What I Always Wanted
Chapter 25: Pickerington Manor
"Why in bloody hell are we sitting here pushing piles of parchment…this is getting us absolutely nowhere! While we're here sat on our asses getting paper cuts Merlin only knows where Hermione is!"
Ron banged his fist down on the table, which was covered in scrolls of parchment and maps, in exasperation. Tonks looked up from across the table and responded.
"I know its difficult Ron but as it stands finding out all we can about Leah and Lyra and their lives before Alexander Penneford got himself plastered across a brick wall in Knockturn Alley is the best chance we have of sorting out what that lot is really up to and where they have Hermione and Isolde."
Ron let out a dejected sigh as he slumped further down into his chair.
"I know you're right Tonks, its just…I just feel so sodding helpless…"
Reaching across the table Tonks laid a hand atop Ron's and interrupted the last of his words.
"She's my friend as well Ron and I'm as worried about her as you are but we've got to keep it together for Harry's sake…he's suffering far more than either of us."
Having uttered those words Tonks cast a glance across the room towards where Harry sat with his back to them staring out at the magically conjured night sky of the Department of Ministries windows. Ron followed Tonks' gaze and as he caught sight of his best friend's anguished pose he nodded his head and uttered.
"You're right Tonks, you're right."
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Hermione looked up from her perch on the edge of one of the narrow cot-like beds that had been supplied for Isolde and herself. Isolde had taken up Hermione's earlier position as the resident pacer of the duo. Hermione allowed her gaze to drift from her fellow captive towards the door of the cellar in which they were being held; it had been over an hour since Lyra and Ben had attacked Leah and dragged her unconscious body upstairs. Since then all had been quiet, but, Hermione didn't expect that the quiet would go on for much longer. She knew that unlike her twin sister, Lyra had no compunctions about harming her, her unborn baby, Isolde and anyone else who happened to be in the line of fire and that being the case Hermione knew that if they were going to get out of this mess alive there was only one thing to do and that was to get to Harry. Not sure whether or not Isolde would be willing to go along with her plan Hermione steeled her nerves and taking a deep breath called out to Isolde.
"Isolde…"
At the sound of her name the older witch ceased her pacing and hurried over to Hermione's bedside. Placing her hand to the younger woman's shoulder she asked.
"Are you feeling unwell? Are you feeling any discomfort?"
Shaking her head no Hermione hurried on in a rapid whisper.
"I'm fine with the exception of being locked up in here…"
Hermione paused a second to gather her thoughts before continuing.
"I been sitting here trying to suss things out and I think I got a way that could get us out…"
Isolde cut in.
"What is it?!"
Hermione sighed again.
"It's barely plausible but it the best option we've got really and…and…and it'll require rather a lot of sacrifice on your part."
Again Isolde interjected.
"Just tell me what I have to do."
Hermione nodded.
"Our best hope to get out of here is to show Harry where we are, which I can do, if you can manage to get past Ben and Lyra to the outside while keeping an open mind."
Isolde looked at Hermione, raising one eyebrow skeptically. Seeing the question in Isolde's eyes Hermione went on.
"It's been over an hour since Lyra staged her coup so I don't imagine that it'll be much longer before she comes back and when she does you need to make a run for it, get up those stairs and out of whatever this place is as quickly as possible. If you can get away clear do it…don't worry about me I'll be fine for now, they still need me…I just need you to run and keep your mind open…"
Hermione stopped speaking suddenly. Isolde was about to ask why she'd gone quiet when she clearly heard Hermione's voice inside her head.
"Just keep running so that Harry can see where we are."
Isolde was stunned by the knowledge that Hermione was an accomplished Legilimens, and would have told her so if she hadn't heard the door above them opening. Once again Isolde's head was filled with the sound of Hermione's urgent instructions.
"Here they come. I'm sure they're here after me, as soon as I've got them both occupied run like hell!"
Isolde inclined her head the tiniest bit just as Lyra and Ben appeared. With a wave of her wand Lyra opened the door to the cell and strolled in. Smiling maliciously Lyra strolled into the cell with Ben right behind her, they headed straight for Hermione. Seeing the path the pair was taking Isolde moved to the bed across from Hermione's. Lyra's evil smile widened the closer she drew to Hermione. Isolde edged further away from the newcomers by swinging her legs over to the other side of the bed. Lyra and Ben paid her no mind, their attention was focused solely on Hermione.
"On your feet!"
Lyra barked snidely. Hermione knew she had to stall for time, so instead of complying with her captor's demands she spat out a question of her own.
"What have you done with Leah?"
Lyra replied with her characteristic insolence.
"My sister is none of your concern."
"She's not much of your concern either considering what you've done to her."
Lyra scowled at Hermione's retort.
"It would be in your best interest to worry over what I intend to do to you…"
Hermione interjected.
"You won't lay a bloody hand to me, Harry will see to that!"
Lyra laughed haughtily.
"Ah yes your precious saint Harry, the great hero, your sainted savior, too bad there's nothing that murdering bastard you love so dearly can do to save you now."
Hermione replied defiantly.
"If you honestly believed that you wouldn't be holed up here like the lowly rats that you are!"
Lyra's face contorted into a mask of vengeful hatred as she stepped towards Hermione she shrieked violently.
"YOU BITCH! YOU'LL PAY FOR YOUR IMPUDENCE!"
Lyra lunged forward as if to strike Hermione. Likewise Ben lunged forward and grasped Lyra about the waist. He pinned her arms to her side and as Lyra struggled fiercely against his hold he admonished her severely.
"Lyra calm yourself!"
As Ben tussled with Lyra Hermione sent a shouted plea to Isolde "Go now", the cry was hardly necessary as Isolde had hastily crossed the length of the chamber and quickly slipped out the unlocked cell door. She sprinted up the stairs and was through the cellar door before Hermione had fully completed her thought. The sound of the cellar door creaking open and banging shut alerted Ben and Lyra to the fact that something was amiss. Hermione fell back onto her cot and closed her eyes tightly as she focused on her appointed task.
Hermione was only vaguely aware of Lyra and Ben shouting at one another over Isolde having fled. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down as she blocked out Lyra and Ben's voices and devoted her full attention to Isolde and what she was seeing. Hermione soon lost track of where her captors were or what they were saying and doing as the images from Isolde's flight flashed before her eyes. Suddenly, Isolde was outside, not knowing how much longer she had Hermione focused on the second part of her task, reaching Harry.
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Harry rose from his seat at the window Merlin only knew how long he'd been sitting there lost in his worrying thoughts. He'd only made it halfway across the room when he was overcome by a sensation that he hadn't felt in years. The scar on his forehead erupted in a fierce, white-hot pain that sent him crashing to his knees. Harry groaned and clutched his head in his hands as a series of images flashed through his mind's eye. He saw himself moving swiftly up a set of basement stairs and into a dark sparsely outfitted kitchen, which he hurried through; from there he went down a darkened hallway arbitrarily trying doors along the way until one opened. Slipping inside, Harry found himself in a library; he was rushing across the length of the room towards the bank of windows that served as the wall on the left hand side of the room. His hands race across the frames of the windows until he found a latch. Without a moment's hesitation he flipped the latch and pushed open the window and jumped through the now open pane. Harry felt the breath rush from his body as he collided with the ground. Scrambling to his feet he dashed across the lawn at a full on sprint, in the distance he heard shouts of "There she is running across the lawn" and "Stop her now" as he ran along. Looking back over his shoulder he saw three wizards sprinting after him wands raised. Harry instinctively began to run faster as stunning ad disabling spells whizzed over his head and threw up tufts of grass and dirt at his feet. His eyes darted around franticly searching for a way out, none appeared. His breathing was labored and a sharp pain radiated from his side, yet, despite the pain he continued his frenzied escape. Harry made a hard right towards a grove of trees, as he turned, he caught sight of the once grand manor house before he was struck by a stunning spell and all went black.
Harry was unsure how long he was out; he doubted that it had been more than a minute or two but however long it was, it was long enough to panic everyone in the room. As Harry opened his eyes Tonks' voice sounded in his ear.
"Harry, are you alright?"
Harry took a deep breath and ignoring Tonks' concern and rose shakily to his feet. Tonks and the others continued to hurl inquiries after him as he stood. Harry noticed that the stacks of parchment and pictures that had been covering the table were now scattered about the floor. Underneath his foot Harry noticed a picture of a magnificent old manor, reaching down Harry picked up the picture and in a firm authoritative tone asked.
"What is this place?"
The answer was supplied by Will Leeds.
"Pickerington Manor…it was Alexander Penneford mother's ancestral home. His mother was Madeline Pickerington."
Harry stared intently at the picture as he said.
"This is where they are…this is where they have Hermione and Isolde."
"What makes you think they're there?"
Agamemnous' query could be seen in the features of every face in the room save for Ron's. Thus, it was not Harry who spoke next but Ron. Looking at Harry he stated more than asked.
"Hermione…she got through to you."
Harry nodded.
"We're going to Pickerington Manor to get my wife!"
A/N: Sorry if this chapter isn't up to snuff but things have been hectic to say the least. I hope to have more up soon. Thanks for reading and for your continued patience. Until next time…happy reading.
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