Thanks to everyone who is following the story and leaving me feedback. I love you all! Sorry for such the long wait, hopefully, this chappie makes it up to you! There is some cannon in this, but regardless, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 15

"Hermione!" Ron screeched, pounding at the door. "Hermione! Hermione!" He shouted over and over again.

Harry just sat there, staring at his hands. What could he do? What was there to do when in a situation like this? He cringed as Hermione's screams pierced the air.

Charlie, meanwhile, looked like he was going to kill someone. His hands were clenched into fists, and his expression was murderous.

He had to think! They had to save Hermione!

Charlie bit his lip. If only he could reach Hemera, she could save them. But how to reach her? They had communicated in his mind before, but could they now? He wasn't sure it was possible.

"Do it," Harry said softly to Charlie. He tried to ignore Ron's cries for Hermione, but they were getting to be a bit too much. "Ron, please, stop."

Ron whipped around, tears in his eyes. "You don't even care! She's being tortured, and neither of you care! Charlie, you don't love her at all! Not like I do." He said, his body shaking. "Hermione!" He cried out once more.

Harry stood. "We do care! How can you bloody say that we don't! However, unlike you, we're trying to figure out a way out of this mess! Crying isn't going to save her." Harry was angry. At himself for putting them in this situation, and at Ron, for being so hotheaded.

Charlie sighed. "I love Hermione very much, but screaming after her isn't going to change the situation." He closed his eyes, and exhaled slowly. He turned to Harry. "So you think I should do it?"

Harry nodded. "If we can contact Hemera, then she could save us… or at least know what to do."

Charlie bit his lip. "I'm not sure if I'll be able to contact her. We've spoken before, but that's because Hermione was there with us."

"But you're Hermione's mate! It must mean you're bonded with Hemera too!" Harry protested.

Ron glared at Charlie when he heard the word mate. Charlie looked at his hands. "I can try, but I just don't know…."

"Please! We need to save Hermione." Harry begged.

Charlie closed his eyes. Hemera?

There was silence.

"Shit." He cursed.

"Try again!" Harry encouraged.

Hemera! Charlie screamed in his mind. Hemera! Please! Answer me!

"Charlie?"

Charlie grinned. "I've got her!"

Hemera, we need your help. He thought quickly.

"Where's Hermione? I can't feel her mind!" Hemera said frantically.

She's being hurt. Hemera, we can't get to her. You need to find us. You need to break into the manor. Charlie begged. Please just save her.

There was silence. Charlie almost cried out, in fear that he had lost her.

"I'm on my way little one. Try and find a way out of the dungeon."

Charlie nodded. "She's on her way. We need to figure out how to get out of here though. Any ideas?"

Harry shook his head. "There's only one way out, and it's the door Ron's pounding on."

"Damnit." Charlie cursed. "Ron, stop your bloody banging! I can't think like this."

Ron fell silent. He wanted to curse his brother, yell at Harry, or just do something. But he was too numb to do anything. The girl he loved was being tortured. With every one of her screams, his heart felt like it was going to tear in half. He had never been so afraid before in his life. "What if she dies?"

"Don't say that," Charlie said harshly, his eyes full of fury.

Ron inwardly cursed. He hadn't meant to say that last bit out loud. He remained quiet, not wanting to deal with Charlie. He was furious with his brother. He didn't know how Harry could be so okay with Charlie and Hermione.

They were just so wrong for each other, why couldn't anyone else see that?!

Suddenly, there was a creak on the stairs. "Someone's coming!" He whispered quietly.

Harry and Charlie hustled over. They listened silently, and a wheezing cough filled the air.

Harry grinned. "Wormtail."

"Stand back," Wormtail grumbled. "Get away from the door. I'm coming in."

The door flew open. For a moment, Wormtail stared into the cellar, looking for the three of them. Harry looked towards Charlie, who nodded in response.

The two of them then launched themselves upon him. Charlie wrestled Wormtail's wand arm, trying to get a hold of the piece of wood. Harry pressed a hand to his mouth, trying to silent him. They struggled, the three of them in a heap on the floor, when Wormtail's silver hand closed around Harry's throat.

"What's going on Wormtail?" Lucius Malfoy called from above.

"Nothing!" Ron called back, in a passable imitation of Wormtail's wheezy voice. "All fine!" He was tugging at Wormtail's hand, trying to bring it away from Harry's throat.

"You're going to kill me?" Harry choked out, barely able to breathe. "After I saved your life? After betraying my parents, two people who trusted you! With their own lives! You owe me, Wormtail!"

The silver fingers slackened. Harry didn't expect his words to make any difference, and he quickly wrenched himself free.

Wormtail's eyes widened in surprise and fear: he was just as shocked as Harry at what his hand had done, at the tiny, merciful impulse it had betrayed, and he continued to struggle more powerfully, as though to undo that moment of weakness.

Charlie grinned in triumph as he tugged Wormtail's wand from his hand.

Pettigrew let out a yelp of fear as his eyes locked on his hand. His silver fingers were moving inexorably toward his own throat.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "No!" He shouted. Without pausing to think, he tried to drag back the hand. Ron joined him and the two of them tried to stop it.

However, it was too late. The silver tool that Voldemort had given his most cowardly servent had turned upon its disarmed and useless owner; Pettigrew was reaping his reward for his hesitation, his moment of pity; he was being strangled before their eyes.

Charlie joined them, the three of them trying to free Wormtail's throat. But it wasn't any use. Pettigrew was turning blue.

He dropped to his knees, letting out a strange gurgling sound. His eyes rolled upward, and his gave one last twitch.

The three of them stared in silence for one small moment.

"He's dead," Charlie said.

Harry bit his lip, but without wasting any more time, he motioned for them to follow him up the stairs. The stopped at the top, then Harry peered into the drawing room.

His heart stopped at what he saw. Hermione was laying on the floor, a puddle of blood surround them. Bellatrix was hovering over her, a silver knife digging into her arm.

"It's a fake!" She sobbed. Bellatrix pulled her arm back, then swung it forward, slapping it across her face.

Harry cringed at the sound. He watched in horror as Hermione suddenly became quiet. Bellatrix grinned in triumph. She stood, "Greyback, take the filth. I'll grab one of the blood traitors from the cellar." Greyback started to creep forward, looking excited. "Wait," Bellatrix commanded. She looked at Hermione's hand. She had heard the legends, but didn't think they were true any longer. She shook her head, not wanting to believe it. She would question one of the others. She made her way towards the cellar.

"Get ready Charlie," Hemera's voice appeared.

"Brace yourself," Charlie whispered to the two of them.

However, it was at that moment, that Bellatrix saw the three of them near the stairs. She cried out, and suddenly there was sparks flying everywhere. Charlie began to duel with her, as he was the only one with a wand.

Harry lunged at Draco, punching him in the face. The two of them began wrestling, each of them with a hand on Draco's wand.

Ron was making his way towards Hermione, only to be stopped by Fenrir. The werewolf snatched Hermione, holding her limp body in his arms.

"Move ginger, and she's dead." He sniffed her body. "However, it seems she's almost dead anyways."

"No!" Ron cried out.

Charlie turned and saw Greyback lowering his teeth to Hermione's neck. Harry grinned in triumph as he wrestled away with Draco's wand. Looking up, he gasped.

Suddenly, the roof of the Manor tore apart. Glass and debris shattered down on them all. Harry heard someone cry out in pain. Looking up, he grinned as he saw Hemera.

The dragon landed in the ballroom, roaring fiercely.

Lucius and Narcissa huddled together, too afraid to speak. There was a dragon… a huge dragon, in their home.

Bellatrix fired a stinging hex at her; foolishly thinking it would hurt her.

Hemera roared, releasing a ball of fire towards Bellatrix. Bellatrix cringed, realizing her suspicions were right. "Lucius, summon him! The girl is a rider!" She screamed.

Lucius quickly pressed Narcissa's wand to his arm.

Harry screamed out as the pain tore through him, making his head feel like it would explode.

"Don't let the girl go Greyback!" Bellatrix shouted, trying to make her way towards them.

Hemera however, roared, fury coursing through her. She swung her tail towards Bellatrix, knocking her on her back. She turned towards Greyback, roaring fiercely. She took a step towards him, but he stumbled back in fear, dropping Hermione.

Charlie ran towards Hemera, climbing up onto her back. Ron and Harry followed suit.

Hemera reached forward, picking up Hermione in her claws. Making sure the others were secure, she began to flap her wings. She roared once more, taking off into the air. Once hovering, she released a large ball of fire, setting part of the Manor aflame.

She grinned in triumph, taking off.

Harry wrapped his arms around Charlie, afraid he would fall off. Ron did the same to Harry.

The two of them were scared stiff, never having been on a dragon before.

Charlie chuckled, turning around. "You guys can relax. Hemera won't let you fall."

Harry released his tight grip, but Ron shook his head, firmly attaching himself to Harry in fear.

"Hemera! Where are we going!" Charlie shouted over the winds.

To the elves. They have a small kingdom on the Faroe Island.

"We're going to see the elves in Faroe," he told the others.

But why, he silently asked.

Because I'm losing her. And they're the only ones who can save her.

Charlie's heart constricted. What if they didn't make it on time? He couldn't bear the thought of losing Hermione. He loved her. He couldn't imagine his life without her.

"Why are we going there?" Harry asked, nervous about his friend.

"Because Hermione's dying and they're the only ones who can save her."