And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC
Chapter 35- Captivity
Summary: Like some magnetic force, like some unbreakable bond she was drawn back to him again and again. And now, staying away was an inconceivable notion. "Always." she murmured, one hand finding his, the other tangling into his platinum hair, "Always."
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Hi everyone, I'm sincerely sorry for the massive delay between chapters. You may recall a while a go that I said my grandad had been diagnosed with lung cancer, well cut a long story short there was a lot of care involved and we helped out alot and with work it was extrememely busy and it was terminal. He passed away on January 12th. I then moved in with my nan for a month and then there was the funeral etc and you might be shocked at just how much they expect an old lay with no computer skills to do online just days after she has been widowed. It's disgusting really. I've also had to start cycling to worl 10-15 miles a day and everything is just exhausting. It's taken me a long time to get back into the swing of things. Reading the reviews for the last chapter though has been incredible and a true nudge to get going again, thank you so much to all of you! I love each and every one of you! Without further adeui...
P.S - I've got chapter 36 all planned out too so hopefully th wait will be nowhere near as long! Again I'm so sorry...
TRIGGER WARNING::: There are (mostly glossed over) scenes of torture and interigation in this chapter, the magical kind of course. But still you have been warned.
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"And now for the names of missing witches and wizards, Christopher Judd, Valerie Joan Walton, Chloe Green, Avery Greenwood, Samantha Biggs, Thomas O'brien-"
-….-
Avery had always been someone who had appreciated waking up. Throughout her life, her years at Hogwarts especially she had learned that waking up every morning was a blessing. Tomorrow was not promised and you had to appreciate every day, even if thos days often started with Potions with the Slytherins and Snape in a fouler mood than was usual. Cedric Diggory had proven this to her, Sirius Black had proven it amd Dumbledore, powerful, untouchable Dumbledore had proven this. But waking now- her entire body throbbing with pain that seemed to eminate from her ankle and burn up her veins and muscles to every nerve ending was anything but a blessing. Opening her heavy eyelids to discover the wild visage of Bellatrix Lestrange was even worse. She sucked in a deep breath and clamped her eyes shut again.
"I know you're awake." She whispered, elongating the vowel of the last word, "She's awake!" She cried louder, startling Avery from her prone position.
It was at that moment, as Avery bunched all of her muscles in preparation to make an attempt at escape that she realised she couldn't physically move. There were no restraints at least not physical ones but she was held completely still. Not like any charm or spell she had been under before.
"Good morning sleepyhead! You took quite a fall didn't you love." Bellatrix crowed, voice peircing through the fog that still clouded Averys mind. A hand wrapped itself in her messy hair and yanked her slumped head back, Avery hissed as her eyes adjusted to the light shining in through the large window in front of her, "Good morning! Good morning!"
"Is it?" Avery croaked, glancing around and taking in her surroundings, it was the same room that she had been in before passing out she remembered, the chandeleir above her could put Hogwarts to shame and the room was filled with possessions that could be ancient but still held a beauty that only artefacts from a different era could.
Lestrange cackled loudly, "You've always been funny! Like your mother."
A cough resonated through the room and then Avery realised she wasn't alone with the woman who had killed their Sirius. She wasn't sure whether to be thankful for that or not when she took intake of the spectators. Deatheaters, a lot of them, most of whom she had never seen before but a few of whom she recognized, the ones from the cafe in London, Dolohov and the other one she didn't remember, Greyback looming in the back, another she recognized, a small man with dark hair and a beard called Pius. She noticed Snape watching her blankly, no expression whatsoever. She noticed the Malfoys last Lucius and Narcissa standing close together, the former watching, his face expressionless as Snapes, the latter with her gaze trained on Averys feet. And Draco. Standing between Snape and his father, his horrified expression noticeable to anyone who cared to look. She met his eyes briefly and turned away, the unstoppable sheer joy that she felt at seeing him after so long completely over ridden by the overwhelming fear she felt at being in this position.
Would she see Draco Malfoy again had never been a question she had asked her self, she had always held out hope but prone to pessimism she hadn't dwelt on it. She, Hermione , Ron and Harry had been so far removed from the real world, apparating here there and everywhere, hiding in their tent from the rest of the world that she hadn't seen the full extent of the upcoming war. Ron's radio had been the only thing that had informed them of the sheer number of witches and wizard that had been kiled or fled or were simply missing. She had never heard Draco's name on that list and her mirror had provided her with occasional glimpses, enough to reassure Avery that he was in fact safe and alive. It hadn't occured to Avery that she would never see Draco face to face again, in fact it was almost inevitable that she would in some capacity, though she had never entertained the thought that it would be in this way, that he would be standing there now besides his family and she, Avery was captive in his home.
She wanted to hold him, that was her first impression as she stared at him, he looked so tired and worn and scared and it sickened her, but he was dressed immaculately as ever and he wasn't the one restrained to a seat surrounded by the enemy. She could see though, because she could read him easier than any book that he was barely restraining himself from stepping forward to her aide, but then what would that acheive she wondered, where would that get him but in the same position or worse.
Finally, stood in the large door way to her right she saw her mother. She had wondered sometimes on the more introspecitve nights before her evenings had been taken over by Draco Malfoy and their clandestine meetings, what it might feel like to have a mother who genuinely loved you. Hermione talked non stop about her muggle parents and how much she missed them and Avery had seen first hand how difficult it had been for her to modify their memories whilst all of this took place. Molly Weasley was the epitome of what a mother should be in Averys eyes. She was warm and kind and loving and always more than willing to take in another stray parentless child that her children brought home. Matilda was a mother though she had never had children of her own, she was everything that a young Avery had dreamed of having and Avery missed her more now than she had in a long time. Even Draco had talked about his mother sometimes and whilst his father left alot to be desired he had never had a bad word to say about Narcissa, the woman loved him it was obvious. The woman stood in the door way watching her impassively however, was no mother. Mary Greenwood had birthed Avery, yes, named her, but she had not raised her, had not mothered her. No mother could allow something like this to happen to their child.
"Now Miss Greenwood." Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and Avery tore her eyes away from her mother to look at him instead. She could se the difference in him too, from the last time they had come face to face, living under the wing of the dark lord must take its toll, "We're going to ask you a few questions."
"I'm not going to answer them." she shot back, with a lot more bravado than she actually felt.
"You will." he said as he pulled his wand from his pocket.
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The questions became repetitive after a while and the threats more so. No one knew where Matilda was so they couldn't use her as incentive. No one knew where any of her friends were so they could not be used either, in fact the only person that she even remotely cared about in this room was directly related to her torturers, plus she had avoided making eye contact with him at all or even glancing in his direction since she had first seen him again so as not to draw any attention his way.
They were creative, she would give them that and they held nothing back in their questioning of her until her body felt like one massive bruise and cut and every fibre of her being ached and throbbed, she could barely lift her own head she felt so weak but Bellatrix often took care of that for her, yanking her back by the ends of her locks, often ripping more than a few strands out at the scalp as she did. Her voice had gone almost completely and she was no longer sure if she screamed out load when a new curse hit her. It was often nothing lethal, prolonged pain was the preferred method and of she never heard the cruciatus curse being spoken again she would be happy. She tried to maintain a facade of nonchallance and boredum but really she wanted to beg them to stop to beg for a flash of green light and nothingness.
"Where are they?"
"I don't know." she croaked, or maybe her voice really was gone and she had only thought it.
It wasn't fair she thought, even if she had wanted to give up the location of her best friends, two of them at least, she wouldn't be able to because she genuinely didn't know and if one of them would just use occlumency they would know that without a doubt. Deatheaters though weren't known for their restraint and were indeed know for their willingness to use other people as playthings.
The next spell hit and the only response she could muster was an agonized groan, Merlin only knew what they were doing to her body or her insides, she felt shredded and broken.
"Where are they?"
"I don't know."
The next spell hit and finally the world around her faded into black and she slipped blissfully into unconciousness.
-….-
"I love the grounds at night." Draco smiled, skin glowing from where he stood leaning against the railing, the moon above him so bright and so beautiful, she'd never seen it so luminous before, the Astronomy tower was lit beautifully, the light chasing away all the shadows. "They're beautiful when they're empty, when everyone is in bed. I rather miss it. I never thought I would."
Avery smiled from where she sat wrapped in a warm blanket, she didn't feel the cold though she knew it must be freezing out, she wondered if Draco had cast a charm to cocoon them in warmth and light. He looked wonderful before her, like a muggle deity, a marble statue- though she could only see his profile, his hair moved slowly in the slight breeze. Subconsciously, even when she had hated him she had always known he was extremely handsome, there had always been something about his sharp features and pointy angles that she had appreciated. She wondered why she was looking at him now as if she hadn't seen him in a long time, like they were reunited after an absence, like she was seeing him for the first time.
"What do you mean you miss it?" She asked, "You're right here."
"You know what I mean Avery." Draco turned towards her, his features visible now. As she saw him the warmth seemed to drain from her body, he didn't look okay, he looked haggard and drawn, dark circles permeating his alabaster skin. She whipped to her feet and pulled him close to her but he felt wrong somehow, like he wasn't quite how he was meant to be. Like he was a memory slightly wrong.
Avery shivered, "Draco? What's happening?"
Realization dawned on her, the coldness seeping in, the moon blindingly bright, too bright to be real. Avery's lip quivered, "Draco." she whispered, "I have to wake up don't I?"
"Yes."
"I don't want to." she couldn't remember why, couldn't understand why she felt such fear at the idea of returning to the waking world, "Will you be there?"
Draco nodded mutely, guilt and fear filling his ragged features. A sharp stab of pain erupted in the tips of her fingers, running quickly up her arms, her torso, her neck until every inch of her throbbed painfully. Her head began to pound and her eyes blurred over obscuring the boy in front of her. She felt panic rising.
"I don't want to wake up, Draco!"
Avery cried out as she felt herself wrenched from the dream. Her eyes shot open as freezing cold erupted over her skin and she immediately became aware of her skin and hair soaked, her wet clothes clinging to her skin, she began to shiver violently as the cold air around her became noticable.
"Welcome back pretty!" A horibly familiar voice crowed and Avery winced, not only at the volume and her pounding head but also at the knowledge that Bellatrix was stil there, she was still at Malfoy Manor and everything that had happened in the last few hours was completely real, "You took longer to pass out than I thought you would love."
After the moment of disorientation passed she realised that she was no longer bound to the uncomfortable wooden chair and was in fact in a different room altogether, the air was damp here and the bars and tiny windows told her immediately that she was in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. She could only hope that this meant a small reprieve if not the end of her torture. Bellatrix stood the other side of the bars and Avery barely had the strength to raise her head to look at her and could barely hear her voice over the shrill ringing in her ears.
"Get comfy pretty. The Dark Lord is held up, but he'll be here soon enough."
She was left blissfully alone, shivering with the cold air pricking on her wet skin though she assumed that most of it was probably her body going into shock.
Weak light filtered through one of the high windows but Avery didn't even bother to study it or her surroundings to attempt escape, even if she weren't weaker than a new born calf she would probably be up against more protective, nasty curses than she could ever hope to counter.
Footsteps sounded on the cellar stairs before she was ready and she cringed back in her cold corner "Go away, go away, go away." she mumbled, wondering idly if she made up a location would they believe her. Maybe they'd all go off to this place and she'd have some peace for a while.
"Red." she heard and for a minute she felt no pain or fatigue as she threw herself towards the bars.
"Draco." she choked out grabbing at his pale skin and hugging him close as was possible with cold metal bars pressing in to her wounds. His warm skin was a stark contrast and she shuddered as a mountain of grief and pain seemed to wash over her in one go, her situation finally making sense with the arrival of the blonde.
"I'm so sorry Red, so sorry. You weren't meant to be here, not you. I heard they'd caught someone and I hoped it was anyone but you."
"Draco." she murmured again "Draco, Draco, Draco."
The blonde puled his wand from his pocket and for a fleeting moment Avdery tensed, "I'm not going to hurt you." he whispered and Avery imediately felt awful for even entertaining the notion for a second he began mumbling some spells, some she recognised and others she didn't. A few she had heard on some of her numerous visits to the hospital wing in Hogwarts, she could almost hear Madame Pomfreys exasperation, Merlin she even missed the hospital wing.
Slowly, inch by inch her pain lessened, numbing, and her skin dried, "How do you knwow how to do this?" Avery asked, dazedly, feeling almost sleepy at his ministrations, "Did we learn this?"
"Not in school." Draco mumbled, "I taught myself, for when they keep people down here," He smiled but it was more of a grimace, "I can't do much." he meant her and however many before her, "I can't make it obvious but I can help."
"Thank you." she whispered, pressing chapped, sore lips to his gaunt cheek, "Thank you."
They stood there for a few minutes just holding each other, Avery was still cold and the wrought iron bars between them pressed into their tender skin uncomfortably but she felt almost content being back with him again, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would die soon, if this was all she was going to get before then, well, then she was going to take it.
The startling sound of the door at the top of the stairs grating open ripped Avery from her reverie and she jumped away, pulling out of Draco's embrace at the same moment he stepped back, pocketing his wand. His body language changed immediately and he was the Draco that Avery remembered from her childhood, sneer firmly in place.
"Draco-" a familair deep drawl spoke as Severus Snape stepped into view, "Stop gloating... You're needed."
Draco nodded, turning away from Avery swiftly and ascending the stairs without a glance back at her.
"Make yourself comfortable Miss Greenwood," Snape spoke, no hint of emotion in his voice, not even the smugness that Avery found herself expecting, "The Dark Lord will be here to see you soon enough."
"I don't know where they are. I'm not lying."
Severus turned away and left her much the same way that Draco had, not a word of response. Avery sighed, cold dread settling itself on her shuddering shoulders. She was here in the damp dsrkness caged like an animal with no way of escape or fighting back, numerous enemies walking around just above her head and Voldemort was coming, he was coming and she couldn't escape that.
She swallowed harshly and dropped down to the floor, scooting up against the concrete wall, she closed her eyes against the cloying darkness and imagined she was back in that damned tent with Harry and Hermione, listening to thatg blasted radio. She'd take Harry's disgust and anger every day over this captivity.
She wondered where they were and she prayed that they had gotten to safety and were okay, if she could last long enough and distract them here then she could still be of some use.
If Voldemort was here then he wasn't chasing Harry and they coujld continue their search. That was something at least.
She hugged her legs to her chest and rested her head on her knees and waited.
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What do you think? Please do let me know what you think so I know what to work on etc!
