Darkness Before The Sun Rises
Chapter 2
"How's he doing?" asked the aged headmaster, Dumbledore.
"I'm afraid his condition has worsened overnight, sir. There is very little we can do for him. It was dark magic, and only one familiar with it can perform the counter curse; we unfortunately cannot." The healer gave a small bow of the head as she went to check on another patient.
"Well Mr. Potter, you've certainly outdone yourself this time. This definitely tops all the other injuries you've had." Professor Dumbledore mused, trying to add humour to the bleak situation by recalling the countless times the boy had been hurt over the years. Though his façade let him believe that everything was fine, he knew that the situation was severe. Dumbledore shook his head as he looked at the young boy, who was on the verge of becoming a man. In fact, one could say he already was. He had been through more in the seven years at Hogwarts than a normal wizard would face in all his existence. Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, was barely doing that now. One curse could shatter the existence of the entire wizarding world; except those on the other side. "Maybe I was wrong to put so much pressure on you at such a young age, Harry. I hope you will forgive me." Dumbledore said to himself while patting Harry's hand before slowly getting up and remorsefully leaving the room.
Moments later, the doors opened to reveal a witch, barely eighteen years old, running towards the bed of Harry Potter. Her hair was frazzled; but not like it had been when she was younger. Age had certainly improved her looks. A healer followed the witch in, shouting, "Miss. Excuse me Miss. You can't go in there, It's off limits." Only those with high authority were allowed into Harry Potter's hospital room, as it was closely guarded and restricted to all outside civilians.
"I can go in there! He's my best friend." Hermione swung around to face. "My name is Hermione Granger. I doubt Professor Dumbledore would object to me being here. Go on and ask him." The healer stood there dumbfounded, astonished that someone as young as Miss. Granger would have the audacity to talk to her in such a tone.
Seeing that the healer was no longer trying to prevent her entry, Hermione rushed over to the bedside of her best friend. "Oh Harry. Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" She sighed out loud and intertwined her hand with his. She looked his body up and down; the sheets came up to his abdomen and he had no shirt on as the upper half of his chest was wrapped in bandages. They weren't clean and crisp like most were, instead the bandage was turning redder by the minute. Hermione willed herself not to cry. She knew the situation was bad, very bad. Harry could die from losing so much blood and what was worse, was that her other best friend was nowhere to be seen. The reports she had heard said that the red-head was missing. It was all too much tragedy for her sensitive heart to endure; even though she tried to put up a brave front, it would soon be crashing down.
"Hermione?" A weak voice asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Harry! You're awake." He winced from the shout but managed to smile anyway. "How are you feeling?" She questioned, although she pretty much knew what the answer would be.
"Peachy, just peachy," He kidded, which earned him a stern look from Hermione. "Honestly, not too well, but no need to worry." He brought a hand to her face and wiped away a tear that had fallen. "Please Hermione, don't cry." He whispered.
"Oh Harry. How can I not? You're literally bleeding to death, and Ron has gone missing." She hadn't meant to repeat the last bit for fear that it would cause Harry's condition to worsen.
"What do you mean he's gone missing?" He demanded. Hermione didn't answer, and Harry was alarmed at the frightening revelation. "Hermione, answer me! What do you mean he's gone missing?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "He has been missing since the battle two days ago. He hasn't been seen since he was fighting by the lake. There has been no news as to whether he's…" She couldn't finish it; the look on Harry's face wouldn't allow her to. Harry's world was crumbling around him, and the effects of it could be seen in his eyes. The eyes that held such happiness were darkening as each second passed. "Harry…"
"Go, Hermione." He whispered, not bothering to look at her.
"What?!" She didn't believe her ears.
"Go away. Please just leave."
"But Harry…" She tried to grasp his hand, but he pulled it away from her.
"I said leave! GO AWAY!" He yelled at her, his voice trembled and his arm was outstretched in a painful gesture, pointing towards the door. His voice still echoed through the quiet room as she got up from her position on the bed and ran to the door, tears cascading from her eyes. At the door, she risked a glance back to see Harry breathing hard and clutching his chest. She bowed her head and left the room.
She ran, not knowing what else she could do. She was now alone. Alone to finally come to terms with the situation at hand and to the realization that she had no one to help her in her time of need. She had to deal with the revelations that Ron Weasley was possibly… dead, and that Harry Potter might be classified as thus in a matter of weeks, maybe even days. Tears spilled from her chocolate brown eyes and froze to her face as snow began to fall in the cold December months.
Hermione didn't know where she had run to until she finally stopped to take in her surroundings. She found herself in a dark alley, surrounded by people giving her inquisitive looks. The shops were all dark and bleak and the inhabitants were wearing old and musty clothes. She glanced into a shop nearby and nearly screamed at seeing the body of a man on a table and the shopkeeper cutting it apart.
"What you doing down here, little pretty?" A man in a drab and dusty outfit asked. He had a huge wart on the side of his face and his teeth, at least the ones he had, were hideously yellow.
Hermione couldn't bring herself to answer. She just stood there staring at the wart; wishing Harry and Ron were with her to fend off this vile creature.
"Answer me girl, what you doing down here?" He grasped her arm and Hermione barely suppressed a scream. "Ah, we're lost are we? Well, do you know what we do to those who wander so willingly into Knockturn Alley?" With that, he leered at the crowd that was beginning to form into a circle behind him.
"Alfie, do it! We haven't had the pleasure of seeing one so young scream in years. Though now that I think about it, the only one stupid enough to venture down here was that insufferable Harry Potter. Too bad that oaf Hagrid came to his rescue," An old woman rambled, feeling distinguished enough to actually talk.
"Mildred, shut up you old hag!" Alfie bellowed. "Now what to do with you, my pretty?"
Hermione looked around for a friendly face; someone who would show sympathy and help her out of this predicament. There was no such person amongst the crowd of spectators. She looked back at the threatening villain in front of her and saw him take out his wand. Her eyes grew wide as he dusted it off.
"Well, me pretty, you'd best be saying goodbye." He laughed.
Hermione knew she wasn't ready to die and she sure wasn't going to die at the hands of some… foul creature. She found her voice at that moment. "Unhand me at once you disgusting rogue!" She shouted. The man and the crowd were stunned to actually hear the witch speak.
"So, you can actually talk. All the better - now we'll get to hear you scream." He laughed and whispered an incantation into his wand too quiet for her to hear and seconds later, she was hit with a curse that pierced through her body. Sharp pains gripped at every limb and she let out a scream, hoping it would relieve some of the torment. Her body fell to the ground, shaking tremendously as the curse continued to seize her small frame. She could hear the laughter of the audience and the pleasure it was bringing them to see her screaming and thrashing about.
It seemed that ages swept by and all she could think about was Ron and Harry; nothing else eased her mind but the love she had for her two best friends. The many years they had spent together flashed through the back of her mind. All their happy memories and even a few sad ones. It was as if her life were playing before her eyes.
"Let her go!" A male voice from the back of the crowd bellowed.
Hermione could hear the gasps of the audience and the silence that overtook the once loud, rambunctious crowd. "Release her from the curse." It sounded as if the voice was straining to keep hold of its temper, though the curse still had control over her after the mysterious person demanded it be removed. "I said take it off of her now!" This time it was a shout. The man's voice roared at the oaf Alfie who mumbled to himself. Hermione could hear nothing of what was going on as she slipped in and out of consciousness. All she knew was that one minute she was begging for the world to black out, and in the next, the curse was lifted.
Hermione felt as if all the energy within her had been sucked out, she was still shaking from the effects of the curse. She was still on the ground, unable to move from the spell placed upon her.
"What are you all staring at?" The man who had saved her questioned. At that, the crowd began to disperse and filter away from the entertaining scene. "Are you alright?" He asked, placing a cold hand on her shoulder.
Neither could see the other's face. Hermione had her head in her hands, willing herself not to cry. She nodded nonetheless.
"Here, let me help you up." He took hold of her arm and helped her into a standing position. "Granger!" The voice gasped, a mix of astonishment and disgust was apparent. He flung his hands away from her; leaving her to stumble backwards against a wall that was sturdy enough to support her weak frame.
She finally looked up at her rescuers' face and nearly passed out. "Malfoy?" She breathed. She didn't have the energy to think of any insults to throw at him, and since he had just helped her, she felt it was in her best interest to avoid thrashing insults at him.
"What the hell are you doing down here, mudblood?" He snarled; obviously disgusted by her presence. How could he have helped someone as low as she? Then it dawned on him that, in fact, he had never seen her face! A loophole. He swelled with satisfaction; realizing that he found a way to justify his actions. He mentally patted himself on the back as he continued to snarl at the girl in front of him.
"Look Malfoy, I don't feel up to quarrelling with you right now, so if you'll just excuse me and let me be on my way," she mumbled, trying to push her way past the opposition blocking her escape from the hellhole she was in. She managed to take a few wobbly steps before he stopped her.
"No, I don't think I will. I want to know why you were down here." He stared down at her in defiance, waiting for her to boil with anger. It was like a game to him, just to see how quickly he could piss off the mudblood.
"Listen you stupid ferret; I have places to go so let me by. You've done your good deed, now run along back to your little Death Eater friends. You and those scumbags have done enough damage as it is!" She spat out, keeping Harry and Ron on her mind. He was involved with the Death Eaters and for that reason she hated him with every ounce of her being.
"Shows how much you know, mudblood," he said with malice. "Now, where exactly is it that you need to be? Perhaps St. Mungo's with dear Potter?" He chuckled at her shocked expression. She obviously assumed he didn't know about Potter.
"How- how did you know about Harry?" She asked, totally dumbfounded.
"I have my sources," he responded casually.
"Oh that's right. Your fellow Death Eaters' reports!" She spat out, once again trying to push her way past the insufferable git.
He pushed the mudblood back against the wall and placed his hands on each side of her, against the wall. "Listen you filthy mudblood! How I get my information is no concern of yours, but get this straight. I do not have, nor will I ever have, any type of relations with those Death Eaters." Each word was forced out with so much malice towards her and the Death Eaters that it made Hermione quake with fear. "Now, I know that your precious Potter is in St. Mungo's because of an injury obtained from the battle two days ago and I know of Ron's disappearance."
"What do you know of Ron?! Do you know where he is? Is he alright?!" She pushed him away from her as question after question poured out of her mouth. As the worry for Ron mounted, the longer Malfoy stood there and smirking at her.
"Do you ever shut up?" He took a few steps away from her and ran a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath in, trying to sooth the frustration that was still mounting inside him. "Look Granger, I know nothing of your dear precious Weasel; only what I have heard from the reports given to me," his monotone voice displayed how bored he was talking to the girl. How many times must he repeat the same information for the daft witch before the information sank into that thick head of hers?!
"Oh." She lowered her head and willed herself not to let the tears that were threatening to spill escape. She tried to not let them surface, but her attempts failed miserably. Her body was suddenly racked with the sobs that had been threatening to escape all day.
Draco stood there listening to the mudblood in front of him cry her eyes out. At first he rolled his eyes at how pathetically weak she was, and nearly laughed, but reconsidered this action. He actually began to feel pity for the lowly creature. She was losing all that she had known. Weasley was missing, possibly dead, and Potter was dying in a nearby hospital. He sighed and rid himself of the menacing stare that he always used with the muggle born and instead tried to talk to her with a civilized tone. "Look Granger, stop crying. You'll drown us all in your tears." He tried to be witty to provoke her into biting back with a clever remark, but his attempts were futile. "Look, I don't know where Weasley is, okay?" But still the witch cried, and he had to restrain himself from throwing his hands in the air in frustration. He looked around as if looking for help. He took notice that they were still in Knockturn alley and that the sun was beginning to go down. He bet all the money he had in his Gringotts account that she had no idea as to how to get out of there. He rolled his eyes, realizing that he was obligated to help her again. "Do you know how to get out of here, Granger?" Why he was being benevolent, he didn't know.
Hermione looked up at him. Had he just showed some sort of compassion for her well-being? She scoffed. A Malfoy showing compassion towards another human being was absolutely preposterous! "Yes I know the way out, Malfoy!" She spat out his name and hoped she sounded confident, but in reality she had no clue as to where she was.
"Did anyone ever tell you how bad you are at lying, Granger?" The sneer was back.
"Excuse me?" She spat with her nose scrunched and an incredulous look on her face.
"Just shut up and follow me." He grumbled and started walking away. He took a few steps and turned back around. "Well, are you coming or did you plan on staying here all night?" At that, Hermione obediently followed him as he led the way through the ghastly streets of Knockturn Alley. They passed many shops that she had never heard of. There was a shop for nearly all things evil; a shop where one could find body parts, another that sold Dark Arts materials; and not surprisingly, a shop that sold Voldemort memorabilia. The people of Knockturn Alley were frightening. They were the complete opposite of those in Diagon Alley; these people, if one could call them such, wore clothes that looked as if they were from centuries ago. Nearly all their faces were gruff and dirty, most covered with soot. If she looked at any of them, they would give her curious glares; others would try their best to scare her. Quite a few times, she had lost sight of Malfoy and nearly had a heart attack as the residents of the Alley surrounded her until Malfoy eventually return, sending her an annoyed look.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, they were back on the clean streets of Diagon Alley. As Hermione nearly leapt for joy, Draco turned around to face her, with a smug expression. "This is where I leave you, Granger. Try not to get lost in there again; I won't be there to save you every time." With that, he turned to leave.
She watched him walk away before shouting, "Malfoy!" He turned around and looked back at her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She ran to him and stopped to look at him. "I just wanted to say thank you."
He didn't meet her eyes; he stared at the snow-cover ground a few feet in front of her with a furrowed brow. Eventually, he nodded and mumbled, "Right..." His eyes still did not meet hers; he looked lost in thought for a moment, before turning sharply and leaving her in the middle of the street.
I would just like to thank those that reviewed my last chapter! As you can see, this one is greatly longer than the last, just like I promised, so I hope you enjoyed it. This chapter is about 3, 250 words. I usually write somewhere over 2000 words a chapter - just to let you know.
Please drop me a review. I have two more chapters that are currently being revised and will go up shortly!