The next morning, The wizarding world was more confused then it had been in a long time. The prophet had everyone talking. Purebloods, muggleborns, and half blood alike were unsure of what to think. The front page held both stories. One of horrible deeds and painting Hermione as the innocent victim, the other saying that she and Draco Malfoy were on the verge of becoming the next Lord Voldemorts.
Coffee cups were dropped, toast was burnt, and many, many people were late for work as people floo called each other, trying to grasp what they were reading.
Could they have been wrong all this time? Did the hatred they showed her finally tip the fragile cup of sanity and send her into the dark arts? No one knew, but everyone had his or her theories.
Ron read the paper and sighed. Harry actually went through with it and probably committed social suicide in the process. He didn't miss the fact that the article reported him as ' wanting to stay out of it'.
Ron shrugged and threw the paper into the fireplace… what did he care.
Molly Weasley was a complete mess. She had been kicking herself since Harry had come to visit her and told her the truth. She was a mother, she was supposed to pick up on things, but she totally let down the only other girl she once considered to be like a daughter to her.
The paper itself brought forth a gaggle of emotions to the elder witch. She was sad, angry, repulsed, and ready to hex her own son for his cowardice when it came to defending the girl that he had once loved. Had she really raised a complete jerk?
Harry sat on the bed, doing only a quick read of the article that he was part of. He was more interested in the second article, the one that was offering a reward for her head.
Something wasn't right, not up to standard, and didn't make even the first lick of sense. He knew Draco was involved, it would be too much of a coincidence considering he had approached him about Hermione in the first place… he just could figure it out for the life of him.
Oooooooooooo
Hermione and Draco were completely in the dark. They didn't have access to the paper and had no idea what was going on outside of the dusty, old Manor. It had taken hours of precise ward lowering and extreme stealth to make it as far as they did.
It wasn't easy, not in the slightest, but with her training and his knowledge, they managed to make it over the grounds and onto the roof of the Manor without being noticed.
"We need to split up." Hermione whispered.
Draco shook his head, "That's stupid. Merlin only knows what kind of people we are dealing with."
She rolled her eyes, "Listen, I'm not stupid, nor defenseless. We need to split up to see what we can find. We will cover twice as much ground that way." She sighed, "Just meet me back here in 3 hours time to check in."
Draco didn't like this, not in the slightest, but she had a point and he knew there was really no sense in arguing with her once her mind was made up.
"Three hours, not a minute later." He finally replied.
Hermione nodded and went her own way, leaving Draco behind.
An hour in, Hermione had covered almost the entire top floor. The place was weird. There were rooms that hadn't even been gone into in years judging by the dust covering the floors and the size of the spider webs while other were clean enough to pass a health inspector.
She had only encountered 3 men, all were too caught up in what they were doing to even notice her glimmer as she slid across the walls soundlessly. They were all ugly men, no doubt ones that didn't care for the hygiene in the slightest bit, and it made her wonder what Abby was thinking having to see them.
Draco had made it to the second floor. It was in good shape, not as dingy as the top floor where he knew Hermione was, but still not a place he would like to call home.
He noticed that there were a high number of people living on that floor, all the rooms appeared to be lived in, including the forth one in the west hall that he knew had to be Alexias.
Her belongings were carefully put away, much like he was use to, but the thing that disturbed him the most was the fact that Abby was nowhere to be found. He couldn't even find her things. He searched room after room, hoping to find her or a sign that she was alright, but at the end of the third hour, his heart felt like it had been sliced in half… there were no signs of her.
He made it back onto the roof and waited for Hermione, he could only pray to whomever was listening that she had some information.
He waited for almost an hour but Hermione never came back. A whole new flash of fear crossed over him as he wondered if she was all right. That bothered him, but being intimate with someone tends to make a person… care about another person, especially when said person actually trusted you to show her how it was done.
He set his determination and went back inside, he knew she was there, he just had to find her.
Ooooooooooooooo
Hermione spit at the woman she knew only too well. Alexia was smart, too smart, and appeared to be more evil then even Hermione anticipated.
"So, Mudblood, What brings you here?" Alexia asked as she wiped the spit from her face, unfazed.
Hermione tilded her head up and refused to answer.
"No matter." Alexia stated, "You will be staying for a while… I'm sure the truth will come out eventually."
Alexia snapped her fingers and two men came forward.
"Take her to the cell."
The men nodded and grabbed her by the arms. She was magically bound and couldn't exactly fight back. They walked for what seemed like an hour before she was tossed into a dingy cell and unbound. Alexia stood on the side, smiling as Hermione jumped up, prepared to fight.
"You wont be leaving Mudblood… as a matter of fact, you may prove useful."
"What the hell do you want me for?" Hermione yelled
Alexia smirked, "To care for the little brat in the corner."
'Brat in the corner?' Hermione thought and turned around quickly.
She was shocked to see Abby curled in a ball, dirty, cold and crying.
"How could you do that?" Hermione practically yelled, waking the almost three year old girls up in the process.
Abby sat up and got to her feet as quickly as possible.
"Mummy…tummy hurts." She said in a soft voice.
Abby then raised her hand towards Alexia, opening and closing her tiny fist in hopes that she would pick her up.
Alexia sighed and snapped her fingers where a small plate appeared. The plate held a small sandwich, an apple, and a small container of milk.
"No, I want you mummy, not food." She pleaded with trembling lips.
Hermione watched in complete horror as Alexia sneered, "Go eat your food you little brat… I am not your mummy."
Tears filled the little girls eyes as she looked down to the small plate on the ground and sat down to eat.
"How could you be such a fucking bitch?" Hermione yelled, "That is your daughter and you wont even hold her?"
Alexia waved her hand, "I hate children but she was a necessary evil. I only took care of her long enough to keep her alive… she means nothing to me."
"Then let her go! I'm sure someone out there will want to take care of her properly."
Alexia laughed, "She wont be going anywhere for another..oh.,.. 15 days… Then it won't matter."
Hermione didn't even need to ask, she already knew.
Alexia flicked her wand a few times and a bowl of cold water appeared with a rag.
"Clean her up a bit… she is starting to stink."
"She needs clean clothes, a brush, a clean nappy."
"Not necessary but as long as I don't have to deal with it, then by all means."
She flicked her wand a few more times making the items requested appear before turning and leaving. Hermione could have fought harder but she couldn't help but want to deal with Abby first and foremost.