Life Goes On

Chapter 6

Torture…torture…torture…HERMIONE!!

Harry woke with a start to a dark room. He had a dream, no a nightmare. Something about torture and…Hermione. As he tried to remember the details of the dream, they seemed to slip him like water in a crack. He eventually forgot completely about the dream and had just noticed that it was 3:00 in the morning and by right, he should still be asleep.

He looked to his side and saw Hermione lying on her side, her back turned to him. She had kicked off the sheets at some point in the night and saw that her nightdress had ridden up on her body, revealing her legs up to her waist. Harry smiled to himself. He rolled over to her side and sat up. He bent over Hermione and noticed she was shivering from the draft from the Cooling Charm placed on the room. He gently raised her waist from the bed and pulled her nightgown down over her legs and pulled the sheet from under her. He then went back to lie down and pulled the sheet over both of them. Harry gathered Hermione into his arms as she rolled over to face him. She slowly opened her eyes.

“Thank you for covering me up,” she said tiredly.

He smiled at her and nodded. She wrapped her left hand around his waist and her right hand on her other side as the tried to sleep on her stomach. Harry brushed her hair from her face to reveal its tranquility. Her long eyelashes stood pronounced against her face leading down to her smooth cheeks that narrowed to her defined chin. Hermione sighed contently and Harry smiled again. Her wrapped her in his arms and he felt sleep creeping on to him, but he felt compelled to watch her sleep. Eventually, to the sounds of owls hooting, Harry fell asleep.

When he woke up, the space beside him felt cool. His eyes snapped open. He absolutely hated waking up to find Hermione gone. He turned over and saw her standing by the Vanity, brushing her hair. She once more had the dress she had on the night before. Harry lay there watching her fix her hair. He loved looking at her. She turned around after brushing the last lock of hair in place.

“Good morning Harry,” she said with a smile playing about her lips.

“G’ Morning love.” Harry then let out a huge yawn that seemed to take in everything.

Hermione laughed. Harry looked at her with mock suspicion.

“You laughing at me?” He asked, inching his way closer to her when he got out of the bed.

Hermione’s face darkened. “What you plan on doing about it?”

“This.”

Harry then dashed forward. Hermione dodged him neatly and climbed on to the bed. As she did this, Harry jumped and landed beside her. He grabbed her dress as she tried to scramble off the bed. At this point a loud rip was heard.

The door opened and Sirius walked in. He stopped to take in the scene. The bed sheets all over the floor and messed up on the bed, Harry holding a piece of Hermione’s dress, Hermione sprawled out on the bed with the front of her dress torn revealing everything up to her lacy underwear.

Sirius stared at first at Hermione, but then. Harry clearing his throat loudly and glaring at him snapped him out of his gaze. Sirius reached up and covered his eyes as a blushing Hermione muttered a spell to attach the torn material back to her dress.

“You may look now Sirius,” said Harry in a voice laced with venom.

Sirius laughed heartily. “Ooh, Harry jealous ehh?”

“No, just protective of my wife to be,” replied Harry with a raised eyebrow.

“Umm, I think I will go and help Rose with whatever she is doing,” said Hermione softly as she walked briskly out of the room.

Even though she faded rounded the corner, out of sight and her footsteps had faded, Harry still stared at the doorway.

Sirius chuckled, “you are stupidly in love with her.”

Harry was jerked out of his reverie. “She is stunning Sirius, I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“I know what you mean,” Sirius said soberly.

“She lights up my life, gives me meaning and hope. If she died, I would die too. I could never survive.”

“She knows that Harry and I believe she feels the same about you.”

“I know.”

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“Had a good sleep Hermione?” Asked a cheerful Rose.

Hermione smiled graciously. “Yes thank you Rose. The bed was comfortable and I had a good night’s rest. It is a pity I have to go back to work tomorrow,” Hermione added bitterly.

Harry and Sirius then walked into the living room where Hermione and Rose were sipping coffee. Harry made his way to his fiancée and sat next to her on the arm of the chair.

“What do you plan on doing today, Harry?” Asked Rose.

“Oh, I was planning for Hermione and I to go home and maybe relax today. What do you think Mione?” Harry asked now turning to her.

“Swell!”

“Are you ready to leave now?”

“Sure. Sirius, Rose…please keep in touch,” Hermione pleaded with the older couple.

“I will, you know Sirius’ situation and why he can’t. Don’t come unless we tell you it is safe from the Ministry. I will contact you then.”

“Thank you Rose,” Harry smiled.

Rose grinned. “Anything for Lily’s son’s wife!”

*****************************************

After saying their goodbyes and Apparating from Sirius’ flat back to London, they decided to take a walk to the park. They walked for half an hour, holding hands in silence, just content to be with each other.

“So, back at work tomorrow ehh?” Said Harry sadly.

“Yes, but I will be home tomorrow evening,” responded Hermione trying to make Harry smile. It didn’t work.

“I will miss you. I always miss you.”

“Oh Harry…” Hermione began, turning to face him. He stopped walking to look at her and Hermione indeed saw unhappiness in his eyes due to the fact he couldn’t have her twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

“I wish I could tell you not to go back, but to stay with me. I need you so much.” Harry turned his head and Hermione saw his eyes shining.

“You will always have me Harry and I love you.” Hermione touched his face lightly and he turned his eyes to see her again. This time he smiled.

“I know.”

They continued to walk in silence until they heard a rustling in the bush beside them. Harry stopped and looked at Hermione questioningly but she shook her head. Harry walked forward towards the bush and saw something that made his heart stand still.

It was a rat with a sliver paw.

The rat, upon seeing Harry, scurried off at top speed.

“Hermione, follow that rat!”

Without hesitation, Hermione transformed into her Animagus, an owl, and flew after Pettigrew to get him. Harry took after them on feet as fast as he could and followed them down a dark deserted London alley, where he saw a scene that made him gasp in shock and anger.

Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Nott and Avery were there cornering Hermione, all with their wands pointed at her.

“Crucio!” They all shouted at once.

Hermione fell to the ground and started to convulse and shake. She let out the most spine tingling scream ever.

Harry screamed and the former Death Eaters spun to face him, releasing Hermione from the curse. Harry saw red and a mad rage took him.

“No one,” he began in a deadly voice, “no one hurts her, no one touches her,”

Harry lunged forward and punched Wormtail in the eye. Wormtail staggered and fell on top of Hermione. Crabbe and Goyle took for Harry as Harry sidestepped them and they crashed into the wall of the alley and knocked themselves unconscious. The other three stood and watched with grim expressions.

“So, Harry, how would you feel if I took the very ‘thing’ you love,” began Malfoy with a cool expression.

Harry shot Malfoy a death glare. A strong wind blew in the alley causing Harry’s black cloak to whip around him with sudden life while his hair moved in synchronized motion, his eyes glowed a brighter green and the place suddenly got darker. The sudden power that Harry showed made Wormtail whimper and back off into a corner.

“You wouldn’t take anything or anyone I love for the mere fact you know you couldn’t.”

Malfoy sneered. “Is that right, Potter?”

A sudden gasp from Hermione made Harry spin to her and he saw her grasping her stomach in pain. The very sight made his heart break and the power surrounding him weakened.

“I could play with, molest and rape that filthy piece of trash, that Mudblood, as if she were a whore on the corner,” spat Malfoy.

Harry screamed with rage and lunged after Malfoy. Harry’s fingers wove their way around Malfoy’s neck and Harry began to strangle him. Avery and Nott strode towards Harry and grabbed him roughly by the shoulders and flung him to the ground. They muttered a spell and Harry was in shackles chained to the wall.

Malfoy gently massaged his neck. He stared at Harry with the utmost loathing he could muster. Harry struggled to get free, but the magic was dark and strong.

After a while, Hermione came to. When Malfoy saw this, he made his way towards her and placed his hand on her hip. He stared Hermione in the eyes while she stared back defiantly.

“I could and I will rape you,” he breathed.

Harry’s eyes opened in terror. “Don’t you dare touch her!” He screamed, “I will murder you! Don’t touch her!”

Malfoy without even glancing at Harry, grabbed Hermione’s dress and was about to rip it, but Hermione punched Malfoy in his eye and he yelped in pain. He spun on her angrily and struck her hard across her jawbone that sent her flying to the ground. Meanwhile, Harry was itching to get involved and was struggling at the shackles to get to them.

Malfoy reached out and grabbed Hermione’s left breast and she screamed out in pain. Harry winced as Hermione held her breast to quench the pain. Her face was contorted in agony and the death eaters laughed. Harry watched Hermione until everyone else was out of focus and he could feel not only her physical pain, but her emotional pain as well and his heart went out to her.

“Leave her alone, don’t touch her,” Harry pleaded weakly with tears in his eyes. Oh God, it hurt him so much to see Hermione in pain and Malfoy’s filthy hands roaming all over her body, touching her most intimate parts that only Harry was allowed to know about. Harry felt his heart ache inside of him. He stared and watched as Malfoy threw Hermione to the ground at Harry’s feet. She looked up at Harry, her eyes were filled with tears but there was also a determination in them that showed Harry that she wouldn’t let anyone take advantage of her. Her hair was spread all around her like a sheet. All Harry knew then, was that Hermione was in pain but trying not to show it and she was doing a damn good job. But he was her protector and he needed to save her, she was going to be raped at his feet, he had to stop it, he had to hush her and make it go away. He had to!

Malfoy knelt over her and pried Hermione’s legs a part while Nott and Avery held her arms. She screamed as Malfoy was about to remove her underwear. Harry was in a mad rage, Lucius Malfoy is about to rape the woman he loves. Hermione then began to fight harder, thrashing wildly, as her foot caught Malfoy and made him curse while he clutched the most sensitive part of his body.

“Damn you bitch!” He screamed in fury and struck Hermione hard across her face and kicked her in her stomach.

Harry snarled as he watched Lucius lying on the ground panting. He clutched his private hard and every now and then his eyes would shut as a new wave of pain hit him. During all of this, no one noticed that Wormtail, Crabbe and Goyle and Nott had left in fear of the Potter and his wild girlfriend. Avery was tending to Malfoy as Hermione slowly and quietly got up to release Harry. As soon as he came off the wall, Hermione threw her arms around him and held on to him tightly. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes as he choked back a sob, until he felt her being wrenched from him and his eyes snapped open to find Avery holding her tightly. One hand was around her neck with its hand clasped to her mouth to stop her from making a sound, while the other arm was holding her against him with the palm of his hand flat on her stomach. Harry made a move towards them, then stopped when he saw Malfoy step out of the shadows with his wand held high, pointed at Hermione’s head.

“One move Potter and your fiancée dies,” Malfoy said coldly.

Harry’s hands were by his sides and his fists were clenched. He stopped and waited. Malfoy walked towards him and pointed his wand at Harry. Among Hermione’s screams and a flash of light, Harry was stunned.

Hermione, for the first time that night, felt lonely and scared. She watched Malfoy pick up a Portkey and waited for a while. He motioned for Avery to come with him. Avery held on to Hermione tighter and led her to the Portkey.

“Boss, ye be taking ‘Arry?”

“Hmm, he might be of some use…yes, I’ll take him.” With that, Malfoy picked up Harry and touched the Portkey once more. Then shortly after, the Portkey shuddered and suddenly, they were gone, leaving only small drops of blood on the ground as proof that people were in the alley and a breeze that signatured their departure.