The decision

(Chapter Six)

Ron ran desperately into his dark room with Harry following close behind him.

"Ron!" Harry said fiercely. Ron stopped in the center of the room, his back still to Harry. Both the boys were breathing heavy from the run up the stairs.

"What's going on?" He persisted.

Ron didn't want to talk about it. As far as he was concerned Hermione could be dead and it was his entire fault for making her run out.

"Ron?"

Ron tried to pull himself together and he sighed deeply.

"Yesterday, when my dad brought Hermione here they were attacked by Dementors," He explained sadly.

Harry nodded. "I didn't think it would take the death eaters long to get dementors under their control, were they after your dad?"

Ron hung his head and turned to face Harry. He didn't want to tell him the truth.

"No…They were after Hermione," He said gravely. He started thinking about her again, desperately wishing he could take the last hour back and do it again differently.

Ron finally looked up to see the expression on his best friends face. Harry was looking past Ron as if he was somewhere else.

Ron continued. "They escaped though, but today…" Ron trialed off really not wanting to remember.

Harry pulled his attention back to Ron. "I want to know, what happened," he said quietly.

"Hermione and I had a huge fight…she ran out and Mundungus went after her….You heard the rest down stairs, they have her," Ron said shakily.

Harry's throat grew tight and he walked away from Ron. How many more of his loved ones were going to have to die because of him?

"Harry it's not your fault," Ron said noticing Harry's reaction.

Harry turned to him, slightly angry.

"Of course it's my fault! Voldemort's after my friends now! My love for my friends is going to be what kills them!"

Ron grew angry now too, he knew Harry would take the blame, but he couldn't let him, not this time.

"This is my fault Harry, not yours! If I hadn't of been such a prat, then Hermione would still be here!"

Harry turned away trying to calm his nerves. He was scared for his friends. They were both silent for a long while.

Harry sighed deeply, speaking with a calm tone. "What did you say to her to make her run out like that?"

The sound of Harry's voice broke through Ron's thoughts. He hung his head in shame.

"She was going to help me with some school work…when she wasn't in the room I found a letter…from Krum."

Harry frowned; he knew right away that this was a sensitive topic.

"She went to see him this summer, and she lied to me about it," Ron said a bit bitterly, "we started fighting about that…I don't remember what was said exactly, just that the last thing out of my mouth was me confessing I liked her at the top of my lungs…then she ran for it," Ron said sadly.

Harry was quiet for a while, taking the information in.

"Well, she was either completely horrified at the fact that you like her, or you just frightened her, maybe she's been waiting ages for you to say that and this wasn't the way she wanted it to happen."

They were both dismally silent. "It doesn't matter now though," Harry muttered, Ron knew exactly what he was implying. If they did have Hermione, chances were that she was dead by now.

"I'll go see how Ginny is doing," Harry said simply and left Ron alone.

He sighed deeply and let himself fall back onto his bed. He closed his eyes hard fighting the guilty tears that threatened his eyes. Hermione had meant so much to him the past six years and he had never truly expressed that to her. He had taken for granted, all the help and great company she offered him and now she was gone. He had grown to like her as more than a friend, something he had never told anyone, not even Harry. She was clearly upset with the news though. At least now he wouldn't have to face rejection. However, he would surly take rejection over losing one of his best friends, even if that's all they'd ever be.

Millions of thoughts and memories of Hermione raced through Ron's head. He thought about her beautiful smile so hard and about what could be happening to her at wherever she was. He thought about her so hard until suddenly a loud crack sounded through out the room.

Hermione stood scared and silent in the cold dark room. She watched the two figures very carefully. The first death eater moved into the darkness of a corner across the room, the other moved toward Hermione.

"My son speaks often of you," The voice belonged to a woman who had a high class British accent. She moved closer to Hermione and reached up to remove the black hood from her head. She was an attractive woman in her early forties with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione new immediately who it was.

The woman smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the famous mudblood," She said coldly.

Hermione sneered at her. "Whish I could say the same…Narcissa is it?"

"It's Mrs. Malfoy to you!" She said snottily

Hermione shrugged. She was enjoying making Mrs. Malfoy angry just as she did making Draco.

"As much I would just rather kill you, my master has other plans in mind."

Hermione was silent.

"He whishes me to speak to you about the benefits of being a death eater."

Hermione frowned. "A life sentence in Azkaban is hardly what I call a benefit, just ask your husband," Hermione retorted.

Narcissa violently pulled out her wand and aimed it directly at Hermione's chest.

"Do you know how hard it's been for Draco and I because of you and your little friends! My family's reputation is destroyed! We are now closely monitored by the Ministry and my son will be criticized at school. Without Lucius working we have no money coming in. Our lives would have been destroyed because of you if it hadn't have been for the great dark lord and his kindness!"

"Couldn't have happened to a better family," Hermione panted sarcastically.

"Crucio!"

Before Hermione knew what hit her she fell to the floor screaming in agony. Every inch of her body was in indescribable pain. Her insides felt as if they were tearing apart and her skin was on fire. She had never experienced such pain, could never of imagined and just as she was about to pass out from agony it suddenly stopped. She lay on the floor on her back desperately gasping for air. Her body still burned with pain, but she knew nothing would ever hurt her as much as that had.

Her breathing was still heavy and her body was still sore but she slowly managed to stand back up. She had snapped back to reality and remembered where she was and who she was with. She stood up and looked Narcissa Malfoy straight in the eye.

"I'm not afraid of you," She stated firmly.

Just as Narcissa was about to throw the curse on her once more, the figure in the corner stepped out. He was a cold looking old man. He was short and had a small white beard, his eyes were as cold as ice.

"Maybe we should get some information out of her, use the cruciatus for that," The man suggested wickedly. Narcissa nodded and turned back to Hermione, her wand still pointed straight at her chest.

"Tell me girl. Where is the headquarters for the order of the Phoenix?"

Hermione started to breathe harder. She honestly didn't know where it was; even if she did she would never tell.

"I don't know," she stated simply and before anything else was said she was on the floor once more. Her body erupted in terrible pain even worse than the first time. This was certainly one thing that was worse than death. Her screams echoed in the small room until finally the curse was lifted. This time Hermione didn't bother to try and stand up again. She was in to much pain to even move.

"Let's try that again,…where is the headquarters located?"

Hermione desperately tried to get her breath back to a steady rate. She felt sick to her stomach but she forced herself to concentrate.

"I don't know, it's unplottable! Members of the Order only know how to get there!"

They must have believed her because they quickly moved to another question.

"The prophecy! What is it? Your Potter's best friend he must have told you!" Narcissa pressed.

Hermione didn't answer. At first she had no idea what Narcissa was talking about, but then she remembered the Ministry of magic last year. The death eaters were after Harry's prophecy. It broke though; no one knows what it said.

"I don't know that either," Hermione hissed frustrated. Narcissa raised her wand ready to throw another curse at her when Voldemort entered the room once more.

"Stop!" He commanded harshly.

Narcissa lowered her wand and bowed her head.

"She's telling the truth," Voldemort said simply. He then directed his cold stare over to Narcissa and the old man. "I sent you two in here to convince her of my genuine offer, not to interrogate and torture...I'll deal with you later."

Narcissa and the old man both coward and backed away from him in fear. He shook his head in disappointment and then slowly directed his attention back to Hermione, who had by now managed to stand up. Her muscles were so shaky and soar it wouldn't take much to knock her back down.

"You've heard my speech Ms. Granger, have you made your decision?"

Hermione's vision was slightly blurred; she was exhausted and would do just about anything to make the pain stop.

"Think of the power you could have, you could change the world."

He spoke with ease, every word that came out of his mouth she wanted to believe because he made it sound so good. But she knew it wasn't.

"Make the world a better place for the magical kind Hermione…join me," he whispered seductively.

Hermione knew this was wrong. But maybe she could do some good with her power; maybe she could influence the death eaters to do well with their power.

"I do not ask much of you Ms. Granger. Just that you continue to go to school and do well as usual. I will not ask you to spy, but just to keep Mr. Potter and the rest of your friends out of my plans. I will deal with the Order first and then Potter and I have a meeting with destiny. After you graduate then your real training in power will begin. You can have it all, just say the word."

Hermione didn't know what to do. She wanted to live and she wanted to do good. Voldemort wasn't good though. If she refused they'd kill her. Maybe if she was on their side she could protect her friends, keep them away from harm.

Hermione swallowed hard. "Would you spare my parents?" Hermione said weakly.

Voldemort smiled kindly at her. "Your family will not be harmed."

Voldemort slowly raised his arm and extended his hand. All she would have to do was shake his hand and her parents would be safe.

She stepped closer to him. "Ron! The Weasley's spare them too!" Hermione requested weakly. If Voldemort wanted her on his side so bad he would have to make sacrifices too.

Voldemort didn't smile this time, but looked to be thinking.

"The family is pure blood. Not very powerful by any means…They have expressed no threat to me, I will spare their lives," He agreed, His hand invited Hermione. She slowly got closer, her eyes fixed on his. They were luring her, calling her to power.

Ever so slowly her hand started to reach his. What am I doing? her mind screamed. This is for the best, I have to do this. She was fighting an internal battle. Her mind was so weak and confused at this point she didn't know what she was doing.

Hermione was centimeters always from clasping hands with the dark lord when a thought suddenly triggered in her head.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled snapping herself out of Voldemort's trance and she pulled away quickly.

Hermione began to cry. "You'll kill Harry, you can't!" She was yelling at him, taking out her anger at her self for almost betraying her friends. "I won't join you unless you give me your word that you will not harm him!"

Voldemort stepped closer to her and Hermione saw the old man move behind her and Narcissa to the side, they were surrounding her.

"Dear girl, Harry is my enemy. He has been since the day he was born…Even if I did leave him alone, do you really think he would leave me in peace…I highly doubt it. That boy is angry, he whishes revenge, and he will fail…best if you join me now, I've told you already that I will spare your family and the Weasley's. Now take my hand!" He said more forcefully and extended his hand once more.

"Liar! You won't keep your word! You can't get me to betray my friends!"

Voldemort frowned. "Is that you final decision?"

Hermione nodded defiantly as if she knew what was coming next. Voldemort reached inside his robes. Hermione knew what he was reaching for and instinctively she stepped backwards, and then realized the old death eater was standing directly behind her. She was trapped.

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. She closed her eyes tight. All her memories flooded her mind as she knew she was about to die. She wasn't afraid. Everything grew still and quiet and when she heard the intake of breath in front of her she knew her life would be over soon.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Well, what do you think? I hope you like it, leave a review please!