Chapter 13.
Progress was made, and Hermione was able to meet a few more members of the Order, and several new ones. One of them was a woman called Tonks, no more than a few years older than Hermione herself. She was a Metamorphmagus, and a valuable member to the Order. Hermione also met Ron's family, and Molly Weasley had embraced her tearfully, telling her how much Hermione's friendship had meant to Ron.
Ginny Weasley was Ron's little sister, just a year younger than Hermione. She was a tall, thin girl, and had a fierce temper. She never talked to Hermione, and left the room whenever Ron was brought up. Charlie and Bill were Ron's older brothers, and Hermione vaguely remembered hearing about them from Ron. They were alike in many ways, both reckless and daring, and both ready to die to protect their family. Arthur Weasley, Ron's father was silent the majority of the time, and only spoke to Hermione once or twice, asking what it was like to grow up Muggle. Hermione's answers to that were short and abrupt; she did not want to talk about her childhood, about her parents who were now dead. Consequently, Arthur barely muttered a word.
Another week passed, and the slaves were starting to get restless. They wanted to know when they were going to get out. Rumours of resistance travelled to Voldemort, and security was much tighter around the castle, and it was harder for Hermione to get out of the place with Snape.
However, they managed, and the first stage of the plan took place late one night.
Hermione lay on the floor, her eyes open and alert, a blanket covering her clothes. Around her lay a dozen slaves, young ones, all awake, even though it was late at night.
And then she heard it. A small tap on the window, and Hermione bolted upright and hurried towards it. She opened it slowly, and whispered "Phoenix" into the night air.
"Step out of the way." Whispered a familiar voice. Hermione stepped away from the window, and breeze swept past her. She heard something land next to her, and then two men uncovered themselves from invisibility cloaks. Sirius and Prongs.
"Let's go." Prongs said quietly, and Hermione beckoned to the twelve waiting girls. Hurriedly, they stood up, and made their way to them. Quietly, all fifteen of them made their way towards the door, and Sirius whispered a chant, and the door swung open, making no sound. Waiting for them outside were Bill, Snape, Arthur and Moony. Hurriedly, they all made their way through the corridors, stunning any Death Eaters that were on duty.
Before they knew it, they were at a statue of Gregory the Smarmy. Prongs muttered an incantation, and the statue swivelled away from the floor, showing a dark deep tunnel. Bill went in first, and one by one, the girls followed him, giving Hermione a brief smile before they left.
They were down to three girls, when a bang was heard near them. The girls gasped, and the adults immediately pointed their wands at the direction of the noise. Hermione ushered the girls to hurry up, and even quicker than before, they climbed into the tunnel.
Hermione turned her attention onto the noise, and a small speck of light that floated towards them. Hermione could not see the conjuror of the light. There was another bump as the person bumped into the wall, and the light went out.
"Shit." An annoyed voice said, and Hermione gasped.
"It's Draco." She whispered, and Snape stepped forward to greet Malfoy. Hermione made to follow him, but Prongs stepped in front of her, protecting her. "Prongs, don't." She whispered, annoyed.
"You're staying with me Hermione, no arguments." Prongs said firmly, his arm around her shoulders, and Hermione did not bother to argue.
"Mister Malfoy?" Snape asked, lighting his wand. The light was stronger than Draco's, and it lit up Snape and Draco. Thankfully, the light did not reach the crowd of people huddling by the statue. "Mister Malfoy, are you drunk?" Snape asked in disgust, and Hermione's eyes fell on the bottle of firewhisky in Draco's hand.
"No." Draco said roughly.
Snape groaned, and held out his hand. "Give me the bottle, Malfoy."
Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "You can't tell me what to do. I'm better than you." He slurred.
"I am your teacher, Malfoy, and I demand that you give me that bottle."
Draco smirked, and leant against the wall. "No." Draco hiccupped.
"You should get back to bed, Malfoy."
"No. I'm like my father; I can do whatever I want." He replied, childishly.
"You are nothing like your father, Malfoy." Snape said irritably.
"She said I was." Draco replied sadly. Hermione closed her eyes briefly, understanding.
"Who?" Snape asked.
"Hermione." Draco said. He hiccupped. (Sirius looked at Hermione, an eyebrow raised.)
"She's just a slave." Snape said roughly. "Her opinion does not matter."
"Does to me." Draco said quietly.
Snape sighed. Prongs' arm had dropped from Hermione shoulders, and now, Hermione was the one in front.
"Go back to bed, Malfoy." Snape ordered.
"Can't." He hiccupped.
"Why not."
"She didn't come today."
"Who?"
"Hermione."
Snape groaned, thoroughly irritated by the teenager. "She is my slave now; you will be assigned another one."
Draco looked up at Snape, glaring at him. "Why is she yours? Why not mine?"
"I do not know, neither do I care. And you should not either."
"Too late." Draco said, laughing drunkenly. ("What have you done to this boy?" Sirius whispered in Hermione's ear, amused.)
"I suggest you get to bed, Malfoy." Snape said, pulling Draco up.
"Fine, fine." Draco said irritably. He hiccupped. He handed the bottle to Snape. "I'm not even tired."
"Go to your room then!"
"Fine, fine." Draco stalked off away from Hermione, into the shadows. Snape sighed irritably, and skulked back to the statue, where Hermione stood in shock.
"I'd say he misses you." Sirius said, amused.
Snape ignored Sirius, and beckoned for the others to go down the tunnel. Arthur went first, then Moony and then Sirius. Before Prongs went, he turned to Hermione, and placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder. "I think you should stay away from him for a while." He said, concerned.
"Don't worry about me." Hermione said, smiling softly.
Prongs narrowed his eyes. "I do. I know what that kid is like, well; I know what his father was capable of. Lucius Malfoy was a powerful wizard, and if Draco was taught by both Lucius and Voldemort..." He shuddered. "My name is James Potter, and I killed Lucius Malfoy. And if he hurts you, I'll kill Draco too." James said, before disappearing into the tunnel.
------------------------
Dumdumditz23: Hermione and Draco are sixteen.
Snazzysnez: hehe, no Sirius/Hermione in this story. I know how much you would love that ;)
Thanks so much for the reviews people; it gives me a happy that people are still reading this. As for the rating going up, the reason why it might is because of the abuse and violence in the later chapters. There is no smut. I don't write it. So if this is ok with my readers, than say so. If its not, then say, because if you don't, I will put it up.
Sorry for the shortness of the chapter. Please review!