Dysfunctional

45 - The Beginning

Thursday, June 12

The stench of sweat and blood made Hestia gag, but the rising panic at the sight of Greyback sitting opposite her was more overpowering.

She willed herself to calm down. She was not looking like herself and she could take comfort in the fact that her identity was safe.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing in a pub like this?" rasped Greyback, crossing his filthy hands on top of the table.

"Please get out of the seat," she said firmly, grasping her wand inside her pocket. "My friend will be back soon."

"Your boyfriend? You don't have to worry about him, my sweet," said Greyback, leering. "I won't take more than ten minutes of your time."

Hestia clenched her jaw and pulled out her wand, but it simply flew out of her grip straight into Greyback's outstretched hand. He had disarmed her in the blink of an eye.

Greyback pocketed her wand and growled softly, "We won't be needing that."

Hestia glanced around her. Not one person was looking their way; the Death Eater, Travers, who had been accompanying Greyback, was nowhere to be seen.

Where the bloody hell was Sirius?

Taking notice of her distraction, Greyback leaned so close towards her that Hestia jerked back in alarm.

"Get away from me!" she yelled and stood up quickly, pushing her now vacant chair towards him to put some distance between them. A few people looked around at the noise and Hestia opened her mouth to yell for help, but no sound came out.

Greyback stood up too, discreetly pocketing his wand after having cast the Silencing charm on her. Hestia was uncomfortably aware of his huge build towering over her and edged back slowly in fear.

She could hear shouts from behind her and the sounds of a scuffle. People started screaming and a flash of emerald green caught her eye and she saw the fireplace just a few feet away from her bursting into flames. Some people seemed to be trying to exit the pub hastily while the rest, particularly the ones shrouded in darkness with their bodies entwined, were unaware of what was happening and going about their business. Paulopabita was seen hurrying people outside the pub.

Hestia bolted towards the fireplace too, but Greyback lunged at her. He pinned her to the wall in a dark corner of the pub and the sheer terror made her scream. Her throat ached but the sound never came. People would not even notice them in this pub if Greyback had his way with her.

Desperate for release, she hit and scratched him, trying to wriggle out of his grip, but he was an immovable rock. He grasped both her hands together in one hand of his and leaned very close to her ear. "I won't bite," he whispered in a hoarse voice that sent chills down her spine. "I'll save that for later tonight-"

He was cut short as Hestia propelled her clenched hands in his grip straight at his mouth with such force that blood coated his pointed teeth. Greyback was grinning like a madman, seemingly enjoying the violence.

He forcefully pushed his lips to hers and there was a loud yell and a bang that threw the heavy form of Greyback far away from her body.

Hestia slumped to the floor and retched despite herself. She wiped her mouth and looked around her to see the pub half empty.