Chapter Five
A/N : BTW, soz about the spelling mistake with 'scarlet' in the last chapter. I spelt it 'scarlette' because I'm writing a new story which I haven't uploaded yet about a girl called Scarlette and my mind was still partly in that story. Also, when I publish it, it'll be called 'Black Blood Runs Scarlette' so if you're interested, check it out. R and R!
"Rosie, get over there, take cover and don't come out."
"But 'Mione..."
"NOW!"
Rosie ran, glancing over her shoulder at the now fully formed figure looming over her little cousin.
"I'm not afraid of you!" yelled Hermione, her feigned confidence being betrayed by her shaking voice.
"Really?" hissed the voice. "Then why do your eyes betray you?"
The snake-like man began to turn away from the younger girl in the room, but turned back when Hermione uttered the very thing that most people would dare not say at all, let alone in the presence of the man himself.
"I'm not afraid of you, Voldemort!"
"You dare to speak my name. The only people who dare to do that are-"
"The Order of the Phoenix. I know, I'm one of them, or at least I will be soon."
"In that case, I will set you a task. If you win in a duel against me, you may leave unharmed."
"And if I fail?"
"Then your cousin is mine to do with as I please."
"I accept."
They both bowed to each other, took their duelling stances and suddenly, the red and green light met in the middle, the force of it knocking the young Muggle woman to the ground. The pressure was beginning to mount on Hermione, but she was nowhere near breaking point. Unfortunately, neither was her opponant.
Suddenly, Hermione was knocked to the ground, her wand tumbling across the room and landing a good five metres away from where the young Gryffindor was lying, unarmed and defenceless, as her opponant advanced on her.
"Well. It seems that your time is up, Miss Granger." hissed Voldemort.
This comment attracted her attention. "How do you know my name?" she breathed.
"I know a lot more than people would care to think. Now, Miss Granger...time to die."
The snake-like man raised his wand and Hermione closed her eyes, trying to collect some good memories to fill her final moments. "Avada Ke-" The curse paused before it was completed and Hermione heard a dull thump. She gingerly opened one eye to see what had happened and just managed to catch a glimpse of Voldemort's crumpled body, before her cousin pulled her to her feet, running to a glowing blue picture frame, Hermione's wand digging into her palm from where it was still in Rose's hand.
They managed to reach the Portkey unscathed, but as they grabbed hold of it, Hermione not only felt the tug beneath her navel, but a large weight slumping down onto her shoulder. She screamed. Then everything went black.