Dramione: WANTED

CHAPTER 29: THE ONE WHERE SIX PEOPLE ARE CHAINED IN A DUNGEON

CHAPTER 29: THE ONE WHERE SIX PEOPLE ARE CHAINED IN A DUNGEON

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, trying to get her bearings and sort out the muddle of thoughts and emotions racing around in her head. She'd expected to be tortured, she'd been prepared to face the Crucio from him, and even death, but the masked man had simply hackled on about catching Draco and some plan before knocking her out cold.

She sat up, cringing when her body groaned against the movement. How long had she been out? She tried to get to her feet, but her arms and legs were shackled to the wall with chains that barely allowed her any movement. She took in a deep breath, and almost yelped when her ribs strained against her skin.

When had she broken her ribs?

"Ah, I see that you're finally awake, Hermione. Nice of you to pay some attention! I've been trying to kick you awake for ages now! And thanks to your meddling, I had to push back the end of the world as we know it, to three am!" The masked man suddenly appeared in front of her and before she could respond, he kicked her ribs again.

Hermione bit her tongue to stop herself from screaming out as the already tender skin around her ribs was crushed once more, and the bones from within, pressed dangerously against her skin, like they were going to tear through. It hurt, so badly that she was tempted to give up right then and scream for Draco, to make it all go away, but she couldn't do that.

She'd realised pretty early on in their run-away adventure, that Draco had been the missing piece that the lunatic behind the murders had needed. Over the course of the two years she'd been alone, she'd found almost no clues, yet the moment Draco was involved in her life, the murders had begun to get sloppy.

On purpose too. Whatever this plan was that the masked man was trying to get underway, it needed Draco to be present too, that's why he'd left the note pointing to Malfoy Manor at Ron's murder scene, to get the whole thing in motion.

So she couldn't call to Draco for help, the most important thing he could do right now, was to stay away from this place. She needed him to be safe, even if in the end, it meant she'd have to break the promise she'd made him.

Forever and ever...at least she'd had a small taste of happiness before things had gone so downhill. She clenched her fist, finding comfort in the ring on her finger.

"You know, Hermione, at first I didn't understand why it had to be your blood for the potion to work, but I think I'm starting to understand. You lived most of your life thinking you were a muggle, and then you found out you have magic and became a Muggleborn witch, and then you find out that you have a Pureblood inheritance. Your life has been a constant struggle and you've lived through it all. Those are some genetics, Granger."

Hermione didn't respond. She kept her lips firmly closed, knowing that the only thing he wanted from her right now was for her to get angry, and she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. But, apparently, that hadn't been the right thing to do either, since he took that as a revolt against him and with that creepy smile of his, cast a "CRUCIO!" at her.

Hermione knew the feeling of being tortured. She'd had this done to her before, the pain, the agony that came with such a curse was almost indescribable and clenching her teeth was not enough to stop herself from gasping for air.

Why was this happening? What had she done that meant such a treatment was necessary?

And just as soon as the pain was washing over her body, it disappeared and Hermione took in a lungful of air, choking as she was able to breathe again, her heart racing so fast in her chest, she felt like it was about to explode.