Punishment?

Thank you to my reviewers, as always!

The older members of the Order had no doubts as to where Ginny, Ron and Harry had gone. Snape sneered about their stupidity and slowly, while the others shook their heads and passed their impulsiveness off on youthful hormones, though their disappointment was obvious. Snape shook his head and sank into a chair.

“There was something else...something I didn't tell them because I couldn't trust Potter not to react even more stupidly than he already has.” The others looked at him curiously, pausing in their efforts to form a plan to stop the three youths.

“Something else?” Remus surveyed Snape on the brink of anger.

“Before Hermione used her wand on herself she-” Snape sighed and glanced around, as if afraid of attack, “she told him she loved him.”

The reaction was just as he had expected as protests spilled forth from everyone in the room.

“She'd been tortured and bewitched into thinking it... she can't really love him.” Molly said stubbornly, arms folded and face disbelieving.

“I'm not sure... she wasn't bewitched in any way and she behaved... differently than would be expected. If she still feels the same way now that she's out of danger there is a chance that, well, that she does love him.” A stunned silence filled the room and slowly the members removed themselves to think about it alone.


Hermione, however, seemed to be recovering more and more of her mind, reading incessantly and casting spells with a borrowed wand. She still refused to talk about what had happened to her at the Manor, and would not explain the true extent of her fury when she found out where her three friends had gone. She grew quieter and more withdrawn with each day that passed after she was told, though the others put it down to fear for the safety of her friends.

“Now that she's recovered her mind I think the effect of the torture has worn off.” Snape explained to sighs of relief.

“It's true she hasn't mentioned him, or reacted oddly at his name.” Remus agreed solemly. Even though this news calmed everyone, tension still remained at the absence of Ron, Ginny and Harry.


Finally, three days after they left, they returned triumphantly, a bound and gagged Lucius dragged between them. The house exploded into angry rebukes and frustrated moans as the older members realised the true stupidity of the three. They were impervious, however, and proudly dragged Lucius up the stairs and into Hermione's bedroom. She gasped and flung herself out of bed as they dropped him at the foot of her bed.

“What have you done?” She rushed forward and felt for a pulse, while the three triumphant grins faltered slightly.

“Well, we bought him back here for you to get revenge...” Ron looked at Hermione, confused.

“Revenge? What made you think I wanted revenge?” Hermione glared at the two boys, who shuffled nervously.

“Hermione, he...he raped you.” Ginny whispered as if Hermione had lost her mind. Hermione shook her head and tears filled her eyes.

“He didn't.... I.... asked him to.” She hung her head as the boys bellowed and Ginny sunk onto the bed, shocked.