Hermione had barely slept. Partly because she was afraid that Barty would return to her room to torture her again, and partly because she had not eaten anything since breakfast the other day. Winky had not come back to check on her either, maybe Barty didn't trust his elf anymore. She knew that Barty would still be furious about the fact that she had sabotaged his potion, but she couldn't stay in bed forever either. She would only make him angrier if she didn't show up for breakfast. So with the greatest reluctance, Hermione forced herself to put on some clean clothes and she went downstairs. Of course Barty was already there. Sitting on his chair, wearing his usual black outfit. And he was definitely not happy. He motioned for her to sit down, not saying a word. So Hermione thought it best to make amends with him. She could try at least.

"Mr. Crouch?" she said carefully, waiting for a response. When she didn't get any, she decided to continue. "I am sorry."

Barty looked up and she saw the dangerous glint returning in his eyes. Hermione thought he was still not going to speak, but after a few moments of silence, he opened his mouth.

"Do you really think sorry is enough?" he sneered.

Hermione swallowed nervously.

"I told you that I would punish you severely if I found you breaking one of my rules. You have broken two of those rules…"

Hermione picked up a piece of bread, just to have an excuse for not looking at him.

"But you will pay… Did you enjoy the Cruciatus Curse?"

Hermione still refused to look at him, she pretended to be interested in her piece of bread.

"Maybe I should do something worse than that…" Barty continued.

She took a cup of tea and wrapped her hands around it, trying to ignore the vicious threats the man on the other side of the table was making.

"I will go back to Diagon Alley today to pick up some new ingredients. I will make sure to make the shopkeeper of the apothecary feel how annoyed I really am," Barty said calmly, but Hermione knew that he was threatening her indirectly by threatening the poor shopkeeper's life.

"No," Hermione whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, no."

"What, no? You'll have to be more specific, little girl."

"You will not hurt Mr. Mulpepper just because I pissed you off! It is not his fault! Punish me if you must, but don't hurt others," Hermione said.

Barty's eyes hardened, and Hermione felt that she had challenged him again.

"You will not tell me what to do. Surely you don't think I won't hurt anyone just because a little Mudblood tells me not to?"

No, of course she didn't think that. He was a Death Eater, a murderer who had done his time in Azkaban already. The man had killed his own father. He had driven Frank and Alice Longbottom insane. He had probably murdered many innocent Muggles and Muggle-born. Of course he wouldn't mind killing or torturing some innocent wizard.

"He doesn't deserve it," Hermione muttered.

"Oh? He doesn't deserve it?" Barty now stood up and he walked over to where Hermione was sitting. When he had reached her chair, he squatted down in front of her. "And how did I deserve what you did to me then?"

"You are a murderer," Hermione spat, a little bit too confident. He was only inches away from her, and it was absolutely not comfortable.

"I was under the impression that I treated you pretty well. You have your own room, you were allowed to walk through the house. I never touched you…"

Hermione now shifted away from him, trying to keep her distance.

"But then you broke my rules. And of course I had to punish you for that. But you did that yourself, you know?"

"Get away from me," Hermione hissed.

But that evoked the wrong reaction in Barty. He grabbed her hair and he threw her on the floor.

"DO NOT TALK TO ME LIKE THAT, FILTHY MUDBLOOD!" he yelled enraged.

"It is not as if you are exactly civilized, are you? Is that some sort of Death Eater thing? That you all need to be rude and violent?" Hermione snapped, looking up at his angry face.

"Oh, I am worse than just a Death Eater… But you'll find out soon enough…" Barty said menacingly. "Are you going to behave from now on?"

Hermione bit her lower lip, glaring at the man who was towering over her already hurt body.

"Why am I here?" she asked again.

"You'll find out soon enough. When it is the time. Now answer the question, witch," Barty growled.

"My name is Hermione."

"Still disobedient then?" Barty sneered. "I know what to do with you. If I can't trust you here on your own, then maybe I should take you with me…"

Hermione felt a little sprinkle of hope there. If he would take her with him to Diagon Alley, then maybe she could find help somewhere. Maybe she could even warn someone from the Order.

"And don't think I will allow you to try anything…" he added. "I will hex you with a spell that makes sure you will not be able to step away from me for more than five metres."

"They will recognize me…" Hermione said quietly.

Barty kneeled down and leaned in, close to Hermione's face.

"Polyjuice potion," he grinned. "You will take the form of a Muggle no one has ever seen. You will put on some dark clothes and they will see you as a Death Eater. Trust me, they wouldn't dare to question me about that."

All hope Hermione vanished immediately. And her hope was replaced by anger. She was angry with the man because he was clever enough to think this through.

"Step away from me, you bastard," she hissed. "It is bad enough that you keep me imprisoned here and that you torture me and your own house-elf without having the constant feeling that you are going to rape me."

Barty grabbed her chin and he forced her to look at him.

"I wouldn't give me any ideas if I were you," he smirked. "You are lucky that you are a Mudblood, I usually don't dirty myself to them."

Hermione spat in his face when he said that, only to find herself in an even tighter grip. She was making him only angrier with her behaviour. She was only going to be in more trouble. She wouldn't achieve anything with this. She had to learn to behave herself, no matter how many times he insulted her. He had the upper hand, after all.

"I'll find a way to hurt you for that," he snarled viciously. "Something far worse than a Cruciatus Curse…"

He kept staring into her eyes with the most dangerous look Hermione had ever seen. She couldn't find the strength to answer him back anymore. She had lost her fight at the moment. It was as if his anger had a hypnotic effect on her. Her heart was beating faster, her eyes were widened, and she couldn't speak anymore. She was just paralyzed, completely overtaken by his intense fury.

"WINKY!" he suddenly bellowed, letting Hermione go and standing up.

Winky immediately appeared and she bowed deeper than she had ever done before. Hermione noticed the bruises on her small body, which was probably Barty's doing. The elf was clearly hurt and terrified, but yet she was still loyal to her insane master.

"What can Winky do for young master?" Winky asked subserviently.

"Go find some dark clothes for the girl. We will leave in an hour."

"Yes, sir," Winky said softly and after another submissive bow, she disappeared again.

"What have you done to her, you monster?" Hermione growled, she couldn't stop herself. She wanted to defend the poor house-elf. After all, she had done nothing wrong.

Barty slowly turned around.

"Listen to me carefully, Granger," he said with a warning tone. "You will not interfere with my business. Am I clear?"

"You don't have a heart," Hermione said quietly, half hoping that he couldn't hear her.

But he had. And she paid for it by undergoing another Cruciatus Curse. When he lifted the curse again, Hermione found herself lying on the floor, panting heavily. Barty towered over her, his wand still in his hand and a manic look across his face.

"You are right. I am a monster. But don't assume for a second that I don't have a heart," he spat, and he left the room, slamming the door close behind him.

Hermione was left behind on her own, left to wonder what he had meant with those words. She didn't believe him. He did not have a heart. All he knew was hatred, he could never show compassion, love or grief. He was insane. A cruel lunatic. A Death Eater. And Death Eaters do not have hearts.