22
Where's Hermione?
Ron Weasley was worried. It was late Friday afternoon and no one had seen Hermione since she left Hogwarts late Wednesday afternoon. He thought at first she might be taking some time to herself to come to grips with the interview with Luna.
Ron felt his heart go out to Hermione as he heard Luna retell what had happened to her and Ginny last year. He now knew from talking to Davies that she had seven other victims she had to deal with, in addition to Luna and Ginny. He was sure the reason Hermione had not been around is she was trying to figure out how to approach Ginny about what had happened to her.
Ron felt his cheeks go red with anger as he thought about Benedict. That bastard had almost raped his fiancé and sister and raped one of his best friends. He wanted to go to Hogwarts and arrest him. However William Davies told both Harry and he not to do anything. This was Hermione's case. He also pointed out the Hermione had turned into a bit of an expert on interviewing both suspects and victims. Davies told Ron he had not seen a natural investigator the likes of Hermione in a very long time.
That still did not explain her disappearing again. His mother had talked to him shortly after she had gone to see Hermione. Ron initially refused to come to dinner, and Molly read him the riot act. She informed him that Hermione had been hurting over some things she was working on and needed him. Instead he chose to confront about doing her job. After listening to his mother he knew she was right. He only hoped that Hermione would forgive him.
The two days before Hermione went to Hogwarts she seemed more like the Hermione he had come to love. She did not get a chance to speak with him, but he could see she was smiling again. . After Wednesday Davies explained to him she had been doing research on how best to conduct the interview with Luna. However she did smile at him the few times they ran into each other in the hallway. The two of the were doing the same dance around each other they had the last seven years at Hogwarts
Now it was Friday night, and Hermione was now late for her meeting with Ron. Hermione was never late for anything. Ron was beginning to get worried. Even when Hermione was not speaking to either Harry or him she still would come to work. Hermione had not been back to work since leaving Hogwarts.
Molly came into the room and saw Ron fidgeting.
"Don't worry dear. Hermione loves you and she will forgive you."
Ron looked at his mother. He had not told her that Hermione had not been to work over the last couple of days.
"Mom"
Before he could finish the fireplace came to life. Ron sat up running his hands through his hair. He had to look good for Hermione.
"Ron!"
Harry's head appeared in the fireplace.
"Harry dear", Molly answered "Ron is busy right now. Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours. Why don't…"
"Molly, we don't have time for this!" Arthur Weasley's voice interrupted her. "Open the floo, Harry, Kingsley and I need to see Ron right away!"
"Arthur, you will leave Ron alone until after he has talked to Hermio…"
"Damn it Molly! Don't argue with me, open the floo now or I will aparrate right into the living room, Protective wards or not!"
As long as they had been married Arthur had only talked to her like that when there was something seriously wrong. She quickly cast the spell to open the floo.
Shortly after she released the floo Harry, Kingsley and Arthur stepped into the living room.
Ron stood up as they arrived. As soon as Harry arrived he turned to Ron.
"Ron, Have you seen or spoken to Hermione today?"
"I have not seen her since she finished at Hogwarts Wednesday. Why"
Ron saw Harry, Kingsley and Arthur look at each other. Harry then handed him the evening edition of the daily profit. Ron Gasped as he read the headline.
Hermione Granger Sentanced to Die.
By Rita Skeeter
Early this afternoon I your dedicated reporter for years received the following:
Owl from the Order of the Dragon.
"Hermione Granger has been captured and tried by the order of Dragon. The charges she faced were: 1. High Treason, for her actions during the trials of several Muggleborns at the ministry of magic last year that lead to the escape of several dangerous prisoners, 2. Robbery, for her role in the break in and robbery of Gringotts Bank, 3. Murder, for her role in the killings of Bellatrix Lestrange, Tom Riddle and all those that were killed last year in the unlawful battle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ms. Granger has also been charged as an adulteress for her affairs with Harry Potter, Viktor Krum and Ronald Weasley. For these crimes Ms. Granger has been sentenced to death. Her execution has been scheduled for Sunday, November 29th at sunset.
It seems to this reporter that Ms. Granger has finally been bought to justice. Details of her execution will be reported Tuesday December 1st after an exclusive interview with the head of the order of the dragon.
Ron threw the paper down on the table and looked at Harry. He could see by the concerned look on Harry's face that the article was not a fake. Ron felt unsteady on his feet. Before he could fall however, Molly took him in her arms.
No one heard Ginny, Luna and Professor McGonagall come in through the kitchen. Seeing Molly holding Ron and the grim looks on Harry and companies face Ginny spoke in a cheery voice.
"Who Died?"
Harry pointed to the prophet. Ginny gasped as she finished reading the article.
***
The first thing Hermione felt as she woke up was a sharp pain in her back. She fought against the pain as she took in her surroundings. She was in a small basement. In the dark she could make out a set of stairs leading to a door. "How much do you want to bet the doors locked", she thought.
She closed her eyes again, and tried to stand but found she was not able to get out of her chair. She was tied up, her arms and legs bound to the chair. She now knew why her back was hurting. She had been placed in what appeared to be a wooden kitchen chair with no cushions. She had no idea how long she had been out.
Soon the door opened and she heard someone coming down the stairs. Hermione quickly close her eyes, planning to pretend to still be unconscious.
"Granger, come off it. We know you're awake" Benedict sounded quite pleased.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked at her captor. Benedict was leering at her as he spoke.
"That's better."
He offered her offered her some water. Hermione did not say anything.
Benedict laughed as he grabbed her by the hair and hissed.
"Don't you try anything now," as he loosened her ropes. Once her ropes were loose he dragged her across the room by her hair. Hermione cried out in pain as he dragged her, and threw her down on a bed.
Hermione immediately started to get back up. Benedict slapped her hard across the face. Hermione let out a gasp of pain. Benedict then grabbed her hands and roughly dragged him over her head. He then casts a binding charm, binding her hands to the headboard.
Hermione knew what was coming next. She closed her eyes as she felt Benedict get on top of her. He ran his hands over her face. He slapped her again.
"Not so stuck up now are you bitch."
He bought his hands down to her blouse and began to unbutton it. Hermione whimpered. She knew what he was about to do, and there was no one to stop him this time.
"I thought I told you to wait Benedict"
Hermione felt relieved that Benedict had been interrupted. The relief however was short lived as she recognized the woman whom had spoken to Benedict.
"Hello Ms. Granger." Deloris Umbridge still had that girlish voice, "Crucio"
Hermione screamed as every muscle in her body felt like it was on fire.
The Cruciatus was just one of the minor things that Deloris Umbridge did to Hermione Granger that night. At some point Hermione found herself wishing she would die, just to end the pain. Shortly after that she passed out.
***
After what seemed like just a few minutes Hermione was awakened roughly by Benedict grabbing her. As Hermione slowly started to sit up, she felt like she had been run over by a truck. Over the last couple of days she was tortured relentlessly by Umbridge.
There was not a part of her body that was not screaming in pain. She noticed on her sides many small cuts. Hermione remembered at some point Umbridge had casts some kind of spell that simulated a horse whip. She had been whipped for what seemed like an eternity. She did not have the strength to fight Benedict so she just let him grab at her. She had no shirt on, Umbridge had it removed before she started whipping her.
"That's enough Benedict" Hermione heard Umbridge. "You will get to have your fun with this Mudblood soon. Right now, she needs to write a letter to her fiancé."
Umbridge motioned for Hermione to sit at a table that had up with a parchment and quill.
"Ms Granger. I am going to give you the chance that many others are never given. I am going to let you write a farewell letter to Mr. Weasley"
Hermione felt light headed as she got up. Benedict grabbed her roughly and dragged her to the chair. Hermione looked at Umbridge.
"Farewell?" She asked, she could barely speak, "Where am I going?" She knew the answer to the question but for some reason she had to ask.
"You are going to be going to hell Miss Granger." She laughed, "And once Benedict is finished with you, I am going to kill you. Don't worry Ms. Granger. I am going to take my time killing you."
Hermione did not answer. She knew as Umbridge was torturing her yesterday she was not going walk out of this basement alive. Her only regret was that she would die with Ron thinking she did not want or love him anymore. She picked up the quill and started to write her farewell letter to Ron. She felt the back of her hands begin to bleed as she wrote. She had endured worse pain than this the last time she had been awake. As she wrote her final letter to Ron, Hermione could not hold back her tears.
***
Friday night had turned into one of the longest nights of Ron's short life. Harry, Kingsley and William Davies spent a good part of the early evening trying to come up with a lead on where Hermione could have been taken. Harry paid another visit to Draco Manor, trying to find any information on where they could find Gregory Goyle or Benedict. The Malfoys were cooperative and did their best to help. Harry and several Aurors raided Goyles last known residence they found it long since abandoned.
Draco then took them to several other places that Goyle had been known to frequent. Again those were all dead ends. Draco was in the dining room with Harry, trying to think of anyplace they might have missed. However Draco finally admitted he could not think of any other place they might find Goyle and was finally sent back to Malfoy Manor. Before Draco he had one small minute to speak to Ron.
"Weasley", he said as he was heading to the fireplace "Granger will find a way to let you know where she is."
He then disappeared in a flash of green flames. Ron wished he could believe Draco, but he was finding it hard to believe they would be able to do anything to rescue Hermione. It was now early evening on Saturday. Hermione was scheduled to die in less than twenty four hours. They were running out of time.
Ron was startled by the clicking of an owl at the living room window. Ron went to the window, but did not recognize the owl. He opened the window as Harry and Davies came in to see about the noise. The owl flew in and landed before Ron and held up its leg so he could take the Letter he was carrying.
Ron quickly took the letter. It was addressed to him. He could not recognize the handwriting on the envelope. As soon as Ron took the letter the Owl flew back into the night. Ron opened the letter and began to read the letter.
Ronald
First let me say how sorry I am over how I treated you over the last few days,
My biggest fear is that you may feel I don't love you. Ron you have been my best friend for most of my life. You have been my boyfriend and fiancé for just under six months. Ron the only thing I am sorry for is we took so long to finally admit how we felt for each other. I cannot help but think how different things might have been for us had we just admitted we loved each other back in our fourth year. The last few months I have been the happiest I have ever been, and that is because of you.
Ronald, It does not look like I will make our wedding, I am sorry. I do not know how much more time I have left, but I do know that time for me is short.
I want to talk to you about what I want you to do once I am gone. Ron, I know you will not want to at first but please, do not let me be the only girl that learns how wonderful you are. Promise me you will find someone else to love you. You deserve to be loved by someone wonderful. I want you to be happy. That is what you can do to honor my memory, be happy.
Ron I know you always thought of yourself as just plain Ron, the youngest son of a poor family, not having the newest or finest things. I know that is why it took so long for you to admit that you loved me. I know you never thought you were good enough for me. Ronald, you need to know that you are the only man that has ever been good enough for me. I will keep you in my heart and mind for the time that I have left, Please always keep a place in your heart for me.
Ron I will always love you with all my heart.
Love always,
Hermione
When Ron finished reading the letter he felt the tears start to roll down his cheeks. He felt Ginny take him into her arms as he began to let himself cry. He felt his mother take the letter from his hands. He could hear Molly also begin to cry as she too read the letter.
.
****
The only thing that got Hermione through the next day, or was it longer, was Ron. As Umbridge was putting her through the worse physical pain Hermione had ever been through in her short life. She found a place in her mind where she could go to escape. That place was Ron Weasley.
She relived almost every minute she and Ron had spent together. From the first time she met him on the Hogwarts express, to him dating Lavender Brown and their first kiss in the room of requirement. Hermione knew she was going to die, and had come to terms with that fact. Hermione was not afraid to die. Her biggest fear was that Ron would never move on. She knew she was the love of his life, but she wanted him to find love again. She was afraid Ron would never look at another woman after she was gone. The thought of Ron spending the rest of his life alone broke Hermione's heart.
Hermione knew that Umbridge was not the worse thing she would have to endure. She knew at some point Umbridge would give her to Benedict. She knew what Benedict would do to her and she prayed that Umbridge would kill her by accident before that happened. She wanted Ron to be the only man she had made love to. In her mind she knew being raped was not the same thing as making love, but she did not want any other man to be with her. Hermione decided if she had the chance she would take her own life rather than let Benedict take her.
Hermione heard the door to the basement open again and the sound of someone coming down the stairs. She looked to see who it was and could barely make out Benedict through her swollen eyes. He was alone. She knew Umbridge was through with her. It was now Benedicts turn.
She heard Benedict swear as he looked at her.
Hermione knew he why he was swearing. She looked nothing like the beautiful girl that Ron said she was. Her eyes were swollen, and her face was badly bruised. Her lips were swollen from where they had been split open during one of the times she had been beaten. She no longer had any clothes on. Her clothes had long since been ruined by the relentless torture she had endured. Though she was naked, Hermione could not see how anyone would find her attractive. She had deep cuts all over both her back and front from the whipping charm that Umbridge used. She was also bruised from head to toe. She also knew she had at least one broken rib, and one of her arms was broken as well, courtesy again of Umbridge. She looked at Benedict's blurred image and rasped.
"Not what you were dreaming of?"
Benedict started to undress as he answered her.
"Don't worry yourself Granger. I have been looking forward to taking you for too long to let how you look stop me now. I promise I will not be gentle like your pathetic fiancé Ron Weasle."
Hermione gasped in pain as her broken arm was pushed over her head. She felt Benedict get on top of her, and spread her legs with his. "Ron, forgive me" she whispered.