Ron got out of bed and went downstairs. It wasn't that he woke up, because he didn't sleep at all. He was just so uneasy and worried about Hermione that he couldn't pace that lonely room any longer. He would have stayed up with Harry and discussed strategy, but he never came back to their room last night. Normally, Ron would have had a lot to say on Harry's absence, but he had too much on his mind at the moment. He needed her back before he could think of anyone else.
He decided to start packing some food. He wasn't hungry, but he figured with a flash of anger that they wouldn't be feeding her in that hellhole. He grabbed a cauldron cake, some chocolate frogs, a bottle of water and a ham sandwich. As he was putting them into a sac, his mother cleared her throat behind him.
"All of that food will weigh you down, dear." She said, putting a hand on his arm. She didn't ask what he was doing up already, because that stuff was always quite clear to the woman who raised him. "Just pack some water and the chocolate, she'll need that the most." And she helped him prepare the smaller sac.
Ron sat at the table and slumped. "I hurt her feelings first year. I said she had no friends because she's such a bossy know it all, and she heard me." He said glumly. "That's the first time I hurt her. I always hurt her." Ron feared he would start crying.
"But you also came to her aid and helped her with that troll. You cared. You do care. You're by hers and Harry's side all the time. They know that. You'll go to her today and care for her in the way a good friend does." She said softly. This caused Ron's guilt to lessen slightly.
Charlie and Percy were standing back to back on the front porch of a cold looking home surrounded by conifers and snow. The brightness and beauty of the scenery only made the home look more like a shadow on the land.
"I can't understand how the Ministry didn't know about this place. There could be a number of dark objects in there." Percy said in a matter of fact tone. "Looks like you've come out of the land of Jack Assery just in time dear brother." Percy looked affronted but Charlie smiled. "Even if you don't think so, we're all glad you're back." He said. They both nodded at Moody as he signaled the 'all clear' after securing the perimeter.
With Moody's signal, Fred and George came out of the woods and crouched down on either side of the house, ready to grab Pansy. Tonks, Lupin, Bill, and Arthur cautiously entered the house. Harry threw his cloak over Ron and headed after Arthur. The group was confident that they would get in and out quickly. And they did, but the damage had already been made.
As Arthur and Bill advanced toward the sound of Pansy's shrieking, (she had chosen to fake a fit as a very successful distraction), Harry and Ron followed the stairs leading into the cold and dark basement. They could hear shouting and crashes coming from upstairs.
Then, they heard a recognizable sob from a door on the end of the wall. She was fighting despite her weakness.
"Just stop! Please! I would rather die you filthy pig!" she yelled as Harry and Ron sped towards her. "Is that so mudblood? I think you'll be begging for more when I'm done with you nasty bitch!" They heard Draco yell. Harry took out Sirius' knife and opened the door with a crash.
Fury was coursing through Ron's veins. The sight was horrible to witness. As the boys entered the room, they found Draco on top of Hermione struggling to tear off her knickers with one had and grabbing her hair hard with the other. Ron couldn't take anymore. With a primal yell, he lifted Draco completely off of Hermione and threw him up to the wall. Harry rushed toward Draco to fight.
Hermione looked very frightened and was in a poor state. Her dress was ripped to reveal very intimate parts of her, Draco's handiwork. There was blood circling the shackles on her wrist, cuts on her mouth, and burns all over her arms and legs. She was pale and shaking, looking as though she was about to pass out at any moment. A look of relief spread over her face when Ron took the cloak off.
She tried to speak but her mouth was too dry. He quickly undid her chains and she covered her chest, shaking the entire time. He knelt down beside her and stroked her face. "Are you okay love? Can you make it out of here?" she shook her head and pointed at her badly beaten legs. "You'll make it." He said with a breath of courage. He quickly wrapped his traveling cloak around her and lifted her up into his arms with ease. He threw the cloak over them both. He didn't check on Harry or any of the others, he just ran as fast as he could. All he could think of was getting her safe.
He ran far into the woods, carrying her the whole time. He fell to his knees when he couldn't breathe anymore. "This should be far enough." He said. "The portkey is only a little way farther." He was sitting directly in the snow, careful not to get Hermione wet. He was freezing but he didn't care. He pulled out the water and helped her to drink the entire bottle. She felt much better. "Oh Ron! I thought I would never get away. It hurts so bad!" She cried. Ron held her closer to him and pulled the chocolate frog from his pocket. "Please eat this before we start running again. You need some strength. Those fucking bastards will pay for this!" Ron thought she still managed to look adorable when she became indignant about his swearing. Her expression energized him to move ahead, and soon they were back in the safe warmth of Ginny's room. The healer pulled Hermione out of Ron's arms and rushed everyone out.