Chapter 8: Children No More
Manager Ragnok rubbed his hands over his face. The paperwork to procure what Lord Potter required was a hell of a lot. The goblin couldn't help but admire Harry's ideas. He wanted to find the Sword of Gryffindor, the real one. Apparently, at some point after Albus Dumbledore's death, the sword was stolen from Hogwarts. Now, Lord Potter required basilisk venom. The only place that had it in stock was in Africa, but as basilisks were considered "holy" by the African Wizarding League of Magical Creatures, the amount of red tape was staggering. Additionally, Ragnok would have to do some particularly creative rouses to borrow weapons from the army. They would pay for the weapons of course, but they would have to steal them first. That presented added difficulties.
The Order had to go into hiding after a couple of terrible murders. Most recently, Mad-Eye Moody had been publicly 'executed' by hanging in the middle of Hogsmeade. He had been tortured for days and to the Death Eaters' extreme frustration, in a second of distraction, the man had stolen a wand only to obliviate himself of any information they could find useful regarding any strategies and location. Once his noose was placed and tightened, the former Auror and Bounty Hunter was given an opportunity to say his last words. The Prophet reported him as laughing and saying "My loyalty lies with Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. As Merlin is my witness, they will avenge me." The press had been so shocked by this that they printed the statement without any of their usual creative editing.
Once he said his piece, and before anyone had the pleasure of kicking the stool he was standing on, the man jumped off it to his death. He wouldn't give those illiterate inbreeds the satisfaction of gloating that they killed Alastor Moody. He would leave this life as he lived it, on his own bloody terms, thank you very much. If he had, he wouldn't have been able to rest in peace. Ragnok had drunk dragon ale in his honor. Alastor Moody was as close to a goblin fighter as humans had ever gotten. The day Moody was forced into suicide, the country's economy screeched to a halt. His execution occurred at 9 am. Every shop, every transaction, everything stopped. Even the Ministry closed for the day.
And then, the unthinkable happened. As soon as Mad-Eye jumped off the stool, a dozen Hogwarts' students came out of different alleys in pairs and started attacking the Death Eaters. This was not a practice duel either. They were fighting dirty. Everything was allowed. The students had hoped to save Alastor Moody, but the fight was so intense that they couldn't manage to reach him on time. The Death Eaters were not ready for the attack and because of that, a whole group of Snatchers and a Death Eater were eliminated with good spell work and joke shop artifacts that were very unexpected. Unfortunately, Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood were kidnapped by Bellatrix Lestrange before the other students could do anything to help the former Auror.
Hermione woke up feeling sore and gross. Her face had tear stains and snot remains so she aguamentied it and dried it with the hem of her t-shirt. She had fallen asleep after a long day of feeling split between how Harry hurt her and how guilty she felt that she had embarrassed him. Her back complained as she was curled up on an armchair. How long had she been sleeping? It was dark outside. She got up and stretched, stifling a yawn and a complaint as her back had been in a horrible posture. Hermione took her empty cup and smelled it... calming draught. No wonder I was knocked out. Dobby must've felt it was necessary, she thought. Her cheeks reddened as she remembered screaming at Harry. Gosh, he must be furious at me for all the drama this has caused. He was so sweet when McGonagall told everyone about the deluminator, so comforting, but he had never snapped at her in that tone before or called her a mean name he knew she hated, let alone in public. They had always presented a united front, even when they had been upset with each other. She didn't know what to do now. All she knew was that she hated being at odds with Harry.
Slowly, and trying not to make any sound, she opened the door to go to her room. Hermione's heart skipped a beat when she saw Harry lying down in a heap with a pillow, several ledgers around him, and parchment all around his legs. He had an ink stain on his jaw and a feather pen in his hand. His glasses had fallen over a book. He did as he was told, her mind stated. Is that a calculator? Where did he get that? His neck was at an odd angle. She could tell he would have knots from that position. He looked so beautiful that she almost didn't wake him, but his neck would kill him the next day. Plus, she wouldn't be comfortable in her bed without Harry. That is to say, without knowing that Harry was comfortable… in his own bed, of course. Hermione blushed at the thought, but she knelt next to him and shook his shoulder gently.
"W-What?" he blabbered still half asleep.
"Harry, you should go sleep in your bed," she whispered.
"Hermione!" Harry sat up and winced as his neck strained.
"Go to bed, Harry. We can speak tomorrow," Hermione got up to leave, but Harry wrapped his arms around her legs as he knelt. "Harry?"
"Please don't go yet... I know I was a mean idiot, and you probably hate my guts right now. But we need to talk now, Hermione. The more we wait, the more awkward it will get. And no, I will not excuse my shitty behavior. I should have never snapped at you like that or called you a know-it-all. I know you hate that name. You were just being kind and expressing a valid concern for Sirius' lack of information about everything that has happened, and I yelled at you like you did something terrible. I am truly sorry. I would say that next time you can curse me, but there won't be a next time. You have my word. Hearing you cry in here has been torture. All I wanted was to come in and hold you and beg you to forgive me," he looked up. His eyes looked greener than ever, and they were glistening with tears.
"Harry, I-"
"No, Hermione... Please don't say anything. I don't expect you to forgive me right away. I just needed to tell you that," Harry loosened his grip on her legs slowly.
Hermione sighed as she pulled Harry up and, with her wand, she organized all his supplies and levitated them over to a writing desk inside the library. "Off to bed, come on."
Harry trailed behind her. She was pulling him by the hand. If she was holding his hand, did that mean she would get past his rudeness? He could hope. Harry made to stop when they reached his guest room door, but Hermione pulled him toward the master bedroom. They didn't want to wake anyone, so he didn't say anything. In any case, the least he could do was walk her to her door, but she pulled him inside, closed the door behind them, and did a few spells.
"Hermione? What?"
"Take off your shirt," she instructed.
Harry's eyes widened. "My shirt? W-Why?"
She lifted a brow at him, and he took it off, whatever was going on, he would be better off doing what she wanted "Yes, ma'am."
She sat him down on her bed and went around it to gather a small container. "If I don't massage your neck now, it will bother you all day tomorrow."
"What?! Hermione, it's okay, you don't have to do that. The last thing I want is to keep you from your sleep," Harry was bright red all over the face and neck and stood up.
"I know I don't have to. Just because I am miffed at you, that doesn't mean I want you in pain," Hermione patted the bed.
"But,"
"Harry James," she said slowly.
He knew he had lost the battle and sat back down. Hermione took some lotion and began to work on his sore neck. The thick lotion smelled like rich chocolate. He felt his skin explode in goosebumps as she kneaded his muscles. He had never been touched like this. Particularly not in his back and neck. All he had received was hits, lashes, and kicks. This must be what heaven felt like. Before Harry could stop himself, he moaned in satisfaction. He blushed scarlet but Hermione didn't seem to mind, nor did she stop massaging his neck and shoulders. Time passed and he couldn't be bothered to care. This felt so good. It felt like an eternity and like very little time had passed when her hands left his body, and he understood the massage was over.
"Better?" she asked with a smile.
"Loads. Where did you learn how to do this?"
"Daddy has an injury on his left shoulder, you know from war, and he was always in a lot of pain when the weather was cold, so his physical therapist taught me how to do that and well... you know me, I started doing research and teaching myself other techniques and now here we are..."
"You are brilliant," Harry sighed as she passed him his t-shirt.
"I'm glad to help," Hermione stretched and winced. Her back was not okay.
"What's wrong?" his eyes softened.
"Sleeping on an armchair is also not a good idea," she shrugged.
"Can I-? I mean, I know I would probably be rubbish at it but-"
"You want to return the favor?" Hermione asked, surprised. A blush crept up her neck. That would entail no shirt and no bra.
"If you want me to... I mean, you can tell me what you want, and I can do it as best as I can," Harry offered.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather go to sleep? I can just take a hot shower," she offered, not wanting to bother him.
"Mione, please. Your needs are important too," Harry insisted.
"Okay, but close your eyes,"
"Close my eyes? Hermione, how can I massage you if I can't see you?" Harry blinked in confusion.
"Just while I get on the bed."
Harry frowned, still not understanding, but nodded. He closed his eyes and heard her t-shirt fall next to him. His eyebrows shot up. Of course, it was necessary for her to remove her top, but he was still, dumbly enough, not expecting it. He waited for her to tell him he could open his eyes, but he felt something silky and lacy hit his bare foot.
"I'm ready," she said.
I'm not, Harry thought as he opened his eyes to find a topless Hermione resting on her belly with her hair up in a messy bun. He wished he could turn the memory of this moment into a picture. She was breathtaking. His hands shook. I get to touch her? Merlin, please help me not suck at this. He grabbed the lotion and warmed it in his hands, then with feathery soft touches, he spread it over her back. She sighed in contentment. He started to imitate how she touched him while listening attentively to her responses so he could change anything she didn't like. Soon enough she was moaning and almost purring under his fingers. Harry was trying to conjure up awful images in his mind to calm his hormones down. Hermione wasn't faring any better. When she felt it was a bit too much for her sanity, she told Harry it was enough and sat up with her back still to him, summoning a pajama top.
"I should go," Harry whispered. He was looking pointedly away from her as she smoothed down her clothes.
"Can you hand me my bra?"
Harry blushed.
"Nevermind, I-" she stopped talking because he bent over to pick it up as it if could break and handed it to her.
"Good night, Mione," he kissed her forehead and left.
"Night Harry," she replied after he had already shut the door behind him.
Harry was trashing in his bed, drenched in cold sweat. He had long kicked his comforter and sheets away. He moaned in pain. His scar was throbbing. He saw himself inside a gothic-looking place. Everything was fancy but dark. Except that he wasn't himself. He was looking at the place from Voldemort's perspective. Two Snatchers had a terrified injured Cho Chand and an unconscious and bruised Luna Lovegood held up by their hair.
"Ah, this week's… entertainment," he spoke. His voice was cold and amused.
"Master, who gets them?" the Snatcher asked, excited at the prospect.
"I need to think about it," he replied nonchalantly.
"Please, let us go! We won't say anything about your location. No one would believe us anyway," Cho begged, a wand pressed tightly against her jaw.
"What is your name, child?"
"Cho Chang," she replied. Hesitating, she added, "Pureblood."
"Obviously; otherwise, you'd be in the torture chambers by now," Voldemort replied with annoyance.
"The what?!" Cho stammered.
"We know you are purebloods and that is why we took you. You two and others like you will help my army repopulate magical Britain with worthy magical blood," Voldemort smirked.
Cho could have fainted at the shock of this statement. "You... You are going to force us to carry your army's children?!" The prospect was too horrible, too grim to be true.
"No, child, you will volunteer. After all, you must choose. You can be tortured until death or insanity –whatever comes first– for being a part of that insurgent little group of brats... Or you can bear at least two healthy magical children for my cause."
Cho was pale and the Snatcher had to hold her up. Her legs were shaking.
"We are too young to raise children," Cho replied, trying not to freak out.
Voldemort's laugh is cruel, "Who said anything about you raising anybody? You are nothing but brooding mares. Do not presume to be important. Once the children are delivered, they will be taken away to be raised as soldiers who will only be faithful to me."
Cho gasped, "NO! You can't do that!"
"Watch me," Voldemort laughed. "Take them to the cells."
The masked Snatcher holding Cho pulled her back harshly by the hair and licked her face. She could have thrown up right there. "With pleasure."
"McLaggen!" Voldemort said in a warning tone. Cho gasped. She knew him. "I said take them to the cells, not take them in the cells. They are not to be touched by anyone until I decide who gets them. Make sure they are fed. Tell Narcissa that she will need to get them clean and ready for the ceremony. Understood?"
"Yes, Master," McLaggen replied.
"What ceremony?" Cho asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be a Ravenclaw?" Voldemort asked with a sneer. She nodded. "And you haven't figured it out yet? Tut, tut. For shame. You cannot bear bastard children for our purposes. You will have to be married of course."
Harry saw with dismay how the girls were groped and manhandled by the snatchers as they were taken away from the monster. His heart was beating erratically. Voldemort was excited, "Hmm... I may keep one for myself. It is about time that I sire an heir to the empire I am building."
Harry sat up in his bed screaming, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Hermione reached him first, closely followed by Sirius and Remus. Harry was green and looked like he was about to be sick, so Hermione transfigured a cup by his bed into a bucket and he threw up immediately.
Hermione rubbed his back, "Harry, what happened? Nightmare?"
"N-No. Vi-Vision. We need to rescue them," Harry got up.
"Whoa, pup. Slow down. Rescue who? From where?" Sirius held his shoulders to stop him.
"Harry, are you positive this wasn't a nightmare?"
"YES! I am positive it wasn't a nightmare!"
"Okay, sit and tell us what you saw in detail."
Harry did just that, stopping to pull his hair or take a calming breath. Hermione was flabbergasted. McLaggen had always been a slimy git, but to become a Death Eater? Poor Luna and Cho. Sirius and Remus were very concerned but storming what sounded like Malfoy Manor with Voldemort in residence was a suicide mission.
"Son, we can't be hasty. We will not survive if we just ask Dobby to get us there."
"Don't you understand? They will rape them! Force them to marry those monsters! Impregnate them!" Harry exclaimed in desperation.
"We do understand, son. But if we run in there with guns a blazing, we could get them and ourselves killed," Sirius replied. "What you described sounds like Malfoy Manor. If that is their headquarters, there is no way we can just waltz in there."
"Did you really hear me? He said he would get more! More girls to have them forcefully married, raped, and impregnated!"
Remus placed his hands framing Harry's tortured face, "Son, I understand, trust me. But we need a plan. First, we need to confirm that they are truly there," Harry looked terribly offended at this so Remis hastily added, "Not because we don't believe you, but because we must tell their families, and we can't be wrong if we are going to share something like that. Okay?"
Harry, blinked tears away. "Okay. We need help. We don't have a lot of time."
"Do you trust the Weasleys?" Sirius asked.
"I think so. All except Ronald. I don't know about Ginny, though," Harry replied.
"It doesn't matter Harry, Ginny is at Hogwarts so she can't help us," Hermione reminded him.
"Okay, we need to test the water with their families to see if they are able and willing to help," Remis said with a frown.
"What do you mean by able and willing? It's their daughters!" Harry was shocked.
"Son, Voldypants terrifies people with good reason. Regardless of how much they may love their daughters, if they have other younger children, they may opt out of any dangerous missions," Sirius explained.
Harry wanted to scream, but there was no point in that. He saw the alarm clock on his bedside table. It read 4.34 am. "Fine, let's get to work."
Luckily no one made any remarks about the time. Hermione placed her hand on his chest to stop him. She then summoned a set of clothes from the dresser. "Shower first. You need to be awake and alert."
He nodded with a small smile. She still cared about him even after their fight. That gave him hope. He went into the bathroom.
"So…What happened with you two last night?" Sirius asked Hermione as they walked toward the kitchen. He wanted to lighten Hermione's mood. What was happening at Malfoy Manor was terrifying, especially because the pups knew the girls. Remus had gone to wake everyone else up and explain.
"He apologized," Hermione shrugged.
"And?" Sirius wiggled his brows.
"What do you mean and?"
"Was there begging? Please tell me he begged!" Sirius asked. "He should have begged!"
"You are such a gossip, Sirius!" Hermione blushed. But this told Sirius that there had indeed been begging.
"Oh, please! Let me live vicariously off your love life," he laughed. "We are on an island with no single women," he made an exaggerated dramatic face.
She chuckled, "And nothing. He told me to think about it. Forgiving him, that is. That I didn't have to answer right away."
"Finally. Merlin, you would think he would have inherited at least some of my skills," Sirius facepalmed.
"What skills?" Hermione replied with amusement despite the situation.
"I would show you, but then you would fall for me, and Harry would kill me so... Maybe one day you will get to see me in action. I will have you know ladies were lining up to date me at Hogwarts."
"And that was how many decades ago?"
"You wound me!" Sirius chuckled.
"I believe you, don't worry," Hermione shrugged with a smile. She saw through his attempt to change the topic for a while to distract her and appreciated the effort. "Now, we need to make the best plan we ever did. This is too risky and too important."
"We will need special help. Dobby!"
"You calls for Dobby? Is Master Harry alright?"
"He had a vision from Voldemort. Can you help us get started with breakfast? Don't hurry. Harry's taking a shower. Kreacher!"
"Yes, Master?"
"Sorry for the time. However, we need your help. Two girls have been kidnapped by Voldypants. He intends to have them raped and force them to marry their rapists and bear them children."
Kreacher gasped. "How can Kreacher help, Master?"
"Well, that depends. Did you decide if you want to be freed?"
"Kreacher still wants to serve The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, sir," Kreacher replied but fiddled with his hands.
"But?"
"Could we create a new bond?" Kreacher looked up at Sirius with a hint of hope.
"Of course, follow me so I can unbind you and then bind you once more under better conditions," Sirius replied.
Kreacher looked like she couldn't believe his luck but followed Sirius at a sedate pace. Dobby would have jumped and danced around.
Andromeda and Ted joined Hermione who was helping Dobby by mixing the pancake batter as he chopped up fruit and scrambled eggs simultaneously. It was impressive. The young woman had told Dobby everything.
"Morning. Smells lovely. Dobby, do you mind if we get the coffee started?"
Dobby was impressed but nodded. Hermione allowed herself a small smile. This dynamic would be good for Dobby. Andromeda and Ted started working on coffee. Hermione was about to start cooking the pancakes when Harry came into the kitchen looking even more worried than before.
"Did you see something else?" she asked.
"No, but I've been thinking... What if it was implanted? Like when Sirius..."
"Died? Where is this coming from? You were so certain before..." Hermione frowned.
"My bad," Tonks tripped and held onto Harry for balance. "Sorry. In Auror training, we learned about the weaponization of mind magic."
Hermione didn't like the sound of that at all.
"We don't know if the vision is real. If Voldemort is aware of your mind link, he will try to use it to manipulate you," Tonks grabbed an infusion from Dobby. She smelled it, "Ginger and peppermint, just what I need for this nausea. Thank you, Dobby."
"Master Harry, sir," Dobby pulled on his pant leg.
"Morning Dobby, how are you feeling?" Harry patted the elf's shoulder.
"I is feeling good sir. I is wanting to help yous. I know Malfoy Manor better than everyones here," Dobby said this with a blush.
Harry frowned, "I don't want you to risk your life like that."
"But sir… If I is not going with you, how is you knowing how to get out?" Dobby's eyes were wide and scared.
Hermione approached them. "First of all, Harry is not going. Riddle is there, Harry. You can't. Period. Do you think you can draw the distribution of the house? That would be so helpful," she said with a smile. She understood the elf wanted to feel useful.
Dobby nodded quickly. His ears moved as he did, "Yes, Miss Mione, Dobby cans do that."
"Wonderful. Go do that at the library. There are many empty scrolls there. We can finish up here," Hermione grabbed a plate of fruit and handed it to Dobby. "Don't go hungry."
Dobby smiled, "Thank you. You is most kind to Dobby." He took the plate and vanished.
They had a very hurried breakfast and as they finished, Dobby appeared in the living room with a pale Professor McGonagall. She had called him with her coin. Andromeda rushed to Minerva as the older witch swayed on her feet.
"Professor, what happened?" Hermione asked as she helped Andy seat the witch down.
"Alastor is dead… Two students have been kidnapped," she said with a shaky voice.
Sirius cursed as did Remus. Tonks gasped. Who managed to best Mad-Eye?
"How?" most of them asked in tandem.
"The D.A became the P.A… Potter's Army, that is," Minerva explained. "They left the school undetected. We still don't know how they managed with dementors all around. They read that Alastor would be executed by hanging and they went to Hogsmeade to attack the Death Eaters and Snatchers present."
Harry had to sit down. Potter's Army… They were insane. So, that was the 'insurgent group' that Voldemort spoke of in his vision. "P-Professor, the students that were taken are Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood, correct?"
Minerva turned to him with wide eyes. "How do you know that?! Nobody is supposed to know that!"
"Harry had a vision from Voldemort and saw them. We think they are being held at Malfoy Manor. Professor, Riddle… He wants to," Hermione gagged and shook her head. Her eyes filled with tears at the effort not to throw up. "Merlin, I can't."
McGonagall looked around questioningly, "Wants to what?!"
"They are to be raped, forced to marry their rapists, and forced to bear at least two magical children to strengthen Riddle's numbers," Remus replied. "That or be tortured to death or to insanity, right Harry?"
Harry nodded. His stomach churned at the thought of the atrocities that the girls would endure if they weren't rescued soon. Minerva had to hold on to her chair as the world started spinning. She looked green. Reproductive and sexual slavery of teen witches, Merlin help us all if it has truly come to this. Except, this could be good in a twisted way. "They are purebloods…"
"What?"
"The girls. They are purebloods. We need to make this public! The bigots will be enraged! And everyone else will be incensed because they are very young and good girls. Not that it should matter, but the reality is that it does."
"Buy the press," Hermione blurted out. Everyone turned towards her.
"I beg your pardon?" Minerva stammered.
"Harry, can you afford to buy The Prophet?" Hermione expanded.
Harry blinked and looked pensive. "I… Um… Perhaps, but what if it's not for sale?"
"Son, everything is for sale when you have enough money," Sirius replied.
Remus cleared his throat, "Sirius," he said warningly.
"Almost everything... happy Moony?"
"Why buy the company? That would be public information… Buy the editor in chief!" Tonks exclaimed. "I know him, Barnabas Cuffe."
"Cuffe is as close to an unofficial Death Eater as one can be!" Ted exclaimed. "It's a no-go."
"Do you know of his… proclivities?" Andromeda asked. "We could use them against him."
"Of course. Everyone knows he's into younger women," Remus shrugged.
Minerva turned so fast that she was sure she hurt something. "What?! I didn't know that!"
"I meant everyone who frequents the Hog's Head. He's a blabbermouth when he's drunk," Remus replied.
"You could promise him a reward that would entice him," Tonks was a bit green at her own suggestion.
"What!? Surely you don't mean…"
"He would never get it. Just a false promise," Tonks clarified.
"I don't feel comfortable with that," Harry whispered.
"We either do what we find morally distasteful and reprehensive even, or we allow those girls to suffer a horrible fate."
"And who are we supposed to use as bait?" Ted asked with a frown.
"Me," Hermione replied immediately.
"Absolutely not!" Every person replied. Harry looked murderous at the thought.
"It's a false promise! You know that! I will not be at any risk," Hermione said in an annoyed voice.
"Hermione, Cuffe is no schoolboy. He will demand to… um… sample the goods, if you catch my drift," Sirius grimaced in distaste.
"I will be fine. I can handle this! We have to do something to help them!"
"Hermione, you are a great witch, but it is too dangerous!" McGonagall turned to Hermione with a frown.
"It looks like it's our only choice!"
"No. It's not. I will go using Polyjuice," Sirius said.
"You can't Polyjuice as me!" Hermione replied, horrified that he would even think of that.
"Sirius, don't. You just got back to Harry. I'll do it."
"Moony, I love you, but honestly… No one here can pass as a beautiful teenage girl better than I can, especially not you!"
"He's right, love. It's a good thing mom brought some Polyjuice," Tonks nodded. "I would volunteer, but-"
"NO!" Everyone replied, looking at her belly.
"Master Harry, here," Dobby offered a parchment.
Harry rushed to him and opened the roll over the coffee table. "Okay, Andromeda, you have been to Malfoy Manor, right?"
"Yes, and unfortunately this is it."
"Why unfortunately? At least we know where they are," Hermione replied.
"Because Malfoy Manor is a death trap," Ted replied.
"We have to try anyway! Oh no, no, no no, no! Fuck!" Harry fell to his knees as his head pounded.
"Harry what is it? Harry?" Hermione exclaimed.
"What the bloody hell did he do?" Voldemort sounded irritated.
A man who looked like an older version of Goyle was hauling a battered McLaggen.
"He disrespected your wishes," the burly man replied, throwing McLaggen at the feet of their master.
"My Lord, I-"
"I told you NOT to touch those girls!"
"She bit me!"
"And your response is to beat her up!? I don't need damaged goods and I had ordered you NOT to touch them! You defied me! Who the hell do you think you are? Crucio!"
McLaggen fell to Voldemort's feet kicking and screaming.
"You need to be taught your place. I am to be obeyed without question. Always. Goyle! Playtime! Show this little shithead his place. Enjoy," Voldemort waved them all. He walked barefoot with his claw-like feet over an ornate carpet. He moved towards the basement and found Narcissa.
"My Lord," Narcissa Malfoy curtseyed.
"Why was this allowed to happen?" he asked coldly.
"He's a stupid teenager, my Lord. He has no impulse control, and his brain is still not developed enough."
"Where's Draco?"
Narcissa paled. "He's helping me heal them. Mr. Ollivander is quite hurt too. He tried to stop McLaggen."
"What a fool. He should be dead already. Two weeks without food three days without water. Daily torture and he still hasn't broken apart. What a stubborn old fool! Narcissa, this question is important, and it needs an honest answer. Look me in the eyes," he demanded.
She looked up, "Yes, my lord?"
"Do you think your son is a gentleman?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes at her.
Narcissa looked grateful that it was a question she could answer without a shadow of a doubt, "Of course, my Lord. He was raised better than McLaggen."
"Good. If you think he can contain his most base instincts," Voldemort waited, staring at Narcissa.
She nodded with confidence.
"He will be in charge of them. If something else happens to them, I will hold you three accountable," Voldemort sneered. He turned and walked towards the cells.
Draco was kneeling down next to Cho Chang, applying the essence of dittany his mother gave him to a deep gash on her forehead. The girl was sobbing against a rag, trying to keep herself quiet. Luna was awake, her doe eyes wider than ever. She was looking away into the distance. Her arms were crossed over her naked chest. An elderly man tried to cover her with his frail body. But Riddle saw that two bruises were quickly forming on her waist and neck. He rolled his eyes.
"Draco!"
The teen turned to him but kept his eyes on the floor.
"Make sure to get rid of this one's bruises too. Where are her clothes? We need them good and healthy until the ceremony. Hopefully by this time next year, both will have served half their purpose and we will have two more babies for our ranks," he instructed, waving his wand and binding Ollivander back on his bed. The man was so weak that he lost consciousness almost straight away.
"Her clothes were vanished by McLaggen."
Voldemort sat in front of Luna and one of his decrepit fingers raised her face, "Look at me," he ordered when he saw her eyes went down to avoid his.
In a whisper, Luna replied, "I'd rather gauge my own eyes out."
Voldemort's index and thumb dug painfully into Luna's cheeks. "There is still some fight left in you… Good. We prefer the feisty ones. Draco, see to it that she stays as underdressed as she is. Granted, she is not much to look at, but you are a kid. You should be happy you get to see anything at all. In any case, there is no coming back from this for her reputation," Voldemort chuckled and stood up. "What do you think, Draco? Is she still a virgin?"
The blond looked up at this, perplexed. "W-What?"
"This one," Voldemort pointed at Luna with his wand. "That one clearly isn't," he nodded at Cho who kept sobbing but made no response to this.
"I-I don't know, sir," Draco replied, blushing furiously.
"Find out for me. It's important," Voldemort smirked and left gliding over the floor instead of simply walking like he usually did.
"Aguamenti!" Hermione pointed her wand at Harry's face.
"Hermione, what the hell?" Sirius told her off for her tactic, but it worked.
Harry shook the water off and looked around panicked. "We need to do this today!" he spluttered. "We have no time to buy Cuffe!"
"What did you see?" Hermione asked.
Harry sat up. "Remind me to get a pensieve asap," he told Dobby who nodded. "This is bad. I just saw Voldemort torturing McLaggen for… beating the girls against his wishes… He talked to Narcissa, asked her if Draco was a gentleman… Riddle put them in charge."
Hermione frowned, "Did you see the girls? Are they okay?"
"I saw them. No, I don't think so. Cho was hurt and crying. Draco was healing her," Harry grimaced as he remembered Luna. "Luna… She was half-naked and b-bruised…"
"Fucking bastards!" Tonks snapped.
"There's more. An old man was there. Apparently, he tried to stop McLaggen and got hurt… You will not believe this…."
"What?"
"It was Ollivander, the wandmaker. They've been torturing him for information, but Voldemort said he hasn't broken yet."
Sirius pulled Hermione toward him by the waist and unceremoniously yanked some of her hair off.
"Ouch! Sirius, what the hell!?"
"We don't have time. I've been to Malfoy Manor. So has Dobby," Sirius replied. "But they can't see me as me."
Andromeda summoned a flask and a bottle of Polyjuice. She placed Hermione's hair in the flask and filled it with the Polyjuice. Remus summoned his own empty flask and raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "Better safe than sorry," she said. Having backup Polyjuice was key. She pulled some hair off. Once the second flask was ready, it was reduced to a pill size. Dobby appeared with a set of clothes that were Hermione's.
"Dobby cans be getting yous to the gates."
"Good, everybody turn around," Sirius pulled off his shirt as he took a big gulp of the potion. Everyone turned their backs to him as the change started. "Hmm…You taste better than James."
Harry looked at Sirius with a pained grimace. "Why did you-? I never needed to know that! Close your eyes, Padfoot!"
Sirius first grew shorter as Hermione arranged her clothes to dress him in as little time as possible. "Harry, my eyes are closed but yours aren't. Turn around!"
Harry blushed as he caught a glimpse of Sirius/Hermione's naked back which brought memories from last night and he turned away, blushing.
Hermione pushed a sports bra down Sirius' now slender arms. "What is this death trap?" he complained but kept his eyes closed.
"Shut up. I want something that will stay in place. You don't know how to do life with boobs that are attached to you."
"I know my way around boobs, doll," Sirius chuckled but kept his eyes closed.
"Sirius! Shut up! Do you think I am comfortable with you knowing exactly how every inch of me looks? I am not, but I will put up with it to help those girls so you better freaking keep things clean!" Hermione helped Sirius out of his pants and into her comfortable panties and most combat-like jeans. Additional pockets could be important. She made sure to add a calf wand holster.
"Hermione, here," Tonks handed the teen something that looked like a bullet-proof vest, "Dragonhide vest. It's mandatory for Aurors. It wouldn't have fit him before, but with your frame it does."
"Thank you," Hermione slid it down Sirius' arms. A long-sleeved top followed. Then a zip-up hoodie and a jean jacket. Tonks helped Sirius into Hermione's socks and trainers. Once he was entirely in character, Tonks did spells to repel water in his entire ensemble. Andromeda turned and waved her wand over his head. Sirius' now longer bushy hair braided itself and a hair tie fastened itself. Hermione summoned her bag and started extracting things from it at full speed, Harry turned to help her as did Remus who was better at transfiguration. The things they pulled out were turned tiny and stored in the pantry.
"Okay, what's my story?"
"You don't need a story. Just say Riddle's taboo name and wait for the Snatchers," Harry shrugged.
Nobody noticed that Dobby had left or that he returned. "Master Harry! That is being too dangerous! I is being able to pop inside the Manor."
"What?!" Harry exclaimed.
"Dobby is going to try to see if he is still being able to come inside and he could! The Master didn't remove Dobby from the wards."
"Did anyone see you?! Are you okay?!" Harry palmed Dobby.
"Yes, master. Nobody is noticing elves at the old master's house. Elves are always ignored. I is changing into Malfoy uniform," Dobby motioned at his pillowcase.
"Let's go, Dobby," Sirius/Hermione offered his hand.
"Wait! My wand!" Hermione handed it to him.
"The cloak!" Harry summoned it and put it in the jumper's pocket that he did a Notice-Me-Not charm to.
Remus grabbed Sirius/Hermione from the back of his/her neck. "In and out, do you hear me, Sirius? No stupid revenge stunts. We will deal with Bellatrix later. You go in, get the girls, and hopefully Ollivander out." He lifted Sirius/Hermione's sleeve and placed a second holster. He then crouched and placed his wand on the calf holster. "Then you come straight home, understood?"
"Moony… No, your wand-" Sirius knew what Remus' wand meant to him.
"You will give it back to me. You have to," Remus squeezed his friend's now slender arms. Harry frowned. Watching Moony touch "Hermione" like that felt weird.
Sirius/Hermione hugged Remus tightly. "I'll do my best. I promise I will only fight if I have to."
Tonks tried not to feel a certain pang of jealousy at the intense conversation. It's a bromance, that's all. Calm down! Stupid hormones!
"Sirius, remember that you are Ms. Granger. Mind your voice and mind your manners!" Minerva instructed.
Sirius/Hermione cleared his/her throat and imitating Hermione's voice to perfection, he placed his/her hands on his/her hips, "Honestly, professor! Have a little more faith in me! I am not the brightest witch of my age for nothing!"
Everyone gaped. Remus shook his head. It was true. No one could do a teen girl like Sirius.
"Okay, so I go in make sure to have Dobby bring the girls here first. I stay with Ollivander and try to keep us both alive and ignored."
"Then I is going back and bringing yous home," Dobby nodded.
"Dobby, is there anything we can do to protect you? Anything we can give you?" Harry paced, panicking.
"Master, Kreacher has this," the grumpy elf appeared offering a small combat suit that was definitely elf-sized. "My master Regulus had it made for Kreacher when he asked Kreacher to help him destroy the locket. We never did destroy it. Master Regulus would be happy to see it keeps Dobby safe."
Dobby blinked repeatedly and then hugged Kreacher tightly, while the older elf patted his back awkwardly, "Thank you!"
Dobby put on the charmed chainmail armor and the breastplate and turned them invisible.
"Thank you, Kreacher. We appreciate that" Harry smiled with gratitude.
"Kreacher only wants to help Master Black," Kreacher smiled at Sirius/Hermione who returned the gesture.
"Okay, Dobby… Showtime," Sirius took Dobby's hand, McGonagall had to join them for their first pop. She had notified the parents and would be missed soon.
"No reason for us to stay idle. Help me arrange a room into a makeshift infirmary," Andromeda requested. "Kreacher, go bring Dudley. We will need him."
Everyone still on the island followed her without a word. If they sat down to wait, they would go insane with worry.
In the cells beneath the manor, Draco Malfoy was reevaluating his whole life. As soon as Voldemort left, and he knew it was safe, he took off his robe. Cho was hugging her knees and crying. Luna still hadn't moved. The only difference was that as soon as Riddle left, tears started cascading from her eyes. Ollivander was now awake but breathing with difficulty. McLaggen had punched him so harshly that the man felt something was probably either broken or bruised, probably a rib.
"Mika!" An elf popped beside him. "Bring me another shirt."
Draco took off his shirt and crouched before Luna. Her lips were a bit purple. "Hey, Lovegood. Put this on. You will freeze."
Luna lowered her arms from her chest in a daze and obeyed without a word. Draco turned away as if he had been slapped. Luna tried to button up her shirt, but her hands were shaking too much. "H-Help."
Draco turned back to face her and turned away once more. "Chang, help her."
Cho's hands were shaking worse than Luna's and she shook her head. "I-I can't."
"Oh, bloody hell!" He complained but buttoned up his shirt on the girl, pulling it as far away from her breasts to button up that area as he could. Luna didn't react. Her eyes kept crying, but she wasn't blinking. Draco felt terribly guilty even if he never touched her. Mika came back blushing and with a shirt that was his father's. "He is being in yous room… with Bellatrix. I is not able to bring a sweater." The elf left.
Draco dry heaved twice. Voldemort is fucking my aunt on my bed. Someone burn that memory off my brain… burn my bed too. "Here," Draco handed Luna his robe. "I know a sweater would be better, but the robe is warmer than just the shirt. I have to apply some balm to your bruises."
Luna pushed herself away from him with horror. Things were about to get worse. A murderous-looking Hermione Granger had her wand pointed to Draco's head.
"Calm down. If you don't want me to touch you, you can do it yourself, Lovegood," Draco frowned. "What Mika?" the blonde thought his elf had returned when he heard a soft pop. Nothing could have prepared him to see an irate Hermione Granger behind him. Before he could react, she had him petrified, gagged and bound from neck to ankles. Dobby rushed to the old man and started doing healing magic to make him stable.
"Cave Inimicum! Salvio Hexia! Fianto Duri! Repello Inimicum! Luna! Can you stand?" Sirius/Hermione asked the pale girl who nodded.
"Hermione!" Cho scrambled to her feet.
"Shhhhh! No one should know I am here!" Sirius/Hermione snapped at the girl. "Are you hurt?"
"I'll survive," Cho noticed her ankle was probably broken. Sirius/Hermione looked down and muttered "Brackium emendo!"
Cho grimaced and bit the inside of her cheek not to scream in pain. "T-Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I need you to swear fealty to Harry and Hermione," Sirius/Hermione stated.
Cho blinked in confusion.
"I mean, swear fealty to Harry and me," Sirius/Hermione corrected.
"I would but… We don't have our wands," Cho palmed her clothes.
"Merlin's saggy balls!" Sirius/Hermione snapped. Both girls looked at her strangely. "Never mind my potty mouth. We are getting you out of here. Do I have your word that you don't mean Harry or Her-myself any harm?"
"Of course. We are in the P.A. That's what landed us in this situation," Cho nodded rapidly.
"Luna?" The girl was still dazed and didn't respond. "LUNA!"
"I mean no harm to Harry, Hermione, or… you," the girl replied, looking at him strangely.
Sirius/Hermione frowned. He had a feeling Luna knew exactly who he was but didn't say his name. It was probably because of Malfoy. "Take them away."
Dobby offered his hands.
"Thank you, sir," Luna whispered.
"Sir? I like her very much!" Dobby held the girls' hands and vanished.
"Garrick," Sirius/Hermione helped the man sit up.
"Ms. G-Granger?" the man was weirded out that the girl knew his first name.
"Yes, we are getting you out of here," Sirius/Hermione replied.
Draco kicked Hermione to alert her. He could hear the door opening and his mother's heels clacking nearer. Sirius/Hermione turned and undid all spells except the silencing one on the teen. He/She pushed Draco against the wall. "Make her leave, if you want your dick to stay attached to your body," Sirius/Hermione whispered in his ear and canceled the silencing spell.
"Mother! Stay where you are! I just threw up and I know you hate the smell of puke," Draco said hurriedly.
Narcissa's steps stopped. "What happened? Why did you throw up?"
Draco looked truly disgusted once he remembered the perfect thing to say, "They are at it again!"
Sirius/Hermione frowned at the blond in a clear warning of 'don't fucking try anything.'
"What?!" Narcissa took another step closer. If she moved a bit more forward, she would be able to see Cho was gone.
"Aunt Bella and… Him," Draco replied.
"You mean they are-?" Narcissa trailed off.
"YES! They are fucking on my bed! Mother! It's enough that this house has become a bloody whorehouse and a prison! Please get them to leave, or at the very least, incinerate my bed! I am never going to know peace in that room."
Sirius/Hermione's eyes widened impossibly. He/She dry heaved. Could that creature even get it up? Ugh. Bad mental picture, Sirius chastised himself.
"Oh, Drakey. I am so sorry. Can I get you something for the nausea?"
"Mother, please... Just get them out of my room!" Draco insisted.
"I will try, baby."
Sirius/Hermione looked at Draco mockingly and mouthed "Baby? Ew!" He rolled his eyes, but Sirius/Hermione noticed that the blonde made no attempt to move or to curse her.
"I hope you are happy, Granger. They will kill me for this," Draco sighed. "Maybe it's better this way. At least I will finally know peace."
Sirius/Hermione frowned at him. "Why did you become a Death Eater, Malfoy?"
"You say that like I had any choice. You know who my parents are," Draco replied holding his wand loosely and motioning for him/her to take it.
Sirius/Hermione frowned deeper at this. "What are you doing?"
"Take my wand. If you disarmed me and get me all beaten and fucked up, I may actually survive with just a few rounds of Crucio," Draco looked to be in pain in anticipation of what was to come. Sirius couldn't help but remember Regulus.
"Did you not want to become a Death Eater?" Sirius/Hermione asked after summoning the boy's wand.
"Nobody asked what I wanted! Snape killed Dumbledore instead of me once I disarmed him… I-I couldn't do it… It all happened so quickly once he died. Because Dumbledore was finally dead, and the only ones who knew what had happened were Snape, Potter, and I… I was branded anyway as a… reward for my services," Draco looked like he would be sick.
Dobby came back and left with Ollivander when Sirius waved him away. The elf looked conflicted. This wasn't part of the plan, but he left.
"If I could, hypothetically, get you out of here, out of this situation… would you swear fealty to Harry and me?" Sirius/Hermione finally didn't screw it up. "Would you join us and fight Riddle?"
"Who?"
"Tom Riddle, that's his name," Sirius/Hermione looked up meaningfully.
"You can't. My mom. He will kill her."
"No sympathy for Lucius, then?" Sirius/Hermione remarked.
"No. Lucius got me into this mess. He has allowed his buddies to hurt my mother. He stood by many times while we were tortured."
"Fuck, Luci, then Draco?"
Draco nodded with a confused grimace. Hermione had never called either of them by their first names.
"Y-Yes…"
"I will get you and your mother out of here if you swear fealty to us and our cause," Sirius/Hermione offered. "What do you say?"
"How can I trust you?" Draco narrowed his eyes but they showed a flicker of hope.
"Do you have a better choice?" Sirius/Hermione lifted a brow.
Draco shook his head and sighed. "Look, Granger… You can do what you want with me. Please, just don't hurt my mother."
Sirius/Hermione nodded. "Go on, then." He/She handed Malfoy his wand.
"I, Draco Malfoy, hereby swear fealty to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and their cause. May magic judge me," Draco was terrified that the Dark Mark would kill him. It tried but the oath took. Sirius/Hermione was barely able to silence him before he screamed in agony. His arm started burning up. Blisters formed and ruptured. Ink and blood dripped down from the open sores.
"Oh, Draaaaacooooo!" Bellatrix sang walking down the stairs. "I just had… words with your mother. You seem to be under the delusion that where My Lord and I want to fuck is any of your business."
Sirius/Hermione threw his strongest bombarda out into the Hallway where Bellatrix was getting nearer. She groaned but started laughing. "I see you have chosen death… I will enjoy breaking you, nephew!"
"What are you doing?!" Draco moaned in pain once Sirius/Hermione removed the silencing spell. The caved wall would slow Lestrange a bit.
"Call your elf and have her bring your mother,"
"Emergency, Mika!"
Narcissa was covered in blood, and barely conscious. Her elf wasn't doing much better, "W-What?" Narcissa said weakly. Draco held her up.
Dobby popped in, looked at Lord Black and at the two people who had hurt him for years. But he also saw his friend Mika who was injured. "Take them first!"
Draco looked at the elf with narrowed eyes, trying to place him. Dobby?
Sirius/Hermione pushed Draco back against the wall and felt something poke against his/her hip. He/She raised a brow, and whisper-shouted, "Really?! Isn't she repulsive to you? Never mind that, boy. Take your wand. She's coming. We just have to hold on until Dobby comes back for us. I swear to Merlin and Morgana that if you betray me, I will kill you slowly and enjoy it!"
Draco was blushing furiously, "Never in a million years did I think it would come to this but… I have your back, Granger."
"Let's do this!" Sirius/Hermione blew the cell open as Bellatrix started attacking both her cousin and her nephew with all her devious ways and murderous spells.
A/N: Thank you for reading. -Lux-