Control

     Control

Chapter 5 Don't Let Go

I was certain I was looking into the eyes of the devil himself. The snakelike red eyes. The thin slit nostrils. The sallow, pale face. And the smirk that would scare off the terrors of hell. And behind him stood his demons. The cloaked figures, laughed bitterly and muttered harsh words.

"Look what we have here," said the raspy voice of Voldemort. Snickers came from his accomplices.

Then, his serpent-like eyes darted to the corpse of the woman behind me. There was no change in emotion in them, and his expression remained calm, but I could sense his anger was building. Somehow, somewhere in me, I could feel him.

"So...You've decided to steal the life of my most faithful follower," said Voldemort flatly, "You'll pay dearly for that,"

A dagger of horror stabbed me in the heart. I was finished and done. I escaped some horrible experiences a couple months ago, but now, I don't think there was any getting out of this. I had taught myself not to show weakness, but I broke out. Rivers of tears fell from my eyes as I collapsed to my knees. All I wanted was to tell Harry that I loved him one last time and how he had changed the person I am. I wanted to be in his arms and be his comfort, I wanted him to be mine. I wanted to laugh with him and forget my worries and fears. I wanted him to hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay. But I had taken my life for granted, and now all I could think about was keeping it as long as possible. It was inevitable that the end was coming, but I wanted to linger here as long as I could, showing them I was not about to give up. Well, I wasn't doing a suberb job so far, was I? Normally, something randomly would have happened, something that I would have caused using my power. But I was so overcome by fear, I didn't have time to be angry or even think properly.

"Damn right to drop on your knees in our Lord's presence, you disgusting little Mudblood!" shouted one of the Death Eaters. There were mutters of agreement among them, as I looked up. I wiped the tears from my eyes then dropped my arms to my sides. Then somethind narrow and hard rolled inches away from me. Looking down, I realised it was Lestange's wand. A breif flash of hope surged through me until I came to my senses and realised I was out numbered, about thirty to one. My fear grew as about a half dozen more Death Eaters apparated next to the others. I didn't bother to pick up the wand.

"I shall make sure Potter has something to rescue today," said Voldemort almost gleefully. "Crucio!"

I fell to the ground for the second time, shaking madly. Pins and needles of sharp, burning pain again ravaged through my feeble body, numbing me to the core. Everything was spinning in my head. The laughing from the Death Eaters. Images of Voldemort's unmerciful eyes. Harry's smile. Harry's voice. Harry's touch.

Suddenly, the laughing stopped. Angry yells were shouted. The blackness from my closed eyelids had turned blood red when the light from spells flashed. I opened my eyes to see that the six death eaters that had shown up last had thrown off the hoods of their cloaks. I gasped. There stood Mad Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape and a shorter, still hooded figure. Voldemort was no longer there, he must have apparated elsewhere. I wanted to grab Lestrange's wand and run to help them. But I felt paralyzed. Too weak to even inhale deeply. My breaths were quick and short and I knew that if I didn't retain myself soon, I would die.

The only couple of death eaters that weren't occupied trying to fight off the intruders were approaching me. I hope they'd use Avada Kedavra on me, because I couldn't bear to live in this state any longer. But then the shorter Death Eater turned on his fellow.

"Expelliarmus!" he yelled.

His opponents wand flew from his hand and landed a good distance away. The Death Eater broke into a run, trying to retrieve his wand, but the other pointed his wand at him. He froze up and fell the the floor, arms and legs together as if standing at attention. I reconised this spell as Petrificus Totalus as I had used it several times in the past. I didn't know what this Death Eater traitor's intention was, but I strained every muscle in my body and grasped the wand laying next to me and pointed it at him. He walked slowly to me. I pointed it higher, warning him not to continue. But he did. He stopped about two feet away from the place I lay and brought his hands to his hood and pulled it down. My heart skipped a beat and I dropped the wand.

"Harry!" I said in surprise. My voice was noticably weak and my throat was horribly dry.

He kneeled down on his knees next to me and lifted my head. His emerald orbs stared into my honey ones. I saw so much in his eyes. Worry and fear. Nervosness and uncertainty. But also confidence. His eyes never lacked confidence.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" he asked, his voice cracking as tears filled his eyes.

I smiled weakly and touched his face to wipe his fallen tears.

"Harry... how did you get here?"

"Hermione, Don't let go, all right? I need you to do that for me. Do it for us," he said, carressing my hand reassuringly. I nodded.

"I'll be back, don't worry" he said. His hand slipped away from mine.

He brought his lips to mine and gently kissed me. Oh, I wanted to hold on forever. I hoped dearly that it wasn't a goodbye kiss. I swear I don't know what I'd do if I lost him. He then stood up and muttered a spell. A shield of what looked like a thin sheet of water sourrounded me. I touched it and my finger was lightly zapped. It was a charm, even I, didn't know. But I suspected it was a temporary force for protection.

He pulled his hood over his head and ran to the place where the battle of Light and Dark was occuring.

I didn't want him to go. I wanted him to stay here with me. He didn't need to save the day again...Not again.

But as much as I wanted to, I couldn't remain concious any longer. Pain seized me and finally won me over as I slipped into a void darkness, Harry's face running through my mind.

     ~ * ~

"Hermione, wake up!" said a voice I vauguely made out as Lupin's. I dreaded opening them. What would I see? But when I did, I gasped. I was on a stone platform. It was square-shaped and the width couldn't be greater than that of a small room. I weakly stood and walked to the edge of the platform. Darkness was to be seen, and nothing else. Around us was a dim yellow light, particles of dust floating slowly around in it.

Oddly enough, I felt slightly better than I had before, but there were some slight pains in my abdomen and limbs. My chest felt smothered and my breaths were short. I noticed this as I bent my had down to see what lie below...

"Get back from there," said Snape's icy voice, "Can't lose another one of you,"

I obeyed and turned to see that he, Mad Eye, Tonks and Lupin were all here with me. Lupin was on the floor, his knees up and his face in his hands. When he lifted his head, he shot an angry glace at Moody.

"I told you, Alastor, to keep the boy behind!" he snapped angrily, "Should have never even agreed to let you teach the boy to apparate! He's too young and now look! He is no where to be seen!"

Harry? Apparation? That was preposterous! Even so, where was he? My breath suddenly quickened and I felt weak in the knees. Lupin looked powerless over the situation as did the others. His eyes were downcast and his face was solemn. To say this was not good would be the understatement of the century. I didn't even know where we were, how we got here, or where Harry was. I shut my eyes tightly and began racking my mind for ideas. Anything to help us out here. But nothing I had ever read in any book, or learnt in any lesson would be to my use right now.

"It was his battle as much as we thought it ours," growled Mad Eye, a scowl spreading across his face.

Tonks shook her bright green head hopelessly as a single tear slid down her face.

"What are we going to do?!" she asked miserably, "We are deprived of our wands and completely helpless!"

"Stop with the whining! What kind of Auror are you supposed to be? Crying!" Mad Eye barked at her in his waspy voice.

So they were going to sit there and bicker. How could they be that inconsiderate?

"Honestly!" I said loudly as my throat would allow, "We aren't going to get out of this by arguing! It's bad enough as it is!"

Everyone became silent, except for Tonks who let out a small sob. The silence lasted for a few minutes until the platform began to shake and a sucking sound filled my ears. We were decending downward, into the void darkness...