Chapter Three: Ransom

"Sucker for Pain" -Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, ft. X Ambassadors

Draco paced the floor of his room. His father had sent out his demands this morning, via owl. Everything was sure to go to shite at any moment now. There would be Auror's banging down the door, spells flying, followed by a long stint in wizard prison, if they were lucky.

"Calm down, mate. You're giving me a headache." Theo said, from his spot in the armchair in the corner of the room. He lay sideways on the chair, his feet propped up on the wall, head hanging upside down.

"You're giving yourself a headache. Who sits that way?" Draco snapped.

Theo grinned and gave an upside down shrug. "People who don't have sticks shoved up their arses."

Draco sent a wordless Langlock curse at him and Theo scowled, gesturing to his mouth wildly as he tried unsuccessfully to utter a string of profanity. Draco chuckled but was cut short when his door slammed open.

"Don't you knock?" Draco snapped at Blaise and Pansy as they barged into the room.

Pansy smirked, "My apologies, Draco. Were you and Theo about to shag? I've never seen that position before," she nodded to where Theo was still hanging upside down in the chair, "Can we watch?"

Theo tried to retort, but his tongue was still stuck to the roof of his mouth. After a bout of gibberish, he finally settled for flipping them off.

Blaise flicked his wand at him, removing the curse and he flipped over, landing feet first on the floor. "Bugger off, Pansy," Theo grinned, flicking his tongue a couple times trying to coerce the feeling to come back.

She arched an eyebrow. "What are you doing, giving us a preview?"

He flicked his tongue again and Draco made a noise of disgust. "What do you want, Parkinson?"

"Well, now I'd rather like to watch the two of you go at it."

"Get out," Draco snapped.

Blaise grinned and strode over to the bed, flopping down and crossing his arms behind his head like he owned the place. "We're dying of boredom, mate."

"Better that than the Dementor's kiss, which is the fate most likely awaiting us all thanks to my tosser of a father."

"Must you be so negative?" Pansy scowled.

"It's not negativity, it's reality."

"Yes, well if that's so then I don't want to spend the remainder of my life watching dust float. Fancy a Quidditch match?" Blaise asked, arching an eyebrow.

Draco hesitated, then quickly decided that if he should be locked up in the near future, he'd like a game of Quidditch before he went. "Only if you take Pansy."

She snorted, "Okay, me and Blaise against you and your boyfriend."

"Don't worry, love. We'll wipe those smirks off their faces." Theo said, slinging an arm around Draco's shoulder. He shrugged him off.

"Get off me, you tosser."

They all laughed, forgetting for a brief moment that they were in the middle of a shite storm.

Harry was standing in the kitchen of the Burrow, peeling potatoes for Mrs. Weasley when Kingsley's Patronus appeared. They had just had a funeral service for Fred that morning, and would be attending the joint service for Tonks and Lupin in a few short hours. Mrs. Weasley had thrown herself into cooking, preparing meal after meal for Andromeda and little Teddy. My godson... Harry thought.

The shimmering lynx startled him, causing him to drop his wand, sending potatoes flying in every direction. He'd barely straightened up when the lynx spoke: "Your presence is requested at the ministry immediately, Mr. Potter. There has been development."

He hadn't had time to wrap his mind around it before the lynx had disappeared. "Ron," he hollered as he stepped out into the garden, where his friend was talking to Percy and Mr. Weasley. "Ron, they've got something. I'm heading to the ministry."

The red head wasted no time, shouting a hurried 'goodbye' over his shoulder as he rushed to catch up with Harry. They were up the path and apparated before any one could say a word. Ginny would be upset when he returned, but she would understand. She wanted their friends home just as much as he did.

They hurried into the secret entrance to the ministry, fastening themselves securely in the stall marked 'Out of Order', earning themselves quite a few suprised looks from the muggles in the loo. They flushed themselves in, popping up in the Atrium. A short brown haired witch rushed forward at once.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! Auror Kingsley is waiting for you in the Auror office. Quickly, quickly," she gushed out, rushing them toward the lifts. The doors clanged shut as soon as they were inside. They stood in tense silence as they ascended, rushing out as soon as the stores were opened wide enough on the floor they needed. Kingsley was standing in the Auror office talking to several people.

"Kingsley," Harry said in greeting, slipping into the room. Grim faces everywhere turned to meet his gaze. Kingsley's expression was impassive.

"Potter. Weasley. We received an owl this morning. It seems that your friends have been taken hostage."

Ron's fists clenched at his sides and his face had turned cherry red. "Where's Hermione? Is she okay?"

Kingsley shook his head, "I'm afraid we do not know." He pulled a folded letter from his pocket and passed it over. Ron sat down at a desk, clenching the letter in his shaking fist. Harry leaned over Ron's shoulder to read:

Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas & Hermione Granger are in our possession. They are perfectly safe. We will not harm a hair on their heads. They will be safely returned to you, so long as, the following ex-Death Eaters are given a full pardon :

Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy

Antonin Dolohov, Corban Yaxley, Alecto & Amycus Carrow

as well as those who may be guilty by association :

Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson & Theodore Nott.

We look forward to your return owl.

Please, do not try anything rash. I assure you, if we are to go down, it will not be without casualties.

Harry looked up quickly, turning to Shacklebolt, his eyes asking the question for him. Kingsley shook his head once more, "We cannot grant them pardons. The children, possibly... But the others have been a part of the dark side for nearly twenty years. They cannot be allowed to walk free."

"What about Hermione?" Ron demanded, slamming his fist down on the desk. "What about Neville and Luna and Dean? You're going to just leave them in the hands of Death Eaters?" He was shouting now, and Harry placed a firm hand on his shoulder as he started to rise from his seat.

Kingsley looked distictly uncomfortable as he glanced about the room. "It is our decision to wait, to refuse their offer-"

"What the bloody hell are you playing at?" Ron shouted, jumping to his feet and advancing on Kingsley. "They could decide to kill one of them to make a point!"

Kingsley remained calm in demeanor, despite the ginger shouting in his face. "Ron. It is the decision of the Ministry to wait. They are not going to hurt them, that would do more harm to their case than good. We just have to give this time. We have checked all of the obvious places they might be, Malfoy Manor, the Riddle House... We just need to wait to see if they slip up with a location or-"

"Kingsley," Harry interupted. "they're our friends. Our friends who helped us defeat Voldemort only yesterday. They deserve better than to be used as pawns in this game."

"Believe me, Potter, I know that. But our hands are tied for the moment."

Speaking of tied hands, Luna's were beginning to ache. She tried to move them as little as possible to stop the chords from lancing into her pale, bony wrists but even so they were raw. She had worked the ones binding her feet until they had finally slipped off and she was able to move about quite easily. She stood now, watching out the wide window of her room. Four people flitted about on broomsticks playing a makeshift game of Quidditch. It was quite entertaining. If she watched them closely, she could pretend that she wasn't being held here against her will.

It wasn't so bad, really. Voldemort had been defeated and her friends were safe. Whatever they wanted with her must be important. Theodore Nott had visited with her a couple of times since she had awoken in the strange room. He was a lovely boy, truly. She squinted and realised that the three people he was flying with were Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy. She would have to ask Theo if next time she might sit outside for their game, so that she could have a better view.

She pursed her lips as her stomach rumbled. She would also ask him if he would bring her something to eat. It had been a long couple of days. She sighed, and walked over to sit down on the large bed. This was a much nicer place to be held captive than the Malfoy Manor cellar. She lay back against the pillows, trying to relax as she counted the cracks in the stone ceiling.

She was startled awake some time later by the door opening. She sat up, her wide silver eyes flittering to the silouette in the door way. Night fall had cast the room into dark shadows.

"Hey, Looney," a familiar voice greeted her as he shut the door back with a quiet creak.

She smiled serenely, "Hello, Theo. Did your team win?"

He flashed a pearly grin, and puffed his chest out. "Yup. Were you watching?"

"I did for a bit," she nodded. "Then I got hungry, so I took a nap to take my mind off of it. I had lovely dreams. There was a wolf in one of them that had befriended a Crumple horned Snor-"

"Ah fuck, Luna, I'm sorry. I hadn't even thought of food. I'll get you something. I'd better tell Draco and Blaise to get the others something, too."

Luna's white blonde brows pursed together in confusion. "Others?"

Theo nodded, "Granger and the other two sodding Gryffindors."

"I didn't know they were here," Luna said, a small smile playing at her lips. "May I see them?"

"Uh, no. I don't think that old Lucius would like that very much."

"Hm..."

Theo kicked his toe against the stone floor, and sighed turning to leave.

Hermione was going crazy. She was going absolutely, completely wonky. She could not just sit in a room alone with nothing to occupy her mind but her own thoughts. It was maddening. She'd give anything for a book, or a conversation. She longed for another human presence. She wanted to go home, to mourn the loss of her loved ones with her friends. Did Harry and Ron have a clue as to what had happened to her? Surely they were looking for her. They had to be looking for her.

And she was thirsty. Merlin, was she thirsty. She was picking at stray threads on the comforter, unraveling them gently so that they wouldn't break to occupy her mind when the door creaked open. Draco stepped in and she actually felt... relief? She didn't know what the feeling was exactly.

"Malfoy, finally."

He looked up in suprise before letting a smooth smirk slide onto his face. "Happy to see me, Granger?"

"Yes, actually," she said, pulling at the thread she'd been working on before he came in. His eyes followed her hands.

"What in Salazar's name are you doing to that blanket, Granger?" He asked, moving farther into the room.

"Hm?" she looked up and then followed his gaze to the pile of string that had accumulated on the mattress. "Oh."

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Oh, don't give me that look, Malfoy. I'm bored! You're rich, I'm sure you can afford a new duvet once you've killed me, or whatever it is you're going to do."

He chuckled. "I told you. It's not me. And they won't kill you. They can't get what they want if you're dead."

"Who are 'they'?" she asked.

"Curious?" He smirked at her.

"Slightly. I'm being held against my will without food or water for reasons unbeknownst to me. I think knowing my captors' names is a reasonable request."

He just continued to smirk at her. "You know what they say, Granger..."

She furrowed her brows in confusion. "What?"

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Well, you've just assured me I'm not to be killed, so?"

"Better not to risk it."

"It's your father, isn't it?"

His gaze drifted to his feet, and he didn't answer. She knew she was right.

"And more? Are there more?"

He shrugged. "Enough chit chat, Granger. I'll be back tomorrow."

No, she wasn't ready to be alone again. How easily she was being broken, she thought bitterly. "Wait!"

He huffed, turning back to face her and pinching the bridge of his nose. "What?"

"I'm... thirsty." It was true, but she also just wanted a reason for him to come back.

He nodded. "I'll bring you some water. Anything else, princess?"

She frowned at his stupid nickname. "No..."

He spun on his heel and whipped the door open, disappearing out into the hallway. She leaned over, trying to get a good glimpse of what lay beyond the bedroom door, but all she could see were more stone walls.

Draco ran into Theo in the kitchen. He had a pitcher of water and a plate piled high with food. "Hungry?" Draco asked, raising a blonde eyebrow.

"It's for Looney." Theo said, trying to balance the plate and steal a bite of chicken at the same time. "I forgot about food. If she hadn't told me she was hungry-"

Draco held up a hand, "It was one day. They're fine. Make sure Blaise and Pansy know to get something for the others."

"Already told them. They were, er, occupied but I gathered that they would be down in a bit."

Draco narrowed his eyes at his friends flushed face. "Were you watching through the key hole, again?"

"Hey! That was once, dammit. Are you all ever going to let me live that down?"

Draco smirked, continuing to stare at him.

Theo rolled his eyes, "Okay, it was just for a minute-"

"Remind me to never have a witch over when you're around."

"Why would I do that?" He grinned and winked.

Draco snorted. "Get your own woman and you wouldn't have to watch your friends shag, you wanker."

"It's hard to rake in slags when there's a bloody war going on."

Draco rolled his eyes. "That's when it's the easiest. Everyone thinks they're going to die so they're jumping at every opportunity."

"I didn't see you rolling in witches this past year," Theo snapped.

Draco scowled at him, "Of course you didn't. I was busy trying to stay alive. Sex was the farthest thing from my mind with the Dark Lord breathing down my bloody neck every day."

He moved around the counter to grab a plate, and started filling it with food. Then he filled a pitcher with water and turned around.

"Don't go all Hufflepuff on me," Theo grinned at him.

Draco rolled his eyes and shoved past him, trudging back up the stairs, Theo following at his heels. Theo stopped outside the room housing Lovegood and Draco kept on down the hall to Granger's room.

She was laid back on the bed when he pushed the door open, and she immediately jumped up, giving him a small smile. He sat the plate of food on the bed beside her and the pitcher on the bedside table. Shit, he'd forgotten a glass. He strode back over to the door and opened it wide. "Accio cup."

He heard a swoosh as a cup came hurtling through the air and he reached out to snatch it before it could crash into the stone wall beside him. He pulled the door back to and returned to set the glass on the table beside the pitcher. She immediately reached for it, but her bound hands fumbled, knocking the pitcher sideways. Draco barely caught it before it could lurch off into the floor, a small amount sloshing out over his hands. He was still distracted when Hermione's eyes darted to the wand sticking out from his trouser pocket. She went for it before he could stop her, her hands latching around it and jerking it from his pocket. She rolled backwards on the bed and off the other side, standing unsteadily and pointed it at him.

"Gonna curse me with my own wand, Granger?" he smirked, trying to act blase, as if his prisoner hadn't just bested him. He was nervous. He didn't doubt that she would stun him to get away.

She simply held her chin up higher, keeping his wand outstretched in front of her. She lowered the wand slightly but when he started to move around the bed, she pointed it at him again. "Don't move," she hissed.

He rolled his eyes, holding his hands up in surrender. She hurriedly pointed the wand at the cable binding her feet, "Diffindo," she murmured, severing the ties. She returned to pointing the wand at his head and slowly started to ease around the bed toward the door that he only now realised hadn't shut all the way.

"Granger, stop now."

"Shut up, Malfoy," she growled, inching her way back to the door.

"I mean it, Granger. Just stop now and we can pretend it never happened. No one you meet after you leave this room will show you the same courtesy."

Her eyes flashed as she glared at him and then her shoulder brushed the door jam. She gasped, realising she'd made it and turned on her heel, making a run for it.

She hadn't planned on making a break for it, but the open door and easy access to his wand had been an opportunity handed to her on a silver platter. She couldn't turn it away. She should have stunned him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Her bare feet slapped against the cold stone and she hastily glanced back over her shoulder to see if he was following her. So far, so good. She reached a stairwell and descended immediately. Door, door, door, she chanted to herself. She needed to find the door. She wished she had a way to unbind her wrists without blasting herself.

Footsteps behind her forced her to run harder, her heart pounding in her chest. She tossed a glance back over her shoulder, catching sight of white blonde hair before she turned another corner. She wrenched open the first door she saw and slipped inside. It seemed to be some sort of closet. She put a locking charm on the door and tried to control her breathing.

"Granger," she heard Malfoy hiss. "Just stop this and get back to your room."

She rolled her eyes in the dark. Yes, sure. She'd love to go right back to being held captive. Whatever had she been thinking when she escaped?

"Granger," she heard him whisper again, but this time farther away. She waiting, biting down on her lip so hard that the coppery taste of blood flooded over her tongue. When she was sure he would be a safe distance away, she removed the charm and slipped out into the dark hallway. She tip-toed onward, trying to be as silent as a mouse, holding in her breath for so long that she was sure her lungs would burst. She'd come into a sitting room now and she saw the door on the other side of the room. She let out a gasp of relief and rushed forward, reaching for the door handle.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mudblood."

Her blood ran cold and her fingers fumbled the wand, which landed with a clatter at her feet before rolling away. She lurched out to grab the door knob just as a silent curse slammed into her. Crucio. She knew it well, from being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange a few weeks prior. Her inside's felt like fire, she was being electrocuted, some one was ripping her flesh from her body. She could hear someone screaming, and it wouldn't register until afterward that it had been her.

"Enough!" A familiar voice shouted, and the pain stopped. She lay twitching on the floor, not willing to move for fear of being cursed again.

"Draco. Taking your pet for a late night stroll?"

"Piss off, Yaxley."

Hermione flinched when strong hands gripped her arms, pulling her to her feet. She kept her eyes downcast, refusing to look at the man who had just tortured her. Draco propelled her forward, keeping a firm hold on her left arm.

"I tried to warn you, Granger. I tried to tell you," he murmured as they ascended the stairs. She ignored him, keeping her eyes on the stone floor, focusing in on each step, noting the different types of stone. Limestone, Slate, Granite, Sandstone...

He nudged her gently back into her room and she padded over to climb on the bed. She refused to meet his eyes.

"Granger." Ignore him.

"Granger!" He'll go away.

"Look at me, for Salazar's sake!" he snapped, striding over and grabbing her chin, forcing her face upwards. She didn't realise she was crying until he reached up to brush a tear off of her cheek with his thumb. "Don't cry."

She sniffled, jerking away from him. "Just go away, Malfoy."

"Granger, I-"

"Just go away!" she shrieked, scooting away from him.

His eyes darkened as he scowled, turning on his heel and slamming the door shut behind him. She sunk down onto the pillows, buried her face in them and let the sobs wrack her body, staining the pillowcases with her tears.