Trigger Warning: Contains torture. This chapter has a much darker tone than the others. If you feel the need to skip it, I will have a summary at the beginning of the next chapter.
Morning seemed to come before Ron had a chance to close his eyes. At least, he assumed it was morning. There was really no way to tell in the damp, musty cavern. The same orange, mellow light provided by the candles flickered around him, sending long shadows down the walls.
"Wake up, you lot! It's 4:30 and Nev and McGonagall want everyone in the main cave." Seamus shouted, leaning in the entrance of the smaller chamber before moving on.
With a loud groan, Ron sat up and squinted around the room. It was funny, the way the original camp had stayed together. Now that they were with the rest of the rebellion there was no need to remain a group, but they did anyway. There was something about being on the run with people and fearing for your life daily that really made you into a family. Hermione and Ginny were sound asleep and Luna's bed was empty (she had a habit of waking up at the wee hours of the morning), but Dennis was sitting up and smiling in a manner which was far too happy for that early in the morning.
"Morning, Ron!" He exclaimed, jumping out of bed. "I'm off to get some breakfast. Wanna come?"
"Er, that's alright mate. Let me wake up..."
"Okay!" Dennis waved, before disappearing through the door.
"Bloody...son of a..." Mumbling, Ginny pulled herself up from her cot. "Do you think he could be a bit more chipper?" She groaned sarcastically.
"I don't want to find out." Hermione's calm voice, heavy with sleep, chimed it.
As his mind gradually faded to different states of awakeness, the morbid, unpleasant reminder that he might die that day crept into Ron's thoughts. With a heavy sigh, he pulled on his shoes and ran his fingers through his hair. "Enough lumping about. Let's go see what Neville's found."
Neville stood awkwardly on the large boulder. "Okay, is everyone here? Er, alright. This is Percy Weasley. He has the official report of what you-know-who's experiments entail."
Percy adjusted his robes and gave a sharp nod. "Yes. Though, I warn you, it is not pleasant. Ahem," Clearing his throat, he strode to the front of the platform and dramatically opened a piece of parchment. "This is what my source tells me; Lord Voldemort intends to bring back the missing pieces of his soul. He is attempting to do so by way of The Veil. Thus far, his trials have been unsuccessful, leading to the deaths of many muggles and muggle borns. However, it is believed that he may have learned how to open The Veil, he simply cannot bring anyone, or anything, back. Thus concludes the report."
The crowd stood in a chilly hush. Then, Seamus shouted, "I guess we'll just have to stop 'im before he can, then. Right?"
The proclamation broke the silent spell. Applause and whistles thundered as a new found optimism settled in the air. Hermione noticed how Neville's eyes fell onto Luna as he smiled.
"Easier said than done, Mr. Finnigan. Although, I appreciate the confidence." McGonagall walked briskly to the stage. "Though I fear worrying about that now will only cause more casualties. We must first raid Azkaban, in hopes that there will be those willing to fight among the prison cells. Mr. Longbottom, is your team ready?"
"Yes Professor. Me, Ginny, Seamus, Robin, and Charlie have already made a plan." Neville nodded confidently.
"Excellent. And Miss Granger, what of your team to kill Nagini?"
Hermione stepped forward. "Ron and I believe it will be better if we're allowed to go to Malfoy Manor by ourselves. That way it will be a challenge for them to detect us."
"You understand how dangerous that is, I presume?"
"Yes Professor."
"Very well, then. Ms. Lovegood, I believe you and Bill Weasley will be staying here to treat the prisoners as they return?"
Before Luna could reply, a shout resounded. "News from the Manor!" A young man sprinted down the steps to the edge of the crowd, waving a piece of paper.
"Yes?" McGonagall peered over her spectacles at the panting messenger.
Unfolding the parchment, he began to read. "According to our source, a cursed barrier, the very same kind which was used to keep Order members out of the Astronomy Tower during Dumbledore's assassination, was cast around Malfoy Manor last evening. Meaning, only those with Dark Marks have the ability to pass through."
"Bloody hell." Ron breathed in Hermione's ear.
"Thank you Mr. Peterson. You may help yourself to food and drink." McGonagall nodded gravely. "Ms. Granger, do you know a counter curse?"
"No Professor. This sort of curse can only be removed by the one who casts it." Hermione sighed, looking at the ground.
"I feared as much-"
There was an audible gasp suddenly from the back of the crowd. Turning, Hermione saw the cause of the commotion. Draco had raised his left hand in the air, displaying the gruesome Mark on his forearm. The people surrounding him drew back, clearing a path to the platform.
"Mr. Malfoy, what-" McGonagall started.
"I can get through the barrier." He muttered, pulling his sleeve over his Mark again.
"No. Not a chance in hell." Ron and Hermione chorused together.
"You drunk, Malfoy?" Crossing her arms, Ginny lifted her eyebrows.
"Haven't touched a bottle since yesterday morning." He glared.
"Professor, you understand my reluctance to trust him." Hermione sighed, turning to McGonagall.
"Indeed, I do." The older woman stated grimly, folding her hands. After a long moment of consideration she shook her head. "But, it could very well be our only option."
"Son of a-" Ron began, but Hermione cut him off.
"What if he is unarmed?"
"How the hell am I supposed to take out the person who cast the spell, then?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"Well, you don't have to kill them!" She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Just knock them out. Hell, you could use one of those bottles you're so fond of."
"That is actually a very good suggestion, Miss Granger." McGonagall nodded. "Mr. Malfoy, you will accompany them. However, you are not allowed a wand."
He shrugged and muttered something under his breath.
"Alright, good. Are we done here?" Neville asked, stepping forward. "Well, remember everyone: the password is now 'I would like to rent room number 34'. Got it? And standard protocol if you see anyone outside of our party in the lobby. Simply get yourself a different room and wait for them to leave before you say the password. Good luck everyone!"
"Dolores Umbridge."
The Dark Lord's voice sent a shiver down the pink-clad woman's spine. "Yes, my Lord?" She gave a pinched, halfhearted smile.
"Why...are you...here?" Turning his chair to face her, his eyes priced through her.
With a gulp, she straitened her little pillbox hat and folded her hands. "Well, my Lord, I am here to report that three rebels have been sighted just outside of the manor. I require your command."
"Bring them in. I charge you with getting the location of the rebel shelter out of them. I have just used the last vile of veritaserum this morning, so you must use...other, more violent, tactics."
Her eyes lit up excitedly with the prospect of torturing the young soldiers. "Of course, Dark Lord!"
"And when you have the location...dispose of them."
"It will be my most genuine pleasure." She smiled grotesquely. Then, with a little bow, she disapparated.
Ron and Hermione stood on the outskirts of Malfoy Manor, concealed by the trees. Draco was about ten feet behind them, scowling sullenly at nothing in particular.
As Hermione listened to Ron nervously voicing the plan, her hand absently stroked the Basilisk fang in her satchel. Charlie Weasley had given them one which he had held onto during the battle.
"...and then I can distract it while you stab it through the head." With a final breath, Ron nodded.
"Yes. Excellent. And do try your best to remain calm." She gave him a pleading look, biting her lip.
"I know, I know. I just don't like working with-"
There was a loud rustling of branches from behind them, followed by a gasp.
Turning instantly, Ron drew his wand and called, "Alright there, Malfoy?"
Staggering out of the forest, Draco made his way to them; his face was pale and strained. His mouth opened and his eyes pleaded. "I...am fine..." He breathed heavily. "Just...not feeling well..."
With a withering look, Hermione crossed her arms. "Well stuff it. We need you to get us inside, and you did volunteer."
"That's right...I wanted...to...come..." Slowly, with a look of struggle, Draco drew a glass bottle out of his satchel.
"Honestly? You're drinking right-" Before Hermione could finish, the bottle hit the back of her head.
And the world went dark.
Hermione opened her eyes painfully. She couldn't see anything. Pressing in around her was pitch blackness. A banging in her head and the rush of blood in her ears were the first things she registered. It only took a moment before a flood of anxiety erupted in her chest.
"Ron!" She called out, struggling against the chains on her wrists. "Ron, are you-"
A disgustingly familiar giggle twinkled from somewhere across the room, followed by a voice, sweet like rotting fruit. "Hello, dear! Mr. Weasley, I believe your little friend is awake."
"Er...mi...ne..." Ron's muffled voice thudded.
"Ron!" She breathed, twisting in the bonds.
"Would you like to see him, sweet heart?" Umbridge gave a sickening, airy laugh and sang out a curse.
Suddenly, a blinding light filled the room. Then, after a minute, it gradually faded to a dim glow. Ron was barely ten feet from her. His body was tied to a chair with several chains and a fraying rope had been wrung about his wrists. A rough cloth was smothering his mouth, soaking up blood from the corner of his lips. Horror struck, Hermione noticed a trickle of crimson trailing down his head and one eye which was circled with a dark bruise.
The minute Ron's sight adjusted to the light, he began to struggle against the bonds. "Mio...ne...you...alrigh'?"
"Now, this will be fun, won't it?" Umbridge smiled, gliding between them. Her usual apparel of neon pink adorned her short, pudgy body. "But first, we must give some credit to Mr. Malfoy, mustn't we? Excellent job, dear."
Turning her head strenuously, Hermione saw Draco. Hate boiled up inside of het chest. He stood in the corner, hands at his sides, eyes staring strait ahead. Strangely, there was a look of utter torture on his face, as evident by the creases on his forehead and pressing of his lips.
"Burn in hell." She hissed, glaring at him with all the venom she could muster.
"Tsk tsk, young ladies should never speak that way!" Umbridge cut in, placing a stumpy, wrinkled hand on Draco's shoulder. "Young Malfoy has done a wonderful thing, and I assure you, the Dark Lord will be pleased. Won't he?"
Instantly, a grunt sounded from Draco's lips. It could almost have been called a whimper, if it weren't for the scratchy, guttural ache behind it. Then, he rasped, "Yes."
"Wonderful! Now, shall I begin our little game?" Beaming patronizingly, Umbridge spun to face Hermione. "Where are the others hiding?"
She spat on the older woman's fuchsia shoes.
"Hm!" Turning, Umbridge pointed her wand at Ron. "Crucio!"
A muffled cry escaped the ginger's mouth. His body crumpled forward, twitching and straining.
Flinching, Hermione bit her lip.
"Not going to say anything, dear?" Umbridge asked, waving her wand. Ron relaxed and began to pant heavily. "Well, I will be back in five minutes time and we can continue." She smiled. Gliding to Hermione's side, she stabbed her wand into the young girl's wrist. After whispering a charm, a thin, metallic bracelet appeared. Then, she untied the bonds and did the same to Ron. "I have so much more planned! But, if you feel like telling me where the rest of your army is hiding to save us all the trouble, I am sure I can arrange for a-"
"Safe...yer...breath." Ron's muffled voice stuttered.
"Very well, then!" And with a final, satisfied, "Hm!" she disapparated.
Instantly, Hermione found herself able to move. Without a moment of hesitation, she ran to Ron's chair and fell onto her knees in front of him. With shaking hands, she undid the cloth around his mouth. "Ron, are you alright? I'm sorry. I didn't try to stop her-"
"She wanted you to cave, an' you didn't! 'M proud of you, Ermione." He gave a crooked grin. Then, he winced. "Bloody hell..."
An angry tear escaped her eye. "Ron, if she does that to you again-"
"You can't give in. Promise me you won't. No matter how much I scream." He stared seriously into her face. "I'll be alright. Really. You survived it. I mean, I recon you're a bit stronger than me, but if I remember that you've made it through...well, you know."
"Ron, I was only tortured for a short time. Neville's parents were-"
"I know." He sighed. After a moment of trying to look brave, his face broke. A panic set in behind his eyes. "What...what helped you?"
Sucking in a breath, she touched his blood streaked cheek. "Hearing your voice from the dungeon."
"Then say my name. Please. As many times as you can. Say it every time you're about to cave. Can you do that?"
"Yes. Yes, I promise." She nodded fast, feeling the dread sink into her stomach.
"I love you, Hermione." He whispered with a horrifying air of finality.
"Don't, Ron. You will get through this-"
"Oh, how sweet!" Umbridge suddenly apparated behind them. Gripping Hermione's shoulder, she pushed her back into the chair and secured the bonds. "Have we had any changes of heart? No? Pity. I dearly wish I could simply give you a dose of veritaserum, but sadly, we have just used the last drop on...well, it doesn't matter, now does it? And though I would genuinely enjoy simply using the Cruciatus Curse on you, that requires my constant attention and I do have papers to grade. So, I came up with a hands-off way of making you talk. Now, shall I explain my little game, then?" With an excited sniff, she walked to the center if the room and folded her hands. "Those bracelets are a personal invention of mine. Do you remember my quill? It is not unlike that. Very useful for disciplining students who lie about their blood status, you know. Every minute that YOU," she nodded towards Hermione, "do not tell me the truth, or simply remain silent, HE...well...lets just see, shall we? Ahem! Miss Granger, where are your fellow rebels?"
"There is no way-" Hermione began.
Without warning, both bracelets glowed and a jagged cut began to slowly etch its way up Ron's forearm, spelling out the words she had just spoken. He gave a pained gasp, but didn't scream.
"Ah, yes. That was just a very mild taste of what you have in store. Isn't it a delightful invention? Praised by the Dark Lord himself! And it won't stop slowly slicing him apart, bit by bit, until I have the answer. Now, let us try again. At what location is the rebel army hiding?"
Deafening screams followed.
Draco stood, defenseless, listening to Ron's strained cries, mixed with Hermione's desperate pleas.
"Stop! I-I'll tell you-" Hermione's voice broke out.
Her words began to carve across Ron's chest. "No!" He cried in pain. "Hermione, don't."
Draco grimaced and glued his eyes to the floor. It was too gruesome to watch. He felt intrusive and sick to his stomach.
And worst of all, there was nothing he could do. Every action he attempted to make was overridden by Umbridge.
And though he tried to shake it, he simply wasn't strong enough to fight the Imperius Curse.
There was a sharp silence hanging in the air of the cell. Only twenty minutes ago it had been consumed by screams and gasps, but no longer. Umbridge had told them, with a stiff smile, that it was taking longer than she'd expected to get Ron to talk. After releasing the pair from their bonds, she had disapparated, promising to return in the morning, and leaving Draco to stand in the corner.
Soaked in sweat, Hermione shakily found her voice. "Ron? Are you..."
A heart pounding moment later, her comrade shook his head, unable to speak. He was slouched over in the chair like a rag doll, his hands covering his face. In the dim light. Hermione could see the cuts glimmering up his arms.
"You did it, Ron. You...you didn't let her-"
A whimper escaped his mouth. Lifting his head from his hands, he met her eyes. Pain and exhaustion reflected on his face. Mixed with something else...
Anger.
"Ron...are you-?" Her voice wavered. Suddenly, she felt significantly less safe than she had.
Like the snap of a breaking wand, he lunged forward. A gasp of panic escaped her mouth as she scrambled backwards.
But, despite the violence in his expression, Ron just collapsed into her arms. His creased forehead pressed onto her shoulder and a sharp sob escaped his lips.
With a shaking hand, Hermione stroked the back of his head, trying to avoid the wounded places. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Ron." Biting her lip, she fought the tears which threatened to appear.
The young man's shoulders shook violently as he sucked in rasping breaths. He resembled a child, clinging to Hermione for support.
"Is there anything I can do?" She whispered, voice cracking slightly.
"Please..."
"Please, what? What do you need?"
"I just want...sleep."
After a moment, Hermione repositioned herself against the cell wall and helped Ron lay down, his head on thigh.
And soon, exhaustion overtook the couple, forcing them into fitful rest, haunted by nightmares.
A/N Hey...I am so incredibly sorry for taking this long to update. I kinda went through a phase where I lost a lot of confidence in my writing, which led to me completely re-working this chapter. I know that's not a good enough excuse, so I guess we'll just say that was "Winter break" and now I will be attempting to update semi-regularly. (Haha, we'll see how this goes...)
Very special thanks to BlueOcean24124437, Skye, RAGAnne, notsing, AllHellBrokeLoose666, and the completely amazing guest reviewer! You guys really helped to encourage me, so I appreciate that. Love and hugs all around!
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