Chapter 5
The Red Room...
The place of Hermione's nightmares. A place where innocence was removed and darkness added.
Hermione just sat in shock. How had this happened? Dean's little sister has been taken by the exact place she ran from, the place where she became what she is.
What's worse is that she is the only one who knows.
She remembers when she was first taken, the night she became what she was.
Mia was 2-years-old and tucked up in her crib fast asleep. Her mother and father, a pair of Russian purebloods, sat downstairs relaxing after a long day when there was a crash against the door. There was another. And another before CRASH! The door to the Kursakov manor came crashing in.
Men and woman stormed in like a speeding bullet. Only about 4 in total, not very many but they had the element of surprise on their side, as they jumped the pureblood couple. In less than 5 minutes the 2 adults were tied up.
Unfortunately, the commotion woke up the sleeping toddler who came stumbling quietly down the stairs to see what was going on. What Mia saw after spotting this was scarring but Mia got over it as she grew slightly older and saw worse things. The little girl spoke softly but in the silence that had fallen over the manor, it was like she had yelled. "Mama." The previously sleeping child was then grabbed by one of the people in the room, she can't remember whether they were male or female. but she does remember the strength it which they gripped her.
They held her strong enough to leave bruises on her arms and forced her to watch. Watch as two of the intruders aimed, what she later learned were guns, at her parents. There was a short bang following the release of the trigger and blood splattered on the wall as her parents moved no more. Mia remembers struggling against her holder as she cried for her mother and father, screaming "Mama" and "Папа." But that night Mia Kurskova was dragged away to her new "home."
"Hey, Hermione you ok?" Harry asked as he looked at her in concern.
Hermione looked over at him, "What, yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure," Ron asked even though most of his attention was slowly starting to drift to food, "You just went really quiet."
Hermione thought quickly of a lie she could use when she spotted Dean down the table staring at the paper in shock. "Just feeling sorry for Dean." Subtlely nodding her head towards Dean who still hadn't moved, causing Harry and Ron to look down towards him as well. Their faces fell even further as they realised he must be distraught for his parents' death and worried for his little sister. It was as they were looking at Dean that Hermione noticed other people starting to look over at him as well. Now Hermione was a trained assassin, not that anyone but herself knew that, and she noticed the tenseness in Dean's muscles. The signs he needed something to release his anger on before he hurt someone else or himself.
At this Hermione slowly rose from her seat and while keeping her eyes on Dean slowly walked up to the head table. Towards her head of house Professor McGonagall who was looking quite shellshocked herself after reading the horrifying news in the Daily Prophet. "Professor," Hermione spoke softly to her teacher, "Can Dean and I have permission to miss classes today? I believe it would be beneficial with the news delivered."
"Yes, I agree." Professor McGonagall spoke to the sixth year Gryffindor feeling her own heartbreaking, as she feels like every Gryffindor is her own little cub. So with that Hermione walked swiftly back down the Great Hall towards where Dean sat, who still hadn't moved yet at the same time no one had made any move towards him.
When Hermione reached him the whole Hall had noticed but Dean and the occupants seemed to be holding their breath. "Come on Dean," Hermione spoke softly to the emotional sixth year, "Let's go!" At this point, Hermione held out her hand towards him, Dean looked up at Hermione in shock. There was no other word for it. So still shaking he reached up his hand to take hers and Hermione took him out of the hall.
"Where are we going?" Dean's voice shook as Hermione took him up the stairs.
"Room of requirement" Hermione answered quite softly.
Dean's voice quavered as he asked, "Why?" Hermione could easily hear the rage in his voice.
"To allow you to release some of your rage. It will help, trust me." Hermione answered Dean was quiet after that.
Meanwhile in the Great Hall people were speaking with their friends over the news about Dean's sister and parents. Dumbledore stood up then and said, "Silence!" Everyone was quiet instantly. "Leave Mr. Thomas be," at this Dumbledore gave a significant look at the Slytherins, who were sharing significant smug looks between them, "Now get to class."
Everyone slowly walked off still talking with their friends.
Harry and Ron though only had one thought between them.
Where was Hermione taking Dean?
Hermione paced back and forth in front of the wall, that became a door. Hermione slowly opened the door and led Dean inside. The room was just perfect for what she needed for Dean. It was...