See how quick I am this time with uploading! :D The next one won't be so soon, sadly... I've got a busy period ahead :'(
Xx love you! Thank you for reading :)
Barty stood in the door opening, his eyes fixed on the couple on the bed. And he did not look happy. Quite the opposite, he looked truly murderous. The look in his eyes frightened Hermione, and the only thing she could now think of was protecting Ron. She sat in front of him and kept him behind her back. Barty opened his mouth, but he closed it again without saying anything. Hermione waited patiently for him to say something first, not wanting to provoke him any further.
"Explain yourself," Barty finally growled after what seemed like ages.
"H-he was only t-trying t-to help me," Hermione stuttered nervously. "P-please, Barty… please c-calm d-down."
"Let him go. Now," Barty hissed venomously.
Hermione quickly removed her arms from Ron's body and she jumped off the bed towards Barty.
"Please let him leave, please, he won't return, I-I'll do anything," Hermione begged, her hands on his chest.
"You have deceived me… Pretending that you care for me? And the next moment I find you shagging this blood traitor in my own house? He has had his chance… I've warned him…" Barty growled, pushing Hermione away from him and taking his wand out to aim it at Ron.
"I kissed her! It is not fair to blame her, it was me! Don't punish her for this," Ron said bravely, but he still cowered back from the wand that was pointed at him. "I only wanted to save her from you."
"SHUT UP! SHUT. UP!" Barty yelled with wide eyes. "STAND UP!"
Ron quickly did what was asked from him and he got out of the bed.
"You disgusting boy. You do not get to touch my Hermione. She is mine. Do I have to prove it to you?" Barty hissed.
He turned towards Hermione and he kissed her roughly on the mouth, slamming her body against the wall. Again, she did not resist as he ravaged her mouth. If there was any chance to keep Ron alive, which was a very small chance, then this was it.
"I am yours, Barty," she whispered against his lips. "Send Ron away, let him go unharmed, and I'll show you…"
He chuckled in a chilling way.
"He is not getting away with this. I am a man of my word, remember?" he grinned, letting her go again before turning back towards Ron. "She won't have to see the things I am going to do to you. She won't have to hear you screaming as you die from pain. I have no wish to hurt Hermione. You, on the other hand… Oh, you are going to feel so much pain…"
"No, no, please, please, let him go," Hermione pleaded.
"Relax, darling, you won't have to witness this. And I won't punish you for this. I'll be back before you know it, and then you can show me that you are mine. We can celebrate our victory," Barty said.
"Leave it, 'Mione… It's my own fault. I didn't listen," Ron said.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL HER?" Barty bellowed, his hand now wrapping around the young man's neck and throwing him against the wall.
"I- called her- 'Mione," Ron repeated with difficulty.
"You do not get to pet-name my Hermione, understood?!" Barty hissed, his eyes spitting fire and his tongue darting out of his mouth manically.
When Ron only coughed in response and started to look purple, Barty grabbed his hair and released his throat, starting to drag him out of the room.
"We are leaving," he told Hermione. "Don't you dare try and escape, and be ready for me when I return."
Hermione followed Barty outside the room, where he threw Ron off the stairs.
"Stay in your room!" Barty ordered her when she shrieked when Ron fell off the stairs violently.
She quickly did as she was told, and she went back to her room. When she heard a loud bang from outside, she knew that Barty had apparated together with Ron. She had lost a friend again. She couldn't save him either. Maybe she had to get used to this feeling. She was alone. All she had was Barty now. Her parents were probably far away from her, out of the Death Eaters' reach. The Order would be hunted down and slaughtered. Her friends at Hogwarts would leave the castle as well as soon as they found out that Harry was gone. Maybe she should just get used to it. No more tears from now on. She could get used to living with Barty, he was the only one left for her. She could make life at Hogwarts for the students perhaps more bearable. She could try and influence Barty slightly. Without her he would be so much worse, she was certain of that.
Hermione lay down on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was no use to cry over Ron or Harry, they were gone. They were lost. The Dark Side had won and she just had to accept that. She could only be thankful that she had one man that would still protect her, given her blood status. Barty was more and more looking like a savior to her. Without him, she would have been dead a long time ago. It didn't matter anymore that he was evil, that he was insane, that he was violent and unpredictable, he was all she knew from now on. Her only chance of survival. If that would make her insane as well, then so be it.
It took Barty almost two hours to return to the manor. But when he entered the bedroom finally, he had a small box in his hand as well.
"I brought you something," was the first thing he said to her, as he gave her the box. Then he whispered in her ear: "to make it up to you."
"I wish you didn't have to make it up to me. But… thank you. That is- kind. I suppose," Hermione said, accepting the small box rather politely.
"It's over now, darling. It's all over. No more fighting. No more hiding. We can go out, in public, if you'd like," Barty said to her. "I don't want you to mention those friends of yours anymore, you've got me now. I'm all yours. And you're mine."
Hermione didn't respond to that. She just fumbled with the wrapping paper around the box and she opened it carefully. There was a pair of silver earrings in the box, two rather expensive looking earrings.
"And I would like to take you to Diagon Alley to find a dress that can go with them," Barty added, without even waiting for a thanks from her.
"I- without… without Polyjuice?" Hermione asked.
She was surprised that there was so little argument coming from her. The man in front of her, the same man who was offering her presents, had fresh blood on his hands. The blood of one of her best friends. And she didn't even confront him with it. Not that it would be of any use to argue with the Death Eater, but usually she would try. Now, all she had done was accepting his presents and ask questions she already knew the answer to. She had given up the fight. Barty only nodded in a reply to her question, the man she had grown to like in some way, the same man who had tortured her several times and hurt her. She felt like she was starting to go insane. Just like him.
"I love you," he suddenly said, out of the blue.
It was the first time that he had said that. He had been very protective about her, and he would be very jealous when other men would look at her, but he had never actually told her that he loved her.
"Tell me you love me," he continued when she didn't response.
All she could do was stare at him, her mouth slightly open from surprise.
"Say. You. Love. Me," he repeated impatiently. "Damnit, Hermione. Say something."
"I-I…" she stammered, slightly intimidated by his impatience. "I haven't really thought about it… I never thought you… I only thought I was just interesting to you. Not… you know…"
"You assumed that Death Eaters are emotionless. That's what you thought. You just assumed that we have no feelings. You just thought I am insane, beyond redemption, a nutcase, a murderer. Evil. I swear… if you don't tell me you love me… I'll lose it. So give me an answer, now," Barty demanded, the wild look returning to his eyes where they were softer before.
"You can't give me any time to think, can you?" Hermione said irritated. "Fine. I think… the moments where you didn't threaten me, hurt me, torture me, call me names, rape me, and so on… I have grown to like you. And that has only been the last couple of weeks. In which I have supported you, in which you have protected me and treated me well… I care for you. Even now, after what you have done, I don't feel any anger, or sadness. You saved me. From the Dark Lord."
"And?" Barty pressed.
"Yes. I love you too," Hermione said determined.
He didn't respond to that with words. But his manic eyes softened once more, and a sly smile appeared on his face. Then, without any warning, he wrapped his arms around her waist and started kissing her roughly, pressing her against the wall with force. And Hermione couldn't deny that she liked it. She even loved it. He was hers now. He was all she had left from now on. And even though he is insane, he was still really attractive, attractive and powerful.
"I want to… take you to… Diagon Alley," he murmured between his kisses. "Show you… to… everyone."
Hermione only giggled, in a way she had never done before. She never giggled. She wasn't a girl who would giggle for a man.
"I'd love to," she breathed.
He tore himself away from her, and he took her hand. Not her arm, like he used to do, but her hand. In a couple-like manner. He dragged her with him outside, after ordering Winky to prepare for dinner. Then he apparated them to Diagon Alley, where it was surprisingly calm. Some witches and wizard who were doing their shopping for supplies, robes and other necessities were around, but there were no children at this time.
"A dress, right?" Hermione asked Barty, who was still holding a tight grip on her hand. "A fancy one?"
"As fancy as you want."
"Is it for a special occasion?"
"Hmm, you need to impress when you want to walk next to me. You get to be one of the most powerful women in the country, so you need to look like one."
"We can try Madam Malkin?" Hermione offered.
"Nah, too casual. There's a smaller shop over there," he pointed at a building a couple of meters from where they were standing. "I don't like the shopkeeper, but those dresses he sells… Quite beautiful."
"Can you try not to murder him?" Hermione asked, not feeling comfortable at the thought of Barty not liking someone.
"Well… If he is smart enough not to force me to…"
"I'm sure he won't be difficult. If he knows who you are, he wouldn't dare being difficult. Alright, let's go," Hermione said confidently, now being the one to drag Barty with her.
The shop was indeed small, though it was larger than Hermione expected. There was one other witch browsing through clothes, and one wizard standing behind the counter looking rather grumpy. It was an older man, with grey hair and a very posh suit. This was quite a niche shop, no wonder that Hermione hadn't noticed it before. She would never have had the money for any of these clothes.
"I used to come here as a kid," Barty whispered in Hermione's ear. "Had to, my father wouldn't let me walk around in lesser clothes."
"Is that why you don't like the man? You just don't like the memories of the shop," Hermione said quietly.
"I'd rather get my own clothes elsewhere these days… But, now that I have the opportunity, let's see if Mr. George Trevor still remembers me. While you pick out a dress."
The man behind the counter had not even looked up once when his new customers had come in. He was reading a magazine and apparently that was more important to him than being customer friendly. Until Barty knocked on the counter in order to get his attention. The old man looked up slowly, but his face was still full of disinterest and boredom.
"Ah, if it isn't the young Crouch. Long time not seen. Joined the Death Eaters, have you?" Mr. Trevor said, still not really showing any form of emotion.
"More than that, in fact. I am in control of Hogwarts now, and I will get the control over land as soon as the Dark Lord has decided which parts. Harry Potter is dead, you know?" Barty replied smugly. "But I am not here for small talk. I'd rather not be here at all. I am looking for a dress for my girl here, so maybe you could help us."
The man's eyes left Barty's, and he looked at Hermione.
"That's the Muggle born who was lost," he observed.
"And what if I am?" Hermione now interrupted, which clearly amused Barty. "Just help us find a nice dress so that we can leave. I suggest you don't try his patience."
"Fine," Mr. Trevor growled.
When he walked around his counter, however, Barty stopped him with his arm.
"Respect and obedience are two very valuable traits. When we ask you to do something, you will do it immediately. And address us properly."
"You may have important positions and all, but you are not my boss. Sir," Mr. Trevor said mockingly, pushing Barty's arm away and walking away into the show.
"Oooh," Hermione said, taking Barty's hand in order to soothe him. "Let's go to another shop. You don't want to be here, and neither do I."
"No, no, we are not leaving without your dress," Barty growled, his eyes fixed on the back of Mr. Trevor's head who was now browsing through some dresses. "You hate him too, don't you? Let's teach him a lesson."
He drew his wand and took three large steps towards the shop owner, pressing his wand against the old man's neck.
"You're still a little spoiled brat, aren't you?" the man snapped, turning around quickly, his own wand now pressing against Barty's throat.
The witch who had been shopping before now shrieked and she dropped her bag, she was paralyzed completely. Hermione noticed that, and she walked over to the trembling witch.
"It's okay. No harm will come to you," she whispered to her, watching the scene in front of them intently as well.
"Drop your wand," Barty ordered, hatred seeping through his voice. "Now."
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Mr. Trevor shouted, and Barty was blown of his feet, hitting the wall. "Leave my shop, Crouch. And don't you try come back with your Death Eater friends, I have too many loyal customers amongst them."
But Barty was not someone who would accept a defeat. And that was where Mr. Trevor made his mistake. Because he lowered his wand, thinking that he had won, thinking that Barty was nothing different from the young boy who used to be dragged inside the shop by his father. He grabbed his wand back and shot a curse at the old man, who was now the one who hit the floor. Barty quickly rushed over towards where the man was laying, and he stomped on his right wrist, probably breaking it, and he picked up the wand from the numb hand.
"You won't be needing this anymore," he growled, snapping the wand in two. "Oh, I am getting so tired of people not listening to me when I warn them… It gets quite boring, you know, torturing people every single time."
"Then why bother," Mr. Trever said.
"Because it is the only way to make people like you bow before me. Merlin, you have never been tortured, have you? You are not afraid, not at all… Well, that will change," Barty hissed. "Crucio!"
The man started convulsing and screaming. It was the first time Hermione saw him showing any emotion really. She couldn't feel any pity anymore, the man had brought this upon himself. He should have listened instead of provoking a Death Eater. Maybe she would have tried to stop Barty a few months ago, but not anymore. She was more fascinated by how powerful Barty looked, and how strong he was. The woman standing next to her even started trembling more, almost collapsing against Hermione.
"Lesson learned?" Barty growled when he lifted the curse.
"Yes, yes… Please, no more, sir. I- I apologize. Please let me find you a dress. I-I mean for the lady."
The man tried to stand up despite his heavily trembling legs, but he did manage to walk. Barty now rested his eyes on the woman standing next to Hermione. Which Hermione noticed.
"She's fine. She's obedient," Hermione said quickly, before he would turn against the woman too.
"Is she?" Barty asked, still staring at the woman. "Fine, let her leave."
The woman burst out in tears and she ran out of the shop quickly.
"Is this something for you, ma'am?" Mr. Trevor asked, holding up a long navy blue dress.
"That one looks beautiful. I'll try it on," Hermione said, accepting the dress and disappearing to one of the fitting rooms.
It fit her really well. And it really made her feel beautiful. Before showing it to Barty, she put in her new earrings. When she stepped out of the fitting room, she saw Barty's face brighten up.
"You look amazing," he told her. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Hermione smiled, it had been a long time since she had felt this good in her clothes.
"Then you may keep it on," Barty said, taking her hand again. "Come on, Winky has prepared dinner for us. Bye, Mr. Trevor! It has been a pleasure as always!"
At least Mr. Trevor wasn't stupid enough to ask for money for the dress, like Mr. Mulpepper did when Barty picked up his potion supplies and payed for it with his life. This was her life now, she could better get used to it. People would treat her like a lady, and she would only get the best clothes and the best food. She would even get the best jobs, she could be whatever she wanted now. Well, not everything, since the Dark Lord would never allow someone with her blood status as a Minister of Magic, but apart from that, she could be anything. As long as Barty would support her, she would be fine.