Chapter 1: Prisoner

Hermione could feel herself shaking as she stood there, alone. Ron and Harry's screams behind her dug into her bones in a terrifying way. She wanted to run. There was no running, now, though. She wanted to cry. That wouldn't save her. Nothing could stop what was coming. Now was the time to be strong, to resist, and lie. If Bellatrix managed to get the truth out of her… then it was game over. Everything they'd gone through, all the things that they had done until now, would be meaningless.

Hermione forced herself to stop shaking, gritting her teeth and clenching her hands into fists. Be brave, Hermione, remember that you chose Gryffindor!

"Aw, look at that, the little Mudblood thinks that she is going to be strong," Bellatrix taunted softly, smiling as she circled Hermione slowly. That smile promised pain. "And just 'ow long do you believe you can hold your tongue, little girl?"

Long enough. Hermione prayed, eyes not leaving Bellatrix's as she stalked around in a predatory circle. The Malfoys were all standing there. Each of them came and went in her vision as Bella circled, and Hermione turned. Narcissa looked ill. She must know what was coming. It was a strange kind of relief to see that someone was upset by what was about to happen. Lucius looked cold and careless. Of course he did. Lucius would cast the spell himself in a heartbeat if he were given the opportunity. Draco would be the same. Bellatrix enjoyed torture too much to hand it over to either of them, though. Hermione heard Narcissa retch slightly.

"Are you certain you have the stomach for this, dear Cissy?" Bellatrix taunted over her shoulder, looking away from Hermione to meet her sister's gaze. In that moment, Hermione saw Draco. His pale skin was slightly green, eyes were shocked and horrified. His face betrayed no emotion. When he met her eyes for a brief moment, she saw pity. That must've been her crazed imagination. Draco wouldn't feel anything for what was about to happen to her now.

Hermione tensed as Bellatrix's wand raised. The next thing she knew, she was screaming. The witch was bellowing something at her. Hermione couldn't hear anything besides her own screams. How long? Would it ever end? She wanted it to stop. Miraculously, it vanished just for a moment. She went limp, sobbing in relief. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. Her lungs gasped for air- but the pain came back. Everything was fire- worse than fire- she wanted to burn away to nothing.

Bellatrix's laugh twisted in with her shouts. Hermione couldn't understand. The words felt too far away. Was she dying? The pain receded and someone slapped her face. Hermione felt her head turn hard against the ground. She must've fallen at some point. Her breathing was wrong. Was she breathing? Or sobbing? Or both? She felt the front of her shirt yanked up and was given a hard shake. "Answer me!"

Another hard slap across her face took her to the ground. Her hands fisted in front of her as she pushed herself up with trembling arms. There was nothing she would say.

There was nothing she could say, to be honest, even if she wanted to. Her voice had fled. Stay silent, Hermione, don't tell her anything. The whip of logical thought smacked through her entire body, through the pain, through the agony of that curse. It filled her with fire. She grit her teeth, glaring back at the vile witch with an intense hatred. Hermione would die before giving up anything useful to this awful woman.

Bellatrix appeared surprised for a moment. Then, a cruel smile lit her face as she backhanded her to the ground again. "I do love it when they resist," Bellatrix bit her lower lip in pleasure as she looked down at Hermione, "It has been a long time, foolish girl, since someone could look at me like that…" The wand tip came back again, "...scream, nice and loud."

Hermione's entire body arched up off the ground this time as she shrieked in pain. She wanted to rip off her own skin, tear away at the acid flowing through her veins. Bellatrix stopped and kicked Hermione, hard in the side. There was a sharp crack. She coughed blood, rolling across the floor several times and coming to a stop, trembling, both hands against her rib cage.

"Answer me! ANSWER ME!" Bellatrix seethed, looking crazed when Hermione managed to meet her gaze again. Her vision was swimming. It wouldn't be long now before she couldn't answer, and couldn't scream. Then it would all end. And hopefully the boys would find a way to escape. And Voldemort would be kept in the dark just a little longer. Long enough… long enough… Hermione begged. She grit her teeth again as Bellatrix stalked closer.

Hermione wasn't sure if Bellatrix was more displeased or ecstatic to see that Hermione still resisted. "Defiant, are you?" Bellatrix hissed softly as she knelt down, reaching a hand out to Hermione's face, stroking a thumb across her lips almost tenderly, "That will be the death of you, mudblood."

Just kill me, then…. Hermione yanked her face from Bellatrix's fingers. The witch slapped her again. Hermione's head fell down to her arms with the blow, feeling sick. She heaved slightly, barely able to stop herself. The taste of blood invaded her mouth from a split lip.

"Draco," Bellatrix spoke softly, "Perhaps it is time that we tested your hand at this, yes?" Hermione felt tension all throughout the room now. "You know this witch- and it is said that the curse can be even more powerful when it comes from the wand of a familiar face." Her heart pounded in her chest. That was a lie. It had to be a lie. Bellatrix was trying to scare her. "Unless my dear sister wishes to put her own wand to the test?" Someone was coughing and gagging. "Oh dear," Bellatrix tutted softly, "What would the Dark Lord think of such weakness, Cissy? He would likely kill you for refusing such a simple command… Draco, darling, would you step in for your mother, as you stepped in for your dear father?"

"This is too far, Bellatrix," Lucius spoke icily. "My son-"

"-has the mark!" Bellatrix spat, "Draco, I command it!"

Hermione heard the soft click of a man's shoes. She started to shake again. It wouldn't stop this time. This was going to be awful. What did Bellatrix mean, that it would be more powerful? Bellatrix's curse had been the worst thing she'd ever known- how could it be worse from Draco? She was sobbing against her arms, unable to look up and see his face. Maybe she could pretend it was Bellatrix again. Maybe she could fool her brain. Maybe-

Pain seared through her senses once more and she screamed like she hadn't for Bellatrix. It was true, then. It was true! She rolled to her back, clawing at the floor, lost in the pain. Why did it hurt more? Why did it feel like her bones were cracking from the inside? Why did it feel like her lungs were on fire? Why did this hurt so much worse? When would she die?

Bellatrix laughed, "Enough!" Draco's spell ceased. Hermione couldn't breathe. She forced the air in her lungs, ribs aching with the effort it took. Did she have any more tears? Hermione felt a hand hold her face and her eyes fluttered open. She couldn't focus on the face in front of her. "Tell the truth." Bellatrix breathed softly against her face.

Behind her, Hermione could see Draco. He was shaking slightly, staring at her with that horrified expression, he swallowed hard as she met his gaze. Her eyes closed again. Kill me, Draco. Just kill me and end this.

"TELL THE TRUTH!" Bellatrix screamed at her face. Another harsh slap. More blood. Hermione wished it would end. The witch stalked away. "Again, Draco," she whispered.

Hermione's entire body writhed on the floor. She screamed and screamed and screamed until she was light headed and nearly faint. But there was no more pain this time. In fact, there was no pain at all. Why was she screaming? Was she dying? Tears broke down her cheeks again. If this were dying, it wasn't so bad. At least the pain was gone. It felt like she was floating. Everything felt warm and calm and gentle. Why was she screaming so terribly? Then, she heard a voice. Draco's voice. Inside her own head.

I don't care if you tell the truth or not, Granger, give her something! Tell her it's a copy. Just a copy. Keep saying it. Over and over and over again. Do it!

"It's a copy," Hermione screamed suddenly, the writhing stopped. The pain came back, hitting her full force. Not a new curse. All the pain from the previous curses. She went limp again against the floor, barely able to see with the tears streaming down her cheeks. Her voice was hoarse. The words barely came out "It's just a copy!"

Her breathing hiccuped as the tears continued. Relief. Tears of relief, "It's a copy," Hermione choked, the pain dancing in her bones, the relief of having a few moments of peace from the pain letting her speak. "Just a copy," she whispered painfully. She mouthed the words, unable to speak now, throat raw, tightening with emotion. Why, Draco?

"Very good, Draco," Bellatrix praised softly, "Very good… now I must make certain that she is telling the truth."

When the pain hit her this time, his voice in her head repeated like a broken record. I don't care if you tell the truth or not, Granger, give her something! Tell her it's a copy. Just a copy. Keep saying it. Over and over and over again. Do it! It was the only thing she had to keep her sane when Bellatrix had her shrieking in pain. How long? No idea. But the words never changed. Anytime Hermione could summon her voice, she said the same thing, again and again. The words were so choked, hoarse and whispered now that she couldn't know if Bellatrix heard her. "It's a copy...just a copy."

"Bring that goblin!" Bellatrix barked.

Hermione could barely hang on to consciousness. Or did she? There were moments she could hear, and moments when she felt herself waking, and moments when she almost forgot how to breathe. Sound floated in and out around her. Soon there was screaming. Yelling. What was happening? There was a commotion- a fight. A chandelier crashed nearby. Shards of glass danced upon her skin.

"No, we can't leave her! DOBBY PLEASE!"

"Dobby must protect Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is sorry, Miss!"

"NO!"

She managed to raise her head enough to see Dobby and Harry disappearing. Relief sank through her skin. They got away. They were safe. Thank God for that house elf. Bellatrix's knife stuck into the wall behind them. "We are dead," Bellatrix whispered in horror.

Voldemort appeared seconds later. His wrath was terrifying. Spells shot all around them. So many were dead. The stench of blood and death around her made her stomach knot sickeningly. Hermione put her head against her arms, did not move, and did not look up. Maybe one of the spells would hit her. Maybe this would all end soon. Harry and Ron were safe. That was all that mattered now. She passed out.

Some time later, a foot rolled her to her back. Her senses lit with agony. She groaned in pain, gritting her teeth as consciousness returned. "At least you managed to keep one of them." Voldemort's cold words were not praise. "Draco- you will be responsible for this… mudblood. See that her wounds are well treated, so she will survive several more rounds of questioning. Summon Severus if you need. And let me warn you, if she were to die…" Hermione couldn't believe the words she heard next, "...your mother will take her place… then your father… then you. Am I quite clear?"

"Yes, my Lord," Draco replied coolly. Hermione felt arms lift her from the floor. Her body felt broken. Her hands fisted in pain for a moment. Even that was awful. Everything hurt. Everything pounded with an ache so deep she didn't think it would ever go away.

She couldn't even raise her head to look at him. Eyes closed. Death would be better than whatever Voldemort had planned. Maybe she would die. Then she could keep Harry's secret safe.

Her mind repeated Voldemort's threat. Her gut twisted. Draco's family would die if she died. She shouldn't care about that. Why did she? Why did Voldemort threaten them? Weren't the Malfoy's Death Eater's? Wasn't Bellatrix Narcissa's sister? Didn't they have favor with Voldemort? The questions distracted her from the pain a little bit.

"Mother… I need your wand," Draco's voice spoke above her. Then, they were moving again. Sound came in and out. Where were they going? Shapes took form and blackened in front of her eyes as she tried to open them. The world seemed upside down, spinning. Dying might be easy now. It would be a relief to escape this pain.

Relief. Hermione felt tears down her cheeks again. She hadn't told them anything useful this time. The secret was safe for now. But for how long? How long would she be able to withstand the Cruciatus curse before it broke her? Would it be Voldemort next time? What if they had veritaserum? She wouldn't be able to stop herself. They would know that she lied. And they would know Draco hadn't tortured her that second time. They would know he helped her to lie. He would die, too, wouldn't he? Then, they'd kill her once they had gotten all the information they needed out of her. If she couldn't hold her tongue...

Her body was placed down, back against a pillow. It must have been a soft bed, but the pressure against her aching body felt like agony. Sitting up was hell. Her head pressed back against a wooden headboard. A tense suck of air caught between her teeth as both hands pressed to her ribcage, unsure if pushing against it or pulling it out of her body would be better at this point. The pressure hurt like hell, but it helped. She tried to control her breathing, and stop the tears.

A cool cloth touched her face. She tensed. It was wiping away the tears and the blood. Hermione didn't move, expecting a slap, expecting more pain. It never came. The cloth gently dabbed at her split lip. She heard the sound of water as it was wrung out. It returned to wipe the hot tears from her cheeks.

The tears wouldn't stop. This was far from over, and she knew it. Today was the least of it. Voldemort had promised several more rounds of questioning. Several. Her body began to tremble. The cloth slowly went away. The sound of a potion pouring caught her ears.

"Please kill me," Hermione whispered painfully, managing to open her eyes. Draco's hands were bloody. Her blood. His silver eyes met hers with the words. There it was again. That look. That pitying look. She hadn't imagined it, after all.

"No," Draco replied quietly, pressing a cool cup to her lips. "Drink, Granger, and sleep."

She had no choice. Her tongue and throat ached with thirst. The potion went down and the pain became fuzzy in her senses. Spinning colors took over her vision. Her eyes had to close. The diminished pain let her remember her painless screams of agony. His voice. I don't care if you tell the truth or not, Granger, give her something! Tell her it's a copy. Just a copy. Keep saying it. Over and over and over again. Do it!

"Why, Draco?" she whispered as the darkness took over. Her head slumped to her chest. She nearly fell out of the bed. His arms caught her, gently laid her down. The sound of water floated in her ears again.

"Sleep," he repeated quietly. She felt the cool cloth against her eyes and forehead. That felt good. Everything went dark.