My creative juices have been flowing and with all the down time I have been able to give you guys the chapters much quicker than I ever thought I would be able to. Thanks as always for all the kind reviews please keep them coming as it makes me want to write all the more. Just a warning this chapter contains some violence. I'm not a violent person by nature but I think this was needed to give the story a sense of realism. So be warned. Everything in Harry's world belongs to J.K. Rowling.

George caught up with Ron in the Atrium. He grabbed his arm before he could Disapparate.

"Where are you going?" He was panting.

Ron's demeanor had changed completely. All night he had been despondent and at a loss as to what to do. That was all replaced now by rage and determination.

"I'm going to find my wife without the Ministry's help. Are you with me on this George?"

George took Ron by the shoulders, "You know me, I've never been much of a rule follower. Why start now?"

Ron nodded curtly, "We have to go to Azkaban. I think it's about time Jack Ferguson gives us some answers."

Hermione wasn't sure how much time had passed. It seemed like hours but she knew in reality it was probably only ten or fifteen minutes. She had been through a ton of emotions while sitting there. Anger, hate, rage, panic and now she was settling into despair. What would the children do without her? They would grow up without a mother. How would Ron ever be able to handle things on his own? She told herself to block out these negative thoughts and concentrate on finding a way out of here.

The door opened again and the man was back this time there was someone with him.

"Hey Weasley, I brought an old acquaintance to see you." He stepped aside to reveal the other man.

Hermione recognized him at once. His name was Geoffrey Ross. He was one of Ferguson's witnesses she had questioned a while back. She had been ruthless with him. She remembered his cold, grey eyes glaring at her. Seeing him now, in this room, made her blood run cold.

"I'm happy to see you remember me, Weasley." He stood next to the bed. "How does it feel to be the one who is powerless at the moment? Not so tough out of the courtroom are you?"

She stared straight ahead refusing to look at him, "This plan is never going to work. The Ministry won't give in to your threats."

He sneered down at her, "Well then there really isn't any reason to keep you alive." His hand shot out quickly grabbing her by the hair he yanked her off the bed.

She fell to the floor onto her side with a thump. She had no way of breaking her fall since she was still bound. She cried out in pain.

Ross knelt down next to her. "You see this is the problem, you Mudblood traitors have been given too much power. It's time you were put back into your place." He rolled her onto her back and he slapped her hard across the face.

Hermione gasped in pain. She was petrified at the moment. This man was insane and she was sure he would kill her without thinking twice.

The cloak she had been wearing had flapped open revealing her bulging stomach. Ross took in her form and grimaced. "Isn't this just perfect? Another Mudblood slut reproducing. This is exactly why the Pureblood wizard is disappearing." He wrapped his hands around her throat and started to squeeze.

After a minute of this the other man grabbed his arms, "Ross let her go. We're suppose to keep her alive until we get word."

Ross squeezed a little tighter before releasing his grip on her throat. She was coughing trying to get air into her lungs.

"You're lucky my friend was here or you'd be dead." He stood up and looking down at her kicked her hard on her left side.

Hermione yelled out in pain as she rolled over onto her side. He smiled maliciously down at her. "That was what I wanted to hear."

They left her in complete darkness. She laid there panting in pain on the disgusting worn carpet, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, crying. She was going to die here. Her and her unborn child we're going to die in this disgusting room on this threadbare carpet and there was nothing she could do about it.

Ron and George rushed into Azkaban and demanded to see the warden. Ron knew Ben McKay well. Ron often escorted prisoners to and from the prison as well as questioning them for the Department. He knew he'd have no problems convincing Ben to let him see Jack Ferguson.

Ben McKay stepped out of his office annoyed at being disturbed so late. When he saw Ron his features immediately softened. "Weasley, what brings you out here at this hour?"

Ron shook his outstretched hand. "Business. My apprentice and I were just given some inside information and we need to question Ferguson right now."

McKay looked puzzled, "At this time of night?"

Ron nodded, "I'm afraid it can't wait. It's a matter of life and death."

Ben nodded. "Okay then. Follow me."

He led Ron and George through a series of long dark, cold halls. They no longer used Dementors at Azkaban but the place was still as dark and depressing as ever.

Finally they arrived at cell number 2135. Ben dragged his wand along the bars. "Ferguson wake up you have visitors."

Jack Ferguson sat up. He didn't seem surprised to see Ron there.

Ben performed a spell binding Jack's wrists. He then opened the cell door and allowed Ron to pass. He stopped George, "Sorry you don't have clearance. You'll have to wait here."

Ben looked at Ron, "Do you need me to stay?"

Ron shook his head, "No we're good."

Ben stepped out and shut the door locking Ron inside. "If you need anything Dan is just at the end of the hall. Yell when you're finished and he'll let you out."

Ron forced a smile. "Thanks a lot Ben."

He watched and waited for Ben to leave. Then he very slowly turned to face Ferguson.

Jack was smiling, "I was wondering how long it would take for you to come around to see me Weasley."

Ron punched him hard in the jaw. "You shut the fuck up!"

Ferguson had fallen to the floor. Ron jerked him back up to his feet. "Where the hell is my wife?"

Ferguson licked the blood from his bottom lip. "You always were a hothead Weasley. React first think later. If you want answers you might try to ask a little nicer."

Ron grabbed the front of his shirt and gave him a shake. "I'm not playing games here. You tell me where they have her and I might let you live."

"If you want your wife all you have to do is release me. Then you can run straight to her and play the hero." He smiled in a way that didn't reach his eyes. "But the Ministry won't authorize my release will they? Always playing by the rules."

Ron shoved him onto the cot. "Tell me where she is and I'll personally make sure your sentence is a light one."

"I don't think your wife would appreciate that after all her months of hard work on my case. She is quite the little bitch."

Ron punched him again. His head snapped back under the force. "Don't you ever talk about my wife like that."

"You keep that up Weasley and I won't be able to talk at all." He smiled that sinister smile again.

Ron was fuming. "Tell me where she is."

"She must be some piece of ass for you to go through all this trouble."

Ron grabbed him again and shoved him hard against the wall knocking his head against it. "I told you not to talk that way about my wife."

"You know when she was questioning me the other week I could kind of see what you saw in her. If I were to stoop low enough to fuck a Mudblood I'd definitely be able to enjoy her."

Ron banged his head against the concrete-one, two, three- times. He was about to do it a fourth when George yelled out, "Ron you're going to kill him! Stop it!"

Ron somehow controlled himself and let go. "You're going to spend the rest of your life rotting away in this cell." He turned to walk to the door.

Ferguson had to get the last word though. "And you're going to spend the rest of yours as a widower and a single father. I just hope the boys make sure she suffers before they kill her."

That was the final straw. Ron turned back around and punched Ferguson so hard that his head hit the concrete wall with so much force that it shattered his skull. He was dead before he hit the floor.

Ron felt no remorse whatsoever. He quickly dragged the body to the cot and lifted it on top.

George was in complete shock. "Ron what have you done?"

Ron stepped to the door. "He was never going to give us anything and he'd caused enough pain to my family." He yelled for Dan, the night guard, to let him out.

As Dan opened the cell door his eyes raked over Ferguson's body in the shadows. "Is he okay?"

Ron said, "Yes," and then performed a Confundus charm on him and sent him back down the hall.

George was suddenly very aware that his brother was not the same carefree man he use to be. He had been forever changed in those three years of captivity and George wasn't sure if he liked it at all.

Geoffrey Ross was furious they had gotten word that it looked like the Ministry wasn't going to cooperate. Jack Ferguson according to their source was still in Azkaban.

They still hadn't gotten permission to kill the Weasley woman and that made him angry. That little bitch had made his life hell. He had lost his job, his wife and it was all because of that Mudblood upstairs.

He stood up suddenly. He might not be able to kill her yet but he could at least take some of his frustration out on her.

His friend looked at him, "Where are you going?"

Ross drained his glass of Firewhiskey. "I'm just going upstairs to have a chat with our prisoner."

"Be careful. We're not suppose to kill her yet."

"Yeah I know Linley. I'm just going to have a little fun."

He entered the dark room and found her lying on her side where she had fallen earlier. Using his wand he lit a few candles. "Well Weasley it looks like your minutes are numbered. Our source tells us the Ministry isn't budging."

She stared at him her eyes full of hate. "Good."

He strode over and kicked her again. "You'd think you would learn to keep your mouth shut." He sat on the edge of the bed. "You know what's funny is our source also tells us that your husband is nowhere to be found. He was at the Ministry for a few minutes and then left." He knelt down next to her. "Maybe Weasley has finally realized what a mistake he's made bonding himself to a filthy Mudblood."

She closed her eyes tightly. She was in so much pain and the thought of Ron deserting her now was impossible to imagine. "He'll find me and when he does you'll pay for everything you've done to me."

He pulled her to her feet and threw her onto the bed. "And you'll be dead." He waved his wand releasing her bonds.

Instantly the blood rushed back to her hands and feet. The pain was terrible. "What are you doing?" She was frightened now.

He crossed the room and placed his wand in the drawer of a dilapidated bureau. "I figured I'd treat you like the disgusting Muggle-born you are. No magic just you and me."

As soon as his back was turned she ran towards the door. She wasn't even halfway there when he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back against him. "You're not going anywhere."

She elbowed him hard in the ribs. He spun her around and slapped her with such force that she collapsed at his feet. He then reached out and kicked her hard.

His foot landed right in the center of her stomach. She instantly felt a pain so horrible it took her breath away. She rolled to her side shielding her stomach with her arms. "Please stop it. My baby…please."

"Now this is a sight that warms my heart. The privileged and pampered Hermione Weasley at my feet begging me for mercy." He pulled her back up and slammed her against the door.

He pulled her cloak off. "You know I really do understand how Weasley could possibly overlook your unfortunate blood status. You're body's not half bad and I bet you're wild in bed." He ran a hand under her skirt and up her thigh.

Hermione tried to pull away. "Take your filthy hands off me you disgusting bastard." She raised her knee and hit him hard in the groin.

For a split second he lost all of his senses and he let her go. He was blocking the door so she rushed towards the bureau. If she could get his wand she could get out of here.

She placed her hand on the knob of the drawer when he slammed into her from behind. She hit the front of the bureau with such force that she literally saw stars before her eyes and the wind had been knocked from her.

He yanked her back and threw her back onto the bed. He began to hit her wherever he could reach. "You fucking Mudblood slut. How dare you?"

She tried to roll away to protect herself and her child but it was no use he was furious. The last thought she had was of Ron before her world went black.