Draco let out a gasp as he sank to his knees, Granger's stiff body still clutched in his arms. Luna looked up from the couch, her eyes horrified, tears pooling. She made a move to get up but Fenrir grabbed her and pulled her down.
Draco straightened himself up and looked at Greyback coldly. "Don't touch her." He snarled, struggling to his knees. He looked at Luna and motioned for her to come to him, but she didn't move.
"Get over here now!" he shouted, she flinched and obeyed the second time the command rang out. He noticed how she refused to touch him, her eyes glued to Hermione's soaked form. She stifled a sob, shaking her head.
"Hermione," his fiancé begged. "Hermione!" but there was no response.
Bellatrix looked at the girl coldly, raising her wand at her. "Shut up, stupid child." She spat, bending down to unbind Hermione.
Draco watched as she immediately started coughing as she was giving her movement back, shaking uncontrollably and looking around from her spot on the ground at the Death Eaters all around her. "Take her wand Draco." His aunt said in clipped tones. He obeyed, stooping down to collect it.
"L-Luna!" Granger gasped, reaching up to her friend. Malfoy held her back, hissing at her to not to touch the girl on the floor. Luna couldn't watch, twirling away to go sit on the couch.
Draco let her go, looking over his shoulder to insure she stayed put. There was a crack and then Luna felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to see the sympathetic face of Severus Snape. "Be silent, you're not helping Miss Granger with those tears." She knew it was the closest thing she would get to encouragement and so she bit her lip and squeezed her eyes to keep from crying.
"Ah, Severus!" Bellatrix said happily, stepping out of the crowd. "We got her, summon the Dark Lord."
"No!" Hermione cried, being yanked to her feet by Dolohov, who was grinning maliciously. "No! Luna! Help ME!"
"There's nothing she can do you stupid girl." Snape said coldly. "By asking her you're only endangering her life as well as yours, Mr. Malfoy would not take kindly to having his wife killed due to your false hopes of escape and grandeur."
Luna watched numbly as Snape pulled back his sleeve and pressed the Dark Mark, the Death Eaters in the room letting loose a shiver as their Lord became aware of the request for an audience. The room went dark and there was a disapparation crack and when everyone looked, Voldemort stood in their wakes.
Bellatrix fell to her knees, whimpering for her master. "M-m-my Lord, we've brought her." She said.
"That was so fast Bella," Lord Voldemort said simply. "You will be rewarded for your services. But bring the girl to me now."
Hermione struggled in vain as Dolohov brought her to him, she mere inches away from his snakelike face. She felt tears gush out of her eyes as she was forced to look into his red eyes.
"She's perfect," he responded. "Just like the prophecy stated. Was she unguarded?" he asked Bellatrix, who nodded.
"We found her by herself, of course, two Weasleys came to her aid, but we disapparated before they could take her."
"If she's unguarded then the Order is unaware of what the prophecy says about her." Voldemort said gleefully, tracing a long finger down her cheek. "If they knew otherwise she'd be watched closer than Potter is." Hermione gasped as he leaned in closer and their foreheads bumped.
Draco watched with interest as his eyes flitted to his aunt's face, livid with jealousy. He looked back to Luna, who seemed mortified. "Luna," he said gently. She ignored him and he didn't press it, if she wanted to watch then he had no objection, it would be good for her… to teach her not to rebel so often.
"What is your name girl?" the Dark Lord asked Hermione. She didn't seem to have any available words but he patiently waited.
"H-H-H-Hermione W-Weasley," she replied, shocked that she had used Fred's surname and not her own. Voldemort chuckled at her display of courage to use the last name that was not hers by birth.
"Forget the Weasley, you're not his anymore." He whispered, it sounded nothing more than a snakelike hiss that nobody else seemed to hear. She fought against the binds of Dolohov and the Dark Lord seemed interested as he back up to look at her whole body.
"She likes to fight." Antoine grunted. Voldemort laughed at this, glee and malice dancing in his serpent eyes.
"That's good," he rasped. "Fighting is good; she's got strong wills… ones that will not easily be broken." He reached that same hand out again to stroke her face, watching her flinch as far away from him as possible. "Read the prophecy Severus… just as refreshment, and for those who haven't heard yet." He hissed faintly, eyes still trained on Granger's.
All eyes turned to Snape as he unrolled a small bit of parchment and began to read in his deep baritone. "In the war's end days, a woman of impure blood will show herself as a friend of the enemy. She will be taken as the Dark Lord's and he will forge a bond with her, making the final Horcrux from the fruit of her womb. Her blood will be the last impurity to be shed and he will take the world as his own."
The room was silent save for Hermione's frantic gasps, attempting to squirm away from Voldemort's gaze. Bellatrix's glare on the girl doubled as she heard the words fruit of her womb. "My-My Lord," she spoke up. "Surely you don't mean to impregnate this m-mudblood. There are so many more of better blood-,"
"Bella, are you jealous?" the Dark Lord interrupted.
"Y-yes my Lo-Lord." She said lowly. "I would gladly take her place. You need not bother yourself with her filth."
Voldemort glared at his servant. "Bellatrix, the prophecy calls for our darling Hermione." Everyone winced and gawked in amazement as he spoke her name. Hermione was now flailing to free herself from Antoine's grip. "Do you not wish us to win the war?" he asked her.
"N-No my Lord!" she exclaimed. "I merely-,"
"Hush Bella," he snapped. "Severus?" he said, moving on to business. Snape stepped forward, his eyes indifferent.
"Prepare the potion… I thought it would take longer to get our prize, but due to my servants' excellent work we have managed to get it done faster."
"Of course my Lord," Severus replied. "Are we to brand her as well?" he asked. Voldemort cocked his head aside, thinking.
"The thought never occurred to me, but I do believe that such a thing would be possible. I shall do it in privacy, she will not be a Death Eater… she will be special." His red eyes seemed soft as he looked at Hermione again.
Hermione looked around the room, fear blanketing her senses. She had heard the prophecy and knew not what to do, trying to interpret some other meaning than the obvious. She whimpered as Voldemort's terrifying gaze kept sweeping over to her.
"Let her go Antoine," he said gently. Dolohov obeyed, and she fell to her knees, not wanting to meet those eyes- his eyes. She longed for Fred, to have him save her. "Hermione…" the Dark Lord's voice called to her through her thoughts. A hand on her cheek brought her back and she skidded back in fear as she saw his face.
Draco was shocked, as were most in the room. Not only was their master touching a mudblood, but he had stooped to his knees, attempting to meet her gaze. Even Luna was amazed, her eyes meeting her fiancé's in a state of uncertainty.
"How dare you!" Bellatrix shouted to Hermione. "You ungrateful filth, he's chosen you, you undeserving little-! Crucio!"
The curse hit Hermione in the back and she screamed, writhing on the floor. She suddenly heard a loud smacking sound and Bellatrix was on the floor beside her.
"Dare you touch her Bella!" Voldemort shrieked at her. "She's been chosen and you dare yell at her like the same lowly filth of the impure? Is she not the same as you if I have decided to touch her?" his voice was harsh. "Lucius, help her up." He said, and he did, treating her with the most gentle care.
"My Lord," Snape interjected. "Where will she stay?" he asked. The Dark Lord assessed Hermione, now standing on her own, breathing heavily.
"My dear," Voldemort rasped. "May I trust you to stay where you are told to stay? An effort to escape will bring about unwanted pain for us all." He said. When she didn't reply he sighed and turned to Narcissa Malfoy. "Narcissa, she is to sleep in your room. You will stay in Spinner's End with Severus and I." he said.
The Malfoys looked as if they'd been slapped but Lucius squared his jaw and said nothing while Narcissa departed to ready the room. Voldemort cocked his head again, looking at Hermione closer.
"Say something, you are free to speak your thoughts." He demanded.
Hermione cleared her throat and tried to get her words out. "I-I… P-please, s-spare me!" she begged. The Dark Lord laughed at this.
"You are no prisoner, Hermione." He said gently. She flinched again at the use of her name. It sounded so terrible on his lips. "You are free and able to do as you wish within this house. You play a special role in my war… and if you behave yourself you will be treated as my most honored servants would. If you disobey however, your free will shall be taken. Lucius, surely you have more fitting clothes for her to wear?"
Hermione looked down at her soaking wet clothes and her hair which was in a tangled mop. "Of course my Lord." He said. "Shall she wear one of Luna's gowns?" he asked.
"No, Lucius, she will wear something new. You will send some of your elves to purchase new gowns and robes for her. I want them to be nice, but I must leave. If I hear any of you have touched or harmed her you will be punished severely." And with a crack he disapparated.
Bellatrix struggled to her feet, casting the darkest and most hateful of looks to Hermione as she swept herself out of the room in disgrace. Luna now rushed to Hermione's side, hugging her fiercely. "Hermione, oh Hermione!" she cried.
"Luna, I'm so glad that you're alive." She replied, hugging her friend back. Draco was then at her side, his hands around her arms, pulling Luna away.
"Don't touch her!" he hissed at her. "Did you not hear the Dark Lord?" Luna stiffened, her eyes flashing but she relaxed and nodded.
"Yes Draco," she whispered, going to sit down at the couch again.
Narcissa entered the room again. "Your room is ready now Miss Granger." She said humbly. Hermione was horrified, looking around at all the Death Eaters at her beck and call. She turned to Draco and cleared her throat.
"Leave Luna alone, she is my friend and therefore you are ordered to release her!" she said in a spiteful tone, yet her voice quivered, afraid that her influence would not stretch over Draco.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her. "You filthy little-,"
"Draco! Do as she says!" his mother said sharply and the boy released and shoved his fiancé back towards Hermione. The girl fell back into her arms and she stroked the blonde hair.
"Oh Luna, I'm so frightened." She whispered, looking up to see Snape's hand on Luna's shoulder.
"Miss Lovegood," he said in a short tone. "It is wise if you left Miss Granger to go and settle herself into her room." Luna obeyed Severus without question.
Hermione watched her be yanked back by Draco. Snape motioned for her to go upstairs and he went in tow. She felt eyes on her as she began to climb them. When they were out of eye's reach Snape spoke to her again.
"Hermione," he said lowly. "You've been chosen, it is wise to play along if you value your life. Do not drag Luna into this though, you may not be able to be punished but she can be killed by Draco for her disobedience. It is Malfoy tradition to demand submission from their wives."
"A-and what is the Riddle tradition?" she asked.
"The Dark Lord has never taken any woman before. You will be the first I have ever seen, but he does so for his own gain, do not confuse this." Snape replied. "I will alert the Order and you will hopefully be rescued, but please, the outcome of the war hinges on your cooperation at this point. Your death will kill Harry, and those who care for you. Remember that, your actions will hinder your side in battle." They stopped at two big doors which he swung open to reveal a beautiful airy room. "You will spend the night in here, don't do anything stupid miss Granger, for the sake of those you love." He murmured, closing the door and walking back down the steps, leaving Hermione very alone in the big room.