HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wish you the best for this year! Health, love and many projects!
Rhmac12, thank you so much for reviewing, you can't realize how much that means to me, so thank you very much, it's not easy to translate a fiction, it's a lot of work, and I'm glad to have your reviews, it doesn't mind if you're the one to take the time to let me know your feelings!
I hope that you're going to enjoy this chapter, as much as I enjoyed to write it!
And please please please, be nice, R&R!And sorry, there are probably some mistakes, be indulgent!
Love,
Amelinasa
ENJOY!
The property of the Malfoy stood before them, dark, abandoned, its walls still bearing the stigma of black magic they had witnessed. Ron exchanged a look with Harry. The atmosphere prevailing around the castle was heavy, as if the darkness was infiltrated into every stone, every blade of grass, every breath of air. Their wand firmly tightened in hand, they advanced carefully towards the old rickety bridge which allowed access to the mansion. Their footsteps echoed eerily in the freezing cold that surrounded them. The doors had been broken 4 years ago, and only the seeping moisture wood debris remained. Ron shivered as the memories stormed him. Her screams. Bellatrix Lestrange. His desperation. His fury. How powerless he felt. He hated this place, so much… He could almost hear the echo of their shouts, hers from pain, his from fear for her life… This place was as haunted as he was by the horrors which had taken place there.
"Homenus revelio", said Harry in a low voice by pointing his wand towards the Interior of the home.
Nothing occurred. There was nobody except them.
"I take upstairs, you take the ground floor..." launched Ron with a husky voice, going toward the old marble steps leading upstairs.
Harry nodded and entered in turn. Ron climbed slowly along the wall, his wand stretched before him. A few years of experience as an Auror had shown him that a "homenus revelio" was not always reliable face of powerful spells of concealment. He remained tense, on the lookout for the slightest movement, less sound. Better than that, he hoped. He hoped to find something, someone who could lead them to the instigator. The Death Eaters who were arrested had been so little talkative, it was unusual, in general, most creaked rather easily after a few days. But this time, nothing, as if they didn't care about their own fate, or as if they knew that someone would help them to come out soon from there.
The Malfoy Manor was naturally imposed as a first place to search. Formerly benchmark of Death Eaters, it would have seemed logical that the recent events were connected with it somehow or other.
The Malfoy had disappeared, simply, in full battle against Voldemort. No one knew where to find them. The courage was never part of their rare qualities, thought Ron with contempt. The castle had been abandoned, but recently, witnesses claimed to see lights after nightfall. The Aurors had organized several watches, but nothing had happened. They had then found an error, or a confusion with fireflies. But Ron was sure that these lights were the sign that something was going on here. Or maybe he wanted to persuade himself...
Ron looked around. It was strange to imagine that these huge, dusty and dilapidated parts had housed Drago and his family. It looked like so little to the Burrow, with its cramped but so warm parts. The remains had apparently been looted, it still saw the trace of the frames on the walls.
"Ron!" called Harry's voice, at the bottom.
Ron abandoned the piece he was preparing to search and rushed down to reach his friend. Harry was in what once, would have been a richly decorated reception hall. It was here. The chandelier had been removed but it was here. Hermione had been tortured right here. He felt his throat tighten. He had almost lost her in this bloody place, he couldn't picture how would have been his life without her. He would probably be dead. He loved her so much, that sometimes, it hurt and it was scary to feel so vulnerable.
Harry turned back to Ron, laying down an inscription adorning the cracked wall, facing him.
"Harry? What's going on?" asked the redhead in approaching.
Once he was close enough, he froze. On the wall that faced them, an inscription was drawn with what appeared to be blood.
A message, which was clearly addressed to them. "The Mudblood will be the first to pay, anyone opposed will perish by the hand of the master". Ron again felt anger seeping into his veins, seething in him. Similarly cold fear insinuated in his heart, glazing of fright.
"It's a warning", muttered Harry for both of them.
As Ron was still glaring the entry in a silent rage, Harry turned to him.
"Let's leave, they have clearly fled the scene, they knew that we would come... They made the household..."
Ron turned back and followed his friend. Even so he did no longer have the words before his eyes, the inscription seemed to float before him and to be engraved in his flesh.
"Why?" asked Hermione, her heart beating so fast that she thought it was going to jump out of her chest. She was trying to control the tremor in her voice.
"You always told me that your father had died fighting against Voldemort..."
She was trying to save time, trying somehow to recall its course on the unsaid spells in sixth year. Her wand had remained on her desk, she had forgotten it in her eagerness to obey Mrs Weasley.
Where was she, by the way? Hermione heard only silence, disturbed by some chirping of birds. Even the gnoms seem to have disappeared. Daphnee chuckled even louder, still glaring her.
"My father was a blood traitor!" She spat it out. "My mother was a pure blood, she died due to a Muggle like you! I barely knew her..."
"I am a witch" couldn't help replicate Hermione.
Daphnee burst out laughing, a demented laugh that gave chills to the young woman. Hermione didn't leave her wand of the eyes.
"You're a Mudblood, a fucking Mudblood! How could Ronald Weasley infatuated about you? A pure blood like him? How can he accept to mess with you?"
Hermione felt her cheeks burn and her hands start to tremble with a fury that she had to contain.
"Ron loves me..." she articulated coldly.
"Rubbish! You made him swallow a love filter! But regardless, you'll kindly follow me outside the shield of protection and don't try to escape if you don't want me to damage your pretty face... It, it will be for later, I swear…"
There was so much hate, so much anger in her voice that Hermione felt her legs begin to shake with fear. Daphnee was completely crazy, out of control, just like Bellatrix was…
Hermione swallowed hardly. She was in very bad shape, and this time, she didn't see how to escape. She was completely destitute without her wand, she felt naked, her fingers tingled, claiming a piece of magic wood to animate. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, making it impervious to any attempt of concentration. However, an unformulated hex asked lots of concentration, especially for who had rarely the opportunity to practice without a wand.
She passed slowly before Daphnee, her legs trembling, looking a last time at Neville and Seamus, who stay still, their eyes lost in the space. She thought about Ron. She hardly dared to imagine his reaction once he would know. As soon as they had passed the last trees in the garden, Hermione knew that now, there was no protection. She tried to calm down, to reason herself, she had seen worse, she had experienced worse, evidenced by the scar adorning her arm, tracing the words 'Mudblood'. The idea of no longer seeing Ron tore her apart, she didn't know what they were going to do with her, but she had the certitude that she wasn't going to overcome it alive. She was terrified but determined to show a detached face... She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of her tears. She would ensure to die with dignity, for her, but also for him.
Daphnee suddenly grabbed her by the arm, twisting it in her back with a force she would have never suspected in who she was previously looking on as a friend. Hermione choked a groan of pain, her eyes filling with tears. She thought about Ron, about his face that she cherished so much.
"Fine, now we'll going to apparate and visit old acquaintances", rustled Daphnee in her ear.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted a familiar voice.
Hermione shuddered with a scream and, her arm free, ducked immediately, in an ultimate survival reflex. But nothing happened except a loud noise of falling behind her. Daphnee was lying, face down on the ground, frozen.
"Hermione?"
The young woman recognized that voice. Or was it an illusion? Another trap? She removed her arms from above her head and got up slowly, hardly daring to believe it. A young witch with long blond hair, adorned with feathers and beads, smiled at her, a wand in her hand.
"Luna!"
She rushed to tighten her friend in her arms, tears of relief beading in her eyes.
"But what are you doing here?" was the only thing she could ask.
"Dad is looking after the twins, I wanted to follow a small group of wrackspurts, but I have lost their trace, and as I was nearby, I wanted to come to say hello..."
Luna looked at the young woman absentmindedly.
"I wonder if the wrackspruts would be lured by the pudding", she said to herself.
Then, turning to Daphnee, whose mad eyes seemed as frozen as the rest of her person.
"Your friend isn't very nice..."
Hermione nearly burst, both laughter and tears. She took a deep draw and said, in a voice low as she would have liked.
"She isn't my friend..."
"I think we should call the Aurors", suggested Luna by observing closely a leaf.
Hermione felt so much affection for her friend at the time that she had to restrain herself from rushing toward her to embrace her with all her strength.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ron slumped down in his office chair, his head between his hands.
"All these excavations, all these searches, and we have NOTHING!"
His voice was full of anguish and disappointment. Harry couldn't deny he was disappointed too, but he had to support his friend, as Ron had done so many times in the past.
"Listen Ron, all the teams have not returned yet... We are going to find something!"
The redhead looked up at him with such a sad look that the heart of Harry sank.
"Hold on, mate..."
"I know I should be stronger, I am an Auror by Merlin, but sometimes, the fear of losing her is so strong that I'm unable to think of anything else..."
Harry did not know what to answer. He understood, and he knew that in these times, no word could not allay his fear.
A memo plunged in the bureau, fluttering up to them. Harry held out his arm and caught the flight to unfold it. He blenched.
"What? What's going on?" cried Ron, jumping on his feet.
"A family was massacred... The mother was Muggle born...They have spared no one..."
Ron was seized with such an urge to vomit as he had to sit back. A Muggle born, just like Hermione.
A mother, her husband and their children. The horror had no further limits...
"Potter! Weasley!"
Harry and Ron turned in the same movement toward the fireplace that crackled near them. Kinglsey face appeared in the flames. The Aurors knelt immediately to get to his level.
"At the Burrow, right now!"
At his tone, they knew something had happened. Ron didn't even take pain to get up, his heart drumming, he apparated immediately. Arrived in the garden, Harry and Ron saw Kinglsey, who was talking with Molly at the entrance of the house. Outside, Neville and Seamus were sitting, pale, heads lowered, while Ginny took care of them. Sitting near Neville, Luna was holding his hand and speaking with them.
Ron had the impression that his sight was blurred, that all his senses were paralyzed. Where was Hermione? They rushed to the house, Kingsley blocking them.
"Where is she? Is she okay? Tell me!" cried Ron.
"She's up there my boy, she's having some rest", said Molly, putting a soothing hand on the arm of her son.
Ron had difficulty to feel relieved, something happened, it was obvious, he needed to see her, to feel her, to touch her, to make sure she was fine and truly unhurt.
"What happened?" asked Harry.
"The Mole came here... It's Daphnee Ryan..."
Ron froze. Hermione had often spoken about Daphnee. Her first true friend since Hogwarts.
Ginny was almost her sister, it was different. She was so happy when Daphnee and her started to work together, Ron teased her so many times on this subject, gently mocking her enthusiasm.
She should be crushed by disappointment. He felt such hatred for this Daphnee!
"She attempted to kidnap Miss Granger", added Kingsley. "Obviously, Miss Granger would have knowingly invited her inside the protective field. Neville and Seamus tried to intervene, but she asked them not to do anything, and it would appear that at this time, Ryan used a spell that is derived from the Imperius Curse..."
Ron threw a brief look at the two Aurors, who appeared despondent. He knew that it wasn't their fault, but he was furious after them, he couldn't help himself.
"I was at the back of the house, I didn't hear anything, said Molly, hands clasped, with a guilty air.
"Miss Granger didn't have her wand, but fortunately, Miss Loveg...Sorry, Miss Longbottom intervened before that Ryan could apparate with Miss Granger..."
Ron felt overflowing with gratitude towards Luna. Without her, Hermione would be in the hands of the Death Eaters, and this single thought plunged him in deep disarray.
"Ryan was transported to the HQ, she is currently in a cell, and we will be questioning her upon my return..."
"I want to see Hermione!"
"She needs to rest, she was quite shaken... Don't apparate, it could wake her..." said his mother.
Ron knew that a single gesture would be enough to push Kingsley from his way, but he respected his superior, who vanished himself from the passage, resuming his conversation with Molly.
Ron rushed inside and climbed the steps by running. He opened the door of his room on the fly and stopped.
She was there, sleepy, curled up in their bed. He came closer, softly behind her. She was there, she was alive, and yet he couldn't divest himself of this anxiety that grew in him. He extended his arm and his hand upon her cheek, hoping to tap into this contact to take the force to continue this fight without giving way to the urge to take her and leave everything to go far away.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hermione sighed with comfort. In a half-sleep, she felt the hand of Ron, warm, reassuring, on her cheek. Instinctively she nestled her face against his fingers.
"Hermione..." muttered Ron.
She opened her eyes, meeting those of Ron. She closed them immediately. It was so hard to bear to see this fear, that anger in his eyes. She was terribly missing his recklessness.
"How do you feel?"
Hermione did not respond. She felt... She wouldn't be able to say... Both stupid, wounded, angry, sad, disappointed... This betrayal had acted as a true cold shower. She had really thought it was over. She realized finally how much danger was present, at which point she had risked her life. She sat up suddenly and twined her arms to hug Ron. He returned her hug, relieved to feel her against him.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." she said, in one breath against his chest. "Don't be angry..."
"I'm not angry with you Hermione..."
The young woman looked at him, and he took her face between his hands.
"Don't be angry with Neville and Seamus..."
"Those bloody idiots! They made a mistake that could cost your life!"
"Ron! It was my fault, I told them to stay away, I didn't think that…"
She sat up to kiss him tenderly. She withdrew slightly and whispered:
"It's my fault, and I'm so sorry..."
Ron put a hand on her neck, and drew her face towards him to kiss her, tenderness leaving a need that consumed them. Their lips met bluntly, his other hand on her kidneys, tightening her against him. Then, he withdrew suddenly, his eyes were darker and he was out of breath. Hermione groaned with disappointment.
"You are injured... You have to rest, I come back to see you later..."
He arose and went up the cover on her shoulders, she longed without protest. She felt tired as ever, and even if the desire to continue the translation was urgent, she needed a break, to think about nothing else than this kiss.
A new meeting was held the same evening, in the presence of Kinglsey only, others still hadn't return from mission. Neville and Seamus would join them later, they had asked to lead the questioning of Daphnee, and Kinglsey agreed, Ron and Harry were much too involved, and Kinglsey distrusted the explosive nature of the redhead.
"For now, the searches have done nothing, except the dismantling of a traffic of House Elves..."
Hermione let out a horrified squeak. Ron spent an arm around her waist, he knew how much she was sensitive to the fate of the Elves.
"How are they?" she asked in a small voice.
"As well as possible given the circumstances... They are recovering from their misadventure in the foyer that you created Miss Granger."
Hermione couldn't help smile of pride. Her first step was to create a home for free House Elves, to allow them to get used to their new freedom before considering a conversion or looking for another place with a salary this time.
Harry and Ron exchanged an amused look. Some things would never change…
"They know that we are investigating them, given the inscription you found to the Malfoy Manor...We expect the return of the first interrogation of Miss Ryan..."
"What inscription?" asked Hermione, brows frowned.
Ron looked at Kinglsey, slightly shaking his head to deter to talk about. But his supervisor seemed well decide not to hide anything to Hermione, what the young woman appreciated, glaring at Ron.
Kinglsey handed her a photo. She took it and turned slightly pale when she deciphered the words that were written. She silently gave back the photo to Kinglsey, while Ron was staring at her with anxiety. Hermione felt his gaze on her, but she was determined to not look at him.
An idea had started to germinate in her mind, and she knew that if she had looked at Ron, she couldn't escape the fear that lived in his eyes for a while now, and she would then waive.
"When she was holding me... She said that I was going to find old acquaintances... This means that I may have already met the leaders of all this..."
"Malefoy!" exclaimed Ron, fists tight.
Kinglsey crossed his arms, thinking about what she had told them.
"I don't know, we have had no signs of life on their part since they fled the battle..."
"Which doesn't mean that they don't prepare something" added Harry.
Kingsley nodded. Harry didn't think that Drago was behind this, he was afraid of Voldemort, that was the only reason that pushed him to obey him... He must have been relieved that his master was destroyed...
"Well... I think I have an idea that could help us..."
All eyes turned to Hermione.
"We have only one way to find out who is behind it to stop him... We already know what they want: me, or rather my knowledge..."
She felt his arm getting tense. He didn't like the turn of the discussion. But Hermione ignored him and continued.
"I think we should attract them, bringing them to us, rather than waiting until they surprise us... And I believe that we need bait: me…"
Ron released her sharply, jumping to face her.
"IT'S ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THE QUESTION!"
His ears had taken a purplish tinge and he was shaking of all his members. Hermione knew that he would be more than furious.
"Ron, calm down!" launched Bill, sitting in a corner of the room.
Ron drilled his look full of fury on his elder brother.
"To calm down? Am I the only one that it bothers that she plans to throw himself in the lion's den?"
Nobody dared answer. Hermione looked at Kinglsey, who observed her in reflecting rapidly.
He eventually turned to Ron.
"Weasley...It is a good idea... The only one that we have..."
"It's out of the QUESTION!" he belted out, his face nearly as red as his hair.
Hermione felt the annoyance titillated her with his cries.
"Ron, you know like me that's the only way..."
"Hermione, do you realize what you say? Therefore, you want to die? What I think doesn't matter so to your eyes?" he cried with despair.
She avoided crossing his gaze, she didn't want to see how he was terrified and wounded, and just how this troubled her.
"They'll be suspicious, won't they?" remarked Bill, "you've been placed under protection, if suddenly you're not anymore, they may be wary..."
"I thought about it, but if I'm alone, they'll just think that I gave you the slip..."
"It wouldn't be the first time" said Harry.
Ginny knew that he was joking to hide his concern, this idea didn't enchant him more than it enchanted Ron or herself.
Hermione said, taking care to not look at Ron, which was still staring at her.
"I know it's risky, but I also know that it is necessary... You just need to position yourself so as to be able to intervene..."
"You're not seriously considering doing that? You really think that I'll let you do?"
Hermione stood up in turn to face him.
"Ron, this is the only way! Because while we are here to reflect, whole families are slaughtered! And we know that these murders are related! We have to stop this and quickly!"
Ron seized her by the shoulders and began to shake her.
"DO YOU JUST REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE DOING? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE IF YOU DIE, DO YOU REALIZE THAT I'M NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, DO YOU REALIZE IT?"
The young woman grimaced, her teeth were smiting together, and Ginny rushed towards them trying to intervene.
"Ron, easy, you're hurting her!"
"Ron, calm down, she is injured!" cried Harry trying to push him back.
Ron abruptly dropped Hermione, who took refuge in Ginny's arms. Panting, he glared at her, with an expression both tortured and hurt.
Then he eventually turned the heels out, slamming the door.
"I think that he's not quite a huge fan of this idea" joked Georges.
Ginny glared at him and transferred her attention to Hermione. Livid, the young woman looked at the door that came across Ron.
"I'll go see him…" said Harry, going towards the entrance.
"No, I think...I should go there..."
"Are you sure", asked Ginny.
Hermione nodded and walked out in silence.