Prologue
Present Day
"Innervate."
She woke already upright, vaguely noticing the dim lighting in the room. Surrounded by people in dark hooded cloaks, she knew exactly where she was. The worn tapestries, old wall paper, and molded wooden trimming. It was the library of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, the abandoned headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter's former home. Left to none other than…
"Well, if it isn't Miss Hermione Granger or should I say Malfoy." Bellatrix Lestrange, forever the Dark Witch devoted to the long deceased Voldemort, circled the new Mrs. Draco Malfoy. Hermione struggled against the ropes that bound her in the circle of Bella's new gang.
"Up to your games again, you crazy old hag?" Looking for all possible escape routes, Hermione wasn't going down without a fight. Where is everyone?
"Always." Being cryptic was Bella's crazed style, Hermione found it exhausting, but she was willing to play along to stall for time.
"What do you want Bellatrix?"
"I'm here to welcome you to the family, come now and be cooperative." Bellatrix laughed manically, brandishing her stolen wand.
"Oh, just you wait until I get my hands on a wand; we'll really have it out." Hermione took a deliberate menacing, look around, and the followers didn't move a muscle, except for one in the very front. He was now her easy target.
"Looking for your darling husband?" Bellatrix teased. "Why he's here too of course, come out Draco, dear."
From the shadows to her left, Hermione was relieved, but shocked to see her husband so welcomed by his aunt, who he'd promised was no longer a part of his life. He came up to her taking a strand and curling it around his finger, getting closer to her face.
"It'll be ok, my love, Aunt Bella just wanted a bit of fun." The false reassurance was confusing, why would he help her! "With a mudblood."
Hermione thought he must be playing along, he really had a plan, but it was still a little difficult to accept his mockery. He'd taken years to prove to her that he was the real thing, and she'd become accustomed to her new Draco. To see him revert so easily and quickly made her wonder if it was all a game.
"Your love, am I? Is that why you've given me to your, delightful maniac of an aunt?" Hermione said with quiet defiance.
"Well, darling, you know it was all a fun little game. How could I possibly love someone like you? Someone who represents everything I was brought up to hate. Didn't you ask me that once, dear? Now you'll see what the truth is."
"I knew you were lying! I knew it, and everyone tried to tell me, but did I listen? Ugh, you're disappointing, Malfoy." Hermione spat in his face, Please be on my side, please, please please.
"Enough of your lovebird banter; I want to have some fun." Bellatrix sauntered forward at this. Bellatrix came forward taking a fistful of Hermione's hair not noticing the tiny bump of life barely coming from the belly of her captive. "Ready to play, deary?"
"Why don't you take me on like a real witch? Scared?" She had to stall. She didn't know if Draco could be trusted anymore, and if not, it was up to her to protect everything.
"You know she can't have that, love."
Raising her wand, Bellatrix yelled, "Cruc—"
TO BE CONTINUED.
