem was not. The stem was a bright green colour and was covered in dangerous looking thorns. The only different colour to the purple in the room.
Ginny longed to touch it, but was still being held at the door. Then an idea struck Ginny. An idea that she should have thought from the time this person had grabbed her. Ginny bit down as hard as the could on the persons hand. The person shrieked in pain and dropped Ginny from his grip. Ginny quickly pulled away from him and then turned around. She gasped in horror when she saw who it was. Parvati Patil.
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A/N - I know, I know! Another cliffy! I'm sorry, but it just seemed so fitting. So, what is Parvati doing? Why did she take Ginny to that purple room? All will be revealed when... I next decide to update! Lol. I'll try as soon as I can, I promise! Meanwhile, please review! The buttons just below! Hehehe thanks!
Luv always Emma (aka Remy)
~Marauders Gal~
Chapter 5 - Hostages
Disclaimer - No, I don't own any of these characters.. Unfortunately :( Oh well. Please R&R!
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It was as if time had slowed down, almost to a stop. Draco layed on the ground after having the Cruciatus curse on him. He was sore all over. Voldemort had then yelled at him
'You are weak, pathetic. You don't deserve to keep the name Malfoy!' The words echoed over and over in his mind. He then watched as Voldemort raised his wand and screamed
'Avada Kedavra.' Draco knew what that spell would do to him, but still he sat frozen on the spot. He saw the flash of green light come out from Voldemort's wand, as if in slow motion. He stared at the light coming towards him. Then, out of no where, something hard pushed at his side and he was thrown flat on the ground. The green light flew straight over his head. The thing that had bumped into him screamed, and then fell silent and limp. Draco's eyes fluttered. Everything was blurred. He slowly moved his hand to his face and felt something warm and sticky on his cheek. When he put his hand back down, he saw that it was covered with blood. He heard more screams echoing around the room, and pounding on the floor. He breathed deeply and pushed the thing on top of him off him. He choked back a scream when he saw it was not a thing, but a person. A person he knew. Ronald Weasley. His eyes were opened, a terrified look of shock on his face, his mouth twisted into a silent scream of terror. He was dead.
Draco tore his eyes away from him, and looked around the room. He gasped when he saw another thing that had kept him alive. Harry and Hermione were standing back to back in the middle of the room, surrounded by Death Eaters. A silvery coloured dome was surrounding them also, and seemed to be repelling any spell sent their way. Wands both raised, they were sending off spells towards the Death Eaters that kept them trapped. But it was no use. Everytime a Death Eater fell, another one would take its place in the circle. There were too many for them to fight off. Draco watched as Voldemort laughed, a cold, high pitched laugh, watching them fight for their lives. Something near Voldemort caught his eye. Ginny. Ginny was no longer unconcious. She was on her knees beside Voldemort, watching in despair as Harry and Hermione fought off the Death Eaters. She screamed, tears pouring down her face. Her face strained as though she was trying to move but did not have the energy to do so. It seemed that she, as Draco once was, was held back by an invisible force, for she did not move. Draco saw that no one was paying any attention to him. No one looked at him. They all thought him to be dead. Voldemort laughed again.
'Stop!' Voldemort yelled. His Death Eaters immediately put their wands down and turned to him, as they had most likely done before. Very few Death Eaters lay unconcious on the ground. 'Let me speak to them!' He said. The Death Eaters parted so that Voldemort could see Harry and Hermione more clearly. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances. Voldemort walked forward slowly. He flicked his finger behind him, and Ginny was forced to follow him.
'What do you want now Voldemort?' Harry spoke up bravely, as Voldemort approached. Voldemort laughed.
'I am willing to make you a little deal Harry Potter. I am willing to exchange her life, ' he carelessly pointed to Ginny, 'For yours... and hers,' Voldemort added, pointig to Hermione. Harry jaw dropped.
'Me and H-Hermione?' Harry stuttered.
'Yes, you and your filthy Mudblood friend.' Harry's eyes narrowed.
'What? You don't think it fair? I think it is very fair Harry Potter, for I could kill you all, right now. If you don't accept, then I will have no choice but to kill you all.' Harry hesitated before he spoke again.
'But how do we know you will not harm Ginny?' Harry said finally.
'I will leave here, with you two and my Death Eaters, and she will stay. Good enough deal for you?' Voldemort sneered cruelly.
'B-But you sealed the room. She will not be able to get out. She will be trapped!' Harry choked. Voldemort flicked his wand towards the entrance. A white light shone on the wall and a door appeared. Voldemort nodded at one of his Death Eaters, who walked over to the door and opened it, to reveal a familiar part of the dungeons.
'Satisfied?' Voldemort asked, narrowing his eyes.
'Take me. Let Hermione go free. She hasn't done anything wrong!' Harry said, exasperated.
'She's a Mudblood. She has done something wrong from the time she was born. How about this. I will kill her first so that she doesn't have to hear your screams!' Voldemort threw his head back and laughed, his high, cold laugh Harry knew too well. Harry shuddered, but stayed where he was, not going to be fooled by Voldemort's words.
'Well you have no choice. Now you are mine!' Voldemort said. He walked forward, straight through the barrier, as if it were not there, that Harry and Hermione had used to protect themselves and grabbed them by the shoulders. He pulled them out of the silvery glow that surrounded them, and threw them to his group of Death Eaters. The Death Eaters grabbed them. Harry and Hermione screamed, kicked, and tried as hard as they could to get away, but to no avail.
'You are never going to get away with this Voldemort!' Harry yelled.
'Good will prevail over all evil! You can never win!' Hermione screamed. Voldemort just laughed.
'We'll see about that you filthy Mudblood. We'll see how much you win when your dead.' Harry and Hermione struggled again at these words, but nothing they did would release them from the death-grip of the Death Eaters that held them. Then they were gone. With a pop. All the Death Eaters, Voldemort and Harry and Hermione were gone. Ginny collapsed to the ground and started sobbing hysterically. Draco got up silently and walked over to her. He knelt down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. He felt her body tense.
'Don't worry Ginny, its me, Draco,' Draco said softly. Ginny immediately raised her head. Her face was streaming with tears, and her eyes were all red from crying.
'Don't worry? Don't worry? How can I not worry? My brother just died for you, and my two friends have been taken by Voldemort, probably to suffer the same fate, and you tell me not to worry?' Ginny screamed, throwing herself on the ground, more tears spilling down her already tear-stained face. Draco bit his lip, trying too, not to cry. Ron had sacrificed his life for him, and Harry and Hermione and sacrificed theirs for Ginny. Why? The question bugged Draco, and he couldn't shake it off. He looked back at Ginny, who was lying on the ground, still sobbing.
'Ginny please, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just trying to make you feel better! I care for you, I really do, and I don't like to see you like this,' Draco said slowly. Ginny lifted her head and looked into his eyes. He wasn't lying, or playing around. He meant what he said. She could see it in his eyes. Overcome with emotion, Ginny let out another sob and buried her face into Draco's chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Draco felt other movement in the room. He quickly span his head around and saw that the people who had been stunned before were starting to stir. He had almost forgotten they were there. Softly he patted Ginny on the shoulder. She stirred and lifted her head, looking deeply into his eyes.
'The others are beginning to stir. I must go and alert Dumbledore,' Draco said. Ginny nodded and sat up. Draco stood up and gave his hand to her. She sat there for a moment, then put her hand in his and stood up. She swayed but Draco grabbed her.
'Are you alright?' Draco asked.
'Yes, I'm fine. Come on we have to get help... oh!' Ginny stumbled again and tripped. Draco leaped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her up before she fell to the ground. She quickly shook Draco off her and continued to stagger off towards the door. Draco ran after her and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to look at him.
'Ginny, let me help you! Your hurt!' Draco cried. Ginny tore her eyes away from him and stared into space, frowning.
'Ginny please?' Draco pleaded.
'Everyone has sacrificed themselves for me! Put their lives in danger and at risk! The least I can do is to help the people dragged into this mess,' Ginny said, glaring at him. She pulled her hand away from him and ran out the door, ignoring the pain searing through her body. Draco stood there, frozen to the spot. Then tore after her.
Ginny ran as fast as she could up the stairs, not knowing where she was going, but hoping that she would run into someone who could help. Just not so literally. As Ginny was running up the third flght of stairs, she ran straight into someone. She looked up. It was Dumbledore.
'Professor Dumbledore.. An accident.. In the dungeons... Many people are hurt.. They need your help-' Ginny began. Suddenly Draco came running up the stairs.
'Professor, please, you must come to the-'
'Dungeons, yes I know. Young Miss Weasley has already informed me of this. Quickly, show me the way.' With that, Draco and Ginny quickly led Dumbledore down the stairs and to the room in the dungeons. Dumbledore's usual kind blue eyes were now filled with fury. He turned to Draco and Ginny.
'Draco, I must ask you to get Professor's Snape and McGonagall. Ginny, I would also ask you to alert Madam Pomfrey,' Dumbledore said. Draco and Ginny quickly hurried out of the room. Without a word, they separated and went to find the teachers they were set to find. Ginny ran up the stairs and down the corridor to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey must have heard her running for as soon as Ginny reached for the door, it sprung open, and Madam Pomfrey stood in the doorway. Taken by surprise, Ginny hesitated.
'Yes what is it?' Madam Pomfrey snapped.
'There's been an accident in the dungeons. Professor Dumbledore told me to alert you.' Ginny started to turn away but Madam Pomfrey grabbed her shoulder and turned her back around, her face suddenly alert.
'An accident? What happened? How many people are injured?' Madam Pomfrey demanded. Ginny sighed.
'Voldemort. Many people are injured... and some are.. Some are.. I-I gotta go!' Ginny quickly span around and ran down the corridor, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's shrieks and yells, trying to call her back.
She ran back down to the dungeons and found Dumbledore kneeling down beside Ron's body. Ginny felt fresh tears sting her eyes, and she let them fall, not ashamed to cry. She fell to her knees and put her head in her hands. Sobbing uncontrolably, she didn't notice the other four people enter the room. Nor did she notice when one of them kneeled down beside her and put their arm around her shoulders. She didn't even notice when she was carried to her dorm and placed in her bed.
All she did was cry. She cried herself to sleep, full of dreams and horrors of everything that had happened that night. Dreams of Harry and Hermione telling her it was all her fault for their deaths. Ron screaming at her because if she had of listened to him and not gone to that party, nothing would have happened to them.
She woke up gasping, covered in cold sweat, and shivering uncontrollably. She looked over at Hermione's empty bed and knew that she would never see Hermione in it again. Fresh tears began to well up in her eyes as a wave of dread, guilt and fear washed over her.
Everything in her life had changed that night. It would never be the same again. Ron had sacrificed himself for Draco, but why? Why would he give his life for someone he has always hated? And why did Harry and Hermione be so stupid as to let themselves be taken hostage? Ginny held her head in her hands. Her mind was loaded with questions, but none she could answer. She sat on her bed, arms around her knees in the empty dormitory. Lavender and Parvati were in the hospital wing and Hermione was... well Ginny didn't like to think where she was.
~*~*~*~*~
A long way away, in a place unknown yet to Ginny or even herself and Harry, Hermione was going through a hell of a lot more problems than Ginny could even imagine.
'Get up Mudblood,' someone spat at Hermione, who lay unmoving on the ground.
'I said get up you filthy Mudblood!' The person repeated kicking Hermione painfully in her side. She winced in pain, but the kick was nothing compared to the torture she and Harry had been getting since they arrived here in this.. Mansion.
When they had been apparated from the party, they arrived in a large hall of what looked to be a very large house, or manor. Harry and Hermione were dragged up a flight or two of stairs, led down a few corridors and taken into a rather large room. It was there that they were teased and tortured by innurmerable Death Eaters, and Voldemort himself. Hermione ached all over. It felt as though every part of her had been cut or bruised. If most likely had. When Voldemort had 'finished' with them, they were taken down into a small, damp room under the house. The walls were made of cement, the ground and walls were slightly damp and it was freezing down there. The Death Eaters had thrown down two thin rags, filled with holes, which they used as blankets. Harry had suggested that this was because Voldemort didn't want them dying. yet. Hermione shuddered at the thought. What exactly did Voldemort want with them?
'Crucio!' Hermione screamed out in agony, as a pain like one thousand needles being stuck into you again and again seared throughout her whole body. The Death Eater responsible for the pain laughed cruelly, then lowered his wand.
'Now get up, filth,' the Death Eater repeated once more. Hermione, wanting almost anything not to feel that stabbing pain again, staggered up. Hermione stood up, holding her head high, averted her gaze from those of her captors. Suddenly Hermione received a blow to her stomach, causing her to fall to her knees on the ground. Something hard hit the side of her head with a force, knocking her to the ground. The side of her cheek hit the cold, damp floor, her eyes fluttered shut and she knew no more.
~*~*~*~*~
Harry too, was going through the same thing as Hermione, but perhaps worse, for his captor was Lord Voldemort himself.
Harry winced in pain as he was thrown into the hard stone wall. Voldemort showed no mercy. This was exactly as he had planned it to be. Voldemort flicked his wand at Harry and he was thrown sideways to the floor. He felt blood trickle from his mouth to the ground, but he did not wipe it away. He staggered up and faced Voldemort, holding the wall for support.
'Why did you not take Ginny as well as Hermione and I? Would not three captives be better than two?' Harry asked. Voldemort laughed.
'Do you not see, Harry, the brilliance in my plan?' Voldemort smiled. 'Surely that Mudblood loving fool Weasley will come after you, because she will feel guilty for leading you to your deaths. But everyone will know what she will try to do. More people will go after her, trying to save her life. But all will die. You see Harry, I have many plans, and if one fails another will take its place. I will eventually be ruler of this Earth and control all who live on it,' Voldemort laughed as he told Harry his plan.
'You will never gain full control over this Earth Voldemort. There will always be people who will set out to destroy you-'
'Ah, but that is where they will fail. It is perilous to even think of challenging me. I always come out in the end Harry,' Voldemort said, turning his back on Harry and began walking to the opposite side of the room.
'You will never win Voldemort. Good will always triumph over evil-'
'Good will never truimph over evil!' Voldemort spat, turning around instantly.
'The good are restricted by certain rules which make them the people they are. They could never kill ruthlessly like the evil, which is their weakness. With these rules Harry, the good will always have certain boundries that they will never cross, certain boundries that the evil don't. They will always in one way or another be restricted. The evil however, have no weaknesses.' Voldemort finished, and turned his back to Harry once more.
Harry closed his eyes. He was exausted, thirsty and hungry. They hadn't been fed or given anything to drink. Nor given much chance to rest before the next tourture session. Harry shuddered at the many memories. Many of these memories were just a blur now, though only one day had past since they had be brought to this accursed place. The countless time that both he and Hermione had been struck down by the Cruciatus Curse had begun to drown his memory, washing away any positive thoughts. Harry knew he had to be positive, he knew, that to beat this, he had to think that there were people out there who would come, and save them. But he also knew that that was very unlikely. Most would think them to be dead. Like Ron.
He winced at the thought of his best friend, dead, just like that. Harry had seen Ron leap from where he was standing, infront of Malfoy, scream in agony and then lie still, forever. Harry had screamed at him, yelled and tried to pull him back, but Ron ignored him and leaped as though it was something he must do. But why? Why would Ron save Malfoy? Why did he have to go? Harry felt tears sting his eyes, and didn't notice as they fell down his cheeks. Voldemort turned around.
'Ha! Even you realise defeat when you see it Harry Potter. Even you cannot have blind hope that you will one day be free of this place and me, and continue life in peace. You see that Harry Potter? You are crying. Crying because you know you cannot win. There is no way out.' Harry shuddered, but said nothing. Voldemort continued.
'Now I will give you a choice, though I will get it my way from force or by your own free will. You can either stay here, for as long as I wish it, and be tortured each day, for mine and my Death Eaters pleasure and be put under the Imperius Curse and do as I wish you to do. Or you can join me, on my quest to rid the world of Mudbloods and any one who dare stand in my way. The choice is yours Harry Potter. The choice is yours...' Voldemort said, turning around once more.
'Now could be my chance to attack him. Take him by surprise while his back is turned.....' Harry thought.
'Do not even think of attacking me Harry Potter,' Voldemort said suddenly without turning around. 'This house is full of Death Eaters who will kill you if you manage to get out of here. Trust me, they will not hesitate to kill the famous Harry Potter...' Harry froze. It was as if Voldemort had read his mind. But surely not...
'I have had enough!' Voldemort said, raising his voice slightly. Suddenly the doors burst open and two Death Eaters came inside. The one in front pointed his wand at Harry, yelled 'stupefy' and watched as Harry fell to the ground in an unconcious heap.
~*~*~*~*~
When Ginny had finally managed to regain her composure, she had gotten up off her bed at had a long cold shower. She then got dressed, threw on a robe and rushed down into the Common Room. The Common Room was empty. Ginny looked out the window. It was still quite early. 'The others are just be asleep....' Ginny thought hopefully. Ginny tore her eyes away from the emptiness of the Common Room and walked through the portrait hole. The walked slowly down the corridors. When she reached the stairs, she got a prickling sensation on the back of her neck, as if someone was watching her. She span around but no one was there.
'Its just my imagination.....' Ginny told herself, but quickened her pace as she walked down the stairs. As the reached the corridor that the Hospital Wing was on, the stopped again. She was sure she had heard footsteps, but they had stopped when she had stopped. She took one step, and heard a faint one at the same time. Alarmed, Ginny broke into a run, racing to the Hospital Wing. The footsteps grew louder and louder, but Ginny didn't dare turn around.
They didn't seem to be copying hers anymore. It was as though they didn't care about being discovered. Suddenly Ginny felt a hand around her mouth and another around her waist. She gasped and tried to scream, but all that came out was a muffled cry. She kicked as the person lifted her off the ground and dragged her back down the corridor. She hit his arms as hard as she could with her hands, but it was as though he felt no pain.
He continued onwards down the corridor until he reached the door he wanted. He opened it and walked inside, closing the door abruptly behind him. Inside the room the walls were covered in purple curtain, the ground carpeted in purple and cushions, sofas, chairs and everything else in the room was the same colour. Every different imaginable shade of purple filled the room.
Ginny gasped in amazement when she was that the flames in the fire place too were mysteriously purple. Cushions and bean bags were scattered everywhere on the floor. Sofas were placed around the edge of the room, draped in purple material and covered in purple cushions. A large glass table, in the colour purple of course, stood in the middle of the room. On top of that stood a single rose. Mysteriously enough, the rose bud was purple, but the stem was not. The stem was a bright green colour and was covered in dangerous looking thorns. The only different colour to the purple in the room.
Ginny longed to touch it, but was still being held at the door. Then an idea struck Ginny. An idea that she should have thought from the time this person had grabbed her. Ginny bit down as hard as the could on the persons hand. The person shrieked in pain and dropped Ginny from his grip. Ginny quickly pulled away from him and then turned around. She gasped in horror when she saw who it was. Parvati Patil.
~*~*~*~*~
A/N - I know, I know! Another cliffy! I'm sorry, but it just seemed so fitting. So, what is Parvati doing? Why did she take Ginny to that purple room? All will be revealed when... I next decide to update! Lol. I'll try as soon as I can, I promise! Meanwhile, please review! The buttons just below! Hehehe thanks!
Luv always Emma (aka Remy)
~Marauders Gal~
