The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 38: The Rescue and the Science Wing

The warehouse crackled with the sound of magical spells and fiery destruction. Harry, Draco, Luna, and Neville had made it out of the Muggle lab with Hermione and Ron, but the battle had left its mark on all of them. The air was thick with the smell of burning chemicals and charred metal as the fire spread, ignited by the powerful Fiendfyre they had unleashed to wipe the place clean of its horrors. Flames roared, consuming the cold, sterile environment that had held their friends captive.

Harry stood at the edge of the burning ruins, his chest heaving, wand still raised. His eyes narrowed as he watched the scientists' bodies, those who had captured and tortured Ron and Hermione, disappear in the inferno. There had been no room for mercy, not after what they had done. The documents they had collected, detailing the gruesome experiments performed on magical creatures and now on wizards and witches, lay in a pile beside him, ready to be taken back to Hogwarts.

"That's it," Harry muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "We're done here. Let's get back."

Neville helped Ron, who was still shaky on his feet, to stand. "You okay, mate?"

Ron, pale and clearly shaken from the ordeal, nodded weakly. "Yeah... just... tired. And hungry."

Draco gave him a disgusted look but said nothing as he helped steady Hermione, who still wore the collar around her neck. Though they had freed her body, her mind was still bound by the sinister magic of the collar. Her eyes were dull, and she moved robotically, following instructions without her usual sharpness.

"We need to get her back to Hogwarts, fast," Luna said, her voice soft but urgent. "That collar... it's still controlling her. I can feel the magic in it, and it's dark."

Harry's eyes flicked to Hermione, worry creasing his brow. He hated seeing her like this, so out of control. "We'll fix it," he said, his voice firm. "Let's go."

Returning to Hogwarts

The journey back to Hogwarts was tense, but swift. Once inside the castle's protective wards, Harry felt a rush of relief. They were home. But the mission wasn't over yet. Ron and Hermione needed immediate care, and the dark magic in Hermione's collar had to be dealt with before it did any more damage.

They hurried into the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey met them with a look of shock. "Good heavens! What happened to them?"

"It's a long story," Harry said, helping Hermione onto one of the beds. "They were captured by Muggles. Scientists. They did something to Hermione—they put this collar on her and it's controlling her mind. Can you help?"

Madam Pomfrey's face paled at the sight of the glowing collar. "That's not something I've seen before. You'll need more than just healing magic for this. This is... beyond me."

Harry nodded grimly. "I know. I'll take care of the collar, but she'll need rest after it's off."

Ron, now lying on the bed next to Hermione, groaned. "Just... let me sleep, please." His face was pale, and his voice weak, but typical Ron. "And... maybe some food later."

Pomfrey tsked as she set about tending to Ron's minor injuries, her hands moving with practiced ease. "You'll have plenty of rest, Mr. Weasley, but no food until I've looked you over."

Harry, meanwhile, turned his focus to Hermione. He knew he couldn't rely on ordinary magic to break the collar's grip. It was dark, complex magic—the kind designed to control and suppress a witch's very mind. He would need the strength of Hogwarts itself to help him.