Now climb, he told himself.
Still, it was another several long moments before he could force his feet to move.
Wormtail smiled to himself with satisfaction as he eased the stone door open and stepped into the round room. It was just as he had left it; the darkness, the straw scattered across the floor, and Hermione, lying unconscious on the bed of straw, her cheek pillowed on her hand. He knelt down next to her, checking to make sure her eyes were closed, then pulled a length of material from his pocket and commenced binding it around her eyes, tying it tightly.
It wouldn't do for her to see anyone before the person she was intended to see. If, he thought, you could accurately call Salazar Slytherin a person.
He had just leaned forward to check that the knot behind her head was secure, then out of the corner of his eye, caught a flicker of movement. He turned his head, and to his utter astonishment, saw Hermione's hand emerging from his pocket — but she'd been unconscious — clutching it its grip his wand.
He gasped involuntarily, and saw her shaking hand swing around to point the wand at him.
'Stupefy!' she hissed.
For a moment, Hermione thought the spell hadn't worked. Then she heard the thud as Wormtail collapsed to the floor, landing heavily across her left leg. Revolted, she wriggled violently to the side, still gripping the wand, and staggered to her feet. She took a step forward, and her foot connected with something solid and heavy -
Wormtail's body.
Feeling nauseated, she staggered backwards, her hands outstretched behind her, until she struck the wall. She began to feel her way along it; her eyes squeezed shut under the blindfold, her fingers skittering over the rough stone. Her ears were pricked for any sound from Wormtail, but the room was utterly silent.
Her fingers found the smoother wood of the door, slid down it, and found the knob. She wrenched at it, but it was immovable.
Desperately, she clawed at the lock, but it was impossible, without being able to see it, for her shaking fingers to make sense of the complex metal configurations. At last she reached up, ripped the blindfold down — I won't look behind me, I won't — saw the lock, twisted it sharply, and wrenched the door open.
And saw Draco, standing astonished on the other side.
1) 'No, it's just a wild stab in the dark. Which is what you'll be getting in about one minute if you don't start being a bit more helpful.' — Blackadder.
2) 'It's kind of a long story,' said Ron, looking nervous.
'Fell off my broomstick,' said Draco shortly.
'Apparently not that long.' — Buffy; the episode 'Phases.'
3) 'A total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will always see us through.' Blackadder.
As astonished as Draco was to see Hermione, he was even more astonished by the look on her face. She looked as horrified as if she had seen a ghost — and not just any ghost. The ghost of someone she loved.
'Hermione?' he said. 'Are you — are you all right?'
She stared at him, still with the same awful, blank expression. 'Oh, no,' she said. 'Not you.'
He stared at her.
'I suppose you're here to rescue me,' she said flatly, looking as if she were going to burst into tears.
'I-well, yes,' he replied, floored. 'Shall I come back at a more convenient time?'
'Why couldn't you have been Harry?' she said, still staring at him distractedly. 'Is he all right? Why isn't he here?'
Draco stared at her. He hadn't expected a really big welcome, but this was ridiculous. 'There were these veelas…' he began, awkwardly. 'And Harry's fine, he's waiting outside. And my God, Hermione, what'd you do to Pettigrew?' he added, staring over her shoulder.
Hermione turned around, following his glance, and saw Wormtail lying sprawled on his back in the straw. Apparently, when she had kicked him, it had been in the face. The straw around his head was dark with blood.
'I hit him,' she said shortly.
'I should say you did,' agreed Draco, rather impressed. Then he shook his head, as if clearing it of cobwebs. 'Is he the one who was keeping you here?' he demanded.
Hermione shook her head listlessly. 'No.'
'So there's someone else here-someone more evil, more powerful?'
Hermione nodded yes.
'Right,' said Draco, and seized her arm. 'We're going.' Hermione didn't seem to want to move, so Draco began dragging her behind him down the hallway. She trailed him unwillingly, glancing behind her every few steps as if she expected them to be followed.
'Do you know the way out?' he asked her, panting a little as he tugged on her arm. 'And would you hurry up?'
'No, I don't know the way out,' she replied in a leaden voice. 'I don't think there is one — and he's around here somewhere, he's not going to let us just leave-'
'Who's he? Voldemort?'
