Kidnapped

Kidnapped

Chapter 2

Hermione sat by her bedroom window looking out at the gardens. The sun was out today. Everything seemed at peace, in their most beautiful, most radiant. She felt like the lone piece of muck there. She couldn't stand to roam and bathe in the radiance of all that natural beauty. She felt too tired, battered and, yes, dirty. She was afraid she was starting to actually like the times he came to her and devoured her. She touched herself when he wouldn't. And she was becoming increasingly more involved in their sexual encounters. Something was happening to her...and she dreaded it.

He visited her again yesterday. Recently, his interaction with her had become gentler and Hermione was surprised and mortified to find pleasure in it. The first time he did it he was frantic, even insistent. Hermione sensed he was losing control over himself and an emotional dam had cracked.

Alain entered the room his breathing ragged. I was in my bed reading a book, when he burst in. I looked up immediately, surprised. He had never come here this late in the night...I raised an eyebrow questioningly. He was looking at me with angry and pained eyes. I felt my breath hitch. I'd never seen his eyes with such anger. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I couldn't. His stare rooted me to the spot and drew all thought from my mind.

He approached me in long strides. In a moment, he was sitting by my bed. Brows creased and eyes burrowing into mine he said, "Don't you like it here?"

I was shocked. I couldn't answer immediately. He sat there looking into my soul, waiting for my answer. I opened my mouth at an effort to say something. I only managed a gasp. I didn't know what to say. The house was wonderful, but of course I didn't like it there. I wanted to go home to my family and friends.

His eyes glazed over and he seemed to be controlling his emotions. Then out of the blue he cried, "Why?" He laid his head on my lap, as he covered his face in his hands. He kept asking me "Why?" and I was suddenly so confused and worried at the same time. He shook on top of me, and all I could do was stare with concerned eyes. In the two weeks I've been held captive he's never been anything but nice to me. I grew to like him in a way.

Shaking, I raised my hand to put in his sobbing head. He took it in his hand and kissed it, raising his head as he did so. I instinctively drew my hand back, stunned. He looked at me with hurt eyes. Then I saw something change in them. The pained expression left, and was replaced by rage. My eyes grew wide when he started to lean over me.

She never fought as much as she did that first time. He kept whispering to her, "You're mine, you're mine..." And his actions were rough and bruising. Her mind screamed that it was all a dream and all she needed to do was wake up. It wasn't a dream. She felt him all over her body and then, eventually inside her. He was screaming obscenities at her when he came.

She cried for him to stop, but he didn't. When he left, Hermione ran to the bathroom, bawling and trying clean herself for hours, frantically rubbing every place he'd touched. She cried herself to sleep wishing she would never wake up the next day. Her virginity was shattered and her whole being was violated. He was at it again the next night, then the night after that, then the next...

An explosion rocked the whole mansion and Hermione looked in panic at her door. She could hear numerous footsteps going up the staircase. Filled with dread, she ran to the bathroom and locked the door. The door to her bedroom exploded with such force that the walls shook. People were shouting and she could hear someone calling out her name. She sat in the bathtub shaking, unable to do or say anything. Then they were by the bathroom door, prying it open. What happened next was like in a dream. The door opened easily and a group of uniformed men glided in, wands at the ready.

They saw Hermione by the tub, shaking like a leaf and looking absolutely traumatized. A man emerged from the group. It was Remus Lupin. Lupin saw Hermione curled up on the tub and his heart broke. His strength momentarily left him, but he gathered it back determinedly. "Hermione," he said softly and tentatively.

Hermione looked at Lupin with fear and uncertainty. She heard his voice, recognized it, but she couldn't bring herself to respond. He went closer extending a hand, "Hermione," he said again. "It's me Lupin."

Hermione's eyes welled with tears as he looked at his former mentor and friend. Her body shook convulsively with sobs. She covered her face with her hands and curled into herself. In a moment, she felt Lupin's arms starting to encircle her. She cowered and pulled back looking frighteningly at him.

Lupin looked at her with surprise and worry at the effect his touch had on her. "It's ok, Hermione..." he said soothingly. "It's really me. I'm taking you home now."

Hermione's defensive barrier waned. She looked at Lupin's extended hand, her mind having an internal struggle. Slowly, she placed her hand in his, the feeling of skin seeming to burn her. But she didn't let go. She wanted to be sure he was real and this was all true. She'd never had hallucinations before, and she didn't want this one to be. She felt Lupin's grip tighten in her hand and her certainty increased. She heaved, her breath catching while she tried desperately to talk. Her attempts ended in short gasps, and no words came from her. "It's okay, Hermione. You don't have to talk now..." she heard Lupin say. She looked at him gratefully. Lupin stood her up with both his hands. "Let's get you home now..." Hermione was filled with a mixture of joy and dread. She stopped in her tracks, unsure of how to face her friends and family after what happened. Lupin nudged her gently. "Come on, Ron and Harry are waiting for you." Her courage inflated at the sound of her bestfriends' names and she moved more determinedly.

* * *

"They're nearing the property now. Total comms shutdown due to the charms all over the place. We'll have to wait."

Ron and Harry were listening to the recorder as he passed on the information being written on the parchment in front of him. The quill was connected to the communications unit of Jeffrey Arson, the mission leader, and it recorded everything he said. All members of the squad had the same unit appropriated into their wands. Whatever orders the mission leader had for each of them would be clearly etched on his/her wand, then fade momentarily. However, the connection between the mission leader and control was different with the squad. This ensured total independence on the part of the squad, especially during field missions.

Ron looked at Harry, feeling the tension from both of them increase a little bit. They were so close. They settled themselves in the couch, preparing to wait it out. They wanted to be here when news of Hermione's rescue came.

An hour later, they were still in the control room and there was still no word from the mission leader. "What's going on in there? It's been an hour!" Ron said aggravated.

"The security in the mansion is very complicated, if not numerous. They need to penetrate it without alerting Rimdor of their presence. Ms. Granger could be in danger if she really is there. The last thing we need is for Rimdor to move her again."

Ron found the logic in this, and saw Harry showing agreement too. But he was no less impatient about it. After all this time Hermione was alive and they didn't do anything about it. Well, that wasn't quite true...but, whatever they did, it wasn't enough because they didn't find her!

"Dammit, I feel like punching something!" Ron shouted. Harry looked at him curiously. He looked right back. "Want to go trade some punches?"

Harry nodded silently. He looked like he could punch somebody too. "We'll be at the gym. Call on us the minute you get word, okay?"

"Go, go...it might be a while. Take this parchment, it'll light up when a new message is written."

Ron and Harry made their way to the gym, intent at relieving some pent up anger and self-recrimination through some old-fashioned ass-kicking. After fifteen minutes of beating each other up--they didn't look well at all--the two boys didn't seem to be letting up. Of course, there was the occasional "Are you okay?" after a punch knocked one of them down. But after being reassured by the other, they were at it again. They had two months of hidden rage to express after all. They were both looking particularly battered now, both of their eyes looking very red and their cheeks swollen. Their physical training as Aurors seemed to have improved their hand-to-hand combat skills.

Suddenly, Harry stopped in the middle of a punch, distracted by a faint glowing behind Ron. Ron turned back to the parchment. It was glowing red and writings could be seen on the surface. The two ran to it, forgetting everything. "Charms broken, squad inside," it said in bold letters. The two boys ran to the control room forgetting they still had their gloves and sweats on.

"What's happened?" Harry asked the recorder, panting.

"You two look like hell!"

The two looked at each other's battered appearance and couldn't help but smirk. "Never mind that now," Ron insisted. "What about Hermione?"

"They haven't found her yet. They're still looking..."

Harry plopped himself down on the sofa resignedly. Ron sighed anxiously. He was starting to feel the pain from his and Harry's bout now. He felt so much worse now than before. Besides the soreness all over his body, he didn't think his head could take any more of the suspense. He felt like exploding. He looked at Harry, bleeding and swollen in the face. He was suddenly concerned about him, "All right, Harry?"

Harry looked at Ron distractedly, and then looked at himself. "Oh...Yes, I'm fine. He's right. We look like hell."

"Yeah..." Ron chuckled. "Feel any better though?"

"Not really. Now both my body and head hurt!" he said wincing.

"I know what you mean! Come on, let me heal those," Ron said approaching Harry. During the previous Dark War, knowledge of healing spells became imperative and the trio's age did not excuse them from being taught some very difficult spells. Sometimes all the studying and practicing became too much for them, but it was for a good cause. And if there was anything that pushed Ron's determination up a notch it was the thought that anything he was learning could help him save his family and friends.

The two healed each other's wounds and in a while they looked almost as good as new again. The pain wouldn't recede after awhile. It suddenly became apparent to them how stupid it was to go and beat themselves up like that. But then again, it took their mind away from all the tension and worry.

"Hey, you two! They've got her! She's alive!"

The cry seemed to come out of nowhere. But at the sound, and upon realization of what it meant, the two looked at each other. Ron's heart was soaring, and he could see in Harry's eyes that he was equally elated. Without knowing it, he was suddenly jumping and shouting for joy. In a while, Harry had joined him. They both ran towards the recorder to find out more. "Lupin is there. He's confirmed it's her. They'll be in shortly. You two will have to wait at Arson's office."

The two boys didn't need telling twice. They ran out of the control room straight towards the hallway. "Wait!" a voice shouted from behind them. They looked back inquiringly. "Do you even know where it is?"

Ron blushed slightly realizing they didn't know where it was. He looked at Harry, who was wearing the same sheepish face. "Though so," the recorder said with a smirk on his face. "Here's a map. Don't lose it now or hand it to someone else because it will disintegrate the moment it leaves your hand. You'll be lost inside the building and no one will be able to find you again."

Ron looked at the recorder incredulously. "Thanks a lot for that. That makes me feel very confident inside!"

"Hey! Just a friendly warning."

Ron rolled his eyes and extended his hand slowly. Suddenly he changed his mind and looked at Harry. "You take it, Harry."

Harry sneered at him. "Fine! But if I get lost, you will too, you know."

"But it'll still be your fault, not mine!" Ron replied evilly.

Harry shook his head and took the map.

Several hidden doors and winding hallways later, Harry exclaimed, "We're here!"

"Are you sure?" Ron asked dubiously.

"Yes. The door is emblazoned with a figure of a puppy."

"Where?" Ron examined the door closely. It looked like an ordinary white door to him.

"Upper right corner, Ron." Harry pointed at the imperceptible engraving of a puppy on the upper right corner of the door.

"Oh..."

Ron opened the door to find the waiting room to Arson's office, which doubled as the conference room for the squad. It was spacious and the conference table was littered with maps and mission outlines. Curious, Ron reached out for the mission outlines and made his way to the office. Harry was already inside rummaging on Arson's study table. Ron paced as Harry sat down by a chair tapping his hand distractedly on the armrest. Noises from outside the office broke the silence. In a flash, Ron had opened the door to the waiting room. The image that greeted him was one he would never forget for as long as he lived. A shaking Hermione was leaning against Lupin. Her hair was fixed in a ponytail, but strands had stuck out everywhere. Her eyes had circles around them and her cheeks were sunken; she had lost weight. Bizarrely, she was wearing an elegantly cut embroidered dress. Surrounding the two was the Recon team, all clad in black, looming ominously.

It seemed like eternity before Hermione raised her eyes to see Harry and Ron gaping at her from across the room. Time stood still. The two stared at Hermione while she stared back unblinkingly. Hermione released Lupin's hand and walked slowly towards the two boys, who stood rooted to the spot gawking at her. They didn't seem to believe that it was her; she was here and she was alive. She stopped and her brows creased. She suddenly looked hurt and lost. But before she could finish the sob building inside her, two strong hands had pulled her in and she was wrapped in Ron and Harry's embrace.