Keeping Score Keeping Score

“It’s true.  Dumbledore told you . . . Aarrggh!”

Draco had used the Cruciatus Curse.  Harry was taken completely by surprise.  He was in excruciating pain, his back arched in agony — as much as was possible while bound so severely.

The pain stopped.  “We’re not here to listen to stories, Potter.  We’re here to make you suffer, for a little while.  When we get tired of that, I’m giving you to Crabbe.”

“What about Ginny?” Harry gasped, trying to keep his desperate need to know out of his voice.

“She doesn’t have anything to do with this,” replied Draco.  “She’ll be fine if she can escape.  If not, well, that’s one less blood-traitor in the world.”  At least she was still alive, and likely to remain that way for a while.  Harry considered:  that was another 10 points for his side, but The Universe had scored so many points that he didn’t know if he could ever catch up.  Then there was more blinding pain.

*           *           *

Ginny awoke painfully.  At first, she couldn’t figure out why she was laying on her side.  Her dress was going to be ruined!  Where was Harry?  Weren’t they on a date?  Why was it so dark?

Then, she realized that her hands were bound to something, her arms stretching along the floor beyond her head.  In growing alarm, she slid over toward the bindings and managed to sit up.  She tried to feel what was holding her.  Some sort of metal bracelets encircled each wrist, and a chain connecting them passed behind something hard and round near a wall.  She pulled until she thought that her hands were going to be torn from her wrists, but it did no good.