Luna had no idea how long she sat in the cellar. It could have been days or hours when someone she did not recognize came to retrieve her. He was an odd, mouse-like man with a silver hand. She couldn't help but recoil while his soft, pudgy fingers wrapped around her arm and hauled her toward the door.
"I would follow you, you know. If only you asked," she told him as he yanked her roughly along a corridor.
They entered what appeared to be a drawing room. A witch with wild black hair stood at a window, staring out over the grounds.
"That will be all Wormtail," she hissed, turning. The man, Wormtail, scurried from the room, slamming the door as he went.
Luna's stomach tightened. Bellatrix Lestrange stared back at her.
"Have a seat Miss Lovegood," the older witch said sweetly.
Luna didn't move. "I'd rather stand if it's all the same to you."
Bellatrix shrugged. "Suit yourself but don't say I didn't give you the opportunity. Now, shall we begin?"
"Begin what?" Luna asked steadily.
"Tell me where Potter is," Bellatrix said.
"I don't know where Harry is. I haven't heard from him since the Weasley wedding."
Bellatrix regarded Luna thoughtfully. "And if you did know where he was?"
Luna hesitated. "I wouldn't tell you," she finally said, sounding much more confident than she felt.
Bellatrix's face twisted in an odd sort of smile. "Oh I had hoped you would say that!"
She flicked her wand and in an instant Luna was strapped to a chair that had materialized behind her. She struggled against the invisible restraints but to no avail.
"Do you know what I think the only notable muggle achievement has been?" Bellatrix asked conversationally as she stalked forward. Her dark eyes glittered in the fire light.
Luna remained silent, staring out the window instead of watching Bellatrix.
"Torture," Bellatrix continued. "Muggles are really disgusting, useless creatures but they do know how to torture their own don't they?
"Take the rack, for instance. I mean, the brilliance of the thing! Slowly stretching your limbs until they pop out of place. Until you're never the same again. I've heard it can take hours to stretch you that far. The Pear of Anguish is another of my favorites." Bellatrix swished her wand and conjured the object she spoke of.
Luna blanched at the sight of the metal pear shaped object.
"Just think of the damage this can do to your mouth or other … cavities. It's quite genius when you think of it. They have no magic so they must use only their imaginations to come up with these things." The dark witch laughed manically.
"But I think this is best saved for later. Let's start with something simple. Muggles usually start with things like ripping off your fingernails. Bit messy if you ask me. Luckily, I don't have to do that to make you feel the pain of it."
Bellatrix pointed her wand at Luna and a second later it felt as though every finger nail Luna had was slowly being pulled out of their nail beds. Luna bit down hard on her lip, causing the scabbed cut there to burst open again. The taste of copper filled her mouth, but she refused to scream for Bellatrix.
"Hmm… you're strong, I see. I wouldn't expect that from a Lovegood," Bellatrix sneered. The worst of the pain receded from Luna's hands but the ache remained.
"Tell me what you know about Potter! Tell me about his friends and that Weasley whore you hang around with! Tell me everything you, stupid little bitch!" Bellatrix roared.
"No!" Luna said firmly.
Bellatrix knelt before Luna. Eyes hard. "You don't need to tell me. I could just take it from you," Bellatrix hissed.
She's going to use Legilimency, Luna realized. Her heart skipped a beat as the panic swelled in her stomach. If Bellatrix used Legilimency, she'd see Severus and Luna couldn't let that happen.
"Legilimens," Bellatrix whispered just as Luna shouted, "NO!" and something powerful swept through Luna, knocking Bellatrix back.
Bellatrix scrambled to her feet, eyes wild and furious. "What did you do you stupid bint? What did you do?"
But Luna was just as surprised as Bellatrix. "I – I don't know."
Bellatrix's face twisted with rage. Her nostrils flared. "Very well. If that's how you want to play." She pointed her wand steadily at Luna. With a slightly exhilarated look in her eye she cried, "Crucio!"
The spell hit Luna before she even had a chance to brace for it. There was a second of blinding pain and then her world went dark again.
"It's not very safe out there right now is it?" Pandora asked, looking at Luna from her spot on a garden bench.
Trembling, Luna sat next to her mother. "Not at all. I'm frightened. I'm not a brave Gryffindor!"
Pandora stroked Luna's hair. "I've never thought we were only intended for one house. I think we all have a bit of bravery in us. And a bit of cunning. And a bit of gentleness. You are not defined by your house, my love. Only by your choices."
Tears formed in the corners of Luna's eyes. "Can I stay with you for a while?"
"Of course." Pandora pulled Luna into a hug. "I'll let you know when it's safe. He'll come for you."
"How do you know?"
"He loves you, doesn't he? I saw it in his eyes."
The wait for Saturday drug on excruciatingly for Severus. What was Bellatrix doing to Luna? He knew Bella's affinity for torture. She'd tortured both the Longbottom's into insanity and they had been powerful wizards in their own right. The idea that she could have already broken Luna sent waves of fear through him.
When he finally arrived at the manor's ornately carved wooden doors on Saturday evening, Severus took a moment to clear his mind, empty his emotions, and took a few deep breaths before entering. Whatever scene greeted him, he would be prepared.
Bellatrix was lounging on a leather settee when Severus entered. She was twirling her wand absentmindedly as she stared down at a form on the rug. It only took Severus a moment to realize it was Luna.
Bellatrix looked up at Severus as he entered. "I swear these brats get weaker every day. I only hit her with one little curse and she's been unconscious since."
"Always going for the mighty approach when finesse would have worked," Severus replied coolly. "How long has she been like this?"
Bella shrugged. "A couple of hours."
Severus's heart shuddered in his chest but his face remained blank. "You thoughtless cow," he hissed.
Bellatrix blinked up at him before leaping to her feat. "Excuse me? You dare insult me?! She's a blood traitor! What does it matter if I torture her?" she screeched indignantly.
"She's a pureblood, you fool. The Dark Lord will want her intact."
"He cares nothing for useless traitors like her!"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Tell me Bellatrix, how many pureblood families remain? Do you not think that a young, pureblood female such as Miss Lovegood here will be of use to the Dark Lord when the war is over? She'd make fine breeding stock. Of course, if you prefer to spread your legs and whelp like a bitch, by all means, do continue your torture."
Bellatrix's chest heaved angrily but she made no reply. Severus could see the wheels turning in her head, realizing Severus spoke true.
"Is there somewhere quiet I can take her?"
Bellatrix pointed grudgingly over her shoulder to a door that led into Lucius's office. Severus cast a levitating spell at Luna's limp body and floated her into the room. Heart hammering in his ears, he quickly locked the door and cast several silencing and protective charms over the door.
He turned, expecting to see Luna still passed out on the sofa he'd left her on but found her quite awake. She was already surging to her feet and rushing across the room, throwing herself into his arms.
"Severus! You came for me! Mum said you would and she said you were here and you are!" Luna cried into his chest.
He pushed her away just far enough to take in her blackened eye and busted lip. Fury like he'd never known rose up inside his chest. "We're leaving," he stated.
"What?"
"I'm getting you out of here. If Potter and his friends can escape the Dark Lord for all these months, then surely we can too. We'll go to America or China. Somewhere far removed from his reach." Severus's mind was spinning. Calculating their next move.
Luna gave him a sad smile. "We can't do that."
"We can," he stated adamantly.
"Severus, we've come too far. You've come too far to give up now. I'm okay, I promise." Luna held his face firmly in her soft hands.
He knew she was right. He knew he couldn't leave, not now. But leaving Luna imprisoned went against every instinct he had.
"I have something for you," he said abruptly. Digging in his pocket he pulled out the two rings.
Luna looked up at him questioningly.
"To keep us connected. So I will always know you're alive," he explained. "Will you wear it?"
Luna nodded slowly and he slid the ring onto her left middle finger. "How do they work?" she asked as Severus put his own ring on the same finger.
"I'll show you."
He grasped their hands together before waving his wand over them. The snakes hissed and slithered to life, sending a warm sensation through their hands before becoming still again. When he released her hand, he could still feel a warm, steady hum in the ring on his finger.
"Do you feel that?" he asked and Luna nodded. "That is connected to my life. As long as you feel it, you will know I'm alive. Mine is connected to you in the same way. Give the ring two sharp turns, like this," he demonstrated, "and I'll feel a pulse of heat and I'll know you're thinking of me."
As he twisted his ring, Luna felt the pulse of heat he was talking about. Overcome with emotion, she stared at him dumbstruck.
"You did this for me?" she whispered.
Severus nodded before leaning in to kiss her. "I would do anything for you Miss Lovegood. You have given me strength to carry on with my mission. I…" for the second time the words he wanted to speak stuck in his throat. But Luna seemed to understand.
She smiled warmly at him. "I love you Severus."
Luna stood on her toes to kiss him. He bent down to wrap his arms around her waist. Even in this dangerous situation, with Bellatrix just outside the office door, his kiss sent a wave of desire through her. The ring humming on her finger filled her heart with happiness.
Reluctantly, Severus stepped away from Luna. "We've been in here long enough. I'm sorry Luna."
Luna nodded. "Will you put me to sleep? At least for now?"
"I will." And with a wave of his wand she crumpled, unconscious again. He caught her easily, brushing her hair from her face.
One day¸ he vowed to himself, I will not have to leave her side.
