I love you guys. I love you so much, in fact, that I bring to you another ahead of schedule chapter! This will probably be the final update til next week, but enjoy!
It was dark. Hermione felt herself drowsily fall into the familiar arms that had pulled her from the Ministry, and she felt an intense wave of relief. This soon evaporated, however, as a familiar dark dingy room materialised in front her, yet she was again unattached from the scene.
Ron was alone this time. She wanted so much to run out and grab onto him, to stroke his hair, to be able to touch him, feel him, kiss him. Most of all, she wanted to take him away from that horrible place. Yet she couldn't move, couldn't speak. All she could do was watch helplessly as the shell of the man she loved stood before her, shackled and barely conscious, clearly in agony.
The moon shone unceremoniously through the small barred window that sat to Ron's left. She wasn't sure if it was the position of the moon, or the angle of which she had witnessed the scene last time, but she hadn't noticed a window before. If only she could get a glimpse of the outside, so that she could pinpoint the whereabouts of Ron's horrendous prison.
She could see every inch of him this time, not just a strained vision. The moon highlighted his entire frame as the rags he wore barely covered his flesh. Still tall, still built, yet his muscles were definitely smaller, and his skin a bit looser. His eyes were darker and heavier than last time, and his hair a little longer and more tugged.
Hermione felt every hair on her body stand on end as the stone door in front of Ron opened with a click, and Hermione saw instant awareness etched across Ron's broken features. He squeezed his eyes tight as if in pain, before he opened them to watch as the same hooded figure from last time entered, wand at the ready.
Hermione's heart halted for a few seconds. The figure was much, much clearer this time. The voice that spoke was different from last time, too.
"Looks like your little girlfriend has managed to escape this time, Weasley." Hornrock's voice growled from the cloak.
Ron suddenly looked more alert than he had done either time that Hermione had seen him. His eyes immediately darted towards Hornrock, as he chocked out "D-don't you t-touch her."
Hornrock still had his wand held towards Ron, walking slowly closer to him. "Oh, but don't you want to see her? The shackles on the wall to your right look rather lonely, don't they?"
"NO!" Ron bellowed, clearly with all the strength he could muster, weakly pulling on the shackles that held him. "H-hurt her, and it'll be the last thing you do." He spoke with venom this time, his eyes piercing Hornrock's.
Hornrock let out a ghastly laugh before he took one step closer to Ron. "Trust me, Weasley, when we get her - and we will, she will suffer for being... uncooperative." Ron flinched again as though in agony. "Maybe I'll ask our master if I can keep her." An evil, filthy, disgusting grin appeared on Hornrock's face, and Hermione felt fear prickle the back of her neck.
This seemed to be to much for Ron, as he snarled loudly, trying to force his entire body out of the cuffs that held him.
"Your strength is admirable, boy." He was right in front of Ron now, his wand rested on Ron's chest menacingly. "You'd better hope your girl has just as much. My master is angry, Weasley." He paused, let out a small, sinister chuckle then said "No, livid. Master is livid. He hadn't planned on her getting away."
Ron just stared at him icily, almost as though he was trying to suck the life out of him with his eyes.
"No matter. Are you ready to tell me where that horn is yet?"
Ron shook his head, clenching is eyes clearly preparing for the pain he was about to endure. Hermione had been relieved for a second before she saw Hornrock take one step closer, so that his face was almost touching Ron's, and his wand dug painfully on his almost bared chest.
"What about the locket?" Hornrock asked.
By the panic struck expression on Ron's face, he hadn't been expecting this. His face quickly straightened, but it was too late. Hornrock had clearly noticed the recognition etched on Ron's face, as Hornrock's lips slowly curved into an accomplished grin.
"L-locket?" Ron asked, shakily, though Hermione could tell he was trying to keep his voice steady. Trying not to give anything away.
Hornrock took a step back, holding his wand towards Ron. "CRUCIO!"
Ron groaned weakly with intense displeasure, his face screwed as though trying to fight away the pain. He writhed and twisted as the spell worked his way throughout his body, clearly causing him a vast amount of agonising pain.
"You know, Weasley, I could stand here all day and be the cause of your pain, you know how much pleasure it gives me. I, however, have a Mudblood to capture."
With each passing moment, she could see Ron struggling with himself. She wanted to shout at him, to tell him not to give in, not for her... But she couldn't. She had no presence in the room. She could feel her body, but couldn't see herself. It was a strange sensation.
Things started to get lighter as Ron faded from her. She attempted to clutch for him as a bright sky materialised in front of her. Dizzy and disorientated, she shot up gasping for breath. Then she was frozen in fear as she felt a hand on her arm.
"Hermione." She sighed in relief as the familiar voice had said her name.
"Oh, Harry!" She exclaimed tearfully, shakily scooping her arms around his neck and pulling him in to a comforting hug - more for her sake than his.
He squeezed her back before letting go and gazing at her intensely. "Hermione," he repeated, "did you see him again?"
Harry's fear was confirmed as Hermione squeaked out a sob, then, while staring at her feet, she proceeded to tell him of the horrendous scene she had witnessed. Harry listened intently until she was finished.
"Well, that rules out Polyjuice Potion, or the Imperius Curse." said Harry, absent mindedly tapping his wand on his forehead. Hermione gazed at Harry, trying to process the words. Trying to force a kick start to her brain.
"I didn't want to believe it was actually Hornrock that attacked you in the Ministry." Harry explained. "While you were out, I'd been trying to place together every scenario possible."
The memory, temporarily pushed away by the distraction of Ron, now flew to the front of her mind, and she looked directly at Harry. It was her turn to ask questions now.
"Wh- what happened?" Hermione stuttered weakly.
"After you had gone, the locket had started shaking, and I couldn't get it to stop. I came to find you to ask if it was normal." Harry explained, glancing at the locket that Hermione had just noticed was clutched in her hands. "Then I heard Hornrock, so I hid in the Apparition Chamber. I didn't want to be in trouble, and I was worried that he was going to ask about the case. Then I saw him holding his wand towards you, so I grabbed you and disapparated us... here." He motioned to the surrounding area, then realisation dawned on Hermione.
"We've been here before." She said.
"Yep." Harry replied simply.
Last time they were here, Ron had walked out on them during their Horcrux hunting. She had spent the entire time pining for him, drawing out their stay for as long as possible in the hope that he would somehow manage to find his way back. He did, of course, but in an entirely different location.
"So, what now?" She searched Harry's expression for some sort of plan - unsuccessfully. Her shoulders hunched. "We can't go back." she said quietly.
Harry nodded solemnly in agreement as a strange sense of de ja vous struck the pair of them. Last time they had been here they were on the run from the Ministry, missing Ron and worrying about their loved ones. This time didn't appear to be much different.
"I need to warn Ginny." Harry broke the silence.
"Are you a complete *idiot*?" Hermione snapped, enraged. "Harry, the last thing we can do is put Ginny in danger. Especially in her condition!"
"I know!" Harry snapped back, but seemed to manage to steady himself. "I know," he repeated, much calmer. "but she could be in danger too." He furrowed his brow. "She doesn't know anything about what happened with Hornrock. He might use that to his advantage."
Hermione groaned, holding her palms to her head. Everything was such a mess. They were in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but their wands and a mysterious locket that they hadn't quite worked out yet, and again cut off from their families.
An idea appeared across Harry's face however, which both intrigued and frightened Hermione at the same time. Sometimes thinking was a dangerous activity for Harry.
"A Patronus. I'll send her my Patronus!" Harry exclaimed. Hermione, however, looked less than impressed.
"Have you forgotten about the trace?" Hermione asked, staring Harry down.
Harry faltered. The trace. They had agreed to the Ministry placing a trace on their wands while they were on duty. Of course Hornrock would have kept this activated.
Hermione nudged herself so that she was sitting next to Harry, linking her arm with his and leaning against him comfortingly. "Listen, Harry. Ginny's a smart girl. She'll suss out that something is wrong, and she'll hide out at her parent's house.
Hermione stared into the thicket of trees in front of them, with the attempt of coming up with some sort of plan. They had no resources, no magic, no food. Nothing. They needed wands that weren't traced.
Realisation struck Hermione. It was too dangerous to apparate to The Burrow, or to either of their apartments. The Ministry would have been searching or at least keeping tabs there. They wouldn't, however, suspect Shell Cottage. It had acted as a safe house for them before, why not again?
I promise there will be more action to come! It's building up to something, and I hope you find it as exciting as I have writing it. I'm already up to Chapter 10, but they're undergoing much revision. Editing is so difficult on my phone. Again, apologies for any mistakes!