Amulet of Time 2: Two Worlds, Two Wars

Chapter 22: Ah How Sweet!

On the second day that they were there, the new intake had been ordered out of their hut at the crack of dawn and led down to a building on the far side of the camp, where they had had their hair cut short. On the way over, Hermione had taken the opportunity to have a look around. The paths leading between the rows and rows of wooden huts were made of gravel, making her feet sore after a while. All around the camp was a tall barbed wire fence, with guard towers set up every now and again. A line was marked out on the ground about a metre from the fence. If it was crossed by a prisoner for any reason, the guards in one of the towers would shoot them. About half way to their destination, one of the soldiers walking next to the group stuck his foot out, making one of the women a few feet in front of Hermione stumble. As she was regaining her footing, the man pushed her away from the group. As she fell across the line, one of the tower guards shot her in the head. Hermione couldn't bear to look at the body as she walked past, but deep down she knew she would be seeing more of the same from thereon in. What made her feel sick, though, was the laughter coming from the soldier in front of her.

After the incident with the shooting, Hermione continued to look around. She could see the huts where the men were kept, and tried to think of a way she could go and see Ron. Nothing sprang to mind, and her thoughts took a completely different direction when she spotted a patch of open ground with a noose hanging from a wooden post.

After their hair had been cut off, the new arrivals were taken to where the other prisoners were stood for inspection. Yanika whispered to her that they would have to line up like this every morning in front of the main gates. Just as she finished speaking, the doors of the gate tower were thrown open and a tall man of obviously high rank strode out and stood in front of the assembled prisoners.

" Guten Morgen, meine Damen und Herren."

The man continued on with a long winded speech about discipline aimed at the new arrivals. Yanika was listening intently, as if memorising it. Hermione didn't understand, so she took the opportunity to discreetly look around the crowd for Ron. A few times she spotted a patch of short red hair, but it was never her friend. She was saddened to think he too had had his hair cut. He had been growing it long like his brother Bill since the summer after fourth year. It was a shame to have it cut off. Before she could locate her friend, the crowd started to move off and she quickly started whispering to Yanika.

" What was all that about?"

" He was just telling us some of the rules. He was speaking mainly to us new prisoners. We will be receiving our orders when we return to our hut."

" Orders?"

" Yes. This is a labour camp after all. We will be told what our jobs will be. He also gave us the opportunity to volunteer for medical research."

" I don't like the sound of that. Did he say when we would be having our meals?"

" We will eat in the morning and the evening in the dining building. We don't get to eat this morning, as we will be wasting time getting to know our jobs. He explained that Grossrosen is a self maintaining camp. The men mostly work on the far side in construction, building new huts and expanding the camp itself."

" So the prisoners build their own prison?"

" Basically, yes."

" How awful."

" I know."

They had to be quiet after that, as they had reached their destination. They waited quietly while the soldier in charge of them read out their names and their assigned tasks. As soon as Yanika told Hermione what she was to do, silent tears started to fall down her cheeks.