A/N So, here is the second chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much for reading. Please REVIEW!
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Rodolphus paced the room, his boots hitting the stone floor quietly. His hands wringed together tightly and every now and then his eyes moved to the figure on the bed. Hermione lay in the middle of his bed, her skin sickly pale. You could see her veins on the top of her eyelids. Her chest heaved up and down as every breath was painful. Currently, a healer stood over her, casting spells and jotting down into a notepad. Draco sat in the corner of the room, on a chair by the desk, Blaise sitting on the actual desk, Lucius leaning against the wall by the door, and Lefevre by the bookshelf. Hermione's usually unruly hair lay flat and limp. "Well?" Rodolphus' voice echoed around the quiet room. "How is she?"
The healer sighed, fixing his spectacles on his nose. "It seems Miss Granger has contracted the disease. Although, it is in it's early stages. It's effects can be pushed out with a simple potion, but she will die." The healer frowned. "She has about 7 months or so before it totally consumes her. Unless you can find a cure, Mr. Lestrange."
Draco sighed, his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes. "We're trying, Monsieur. We can assure you, we will get Miss Granger's cooperation on this."
The healer nodded, taking a step forward. "I- I shouldn't be telling you this, but- a gentleman has passed from the disease. Just tonight. I've come from the McLaggen Residence. Sir Cormac was gravely ill, apparently he told no one." They all paled upon hearing the news. "This issue must be dealt with immediately, Sirs. If we don't find a cure soon….I'm afraid the entirety of the Wizarding world will be put at risk of extinction." With those words, the man departed, leaving some potions for Hermione by the door.
Rodolphus closed his eyes, thinking when they all felt a sudden burning sensation on their left forearms. Draco hissed quietly. "The Dark Lord calls." They stood and he froze. "What of the girl? We shouldn't leave her alone."
"She will be fine. I'll send another of the girls to come take care of her." Rodolphus nodded and called out to one of the women, a girl entering quietly. Draco found he knew her, Susan Bones. She kept her head down and walked to Hermione, sitting beside her. "Watch her, Miss Bones. We will return later." Susan nodded and crossed her arms over her chest.
With that, the five men disapparated towards their destination: Riddle House. They walked into the home quietly, heading to the front of the living room to kneel before their Lord. The others soon arrived and followed suit. "Rise, please." They all stood and sat back in the table, the Dark Lord sitting at its head. Draco couldn't keep his eyes from him. For Lord Voldemort looked exactly as he had when he was 20. He had a full head of dark brown hair, olive pale skin, a pointed nose, thin eyebrows, but it was his eyes. His eyes remained snake-like betraying that this man had looked like this forever. He remembered the first time they had seen the Dark Lord like this. Hermione had helped him. Well, she'd been forced into it. With a knife at her throat, she muttered the spell and let the potion fizzle before handing it to him. Lord Voldemort had been pleased. "Tell me," he drawled, "how are things with Miss Granger? I assume she's working on the potion as we speak."
Draco shifted uncomfortably. "Not exactly, my Lord. See, we brought it up to her and she- she wouldn't have any of it. She said she wouldn't do it."
"Did you explain to her that her life depends on it?" He rose a brow, his jaw set.
"We did. She said she'd rather die." Tom Riddle laughed at this and Draco licked his lips. "As it is, she's currently lying ill in bed. She fainted in her room today. We had a healer come take a look at her and- she's contracted the disease."
"Maybe that way she'll be willing to do it. I wouldn't mind having a go at her, though, disease or not." Yaxley laughed and Draco hissed at him, eyes bright with anger.
"She won't do it." He snapped at the older man. "You forget that I've known this witch for years now. She's too stubborn. She'll just let herself die." He place his chin in his hand, thinking. "However….the healer did tell us a bit of interesting news, my Lord."
"Yes?" Tom's eyes flickered to the boy's pale face. "What did he say?"
"Cormac McLaggen was found dead in his home." Lucius brought up and Yaxley snorted.
"Why in the world should that be interesting?" McNair brought up, tapping his fingers against the table.
"Because, you Twat, the very same disease the women have took him!" McNair's face remained impassive, as if he isn't understand. Draco sighed, "it means that the disease is not discriminating against men or women! Anyone can get it and-"
"-and any witch or wizard that falls ill with it WILL die if they are untreated." Tom continued. "Most purebloods sleep with the women and the disease is bound to pass to them all….the population will decrease. We'll be left with an epidemic and hardly any people."
"Correct, my Lord." Blaise nodded, giving Yaxley a cold look. "Perhaps, Draco and I can convince Courtesan Granger to assist us in making the potion. But we must work fast. She has been given 7 months before she is consumed by the illness. Who knows how long the antidote will take to brew."
"Very well." Tom looked at his followers and nodded. "Everyone else will go, Draco and Blaise will stay behind to try and convince the girl. Rodolphus, you will lead the attack against the order tonight. I hear from a source that Potter is celebrating his wedding. You know I love weddings." He smirked and McNair laughed as they all stood. Draco and Blaise gave each other a look before apparating to the Chateau, hoping Hermione would be awake already.
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When the boys arrived back in the room, Hermione was standing with her back to them, arms crossed over her chest. She wore her black lacy undergarments and a thin, black, lace chiffon robe. She did not budge as Draco cleared his throat, instead, keeping her eyesight on the outside. Her hair was placed in a messy bun on the top of her head. He saw her shoulders rise and fall slowly and gave Blaise a look. "Granger." He muttered, taking a step forward. She shifted before turning to look at him. He gasped. She looked even worse now than before. Her eyes were sunk and bloodshot. Her eyes which had at least some brightness in them before were dull. She frowned and he saw them tear up. "Granger…." Her eyes watered some more and he sighed. "Hermione….don't- don't cry."
"Why not?" She asked, her voice cracking. "I'm dying, Malfoy. I've been sleeping around for the past two years and now I'm dying."
"I thought you'd said you didn't care." Blaise muttered, but immedieately found this was the wrong thing to say. Hermione placed her head in her hands.
"Of course I care, don't be ridiculous. I'm- I'm not ready to die, but to make others live like this? In this life of servitude?" She shook her head, stubborn. "I can't."
"Granger, you have to listen to me." Draco took her arm gently. "The entire population is at stake. Cormac died because of the disease, if it spread to him it can go to everyone else. We don't know how it moves about, either. We need to find a cure."
Hermione wiped her eyes, moving over to grab a small vial with the potion in it. She took a sip and Draco saw color drain back into her skin, hair and eyes. She ran a hand through her hair and moved over to the two boys. "The entire population?"
"All of us. Purebloods, muggleborns, half-bloods, everyone. Wiped out. Like we never even existed." He spoke softly and she sighed, closing her eyes. "Please, Hermione."
She bit her lip, looking down at the ground and nodded. "Alright….alright, I'll help you." Draco frowned at the defeated look in her face and brought his hand up instinctively, wiping away her tears. "But not today." She shook her hood, speaking softly. "I'm afraid I'm too tired. Besides, it's quite late. Come to me tomorrow morning and if I feel well enough, I will help you."
Draco nodded and looked at Blaise who gave her a grim smile. "See you tomorrow, Granger." With that, the both boys left her room and Hermione fell to the ground, arms around herself, shivering. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks and she bit back her sobs, refusing to let anyone hear her cry.
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It was nearly 4 in the morning when a loud bang resonated throughout the Chateau. Hermine jolted awake, sitting up in Rodolphus' bed. Her eyes scanned the dark room and she felt a rush of wind pass her as another bang sounded quickly, followed by the sound of apparition. Draco and Blaise ran through the door, wands in hand. "Shield her!" Draco yelled and just as Blaise yelled out a spell, causing an invisible barrier to produce in front of the girl, a bright pink light flew towards her, bouncing off the barrier.
"Hermione! Hermione, where are you?!" The girl stood from her spot on the bed, tying the robe closer around her. She'd recognize that voice anywhere. She looked over at Draco and Blaise, tears in her eyes as the voice rang out again. "Hermione! Please!"
Draco shook his head, holding his hand out at her to stop her. "Don't even think about it, Granger. You'll never make it to them if you run." He looked at her, his eyes challenging. "Even if you did, you don't have any way of producing the antidote with them." He took a step toward her, pleading. "With us, you have a chance. With them, you're dead before the year is out."
The door burst open and a flash of red hair crossed her vision. She turned her head away from him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Draco held up the barrier and Blaise sent out a spell to knock the ginger off his feet. Ron stared at her, putting up his own protection. His mouth moved and his voice was small, but she knew he'd called her name out. She shook her head, looking back at the man she loved. "I'm sorry." She whispered and ran. She clung to Blaise, her arms moving around his waist. She buried her face into his neck, his free arm wrapping around her. Draco yelled something out and she flinched as she felt the familiar pull of apparation.
"NO! Hermione, No!" Hermione's eyebrows furrowed together and she managed to look up in the second it took to fully leave the Lestrange Manor. She gasped as she caught sight of Harry's shocking green eyes, but the next second, she landed with a thud on the floor of Malfoy Manor.
She stayed on the floor, curling forward, sobbing loudly, her shoulders shaking. This was the first time she had seen her friends since they'd left her two years ago. Merlin, why didn't she run? She should've run. The Dark Lord needed her anyways. They couldn't have killed her. A quiet pop told her that Draco was beside them. She looked up, wiping her face and standing. "Your lovely little friends thought it would be smart to attack the chateau." Draco shook his head, arms crossing over his chest.
"Any casualties?" Blaise handed Hermione his handkerchief, which she declined, turning from him, her arms crossed around her chest.
"Many. Ten or so of the ones we had in the manor." Draco looked angry and he shook his head, and continued upon seeing Hermione's worried look. "They were all ours. Weasley and Potter managed to escape as soon as you did. Seems they had no other reason to be there but to save you." He looked at the golden-haired girl. "You chose wisely, Granger. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you did. You'll have all our tools at your disposal here at the Manor." He took a step toward her, but she winced, moving away from him and shaking her head.
"No, don't. Please, don't. I just want to be alone." She looked up at the blonde and licked her lips. "Can you please have someone show me to my room? I'd like to sleep before I see Rodolphus again." Draco nodded, motioning one of the house elves over to him. He instructed the elf to take Hermione up to her room and to take her a calming draught.
It wasn't long before Hermione was sat on the bed, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. The house elf had been accompanied by an older woman, one who had taken care of Draco throughout his years. The woman readied Hermione for bed, helping her out of her robe and fixing her hair. She wiped her face clean and piled her clothes by the chair, leaving her tea on the stand beside her table. Hermione stayed sitting, assuring the woman that she was fine, but as soon as the door closed, she put her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. It was going to be a long night.
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A/N Sorry it took so long. Thank you for reading! Please review x