The Dark Side (Unedited)

Chapter 33

The room erupted into chaos as the two wizards lunged at the girls and tried to stun them. But Hermione had anticipated the attack and sent a disarming charm at one of them, and noticed Ginny following her lead on the other. The bartender seemed to be wandless, and his face held the slightest sliver of worry as the other two wizards stood vulnerably.

Hermione and Ginny caught the wands, trying to formulate a plan that would get them out of there.

The men just remained still, dumbfounded and at a loss as to what to do.

"What are you two doing just standing there? Get them!" The cloaked leader's eyes looked swollen, his mouth almost swallowed by skin as he raged at the two men.

"Edgar, we don't have wands." The leader - who Hermione assumed was Edgar - slowly pivoted to the wizard on their right, who had spoken. He began to cower from his leader's heavy stare, obviously regretting his declaration.

"Who are you, Tweedledee and Tweedledum? Just get them! Hit them if you have to, you're grown men for God's sake."

While they had been arguing, Hermione had thought of a plan that could either work or put her and Ginny in serious danger. She whispered in Ginny's ear just a single word, and hoped that she would understand her idea.

The two men - who were so sluggish they reminded her of Crabbe and Goyle - had turned back to them and were slowly advancing closer and closer. The one on the left had a malicious glint in his eye, and for a split second Hermione was overcome with fear. He continued to slither towards Ginny, his arm gradually lifting. When he was less than three inches away, his hand rested on her stomach.

"You're a little young to be a mother, aren't you? You must be a dirty little skank." Ginny's eyes flashed with anger, and Hermione knew she had to do something before Ginny did something reckless.

Her eyes flicked to the man who was advancing on her right, who was about a foot away from her. She took a deep breath and focused. She had one chance, and if she misjudged it could mean fatal consequences. He took another step, and she knew it was the right moment.

Her hand flew into his face, her fingers jabbing into his eyes. While he was distracted she pushed Ginny behind her and kneed the left wizard in the stomach. His arms reached towards her, one colliding with her chin but she bent his fingers back and he immediately recoiled.

She knew the other one would have recovered by then, so she swung around with her arm out and hand flat, and sent her fingers into the front of his throat. He began to cough and splutter so she finished him off with an elbow to the nose.

But when she felt a hand close around her upper arm, she knew she couldn't do anything else. The odds weren't in her favour - two men against her, and she had incorporated that into her scheme. She let him drag her closer to him, and felt his sweaty hands envelope her neck.

Her hands clenched into fists as she remembered the way Viktor had grabbed her that horrible night. She had ruthlessly taught herself self-defence in case it ever happened again, but here she was - vulnerable and helpless.

His fingers tightened and breathing became difficult but was still possible.

"Can I kill her, boss? Or do you want her alive?" He chuckled and his repulsive breath heated her face. She could hear Ginny whimpering in pain and saw that the other man was holding Ginny's arms firmly behind her back.

"Finish her off yourself, Brutus. I'm not interested in Mudbloods." Brutus's hands finally cut off her air supply, and she searched for Ginny's face over the man's shoulder. She silently mouthed "now," and saw Ginny nod her head.

Ginny's screams encompassed the room, making Brutus's grip slacken slightly in shock. Hermione watched as her friend sank to the floor trying to wrestle her arms free. Her idiotic capturer was so shocked that he released Ginny's arms and looked at Edgar with a bewildered expression.

Ginny held her stomach and groaned loudly before screeching, "The baby's coming! I'm in labour!"