Tortured Soul
Authors Note: This story is in response to a challenge set by Harry85, of which there are quite a few decent responses too, entitled `Death Eater Hermione'. The guidelines outlined for the challenge can be viewed here: http://talk.portkey.org/index.php?showtopic=26459 .
I ensure to serve this challenge justly and hope that all of you, especially Harry85, gain some level of enjoyment out of it. Oh, and forgive any errors - I'm rather lacking a Beta at this stage.
Respect to all you other `delusional' shippers out there: JK, bless her, is the delusional one, not us -shame on the emotionally shallow (canon) shippers of H/G and R/H! ;)
We have it right and we know it!
WARNINGS: Suggestive/mild torture/violence, scenes of a consensual sexual nature, strong abrasive language (more frequent in later chapters) and a possible character death (yet to be decided).
Chapter I - Hastily Drawn Judgement
Harry removed the blade from deep within the lifeless body of Lucius Malfoy, closing the defeated Death Eaters gaping silver eyes almost reverently at the same time. He covered Lucius' face with a sheet and sighed. Placing his hand over the dead man's chest, he shut his eyes and began muttering a sequence of incantations. He removed his hand to reveal the image of a golden Phoenix, its wings spread wide across a white lightning bolt - his calling card; a message to the other Death Eaters that Harry Potter, the `Chosen One', had once more retired one of their number from their Dark Lord's ranks.
Wiping the bloody blade on Lucius' green robe, he then straightened up, placing it back into its scabbard beneath his cloak and made his way towards the exquisitely furbished vestibule of Malfoy Manor. Reaching the door, he barely touched his black gloved hand to the glistening silver, when he froze, his gaze drawn to the sculptured serpents head. His ears twitched as he took a deep breath, listening... waiting.
He wasn't alone.
Matte green walls did not shimmer like the one in the door knob reflection did. He had assumed that Lucius was alone when he stealthily broke into the well protected Manor. Now, however, his only assumption was that he had been mistaken and perhaps recklessly hasty in his judgement.
Harry heard nothing, but his honed senses told him that whoever, or whatever, it was had stopped short of the fireplace, conceivably aware that he, too, was now aware. Fortunately, he was neither the type to become unnerved nor make any further rushed decisions; he whirled around vigilantly, temporarily subduing any sudden movements that might startle his pursuer into becoming more aggressive. After all, if they had wanted to take him out, they would have already. The upper hand was undeniably the one belonging to them - not to mention the one, undoubtedly, training a wand at the back of his head.
Conceding, he steadily raised his head, hands spread, illustrating visibly that he held no weapon and thoughtfully eyed the iridescent outline of his would-be opponent, allowing a wry smile to grace his chiselled features.
"Not without sharply endowed powers could you have so silently evaded my wards and senses," he summarised earnestly. "I'm impressed."
Receiving no response, he continued. "I rather think that your Disillusionment charm could have been more aptly applied though. Then again, maybe we were both a little hasty in our prudence? The best of can make errors once in a while..." he trailed off and inclined his head sideways upon noticing that his adversaries charm was beginning to wear off and smiled wearily when they made no move to replenish it.
Remaining in his fixed position he looked on, intrigued at what was flickering into view before his eyes. Raising an eyebrow and suppressing the urge to catch his breath, he simply gazed at the woman that finally merged back in with the garish surroundings.
A thing of beauty stood before him, dark and foreboding as her glowering visage and black attire was, and he couldn't help but spare her more than a few moments of his limited time to take as much in as was safely possible; from her dark chocolaty eyes down to her slightly haphazard brown locks, he found her to be immeasurably captivating - and perhaps more, were it not for the wand she had aimed steadily at his heart. Regaining his temporary lapse of sensibility as the Death Eater adjusted the grip on her wand, he regarded her curiously; she couldn't have been much old than he was.
"Congratulations. You've successfully cornered me, now what should be your next move?" he challenged quietly. Upon being met with yet further silence and, he noted with interest, a distinct lack of determination in both her stance and glare, he took a languid step forward.
"Stay where you are!" she commanded tensely.
Harry halted, a little taken aback that she had spoken. "So she does have something to say..." he said, attempting to gauge her reaction speed. "Now that we've discovered a voice, would you care to enlighten me as to what your intentions are?" His question was laced with an odd knit of both calamity and sweetness, underlining faint patronising undertones, to which the Death Eater found none too welcome.
He knew, however, that to underestimate this young - and striking - Death Eaters' prowess, nervous as she was, would be foolhardy. Presuming that her distance both physically and emotionally was simply a ruse to lure him into a sense of falsehood regarding her true skill, he concluded that one wrong move and she might just have him on his back and disarmed within seconds. Without her realising it, however, Harry had recognised her ploy and he wholeheartedly intended to call her bluff. This thought made him smile secretively as he took another step forward, her wand still directed firmly at him.
"I told you to stay where you are," she hissed and Harry detected a barely noticeable fault in her words.
"And I asked you what your next move was to be, yet you continue to ignore me, as I am you," Harry murmured stoically. Taking another step, he raised his hands higher and wiggled his fingers to reaffirm his lack of armament, as she directed her wand to his head warningly.
"A little childish, don't you think?" she assessed, "Especially when I'm the one pointing the wand at you, Harry Potter."
Smirking, Harry narrowed his eyes and inclined his head in a mock congratulatory fashion and moved again. "Indeed, a justified observation from your perspective," he smirked, "but foolish nonetheless."
The Death Eaters wand arm faltered and she blinked rapidly, her tone noticeably unsure as she pinned him with an intense gaze. "Oh? And how did you come to that conclusion, Potter?"
A perplexed expression quickly crossed her face before she gasped audibly as a wand pressed into the base of her neck, and the Harry Potter she had been keeping a watchful eye on, flickered and then vanished altogether.
"Because I think you'll find it's the other way around."
Harry forced his wand deeper into her neck and whispered, "You won't be needing that anymore."
Dumbfounded, the Death Eater dropped her wand instantly. "H-How did you do that?"
Harry silently paralysed her before walking around to stand in front of her. "Magic," he said and bent down to collect her wand. "You made a vital mistake, Miss-" he reached behind her neck and smirked as he leaned in close, spotting a name label, "-Hermione Granger of Durmstrang." Just as he had suspected; she was wearing school robes. His breathy voice washed over her ear and he noticed her shudder despite being unable to move, a sure sign if he had ever seen one that she may have it in her to break the spell. Inhaling, he caught the scent of something flowery and spiced as he pulled away completely and checked her wand. "For all your procrastination, you gave me the chance to create an illusionary copy of myself as I moved, silently apparating to a more beneficial vantage point," he pocketed her wand and sighed in faux despair. "Perhaps I was, yet again, too hasty in commending your skill before I saw enough evidence."
Directing his wand at Hermione once more, he levitated her silently and strolled toward the exit of Malfoy Manor and made his way into the courtyard, being careful to mind his capture's head on the trestle overhang.
Without another word, he wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist before apparating without a sound and without a trace.
End Note: Short, I know, but I generally set my stories up with short chapters. Next instalment will come soon - and longer.
Peace and Harmony,
Alexus Dracius
x X x X x
Snippet of what's to come:
"Fucking Death Eater filth..." Harry hissed as he vented his frustration out on a lone vase. As it shattered he felt a small sense of unjustified victory. He had had the upper hand against that vase... and against Hermione bloody Granger, however, he had taken it out on the vase yet let the beautiful Death Eater get to him and his `feelings' too quickly. "Probably sees you as a bit of a walk over now, Potter... sympathising with the enemy so fucking blatantly... room service and your bed..." he seethed, unable to believe how he could have been so foolish.
That would have to change during their next meeting, he decided, no Death Eater deserved that kind of warmth... no matter how hot he felt in her presence, it was definitely time to turn down the heat...
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