Life Goes On

Chapter 7

Tears were running down Hermione’s cheek as she fumbled in the dark for her shoe.  She had been thrown in a cell without her wand and she felt hopeless.  Harry wasn’t with her, but she had absolutely no clue as to where he was.  She could tell it was night time as the cell was pitch black, during the day, rays of light could be seen trying to force their way through some large cracks in the ceiling.  She had been keeping track of the days and knew that a month had already passed.  She was weak and malnourished.  They had given her a bucket of dingy water for her to use when washing up and one set of torn blue robes that had turned grayer each morning by wear.  She had two meals a day.  Breakfast consisted of oatmeal and dinner was stale bread and piece of meat from the head table.  Twice, she had attempted to look for Harry, as she would never try and escape without him.  But she had been caught, beaten, raped and thrown in a darker cell each time.  She had no clue as to why they were holding her captive.  But she surmised that it was probably Harry they wanted and she was only the spare, and maybe a little reminder for him when he refused to co-operate with whatever their plan was.

Her head snapped up when she heard the heavy oak door, nine inches thick, creak open.  Her eyes shut out of reflex as the light flooding her dark cell, seemed to blind her.  People entered her room one by one, then the shuffling of feet stopped.  She blindly scrambled back into a corner and slowly her eyes opened.

“Harry!” she exclaimed, her voice hoarse.

Harry’s head was covered with a large black bag.  He started struggling against the binds.

“Hermione?” he asked unsure, “is that you?”

“Oh God Harry!” her voice shook with emotion, “What’s happening?  Are you alright?”

Laughter rippled among the death eaters.  Lucius Malfoy stepped forward.

“Hello Missss  Granger,” he said softly.  The laughter stopped.

She spat on the hand he had extended to rub her cheek.  He looked disgusted as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand.  He walked over to Harry and ripped the bag off his head.  Hermione gasped when she saw his usually short hair, now past his shoulders.  He wasn’t wearing his glasses and he looked haggard.

“Hermione,” his voice rasped, “What…what have they done to you?”

Hermione couldn’t bear to see the hurt and recognition in his eyes.  But she maintained the eye contact, trying to convey her love to him.  Harry must have understood because his face crumpled and he started struggling again.

“Let me go!” he yelled, “Let me go!”

Lucius cackled and paced the room.

“Miss Granger.  I assume you know nothing of our activities.”

Hermione shook her head and she felt dizzy all at once.  She stopped and held her head with her hands.

Lucius laughed again, “Good.  Well see here, notice how our Mr. Potter is well kempt apart from the…hair?” he asked scornfully.

Hermione had indeed noticed.  Harry was well dressed in the same black robes as the death eaters and he looked…whole.

“Well, he has been kept for…observation.  We have been…good to him.  Now it’s your turn.  You will exchange places.”

Hermione rose shakily to her feet, “no,” she cried, “Let us go!”

Lucius laughed, “Seize her!”

Harry screamed out her name as the death eaters bound her in ropes and put the same bag that was on Harry’s head, over hers.  They dragged her out of the room, screaming and kicking.  The remaining death eaters walked out, leaving Harry and Lucius alone.  Harry felt his heart tear and stomach go weak when he heard her screaming his name, each time become fainter and fainter.

“Don’t hurt her you bastard,” Harry said to him.  He felt so helpless.  He had no control over himself.  And he didn’t know what to do; all he could do was say, 'don’t hurt her.'

Lucius laughed and slammed the door in Harry’s face.  Harry leaned against the door, breathing heavily.  He sank to the ground and wept.

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Sirius walked up the front steps and knocked on the door.  The door opened and Ron grinned.

“Sirius!” he cried out and embraced him, “How are you?”

Sirius smiled and thumped Ron on the back, “I’m fine…how are you?”

Ron’s eyes clouded over with happiness, “I doing well.  My wife is expecting…”

“A baby?” Sirius’ eyes widened.

“Yes!” Ron yelled excitedly, “A baby!”

“That’s fantastic Ron…congratulations.”

Ron smiled and shook Sirius’ hand, “Thanks Sirius.  Come inside.”

Sirius walked in and shut the door behind him.

Eve was coming out of the kitchen and stopped short.  She smiled and took off her oven mitten.  She walked over to Sirius and smiled at him.

“Hey old man, good to see you.”

Sirius held her at arm’s length, “You’re looking good.”

Eve pat her stomach lovingly, “Yes, I know,” then she laughed.

Ron stood behind Eve and put his hands on her shoulders.  He looked over her head at Sirius.

“I know, that you don’t pay house calls, unless it is something important.”

Sirius nodded gravely, “Ron, I haven’t heard from Harry or Hermione in two months.”

Ron’s eyes widened, “You’re not supposed to contact them!”

Sirius’ eyes flashed, “Yeah well, screw the bleedin’ ministry!”

The three sat on the couch.  Sirius cleared his throat and Eve got up to get drinks.

“Ron,” he whispered, “I saw them two months ago.  I promised them, well Rose promised them that she would contact them, when we could.”

Ron gaped at him, “You saw Harry and Hermione?”

Sirius nodded and Ron’s eyes misted over.

“How are they?”

Sirius smiled and pat Ron’s arm, “They’re fine and happy.”

Ron smiled, “Good.”

“Yeah, but you know that I only know where to find them, well they’re not there Ron.”

Ron frowned, “They’ve got to be.”

Sirius shook his head, “No, they’re missing.”

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

Soon enough, word got around that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger went missing again. 

THE BOY WHO LIVES IS NOW THE BOY WHO WENT MISSING TWICE

Harry Potter was once famous for a scar that had been severely imprinted on his forehead by the most feared dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, when his deadly curse went wrong…

Writes Rita Skeeter, Correspondent Reporter

The Daily Prophet.

But now, our hero has gone missing, even though he was already missing!  Reports have it that Mr. Potter had been kidnapped, along with faithful sidekick, Hermione Granger…

Draco folded up the paper disgustedly and threw it in the fire.  He looked up when he heard Ginny’s footsteps coming down the stairs.  She walked into the living room and took one glance at the papers, now curling up in the flames.

“What was that?” she asked frowning.

Draco gave her a sardonic smile, “The Daily Prophet.”

“Why are you burning it?  I would have like to read it.”

Draco ran a hand through his hair, “Nothing very informative was in there…although…”

He didn’t get a chance to finish, as Ginny glared at him, “Although what…Draco Malfoy?”

Draco sighed, “There was an article in there by Rita Skeeter…Harry and Hermione have been kidnapped.”

Ginny’s eyes widened and she stumbled in shock, “Excuse me?”

“Kidnapped.”

Ginny sat down heavily in an armchair and closed her eyes for a few moments, “But…usually, Rita Skeeter writes lies...” she said.  Draco thought she was trying to convince herself more than him.

“Oh yes…all the time,” he said as he leaned against the wall, “But her lies have always been based on some sort of truth.  Maybe they weren’t kidnapped,” he said quietly, “Maybe they were killed and their bodies are lying somewhere.”

Suddenly, Ginny’s head rolled forward and rested against her chest.  Draco frowned slightly and walked over to her.  He pushed back her head and lifted her eyelids.  He just then realized that she had passed out.