Chapter Two
Hermione's body was aching; there was not an area that didn't hurt or twinge as she shifted uncomfortably on the stone floor. Her head was pounding and her throat was hoarse from all the screaming. She opened her eyes steadily; trying to muster up the strength to sit up; finding the wall for comfort and support. She was so concentrated on moving to a more comfortable position that she didn't realise the man sitting next to her; until she had finally rested her body against the wall. As Hermione found the cold, grey eyes of her visitor, she involuntarily shuffled away from him, keeping her back to the wall and ignoring the protests from her weakened limbs.
"It's ok!" he said, putting out his hands in surrender. "It's ok."
Warily, Hermione stopped moving and painfully straightened out her legs in front of her; keeping her eyes firmly fixed on Malfoy's, wincing through the pain in her body. Draco was sat on the floor, crossed legged, with a half open book discarded at his side. She traced his face with her eyes; looking for any signs of attack, but he simply lowered his hands and marked the page in his book, before setting it back down again. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a cheese sandwich and an apple; holding it out for Hermione to take. Ignoring the pang of hunger in her stomach; Hermione eyed him suspiciously.
"Take it," Draco insisted, a hint of sincerity in his voice that Hermione had never heard before. "You've not eaten for days."
Slowly, and with a great deal of effort, Hermione shuffled closer and took the offerings; taking a large bite of the apple and savouring the sweet taste as the juice flowed down her chin. She hadn't eaten anything so wonderfully satisfying in a long time. Draco watched as Hermione devoured the apple, tossing the core to one side and wiping the remnants off her mouth with the use of her dirty vest top. She then began on the sandwich; all manners forgotten as she hurriedly ate, frightened that Malfoy might take it away.
"Thanks," she mumbled quietly once she was done, wincing again as she moved slightly. Draco picked up the water bottle that Hermione hadn't noticed before and handed it to her. Hermione almost snatched the bottle from his grasp, desperate to feel the fresh water trickle down her throat. She downed the bottle in record time.
"How are you fee- " Draco cut off mid sentence as Hermione scowled at him; crease lines appearing in her pale forehead. "Stupid question," Draco said, ducking his head slightly. "Sorry."
Hermione could only stare at her former classmate; in shock as to what he was doing down here. She wondered absently how long he had been sitting there, waiting for her to wake… "You've been out for two days," Draco murmured, as if reading her thoughts.
"How long have you… "
"Not long, maybe an hour or so," Draco answered, blushing slightly as if he were embarrassed. "I had to see –" he paused, and took in a deep breath, before continuing, "I had to make sure that you were still alive." Hermione winced at his words; realising how close to death she was – still is.
A small alarm buzzed on his watch, making Hermione jump a little; her limbs begging for her to stop moving. Draco got up to his feet and gathered his book and wand – and also the apple core and empty bottle – from the floor and pocketed them. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again. Hermione waited and eventually Draco spoke, "My father will be home soon." With that, he turned on his heel and strode quickly across the floor.
"Wait!" Hermione called, attempting to stand, but failing miserably. Draco stopped midway and turned his torso around to face her.
"How long have I been down here?" she asked, apprehensive of the answer.
Draco thought for a moment, debating on whether to answer her or not. "Nine days," he said curtly, turning his back on her and walking towards the door. Hermione watched as he yanked open the steel and closed it again; firmly locking her inside. The tears began to fall then, and Hermione ignored the yells from her limbs as she curled into a ball and closed her eyes; willing herself to fall back into unconsciousness.
As the days rolled on; Draco came down to visit Hermione, often bringing with him food and fresh water to help keep her strength up. She wondered why he kept on visiting, but was never brave enough to ask. She thought maybe it was all a ruse; a way to get Hermione to drop her guard down so she'd give away Harry's location. However Draco had yet to ask. He'd never once mentioned Harry or anyone else for that matter. He merely sat with her in companionable silence, watching as she had her fill of decent food, before hurrying off in fear of someone returning home. She knew Voldemort was staying at the Manor; but she never heard anything of him. She figured it was more of a base rather than somewhere to call home. It did frighten her though, the possibility that the Dark Lord was standing right above her, with the power to come down at any moment.
When Draco entered the cellar once more - after a particularly bad punishment - he found Hermione curled up in a ball, her head resting upon her scrunched up shirt, her arms wrapped around her knees which were level with her chest. Her wild hair had fallen to cover part of her face; but Draco could make out fresh wounds across her cheek. As he settled next to Hermione on the cold floor, he absently reached out a hand and gently tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her face. She stirred at his touch, but didn't open her eyes. Draco reached out and took one of her hands in his; tenderly entwining his fingers with hers. He studied her features as she slept; taking in her long eyelashes and soft, plump lips. She had a dark bruise beneath one eye and a couple of identical scratches across her cheek; each one slightly crusted over from dried blood. He moved his eyes down her body; counting the bruises and cuts she had along her arms. All his life, Draco had been told that Muggleborns were filthy creatures, a disgrace to the Wizarding World. He had always assumed that the term 'Mudblood' was accurate – that people like Hermione really did have dirty blood running through their veins. But sitting here, watching Hermione in a dreamless stupor with the crimson stains of her own blood proved just how wrong he had been.
The door suddenly swung wide, hitting the stone wall with a loud bang that reverberated around the room. Draco immediately let go of Hermione's hand as he jumped to his feet in terror. Hermione's eyes flew open and she sat up straight, blinking due to the sudden bright light that had come streaming into the room.
Bellatrix came striding in, flanked by Greyback. "What business brings you down here?" she heckled, drawing nearer and noting the look of guilt on Draco's face.
"No… nothing Aunt," Draco said, his voice shaking.
Bellatrix raised her eyebrows, "Oh really?"
"She was screaming," Draco said quickly, willing his voice to sound steady and sure. "So I came down to shut her up."
Bellatrix eyed her nephew suspiciously, looking him up and down for what felt like an eternity. "You needn't have done that, dear Draco," Bellatrix slurred. "I like it when the Mudblood screams!"
Bellatrix launched forward and pushed Draco to the side; before grabbing a handful of Hermione's untamed curls and dragging her across the floor. Draco watched, helplessly, as Hermione struggled to free herself from Bellatrix's grasp. His Aunt flung Hermione down to the floor hard and kicked her back, causing Hermione to let out a yelp of pain. Greyback laughed maliciously; the eerie sound echoing around the stone cellar. Bellatrix pulled a small blade from underneath her corset and danced around the helpless girl. She crouched down to where Hermione was nursing her back, and Bellatrix grabbed her hair from behind and placed the dagger to her throat. Draco stood there, rooted to the spot. There was nothing that he could do; without facing the wrath of his Aunt.
"Tell me," Bellatrix sneered into Hermione's ear. "Tell me where Potter is or I shall slit your pretty little throat from ear to ear." Hermione whimpered as Bellatrix dug her blade into her skin, blood beginning to trickle down her neck. Draco had no choice but to watch; fearing what would happen if he was to run or attack.
"Let's see how filthy your blood is after all," Bellatrix crooned. In one swift movement; Hermione was flat on her back with Bellatrix atop, pinning her to the ground. Her arm was outstretched and Draco's eyes widened as Bellatrix scraped her dagger along Hermione's skin. She shouted out in agony as the bewitched blade dug deep into her flesh. Hermione tried to struggle against the witch; but Bellatrix was too strong for her. Hermione could not seem to must the energy to strike and slowly stopped moving.
Once Bellatrix was finished; she stood upright and pointed her wand at Hermione's battered body. "Crucio," she yelled, sneering at her victim.
Draco could do nothing as he watched Hermione's weak limbs flay around; her head rolling from side to side and her ear-splitting screams filling the air. As her body twitched and convulsed; she locked her eyes onto Draco's. He simply watched as her screaming slowed to a halt and a tear fell from her eye; before slowly fluttering shut as she slipped into unconsciousness.