Chapter Two
"Oh, I seem to have shocked you into silence? This isn't a feat that occurs every day, I assume."
"H-how did you find me?" Hermione stuttered, frantically searching through her pockets for her wand without taking her eyes off of his.
"Accio wand," he said smoothly, smirking as her only form of protection flew from her bag and into his grasp, "Now that I know you're not going to try and do something incredibly foolish, shall we continue?"
"I think I'll pass," Hermione replied, regaining her courage as she stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder, before attempting to walk past him. Quickly, he got to his feet and seized her violently by the wrist. She was forced involuntarily backwards, almost losing her balance until she was steadied by making contact with the wall. He smirked at her wince, then slowly moved forward, closing the space between them.
"Don't make this difficult," Lucius threatened, his face near enough to her ear that she could hear his intimidating whispers very clearly.
"Difficult," Hermione scoffed, feigning bravery even as she shuddered at his proximity, "Give me back my wand and you'll see just how difficult I can be."
Lucius glanced at her, as though just a piercing once-over would give him all the information he'd need about her magical abilities. He didn't look impressed.
"You wouldn't fare well against me, my dear," Lucius declared, "most mudbloods don't."
"Just let me go, Malfoy," she plead, realizing how dire the situation could become.
"Desperate enough to beg, now this was the part I've been most anxious for," he goaded, running a single finger down her jawbone, causing her to shiver and try to unsuccessfully wrench away. Lucius glowered at her condescendingly, an amused smirk playing on his thin lips as Hermione stared up into his ice blue eyes, beseeching him without words to show some emotion, to let her go. Asking Lucius Malfoy to show compassion, how naïve could you be?
"What do you need me for, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, using this feeble distraction to search for any way to escape. A pointless search, as the bookstore was completely empty and the shopkeeper was unaware of the events taking place in the back of her store.
"You'll find out soon enough, Mudblood," he mocked, "now, there's two ways that we can do this. The first is that you come with me, calmly and without a problem, or the second is I can torture you into unconsciousness and take you using that tactic. Let me just make it clear that the only way you're leaving this store is with me. So stop," Lucius cautioned, narrowing his eyes as he noted her search, "trying to find a way out."
"You're completely insane if you think I'm going to go anywhere with you willingly," Hermione snarled.
"Excellent," Lucius smirked, "I have always found the torture route a lot more…satisfying. And a considerably more exhilarating experience."
Hermione opened her mouth to reply with a scathing comment, but was interrupted by Lucius, "Crucio."
Hermione let out a disappointingly short scream, though Lucius was pleased when she collapsed onto the floor, writhing for a few moments before going completely motionless.
"That al-all you got, Mal-Malfoy?" Hermione criticized, weakly.
"You know," he stated conversationally, "you should consider yourself lucky. Just one more day, and Snape would have been the one after you. And unlike myself, he doesn't find back-talking women as amusing. Crucio," he repeated, watching as Hermione thrashed around on the wooden floor, her scream much louder this time.
"In fact, it seems that he wants to get his hands on you. I haven't a clue why. Crucio."
He watched as her mouth stayed open, like she was screaming only he heard no sound. Silent tears were streaming down her cheeks, and he leaned over her immobile body before whispering,
"Are you ready to come quietly?"
All she could manage was a quiet moan, before her eyes slipped closed. Lucius shook his head and smirked as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his grasp by hooking his other arm under her knees. He strode toward the exit, glancing over at the bookkeeper's expression; she was staring at him in a mix of confusion and worry, but at the same time awe at his appearance.
"She's been tired lately," he said, as an explanation, "fell asleep while reading, poor thing." He knew that she had fallen for his excuse, and he left the store with a smirk. Lucius knew that he would get even more strange looks if he carried the girl throughout the crowds, so he quickly turned onto an empty street and within a moment, he was back in his hotel room and was placing Hermione Granger on a chair. With a flick of his wand, ropes enclosed her body, securing her tightly. While he waited for her to regain consciousness, he roamed around the room, collecting the few belongings he had with him and as he was throwing it all back into the trunk, there was a groan from behind him.
"Ah, Miss Granger, you're awake," he turned to face her, "that's good, I was getting a little tired of waiting."
"Where the hell are we, Malfoy?"
"Nowhere that concerns you, as we'll be leaving shortly," he replied, as he used a charm to shrink his trunk to fit in his pocket, then paced over to the girl, clenching her wrist in his hand before they Apparated away.
When they appeared, they were in a dark room; it was small, with a low ceiling---probably only around seven feet tall. There was nothing in the entire room that wasn't made of stone, with the exception of iron chains that were hanging all over the walls, used to chain disobedient prisoners until they cooperated. The only light in the room came from a single dim light bulb that was flickering constantly. Lucius dragged Hermione over to the chains and as she was still weak from the recent torture, it was even easier then it had been before. Hermione cried out as he yanked her wrist up to the highest chain, clamping it into place before working on the next arm. Once she was completely trapped against the wall, Lucius stepped back and glared at her while she struggled against her bonds,
"Get comfortable, Granger," he sneered, "you'll be up there for a while."
He turned around and stalked out of the room, the door closing with a click, then started striding down the stone corridor with a smirk. Now that his mission was completed, he could alert the Dark Lord, and he was also very interested in finding out why it had been so important to find Hermione Granger. As he walked out of the dungeon, he headed straight to the front door, where someone would surely be keeping watch.
"Bellatrix," he greeted, stopping in front of her.
"Hello Lucius. I hear you've almost lost your assignment to Severus."
"Severus will have to get his own missions instead of trying to pilfer mine. The girl's in the dungeon," Lucius smirked.
"The Dark Lord will be pleased. Have you contacted him?"
"I was just about to actually," Lucius paused before speaking again, "I was hoping that you could go down and watch the Mudblood."
"My pleasure," she smirked, before striding towards the door he had just came through. Lucius put the tip of his wand on the Dark Mark, saying a few words in Latin that would summon the Dark Lord to the Manor.
The Malfoy Manor was actually the headquarters for the Death Eaters, though its only use was to hold prisoners and host meetings. Lucius and the rest of his family were the only ones living there, unless a fellow Death Eater was on the run, and of course, whoever was guarding the entrance at the time. It was hidden, not only by multiple charms but also by the fact that it was in the middle of a vast forest filled with numerous creatures that would kill anyone who tried to pass through. Since it was impossible to Apparate straight to the house unless you were a Death Eater, the only ones who would dare try traveling through the forest would be their enemies, which is where the creatures came in.
"Lucius," came a voice from behind him. Lucius turned slowly and saw the Dark Lord standing before him. He bowed quickly, waiting for the words, "Rise,"
"My Lord," Lucius started, "I have the Granger girl in the dungeons, waiting for you."
"Ah, yes, and I think it past time that I introduce myself," the Dark Lord hissed, his red eyes glinting in anticipation, "Come."
Lucius followed the Dark Lord down flights of stairs until the Mudblood's screams became louder. Obviously Bellatrix was doing her job justice.
"Bellatrix seems to have beaten us down here," the Dark Lord commented as he unlocked the cell where the screaming was coming from.
"My Lord," Bellatrix greeted when she saw him, turning to bow.
"Back to your duties, Bellatrix," the Dark Lord ordered, gesturing towards the door.
"Yes, my Lord," she obliged, heading towards the exit.
Lucius stood a few feet behind his Lord and waited.
"Hermione Granger," the Dark Lord taunted, a smirk on his thin lips, "it's a pleasure, really. I've been waiting to meet your acquaintance for quite a while."
"I can't s-say the same to you," Hermione coughed, blood from her mouth landing on the stone ground.
"Manners, Miss Granger," the Dark Lord reminded, "After all, I've been so kind to you."
"You've a twisted definition of 'kind,' then."
"Crucio," he said, as though he was just speaking to her. Granger's screams were louder now, than they had been with Lucius or Bellatrix. The Dark Lord sneered at the girl until she became silent again.
"I bet you're wondering why you're here," he asked, "Well, you see, I've been wondering for a while now what the perfect way to bring down Harry Potter, and you, dear girl, are a key component."
"Go," she took a breath, "to hell."
"Lucius," the Dark Lord turned to him, "didn't I warn the girl about manners?"
"You did, my Lord." Lucius remarked.
"Question," Hermione scoffed, regaining her strength, "do you always agree with whatever he says, Malfoy? Way to show some backbone."
The Dark Lord didn't curse her this time, he simply looked amused, and glanced at Lucius to see his reaction.
"I don't believe you're in the position to saying such things, Mudblood," Lucius said quietly, but equally as threatening. Nodding in agreement, the Dark Lord continued,
"So, do you want to know why you are here?"
"Enlighten me, Tom," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes.