Hermione's mind was racing. She knew by the grandeur of this derelict manor and the blonde trio before them that this was the Malfoy family's home. She also knew she'd be a fool to try and touch the sleeves of the boys and attempt to use magic to escape. The amount of spells and enchantments shielding this house must outweigh even her abilities. Fear clutched at her heart, but she pushed that down. She felt powerless without her wand, but she dared not struggle against the firm hold the Snatcher had around her throat. She caught sight of Ron in the corner of her eye, he was trying to give a reassuring smile - it didn't meet his eyes.
The dark haired witch - she recognised with a start of horror was none other than Bellatrix Lestrange - shoved Harry to the floor, forcing him on his knees in front of Draco Malfoy. Her eyes were wife, definitely manic as she sized a fistful of Harry's hair. His swollen face forced into what little light the room allowed.
"Well?" Bellatrix demanded shrilly, her brown eyes opening even wider. Draco stood unnaturally still, his face losing what little colour it had. Dread filled her veins, knowing with certainty that while her stinging jinx may fool these people, he'd recognise Harry immediately. Even if he didn't, she and Ron would be the confirmation he needed.
"I can't be sure," he said uncertainly, avoiding glancing in Ron or hers direction. His eyes remained stoically on Harry's green ones.
Luscious Malfoy stepped closer. He looked guant and his long blonde hair now hung in unkempt knots. Hermione had never seen the man look so haggard.
"Look closer son," he urged, his voice choking on itself like he'd swallowed sand paper "if we are the ones to hand over Potter to the Dark Lord, all will be forgiven! All will be as it was."
He sounded pitiful, his voice taking on an emotional whisper. He reminded Hermione of an abused animal. Beaten and broken, but still looking for validation from his abuser.
"I hope we won't be forgetting who found him? Will we?" said the Snatcher who resembled something of a leader. He made Hermione's skin crawl, she still remembered vividly how he sniffed her hair when they were captured. Fear had kept her frozen in place, but strength surged through her when she saw Ron run to her aid - only to be punched hard in the gut.
"Don't touch her!" Ron had growled, earning him a kick to the stomach. Hermione had fought against the Snatcher's grasp on her arms.
"Leave him alone!" Hermione had screamed, desperately trying to fight off her captor "get off me!"
"Your boyfriend will get worse than that, if he doesn't learn to behaviour himself" Scabier leered, his yellow teeth curling into a twisted sneer "hello beautiful, what do they call you?"
Hermione had muttered the first name that came to her - Penelope Clearwater. Half-blood. She remembered the prefect from her time at Hogwarts, but that information alone may have sufficed. Only the scar on Harry's forehead had caught their attention.
"You dare speak to me like that in my own house?!" Lucious roared, quietening when his wife hissed "Lucious!"
Bellatrix crouched beside Draco, her attempt to look motherly made her look more deranged.
"Take a closer look, dear," Bellatrix encouraged her nephew, a vailed thinly hidden unease in her next words "we must be absolutely sure. Because if we summon him and this isn't Potter, he'll kill us all."
Draco's blue eyes trailed over Harry's swollen face. Confusion flickered across his sullen face "What happened to his face?" Draco asked to no one in particular, his eyes not leaving Harry's.
Yes, what did happen to his face?" Bellatrix demanded loudly, as if noticing this herself for the first time. Her dark eyes found Hermione's, a knowing smirk already forming on her thin mouth. Hermione's stomach filled with icy dread.
"He was like that when we found him. Probably something he caught in woods." a snatcher shrugged, but Bellatrix barely acknowledged this.
"Or ran into a stinging jinx…" Bellatrix mused, cackling for an unnerving shrillness as she pieced it together. She pointed her wand at Hermione "was it your doing? Get me her wand, let's see what her last spell was."
The terror she felt must have been written all over Hermione's face, because Bellatrix laughed harder as she stalked across the once grand hall.
"Got you," Bellatrix laughed, her glee evaporated into shock and her face paled as something caught her eye. For the first time since they entered the manor, this terrifying woman looked terrified.