A/N: What's this? An update within 2 weeks of the last? ;) Told you guys I'd get this thing done by the end of the summer. I'm off to the cottage tomorrow, so I thought I'd put this out before I left. As always (and I know I don't say this enough), all I own of Harry Potter is my hardcover series, each of the films, and my Hermione Granger wand. Also, HUGE thanks to everyone who is reading it, whether you're reviewing or not. :)
*** 24 – Fighting Back ***
It had been over two weeks since Draco had joined her at the facility, and Liz was starting to get anxious. Blaise, thanks to his successful 'capture' of both Liz and Draco, had been given access to virtually all aspects of the facility, and now oversaw both of them (including delivering their meals and fresh clothing each day, and heading up their 'testing,' though he was still forbidden from being a part of it). He'd found out all kinds of information about the 'program' that he passed on to the pair so that they could plot. His daily walks with Liz had continued, and while she always ended up in the conference room with Dr. Moore, they often took different routes to get there which resulted in many overheard conversations that often provided additional information.
Liz's sessions with Dr. Moore were very straightforward, the way a visit to a Muggle psychiatrist would be. She had screamed at him the day after Draco was tortured, and would not speak to the doctor for nearly a week. Ever since that, she'd taken to posing her own questions to him (mostly about the facility and what they did there) before even considering answering his own. He always tried to get her to eat or drink something in his presence, but fearing being drugged, she always wisely refused. His questions were becoming more demanding as of late, and his calm demeanor was starting to falter. She was almost starting to become afraid of him.
Draco had been removed from their cell on a daily basis, and while he always returned in a weakened state, he received no more visible injuries from his sessions. Liz was getting really worried about him, because he often couldn't recall what had been done to him. It reminded her of what had happened to Gustav and Angelique back in Canada. She'd mentioned it to Blaise once on a walk, and he'd been working on digging up some information, both on Draco and their friends from the Toronto facility. He'd come back a few days later with the sad news that Angelique had passed away during a round of 'treatment', and that Gustav's magic had in fact been completely removed from his system. This information made Liz all the more determined to get to the bottom of all of this, and get Draco back to his daughter. She knew that he would insist on her going too, but since Isabel could only remember one parent, Liz was determined that she would at least have him in the end, if nothing else.
Whenever they were alone, Liz and Draco maintained their cover. Liz checked over his arms, back and torso everyday for fresh bruises, mainly as an excuse to get close to him. To the spying eye that watched from the camera, the pair had become friends, but to the two of them it was so much more. The seven hours they spent away from each other each day had become nearly unbearable. Liz was slowly falling in love with Draco, but was terrified to think about what could happen if Dr. Moore found out.
Three weeks to the day after Liz had been brought to the facility, Blaise brought her some grave announcements. It was early afternoon when he hurriedly ushered her outside for their walk, where he broke the news.
"They know about Isabel."
Liz felt her heart constrict at his simple statement. "How?"
"They've been scanning Draco's memories each day, looking for something that may help bring Hermione back so they can start your anti-magic sessions. While there were scanning yesterday, they found a memory from when you were pregnant. They looked further, and saw some of Draco's time with Isabel."
"What are they going to do?"
"I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if Moore tells you about her today."
"I'll play dumb, as usual."
"There's more." Liz stopped dead in her tracks as fear seeped into her heart. "The word around the facility is that they're starting treatment on Draco tomorrow."
Her eyes widened. "What? Why?"
"They feel that he's helped your recovery as much as he can, and that it's time for him to be 're-educated.' And they'll be starting yours soon too."
"But I haven't even 'remembered' anything."
"They suspect you know more than you're letting on, both about your past and what has been happening here."
"So what now?"
"We need to get you and Draco out of here as soon as possible. Once you're back at Grimmauld we can come up with a plan to take this whole operation down. But we'll need help."
"We don't have time to figure out an escape plan though."
"I've done the research on the treatment they'll be giving Draco. It takes at least five sessions for it to really start taking effect, but I've heard rumours that some witches and wizards have ended up having all five sessions within the span of only 2 days, some even less than that. So we have a very small window in which to think of something."
"But he'll be weakened by the treatment, and so will I once they start mine."
"Which is why we have to hurry." The two continued their walk, and discussed potential escape plans along the way. Blaise would inform the rest of the Order about this turn of events and present their input to Liz the following day. Liz would warn Draco that evening, and they'd also discuss some ideas for escape.
When Blaise delivered Liz to the conference room, the bundle of nerves in her stomach was enormous. And when she entered the room to find Dr. Moore absent, the sense of dread in her heart expanded to encompass her whole body.
She looked around the room, and saw a short stack of two files on the table. Curious, she moved to see them, and was somewhat surprised to see that the top file had her name on it. Picking it up, she flipped it open to see what they actually knew of her.
Inside the folder was everything from past newspaper clippings to Dr. Moore's personal notes to old report cards from Hogwarts. She scanned the information, which proved Blaise's suspicions to be correct. They did believe she wasn't telling them everything, and Dr. Moore's notes indicated that she was becoming a liability because of her curiosity about the situation.
The second file on the desk was slightly larger than hers, and bore Draco's name. Discarding her own past, she plunged into his history, weeding her way through various articles, wanting to focus on Dr. Moore's thoughts.
As she read his own personal notes on Draco, Liz felt the fear take hold of her again. Apparently Draco had been fighting back everyday, and was not at all receptive to anything the scientists were doing. Moore suspected that Draco had been sent to the facility for some unknown reason, but was not prepared to take any chances. But it was the bottom line on the final report that made Liz's blood run cold.
-Termination Date: October 25th-
'Today,' Liz realized as she dropped the file. She had to do something before they did. But she was locked away in a room with no one or nothing to help her. Her breathing grew rapid as panic set in.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cooper." Liz whirled around to stare at Dr. Moore as he entered. "I see we've been a bit nosey today."
"What are you going to do to him?" Liz demanded, dropping part of her act.
"Me? Nothing." She looked at him confused. "I have no time to deal with such trivial matters as Mr. Malfoy's demise."
"What about this 'testing' that you've been doing on him? Or the treatments I've heard the guards talking about?"
"You pay far too much attention to things that are none of your business," Moore said, a slight hiss to his words. "I'm afraid that Mr. Malfoy doesn't quite fit the profile for our...'testing and treatment', as you so phrased it."
"I won't let you hurt him."
"I'm afraid that's not a claim you can make, my dear. You're up here with me, and there's nothing you can do about it."
"Why are you doing this to us?"
"To rid the world of the disease that is magic."
Liz paled at this, despite already having figured out what his plan was. She knew that she had to keep him talking for as long as possible. 'Accio wand,' she thought determinedly, before addressing him again. "What are you talking about?"
"Science is the ultimate art," he replied haughtily. "Everything can be, and should be able to be explained by science. Creation, evolution, they're all scientific."
"Except magic," Liz finished.
"Exactly. And I refuse to allow one insignificant factor, such as magic, get in the way of scientific progression."
Liz could hear a soft 'swoosh' in the distance, and prayed for help to arrive quickly. "But you'll never be able to end all the magic."
"Au contraire, my dear. As you will soon see, I can."
"By killing everyone involved with it?"
"Mr. Malfoy is the exception. We have other plans for the likes of you. Even though you seem to have no memory of your magic, we won't be taking any chances."
The 'swoosh' sound was now much louder, much closer. Liz shot Moore a smirk before throwing his own words back at him. "I'm afraid that's not a claim you can make."
"I beg your pardon?" he asked, humouring her.
At that exact moment, the door exploded, sending several large pieces of it hurtling towards the windows and shattering them. Moore shielded his face with his arms as a thin piece of wood sailed into the room and landed in Liz's hand. Moore looked up to see Liz brandishing her wand in his direction.
"I may have no memory of doing magic," she admitted, "but that doesn't mean that I can't actually do it."
"You little liar!" Moore exclaimed.
"You're one to talk!" she countered.
"No matter. You cannot stop what has already been set in motion." His eyes flicked toward the window as he smiled sadistically. Keeping her eyes and wand trained on him, she shuffled backwards towards the window. Angling herself so Moore was still in her line of sight, she let her eyes survey the grounds outside.
"No," she whispered in fear.
Draco was outside on the grounds, his eyes turned heavenward. Following his line of sight, Liz spotted three Dementors circling above him. She could feel his horror, and nearly dropped her wand.
"They really are merciless creatures, aren't they?" Moore said sarcastically.
"Stop it," Liz begged. "Call them off."
"I think not." A click was heard from where he stood, and Liz whipped her head around to find him with a gun trained on her. "I shall enjoy watching his slow death."
"You're a monster," she whispered.
"Oh no, my dear, that would be you and your kind."
Draco's scream pierced the air as one Dementor swooped down towards him. Moore grinned.
"And just think, with him out of the way you're completely alone here. But don't worry, we'll bring you some company soon. I suspect his daughter would make another lovely addition to our project."
If looks could kill, Moore would be six feet under for that threat. Liz now had fire in her eyes. "You will not touch her!" she ordered.
"Who's going to stop me?" Another of Draco's screams was heard. "Give it up, Miss Cooper, you can't win. He's stuck with the Dementors, and I'm willing to shoot you if you move an inch. It's either he dies, or you both do."
Liz closed her eyes at the overwhelming emotion that pressed against her mind. Draco was going to die, and Isabel would be brought into this horrid place if she didn't act. She couldn't – wouldn't – let her family down. Her eyes flew open, and she leveled her wand at Moore with a determined face.
"Expelliarmus!" she shrieked. The gun flew out of his hand and into her own. "Stupefy!" she added as he lunged for her. A jet of red light shot from her wand and struck Moore in the chest. He flew backward into the wall and slid to the ground, still.
Still armed with her wand and the gun, she spun around and looked out the window as Draco screamed once more. He was now on his knees, his pale face stark white in agony. Focusing all of her energy, she conjured the happiest memory she could find, and prayed with all her might that it would work. Liz thought of playing in the snow back at Grimmauld with her beloved friends and newfound family. The wind from the open window had her hair flying around her head as she raised her wand and aimed for the group of Dementors.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Her arm shook as a brilliant silver light flew out. The mist took the shape of a beautifully sleek otter that raced towards the dark figures. They were instantly repelled by the shield of the otter, and pulled back a little at a time from Draco's weakened form.
Liz stared in amazement at the form she'd conjured. She maintained her focus, throwing all of her energy into her Patronus. Wait until she told Harry! 'He'd be so proud' she thought as the last Dementor flew off.
But suddenly, Liz felt something explode inside her mind. She cried out and grabbed for the window frame as she felt her brain fill with something she'd been convinced was lost.
Memories. Beautiful, glorious, familiar memories flooded into her mind, and she was overwhelmed as they floated through her.
*FLASH*
Receiving her Hogwarts letter for the first time.
*FLASH*
Harry and Ron saving her from the troll in the girls' bathroom.
*FLASH*
Watching Harry outfly Draco at Quidditch during their second year.
*FLASH*
Flying on Buckbeak's back with Harry and Sirius.
*FLASH*
Being pulled from the Black Lake by Viktor Krum during the Triwizard Tournament.
*FLASH*
Watching Dolores Umbridge being dragged off by Centaurs into the Dark Forest.
*FLASH*
Walking into Grimmauld Place after sixth year and finding Draco and Dumbledore.
*FLASH*
Dancing with Draco at the seventh year Christmas Ball.
*FLASH*
Draco proposing to her near their favourite tree at Hogwarts.
*FLASH*
Weakly holding her brand-new daughter in her arms.
*END FLASHES*
Hermione opened her eyes to find herself kneeling on the floor as tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered everything. She was back! She quickly rose to her feet and surveyed her surroundings. Realizing what had happened, she turned to the unconscious Moore. She conjured some ropes and bound him on the spot. "Accio Draco's wand," she said once she was done. While she waited, she tossed the gun in the corner of the room, and shouted "Reducto" at it, causing it to explode into dust. A minute later, she held Draco's wand alongside hers as she turned back to the window.
Draco was climbing to his feet outside, looking around in wonderment. He'd recognized the Patronus that had helped him, but was afraid to get his hopes up about what it meant. His eyes turned to the building next to him, looking for the source.
Hermione turned back to Moore as she placed a foot on the windowsill. She pointed her wand at him. "Enervate."
He woke up quickly, and began struggling with his bonds. Glaring up at her angrily, he hissed, "You may have won this battle, Miss Granger, but the war isn't over."
"Very clichéed, Dr. Moore," she replied, giving him a serene smile. "And it's Mrs. Malfoy, actually." With that, she turned back to the window and pointed both wands at herself. "Wingardium Leviosa," she muttered, and felt herself lift off the ground. Keeping her own wand trained on herself to stay in the air, she used Draco's wand to guide her path out the window and to the ground below.
Draco stared in amazement at the awe-inspiring sight in front of him. His beloved wife was floating gracefully towards him from an upstairs window. He felt his heart burst with love for her, even if she couldn't remember loving him. He'd fallen in love with her again over the last two months, and was determined to tell her so at the first chance he got.
Hermione landed perfectly on the ground, and looked around to find Draco. She shot him a brilliant smile when she did, and hurried to his side. Holding out his wand, she took in his exhausted appearance.
"How?" he started, but was interrupted by a loud siren inside. They both jumped into ready position, armed with their wands. Men were streaming out of the facility and heading in their direction.
"We need to get out of here," she ordered. "I'll hold them off, but you need to go now."
"I can fight!" he insisted.
"You were just attacked by three Dementors! You're not at full strength," she countered. "You can't risk getting hurt."
"I'll be fine!"
"Is that what you want Molly to tell Isabel when you've been captured again?" She knew it was a low blow, but she needed him to get the message. He was silent so she continued, facing him. "Please, Draco, for me?"
He turned to her, stared into her beautiful eyes, and realized yet again that he could never refuse her. Sighing resignedly, he grabbed her by the waist and kissed her. It was brief, but full of promise. He pulled back and gazed at her. "I'll be at Malfoy Cottage."
"I'll be right there," she assured him. He shot her one last smile, and apparated away.
Her confidence renewed knowing that he was safe, she spun to face the coming guards. She began firing off curses and hexes at her attackers, felling them as quickly as she could. Stunners and freezing charms were shot at those who ran, and anyone with a weapon was quickly disarmed.
"Well played, Miss Granger." Hermione stopped and slowly turned to face Dr. Moore. "You've proven to be more trouble than you're worth."
"So sorry to disappoint," she shot back, showing off her own Malfoy smirk.
"Not yet, but you will be."
"Not today." Bowing her head slightly towards him, Hermione focused her thoughts on Malfoy Cottage, and disapparated.