She seemed to be against the wall of a garden shed. Or maybe it was a stable for horses, she couldn't turn her neck to see. The only light seeped in from the outside.
"I'm going to be honest here. I'm having trouble deciding if I should just torture you while you're still frozen or unfreeze you and give you a fighting chance." Pansy asked, running her eyes over Hermione's still form.
Hermione remained silent in her immobilized state. She pleaded with any higher being that she'd be released, that Draco hadn't left her yet. Pansy rolled her eyes and tapped her wand against the palm of her hand.
"No, you're right. I should try both, such a clever witch." She said feigning pleasantries. With a wave of her wand, she uttered the words Crucio.
Hermione's body felt like it had fallen on a live wire, every nerve in her system aching to scream. She feared her heart would burst through her chest. Still, she stayed propped up against the wall of the greenhouse.
She couldn't move, she couldn't scream. Her eyes were frozen over. Hermione tried to keep her focus anywhere but the witch in front of her.
Pansy chuckled, "No, that wasn't nearly as satisfying as it could've been". She shook her head dramatically.
Hermione held her breath and tried hard to look away. Soon she felt a wave of magic release her. Instantly, her body let out a wail of anguish, and she crumpled to the floor.
Her chest rose and fell with each gasp of air. Pansy rolled her eyes and with a swish of her wand cast invisible ropes to draw Hermione back. She kicked the closest metal object toward Pansy and hit her in the shin.
"Oh, you fucking cunt!"
Hermione didn't spare a second and ran toward the door of the shed. She pushed tarps and bags in the path behind her. She heard Pansy cackle as she fired off a spell in her general direction. She let out a hiss as it nicked the edge of her calf.
"Come out come out wherever you are Granger," she called in with an edge to her sing-song voice.
Hermione could see the door finally but heard Pansy drawing nearer. She dove under another tarp surrounded by barrels and crates. Seriously, what was this place?
The bright witch pulled the tarp to the side, just wide enough to keep her eyes trained on her. She was hidden, well enough there were a few other places in the room she could be. Parkinson didn't seem to know which.
"Brightest Witch of your age, now look at you. Probably cowering in a barrel of manure and seeds. I should just kill you right now. I'm sure they wouldn't mind. We could just as easily sacrifice an elf."
Pansy stepped closer to the open area in front of her. Her hair had begun to tangle with sweat. It seemed to stick out at the ends. Like a black cat hunting a mouse, her steps were intentional.
Hermione looked around for something of use. She spotted a silver shovel toward her left, to the edge of the crates. She crept slowly toward it as she heard Pansy kick a box away on the far side of the room. She swiftly snatched the shovel without a sound and hurried back to her spot behind the tarp.
The black-haired witch swayed closer to her. She muttered something under her breath and a spark of light fizzled on the tip of her wand.
"The worst part is you managed to convince poor Draco to care for you. He's going to be heartbroken once he finds out you died."
Draco! What time was it? Hermione tried to read the time on her watch, but it was pointless in the dim lighting. She looked back at Pansy, waiting for her to step just a bit closer. She crouched onto the balls of her feet to be ready.
Pansy stepped in just in front of her box and shot her spell at the wrong crate. Hermione lept into action driving the shovel into the side of her head. Pansy fell to the floor, dropping her wand. Hermione dove over Pansy to reach it. The two girls tumbled over each other, desperately trying to pry the wand from the other.
At one point, Pansy had managed to keep hold long enough to cast a spell that sent a loud bang into a corner of the room. Another curse flew from the wand and ricocheted off broken glass onto a crate, starting a fire. Pansy looked back at the fire for a split second. That second was all Hermione needed to yank the wand against her grasp. Pansy's wand snapped in half with a hiss.
"Urgh!" She screeched.
Hermione crawled back from her reaching again for the shovel, but Pansy was faster. The witch threw a large stone at her hand making her cry out in pain. Hermione tried to ignore her hand and rise from the floor. Pansy seemed to struggle just as much. Both witches were now on their feet, but Pansy held the shovel.
Hermione held her hand with the stone and tried to distance herself from Pansy. She ran toward the fire, catching the other witch by surprise. She could hear her steps catching up so she chucked the stone behind her. Thankfully, she heard Pansy stumble to the ground with a scream of frustration.
Hermione darted around the growing fire and tried to look for another way out. Pansy's shadow grew with the flames. She was cornered, figuratively and literally. She turned to watch as the witch swayed in front of her. Her dark hair had curled from the sweat and fighting.
The bottom of her dress was a dingey mauve and hung in tatters. With the frizz of jet-black curls framing her twisted smile, she looked truly terrifying. Hermione's heart pounded in her chest as she froze in her corner. Memories flashed in her mind of the truly twisted witch she seemed to emulate.
"What now Granger? All out of fight!" She shouted as she slammed the shovel into the shoulder that had been sliced.
Hermione gasped in pain and shrunk further back into the corner. She cradled her arm and tried to ease her breathing. Tears welled up in her eyes and she struggled to will them away.
"Aww," Pansy cooed. "Poor stupid mudblood. Don't worry, I don't think you'll be conscious for the rest of this."
As much as Hermione would've liked to say otherwise, Parkinson was right. Her body ached everywhere and she was losing a lot of blood. She couldn't give in though, she had to find a way.
The twisted witch before her mistook her struggle to focus for fear and laughed. She heard something crash, but then there was a ringing in her ear. She tried to focus again on the words coming from the creature before her.
"Say, how long do you think it'll take your friends to find you, Granger? After I kill you, I'll tell the others and they'll probably just throw you away. How long would you guess, one month? Two? When your body gets cold? Or when it finally starts to rot?"
Just as Hermione's vision began to haze, she saw a spell sliced through the air "Secta Sempra!"
.
"Very well then, let's do this one more time. Crucio."
Draco woke up with a shake of his arm. Zabini was gripping his left shoulder with a strained look in his eyes.
"He's awake," he called out.
His mother rushed over to him and offered him a blood-replenishing potion and water. He took both, holding the potion in his hand and downing all of the water. Once he took a moment to survey the room, he found he was sitting on a wooden chair in their kitchen.
He looked around the room and noticed the scattered pots and pans. "What happened here," he asked lamely.
His mother handed him a plate of grapes and crackers, urging him to eat. "Nevermind that, are you all right?"
He tried to nod his head then hissed in pain. The last thing he remembered was writhing on the floor of his father's study. The blond man looked around the room again and stiffened.
"Where's Lestrange?" He asked.
Blaise spoke up this time. "Your father is watching over him in the drawing room. It seems that even he has limits on the violence that is supposed to happen during this game."
Draco eased in the chair as his mother placed a cool rag on the back of his head.
"Awful pitiful man, hurting my son to make his life easier," his mother scolded.
Draco ate a few more grapes before coming to his senses. He brought up his wrist and checked the time.
3:00 am
"Hermione! Where is she, did you catch her?" He asked the two of them.
His mother wrung her hands and Blaise looked to the floor guiltily. Draco shot up from the chair, grabbed Blaise by his collar, and shoved him into the wall.
"Where. ." He spat.
Blaise sighed, "I'm not sure. All I know is Goyle is dead, and Pansy is missing."
That commotion he heard down the hall must've come from this room. That was why the floor was covered in broken dishes and pans. She's alive, but she might be with Pansy.
He threw Blaise to the side and started walking out the door. His mother caught his hand.
"Draco, please. You're putting your family at risk. You know what happens to us if we don't catch her before the sun rises," she pleaded softly.
He yanked his hand out of her hold with a sneer. "I don't care what the effects are. I don't care if we are descendants of the House of Black, you are no family to me mother."
She brought a hand to her mouth and wept. Draco turned and ran on his heels. He had to find her before Pansy did.
Draco followed the trail of broken dishes to the living area. His heart dropped when he saw the trail of blood. He slowed down and stepped over the shards as his eyes caught sight of his old friend. A flurry of emotions filled him, but he didn't have the time to mourn. He looked away and continued to follow the drops of blood down the steps.
Then he heard the scream from the stables.
Draco's feet pounded against the cropped grass. His heartbeat raced against his chest. It didn't sound like her, but screaming was never a good sign. As he got closer he saw the warm light and heat emitting from inside. He tried pulling the door, but it was stuck.
He felt around his shirt and thanked the gods that his wand was still in his sleeve. He sent a spell shattering the door and whipped his head around. His eyes were transfixed on the menacing dark creature in a corner of the stable. The crazed hair and tattered clothes sent a shiver down his spine.
He heard her taunt "After I kill you, I'll tell the others and they'll probably just throw you away. How long would you guess, one month? Two? When your body gets cold? Or when it finally starts to rot?"
Without another thought, he slashed his wand toward her figure and called out "Sectumsempra!"
Pansy's arms and chest began spilling out blood from where she had been sliced. She staggered backward before she collapsed on top of the hard ground. Draco shot a spell toward the fire behind her, before stepping over her.
He gathered Hermione into his arms and whispered several assurances. Her whole body was shaking with her cries. Tears streamed down her face as she shoved her head into his chest. Draco saw the red stains along her bodice and arm and hurried out of the building.
He ran as fast as he could without hurting her. The iron gates were just a few yards ahead. He mis stepped over a root poking out of the ground, making Hermione gasp in pain.
"Fuck! Fuck, fuck," he continued as he hid them being the tree.
He eased her onto the grass and pulled out the potion from his pocket. He could see her falling in and out of consciousness and held her face gently.
"No, no Hermione. Come on, I've got you, you're all right." He whispered.
When he saw her open her eyes again, he took that as his sign. He tried to still his shaky hands enough to administer the potion. He stilled just enough and poured the potion into her mouth. He watched to make sure she swallowed every drop.
"That's it, that's my girl. Come on Granger," he cooed.
She groaned and blinked a few times before coming to. Tears welled up in his eyes and he cradled her head into his chest. He placed several kisses on her hair before holding her face in his hands.
His voice wavered as he asked, "Hermione, you alright?"
The corner of her mouth rose in a smirk. "Did I hear you try to call me Granger again?"
He smiled as the last of his tears fell. He tried to hold her in his arms again, but she held out a hand to stop him.
"My arm, my arm is bruised but you need to check my shoulder. I have scissors in my bag," she said hoarsely.
Draco shifted the bag and summoned the fabric scissors out. He cautiously shifted Hermione's arm to cut the sleeve of her dress. It was soaked in blood. He ripped off two pieces of his sleeve and used one to dab away the dried blood.
"I'm so sorry Hermione, I-I can't even begin to beg for your forgiveness," he said mournfully.
"Don't then. Draco, your family is truly psychotic. I don't want you to ever complain about a single Weasley again."
He chuckled and wiped away some of his tears after he finished cleaning up the blood. Now that Hermione was conscious, it was easier to manage a healing spell. He calmed his breaths as he mended the gash in her shoulder. He followed with the cut above her brow.
"No, Draco, that's fine, we need to go now. We need to apparate," she insisted as she tried to stand.
She put weight on her bad hand and hissed again.
"Hermione, you need to be careful with yourself," he scolded, lifting her off the ground by her sides.
The new bride swayed on her feet and held her hands out on her sides to balance. She swatted away her husband's attempts to help her until she could confidently walk. They walked slowly toward the gate, trying to be mindful of Hermione's state. Once the iron was within reach Draco swished his wand to open it. It swung soundlessly, and Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Draco held the gate open for Hermione, she stumbled over the uneven grass and almost fell. Luckily for her, Draco had caught her by the waist and threw her good arm over his shoulder for support. She winced as he held her up and brought her hand to her chest.
"Okay, let's go," she said through pants of breath.
"Hermione, we can't apparate like this," he sighed.
She shook her head, but she knew he was right. "I'll be fine, you look alright enough. Cast the spell and let's go."
"Hermione," he said with a bit more authority. "If I try to apparate you like this you'll splinch. If you splinch there's no telling how much more damage will happen."
She shook her head wordlessly.
He took her face into his hands again and gazed into her eyes. "Hermione, I'm not going to risk your life trying to escape just after watching you almost die. I won't do it. We need to think of something else."
She turned away from him, shutting her eyes so tight pleading with herself to think of something. Anything.
"A patronus, cast a patronus!" He shouted.
Her eyes grew wide, and she smiled with glee. He tossed her his wand without a second thought. She'd used his wand a few times before and felt comfortable enough using it for charms. She hadn't performed the charm since the war but knew it by muscle memory. She extended the wand and breathed before doing the motions of the spell.
"Expecto Patronum!" She called out.
A small light fizzled from the wand, and she frowned. She tried again, trying to focus on her memory, but felt the panic rise in her chest. She cast it again, trying to think of a different one without her parents. Then she tried again. She tried two more times before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
A defeated, sullen expression marred her husband's face as he asked for the wand. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
She shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears again. "No, this I–I always was able to do…It's always worked. I–I don't I don't understand," she muttered as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Draco brought a hand to the back of her head and pet the back of her hair as she leaned into his chest. She sobbed into his jacket as he continued to try to soothe her. He muttered assurances into her hair that she knew were in vain. She felt something wet above her brow and brought a hand to it, pulling back when it stung. The cut above her brow she didn't let him heal must've reopened.
She let him he'll her as she wiped away the last of her tears.
"Maybe we could–" but she stopped at his expression.
His eyes were tired and resigned. His brows scrunched in the lingering worry as he looked into her own eyes.
Her expression began to mirror his own. She knew she knew what he wanted to say. She could feel it as the sky stayed dark above them.
"I love you Draco," she whispered.
He pressed his soft lips against hers. He could taste the saltiness of the tears that had fallen down her cheeks onto her lips. She pushed against him more, hungrily, passionately. As if she had something to prove. She threw her good arm over his shoulder and pulled him closer to her. She broke away to pepper kisses on his cheeks and jaw.
He caught his breath and caressed the side of her face. She stopped to look back at him. She saw his eyes flit back to the gate behind them before focusing on her.
"I love you, Hermione. No matter what happens in the next few hours. I need you to know I love you," he said.
She nodded and opened her mouth to say something. He pressed his fingers against her lips. Nature stilled. His gaze shifted to something behind her and she finally heard the steps approaching them.
"You see Rodolphus, now isn't this much easier?" A haughty voice asked.
A/N: Hey guys... LOL so I finished this story if anyone is reading it on here. I'll post the last chapters rn sorry! Much Love though ~Unconsciouslyreading