Ch.6 betrayal

Disclaimer: this story is based on characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling no money is being made off of this story. Sara, Sharen, and Suki are mine. Special thanks to Morrigan my co-author and beta reader.

Hermione felt paralyzed, she knew she had to run, to get away, but her legs refused to obey her. Before she could regain feeling her arms were roughly tied behind her back, and she was deprived of her wand. Then- something inside her snapped, "LET ME GO YOU BLOODY COW!", she started writhing and screaming and doing her utmost to hurt her captor. That didn't last long, "petrificus totalus!" she was lowered carefully to the ground. Draco had been watching the whole fiasco with some interest and a small grin on his face; now, whether he was enjoying the view or just knew what was coming and didn't like her we'll never know. Lucius Malfoy strode into Hermione's line of view from the forest and addressed the assembled boys, "The Dark Lord has known of this girl for some time. Only one other person in known history has been able to perform the Unforgivables on their first try than her, our Master. Because of this he wants her to be his queen, his only equal. Look well on this girl laying here bound and be-spelled, the next time you see her you will be calling her Milady, or Mistress. The Dark Lord has risen again more terrible than before, and this muggle-born girl is his only equal. Look at she who will be the Dark Queen and pay your respects!" As one the class rose and bowed to Hermione, then, one boy who she had helped in particular that day rose and said, "Come back to us soon My Lady, and let us strike a death-blow to the fools at the Ministry!" there was a general applause and cheering from the whole group. Lucius smiled "let us go then, Sara, do you have the portkey?"

"right here. Draco you need to touch it too." Hermione felt something rough pressed into her hands and held there. She felt the now-familiar jerk behind her navel and saw a blur of color. When the trip ended she was in a strange room, "now to get her into the dungeon." She was unceremoniously picked up and carried down a long set of stairs that ended in a cold, wet, dark room. At the back of the dungeon in one corner was a set of manacles. Lucius untied her wrists, stood her up and chained her to the wall, then he drew the chain out to give her just enough slack to lay down; then he removed the curses on her. " You can scream all you like," he said seeing her draw breath to do just that, "there's a silencing spell on the whole place, no-one will hear you. I'll be back soon, to begin your new 'lessons'." With that he left. He had to have escaped from Azkaban. Oh God, what will I do? She jerked hopelessly at her chains; her efforts were in vain. She knew what would happen, he would torture her until she gave in. She would be able to resist for a while, but she would eventually give in, die or go mad. Hermione tested her chains again, she had just enough slack to lay down on the floor; she sat there, waiting.

She didn't have long to wait before the door opened again. "I don't suppose you'll make this easy and just join our side?"

"Go. To. Hell. Bastard."

"Thought not, Crucio!"

Her nerves were white hot needles, her veins full of ice, her bones were melting; all she knew was pain. She heard herself screaming distantly, it had to stop soon, she would pass out soon then it would stop, or she would die or—. It stopped, she lay there shaking and shivering, "rest a bit, I'll be back later." As he reached the door he turned and added ironically "Don't go anywhere."

Still shaking she curled up against the wall and felt for her cross, it was still there, under her shirt. For four years she had hid it from sight, a comfort for her when she was alone and upset; a reminder of home when things were going well. For the first time in the four years since going to Hogwarts, she prayed; she was halfway through the Eucharist when the door opened again. Here we go, just a couple of minutes to partially recover and then we start again. But it wasn't Lucius, it was Draco. "Well, well, well, not so strong and gifted now, huh, Granger? Here you are a prisoner to my dad's mercy and all alone. No one will even know that your not at the class, not until your broken and its too late. Care to know what the Dark Lord's plans are for you? No? That's a shame, I'll tell you anyway, always better to know what your getting into right? The first people you will kill to prove your loyalty to Him will be your parents, preferably after you torture them a bit. Then you will kill the Weasley's, and probably lure Potter to the Dark Lord so he can finally kill him. Oh, and don't worry, you won't be killed, your much to valuable for that." Not giving her a chance to respond he left her alone in the dark.

Oh God, he's right! If they're going through all this trouble with me, they won't kill me then- if they won't kill me then they definitely don't want me to go mad, they'll turn me! No! I won't kill my family or any one! I won't! I can't! I- oh, what's the use? It'd take a miracle to get me out of here! No! Hermione think! There has to be a way out, now, they will probably not feed me, so, if I can hold out until I start losing weight – The door opened cutting off her train of thought.