Harry watched the knife slide across Hermione's throat. He stood motionless in the doorway leading down towards the cellar where he had just broken free of with the aid of Dobby and Ron. Hermione's brandy brown eyes widened with fear and terror before rolling into the back of her head and becoming glossy- like one sinking into the throes of death.
"Hermione! Hermione!"
"Be quiet Ron!" Harry snapped.
Bellatrix's high, cold, and calculating laugh rendered the air as she watched the blood drip down Hermione's shirt and stain her clothes red. Greyback looked hungrier than he had before, licking his lips to the scent of the raw wounds and bleeding flesh. Draco stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on Ron's shoulder, a warning gesture. Harry looked back at the shaken blond, and indeed Draco truly looked sickened at his sadistic aunt's blood lust.
"Oh, is wittle Potter mad? That I killed his mudblood friend like I killed Sirius?" Bellatrix taunted.
Harry's fingers curled tightly around the wand he'd captured.
"DON'T-SAY-THAT-AGAIN!" Harry roared in anger, his entire body shaking with rage. Bellatrix smirked, letting Hermione's limp body hit the floor with a dull thud.
"Or what? Is wittle baby Potter gonna curse me? Ha ha! You couldn't do it two years ago!"
"Oh watch me Bellatrix…. Watch me." Harry seethed.
Bellatrix smirked, fingering her wand, spinning it carefully in her hand, tempting the boy. Taunting him.
"Last chance let us go peacefully." Harry demanded quietly.
" Not a chance, Potter. Miss the opportunity to get back into the Dark Lord's good side?"
Bellatrix turned back towards the bleeding girl crumpled on the floor. She nudged the unconscious girl with toe of her shoe.
"Greyback, now you may do what you wish with her."
"No! Stupefy!"
Harry shot the spell, aiming it directly at Bellatrix's chest, sending the insane witch flying backwards. Ron quickly stunned Draco, and disarmed Greyback, when Dobby returned, and send the chandiler crashing onto the floor.
Paying no heed to his hands getting cut up by the glass, Harry scooped her up, an apparated out of the house, and away from all the chaos.
~*~
Harry remained by Hermione's side for days. Long after their stay at Shell Cottage, Hermione did not stir from her slumber. Bill had consulted all the books he had on cursed wounds- he himself being afflicted by them last year, by Greyback no less.
"Fleur repaired the initial scarring. But since those are cursed wounds and we cannot get to Mungo's… I'm afraid… she can't speak anymore." Bill said sadly.
"But… I didn't get the chance to tell her I care about her…." Harry said, sitting stone still by her bedside, replacing the cool cloth on her head.
"I'm sure she knows, Harry." Bill reminded him.
Slowly, Hermione's hand reached out, touching Harry's. He smiled, leaned down and kissed her. Hermione's eyes fluttered open, and she slowly reached out, taking his hand in her own, and Harry knew she'd heard.