Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I do not own the places. I don't own anything J.K Rowling thought up, all I own is the plot.
Chapter ten: Cloaks and Lists
Hermione stared at his cold and evil face.
"What is it you want! Why did you take Neville!"
"Longbottom here…he's of no real use to me. But you, Granger, are someone I'd like to have a face to face chat with."
"You're disgusting."
"Sticks and stones…But let us get down to business. You want no harm to befall your friend, am I right?"
She nodded, barely able to keep her anger inside.
"But I find no real use for him. So it won't matter to me if I kill him."
"No!" she shrieked.
He was going to kill Neville. That lowlife was going to kill Neville. She could hear his shrieks in the background.
"Please don't hurt him…I'll do anything…"
Malfoy smirked. "Good. Your freedom for his. I want you to come to me, or I will kill him. Do you understand?"
She nodded subdued.
"Well then, step into the fire. Do it. Now!"
She slowly got to her feet. She had to do this, or Neville would die. She could not let him die. She could not have his death on her conscience. She had to do it.
She took one step into the fire and felt the flames licking her leg. It didn't burn her, it just tickled. But she had no energy to giggle. She took the second step and a spinning sensation surrounded her. She was spinning and spinning around and then she hit a stone floor.
She stood up, keeping her head high. She was a prisoner of the Death Eaters now, a prisoner of Voldemort. But she would never let them break her.
"Well, well now…the Mudblood had some pride…but we'll knock that out of her soon enough. Take her downstairs. Let's see how tough she really is."
"Did you say goodbye to her?" Ron asked as he sat down next to Harry at the breakfast table.
Harry shook his head. "No. She didn't want me to. But we talked last night. I think…I think we'll be alright."
"Yeah. And now everyone will be able to enjoy the holidays. Want to go out and play some Quidditch?"
Harry nodded slowly.
"Come on, let's see how fast you can catch that snitch. You've got to beat Malfoy at the next game." Ron urged.
Harry's eyes opened wide. "Ron! I forgot all about it! Malfoy! I heard him talk to someone…they were talking about Voldemort!"
Ron dropped his book. "What? Who was the other one?"
"I- I don't know. But they were talking about…taking someone prisoner. Someone's in danger!"
"Well, think Harry! Who was the other one? Who were they talking about?"
Harry shook his head. "He didn't say…all he said was 'Come Christmastime, you'll have your captive'. That's all…and he said Malfoy's name, because that's why I recognised him."
Ron looked pensive. "They could be after anyone…anyone who's not in Slytherin, that is. But who…"
Harry jumped up. "Wait here."
He ran off and came back with a piece of parchment in his hands.
"This is the list of people who signed up to stay. We could start to check if they're all here…"
Ron nodded. "Give me a copy. And hand one to Ginny as well. We'll be done sooner if we split up."
Harry nodded and gave Ron two sheets of parchment. "I'll see you at lunch. And bring Ginny with you."
He watched Ron leave. He couldn't help but think that the one Malfoy and the other had meant was one of the people who had signed up to go home. Maybe…maybe it was Hermione they were after. After all, she was one of the people who had defied Voldemort more than once.
He sighed. He shouldn't have let her go home. She could be in danger now. He took another look at the parchment. The only thing he could do now was go round and see if the list was complete. After all, if it wasn't, then Hermione was safe.
He took his quill and looked around the common room. There were two people in the corner, he knew their names vaguely and crossed them off the list. The boys' dormitory was empty, he had already checked that. Ginny would have to do the girls'.
He walked out the portrait hole and looked around. He crossed another five names off the list as a group of fifth years passed him by.
She closed her eyes. Pain would not be enough to break her. She spat on the ground and opened her eyes again.
"What do you want from me." She hissed.
The masked face in front of her moved away, its dark cloak swishing and she found herself staring at the tip of a wand once more.
"The Dark Lord wants you to join us, little girl."
"Never!" She struggled to free her hands. "I'll never join you!"
She was numbed for a second as she suddenly felt a hand striking her face.
"Very well, take her back."
Two hands raised her by her arms and pushed her out the door.
"You people can try all you like, but I will never join you."
Another hand hit her, this time it was a fist in her stomach.
"Keep moving Mudblood."
She looked at the ground. She stopped before a door. When it opened, she was pushed in. She fell to the floor.
"Where's Neville!" she shouted." Let him go!"
The man behind the mask chuckled and left her on her own. She almost started to cry, but she forced her tears back. She would not let them see her with tears.
She stood up and found her way to the wall. It was made of stone and when she touched it, she noticed that it was moist.
'I must be under ground.' She thought.
There was no window and the corridors had been lighted with torches. She snapped around when the door opened again. A figure stood in the opening, his head hidden under a hooded cloak.
She stepped back and felt she stood against the wall. She had never felt so trapped before in her life.
The figure stepped in and the door closed behind him.
"Welcome…" he said.
She gasped.
Ron sat down at the lunch table. In his pocket he had his quill and the parchment. All morning he had spent walking around, checking names off the list. So far he still had a few names to go.
Ginny joined him soon enough.
"Hey. Phew, I'm tired." She said. "What's for lunch?"
Ron shrugged and leaned back in his chair. "Did you check everyone on the list?"
She shook her head as she started to pile food onto her plate. "Nope. I've got a few I haven't seen around yet. Where's Harry anyway?"
"I'm here." Said a voice from behind her. "Let's get down to business."
He sat down and took out his list. "I haven't seen Dennis Creevey around."
"I have." Ginny said.
"So have I." Ron said. "He was out by the lake with his usual bunch."
One by one the names on the list got crossed out. If one of them hadn't seen someone, then one of the others had. At the end, only one name hadn't been crossed out.
They stared at it.
Her heart was beating twice as fast and her breath got stuck in her throat. She clasped her hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. This could not be true.
He lifted his eyes from the ground and looked at her.
"I see this is not what you expected."
"…no…how…how could you…"
He laughed. It was a cold chuckle and the fact that it reached his eyes made it even more frightening.
"Oh please Hermione. You didn't even suspect it one? I thought you were supposed to be so damn smart!"
"I helped you!" she shouted. "I helped you, stuck up for you, I fought with Harry because of you!"
He took the hood off his head. She knew there could be no mistake anymore. Neville Longbottom was a Death Eater.
"Neville…"
"It was my duty all along. I was sent to Hogwarts to become friends with Harry Potter. But you and Ron came along and prevented my 'close' friendship with him. So I had to bide my time. I pretended to be stupid, to be a klutz. And it worked. You all thought I was incapable of doing anything right."
"But…but why?"
"I'll tell you why. They tortured my parents because they were in your precious Order. They were tortured. But they wouldn't speak. Thos stupid muggle-loving-"
"No!"
Hermione fell to her knees. "How can you say those things?"
"Those fools didn't realise the possibilities you have when you join the Dark Lord. They'd rather die than betray muggle-lovers like themselves. And look what happened to them. Every time my grandmother takes me to see them, I am reminded of their stupidity. I have no intention of ending up like them and I'll never do what they did. No, I embraced the power of the Dark Lord a long time ago."
He pulled his cloak tighter around him.
"You see, I hate muggles and muggle-lovers because my parents ended up insane in an attempt to protect them. They are not worth the trouble. I saw that even when I was just a little boy."
Hermione pulled her knees up to her chin.
"How could you." She whispered. "Your parents were two of the bravest people ever alive…they gave their sanity….how can you betray them this way?"
"I know you feel I should hate the Dark Lord's followers for doing this to my family, but I thank them. They showed me the light. They showed me that pureblood strength, the Dark Lord's strength, is the true strength. It's a path in life and it's the right one. My parents could not see that. So I feel they betrayed me more than I did them."
Hermione felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Neville sat down on his knees in front of her. He stuck out his hand to wipe away her tears, but she pushed him away.
"Don't touch me…" she whispered.
"When I saw how close you and Harry had become, it was only natural for me to try and use that bond. So I decided to bring you here…I want to show you the light. I want you to see it as well."
He brought his face a little closer.
"Embrace this destiny, it is your only salvation right now. Become one of us and bring down those weaklings."
"I am one of those weaklings." She whispered. "I am one of those you wish to kill. Why did you choose me. Why…"
Neville laughed softly and put his hand in her neck. "You're smart. You're beautiful. You're someone we can use…and you are special, because you are so close to him. You can help us finish something that started fifteen years ago."
He pressed his lips roughly against hers. She screamed and pushed him away.
"Are you insane?" she shouted. "Do you really think I'll join your army? Are you really that messed up?"
Neville chuckled. "Oh dear, still not convinced, I see."
He stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes. "But we'll make you a princess of darkness yet. I'll see you soon, Hermione."
She screamed and launched herself at him.
"Movementus Impedus!" he yelled.
Her feet were glued to the ground. She couldn't move another step and her muscles seemed to freeze stiff.
He twirled his wand between his fingers and laughed. "Oh, and I'll tell you this, your lessons were pretty pointless. Amusing, but useless for someone like me…It's hard to have to pretend you're stupid when you're the best student there."
He waved and left the dungeon. She tried to move her feet, but it was impossible. She would have to wait for it to wear off. She felt tears coming back up and this time she let them burn. Her world was falling to pieces and everything she had known to be true seemed to have lied to her.
"But why would they want Neville?" Ginny wondered.
Harry shook his head. "I don't know. But maybe we should warn someone."
"But who? Dumbledore won't be able to do anything…We don't even know where they've taken him."
"Or if they've taken Neville." Ron said. "He might've changed his mind about staying here for Christmas. I mean, no offence, but if I were to kidnap someone, it wouldn't be Neville."
"Harry, I think Ron is right. Who would want to kidnap him? And besides, what can we do? We don't even know if it's true, where he might be or what to do. It's pointless." Ginny said quietly.
"Let's write him a letter. If he responds he's alright."
Harry nodded. "…I guess they might've been after someone else, someone off the list…"
Ginny took out a fresh roll of parchment and her quill. "Here, why don't you do it now?"
Hesitantly, Harry took the quill.
"Listen to me Hermione. Joining us is your only chance." Neville said. "They'll kill you if you don't."
"Then kill me." She spat. "I'd rather die than become what you have."
Neville tutted. "Dear, dear. You used to be so kind to me. I wonder what happened. Why won't you talk to me like you did before? Oh, wait…it's the cloak and mask."
He took off his mask and laid it on the table. He folded his cloak and placed it next to the mask. Hermione looked at him, his faded t-shirt seemed less worn-out in this darkened room. On his arm she could see the sign that marked him as a Death Eater.
'The sign he got the day he sold his soul.' She thought bitterly.
She looked away when Neville sat down in a comfortable chair across the room.
"I know you're not afraid to die." He said. "But killing you would be such a waste. No, we can't kill you, not now. But I need you to agree with me. I need you to pledge your loyalty to my master. So, if I can't do that by threatening your own life, maybe I should threaten someone else's."
He grinned.
"Seeing as how I already showed you my real nature, I can't use myself as bait again…but how about someone too young to be guilty of anything. How about that adoring little cousin of yours. Paul?"
"No!" she screamed. "No! You evil…lowlife-"
Neville clapped his hands and the door opened. A tall, cloaked man came in, holding the hand of a little boy. Tears started to burn in her eyes.
"Mione!" the boy said excitedly.
Neville took the little boy and sat him on his lap. "Hey Paullie. Did you have a nice time?"
Paul nodded.
"Do you like it here?"
Paul nodded again.
Neville pulled a bag of candy from his pocket. "There you go, a nice sugar quill."
Paul took it and jumped off Neville's lap.
"Go with that nice man, okay? He'll play with you."
Paul waved to Hermione excitedly and then left with the man, happily sucking the sugar quill. Neville laughed.
"What an adorable little cousin you have, 'Mione'. A real little angel. I'm really quite jealous."
"You bastard…" she hissed.
"I didn't hurt him. He's been taken really good care of. But you don't wan that to change, do you?"
Hermione hung her head. Innocent little Paul. The poor boy had nothing to do with it and Neville as using him. She looked at Neville. Suddenly she saw him for what he had really been all those years. A scheming traitor. And a cold-blooded murderer. He would kill a three year old boy if he needed to.
Neville clapped his hands again and two men came in. One with a sharpened wand and the other with a bowl of water and a cloth.
When the wand touched her skin she screamed in pain. Neville nodded.
"There's no turning back."
Emma Barrows: I'm reading Ominix eagerly. And as soon as I've got more time on my hands I will read Silver Lining too. I'm just a bit busy lately…but that'll soon calm down. Thanks for the review :D
HP-Scriptor: Thank you very much for the review. I know the first chapter was rather usual, but that was the way I had intended it. This story is my version of their sixth year and I tried to write it a bit in Rowling's style, including the sorting hat's song, the train trip and all of those usual things. I also used Halloween and Christmas as two special moments in the school year to let the readers know how far along the story is, if you understand what I'm trying to say here. Anyway, I am also very honoured and flattered that you invited me to join Sonora Acadamy. Perhaps I will, though I am very busy with school lately (exams, you know) But I will definitely join if I have enough time. Thank you very much for the review.
Magic and Sparkle: Ahhhh Neville is not wizardnapped, he's a mean little bugger himself! Am I confusing you? I'm sure this wasn't quite what you were expecting. Thank you for the review, for the explanation and…ttfn!
surfgirl: well, I hope you liked this chapter as well. Thank you for reviewing Surfgirl!
BlueEyedSoccaBabe: Well, I'm not saying if your guess is right or wring, it might spoil the surprise if you're right and also if you're wrong. But I'm glad you reviewed. The more the merrier!
Lucerito-del-alma: Phew, you-sa like better :D I'm glad. And you know what…I CAN'T WAIT TO COME VISIT YOU! I've been hyper all day and I'm gonna send you my parents' emails asap, mkay? This is going to be G R E A T. I can't wait!
Ah, my tenth chapter done. To finish today's post I'd like to add some more happy news; I am as of Friday a girl with the BROWN belt in karate! W00t! And tomorrow I'll be in Utrecht, auditioning for the acting school there. I'll keep all of you posted on how that ends. I'll stop here, and…ttfn! (Magic and Sparkle, I think your habits are rubbing off on me:D)
Raven55