A/N: Hey people! Well I was sitting at my computer playing the Sims and I couldn't get this story out of my mind... the OC had just finished, love that show, hate the character Oliver. Anyway, back to my point and I figured I would write up another Chapter and read the reviews. Thankyou ZeroOrDie and Damia- Queen of the Gypsi's for saying yes to the sequel... what about the rest of you? I need to know! Anyway, thanks for loving this story... and no if I write the sequel... by god it is not going to be cheesy!!
DISCLAIMER: NO TO OWNING HARRY POTTER YES TO OWNING THE VERBATIMS!
Chapter Seventeen: I'm Your Strength Always
Hermione stepped out of the bath. Her muscles were tense from the stress she was feeling. The stress was about the coming Sunday, how was she to avoid Voldemort, Janice and Heath till Sunday, what was Janice going to do to her not to mention what Voldemort was planning to punish her with, but mainly what was Draco not truly telling her? Who could it be that he feared was going to keep them apart?
Hermione loved Draco more, more deeply everyday. If the coming battle of good and evil was successful Hermione planned on living with Draco, marrying him having children with him sometime in the future once they were financially set. But if she couldn't, she didn't know how she would live without him, knowing she couldn't be with the person who owned her heart. How could he expect her to fall out of love with him and in love with Harry? That was impossible. Utterly impossible to believe.
She wrapped her green towel around her body and exited the bathroom. She dressed in maroon and gold colours, trying to keep her sprits up when she knew they were down, down very low she felt she was walking on them. With a sigh she brushed her hair and pulled it back in a ponytail.
"Ellawise! Lunch is being served!" screamed Janice through the door.
Hermione set her face into a cold and stony expression pocketing her wand, "I'm coming. Don't wet your pants waiting."
Hermione heard Janice mutter something under her breath as she opened the door, "Speak up, don't mumble."
Janice glared coldly at her and led Hermione to the dining room. When Hermione entered she saw no food on the table. In fact there was no table, no furniture at all. Only Voldemort, Janice and Hermione were in the room.
"I thought you said it was Lunch time?" asked Hermione gripping her wand in her front pocket of her maroon ¾ pants.
"You foolish girl. Lunch is always served promptly at 1," snarled Voldemort, "You have arrived in time for your punishment."
"Which would be?"
Voldemort smiled coldly at her while Janice hurried around shutting windows and doors around the room. Hermione never let her guard down. She also sealed her mind from his prying eyes. He was not going to know how scared she was.
Where is your Gryffindor bravery girl? thought Hermione.
Voldemort flicked his wand and five silver whips with thin leather strips coming from the bendable whip part appeared in the air seeming to hiss as they moved in the air.
Hermione's eyes widened at the sight before her.
"Attack," hissed Voldemort.
The whips began snapping through the air moving towards Hermione but she was to petrified to move as they began tearing through her clothing and cutting at her skin.
!Z!
Draco rubbed his eye as he sat up. After letting his emotions out he'd retreated to his room, exhausted from lack of sleep and overload of worry. But something was troubling him, something bugging at his mind. But what? Why did he feel something was wrong? His father had gone out and his mother was reading a new book she'd been sent from a friend Draco knew nothing of. He climbed out of his bed as his father burst into the room a large stupid smile on his face.
"Father are you drunk?" asked Draco frowning at him.
"No! We have been called to the Verbatim Estate! Lord Voldemort feels he was broken Ellawise sprit! She may yet join our side!" replied Lucius "Grab your Death Eater cloak. We are to watch her get punished. It has already begun."
Draco nodded and rushed to his cupboard. He knew Hermione would need to know he was there. But how? Would she feel his presence? Would she fight back or give in, throwing away her pride and all she believed in?
He believed in Hermione like no one else did. His love for her was deeper than the deepest part in the entire Ocean. Hurriedly he threw on the robe and pulled the hood on. He knew his father would've already left, so Draco apperated from the Malfoy Manor to the dining room of the Verbatim Estate, and what greeted him was not a pleasing sight.
!Z!
Hermione fell to her knees as the whips continuously tore at her skin. Blood stained her gold top turning it to the colour to match her pants. Her breaths were ragged as Death Eaters apperated into the room laughing at her, loving the sight of seeing the Lioness of Gryffindor, one of the Golden Trio, Smartest Witch to ever exist fall to the hem of Voldemort's robes.
But them something or someone somehow gave her the strength she'd been searching herself for. It surged through her vein allowing her anger to finally unlock itself, pushing her fear away to non-existence. Slowly Hermione pushed herself up to her feet, swaying a bit. She could feel blood trickle down her back. She raised her eyes, the pupil's black, and starred at Voldemort with complete hatred and nothing else.
"You think you're the big man don't you?" said Hermione pulling out her wand and muttering a spell to cease the whipping on her, "You think your so tough, getting whips to tear me apart, show your ever so loyal slaves that you can bring Hermione Granger down. Well I have headline news for you. You will never bring me down, never! My spirit remains as strong as it was the day I arrived in this not so humble home. I'm Gryffindor to the bone. Harry Potter's bestfriend, always have been and always will be no matter what. Now I'm going to give your loyal slaves a show and let them witness you beg me for forgiveness."
Before Voldemort could say anything Janice broke the line of Death Eaters and ran for Hermione. But she was to slow as Hermione spun around and a bright green jet of light erupted from her wand, speeding through the air and striking Janice in the chest. Hermione's eyes returned to brown in shock as she watched Janice fall to the ground lifeless.
"Oh god," whispered Hermione, "Oh god."
"And that is how you brake someone's sprit," said Voldemort not even caring that Janice was dead.
"No," growled Hermione spinning around wand pointing at Voldemort, "NO! YOU HAVE NOT BROKEN ME... YOU... YOU STPUD, JACKASS... EVIL... FILTHY... WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE YOU! SHE WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY! I WAS SHOCKED, THAT'S ALL!"
Voldemort starred at Hermione in silence. Hermione backed away, dizziness sweeping her over. With as much self control Hermione staggered from the room pushing past the ring of Death Eaters. On her way out her noticed Draco's eyes and figure. She glanced at him once, her words saying all as she exited the room, only to collapse into Gavin's arms.
!Z!
Gavin laid Hermione on her bed. She was pale and her eyes were a dull brown, the normal brown fiery spark gone. This beating was worst than the last one, worse than any he himself had taken.
"How did you take this Hermione?" asked Gavin grabbing a purple potion from a tray beside her bed.
"D-Draco," replied Hermione arching her back in pain as sweat poured from her, "G-get h-him."
"I can't leave you."
"Get him!" cried Hermione hysterical rolling around on the bed.
Gavin looked at her worriedly. What did Voldemort do to her? Was there something on the whips? He'd never seen a victim of Voldemort's brake into a fever. Gavin backed out of the room and ran down the hall to the leaving Death Eaters. He spotted Draco removing his mask speaking to another young Death Eater. Gavin pushed through the crowd and made his way to Draco.
"Master Draco," said Gavin, "I need to speak with you... alone."
"Very well," replied Draco leaving with Gavin, "Wait for me by the stairs. I will need to tell my father where I am to be."
Gavin nodded and watched Draco find his father and speak to him. He saw Lucius nod and pat Draco on the shoulder. Draco hurriedly pushed through the crowd back to Gavin. They both raced up the staircase and down a hall.
"Is it Hermione?" asked Draco as they ran.
"She needs you. Something is wrong. She's got a fever like I've never seen before. And she's lost plenty of blood," replied Gavin as they reached Hermione's bedroom door.
Gavin opened it and they ran in, Draco shutting the door and locking it. He spun around and saw Hermione on the floor, her hair a mess, bloodstains on the carpet. She was curled in a ball rolling around, sweat covering her body. He raced to her side and fell to his knees.
"Hermione?" asked Draco touching her face, "What's wrong? Why are you like this?"
"Let me die," cried Hermione before screaming in pain, "I want to die Draco! I hurt so much."
"No! Don't you die baby," said Draco. He looked at Gavin, "We need to stop this. Whatever it is, it's killing her."
"I have nothing... we need professional help," said Gavin.
Draco scooped Hermione into his arms; "I'll have her back by dawn. Trust me."
"I do," nodded Gavin.
Draco nodded and apperated.
"Dear God," said Gavin starring at the sky, "Please let my sister live. If I must I will give my life just so you spare a pure soul... she's to perfect to be taken from this world... only she can save us."
!Z!
"Draco!" cried Ginny running down the steps of Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
The youngest Weasley noticed the shaking, bleeding, messed up Hermione in his arms and a hand flew to her mouth.
"I need to see Pompfrey," said Draco near tears "Is she here?"
Ginny nodded and ran into the kitchen, "Mum! Madam Pompfrey! It's awful! I... come quickly! Please! Oh hurry before she dies!"
Mrs Weasley and Pompfrey ran to the distraught Ginny and followed her to the entrance hall.
"Please save her," said Draco, "She took a bad beating from Voldemort... but it was like no other I've seen... she wants to die!"
Mrs Weasley let out a sudden sob at the sight of Hermione in Draco's arms. Finally Mrs Weasley understood the sacrifice the young girl was making for the wizarding world, for Harry and all who meant something to her.
Madam Pompfrey ushered Draco up the staircase fast and down a dimly lit hall. Doors to their right opened as they passed. Draco and Pompfrey ignored them as Hermione gave a cry of pain.
"In here," said Pompfrey opening a door, "Ginny could you go to the kitchen as get me a bowl of cold water with a cloth."
Ginny, who had followed them up nodded and ran down the hall past her brother and the boy who lived.
"Place her on the bed Draco," said Pompfrey kindly.
Hermione arched her back as it touched the rough quilt; tears were streaming down her face as the pain shot down her back, "D-Draco!"
"I'm here," said Draco kneeling beside her and gripping her clammy hand, "Madam Pompfrey can you make her well by dawn?"
"I'll try my best," replied the nurse as she took Hermione's temperature.
!Z!
Ginny grabbed the nearest clean bowl and filled it with the coldest water in the fridge and grabbed a cloth from a cupboard under the sink.
"Ginny who's Pompfrey healing?" asked Harry entering the kitchen.
Ginny turned to face him her eyes narrowed, the bowl and cloth in her hands, "Someone who took a brutal beating to save your arse."
Harry looked confused as Ginny barged past him out the door.
Ron entered the kitchen having heard the conversation, "I just saw Mum being comforted by Tonks in the drawing room. Pompfrey's healing Hermione."
"Why? She betrayed us!"
Ron shook his head sadly, "I heard Tonks say she did it for us. Dumbledore knows why she left... to save us. Malfoy was right. Hermione didn't betray us mate. She's saving us from Voldemort."
Harry sat in the nearest chair guilt written across his face, "So we betrayed Hermione... for not believing in her."
Ron nodded, "Mum said Hermione was a mess. Blood all over her, cuts on her arms, sweating all over. Malfoy brought her. He's scared she'll die."
Harry pounded the table angrily, "I'll kill him. Voldemort will pay for this, I swear! He's not taking someone else I care about away from me!"
Ron sat in silence.
After that outburst Harry stormed out of the kitchen and up to his room. He sat on his bed, his head in his hands. The Weasley's and Harry had came here today under Dumbledore's order's. Something big was going to happen was the conclusion Harry could come to. But he never expected learning that about Hermione.
But when Harry seriously thought about it he couldn't really picture Hermione turning against them. It just wasn't her, even with her true ancestors being who they were. How could Harry think of her turning against them? He knew he was stupid to think such a thing now. And he regretted it majorly.
"I'm such a fool," said Harry out loud as the door opened.
"You have that right Potter."
Harry looked up from his feet and saw Draco taking a seat at the desk chair.
"Malfoy... how is she?"
"Pompfrey is healing her back. But she still has a long way to go. They, being Pompfrey and McGonagall who just arrived still fear she could die or slip into a coma if they don't heal her wounds and replenish her blood quickly."
Harry nodded, "Look. I'm really sorry for thinking Hermione could turn against us all. I seriously just thought about it and realized she wouldn't do such a thing... even with her families background."
"Potter the only Verbatim that Hermione would class to be related to her is Gavin. Other than that she won't allow her real parents to be classed as her family... well she only has one real parent now."
"What?" frowned Harry.
Draco took a deep breath, "Voldemort had whipped her really bad... and she somehow found strength in her and stood up and stopped the whipping... she told Voldemort he would never break her spirit and she was about to hex him when her mother ran out to stop her... Hermione knew she was coming and spun around and killed her with the curse... the dark side was over her... you see she's finally worked out how to control it and use it at will. But the real her couldn't believe she'd done it... but Voldemort said something to her, made her snap, she went off at him again and ran from the room and here we are."
Harry shook his head in shock, "She's been through a lot."
Draco nodded, "But she's scared Potter. I went and saw her in secret earlier today... she broke down in tears confessing how badly she wants out."
"I can only imagine how bad it must be. What about this Gavin guy? Who is he?"
"He's Hermione's older brother... about 20. But he's nothing like their parents. He's on the light side. Him and Hermione are making something to help destroy Voldemort... you will use it."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, "Wow."
!Z!
Hermione screamed in pain in between her continuous tears. The pain wouldn't stop. It felt as if she were still being repeatedly whipped all over. She could feel the pain from the outside of her skin to her bones.
"Stop it!" screamed Hermione, "Stop hitting me please! I swear I won't speak out of line again! I beg you to stop!"
Ginny looked shaken up as her and Pompfrey jumped back in surprise as Hermione moved around recklessly on the bed, turning, rolling, and twisting in agony.
"What do we do?" said Ginny shaking all over as she watched her bestfriend go through something she'd never imagine.
"I need Dumbledore," said Pompfrey, "Ginny dear get Tonks or your mother to get Dumbledore to come quick.
Ginny nodded and ran out of the room.
"Hold on Hermione," said Pompfrey watching on due to it being the only thing she could do, "Please don't give in child."
Hermione cried as she felt a lash go across her stomach.
Pompfrey gasped as a fresh cut and a wave of blood came across Hermione's stomach.
"Stop it!" cried Hermione, "Oh just stop it! I beg you!"
Pompfrey opened the door crying and ran out as Hermione stumbled to her feet and fell to the ground with a thump feeling ten lashes go over her back at once.
"D-don't," cried Hermione as five more lashed across her back.
!Z!
Draco and Harry both stopped talking as they heard a crying person run past then a thump. Draco stood and ran to the door and pulled it open.
"No more!" came a cry.
"Hermione," whispered Draco running to where we lay on the floor covered in fresh blood.
Harry stood in the doorway eyes wide as she watched Hermione roll onto her back and arch upwards as it someone had hold of her shirt and whipped her across her chest.
"Oh god," whispered Harry.
How could this happen? What did Hermione do to deserve this? She did this for him, for Draco, for the world. And this was her reward.
"Step aside Harry."
Harry jumped and moved as Dumbledore ran in.
"Release her Tom!" said Dumbledore to no one, "Let the girl go!"
Hermione screamed as she rose from the ground and flew into a mirror the glass shattering all over her. Her limp body fell to the ground and silence fell around the room except for Ginny, Mrs Weasley's, Tonks and Madam Pompfrey's scared sobs.
"Leave her Tom. Release your mind from hers now... no harm shall fall upon a child," said Dumbledore.
"She is no child!" came a cold hiss echoing through the room, "She is a Verbatim Dumbledore. You know darkness runs threw her veins. Her future is black Dumbledore. She will have trouble controlling her emotions after I've dealt with her."
"LEAVE!" boomed Dumbledore immense anger in her normally calm voice.
No one spoke. They watched as Draco crawled to Hermione pulling her into his arms.
"Hermione?" whispered Draco touching her bloody face, "Baby, wake up... come on."
Hermione woke up with a cry clinging to Draco and breathing hard.
"Hermione?"
Hermione looked up at him and touched his face, smearing it with blood, "I was so alone. So scared. He wouldn't stop Draco... he wouldn't let me go."
Draco pulled her close and hugged her tight, "He won't harm you Baby. I'll make sure Gavin keeps you hidden at all times."
Hermione hugged him, her cuts slowly healing and colour returning to her face.
"They weren't real wounds Poppy," said Dumbledore, "They were telepathy ones. All Hermione could feel was the pain."
Harry and Ron walked in and Hermione stood up and hugged them both, "Please don't hate me... I'm doing this to keep you both alive."
"We don't hate you Mione," said Ron, "Don't even think that."
Hermione pulled away a sad look crossing her face, "I have to go back."
"You don't have to," said Dumbledore, "You can stay here."
Hermione shook her head, "Gavin will be worried and we are still making that potion."
"Why can't you both come here?" asked Draco, "He will be protected and so will you."
"No. If I don't go back Voldemort will attack you all. The deal was I stay there and no harm will come to any of you. And Gavin doesn't want them to find out he's plotting their death with me."
Draco nodded, as did the rest, all understood.
Hermione sighed and hugged everyone in the room, tears falling down her face, "You'll all see me soon. I swear."
"Be careful Hermione," said Ginny crying, "Crookshanks misses you."
Hermione smiled and wiped away a few tears and took hold of Draco's hand tightly. With one more look at them all they apperated.
!Z!
"Hermione!" cried Gavin springing off her bed and engulfing his sister into a hug, "I was so worried."
"I'm fine," said Hermione smiling at him, "I need you to keep me hidden until Sunday. If Voldemort or Heath finds me now I'm as good as dead. I killed Janice Gavin."
Gavin went quiet and Draco watched his face, it seemed to drain its entire colour, "You need to stay in the hidden room."
"What about you?"
"They don't know we're close."
"But Gavin Voldemort will know your lying. He can read minds."
"I've learnt to shield mine from him. Grab some clothes and all your other needs."
Hermione nodded and hurriedly packed a bag with everything she'd need.
"I'd better go," said Draco when Hermione clipped her bag close.
Hermione whirled to face him, "No... Draco I need you."
Draco pulled Hermione into his arms and looked down at her, "I'm always with you Mione. Right in your heart."
Hermione sighed and rested her head on his chest hearing his heart beat.
Draco pulled a silver necklace from under his shirt and took it off. Hanging from the silver chain was a dragon pendent with gold crystal eyes.
He pulled away from Hermione a bit and placed it in his hand, "I want you to keep this. With this I'm truly with you always. When you're feeling as if you can't go on remember this and my strength will make you know you can no matter what."
Hermione nodded and leaned up and kissed him passionately before leaving with Gavin.
Draco sighed and looked around this room, "Father has to die this Sunday."
A/N: I loved that chapter. Did you? What about you Amy? Okay I have thought up to possible titles if there is a sequel. They are: Breakaway or Because You Live. Which do you like? Let me know!
Love yas!
Love Coz!