A.N. Well I promised an update and here it is... enjoy loves. And no killing me afterwards, I already promised you guys I don't kill characters... at least I never have before...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything and no profit's being made from this story.
The three figures stepped out into the Great Hall, as a breeze threatened to blow out the torches.
"Where do we start looking?" Ron asked, his wand drawn.
"Where's Malfoy?" Harry asked in an accusatory tone.
"Probably off wanking, stupid git," Ron spat. 'I knew he would bail on us, stupid, worthless ferret. Never was much good for anything other than skiving off, it's all he ever does anyway.'
"Let's not jump to conclusions. The Death Eaters, along with Malfoy, are probably upstairs, there's too much of a risk of getting caught down here, let's go look there. With or without Malfoy, we have to go through with this. Com'on," Hermione said, as she began to mount the stairs. 'Although without him, our job becomes much harder.'
Their footsteps were the only noise heard throughout the eerily silent corridors, all three straining to hear any noise beside the amount they were making. The noise they made was little yes, but in a corridor full of shadows that took the forms of your fears, it was as loud enough to their ears.
Along the second floor corridor they stopped and saw four black cloaks moving quickly, their feet making no sound as they touched the floor.
"Harry," Ron whispered, tugging on said boy's shirt.
"What?" he whispered fiercely, gesturing to the Death Eaters farther down the corridor.
"Do you have your invisibility cloak, 'Mione and I will look like an easy target, but maybe you could have sort of a surprise jump on 'em?" Ron said.
Hermione's eyes widened. Ron was being intelligent and... and thinking ahead, 'Miracles do still occur.'
Harry nodded producing the cloak from inside his robes and slipping it on. With a resigned look Hermione and Ron stepped into the corridor, in plain view of the Death Eaters.
"Oi! What you guys doing here?" He yelled.
In an instant the corridor was lit with a mixing of green and red spells as everyone dove for cover.
Harry nearly blew his cover as he watched Hermione dodge a spell by mere centimeters; he turned his head and began to walk towards the Death Eaters. He had to get behind them, so at least he could stun them. His footsteps were silent compared to the screaming incantations; he quickened his pace and stood behind the first.
"Stupefy."
The Death Eater fell on the floor face first. He attracted no attention; the others were far to engaged in the battle with Hermione and Ron to notice a comrade falling. 'If they are even considered comrades, rather than a sacrifice to save their own lives.'
Ropes flew out of the tip of his wand to restrict the last as he moved on to the next Death Eater.
Hermione was analyzing the many ways to castrate Harry Potter as she cowered behind the statue of a plump lady dressed in elegant clothing. She wondered whether the fat lady and this statue might have some connection with each other, her attention however was drawn away by the spell that cracked her feeble shield. 'Where in bloody Merlin's name is he? I'm going to kill him once this is all over!'
"Hermione look!" Ron shouted across the corridor from his hiding spot behind the corner. He pointed towards the Death Eaters. Hermione gathered herself and stuck her head around the corner of the statue. She brought her head back in moments before a rather nasty purple spell flew by. "I'd love to Ron, but I'd rather keep my head!"
She once again stuck her head out just long enough to aim, "Stupefy!"
Another Death Eater went slack. Hermione smiled proudly, 'Two down two to go. Wait... how'd the other one...' "Ron did you get one?"
"No, that what I was trying to tell you. It seems we have a guardian angel," Ron smiled.
"Harry," Hermione whispered.
Harry raised his wand to stun the third Death Eater. They were walking wildly around shooting spells in dark corners, trying to stop Harry. Harry had made a mistake a few moments before, as his invisibility cloak had gotten hung and he had been seen. But as Harry uttered the spell, both the fourth and the third Death Eaters fell to the ground stunned, for the moment they were safe. Harry looked up to see a blonde, sneering face.
"Keep her close," Draco said, pushing forward a figure that was slightly cradled in his arms. "It seems that diary has gotten her into more trouble than she thought."
Ginny lifted her head from Draco's shoulder, her hair was in her face, plastered to it in a sweaty mess, she was paler than life should allow and there was a hand shaped bruise on her upper arm.
"What did you do to her?" Ron growled advancing on the much smaller adolescent.
"Don't worry, I didn't hurt her that bad," Draco said defiantly.
"Besides," Ginny said, somewhat proudly. "I bit him."
Ron smile of pride was laughable, however, understandable.
"What are you talking about? Riddle's diary?" Harry asked, taking Ginny's arm and pulling her closer as if she would disappear.
Draco nodded, "He wants her."
The plain statement had catastrophic results. Harry and Ginny blanched, Ron let out with a string of cusswords so vibrant that a slight blush rose to Draco's cheeks, and Hermione worried her bottom lip between her teeth.
"I don't mean to be the... cruel one here, but... can't we use her mental link to our advantage?" Hermione asked.
Harry's mouth fell open in outrage. "Hermione!"
"Just listen, Ginny, if he can see things on this end, isn't it plausible that the... connection could be reversed and used for our purposes," Hermione asked.
"Whether or not she can, we have other problems to attend to," Draco said, gesturing up the hallway. He walked towards the staircase, but turned when the other three did not follow. "Bellatrix is waiting up the Harry, so is my father. They think I'm bringing the weasel." He held his hands out, in a position where they could be easily tied. "If you hurt me I am not below causing you severe pain."
Harry gave him a quizzical look. "And what am I going to be doing?"
Draco rolled his eyes, "I'm your prisoner idiot. It in the least gets you in the same room as them!"
Harry turned to Ginny, "Go back to the main hall and tell Dumbledore about the diary and you maybe being able to use the connection to our advantage ok?"
Ginny nodded, kissed him on the cheek, and left.
Harry conjured more ropes and walked towards Draco.
"One rope burn Potter, just one and I will kick you in the nuts."
The door to the Astronomy Tower flew open; Draco came through first, hands secured behind his back. The tallest Death Eater stepped forward to grab him. Before he could reach said figure a wand was pointed right between his eyes.
"I suggest you leave him alone," Hermione said, stepping into the room behind Draco.
Lucius smiled, "My dear child, kill the boy. I don't care what you do to him. He's worthless as it is," Lucius sneered at his son; Draco managed a weak snort in retaliation.
Hermione felt Harry's cloak brush her leg as he walked in, unseen under the invisibility cloak, Ron followed him in and shut the door behind them.
"Who do you all think you are?" Bellatrix shrieked. "You think you can capture me? Where's your friend, Harry, I have to dispose of him in the same way as I did my fair cousin, although Sirius deserved a much more painful death!"
"STUPEFY!"
Bellatrix hit the floor with a resounding thud. Macnair and Lucius looked around wildly, realizing that there was more than met the eye.
"Expelliarmus!" Ron bellowed.
The wands flew out of the older men's hands. Lucius dove for Draco and as he reached his son to untie his bonds, hoping to find some kind of salvation, Draco pointed his wand in his father's face. "It ends father."
Harry stripped of the invisibility cloak and even in the torchlight the grit of his teeth and the rage pulsing within him was more than obvious. "Lay down on the floor, face first, or so help me."
Both of them sneered and lay down on the floor never taking their eyes off of Harry. Draco pointed his wand at Macnair and ropes flew out constraining him.
A slight chuckle resounded in the room. This chuckle slowly continued to become steadily harsher. Lucius stared at Harry; tears of laughter streaking down his face. "You know Bellatrix was just playing with you. Black is alive."
A.N. So whatcha think, press the reviews button and tell me. Also a special thanx to Kas Kar Ace my beta and well... to Arianth, you made me feel a lot better about my story, thank you so much!