Gah! I know I said that this chapter would soon follow the last, but please forgive me. This has to have been the hardest for me of the lot. I have this clear idea of how most of the action is happening and going to happen, but there are these tie together things that I needed inspiration with! Call it a bit of writers block if you will. I really hope that this isn't confusing in any way, and that you all enjoy it!
Thanks to each and everyone of you that has reviewed. Thank you to my new readers, and especially thanks to my ever faithful readers that have been there almost from the beginning! You all encourage me so much to continue with what I have been writing, and I can only hope that I will continue to make this story a fun read.
Hermione was frozen in position with a gun aimed at her and Sirius and a werewolf transforming up the stairs. What the hell were they to do? She wondered as she looked up to the second level and then down to the first. Merlin was furious and confused and when Remus broke through the door the man stupidly started to shoot at the werewolf. Unless Merlin had a penchant for silver bullets the only thing that would be a result would be a mighty pissed off werewolf.
True to form Remus went for the human that pissed him off and at the moment it was Merlin he started to chase. Hermione ran to the door of the room, intent of closing it and blocking it, but she stopped as she saw the elevator open and Merlin shove Colin into the hallway.
Remus had leapt for the elevator but with Colin in the way he seemed to make do by attacking the stunned guard. Colin didn't even know what hit him Hermione was sure. She screamed loudly and ran into the hallway and this distracted Remus but once again turned his attention on her. "Fuck!" She yelled out and Sirius agreed with her. "Fuck is right!" he yelled. "Come on!" He screamed as he started to drag her backwards.
Suddenly the door to the medical facility opened and a man poked his head out. "What the hell is going on out here? There are….What the….?" The man was not able to finish his sentence as Remus's attention was once again diverted and he lunged at the unsuspecting man.
Hermione couldn't help but cringe at the screaming and the sounds of broken instruments and glass within the room, but she yanked on Sirius and cried out to him. "We have to get Colin!"
Sirius cursed as Hermione slipped from his grip and he chased after her as she ran down the hallway. "He is dead Hermione!" He cried out softly to her, but when he arrived at the fallen Interpol officer he saw the man breathing and in pain.
"Help me Sirius." Hermione begged as she bent down and started to lift the man by herself.
Sirius mumbled a curse and between the two of them they managed to drag Colin back to the room. They shut the door and Sirius grabbed a table to put in front of it, knowing that if Remus really wanted to get neither table nor door would stop him.
Hermione ran to the kitchen and grabbed some towels and then ran back over to Colin, pressing the cloth against the man's wounded shoulder and side. "We have to try and save him Sirius. He was trying to help us." She stated.
Sirius sighed softly but then turned to the door as more screams could be heard. Something thumped loudly against the wood, but it seemed secure enough for the moment. His thoughts were interrupted by Hermione as she snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Sirius, press this against him. I have to get Remus off this floor." She stated.
"No way, if anyone is going to do that it will be me." He growled.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm the Auror here, it is my job. You will not question me on this Sirius." She growled at him.
"You don't even have magic Hermione, at least I can do wandless spells." He growled back.
"This needs something other than magic Sirius. I have a plan. Trust me please." She stated.
Sirius was going to argue with her again, but realized that this was a battle he would not win. "I need you with him Sirius, you can do some healing spells on him while I go and take care of Remus. Please…" Sirius groaned at the look on her face and knew she had broken him. "You will pay for this Granger." He growled.
"I will gladly pay later." She said with a smile before she kissed him deeply. "Take care of him Sirius."
He nodded curtly and turned his attention on the wounded man. Hermione meanwhile went to the door and moved the table. She listened carefully before attempting to open the door a crack and when she saw the coast was clear she slipped out into the hallway. Her feet were still bare and the feeling of warmth and stickiness covered the soles of her feet. Looking down she saw the puddle of blood she was stepping in and then her eyes drifted to the mangled form of a guard just by the door.
Remus seemed to be making short work of the people within the floor as several dead bodies seemed scattered here and there. She could hear him moving in one of the rooms and then the piercing scream of a guard as he found his mark. Hermione kept moving through it all, making her way to the end of the hallway to the elevator. She pushed the button when she got there and mistakenly turned to look into the medical facility.
Broken glass, mangled metal and body parts covered the floor of the room. She quickly tore her gaze away from the horrifying sight and her eyes scanned the hallway again. Bloodied footprints made a path directly towards her and the sight had her mesmerized. 'Come on, Come on…' She repeated in her mind over and over again, hoping that the elevator would soon arrive.
She had no idea what she was going to do. Hermione had lied when she said she had a plan, instead she was just flying by the seat of her pants. The soft ding of the elevator rang out and just as she started to get in she heard growling behind her. Knowing she had to move right away she swiped her hands over the floor buttons. With a nimbleness that she never knew existed in her, managed to take a step onto the railing, that lined the interior just about her waist height, and push herself up so that her hand could open the hatch on the ceiling. She was thankful for all her training in hand to hand combat for the strength she had to pull her body up onto the elevator, but just as she was about to pull her legs up through she felt her body suddenly yanked down.
Remus had charged the elevator seeing another moving creature to kill and his paws raised to knock her as she climbed up through a hole above. Hermione could hear ripping as a claw managed to slide down through the soft material of her pants and then a sickening thud and lurch as Remus's body hit the back of the elevator hard. She managed to look down through it all and see his body contort in an odd direction and his chin cracked down hard on the ground.
Hermione pulled her legs up out of the elevator while Remus lay on the floor whining softly while stunned from the fall. She replaced the door as she felt the elevator started to move, hoping that he wouldn't come to until they reached whatever floor they were headed to. While they moved she checked her legs and noted that thankfully she was unharmed, but she could not say the same for the exquisite material of her pants.
After Harry, Ron and Severus exited the elevator they searched the third floor, noting the amount of guards they would have to contend with if they should have to make a quick getaway. It was difficult for them not to take notice of the interrogation rooms and their recording devices.
Harry motioned for them to enter one of the observation rooms. It was empty save for the recording devices within. A television set was hooked up to several pieces of machinery and both Severus and Ron gave it all odd looks. Harry knew what it all was and stepping towards it he flicked a few switches and pressed a few buttons soon the monitor flickered to life. Harry cast a silencing charm on the room so they could speak freely.
"What are you doing?" Severus inquired.
"This equipment has recorded everything that has gone on in that room." His hand indicated the empty room beyond the window.
"I want to see what they are doing in there." He continued.
"But what about Remus and the others?" Ron asked.
"Both of you continue on, check the rest of the floor and come back here if you don't find them. I will follow once I have seen what I'm looking for." Harry stated.
Severus and Ron gave each other a look and with a silent understanding between them both, they agreed to work together. "Fine. Make it quick though mate." Ron stated.
"Come on man, lets get the others out of here." Ron said to Severus, not quite knowing what to call his new comrade in arms.
Severus nodded and the two men slipped out of the room, leaving Harry alone with the equipment. Fear filled him as his finger wavered over the button that would set the machine in motion but he sucked it in and watched as an image filled the screen.
He watched in horror as he saw Hermione. He saw her screaming in agony, fighting with that inner strength that he admired so much and then sobbing as she put her arms around Sirius in his dog form. Information was soaking into his brain as he heard explanations of the collar she was wearing, and realizing that her magical abilities were being stunted as were all the others. Harry saw the change of keepers and when the image cut off he wondered where she was at that moment.
It took him a few moments to realize his cheeks were wet. Of all the people in the world, Hermione was the one that he wished no harm would come to. He had thought once long ago, shortly after her parents were killed that he had lost her. Harry yearned for death that day. Remus helped him through it, as did Albus and Ron and then when his mind started to clear from the initial shock he refused to believe that she was gone. The others worried over him, thought him mad and even wondered if he would become suicidal but Harry had other plans. He vowed not to rest until he found her.
Remus ended up on the cursed end of his wand many times as a result. His DADA professor took it upon himself to slip dreamless potions on him when he felt that Harry's vow should not be taken literally. He chuckled to himself at the thought. Of course Remus stated that the mouthful of slugs was worth it to see the dark circles beneath Harry's eyes fade away. The day that Harry reunited with her again was one of the happiest. It reaffirmed that she was part of him, and always would be.
"We're here Hermione. Hang in there." Harry said aloud to himself. Before he left the room he grabbed the disk that the interrogation was on and slipped it into his robe after casting an indestructible spell upon it. He removed the silencing spell before his hand reached for the door handle and it was then that he heard the screams and running feet.
Severus followed Ron, the two of them moving out of the way when guards started to walk down the halls. Their spells were still in place and unless someone knew that they were there, they would not be seen. Instead the guards would just feel an overwhelming need to look elsewhere.
When they reached the end and most guarded point of the hallway, Ron and Severus looked at one another. This looked promising as a location that prisoners would be located. In order for them to get by though the guards would need to be taken care of.
Ron motioned a few times, giving him signals as to what the both of them would do. Getting into their positions Severus waited by the door, close to the guards, while Ron moved down the hallway. After a few moments a few loud popping sounds could be heard and Severus moved once the guards ran off down the hall. With a quick Alohamora the door to the cell block opened and he slipped into the area.
He couldn't help but freeze and gape at the large cell block in horror. The walls were entirely made of glass, or something that looked like glass at least. Because of this he could see all the occupants within them and the conditions that they must have been living in for their entire captivity. His dark eyes scanned the room, desperately searching for one body in particular until suddenly he found him, in the middle row.
Quickly he ran down the aisle and opened the cell door. Draco awoke instantly from his slumber and his eyes darted around the cell. "Whose there?" He called out. Severus removed the disillusionment charm and he could see the look of relief fill Draco's face.
"Come, we must get you and the others out of here." Severus stated in a clipped tone.
Draco nodded, understanding the state of urgency they were in and followed Severus out of the room that had held him for so long. They moved to the cell that held the young girl within. She had been watching them with large fearful eyes and when the door of her cell was opened Severus called out harshly for the girl to come with them. The young girl nodded and started to run to follow them, but suddenly cried out and ran back into the cell. Draco watched as she grabbed something from beneath her mattress, when she turned back around she held up her wand and both men nodded in understanding.
Both men started down the aisle to head over towards Ginny's cell and so both men missed the young girl placing the hand that she had behind her back into her cloak and pocketing the vials that had been hidden from their view.
When they reached Ginny's cell they opened the door and Draco pushed past Severus to help the young witch up from her bed. There was a quiet look between the two of them and Severus wondered if there was something more to their relationship that he did not know of, or perhaps their incarceration has brought to light new emotions. Suddenly all of them turned their heads as a loud crash reverberated throughout the room and the sounds of loud screams could be heard as well as sickening thuds accompanied by the snarls and growls of a large creature.
Immediately guilt flooded Severus and he knew that his forgetfulness on this matter was to blame. Many deaths would be at the hands of not just Remus in his werewolf form, but his own because of his own mistakes.
"Quick! Get in!" Severus cried as he pushed Ginny, Draco and the young girl all back into the cell. Closing the door behind them he knew that this would be their safest location until they could find the right moment to cast a few spells at Remus.