DISCLAIMER: you know the drill…I do not own Harry Potter…blah, blah, blah, blah.
A/N: GOOD NEWS PEOPLE! As some of you who have recently found out (moonyNZ and the hat) I HAVE MY INTERNET BACK! 3 cheers for daddy dearest. However, (now is when I duck from all the rotten fruit and veggies being thrown at me) there will still be a delay between chapters. I have some kind of practice every day of the week now and a ball game on Friday. I don't get home till late at night and then I have to do homework in at least 3 of my 8 classes. I try though, I really do, I'm just usually exhausted. So, I have decided to make Thursdays and Saturdays my "type up your chapters" day so to speak. I apologize for this, I am deeply sorry, but my school is more hectic than ever this year. Thanks for all of you who have waited for my slow butt to update.
Chapter 29:
The large group hid behind a couple of the large boulders that allowed them to gaze upon the many rocks and brush that obscured the tiny fissure from view. This is where the tip had led them.
Sirius crouched down between his wolf-buddy and his godson, watching the tiny opening closely for any movement. The lycan beside of him used his wolf-hearing to listen for sounds emitting from the cave that would confirm that this was indeed the new hideout.
As the clouds parted over head and the stars twinkled at them from overhead, Sirius thought back to Dumbledore's words.
FLASHBACK:
Sirius rushed into the kitchen, Harry following closely behind.
"Where is she? Is she okay? When are we going to save her?" he asked frantically, his blue eyes searching the old headmaster.
Dumbledore calmly nodded towards two empty seats, indicating for them to sit which they did. "She is fine. Early today, I received a tip on her whereabouts."
"Where?" Godfather and Godson asked together, their voices raising a bit.
Dumbledore unrolled a map that had been lying in front of him. His blue eyes, not twinkling in the kitchen light but instead showing his true age, roved the page, searching.
He reached out a long, slender finger and pointed at a group of caves where the Order knew the Giants had once inhabited. "There."
Molly Weasley looked at him doubtfully. "Are you sure Albus….it's not the most likely of places for them to….well, you know…."
Dumbledore did not look from the map. "Yes, Molly my dear, I am sure. After receiving the tip, I ran an analysis on the area. It seems there has been an access of magic used there that has been over looked because it did not seem to be anything serious."
Ginny scoffed from her seat. "I'm sure it wasn't," she bit out sarcastically.
Dumbledore looked up at her, amusement flickering in his eyes and a small smile appearing on his face. "I happen to agree Miss Weasley. That is why I ran a series of tests on the area. It seems that whoever chose that sight was very careful. A number of wards have been placed around the perimeter allowing for no intruders to enter."
"So how do we get in?" Harry asked pointedly.
"By careful planning and strategy," Sirius spoke up, a hard edge in his eyes. "We have to save her and be careful about it; we cannot alert them."
"Again I ask, how do we get in?"
Sirius turned to his godson and smirked. "By thinking like a Marauder."
END OF FLASHBACK
So that was how they ended up here, three hundred feet away from the entrance and crouching behind a cluster of large boulders.
"Hear anything?" Moody whispered to them as he repositioned himself. His magical eye swirled around them, watching for any unwanted visitors.
"There are voices," Remus whispered back, "but they are deeper in the cave. It seems that they have recently caught someone. My guess is that it was the muggle from Hermione's place. They're going to do something to her."
"Then we need to get her out to," Sirius said determinedly. "What about Snape? Hear any talk on him?"
Remus shook his head. "No. I haven't heard his name mentioned once which worries me." He looked at the group with grave amber eyes.
Sirius frowned. "You're thinking that maybe he's playing us."
Remus shrugged, "It's always possible."
Sirius chuckled lightly. "You know, it's strange. You've always been the one to defend him and now…."
"Now I'm considering all the possibilities," Remus finished. "We have to be prepared for anything….and anyone. Hermione's and Draco's life depend upon it."
Harry nodded. "I have to agree. Snape could be double-crossing us. We'll never know till we get in there and see for ourselves."
"So….," Tonks said brightly as she crawled over to the group, her hair and eyes a deep green, "what's the plan?"
"Alright," Sirius said as he scanned over the assembled group of thirty or more, "gather in and listen closely. We only have one shot at this…"
And as he explained the plan, a lone eagle soared high overhead looking for it's prey. (That's supposed to be some sort of foreshadowing part…don't know if you understand it, to tell the truth, I really don't understand it completely.)
qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp!AMAYA!qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp
The large door opened swiftly and a looming figure swept in, black cloak swirling around him, wrapping him in a sweet embrace. He smirked triumphantly at the witch before him.
"Ah, Hermione," he purred as he let his eyes roam over her body, "you look lovely."
Hermione glared bitterly at him. The little scrap of material that they had left at her could hardly be called a dress, but seeing as they took her regular clothes while she was bathing she hardly had a choice in the matter.
"Come on, none of that now. Smile, you are about to receive a treats."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Forgive me, but I sincerely disagree with that."
Lucius shrugged. "Doesn't matter what you agree or disagree with really. Soon, you will be begging to stay with me and then….," he smirked, "then you'll be mine."
Hermione moved angrily towards to him. "Make no mistake Lucius," she bit out, her voice a harsh whisper, "that I am only doing this to save Harlem. I have never, nor will I ever, want you on my own free will."
Anger flashed briefly in Lucius' eyes but he quickly masked it and smiled warmly at the enraged witch in front of him. "We'll worry about that later. Right now, we have more…pleasurable…things to attend to."
He reached out suddenly and caught Hermione's arm roughly, jerking her against him. She struggled as he held her more tightly against him, lowering his smiling face.
His lips connected with hers, smashing them as he fought with her unwilling body. Hermione let out a strangled moan and tried to jerk away but with no success; he was much stronger than she was.
Lucius jerked back with anger in his eyes and slapped her across the face. "You will not fight me!"
Hermione stared up at him daringly, fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. Her face was enflamed, already a redden patch appearing.
He smashed his lips back against hers roughly. She did not fight himself. Instead, she remained still, neither responding nor struggling.
His hands roamed over her body freely, pinching greedily at her flesh. He cupped her derriere and shoved her aggressively closer to him.
Hermione gasped as she felt him pressing into her. He smirked against her lips before shoving his tongue between her parted lips.
Lucius reached down and picked her up, cradling her almost lovingly in his arms. His lips never left hers, though, as he walked over to the bed. He deposited her on the gargantuan bed, his lips pulling away as he smiled down at her.
"I must say Hermione," he purred, his breath ragged, "you do look good on my bed."
Hermione growled softly at him and watched as he climbed upon the bed and towards her.
"Wait!" Hermione cried desperately, scooting desperately away from him.
Lucius paused impatiently. "What?"
"I…uh…need to use the bathroom."
The Dark Lord stared at her, his eyes boring into hers. Hermione held her breath as she waited to see whether he believed her or not.
Finally he sighed and sat back on the black silk sheets. "Very well but hurry. You have five minutes or I will come in there after you."
Hermione saw by the warning look in his eyes that he meant it. She jumped off the bed and quickly scurried to the bathroom, shutting the door tightly behind her.
The tears fell freely from her eyes as she grasped the sink tightly. They poured down over her cheeks and fell from her face. With each tear, Hermione felt as if she was closer to falling apart.
She raised her eyes to the mirror above the sink. She did not recognize the girl staring back her from the mirror with the whitened face and bruised lips. That girl was not Hermione Granger.
Hermione lowered her head and bit her lip. She knew what was going to happen and she also knew that she could not fight it, other's lives depended on her at the moment.
She turned on the cold water and splashed her face with it, washing away the painful evidence of her acceptance to her fate. She dried off her face with one of the black fluffy towels hanging on the wall behind her.
She looked back into the mirror and into the dull brown eyes of the girl staring back at her. That girl had no life left in her, Hermione realized.
"I'm sorry Sirius," she whispered as she turned away from the mirror and back towards the door, keeping her chin raised with all the strength she could muster.
Lucius was waiting for her on the bed. He had taken his shirt off and she could see him smirking victoriously at her, knowing her resolve.
"All better?"
Hermione bit her lip and nodded slightly, forcing her eyes to never leave his.
"Good. Come here," he ordered and Hermione felt her feet moving obediently towards the bed.
Don't think about it, she ordered herself. She stopped whenever she reached the bed.
"Don't be afraid of me, love," Lucius told her as he ran a hand over her hip. "I'll have you begging for me before this night is through."
I wouldn't count on it, Hermione thought but she climbed onto the bed and closer to him.
Lucius' lips connected once more to hers, but this time he was more gentle, trying to issue a response from her. He slipped his tongue between her lips and tasted her.
"Oh Hermione," he moaned against her lips.
Hermione bit back the tears and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"That's it Hermione, give yourself over to pleasure."
Lucius' hands ran up and down her body, touching her in places that she only wanted Sirius to touch, but she bit back any protests that about left her lips.
He was reaching towards the hem of her dress when it happened. With a loud bang, the whole room shook and Lucius fell away from Hermione as cries could be heard all along the corridor.
"Wait here," he ordered as he rushed out of the room.
Hermione never felt more thankful for being alone in her life as she fell back onto the bed and curled herself into a ball, wishing that whatever the explosion was, it would take her away.
qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp!AMAYA!qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp
A/N: I know that this is short but I really just wanted to get it updated. I probably won't get another chapter up till….oh, next Saturday or Sunday. Oh, I don't know why I can't find this, but, can anyone tell me how old I made Lauren (the babysitter)... I can't find the chapter that I mention her age in...if I even mention an age. Thanks to anyone who can tell me.
Next Chapter: you'll find out what the explosion was and whether Hermione/Draco/Harlem/ grr Snape gets rescued. One of them dies…sniffles or maybe not, haven't decided.
Please Review!
Thanks for reading! Amaya