Hermione didn't sleep the least bit that night. Thoughts of Ron being tortured were renewed in her mind's eye and the cold, steely voice crept into her head, making her jump at the slightest noise. Hermione sat in the parlor curled up next to a dying fire with a full cup of tea until the sun rose, its golden fingertips stretching itself across the sky. Tonks didn't sleep either. She sent immediate word of Hermione's occurrence to Harry, Remus, and the Weasleys.
"But what if this brings about the Death Eaters finding you again?" Hermione had asked as Tonks wrote out a letter to Remus with a shaking hand. Tonks shook her head.
"It doesn't matter now. Ron does."
Now, thanks to Tonk's letters, the House of Black was full with almost all the people Hermione loved the most. Charlie, a somber looking Bill, Fred and George and Mrs. Weasley had all come in fear of Ron; Mr. Weasley had stayed by Ginny's bed side. The Weasleys were sitting in the parlor, nervously drinking tea and talking quietly among themselves. Tonks sat among them quietly, her hair in long, dark, curling lengths today. It was five-thirty and the sun was steadily setting, casting a golden light upon the sky.
There was a soft knock on the door. Hermione smiled sadly when she saw them.
Remus (holding a cup of tea), Mad-Eye Moody, Harry, Kingsley Shacklebolt and the man Dawlish were standing in the doorway. Harry came forward immediately and hugged Hermione. She hugged him back, shutting her eyes tight, trying to keep tears from seeping out. She felt the aurors around them move forward, Remus among them murmuring "where's Tonks?"
Harry and Hermione parted to see Tonks appear in the parlor doorway. Remus stopped dead, the cup in his hands falling to the floor. For a moment, neither said anything, Remus standing with his mouth ajar slightly. Then he rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Tonks. Tonks allowed a small sob to escape as she held him tightly, taking in his touch, his appearance his smell. They finally parted from their hug, but did not let go of each other. Remus looked at Tonks face intently as silent tears ran down her cheeks. He smiled at her and wiped a tear away with his thumb.
"Oh Remus," Tonks whispered, leaning in to kiss him. She kissed him hungrily several times, but Remus withdrew.
"This isn't the time," he whispered. Tonks looked disappointed but nodded. They parted and looked away, Remus standing awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. Mad-Eye now approached Hermione.
"Now commere, missy, and you tell me what happened," Moody said in a scraggly voice as he led Hermione to an old, moldy couch in the parlor. Hermione sat down and looked down at her hands. She felt weight on her other side. She looked up to see Harry smiling encouragingly at her. Hermione took a deep breath.
"Well, I know I shouldn't of, but I went outside at, uh, around 1:30…" Hermione's audience sat in silence until her story was finished. Mrs. Weasley watched Hermione with red, puffed eyes, slowly twisting a sweaty handkerchief. Bill stood quietly by the window, hands in his pockets, looking intently at the sky. Charlie, Fred and George sat together, none of them moving, all sitting in concentration, absorbing Hermione's words. Remus sat next to Tonks on a neighboring couch, his arm around her.
"So, ya didn't git a look at the coward?" Moody growled when she was done. Hermione shook her head.
"It could be a trap…" Charlie's voice said quietly. Moody nodded.
"Could be," Moody said with a shrug. "Could be a Death Eater tryin' to help out our side, but not likely… But we have to know." Silence followed. George sighed finally and sat up.
"I'll go with you, Hermione."
"And me, too," piped in Fred. Remus held up a hand.
"No, you boys aren't gonna put yourselves in danger. You'll leave it to the professionals, to us." Tonks looked admirably at Remus. "Hmm, okay, this is what we'll do. Dawlish, you and Kingsley will come with me with Hermione; sorry Mad-Eye, but your leg'll make too much noise, and Tonks, j-just please stay. For my sake…" Remus said quietly, turning to her. Tonks put her head on his shoulder and nodded as tears formed in her eyes. "We'll all stay behind," Lupin continued, "as Hermione goes forward. Kingsley, you'll be stationed across the street, to the left of where the Death Eater was last night; Dawlish, you'll be directly across, so you'll be facing Hermione's back. I'll be on the route where we came from. Hermione, you'll be fine. Nothing's gonna happen to you while we're around." Hermione nodded silently.
At 1:15 Hermione, Remus, Dawlish and Kingsley left a fearing house. As Hermione walked next to Remus as the other two aurors made their way to their positions, she looked up for the moon. It had disappeared behind the clouds and there was no welcome feeling the night now. A cool breeze ran through the air that made Hermione shiver. Remus put a hand on Hermione's should as they came closer to the crosswalk. He tried to smile, but was unsuccessful. Hermione took a deep breath and turned away from him, walking forward, now alone on her journey.
Hermione stood quite alone under the street lamp where she had stood just 24 hours ago. Another chilly breeze swept through her hair and a crack shattering the silence. A tall, hooded figure stood before her, Ron's limp body leaning on his arm. Hermione gasped and took a step back. The man pushed Ron's body forward. Hermione caught him as he fell forward. She looked down at him in horror.
"What have you done to him," she whispered as tears flowed from her eyes, blurring her vision. Where a sliver of light hit the man, his thin mouth was visible; Hermione saw it curl in a smirk.
"Relax, Granger," the man began. "He's only been stunned. Weasley would have put up too much of a fight if he had been conscious." Hermione slowly turned Ron's body over to see his face. She gasped.
Ron's face was stark white where blood wasn't caked on. Hermione raised a shaking hand and wiped sweat from his forehead. Both his eyes were blackened and his nose and mouth were bleeding slowly and sickeningly. Tears fell on his face as warm tears fell from Hermione's eyes. She looked up at the man again.
"What did you do to him?" she said in a slightly hysterical voice. The man smirked again.
"That? That's nothing. You know nothing of their torture. But I'm finished here. Be thankful he's even alive," the man said, turning. Something inside Hermione clicked. I know that voice, she thought as a memory flooded her mind. I know this man… Hermione extended a hand and gripped the black fabric of the hood in her shaking hand and pulled. White blond hair was exposed that was slicked back, and the man turned.
"Draco…" Hermione whispered in awe and confusion. Malfoy shot a furious glance at her.
"You little mudblood," he spat, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Stupefy!" Hermione's body became limp and she fell to the ground as another crack erupted through the night.
A/N: this is getting intense! Please review!