Order only: cruciatus

[alt_hermione]

I just found out I'm to be cruciated as punishment for Harry doing everything that we all did. Draco is too.

I don't think he means anything else by it, but I don't know, and I can't get out of it, and I don't know what to do, except think innocent.

Comments

[alt_molly]

Bill, that's just--don't be so cruel as to say such things!

Oh, this is horrible.

[alt_sirius]

Yes, it's horrible, Molly. But it's also - and unfortunately - a real possibility.

Maybe she can avoid it by - I dunno, offering to take some other punishment?

Not that any of them should be punished.

Wait. WHY are you being punished, Hermione? I mean to say, what are they saying you did wrong?

[alt_frank]

or she can get out now and avoid it altogether.

you'd have a place with us, hermione. you'd be safe. and you wouldn't have this sort of thing hanging over your head all the bloody time.

[alt_sirius]

That's what I just said, Frank.

She should leave now.

[alt_sirius]

Because the thing is, why punish them if they don't know that they had anything to do with Snape and Macnair getting away?

And I don't see how they could know that.

They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, is all.

[alt_kingsley]

I'll remind you that you took an unbreakable Vow to keep from hurting Harry Marvolo, didn't you? If you persuade Hermione to disappear now or assist in her getaway, wouldn't that mean a world of trouble for the Marvolo kid? Would your Vow rebound upon YOU if he then gets in further trouble for that?

It's a long causal chain of events I'll admit, my friend. But I'm not in favour of anything that results in you dropping dead.

[alt_frank]

that's pretty tenuous, mate.

what if it's me that persuades her instead?

[alt_sirius]

It's my understanding that Hermione's being cruciated because for whatever reason, Voldemort won't cause physical harm directly to Harry.

So if she disappears, someone else might get hurt on his behalf but he won't suffer any harm himself.

I nominate Lucius Malfoy. Maybe it'll make him think twice about calling in Dementors when there are kids roaming about.

[alt_molly]

Well, I think she should leave by portkey now!

[alt_kingsley]

Merlin knows I don't want Hermione facing cruciatus. But if she does use the portkey, you realise we may never again have another opportunity to place someone so close to the heart of Lord Voldemort's court. It would be a huge loss for our intel.

[alt_bill]

Damn you. Because you're right.

[alt_sirius]

I'm not using a child to get us intelligence. Not like that.

[alt_frank]

agreed. not bloody worth it.

no way.

[alt_nymphadora]

I agree too.

I know you had to think of it Kingsley, and I don't blame you for having to say it, but I don't care two stitches for intelligence.

We have to get Hermione out, because it's not right that she has to go through this!