A/N: Hey again! Sorry that I'm a bit late updating but I've had severe writer's block with Chapter 8. BUT that's all sorted and I've finally written it. Phew! So here is chapter 6, which is my personal favourite of all the chapters I have written so far. Keep reviewing; it really motivates me to keep writing!
Hope you enjoy this!
-Sam x
Chapter 6
Ron stood in the corridor for a few more dazed seconds before picking up his books and wandering down the steps to the dungeons once more.
"Hermione!" he called, peering up at the tiny window where he had seen her just five minutes ago. "Hermione, I know you're there!"
There was still no response. Ron's stomach lurched. Maybe something had happened to her?
"Don't worry, Hermione!" he yelled recklessly. "I'll rescue you! One day, I swear I'll save you from this place!"
He started suddenly as the sound of a door creaking brought him back to his senses.
Ron lowered his gaze and saw that Severus Snape, the Potions master was beckoning him over towards his office; the very place Hermione was being kept captive.
"Come here, Weasley." barked Professor Snape.
Ron obliged nervously and gulped as Snape shut the door behind them. Had he heard him calling out to Hermione?
"Did you lose your way, Weasley?" enquired Snape, gesturing for Ron to take a seat.
"Er…yeah." muttered Ron. "I've got a new classroom for Defence against the Dark Arts… I was a bit…lost." he explained quickly, praying that it would satisfy Snape.
"Really?" answered Snape flatly. "You're in your last year at Hogwarts now, Weasley. Which means you're how old?"
Ron's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. It seemed an odd conversation to be having with his Potions teacher.
"Seventeen." he informed Snape warily.
"You must be in your element with all those pretty female classmates to admire. There are plenty of them to choose from. Surely you've had plenty of…practise after six years of being here. Would you say you're practised, boy?" Snape enquired silkily.
Ron gaped back at him, open-mouthed.
"I don't know what you mean…" he stuttered.
"I have them all here." Snape intoned, gesturing towards the massive bookcase to his left. "Drawings of everything you have ever dreamed of doing with a witch. Would you like to see?" he asked, mockingly.
"I think you've got the wrong end of the stick." Ron said, horrified, already reaching for his bag to leave.
"I think not." Snape growled, menacingly, the leering smile instantly transformed into a grimace. "You gandered at my ward; Hermione. You gandered at her!" he said quietly, pointing his wand at Ron's face.
"I didn't mean any harm!" Ron yelped, staring at the wand nervously.
"I don't care what you did or didn't mean Weasley!" Snape suddenly shouted, causing Ron to jump in his seat.
Snape brought his wand closer to Ron's face and hissed, "If I ever see you loitering around my office again, you'll be out of this school and into the hands of the Dementors faster than you can say Crucio. I'm sure they'll be more than willing to give you a nice welcoming kiss."
Ron gulped as his eyes widened in fear. He had always disliked Snape, but he'd never thought of him as a pervert or a murderer. Clearly he'd been wrong.
"Wormtail!" barked Snape, and the short, balding head of Peter Pettigrew came ambling into the room, a malicious expression on his rat-like face.
"Show Mr Weasley out, will you?" Snape said with a meaningful nod.
Wormtail grinned, grabbed Ron in a surprisingly strong grip and pushed him roughly towards the door.
"Seventh Year Defence against the Dark Arts is that way!" he sneered, pointing back up to the stairs Ron had descended.
Then, without warning:
"Crucio!"
Ron doubled up in pain, every nerve in his body begging silently for mercy.
"That's just a taster!" Wormtail said and the pain stopped as abruptly as it had started. "If Professor Snape sees you here again, it'll be the Avada Kedavra for you."
Ron could only gasp in response, his muscles still recovering from their torture.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Ron's bag floated out into the dungeons and landed accurately on top of his head, much to Wormtail's delight. Still cackling, he retreated back into Snape's office.
His head throbbing, Ron picked up his bag and stumbled towards the steps.
But despite the danger, he felt more determined than ever to rescue Hermione.
"I know you're there Hermione and I swear I'll rescue you, one day soon!" he called as loudly as he dared before waking up the stairs and out of sight.