The Price to Pay for Loving a Dragon

By Lemust

Chapter 4- Her Living Nightmare

With a popping sound, the group of Death Eaters appeared at the gates to the Malfoy manor. Lucius peered through the bars, his steely eyes narrowed as he watched them carry a stunned Hermione across the path and approach the gate.

"Well?" he inquired impatiently.

"We have her, Lucius," answered the airy voice.

"Excellent. You know where to take her," he replied. He pushed the gate open with one hand, the Death Eaters carefully stepping through it. He fell into step with them, leaned over and whispered into Hermione's ear, watching her expression change to one of utter horror. "Do you realize that if you touched this gate, you would die mudblood?" It pained her heart to watch him; he so closely resembled Draco. "Of course, I don't want to kill you now. Not when Lord Voldemort will be here in two days time to take care of the matter himself…" He smiled at her, the coldest smile she had ever seen. Her blood seemed to freeze up in her veins at the mere sight of it.

"Enjoy your stay."

He rested his cold hand on her cheek, tilting her face ever so slightly in order to look into her frightened eyes. His were an icy grey color, dull, almost lifeless…empty, just the way Draco's had looked on the train. They were entrancing, mesmerizing, and for a slight moment, Hermione could have sworn that she was just looking at Draco, that this was all a nightmare, that she would wake up in his arms and everything would be as it had been.

A nightmare made perfect sense. This was far too surreal to be reality. Draco had been filling her head with Lucius horror stories, so it really shouldn't be all that abnormal to dream about experiencing one. After all, Draco had told her about the gate before…hadn't he? And surely this mansion she could see in the distance was merely a figment of her imagination, something concocted from the myriad of vague descriptions Draco had given her, albeit unwillingly, during their many discussions. She wasn't really in a full body bind, no, hadn't she read about this in a muggle book once? Something about dreams? She racked her brain for answers.

I must be in bed with the covers too tight. That's why I think I can't move, she rationalized. If this is a dream, I should be able to control it. I should be able to make him take his hand away from my face.

As if by her command, Lucius lifted his fingers from her skin and smiled smugly. He saw a glimmer of triumph in Hermione's eyes and narrowed his own.

"What are you smirking at girl?" he demanded as he directed her hovering form toward the mansion. His breath curled up in cloud-colored wisps in the air. The other death eaters were now a good ten meters in front of them. Hermione tried to speak, but it seemed as though her vocal cords were also bound by…the sheets. Lucius realized this and waved his wand impatiently. She felt a slight tingle in her throat and found herself forming words.

"You're just a dream," she declared in a half whisper. "A figment of my imagination, and I- I can control you." Lucius burst out laughing.

"You…control me? You're quite mistaken, mudblood. There is control here, yes, but not as you picture it. You have no power over me; I control you." He put firm emphasis on the final word. He directed his attention toward the death eaters, who were now a lengthy distance away. "Go on a bit, gentlemen. I'd like a private word with Miss Granger. Wait for us at the door." They acknowledged this with a nod and hurried up the drive.

It's all in your head, Hermione. All in your head. Focus and you can awaken from this. This isn't real; this can't be real. I can't be here, this isn't happening. I'm at home, asleep. I fell asleep at dinner. Yes, that must be it. Mum mentioned having heard of the Malfoys. That is why I'm dreaming of Lucius.

Oh lord, please…tell me I'm dreaming -- Hermione struggled with her common sense to come to terms with the situation, but a sharp breeze bit at her face and took with it the little shred of hope to which she had been clinging. -- But I'm not dreaming, am I? This, what's happening, the spell, the mansion, everything…it's all real.

Lucius stopped walking and turned toward her once more.

"I assure you, insolent mudblood, that this is indeed real. This is no dream that you can control, nor my son, whom I understand you have been seeing behind my back." His voice was now a low snarl, very accusatory. "You had no right to seek him out, to pursue him, though I can't say I blame him for being mildly interested." It sickened Hermione to hear Lucius demean her relationship with Draco in such a manner. "You are a tempting little morsel, aren't you?" Being likened to a possession, a mere trinket, was unnerving.

He traced along her jaw line with his thumb. Hermione's stomach twisted at his touch. She felt physically ill, almost violated by it. His face was mere inches from hers, his breath spilling across her cheekbone where his finger stroked, the whisper of his voice ringing in her ears. She winced inwardly, her facial muscles still frozen by the spell. He smirked and resumed walking, Hermione's body floating after him like an obedient dog.

"He doesn't really love you, surely you realize that," he went on casually, brushing a snowflake from his pristine black robes.

Lucius was sleek, agile, beautiful to the eye yet cold to the touch. He moved in a slinking manner, his robes billowing out behind him in a liquid grace. He smiled coldly at her, his eyes glinting with something…He had such a cold, cruel voice. What had happened to this man to fill him with such hate, such loathing? He had no warmth in him, no mercy. He could not feel anymore. The only feeling strong enough to penetrate the wall that surrounded his heart was hate. And hate fueled him, drove him to want to destroy the lives of others, including that of his own son. It was as if happiness and love drove Lucius over the edge; they were both foreign to him anymore. Hermione wondered if he had ever known them at all.

"Draco is a Malfoy, a pureblood, the sole heir to our family name. He has certain responsibilities, expectations to live up to. You must understand, Draco is young and impetuous." The snow crunched underfoot. "He wants a few thrills before accepting his destiny. I was no different at his age." He folded his arms across his chest. "You, as he told me, were rather…convenient " Glancing at Hermione over his shoulder, Lucius' face sported a look of utter pride, his steely eyes masking whatever lay inside of them.

"Told you?" Hermione repeated, not believing for one moment that Draco would have used her, could have done such a horrid thing. Maybe the Draco he had been two years ago could have managed it, perhaps even the Draco of two months ago, but now he seemed so changed, so different. He was utterly unlike the boy Hermione had met on the Hogwarts express several years earlier, the one who had proceeded to make fun of others to mask his own insecurity. He was completely unlike the boy who had tormented Hermione in potions for years, taunted her in the halls, harassed her in every conceivable manner. Hermione believed in the ability of people to change, to mature, to develop into someone else over the course of a lifetime, or perhaps merely a few short months. We are who we are, people don't change. She'd heard that somewhere before and had frowned upon the idea then as she did now.

Draco loved her, she knew this and would have sworn her life upon it. He loved her as she loved him, unselfishly. Their love wasn't convenient; it was practically forbidden, crossing barriers and tempting scorn. At the same time, these qualities are what made their love so unique, so rare, and so very strong. They had both been willing to ignore the limitations, fight the controversy head on. That's what made their love so genuine.

"Yes, he has told me all about you in his frequent letters home," Lucius drawled. Hermione knew perfectly well that Draco never wrote home unless it was absolutely necessary, and even then, his letters, as he described them, were very concise and to the point. He left no room for interpretation.

"Letters?" Hermione played along with the little game. Lucius nodded.

"Why of course! Draco has always kept me well informed of the goings on at Hogwarts, such as the recent Yule Ball, for example. He mentioned that he took his…oh, now how did he phrase it, "Gryffindor plaything" along for fun. Said they caused quite a stir…" He met her eye and paused, mock horror on his face. "Oh!" he exclaimed, clapping a hand to the side of his face. "I do hope he didn't mean you!" Something in his eyes revealed that he knew otherwise.

The Yule Ball? How does he--? Anyone could have told him. The whole school was there.

Thoughts and flashbacks clicked in her mind.

The Gryffindor girls were frantically rushing about in their room, trying to smooth the wrinkles out of their dress robes and eek the last bit of hair tonic out of their bottles. Hermione had spent the afternoon trying to control her hair, which kept trying to fly up at strange angles. Her blue dress robes were lying across her bed. She stared into the mirror in front of her. She dreaded the evening before her as much as she looked forward to it. She was not terribly excited at the prospect of sitting and watching other people dance when she could be dancing with Draco. And for all she knew, he might even dance with someone else. Maybe even that horrible Pansy Parkinson. Hermione shivered at the thought.

She looked down at the tiny dragon on her finger. The sapphire sparkled when she turned her hand one way or the other. She gave the dragon a small kiss.

Ginny had already been in the room three times already to ask if anyone had some earrings that she could borrow. All three times, the sixth years had told her no, but she was rather tenacious. Parvati and Lavender were concocting the perfect perfume to wear for the evening. They tried at least seventeen different scents before finally deciding on a classic vanilla fragrance for Parvati, and a fruity scent for Lavender. Parvati was going with Ron and Lavender with Neville. Neither of them expected to stay with their dates very long, but they decided they should at least smell nice for them.

The time up until the ball was waning. Hermione had been thoroughly made over by Parvati and Lavender. Her lips were tinged red, her eyes rimmed with grey. Her cheekbones stood out against her otherwise pale face. She looked older, more mature. Her hair was finally under control, swept off of her face in a sort of twisted arrangement, which Hermione could not see the back of for the lack of a second mirror. All she had to do was put on her dress robes. Sighing, she stood up and walked over to them. They were a beautiful shade of periwinkle blue. She smoothed her hand over the soft, satiny fabric.

On the other side of the school, Draco stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair into place. His dress robes were black but stylish. He smiled at himself, trying to convince himself that he possessed confidence. Everyone in Slytherin was dying to know who Draco's secret date to the ball was (He had been forced to say that he was going with someone when Pansy had batter her eyes at him and insisted that they go together). And tonight, they would find out. Everyone would. He didn't want to hide Hermione away in a closet forever. He wanted to show her off.

"Hermione, are you coming?" Ginny called from the common room. Hermione smoothed the front of her dress robes, took one last glimpse of herself in the mirror and started down the stairs. She was the last one to enter the common room. All of the other Gryffindors turned to look up at her. Ginny was clinging onto Harry's arm. Harry, in his dark green robes, was smiling at her. Ron, in his fancy black dress robes (a secret present from Harry), and Parvati were discussing the new perfume scent, and Neville was gaping at Lavender's beauty. Under normal circumstances Hermione would have laughed at the situation, but she was sad that she would not have anyone to enter the ballroom with.

She trailed after the other Gryffindors, following them down the winding hallways of Hogwarts to the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was supervising the entrance. When she saw Hermione standing alone, she immediately walked over to her.

"Why Hermione! Don't you have a date for this evening?" She looked surprised (though not as surprised as Hermione was to see that Professor McGonagall's usual bun had been replaced by an elegant French Twist).

"Oh, well, yes but not exactly, you see-" Hermione stammered, not sure exactly what to say. She was mortified at the moment.

"I only ask because Mr. Malfoy, you see, does not have a date either and I was thinking," there was a twinkle in her eyes, "that perhaps the two of you could enter together." Hermione looked behind Professor McGonagall and there, walking out from the shadows, was Draco.

She had never seen him look like this. His face was flushed with excitement, his eyes a vivid shade of blue; not a trace of gray was to be seen in them. His blond hair just covered up his forehead. His eyes lit up when they met hers. She could not take her eyes away from him.

Professor McGonagall smiled. "I'll have the table arrangements moved," she said. Neither one of them really heard her, but they both nodded and walked toward each other.

"You," Draco said, beaming with pride, "look absolutely beautiful." Hermione blushed. "I'm serious. You look beautiful every day but tonight…" He twirled her around. She laughed.

"Thank you. You look very nice yourself." He offered his arm and she took it. Both of their hearts were beating a million times a second, it felt like. They neared the entrance. Hermione could hear the couples in front of them announced. "Miss Lavender Brown escorted by Mr. Neville Longbottom."

"Oh, before I forget," Draco said as he handed Hermione a white rose. She mouthed, "thank you" to him, gripping his arm tighter. "Are you nervous?" he asked.

"About what, blowing our cover?" She laughed a little. "Yes, but I'm excited about it too. We won't have to live in secret any more."

"No, we won't." He smiled down at her. "I can't wait." He didn't have to either because the next thing they heard was,

"Miss Hermione Granger escorted by Mr. Draco Malfoy."

Silence fell over the Great Hall as the two entered, arm in arm. There was no sound, from anyone. With the exception of Professor McGonagall, the other professors had stopped whatever they had been doing to join in the staring. Snape had his goblet halfway to his mouth, the expression on his face was absolutely indescribable; Dumbledore was scratching his ear; Professor Sprout had the expression, "Oh!" frozen on her face. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws stared at one another and over at Hermione and Draco, just to make sure that they had heard correctly. The Slytherins just stared, their mouths open. Pansy had a look of complete horror on her face and was giving the evil eye to Hermione. Crabbe and Goyle kept mouthing, "What?" over and over. Several of the Gryffindors looked at each other, completely confused. Neville and Lavender smiled. Ron was beside himself, ready to roll on the floor with laughter. Ginny's eyes were wide. Parvati was bewildered.

But Harry Potter gave Hermione a huge smile and started to clap. He was soon joined by the rest of his table. The applause slowly spread around the room until even Snape found himself joining in. Draco led Hermione over to the table where Harry and Ginny were already seated. The eyes of the entire hall followed them.

"Well," said Harry with a grin after they sat down. "You two certainly know how to make an entrance!" The last of the couples slowly trickled in, none of them receiving the attention that Draco and Hermione were enjoying. Dumbledore motioned for the band to start playing and soon the Great Hall was filled with music. Harry and Ginny stood immediately and rushed over to the dance floor. Ron was thinking of excuses why he couldn't possibly dance, much to the dismay of Parvati. Neville was trampling over Lavender's feet, but both of them looked as though they were having a good time.

Draco took both of Hermione's hands in his.

"Dance with me," he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes. She smiled at him, her eyes shining.

"In front of everyone?"

"Why not? Everyone has seen us together already. I don't want to hide this anymore. We have nothing to be ashamed of." He kissed her cheek and stood up. "Come on," he held out his hand. "We'll make them all jealous." Hermione stood up and took Draco's outstretched hand, allowing him to lead her out to the middle of the dance floor. A slow song was playing. The entire room seemed to turn in order to watch the two of them together. Hermione was a bit taken aback by this and she stiffened, visibly uncomfortable.

Draco placed one hand on Hermione's waist and enclosed her hand in the other. Slowly, they began to sway back and forth to the rhythm of the song. Hermione closed her eyes, trying to ignore the people that were staring at the two of them. She felt herself melt against the heat of Draco's body. She gently leaned her head against his shoulder. His arm slid further around her waist, pulling her up against him. She breathed deeply, taking in his scent. It comforted her. She relaxed, moving her hand to the back of his neck. Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair. It was the perfect moment, the kind only found in dreams.

"Hermione?" Draco spoke softly. His eyes were half closed, lost in the moment.

"Yes?" He pulled back enough so that he could look into her eyes.

"Hermione," his voice wavered the slightest bit, "I --" he choked on the words. His eyes anxiously searched her face, trying to convey what his voice could not.

"I love you too, Draco." She couldn't speak anymore. She smiled as the tears spilled down her face. Draco leaned forward until his lips were just barely touching hers. "I love you so much-" her lips met his. He kissed her gently.

Lucius then turned away from her again, forcing her to focus on the platinum strands tumbling about his shoulders. "How thoughtless of me. I suppose, then, that I shouldn't tell you the way he described, in explicit detail at times, what went on during that dance." He did not wait for any response but instead continued to speak in an overly-sympathetic tone. "It must have seen ethereal, no? Dancing so closely to my son, someone above you in every imaginable way." Despite the falsity of his words, they stung her ears sharply. Even the thought any of this could be true…but of course, it wasn't. It couldn't be. "I imagine you must have been elated when he declared his love for you amidst so many spectators." People could have eavesdropped…"Draco was always a fine actor. How did he phrase his words to you? Something like, 'I love you, I'm in love with you!' I would imagine. That was always the line I advised him to use. Works like a charm." Hermione shuddered at Lucius' accuracy, but decided that it was either a coincidence or Crabbe and Goyle had been listening a bit too closely at the ball. "And finally, kissing you in front of everyone the way he did…I would surmise that it even felt real, didn't it? I would certainly hope so, since he's certainly been practicing with Pansy for so many years…" he checked her expression, now mired with doubt and hurt. "He has told you about Pansy, no?"

"Yes," Hermione muttered in response. She knew very well how much Draco despised Pansy. He would often complain about the obnoxious manner in which she overtly persuaded him. "A parasite," he had called her more than once.

"Excellent!" Lucius exclaimed. The death eaters had now disappeared behind a stand of trees along the long, twisting drive. The bare branches were covered in a delicate layer of ice. They looked barren, dead, and were quite fitting for the Malfoy estate. "Then you realize that Draco and Pansy are to be wed upon his graduation from Hogwarts?" This was not something that Draco had mentioned to her, so it came as quite a shock. She knew all about his expected place by You-Know-Who's side, but Pansy? That was an obstacle she hadn't considered yet. If I were to marry someone like Pansy, she mused, I wouldn't mention it either. But still, it hurt her that Draco had failed to apprise her of his marital status, which was, technically, "engaged." Perhaps he doesn't know of the situation? she thought hopefully.

The shock in Hermione's eyes told Lucius exactly what he had wanted to know. "Why, I'm surprised that Draco never mentioned it to you! He has been looking forward to wedded…" he swallowed hard, "bliss for some time now." They rounded the stand of trees and the great, dark walls of Malfoy manor suddenly arose before them at the end of the drive. "Pansy will move into the East Wing of the mansion with Draco, as Narcissa" he swallowed again," joined me here just after our own graduation. As you see, there is no place for you in Draco's life." The way Lucius kept stumbling over thoughts on marriage and his own wife struck Hermione as odd. He was trying his best to make Malfoy married life sound glorious, when in reality, it was fairly obvious that he believed the exact opposite. "They are a perfect match for one another. Everyone believes so; our entire circle is thrilled with the pairing. Imagine it, will you? My son and his pureblooded wife standing arm in art, watching as the newest generation of Malfoys romp about the family grounds…"

He cleared his throat. "Do you understand me now, Miss Granger? My son is not possibly in love with you."

No!

"Oh, he may have feelings for you, I don't doubt that, but they'll all fake, you see, the moment you don't give him what he wants. He wants you only for your body, nothing more."

That isn't true.

"You are a plaything for him, a source of amusement. And as for that ring on your filthy little hand, it is fake."

Hermione fingered the ring rested on her ring finger on her left hand.

"Hermione, I have something to give you." Draco had said. They both sat up as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small object. It glistened in the starlight. He handed it to her, watching her face for her reaction.

"It's beautiful," she said, turning it over in her hands. It was a ring, made entirely of gold, in the shape of a dragon. Its head was thrown back, as if in a great roar; its sapphire eye was sparkling. She turned to Draco. "Thank you." He slipped it onto her left hand. She kissed him softly.

"You know that if I could, I would tell the world that you are my girlfriend." He studied her eyes. They remained bright despite a definite weariness.

"I know," came the quiet response.

She remembered what he had told her, how he had held her. Her eyes flashed angrily. No, no, Draco loves me!

"Despite what he may have told you, he has no plans for a future with you." Lucius continued.

It's Pansy he has no future with, not me.

"He will take his place as my heir and accept the responsibilities that come with his name."

He wouldn't do it willingly. Wait, that's it--

"If Draco is so eager to marry Pansy, to accept this destiny you have created for him, why bring me here like this?" The smile spread across Lucius' face as they neared the mansion.

"Why, I would have thought that you, Miss Granger, would have figured that out already!" He laughed coldly. "I can't very well have you around disgracing Draco's good name once he is married, nor can I have you running off to Dumbledore spouting details of Draco becoming a death eater. It isn't too good for one's reputation with the Ministry." He watched as she visibly paled. "Lord Voldemort will be arriving in two days time, when Draco will pledge himself for life to our master. It is quite an elaborate ceremony, all of the death eaters will be there." He stopped for a moment, his eyes darkening. "Well, all of the loyal death eaters, that is. We've had some traitors among our ranks in the past." He looked almost haunted for a second, then continued. He cleared his throat. It is customary for the newly inducted member to prove his loyalty to the Dark Lord by performing the three forbidden curses upon someone he knows well, perhaps even has slight feelings for. You are prefect in Draco's case. It's a wonderful tradition: humiliation first, then pain, and finally –" he met her eye, "Death." He watched as her eyes grew wide in terror, reveled in the fact that her lips were now a pasty white. "It is necessary to know the victim personally, you see. The inductee is never told the identity of the one chosen for the ceremony. It comes as quite a complete surprise, I can assure you."

"And what happens if one refuses?" she asked through her chattering teeth, her breath curling up in the brisk air around her.

"What, refuses to prove his loyalty to the Dark Lord?" Hermione nodded. "Then both he and his chosen victim perish at the hand of our master." His tone made Hermione believe that he spoke the absolute truth.

Horrible sensations coursed through her veins: currents of pure fear. She realized that when the time came for Draco to be inducted into the Dark Lord's inner circle, he would be forced to kill her. There would be no other way; he would have to kill her to ensure his own life. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes as the realization became clearer to her. If he refused, they both would die. But to die at Draco's hand, to allow him to live knowing that he would be forced to live out the rest of his life alone, harbored by the guilt from causing her death, almost seemed more horrific than dying by his side. It would be two lives lost instead of one, but the Dark Lord would be the one with blood on his hands, not Draco.

Lucius caught sight of the solitary tearstreak shimmering against her now-ashen skin. The chill in the air froze the droplet during its descent, and Lucius flicked it away with his finger.

"Tsk, tsk, there's no use crying about it, you know. For you, this should be rather flattering, being allowed to associate with pureblooded wizards and even getting to die like one. You don't deserve it, really. It is quite an honor if you think about it." The crunch of the snow that had sounded underfoot now became a distinct clicking sound as Lucius ascended the marble steps leading to the front door. Hermione's eyes focused on the great serpentine figure coiled around a glorious "M" adorning the wooden slab. Lucius placed his hand over the serpent and spoke his own name; the door slowly creaked open.

With an impatient air, Lucius motioned to the man with the airy voice. "Do run on ahead and see that Miss Granger's accommodations have been properly prepared." The death eaters followed him through the door, leaving it cracked slightly. Hermione remained out in the snow. Hermione could hear nothing more than muffled sounds and whispers from inside the entrance hall. These lasted for perhaps a minute or two, finally being swallowed up by the breeze that blew past, bringing with it a handful of snowflakes that settled happily on Hermione's eyelashes and melted into her eyes. Lucius chose this moment to poke his head out of the door. Her vision now significantly blurred, Hermione would have sworn on her life that she was looking at Draco. Childish tears spawning forth, she fought back the urge to cry.

With a wave of his hand, Lucius directed Hermione's still form through the door and up the grand staircase that lay before her, turning left onto the landing.

"I'll have you know that while I was considering just tossing you into the dungeons," he said with amusement in his voice, "I realized how inhospitable that would have been of me." They walked slowly, the other death eaters crowding behind Lucius, eagerly awaiting…something. They passed by great portraits of the previous generations of Malfoys, each painting expressing its dislike of a mudblood in the vicinity.

"Really, Lucius…" sniffed one particularly snobby-looking woman with very overdone blond curls as they walked past her.

The group turned sharply and started down a long corridor that ran perpendicular from the landing. The hallway was dark, a striking contrast to Lucius' pale colorings. Even the shadows seemed to be watching them.

Lucius moved with a purpose, a smirk fixed on his lips. He reached the door end of the hallway and placed a pale hand on the knob, turning it to the right and listening for the click. The door opened soundlessly.

"Your room, Miss Granger." With a jerk of his head, Hermione floated into the dark chamber, her eyes darting about furiously. Lucius and the death eaters crowded in the doorway and watched her silently. There were no windows in the room; the only light came from the corridor, eerie and flickering, cast by the torches that adorned the hallways.

Why are they just standing there? What's so…what was that?

Something had clearly just brushed past her face. Something hairy. There was not enough light to see her surroundings…but…wait…was the floor moving? A streak of white darted past her eyes, and then another, the thing finally settling on her leg, just out of sight. She could feel it moving through her robes. Her body still bound by the spell, she could do nothing but lay absolutely still as it began to walk over her leg, like a cat, but she knew that this was not a cat.

"Get it OFF!" she screamed, but Lucius merely looked at her with a confused expression.

"What on Earth are you talking about, Miss Granger?" he asked innocently, though the glint in his eyes spoke otherwise. He folded his arms across his chest.

"Whatever it is, get it off of me!" she shrieked, squeezing her eyes closed.

"There is nothing in the room with you, I can assure you of that. You must be hallucinating." He turned toward the man on his left, drumming his fingers on his arm. "I trust that the…connection we spoke of is in working order?"

"Yes, Lucius. The boy will be able to hear everything."

"And she—"

"Will hear only howling, growls. Whenever he speaks, that is. She'll be terrified, I assure you."

"Extraordinary." He glanced back at Hermione once more, finally releasing her from the spell. She fell to the ground with a great thump and immediately began to brush frantically at her leg, thrashing her arms about wildly in an attempt to ward off whatever it was dive-bombing her head. Her sporadic screams were causing glorious rounds of laughter among the spectators.

"Oh, Miss Granger?" Lucius called out as he began to pull the door shut. She looked up, her eyes filled with terror as the only light source began to fade. "As I said, enjoy your stay."

"Nooo---!" The door closed, blocking all sound from within. Lucius smiled to himself as he made his way back to the main entrance hall, the death eaters tagging along after him.

Hermione was now enveloped in complete darkness, alone, cold, and something was crawling up her back.

...to be continued…