(Xenophilius's POV)

After 96 hours of non-stop working and getting the pieces I need, I finally, finally, finally have the machine fixed. I laugh triumphantly and figure out where to look for my Luna.

"Death Eaters and Snatchers have been known to conglomerate at Malfoy Manor," I tell myself maddened with hope.
"So that's where I should head. Off to save Luna!"

(Bellatrix's POV)

I mumble about for a few days. I can't believe those brats escaped me. I was so close to getting rid of that Potter boy and my Lord would have full control over the ministry and the wizarding world!

But at the same time, I'm slightly glad of it. I love the thrill of the chase and the longer they stay alive, the later my Lord puts off considering marrying Loony Lovegood.

He's been talking about it for days. He barely has a soul, so that says a hell of a lot if he talks about someone nonstop, except for Harry Potter. If I had it my way, I'd have that Snatcher who suggested it and Loony out of the way and I'D be married to the Dark Lord! What does she have that I don't anyway? She's a blood traitor. Why doesn't he notice all I do for him? Why doesn't he notice how loyal I am? I escaped from goddamn Azkaban for him!

"Bellatrix," Cissy tells me gently as she walks into the room gracefully.
"It seems we may have a visitor."

"Should I care?" I scoff with an eye roll.

"It's Mr. Lovegood. He's come for his daughter."

This seed plants a thought in my mind and I grin evilly.

"Get me a chair, Cissy. And bring the Carrows. They're excellent at torture."

Moments later a Snatcher enters with Lovegood on his heels.

"Where is she?" he cries.

"Where is my Luna?"

"Funny," I spit in mock wonder.
"I'm wondering the same thing. Carrows, bring Mr. Lovegood here."

They strut over to the fool and grab an arm, dragging him.

"Please give me my Luna!"

"Quiet, you old fool," Alecto snaps.
"This'll go a lot easier if you shut up!"

"Bind him to the chair," I order nonchalantly.

"Get in there, you crackpot," Amycus hisses.
"Or we'll have to torture you until you do."

"We really don't want to do that to you," Alecto says.
"Actually we do."

They push him into the chair, knocking the wind out of him.

"Incarcerous!" I yell.

Soon thick ropes bind the fool to the chair.

"Well, well, well," I taunt.
"If it isn't Loony's father."

"Don't you talk about my Luna like that!"

"Crucio!" Amycus shouts.

Lovegood lets out a blood-curdling scream. Music to my ears.

"I'll talk about her anyway I want to," I tell Lovegood when Amycus lets go of the curse, for now.
"Now we were told you tipped us off about Potter and Granger. Thank you for that, by the way. Because of that, when we find your daughter, we will not kill her. At least not right away."

"Please. I'll do anything," he trembles.
"Just don't hurt Luna. Please."

"Aww," I say in mock disappointment.
"But it's no fun if you give up so easily. Gives me no reason to torture you."

"We could just torture him for fun," Amycus suggests.

"And once we find Loony, we'll make her watch," Alecto hisses evilly.

"Hmm. I like the way you think, Alecto," I remark.
"That should break the both of their wills. Like killing two mudbloods with one stone."

"Except their purebloods," Amycus points out.

"Right," says Alecto.
"But they're also blood traitors. Why is Loony getting married to the Dark Lord after this is over?"

"My Luna will never marry You-Know-Who, you liars!" Lovegood growls.

"Oh good," I say with mock relief.
"You haven't given up yet. How nice. Alecto, you do the honors."

"Crucio!"

He lets out another piercing scream and I bask in the pleasure.

"I just had a thought," I say when Alecto lets go of the curse.
"This time won't be as fun as when we tortured the Longbottoms. I can't torture him to madness. He's already too far down that rabbit hole!"

The three of us share a good evil cackle that echoes around the room.

"Had enough, Lovegood?" I ask.

"Please, I beg of you," he gasps in tears.
"Don't hurt my Luna. She's all I have left."

The Carrows decide to take turns torturing Lovegood, just for the hell of it.

"Crucio!" Amycus yells.

"Please," he begs.

"Crucio!" Alecto screams.

"I beg of you!"

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

This goes on for sometime. I start to become too used to his screaming.

"Enough!" I yawn.
"I'm getting bored of hearing him scream."

"Should we kill him?" Alecto asks.

I weigh out the options, considering what I could benefit from killing him. On one hand, it'd be fun to watch him die. But I would want to make Loony watch. But it'd be easier to do it now. But it would be messy. If I had my way, he'd become victim to something worse than the Killing Curse, but that's "standard procedure."

"Not yet," I decide, turning to leave.
"He could be useful."

"Wait! Wait!" he yells hoarsely.
"They gave me over a week four days ago."

I stop and slowly turn to face him.

"What do you mean 'they'?"

"The snatchers. I can help you find Mr. Potter."

Now this intrigues me and it shows in my eyes. I come up close.

"What can you give in the search for Potter?"

"My daughter and him are good friends. Where she is, he may be. I'll help you find Mr. Potter if you keep your end and give me my daughter alive and unharmed."

"Let me….let me get this straight," I say with intrigue.
"You're willing to betray your alliances with Potter in order to get your daughter back? You're willing to betray every good thing that you stand for, every alliance and friendship you have, your own namesake, just for your daughter?"

"She's all I have left," he cries.

"Well, we do have a leverage over you, do we not?"

The Carrows nod.

"Alright, we'll find your daughter, you get her to tell us where Potter is. I'll send Draco out to get her. Carrows, you'll be the second set of offense. If Loony doesn't comply, take her by force."

"She'll be alive and unharmed, right?" Lovegood asks desperately.

"We won't kill her," I admit slyly.

I then lean over to the Carrows, making sure Lovegood can't hear me.

"If necessary, torture her to find out where Potter is."