Taking Over Me

Chapter Seven - A Little Ray of Hope

Faith watched as Affinity and Hermione snuck back into the parlor, an accomplished look on her face.

What did you do? Why are they going back? Why aren't you stopping them? Melly demanded.

Chill, girl! I know what I'm doing. Didn't you want them to find Potter?

Yes, but -

Then just watch and learn from the master sneaker.

"Journey," Faith snapped. Immediately, the young house elf appeared, bowing. "Go into the dungeons."

"Yes, ma'am," Journey squeaked.

"When you see the two visitors," continued Faith, "tell them that the only way they are to survive the Malfoys is to hide in the kitchen. No one goes in there except for you."

"Miss?" Journey asked, confused.

Faith kneeled down so she was eye level with Journey. "Pretend to be their friends. If they want something, give it to them. The only exceptions for that is escape, and the truth. If they ask why you're helping them," she paused and thought. What would she say to them? What should she say to them? "Tell them that you are like Dobby."

And Harry will know exactly what she's talking about then.

"And Potter will know exactly what you're talking about then," Faith repeated.

"How does Miss know about Dobby?"

I always know what's going on with the house elves.

"I always know what's going on with the house elves," Faith said.

Journey bowed and popped away.

You had this planned out from the beginning, didn't you? Faith asked.

Why? You like my plan?

It's almost perfect.

Almost?

Nothing's perfect, you should know that.

Right.

---

"Help me open this, Hermione."

"We're so going to get caught."

"Quit worrying! There. I knew there was something behind this."

"A secret passage."

"Yes, thank you, Hermione, for pointing out the obvious."

Hermione paled as Affinity stepped in. Hermione grabbed her arm and pulled her out.

"What're you doing?" Hermione hissed.

"Do you want to find Harry and Ron, or not," Affinity spat. "I'll bet all my galleons they're in there! I'll bet all my money! They are in there, I know it."

Hermione bit her lip. She wanted Harry and Ron back just as much as Affinity wanted to be rich, famous, and married to Ron, which was pretty special for her.

Affinity continued to walk farther into the dungeons. Hermione sighed and followed. They walked a fair bit before they heard someone talking behind them.

"How did this get open?" Melly shouted, probably talking to someone else.

Hermione jumped and clung to Affinity. She wasn't an Auror, so she wasn't trained well for this. Affinity shushed her and they both watched as Melly closed the secret door shut tight.

"Great," Hermione squeaked. "We're trapped!"

"Only another clue that leads to Harry and Ron," Affinity said as she whipped out her wand and lit it.

---

Harry sat in his cell, praying for Ron's and Mala's health. He couldn't bear the sound of Ron's screaming, and he didn't think he'd be able to hear Mala scream.

He heard every word that Ron and Mala shared. At least a muggle was a better match for Ron than Melly. Melly was a death eater! How could Ron even think about falling for her? It would be like falling into the dark side altogether.

"How did this get open?" Harry heard Melly shout. Now, why did she shout like that? He'd notice she's been acting strange since she left Mala's cell.

"Great," a familiar squeak said. "We're trapped!"

"Only another clue that leads to Harry and Ron," another familiar voice stated. Harry's eyes widened as he saw a glow of green light emit from one end of the dungeons.

He quickly stood up and ran to the door, grasping the cell bars until his knuckles turned white, wanting to see his fiancee once again.

"Stop" the other said.

Harry held his breath. Why? He didn't know. He shook his head.

"What?" Hermione asked, her voice shaking. Harry smiled as he recognized her shaky voice.

"I heard something," the other whispered.

"What was it?" Hermione whispered back.

"I-I don't know."

"It's me!" Harry wanted to yell, but somehow couldn't get his voice out. He bit his lip and sighed in frustration.

"There it is again," the other whispered harshly. "Stay behind me, Hermione. I don't know what kind of trap or something these Malfoys have down here."

"Well, we're stuck in here. Is that a trap enough?"

"Hush."

"Hermione," Harry croaked. He hadn't had any water for sometime, he'd noticed. He heard her gasp. "Hermione!"

"Harry?" Hermione screeched.

---

Hermione pushed past Affinity and ran to where she heard his voice. She ran until she saw his hand waving out at her.

She grabbed his hand, stopping in front of his cell. "Harry," Hermione said, apologetically.

He smiled at her and placed his hands on her cheeks, wiping away her tears that she didn't know started to run down her cheeks. She didn't care. Harry was here! Right in front of her stood her love, only a bar cell door standing between them.

"How did you find me?" Harry asked, glancing up at Affinity who had walked up behind her.

"Harry," was all Hermione could say. She missed him so much. She leaned forward and placed her lips on his. How did she miss his kiss!

Harry smiled, she could tell, as he tried to push himself on her, but failed miserably, hating the bars in between them.

Affinity cleared her throat. Harry and Hermione slowly pulled away, both smiling at each other once again.

"I hate to break you up, don't look at me like that, Harry. Where's Ron?" Affinity asked.

Harry looked down. "He's probably sleeping now."

"Where is he?" Affinity asked again.

Harry jerked his head towards Ron's cell.

---

Mala slowly opened her eyes. She groaned, and tried to push herself up, it didn't work. She fell onto her stomach hard, gasping as the pain hit her chin. She had never been Crucio'd - as her fellow dungeon mates and the other witches and wizards call it - this hard before.

It hurt as much as anything, more than anything to be exact. She didn't think it'd get that bad.

She flinched - painfully - as there was a sudden gasp.

"What happened to him?" a stranger demanded. Mala could hear the stranger start pulling on the cell door of Ron's cell. "How the hell do I get in?"

"There's no lock on these," another stranger added. Mala could tell they were women. Witches, most likely.

"I don't know," she another say. She'd heard him talk before, stopping Melly from killing her. Mala didn't get his name, though. "They just walk right in."

"There has to be a way," the first stranger pondered in a low tone. "Ron?" she called. "Ron! Wake up! Wake up!"

"Why won't he wake up, Harry?" the second stranger asked.

"I don't know," the third said, whom Mala had assumed his name is Harry, since that is what the second stranger called him. "I don't know what Malfoy did to him."

Mala struggled to sit up. She couldn't help feeling bad for the strangers. The first was throwing strange languaged word after strange languaged word, all ending with a flash of some different color of light and a frustrated growl.

She bit her lip as she tried to stand, falling onto the wall, holding herself up with all her might, and began walking to the door. She finally reached it, grabbing onto one of the bars, and falling from cause of her legs failing.

One of the strangers gasped at the sound of Mala falling onto the bars and groaning in pain.

She opened her mouth, and spoke with a horrible raspy voice. "Don't touch the handle," she rasped.

"Mala?" Harry said. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Do as I say, and don't touch the handle!" Mala repeated.

"Who are you?" the first stranger asked, walking hesitantly up to her cell.

"M-mala," Mala replied.

The first stranger came into view in front of Mala's cell, a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Mala stared up at her, her eyes glowing. She hadn't seen anyone so angelic. And the other stranger, who had joined the first, looked as angelic as the first.

"Are you witches?" she asked hesitantly. The first stranger nodded, as did the second. Mala's face paled, and all her adoration to these strangers was gone. Mala threw herself off the door, and landed on the floor hard. "Please, don't punish me!" she begged. "I didn't mean to talk out of permission. Please!"

The two strangers looked at each other. "What are you talking about?" the second asked. "We aren't going to punish you."

Mala looked up at them. "No?"

"No," the first said.

"What do you want with me?"

"First, I'd like to ask your name, miss," the first said.

"Mala Amaryllis," Mala replied.

---

"Mala," Hermione said, stepping in front of Affinity. Obviously, Affinity's Auror talk won't get this girl to trust the two. "My name is Hermione. Hermione Granger. This is Affinity Holder. We are here to get you all out of here."

"Well, we weren't planning on having an extra person," Affinity told Hermione. "How do you know she won't slow us down trying to get out of here?"

"The exit is right outside the parlor. We can make it with her," Hermione argued.

"Harry and Ron have been gone for a full week!" Affinity countered. "They will need us to help them. This girl will only be a burden!"

"I won't be a burden!" Mala quickly, standing up and walking to the bars. "I can tell you how to get them out."

Affinity stopped glaring at Hermione and quickly shifted to Mala. "You can? How?"

Before Mala could answer, there was a small pop and a tiny squeaky gasp.

"What are two Misses doing here? They should not be here!"

Hermione turned around and saw the tiny elf that had offered them tea earlier. Hermione was about to object when there was a loud scraping sound. So loud Affinity and Hermione had to cover their ears. The prisoners had gotten used to it.

The elf gasped. "Misses should follow me!" she squeaked.

"Draco! Leave me alone! I need to find Journey!" Melly's voice proceeded through the halls.

"How do you know she's in there?" Draco responded.

"Because, I've looked everywhere else!"

"Come, follow me," the elf whispered. Affinity, without hesitation, followed her. Hermione looked at Mala, Harry, and Ron's cell.

"You must go," Mala whispered quickly. "You don't want to know what Miss Malfoy would do if she found you in here."

Hermione nodded and ran to Harry's cell. She grabbed his hand, and squeezed. They whispered "I love you" to each other, and Hermione disappeared into the darkness, following the elf and Affinity.

---

"And also because I'm the one who sent her in there," Melly muttered.

"Well, I think the darkness and depression of the dungeons would do me some good," Draco responded, following her. "Can I spit on Weasley again? For old time's sake?"

"Do whatever you please," Melly growled.

Having a bad day? Faith teased.

Shut up.

When are you going to talk to you're father? I want Severus back!

Please, Mum, stop acting like you're the only one who does. I haven't seen my father in a long time. I'm going to ask him the next time I see him. I promise.

You better, or I'll have to take over until he gives us Severus back!