Haunted

Hermione could feel the sweat dripping down her face, felt the pain in her arms, the heat from the Shield Charm she was holding up to keep the Death Eaters at bay. Every spell they aimed at her hit her like a blunt ax, but the advanced charm she’d labored over for weeks was holding strong. She’d backed herself into a corner of the dining room, drawing the Death Eaters to her. She’d heard no sound that made her think her parents were here. It was as she’d thought; Lucius had taken them to Malfoy Manor and she she’d triggered an alarm by walking on the premises of her childhood home. She’d made her way through the familiar living room by touch and memory. He mother hadn’t changed anything since she’d been born; she doubted very much whether Yvonne had started redecorating now. By the time she’d made it through to the dining room the sound of Aparition filled her ears and she’d waited for the first spell. It had come, missing her and whizzing past to hit the wall behind her. She’d tried bargaining, tried begging and soon realized that it was not indeed a trap for Harry.

It was a trap for her.

Hermione didn’t know what they wanted with her, she didn’t know who was there, how many there were or even that the others were at Malfoy Manor hoping to find her. The only thing she knew was that she could not fight them without sight and the only thing she had left to do was stall as long as possible in hopes that the others had retrieved her parents and taken them to safety. When her strength ran out, well, that was the end of it, she supposed. She didn’t have much hope that they would find her here, they probably figured she was being held captive at the Manor. But there were at least six different Death Eaters there, possibly more. She’d heard those different voices. That meant there were six less Death Eaters for the others to defend themselves against. It was all she could give them.

Now, Hermione knew nothing but the roaring of blood in her ears, the sounds of spells crashing against her. The charm was flawless once she had her back to the corner. Only one spell was able to penetrate and Hermione wondered why they had yet to use it. Nothing could stop the Killing Curse, except, perhaps, Harry’s mother’s love. But Hermione didn’t fool herself. She knew when they hit her with the Killing Curse, that was it. What she didn’t understand was why they had spared her so far.

A crash broke through the other noises around her and the spells desisted. She heard a scream, an oddly familiar one. And then the same voice said something that made her blood run cold.

“Draco! Oh, gods, you killed him!”

It was Ginny. There was no mistaking it. Hermione lowered her shield and crawled towards the voice who was now sobbing even as she screamed a Stunner.

“Ginny!” Hermione called. “Ginny, get out of here!”

“Hermione? Stupefy!”

A thump let Hermione know that her friend had hit her mark.

“Ginny, get Malfoy and run!” A crash behind her signaled her luck was running thin as the table behind her blew up, shards of wood flying through the air and pelting her as she dove to the floor and threw up another shield just in time to block a spell. Her heart hammered so hard in her chest she was hard put to hear anything but the erratic beats. Terror swept through her with the knowledge that there was nothing she could do to help her friends and they had come here to save her.

She rolled to dodge any spells that might be headed her way and crawled back towards the living room.

“Hermione, behind you!”

Hermione kicked out and caught a Death Eater somewhere around the knee region. She put up another shield charm and continued moving towards where she had last heard Ginny. She took it down to yell at her.

“Ginny, get out! Now!”

“Not without you! Get back to headquarters!”

She didn’t have time to answer as she was hit with the Impediment Jinx and her body slumped to the floor. Ginny screamed a Freezing Charm and a body hit the ground somewhere behind her. From the sounds of it, there were much more than six Death Eaters and Ginny was left to duel them alone. Was Malfoy really dead?

The spell wore off slowly and Hermione reached for the coffee table, taking shelter beneath it and using her ears to sense where the danger lay. Ginny was making noise somewhere to her left, leaving the right side full of intruders. A scuff of a shoe on carpet announced a threat by her left knee and she pointed her wand at it.

“Stupefy!”

The threat went down and Ginny screamed “Reducto!”. An explosion went off behind Hermione near the kitchen and yells told her that the spell had done damage. Hermione had to get to Ginny, had to find Draco, get them out of here.

“Ginny! Where’s Malfoy?”

“By the door! He’s not moving!”

Hermione knew that the living room door was to her upper left so she rolled out from under the table, putting up another Shield Charm. She crawled towards the wall so she could use it to find the door more easily. She grasped the edge of the window and continued along the wall, holding up the charm all the while. Ginny screamed and she took down the shield to better hear her.

“Ginny!”

“She can’t hear you now, Mudblood,” a cold voice sneered. She recognized it, but couldn’t place it.

“Let her go,” she said, her voice level even though she shook with fear. “Just let she and Draco go and I’ll come with you.”

“You’re not exactly in the position to bargain, my blind little Muggle. Why don’t you stand up and face us properly instead of crawling on the floor like the bitch coward you are?”

Dolohov. Antonin Dolohov. She finally recognized the voice.

“Let her go,” she repeated. “I won’t fight. I will give you my wand. Just let her go.”

“No,” Ginny moaned. She sounded groggy. “Hermione, to your left. Grab Dr-,”

She screamed and Hermione jerked, knowing that she was being tortured.

“Stop!” she screamed. “Stop it!”

A spell hit her and she smashed into the wall as pain consumed her. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. She was on fire, every inch of her. She’d been hit by a Cruciatus before, but this wasn’t it. She screamed in agony and beat at her body to get rid of the non-existent flames. When it ended her skin boiled still, but she could think.

“Listen up, Muggle,” the raspy voice of Dolohov threatened. “We will free your little friend here if you promise us one thing.”

“What do you want?” she gasped. Would the burn never ease?

“Give us the boy.”

“I will never give you Harry!” she screamed back. She would find another way, there had to be another way!

“Not Harry. Draco.”

Hermione stilled. What could they possibly want with him? Could she give up Draco for Ginny? A part of her ached for Ginny’s safety, but she knew she couldn’t willingly sacrifice that bastard for her, even if she hated him with every fiber of her being.

Unless…

“Done.”

She crawled to her left where Ginny had said Draco lie. She felt around and caught his arm. Still warm. He couldn’t be dead, they wouldn’t ask for him otherwise.

“Give me Ginny, I want to make sure she’s safe,” Hermione demanded. They hesitated and she knew they were deciding whether to humor her or not. She heard a loud thump next to her and reached out her right hand, feeling Ginny’s features, making sure it was she and not an imposter.

“Ennervate” she muttered and heard Ginny gasp beside her. Hermione took a deep breath and hoped she had the strength to pull this off.

“Gin, I need to you Aparate back to Headquarters,” she said, knowing the girl would refuse. She hoped for a loud scene. She was not disappointed.

“No, Hermione!” Ginny stormed to her feet, probably in a protective stance in front of her and Draco. Perfect. Pointing her wand at her shoe she muttered “Portus” as quietly as possible while Ginny yelled at the Death Eaters about “going through me first”.

“Ginny! Listen to me!” she said. “There’s no time. Give me your hand.”

“What?”

“Give me your hand!” Hermione ripped off her shoe at the same time and, grabbing Ginny’s hand, slapped it into her palm. She felt it vibrating and heard shouts. Hermione shoved Ginny roughly to the floor so that she landed on top of Draco and with a whoosh, knew they had gone. She threw up a Shield Charm as fast as possible, obtaining a Stinging Hex before she could. The spells rained down on her and she grunted with the effort to keep it up. How could she do this? There wasn’t a second between spells! Her mind raced and she finally came to the only conclusion she could find. With a loud yell she forced her power out, swinging her arms wide and for a second, the spells stopped, yells rang out and she knew it must have worked. Turning on the spot she thought of the kitchen at Grimmauld Place and felt the sucking sensation that accompanied Apparition. She landed hard and a cry went out. Arms surrounded her and lips descended upon her own. Stunned, she pulled back and her arms came up to strong shoulders and the smell of Malfoy assaulted her. Before she could draw a coherent thought, his lips were on hers again and her body reacted, warming and sparking, a strange and not unpleasant sensation stirring low in her belly. She found herself aching for more, her lips moved against his, her arms drew him closer. She was completely lost in the visceral sensation, her heart pounding from adrenaline and lust, until someone cleared their throat. Hermione shot away from him as if she’d been shocked, and indeed she felt as if she had. She crawled backwards away from him and her hand came to her mouth, feeling the plumpness of her lips which were still tingling from their encounter.

“What was that?” she breathed, but other hands were on her a second later, cupping her face, smoothing back her hair, feeling her arms.

“Are you alright? Oh my gods, Hermione, I was so scared!” Ginny cried. “Can you stand?”

She nodded jerkily and Ginny helped her up before easing her into a chair and shoving something in her hand. She vaguely heard Ginny mutter “Aguamenti!” and “It’s water, try sipping it.” Her mind was on fast forward, her heart still speeding in her chest. She shakily brought the glass to her lips and sipped as much as she spilled down her front before setting it down as a lost cause. She hugged herself as the sounds of Ginny helping Draco-no, no, Malfoy- into a chair filled her ears, warring with the blood rushing in them. Then she heard Ginny say “Stay right here, I’m going to get mum.” With a pop she was gone and Hermione was stuck in an awkward silence with him. After barely thirty seconds she couldn’t stand anymore and stood, her knees like jelly. She wasn’t sure if she’d make it all the way to her room, but anywhere away from Malfoy was worth it.

“Granger, sit down, you look about to faint,” he said, his voice infuriatingly calm. She didn’t listen, but started forward on her unsteady legs. He cursed. “Look, if I leave, will you stay?” She paused. “Sit down, Granger, before you fall down.”

He was right. Her legs wouldn’t hold her much longer. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off her body was starting to feel every spell and fall and every ounce of power she had used to ward off the Death Eaters, not to mention the utter shock of Malfoy kissing her. She clambered back clumsily, finally finding her seat and sinking heavily into it. Her heart slowed and with it, all the strength left her muscles.

“You said you’d leave,” she reminded him.

“I’m not known for keeping promises now, am I?”

Hermione swore and started to get up again but sounds of Apparition filled the room. She was quickly bombarded by hands and voices and questions and tears. Mrs. Weasley was finally given the forefront to look her over and once she passed examination, the questions began anew. Hermione longed to simply close her eyes and allow the bliss of sleep to claim her, but she had to know.

“Where are my parents?” she asked, tears threatening as she thought of them at the hands of those sick bastards.

“At St. Mungo’s, dear,” Mrs. Weasley said. “I just saw them. They are quite alright and anxious to see you.”

Relief stole through Hermione so hard that any strength left in her flew away with it. She let out a sob and was taken into warm arms that smelled like butterscotch and thyme.

“Thank you,” she said wearily, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She pulled away from Mrs. Weasley and asked to be brought to them. They agreed as long as she consented to a quick examination by a Healer. Hermione didn’t care; she just wanted to see her parents.

Lupin escorted her to St. Mungo’s, drawing her through the busy halls and providing support to her tired body. Hermione twitched at every sound, worried she might run into something. Remus assured her he wouldn’t let her bump anything but the sensation was utterly uncomfortable. For once she wished she had her walking stick and instead clung to Remus’ arm for dear life. When she was led into the room she heard her mother cry out, her father yell. She was bombarded by her sobbing mother while her father held them both. Hermione tried, and failed, to keep the tears away. She dug her face into her mother’s ratty hair, knowing it looked exactly like hers, bushy and out of control. The shudders resounding throughout her father’s body settled what she already knew in her heart.

She turned towards Lupin. “Could you give us a minute?” she asked.

“Honey, who are you talking to?” her mother asked, her voice nasally from crying.

“I-Remus,” she answered confused.

“He left a few moments ago,” her father said. “Do you see him around?”

“No, dad, I don’t,” she replied sadly. “Can you two sit down for a moment?”

She felt her mother hesitate and knew the look her father was giving her. Finally, they moved and she followed the sound of their feet. A squeak told her they had settled on one of the beds.

“Are you two sitting together?” she asked, wanting them to be close.

“Of course, dear, you’re looking right at us, you can see. What has gotten into you?” he mother asked, her voice nearing hysterics.

“Mum, I’m blind. I can’t see anything.”

She gasped and choked out a ragged “No!”. Hermione’s heart broke at the sound and hated knowing what she had to do. She fingered her wand lightly and looked at what she hoped was their faces.

“You know I love you both very much, right?”

“Of course, dear,” her father said. “Hermione, you are acting very strange. What is going on? How did you become blind? Why didn’t you answer the letter right away?”

“I didn’t answer the letter because I couldn’t read it. I had a friend read it to me this morning, that’s how I knew what was going on. I’m so sorry for bringing you guys into this. Do you trust me?”

“Hermione, enough of this! You need to come home with us!” her mother cried. “We’ve been understanding through all this but I will not tolerate it anymore. You’re blind! This is what they’ve done to you!”

“Mother, it was my choice to take that mission!” she said, exasperated. “This is a war, not some silly game! It’s a war about me and my kind-,”

“You’re not like them,” she said, sniffling. “You didn’t grow up in that world.”

“And that’s exactly what I’m fighting for! I’m fighting for the right of Muggle-borns to belong as much as any other Pureblooded wizard! Don’t you see, mum? This is my world now! I can’t leave it. I’m going to stand by Harry.”

They were silent and she felt her stomach twisting. “Now, I need you to trust me. I have to perform a quick spell on you to make sure they didn’t do any permanent spell damage while they had you.”

“But how will you be able to perform magic without seeing?” her mother asked.

“I don’t have to see you. Dad, take my hand so I know exactly where you are sitting,” she said, sticking out her left hand. Her father took it silently and Hermione stepped forward and to her left, reaching to touch his face and aimed her wand at his forehead. “This will make you a little confused for a moment, but then you’ll be all better. Alright?” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

“Hermione, why don’t you just let the doctors do it?” her dad asked.

“Because I don’t trust anyone else with your care,” she answered, hating how easily it came out.

“You’re sure you can do this?” her mother asked. Her mother had never doubted her before last year. She’d changed with the brutality of the situation Hermione was thrust into.

“Of course, mum,” she said. “Are you ready, dad?”

“As I’ll ever be,” he answered. “Will it hurt?”

“Not at all,” she said and took a deep breath to hold back the tears. “Obliviate!”

She thought back to before she was born, erasing herself from his memory at all. She felt him start and she moved on to her mother.

“Who are you?” her father asked. “Yvonne, where are we?”

“Hermione, what’s wrong with him?” her mother asked worriedly.

“It’s just a symptom, mum, it’ll go away in a few moments. Take my hand.”

Her mother’s fingers were cold as always. She’d sometimes wondered if her patients ever complained about the icy digits. Maybe it felt good compared to all the yanking and stabbing on their gums. She found her mother’s face and raised her wand.

“Get away from my wife! What are you doing?” her father shouted.

“Doug, Doug, it’s alright, dear,” her mother said. “It’s your-,”

“Obliviate!”

Her father roared and, with great regret, Hermione Stunned him and then her mother. Her father fell back on the bed but her mother flew forward into Hermione and she had to wrestle her back onto the mattress. She felt for her mother’s forehead and implanted a false life of the two of them continuing on as dentists and a car accident on their way to the airport heading for the states as the reason they were here. She did the same to her father and backed away, running into a cart and tripping, sending it all crashing to the floor. She let out a great sob and threw her wand as far from her as she could, disgusted with herself. She lay on the cold floor and cried. Even when the Healers came in, screaming and surrounding her, even when Lupin scooped her up from the floor and begged her to explain what happened. She couldn’t say anything except, “Please, don’t wake them up.” She was taken to her own room to be evaluated and as she was levitated onto a hard surface, she closed her blind eyes and willed sleep to take over.

*********************************************************

XOXO

RynStar15

yourcookiedoughbaby@yahoo.com