Chapter 2: Vanished
"My secret is fatally gorgeous, I'd die for you. But in this Bonnie and Clyde kind of romance, tell me, would you…die for me too?
-The Spill Canvas
Hermione and Ron jumped up with a start and headed for the house. As they crossed through the tent, they saw a number of hooded figures shooting curses and family, friends, and guests. Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, eyes wide, but they were quickly blown apart by a purple burst of lights. Hermione fired back with a stun that brought the strange deatheater to the ground, but she had lost Ron. She looked around frantic, unsure of what to do. Then, A menacing face with long blonde hair came into her view. "I thought you were in Azkaban…" she replied, trying to stay brave.
Ron had lost Hermione in the smoke, so he quickly ran in search of her. On his way, though, he ran into his frantic looking father.
"It must have been polyjuice potion. We never even thought of that. I'm such a fool." He murmured. Arthur quickly conjured up a shielding charm to ward off a curse. "Ron I can handle myself. Go find your mother." And with that, Arthur pushed Ron off toward the house.
Nymphadora Tonks was lying lifeless on the floor when Remus burst into the house. There, smiling over her body was Bellatrix with an evil grin. "That'll teach you to disrespect your blood!" she screeched. And in the most calm and cool tone he could muster, Remus called out "Avada Kedavra!" and Bellatrix was dead. Remus didn't think upon the act of taking a life, he did not worry about how unaffected he was either. The only thing he thought of was Tonks. He picked her tiny form up and gazed at her face, which held a pained expression. And to Remus Lupin's surprise, a slight breath escaped his lover's lips. Remus tore up into Ron's room, laid her gently on the bed, and sealed the room. He would have stayed there all night, but the screams of Ginny Weasley were a more pressing matter.
Ron ran up to where he saw his mother cowering before Fenrir Greyback. She was whimpering as he was softly saying to her " I can smell your fear old witch. I will lock up all of your precious babies and save them for a full moon. That little girl looks ravishingly delicious." As he lifted his wasn't to her, Ron have him an excellent Bat Bogey Hex in honor of the aforementioned Ginny and ran to his mother. But the hex didn't last as long as he'd hoped. And with one small "expelliarmus", Ron was disarmed. HE held his mother and braced himself for what was next. From behind Greyback, a seemingly disembodied voice called out "Crucio", and the werewolf collapsed in pain. Ron shouted "incarcerous" and he was bound on the ground. As he looked up, Ron saw the frightened and shocked face of Percy looking back at him.
"I received a warning owl from Fleur, I…I…" But he didn't finish; his mother had pulled both of her boys into a bone-crushing hug. But she quickly grabbed her wand off the ground and shouted "Levicorpus!" at a masked deatheater. "I shall manage boys. Go find Ginny." But there was no need as they heard Ginny's bloodcurdling scream from the house. As Ron looked up, he saw Hermione, running from a man toward the house, shooting shielding charms and hexes over her shoulder.
Charlie, Bill, and Arthur had now bound the deatheaters that they had cursed in the tent. Arthur went over to Molly and Percy to bind the deatheater hanging by his leg. Percy ran to Charlie and Bill "Ron has ran to the house after Hermione. She was being chased. I heard Ginny scream…" and after saying this, Percy collapsed. There was a gash form an earlier altercation on his back. Bill and Charlie ran toward the house after hurriedly healing Percy and leaving him with Arthur.
Harry and Ginny had been closest to the house, and ran toward Tonks' scream as quickly as possible, wands ready. Antonin Dolohov headed them off at the kitchen. Harry quickly cursed him, but as Ginny was readying to bind him, she was stormed and grabbed by Rudolphus Lestrange. Harry's heart jumped into his throat. He couldn't lose Ginny. He would never forgive himself.
"I see we have a little girlfriend here, huh Potter?" called Lestrange's steely voice. "A fine bird this one is." He said in a disgusting tone as he drew his hand across her neck.
Harry saw his chance. He stunned this horrible deatheater, hitting his head and causing him to fall and go limp beside the table. As Harry ran to Ginny, a sharp pain cut across his back. Dolohov had risen. Ginny called out "Sectumsepre", and screamed as Harry fell into her arms, blood gushing from his back.
Hermione rushed into the house, hoping to slip away safely. Lucious was right in tow. She came to Ron's room, but could not get in. She ran into Ginny's room and sealed herself in. She knew she didn't have much time. She began frantically searing the room for something to help. She picked up a mirror; maybe she could deflect spells with this. She heard her seal breaking and quickly shoved the mirror into her purse readying her wand. They both shouted "Expelliarmus" at the same time. The wands flew in opposite directions, but Lucious was quicker. He shouted "Petrificus Totalus" and Hermione fell to the ground.
Ron ran up to the sounds coming from Ginny's room. He saw Lucious pick up a still and scared Hermione. Ron screamed her name, but it was too late. With a loud 'pop', they disappeared and Ron fell to his knees.
Hermione woke in pain. Her head throbbed and her body ached. She was chained to a post of a very small bed in a very dank room. The room had a large worn threadbare rug strewn across and plain cement floor. There was a small pot bellied stove in the corner with a teapot brewing on it. There was nothing on the cold stone walls save for a small window in the top corner with bars on it. Hermione could see snow and shivered, she was still in the torn remains of her lavender dress. Hermione was puzzled. "It isn't summer." She thought. She feared the worst. That is what she got.
She heard heavy footsteps falling across the stone floor outside. The solid wooden door flung open to reveal the cold smile of Lucious Malfoy gazing back at her. He was as clean and polished as ever, there was no evidence that he had spent the last year in Azkaban. The fact that he was out meant Azkaban has fell to the deatheaters, she concluded.
"I understand Harry had a number of special meetings with that bumbling old man before my son killed him." Claimed Lucious.
"Your son was too much of a coward to kill Dumbledore, Snape had to finish the job for him." Hermione yelled. She was not going down without a fight. As the last words fell from her mouth, Lucious raised his hand and barreled it down on the side of her face, causing blood to trickle down her lip.
"What was the nature of their meetings? The Dark Lord could find this information very useful." Lucious said in an eerily calm voice.
"Well of course he would. And what a convenient way to make up for the disaster you caused in the Department of Mysteries!" Hermione replied. She knew she was in for it, but she would never give up Harry. And with that, Lucious raised his wand as a silent spell caused embers form the stove in to corner to fly up and attach themselves to Hermione's bare arms and legs. She screamed and tried to shake them away, but they stayed attached until they burned out. As her captor walked out, Hermione looked down to see the searing painful sores on her arms and legs. She quickly passed out from the pain.
Hermione woke to find the door being slammed loudly. Her wrested ached from the chains on them. She flinched as she saw Draco running towards her. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head towards his. "You will tell my father what he wants to know, or I will kill you myself." Hermione didn't talk back this time; she just pursed her lips tighter. Draco leered at her with a look that elicited a primal fear in her chest. "You know, there are other things filthy little mudbloods are good for." As he said this, he placed on hand on her bruised knee and moved his long fingers slowly up her dress. She cringed. "Oh! I've hit a nerve." He kissed her hard on the lips and grabbed her hair again. "Which one of the 'golden trio's' boys is you saving this for?" He shoved his hands hard between her legs, causing her to cry out in pain. As he pushed his hand further inside of her, she began to cry. Luckily his father called him back upstairs. But not before a goodbye 'Crucio' on his way out.
Hermione had now been in this room for two days, with not food or water. The tea on the stove was gone and her captors weren't bringing her anything else. This must have been their new tactic for making her talk. She would still hear them outside even when they didn't come in to hurt her some more. She was getting weak, and her mouth was so dry. Draco would come in occasionally and touch her in humiliating ways. Tell her she was a whore who deserved this. Sometimes her made her return the favor. She was too weak to relent, but he never took it as far as she feared, claiming "She wasn't clean enough for him."
As she was giving up all hope of surviving, she heard voices coming from her purse. She took her unbound foot and moved the small lavender bag closer. It was Ron and Harry, but how? "I don't know what to do, Ron. She just disappeared." She heard Harry say. " I need to do something! I can't lose her now! She doesn't know how much I love her! She heard Ron yell. "Ron loves me!" She thought. "Now I have to make it through this. I need to think of something. Maybe they can hear me…" But before she could try, Draco walked back in. She did the only thing she could think of. She screamed in the direction of her purse. She didn't want the mirror to be found, but she wanted Harry to know she had it. She was quickly stunned into silence.
Ron sank into his bed. He was being flooded with a thousand thoughts. He had just admitted to his best mate that he was in love. But his love was in danger and he felt powerless.
It had been two days since the attack on The Burrow. Harry woke up yesterday to a very relieved Mrs. Weasley, who had been tending to his and Percy's wounds without sleep. Tonks had awakened after the persistent calls from Remus to do so. As she opened her eyes, he smiled. "There's my girl! Now I can go help everyone find Hermione." And with a grave look on his face, Remus explained to Tonks all that had happened.
Arthur, Charlie, Bill, and Mad-eye had been feverishly trying to track down Lucious and Hermione, but to no avail. Ron was completely beside himself at their lack of success and could be often found in his room yelling and smashing Merlin knows what. Harry was sent to calm him down this time. After his confession, he was nearly crying. Harry went over to put a hand on Ron's shoulder, but as he was walking, he heard a scream emitting form his back pocket. "Hermione!" Ron was now looking quite foolish as he had jumped off the bed and was yelling at Harry's arse. But all he got was silence. Harry pulled the mirror out of his pocket. "Ginny's Mirror! Hermione must have taken it form her room. Ron, this is the mirror Sirius gave me." Excited, both of the boys ran downstairs to show Moody, he'll know what to do.
Hermione was in a terrible state. Her dress was torn to reveal intimate areas of her body, Draco's handiwork. She was pale and shaking. Sores were covering her body and she could barely keep her eyes open. When she heard the door she prepared for the worst. She was repeating Ron's name over in her head. She knew she could die at any moment. As footsteps crossed the room, all she heard was a weak gasp. Pansy Parkinson was standing over Hermione with her hand over her mouth.
"Oh Hermione! I knew he was up to something. I didn't think even the Malfoys could be this terrible! Are you O.K.? Hermione was too tired to answer. At this, Pansy did something shocking. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. She began to gracefully pour it into Hermione's mouth. "Even filthy mudblood cows don't deserve this!" she cried. After Hermione had drank almost the whole bottle, Pansy began to talk again." You are in their mountain lodge. Oh I am so sorry."
Pansy then began to feed Hermione a granola bar she had in her purse as well. "I've always wanted to be a healer, but no one knows that. I'm just a pureblood breeder to my world." Pansy commented disdainfully.
Hermione felt able to speak again. "Pansy, the mirror, it can talk to Harry. Help me, please." She pleaded. Pansy heard the men arriving back. "They're going to pay for this!" She whispered as she grabbed the mirror and skipped out. It seemed as though she cared more about revenge then helping Hermione. She didn't care though. This proved someone's heart was close enough to the right place.
Alastor was using every charm he could think of to track the other mirror. He had no luck. Ron would spend hours just gazing into the darkness of it. It has been four days.
One evening, at another somber meal, Harry heard his name being called from the mirror. Everyone made a dash. To their surprise, Pansy was on the other side. "I want to help her, but I'll need protection from them." She said with wide eyes. "Of course." Remus answered. "Where are they?" Harry asked. "They are in the Austrian Alps at a mountain lodge. I can distract Draco and his father at noon tomorrow. There is a basement, the door is under the stairs. Her room is sealed. She's in really bad shape. Merlin only knows what they've done to her. I gave her what little I could to eat and drink when I found her…and…" she started to cry. "When you come, take me with you. I am not as horrible as the rest of them. Shit! They're here." And with that the mirror went black.
The group got to work right away devising a plan. Fred and George would wait for the signal and come to get Pansy out of the house and take her to the shop. Moody and Bill would tackle Lucious inside. Tonks and Remus would circle the premises for Draco. Charlie, Arthur, and Percy would stand guard at the entrances. Harry and Ron would head for Hermione, Ron in the invisibility cloak just in case, and to head out quickly and unseen. They would move tomorrow.
Harry couldn't sleep, he felt too guilty. He puts everyone he cares for in danger, even when he's trying to protect them. He may lose Hermione, his best friend, and one of the most wonderful witches he knows. And he almost lost Ginny the night the deatheaters attacked. These were the thoughts that have kept him awake the past four nights. Harry decided to get up and get some tea.
The downstairs was not empty. Harry found Ginny in her white nightdress gazing at the fire. There were tears streaming down her cheeks. He sat down next to her and encircled his arms around hers. She looked at him with fear and determination in her eyes. All Harry could say is "I love you." And that's all she needed to hear right now.
Taking her face in his hands, he gently kissed her forehead. He stopped at her nose before finally making it to her lips. Her tongue found his and he moaned slightly in the back of his throat. He moved his hands to her waist, then put one hand on her thigh. Her breathing quicken as he rubbed her thighs, shooting tingles through her body. They were being more daring than they ever had before.
Harry had to stop now or he never would. "I'm never going to let you go again." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her again. "Then don't." she said. Harry gave her a quizzical look. "Come to my room. Harry, you're going to be leaving soon and I want to make the most of the time I've got. In case…" She stopped short and looked as though she would cry. "…you don't come back." Harry lifted her up and carried her up to the landing in front of her room. This was the only time he really liked being the hero of the story.
When they got there, Harry sealed and soundproofed the room. "Are you sure?" he asked. "More than anything." She replied. She smiled and kissed him softly. She tugged up Harry's tee shirt and kissed his chest. "Blimey, Ginny!" was all Harry could say. He lifted off her nightdress and laid it on the floor, putting her on the bed. He kissed her neck and put his hands over her small firm breasts for the first time. She let out a moan that made Harry crave more. So he moved his mouth to where his hands were, and received and even louder reaction. He kissed circles around her belly button, and they both laughed for the first time in days. Her laugh made his heart soar, and in this moment he could almost forget. Almost.
Harry slid his hand under Ginny's white knickers and began to search. He touched and caressed listening to Ginny's gasps to help him move. As he plunged a finger inside of her, she called out his name. Harry worked faster as her hips bucked forward. Then she began to tense up as she let out a yell. All of her fear for her best friend and her anxiety over Harry vanished for a moment.
Harry kissed the side of her face as she caught her breath. "You are so beautiful." Was all he could think of to say after what he had just done. "You're not so bad yourself." She grinned. She started to kiss his neck and rub his stomach. Harry moaned, the thought he would burst. She gingerly slipped off his green boxers, and with a shaking hand began to touch him. He gasped and shuddered. Her hands were so soft. He rolled her on her back and lie on top of her. He kissed her passionately and propped himself up. He was very careful as this was both of their first times. He heard her cry out as he entered. He froze and looked into her eyes concerned. "I'll be fine in a second, just go slow." He nodded and reluctantly resumed.
Soon, as he was pushing, Ginny began to push back, causing him to moan her name. As they moved together, both of their bodies shuddered simultaneously, as a wave of warmth spread over them.
Harry lie there for the rest of the night, stroking her side. Tomorrow he would fight for Hermione. Right now he felt he could take on the world. Love is tricky like that.