Before you (Fred Weasley)

CHAPTER 74

The next few days were not very different from the rest. Luna, Dean and I talked about anything and everything while Mr. Ollivander and Griphook stayed silent and reserved, not interested in joining our conversation.

"When do you think we'll ever be able to get out of here?" Dean asked the both of us, hugging his knees to his chest. He had grown weaker and so had Luna but their spirits were high. I could only wish that I was as positive as them. Painful thoughts about my mother still flooded my mind, I wanted to visit her, wherever she was. I assumed she was at St. Mungo's, under a Healer's care.

"I honestly don't know, Dean, but it could be a very long time" I sighed weakly.

All of a sudden, there was a loud commotion upstairs. I could hear Bellatrix's squeals of delight. Some people had apparated into the Manor and had brought something that pleased Bellatrix, that was for sure.

"What's going on?" said Dean, getting up from his seat on the ground and I followed. There hadn't been this much noise in a long time.

"No clue" I said as the three of us stared at the ceiling above us.

With a loud creak, the door of the dungeon opened and two boys came toppling down the stairs.

No. It couldn't be! After all this time?

"Harry, Ron?" Dean and I yelled simultaneously. Luna just looked at them as if she had expected their arrival.

They stood there, ropes tied around their bodies.

"What the hell are you doing here?" asked Dean.

"Why do you have ropes tied around you?" asked Luna.

"And where the hell have you been?" I asked,

"And where's Hermione?"

Ron and Harry looked at each other and then at us.

"There's a lot to tell you but we can't right now. Hermione's upstairs with Bellatrix and I-I don't know what's going to happen-"

A loud wail of pain interrupted Harry. I recognised that voice as Hermione's.

"NOO! STOP IT!" Screamed Ron," STOP TORTURING HER" He yelled, struggling to get out of the ropes but they were bound magically.

But Bellatrix didn't stop and neither did Hermione's screams. I heard her say something about a sword but I couldn't be too sure. Ron continued to protest but it didn't work.

Suddenly, there was a loud pop and a house-elf who I recognised as Dobby apparated in the dungeon.

"Dobby! What are you doing here?" asked Dean.

"Dobby, you can apparate in and out of here! Take Alice, Dean, Luna and Ollivander to Shell Cottage, then come back for us, do you understand?" Harry said, instructing the house-elf.

"Certainly sir" he said.

"We're not leaving without you, Ron and Hermione" I said firmly to Harry.

"Neither am I" said Dean.

"Look, we'll be fine, Dobby'll come back to get us. Please, just go now" said Harry.

Dobby grabbed the four of us and disapparated before we could protest.

We landed on the sand at the beach on which Shell Cottage stood.

"I'll be back with the rest" said Dobby before disapparating again.

I blinked. That had seemed pretty easy. I was suddenly in broad daylight and everything seemed odd after being in the darkness for so long.

"Let's go inside" I said, getting up and dusting the sand from my leggings and everyone followed. Luna and Dean held Ollivander up who looked very weak.