Bracing herself for apparition, Hermione grabbed hands with Harry. Only, her hand had slipped free as they began to transport to safety. Desperately, Hermione went to grasp his hand once more, but was greeted with nothing but a clasp of air. Her heart sank in her chest at the realization that she, Hermione Granger, hadn't just escaped with the rest of them. No, she hadn't been so fortunate. Her friends were now safe from the grips of Voldemort, while refuge felt like a concept a million miles away.
Hermione found herself with her eyes still shut tightly, as if she was bracing the apparition that had never occured. Upon opening her eyes, she found the room to be occupied still with Bellatrix and the rest of the Malfoy family, there eyes all on her. Silence stabbed the room like a thousand knives until suddenly, Bellatrix let out a gasp.
"Well, seize her! Seize the mudblood!" Bellatrix's voice penetrated the room at even higher octave than usual, perhaps due to her own nevres upon the Dark Lord's arrival.
Hermione just stood still, wandless, feeling stunned and hopeless for the first time in her life without a thought of what to do next. Luscious quickly cast a body binding curse upon Hermione, and she found herself unable to move. Thoughts of the dark Lords arrival nervously swarmed over her anxiously as she tried to swallow the reality of her approaching death. Before she could contemplate this much further however, there was a loud crack and a swarm of dark robes appeared. Hermione felt herself tremble under her constraints as she gazed at the red-eyed, serpent like man she was now facing. His snakelike face had etched upon it an unmistakable grin that left ice running through Hermione's veins.
"Where's the boy?" the high pitched, cool voice called out to the room as he turned to examine its contents.
"Give him to me. I must be the one to kill him. Where is he?" Voldemort impatiently demanded in a cool but calculating hiss. Hermione felt a moment of relief, At least they haven't got Harry. Harry's safe she remembered warmly as she thought of her friends. This close to death, she had felt braver than she would of expected. She was assured in the safety of Harry, and the hope of Harry fulfilling Dumbledore's mission. She may have to die, but her friends would be okay. Harry was safe.
"Lord...My lord." Bellatrix began, quivering as she spoke.
"He's gone. He… well he escaped. I'm so sorry my Lord, so sorry! Please do not punish me, it was not my fault! The house elf, he…" Bellatrix sputtered nervously under the glare of her Master.
"You are telling me, the boy has escaped, yet again?" Voldemort hissed coldly into the silence of the room.
"Well, My Lord, we got the mudblood. You know, the girl…" Lucious voice trailed off as voldemort had abruptly held his hand up to silence him.
"You have failed me yet again. Lord Voldemort can only be so forgiving…" Voldemort began, but was quickly interrupted by the sobbing of bellatrix as she feel to his feet.
"My lord, My lord! I did all I could, I have failed you. I deserve to be punished!" bellatrix sobbed into Voldemort's icy white feet.
"Quiet, Bella. If you had not been so faithful to me in the past you would not have been spared today at such a disappointment as this. But because of your continued devotion, I shall not kill you and your family today." He finished, no emotion behind his red gleaming eyes.
"Oh thank you my lord! Thankyou!" Bellatrix continued to sob at his feet.
"Thank you my lord. We are so grateful to you. We will not fail you again." Lucious choked.
"I shall hope not, Lucious for your sake. However, All you seem to do lately is exactly that." Lord Voldemort spat as he simultaneously pulled out his wand.
"Crucio" Voldemort beckoned, and Lucious contorted in screams of pain. Hermione was not sure how much longer his screams of anguish and misery would last. He lay on the floor, trashing against the cold dark wood in pain, as both his wife and child watched in sheer horror. To even more of Hermione's astonishment, Voldemort laughed and screamed sadistically back at his victim. After what seemed like forever, Voldemort lowered his wand. Bellatrix still sat on the floor, though further from her master as she had been previously.
"You next, Bella?" Voldemort asked now directing his attention at her and raising his wand.
"No...please my Lord. Please spare me. I brought you the mudblood of his...I" Bellatrix heaved, looking absolutely terrified.
"Mudblood?" Voldemort questioned as he stared blankly in confusion, lowering his wand. Next thing Hermione knew, he was facing her directly. His eyes burned into hers as she prepared for a fatal blow. Instead, Voldemort spoke again, amused.
"I hadn't realized we had guests! How rude of me?" he teased. Hermione gulped, just hoping he wouldn't torture her first before killing her. She wasn't sure of how much more torture she could take after Bellatrix had her way with her earlier.
"So you must be Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's infamous mudblood girlfriend?" Voldemort laughed again, showing his small beady teeth.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" Hermione found herself shout before she was even sure why. Why did it matter, she asked herself. He is just trying to play with your emotions.
"Hmmm why not? Pretty thing like you?" Voldemort hissed in his high pitched voice. Hermione noticed Bellatrix straighten up at this, obvious annoyance and jealousy spread across her sallow face.
"He is like a brother to me, that's why. And he will defeat you!" Hermione's mustered more bravery than she thought possible as she heard herself speak these words. She must be crazy, she thought, to be challenging Voldemort like that while she was at his mercy. Part of her however didn't care, she wanted to die a brave gryffindor.
"And the red headed blood traitor, is he your boyfriend then?" Voldemort gritted his teeth but ignored her comment about his defeat. Hermione wondered why he had been so interested in such frivolous matters as who she was dating. It seemed hardly relevant at the time, given the circumstances. Annoyance spread across her face, as well as that of Bellatrix, although neither dare voice this outloud.
"No, he is not my boyfriend." Hermione grew frustrated and concerned with where Voldemort was going. Was he trying to play mind games with her?
"I see" hissed Voldemort, seemingly satisfied.
"Now leave us, all of you." Voldemort demanded cruelly. Bellatrix was about to object, but realized how close she had come to being tortured and silently obeyed. Everyone left except for Malfoy, who actually had remorse and worry stretched upon his face as he stare from Voldemort to Hermione. He stood there in horror for several seconds untill a voice from the other room beckoned him.
"Draco, now!" Narcissa demanded sternly and Draco soon fell away from view.
"Now that we are alone." Voldemort waved his wand and the binds holding Hermione in place disappeared. Hermione was completely confused why he had not yet killed her. What was it he was waiting for? And why did he need to talk to her privately? Hermione bit her upper lip in deep thought before finally speaking.
"What is it you need to talk to me about? I will never betray Harry no matter if you torture me to death, so if that's what your up to then you should just kill me now!" Hermione boldly stated it, using all the energy she could possibly muster.
"Brave girl." Voldemort observed out loud as he circled around Hermione who continued to look straight forward.
"Yet I do not want to kill you, Hermione." Voldemort smoothly retorted in his icy pitch.
"You...you don't?" Hermione could barely contain her audible surprise at this prospect. She had been so sure Voldemort would want to kill her right away. How could she have been wrong? What was he planning instead? Would her fate now be worse than death?
"No of course not, girl. I've taken a liking to you." Voldemort now drew closer as he continued to circle in, as if he was predator going in for his prey. Hermione not dare move, for she had no wand, so any resistance she knew would be useless. Hermione waited silently for him to speak again, but soon she felt an icy grip from behind her.
Long icy fingers and a wand extended across her neck as Voldemort took in the smell of her hair. Hermione, stood unmoving in terror and shock. Suddenly, she felt his hands begin to grope her waist and she shook him off feverishly.
"A little bite. I like that." Voldemort answered her resistance with a tightened grip of her waist as he pressed against her.
"You want to know why I am not going to kill you?" Voldemort whispered in her ear. Hermione felt cold tears begin to sting her face as the answer to that question now seemed absolutely clear.
"Because you are my secret weapon against Potter. My pet, if you will." And with that he released her as she bent down in silent tears.