(A/N: If you noticed, my chapter are getting a tad bit more dark than usual. I always thought I was best at making dark stories/poems. Anywho, let's see what our group of prisoners are doing…)
It was still night when the group fell asleep in the dungeon after their confrontation with Voldermort. The eerie silence continued the whole night, undisturbed. The only sound was the dripping of water from another end of the room which was covered with stalagmites and stalactites. It was around five on the morning when Harry woke up sleepily. He sighed. "Only three hours of sleep," he muttered. He lied down on the floor again and shut his eyes. Suddenly, the doors flew open. They slammed against the walls and the clang echoed throughout the room. Harry's eyes darted open as he looked at Voldermort who has walked into the room, the hem of the back of his robes trailing behind him.
"Wake up!" Voldermort yelled. "Wake up!" The rest of them woke up immediately, their faces still sleepy and drowsy. He walked towards the chained heap of teenagers on the floor. His eyes trailed away from Harry, and searched the rest of them. His face was stony and Harry couldn't read his expression but Harry knew he was looking for the one that was closest to Harry; Harry's closest friend in other words.
Harry crossed his fingers behind his back and stared at Voldermort, hoping that he would not turn to Ron and Hermione. Voldermort took no notice of Harry and looked at Fred and George with much interest, but turning away after a moment or two later. "Just to let you off easy, Harry," Voldermort said in his high and raspy voice. He had given up on finding Harry's weak point and was looking at Danielle. "I'll choose the other immortal." Danielle put on a strong face as she was dragged by her chains to the centre of the room. As soon as Voldermort let go of the chains, they released the prisoner and slithered back to the rest of the group.
Voldermort whipped his wand out of his pocket and pointed it directly at Danielle's heart. "Crucio," he whispered. A jet of green light shot from his wand and connected with Danielle, the green light spread through her body and she screamed. She was surrounded by a green glow which pierced her skin and twisted her body in impossible positions, but left it unmarked. Her screaming became louder and more unbearable.
Harry tried to run towards Voldermort but the chains had a mind of their own. They dragged him back and started to continuously slam him against the wall. They threw him a few feet away and dragged him back fast and slammed him like a cracking whip. Voldermort smirked at him as the others tried winced as they tried to help Harry. The chains had tightened their grip and were cutting their skin. He laughed at the pain that the group was receiving. Voldermort lifted the curse from Danielle and pointed his wand at the bewitched chains. He swept his wand over them and the chains loosened their grip on the group and the slamming stopped.
He did a jab motion on everyone and their cuts on their wrists and ankles were healed. They looked at Voldermort, utter confusion written over their faces. "I don't intend for you to bleed to death before you have received your punishments," Voldermort said. "Anyway, the Mudbloods will just stain the floor with you dirty blood. There was a jangle of chains as most of the group tried to get out of their shackles and handcuffs. "I seem to have touched a nerve," Voldermort said mockingly. "But I will numb your nerves afterwards with my punishments. Soon after a few days, I guarantee, all of you will be rubbing your sore or torn muscles soon."
Voldermort turned around and face Danielle. "Crucio," he muttered. The spell surrounded her body once again and she began to squirm as her arms and legs bent in the wrong ways. Blood streamed from her limbs, this time and her screams pierced invisible holes of guilt in Harry's heart. He looked at her, feeling useless and good-for-nothing as he saw her twitch.
Draco on the other hand, wasn't taking this so well either. In fact, he was feeling worse. He scrambled to his feet and tried to make his way towards her. The chains tightened their grip, making slits on his wrists and ankles. Blood streamed out but they were quickly replaced as he healed. He fell and the chains dragged him back. Nagini bit his thigh and he felt paralysed for a few minutes but felt normal again. His head throbbed and pain was felt in every inch of his body. Not long enough, Draco was left in a bloody heap. Most of his arteries were punctured and blood streamed out. But he still lived and looked at Danielle, helplessly. The chains loosen their grip, but he jerked his hand again and the chains tightened their grip. He was punishing himself for not trying hard enough to help his cousin that he loved so much. He soon ran out of energy to move and the chains loosen. His slits and the snake bite healed and he took in a deep breath. This was always a sign that he had completely healed.
Soon, after, Voldermort lifted the curse with a bored expression. He walked slowly out of the room and the chains slithered to Danielle. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot and she made no movement. As soon she was with the group, Draco hugged her limp and greyish body. She was caught between life and death and the spell in both of them was shoving her back to the world of the living. Colour came into her face and her heart was beating again. She still lay limply in Draco's comforting arms and stared at the ceiling. She took in a deep breath but still laid immobile her arms hung, swaying, at her sides.
Sirius sat closely to both of them and stared at Danielle. "You really care for her, don't you?" Sirius asked.
"It's my duty and joy," Draco muttered.
"So, she's your cousin," Sirius said.
"No, my grandmother adopted her father unofficially," Draco muttered. "She's not my cousin."
"Do you love her?" Sirius asked.
"As family and a little more," Draco said. "But I know you love her too."
"Yeah, but you love her more, don't you?" Sirius said.
"I do," Draco said.
"You can have her," Sirius said. "You know, as you girl."
"But you love her," Draco said, looking up and staring at Sirius in disbelief.
"For as long as you know me, you know I can't handle commitment to someone," Sirius said, smiling. "You have already given her commitment. Anyway, I won't be here for long until I go. You'll probably never see me again. I want her to be happy with someone that has no intention of leaving. Someone who's always going to be there for her. Keep your commitment strong."
"Wise words come from people who understand," Draco said. "Thank you."
"Friends help each other out," Sirius said. "I made a promise on your fake grave. I will keep you company and accept you as a member of this group. That means everyone gets treated fairly and equally and gets what they deserve."
Danielle heard all this and smiled. "Good friends get what they deserve," she repeated. Her muscles were still sore and she winced as she sat up. She looked at Sirius and hugged him. "We'll still be friends," Sirius said patting her back. "I know," she whispered. "All of us are still friends to each other." After she said this, she gasped and collapsed. Draco caught her head as she held her stomach. There was a slit in her shirt and a red, glowing scar was visible. "I thought that you healed when you are injured," Sirius said. "Yes, but when we are really close to death, a painful scar forms as we come back to life. It's sort of the fine print of the immortality spell," Draco said, stroking Danielle's hair.
"Every day, I learn more and more," Sirius said in utter amazement. "That's life Padfoot," James said. "You'd better come over here, Moony is looking peaky." "I think I'm going to barf," Remus said. "Full moon tonight."
Draco looked at Remus, then remembered Professor Lupin. He looked at Harry and James and then at Lily. The resemblance was clear. Sirius, he had heard that name before. Draco was clueless at first, but he knew how to put two and two together. "Where did you say you guys came from?" Draco asked. "Uhhh," the Marauders said. "Or maybe, the question is what year?" Draco asked. "What are you talking about?" Elvira, Nadia and Danielle asked in unison. "You guys have got some serious explaining to do," Draco said. "That means, Sirius gets to explain," James said. "From all of you please, the truth is best told than kept," Draco said.
(A/N: So, Sirius let Draco take over of loving Danielle. Anyway, he'll be back in time and continue with his life. The next time Danielle sees him, it'll probably be never as Sirius said. Sad endings make way for good ones, but this author is strange… And this author has total control of what happens. Until then, Harry Potter stories rule! And so does Emily Strange merchandise!)