(A/N: I have been terrible about updating lately haven't I? I apologize, but words could not describe the whirlwind that this past weekend has been. I meant to update on Friday but certain events prevented me from doing so. So I'm terribly sorry but I thank you all enthusiastically about your outstanding patience on my behalf. THANK YOU THANK YOU! Reviews for last chapter were wonderful as always! So another lovely THANK YOU for those as well! Next chapter is not stared yet, and depending on how things go on my second audition in three days, we'll see how much time I have on my hands. This chapter was surprisingly easy to write though, so hopefully that shows. Again I honestly want to say how wonderful you all are, your reviews simply make my day! Anyways, here's Chapter Twenty-One, enjoy! Much love, Haystack)
EvelyneJ: I'm very glad you can handle the not happiness that most of my stories tend to have. It's not that I enjoy writing dark stories or am not a happy person (I am honestly lol) but I find things more dramatic and interesting this way. Some people can't handle it, but what can I say, its my style. I wanted to thank you though for putting in a little constructive criticism about not enough description sometimes. THANK YOU! That's lovely! I love advice like that. I want my fic to be as enjoyable for everyone so if there's anything else I can do, add, touch up, redo, etc. let me know! I added more description and less dialogue in this chapter just for you, so hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reviewing!
cumbacksirius: Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I am glad that you liked last chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Smiles28: Aw you're so sweet! Your review definitely made me smile! Thank you so much!
Ron'n'Hermione: I completely agree with you! One of my worst fears is rape, it's such a terrible thing! Yes, I could think of a few things to do to Voldemort if he was within range as well. Hehee…thanks for reviewing as always!
Bhekie: Yes I know it's all very sad. Poor Ron and Hermione really have gone through a lot haven't they? Thanks so much for reviewing!
volleyballin17: Aw this is such a nice review! It made me smile all day! I'm astounded and honored beyond belief that you think my story is as good as some books you've read! What a compliment! Thank you! Well I hope you like this chapter, hope to hear from you again!
Blake-Tori88: I'm sorry to have kept you in suspense for so long! It's here It's here now! I feel so bad, but hopefully it'll be enough to revive you from that wait! Thanks so much for reviewing!
ShimmeringEvil: I'm glad you liked the descriptive-ness! Sorry about the update! Hope you like this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
Alicia-B: Yes, Harry is dead. It's sad but necessary. :( I'm glad you liked last chapter though! Sorry about the update but thanks so much for reviewing!
Lafawnduh4: I feel obligated that I must have you take back your comment about my quick updates! I feel terrible about this one, a week is much too long, but time kind of slipped by this week. Lol Anyways, I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you so much for reviewing!
AmyChris: Always glad to help you transfer your problems away and bring you into the Harry Potter world that provides so much comfort for everyone! Gosh you have to love it! JKR is a genius, honestly! Your review was so sweet, thanks so much! It brightened my day! Thanks as always, and I hope you like this chapter!
dancerrdw: I feel sooooo terrible about the update! I am so sorry to have kept you in suspense for so long! Thanks for your review though about hopefully this chapter will somewhat make up for the wait! Thanks so much as always!
(A/N: One more quick author note (you're all going to hate me for this) but CLIFFHANGER AHEAD! You have been warned! Lol)
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: HARSH REALITY
To Hermione, it was the strangest way of running she had ever experienced. It was draining…both physically and emotionally and she was beginning to feel faint; she could tell that Ron knew by his almost inaudible whisperings and encouraging glances. She was trying…she really was! But after the torture she'd succumbed to earlier, it was rather difficult.
With a tug on her arm, she began to sprint down another hallway behind Ron. The building was much bigger than it appeared; Hermione knew that even with all her Arithimacy skills she would have never guessed just how much by looking at it.
A downward yank on her hand sent her to the ground, pressing her chest and body to the floor, trying to become as small as possible, her breaths heavy and regulated. Ron never let go of her hand, the sound of his breathing comforting her. Once they heard boots pass by, they quietly got off the ground and again began to run.
It was hard work. Hermione silently blessing Quidditch for the first time in her life for giving Ron his quick reflexes. Up and down they went, around one corner and then the next. A couple of times they had to turn around because of Death Eaters that blocked the exits.
Her lungs honestly felt like they were going to explode…but she couldn't rest! She had to keep going! Had to keep running. Because the choice to rest might be the choice between death or life. They had an opportunity to leave! To leave Voldemort, his Death Eaters, and all the horrors he inflicted, behind. It was more than Hermione could have hoped for. She wanted to leave this all in the past. Wanted to start a new life with Ron. Where? It didn't matter at the moment. She wanted to leave Hogwarts behind. Wanted to leave the Wizarding World behind….if only for a few years. All she needed was Ron, he was the key to everything.
With the thought of returning to a more stable world, of having another shot at life, of living in peace with Ron, her heart fluttered, and she pushed herself on. This was too precious of a thing to risk.
Her feet pounded the ground and as Ron guided her into the shadows of a corner, she finally received the chance to regain her breath support. As she keeled over panting, Hermione's eyes darted around. All seemed safe….nonsuspicious and quiet….well…maybe a little bit too quiet.
Suspicion clutching her, her eyes swept everything in front of her. Nothing.
"Ron…" She whispered quietly
"What?"
"Something's wrong…" She said, flinching at the sound of breathing. Chiding herself, she saw that it was Ron's breath coming out slowly from his lungs.
A hot spot of air passed over her and Hermione shivered. By now Ron too was searching for whatever she was.
Nothing moved. There were no boots pounding on the hallways, there were no voices, there were no screams of torture, no shuddering breaths of death, no moaning or shouts….it was silent.
This is wrong! Hermione's brain screamed at her. It can't be silent in a prison!
Heart beating rapidly, Hermione held onto Ron tightly.
"What-"
"I don't know" He interrupted, reading her mind.
"Let's go," She whispered fearfully
"No…I bet it's a trap"
"Ron I'm scared. Please, let's go"
"I'm not going to walk blindly into some trap. Just hold on, I'm sure they'll make themselves known soon"
"I don't like this"
"Just shush…listen"
Hermione bit her lip to prevent her from saying anything more. Looking around, she had the eerie sense that she was being watched. Drawing her arms in front of her protectively, she shivered.
But at the swishing sound of air, she froze. Ron walked away for a moment and looked around the corner, unaware of Hermione's state.
She could feel it…someone was behind her. She shut her eyes, willing herself to move; but her feet wouldn't obey. Run to him! Run! She screamed at herself. Yet she remained planted to the ground.
There! In the corner of her eyes she saw it. A hand was extending over her shoulder ever so slowly. Fear filled her chest and Hermione held in her breath, watching the pale hand move downwards towards her arm.
At the touch of the ice cold hand to her wrist, her eyes shot up to Ron's figure which was still peering around the corner.
"Ron…" She breathed
"You think maybe they left?"
"Ron" She said louder, as the person pulled her arm backwards
"I wouldn't put it past them"
"RON!" She screamed suddenly as the person pulled her to them, a knife brought out
"What?" He asked annoyed as he spun around to face her, his expression melting off his face
"GO!" Her capturer screamed
It was beyond anything Hermione had ever imagined. In the blink of an eye, at least 10 Death Eaters suddenly appeared, all charging towards Ron, wands raised.
As Hermione felt something warm and thick, much like a blanket, fall on her foot; she looked down only to find it gone. Invisibility cloaks! Hermione only had one moment for her jaw to drop with horror before she was thrown over the shoulder of her capturer, no longer free, her dreams and hopes suddenly diminished.
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She'd fought and screamed, used every once of energy she had left in her body, but it was to no avail. The man would simply knock her into the walls they passed if she complained. After enough blows to her head, Hermione was quickly silenced.
She was brought to a chamber. It was wet and dark, dim torches providing the only light. At first Hermione feared it was another torture chamber, but the large chair in the front of the room proved her otherwise.
It was green, the deepest green Hermione had ever seen, nothing like the comforting color of Harry's eyes. Though it was wooden, it was carved with snakes all over it. And as though the snakes engraved on the doors and walls weren't enough, live snakes slithered and hissed all over the room.
She was shoved to the floor and her hands quickly bound, her capturer holding her hair like a leash. The slightest move and he would yank it out.
But suddenly the sound of doors opening echoed throughout the chamber, two men bringing a struggling Ron inside.
She wanted to call out, wanted to say something, but instead she turned her head, looking intently at the puddle of water she was kneeling in.
She ignored the sounds of struggle, ignored the musical hissing of the snakes and the shouts of the remaining 7 Death Eaters who entered, she ignored the clicking sound of a lock and the whispered apology of Ron. Instead, she focused on the image she saw in the water.
Hermione had had enough Muggle schooling to know that when she looked into a body of water, the person she saw in it was herself. But as she gazed at the tiny puddle, she barely recognized the person staring back at her.
She was pale and unbelievably skinny. Her hair had never looked so dreadful, like the whomping willow after Harry and Ron had driven the enchanted car into it in second year. She sported cuts of all kinds on her face alone, a cut above her lip currently still bleeding. But it was her eyes that frightened her. They were cold, emotionless, and haunting. They were the eyes of a prisoner of war, of a woman faced with death, a raped woman, a woman who succumbed to torture, a warrior, of someone who had just lost all hope. And with sudden realization, she realized that was who she was. She was no longer the top student in her year or the most brilliant witch to have passed through Hogwarts. She was no longer clever or daring, she was now downtrodden and weary.
They'd lost their chance. Their one glimmer of hope, of life free from evil. They'd had it…and they'd lost it. Hermione no longer tried to prevent her tears, they came without her knowledge. She'd never get to see her family again, never graduate Hogwarts, never marry Ron, never beam at Harry's wedding, never have a family of her own. It wasn't fair! She'd survived through everything! They'd always won! How could they possibly have lost the most important game! No…she couldn't do this anymore! She was giving up and throwing in the towel! She'd been tortured, she'd run into a burning building, she'd survived the fall of Hogwarts, she'd been separated from her friends (save Ron), she'd almost been raped; How much more of this was she expected to endure!
"BOW DOWN TO THE DARK LORD!" A sudden voice boomed as Hermione was pushed to the ground. She didn't fight it.
"I SAID BOW DOWN!" The same voice yelled.
Please Ron She thought Don't fight it. Just accept it. Maybe if we go along we can survive. No Ron don't do it-
"I'll never bow down" His coarse voice answered
"YES YOU WILL!" A Death Eater screamed, as he pushed Ron down to the floor. Hermione heard his cry.
A murmur of laughter went around the room when it suddenly went silent as a side door was opened. Hermione instantly knew who it was.
"Ah, what do we have here?" Voldemort's voice asked, highly amused
"We found these two trying to escape." One spoke up
"How did they do that? I sent them to the torture chamber."
"We're not sure my Lord, but they killed Rosier, Mulciber, and Rookwood. We found their bodies down in the chamber."
"I see…"
"We heard voices as we were walking by and thought we'd investigate. They were talking about escaping, so we captured them and brought them here."
"Thank you" He said.
For a few moments there was silence. Hermione, with her head still pressed against the cold floor, couldn't see what was going on but when Voldemort dismissed most of the Death Eaters, she dared enough to peek.
Voldemort was standing before Ron, two Death Eaters lifting Ron's head to him, holding his arms behind his back. Ron's face was twisted into one of defiance; a determined gleam in his blue eyes.
"Well Well Weasley, I am afraid I underestimated you."
"You sure did" Ron shot back
"SILENCE!" Voldemort hissed
Ron shut his mouth, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Voldemort began slowly pacing. "You killed three of my most faithful followers and escaped. I'm afraid there is a grave punishment for that."
To this Ron said nothing. "I've already had you tortured, but I'm sure you are aware that there are some things much worse than that"
"Death doesn't scare me," Ron said bravely
Voldemort smiled evilly. "That may be so, and you may have withstood torture of the body, but Mr. Weasley, I think it's about time I torture your heart."
Ron stiffened and his eyes flickered to Hermione, who stared back. It was just a moment of connection but with the fear portrayed in Ron's eyes, Hermione had a pretty good idea what Voldemort was about to do.
Instead, he laughed. "Yes that's right Weasley. I believe it's been long overdue that I sat down and had a chat with your lovely Miss Granger here."
Hermione's stomach tightened. She didn't like that sound of that.
Voldemort slowly approached her, his eyes glistening happily. Smirking, he lifted her chin, and examined her face for a moment before he turned it towards Ron.
"See here? You're weary aren't you Granger? I can see it in your eyes. You've given up hope. She's spent Weasley. I'm sure she'll succumb only too easily for me. You've killed her by dragging her with you like this."
At his sudden hesitation, Voldemort's eyes lit up…he'd found Ron's soft spot. "If it hadn't been for you, she would have reunited with other friends and classmates, completely safe and out of harms way. Because of you, she'll be tortured, raped and I assure you, killed. It's as if you drove the dagger through her"
Ron's eyes flashed with pain. "I didn't mean-"
"That's right." Voldemort continued in a hurry "You've killed her. It'll be your fault when she dies. She tried her best to be a good friend to you, that's why she never complained, but slowly it hurt her. She can say whatever she wants to you, but you both know that she would have preferred to be with Potter than here with you"
Hermione's heart ached when she saw Ron's face. She wanted to scream out, spit in Voldemort's face to shut him up, for she knew how sensitive Ron was about her. She tried to portray with her eyes that this was all a lie, but Ron was no longer looking at her. He had fallen for his trick; he'd been sucked into Voldemort's words.
He shook his head, trying to keep the words out "No, That's not true…She said-"
"No matter what she said. She was just being a good friend"
"No! She said she loved me!"
Suddenly Voldemort's face lit up, his face twisting into a sneer, and he turned to Hermione. "Oh, did she now?"
Hermione panicked. That was it! Voldemort was using Ron's heart to pry information out of him!
"Yes! She said she loved me!"
NO RON NO! She screamed. She couldn't let him do this! Voldemort would have them separated! That couldn't happen. She'd never survive without him. Where was her voice? She needed to correct this, she had to stop it!
"As a brother" She suddenly said; the words escaping her lips before she could think them through.
Hermione was sure that for as long as she lived, she would never forget the look that Ron gave her. It took him a beat to figure out what she'd said. And then as she played it back in her own mind, she realized just exactly what Ron would think. Horrified, she slowly lifted her eyes to his.
She was right. His eyes shone with unshed tears, a bit of hope in them. He was praying that she'd said something else. He was too vunerable right now, information and misunderstandings like that would destroy him! Damn Voldemort for doing this! Hermione honestly couldn't seem to understand how Ron could honestly believe that she didn't love him after everything but the look in his eyes told her that he wasn't acting or joking around; he was serious.
But she couldn't correct herself, Voldemort wouldn't believe her. Biting her lip until she tasted blood, Hermione watched his face fall, the saddest expression on his face. He looked like a lost, abused puppy. Hermione's heart throbbed painfully in her chest.
Reaching a hand out to him, he flinched when it made contact with his shoulder.
"Ron…" She whispered, her voice thick with emotion, emotion that she was desperately trying to show him.
"Don't," He said, removing her hand from his shoulder.
It was like a slap in the face. Tears of her own gathered in her eyes, threatening to fall over. Voldemort's giddy laugh didn't help.
Excitedly he exclaimed, "BOYS! PREPARE MY ROOM FOR MISS GRANGER! TOMORROW NIGHT SHE'LL COME TO ME!"
Her whole body was shaking. NO! Things were too wrong to be true! This couldn't be happening!
"SIR WHAT ABOUT TONIGHT? WHERE WILL THEY GO?" Some Death Eater asked hopefully.
Voldemort pondered this for a moment, then clapped his hands together. "TONIGHT THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR CELL AS USUAL FOR THE LAST TIME."
"But my Lord," A timid Death Eater asked "Don't they need to be punished? How is remaining in their cell punishment?"
"Oh don't worry about that. They'll have a guest join them tonight." He proclaimed
As the tears slipped out of her eyes, Hermione kneeled on the ground to cry. She barely comprehended Voldemort's words her pain was too great.
"BRING HIM OUT! FOURTH CELL ON THE SECOND FLOOR!" He bellowed
Hermione stared at the floor, as a little green snake slithered under her arms. She cried out and flung the creature off her. Everyone, save Ron, laughed.
"Scared of one of my pets Granger?"
Hermione remained silent. She shook her head and resumed to her despair. She closed her eyes tightly, urging this all to disappear, for it to have been one of her dreams. An extended and detailed nightmare. She'd long ago lost track of time, everything seemed like just the same night. A bitter, dark night.
As she kneeled over, burying her face in her arms as her sobs pushed their way through her, the tears falling gently onto her scarred arms, she heard the soft drip of water. Looking up through blurry red eyes, she found that same puddle of water that she'd gazed into minutes before.
She examined herself carefully. Puffy red eyes, trembling lip, tear strained cheeks. Nothing else had changed from the moments before. She was a ghost, just an image of herself. And for the first time in Hermione Granger's life, she craved death. She wanted to be whole again, and if death seemed the only way possible, than she was willing. Another tear fell from her milky white face, sending ripples across the water, blurring her image.
As the great door clanged shut, Hermione urged herself to look up, to gaze into the eyes of their new cellmate but she simply couldn't. She would look at him through his reflection in her little puddle. It was safer this way; hadn't it been the same as she walked around the corridors late that night in second year? Look at life through a reflection and you'd be safe from reality, if only for a few moments.
Examining the water she saw the figure of a boy, held up by two Death Eaters, who was flopped over. As the two brought him closer and pushed his torso up, Hermione's tears froze where they were, and her heart stopped beating. She rubbed her eyes, and squinted furiously, but the image refused to fade.
In a horrified kind of trance, Hermione forgot all about her new philosophy on gazing at this boy. Slowly, ever so slowly she brought her terrified brown eyes up; away from safety, where harsh reality hit her so hard, she could not make it go away with a splash.
For there in front of her, was the corpse of Harry Potter.
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