A/N: okay I'm warning you now, this is a pretty intense chapter, not too bad but if you have a queasy stomach, just a warning. I'm proud of myself, I got this update up pretty quick, like three days after my last update. Thanks to all my reviews, im really enjoying this fic. Anyways, enough of my rambling, on with the story!

Chapter Eleven: Him... The Reason

"This, Mudblood, is not the best way to start off your term here at Azkaban." The sneering face of Lucius Malfoy sent shivers racking through her body. Draco had thought it necessary to have her bound and gagged, then taken to his father, though Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that, that particular act of precaution, had been for his own sick and twisted amusement.

Lucius, to say in the least, had not been happy. Currently, she, Lucius, Draco, and two Death Eaters were located in a distant tower, somewhere in the midst's of Azkaban Prison, and Hermione was scared out of her wits. Two angry Malfoy's and a few random Death Eaters had not been on her list of people to deal with that day.

"Mister Malfoy, I have no respect for this place, andI have no respect for you, so could you please explain to me why I would abide the rules set by you in this place?" She really needed to work on biting her tongue, but she'd almost say it was worth it, the look on his face . . .

Anger twisted his features. Reaching out his hand, he struck her across the face, sending her sprawling onto the floor. Breathing heavily, Hermione pushed herself up and stared defiantly into Lucius' cold gray eyes. So familiar, not unlike his sons. Gray, cold and unfeeling. Anger welled inside her, how she longed to cause him more pain than even she had experienced, both of them, father and son suffering. Breathing heavy, Hermione contained herself, choosing to express her deep loathing through her eyes instead of her words, even his eyes, showed deepest loathing, almost to the extent of her own.

"You'd best watch your mouth, filth, or you might find yourself in a very dire situation." Loathing still filling his eyes, a smirk spread across his features. Behind him, Hermione could see Draco mirroring the expression, he was leaning against the wall, masculine arms crossed across his chest, a familiar evil glint in his eyes. He looked striking. By striking, she meant horrifying, of course, horrifying, bad, not good. . .Striking . . .

Blinking rapidly and shaking herself out of her revenue, she stood, staring Lucius straight in the face. Filth. She was not filth.

"Ah, good of you to control yourself, scum, it would not have behooved you to do something rash." He sneered. "Now, for your punishment, I think a nice lashing would do the trick, perhaps in the lower dungeons? I know your friends would enjoy seeing you lashed over and over-" At this point Hermione stopped listening, he could insult her, he could insult her friends, but he could NOT insinuate that her friends didn't care about her. Working her jaw furiously Hermione gathered all the saliva she could.

And spit squarely into the face of Lucius Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy was in a very good mood.

He had watched the dark lord torture three foolish Death Eaters, caught Granger breaking the rules, and witnessed her spit into his fathers face. The look on his face . . . and then the look on her face when she found out her fate. . .

Now, he was on his way to see how his favorite Mudblood was fairing. Stalking down the crumbling stone staircase, he grinned as cries of pain reached his ears. Feminine cries of pain. Rounding the corner, the sight before him caused his breath to catch in his throat.

She was on the ground; attempting to push herself up, but failing repeatedly. After a few moments, she stopped trying, falling in a heap that was racking with sobs. Her clothes were torn even more than usual, blood streamed down her face, and the bushy hair that usual perched on top of her head was wet with a mix of tears and blood. It, by far, was the most stunning sight he had ever seen.

Suddenly, her body went rigid. Still unnoticed, Draco looked around; and recognized the reason of her actions. A figure, clad in black custom Death Eater robes, was approaching. Snickering slightly, Draco moved nearer. He needed to see this.

The figure drew closer to Hermione's miserable form, and drew from his robes a long wooden rod. Prodding her once lightly with it, she did not budge. Exasperated, the Death Eater smacked her once or twice in the ribs, causing her to roll over. Tears mingled with blood all over her face, bruises spotted her body, the once whole robe was torn straight down the middle, revealing the pale bruised and battered flesh beneath.

"P-please!" Hermione sobbed. "No-no more. . ." her cries faded into moans of anguish as the long rod began its work. After striking her repeatedly got dull, the Death Eater began more intense work. Poking her in different select places that caused her moans of aching to elevate into screams of pain, Draco half wanted to laugh, and half wanted to stop the progress. Here she was, miss Know It All herself, at the mercy of a not even high ranking Death Eater. This little heap of suffering beauty, was in pain. Intense, enormous pain. And it was remarkable the way this caused his robes to tighten dramatically around his midriff.

If Draco thought he had been in a good mood before; it was nothing in comparison to now.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o

Still. Hermione's body was still quivering with sobs, still. She cried out, letting tears poor down her face. It had been more than a day since her punishment had been issued, and she was still suffering from the memories of it:

'Wow.' She thought. She hadn't expected her aim to be so accurate when she launched the spit into Lucius' face. Rage and anger contorted his already hideous face into something that could rival the Dark Lords face itself. It then registered what Hermione had actually done, and it dawned on her that if she indeed valued her life, she would run for it.

Looking around in panic, Hermione made a dive for the door; only to find it blocked by a smirking Draco Malfoy. Reaching out and grabbing her arm with lightning fast speed, he spun her so he was holding her in such a way that prevented her escape. Leaning his lips to her ear, he whispered to her.

"You're in for it now Granger, don't worry, I'll be there for . . . emotional support." Sneering, he drew back, glancing at his father, who was vigorously scrubbing his face. Still holding her tightly, Draco asked. "Father, what should be done about this?" Looking up, Lucius sneered angrily.

"Brand her! Lash her until she looses consciousness." Anger filled his voice, his attempt of controlling it wasn't helping much. He then turned away.

Trembling Hermione looked into Draco's eyes, willing to find mercy there, willing for him to have some sort of understanding, some human in him. When Hermione met his eyes, she knew; there would be no mercy, no understanding, he would order her to be beat within an inch of her life. With Draco Malfoy, there had been no mercy before, and there would never be.

Hermione shook with the memory. How could she have been so naïve? Mercy in Draco Malfoy? He was the reason she was here, he was the reason she now had the Malfoy Crest tattooed permanentlyinto her skin on her ribcage. He was the reason she was hiding in an vacant cell, hiding from the world, the evil, the dark, the light, hiding from him.

A/N: WOW that was intense, and fun to write, please tell me what you think about this chapter, I REALLY want to know how I did, criticism is appreciated!!!!! I love all of my readers and reviewers, thanks, please review!!!

Draco: Oh yeah, go me, go me. doeslittlejig

Hermione: HOW could you do that to me??

Me: don't worry you guys, it'll all turn out in the end!

Harry: Whines When am I going to be in the story?

Me: Soon enough Harry, soon enough.