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Hermione's POV
Draco, Elizabeth and I all came out of the Pensieve. I took Elizabeth out of Draco's arms and sat down on the bed, as he walked away and looked out the window. I changed and fed Liz, before putting her to sleep and turning around to see Draco's scarred back. I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist
"Now you know," he said, "Now you know what happened in that time"
"I'm sorry about your mother," I whispered
"I know. I wish I wasn't too late"
"There wasn't anything you could do about it"
"And now I was robbed of killing him"
He turned around and kissed me. But instead of pulling away, he deepened the kiss
Wham!
I spun around as the door slammed opened
"Oh, um, sorry," said Harry
"What is it, Potter?" asked Draco
"We've got a problem"
"What sort of problem?" I asked
"Ron's gone"
"Where did he go?"
"It's not that. Some guy dressed in black showed up and sent hexes at me. I was caught off guard and Ron comes downstairs. Now just as I think I have help, Ron walks out the door, followed by the guy in black!"
I felt Draco tense up, as he broke away and headed downstairs with Harry. I followed and gasped. There were burn marks along the walls, half of the lounge had been blown apart, the coffee table was missing a leg and still smoking, while Ginny was trying to clean up
"Did you get a look at the guy?" Draco asked
"No, he wore something on his face, except it looked black, twisted and melted"
Draco froze and when he spoke, his voice seemed unstable
"Melted and twisted looking?"
"Yeah, like it had been burnt"
Draco stumbled back. Both Harry and I lunged towards him, catching him before he fell
"What was that all about?" asked Harry
"We went into the Pensieve and had a look at his memories," I answered, "though I don't know why he's like this. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
I suddenly realized why Draco had fallen back. I remembered back to a scene that had been played not too long ago: Draco and Lucius battling in a forest with a dragon
"Draco saw his father being burnt by a dragon," I answered, "Lucius fell, burning away and Draco escaped from the dragon with wounds covering his body"
"But if Lucius got burnt and from the sounds of it, badly, then how can he be alive?"
"I don't know, but let's take Draco upstairs, okay"
Harry drew his wand and waved it over Draco's body. He was lifted into the air, as Harry took him away to my room
I went upstairs and into my room, as Harry left with a sombre look on his face. I saw Draco lying on my bed and walked over, as he opened his eyes
"Did I faint?"
"Yeah, you did"
"I can't believe it"
"Yeah, I know, Ron would go with someone who attacked Harry"
"No, not that, I think my father is still alive"
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Ron's POV
The person who had spoke to me at the Hog's Head, the one whom I sent a letter to; he had come and collected me. Now we were walking up a path towards a house. He didn't speak much, keeping to himself as his black cloak flowed behind me
"So, where are we going?" I asked, gripping my wand tightly
"Up here"
His voice sound gruff, like it was distorted. Not that I care, because this was the guy who could help me unlock my powers and hopefully kill Draco so I could get Hermione
"We are here"
I looked up at the house. House! It was more like a mansion. But as I look at it, I felt like I had seen this place before. I had been here before! This was Malfoy Manor!
"Come"
The guy opened the door. When I didn't come inside because I was still staring at the mansion, he grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip. I felt a tight, powerful suction on my body and the next second, we were in an underground room. Rocks, dust and other debris littered the ground. It was as if a battle had taken place here, but what battle?
The man ascended towards a stone throne and sat down. I stepped forward, but he raised a hand, which clearly said don't come any closer. I felt an aura of power emitting from him. I bowed onto my knees
"Do you know who I am?"
"No," I answered, looking at the ground
I looked up, as the man removed the cloak from his face. I gasped. His face looked like a Death Eater's mask, except it was black, twisted, burnt and melted. The man's cold grey eyes stared out of the mask, looking down on me. He removed his hood, letting his blonde hair fall out. But there were burnt patches on his head, deep red or black, so he didn't look pretty at all
"Do you know who I am?" he repeated
"Lucius Malfoy?"
He laughed and leaned forward
"Yes, Weasley, that's right. You and I have something in common"
"We hate Draco?"
"Correct, correct. Yes, it was his fault that I am like this"
"Tell me how you became like this?" I asked
I wanted to look away and yet I couldn't
"In due time, my new apprentice"
"What are you talking about?"
"Since Draco turned his back on me and you show potential, I am taking you for a journey to gain all sorts of power"
"You want me to become a Death Eater"
"To put it plainly, yes"
"I won't"
"You sent me an owl, saying you will join me and now you have no choice. Crucio!"
I collapsed on my side as intense pain swept through my body. My bones felt like they were on fire. I screamed in pain, as my eyes felt like they were going to explode from the blood pressure! The curse was lifted and I gasped in pain
"There, that's just a taste of what will happen if you disobey me!"
I didn't want that pain again, yet if I ran away, I would be killed, I knew that
"You don't seem so loyal yet, so let's go again"
And once again, my body and mind were plunged back into Hell
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