When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 52: Cause of Anguish

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 52: Cause of Anguish

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

Darkness surrounded him, and the environment was silent for the first thirty seconds he was there. He heard a single ragged breath when footsteps approached his location. He guessed he was in a room in the Department of Mysteries, probably the one he'd seen when Granger let her walls drop during a previous session. A Death Eater entered the room with a light flying around him.

Thanks to that small amount of light, he'd spotted Granger before Dolohov. She was under the desk, the body of Weasley with her, unconscious with some disgusting creature attached to him. She was hiding as best she could, but it wasn't good enough. The man found them, and he felt her fear spike the moment a sick laugh came from Dolohov's mouth.

The Death Eater pointed his wand at her. The bile rose to his throat, burning him with no mercy. Was he the one that broke her? He didn't want to think about the things this man used to do to muggles and muggleborns. If Granger had suffered under this man for more than a curse, he would kill him when he had the opportunity. He might even do it anyway if the chance was given to him.

He felt a rush of thoughts coming from Granger. She thought so fast that he was unable to understand them. She knew she was a spell away from death. He could feel it. The panic, the agony, the fear.

A scream echoed in the room.

He smiled at her movements and her bravery. The Hermione Granger he knew wasn't the same as this one. This one could canalize those negative feelings into casting charms faster than a Death Eater.

Her stunning spell hit Dolohov on an arm. He rolled his eyes and fell to the floor. That spell wouldn't last long. She should've gone for something stronger.

Dolohov's curse would hit her later. He'd make her pay for her audacity.

He wished he could warn her, and have it do some good, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

Granger moved under the desk and dragged out the unconscious and heavy body of the Weasley boy. He heard her ragged breath with each pull until she placed the arm of the boy around her shoulders, her intention to carry his dead weight along with her was clear. It was the moral thing to do, indeed, but it was stupid.

Dolohov wouldn't care about the Weasley boy if he were already unconscious because the Dark Lord's orders were to get the prophecy and Potter if the occasion presented itself. But Granger had defied the Death Eater and she wouldn't be safe until he was dead.

Granger sent a brief look to the unconscious murderer. He followed her as she went to another room.

Her effort carrying the brainless boy was remarkable, but she was losing her strength by doing it. She stopped and looked around to check for other Death Eaters. When satisfied no one was around, she carried the boy to a small closet. With some struggling movements, she managed to place the boy in the closet. "I'm sorry, Ron. You'll be safer here." He arched an eyebrow as she closed the door, trying not to make more noise than necessary.

She'd saved that boy and all she got in return was his distance and rudeness.

Her hand gripped her wand tightly; she took a deep breath, and moved to the next door. He followed her, dreading to see what the next part of this memory offered even though he'd likely seen worse.

She turned the handle and the light washed over her. Her hair had become a furious mess of twisted curls. Some of her clothes had been sliced and there were splotches of blood in various places. The sweat ran down her forehead. Her eyes were fixed on what was happening in front of her

The order was fighting the Death Eaters. Longbottom and Potter were trying to fool Lucius with childish games not letting him get the prophecy as they passed the orb to each other. At least it was working. In the higher tiers, he could distinguish Black fighting Bellatrix. This must have been when he'd fallen into the veil.

Then, the orb fell onto the floor, smashing into pieces, and with it, Lucius' place in the Dark Lord's circle.

Dumbledore arrived shortly after and everyone stopped except Bellatrix. The woman laughed, the insane sound bouncing off the walls and making it seem like the room was filled with many of her rather than only one. She waved her wand and Black's wand flew from his grasp.

He looked to his side. Granger lifted her arm and pointed the wand in Bellatrix's direction. He could see fear and rage threatening to take over her, and then she cast the spell. A slight shake of her hand was enough to twist things from good to terrible.

Because of that single tremble, the spell went off course and the explosion intensified due to what it hit. It threw Black off balance and a green ray hit his chest. He froze, and then his body tipped over, falling through the veil.

Granger's wand fell from her hand, capturing his attention as the shock overtook her features. Her eyes focused on the spot Black had occupied just seconds ago. He felt her brain screaming and a sudden need to vomit rose from his stomach.

She fell to her knees and whimpered. A feeling of guilt hit him. It was so strong that it rivaled his guilt for what he'd done to Lily.

The memory blurred slightly, letting him see the affection that Potter had for the deceased man as they embraced, as they laughed, and Hermione stood with them, smiling. Then another memory hit. This one was her walking alone in the first year. More and more memories flooded her head. The pattern repeated in a vicious circle, not letting her focus on the present. It was determined to destroy her from the inside out.

He wanted to fight Dolohov when he saw the man cast the curse. She fell.

-/-/-

The darkness twisted and he found himself at Hogwarts again, but not inside of his office and looking at her. The room was gold and red, with a fireplace and some sofas being occupied by half-asleep students.

She was with her essays, writing slowly when a shadow covered the light coming from the fireplace. Her brown quill stopped, and she looked up to find the brainless Weasley staring at her.

"Ron...I...." She avoided the Weasley boy's eyes. "How is Harry?"

"He is coping and of course missing Sirius."

"I don't know what to do," she said.

Instead of consoling her like a friend should have, he narrowed his eyes. "You should've stayed with me. None of this would have happened if you had." His dry reply made her close her eyes, and he turned his back to her. "I thought you were smart, but I guess you aren't in everything."

Weasley walked away, and the memory faded.

AN: First of all, Happy New Year to all. Now...eh...I wonder if I should run away. I'm Nervous about what you would thing. It might look like a simple act, but, even something that simple can change everything. Hope you liked it and let me know what you think. See you on 8th.