As Greyback and the others left Bellatrix felt a burn in her arm that caused her to jolt forward. Seeing the mudblood's eyes on her she quickly recovered, supporting her left arm with her right.
Hermione did not fail to notice the Death Eater's favoring of her arm, but she had more important things to focus on, Bellatrix had drawn a knife.
"Now. Ordinarily I would crucio thought right out of you, mudblood. But I think we can come up with a more fun form of entertainment, don't you?" Bellatrix grinned as the approached Hermione.
As Bellatrix approached Hermione felt her breath hitch and she began to back away with fear.
"Don't you dare run from me muddy." Bellatrix warned. "I am not in the mood for hide and seek!"
Hermione could notice her voice had gone wheezy and Bellatrix's posture was growing more and more hunched over, cradling her arm.
She look's really injured, maybe I can escape! Hermione thought wildly.
As Bella advanced she became more and more aware of the throbbing in her arm that had spread to her chest. Each breath felt like a knife and she could barely resist the urge to curl to the floor and lie there. But she couldn't.
Revenge! Bellatrix thought. SHE did this too me! She is the reason I am dying!
Hermione cringed from the new light she saw in Bellatrix's eyes as she advanced madly, brandishing her wand like a sword.
"Come here muddy. There's a good girl!" Bellatrix said, "Bella has a present for you!"
Hermione didn't even have time to think before Bellatrix pointed her wand and Hermione found herself on the floor stuck like glue.
Hermione was surprised; this wasn't Petrificus Totalus because she could still move. How was it that Bellatrix knew a spell she didn't? Even in her panicked state Hermione felt a flash of jealousy.
"So... I know I promised no cruciatus curse, but I think we can find more ways of getting it out of you."
Hermione could stand it no longer, "Get what out of me?" She squeaked, "What do you want?"
"MUDBLOODS WILL SPEAK WHEN ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION" Bellatrix shouted. She then pulled her want and waved it over her head.
Hermione felt the pain immediately. Bellatrix had kept her word. No cruciatus curse, though a broken rib was not much better.
Bellatrix smiled as she heard the mudblood's screams and saw her tears on her face. "Aw no, muddy, did I hurt you?" She asked, cackling. Again she felt the jolt of pain from her arm. Her face contorted but she was so full of adrenaline from her revenge she didn't have time to register it.
Lying on the floor writhing Hermione saw the silver glint of the knife out of the corner of her eye.
"Now, mudblood. I have a pretty little tattoo, see?" Bellatrix pulled up her sleeve to show the sinister pulsing mark. She was shocked to see how much the edges had spread, but didn't show it. "So you get one yourself. Wouldn't want to leave you out of the club now would we?"
Hermione started to shake. Was she going to be branded with the Dark Mark? Forced to become a Death Eater and kill?
As if Bellatrix had read her mind she responded, "Of course, you wouldn't be a Death Eater. Filthy mudbloods don't deserve the honor of serving the Dark Lord. No... we will have to choose something more suiting. 'Mudblood' perhaps? That would cure you of being able to lie your way out of your rightful punishment by the ministry…. Yes, I think mudblood will do."
"Please! What do you want? Hermione cried.
"SILENCE!" Hermione saw a blur coming at her and felt the whack and sting of Bellatrix's hand on her face.
Bellatrix was now humming as she rolled up Hermione's sleeve. Suddenly, without warning she plunged the knife into her arm and began carving.
Hermione's screams and cries were heard throughout the entire house.
As she carved Bellatrix felt the pain in her arm surging. You aren't doing this now! She thought with desperation. I am finishing this!
Bellatrix began on the 'd' when the third jolt of pain shot through her. This time it did not stop at her arm, but spread throughout her entire body! She felt herself seize in pain. Bellatrix barely managed to force out a quiet 'no' before she slid to the floor. The blackness that had been spreading to the edges of her vision, unnoticed, finally engulfed her.
Hermione wiped her tears and sat up, shocked. She had been unable to see but the pain had stopped and the spell that had been binding her seemed to have lifted. She looked around warily, trying to find her torturer.
Is this some kind of sick joke? Make me feel safe and then attack me again? Hermione thought.
Suddenly her eyes fell to her left. Lying on the floor was Bellatrix Lestrange, and it didn't look like this was a joke. Her black curly hair fanned over her face and her sleeve was still rolled up, exposing the Dark Mark.
This is my chance! I can escape! Hermione felt overjoyed and stood, and sat back down, the broken rib stopping her. Gingerly she stood began hobbling to the doors. Just as she reached them she heard a quiet moan.
Hermione turned to see Bellatrix curled into a ball and shaking all over. You know, I think I read something about a curse that can be performed that looks a lot like the one on her arm. It's really complicated, though, and I don't know who would be able to do it except Dumbledore and maybe Lord…
Hermione stopped in shock. No. She thought, Lord Voldemort wouldn't. She is his most loyal… and that curse it really terrible.
As if to echo her thoughts Bellatrix let out another cry of pain.
Oh for Merlin's sake. Hermione thought. I cannot believe I am doing this.
Hermione marched over to the whimpering Death Eater and hauled her to her feet.
"Come on, you. I can't get out of here by myself, so you are going to have to get us out of here. Now, none of that," She said, as Bellatrix began to slip to the floor. "Come on. Apparate, you can do it."
Bellatrix barely heard anything Hermione had said, but she heard the words apparate and in some deep recess of her mind she thought Maybe I can apparate away from this pain too!
Bellatrix gripped tightly to the arms of whoever was carrying her (she had no idea it was Hermione) and
CRACK
They were gone.
