The implication hung open, stretched in the very air between them. All of a sudden she was aware of so many contrasting things; the smell of firewhiskey, the warmth of his body, the deadness of his eyes. She brought her arms up slowly, instinctively, hiding her chest from his overt gaze and backed away from him, the table cutting painfully into her lower back.
'The easy way or that hard way? Surely he can't mean-,' her mind screamed as she willed her body to move. She was frozen in place, frozen by the cold in his eyes that seemed to bore through hers.
He took a step back from her, freeing her from being pinned between him and the table. His eyes travelled downwards once more and he reached into his right jacket pocket. Her eyes widened; she had no idea what to think, even if she could breathe. Was he pulling out a weapon? She relaxed when she saw him remove a cigarette. Then his other hand went into his left pocket and produced a small metal lighter.
"Take it off," he said, bringing one hand over the other to hold the lighter and flick it, lighting the cigarette in a single motion.
Hermione's heart thudded in her ears.
"T-take what off?," she started, pretending to be stupid. He looked up from her and took a drag, releasing the cigarette smoke with a kind of smirk as he looked her body up and down. He gestured with the cigarette.
"All of it."
"N—no…..," she said her voice trailing off.
She saw his jaw tighten and then release. She knew he was angry. She saw it flash across his eyes. Her defiance angered him.
He took another drag and then, in a quick motion put it out directly on the tabletop behind her.
"I don't think you heard me right, girl. You and me, one way or the other. 's been a long time out in these woods."
"I—I…," she started, panicking as he shifted his weight, bringing him closer to her again.
He leaned in towards her ear again and his hot breath prickled the tiny hairs on the outer shell. "I'd really hate to have to use magic on you."
She tried to move her head but all that succeeded in doing was bringing her lips millimeters from his.
"No….please…no…..," she whispered, the pounding of her heart making her tremble to it's rhythm.
He shifted his weight back and away from her abruptly.
"Suit yourself," he said and sauntered to the tent flap. He glanced at her over his shoulder and then exited.
Hermione's breath left her lungs in a great whoosh. She reached a hand onto the table to steady herself. How close she had come. Surely he wouldn't let her go?
She chewed on her bottom lip as she wondered where he had gone. She realized something, most likely terrible, was about to happen when she heard muffled yelling from the other side of the flap. Gingerly, she crept over the the tent flap.
He was back then, in an instant, grabbing her by her arm painfully and dragging her over to Ron who was being held by the ginger snatcher.
"Ron!, she screamed, staring at him, trying with all her might to wrench herself free from her captor. But Scabior held her fast.
"Hermione, you have to promise you won't do whatever he says!," Ron said, earning him a punch to the gut. Hermione could already see his left eye blackening from some other attack.
"Are you alright?! Where's Harry?!," she cried frantically, still struggling.
"I'm fine! I will get you out of here I pr-," Ron started, cut off by another savage blow.
"Since you won't cooperate with me, boyfriend gets his," Scabior said, yelling over the two of them. Still holding Hermione, now by her wrist with a bruising grasp, he reached for his holster and removed his wand.
Hermione clawed at him frantically, but to no avail, for he pointed his wand directly at Ron and muttered, "Crucio!"
Instantly Ron was doubled over, dropped to his knees by the force of the curse. Hermione started crying and screaming at Scabior as Ron writhed about in pain, screaming for help, begging for it to stop.
Scabior stopped for a moment, giving Hermione a hard yank on the wrist. "It's your choice, lovely," he said and she looked at him through tear stained eyes. She let out a choked sob, as he turned his attention back to Ron.
"DON'T DO IT HERMIONE!," he screamed before Scabior pointed his wand at him again and spoke deliberately.
"Crucio!"
"NO PLEASE!," Hermione screamed at him, but he was focused on his aim on Ron.
"PLEASE!," she screamed again shaking her wrist getting his attention.
"Please," she said again, her voice unsteady from the sobs. "I'll do whatever you want. Just please stop."
Scabior looked at Ron and tipped his wand up, breaking the spell. He nodded to the ginger haired snatcher who had been in charge of Ron and then Ron was being dragged across the ground.
"Hermione….no….," his voice was quiet as he struggled to remain conscious.
"Ron…..Ron…..please be alright…please-," but she was cut off by Scabior who was ushering her away quickly.
He held the tent flap open for her and followed immediately behind. She could feel the heat from his body directly behind her, far too close for her comfort.
She took a deep breath but did not turn to look at him. She couldn't bear it. Scabior slowly walked until he was standing directly in front of her.
"Now," he spoke softly and calmly. His eyes dropped to her chest once more and he cocked his head to the side.
"Take it off."
