Hermione walks wearily next to Ron and Harry up to the dark mansion. She was sure that even if it hadn't been night there, even if the sun had been up, the mansion would still seem cold and uninviting. She peers at Harry from the corner of her eye. The stinging jinx she hit him with was holding and with any luck he wouldn't be recognizable.
Hermione stumbles as the snatchers push her forward. Walking up to the gate surrounding the manor Hermione can see the dark outline of someone standing on the other side. Walking closer the three of them shoot worried glances at each other as they realize who it was.
Bellatrix Lestrange.
If she recognized them this mission would end a whole lot sooner than planned. The leader of the snatchers pushes Harry up into the gate as Bellatrix studies him closely. His hair is pushed back to reveal a faint scar. She smiled a wicked smile.
"Get… Draco" She whispers.
No.
Hermione had hoped her Jinx would be enough to disguise Harry from those who only knew his face from posters but Malfoy… Draco Malfoy would no doubt recognize him. And Ron. And Her. She starts breathing heavily as she felt tears building in her eyes. She had to be strong. If she started panicking they were dead.
The Snatchers follow Bellatrix back towards the manor and through the front door into the house. It seems to be darker in here than it is outside. They're brought deeper into the house into a large room with a large fireplace off to the side.
"Wait there…" Bellatrix hisses out pointing to the side of the room. "They'll be here soon…" She says as she grabs Harry from the Snatchers.
"Not you…" She says digging her wand into his neck.
The group remain silent except from the few groans of pain coming from Harry. They all still as they hear footsteps approaching. Hermione turns to see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy walk gracefully across the room. And there he is. The moment Hermione has been dreading has arrived. Draco Malfoy.
"What is it Bellatrix?" Hermione faintly hear Lucius ask.
She stared at him. She stared at Draco Malfoy. She thought after the war broke out that the Malfoys would have looked a lot better than they did. Draco was paler than usual and dressed entirely in black. Lucius looked like he had forgot to shave for a couple of days. Narcissa looked as if she were about to collapse, as if the effort of even standing were too much for her. To any outsider the Malfoys may have appeared perfectly normal. Graceful as always. But Hermione could see it. Fear. They were all afraid of what was next to come.
"Draco…" Lucius called motioning him to step forward. Draco looked briefly at his mother who nodded encouragingly to him. He stepped towards Harry to get a better look and Bellatrix yanked back his head forcing his face up.
"Well?" She asked with an almost crazed excitement panting.
Here it comes. Hermione holds her breath. There was no way he didn't recognize them.
Why wasn't he saying anything?
"I… I can't be sure…" He says hesitantly looking down at Harry. Lucius steps behind him quickly and places his hand on the back of Dracos neck.
"Draco… Look closely son…" Panic. Lucius Malfoy was panicking slightly and turned to glance at the snatchers. He lowered his voice "If we are the ones to hand Potter over to the Dark Lord… Everything would be… forgiven…all… all would be as it was….y… You understand?" Lucius says stepping in front of Draco and nodding at him encouragingly.
Hermione watched as the Snatchers listened to him and the leader was quickly growing more annoyed by this. He began pacing back and forth in front of Hermione and Ron.
"Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him… I hope Mr. Malfoy." The Snatcher called over to them interrupting.
"You dare to talk to me like that in my own house!" Lucius snapped back
Narcissa quickly ran up and put her hand on his arm
"Lucius…" She whispered warningly as she pulled him back away from Draco.
Bellatrix started panting again and reached out to grab Dracos hand. "Don't be shy sweetie… Come over..." She pulled him over to Harry and kneeled Draco down in front of him. "Now if this isn't who we think it is Draco… And call him… He'll kill us all…. We need to be absolutely sure…" she finishes standing away from them.
Hermione watched in interest as Harry and Draco stared at each other. Draco hadn't ratted them out yet and Hermione hoped he wasn't about to.
Draco stared at him "What're wrong with his face?" He asks in mild disgust
Bellatrix turns to address the Snatchers "Yes, what is wrong with his face?"
The Snatcher looks at Harry "He came to us like that, something he picked up in the forest I reckon."
Hermione looks at Harry and takes in a deep breath. She looks at Bellatrix to see her already staring back.
"Or ran into a stinging jinx… Was it you deary?" She asks pointing her wand towards Hermione and walking closer to her. Draco turns slightly to watch Bellatrix and Hermione. He stares at the ground a moment before his eyes snap up to Harrys. Lucius steps towards Harry and Draco and places his hand on Dracos shoulder.
Bellatrix addresses the Snatchers in a bored tone. "Give me her wand, we'll see what her last spell was... Ah ha, I got you!" She cackles out happily when suddenly she gasps. Hermione looks towards what drew her attention and sees one of the snatchers holding the Sword of Gryffindor.
"What's that…" She asks shakily.
The snatcher looks down at the sword and back up at Bellatrix.
"Where did you get that from…" She points at the sword.
"It was in her bag when we searched her. Reckon it's mine now" He smiles at her.
Bellatrix attacks quickly throwing him back and spins around to attack the other two. She laughs as they struggle against her. After a moment she stops.
"Get out… Get out!" She screams at them. They both stumble to a stand and exit as fast as they can.
"Cissy…" Bellatrix storms over to where Hermione and Ron are standing and grabs Ron "Put the boys in the cellar!" Harry and Ron are dragged over to a set of steps leading downwards and are grabbed from behind by Wormtail as Bellatrix walks back over to Hermione "I'm going to have a conversation with this one… Girl to girl" She says standing face to face.
Hermione starts to breathe heavily and can't help the spark of panic that pulls at her at the thought of being alone with the Witch. Bellatrix turns and smiles at the Malfoys. Hermione spares a glance at Draco and can see her fear mirrored in his own face.
Hermione feels like crying as he breaks eye contact and stares at the floor swallowing.
She really is truly alone.
"Well… Does anyone want to stay for the show…" Bellatrix asks laughing. "Hmmm… Draco how about you… You could always practice your curses on her…" She smiles grabbing at Hermione and pulling her forward to face Draco. He looks at her again and swallows a few times.
"Unfortunately, Bella I've asked Draco for his assistance in the Library. Perhaps later this evening if there's anything left of her." Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward coolly and grab ahold of Draco and pulled him away from them. All three Malfoys left the room quickly.
"Well dear… I suppose it's just you and me now…" Bellatrix smiled wickedly.
….
Draco sat uneasily in his chair in the Library with his mother. He didn't know what was going on and from the sound of it he didn't want to know. Hermione shreaked once again and the sound pierced the mansion. Everywhere he turned he heard her scream.
"Oh how I wish Bella would use a silencing charm when she did that" Narcissa said calmly from her chair by the fire.
"She never does. You know that. She enjoys the sound of their cries too much." Lucius said from his desk where he was writing something.
They fall into silence once again and for once the screams stop as well. They turn as Bellatrix enters the room.
"Well?" Lucius asks her. "Is she dead?"
"Not yet." Bellatrix smiles as she flops into a chair. "But she's lying to me. She knows something. Why won't she just give it up?"
Draco had to stop himself from smirking at that. Hermione Granger knows something? Never. He can't help but admire her. Being both a Malfoy and a Death Eater he's grown accustomed to the forms of punishment around here. He's been trained to withstand hours of torture in his life and he was rather good at Occlumency thanks to Bellatrix and was even able to block Snape from his mind. But Hermione was none of that. She hasn't had to face the same terrors he has. She hasn't had to live in the same house as Bellatrix, who found she quite enjoyed training him and wouldn't stop even after his screams stopped. She hasn't had any training against torture and yet even Bellatrix couldn't get anything from her. He continues to listen to the conversation as he pretends to read his book.
"Perhaps she truly doesn't know anything?" Narcissa asked.
"She knows something. She has my sword Cissy" Bellatrix said angrily.
"Maybe we could kill the Blood Traitors?" Lucius chimed in.
That got Dracos attention.
"No." He said quickly and everyone turned to face him questioningly. "I've gone to school with them for years. I've had classes with Gr…. The Mudblood. If I know her at all I know killing her friends won't make her talk. If anything, it'd convince her not to say anything" He finished convincingly.
"And what do you suggest we do?" Lucius asked.
Draco thought for a moment and then smiled at them.
"I believe that Aunt Bella wanted me to practice my spells? Perhaps it's time that I do just that." He said looking at his father for approval.
"She's weak at the moment. I don't want to risk killing her if she is one of Potters friends." Lucius said slowly.
"I'm sure she could do with some food at this point." Narcissa said standing up and placing her book on the table next to her. "I'll have the House Elves put something together for her. Draco please come with me." She headed towards the door and Draco followed closely behind her.
"Nothing to good for her Cissy" Bellatrix called after her.
Narcissa turned around and smiled "Oh course not Bella."
Both mother and son made their way towards the kitchen before Narcissa pulled Draco into one of the rooms and closed the door before casting a silencing charm. She sighed and looked at Draco with a small smile.
"You care about her… don't you?" She asked quietly.
Draco was about to deny it when she put a hand up stopping him.
"Don't lie to me Draco" She said sternly "I saw your face when you saw her. I saw how worried you were when she was with Bellatrix. Just tell me the truth. How do you feel about her?"
Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. How could he possibly explain this to his mother?
"I don't know… I look at her and I just…. Love her… and it terrifies me… it terrifies me what I would do for her…" He said hesitantly.
She smiled and shook her head slowly. "I used to know what that was like. When you get that feeling you can't hesitate. You have to go for it. The worst thing that could happen is that you run out of time and both of you will be lost."
Draco was shocked. "You're not upset? About my feelings towards her even though she's…"
"A muggle born?" Narcissa cut him off "No Draco. For a long time, I thought you were destined to be like your father. She might be the only thing that can save you from this life." She walks towards him and places her hand on his cheek. "I'll love you no matter what you do. I know I don't say it enough but I am proud of you." She smiles up at him
"Thank you, mother." He hugs her to him.
"Now let's go get her some food and you talk to her. I'll make sure that no one bothers you." She said leaving the room.
He smiled. He never thought of his mother as a prejudiced woman and she had just proven him right. He followed her out and to the kitchens.
….
With a plate of food with him, Draco made his way to where Hermione was. He walked into the room and nearly dropped the plate in shock.
Splayed out on the floor surrounded by pools of blood was Hermione Granger. He stared at her hoping to see signs of life…. There… she was breathing. Draco let out a sigh and started to walk over to her.
…
Hermione was left on the floor after Bellatrix had finished with her… No doubt planning on continuing later. She had tried to move. Tried to do anything at all. But she was in so much pain. She didn't know where it started or where it ended. Her body felt like it was on fire and even breathing was difficult. Her throat was worn from the hour of screaming. Hermione was deep in thought when she heard the door open.
No… no more… She couldn't take anymore. Keeping her eyes closed she waited and listened.
Foot steps approached her quickly and she heard something placed on the ground by her head before she felt arms wrap around her waist and back, pulling her up off the ground. She moaned in pain and fell silent once more.
…
"Oh Granger…" Draco said sadly and quickly walked over to her, placing the plate on the ground and wrapped his arms under her waist and back, pulling her up into a sitting position against his chest. His heart beat faster as he heard her let out a moan.
"No…No please…" She whispered hoarsely.
"Granger… Hermione it's me." Draco said softly.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times before focusing on his face.
"Draco…"
"Shhh it's alright. You'll be alright." He reached an arm out and pulled the plate towards them. "Look. I've brought you some food. You need to eat Hermione."
"I can't" She whispered as a tear ran down her face.
"Yes you can love." He said smiling down at her.
If Hermione wasn't in so much pain she would've been shocked by his term of endearment. By the look on his face he was.
With much effort on both sides Hermione managed to sit up properly and began picking at the food in front of her. Slowly she took a few bites and drank some of the water he brought her. He sat patiently by her side and looked over at the multiple cuts and bruises covering her. His eyes trailed down to her arm where he saw the word carved crudely into her skin. Gently he reached out to her and she jerked her arm away from him.
"It's alright…" He reached out to her again "I just want to see it."
A moment passed before Hermione extended her arm out to him while staring at the floor. She didn't want to see his reaction.
Softly he took her arm and stared down at the word. Before summoning some cloths and warm water and began cleaning around it.
"I don't think your aunt will like you doing that." She said watching him wipe away the blood.
"I don't care." He replied coldly continuing to wipe. Both sat looking at it as blood began to pour out of the cuts again. "I wish I could say that I was surprised she did this but I'm not."
"She wanted me to remember what I am. I'll never forget I'm just a Mudblood now." Hermione said with a sob.
"Don't say that." Draco said sternly "Don't you ever say that. If there's one thing I've learned about you is that you aren't just anything. Definitely not that"
Hermione let out a pained laugh "Draco for almost as long as I've known you… every long year we've known each other… You've called me a Mudblood. You drove it into me every time we argued about something. Why should this be any different?"
"Because you're not a Mudblood!" Draco said raising his voice "And just because Bellatrix marked you doesn't make it true."
"And what about you?" Hermione asked softly. "Does your marking make you a Death Eater?"
"Yes. Yes it does. I chose this life Hermione. I can't escape it now no matter how much I want to. I've done so many horrible things. I can never go back."
"You can be forgiven Draco. I forgave you so long ago for the way you treated me and my friends. I wanted to hate you for what you said and did but somehow I just… couldn't… after everything that's happened I could never hate you…"
"Hermione… I…." Draco stopped and thought for a moment "I don't have an excuse for what I did. I thought if I pushed you away… If I kept away from you that you would be safe… I only wanted you to be safe…I'm sorry"
Hermione shifted awkwardly and stared at him in thought "Is that why you didn't turn us in when you saw us? I know you knew it was Harry. I know you saw me"
Draco nodded "I had hoped that they'd just lock you in the cellar until later. At least then you would've had time to come up with a plan. You and your friends seem to always have a way out."
"We will get out of here. Somehow we will." Hermione said assuredly. "And you could come with us." She said looking at him.
Draco smiled sadly. "I can't. I have to stay here. They'll kill my family. They'll kill my mother. And if I stay here at least I'll always be able to look out for you. Maybe I'll even be able to keep them off your trail for a while."
Hermione nodded "Yeah I suppose that makes sense." She grabbed his hand "Just promise me you'll try and be safe? Don't do anything to draw attention to yourself."
He squeezed her hand gently "I'll do my best. I suppose there's no point in telling you to be careful?"
"I have to help Harry. I'll do anything to complete what we're doing. I can only be so careful when doing that" She smiled at him and paused. "Do you know why Bellatrix is so worried we got into her vault?"
"No." He paused. "But I assume there's something in there she doesn't want you to have."
"Which means that's where we have to go next" Hermione said in thought.
"Well if anyone could break into Gringotts it's you" He said smiling.
Both fell silent for a moment in thought. Draco continued to clean out the wounds his aunt had inflicted and Hermione finished up the food he brought her.
Suddenly they heard a POP as a House Elf appeared next to them.
"I thought I said I didn't want to be disturbed!" Draco shouted jumping up and away from Hermione.
"I'm sorry Master." The Elf replied shakily "Mistress Malfoy told me to come inform you that Mistress Lestrange is on her way to interrogate the prisoners."
"Fine. Thank you." Draco replied coldly "You can go now. Take the dish and cloths with you."
"Yes Master. Right away" The Elf replied before disappearing.
"What are we going to do now?" Hermione asked looking at Draco.
"I don't know. My aunt thinks I'm… Practicing on you…"
"Then you have to do it." Hermione said sadly
"What are you talking about?" Draco replied worriedly
"You have to torture me Draco"
"What? Hermione are you insane? I can't do that!"
"If you don't then she'll suspect something is going on. It's the only way to keep suspicion off of you."
He stared down in thought "I don't want to do this." He said reluctantly
"You have to Draco" She smiled at him. "If you don't she'll do worse."
Draco nodded and pointed his wand at her. He had to get the timing right if he wanted to minimalize her suffering.
Just as the door clicked open Draco cried out "Crucio!" Hermione screamed and writhed on the floor as Bellatrix walked in and approached them.
"How is it going Draco?" She smiled at him and he lowered his wand, smiling at her.
"Just fine. I've gotten better at the Cruciatus Curse."
"I haven't heard much sound coming from this room." She said looking around the room.
Draco stiffened before relaxing and replying "Mother put a silencing spell on the outside of the room. She said the Mudblood was screaming too much"
"And how is the little Mudblood?" Bellatrix asked leaning down and smiling at Hermione.
"Who cares? She doesn't matter. She's just a Mudblood. Just like all those before her and all those who will come after her. Perhaps I'll even get to kill the next one?" He asked smiling
"Perhaps you'll get to kill this one!" Bellatrix cackled "After the Dark Lord is finished with her."
"I'd enjoy that. What do you say Mudblood? You get to be my first." Draco said calling to Hermione. Silence. "Well I'll leave you to it Aunt. I have more important matters to attend to. Goodbye Mudblood" He said leaning down to face Hermione and casting another Cruciatus Curse at her.
"…I… Hate… You" Hermione whispered in between breaths.
Draco smirked and whispered back an "I know"
Glancing back at Bellatrix he realized she was busy studying her wand.
"I'm so sorry." He said remorsefully to Hermione. She nodded and offered him a small smile. Standing he looked down at her and turned towards to door.
"Try not to kill her Bella." He called over to the strange woman.
The last thing he heard before he closed the door was Bellatrix laughing wickedly and Hermione screaming.
God. He hoped that Hermione and her friends would get out eventually. If they didn't he feared he'd do something stupid and risk all their lives.
…
Right well that's that. After rereading the story I noticed a few things that need to be fixed which I will do at a later date. I don't know when the next chapter will be up because I'm currently having a doctor who, Babylon 5, and Firefly marathon with my friend. I do love reading the comments though so I'd love it if you did that
