the head and then went into a panic, convinced that he had killed the woman.
He did have one hell of a Beater's arm, after all.
A groggy Blaise had eventually awakened. He crawled over, glared icicles at Goyle, as if the whole thing was his bloody fault and then announced that the Auror was still very much alive (but probably wouldn't be for very long).
Thus, was Nymphadora Tonks taken prisoner by a junior Death Eater Recruiter and his brand, spanking new Recruitee. The whole thing could have gone much worse for them, had Goyle not done what he did.
"Your first captive," Blaise had beamed at him in a macabre, proud father sort of way.
The incident had cemented Blaise's previously shaky faith in Goyle's ability to join the Death Eaters.
He was officially in
Blaise had since returned to Hogwarts, ostensibly for a final visit. That was good because it meant that Goyle had less to worry about. But then, there was still Travers and Wormtail somewhere in the upper floors, readying the place for the arrival of Bellaxtrix Lestrange.
Wormtail, Travers, Bellatrixthe Dark Lord. It was odd to associate these people in any context involving himself. Goyle had grown up hearing about them of course. To a small boy of no particular importance, they had been big, important names.
Goyle had been startled to discover that Blaise was not the only Recruiter. There were two others, each operating at Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute. It was risky but clever to place Recruiters within the schools. What better way to identify candidates?
They were expecting two new applicants from Beauxbatons and six from Durmstrang. Goyle wondered who the Durmstrang Recruiter was because six was an impressive number. But then Blaise mentioned that Bellatrix was there to cull them.
Voldemort wanted quality not quantity. They would not be presented to the Dark Lord until they first passed muster with Bellatrix.
"What happens if she doesn't like any of us?" Goyle had asked Blaise.
"You die."
Well of course you died. Goyle had felt silly for asking. Bellatrix wasn't likely to send the failed candidates off with a 'thank you for your application, but all vacancies are currently filled' letter and a goodwill handshake
His bout of second thoughts didn't last for much longer. It took another minute for Goyle to convince himself that there really was no one coming down the stairs to check on the Auror. At least not right at that moment. Bob was at the village to buy food, but would be back soon.
It was now or never.
Swallowing the ball of fear that had lodged in his throat, he hurried down the corridor and stopped at the door of the Auror's cell. She was in the second cell closest to the exit, so it wasn't a very long walk.
He slid open the slot gingerly and peered inside. It was dark.
"Psst!"
There was no response. Did something already happen to her? Goyle tried again.
"Psst! You there! Draco's cousin!"
Aurors were well trained. He'd forgotten about that fact. A hand darted out from the darkness beyond the slot and clamped around Goyle's thick neck.
She had an impressive grip. For a woman.
"You're the one that hit me," she said.
He could see part of her face peering at him through the gap. Her light brown eyes were spitting fire at him. She looked a bit worse for wear, which was expected. Her lips were slightly chapped and her previously blueberry-coloured hair had faded to a lacklustre lavender. They hadn't given anything to eat or drink for a day or so.
Goyle pulled away, coughed a little and glared at her. "Yes, I know. I'm here to rescue you!"
This revelation, to his surprise, did not reduce her to a quivering mass of thankfulness. Goyle was reminded once again, that he seemed to know absolutely nothing about women.
She looked sceptical. "Here I am praying for a bit of assistance and the Powers That Be decide to send me an enormously large waste of time. Piss of, tubby." The ungrateful bint gave him a haughty up-down look.
"You don't understand. I'm here to help!" Also, he was not 'tubby'. He was big boned, damn it.
"And how do I know you're not bluffing? Why would you suddenly help me?"
Goyle felt he really should have expected that question. Obviously she wasn't going to trust him. "I guess you won' t know if I' m bluffing or not. Look, I' m friends with Draco, alright? You're Draco's cousin and so I'm going to get you out. What happened earlier was unavoidable, but I'm here