A/N: So much snow! Ahh. Anyway, please review!
This chapter is graphic and violent.
Chapter 37: Tortured
Hermione cried out as she was pushed roughly to the hard floor of the drawing room of Malfoy Manor.
"All three of 'em," Rodolphus said before kissing his wife, Bellatrix, lightly on the lips.
"Well done, my love," she rewarded.
"Who would think they would be stupid enough to travel together?" Narcissa's voice was harsh but quiet.
"I would recognize this little mudblood slut of Severus's anywhere," Bellatrix said before glancing over at Ron, who was being held by Crabbe Sr. still. "And the ginger, Weasley. Such a shame," she made her way over to him, studying him closely. "A true pureblood family...wasted."
"No better than the mudblood," Lucius spoke, his voice sounding slightly shaken.
"Indeed, Lucius," Bellatrix answered. "And Potter," she laughed, seeing his still swollen face. "What happened to you, Potter?" Leaning in, she pushed his hair away from his face with her wand. "Are we sure it's him? Get me Draco."
Lucius left the room, obeying his sister-in-law's order.
"In the mean time...search them. Thoroughly."
Rabastan Lestrange moved towards Hermione quickly, and his brother growled before taking heavy steps towards Potter.
Hermione grimaced as the man gripped her hair roughly and pulled her onto her back. He straddled her on his knees, looking down at her.
"I don't mind the tears, mudblood. They just show me how weak you are," he leant down and ran his tongue up her face, brushing away the tears that were flowing. She looked away and shuddered. A large, rough hand grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. "Tears are one thing, but you will not take your eyes off of me."
Hermione allowed a sob to escape her throat. From the side of her vision, she could see Ron. He was being search but his eyes never left her for a second. Hands began to search along her body. With a clumsy grope to her breast, the hand moved down, putting pressure on her broken rib. She screamed in pain.
"I love it when you scream," he said, smirking.
"Stop it!" Ron's voice came before a sickening crack that signified his nose had been broken.
Rabastan groped her a bit more before moving to check her pants pockets. He ran his hand along her crotch and pressed his palm completely against her. "Hmm..." he groaned.
Hermione felt the man harden slightly in arousal and tried, weakly, to pull away.
"Can't be sure through all of this denim," he said, an evil smile on his face. Hermione pushed him away weakly as he unbuttoned her pants.
"No!" she cried out. "Please don't."
"My dear...it's all policy. Simply following instructions."
The man's cold and calloused hand pushed her shirt up and slipped into her pants, feeling her through her panties. She cursed her body as he rubbed her clit, moisture beginning to build up. She kicked at him with more effort. "Stop!"
His hand slipped into her panties and rubbed her clit roughly.
"Leave her alone, you sick fuck!"
Another crack and groan of pain from Ron.
Tears began to pour down Hermione's face in earnest as Rabastan pushed two probing fingers into her. "Never know where a little slut like you could be hiding something."
Clawing at the hardwood floor until her fingers bled, Hermione glanced over at the door. Lucius and Draco had returned.
"Come see your little slut, Severus."
Her heart raced at the name. No. He couldn't see her like this. In such a weak position.
The moment he stepped into the room, their eyes locked on each other. A look of horror crossed his face momentarily before it was blank.
"Do something, Snape!" Ron called out for the third time. "She loves you, you bastard! Help her!"
Hermione's attention was pulled back to Rabastan when he pulled his hand from her pant. Her face went red in shame when she saw the fluids he had tricked out of her coating his fingers. He pushed them to her mouth, but she turned her head away. "Come now, I bet it tastes delicious." He sampled her himself, cleaning his finger with his own tongue.
Leaving her pants half off, he ran his hands quickly down her leg. Knowing he was getting close to her bag, she kicked him roughly in the chest.
Growling in pain and anger, Rabastan moved so he was laying on top of her, pinning her beneath himself. "You little bitch. Don't move again, or I swear to Merlin himself I will rape and kill you right now in front of your friends. And you'll be wishing I have used the Killing Curse."
Hermione whimpered but stayed still as he lifted her pant leg and pulled the shrunken bag from her sock. "Well...what do we have here?" he asked.
Hermione watched in defeat as he rummaged through her bag, pulling out things as he went. A sneak-o-scope, a photo of her parents, the portrait of Phineas Nigellus, her feminine products (she blushed), and the sword of Gryffindor.
"What. Is. That?" Bellatrix asked, her voice dangerous. She glared at Hermione before looking at her husband. "Put the boys in the cellar. Miss mudblood and I need to have a little chat."
Hermione glanced at Severus in fear, and he snuck her a reassuring, sympathetic glance.
Severus watched the maddened Bellatrix pull her dagger from its place on her thigh. He felt sick, knowing he could not do anything without ruining his position and getting Hermione killed.
Bellatrix kneeled next to Hermione's shaking form. She straddled the girl much as Rabastan had, and Hermione sunk back against the floor, her arms stretched out like the wings on a bird. "We can do this one of two ways, mudblood. You can give me answers and get the light end of this dagger," the dark haired woman drug the knife lightly across Hermione's neck, droplets of blood becoming visible. Hermione cried out in fear. "Or...you can not give me answers and find yourself on the not-so-light side of my lovely little dagger." Without warning, she plunged the knife deep into Hermione's thigh, causing the girl to scream out violently.
"HERMIONE!" Ron Weasley's voice echoed from the cellar.
Severus cringed at his lover's cries but kept his ground.
Hermione glanced over at him, and they locked eyes momentarily. "Severus..." she begged him to help her, pain solidifying in this single word.
Bellatrix laughed and forced the girl to look at her. "How did you get into my vault?"
Hermione was silent.
"Answer me!"
"I...I n-never s-set f-foot in y-your vault," she sobbed.
"What else did you take?" Bellatrix screamed, spit flying into Hermione's face as she sobbed.
"I-I didn't...d-didn't t-take anything," She heaved in a ragged breath, sobbing violently. "I didn't take...anything!"
"LIAR!" Belltrix roared. She shoved Hermione's head against the ground in Severus's direction and cut her sleeve away with the dagger, leaving punctures in its wake.
The dagger sunk into Hermione's arm over and over and she screamed and kicked wildly, even attempting to bite the woman's hand that was holding her head down. The pain was like nothing she could have ever imagined, and she felt immediately as though she would be sick.
Severus watched her face in masked horror as Bellatrix carved away at her arm. He only prayed something would be left of it. Her screams tore and ripped at his hardened heart, and he would have given his own life in that moment to take away her pain.
"HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" Ron's pitiful cries where barely audible over Hermione's screams of sheer pain.
"You worthless piece of trash!" Bellatrix bellowed into the girl's face. She placed the tip of the dagger into Hermione's mouth, and the screams stopped immediately. "How easy it would be to just finish you off..."
Hermione shook, not daring to move an inch.
Bellatrix smirked. "But...I am determined that it will be Severus that will finish you off."
Severus managed to pull a smirk and nodded as the woman looked over at him.
She pulled the dagger back a bit. "These disgusting lips have feasted on Severus's most intimate flesh. No doubt, they have done the same to Weasley and Potter."
Severus felt jealousy surge through him, but he pushed it away for the moment.
Bellatrix swiped the dagger across Hermione's bottom lip, blood flowing immediately down her face as she cried out again in pain.
"Bella..." Severus spoke for the first time. "She needs to be able to speak for when the Dark Lord arrives."
Bellatrix sighed. "I suppose you are right, Severus." She stood slowly, smirking down at her work.
Severus looked down at Hermione's ghostly white, blood covered face. His eyes were pulled to her arm where the word 'mudblood' was carved deep into her skin.
Hermione swam in and out of consciousness as Bellatrix questioned a goblin that had been brought up from the cellar. Tears flowed steadily down her face.
"Consider yourself lucky...goblin!" Bellatrix spat at him before turning and walking slowly back towards Hermione, smirking.
"Same won't be said for this one-"
"Like Hell!" Ron's voice was quiet, but she managed to stay awake enough to see he and Harry storm into the room. They had gotten free somehow.
Hearing many spells going in their direction, Hermione felt almost hopeful. That was, until she was pulled up by Bellatrix. She could barely stand and grimaced when the woman pushed the dagger back to her throat. "Stop!" she called. All commotion ceased. "Drop your wands!"
Severus was filled with dread as Potter and Weasley did as she said. He watched his godson swoop forward and grab the wands before cowering back. He watched Bellatrix pushed Hermione forward a few steps.
"Well, well, well...look what we have here. It's Harry Potter." Severus watched Harry's face return to normal. "And he's all shiny and new again, just in-"
Severus missed the next few words as Dobby appeared next to him. Severus looked down before glancing around. "Chandelier," he whispered to the elf.
Dobby nodded and disappeared again.
"Call him, Lucius," Bellatrix demanded, the dagger still pressed to Hermione's throat.
The man lifted his sleeve and raised his wand. It was barely and inch from the mark when-
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
All attention turned above them.
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
Severus could have kicked the elf. Magic. He should have used magic.
A moment later, the chandelier crashed to the ground. In the effort of getting away, Bellatrix pushed Hermione from her grasp and into Ron's arms. He lifted her bridal style as Harry fought their wands back easily from Draco.
Severus almost missed his chance but grasped Hermione's leg as Ron apparated, pulling himself with them.
They landed on a beach somewhere.
"Dobby!" Harry sobbed as the elf peered up at him, blood cascading down his chest.
"Harry! She's dying!" Ron called, Hermione bleeding profusely in his arms.
Severus cast a quick disillusionment charm on himself so he could watch, unnoticed.
Dobby spoke to Harry quickly, telling the boy to help Hermione as he, himself, was beyond help. He died in Potter's arms.
Severus was relieved to see Remus Lupin running towards them. The man was a decent Healer, and Severus trusted Hermione's care with him. Still, he followed the group towards the cottage, his lover's body limp in Ron Weasley's arms.
A/N: I hate to leave it there, but I must. It's long. :D Hope you enjoyed it.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!