The lock clicked open, and Hermione's eyes snapped upwards towards the doorway. Sitting up, she kept her head bowed protectively, gravel and dust stuck to the side of her face. She shook her head to try and clear the echoes of her screaming from the night before, but she couldn't help thinking it was the effect of a spell Draco's father had cast on her.
Preparing herself for whatever was on the other side of the door, her first instinct was the reach for her wand. Obviously it was missing, and she drove her nails into her hip, which was covered only by her jumper and skirt.
Gentleman indeed - he didn't even let me bring a coat. That bastard.
Mildly startled by her own foul language, she refocused and realised that even though she had heard the door being unlocked, there had been silence in the building for a good few minutes since. Maybe it was an accident... or maybe she was hearing things, maybe she was going mad. Her head swam with anger, and she go to her feet, aiming for the door.No, Hermione, she told herself firmly. Be strong. You are a Gryffindor – you're brave and clever, and...
The door swung open with a metallic shudder and she felt her face drain and go clammy. A stream of cloaked figures with identical dark hoods and masks glided into the room... Dementors?
Worse. Death Eaters.
As the encircled her, the quiet, heavy atmosphere forced her back on her knees. Her heart pounding in her ears, terrified visions of her last minutes clashed in her mind. Was this it? Was she going to die now? Were the Order going to find her, a crumpled witch with vacant eyes like Neville's parents, and leave her all alone in St. Mungo's?
No! No, no, no...
In a panic, she began to recite lists of defensive spells, closing her eyes and trying to block out the thoughts that followed her captors into the room.
"Expelliarmus. Stupefy. Retaramus. Scartisus. Terminus Fractim. Proctofis…"
She tried not to flinch, feeling their eyes boring into her from behind the masks that covered three quarters of their features - she had a strange feeling that if she moved first, they would close in on her and finish what they were sent to do. Maybe they were going to make her obey commands and send her back to Hogwarts... Maybe they thought she held some sort of information about Harry...
Opening her eyes, only the hoods that covered the figures were visible in the sliver of light from above, outlined against cold, black stone. They were tall, broad; most likely male. She flicked over them nervously.
...one, two, three, six...can't remember the rest... Hermione held her breath to stop it coming in quick rushes. Don't let them see you're afraid...
All but one turned, and filed back out of the room, every one mute until she heard the last utter a low laugh from the depths of the black cloak. The heavy door swung shut behind them, though it didn't lock; even if she had wanted to escape there was still one Death Eater left. Furthermore, she was unarmed.
Books and cleverness. Come on, 'Mione.
Her mind went blank as he took a step towards her and lowered his hood, revealing a black-masked face and a cascade of long, ash-coloured hair.
"Hermione..."
If it was an effort to sound comforting, to lure her into a false sense of security, then he was failing miserably. The voice... the sound... sent horror into her very soul, making her shiver in terror.
"I expected you to move eventually." Lucius crooned into her ear, and she frowned and turned her head away, staring at the floor. As she had been trying to stem her shuddering, he had apparated behind her. Her heart began to pound and the blood rushed painfully in her temples. With one gloved hand he gathered her hair off her neck and swept it to one side. Before she realised what he was doing, he had bent and kissed her neck, grazing his unnaturally sharp teeth against her skin. She pulled away but Lucius already had her arm in one large, strong hand and held her fast.
"Don't struggle." He said simply, turning her face with the free hand and catching her eye. In an instant, her head felt compressed, her eyes throbbing, but she was unable to break away.
He's going to kill me... this is it...
Ron's voice crept into her mind, sounding disgusted. He's going to make your brain leak out of your ears!
"NO!"
Starting to hyperventilate, she tensed all the muscles in her neck and wrenched her face away, and her skull felt like it had exploded. She reeled, feeling faint, eventually sliding down the wall in exhaustion.
Turn around...turn around and run... She screamed mentally at her body as she felt her back against the stone, but she couldn't move from the blow she had taken. Or maybe she was being held in another of Lucius' locks. Whatever had caused it, it was already too late - Lucius had her arms pinned by her sides and she didn't need to be told not to move. He ran a thumb along her jawbone and fixed her with an aloof gaze, which she avoided.
"Why..." she whimpered. "Why am I here..."
Lucius put his mouth to her neck again, before murmuring in her ear. "Perhaps you should brace yourself, Mudblood. Believe me, this is going to hurt you more than it will me."
