Hermione walked in line with the rest of the prisoners. Her hands bond and tie to the person in front of her. they were taking them to Malfoy Manor, were they that close to the Malfoy Manor that it was an option? They weren't even transporting them by magical means they were having them march.
What if they weren't that close and they were making them go on foot for other reasons? The jinks she put on Harry wouldn't last very long. In truth, she wasn't sure how long it would last. Would it only last an hour, no surly it would last at least a day. Magical jinks were ruthless even joke ones so surely it would at least last a day.
But then what, what if they were still captives what if they were in Malfoy Manor, maybe they weren't there. They could be out doing work for their dark lord. Lucius must be around the Ministry. Even before Voldormort returned the man could be found there often and Narcissa even if she was there Herminoe was sure the women wouldn't let people like these snatchers and wearwolfs into her home to ask questions. Draco would be at school. There was no reason for him to miss his final school year. she was sure he was strutting down the halls with as much authority as he did back in fifth year. no more than he had back then. He had accomplished a lot for Voldormort and his other followers. She was sure he was being given the full royal treatment.
she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding after her own reassurance that Draco wouldn't be there, no the Manor wouldn't be a problem she needed to think of a way to get them free and away from their captures. Before the spell wore off, Dean was here among the prisoners, would she be able to free him too?
Herminoe was pulled out of her thoughts when a hand grabbed her face yanking it to look at the man. She almost tripped but the hand yanked her up squeezing her jaw.
"This one's not too bad looking, anyone want her before we turn them over? Been a while since we found a girl." Hermione felt her stomach curd and drop to the pit of her stomach as his words sank in. She tried pulling away from him but what she thought were just long fingernails turned out to actually be claws. She felt them prick into her cheek as she struggled.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!" she heard Ron yell he was a few people behind them but his long frame allowed him to land a kick to the werewolf. He let out a growl as he threw her face away stocked over to Ron and began beating him.
"STOP IT!" she screamed the whole line had stopped as he beat Ron. She tried to move closer to help but was stuck in her place by the people she was bound to.
" what the hell are you doing get up we arnt got any time to waste, after we get confirmation on this one we will move on to the rest of the hual." Greyback dragged Harry with him. unlike the rest of them, Greyback had kept Harry in his own hold a clawed hand around his swollen and bumpy neak. Another snatcher came up playing with the sword of Gryffindor.
" come on Trell let's just go, she's too skinny anyway." Trell gave out a grunt saying that the next time they find another girl she would probably only be bones. They continue their march Herminoe constantly glancing back to Ron to make sure he is okay then back to the front to watch Grayback drag Harry. THINK HERMIONE THINK.
Draco sat with his mother and father pretending to drink tea. His mother was doing the best job out of them actually holding her cup but never bringing it up to her lips. He had returned back to the manor for the holiday break. It was better than staying in the castle. Though his childhood home wasn't winning by much, his aunt like his parents wasn't actually allowed out of their property under Voldormort's comande. That didn't stop his Aunt from running in and out of the manor desperate to try and do whatever she could think of that might please her dark lord. But all she seemed to do was make herself angry then torment half-bloods and torture/kill muggle-borns after they had their court day and got their sentence.
He had heard that they could get lesser sentences if they could provide information on where to find other muggle-borns or any info on where to find members of the order. He hadn't heard of anyone taking the deal though. Well no one who actually had any information, they had one or two try and give fake info. He wasn't sure if they were trying to give bad info to trick them or if they just made up whatever they could think of at the moment to try and save themselves.
they weren't told much, and his aunt didn't have much interest in giving them any real information. though Draco truly believed she only pretended to get information out of the ones she tortured. His father couldn't get them much information either. Since Voldomaorts returned his once proud father who walked the halls of the ministry with power and stance being able to give his thoughts on issues and lead the opinion of others despite not even working there. That was all gone no one gave any kind of respect to his family anymore. Outside of Hogwarts everyone truly accepted that Snape was the one who truly carried out Lord Voldormort's orders and held second command in his army. His father had no more standing or power.
All those vultures who had sucked up to his family in the past were gleeful in their snide comments and jabs. Snickering anytime someone repeated Voldormaot's past jabs and criticisms at them. from what his mother had told him his father hadn't been doing well the last couple of weeks. Something that was very obvious to him when he came home. The man's hair was a mess he had stubble and he always had a faint scent of liquor on him. Godric, he hated the man that sat before him. he just looked like a heap of failure with a resemblance to his father.
Draco continued to stare at his tea waiting for the hour to be done. He just wanted to be in his wing alone, maybe if he actually drank his cup his mother would let him leave earlier. Before he was able to put his theory to the test Mipsy popped into the room. The elder elf gave a bow and apologized for disturbing them.
" what is it Mipsy?" Narssica asked putting her cup down. "Misstress Lestrange allowed werewolf and snatchers into the manor, they say they think they have Harry Potter." The elf told them keeping her head down. Draco's head snapped up while his father jumped up and all but ran to the door. Potter. was Potter really here and if it was Potter was Herminoe with him?
Draco entered the first-floor drawing room with his parents. Wearwolfs and Snatchers stood around kneeling captures. He recognized Greyback standing near his aunt, she was violently yanking the head of one of the captures side to side.
"what the hell is wrong with his face!"
"don't know might have had a reaction to something in the woods." Greyback shrugged
"you think this!" his aunt shoved the guy on his knees away. " is some bad reaction to something in the woods! It must be a disguise." His aunt yelled. "where are their wands, we can check to see if they used a spell that would cause this." a snatcher came forward and dumped a bag out, a couple of dozen wands spilled out. they didn't have that many prisoners and they were supposed to turn in the wands when they turned in their captives to get their awards. how did they have this many wands?
His aunt screamed her frustration at them as his father quickly walked over he stared at the guy at Greyback's feet for only a moment before waving Draco over. Draco walked over but didn't look at his father or the kneeling man his eyes scanned the faces of the rest of the hanging heads.
His father yanked him over before he was able to finish his scan. He looked at the wizard kneeling before him, his head was down showing him only his dark messy hair, his aunt walked over grabbed the dark hair, and violently yanked his head back. Draco winced back a little his face was a swelled and bumby mess with red patches covering it. no wonder they weren't sure if this was Potter Draco looked at the forehead but couldn't see any scar just more red patch of a rash. He scanned the rest of his face before resting on the barely visible eyes. Potter.
Before he was able to do or say anything he felt his father squeeze the back of his neck. causing him to look up past Potter and there right there so close was Herminoe. She was smaller than he remembered, no it was not that he thought she looked smaller she was smaller. Hell even her hair looked like it had shrunk pulled back and controlled in a messy phony, with no life or bounce to it, her eyes and face were sunken in. he was sure under her layers of clothes she would be much too thin. Her skin was cracked and bleeding covered lightly by the caked-on dirt. Did they hurt her? there was a spot on her cheek that looked like fresh drying blood.
she shifted a little closer to the body next to her. Draco pulled his eyes from her to land on the other person. Weasley, though his freckles were the only thing that made it obvious his hair didn't look its usual red it looked brown with how dirty it was. Gusse the whole dragon pox thing was a lie he had a hunch but. His father's hands squeezed even harder stopping his wandering thoughts.
"Draco! Is it him?" his father was basically in his ear now he pulled away a little and looked back down at Potter. " I…. I can't tell."
" shit." His father let go turning his back. He took this chance to look at Hermione again. She actually looked at him this time she looked confused.
" THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Bellatrix screamed grabbing an ashtray from a nearby table and throwing it. a snatcher had to dodge it.
"that one that's one of Potters's friends." Draco heard his mother's voice coming up behind him. " isn't she Draco, I remember, yes this must be Granger Potter's Mudblood." His mother's voice came out desperate but firm. Draco turns back to look at her. his throat felt like it was swollen as his mother threw Hermione under the bus, why why did she have to say anything?
" yes, you are right it is the Mudblood." His father hurried back over to stand by my mother. a newfound determination and hope on his face. he looked back down at Potter again before seeming to come to a decision. " let's call him quickly." His father spared no time in pulling up his sleeve to revile his mark.
" WAIT!" his aunt screamed the next moment Snatchers and werewolves were stunned and shot around the room. A sword flew into her hands and she grasped it looking shocked and inraged. He felt his mother grab his arm pulling him back.
" were did you get this? WHERE DID YOU GET THIS YOU LITTLE THIVES!" she rushed one of the snatchers and stabbed the sword through his leg. " TELL ME YOU DIRTY THIFE!" she pulled out her wand ready to use it next. But the man broke out in screams.
" the girl it was from her and her companion bag." Bellatrix reeled back to face everyone. " OUT ALL OF YOU OUT!" she screamed at the snatchers and werewolf they got up and started to grab their captures but Bellatrix sent a curse cutting off the hand that was holding the rope. making the man scream in pain.
" Leave."
"These are our game we caught them we get the reward." One of them said Bellitrix flicked her wrist this time slicing the throat of the man who spoke. Greyback let out a growl before turning and telling the rest to follow.
"Bell what's wrong?" his mother tried asking in a calm voice.
" they took it from my vault those nasty little goblins didn't even say anything trying to save their skins."
"why can't we call the dark lord?" his father butted in.
"We can't call him till I know what else they stole from me. The dark lord trusted me but this MUDBLOOD STOLE FROM ME FROM MY FAMILY VAULT! PUT THEM IN THE DUNGEON WE CAN'T LET ANYONE KNOW OR CALL THE DARK LORD TILL I HAVE ANSWERS." She used a spell to open the doors and Pettigrew was dragged in by magic.
"rat take them down if anything happens I'll take your other hand." Bellatrix went and picked up the sword as the captives got up while Pettigrew held the rope to drag them down to the dungeon. Good he could use this he can call Pilleity his personal house elf have her grabe Herminoe and apprate her to the house he had prepared. Back at the start of summer. She would be safe there and he would know where she was. When things finally settled down he would go and see her. he started for the door so he could hurry and instruct Pilleity.
" NO" Bellatrix's voice boomed in the room. he stopped because he thought she was talking to him.
" Not this one." Draco looked over his shoulder to see his aunt grabbing Hermione, Weasely tried to lunge over and help but was stopped by Pettigrew. " we're going to have a little talk girl to girl."
Draco watched as the prisoners were escorted down into the dungeon. His parents had stayed with his Aunt and Hermione. he needed to call Pilleity to tell her to make some kind of distraction. Or maybe he should make one then he could have Pilleity take her and apprate to the cottage. Draco froze when he heard Herminoe's blood-curdling scream. He looked down the hall where the echo traveled. His heart raced and he could hear his blood racing in his ears. He took a step toward the sound before stopping. closed his eyes in anger and defeat as he turned and ran to the stairs leading to the dungeon not fearing that he would fall down them. there was no time for a plan.
When he got to the bottom of the stairs he saw Pettigrew talking with Potter. The little rat actually looked pained and guilty. He watched as the man's hand went into his pocket and pulled out a key. Was he going to let them out, should he hurry back up and be in the room and grab Hermione when they burst in to save her, no he should make a show of trying to stop them and have Pilleity grabe Hermione while her friends escape. she will be more relived after knowing that Potter and Weasley got away. But the moment Pettigrew walked towards the cells his silver hand grabbed onto his throat he watched as the man choked himself to death struggling and wailing to get out of his own grasp. Draco stood shocked until yet another of Hermione's screams reached him. Draco's whole body felt cold what was Bellatrix doing to her that her scream could be heard all the way down here? Weasley cursed and banged at the cell the key had moved across the floor during the struggle but was nowhere near them.
Draco closed his eyes. As again Herminoe screamed, there wasn't another way. He grasped his wand in his hand and walked out into view striding past the corpse and over to the key. Weasley was screaming and cursing him but he ignored it. he bent down grabbed the key and turned to Potter.
The spell was wearing off his face was much more recognizable now. Potter didn't say anything just stared back at him. Weasley continued to make a racket until Luna pushed forward.
" oh hello Draco, did you bring pudding?" Luna asked as she stood in front of the bars. you wouldn't be able to tell by the tone of her voice that she had been kidnapped and kept hostage here since the second month of school. When he learned that she was being kept in his family dungeon he made sure that she got proper food. He had been told that whenever she was giving her meal she would always ask if there was pudding.
" no Loony I didn't." she just shrugged
" what the hell do you want you fucking snake," Weasely yelled. Draco didn't look at him instead he walked closer to the cell but still kept a safe distance.
"well, Potter you always get out alive somehow right, better make sure you get everything you need and do it fast." Draco made his face a perfect mask of calm at least he hoped he did he couldn't let them know, he couldn't risk it, his parents were still upstairs and were in as much danger as he was. Especially if Potter and the rest escaped as he needed them to.