Chapter 1

A single torch flickered lazily, casting the dark corridor in shadows as the snake all but glided down the cobblestones, silently slithering past the cracked door. She reared her head, letting out a sharp hiss as she eyed the wary occupants. A whimper escaped from the room which was quickly cut off as a louder, more sinister laugh filled the air.

"Shut your filthy mouth blood traitor! She only kills when my master tells her to. And I don't think he wants either of you dead," there was a slight pause before the cloaked man drawled the last word, "yet."

"Come Malfoy, is that how you treat my new guests?" A soft voice, almost velvety, inquired. Hermione's head jerked up, guarded eyes tracking the tall, slender man who had silently appeared behind the snake. If you could even call him a man, thought Hermione in revulsion knowing the truth behind the now almost youthful face staring down at her. But she knew those scarlet red eyes swept, demon eyes which were not sweeping over her and Ron in amused contemplation.

Lucius Malfoy immediately dropped to his knee with a murmured "my Lord." The dark lord swept past him without a glance. Hermione could not suppress the violent shiver she felt crawl up her spine as the dark wizard, the man known as Lord Voldemort, drew near.

"Welcome to my humble abode Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. I hope you find everything satisfactory during your stay." He reached out a long, cold, pale white finger and sled it slowly down Hermione's cheek, catching it at the base of her chin and forcing her eyes up. "I was positively thrilled to learn the two of you had arrived." When she tried to turn away in revulsion he quickly grasped her jaw tightly and laughed. It wasn't the type of laugh that could come from a human voice. No, she thought, this wasn't even a laugh. There was no joy, no happiness to be heard. It was cruel, filled with darkness and only promised pain.

"Let go of her," Ron yelled, taking a step forward and raising his hand. Before he was even within an arm's length of gripping Voldemort's wrist, the redhead was levitatied into the air and thrown bodily against the wall behind them. He landed with a dull thud, falling to the ground. He groaned, bringing a shaky hand to towards his temple.

"Ron!" Hermione watch in horror as he tried to regain his feet, but with another silent flick of his wand Voldemort had shackles appear, pinning Ron tightly to the wall. Releasing her, he strode over to him. Ron silently glared up as the dark lord approached.

"Mr. Weasley, surely your father has taught you some manners? Especially while in the presence of your superior," he paused, tilting his head in mock consideration. "Perhaps a lesson is in order?"

"Why don't you just kill me and be done with it," spat Ron. Hermione could see a trail of blood dripping from his hair, disappearing into his robes at the base of his neck from where he has struck their stone cell.

Taking another step closer, Voldemort raised his wand and Ron visibly flinched. "Ah, I see some of Mr. Potter's foolish bravery," he smiled, it did not touch his eyes, "or perhaps stupidity, has rubbed off on you. Are you truly that eager to meet death? Because if you are, I would be happy to oblige." The red orbs darted back towards her shaking form. "I only need one of you."

Hermione swallowed, her mouth painfully dry as she watched the most foul wizard in history toy with Ron. Her friend was so clearly terrified yet trying to act brave.

"Tell me boy, do you seek death?" She prayed he would not bait him. Her eyes shifted between the two. Now was not the time to draw lines, they needed to survive so that they could escape.

She could sense Ron's eyes on hers. Minutely she shook her head, silently pleading for him to make it through this encounter. With a slight intake of breath, Ron adverted his eyes to the ground and shook his head feebly.

"That will not be good enough Mr. Weasley; I want to hear you beg me to spare your life."

Ron's eyes snapped back up in fury, his face had paled to the point of looking ghostly and his red hair stood up brightly against the black colored walls. Biting his lip, his determined gazed turned to Hermione who was rooted with fear.

"Please," she heard herself beg, barely above a whisper. "Just leave him alone."

The red eyes turned towards her. She could see the amusement dancing in them, he found this amusing, their lives amusing. But she could also see the hunger and the madness. He may no longer look like a snake, but his eyes revealed a monster.

"Oh, I may still spare his life if he will only admit to what we each of knows to be true. Both of your lives now rest in my hands." He paused, turning back to Ron. "if," he repeated softly, the question of the idea rolling off his tongue, "you survive the night, it will only be because I allow it."

"And then what, will you just kill us tomorrow, or the next day after whatever plan you have for us has been completed?" Hermione's voice shook as she glared up at the dark lord, the man responsible for this war they had been plunged into. She was pleased to note that her voice made her sound a whole lot braver than she felt. She needed to deflect Voldemort's attention from Ron. He had that stubborn look in his eye again that he often got when he was mad with Harry. And if Hermione knew anything, which she obviously did, then that defiance might quickly get him killed. She needed time to try and figure this whole mess out and Ron needed to stay alive while she did.

She was brought out of her thoughts as Voldemort chuckled. "I will spare each of you to live for now, but soon I will give that choice to another and we will see what he values greater, yours or his life."

"You using us as bait." It was a question, Ron's voice came out broken as he realized the truth.

"How astute," drawled Lucius Malfoy. She had almost forgotten that Malfoy had been standing silently behind Hermione the entire time.

"Did you honestly think that the Dark Lord just wanted you traitorous company? He would certainly never try and recruit a waste of wizarding blood like you."

Ron blushed making his hair even stand out more, but did not back down "Well you're out of luck since Dumbledore isn't allowing Harry to receive any mail or anything so there's no way to tell him we're here," he said and Hermione could see the triumph in his eyes as Lucius remained silent without a comeback. But Voldemort did not seem concerned.

"If Dumbledore thinks he can block the boy from me by simply hindering a letter then he has greatly underestimated my strength over Harry. Within the hour he will know what I have done and exactly what I want if he ever wants either of you to survive."

"You know Harry won't give up his life just to save us." cried Hermione, knowing as soon as the words left her mouth that yes, that was exactly what Harry would do. The smirk that twisted Voldemort's almost handsome features told her that he knew exactly what Harry would do as well.

"I think that your friend will be here sooner than you think Miss Granger," he promised softly. "Come Lucius, let us go prepare my our next visitor."

Turning, Lord Voldemort swept from the room, his black flowing robes silently coiling behind him. Lucius Malfoy gave them one last smirk of contentment, his silver eyes gazing over them knowingly before he two spun on his heels, following his master from the cell. The door clicked shut with a resounding thud as soon as both men had passed through, a revolting click as the bolt locking magically sealing them in.

Turning quickly, Hermione rushed to Ron's side. He was still shackled to the wall, staring towards where the two dark wizards had just departed. "Do you think Harry will come to him?" Asked Ron quietly, still gazing at the locked door.

With a sigh, Hermione sat down beside him and shook her head, too afraid to respond.