Disclaimer: J.K.ROWLING!!

A/N: Sorry for the lateness of updating. My comp broke down and I had to find a replacement computer to type my story out and thus I got this. Might as well typeit in one shot eh? hehee... Thanks guys!!

Chapter 21 : The Group

--------------------------------------------------

"They are here..." Lucius took Hermione by the forearm and dragged her out of the Library, "... We have to go now."

"Wait... Who is here? What's happening here!..." Hermione protested against the hand that was holding on tightly on her forearm.

"The wards on my house can only last for a few while... We need to get you out of here as soon as possible."

They arrive at the kitchen just as the door started to bang, indicating that the 'guests' have arrive. Lucius silently summon his elf, who appeared with a pop, and lean in towards Hermione to whisper commands in her ear.

"I want you to stay wherever Mips have brought you to. It is too dangerous for you to go out there now. Trust me on this..." Lucius look intently into her eyes, Hermione returning the gaze. The connection was broken off by another bang outside the door. Lucius grab Hermione and push her and the elf together, Lucius giving his silent directions and commands to the elf. The elf was wide eyed and was wringing his hands together, knowing that certain danger is lying ahead for his Master and his Master's Lady Guest. He nodded at whatever it was Lucius was telling him and held onto Hermione. There was another bang on the door, Lucius turn to Hermione and smile at her.

"It was lovely chatting with you... Now go..."

The last thing Hermione saw was a blurred Lucius, bowing regally at her.

Lucius straighten himself up and let out a sigh. He heard the door bang again and he turns to get it. He bowed his head down and took in a deep breath, set his chin up imperiously and swung the door open, looking at the four occupants standing in front of him. The three men did nothing to rattle his nerves but it was the woman who made him feel as though his whole act was to be busted soon.

"Hello... Lucius..."

He pasted a fake smile and said coolly...

"Hello Bellatrix..."

------------------------------------------------

Harry, Ron, Remus and Tonks were waiting for their signal in a cove nearby. Remus had managed to cast a Sheltering Spell on them as to cover them from the rain. The two boys had a tiff before arriving there, trying to navigate their way to Malfoy Manor.

"I'm telling you it's this way! You can see the light from here!" Ron hissed at Harry while both Tonks and Remus followed them with an amuse smile on their face. Tonks had tripped on a couple of branches and Remus was holding on to her protectively by the waist.

"You know muggles used to say that if you see a white light that means you're heading for death and I'm not following you!" Harry hissed back. Ron stomp a foot over Harry, taking in pleasure in hearing him yell in pain.

"Just keep on moving, boys... You can go towards the light later..." Tonks said.

It started to rain and the four of them went towards a nearby cove, where they got stranded in it for a while.

"Why did it have to rain... why... why...? Here we are... trying to save Hermione from Blondie and its raining?" Ron let out a huff and shook his head.

"Maybe it's a sign..." Remus stuck his head out of the cove to look up in the sky.

"A sign?" Harry asked.

Remus nodded and turns to look at the boys.

"When you're a wolf or if you have the instincts of one... it is said that when it starts to rain while you are on a journey or in need of something importance... then it's a bad sign. It's bad luck..." Remus sat down and leans back on the wall, looking at the boys.

They all turn to look at each other, trying to keep Remus's words in their mind, trying not to panic but failed miserably.

Bad luck... What is it? What is going to happen next?

------------------------------------------------

Severus and the other three were waiting for the rain to stop before they can get on with their way. Severus was pacing about while the other three were minding their own business but was distracted by Severus's pacing. At last it was Sirius who commented on it.

"Oh would you please stop that! You're giving me a headache just by watching you pace about..." Sirius growled.

Severus stops to glower at him.

"Then.Don't.Watch..." Severus went on pacing, his robes flying about him.

"Let him be, Sirius... Anyways he is giving us ventilation just by his robes." Minerva said. Kingsley chuckle while Sirius snorted, Severus ignoring her comment.

A few minutes pass by and the rain began to clear a little.

"It seems the rain has cleared... We should get on with it before Severus here starts to explode..." Kingsley said.

"Yeah, you're right. Come on then..." Sirius was about to step out of the cove when he stop at the door, causing the rest behind him to bump into him. Severus growled impatiently.

"What's wrong? Keep on going, you dolt!"

Sirius rose up a hand and started sniffing.

"Wait here..." was all he said, before surprising them all by changing into his animagus form and ran off into the bushes.

Severus did not want to follow his command but he found himself staying by the other two, waiting for the mutt. It was a few minutes later did they hear noises approaching them. They had their wands at the ready, a hex or curse by their tongue to cast on the intruder when they saw Padfoot approach them, quickly turning into Sirius, who had a serious look on his face.

"What's wrong, Sirius?" Minerva asked.

"We need to warn Harry and the others... There are Deatheaters around the Manor."

"Oh dear... Deatheaters?" Minerva gasped her hand on her mouth.

"Yes..." Sirius nodded.

"How many of them?" Kingsley asks.

"I couldn't see all of them. I only saw about twenty beyond our place and a few more near Harry's base." Severus felt fear creep into his heart silently as he thought of Hermione being surrounded by Deatheaters.

"I have to go warn Harry before we go on with the plan..." Sirius changed into Padfoot and ran off into the dark. Severus stares out into the darkness, feeling Minerva setting up the Do Not Notice charm around them.

Hermione...

-----------------------------------------------------

The four occupants in the cove were sitting down, saving their energy for later when they heard noises near the bushes around them. They all stood up and grab their wands, standing by the entrance of the cove.

Remus had Tonks behind him while Harry and Ron stood beside him as he went out of the cove slowly, his wand in front of him.

They heard noises again before they heard a faint bark somewhere. Remus relaxed his stance and tilted his head, sensing someone familiar.

"It's Sirius..." He said.

"Sirius?..." Harry frown, "... What's he doing here?"

Remus looks around him before sending out his Patronus, a White Wolf, towards the bushes.

"I don't know... Let's wait for him."

A few while later they saw the Wolf and Padfoot padding slowly towards them. Padfoot change back into Sirius and the Wolf disappeared beside him.

"Sirius? What's wrong?" Harry asks.

"I had to warn you... There are Deatheaters around the Manor." Sirius panted.

"What? Deatheaters?" Ron went wide eyed.

"Yes... I sensed something when we wanted to get on with the journey and went to investigate. That's where I saw them..."

"How many of them?" Remus frowns.

"My guess will be around sixty or so. There were about twenty near our place... and about a few more nearby here... There might be a few more at the Manor." Sirius turns to look at the forest surrounding them.

"We need to be prepared then... We have to think of something." Tonks said, the boys nodding in approval.

"You guys do what you have to do... I have to go back to my group now before they leave without me." Sirius said and padded off as Padfoot towards where he came from.

"All right then... what do you suggest we do?" Remus turns to them and smirks.

----------------------------------------------------------

Hermione felt her feet hit firm ground and she fell over, losing her balance in the darkness around her.

"Mips is sorry, Madam! Is Madam fine? Is Madam needing anything? ⌠The elf squeaked.

Hermione wave her hand in the darkness at wherever the elf might be.

"No... No, I'm fine. Just... turn the lights on, will you?" Hermione groan and rub her bum.

"Yes, Madam..." A click of a finger and the room brightened up. Hermione yell out at the sudden intrusion of her eyes trying to adapt from dark to bright and covered her eyes with her hands.

"Mips is sorry again, Madam! Is Madam fine? Is Madam hurt?" Mips were crouching down low, afraid of what was going to happen.

"No, Mips... I'm fine... thank you."

Hermione blink her eyes a few times, trying to look at where she was. What she saw, when she did manage to regain her eyesight, was that she was in a bright room and that she felt very small sitting there. It was a large ballroom with beautiful pastel colors and wonderful paintings of Angels and Wizards and Witches on the ceiling. Hermione stood up and saw Mirrors all around her and the room had no windows but there was a soft breeze and tinkling sound of wind chimes around her.

"What is this place?" Hermione gasp, turning round to take in more of the place.

"This is Lady's room. She loved being here." Mips smile.

"Lady? You mean... Narcissa Malfoy?" Hermione ask the elf, who nodded enthusiastically.

"Lady wanted her room big and bright. Lady was a nice, beautiful woman. Lady loved Mips a lot too..." Mips lips started to quiver and his bright eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Hermione felt bad for the elf and sat down next to him.

"Lady Narcissa was a good woman, wasn't she?"

"Yes, Yes! Lady was good! She did not deserve to die... Lady Sister should. Lady Sister is bad. Very bad!" Mips frown in anger and wrought his towel in his hand.

Lady Sister? Bellatrix! Hermione thought.

"Bellatrix? Lady Sister... Bellatrix?"

"Yes... Lady Sister is bad. She is evil... She has darkness around her. Mips felt her presence every time she comes by and Mips always feel sick. Mips hate Lady Sister..." Mips started to growl in anger.

Elves... Only able to feel one emotion at a time, Hermione thought to herself.

"Mips felt her here too... She is here. She is angry at Master and Mips is not able to do anything to help Master. Mips is a very bad elf!" Mips turn around and fell down to ground, knocking its head on the floor, yelling in anger and pain.

"Mips! Stop that! Wait, stop it!" Hermione pull the elf up and tried to stop it from hurting himself anymore.

"Mips is bad elf! Master told Mips not to leave the place, not to leave Madam and not to help Master at all. Mips is unable to help! Mips is bad elf!" He started to wail again. Hermione did not know what to do so she shoves a hand over the elf's mouth to stop the wailing.

"Mips! Listen to me... You are not a bad elf! You are a great elf... You listen to your Master and you followed his every command. You should be proud of yourself! You followed what your Master told you... Be proud and stop hurting yourself, you won't be punished Mips... Trust me!" Hermione told the elf, who was staring at her wide eyed. Hermione let her hand go and saw his lips quiver again and his eyes filled with tears.

"Mips is great elf... Mips followed Master... Mips is great elf..." Mips nodded to himself. Hermione nodded at him too.

"Yes, you are... Now stop crying."

Mips wipe his tears away and smile up at Hermione.

"Mips is good elf. Mips like Madam... Mips heard from Dobby Madam is good Madam. Mips not know why other elves don't like Madam. Elves say Madam want to free them from work. Mips think Madam good... Mips like Madam." The elf smile at her.

Hermione had a fake smile on her face as her eyes went wide.

"Really? They must have mistaken me for someone else..." Hermione gave a nervous laugh.

"Yes... Mips think so too. Madam is good..."

"Thank you..."

They sat in silence before Hermione registered what Mips had told her before his breakdown.

"Wait... Mips. You said that Lady Sister... Bellatrix. You felt her presence here?"

Mips growled and nodded.

"Yes... She is here and she is angry. She wants to hurt Master."

"Hurt Lucius? But why?"

"Because Master saves you... Master saves you from Lady Sister. Master is not all evil. He may do bad things but he no evil man. He has a heart too." Mips said.

Hermione bit her lips and tried to register what Lucius had told her. Maybe he was telling her the truth. Maybe he did need her help. Maybe... he wasn't that all bad at all.

--------------------------------------------------

Padfoot approach his hiding place and turn to look for the other three. Where the hell are they? He ran around the area before sitting down in front of the trunk. Damn it! Don't tell me they went off without me. He was about to patter off to Harry's when he saw Minerva, Kingsley and Severus came into view in front of him. He quickly ran in and felt Minerva cast a spell on it. Padfoot change into Sirius and frowned at them.

"I thought you left me..."

"Aww... Don't worry. What would we do without you? We won't have any fun at all..." Kingsley smile and pat Sirius on the head.

"That's enough. I told them about what I saw and they are making up their own plan for the Deatheaters... We should make our own." Sirius swats the hand on his head away and shook his hair like a dog would do.

"There is no need for it. We already have one..." Minerva said.

"Well, let me hear about it then..." Sirius smile.

-------------------------------------------------

About four Death Eaters were standing around and waiting for their signal when one came back and stood amongst them.

"I can't believe we are doing this..." One of the Deatheater on the right spoke out.

"Shh... don't say that. You do not want Bellatrix to hear you, now would you?" The one on the far left spoke.

"No... but The Dark Lord has been dead for a long time now... I do not want him to return." The first Deatheater retorted.

"How dare you say that! He is our Lord! He wants to give us a better world! How dare you say such a thing!" It was Antoine Lestrange who spoke up. He was in the middle of the group and stomped over towards the first Deatheater who spoke up and pointed his wand at him. "You shall suffer the consequences if you dare to say such a thing like that again! You hear me!"

"Y-Yes... Antoine. I hear you." Antoine stomped off to where he was standing. " Won't say it again... Our Lord, Dark Lord... Hail Dark Lord...whatever..." The Deatheater mumble to himself and rolled his eyes. He was tired of everything. He just wanted to be home, on his bed and shag his wife, that's all.

A noise was heard behind one of the Deatheater on the far left and he turn to see what it was. When he saw nothing, he turn back to look forward. So it was then when he did not see Remus creep up behind him, cast Silencio on him and then silently cast Petrificus Totalus on him. Before the Deatheater could fall with a thud, Harry and Ron race forward silently and drag the Deatheater into the bushes with Silencing Spell on it. They hide back into the bushes when everything was over.

Antoine turns to where the Deatheater was and did a double take.

"Where's Denver?" He asked. The Deatheater near him turn to the spot of the missing Deatheater and turn back to Antoine.

"I don't know... Probably went to take a piss. You know how he is... He can never hold his liquid."

Antoine snorted and shook his head, turn back to look forward.

A few while later, Remus went to the Deatheater nearest to him and did the same thing, Harry and Ron race forward and drag him to the same bush, all three disappeared just in time as one of the Deatheater turn towards them.

"Antoine... Even Samuel is gone..."

"I told them not to drink too much yesterday... See what happened." The same Deatheater replied.

A few while later, Remus did the same to the first Deatheater who spoke, Harry and Ron drag him towards the nearest bush and stood still when Antoine whirl around with his wand in his hand, face filled with fury.

"Who's there! Show yourself, you cowards!"

"What's wrong, Antoine?" The other one said, standing behind him with a wand in his hand.

"I know that something was wrong when Samuel disappeared. Show yourself! Stupefy!" Antoine blasted at the bush.

Antoine did not see the Deatheater behind him raise his wand and pointed at him.

"Stupefy!"

Antoine was hit right in the back and he fell forward and groans. Remus jump up and cast Petrificus Totalus at him and ran towards the bush.

"Harry! Ron! Where are you?" He hissed.

"Here..." Remus turn to the right and saw them crouching with a smile on their face.

"Are you guys okay?"

"Yup...the stupid git hit one of his own." Ron pointed to the Deatheater on the floor.

Remus smirks and turns to the Deatheater who was standing near him.

"Nice acting there, Honey..."

"Thanks!"

The Deatheater's big body shrunk and the clothes stayed big. Tonks took off the mask and smirk at Remus.

"Nice Transfiguration and hexes, Honey..."

"Thank you... Now get out of those clothes..." Remus smile at her.

Tonks gasp and swatted him in the arm.

"Can't we take this at home... gosh... Impatiently kinky are we?" Tonks giggled. Harry and Ron cleared the throat, blushing and looking around, trying to ignore the comment. Remus rolled his eyes at Tonks.

"I meant, we need to get you out of those clothes so we can go on with the mission..."

"No... I think we should keep this on. Who knows we might encounter a few more Deatheaters later?" Ron said.

"You're right... And we might want to use this get up for foreplay later..." Tonks told Remus and walk off, leaving the three guys shaking their head at her.

----------------------------------------------------

"Hello Bellatrix... How nice it is to meet you again." Lucius drawled.

Bellatrix pouted while she looks around them, twirling her hair in her left hand while her wand was in her right.

"Lucy... Where is she?" Bellatrix turn to Lucius and frown, the pout never disappear from her face.

"Where is who?" Lucius frown.

Bellatrix glare at Lucius before smirking. She pushed Lucius by the chest and walk forward, making Lucius retreat back into his own home.

"Where is she... The Mudblood... Hermione Granger..." She spat out.

"She should be where should be... by the traitors' side..." Lucius let the other three walk into his home.

Bellatrix let out a cackle before skipping her way into the house, into the library.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are, pretty little Mudblood!" She sang as she skips, "... Aunty Bellatrix is here to get you soon anyway!" Bellatrix cackle again as she turn to Lucius and pouted again. "Come on Lucy... where is she?"

"I have no idea..."

"Crucio!"

Lucius fell down to ground, writhing as Bellatrix cackle, her wand high up over her head pointing at him.

"Pity... pity... Lucy... How can you lie to me? How? Where is the pretty little Mudblood, Lucy? Tell me?... TELL ME!!" She yelled and kicked him in the guts. Lucius rolled over, groaning as the pain of the Cruciatus streaked through him like pins and needles.

"I...d-don't... kno-know..."

Lucius clamp his mouth shut, not giving into the sick pleasure of Bellatrix wanting to hear him scream in pain.

"Fine then... Roddy baby... help me with this?" Bellatrix feign coyness as her husband went up to Lucius and grab him by the face. He waited till Lucius look up into his eyes and he smirk.

"Leglimens!"

------------------------------------------------

Severus flick away the dust that had settled on his black robes and rub his temple with both hands as the last Deatheater fell down amongst the other twelve.

"Man those Deatheaters was great fighters, weren't they?" Sirius said, kicking one in the guts.

"Probably learnt more fighting moves after the death of Voldermort." Kingsley said.

"Whatever it was... they were pathetic." Severus kept on rubbing his temple. ".. Giving me the worse headache I've ever had."

"Ah, you're one to speak, Severus. I had never seen you fight that way before. With all the moves and curses and spells... Seems like you are back to your old self." Sirius patted him on the back.

"Am not back yet... but these Deatheaters make me feel irritated. And now you are too... get your hands away from me!" Severus swats the hand away.

"Man...relax will you. Come on then... let's get on with it." Sirius walks towards the darkness.

"Hold on will you. We will be reaching the Manor soon. We need to find the others first." Kingsley said.

Just as Sirius was about to answer, they heard a shuffle at a nearby bush. All four took their stance and waited.

The bush started to shake and voices could be heard from it. All four were getting ready to attack when...

"Ow, you stepped on my foot, you dolt!"

Sirius frowns.

"Harry?"

"Sirius?" Harry's face and then body appeared from the bushes.

"Harry! What happened??" Sirius ran up to him and check for bruises.

"Nothing much... Lanky here stepped on my foot."

"Oy! It was dark alright... I told you to turn the Lumos on..." Ron appeared behind Harry.

"What... and risk the Deatheaters noticing us from afar?" Remus appeared behind him.

"Remus... Ron...where's Tonks?" Minerva asked.

Suddenly, a large figure loomed over Severus. It was a Deatheater in full costume. Severus eyes went wide as he think up of a spell.

"Stupe-"

"Accio Snape's wand!" Harry shouted, seeing the wood fly towards his outstretch hand. Severus turns to Harry with disbelief in his eyes.

"What??"

"Don't hurt her! That's Tonks... Don't hurt her..." Remus ran towards the Deatheater and covers her behind him. Tonks quickly pull off her mask and rise up both her hands.

"Relax! It's just me..."

Severus felt his headache went full blown and he gritted his teeth.

"Why the hell did you dress up as a Deatheater for?!?! And that too trying to sneak up on me!! What the hell were you thinking!" He hissed at Tonks, wildly gesturing around. All four newcomers stared wide eyed at Severus. He covered his head with both hands and panted.

"Ah... don't mind him. He's been this way for the past few hours. Don't bother... now since you all are here, we should go to the Manor now." Sirius said, waving a hand at Severus and walking off with the rest following behind him.

------------------------------------------------------