Visions and Prophesies

Visions and Prophesies: Amazing Grace

Screams and sobs echoed off the walls of the dungeon in Riddle Manor. The sounds of someone being violated and beaten were loud in the ears of Draco. He didn't need to ask where his father was, and the house elf was more than glad not to accompany him. When Draco had arrived at the manor with some news from the school, the elf was near to tears.

"Nib, what's wrong?"

Big watery eyes regarded young Master Malfoy fearfully.

"Master Lucius has gone to the dungeons. Nib did not ask why. Nib is told he asks too many questions. But Nib knows. Master Lucius is visiting the girl..."

Without waiting for the rest of the story, Draco tore down to the dungeons, where he currently stood rooted to the floor. He listened to Hermione beg and plead for his father to stop, to leave her alone. He could hear the sound of a hand connecting with flesh. He could hear his father grunting, telling her that no one would want her now. That she was a filthy mudblood slut. Draco shook his head and stepped into the doorway of the cell. He fought to keep his voice a bored drawl.

"I thought she was MY gift father."

Lucius snapped his head up towards the sound and slid his body off of the trembling girl.

"You don't want a defective gift, do you my son?"

Draco chose not to answer. Instead he turned his back to the scene and reported in a cold voice.

"Potter and Weasley are going nuts father. Especially Potter. He's stopped eating, he's not sleeping well... He is determined to find her..."

Lucius finished cleaning himself up and stepped next to his son.

"And Dumbledore?"

The younger Malfoy plastered a smile on his face and looked at the vile man he once called Father.

"Dumbledore is doing nothing. He's announced that she's missing some weeks ago. Now all he's doing is sitting and trying to pacify Potty and Weasel."

"Draco, I have some business to attend to. You are more than welcomed to "finish" what I started with her."

With that, the elder Malfoy exited the scene. Draco listened until he was sure his father would not come back then he slowly walked over to Hermione. She flinched away and tried to move into the nearest corner, but her limbs would not cooperate. Draco swallowed hard.

"Granger... Hermione. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to take you back. Will you let me?"

For a moment, chocolate brown eyes met with steel blue and a million feelings were conveyed. Draco took off his outer robes and laid them on the floor next to Hermione then turned his back until she could dress. As she dressed, he was aware of the bad cough, the rasping breaths, and the sharp gasps that emitted from her. Just as she was about to announce that she was finished, a wave of nausea swept over her, bringing her to her knees. Upon hearing the sound of something falling heavily to the floor, Draco turned and managed to catch Hermione before she planted her face into the cold stone floor. Hoisting her into his arms, Draco said a little prayer that he wouldn't splinch them and apparated.

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Sarin sat perched on her bed, looking out over the school grounds. She had finished her talk with Harry some weeks ago and they had come to a mutual understanding. The only bad thing was, she had stopped having visions of Hermione and started having visions of a horrible war. She took solace in Ginny, her best friend and in her schoolwork. Since that incident in Divination, she began paying closer attention to all of her classes and was fast rising to the top of her year. There was a knock at her door and she jumped from the bed and ran to the door, smoothing down her black hair, which was standing up in a million directions. Opening the door, she found Ron Weasley standing there.

"Hey Sarin, care to join me for a walk around the lake?"

She tilted her head to the side and looked at him quizzically.

"Ron, it's the middle of January. Why not take a walk around the corridors?"

All he did was grin at her sheepishly and shrug. So she ran back into her room and grabbed her cloak and set off with Ron. As they made it down the last few steps before the Entrance Hall, a great pounding sound was heard. They rushed forward and met Professor McGonnagal at the doors. She carefully opened them and stepped back, gasping. There, standing in the doorway, covered in mud and snow, was Draco Malfoy. And in his arms, a bruised, bloody, and beaten Hermione Granger.

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Just Breathe

Ron and Sarin made their way down to the Entrance Hall carefully. Someone was pounding on the door as if an army of Death Eaters were behind them. Or as if they were the Death Eaters themselves. As they approached the last steps, they saw Professor McGonnagal hurry to the doors and slowly open one.

"Oh my God!"

Both Ron and Sarin rushed forward and as Ron looked out of the massive doors, Sarin collapsed into hysterical screaming. Her screaming attracted the attention of several teachers out doing afternoon patrol, one of them being Professor Snape. By the time he reached the doors, McGonnagal was barking orders left and right. She spotted Snape and immediately ordered him to take the unconscious form of Hermione to the hospital wing. She then turned her attention to Ron and Sarin. The girl was slumped against Ron's form sobbing heavily.

"Mr. Weasley, please escort Ms. Haley to the hospital wing also. I will follow with Mr. Malfoy."

They made a somber parade, walking down the corridors towards the wing. When they reached it, Madame Pomfrey was already there at the doors waiting, an anxious expression on her face.

"Professor Vector already informed me and has gone to inform the Headmaster. Please, Severus, lay Ms. Granger down over there, in the bed closest to the window."

She paused when he gave her a strange look.

"It's farthest from the doors."

She turned to Ron, who was supporting Sarin.

"Mr. Weasley, please set her down on the bed to your right. She's in shock. And Minerva, set Mr. Malfoy down right where he is."

She shooed them out and set to work.

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Harry lay in his bed with the curtains drawn. This is how it had all started. He expected Hermione to come through the door any moment and make everything that had happened a bad dream. The tears began to form in his eyes. It had been too long since she had gone missing. Harry battered himself with a million what if's. But, no matter how many times he did that, it didn't change the fact that she was gone. The door to his room was suddenly flung open and he heard a familiar voice yelling. He quickly sat up and flung the curtains back on his bed. He was immediately pounced by his best friend.

"Harry! You gotta come on!! She's back mate!! Hermione's back!"

Harry pushed Ron away from him and stared up with disbelieving eyes. Ron took in his look and calmed down.

"You can't see her yet though mate. She's in a bad way."

"What do you mean 'in a bad way'? What's going on?"

Ron motioned for Harry to move over and then he sat. It was silent for a few moments before he began.

"Sarin and I were walking down to the Great Hall when we heard someone pounding on the doors. We met up with McGonnagal and she opened them to find Malfoy standing there, covered in mud and snow and ice. He was barely clinging onto consciousness and he had someone in his arms Harry... Hermione. Mate, she's black and blue all over... and she was wearing Malfoy's cloak."

"WHAT?!"

"Madame Pomfrey won't let anyone in to visit her until she recovers consciouness. She said something about her having a very bad case of pneumonia."

Harry's head was spinning. Malfoy? He stood up. If he couldn't go see her, he'd just wait outside until he could.

"Where are you going?"

He grabbed his cloak and walked to the door.

"I'm going to the hospital wing. If I can't get in to see her yet, I'll wait out there until I can."