Chapter Nine - Love Me, Hate Me, Save Me

I see the world has folded in your heart / I feel the waves crash down inside / And they pull me under / And I would give you anything you want / You were all I wanted / All my dreams have fallen down / Crawlin' around

Somebody save me / Let your warm hands break right through me / Somebody save me I don't care how you do it / Just save me, save / Come on / I've been waiting for you

--Remy Zero - "Save Me"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She hated him. She hated him with every fiber of her being. If she ever got her hand on a wand, she would cast the killing curse herself.

Dawn had never been in as much pain as she felt at that moment. It was worse then the killing curse. It was worse then any pain she had ever felt. But it didn't even compare to the blatant hatred she felt for Riley.

Riley.

The name itself made her skin crawl. He wasn't only screwing with her mind, but he was screwing with her heart. Seeing Ron and Harry there before, watching her cry out in pain, she cried like she promised herself she wouldn't.

And it was all a trick. A cruel joke on Dawn.

Through their laughter, the vision of Harry and Ron shattered, and Lucius and Riley were suddenly standing in front of her in their place. Another glamour joke to make Dawn give in.

Not even remotely funny. Glamour magic was the root of all evil as far as she was concerned.

"That was priceless." Riley said, his eyes shimmering with laughter.

Dawn didn't think she could hate anyone as much as she did at that moment. They were manipulating her mind, using her insecurities and emotions to get what they wanted.

And Dawn despised both of them for it. But no one more then Riley.

"I swear Buffy, if you don't kill him, I will." The Amulet of the Flower around her neck seemed to burn against her skin.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angel and the trio were standing outside of a large mansion. It looked just like a castle.

Ron looked at the place and shivered. "Just the type of place to house a Death Eater."

"Or Dracula. Why didn't Buffy burn the place down when she had the chance?"

Harry and Ron stared at Angel blankly and Hermione just shrugged.

Angel shook his head. "Never mind."

Buffy walked over to where they were all standing. "There's two guards out front. Dawn's in there. I can feel it."

"Feel it?" Ron asked.

Buffy shrugged. "It's a sibling thing - we have connections. That and she was made out of me. It's kind of hard not to have some type of bond." She turned to Harry. "How do we go about doing this?"

"I'll provide a distraction. Then Hermione will knock them out, we'll go in, get Dawn, and get out. You and Angel will stay here and watch our backs until we get back out. If there's trouble, one of you come in, I don't care who. The other, go and get help."

"Sounds like a plan - a bad plan, but a plan nonetheless." Hermione sighed. "Be careful."

"Of course."

Harry wandered over to the doorway where the guards were.

"Lovely day for a walk, isn't it?"

The two guards looked at each other and pounced. Harry punched one in the stomach and kneed the other in the stomach, while Hermione pointed her wand and shouted something. The guards fell unconscious instantly.

"Nice work Potter."

"Glad you approve Granger."

"Act now, talk later." Buffy said.

"Look out!" Ron yelled as someone snuck up behind her. Buffy easily knocked him out with a blow to the head.

"A little violent, aren't we?" Hermione asked smirking.

"When it comes to my sister, I'm a real bitch." Buffy nodded towards the doors. "Go. We'll be here."

Ron, Harry, and Hermione slipped into the castle easily.

Almost a little too easily.

"That was simple." Ron said, but wished he hadn't said a word, because as soon as he did, they were surrounded.

"Spoke too soon."

"Nice work, Ron."

"Blow it out your arse, Harry."

"LOOK OUT!" Hermione yelled as the group of Death Eaters attacked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

They were here. They were all here. Dawn could feel them. They were going to get her out.

And, with some luck, get Riley killed in the process.

"Ron!" Dawn struggled against the bonds that held her wrists behind her back.

"Ron!"

"He can't hear you." Riley said, stepping out of the shadows.

"What do you want with me?" Dawn asked, her teeth clenched.

"You know very well what I want." Lucius said, pointing his wand at her.

Dawn cringed. "You won't get it. Not now, not ever."

Lucius shrugged. "Suit yourself - Crucio."

Dawn screamed, but she swore no one heard her but the damp walls.

Lucius laughed and apparated away. "See you soon kid." Riley said before following Lucius out.

Dawn stayed where she was, stray tears finding their way down her cheeks.

~*

Harry heard the scream and looked over at Ron. "Did you hear that?"

Ron finally landed a head blow to the guy he was fighting. The Death Eater slumped to the floor unconscious. "Yeah, I heard it." His voice was controlled, but the fury showed on his face. He balled his hands into fists. "If I ever get my hands on whoever did this..." his voice trailed off.

"Ron! Harry! I found the dungeon!"

They followed Hermione's voice down the hall and down a narrow flight of stairs.

When the two of them got down the stairs, Hermione pointed her wand at the lock on the door and muttered, "Alohomora."

Harry pushed the door open and slipped inside. The door shut behind him. He glanced around the room until his eyes fell on a figure on the floor in the corner. Her arms were tied behind her, her lip was bleeding, and she had a look of intense pain on her face. It took Harry a few seconds for him to realize the person was Dawn.

Dawn heard footsteps on the ground, but didn't see who it was. "Please, just leave me alone." Her voice was soft and shaky, her resolve finally broken.

"Dawn, it's me."

Dawn looked up. "Harry?"

"Yes." He knelt down in front of her.

Dawn turned away. "How do I know it's you?"

"That bastard's been using glamour, hasn't he?" Harry said bitterly. It was a rhetorical question, and the look on Dawn's face was enough to tell him he was right.

Harry put a hand on Dawn's shoulder and she flinched. He got up and went to the door.

"Ron, go in there."

Ron was confused. "But you - "

"He's been using glamour to trick her. She thinks this is all one big joke on her. If she sees you, she'll know this is real. Go."

Ron nodded and had to stop himself from running over to Dawn when he stepped into the room. He carefully knelt down in front of her. "Dawn."

Dawn's eyes were full of unshed tears as she looked up at him. "Please, tell me it's you."

It killed him to hear the pain in her voice. "It's me. I swear it."

"How do I know?" She asked, lower lip trembling slightly.

Ron cupped her face in his hands. She flinched, but didn't turn away. "Look at me. You know it's me. I know you can tell. I love you."

Dawn broke down crying and Ron pulled her to him. He freed her arms from behind her back and Dawn put her arms around him.

"I was so scared."

"Shh..." He brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "It's okay. I'm here."

Dawn nodded, still crying. Ron brushed the tears away with his thumbs.

"C'mon - Harry, get in here,"

Harry and Hermione came in and rushed over to Dawn's side.

"Is she - "

"Later Hermione." Ron said and turned to Dawn. "Can you walk?"

"I'm not sure."

Ron put his arm around Dawn's shoulders. Harry went over to her other side and helped her stand. They walked a couple of steps and Dawn's legs gave out from under her. Ron's arm around her waist held her up.

"Walking doesn't look like an option." Harry said worriedly.

"I'll have to carry her."

"Ron, you'll - "

"Shh." Ron pressed a finger to her lips. "I'm not leaving you here." He gently lifted her up and Dawn leaned her head into his shoulder, putting her arm around his neck.

"She doesn't look so great." Harry said, glancing at Hermione.

"We need to get out of here. Is there any way out besides up?" Ron asked.

"There's a door to your left. The lock should open easily." Dawn said hoarsely.

Ron kissed her forehead and Hermione was able to open the door.

Dawn vaguely acknowledged the fact that they had gotten outside and that Buffy and Angel were waiting for them as she succumbed to unconsciousness. She slumped in Ron's arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So, what happened?" Buffy asked.

After getting out of the dungeon, the six of them apparated to the WIL hospital, where Dawn was still unconscious. Hermione asked to sit with her, while Buffy and Angel spoke to Harry, and Ron went to tell Sirius what was going on.

Harry sighed. "She's in rough shape. She's dehydrated and just plain sick. He must have used the Cruciatus Curse at least half a dozen times. Her body is merely trying to function correctly now. It'll take a while, but I've been assured that she'll be fine."

Buffy sighed with relief. "Can we go in there now?"

Hermione came walking up to them. "I wouldn't recommend it. Ron's in there with her right now."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Angel asked. "After everything, leaving them alone together?"

Hermione shook her head. "It was bound to happen eventually."

Harry stared down at the floor and whispered, "He's never going to forgive me."

Angel glanced at Buffy and said, "I'm going to call Faith and Willow and let them know everything's okay." He walked off and Buffy pulled Harry over to the side.

"Harry. Remember what I told you about Willow and Xander? How they were caught by Oz and Cordelia?"

"Yeah? What are you getting at?"

"I remember." Hermione said, coming up behind Harry. "Oz forgave Xander. Ron will forgive you."

"Oz wasn't Xander's best friend."

Buffy sighed and Hermione put her arms around Harry, laying her cheek against the back of his shoulder.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dawn's eyes fluttered open and she realized, after her eyes adjusted to the light, that she was in the hospital. She groaned and blinked, turning her head, when she saw Ron sitting next to her.

"Hey." She said weakly.

"Hi."

Against her better judgment, she slowly went to hold his hand. He didn't pull away like she thought he would.

They sat there for a few moments just looking into each other's eyes, not blinking, barely even breathing.

Ron was the first to speak. "Are you okay?"

Dawn laughed bitterly. "Define okay." At his serious face, her tone softened. "I've been better. But I'll live." She forced herself to sit up, ignoring the wave of pain in sent through her left side, and the headache that would probably only get worse. She looked up at him.

"I'm so sorry." Dawn's voice cracked and she started to cry again. Ron sat down on the edge of the bed and just held her.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so-" Ron cut her off with a kiss.

The weight of two months was lifted off of her shoulders. She put her whole self into the kiss, trying desperately to prove to Ron that he was the man she loved, not Harry.

Ron pulled away and moved back to the chair, never letting go of her hand. "I'm listening now. I'm ready."

Dawn bit her lip. "Can we not talk now? I promise - as soon as I'm out of here, I'll talk about whatever you want to, but for now - can we just sit here for a while? Can I just - " She exhaled. "Can I just love you for the next few days without having that dark cloud over my head? Please?"

Ron nodded his head. "If you want. I think I'll do the same."

Dawn gave him a half smile. No one spoke, and the silence between them was deafening.

But it was better then nothing at all.

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