Hermione groaned loudly and held her head as she came out of her drug induced sleep. She felt as if she had been slugged in the head repeatedly and only felt worse when she moved to sit up. It took her awhile to be able to open her eyes without her head feeling like it would split in two, but when she was able to she sat up and finally looked around her new surroundings.
Her dark eyes widened with horror as she realized she was in a glass encased room. The wall she sat and stared at was a dark glass that she figured probably held camera equipment behind it that she could not see. Looking to her right she noticed a cell across from her that sat empty, but the cell beside that one held an elderly man that looked about ready to join the next life. Looking to her left she saw the door to her cell first and then the empty cell beyond the aisle. Beside that empty cell was a mere child and anger flared up within her.
Her eyes moved back around to her own cell and she noticed the clear walls that surrounded the toilet and sink and wondered what the sense was of them. 'Looks like someone has a real fetish for voyeurism.' She thought to herself. When she went to turn her head around to look behind her, she suddenly noticed something odd. Her hand drifted up to her neck and it was at this moment that she felt the silver ring that surrounded her neck. Her fingers traced all around the circlet around her throat, but there was no clasp it seemed. There wasn't even a groove to indicate where the necklace would have been joined in fact. The only thing that she felt was the little ring that dangled slightly so that it rested at the base of her throat.
'What kind of sick fucking place have I been brought to?' Hermione thought to herself.
After a few moments of shocked realization of her captivity, she decided to turn around and see the cell directly beside her. When she finally turned around she saw the back of a man slouched over and leaning back against the wall. His clothing looked much like the ones that doctor's wear in the ER and she wondered if he was a medic that had been kidnapped. As if sensing someone was watching him the man turned around and his eyes rested on hers, giving her a piercing look before he turned all the way around to look at her.
Hermione gasped loudly and fell off her bed in surprise and suddenly she couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes. "Draco…" She said in a shaky voice.
Draco saw her mouth his name and he then said hers aloud to show that they would not be able to hear each other. Each cell was soundproof, making anything but visual communication impossible. Her dark eyes settled onto the silver collar that was similar to the one around his neck, and her fingertips touched her own as if a deeper realization of her situation suddenly dawned on her.
What the hell was this place would be the question on her mind right now. He knew this because he wondered the very same thing himself. He had no awareness of how long he had been in the facility. It felt like a week, but for all he knew it could be a day or two. Eventually he learned a little bit of what he was here for, but still was unsure as to why and to what purpose.
Seeing Hermione was a comfort to him really. She was someone from his past, and even though they were enemies in school they had come to know each other better shortly after the Great War. Draco had become a spy for the order to help take down Voldemort and when Hermione learned this she had apologized for some of the more hurtful remarks she had made to him in the past. He had been shocked that day because he was the last person on earth that deserved that apology from her. There were so many hurtful things that he had said to her in the past, but the two of them agreed to reintroduce themselves to each other and start fresh.
They had been lovers for a while after that. The two of them had grown so close and she had helped him when he was having difficulties with some of the new potions that he was working on. He was an apprentice to one of the more well known potions masters and had planned on becoming a master himself. It was thanks to Severus Snape and Hermione that his dream had come true. These days he had devoted his life's work to discovering a potion that would help to heal those that had been damaged by one too many Cruciatus Curses.
Surprisingly enough it was Neville Longbottom that had saved Draco's life. His own father had escaped from Azkaban and realized that his own son was a traitor to the Dark Lord and was just about to cast the killing curse on him. He was too slow though for when his body fell in front of Draco, it was to reveal a shaking Longbottom with his wand outstretched and his mouth open from the final cry of the killing curse. That day forged a strong friendship between Neville and Draco and it was his wish to do something in return to the man who saved his life. To wake up Neville's parents from their insanity would be a gift that could be possible, if he could just brew the right potion.
Draco turned towards the wall of his cell and sat cross-legged on his cot. He lifted his hand and placed his palm against the glass. It took a moment before Hermione gave him a sad look and climbed back onto her own cot. Her hand raised and pressed against the glass. The two looked at each other and tried to remember what it felt like to feel the heat of their palms touching. Whatever would happen, they would be there together as friends to help each other through it.
"Fizzing Whizbees". An authoritative voice stated and the gargoyle statue moved to reveal the staircase of the headmaster's office. The man climbed the steps two at a time and when he approached the familiar desk his voice was stern but held a hint of worry in it. "Albus, we need to talk."
The chair turned and the headmaster looked at the tall man standing in front of him. The sparkle that seemed forever in the older man's eyes seemed dulled and instead only worry and fear filled them at the moment. "Hello Harry." Dumbledore said softly.
"I'm sure you know why I'm here, and I need your help along with the rest of the order." Harry commanded.
The headmaster nodded his head. "I have already called the rest of the order and a meeting will be held at Grimmald Place this evening."
Harry relaxed slightly as if one hurtle had been jumped, but it was only a moments relief that he felt. "Do any of the others know at the moment?"
"Well Severus is not very happy at the moment. Draco has been missing for over a week now, and with Hermione added to the number I fear that this has gone beyond just mere worry." Albus said.
"There is something bigger going on here and I have a feeling that this has nothing to do with renegade Deatheaters." Harry stated.
The headmaster nodded his assent. "I would have to agree with you there. I believe that we have acquired a new enemy to be wary of, but who that is what we really need to find out now and what is it they want."
"Percy has assigned several of the Aurors to the job, but he has made me the one in charge since Hermione disappeared and given me leave to do anything to find her." Harry sighed and sat down in the chair across from Dumbledore. "I just hope she is ok." His voice sounded weak to his own ears and Harry fought the tears that threatened to spill.
Hermione was his best friend and he loved her like no other in this world. She was his sister and soul mate. They were not lovers. They had kissed once and knew at once that what they had was not a romantic love, but instead a family love. She was a large part of who he was that if he lost her now he didn't think he would be able to survive.
"Hermione is a strong, resourceful and smart witch Harry. She will be able to handle her own until we can find her. We will get her away from whoever is holding her." Albus tried to comfort the young wizard as best he could.
"Do you think their disappearance is tied together?" Harry inquired, curious as to what his old headmaster thought of the matter.
"I don't know, but if we find her I hope we find him." Was all that Dumbledore replied before being interrupted.
"Potter! I hope you have more information on what is going on. I demand to be filled in completely on the situation."
Harry turned around to see Severus Snape's stern face looking down at him as he crossed the room.
"I'm going to fill everyone in on what we know this evening at the meeting Severus. We will find them." And having said this Harry was determined to make it a true statement. They would find them if they had to torture it out of many people be they wizards or muggles. Someone had dared to cross Harry Potter's path and Harry would be sure to do some heavy damage to whoever was responsible.