A Second Channe Through Time

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Page count: 10

Malfoy Manor – Wednesday 17th March 1982

It had been five days since Hermione's torture at the hands of Dumbledore. Five days since she'd been moved from St. Mungo's to Malfoy Manor and under the care of the Malfoy's private Healer. Five days of her boyfriends' overbearing protective behaviour and never leaving her bedside. Five days of constant chaperones. Five days of bed rest. The Healer had deemed her perfectly healthy two days ago for Merlin's sake!

The entire Weasley clan had visited during her forced bed rest, unsure of how as she knew they couldn't risk being caught with her, but they'd assured her they'd been careful. Bill had immediately began fawning over her, Charlie spoke of his love for dragons, the twins had been upset that she was hurt and couldn't make fireworks with them and Percy silently watched her over the top of his book. Their brief visit had given her a distraction but now she was losing her mind.

She'd had enough of it. Despite the size of the apartment, she'd always had space for herself, somewhere to go and be alone. But at the Manor, they wouldn't even let her go to the bathroom by herself, and once she'd finished she was ushered back into bed. They all but fed her, too! Deeming that lifting a fork or spoon to her own mouth was too taxing. They'd felt her hex for hours afterwards.

She wasn't certain her level of irritation could even be described or measured. Dumbledore had barely been there long, half an hour tops. He'd only Crucio'd her twice; she'd suffered under the hands of Bellatrix, someone who was far more skilled and experienced in torture.

She needed some time away, some time for herself, time to just breathe. So she made a plan. She turned her eyes to the house-elf that was guarding her, if someone wasn't with her, a house-elf was. She was never alone.

"Gultri?"

"What cans Gultri dos for the Miss?" The little being bowed, the tips of his ears almost sweeping the floor.

"I would love a cup of tea, if you wouldn't mind," Hermione smiled at the young elf.

"Yes Miss," he nodded vigorously. "Gultri bes back," he said, disappearing from view.

"Time to make a break for it," she sighed, throwing the covers away from her and climbing out of bed before crossing to the opened window.

It was a lovely spring day and she breathed in the clean air and smiled to herself. This was what she needed. With her hand in her grasp, she conjured a length of rope and tied it to the balcony of the floor above her before she climbed out of the window and lowered herself to the ground, gripping the rope tightly. When her feet touched the floor, she pocketed her wand and changed into her fox form as she ran across the large grounds, heading for the forest.

~000~000~000~

They were all gathered in the main lounge, the three toddlers happily playing together and the adults discussing Hermione's plans for the White Lions, when they were interrupted by the arrival of Gultri.

"Gultri is sorry, Mistress," he said in distress, looking to the ground and gripping the edge of his pillowcase in his hands. "The Miss is gones from her rooms."

"What!?" Sirius barked, startling the toddlers.

"The Miss asked for for tea and whens I returned, shes was gone."

Sirius and James were quick to leave the lounge and head to Hermione's room with Remus and Lucius following behind them and Narcissa staying to watch over the children. When they reached her rooms, their eyes scanned their surroundings before Sirius caught a scent that led him to the open window. Frowning, he poked his head out and looked down, catching sight of the rope hanging from above and blowing in the breeze.