WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SOME PRETTY HARSH LANGUAGE!

(A/N: Alright I'm not going to beg for forgiveness but I would like a chance to say that I got a new computer claps for self but in the process of switching, my entire story was lost tear tear including this chapter that I had JUST written. So I tried to re-create it but I'm not sure if I did it as good as before. So please have just that little bit of mercy in me before you read this. It is not edited very well since it is currently 2:41 in the morning (hence the reason there are no personal reviews. I'm sorry, they were all appreciated but getting this out to please you all was more important) Hope you enjoy and keep in mind that this tenically is part two of chapter seventeen. Hugs, Haystack.

Usual Disclaimer

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO DIE

When Hermione stopped running and took the time to take in her surroundings, she realized that she was in a part of Hogsmeade she'd never seen before. The quaint houses and shops were the same, but it was obviously in the outskirts of the village. Not to say that it looked run down or anything, but there was something Hermione couldn't seem to place about the street that made her stomach lurch uneasily.

But it was the people that made Hermione's heart begin to beat fast. All moving almost in slow-motion, it wasn't hard to tell that the attack had hit everyone fast, and it had hit hard. They all pretended to be cleaning themselves and their street up, but Hermione could read the looks on their faces like a book; she'd known that look of loss, grief, and complete despair well; ever since she had known Harry.

"Excuse me sir," She asked a man as he passed by. After looking in his eyes, she decided he looked around thirty. He suddenly jumped, causing Hermione to flinch, as if he'd suddenly seen her.

"Charlotte..." He murmured

"Pardon?" Hermione asked surprised

"They killed her...I got to go kill them...those bastards." He hissed violently looking over her shoulder. After checking herself to make sure that no one was indeed coming she returned her attention to the man. But when she turned around she saw him lying on the ground, knocked out cold.

Horrified, Hermione's gaze followed upwards to finally rest on a woman who could have passed for fifty, frying pan in hand.

"Sorry yer had ter see that" She muttered, throwing the frying pan onto the earth floor. Hermione could only stare at the woman

"You just knocked that man out!!" Hermione cried pointing to the man moaning on the ground

"Yes and its not the ferest time I done it either. Us mum's have to have some relief!"

"You're his mum?"

The woman nodded "Wife died today, my dawter in law Charlotte. Bertiful gal, shame she had to die. My Trevor's in a right state."

"I'm so sorry"

"So am I." She said somewhat wistfully. "What is it that yer wantin?" The Woman asked bluntly.

"I...I wanted to know which direction the Death Eaters left" She said timidly

"Why do yer want to know?" She asked suspiciously

"My boyfriend was captured

"And yer thinking of rescuing him is that it?"

"Yes" She replied, more unsure of her answer than ever before.

"Hmm" The woman said, studying Hermione. Finally, she bent down and peered into her face, almost as if she were a transparent object instead of a human being. "How strong is it?" She whispered

"Pardon?"

"Yer love. How strong is it?" The woman paused, as if waiting for a reaction "Oh yes, I can see it in your face now. Your wondering how I know that your in love with him. No one in their right mind would go looking for Death Eaters dearie. There's just no other explanation for it than love. Love turns your brain to mush, makes ya crazy like. So I'm askin ya, is it strong enough to get killed over?"

"Oh yes, its worth dying over." Hermione replied, hoping to sound sure in what she was saying "It's as strong as it gets"

"Well in that case, take a left, look fer signs of struggle."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Hermione beamed happily at the woman, before running off in the direction instructed.

"Good Luck" She whispered as she watched the brunette run away, almost certainly to her death.

Ron, stopped suddenly, the wisps of Hermione's chocolate curls had disappeared from his view. Realizing that he was in a part of town, unknown to him, he cautiously looked around.

Besides being in ruin from the attack, everything seemed normal. Everything except the people who all moved as though the imperius curse was bestowed upon them...Freakishly slow.

Turning towards Ginny and Neville who had stopped beside him he sighed. How could Hermione have been so stupid as to run off after a bunch of Death Eaters? Ron had promised himself a long time ago to always protect her, and right now...he was failing miserably. How could he have just let her run off like that?

"Well" Ginny asked impatiently, rather scared for her female friend. "Where is she? Where'd she go?"

"I-I don't know" Ron admitted

"Well...let's go ask someone," Neville said logically

"No! They could all be Death Eaters!" Ron panicked, grabbing a hold onto Neville's arm

"Ron! Stop being so paranoid about everything! Do they look like Death Eaters to you??"

"They could be using a polyjuice potion," He mumbled

"This is ridiculous!" Ginny said throwing her hands up into the air. "I'm sorry ma'm I didn't mean to interrupt what you were doing but I was wondering if you've seen my friend. She's got brown wavy hair, brown eyes, about this tall--"

"Yes, I know who you're talking about" The woman interrupted "The one looking for the Death Eaters."

"Yes that's her!" Ginny breathed, relief now spreading contently in her stomach "Do you know which way she went?"

"Take a left"

"Thank you" She said smartly, smirking to Ron who scowled back at her. "See?"

"Stop moving or it'll be the last thing you ever do!" A gruff voice barked

"I can't see you bastards!!!" Draco shouted, ignoring the Death Eater's warning and trying to wiggle a limb free.

"Crucio" The same voice whispered.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!" Draco didn't hear the incantation being said but he recognized the feeling of fire coursing throughout his whole body, the pain in his stomach similar to cramps but oh so much worse, and such an intense pain in his head that Draco wouldn't have been surprised if his head had burst open right there, well. Having being used almost daily by his father Draco was no foreigner to the unforgivable.

"I warned you, you traitor!" The same Death Eater said roughly

"Come now Dolhov, let's let the boy see us face to face and stop this childishness," A different voice ordered

"Yes of course" Dolhov answered, taking the cloth wrapped once around Draco's head off.

"Yes yes...it has been a while hasn't it Malfoy?"

"What do you want with me?" Draco snapped bitterly

"Oooh...nasty temper there. Better watch that Malfoy, it could get you into a lot of trouble." At this, this new Death Eater who's voice sounded familiar smirked through his mask "As for what we want with you, well I'd better not say that. At least not yet. Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."

"What are you planning you son of a bitch?"

"Oh yes...it's a rather nice surprise if I do say so myself. I have no doubt in my mind you and your friends will all enjoy it"

"You do what you want with me here, but you leave them alone"

"Aw...how brave. Malfoy standing up for his friends." The Death Eater mocked, "No, I don't believe we've seen this before. Yes, I am looking foreword to meeting your friends again, I daresay it's been too long...far too long without Potter."

"Kill me if you have to, but you LEAVE THEM ALONE!! Your battle is with me, not with them"

"Oh but see that's where your wrong. Most of our business entitles a certain Miss Granger and since you are not her, then I'm afraid I can't do what you request and simply kill you. Even though the offer is quite tempting."

"IF YOU TOUCH A HAIR ON HER HEAD I'LL—I'LL"

"You'll what?"

Draco remained silent. Many pictures came to mind of what he'd liked to do to this Death Eater right now but to put it into words was something else.

"Yes that's what I thought" He smirked and began to walk away, locking the iron door to Draco's cell as he went, which really wasn't necessary since Draco was currently magically binded to a single chair. He rested his head in-between the bars, looked past his cell and rather to the ground where a patch of sunlight had escaped and saying just loud enough for only Draco to hear,

"It's a beautiful day to die isn't it? But I promise you Malfoy, I'll make your Mudblood Granger's death be quick and easy for you"

(Kind of a strange cliffhanger but oh well...hope you enjoyed. REVIEW!!!!!!!!!)