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Chapter 43
"Move."
Hermione heard the command, but she didn't obey. Once she stepped over the threshold of this castle, and the doors closed behind her, she would be entombed. She fully understood that she would almost certainly never leave this place alive.
"Move!" Malfoy yelled impatiently, shoving her and sending a sharp pain through her back. The cut she had received after falling in the Forbidden Forest had only begun to hurt worse.
Taking in a deep breath of the cold night air, Hermione stepped into the dimly lit entrance hall. She was able to catch one last glimpse of Grawp, still pursued by the Wemics, running into the thick forest before the heavy black doors shut behind her. The echo of the closing doors sent a shiver through Hermione before the echo ceased and there was silence.
The silence wasn't complete. Hermione could hear the beating of her heart; solid…hard, a reminder that she was not dreaming. The long, grey-stoned hall before her had two arched doorways on the left and two on the right. The first door on the left had a descending staircase…the second, an ascending staircase. The stairways to the right mirrored those to the left.
Green-flamed wall-torches lit the corridor dimly, but with enough light for Hermione to see down its length. And as Hermione's eyes adjusted to what lay before her, she began to walk slowly down the hallway. She didn't offer a second glance to the two doorways on the left or right; she knew exactly where Malfoy was taking her.
At the end of the hallway, a massive green and black marbled staircase rose to a second floor. And, on that second floor, Hermione could see an orange glow coming from a black door, opened a mere crack…
It seemed to take a long while to finally reach the base of the staircase, which was unexpectedly immaculate and beautiful, but once they had, Hermione didn't hesitate to begin the ascent. The banister was smooth under Hermione's fingers, yet she could feel an engraving. Glancing down, Hermione saw an engraved snake the entire length of the handrail. She jerked her hand away, remembering whose hands had undoubtedly traced this marbled stone.
"A bit jumpy, aren't we?" Malfoy asked with a snicker as he followed closely behind her.
Hermione didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed upon the crack of the black door before her. As they reached the top of the stairs, she heard the crackling of a fire.
"Wait here." Malfoy said tensely before moving around her and quickly disappearing through the crack. Hermione could scarcely believe her ears…'Wait here?'
Her heart rate, which had become almost steady, began to quicken. Turning on her heel, Hermione had every intention of running back down the stairs and out of this tomb. She would take her chances with whatever lurked outside. But just as Hermione stepped off of the marble landing onto the first step, she heard a scraping noise that sent a chill down her spine.
Turning around on the step, Hermione first saw two bluish-yellow eyes in the shadows created by the dim light of the opened door on the landing, but the beast then stepped into the light, his claws scraping along the stone floor. It was a Wemic; but one she had not yet seen.
"You are female youngling who has brought Giant?"
Hermione was rooted to the spot, but she managed to nod. The Wemic continued to stare at her, and she stared back. Not because she thought it wise to keep eye contact with this massively powerful beast, but because she found it impossible to look away from his leonine eyes.
"He's my friend." She said quietly.
The Wemic tilted his head to one side, as if considering her. He looked much more youthful than the Wemics from outside and he had only one tattoo on his body. It was a large red and black sun on his tanned right arm. Massive as he was, he must have been at least a foot shorter than the others of his kind. He too wore a necklace, but his was not decorated with bones or arrowheads, but with strings of glass beads.
"Giants do not befriend humans." The Wemic stated plainly. Hermione could see his long teeth as he spoke.
"Yes they do." Hermione protested,"Grawp is gentle and kind. He was trying to protect me from your people."
"I do not have a people." The Wemic said, sounding a bit perturbed, "I, Egon, son of Basilius, have brethren." His voice was warm and leathery. It would have been a pleasant voice in a different situation…a much different situation.
"Egon…" Hermione repeated, as she stared into the creature's eyes. His eyes weren't really unkind, just untrusting. "Why do you and your brethren support Lord Voldemort?" She asked calmly; a question that had been burning angrily in her stomach as soon as she had seen the Wemics open fire on Grawp.
Egon's feline-like nostrils flared before he whispered deeply, "Wemics support no one but their Chieftain."
"Then why were there Wemics outside guarding this castle? Why did they attack my friend?" Hermione asked boldly.
Egon curled his upper lip into an unpleasant grimace, which showed some very sharp and intimidating teeth. Hermione took a couple of steps back. "As human, you should know that men often fall prey to temptation. Wemics are no different in that regard." He replied with a note of gravity.
"So Voldemort has bribed you…" Hermione murmured as she pondered what the 'bribe' could be. To her knowledge, Wemics were some of the least materialistic creatures on earth. "But don't you understand who you're helping? Voldemort is an evil man, and your kind could be fighting against him… I always thought Wemics were peaceful…" She finished quietly.
"Wemics are obedient to their Chieftain." Egon replied tersely.
"Well don't be!" Hermione spat, causing Egon's eyes to go wide. She then added, "Your leader is foolish, but those that follow him without question are even more foolish than him!" She suddenly felt no fear, just anger and confusion.
"Chief Basilius is my Chieftain!" Egon growled, taking a few prowling steps toward Hermione. "He is my Chieftain and my father…" He added, now standing so close to her that she could feel the heat of his body. His enormous clawed paws were mere inches from her feet.
A bit of Hermione's fear returned, as she looked at the heaving torso of this half-man half-beast. His chest was about three times the width of Hermione's, and she was strongly considering apologizing for insulting not only his Chieftain, but also his father, when she heard the sudden creaking of the door behind her. The corridor was flooded with orange light.
"Granger." Malfoy called.
Egon backed away from her slowly, and Hermione turned toward the snarling face of Malfoy…the now completely transformed Draco Malfoy. There was not even a slight semblance of Ron remaining.
This fact tore at Hermione unexpectedly. She would never see Ron's face again… Even if it were a copy of his face on another, Hermione wished she could see it one last time… But she had no picture of Ron with her…she had no magic mirror… And it was because of the blond-haired rat standing before her.
Hermione glared at him for a moment before her eyes wandered into the room behind him. It appeared to be a study of some sort.
"He's ready to see you." Malfoy said, "Both of you." He added looking to Egon cautiously.
As Hermione took a few steps toward the doorway, she began to feel the heat coming from the room's crackling fire, yet she somehow felt cold. Egon was standing silent, tall and proud, obviously waiting for her to go first, and Malfoy leaned against the black door, holding it open for her entrance.
Hermione straightened to her full height and held her chin out. She would not scurry into the room like a coward. Praying that her shaking knees would remain undetected under the hem of her skirt, Hermione stalked past Malfoy into the warm room.
As Hermione looked around the study, she was surprisingly reminded of the Gryffindor common room. Only, instead of all décor being red and gold, it was green and silver. The stone walls were covered in green tapestries, all of them plain except for one hung above the stone fireplace, on which was woven an elaborate silver snake. Facing the flames dancing in the stone fireplace was a tall, black winged-back chair.
As Hermione's eyes continued to sweep the room, she saw an elaborate desk, made of the same marble as the staircase, situated in one corner of the study. Books surrounded the desk in neat piles…most of them leather-bound and quite worn in appearance. Even more beautiful than the mounds of books, however, was the ceiling.
Twenty feet above her, there was a mosaic of green, silver, blue, and yellow glass. It was a room that, if it were at Hogwarts, Hermione would have undoubtedly spent an endless amount of time.
"Welcome, Miss Granger."
Hermione's throat clamped tightly, and she briefly wondered if she had been Silenced once more. It was not a spell that had rendered her speechless; however, it was the smooth, articulate voice coming from the black chair in front of the fire's glow.
A tall, dark-haired figure emerged from the chair, and slowly turned to face her. Hermione could feel her chin start to tremble slightly, so she clenched her teeth in order to hide it.
He was holding something in his arms that he gently laid on a small rug before the fire. It was a snake. Hermione was immediately reminded of the many times Harry had told her that Voldemort looked like a snake, but either Harry was wrong…or Voldemort had changed.
This man before her was tall and handsome, with straight and shiny black hair combed neatly about his pale face. There were a few strands of gray mixed into his locks. He was wearing long black robes with the Slytherin crest upon the breast. Although he was thin and pale, he did not look weak. His cold smile and shining eyes gave him an air of arrogance and confidence.
As Voldemort looked Hermione up and down with a critical eye, the snake began slowly slithering along the floor toward her. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath and stepped a few paces backward; she heard a low growl and looked over her shoulder at Egon, who was baring his teeth at the snake.
"Now, now, Miss Granger." Voldemort said smoothly, "Nagini is simply welcoming you to my school."
Hermione swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice calm. "If this is a school, then why have I seen no students?" She asked shakily, keeping one eye on Nagini, who was still slowly inching her way toward her.
"Why…the summer holidays, Miss Granger." He replied matter-of-factly, "I was never fond of Hogwart's spring term schedule. My faculty and I thought a more concise term would suffice."
"You mean you and your Death Eaters." Hermione said evenly, making sure to keep eye contact with the man that had been set on taking her for the last year…and set on killing her friend for the last sixteen.
Voldemort raised one eyebrow and took a couple of steps toward Hermione, who kept her ground, despite the growing shakiness of her legs. He was still a good ten feet from her, but she felt as if his eyes were boring into her thoughts. Just when Hermione was beginning to feel that she would have to look away from his penetrating gaze, he turned his eyes upon Egon.
"Do you have a message for me, Wemic?" Voldemort asked, sounding a bit impatient.
"My father wishes to know what female youngling is for." Egon stated firmly, taking a few steps forward until he was standing beside Hermione. "Volker sends word to father of girl appearing out of air with three boys and violent Giant."
"He was only violent because one of the Wemics shot an arrow at him." Hermione said through gritted teeth.
"Silence, Miss Granger." Voldemort said in a near whisper. It was a quiet command, but Hermione shut her mouth. She had never heard a human voice 'hiss' quite like that.
"Your father knows the gift I have promised his nation if he aids me in my mission." Voldemort said with quiet calm as he turned to Egon once more, "He need not know anything more."
"He need know why Giant is brought to our home by your people." Egon stated squarely.
Voldemort clenched his jaw and looked passed Egon to Malfoy. "Unfortunately, Wemic, your father and I both know that it is hard to get proper work from younglings." He said, before turning his eyes back to Egon, "However, you can tell Basilius that the Giant will be taken care of and that the girl…the girl is merely a guest."
Egon looked from Voldemort to Hermione with an unreadable expression before nodding once and turning to leave. As soon as he had exited, Voldemort put one thin, pasty, long-fingered hand to his forehead. "Draco, summon your father and your uncle." He sighed.
"Yes, my Lord." Malfoy said promptly before making a hasty exit.
Hermione's stomach began to turn with increased anxiety. She was now alone with Voldemort, and when Malfoy returned, he would be accompanied by two Death Eaters.
Hermione looked down as she glimpsed something moving to see Nagini now coiled at her feet and looking up at her with a flicking tongue.
"She must have a liking for you." Voldemort jeered. Hermione looked up to see him smiling slightly, "After all, you two have a bit in common. You both have a…shall I say…a taste for Weasley men."
Nagini hissed, showing her teeth, and Hermione was almost certain that she were about to strike when she heard another hissing coming from Voldemort. Parseltongue… After a strange series of hisses, Nagini closed her mouth and turned to slither to Voldemort's feet.
Hermione didn't like the way Voldemort had said, 'Weasley,' It gave her a fear of what he might be planning for Ron or his family, but at the same time, it somehow made some of her fear fade.
"I know you've brought me here as bait for Harry." Hermione said in disgust, releasing the breath she had been holding. Voldemort lifted his gaze from Nagini, and Hermione saw an unsettling malice in his eyes, which she noted were solid black…Harry had said they were red…
"It won't work again." Hermione began; she silently cursed her voice's inability to keep from shaking, yet she continued, "It worked with that vision of Sirius, but Harry has learned his lesson. He won't come for me."
Hermione felt a chill as Voldemort began laughing deep in his throat. "Your intention is touching, Miss Granger, but you should know that it is useless for the weak-minded to lie to Lord Voldemort. You and I both know Harry will come…"
"Why do you call him Harry as if you know him?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.
He stared at her deeply after this comment, but she broke eye contact with him as she heard footsteps ascending the staircase. Turning toward the door, she saw Draco and his father, followed by Rastaban Lestrange and another man that looked vaguely familiar. They were all wearing plain black robes.
"Ah…" Voldemort said as they entered, forming a small circle around her. Hermione suddenly felt as if she were standing before the Wizengamot. "Lucius, you see before you proof that kidnapping a young girl is not as difficult as one might think."
"Yes, my Lord." Lucius said quietly. He was standing to the left of Voldemort, his head ducked slightly. Hermione noted this moment as the first time she'd ever seen Lucius without his nose in the air.
"Rastaban," Voldemort continued, "Would you see that our rather large and unwelcome guest is destroyed."
"Yes, my Lord." Rastaban answered, before quickly sweeping from the room. Hermione felt a sick feeling in her stomach at the thought of Grawp, lost and scared on the island.
"Vincent…I do not recall sending for you." Voldemort said calmly, yet with a hint of annoyance.
Vincent… Hermione thought… The man that looked vaguely familiarwas Crabbe's father. There was a definite resemblance.
"No, my Lord." Vincent whispered, before continuing in a strained voice, "Draco brought word that my son was…was killed by the giant, but I saw no body on the grounds. Is it possible that he might have surv'…"
"No, he is dead." Voldemort said, waving his hand impatiently, "The Dementors will have disposed of him by now. Now please, I have business to attend to."
Vincent swallowed hard with a clenched jaw before bowing slightly. "Yes, my Lord." He replied quietly before exiting the room. Hermione looked after the Death Eater as an unexpected swell of pity formed in her chest.
"Miss Granger, why don't you have a seat?" Voldemort asked, waving his hand to his side, where he conjured a small black chair.
"I prefer to stand." Hermione replied coldly.
Voldemort lifted one corner of his upper lip in an unpleasant smile, "I think you prefer to sit." He said calmly.
As soon as the words left Voldemort's lips, Lucius rushed to Hermione's side, grabbed her roughly by the arms, and thrust her into the seat. Draco was now regarding her with a smirk.
Voldemort simply nodded before motioning for Draco, who then approached Voldemort and knelt before him. Draco extended his left arm and raised his sleeve to reveal a pale forearm.
Clasping his thin fingers around Malfoy's wrist, Voldemort removed his wand and placed it upon Draco's arm. Lucius knelt beside his son while rolling his own sleeve up. Hermione leaned forward slightly to see Lucius' Dark Mark. It was positively sickening. There was a discolored scar in the infamous design of a skull with a snake for a tongue raised along his skin.
Hermione hadn't needed confirmation that Harry's vision was real, but she had it regardless. Voldemort had used a Cutting Charm on Lucius' arm when Lucius had failed to take her a second time.
Lucius took his son's left hand in his while Voldemort continued to hold Draco's wrist. "You see, Miss Granger," Voldemort began, looking up from Draco's arm, "Before one can join my family, they must perform an assigned task for me. Draco has brought you to me, showing a degree of loyalty and competence greater than that of his father." Voldemort turned his gaze to Lucius, who remained silent, "Lucius, do you agree to be your son's witness during this ceremony?"
"I do, my Lord." Lucius whispered.
Voldemort nodded and focused his eyes upon Draco's arm as he began chanting. It was that awful Parseltongue again. Hermione knew she was watching an initiation of sorts. Draco would arise a Death Eater after this creepy chant… Until death parts servant from master or master from servant, Draco would be his. Even if Draco converted later in life…he would still be bound by Voldemort's mark.
Hermione gasped aloud as a chilling wind circled the room and extinguished the fire, sending the room into pronounced darkness. But just as quickly as the wind had come it was gone, and Voldemort's chanting stopped.
There was a faint red-tinted glow on Draco's arm in the form of the Dark Mark, and he and his father were standing from the floor.
"Lucius…you may go," Voldemort began calmly, as if he hadn't just added a member to his family of evildoers, "Draco, if you would wait outside…I need a moment with Miss Granger."
Father and son both nodded before exiting the room; Draco was wearing a self-satisfied smile as he examined his new marking. And then, once again, Hermione was alone with the darkest wizard of all time.
"How long are you going to wait until you kill me?" Hermione asked quietly, remaining seated as Voldemort reignited the fire.
Voldemort began pacing and turned to her with a smirk, "Well, let's see…that depends, doesn't it?" He asked lightly.
"Does it?" Hermione asked.
"Oh yes." Voldemort stated, "I think a week's worth of worrying about his dear friend is due young Harry. Then he will surely be willing to bargain for your life, don't you think?" He asked, raising one eyebrow and ceasing his pacing. When Hermione didn't respond, he shrugged and resumed his circling of the study. "No matter. If he is not willing to listen to reason, I'll simply have to...send for him."
"What do you mean, 'send for him?" Hermione asked. "Do you mean try and kidnap Harry?" Hermione added incredulously. Voldemort squinted his eyes at her as his mocking smirk began to fade. "He survived the Killing Curse as a baby, and you think your imbecilic androids can kidnap him?" She spat, forcing a mocking snicker despite the nervous churnings of her stomach.
There was really no logical explanation for Hermione's taunting…other than she was angry, and most likely doomed…so why not?
"It seems I underestimated Hermione Granger, the loyal friend of Harry Potter." Voldemort began, his voice cool, "You are either very brave or very unwise. Yet, I still have a proposal to offer you. I'm sure you have heard that life is full of choices, and that it is up to you to make the right ones. Well, Miss Granger, you should know that there is no good or evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. My proposition to you is that you help bring Potter to me. If you do this I will spare your life, and you may even become the first Death Eater with complete Muggle parentage. I hear that you have a thirst for knowledge. I can quench that thirst more than anyone you've ever known, Miss Granger. The decision is yours, but I must warn you that my propositions are few. I don't like it when they are refused, and if you refuse me, your death will not be quick or painless."
Hermione continued to stare into Voldemort's black eyes, and she felt the churnings in her stomach slow, and her knees cease their bobbing. "I would rather die a slow and painful death than help you get one step closer to the boy that will rid you from this world forever." She breathed as a defiant tear rolled down her cheek.
Voldemort slowly lowered his head to peer at her down his white nose. "And so you shall." He whispered menacingly before shouting, "Draco! Take her to her cell!"
Hermione heard the creaking of the door, and she quickly stood from her chair before Draco had the opportunity to manhandle her. She felt one of his hands clamp around her arm, and she then felt her wrists being pulled together by some sort of force. Malfoy was using an Invisible Rope Charm on her wrists. She could feel the rope, but she could not see it.
Voldemort did not offer her a second glance before stalking past his marbled desk and to a door, which Hermione had not seen until now. It was veiled behind one of the green tapestries hanging on the walls.
Once Voldemort was out of sight, Draco wasted no time in directing her to the marble stairs outside Voldemort's study. Walking slowly down the staircase, Hermione began to wonder what Voldemort meant by 'cell.' Where was Draco leading her? Was it inside the castle? Would it be a solitary cell? Would she be in a room with other prisoners?
As they reached the base of the stairs and continued down the corridor, they soon neared the four arched doorways, each with a staircase, Draco grabbed Hermione's arm and led her to the second staircase on her left. These stairs spiraled downward into an even dimmer lit area.
Hermione descended without showing the hesitation that was burning in her stomach. Although small candles dimly lit the stairwell, Hermione could tell that the deeper they went the more the atmosphere began to feel like a cave. The stone walls were becoming dirtier with vines and roots growing between the cracks…the air was becoming damp and cool…and there was a smell of moisture-laden rocks and earth.
When they finally reached the bottom of the stairs, Hermione was surprised to find herself standing not in a cave-like basement…but in a cave. It reminded Hermione of a darker and damper version of Grawp's home in the Forbidden Forest. Except…this was not just one room… she was standing in a large room, which had a large opening at the opposite end than the spiraled stairs. And through that opening, Hermione could see two tunnels forking away from one another.
"How far underneath the castle are we?" Hermione asked, her voice echoing in the darkness, as Draco continued to lead her toward the large cave opening.
"We aren't underneath the castle." He said simply, "We're underneath the mountains. There are endless tunnels and caves down here. Most of the tunnels lead to Wemic grottos, so I wouldn't try to run if I were you. Those beasts don't take kindly to unwelcome guests."
Hermione cut her eyes in Malfoy's direction. His voice had sounded anxious, and his eyes, darting from wall to wall, showed the same emotion as he halted. Hermione raised her bound hands and ran two fingers along the left side of the cave opening. The wall had a thin layer of damp dirt along the inside. They then took the left fork of the two tunnels, and Malfoy's pace quickened.
"Are you scared of them?" Hermione prompted, rubbing her fingers together and letting the mud dry and fall to the ground.
"What?" Malfoy asked incredulously, "Please… They might be big, but they've no brains. They all follow their Chief as if he were a god. You get him and you've got them all."
Hermione scoffed, "Sounds a bit like your new 'family,' doesn't it?" She asked testily.
Malfoy suddenly stopped, and Hermione was sure he was going to strike her or hex her…but instead he turned to face the cave wall, where Hermione then noticed a solid metal door. Malfoy used a key to unlock it before thrusting it open and shoving her inside a small square room with eight-foot long walls. It seemed even colder and damper than the outside tunnel. It was completely empty other than a single candle on a stand in one corner.
"You know, you don't act very scared." Malfoy spat as he came inside the cell, propping the door open with some sort of charm. "But you should be." He added, taking slow steps toward her.
Hermione began backing away from him until she collided with the wall. "Voldemort told me that-…"
"Don't speak the Dark Lord's name!" Malfoy shouted, bringing his face a few inches from her own.
He was staring into her eyes, and she stared right back. "Fine." She said fiercely, "Your Chief informed me that he has plans to kidnap Harry if he doesn't come for me. Are you part of that mission, as well?" She asked.
Malfoy leaned away from her, his eyes squinting maliciously. "The Dark Lord does not plan to kidnap him. He plans to send for him through a vision. And when Potter sees your near-lifeless form, he will be told specifically to come for you…alone and unarmed…or watch you die at the hand of the Dark Lord." He spat.
"And if Harry comes, Voldemort will simply let me go free and take Harry instead?" Hermione asked disbelievingly. "He doesn't plan to let me leave here alive. I've seen too much."
"Logical assessment, Granger. You always know the right answer, don't you?" Malfoy said mockingly, "But he also has plans for you that he hasn't expressed to you yet."
"Which are?" Hermione asked, furtively straining against Malfoy's Rope Charm to no avail.
"If you don't agree to tell us everything you know of Potter, then we will have to make you tell us, won't we?" Malfoy asked with a wicked smile.
"I'm not like Pettigrew!" Hermione shouted. "You can torture me until I'm driven mad like the Longbottoms, but I won't tell you anything!"
"You don't know what you might do after a Cruciatus Curse, let alone a weeks worth." He scoffed.
"Oh, and you do?" Hermione asked sarcastically, continuing to strain against the Rope Charm.
"Yeah I do!" He shouted back, his face now an inch from hers.
"Has your master given you a taste of the curse then?" Hermione taunted.
"The Dark Lord has never harmed me." Malfoy responded through gritted teeth.
"So, stop acting like you've had to endure being Crucio'd before!" Hermione shouted, sick of this macho façade.
"I have!" Malfoy yelled, as his face grew increasingly red.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, and who-…"
"My father!"
Hermione's mouth was left hanging partway open; her ready retort unwilling to be given. She stared into Malfoy's angry grey eyes for a mere second before he turned away from her. For the first time since Hermione had arrived on this forsaken island, she felt as if she were not the only prisoner.
Just then the door creaked open, and two figures entered, wearing hooded black cloaks. The hands visible from the sleeves of these figures were so pale; Hermione thought them Dementors until they lowered their hoods. She gasped, and her bound hands flew to her mouth.
"Professor Snape…" Hermione breathed as she looked into his pale face. His eyes were dark, as he looked her over with disgust. The other figure, also looking her over, was Bellatrix Lestrange, yet she didn't look disgusted…she looked elated.
"It's true then?" Bellatrix whispered with shining eyes. "Draco, you've done it!"
Draco shot Hermione an awkward sort of glance before forcing a smile for his aunt. He then approached her and raised his sleeve. Bellatrix's mouth fell open slightly and she gently touched the marking.
"Lucius told us your task had gone well, but we were skeptical." Snape drawled, his eyes boring into Hermione's.
"I see she didn't come willingly." Bellatrix said with a giggle as her eyes raked over Hermione's unkempt appearance.
"They never do, Bellatrix." Snape sneered.
"Dumbledore trusts you!" Hermione shouted angrily, looking at Snape with wide eyes. Snape just continued to look at her with disgust.
"Of course he does, you stupid girl!" Bellatrix hissed. "That old fool thinks anyone can change, but no one can…not truly. Can they Severus?"
"Why would I stray from the Dark Lord's path?" Snape asked with a sinister smile. "It is the path of power, is it not?"
"Yes!" Bellatrix rasped excitedly, nearing Hermione with one black eyebrow raised.
"Are you the Headmistress of this place?" Hermione asked.
"The Dark Lord has no need for such things." Bellatrix replied. "This school is his and his alone."
"But it was you that they quoted in the Daily Prophet, wasn't it?" Hermione prompted, "Saying that you were the Headmistress and that this school was in no way affiliated with Voldemort and that-…"
Hermione gasped, and her cheek immediately seared with pain. With one long, crimson fingernail, Bellatrix had slashed down Hermione's face. Bellatrix made a tittering noise as she looked at her fingernail, which now had a few drops of Hermione's blood on it.
"Your lips are not worthy to speak his name!" Bellatrix exclaimed, looking at Hermione with wide eyes.
Hermione looked to Snape, who was standing near the door with an indecipherable expression, while Bellatrix approached Draco with her finger extended, her long, black hair swinging behind her.
"Look, Draco!" She whispered, looking at her finger with wide eyes. "Reveal!"
Hermione watched as her blood rose from Bellatrix's fingernail and turned black as oil before dropping to the ground and returning to its crimson shade.
"Dirty-blood!" Bellatrix breathed in revulsion before spitting at Hermione's feet. "Look at me girl." She said. Hermione lifted her gaze to the crazed woman before her, "You saw him, didn't you? The Dark Lord?" She asked excitedly, "He no longer looks like a serpent, does he? He is fully man once more. His strength is back, and your foul friend will soon be lying in a puddle of his own polluted blood!"
Hermione could feel a trickling of blood rolling down her cheek, "Why does he no longer look like a serpent?" Hermione asked quietly, remembering Harry's description of Voldemort's red eyes, bald head, and slitted nostrils.
"The Dark Lord's rebirthing was just the beginning of his bodily resurrection." Bellatrix began excitedly, "How does it go Severus? The tongue of seven and heart of ten make the body whole again…"
"I believe that is correct." Snape responded in an almost bored voice.
"So, the hearts of ten innocent people were used to bring him strength?" Hermione asked appalled, looking at her Potions Master in disbelief.
"Innocent?" Bellatrix asked as she released a shrill cackle, "Only the infantine are innocent." She added before rubbing her stomach absently, which Hermione then noticed was visibly swollen underneath her cloak.
"You're…you're..." Hermione stuttered, suddenly feeling more and more sick.
"My husband was taken from me, but not before he left me with child." Bellatrix said coldly. Bellatrix's eyes then began to narrow as if she had just remembered something. "Do you know what they've done with my ring? They took it from him! Lucius saw that Mundungus Fletcher take my husband's ring, and you know where it is, don't you?"
Hermione began sidling along the wall as this demented woman came closer and closer. "I don't know what you're talking about!" Hermione lied. She knew exactly where the Black family ring was. It was at the bottom of Harry's chest at Hogwarts, but Hermione wasn't about to reveal that to this madwoman.
"You lying dirtied little Mudblood!" Bellatrix yelled before raising one skeletally thin hand as if to strike.
Hermione closed her eyes and raised her bound hands to shield her face. When nothing happened, she reopened her eyes to see Snape holding Bellatrix back by her arms, which were struggling madly.
"No, Bellatrix!" Snape shouted, "You know the Dark Lord would be angered if we injured her without his consent. She is his now." This statement seemed to calm Bellatrix, who stopped struggling and began to smile.
"Yes…" She said maliciously, "She is his. She will get the pain she deserves soon enough."
"Right." Snape said, releasing his hold on Bellatrix and approaching Hermione. "Now, we should go above and report to the Dark Lord. He will want word that Miss Granger has been put away."
"Yes…" Bellatrix breathed, her heavily lidded eyes raking over Hermione one last time before she turned to her nephew. "Come, Draco!"
Draco went to the cell door and opened it slowly; removing the charm that had thus been keeping it ajar, yet, Snape was still staring at Hermione.
"Well, Severus?" Bellatrix prompted from the doorway.
Snape looked over his shoulder at his two fellow Death Eaters before clasping Hermione's chin with his cold hand. Hermione flinched when he placed his thumb over the cut on her cheek.
"I trust that you will remain quiet so as not to disturb the Wemics, correct?" Snape asked, raising one eyebrow. Hermione was about to nod when she saw his mouth moving silently.
Suddenly, Hermione felt the burning of the cut on her cheek ease until she could feel no pain at all. Snape then released his hold on her face, lowered his eyebrow, and turned on his heel for the door. Draco and Bellatrix exited, but before Snape followed he looked over his shoulder at Hermione and waved a hand in her direction. She felt the invisible rope around her wrists depart before Snape's robes disappeared behind the slamming metal door. The sound of the key locking the door seemed to echo in the small, dark room.
Hermione rested her weight against the wall as she sunk down to the cold floor, and brought a hand to her cheek. There was some dried blood, but there was no longer a cut. Snape… Voldemort thought him to be a Death Eater; Dumbledore thought him a converted man… Which was he? If he were a Death Eater, why had he healed her cheek and unbound her hands?Was it an act?If he were converted, why hadn't he told the Order where this castle was located? He had probably been inside numerous times throughout the year! But, the Fidelius Charm would have prevented him giving out any information about the school's whereabouts or even anything that occurred inside the castle. Maybe she wasn't lost forever…
As Hermione sat in the deadly still and quiet cell, she began to come to herself slightly. She was achy. She had a cut on her back from falling in the forest and numerous scrapes along her arms and legs. She was dirty. Her clothes were muddy and torn. Her buttoned white shirt was no longer white, and her woolen skirt was fraying at many spots. Why hadn't she changed out of her uniform after classes today?
Hermione felt a nervous laugh bubbling in her stomach, but she stifled it with her hand. "Oh, I can't lose my mind now…" Hermione whispered into the dark. The lone candle offered just enough light to cast eerie shadows about the room.
It was just a bit humorous that she was sitting in a cavernous cell under a mountain on the island of Fohr, Voldemort's headquarters, and she was regretting that she didn't have a change of clothes.
She had heard tale of many captives of Azkaban losing their minds during captivity. Would that happen to her? Had it started already? How much longer did she have to live? What type of torture would they use? The Cruciatus Curse…or were there worse means of torture used by the Death Eaters? It didn't matter! She would never reveal anything to them! Like she had said, she would die before she helped Voldemort capture Harry.
But would she have to die? She now had a small flicker of hope that had been rekindled by the possibility that Snape were truly on her side. But even if he weren't… If she could get free long enough to run to a town, she could use a telephone to call home, or possibly find a wizarding family that would allow her to floo to the Burrow or something. She was clever enough to figure something out…
Although…maybe she wasn't all that clever after all. She had fallen for Malfoy's trap. How long had he been planning this? She had already realized that the commotion she had seen at the doors of the Great Hall was a diversion intended to keep Hagrid from his hut. It had worked…
She had also realized just when Malfoy had gotten a hair from Ron's head for the Polyjuice Potion. It was surely that strange Sunday in February when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had approached her and Ron on the grounds. They had been looking for a fight so that they could obtain the most important ingredient of the potion. It had worked…
Everything had gone according to Malfoy's plan, with the exception of Crabbe's death and the extra sixteen-foot passenger on the Portkey.
Why had she been so stupid! She should have insisted that they tell Dumbledore before going to Hagrid's hut. Why would they do anything else? If Harry had screamed and flown to the forest, Dumbledore should have been the first person alerted… But she had followed her captor, hand-in-hand, into the forest, where she had then lost her wand and mirror.
She should have been able to hold onto her wand and mirror, and she should have been able to make better use of those things while she had them.
But now…she had nothing, save the faint flicker of hope that Snape was truly a spy for Dumbledore… Then she wasn't completely alone on this island. But…if Snape were a spy for Voldemort…she was as good as dead. The Order would remain un-alerted… Ron and Harry would have no idea where she was… No one would.
"Turn a bit more South, Harry!" Ron shouted over the increasing winds…or was Harry just increasing his speed?
According to Ron's map, they had about fifty miles until they reached the island. Meaning they had about fifteen minutes remaining of their journey.
It was surreal for Ron to think that a few hours ago,he had been worrying about Quidditch. And now…Hermione's life was on the line. Ron kept repeating the facts to himself. Voldemort wanted Hermione in order to bring Harry to him. So, Draco had been sent to kidnap her, and he had succeeded. But what now? Would they try to force information about Harry from her? Would they let her live if she didn't reveal anything to them?
Ron checked inside his jacket pocket for Hermione's wand and mirror. As he clasped the mirror in his hand, Ron felt a feeling of disgust…at himself. He should have shouted into the mirror when he'd had the chance. He had seen Malfoy and Hermione through the glass; he had seen him push her to the ground, yet he had said nothing. But if he had said something, he might not have seen Grawp's cave…but the only thing gained from Grawp's cave were Hermione's things…when all they really needed was the vision of the Wemic from Harry.
She had yelled for him, and he had not responded. She must be terrified beyond all reasoning… Ron thought, releasing his hold on the mirror. I am…
Suddenly, Ron felt a change in Harry's speed. He was slowing. Looking down, Ron saw more than an endless sea…he saw land. It was a small island. From their altitude, Ron could see its entire perimeter. Although…the Northeastern corner of the island was unusual. It wasn't flat and green like the rest of the island. It was heavily wooded and immensely foggy. It was a fog unlike any Ron had ever seen. It reached from the ground all the way up to the peaks of some barely visible jagged, black mountains.
Ron didn't have to say anything, as Harry continued to slow his speed and head straight for the Northeastern corner. Their altitude was quickly dropping as they neared the outer edge of the dense forest. Ron was almost certain he saw a tree fall somewhere in the middle of the forest before Harry quickly landed at the base of a large hill.
It seemed much darker on the ground than it had in the sky, under the moon and stars. Judging from the moon's position, it was surely ten o'clock. Ron quietly jumped down from Harry and removed his wand. He then tucked Hermione's robes into his jacket as Harry began transforming.
"It's freezing here..." Ron whispered looking into the trees before them. It was an unnatural cold...
"Yeah…" Harry agreed, standing up from all fours. His face looked pained.
"You alright?" Ron asked, a nervous sensation moving through him. "Are you getting a vision or something? Can you see her?"
"No…no…I've just never flown that far before." Harry replied massaging his right shoulder and then his left. "But I'm fine."
"Whenwill the Order arrive?" Ron asked, looking about them uneasily; he already felt as if they were being watched.
"Soon."
"So…into the trees or over the hill?"
Harry frowned as he looked at their two choices. He too had his wand ready. "I vote for the hill…but we'll have to go by foot. It's too foggy for me to fly over." Harry replied.
Ron nodded in agreement, looking up at the hill. "Harry…" Ron began, "This hill is more like a bunch of…well…"
"Jagged rocks?" Harry offered darkly.
"Well…yeah…" Ron replied. He hadn't been thinking of Harry's vision of Ginny at all…until now…but that was crazy…
"Harry, Ginny's at Hogwarts." Ron said evenly."She'll be safe there."
There was no response, but Ron didn't have time to wait for one. So, he started to approach the hill, but before he could take one step, Harry held a hand out to stop him.
"Maybe we should wait for the Order." Harry muttered, scanning the sky.
"Wait?" Ron asked incredulously. "Are you mental? We can't just stand here. It's already been at least two hours since the bastard took her!"
"I know, but…"
"Listen, if you would rather wait around to see if Ginny decided to tag along with the Order…fine…but I can't just stand here."
"That's not what-…"
"Harry-"
"I know you love her!" Harry whispered urgently, grabbing Ron's arm. "I love Hermione too, but if we're going to find her we're going to have to work together. The only reason I suggested waiting was because I don't know what we're going to encounter on this island and I want to make sure we do what's best for her. If we'll have a better chance of getting her out of there when the Order arrives, then I think we should wait for the Order. Last time I rushed into the unknown…someone got killed."
"I'm sorry." Ron muttered. "You're right… But can we at least search the island for the castle instead of just standing around?"
"The castle could be bigger than Hogwarts, and we won't see it." Harry said, rubbing his finger along his scar.
"What do you mean we won't see it?" Ron asked desperately, feeling as if the pulse of his heart were a steady reminder of the seconds ticking by.
"Do you really think this Slytherin School of Magic would still be hidden if it weren't under the Fidelius Charm?" Harry asked, lowering his hand from his forehead.
"The Fidelius Charm?" Ron breathed, a feeling of dread washing over him. "So, how are we going to get in?"
"We'll have to get the location from the Secret Keeper." Harry replied. His eyes then narrowed as he continued, "And…there's only one person Voldemort would trust as his Secret Keeper."
"Himself…" Ron rubbed his hand down his face in frustration.
"Right." Harry said with a note of finality. "I'm going to have to delve into his mind to find the secret of this place's location."
"But I still wont' be able to see the place."
"Not yet." Harry began, "But there's another way to see a place without getting the information from the Secret Keeper. You'll have to look through the front doors."
"That's all?" Ron asked surprised. Harry simply nodded, before looking Ron up and down.
"Can you turn your clothes black?" Harry asked hastily.
Ron glanced down at his attire. Blue jeans, a bright orange shirt, and a red jacket…great for Quidditch, but not for sneaking around an island. Ron immediately began an incantation for darkening his clothes; Harry did the same. Harry then began tapping Ron on the shoulder with his wand, and murmuring something under his breath. Ron was about to ask Harry what he was doing when he felt the sensation of ice-cold water trickling down his back.
"Disillusionment Charm." Harry said simply, before he then performed the same incantation to himself. Ron watched as his friend disappeared.
"Alright," Harry began quietly, "Before we start wandering around this place, I should at least make sure I have the ability to see the castle…so…uh…hang on a second."
Ron heard Harry take a deep breath before going completely silent. Please find it…Ron thought desperately. Ron was preparing himself for a long wait. Surely extracting information of this importance from Voldemort's mind was not an easy task.
"Come on…" Harry whispered suddenly. Ron felt his arm being grabbed, and he was then ushered to the side of the hill. "You go first; I'll follow your sound."
"Wh-…you've found it already?" Ron asked with a mixture of awe and relief.
"Yeah…had to be quick." Harry responded. "I don't think Voldemort would like it much if he knew his Secret Keeper wasn't doing his job properly."
"So, why in bloody hell didn't you do that when we first found out about this Slytherin School?" Ron asked in exasperation.
"I did." Harry said simply. "It's only because we're so close to him that I could enter his mind that easily."
"So, can you see it now?" Ron asked, feeling a bit more hopeful.
"No…but I'd wager a handful of galleons it's over this hill."
Ron nodded even though Harry couldn't see him, before placing one hand on the wall of the hill. It was difficult to tell any detail about the hill, other than it was just as dark as the night sky, but Ron had expected to feel some sort of grass or moss covering the jagged rise. He had instead grabbed hold of a very hard, smooth surface.
Harry had said he would follow Ron's sound, so Ron began awkwardly scaling the stone. This wasn't a nicely rounded hill at all, Ron soon discovered. It was segment after segment of vertical slabs of rock. After scaling each segment, there would be a one-foot-width ledge followed by another wall to clamber up. It was such a slow process. Ron had to find something to hold onto with each hand, then find a small crevice for his foot, before hoisting himself up a little ways and repeating the process. Ron soon broke into a sweat. His hands and nose were freezing, but his clothes were drenched.
The forest that they had decided not to venture inside, seemed to rise alongside the hill. Ron was sure there was a soft, mossy ground in the forest, which rose over a nice rounded hill, but Ron much preferred the jagged rocks to the foggy trees. He didn't trust those trees. He and Harry couldn't risk being captured by liontaurs for an easier route.
While climbing one particular segment of his preferred rock, Ron heard a grunt from Harry and the sound of a chunk of rock falling down the walls to the ground. He then heard a whispered, 'I'm fine…keep going,' but it was then that Ron realized how far up they had gone. It had taken that chunk of rock a while before it had ceased its tumbling…its noisy tumbling. Ron hadn't heard or seen anyone since they had landed, but he felt as if their presence was known.
After what felt like forever, Ron saw something on the next ledge…a tree… no…several trees. Ron quickened his pace up the wall until he reached a ledge that didn't contain a black wall in front of it. Instead, this ledge was actually a vast field with a spattering of trees, and a stream running across it.
They were on a plateau. The fog was so dense overhead; the night sky was no longer visible. But, Ron could see the entire area of this strange plateau, which had a perimeter surrounded by the strange jagged hills like the one he and Harry had just climbed. At one end of the plateau, however, there was a wall of mountains that extended up past the fog.
"There…" Harry whispered, panting slightly. Ron was wheezing, as well, and he hadscrapes on the palms of his hands.
"The castle?" Ron asked.
"You see those mountains?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, the castle is in front of them…or…well, it's sort of built into them. Anyway, I know I said we should wait for the Order, but we can't just stand here now that I have it in sight…let's g-…"
"What do you mean you've lost him?"
Ron froze mid-breath as an angry voice echoed along the plateau. Turning toward the sound, Ron saw two black-robed, hooded figures emerging from the forest that he and Harry had bypassed. They had come to a halt just outside the perimeter of the trees, and one of them seemed to be yelling into the forest.
"Answer me! How do you lose a sixteen-foot tall giant?"
Ron was sure his open mouth had just opened wider. It was quite possible or even probable that there were thousands of sixteen-foot tall giants in the world… But Ron only knew of one…
"It would be easier to find Giant if Dark Lord's Dementors would leave island and take cold and white haze with them." Said a deep voice from someone…or something, who was now emerging from the trees.
"Wemic…" Ron breathed as he stared at the massive creature. Ron had always seen centaurs as being mildly creepy, but they were nothing as compared to this beast with a necklace of stone discs around his tattooed neck.
"I thought you Wemics were supposed to be good trackers!" The angry man shouted, "You should be able to find a giant blind-folded!"
"We think he may have entered caves. Besides, there is another presence you should worry about now." The Wemic said gravely. Ron then felt Harry grab his arm and pull him behind a rather large tree trunk.
"Presence?" The man asked haughtily, "You stupid superstitious beast…"
The Wemic took one step forward, which brought him to stand in front of the Death Eater. He then reached one large hand down, grasped the Death Eater by the collar, and lifted him from the ground. The other hooded figure ran a few steps backward and removed his wand.
"My name is not Wemic or Beast, it is Aloysius, Guarder of the Trees, and you will do well to remember that, Rastaban…" Aloysius growled before dropping Rastaban, who fell hard to the ground, but quickly stood and removed his wand. "You as well, Vincent. You do not want to meet fate like your son."
Before Ron could truly take in the phrase 'fate like your son,'Crabbe let out a yell and shot a purple jet of light toward Aloysius, who at the same time, removed one of the discs from his necklace and threw it to the ground. A wall of rock, similar to those Ron and Harry had just been climbing, shot up from the ground where the disc had fallen, deflecting the curse, which Crabbe quickly ducked.
"I am true friend of Earth, and your wizard spells are no match for that." Aloysius shouted, turning for the trees. "Rocks tell me of a presence. You have been warned." He added before disappearing into the forest.
Crabbe helped Lestrange up from the ground, and they both put their wands away. "The rocks tell him of a presence?" Lestrange hissed, brushing his robes off, "The beasts are mad…"
"We should tell the Dark Lord that we've yet to find the giant." Crabbe said as he and Lestrange began making their way toward the mountains, where Harry had said the castle was situated. Ron felt Harry grab hold of his arm again and begin leading him after the two Death Eaters.
"He won't be happy." Lestrange muttered.
"He has the girl." Crabbe began, "It's possible he'll give us a break."
Crabbe and Lestrange exchanged a worried look before quickening their pace toward the castle. Ron and Harry quickened their paces as well. 'He has the girl.' Ron repeated to himself. She's alright… He wouldn't have worded it that way if Hermione were…
Ron tried to clear his head as they neared the mountains. He needed to focus. They were about to gain entrance. These idiots were leading them right through the front doors and they didn't even realize it. That Wemic had 'sensed a presence.' Ron was sure it was him and Harry. He wasn't sure how or why their presence was sensed, but Ron wanted to make sure and keep a good distance between himself and the liontaurs.
Wand in hand, Ron began going over some of the spells he'd learned this term from Whitman. That curse Crabbe had sent toward Aloysius was fairly sloppy in Ron's opinion, and his hope of saving Hermione was growing a bit with each step. He was beginning to realize that Death Eaters were simply men… The only things they had that Ron didn't was experience and ruthlessness…
Suddenly, Ron's self-confidence boosting was interrupted by the sudden halt of Harry, who held Ron back. The Death Eaters stopped as well, and Ron saw Lestrange reaching a hand out into thin air. Lestrange then closed his fist and pulled backward. As Ron stood completely still, trying his hardest to keep his heavy breathing as quiet as possible, a long hallway appeared before him…a long, stone, green-flame lit hallway in the middle of air.
Then, a large black door appeared, followed by a colossal castle of black stone. Above the black doors was an engraving of a green snake and the words, 'Slytherin School of Magic.'
Harry released Ron's arm as the two Death Eaters stepped inside the castle. As soon as their feet had crossed over the threshold the doors began to close, and Ron and Harry immediately slipped inside.
The heavy doors slammed shut behind them, and Ron and Harry exchanged a look of relief. They had made it…undetected and… Wait… Ron and Harry turned toward one another, and Harry's horrified expression was surely mimicked on Ron's face. Ron pressed himself up against the wall to the right of the doors; Harry did the same on the wall opposite him. Luckily there were two stone columns shielding them from view.
Neither of them had counted on the possibility of their Disillusionment Charm not working once inside the castle. But they should have… of course Voldemort would have numerous charms and enchantments on his lair!
Crabbe and Lestrange, somehow still oblivious to Ron and Harry's presence, continued down the long hallway, passed two doors on the left and two on the right, toward a large marbled staircase at the opposite end. Ron had a good guess at who resided at the top of those stairs.
"So, Egon is the name of the Wemic that the Dark Lord is growing weary of?" Asked a horribly familiar voice.
Ron peeked around his column to see Lucius Malfoy and a shorter, balding man descending the stairs at the opposite end of the hall. The shorter man was Peter Pettigrew. Ron saw something shining at the hem of Pettigrew's sleeve…something silver; it was the hand Harry had told he and Hermione about. The sick feeling Ron had at the sight of Pettigrew was overshadowed by the burning anger in his stomach at Malfoy. The man who had attempted to take Hermione…the man who had attacked her home was standing within hexing distance, but Ron had to stay hidden. Now was not the time for revenge.
"Yeah...Egon…" Pettigrew murmured tiredly. "He asksquestion after question. I think he's smarter than the others."
Lucius' and Pettigrew's steps halted when they met the other two men in the corridor. Lucius drawling voice echoed, "The Dark Lord does not wish to see anyone for the rest of the night."
"So, what are we supposed to-…" Lestrange began, but Lucius interrupted.
"Sleep."
"Sleep?"
"Rastaban, you and Vincent will watch her cell after my watch." Lucius said. Ron clenched his fists at the term 'cell.'
"Well, when is your watch?" Crabbe asked.
"Now." Lucius replied. "I don't know who's on watch with me, but we will alert both of you when it is time to trade posts."
Crabbe grunted in response before he and Lestrange turned, and thefour Death Eaters began making their way back down the corridor toward Ron and Harry. Please don't go outside… Ron thought, his wand ready at his side… Please go through one of the doorways…
Ron's heart was beating so hard he was afraid one of the Death Eaters might hear it, but their footsteps, which had been growing steadily louder, suddenly stopped. Ron leaned forward ever so slightly, despite Harry's shaking head, to see Pettigrew, Rastaban, and Crabbe disappearing up one flight of stairs. Lucius, however, had gone through one of the doorways on the opposite wall.
As soon as all footsteps had faded,Ron crossed the hall to Harry. "Did you see which way Lucius went?" Ron whispered urgently.
"No…" Harry murmured. "I was too busy trying to cast a Disillusionment Charm. It's useless. There's some sort of barrier against them in this castle."
"I figured." Ron muttered. "Well, I know Lucius went through one of the doorways on the right wall…one of us can go up…the other down."
"I agree." Harry began, "Listen, whoever finds her first should get her out of the castle as soon as possible."
"Right. We can meet at that hill we scaled, alright?" Ron offered, looking at the two doorways, "I'll take downstairs."
Harry gave Ron a small pat on the back. "Good luck, mate."
"You too." Ron replied, and then as an afterthought he added, "Hey…if you run into…him…just…just be careful."
Harry nodded; his jaw clenched, before they each approached their respective paths, gave each other a parting nod, and entered the stairwells.
As soon as Ron stepped onto the stairs, he felt sure that this was the way to Hermione. He could smell damp earth, and the deeper he went, the cooler and darker it became. Cold and scared…that's exactly how Voldemort would want his prisoners.
It took Ron a while to reach the bottom of the stairway. He made sure not to make a sound. Once he had reached the downstairs floor, he felt a feeling of foreboding. In front of him stood a large cave entrance with a forked tunnel just beyond the opening. But which way to get to Hermione?
Ron approached the opening and stopped to listen. He couldn't hear anything…but he saw something… There was a smudge mark along the inside curve of the opening on the left-hand side. It looked as if someone had run their fingers along the wall…someone with small fingers. Ron's heart rate began to quicken as he began inching his way down the left tunnel of the fork.
This was the right way… He knew it. The temptation to break into a run was almost overpowering, but Ron settled with the longest strides he could manage. There were torches on the walls, but they were few. There was about one lit torch every twenty yards, creating shadows that moved with the flicking flames.
Ron was about to round a corner, when he noticed a small crevice in the rock. It appeared natural, but he crossed the floor to examine it nonetheless. It was fairly narrow, just big enough for Ron to squeeze into, but it only seemed to be about two feet deep. Stepping out of the crevice, Ron turned to resume his walking when he noticed a large black shadow that he hadn't seen upon entering the crevice.
It was a tall figure in black robes that had just rounded the corner, and their pale face was staring with wide eyes directly at Ron. Professor Snape… Ron opened his mouth to utter the one word reverberating in his skull.. Traitor! But before he could speak…
"Severus?" Lucius Malfoy called from just around the corner. "Have you seen something?"
Ron couldn't see Lucius, but he could hear his steady footsteps… In seconds, two Death Eaters would be staring wide-eyed at him. Ron raised his wand and pointed it at Snape, who suddenly turned his back on Ron.
"No." Snape said suddenly, in a very cool and collected voice. Ron retreated back into his two-foot crevice just as Lucius rounded the corner. Now Ron could see both men, but neither could see him.
"Are you alright?" Lucius asked, sounding a bit suspicious, and looking down the tunnel, of which Ron had just come.
"I'm perfectly alright." Snape said coolly. Ron saw one of Snape's hands move to rest behind his back. He was holding tightly to his wand. "Though, something has just occurred to me. Miss Granger's cell can not simply be opened by a mere Alohomora, can it?"
"Of course not, Severus." Lucius said, turning to Snape with furrowed brows. "Only with a key can anyone open that lock." Lucius added, motioning around the corner from which both men had just come.
"Good then." Snape replied simply before flicking his wrist slightly. There was then a distant sound down the corridor from where Ron had just come. It sounded like the falling of pebbles down a wall.
Lucius raised his wand and pointed down the tunnel, a curious look on his face. "It's probably one of those damned felines…"
"Yes, but we shouldn't assume." Snape drawled, taking a few steps down the tunnel, toward Ron's crevice. "Shall we?"
Lucius sighed agitatedly before following behind Snape's hasty footsteps. Ron leaned as far back into the crevice as possible as the two men walked straight passed him. Snape did not even cut his eyes in Ron's direction. As Ron let out a long, silent breath, he made a promise to himself to never complain about his Potions essays again…if he were to get out of this alive.
As soon as Ron could no longer hear their footsteps, he stepped out of his crevice and hurried around the corner. And there it was… there was one, lone, metal door against the left wall of the tunnel. There was a keyhole, but no handle or window. And…just down the tunnel from the door was another fork.
Ron placed one hand on the cold metal of the door. He then pressed his ear against it, but heard nothing. It didn't matter… he knew… Hermione was just beyond this door. But he had no key… Ron ran one anxious hand through his hair as he glanced nervously one way and then the other. Maybe Lucius was wrong…
"Alohomora!" Ron whispered urgently. Nothing…
Would he have to use a powerful spell to destroy the door? That was too dangerous. Hermione could be injured. But he had no key! Wait! Ron's heart stopped in his chest as he began scanning the cave floor for a small rock of some sort.
"There!" Ron whispered, crossing the tunnel and picking up a rock that fit nicely in his palm. He then crossed back to the door, held the rock up to the keyhole and put his wand to the rock. "Pacefarius." He muttered.
The rock immediately turned into a golden key. "Blimey, I love Transfiguration…" Ron breathed, holding the key up for inspection.
Ron turned his head quickly to one side. Footsteps…but not from the direction of Lucius and Snape… He didn't have time to stick around and find out who was approaching with steady…and somewhat odd… footsteps. Ron thrust the key into the door, turned it, and heard the glorious sound of an unlatching lock. Without further delay, Ron removed the key, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. Without so much as a glance about the room, he returned the key to its rock form, and lodged it between the door and its frame. He should still be able to open it, yet it would appear closed from the outside…hopefully.
"Hermione?" Ron croaked.
There she was. She was sitting in one corner of the small cell, draped in shadows, her knees pulled into her chest. Her clothes were tattered…her hair beyond bushy…scrapes covered her legs, arms, and face… And her expression… She was staring up at him with her mouth partway open and a few silent tears welling in her brown eyes.
"Hermione…" Ron repeated again as he took long strides toward her.
"Get…away…" She said shakily, through gritted teeth as she hoisted herself up off the ground. Ron stopped in his tracks. "Don't even think about touching me! You cruel, hateful…" Her angry voice trailed off as she roughly wiped the few fallen tears from her cheeks.
"Hermione, it's me." Ron said softly, using all the willpower he had in him to keep from embracing her. "Harry and I traveled four hundred miles over the ocean to-…"
"Stop it!" She screamed. Ron held a hand up to silence her as he looked worriedly at the door, but she continued,"You finished your task, haven't you? I'm here, aren't I? Why can't you just leave me alone? Why can't you-."
Ron took the remaining two steps between them and placed his fingers gently over her lips. She placed both hands on his chest, and began to push on him…but she stopped. He stared deeply into her eyes, and he felt her quick, warm breath on his fingertips becoming quicker as she gazed at him with furrowed brows.
Reaching into his jacket, Ron removed her wand and placed it in one of her delicate hands. Her eyes widened as she looked at this unexpected token. Ron then reached into his jacket again and removed her robes. He gently draped them around her shoulders, which then began shaking with sobs as she looked up at him and released a hugh sigh.
Hermione flung both arms around Ron's neck and began softly sobbing into his jacket collar. He wrapped his arms around her without hesitation as silent tears began rolling down his own cheeks.
"Thank bloody Merlin…" Ron said as he breathed in her wonderful scent…her wonderfully alive scent. She was still sobbing, and her robes fell from her shoulders to the floor.
"I've been thinking of all the things I wanted to tell you if I ever saw you again, but now that you're here I can't remember any of them." Shewhispered as she clung to him.
"How about, 'I love you?" Ron asked, using one hand to quickly wipe his eyes before leaning down to take her lips with his. This kiss was soft and lingering. Time was short at the moment...too short for adequate words and embraces, but it was a kiss that said everything for them.
"I love you..." She whispered as their kiss ended. Ron rested his forehead upon hers for a moment, before she nestled her head into his chest and wrapped her arms about his waist. And it was then that Ron noticed the back of Hermione's shirt.
"Oh hell…what did they do to you?" He asked, leaning back from their embrace to judge her eyes.
"Ron…" She began, wiping her confused eyes with her hands, "…I was kidnapped."
"No, Hermione...I mean, the back of your shirt is completely covered in blood!" Ron whispered urgently, trying to turn her around by her shoulders; she was resisting. "Let me see it, Hermione. You're hurt."
"We don't have time for that, though." Hermione said swiftly, picking her robes up off the floor. "Someone could come at any moment."
Ron sighed heavily as he looked from the door to the ceiling, unwillingly admitting to himself that she was quite right.
"How did you get here?" She asked as she hastily pulled on her robes and buttoned them.
"With a little help from the mirrors…a little help from Neville's potion…and a lot of help from a Pegasus." Ron replied before leaning down to kiss Hermione's lips once more.
"So Harry…he's…" Hermione began worriedly.
Ron glanced up at the solid stone ceiling of the cell. "He's…about." He muttered before looking back down at Hermione's increasingly furrowing brows. "Look, right now we just need to worry about getting you out of this place."
"Ron, no!" Hermione exclaimed, "I went and got myself kidnapped so it's my fault Harry's here. We can't just leave him!"
"Hermione, Harry and I already have a meeting place. We've worked it all out. I mean, as far as we know-"
"Great Scarred One is already on grounds."
Ron swung around, instinctively aiming his wand at the intruder, with the intent of disarming. However, the intruder, who had to duck under the doorframe in order to enter, had no wand. As Ron looked from the massive beast's paws to his long mane of hair, the absence of a wand brought him little solace. If the beast were to enter the cell completely, he would fill the room.
"Look, Wemic," Ron began, keeping his wand arm steady, "If you come any closer, I will be forced to-"
"His name is Egon." Hermione interrupted in a small voice. Ron's breath caught in his throat, and he looked down at her with one raised eyebrow.
"You know him?" He asked incredulously.
"Well…we've met." Hermione replied, keeping her head tilted back and her eyes on the Wemic. There was a strange silent moment in which the three cellmates took turns looking from one to the other, but then Egon spoke.
"I see small boy wandering from castle. I follow him, and discover him to be Great Scarred One of legend. He discovers dark secret of Dark Lord."
"Is he talking about Harry?" Ron asked Hermione with wide eyes, his wand still pointed at Egon's chest. Hermione simply clung to Ron's arm and looked at him with worried eyes.
"I must explain from beginning…" Egon said before backing out of the cell, "But not here. Will you follow me?" He asked as Ron and Hermione stepped out of the small cell cautiously looking from left to right.
"How do we know we can trust you not to lead us straight to Voldemort?" Ron asked quietly, quickly grasping Hermione's hand.
"You don't." Egon replied before turning around to face the wall opposite the now closed cell door. "But to your left is Wemic grotto and to right are black robed men. My path is safest."
Ron looked down the tunnel from left to right. What did this creature mean by 'his way?' There was no other way out.
"Egon…" Hermione began, and by the way she bit her lip, Ron knew she was thinking the same as him.
"Will you follow?" Egon asked.
Ron looked to Hermione, and they exchanged anxious glances. The Wemic then approached the wall directly opposite the cell and stopped. Ron was contemplating whether he would rather face Death Eaters or Wemics… Death Eaters were not as physically strong, but they had enough sense not to stare at cave walls at times such as these.
Deciding that it was time to bid farewell to Egon, Ron approached the beast's side, and gently cleared his throat. "Um…Egon…I appreciate the offer, but in truth, we don't have time for…for…-"
"Truth is always in plain sight." Egon replied simply without so much as a glance down at Ron, who was now beginning to lose his patience entirely.
Egon then removed one solitary glass bead from his necklace. The beads on his necklace were transparent with colored mist inside. This particular bead contained purple mist. Without warning, Egon threw the bead to the ground before the wall, where it shattered, releasing the purple mist to risefrom the ground and cling to the solid cave wall. An opening to another tunnel immediately appeared.
"Well," Ron began, squeezing tightly to Hermione's hand, "That's definitely in plain sight."
"Let's go." Hermione said without waiting for Egon. She pushed passed the Wemic, dragging Ron behind her, and entered the new tunnel, which was identical to those on the other side, minus the torches.
Egon followed behind them, and as soon as his lengthy body was through the cave door, the opening disappeared. This tunnel was identical to those on the other side, minus the torches.
"Lumos." Ron and Hermione said together. The white light from their wands illuminated the path winding in front of them, for a solid ten yards.
With their hands clasped and their lit wands held high, Ron and Hermione let the Wemic move around them and begin to lead the way down the tunnel. As Ron squeezed tightly to Hermione's hand, he felt a surge of empowerment. He loved her so much. His world was walking beside him, bravely, after a night of pure terror, and Ron knew that he would stop at nothing to get them off of this island alive.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying the story as the ending takes on this new 'feel.' Very sorry for the delay in updating, but chapter 44 should be the last actual chapter. I will add an Epilogue, however, which will take slot 45 (at least, this is the plan right now). I really really really appreciate everyone's patience with the update, and I hope to read everyone's review on this newest chapter. Thanks to all of you!