The Dark Side (Unedited)

Chapter 34

Ginny's labour act had left not only the two stupid wizards confused, but had also confounded Edgar. The three of them halted and stared at Ginny who was breathing heavily and rocking from side to side.

"Boss, what do we do?" Hermione stared at Edgar with quivering eyes, awaiting their verdict. His expression was blank, he looked completely dumbfounded. After a minute of his mouth opening and shutting, he finally spoke.

"Err - well I suppose you will have to take the tramp to St. Mungo's. I'm not delivering a baby in my bar." Ginny was hoisted to her feet, her arms pinned behind her back.

"What about the other one, sir?" Brutus enquired, with a hesitant voice.

"What have I told you, you blithering idiot? Kill her!" The words hissed out of Edgar's mouth like tiny pythons, which attacked Hermione's eyes and made them water. She had one last scheme, but she knew it had a slim chance of working out. Brutus was edging towards her again, a ferocious expression on his face that reminded Hermione of a hungry lion ready to pounce.

"Stop!" Her voice sounded much stronger than she felt, and pushed her shoulders back to feign confidence as she focused her gaze on Edgar. "If you kill me, I will make Ginny tell Lucius your secret." For a moment, Edgar's face tensed in slight worry. He whipped around to face Hermione, but rearranged his expression to show false amusement.

"Will you? Might I ask what this 'secret' is?" His feet shuffled towards her, and he slowly gained height until he was inches away and cowering over her small frame. His intimidation brought doubt to Hermione's mind. What if she were wrong?

"You're a muggleborn." Hermione watched as his eyes turned hard, felt Brutus stiffen in surprise. Seconds passed before Edgar broke out in laughter, and slapped Hermione across the face. Pain rushed to her cheek before spreading across her face.

"Me, a mudblood? How dare you insult me!" His voice rose, making Hermione wince slightly. "My blood is pure, you ignorant fool."

"How do you explain your knowledge of the muggle story Alice in Wonderland? You called your two bimbo accomplices Tweedledee and Tweedledum. I would have thought that a pure-blooded wizard - as you claim to be - wouldn't be acquainted with the reference. And your name, it's quite peculiar isn't it? Perhaps you were named after the muggle poet, Edgar Allen Poe." Edgar's eyes were widening, and Hermione knew that she was right. "Lets not forget that you shouted, 'for God's sake.' A wizard with no knowledge of muggle religion would usually refer to Merlin for that statement, wouldn't you agree?"

Edgar's face had grown redder and redder until he now resembled a tomato wearing a cloak. Hermione began to fear that he would kill her anyway, out of anger.

"You will pay for this, I swear to you. If I let you and the skank go free today, and I hear of any talk of this... matter, I promise you that I will hunt you down and personally kill you. Do you understand?"

She nodded, and concealed her feelings of relief. Ginny was released and began to walk over to her, still bluffing her labour.

"Considering your situation, I'm sure you could tell us where Lucius went." Edgar turned his nose up at her in disgust, but sighed when he realised he was left with no choice.

"They went to Diagon Alley, that's all I know."

They continued down the hall and into a courtyard where they were faced with a brick wall.

Hermione raised her wand to the third brick above the dustbin and tapped it three times. As the archway began to appear, Hermione noticed Ginny's sniffles. She went to rub her friend's arm in comfort, but noticed several bruises forming.

"Oh Ginny, I'm so sorry. I should have left you at Hogwarts. I've put you in terrible danger, Harry's going to kill me."

"Hermione, shut up. If you had gone without me I would never speak to you again."

"I know, I just feel rotten. None of us should have to deal with this anymore." Ginny made a noise in agreement, and they began to enter Diagon Alley.

"By the way, that was amazing. If it wasn't for your quick thinking, we'd probably be dead." Ginny looked at her in admiration, and Hermione couldn't help but smile.

"We have another problem now, though."

Ginny's thoughts were in the same place. "We have no idea where Lucius is."