Ch. 15 Starting to Trust
Hermione's eyes popped open at the insistent banging on her door. She'd barely got a wink of sleep last night due to the enormous amount of information she'd received from Pinnoppolly. She and Ron had reunited with Harry and Estrella soon after and neither was able to keep their eyes off of her. Whenever Harry would throw them hints to give them private time she and Ron feigned ignorance. After learning what Estrella was neither was willing to leave Harry alone with her. She'd even stayed late in the Gryffindor commons making sure that Harry and Estrella spent no alone time together. She had no idea how she was supposed to break the news of Estrella's identity to him but she knew it was inevitable. The more time Harry spent with her the more enraptured he would become and the closer he would be to his doom.
She hadn't been able to see Draco at all that day and when she'd returned to her dorm late she had no idea if he was already asleep or not. Aside from her constant worry for Harry she'd been hoping to be able to talk with him just so she could relieve some of the stress and worry, something that, lately, he was the only one capable of doing. Knowing that he was close by and safe sent a calm over her that she couldn't quite describe or comprehend but it was a feeling that she was fast growing addicted too.
"Hermione! Open the door!"
She blinked the drowsiness from her eyes and felt the slight pangs of a headache. She groaned and slid out of bed not even trying to identify the voice through the hazy fog of her weary head. She tripped over a shoe on the floor and nearly fell into the door muttering a silent curse. The banging continued and now she was almost fully awake. She glanced at her bedside clock and noticed that it was still an hour before breakfast. Suddenly she remembered that she hadn't seen Draco and hoped it was him on the other side. She swung the door open and Ron held his hand in mid-air about to bang again. Her disappointment was soon replaced by annoyance.
"Ron, what are you doing here this early?" she saw the perplexed look on his face, "Is something wrong?"
He brushed past her and took a moment to gaze around her room before turning to her worried. He looked like he'd had about as much sleep as she had.
"I stayed up with Harry practically the entire night," he massaged his neck tiredly, "He couldn't sleep and neither could I. I swear Hermione, every time he closed his eyes he said he felt like he was being pulled away."
His tired eyes belayed his fear as they watched hers intently. The thought of Harry being called to his death chilled her once more, ever since her talk with Pinnoppolly her mind was paralyzed with visions of him dying in horrific ways. She was almost certain that Voldemort was behind everything, how, she didn't know but she knew something this sinister was his work.
"Where is he now?" she was afraid of the answer, afraid that he'd come with bad news.
"He closed his eyes the moment the sun came up. I doubt he'll come to breakfast."
She sighed and her hand flew to her heart in relief. At least he was safe.
"Then why have you come in here banging on my door like a madman? I thought something might have happened," she expressed exasperated.
He inclined his head sheepishly, "I needed someone to talk too. I just...this whole thing has got me spooked. I think we should tell Harry as soon as possible."
She walked around him and began making up her bed.
"I don't think that's a good idea Ron."
He stared at her incredulously, "Why bloody not?"
She pulled her sheets up and smoothed them out eying him warily, "How exactly do you expect to explain to Harry that his girlfriend, whom he adores, is just some tool being used by his enemy to kill him or worse?"
"That's better than letting him grow closer to her!"
She wasn't in the mood nor the spirit to argue with him so early in the morning and despite his raised voice she continued to talk calmly.
"We will tell him and soon but not right now. I think we should talk with Dumbledore first, maybe he'll know what to do."
She pulled the covers up and folded them back as he rolled his eyes at her.
"Why should we wait for Dumbledore to do anything? We can go tell Harry now and he can stay away from her and hopefully she'll go away," his expression was serious as if he was truly offering a decent solution to the problem.
She paused in making her bed to look at him stupidly, "You can't really think that that will work," he nodded not getting why it wouldn't and she sighed before returning to making her bed, "That won't work, Ron. Harry has real feelings for her and if we just up and told him that she wasn't who he thought she was he might not even believe us. He may get angry at us and ignore anything we might have to say therefore ruining any plan we had in helping him. The only thing you're offering is to make the situation worse."
He continued to look bewildered and she fluffed her pillow before moving to the side of the room where he was to get the other side of the bed. He pulled out his wand and said a simple charm making the bed's covers magically move into place giving her bed a professionally done look. She glanced at him annoyed.
"Why did you do that?"
He pocketed his wand, "Because it was driving me crazy watching you do it by hand. Don't tell me you didn't know that you could do that by magic?"
She rolled her eyes, "Of course I knew that I just like doing it the muggle way because it's relaxing."
He sat down on her bed and glanced down at it as if he was yearning to sink into its plush cushion.
"I'm not going to sit by and watch Harry get obliterated by some nameless force. If you won't tell him I will."
She could tell that he was serious but she needed a little more time before Harry got the news. She had no idea how they were going to break it to him but it had to be in a way that he believed them and that convinced him to stay away from the girl otherwise they were all out of luck. She knew how impulsive Ron could be but this wasn't something that should be easily talked about, this was deathly serious and she had a feeling that even more was going to come about.
"Do you think I didn't want to tell Harry the first moment that I saw him?" she asked him, "Every minute that passes that he isn't aware of who she is kills me but we can't just run up to him and tell him. If Estrella really is an Imperial that means that she is very powerful and very dangerous. We have to tread carefully."
He appeared to be mulling over her words and she relaxed when she felt she had gotten a decent logical word into his tempered mindless brain.
"I don't know how much of this he can take, 'Mione. If we wait too long to tell him he will have a right to be pissed at us. How would you feel if one of us was keeping this from you?"
She would be royally pissed but if it ultimately worked out she'd also be eternally grateful. She ran her hands through her tangled hair still consumed with worry and sleepiness.
"Maybe we should see Dumbledore right away."
Draco decided to stand in the great wizard's office while Snape opted to sit. Snape may have welcomed him into the Order but considering the fact that his identity was kept a secret he doubted he had much clout. His fate was in Dumbledore's hands now.
"Are you not comfortable with sitting, young Malfoy?" Dumbledore's smooth treble asked.
"I prefer to stand, thank you," he nodded at the invitation.
Dumbledore's keen eye raked over him and he could sense that somehow he knew why he was here without even having to be told. He sat in perfect posture behind his desk casually eating lemon drops that he'd offered them upon arrival. After he and Snape's ultimately long talk the night before he'd been too apprehensive to go to sleep and laid awake the entire night wondering where his life would end up and if he was making the right decision or not.
He'd assumed that Hermione had already been asleep and had decided not to wake her even though he'd been yearning to see her all day. He'd constantly wondered what she'd think about his decision and had halfhearted fantasies about her rushing into his arms, all smiles, congratulating him. Somehow he felt that that would never be anything more than a dream.
Dumbledore popped one last lemon drop into his mouth, gave a small smile of satisfaction, then turned a serious gaze on Snape, "It doesn't seem as Mr. Malfoy is in any trouble so I assume you are both here for another reason," he glanced at Draco.
Snape shifted in his chair staring steadily at Dumbledore his mood a bit somber, "Draco wishes to join the Order."
Snape said nothing more and the room fell in a comfortable silence. Dumbledore was watching him now, closely. He could feel those ageless eyes seeing through him and was reminded of his meeting with Voldemort. How ironic that two people so different in so many ways were alike. Where he'd felt like a cold lizard was wrapping around his soul being near Voldemort he felt warm and assured under Dumbledore's gaze yet they seemed so equal in strength and power it was uncanny.
"Do you wish to join the Order Draco?"
He could feel Snape's eyes slowly turn to him and he internally asked himself the question again. Do I want to join the Order? His answer was an infallible yes.
"Yes, I do."
Dumbledore's eyes were steady as they bore into his, "The Order can not just accept any persons as things become graver we have to also become more cautious. This is not meant to imply that you are untrustworthy but it is something that is neither objectionable or questioned. Within the Order trust is the most valuable among us and since Severus has brought you to me then I already trust you," he stood from his seat and walked to him, "I hope that you are able to trust me, Draco."
Despite the fact that because of his upbringing he'd always been annoyed by the man simply because of his opposition to everything that his name stood for he'd always trusted him, from the moment he'd arrived to Hogwarts in his first year. He couldn't help but wonder how his father would feel if he saw where he was this moment, standing in front of Dumbledore, asking to join a group that was fighting the very thing he stood for. To his father he'd be seen as committing the greatest betrayal possible, joining rank with the enemy.
Even though Dumbledore had just assured him that he trusted him simply on Snape's judgment alone he needed to validate himself as someone trustworthy, "I know I'm not a part of the golden trio," Dumbledore's eyes sparkled at his sarcastic use of the name, "but I do not make decisions lightly nor do I deter from the path once I've chosen it."
Dumbledore seemed to pause in thought before saying, "If that is so why have you chosen this? Were you in line to be a death eater? Had you chosen that path?"
He faltered at the question. He was still in line to be a death eater but he most certainly had not chosen that path.
"I am in line to be a death eater but it was not the path I chose nor is it the path I would have chosen for myself, which is why I'm here."
Snape was completely silent watching them both and Dumbledore still perused him curiously.
"Why exactly do you wish to join the Order Draco? You say that you would not have chosen the path set out for you yet you have given no reasons. Are you truly opposed to Voldemort or are you here for another reason? Just because the Order is 'the other side' does not mean that we are a group of indecisive people who are stuck in the middle on how we feel. We are just as passionate about our beliefs as Voldemort and his fiends."
Dumbledore's voice had filled with uncharacteristic passion but was teeming with curiosity and a tinge of amusement. The curiosity felt a bit of a put on, though, he sensed that Dumbledore knew his true reasons for coming even if he didn't and was determined to pull it out of him.
"I don't agree with the way Voldemort wants the world to be," he said uneasily not wanting to express his reasons too deeply.
Dumbledore's long beard twitched in what appeared to be a smile, "How do you want the world to be?"
It was a simple question but he felt as if he had just been given a small test. No one had ever asked him how he wanted anything his life had always just been a list of orders he was to follow by and ultimately think by. He'd been taught to never question his elders or superiors because they were right and he was wrong. Now being faced with Dumbledore's question he was having to dig deep inside of him where he was accustomed to keeping his true feelings hidden and search through them to find the answer.
His eyebrows knitted together in slight concentration and he faltered in his stare with Dumbledore. He glanced at Snape who was eying him coolly and who gave him a small encouraging nod. He felt himself begin to grow annoyed at the question and at Dumbledore after all he was the one offering him a once in a lifetime chance. Having Draco in the Order and spying for them would give them even more valuable information than Snape since he was constantly at school and hadn't attended any Death Eater meetings that he'd been aware of since school started.
He shrugged his stance becoming nonchalant and shutting off any feelings he'd felt overcome him before, "If you don't want me in the Order just say so."
Dumbledore's brows rose and Snape's eyes became downcast, "I hope I have not implied that you are not welcome, Draco. As far as I'm concerned you are already a part of the Order. I believe Snape officially welcomed you or you wouldn't be here, that is good enough for me."
His shoulders relaxed somewhat from their tense defensive posture. Dumbledore turned to Snape, "You have discussed things with him?"
Snape's black eyes turned to him briefly before looking up at Dumbledore, "Yes. He knows what is expected and how it will work, " he turned back to him, "No one can know Draco. Not your friends and most certainly not your father."
His mouth turned down in displeasure, "You don't have to ask me that, I do have common sense."
Snape threw him an annoyed glance and he returned it. One thing he felt the older man would have to learn was to treat him as a man. He was no longer a boy and would not tolerate being treated as such. Dumbledore moved to sit back in his chair and popped a lemon drop in his mouth. He leaned back and seemed to relax a moment before giving him a deadly serious look.
"Ordinarily I would not put your life at risk by allowing you to spy Draco, it is a terribly dangerous and burdensome task."
Snape seemed to gaze out at nothing as if Dumbledore's words had brought upon memories and feelings only he could grasp.
"I am old enough to make my own decisions and if I am putting my life at risk that's not for you to worry about," he assured.
Dumbledore shook his head sadly, "As you are my student your well-being is most definitely my concern. I know that you are proud Draco but please understand that something as dangerous as this requires humility and the spirit of a humble man."
He glanced at Snape wondering if that's how Dumbledore saw him. As much time as he'd spent with Snape variously throughout the years he was still very much a puzzle to him and since he nor his father or anyone else were able to detect his double cross it was obvious that so far he'd duped them all.
"You are not acting alone anymore you have become a part of many. Many who seek a common goal and purpose. Many who just pray that they and their children may live through the night. The things you do effect everyone around you so be careful of the choices you make they may cause a ripple that creates irreparable damage."
"If you are asking me to be weary of my actions, I already am."
Dumbledore nodded once and reached into a side drawer beside him. He pulled out something too small to see from where he was and with it grasped it in his hand as he stood up again to walk back over to him. Dumbledore held his closed fist out to him and slowly opened it up to reveal what appeared to be a shiny black ring with a blue stone set in the middle. He couldn't quite figure if it was a sapphire or some other precious gem because it looked thunderous, there seemed to be a storm brewing within the blue stone and the depth was never ending. It was an odd ring with its contrasting colors and obviously wasn't made to be a fashion statement, it was also wide and masculine. He looked at Dumbledore curiously.
Dumbledore took the ring out of his hand and held up to the light examining it. When the dark blue of the ring hit the light it shined brighter and seemed to shudder in Dumbledore's fingertips.
"This is for you Draco," Dumbledore held the ring towards him, "This ring will alert the Order to your whereabouts if you are in danger it will also appear quite ordinary to those you perceive as an enemy."
He took it cautiously out of Dumbledore's grasp and peered into the blue mist of the ring. He was surprised to see the outline of a bird. It was a beautiful Phoenix resting atop what appeared to be some barren cliff. He noticed Dumbledore smiling at him.
"Yes, it is a Phoenix, much like my own," he motioned to the one that always sat near his desk, "The Phoenix will rise and alert us if needed. Once you place the ring on your finger it will automatically adjust and no one can remove it but you. After you have placed it on your finger do not give it to anyone else it will be charmed to you and only you. If someone else tries to wear it the ring could harm them, so please be very careful with it."
He nodded and slipped the ring onto his finger. He immediately felt a chill sweep through his body and soon afterward he felt tingles of heat spread from his finger throughout the rest of his body. Dumbledore eyed him knowingly, "The ring is bonding with you."
Once the sensations stopped he glanced over at Snape and noticed for the first time that he wore a ring exactly like it, he'd never really noticed it before.
"If there is ever a time you need shelter the Order will provide it," Dumbledore added.
He felt a strange sense of euphoria wash over him and he was hesitant to trust it. It amazed him how Dumbledore seemed so trusting of him not to mention all he had to do was give his word and he was in. It was way too easy and very refreshing. He'd been given torturous task after torturous task to join the Death Eaters, a group of people he did not want to align himself with, and all he had to do to join the Order was give his word of commitment.
He looked at the ring on his hand one last time before dropping it to his side, "My father wants me to find a way to let the Death Eaters into the school."
Snape said nothing and Dumbledore placed his hands behind his back his eyes suddenly very tired.
"Voldemort wishes to take over the school. I wondered..." Dumbledore's voice trailed off in thought before eying him closely, "Thank you Draco."
"I'm supposed to receive my mark in December. When I refuse my cover will be blown."
He didn't see Snape's small smile at his use of when and not if.
"We will handle that when the time comes and it is nearly upon us."
There was a small ding at the back of the room and Dumbledore merely closed his eyes briefly not even glancing back, "Another worried parent. If you gentlemen will excuse me, we will have to discuss this again some other time," he reached his hand out to Draco, "Welcome to the Order, I am proud that you have chosen to assist us."
Draco gave him a curt nod and grasped his thin but strong hand. The handshake was brief and then he and Snape were being ushered out. He was surprised to find Hermione coming down the hall towards them, she faltered in her step when she saw them. Much to his annoyance the Weasel was right behind her. Dumbledore slowed down his quick gait and stopped to talk briefly with them. He couldn't hear their hushed words but he could see Dumbledore nod quickly and give them a few words before heading off to deal with more parents.
Snape looked annoyed at the two intruders in the hall before turning to him, "When is the next time you meet with your father?"
He ran his hands through his hair, "In a couple of days."
"It will probably be a good idea to charm your ring to look like something else when you do in case he notices we're wearing the same rings."
He glanced briefly at the ring on his hand noticing the brilliant flash of blue.
"I'll turn it into a serpent."
Snape nodded, "Good enough," he looked in the direction of where Hermione and the Weasel still stood, "Be careful."
He watched as Snape walked briskly down the hall giving a nod to the two he passed and then he was gone. He could tell Hermione wanted to talk to him as he her but the Weasel obviously wasn't going anywhere. He strode down the hall towards them and he could see the red haired boy's fist ball in anticipation and tried to resist the urge to smirk but failed. Nevertheless, he was curious as to why she was here to see Dumbledore and wasn't the least bit happy that the Weasel was with her.
"In trouble again, Malfoy? Don't you get tired of being a useless prat?"
He merely raised his brows at the lame insult. He could see Hermione giving Ron an annoyed look.
"Don't you get tired of being an unintelligent peasant? I would ask you to buy a clue but you obviously don't have enough money," he tsked as if truly pitying him for it.
The Weasel's face turned red as it usually did and he could see him reach for his wand before Hermione's hand snaked out to stop him.
"Ron, please! There are more important matters we need to deal with."
She gave him an annoyed look obviously not pleased with his remark about her friend's status of wealth. He studied her momentarily noticing her tired and disheveled look. She, apparently, hadn't gotten any rest and she seemed to be worried about something. He wanted to reach out to her and kiss her worries away but was unconsciously held back by Weasel's presence. He was also a bit put off that whatever was bothering her the red haired irritation knew and he didn't. He gave them a disgusted look his eyes softening on Hermione's before walking off without saying another word.
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The sun was setting and he prowled the school grounds trying to relax before his meeting later on that night. He hadn't seen Hermione at all since that morning since he'd been stuck in his room. He couldn't wait until that blasted punishment was lifted and he would be able to resume normal activities. Not being able to do practically anything was starting to get to him especially if it meant he could really only see Hermione at night.
He'd been wanting to ask her what was the reason for her distress since he last saw her. He'd grown tired of waiting in the dorm for her and had snuck outside hoping McGonagall wouldn't see him among the many students, the last thing he needed was more time added on to his almost up two weeks. He'd had to dip and dodge many Slytherins who were happy to see him. The air was getting colder but he didn't care he welcomed the cool it allowed him to be clear minded and alert. Walking around the school reminded him of his weird encounter with the Gryffindor girl. He only shared one class with her but even then being in the same vicinity as her made him feel weird and out of sorts. He wondered if anyone else was aware of just how off that girl was.
He could see the big ogre's cottage off in the distance and paused when he saw a familiar bushy headed girl leaving. Her head was down and she was walking quickly towards him looking deep in thought. She was merely thirty yards away when he called out to her. She glanced up startled to see him and her quick pace slowed until she'd reached him.
"Draco, what are you doing here? I thought you weren't allowed to be outside."
He glanced around him not seeing anyone in the vicinity and motioned to a path that led into a clump of small trees, "Walk with me."
She glanced around nervously and appeared to be about to decline his offer and he grabbed her hand before she could say anything. He pulled her onto the path and they walked in silence. He caressed her hand in his loving the feel of her soft skin.
"What if someone sees us?" she continued to glance around as if there were people hiding behind trees.
"Aren't you supposed to be the brave one?"
He could see her lips twitch into a smile, "And you are supposed to be the deceitful one, who knows where you're taking me."
He chuckled softly feeling the tension slowly leave his body.
"You were visiting Hagrid?"
She nodded her hair blowing as a sharp wind blew.
"He always listens to me when I need someone to talk too."
"Where's the pothead and Weaselbee?" he felt slightly jealous.
She ignored his insult and wrapped her free arm around her waist to fend off the cold.
"Probably in the Gryffindor commons."
He stopped and pulled her into his arms doing what he'd been wanting to do all day. She moaned into his mouth and he loved the feel of her hands playing in his hair. The wind blew again and he felt her shiver in his arms. He reluctantly pulled his lips from hers and caressed her face.
"You're cold."
Her eyes remained closed as he caressed her.
"It is the middle of fall."
Her lips were too tempting and he leaned down to taste them again. She shuddered in his arms as he slowly explored her mouth. He pulled her towards his desire seeking some type of friction and held back a groan before pulling away. He paused to catch his breath and tried to will away the lust that throbbed painfully in his loins.
If it was any other girl he'd have had them moaning and screaming his name by now but he couldn't bring himself to treat Hermione so callously. Everything about her was beautiful to him and he wanted to treat her with the respect that she emanated. There was a regalness to her that seemed to be lacking in any other girl he'd ever met.
"Maybe you should head back."
Despite the cold her face was flushed from their kiss.
"What about you? Where were you going?"
He could tell she thought he might be off to the Forbidden Forest or something akin to that.
"Just a walk."
She grabbed his hand, "I'll go with you."
He brushed away a long dark curl as the wind blew again, "You're freezing, you should get back inside," he glanced up noticing the advancing clouds, "It looks like a storm might be coming."
"Are you trying to get rid of me now?" she asked her mouth forming in a slight pout.
He thought she looked incredibly sexy and knew she had absolutely no idea.
"I'm trying to keep you from catching a cold, but you're going to be as stubborn as usual, I see."
She smirked at him something that she'd begun doing quite frequently, lately. He was obviously rubbing off on her.
"To deal with you one has to be stubborn," her face turned serious, "You're not going into the forest are you?"
He gave her a brief kiss partly to feel her lips once again against his and partly to erase the fear from her face.
"Not tonight."
She let out a shaky breath and released his hand before folding her arms around herself.
"I wish you wouldn't go at all."
He sighed glancing up towards the menacing sky once again and pushing his windblown hair from his face.
"It can't be avoided, especially now."
Her face turned to one of surprise and she pointed at his hand.
"Where'd you get that?"
He lifted his hand to his face almost forgetting the ring that he'd put there. As if mirroring the sky the ring had grown darker and he could see that the Phoenix within still laying undisturbed. He glanced at her curious face and regretting lying before he opened his mouth. There was no choice, no one could know about his allegiance with the Order.
"It's an old ring I've had since I was younger," he lied easily.
She grabbed his hand and gazed at it mesmerized.
"It's so beautiful."
He scoffed, "You think this is beautiful? Diamonds are beautiful, this isn't."
She shook her head peering at the ring, "No, diamonds are cold. This has so much...passion in it and it's still so...peaceful."
She obviously couldn't see the Phoenix inside, only he could. He pondered her words and was amazed that she found the ring that upon first glance was so ordinary to be so mesmerizing. Thinking about it he realized she was right. Diamonds were cold. They were like pieces of ice but he'd never thought he'd hear a girl say so.
"Why were you going to see Dumbledore this morning?"
She stopped looking at the ring and let his hand go. Her chocolate eyes melted with worry once again and he silently urged her to tell him her problems.
"It's not important."
"Meaning the Weasel can know but I can't," he began to walk further down the path trying to throw off his growing anger.
She ran after him and grabbed his arm twirling him around to face her.
"It's complicated. You wouldn't understand."
He stuffed his hands in his pockets eying her darkly.
"Considering that you're implying that Weaselbee can understand, that's an insult. Why don't you just be the good little Gryffindor you are and be honest. You don't trust me."
Her face fell and he mentally kicked himself for being a hypocrite. He wasn't exactly being one hundred percent honest with her no matter how much he wanted too.
"I want to trust you but everything's so new. It's so much going on..."
Her words stung him in an unfamiliar place and her eyes were glancing around nervously and were full of hurt.
"It's not like you're being completely honest with me. You won't even tell me why you leave at night," her voice seemed to be growing in indignant anger.
He leaned in towards her his face hot with hurt and anger as well, "You want to know where I go when I enter the Forbidden Forest?"
She stared at him waiting for an answer and he hesitated momentarily at the thought of her reaction. There was a loud boom of thunder and the trees around them shook with force in the fierce winds but neither blinked or hardly even noticed.
"You don't have to tell me."
She turned to go and he grabbed her holding her close.
"I am in training to be a Death Eater," he breathed out his voice shaking slightly.
He closed his eyes briefly not want to see her look of disgust. When he opened them again her expression hadn't changed but her eyes were much sadder.
"I know, Draco."
A few pellets of rain began to drop but he could not tear his gaze from hers.
"Why aren't you running in the other direction?"
She shook her head her wild hair matting to her head from the thickening rain.
"I think...I do trust you because I know that you would never hurt me. I..." she faltered in continuing what she was saying.
Her words wrapped around and held him tightly. Her admission of trust was like a rare gift that he hadn't even realized he'd been waiting for. He waited expectantly for her to finish what she was about to say and instead she grabbed him and leaned upwards to kiss him. He gripped her tightly in his arms once again neither minding nor noticing the rain pelting them. His mouth fervently devoured hers and his tongue seeked hers as they dueled in a french battle. They held onto each other tightly as lightning struck nearby and both became lost in one another.
Amelia Thomas looked in on her children one last time before making her way back downstairs. The storm outside was becoming more fierce and she knew how much her oldest son, Eli, was afraid of thunder. So far he'd slept through the storm and for that she was grateful.
"Are they still asleep?" her husband, Winston, asked.
She nodded before slipping onto the couch beside him. They'd been relaxing in front of the fire before they'd thought they heard one of their sons crying.
"I don't know what that could've been. Storms create some of the oddest noises."
Her husband nodded as he sipped from his mug of firewhiskey. She leaned into him and grabbed the mug taking a sip herself. It felt good to unwind at the end of a long day. She'd been extremely busy filing away papers at the Ministry. Ever since the Griswald's had met their terrible fate the wizarding world had gone into a small uproar. People were also upset that the Ministry hadn't been reporting on the many muggle deaths that had been taking place. All in all everything was a mess and unfortunately it had become part of her job to sort it all out.
This was actually the most peaceful time they'd had in weeks. Winston was constantly badgering her about her job and how much time it took her away from home. Being one of Cornelius Fudge's personal assistants wasn't necessarily seen as an upright position by her husband or her family but despite the downsides she felt that working at the Ministry she'd be able to do some good, eventually.
She leaned up to kiss her husband on the cheek before nestling into his side again when there was a crack of thunder that nearly shook the house. They both looked at each other recognizing the sound. Someone had apparated outside but who they had no idea. Neither of their friends or family would visit so late and especially without contacting them first. He handed her the firewhiskey and went to the door mumbling. Before he could put his hand on the knob it blew open sending in a torrent of rain and leaves.
Winston stumbled back surprised and before he could say or do anything else hooded and cloaked figures rushed into the house. Amelia instantly recognizing who the vicious people were ran to grab her wand from the nearby table. She'd nearly reached it when a green spark nearly hit her and she paused and looked back to see her husband in some tall figure's grip. Whoever was hiding beneath the hood had him by the throat and inches off of the ground.
"R...un...Amelia...Run!" her husband barely grasped out as he was slowly losing air.
"Leave him alone! What do you want?" she shouted fearfully.
Her throat almost closed up when she realized that her children were upstairs and would probably have been awoken from their sleep from the noise. A tear slid down her cheek and she silently prayed that even if they had awoken they'd stay in their room.
One of the dark figures stepped forward with their head bent low, "Will you join the dark lord or are you against him?"
Her knees wobbled and she knew this would be the end.
"We won't join you or your pathetic lord!"
Everyone in the room turned to look at Winston who was now out of a choking position and struggling against his captor who he turned to punch in the face. The cloaked figure stumbled back and another figure stepped forward and shouted fiercely, "Crucio!"
"Noooooo!" she screamed as her husband writhed on the floor in pain.
She rushed toward him and the figure that had just been punched grabbed her. The cloaked figure began to talk and she felt her skin clam up, "You insult our lord you pay the price."
The voice was undoubtedly male and sounded rough and slimy all at once. The powerful cold hands that gripped her began to snake over her body in an obscene way and she began to breath heavily.
"Please, don't," she whispered pleadingly.
She could not see it but she could feel the evil man's smile and instantly regretted having pleaded for anything.
"Your wife is very lovely, Mr. Thomas," the man laughed cruelly and twisted her to kiss her roughly on the mouth.
She gagged and when the man tried to force his tongue down her throat she bit him and he jerked back in pain before backhanding her. She fell to the floor and her eyes met her husbands who was still caught in the throes of pain. Tears were falling freely down her face as she prayed her children stayed put. She prayed that these monsters would deal with them and leave.
She felt something on top of her and was turned around as the cloaked man began to kiss and slobber all over her. The other figures in the room positioned themselves around her and her husband as if they were preparing for a show. She swung to hit the man on top of her and he caught her wrist before punching her. Her head swiveled to the side and she thought she heard an unmistakeable crunch as the bones in her face broke. She was fast losing conscious as the man continued to violate her body with her husband not two feet away being forced to watch and feel excruciating pain at the same time. As her eyes closed against her will she only hoped for death.