I've actually been struggling with this fic - chapter really - for a couple of weeks now. I really, really like the idea, but it's been hard to write. I just hope it's been worth the effort. I just managed to finish this chapter today. …I really should be studying biology, but hey! I've got my priorities straight. XD
Anyway, I've started chapter two already, but I'm sure when it'll be finished (this is my very discreet hint of "Please, please review and I might write faster!"). Enjoy.
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Whispers At Night
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Chapter One - The Storm is Drawing Nearer
The Forbidden forest was even darker and gloomier than usual. The night was dark and no stars could be seen. Even the moon was hidden behind the thick fog. Rain poured down from the sky as if the heavens were falling down. Lightning cracked through the sky and lit up the scenery for a short second, revealing a small group of teens hiding in the darkness.
They were soaked to the bone; their hair lying as if it has been plastered to their heads and their clothes clung to their bodies. Except for the panting and shivering, they were silent.
A pale, sandy-haired, young man broke the silence. "Are you sure you want to do this, Harry?" he whispered.
Harry frowned slightly, his eyes darkening. "I don't want to, Seamus… I have to. He has Hermione… I have to get her before he gets a chance to hurt her."
Ron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't get me wrong mate, but how can you be so sure she isn't…well, you know…?"
Harry sighed and he closed his eyes as if he was focusing very hard on something before replying. "No, she's alive."
"But how can you be so sure, Harry?"
He smiled humourlessly. "Because I can't imagine her dead." He paused momentarily. "And if I think that he's hurting her I won't be able to focus…and that's the last thing we need." He gripped his wand tightly. "Now, c'mon. We have to get moving…"
Ron nodded towards the rest of the group and together they continued deeper into the forest.
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Voldemort grinned. "The boy is coming," he hissed, "I can feel it…" He nodded towards one of the Death Eaters. "Shoot up my mark into the sky. We wouldn't want the boy to miss us, now would we?"
The Death Eater bowed quickly. "Yes, my lord."
Voldemort smiled maliciously at the young, magically bound, girl beside him.
Her wrists were red, her hair messy and her clothes wrinkled as if she had been struggling against the magical bounding for quite some time.
"And you, my dear, did wonderfully. I knew Potter would try to rescue you, you filthy muggle trash." He twirled his wand. "Too good for his own good… Why he'd risk himself for you is beyond me. You mudbloods are only good for one thing…"
Hermione paled but kept on glaring.
"Cru- oh, how silly of me; I've forgotten to take of the silencio. There's no fun with torture if you can't hear your victim scream, don't you think?" He twirled his wand again. "Finite Incantatem."
Hermione spluttered. "I hate you, Voldemort."
"Oh, you break my heart, you filthy trash." He gave his wand a final twirl before pointing it directly at her heart. "Crucio."
Hermione bit her lip, trying to force herself not to scream. She wouldn't! She refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream.
But the pain was blinding. It felt like her lungs were on fire, as if someone kept stabbing through her heart over and over again. The pain never creased. It felt like she had been under the curse for an eternity.
She couldn't hold back any longer. She screamed at the top of her lungs.
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Harry jerked up from his crouching position as he heard the both ear and heart-splitting scream. "Hermione," he whispered, his voice caught in his throat.
Ron pulled him back down again. "C'mon, mate. You gotta focus here… You said it yourself: You won't be able to help her if you're off your bloody rocket."
Harry nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.
"Ronald…" Luna gripped his arm. "Look!" She pointed up in the sky where the green skull and snake could be seen.
"Bloody hell… Isn't he supposed to hide from us?"
"In that case he's doing a very poor job of it," Seamus hissed back.
"He isn't trying to hide. He wants to be found." Harry rubbed his scar. "He's making sure that we'll find him."
"Arrogant prat."
"Aye."
"We better get going…" Neville whispered, his teeth clattering but not from fear but because of the chill.
Harry nodded, a small grin forming on his lips. "Yeah. Let's go kick Riddle's sorry arse!"
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To Be Continued…