Chapter Eleven

Harry was walking to the Great Hall, in a better mood than he had been for three months. He sat down at the Gryffindor table, and waited for Ginny. He piled up his plate with eggs, ham, and more. This was the first time in three months that he truly felt like eating. Ginny soon came down and sat across from him.

"Good morning Ginny!" Harry said happily.

Ginny gave him an odd look. "What's got you in such a good mood?" She asked gloomily. Ever since the funeral, nobody had seen a smile on her face.

"Well I had this dream last night Ginny." He said, drinking some pumpkin juice and picking up that day's issue of The Daily Prophet. He glanced at the front page and pumpkin juice came spewing out of his mouth.

"Gross Harry." Ginny said, mopping up the table.

"Ginny." Harry whispered. He turned the paper around so that she could see it.

Hermione Granger - A Death Eater?

Below it was the picture of Hermione running and looking scared.

Ginny's face paled as she looked up at Harry. "No. No. It can't be - I mean - not Hermione! Of all people!" She exclaimed.

Harry looked around and noticed everyone was buzzing about the article. Those without subscriptions were peering over their friends shoulders trying to get a good look. All of the teachers had grave expressions on their faces as they discussed it. Harry looked at Dumbledore, who saw him and pointed at his watch, to which Harry nodded.

As soon as breakfast was over, Harry and Ginny made their way to Dumbledore's office. When they reached the statue, Harry turned to Ginny.

"Maybe you shouldn't -" He started.

"The hell I shouldn't Harry!" She yelled. "Don't coddle me, I'll be fine, and I'm going in with you!"

Harry nodded. He hadn't really expected her to agree anyways. He said the password to the gargoyle and they continued up the stairs, where he knocked on the door.

"Come in." Dumbledore said from within.

Harry opened the door, and they both entered the room. Dumbledore motioned to the two to sit in the empty seats across from his desk, where he was seated.

"I suppose you're here because of the article you saw in The Daily Prophet." Dumbledore questioned.

"Well yes, actually. And also, I dreamed about it last night." Harry answered. He went on to tell him all that he had seen in his dream. "So you see sir, I think she was being forced into going along and helping them. This reporter was just trying to get famous or something."

Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, did you happen to see what Miss Granger was wearing?"

Harry looked at him confused. Why would he care what Hermione was wearing. And then it dawned on him and his eyes widened. "No. No! It's not - she can't be!" He yelled.

Ginny looked back and forth between the two. "What's going on? What's it matter what she was wearing?"

Dumbledore turned to her and said, "If I am correct, then I am going to assume that Harry saw her wearing a hooded black robe and a mask."

Ginny gasped. "Harry?" She whispered. "It can't be true."

Harry just sat there looking stunned. "I didn't even realize. I was just so happy to know that she was alive." He sighed, rubbing his hand through his hair. "Maybe she was Imperioed Professor." He said, hope in his voice.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, perhaps she was. But we must also take into account that she has been there for three months, and the Dark Arts can be very persuasive and alluring. If, then, she did turn on us; which I'm not saying she did Harry" -for Harry had opened his mouth to object- "then we must act fast to get her out of there. If that is all…I need to speak to Professor McGonagall.

Harry nodded and stood up; Ginny following quickly behind. As they walked around the castle, waiting for class to finish, Harry and Ginny discussed their plan that they had abandoned to save Hermione. All they knew for sure was that she was at Malfoy Manor, and that she was a - no not was - she was being forced to be a Death Eater.

"We use my Invisibility Cloak out of the castle. Then, we fly to the Manor, find Hermione, and get the hell out." Harry said.

"Yes, but I think you left out the parts where we have to somehow get in the Manor, not be seen by Death Eaters, be prepared to fight a battle if we must, and somehow make it out again, past the protective charms I'm sure they've got the place surrounded with." Ginny countered.

Harry looked at her. "Right. Well, I mean, I uh wasn't done yet." He said sheepishly.

Ginny looked at him with the hint of a smile on her face, but immediately sobered. "Oh Harry. What if we can't do this? What if she really is…one of them? Harry I don't know what I'd do if my best friend had betrayed us. Maybe - maybe we should just leave this to Dumbledore. He always knows what to do."

Harry took a step towards her and enveloped her with his arms. "I feel helpless Gin. I feel like there's something I can do to help, but I just can't think of what." He kissed the top of her head as he pulled back from her.

Just then, the bell rang, and students started pouring into the hallways, on their way to their next class. Harry and Ginny joined them, and slowly made their way to class.

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"You want me to what!" Hermione sputtered. "You can't be serious."

Hermione was standing in Lord Voldemort's office, and he had just finished telling her his new plan.

"Actually Miss Granger, I am serious. Do not underestimate me." He said.

Hermione bowed low to him and apologized.

"Very well. Like I was saying, my new plan for you is to send you back to Hogwarts. Play the role of the victim, tell them you were under the Imperius or something. But your goal is to get information on Potter and Dumbledore. Sit in on meetings if you can."

"Go back to those fools…" Hermione said, shaking her head. "Sir, I'd rather not have anything to do with them at all, but if this is your wish, then I'll accept it.

Voldemort nodded. "Good. Now, there is one more thing."

Hermione shook off the uneasy feeling she was getting.

"If you are to play the part of a victim, then you must look the part too. Come, follow me."

He led her down the hall and down stairs to the dungeons. He opened a door to a torture chamber with sets of chains on the wall. There were five Death Eaters waiting for them, Draco amongst them.

"Sir, what is this about?" Draco asked.

"Miss Granger here is being sent back to Hogwarts to try and get information. Now what I need from you is to curse her. Hex her. Beat her up in any way to make her look like she was tortured and escaped." Voldemort informed them.

Hermione and Draco both paled when they heard this.

"Chain her to the wall if you must gentlemen. Do a good job." With that, Voldemort left.

Two Death Eaters strode towards her and dragged her to a set of chains. Hermione shrieked in pain.

"Ow, that's too tight!" She screamed.

The five lined up and looked at each other. They pointed their wands at her and on the count of three they started to hex and curse her. After awhile, Draco stopped, he couldn't bear to hurt her. Finally they finished.

One unchained Hermione, who fell to the floor limp. Her wrists were rubbed raw and bleeding.

"Time for some physical damage then, eh lads?" One asked. Four of them circled around her and started hitting and kicking her. Draco couldn't stand to hear her scream anymore.

"All right, enough!" He yelled. "We don't want to kill her."

The others nodded and backed off. Draco went over and knelt next to her. She had black eyes and cuts all over her face. Her lip was split and there were bruises starting to darken everywhere.

Hermione groaned and opened her eyes. Draco gently picked her up and took her to her room to rest before she was to leave that night.

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Harry was in his last class of the day, Charms. They were doing review on some charms, but he just couldn't pay attention. He kept thinking about that night. He and Ginny were going to execute their plan, even if it was only a half thought out one.

Harry waved his wand around, pretending to do work, and causing things to go soaring through the air. The bell rang and Harry packed his stuff and left the room. He went to the Great Hall and sat down with Dean and Neville. After a few minutes, Ginny came in and joined them. Harry looked at his wristwatch. 6:00. They were leaving at midnight. He sighed. This was going to be a long night.

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Back at the Manor, Draco, Hermione, and Voldemort were in the meeting room. Draco and Hermione were holding onto an old shoe to be used as a portkey to Hogwarts.

"On the count of three, it will activate. Once you get there, you Hermione, will go inside. Draco, do not let go of the portkey for it will bring you back a minute after you get there." Voldemort told them.

They nodded their assent, and after counting to three, they were transported outside the gates of Hogwarts. Hermione swayed, still weak. Draco grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.

"Be safe Granger. I'll be waiting for you." He whispered, and then pulled her into a kiss that made Hermione dizzy for another reason.

She turned and started walking towards the castle. When she looked back, Draco was gone.

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Harry frowned and rubbed at his scar.

"It hurts." He whispered to Ginny.

She furrowed her brows in confusion.

They went back to eating until Harry rubbed his scar harder. "It's getting worse. He's happy about something…" He said to Ginny.

"We're going to Dumbledore. I don't care anymore." She said.

They started to stand when the doors to the Great Hall flew open. They turned to look and saw Hermione standing there. She took a few steps towards them and then fainted.