Here's chapter 10, I actually wrote it ages ago, I just couldn't be bothered to proof read it oops.

Anyway….. On with the show (This is for Lynnie whose been pestering for who knows how long lol sorry, it's finally here)

Chapter 10

Pain

It was quiet in the kitchen, once the rush of food had been taken to the dinning room. Hermione sat with Becky and stared around the room looking at the fireplaces, she couldn't see any jars of floo powder present; not that she had expected to anyway. The back door was open and the suns warmth floated inside along with the smell of cut grass. Breathing deeply Hermione was momentarily distracted from her escape plans. She took another deep breath and sighed blissfully; one of her favourite smells.

"They'll probably take an hour to eat; do you want to go outside for a while?" Becky asked.

Hermione nodded and they both stood up, just as they reached the doorway a loud shout was heard from another room.

"WHAT!"

Becky looked at Hermione nervously, "We'd better hurry up" she hasty exited the kitchen Hermione not far behind.

The side gardens weren't as spectacular as the front ones were but they rivalled any flower beds Hermione knew. The wondrous scent of plants and grass wafted up her nose, while her eyes tried to take in the colours.

"It's beautiful" she whispered "Shame about the owners"

She looked away from an interesting vine which had caught her eye, to Becky. Who was standing on her tip-toes looking across the gardens for something; or was it someone?

"Hmm… I wonder if he's finished with…" she heard her mummer, "shall we go to the ponds they're really pretty" she told Hermione quickly with a small smile "They're just passed the sheds" with out waiting for a reply she hurried off. Hermione followed keeping an eye on Becky, another at the wildlife around her.

She couldn't believe such a beautiful place could be found on a Death Eaters land. Following the soiled path she passed gardens of flowers, trees and small statues. Finally the tip of a shed roof came into view, hidden behind head high bushes. Hermione saw Becky smile as she saw what was on the other side.

"Oh, hello Tom, didn't expect to see you here" she heard Becky cry in obvious fake surprise. "I was just going to show Hermione the ponds, did you want to come?"

As Hermione came into view she saw Tom carrying a bucket full of weeds and his front plastered in soil. He smiled warmly at her before placing the bucket on the ground. "I'd love to but-"

"But unfortunately some of us have work to do around here" a deep voice told them. A man climbed out of the shed, tripping slightly on the many tools sprawled about inside. Once outside he stood up fully. He had white fluffy hair which was covered by a cap. His wrinkled face was like Tom's, muddy from where his hands were dirty and he'd touched his face.

"Oh, hello James didn't see you there" Becky greeted guiltily, her face falling.

"Tom, when you're done with that I want you back here to help me clear out this mess" he ordered gesturing the cluttered hut.

"Yes sir" Tom replied grinning, he picked up his bucket again and motioned for Hermione and Becky to follow him with a roll of his shoulder.

"You get used to him" he told Hermione as they made there way through the garden. "His heart is in the right place"

"Yeah only he seems to think his job is more important then ours. Have you any idea what time we have to be up by? We actually have to live with them!" Becky complained pointing towards the house.

"It's funny how you always find your voice when he's not here to defend himself" Tom told her laughing. Becky blushed and looked away mumbling excuses.

Hermione smiled slightly at there actions towards each other. She'd missed the banter between friends; she never thought she'd live to see it again. Her stomach tightened as she tried to repress memories of the past. She would have to stay focused if she was going to escape. She turned back to her new friends and saw Tom looking at her in thought. When he realised she was looking at him he looked away, suddenly finding his bucket interesting. Feeling a little self-conscious she returned her attention to the gardens.

"Right, I need to go this way. I'll see you to later" he smiled and waved, quickly catching Hermione's eye before turning to the left. Hermione's eyes subconsciously narrowed slightly at his behaviour, she didn't want any distractions especially with boys. The two girls went right and squeezed through a narrow gap between to hedges. Inside they found a large exquisite pond. It really was picturesque with small fish swimming around the centre statue of a mermaid. The stone was carved so that she was sitting on a rock with waves crashing from behind. Water flowed gently down the waves making peaceful noise as it hit the rippling water in the pond.

Now here Becky didn't seem entirely interested and kicked pebbles lying on the ground as she sat at the stone edge; stopping Hermione from really admiring its true beauty. The pond was surrounded by bushes and small trees and a large willow stood near; making the area secluded and serene. A bird twittered over head and the light wind made the leaves swish through the trees. Then all was silent, bar the trickling of water.

"Ouch" Hermione cried breaking the silence ad grabbing her wrist as something hot pressed against it. Lifting her hand she saw her bracelet shining brightly now cooling to a pleasant temperature.

"Looks like we're needed back at the house, this is how they contact us when Mae wants you" Becky told Hermione, "You get used to it".

"The Protean charm" Hermione said aloud fiddling with the bracelet, remembering doing the same thing to coins back at school.

"What charm? How do you know about that stuff?" Becky asked suspiciously.

"Hmm" Hermione asked realizing Becky had spoken to her.

"The charm… can you do magic?" she asked eyes widening

"No!" Hermione practically shouted in panic. "I heard… Mae talking about it" she lied. Becky looked at her for a few moments, and then shrugged believing her.

"Wish I could do magic" she said as she joined Hermione at the opening. They slowly made there way back up to the house. "There are more ponds… why don't we get Tom to show you another time?" she said cheering up at the change of conversation.

Hermione merely shrugged, still in panic of nearly blowing her cover before her first week was out.

Just as the sight of the back door came into view Hermione saw Mae come running out cheeks flushed. Seeing them she hurried over.

"There you are!" she snapped, gripping onto Becky's shoulder catching her breath. "Where have you girls been, I've looked everywhere for you"

"I was showing Hermione-"

"It doesn't matter, Hermione the Master wants to see to you"

Hermione's eyes widen in horror and she felt the remaining colour drain from her face.

"Which one?" she asked meekly

"Blaize's father, he wants you to come to the dinning room"

Becky looked from Mae to Hermione in confusion, "But why? He never looks at new staff"

"Quiet, I want you to stay in the kitchen" she told Becky, her gaze remaining on Hermione's. "Don't worry I'll come in with you" standing fully she took Hermione's hand and brought her inside and towards the dinning room. Hermione was too much in a state of trance to notice. Only that with each step, she drew closer to a room of Death Eaters.

Once outside the door Mae stopped. She brought Hermione in and dusted off her robes and straightened them out. "Sort your hair out quickly. Don't give him any reason to challenge you" she whispered. Hermione's cold hands went to her hair and she patted it slightly, not making much of a difference. After taking a deep breath Mae knock on the door and opened it. "Here she is sir" she said in an oddly calm demure voice. She turned to Hermione and motioned her to enter. Hermione found her legs to have, in her absence become glued to the floor. Mae seeing this grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room, shutting the door behind them.

"I can't believe you lied to me!" a male voice shouted

"I didn't lie!" another male voice stated, quieter then the first

"You said things were fine"

"They are"

"Yet you fail to tell me you've spent 11 million of your fortune on… on-" the voice failed to finish due to lack of words to explain how he was feeling.

"I didn't think it important what I spend my money on"

"And to top it all off, I don't find out from my son but through the Prophet! What were you planning to do, keep me locked away from the world so I would never find out? You're lucky nobody knew I had gone away, that way the owls wouldn't find me! I expect I've got hundreds of letters in my office asking why you did it!-"

The room fell silent as they entered, all eyes falling firmly on Hermione's form. The Zabini family were all sat around a large rich rectangle table, the remains of today's breakfast; hardly touched lay upon it. Hermione's eyes fell on Blaize who was sat next to his sister. At the head of the table, furthest from Hermione Blaize's father sat, his wife next to him on his left. Behind his father near to the wall stood another man, he had dark hair reaching his neck which was combed back. He was wearing dark robes with a slight smirk on his face. He looked at Hermione with dislike before turning back to look at Blaize with an equal look of loathing. That, she guessed was Jacob, Mr Zabini's personal assistant.

"So this is Granger" the master stated, his face flushed from shouting as he became aware of her presence.

Hermione stood awkwardly under the gazes, her heart beating rapidly. She saw Blaize's sister look from her to her family in curiosity before returning to her cereal looking only slightly worried. The family must argue a lot Hermione guessed, explaining the lack of expression on her face. Zabini's attention finally snapped to his son's face again; a look of distain on his features. "Why Blaize, of all the people why her, do you know the chaos you have caused!"

Blaize looked at his plate, picking at his food deciding not to answer. Zabini senior picked up a paper Hermione had failed to notice and threw it at his son's plate. Hermione could feel the suppressed anger radiating from him. She felt Mae fidget nervously beside her still clutching her arm in an iron like grip. However for the first time, she was glad someone was holding her, she felt a miniscule amount of comfort in the grip. Grateful she wasn't alone in a room of wolves… and snakes.

"Is there actually reason for this sudden madness or is it another vanity race between you and Draco?" he continued

"Does it matter father? There is nothing you can do now" Blaize stated still looking at his plate. It was as if he had shrunk in size, become a small child.

"So it was another challenge between you and Draco" his mother finally spoke, her voice low. She sighed and looked at her husband.

Blaize looked up at his mother with an odd look on his face, Hermione couldn't place.

"You don't understand mother, they are-"

"How long is this going to continue?" She asked him "until the Dark Lord gathers all his followers naming you to be his heir?" her dark eyes flashed with emotion. "You know his feelings on the matter, you are as good as named no matter what Lucius or Narcissa say. Draco only challenges you out of fear and jealousy"

"You don't understand, if I didn't Malfoy would have bought her" he said a hint of pleading entering his voice.

"We all know the Dark Lord would never have allowed it" his father said icily. "It is you he favours not Draco, I can't believe Lucius let it occur in the first place. Just you wait till I speak with the Dark Lord, Lucius has made to many mistakes. I'll make sure he and his son never see anymore power then a house elf!" his wife put a soothing hand on his arm. "We go away for no more then a few weeks and everything goes to the dogs!" he cried in frustration.

There was a small silence; it was as if they had forgotten Hermione was there. Blaize was still sat staring at his mother as if trying to make her understand.

"You should have seen her face though" he said softly to her.

"Whose?" She asked looking at him again

"Narcissa's"

"What about it?" she asked a hint of interest in her voice.

"She looked calm enough, telling Malfoy to stop. You know the mothering act she uses but I could tell she was seething. Saying that I'll never have the honour of bringing one of the three into Azkaban, we all know that only happened because he tripped in mid-spell" She looked at him for a moment, as if the words were registering. Then she grinned and laughed loudly.

"You never could do things by halves could you" she said still smiling. Blaize grinned at her, leaning against the back of his chair his shoulders relaxing. He looked at his father who was deep in thought.

"Well… I suppose it would have been worse listening to Lucius brag about his son's wonderful attempt ay buying the mudblood." He looked at Hermione no longer heated. He smirked suddenly, "Yes… you may have done us a favour Blaize. I didn't think the Zabini name could become anymore influential, yet having one of the three…" he fell into thought once more his eye lingering on Hermione and then back to Blaize.

"Mum why can't I spend that much money on things I want?" The young girl asked suddenly.

Everyone looked at her; she was frowning slightly and holding her spoon in such away stating she had thought the idea through thoroughly.

Blaize looked down at her and laughed. She shot him a dark look, "Well it's true you always get to spend money when ever you want"

"Abigail you were given that very expensive dolls house last week remember" her mother told her firmly.

"But it wasn't nearly as much as Blaize spent" she pouted

Hermione couldn't believe what she was listening to; she was stood before a table of Deatheater's listening to them talking like any wizarding family would. She felt a stab in her heart and remembering talking to her parents at the dinner table; she hadn't seen them in years.

"Abigail do you not know who this is?" her father asked her

Abigail shrugged "A mudblood?" she guessed. Hermione looked at her in surprise at hearing such a filthy word exit her mouth.

Zabini looked at his wife in mild revelation his brows rising. Her eyes narrowed slightly seeing his reaction, "She does know the story Marcus she probably just doesn't recognise her"

"I should think she should know who it is straight away Amara" he added testily

"Who is it?" Abigail asked

"That" he said confidently with a sadistic sneer "is Hermione Granger"

The young girl gasped and stared at Hermione, who felt a rush of blood to her face.

Marcus Zabini stood up from his chair and strode over to her unaware of Blaize Zabini's dark look.

"Yes… maybe I was too quick to judge your mistake Blaize… however she was costly. The Dark Lord probably would have given her to you for less money then that. She is only a mudblood after all, no matter what she may tell people" he said "of being a hero" he added viciously. His smirk became deeper and his eyes oozed a smug hatred. She looked away in disgust; he gave a short laugh and gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "How the mighty have fallen" he said slowly, letting go he turned back to the table.

"Abigail, close your mouth" the girl immediately did so, "Go and play in your room, I want to speak with your mother and Blaize alone" he ordered

"Oh but I want to stay"

Zabini turned to her sharply "Now!" he barked, the atmosphere immediately darkened and the tension grew. She looked at him in panic and jumped off of her chair, giving Blaize a small look. He gave her a small smile and she hurried from the room, staring at Hermione as she went past.

"Fine she stays" he said to nobody in particular. He turned to Mae, "I want you to leave as well Mae, I'll call you if we need you" he stated.

"But Sir...-"

"Now Mae I will not be contradicted by the like of you"

Her grip on Hermione's arm loosened slowly until it was gone altogether. Hermione heard the door close a moment later. Her body raced with fear and she tried her hardest to keep her body from shaking. She noticed he hadn't asked Jacob to leave.

"One of the three in my house" he repeated smirking once more.

"Yes dear I think we've established that" his wife stated sarcastically now finally turning to her cold breakfast. Her husband ignored her, turning back to Hermione he asked the question he had been dying to ask.

"How does it feel knowing everything you've worked for is dead?"

She looked at him in amazement at the bluntness of his question. She felt all the anger and pain she had felt rising. She clenched her fists, adrenaline replacing her fear. She glared fiercely at him feeling her body shake but no longer because of fear.

"I saw the Dark Lord do it you know." He told her softly. "He and Potter were duelling. That night we attacked… shame you had been captured, the chase would have been marvellous if the Dark Lord fought the two of you-" he paused slightly finding this thought distracting. "Anyway like the coward he was Potter ran, the Dark Lord took chase tracking his prey through the castle me behind him. It majestic, we caught up with him at a dead end; Potter was standing before a statue. The Dark Lord shot curse after curse each missing by inches. Potter shouted out a word, a sweet name I believe 'Sherbet Lemon'… does it sound familiar?"

Hermione's heart beat furiously against her chest, her entire being felt cold and numb. He hands white from clenching so hard. She knew where he was, Harry had got to Dumbledore's office. She couldn't believe it, had Harry been murdered in Dumbledore's office!

Zabini continued his cheeks flushed with excitement of telling the story. "The statue leapt aside and Potter ran up the staircase that had appeared. The Dark Lord close behind him. As I reached the top of the stairs and burst through the room I saw Potter, he was standing with another in a fireplace. The orange haired boy Weasley I believe, the third of your trio"; Hermione thought she was going to faint. Zabini was close to shouting now, getting carried away in his story.

"I saw Weasley supporting his champion clutching floo powder in his hand. Just as he threw the powder into the grate the Dark Lord shouted the killing curse. It hit Potter as the flames appeared, perfectly in the chest. You should have seen the boys face the sudden realization he had failed. It was beautiful… and it will be forever etched on his face" Zabini grinned at the memory, "Well just as the Dark Lord shouted to kill the second, Weasley shouted out a place; I don't know what it was. Just as the curse shot towards him, he vanished clutching the lifeless body of his fallen hero-"

"That's enough father!" Blaize interjected standing sharply, snapping the images from Hermione's mind.

"Oh the irony, the once safe haven of the mightiest of wizards was the gravesite of the two heroes of this age! Alas I haven't seen Hogwarts since that day. Would you like to see it again, I could take you?" he asked nastily, ignoring his son. His eyes were ablaze with madness, it was as if he was possessed by evil itself.

Hermione stood trembling, her eyes flowing with tears which trickled down her face. Never had she stood before something which caused her so much pain. She thought her heart would rip due to the agonising memory. She could see it all before her eyes, Harry's panting breath as he ran for his life through the building they had lived in for so long. His fear pushing his tired body on, dodging the curses as he tore up Dumbledore's staircase. Bursting into the room the hope as he saw Ron standing ready to catch him holding the powder which would be their escape. Harry holding his breath as he stepped into the fire knowing how close he was. The fears creeping into his heart seeing Voldemort appear before them. Knowing that he would not escape, that he had failed his friends, the world… his father and mother. Seeing the green light hit him for the second time in his life. Seeing Ron's horrified face as he sank into darkness, in peace. She couldn't take the pain of knowing how Ron felt; she prayed that Harry had been given a hero's funeral at least.

Then Blaize was before her, pushing his father away, she could see his eyes through her tearful ones. Full of anger and concern. He looked to his father who was sweating and rubbing his hands through his hair breathing heavily. His wife hurried over to him and wrapped an arm around his waist murmuring soothing noises into his ear, slowly turning him away from the scene.

Blaize gripped Hermione's arm tightly and opened the dinning room door.

"Mae!" he shouted

Footsteps were heard almost instantly to the call. Mae Collins ran towards the pair, her face taught and focused.

"Get her out of here" Blaize said impatiently, pushing Hermione forcefully at her. Turning around he stormed back into the room slamming the door behind him.

Oooooooh, can it be true????? Tune in soon………