"Well, what are you waiting for? Snatch 'em!"
And Hermione ran.
She ran as fast as she could, Snatchers chasing all three wanted teens. They couldn't get caught, not when they'd gotten this far... The witch threw a spell behind her and jumped down a drop-off in the forest's leaf-covered floor, dashing through the trees. Right behind Harry and Hermione, Ron got pulled down by a net spell.
Hermione knew they were too close. She stopped where she was and flipped around. Harry was running right at her, she had no choice. She hit him with a Stinging Jinx in the face. He fell onto his back and she hastily ran over and pulled off his glasses, tucking them into her pocket.
"They're coming, don't tell them–" Hermione jumped up as they surrounded the trio. She was breathing heavily and her heart was beating fast. This was it.
"Didn't think you'd get away that fast, did you?" the main Snatcher asked in amusement. He walked over to Hermione and touched her face, picking up a strand of her hair as the fingers traced from her cheek to her ear.
"Don't touch her!" Ron roared. Hermione heard a groan right after and visibly winced.
"What's your name, girly?" The Snatcher asked curiously, clearly not bothered by Ron's punishment.
"Penelope Clearwater, Half-Blood," Hermione stammered. The Snatcher turned away and knelt down next to Harry. Hermione hoped he wouldn't be able to recognize Harry past the effects of the jinx.
"Who are you?" he asked Harry. Harry managed to reply, "Vernon.. Vernon Dudley."
"Check the list, you," the Snatcher said to another gang member.
"Alrigh', Scabior," the other replied pulling out papers. Scabior took his time walking over to Ron who was already bruising from being punched.
"How about you, ginger?" Scabior asked.
"Stan Shunpike."
"Like 'ell you are," Scabior sneered. The Snatcher holding Ron punched him again. Hermione screamed.
"Barny Weasley," Ron spat.
Scabior looked at the other Snatchers. "Tie em' up."
And then the three were thrown on the ground and tied up against some other unfortunate captives. "I'm so sorry! It's my fault!" Hermione whispered in a trembling voice.
"No, I said the name, I'm sorry," Harry told her in. Ron couldn't reach the witch, but he said reassuringly, "I gave it away too."
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, is that you?" a voice said from near them.. Hermione couldn't believe her ears.
"Dean?" Hermione asked, recognizing the voice.
"Yeah! I can't believe... everyone's been wondering where you were. Look, they just can't find out who you are Harry, they're only looking to get gold!"
"Not a bad haul for one night," Scabior said nearby, "A mudblood, a runaway goblin, and these truants. You checked their names yet?"
"Yeah," the other Snatcher answered, "there ain't no Vernon Dudley on 'ere."
"Interesting. That's interesting."
Hermione silently swore. They'd be figured out... Scabior crouched down next to Harry.
"So you aren't wanted, then, Vernon? Or are you on that list under a different name? What house were you in at Hogwarts?" he inquired.
"Slytherin," Harry said automatically.
The other Snatcher nearby laughed. "Funny 'ow they all thinks we wants to 'ear that."
"It's in the dungeons." Harry told them clearly. "You enter through the wall. It's full of skulls and stuff and its under the lake, so the light's all green."
There was a short silence.
"Well, well, looks like we really have caught a little Slytherin." Scabior smirked. "Good for you, Vernon, 'cause there ain't a lot of Mudblood Slytherins. Who's your father?"
"He works at the Ministry," Harry lied. "Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes." Hermione breathed a bit easier. Maybe they would get out of this after all. Maybe, just maybe.
"You know what?" the Snatcher told Scabior. "I think there is a Dudley in there."
Hermione sighed to herself. They were so close to getting out of this.
"Hey!" a third Snatcher called excitedly "Look at this. Scabior!"
Hermione watched as he came closer. He had the sword– she bit down hard on her lower lip.
"Ve-e-ery nice," Scabior said appreciatively, taking it from his companion. "Oh, very nice indeed. Looks goblin-made, that. Where did you get something like this?"
"It's from my father," Harry lied. Hermione clenched her teeth.
"'ang on a minute, Scabior! Look at this, in the Prophet!" the third said.
Scabior looked down at the trio, then grabbed the paper. He scanned it quickly, then glanced at them suspiciously.
"Hermione Granger," Scabior was saying, "the Mudblood who is known to be traveling with Harry Potter." Hermione felt her heart hammering in her chest again. "You know what, little girly? This picture looks a hell of a lot like you."
"It isn't me!" she squeaked. Scabior smiled, then turned to his companions.
"Pack 'em up, we're taking 'em to base at the Malfoy's."
And then they Disapparated with their caotives, appearing in front of a large estate where wrought-iron gates were shut on the path. One of the Snatchers strode up to the gates and began to shake them.
"Let us in!"
And then he jumped away in fright as the iron unfurled into coils in the image of a frightening face that said clearly, "State your purpose."
"We got Potter!" the Snatcher yelled triumphantly. The gates opened and they were pushed inside, past the well-kept lawn, and into the large mansion.
It was very dark inside, and Hermione couldn't see, but then light washed over everyone. A cold female voice spoke out.
"What is this?"
"We're here to see He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" Scabior announced.
"Who are you?"
"You know me! Scabior!" the Snatcher replied in outrage.
She stepped closer and her long pale hair glistened in the light. Narcissa Malfoy.
"Bring them in," she said.
And the teens were pushed past a hallway, into a large drawing room. Two figures rose from chairs and Hermione recognized them as Draco and Lucius Malfoy. Draco would be able to tell it was Harry immediately; this was a problem amongst the already looming one. Draco looked pale as usual, and very thin. He looked tired, too. Hermione didn't say a thing.
"Well, boy?" Scabior asked impatiently.
Lucius didn't look too well himself either. He stepped over to Draco as they neared us.
"Is it him? Is it the boy, Draco?" Lucius pressed. Draco examined Harry nervously.
"I can't tell, it looks like he's been stung," Draco answered in a quiet voice. Narcissa glided forward and touched her son's shoulders. "Draco, dear, if this is him we'll be greatly rewarded by the Dark Lord-"
""Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope Mr. Malfoy?" Scabior sneered.
"Of course not," Lucius waved him away impatiently.
"And that looks like the Mudblood girl, yes, I remember her from Madam Malkin's!" Narcissa exclaimed excitedly.
"But then that's the Weasley boy, ain't it?" a Snatcher piped up.
"Yes, he could be," Draco stammered.
Suddenly the drawing room door behind Draco opened and a woman spoke. Her voice gave Hermione chills and fear filled her.
"What is this? What's going on, Cissy?"
Bellatrix Lestrange walked slowly around the prisoners, stopping near Hermione. She watched her carefully, a wicked glint in her eye. Hermione tried to let out her breaths quietly.
"But surely this is the Mudblood girl? Granger?" she asked softly.
"Yes, yes, it's Granger!" cried Lucius, "And beside her, we think, Potter! Potter and his friends, caught at last!"
"Potter?" shrieked Bellatrix, and she backed away, the better to take in Harry.
"Are you sure? Well then, the Dark Lord must be informed at once!"
She dragged back her left sleeve and Hermione knew what she was about to do. That was it, they were done for-
"I was about to call him!" Lucius said, and his hand actually closed upon Bellatrix's wrist, preventing her from touching the Mark. "I shall summon him, Bella. Potter has been brought to my house, and it is therefore upon my authority."
"Your authority!" she sneered, attempting to wrench her hand from his grasp. "You lost your authority when you lost your wand, Lucius! How dare you! Take your hands off me!"
"This is nothing to do with you, you did not capture the boy!"
"Begging your pardon, Mr. Malfoy," Greyback interjected, "but it's us that caught Potter, and it's us that'll be claiming the gold."
"Gold!" Bellatrix laughed, still attempting to throw off her brother-in-law, her free hand groping in her pocket for her wand. "Take your gold, filthy scavenger, what do I want with gold? I seek only the honor of this."
She stopped struggling, her dark eyes fixed upon something Harry could not see. Jubilant at her capitulation, Lucius threw her hand from him and ripped up his own sleeve.
"STOP!" Bellatrix shrieked, "Do not touch it, we shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!"
Lucius froze, his index finger hovering over his own Mark. Bellatrix strode away.
"What is that?" she said.
"Sword," an out-of-sight Snatcher grunted.
"Give it to me."
"It's not yours, missus, it's mine, I reckon I found it."
There was a bang and a flash of red light; Hermione knew that the Snatcher had been Stunned. There was a roar of anger from his fellows: Scabior drew his wand.
"What d'you think you're playing at, woman?"
"Stupefy!" she screamed, "Stupefy!"
She was a skilled witch, frighteningly so, and she had all the Snatchers down in minutes. She got Scabior in a kneeling position and she walked over menacingly. She leaned over him.
"Where did you find this sword?" she repeated, brandishing it in his face, "Snape sent it to my vault in Gringotts!"
"They had it!" Scabior groaned. Bellatrix flipped around, insane.
"Draco, move this scum outside," said Bellatrix, indicating the unconscious men. "If you haven't got the guts to finish them, then leave them in the courtyard for me."
"Don't you dare speak to Draco like that," Narcissa warned. Bellatrix screamed angrily.
"Be quiet! The situation is graver than you can possibly imagine, Cissy! We have a very serious problem!"
"If it is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed," she muttered, more to herself than to the others. "The Dark Lord wishes to dispose of Potter himself... But if he finds out... I must... I must know..."
She turned back to her sister again.
"The prisoners must be placed in the cellar, while I think what to do!"
Narcissa started to protest but then stopped when Bellatrix stared at her crazily. "WORMTAIL! Take them down to the cellar!" The traitor scurried in and was about to lead the trio away when Bellatrix stopped him. As she moved something glinted at her neck. Jewelry? Hermione wasn't paying much attention at the moment, for she was more worried about Bellatrix's sudden decision.
"All except... the Mudblood," Bellatrix smiled.
"No!" shouted Ron. "You can have me, keep me!"
Bellatrix hit him across the face; the blow echoed around the room.
"If she dies, you're next. Blood Traitor is just as bad in my book." And then the prisoners were dragged away, and Bellatrix had the room cleared. It was just she and Hermione. The bushy-haired witch was frightened, and for once didn't know what to do. She backed up against a wall as Bellatrix came closer, her wand in her hand. She looked mental, insane, and Hermione knew there was no talking her way out of this one.
"Where did you get this sword?" she asked calmly. Hermione shook her head.
"We found it, I swear," she trembled. Bellatrix's calm facade disappeared and she pushed Hermione harder against the wall, her wand at her neck.
"You stole it! Don't lie, Mudblood!" she screeched. Hermione started to cry, panic erupting within her.
"No, no! I swear, we found it, it was just lying there, we didn't take anything!" she insisted profusely.
Bellatrix backed away. "Crucio!"
Hermione screamed in pain as her knees buckled and she fell to the floor, writhing. Fire spread through her veins as her mind went to places she could not stop it from going.
"Stop! Please!" Hermione begged, sobbing. Bellatrix stood over her victim, grabbed her hair, and tilted her head to look at her face, inches from her own. Hermione quickly looked away, eyes hazily training on Bellatrix's neck. The necklace glinted again, and this time Hermione saw what it was. It was a Time-Turner! Hermione thought they'd all been destroyed in the Battle two years ago! She stared back into Bellatrix's dark, heavily-lidded eyes, willing herself to focus.
"Don't lie to me!" she shrieked. She pushed Hermione back and the witch fell to the floor again, knocking the back of her head in the process. She groaned and Bellatrix aimed her wand again.
"Crucio!"
And the pain began all over again, amplified two times more. She stopped again and came forward. Weak as Hermione was, she pushed her muscles to function, to save her life. She threw her weight in her opponent's direction, causing Bellatrix to topple over. Hermione tugged the chain off her assailant's neck and ran.
"STUPEFY!"
Hermione slid under a desk and hauled herself into a room, locking the door right behind her. Another door awaited her on the other side of the large room, and she ran for it.
"GET HER! HOW DARE THE MUDBLOOD?"
The door behind her was blasted off the hinges just as she dashed through the other door. Hermione found herself in a hallway with too many doors, too many options. She ran into the nearest one and locked it behind her, fumbling. Then she put on the necklace and spun the Time-Turner more and more with each second, not even thinking when she would stop. Hermione heard shouts in the hallway and she knew they were getting closer.
"CHECK THE ROOM!"
An explosion shattered the door and they ran at Hermione just as she stopped spinning and suddenly the Malfoys and few Death Eaters slowed down until they completely froze. And then everything became distorted and Hermione suddenly blacked out.