Weep No More

"Twelve little Dementors going to Azkaban. Drinking lots of Butterbeer, and eating loads of clams. One kissed a murderer, another kissed a cook. But the ugliest one in the county, tried fondle my booty!" sang Draco, as small stones and sand trickled down his face.

It had been almost an hour since Granger had gone to get a rope to fish him out of the grave. One long bloody hour and she had yet to rear her Mudblood head. Draco sighed with boredom. There were only forty verses to "Twelve little Dementors", and he had gone through them all - five times already.

"It'd be just like Granger to go and get herself caught," he murmured to himself. "Probably was Andrew 'I could really use a bit of sex' wanker who found her..." Draco frowned. "He's probably torturing her or something."

"Nice to know you care," a voice yelled at him.

"Granger!" Draco squealed, and then mentally kicked himself for squealing. He squinted at the person next to her. "Who's your friend?"

"This is William," Hermione said, as a rope snaked down towards him. "He's going to help us get you out of there."

Draco peered curiously at William, who was smiling at him. What made Granger so sure they could trust him? He was probably waiting to roast them alive. Draco a-la-toast Malfoy, not something he wanted to think about.

"Grab onto the rope tightly, mate," William said. "I'm going to pull you up."

Draco snorted. "You think you can pull me up?" he yelled back. "You don't look strong enough to open a Butterbeer."

There was a sort of gleam in William's eyes Draco could not see, and a quick, "Just hold on tightly."

Draco rolled his eyes. Grabbing the rope with everything he had, he said, "If one hair on my head is harmed, Granger, I'll have my father put you in Azkaban quicker than you can say 'Draco Malfoy is my master'." He tugged on the rope. "Pull me up."

Hermione rolled her eyes, and nodded at William. William smiled coquettishly and hauled at the rope. Draco let out a girlish yelp as he was pulled up.

"Hurting, hurting!" Draco cried, as he bumped against the rough edges of the grave.

Within the minute, William had managed to pull him out of the hole. The man wasn't sweating and barely looked flushed.

Damn him and his rough appearance, thought Draco angrily.

"Are you all right?" Hermione asked.

"Like a mouse who has just grazed the cat's teeth," was Draco's answer.

"Goo -" Hermione suddenly dropped to the floor and started twitching.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Steal my spotlight, Granger. Start with your moaning, and bunny-making moves."

William looked concerned and moved to grab her. "Is there anything we can do for 'er?" he asked.

Hermione gasped for air. Her eyes were shut, and she was trembling. Draco didn't feel it was safe for her to have a fit out in the open.

"Can you carry her?" he asked William.

The man nodded, immediately pulling Hermione into his arms. He cradled her carefully, and asked, "Where are we going?"

"This way," said Draco, moving into the bushes and blending into the darkness.

*

At the moment, Pansy wanted a lot of things, but the thing she most wanted was a nice, warm bubble bath. The sewers were no place for an elegant woman of her status, she had told Percy multiple times, who had just grunted in reply. Her top boots were definitely ruined, and she was quite sure some insect or other had planted itself in her hair. Every time she took a step, flecks of water splashed her legs, leaving dirty marks on the end of her skirt. Yes, a simple bath was all she wanted.

Percy, who had barely uttered a few words since the snake incident, carried on at a steady pace. Probably, Pansy mused, because he was already so poor the current state of his clothes made no difference.

Every so often, Pansy could not help thinking about Draco, and whether or not he was all right with Granger. The fact that she was probably in greater danger than them made her feel not much better.

"I think there's an opening here," said Percy, breaking her thoughts. He had stopped walking, and was looking upwards, pointing his wand for a little light. His faced was flushed from exhaustion, but he still stood tall and proud. Pansy liked that.

Looking up and around, Pansy stated the obvious, "It's too tall to reach."

"Right, then," Percy said, but he didn't move or look away from their potential exit. He scratched at his arm a bit, and frowned.

"We should keep going," Pansy said, looking around as if Andrew or one of the others would suddenly jump at them. "We'll never get up there."

"Shush!" snapped Percy suddenly, looking alert. "Do you hear that?"

Pansy struggled to listen. She could hear the barest hint of footsteps, and three voices. "Draco!" she hissed to Percy. "It's Draco!"

Percy looked up doubtfully. There was no doubt the second voice was Hermione telling Draco off for something, but there was a third person and he didn't know who that was. For all he could see down here, Hermione and Malfoy could be in trouble. Throwing his wand to Pansy, he said, "Go into the dark. I'm going to call them. If anything goes wrong, continue by yourself!"

Pansy didn't even try to object. Clutching Percy's wand tightly, she backed away until she was sure she wouldn't be visible even to Percy himself.

"Hermione!" Percy had started yelling, waving his arms in the air and jumping up and down. "Hermione, I'm down here!"

The voices above them quieted quickly and there was a pause before the entrance to the sewers was lifted. Draco's obnoxious face peered down pleasantly. "All right, Weasley?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"Ma - Malfoy," spluttered Percy. Even though he knew Malfoy's voice had been present, he didn't expect to see him so... well, happy.

"Have you heard the story about the leprechaun that tried to buy a hooker with a pot of gold?" Draco asked.

"I don't have time for your stories, Malfoy, I'm stuck down here," Percy snapped.

Draco smirked. "I hadn't noticed, Weasley."

He was quickly pushed out of view by Hermione.

"Are you all right, Percy?" she called worriedly.

"I'm, er, I could be better," he said honestly. "Is there someone else up there with you?"

"Oh. Yes," Hermione smiled nervously. "He's a friend. Hold on, we'll get you out of there."

She was pushed out of view by Draco, who had sobered up from his jokes. "Where's Pansy?" he demanded. "You didn't let her get caught, did you?"

"No, of course not," Percy said, irritated. "Get me out of here first." He could hear a slight hiss from where Pansy was hiding.

Draco looked doubtful, but tossed down an end of a rope. "Grab on, tightly," he instructed. "Oh, and you might want to watch out for sharp rock sticking out of the wall."

Percy grabbed on. "Wait for my word to come out," he whispered, hoping Pansy would hear him well enough. "I'm ready, Hermione!" he yelled out.

"Pull, boys!" Hermione said. "Be careful, Malfoy!"

Percy nervously avoided looking down, quite sure he'd faint and let go of the rope if he did so. Once Malfoy and their new companion pulled him up, he collapsed on the ground, taking in deep breaths.

"Percy!" exclaimed Hermione, hugging him tightly. "Oh, I was afraid they might have done something to you." Tears were falling down her face, but she made an effort to hide them.

"Where's Pansy?" snapped Draco, feeling slightly sick from the scene in front of him.

"Pansy, right," mumbled Percy, trying to soothe Hermione. "She's down there. We wanted to make sure things were safe. Pansy, we're sending a rope down for you!"

"Hurry up, Weasley," Pansy's irritated voice called up, "my boots are starting to rot."

Draco gave a satisfied smile, and helped William to pull up his girlfriend.

"Well, don't we make a sight to see?" said Draco, his arm around Pansy's waist. "There's the loony girl," he said, pointing to Hermione. "The poor weasel -" he pointed at Percy "- the blonde witch on the run -" he squeezed Pansy waist a bit "-there's me, the charming wizard, and then there's you." He gave William a look over. "Who are you?"

"I've seen you before," Pansy said, trying to remember. "I know I have."

"I'm William," he said. "Musician, gypsy, and charmer extraordinaire at your service, m'lady." He gave Pansy a mock bow, and Hermione giggled.

Pansy's eyes widened. "I know who you are!" She was pointing Percy's wand at him now. "You were in the inn when Andrew attacked me. You were playing the violin."

"Is this true?" demanded Draco, letting go of Pansy and moving closer to William.

"Stop it, Malfoy, he's on our side," Hermione said.

William looked at Pansy's wand in amusement, but didn't move. "I'm not a member of Southbire," he explained. "I visit town from town. I told you, I'm a gypsy."

Draco sized him up, his fists clenched tightly. "If you so much as think of betraying us," he said, "I know spells that will make you wish you were dead."

William just gave an enigmatic smile. He looked as if Draco had just given him a sweet.

Percy cleared his throat loudly. "We really should start moving. It's not good to stay in one spot so long."

Hermione echoed her agreement. "According to William, we should be able to find an exit if we keep going forth," she said.

"According to William," Pansy repeated coldly. "How are you so sure we can trust him?"

"I'm not," snapped Hermione. "But he's the only help we've got..." She started walking, not volunteering another word. William followed.

Pansy murmured something that sounded suspiciously like "I'm following the Mudblood. Hex me," to Percy, and then quickly walked to catch up with Hermione and William, tossing Percy back his wand.

Percy and Draco exchanged glances. "What have you wanted to tell me?" Percy asked, as they both followed slowly.

"How did you know?" Draco's voice was lost of sarcasm.

"I grew up with seven siblings. It's easier when you know to read their emotions. Makes it more difficult for them to slip you a pastry that will turn you into a bird," explained Percy.

"Granger went into another fit before we found you," said Draco. "She won't tell us what she saw, but I heard her mumble something about only a few hours."

"Her death time?" asked Percy, his voice strained.

"Or Pansy's," Draco said. He stopped walking, and turned to look at Percy straight in the eye. "I won't let them kill her," he stated solemnly. "If they do catch us for some reason, I know they'll only trial her. They'll let the rest of us go. You and Granger should take the chance and hurry to Dublin, but I'm staying. I'll fight for Pansy, Weasley, even if it means for my life."

Percy knew Draco meant every word. "We'll see what happens," he said. He couldn't make any promises. He didn't know what he'd do. If given the chance, would he run to safety? If it were Hermione in Pansy's place, would he act the same way as Draco?

Draco nodded in acceptance, and continued walking. He continued walking right into a death trap.

"Hermione!" yelled Percy, rushing to her aid, but only stopping when Draco pulled him back.

Andrew, Roget and a few other men were in the clearing. Andrew had a rough hold on Pansy, and another man had grabbed Hermione. William was clutching a bloodied hand, and looked extremely angry.

"Let her go," demanded Draco.

Andrew laughed coldly, and squeezed Pansy's wrist painfully. To her credit, she didn't even flinch.

"We've got the witch," Roget said proudly. "We shall make her take off this curse she has placed on you, my dear boy."

"You've mistaken us for something we're not," Percy said, trying to remain as calm as possible.

"We'll see," said Andrew. He lowered his lips to Pansy's ear, delighted when she shuddered. "Your trial is about to start, damned one."

William twitched at the insult, but it was only caught on by Draco.

"You're welcome to either join us and prove her innocence, or wisely return to Dublin," Roget said. He nodded, and Hermione was roughly thrown into Percy's arms.

"I'm staying," Draco said immediately.

William looked up at the night sky. "I will as well, even if this does not concern me."

Percy and Hermione exchanged nervous looks, and they both nodded.

"We'll stay as well," Hermione said, trying to give Pansy an assuring smile.

Pansy looked livid. "Don't be fools!" she yelled. "Go to Dublin!"

Roget chuckled. "Come, my friends, we shall trial her, then feast when her ashes flee in the air."