Dark Mark

Chapter 13


Albus Dumbledore hurried along the corridor toward the room that was doubling as a holding cell for Barty Crouch Jr, reassuring Minerva McGonagall that the shouting they were hearing was nothing to be concerned about despite his own misgivings. Crouch was clearly insane, there was no question about that since his trial; having him here in the castle was unnerving and Dumbledore would be glad to be rid of him, the sooner the better.

Severus Snape followed closely behind, his wand drawn, his stern expression doing nothing to mask his solid determination to deal with whatever problem might present itself once the cell door opened. He didn't speak, the heavy rustling of his black robes the only sound that gave away his presence behind the chattering pair. Argus Filch trailed along beside him.

A passing student had been the first to notice something was amiss. Observing that no guard was posted outside the cell door, he had returned to his common room and mentioned the anomoly to a Prefect. The Prefect had in turn mentioned it to a friend from another House, a Gryffindor who added this bit of information to the fact that Hermione Granger had never come down for breakfast and deduced that the two might be related. Within minutes the two Houses were abuzz with excitement---the Deatheater had escaped and was loose in the castle! Hermione Granger was dead! The students were being picked off one by one and Dumbledore was missing!

By the time the crazy rumors reached Albus Dumbledore's office, Filch was reporting the sound of crazed screaming coming from the holding cell and a hasty investigative crew consisting of himself, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape was assembled. McGonagall had come to report Granger's missing status, and Snape, standing outside the Headmaster's office when Filch ran hotfooting past him, was immediately recruited.

The screaming could be heard long before the group reached the door to the cell. Furniture was being smashed against walls and Crouch was yelling himself hoarse, shouting curses and gibberish; on a small motion from Dumbledore Filch stepped forward to unlock the door and found it charmed.

"Key won't open it, Headmaster," he said, moving out of the way so Snape could step forward. Wand flashing, he uttered "Alohamora", and the door swung free. Marching into the room with his wand held at the ready like a six-gun, the Potions master surveyed the situation quickly with his keen eyes.

Hermione could have died from the humiliation.

Barty stopped dead in his tracks, holding a chair over his head, staring at Snape with crazed malice showing plainly on his face. Hermione was a few feet away, sitting on the edge of the bed, petrified but still able to watch the goings-on around her. She was clothed in only her torn uniform shirt, hanging open in a most immodest fashion; the buttons were scattered across the floor, peppering the piles of what remained of her clothing.

Shit. Snape WOULD be the one to come.

Three wands pointed at Barty. One wand---Hermione's, in Barty's hand---pointed back.

No one spoke for what seemed like an eternity, as all eyes surveyed the situation and tried to make heads or tails of it. Hermione silently suffered the embarassment of Snape and Filch's gazes until McGonagall regathered her wits and turned her wand to the petrified girl, casting Petrificus Reversicus and rushing to catch her as the spell was broken and she fell to the floor. Barty was raging again, threatening to begin the Unforgiveables as he and Snape faced off with each other, wands ready, pure hatred showing on each man's face.

"NO!!"

Hermione lunged at Barty, throwing herself between him and Snape, oblivious to her mostly unclothed state as she swatted at Snape's wand, trying to get him to lower it.

Severus seemed momentarily confused; Crouch seized the moment and grabbed Hermione around the neck, dragging her backwards across the room in front of him, turning her own wand against her once again.

"I leave or she dies," he snarled.

"No don't believe him!!" Hermione yelled, holding her hands out in front of her as if to block any spells that might be cast at Barty. "He's covering for me!"

Pure bafflement spread across the faces of Snape and McGonagall; Dumbledore remained expressionless.

Barty spoke again, his voice hissing with malice. "You heard me---I walk out and she lives!"

"NO, I'm here willingly, I'm not his prisoner!"

"Look at her! Look at her clothes---can't you people spot a rape when you see one?!"

Hermione shook her head frantically.

"No, listen to me Headmaster, I came here of my own accord, he's covering for me so I won't get in trouble for sneaking around and breaking in here. I stupefied the guard, that was me!"

Barty spun her around, his eyes blazing. "What are you doing?!? I'm dead serious here, I'll kill you if I have to!"

Hermione's eyes were wet with tears. "No you won't. You won't, because I love you...and I think you love me, as well."

The rage left Crouch's eyes, replaced momentarily by a softness that looked suspiciously to Hermione like affection. Maybe love. It was hard to tell, with all those other eyes boring into them.

She turned around, feeling Barty's hands leave her throat as he lowered her wand to his side. Good, he bought it...now to convince the others. She kept herself positioned in front of him, just in case anyone was taken by the notion to fire off a jinx at him before she got the chance to clear things up.

"Headmaster, I'm telling the truth...I came here last night to spend the night with Barty. He didn't coerce me or force me in any way---he didn't even ask me to come here. I stupified the guard---"

Everyone looked at the frozen sixth year, propped against the wall by the shaded window, as if noticing him for the first time. Dumbledore nodded to McGonagall, who raised her wand and unstupified him with a flick.

"---and then this morning when I mentioned that I would get in trouble if I was found out, Barty petrified me so that he could convince you he was to blame. He's not going to hurt anyone...."

She cast a meaningful glare at Barty.

"---ARE you?"

Barty was staring wide eyed, trying to figure out what was happening. Why was the girl doing this?? Hermione was silently mouthing something at him, her back to the others so no one could see it but him...Cleansing or execution, it's your choice.

"Umm...yes, what she said."

Hermione's glare turned threatening.

"I mean...no, I don't want her to be in any trouble because of me...this was the only way I could think of to keep her from suffering the consequences of---"

He couldn't take his eyes off Hermione's face, so beautiful and caring, risking her own reputation and school career to keep him off the Aveda Kedavra list.

"---of...our....um..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Yes, Bartemius?"

Barty gazed deeply into the warm brown eyes of the girl standing between himself and certain death.

"Of our love."

McGonagall gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. Snape harumphed, shaking his head in disgust. Filch snorted.

"You see, Headmaster? He's so willing to leave his past behind that he was ready to risk it all to protect me. He's truly reformed, isn't it obvious?" She bit her lip, hoping to god Dumbledore bought her story. She didn't care about McGonagall and Snape---the Headmaster was the only one that she needed to lasso in.

"Headmaster," Snape interjected, his voice dripping with sardonic annoyance, "Might I suggest that this is simply a ploy to avoid the procedure? If you will recall, this man is a convicted Deatheater and a criminal against all wizardkind...it wouldn't be much of a stretch for him to have concocted this scheme and involved the girl with no regard for her safety or wellbeing---"

"He did no such thing! Headmaster, you have to believe me!!"

Albus Dumbledore raised his hands, shushing everyone with a gentle gesture. He appeared to be thinking for a long moment; when he spoke, his voice was quiet and reverent.

"It is my decision that the procedure will commence at first opportunity. I feel Mister Crouch is a good candidate for the Cleansing; let us hope he is successful in his reformation."

Hermione sighed with relief. Barty was standing behind her, not moving, his face a mask of apprehension mixed with terror.

"You owe me," Hermione whispered at him. "I saved your skin!"

"And it is also my decision that Miss Granger shall be required to go with Mister Crouch when he leaves us after the procedure."

"Wha---?"

"And that is my final word on the matter."

Dumbledore and Snape turned and left the room, followed by a clucking Filch; McGonagall cast Hermione a mournful look and started to reach for her, but stopped suddenly and dropped her arms to her sides. A moment later she spun and, robes swirling around her legs, rushed out of the cell.

The sixth year, totally confused about what had just transpired, flashed a weak smile at Hermione and hurried after McGonagall.

A long quiet moment passed while Hermione digested what Dumbledore said. When it had finally sunk in, she looked at Barty in horror, her eyes flowing freely with copious tears.

"I have to leave?"

Barty reached out and took her into his arms, holding her against his chest while he stroked her hair. His own head was reeling with the reality of what had just happened. The girl had saved his ass.

He owed her.

"It's alright," he whispered into her hair. "I'll look after you."

Hermione turned her face up to his, the horrified expression replaced now with one of anger.

"Damn straight you will, since this is all your fault to begin with! I had a career lined up, a bright shiny future, and now it's all chucked into the bin because I had to save your scrawny arse. YOU OWE ME!!!!"

"Yes, I know I do," Barty said quietly, pulling her to him again. "I'll pay you back somehow, I promise."

Hermione sniffled, wiping her eyes on the front of his shirt. "You can start by making sure that the procedure doesn't take away ALL of your wicked tendencies," she chided. "It was your evil that attracted me in the first place, you know."

Barty smiled. Something was flickering in his chest, something warm and cozy and comfortable and exciting, something that threatened at any moment to ignite into a fullblown conflagration that would consume him entirely.

For the second time in his life, he was actually, undeniably, absolutely in love.

Filch appeared in the doorway.

"I've come to fetch you for the procedure."


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