A/N: So my previous wasn't as long as I hoped it to be. This chapter will probably be the longest seeing as there are several points in this chapter. Hopefully it doesn't get too confusing as things overlap each other in this chapter. As of July 30th this chapter has been updated.

The snatcher with his foot on Ron's head picked him up and pulled his arms behind his back as if he was arresting him. Ron wasn't sure if not going to the Ministry would be better or going somewhere else would be. His eyes never veered away from Hermione, he would make sure no harm would come to her. He owed it to her. All the hurt he had caused her, he would make up with protection and love.

"Should we search 'em?" One of the snatchers said.

Hermione glared at the snatcher who had spoken. She didn't want to be searched, nor would it be good for Harry, Ron, or her. She was walked over to Ron and Harry and the leader looked at the three.

"No," he paused for a brief moment. "take their wands."

Hermione was now struggling again to grab her wand which was wedged in her pocket. Her right hand flailed for the wand and she tried to just grasp it. But the snatcher holding her got to it before she did and she was once again held in a tight grip. She glanced over at Ron who had tried the same thing.

"Let's get out of here. We'll take them to the Malfoy's."

In an instant they were walking towards a dark, tall gate. The three hesitant, but no longer struggling seeing as it was no use. Ron looked at Hermione then at Harry as he was dragged to the gate and slammed against it.

Bellatrix was coming towards them. Her long insanely curly hair pushed back by her wand and her famous grin on her face. She came close to the gate and looked at Harry.

"Get Draco" she whispered.

The gate swung open and the snatchers hurried the three along through the gate. The manor was gloomy and large of course. Trees drooped over the tall walls which blocked out creatures and trespassers. Clouds were rolling over the area quickly and making the scene seem even more gloomy and dark.

Hermione felt a shove from the snatcher behind her and she turned her head and gave a glare then turned forward. Though they weren't holding them anymore, running would be dangerous seeing as they had no way of protection and getting over the wall would be nearly impossible without a broom, or spell. Her eyes were searching, searching for a way out. She didn't like were this was going and there was a strange feeling growing in her stomach. Maybe, it was because this was Draco Malfoy's home. The boy, or man now, who had threatened Harry so many times. Maybe, it was because the place seemed to dark and gloomy. Maybe it was because she knew these people who would be inside were so cruel and dangerous. Whichever it was, she didn't like the feeling.

Ron however had a fearful look stretched across his face. He wasn't sure what awaited them inside. Would they find out that the disfigured face was Harry's? Would they be killed inside? He pushed back his terrible thoughts out of his head. He couldn't think of what lay inside, he had to focus on his surroundings. He watched nearly everyone's move. He felt something poke into his back and it was a wand. Then he felt a kick in the back of his heel sending slight pain through his ankle. He walked a bit faster and when a large black door swung open he was hesitant and didn't budge. He watched as Harry walk inside. He had to play the role of Dudley Vernon, not Harry who he was sure would be cautious.

Hermione looked at Ron and gave a small nod, too small to be noticed by anyone not paying close attention to her. Ron had to keep moving and when he turned forward he walked inside and she smiled inside. She knew he was scared of what may lay inside and so was she. Without hesitation she walked inside and felt a hard shove and knocked into Ron who nearly fell forward.

"Sorry" She whispered.

"Shut it!" Said one of the snatchers.

The two stood there as Bellatrix pulled Harry across the room by his hair. A small chandelier turned on and they could all see much better. Narcissa stood next to Lucius, her husband who had a light five-o'clock shadow. Draco had a scared look on his face, an almost fearful look.

"I can't be sure" he said.

"Come closer" Bellatix said, her hand still pulling at his hair.

Draco walked hesitantly towards Harry. Lucius walked over to his son and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Think of it Draco. If we were the ones to turn in Potter, everything, everything will be back to what it was"

"Don't forget who actually caught him Mr. Malfoy." Said the lead Snatcher.

Lucius turned his head slightly to the snatcher. "YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT IN MY OWN HOUSE?" He yelled, his voice booming through the manor.

It was Narcissa who came over and settled Lucius down and let Draco walk forward to examine Harry's disfigured face. Draco lowered himself to Harry's height and looked at him carefully.

"What's wrong with his face?"

"Yes! What is wrong with his face?" repeated Bellatrix loudly.

"Don't know. He came to us like that, must've caught something in the woods." said a snatcher.

"Give me her wand. We'll see what her last spell was!" said Bellatrix standing up.

Hermione stepped back a bit as Bellatix spoke. Her voice was quite loud and overpowering. Then seeing Bellatrix stopping she gave a slight questioning look. Then she saw what Bellatrix was looking at.

"Where did you get that?" said Bellatix eying the sword of Griffindor.

"I found it in her bag. Reckon it's mine now" The snatcher gave a grin.

Hermione couldn't quite recall him taking her bag or even searching for it. She struggled trying to remember it. Before she knew it Bellatrix was shouting 'Get OUT!' 'GET OUT!'. Memories flashed by from her fifth year when they were in the forbidden forest with Umbridge. How she crudely strangled the centaur and Hermione had begged her to stop. She came back to reality and Bellatrix was done.

"PUT THE BOY'S IN THE CELLAR!" She picked up Harry and shoved him towards Ron and the two were dragged down the stairs.

"I have a word to pick with this one! Girl to girl" She snickered.

Hermione's breathing quickened a bit as Bellatrix's face came close to hers and she could smell her ungodly breath. Her hair brushed against her face, which reeked as well. She tried to back up but there was a wall behind her and she couldn't budge.


Ron and Harry tripped and fell backward onto the cold hard ground. Ron stood up quickly and ran to the bars locking them in. He shook them furiously but it was no use. He reached for his wand but realized it wasn't there.

"Let her go!" He shouted furious with the world.

Harry looked at Ron; he knew it was no use to try to escape out of here. He didn't want anything to happen to Hermione either but right now, he was thinking of a way out.

"Ron? Harry?" It was a soft voice.

The two turned around and looked at the girl who had spoken so softly. Ron clicked the deluminator and lights whizzed out of it and lit up the room.

"Luna?" said Harry.


Hermione felt her hair being grabbed by Bellatrix's firm hands and she let out a small whimper. She was pulled by Bellatrix away from the wall and Hermione wanted to get free of her grip. Pulling in either direction gave her pain in her scalp. She was scared for what would happen but didn't want to worry Ron or Harry by screaming. It was then that she was shoved onto the floor and smacked her head on the hard floor.

Bellatrix now angry walked over to Hermione and was on top of her. Her hand gripping her chin followed by her nails digging into her skin. She heard a small whimper come from Hermione's voice and she glared angrily.

"Where did you get that sword?" She sneered at her.

Tears threatened Hermione but she held them back knowing tears would make the situation even worse.

"I don't know" She said softly.

Bellatrix wasn't convinced and her nails dug deeper into her skin and she could see the small tears her eyes had finally released.

"Liar" She sneered before striking Hermione across the face.

Hermione's cheek stung and she could feel it grow red with pain and tears rolled down her eyes. Now, she was scared for her life. For what she said was the truth, Ron nor Harry had really told her how they had acquired the sword.

"WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF MY VAULT?" Bellatrix screamed at her.

Now, Hermione was crying out of fear for what may come. "I didn't take anything!"

Bellatrix took Hermione's left arm and slid her sleeves up her arm leaving the skin bare.

"I will ask you one last time! WHY WHERE YOU IN MY VAULT? AND WHY DID YOU TAKE THE SWORD?" She screamed in Hermione's face along with digging her nails into Hermione's arm and letting go of her chin.

"I DIDN'T TAKE ANYHING!" Hermione screamed at Bellatrix in utter fear.

Bellatrix was sick of this. "LIES!" She shoved Hermione's head down with one arm and took her wand and poked it into Hermione's arm and soon breaking skin. Hermione let out a scream as Bellatrix whispered 'Crucio' every time she wrote a letter in her skin.

Books often were her love that never let her down. They said that the Cruciatus Curse, or the torture curse felt like you were on fire, burning to death slowly while being stabbed a million times by dull knives. But for once, the books that never let her down finally did. For the curse didn't feel like either, it felt much worse. It felt as if she was drowning in flames while freezing to death, accompanied by dull knives stabbing her all over and taking spoons and carving her skin like a pumpkin. No, it didn't it felt ten times worse than all of that. It felt like being skinned alive and left to bleed to death would be less painful.


It was then that Harry and Ron realized they had to get out. Ron cowered as her heard Hermione's blood curtailing screams.

"Harry we have to do something!"

"I know!" shouted Harry to Ron.

Harry crouched down and pulled a piece of glass out of his sock.

"Harry, you're bleeding" Luna said before realizing what he had pulled out. "That's a funny place to keep that"

Harry looked at the mirror which reflected nothing. "Help us" he whispered.


Hermione continued to scream as Bellatrix continued to torture and carve into her skin. The curse sent waves of unbearable pain. It hit her that she may die through this but she would give in to Bellatrix's torcher. She could feel the curse run through her veins and into her blood. At this moment she had given up the hope she'd live through this. She wanted death to come. She wanted it to come now.


Wormtail came down the stairs.

Ron was furious and put his hands on the gate. "LET HER GO!"

Wormtail opened the gate and pointed his wand at everyone. "You, goblin. You're coming with me." He took the goblin with him then closed the gate.

It was then that Doby, Harry's elf friend came into the room. He was wobbling back and forth then stopped and looked at Harry and Ron.

"Harry Potter!" he exclaimed happy to see his friends.

Harry looked at Doby and smiled. "Doby, you can get out of here?"

Doby nodded. "Well of couse."

"Doby, take Mr. Olivander and Luna out."

"Where?" said Doby.

Then Ron spoke. He knew where they could go. To his brother, Bill, and his wife, Fluer. "Bill and Fluers, the cottage."

Doby nodded and then Luna spoke.

"Whenever you're ready sir." Her voice still soft.

"Sir? I like her" He grabbed both Mr. Olivander's and Luna's hand then spoke again. "Meet me at the top of the stairs in ten seconds." Then disappeared with Luna and Mr. Olivander.


Hermione lay there, both arms stretched out tears still running down her face. Her eyes were drained of all the energy she had. She looked at the goblin that was now being question by Bellatrix then down at her arm which was exposed. She looked at the words carved into her lower forearm. 'Mudblood' it read and more tears threatened. Blood dripped down from her arm and onto the floor and she knew that no spell or charm would be able to reverse or take away what was done to her arm. She would now forever remember that she was a Mudblood.

"Luck you aren't dead!" She sneered at the goblin before turning to Hermione. "The same won't be said for this one."


Both Harry and Ron stood on the stairs. Ron wanted desperately to run to Hermione and hold her and rid her of her tears and take the pain away that she had endured. He was about to take a step forward but Harry put an arm in front of him.

"Wait" He whispered as he too wanted to get out of here with Hermione as quickly as possible.

He watched as Bellatrix questioned the goblin, he knew then, that she was after the sword and why the snatcher had it. But he didn't quite understand why it mattered to her. Maybe it was because she knew it could destroy horcruxes.

It was then that when Ron heard Bellatrix threaten to kill Hermione that he was filled with so much anger, so much hatred for Bellatrix that he didn't think.

"Like hell" He said standing up and running for Hermione.

Harry ran after Ron and he saw Lucius about to cast a spell. "Stupefy!" He shouted knocking back Lucius.

Ron and Harry casted spells at both Narcissa and Draco who also cast spells at them.

Hermione watched at Ron and Harry fought to try to save her. Then Bellatrix picked up Hermione and pushed her knife against Hermione's throat. Hermione surprised by this and slightly in pain let out a high pitched moan but it was also soft.

"Drop you wands!" shouted Bellatrix the knife still pressed against Hermione's neck. Then seeing as they weren't she shouted again. "I said drop 'em!"

Neither wanting Hermione's throat to be slit, Harry and Ron dropped their wands. They watched Bellatrix carefully and Harry's face turned back to normal.

Bellatrix grinned. "Look, its Harry Potter. All shiny and new." She was mainly speaking to Hermione but nearly everyone could hear. "Draco! Grab their wands!" Draco obeyed.

It was then that Hermione saw Doby unscrewing the chandelier. Her tears were still sliding down her face but not as rapidly as before. She wasn't quite sure what he was doing but she knew he was trying to help or even save her.

Then everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The chandelier came crashing down and Bellatrix released Hermione. Taking her chance, and also not wanting to be killed, she ran to Ron with what little energy she had left and slipped a little. It was when Ron had grabbed her and Hermione still seemed to be in motion that he had to take several steps back. When Ron did so, Hermione began to slip out of his arms and gripped his arm tightly fearful that if she fell, not only would glass cut her arms that she wouldn't be able to get back up. Ron could feel Hermione slip and he pulled her up and backed up.

Bellatrix screamed. "STUPID ELF! YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME!"

Doby felt deeply sorry. "Doby never meant to kill. Just maim or seriously injure."

Harry backed up to where Hermione, Ron, and Doby were. He watched as Bellatrix's face filled with angry and disgust he pointed the wand he had at the other's protecting both Ron and Hermione. He knew Doby would protect all of them but he still was being cautious.

Doby saw Narcissa about to cast a spell at Harry Potter and he snapped his finger taking her wand from her.

"HOW DARE YOU DEFY YOUR MASTER!" shouted Bellatrix.

Doby crossed his arms. "Doby has now master! Doby is a free elf! And Doby came to save Harry Potter and his friends!" It was then that they all grabbed Doby and he flashed away.

Bellatrix threw her knife towards the disappearing group and watched her mouth open hoping it would go through. It was aimed for Doby and she continued to watch as it flew and finally went through and she gave a grin. Someone was going to die.