Chapter 71

Seamus looked around at everyone. They were seated at the same table as the two days before and they were all looking down at the books. Blaise came walking up to the table with the third book he would be looking into that day. Seamus sighed and shook his head before he spoke up. ‘I might know something that could bring Hermione right here!’ Seamus said. ‘What?’ Draco asked. Seamus drew his wand out, which made everyone back away from him. Seamus rolled his eyes before he closed his eyes in an intensive way. ‘ACCIO HERMIONE!’ They waited, but nothing happened before they all started to laugh. ‘It was worth a shot.’ Seamus shrugged, knowing his plan to lighten the mood had worked. Draco sighed and sat back, brushing his hand through his hair. ‘Do you want to take a break?’ Ginny offered. Draco shook his head. ‘But if anyone else wants to take a break they can.’ Draco said. ‘Thank goodness.’ Dean sighed getting up. Neville, Seamus and Ron got up as well before walking off. Ginny looked over at Draco. ‘Just go Ginny, I’m fine.’ Draco said. Ginny nodded before she took Harry’s hand and walked out of the library to get some fresh air outside. Blaise hadn’t even sat down before Seamus’s joke so he just walked around the library, stretching everything. ‘Don’t you want to have a break?’ Draco asked looking up at Luna. ‘I’m fine.’ she smiles. ‘You know Draco.’ Luna said with her dreamy voice. ‘You deserve a break.’ Luna said. Draco shook his head. ‘You can’t keep blaming yourself.’ she told him. Draco raised his eyebrows. He hadn’t told anyone about the fact that he felt guilty about what happened, that he felt it was all his fault. ‘You deserve to have a good night sleep, to have a break sometimes, to think about anything other than everything that’s going on.’ Luna said. ‘I don’t know.’ he sighed. ‘But I do and that’s enough, now put that book down and get some fresh air.’ Luna demanded. Draco frowned. ‘She’s right mate.’ Blaise said behind him. Draco turned to look at his friend. ‘Have you been eavesdropping?’ Draco asked. ‘No I just happened to pass and my ear caught something.’ Blaise said. Draco rolled his eyes. ‘But she is right. You have to stop torturing yourself and try to have a little fun.’ Blaise said. Draco shot him a deadly glare. ‘How can I have fun when my girlfriend is being held against her will?’ Draco exclaimed. ‘I know, but you’re overworking yourself.’ Blaise said. ‘Before you know it you’ve got a burn out.’ ‘I’ll relax when Hermione is back here.’ Draco said. Blaise sighed. ‘Okay, but you will have a break right now, you look horrific.’ Blaise said. ‘Thanks.’ ‘Come on, let’s get some fresh air.’ Blaise said wanting to close the book, but Draco took a hold of Blaise’s wrist. ‘Wait!’ Draco said scanning the page. ‘A break means no books.’ Blaise said trying to close the book. ‘NO! I’ve found something! Stop it Blaise!’ Draco exclaimed. Blaise frowned. ‘Get the others!’ Draco said. ‘They’re having a break.’ Blaise said. ‘Just go get them! I’ve found something that will help us!’ Draco said.

‘A Taboo?’ Seamus frowned. Draco nodded. ‘Yes.’ he said. ‘Here listen.’ he said looking down at the book in front of him. ‘A jinx which may be placed upon a word or a name, so that whenever that word is spoken, a magical disturbance is created which alerts the caster of the Taboo to the location of the speaker. Any protective enchantments in effect around the speaker are broken when the Tabooed word is spoken aloud.’ Draco read aloud. ‘That might work.’ Harry said. ‘Voldemort had one on his name.’ Draco said. Ron nodded. ‘But how can we be sure they’ll say her name?’ Dean asked. ‘We obviously can’t, that’s why we’ll have to put the taboo on a few other names too.’ Draco said. Ginny frowned. ‘What names were you thinking?’ Ginny asked. ‘Plus people around here will be saying her name too, which will trigger the Taboo multiple times.’ Blaise said. ‘We’ll have to spread the word to not say her name.’ Draco said. ‘There are people who are not at Hogwarts who will say her name, like her parents, or even my parents.’ Ginny said. ‘Does anyone else have a better idea?’ Draco asked. No one answered. ‘Then I think this our biggest chance to find her.’ Draco said. ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ Harry said. ‘But again what other names were you thinking of to place the Taboo upon?’ Ginny asked again. ‘Perhaps Pansy, Rodolphus, Fred.’ Draco said.‘Why your uncle?’ Blaise asked. ‘I thought I saw him in Hogsmeade the day Hermione was taken and he kept Pansy from killing us when we travelled back in time.’ Draco said. ‘But if he saved the two of you, why would he capture her now?’ Blaise asked. ‘I remember Hermione saying something about that they had to wait or something.’ Draco said. ‘You travelled in time?’ Blaise asked. ‘Yeah, long story.’ Draco said waving it away. ‘Why can’t we make her trigger the Taboo.’ Neville sighed. ‘That would make everything a lot easier.’ Ron agreed. ‘Perhaps we can make her do that?’ Seamus said. Everyone turned to look at Seamus. Draco frowned. ‘If this is another joke-‘ Draco started. ‘It’s not!’ Seamus said. ‘Well what’s your idea?’ Draco asked. ‘You and her have that “true love” bond, you can feel when she’s in pain, you get images through from her. Doesn’t that mean she has the same?’ Seamus said. Ginny and Harry exchanged a look. ‘Yeah that could work.’ Harry said. ‘I only saw the images when you were going through my head.’ Draco said. ‘I know, but what if….’ Harry said. ‘You hurt me first.’ Draco said. Harry slowly nodded. ‘And perhaps showed her a piece of parchment that says to trigger the Taboo.’ Harry finishes. ‘Guys this is the worst idea ever!’ Ginny exclaimed. ‘You still think so if it’s the only way to get her back?’ Draco asked. ‘Yes!’ Ginny said. ‘You’re not only hurting yourself! You’re hurting her! She’ll be scared, not knowing where the pain came from!’ Ginny said. ‘And we don’t even know if she’s in a good state to receive that kind of pain! And then second of all if you’re planning on using the Cruciatus curse, which I’m sure of, it is illegal!’ Ginny snapped. ‘Calm down, we can always slit is throat open.’ Ron said. ‘RON THERE IS NO TIME FOR JOKING!’ Ginny yelled at her brother. ‘Ginny, this might be the only way.’ Draco said. ‘You’re not going to use the Cruciatus curse.’ Ginny stated. ‘And if you are.’ she started, her eyes traveling from Draco to Harry and back again. ‘I’m going to tell McGonagall.’ ‘You wouldn’t!’ Harry said. ‘Oh yes I would.’ Ginny said. ‘Can’t you think of something else that might help?’ Blaise asked. ‘Like what?’ Draco asked. ‘I don’t know?’ ‘I think pain is the best option we got.’ Draco said. Harry sighed. ‘I think it’s our only option.’ Harry said. ‘Don’t you dare use the Cruciatus curse!’ Ginny snapped.

Draco sighed. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ Blaise asked. ‘I have to.’ Draco said looking up at his best friend. ‘You don’t have to, we’ll find another way. And maybe one of the Taboo’s will be triggered any time soon.’ Blaise said. Draco shook his head. ‘I have to do this.’ ‘Here hold this.’ Harry said handing Draco the piece of parchment. Draco looked down at it “Mione, say your own name, it’ll trigger a Taboo! Do it now! Love Draco”. ‘Don’t close your eyes, fix them on the parchment!’ Harry told Draco. Draco nodded. ‘If you close them the both of you will be in pain for nothing.’ Harry reminded him. ‘I know.’ Draco snapped, getting irritated by the pressure. ‘How exactly are we going to get away with this?’ Blaise asked. ‘Probably not.’ Harry sighed. ‘If you do it on my stomach, no one will see.’ Draco said. ‘Or leg.’ Blaise suggested. ‘Whichever you prefer.’ Harry said. ‘Are we really going to do this?’ Blaise asked. ‘Yes.’ Draco said. ‘Are you sure you can do this?’ Blaise asked looking over at Harry. He shook his head. ‘But I have to.’ he said. Blaise sighed. ‘You’re crazy for doing this, you know that right?’ Blaise asked. Harry lifted the knife from the table and held it in his hand. ‘Don’t go to deep.’ Draco told him. Harry rolled his eyes. ‘I wasn’t planning on cutting one of your organs out.’ Harry said. ‘Good.’ Draco said as a nervous chuckle escaped his lips. Blaise shook his head. ‘Go stand in front of him.’ Harry told him. ‘I don’t know mate.’ Blaise said. ‘You didn’t want to cut, now you can hold the parchment.’ Draco said. Blaise sighed and took the piece of parchment from Draco’s outstretched hand. Draco sat back on a chair and took a tight grip on the sides.

Hermione was laying on the cold hard ground of the room she was locked into. She was trying to work out a way how it was possible for Fred to be alive. Because there was no way the people who were keeping her captured had some sort of poly juice potion that lasted for about 5 days. And it was certainly not George, because this guy did have both of his ears. She was going through every book she had read in her mind, trying to find something that could explain everything one way or another, but she couldn’t think of anything. She sighed and turned on her back, pain shouting through her whole body. She couldn’t help but wish the others were alright. That she was the only one that was locked up who knows where. And Draco, how was he doing? It was strange though, being kept here in this room. The only time she was hurt was when someone used the cruciatus curse on her. Then there was the moment Fred had walked in, he hadn’t done anything. The other times she had just woken up and a plate of food and a glass of water had been standing in front of the door. It wasn’t much, just a bit of bread and cold soup, but it was better than nothing. She felt she was getting weaker with the day, so she didn’t do much in the room, she tried to use as little energy as she could. She was glad though that there was a toilet and sink just in the right corner of the room. It was difficult with her legs and hands tied together, but it was a good thing that the chains were long and she had enough length to get to that corner of the room. Hermione sighed again and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes had gotten used to the dark and she could make out shapes in the room. The stones, the wooden floor, cracks in the ceiling, the door. She couldn’t help but wonder how long she would have to be in this room, how much time she had to spend in here until she was freed? That’s when pain shot into her stomach as if someone was stabbing her. She gasped for air as she curled up, making herself as small as possible. What was happening?