The battle was over, and they had lost. Once Hagrid had returned with Harry's lifeless body the fight seemed to go out of the Order of the Phoenix quickly. It didn't take long before Kingsley surrendered.
The first thing the death eaters did was divide those remaining by blood-status. Pure-bloods remained in the great hall, half-bloods were taken to a nearby classroom, and muggle-borns were led to the old potions room in the dungeon.
Hours later, that is where Hermione remained, sitting on the cold stone floor between Dean Thomas and Justin Finch-Fletchy. The room was silent until the heavy stone door opened and Aberforth was shoved in.
"What are you doing here?" Dean asked.
"I'm a Dumbledore, isn't it obvious? I'm here to join those awaiting execution." A girl in the corner sobbed at his words.
"What's happening up there?" Hermione asked.
"Death eaters are holding mock trials to decide everyone's fate. Some, like Shackelbolt and the older Weasley's are being taken to Azkaban. The younger ones will remain at Hogwarts and undergo some kind of training program. Teach them how to be proper pure-bloods."
Once they finished with the pure-bloods they started on the half-bloods. Those who could prove their status joined the pure-bloods, those who could not, the mudbloods. Hermione had managed to doze off when Thorfinn Rowle entered. "On your feet mudbloods." He barked. The group was led up and back to the great hall where they were instructed to sit on the floor. At the head table sat Voldemort and his top death eaters: Bellatrix, Rabastan, Lucius, and Yaxley.
"As admirable as your bravery was tonight, there is no place in the wizarding world for filth such as yourself." Voldemort began. "I wish I could promise you a quick and painless death, but alas, I cannot. You will remain here to be utilized as training aids in our new rehabilitation program, as well as to replace the labor of those house elves who foolishly died fighting against us. Follow Alecto." Once again the group of muggle-borns was led back down to the dungeons and locked in. "Enjoy your stay mudbloods. Perhaps one of you will be lucky and will become my own personal servant."
"You have a funny view on luck." Hermione muttered.
A searing pain tore through Hermione's right cheek. "That should teach you to run your mouth, filth."
The group was kept locked away for the next few days, let out in small groups to do manual labor and clean up after the death eaters that had taken over the castle. Each time Alecto made an appearance she looked for an opportunity to torture Hermione, and by the fourth day after the battle the girl was covered in cuts and bruises.
"Good news, maggots!" Goyle Sr. announced one afternoon. "The Dark Lord has generously given his permission for the most esteemed of his followers to purchase some of you, the house elf population being so depleted these days. The heads of each house will be arriving shortly to look you over, so do try to look your best." He chuckled at his own joke while those being held captive exchanged nervous glances. Lucius arrived first, along with Dolohov and Rabastan Lestrange. Rabastan immediately began surveying all of the young women, demanding they be stripped of their clothing. Hermione watched in anguish as a Hufflepuff girl she vaguely recognized was forcibly stripped naked, and Rabastan ran a calloused hand over her breasts. Lestrange then moved on, stopping in front of Hermione. "Well, if it isn't Potter's whore. Let's see what you look like under those rags."
"No. Not that one. She is mine." A cold voice spoke up.
"Bellatrix. Surely we can work out a deal, dear sister-in-law."
"Ex sister-in-law. And no, that is the one I want, and you can't afford to out-bid me. Granger. Come here." For a moment Hermione contemplated not obeying. Surely a quick death would be better than whatever Bellatrix had in store for her. But she rose and crossed the room shakily to stand before Bellatrix.
"We're leaving now, pet." Hermione followed her new master out of the castle where she was surprised to see the sun shining brightly. It seemed unfair that life continued on as usual when so much death had taken place just days before.
They arrived in a dungeon, complete with several cells. Each was equipped with a single mattress, a toilet and a sink. "My own version of Azkaban." Bellatrix announced. "Sans dementors of course. Now pet, look at me." Hermione boldly looked Bellatrix in the eye. "Let me make something clear. You belong to me. I will do with you as I see fit and you will obey every command I give you. If I wish to torture you as I did at Malfoy Manor I will do so. If I wish to loan you to one of my friends, that is what will happen. If I get tired of you I will kill you. No one is coming to save you. Do you understand?"
Hermione remained silent. "Answer me mudblood." Bellatrix pointed her wand at the girl.
"I understand." Hermione said.
"Good. Now in you go." Bellatrix unlocked one cell door and shoved Hermione forward. The door locked behind her. "Get some rest mudblood."
Four days later Hermione lay in the dark wishing for death to come. She had not seen Bellatrix in all that time, had not eaten, could no longer sleep because of the hunger pains.
"Excuse me, miss." Hermione looked up, startled. A well-kept house elf was standing just outside her cell door. "Horna has brought you some food miss."
Hermione crept closer and eagerly took the bowl and chunk of bread from the elf. "Thank you Horna." she said. With a bow and a pop the elf was gone. She didn't return for several more days, and this pattern repeated many more times.
"Horna," Hermione asked one day when the elf brought her a chunk of bread with cheese, "How long have I been here?" The elf shook her head. "Horna is not allowed to say ma'am."
"Oh. Ok."
"But Horna did bring Miss something." The elf looked around worriedly then quickly passed her a napkin- wrapped slice of cake. Hermione longed to shove it in her mouth but restrained herself.
"No, Horna if you will be punished for this I don't want it."
"Please miss. Miss Bellatrix will not punish Horna. Horna is a good elf."
"Are you sure? I don't want to get you in trouble."
The elf nodded eagerly. "Miss Bellatrix is nice to Horna. It's Master…" The elf suddenly clapped her hands over her mouth.
"I see. Rodolphus Lestrange is dead Horna."
"Master is dead?"
"Killed during the battle." Hermione finally relented and ate the cake. "Thank you."
The pattern of intermittent feeding continued on, until Hermione realized she was going to be continually hungry for the rest of her life. She was being given just enough to keep her alive, yet wishing all the time for death. One afternoon when Horna brought her food the muggle born refused to even get off her mattress, prompting the house elf to hurry away to her master.
"Miss Bellatrix. I'm sorry to interrupt you when you is talking to Miss Narcissa."
"What is it Horna?"
"The girl Miss Bellatrix. She will not eat. I think she may be ill."
"Very well. I will see her myself." Bellatrix rose from her seat at the table. "I'll be back momentarily Cissy." Bellatrix went downstairs to the dungeons and unlocked the cell door. "Get up mudblood." When Hermione didn't move the witch crossed the cell and delivered a sharp kick to her rib cage. "I said, get up." When this did not elicit a response either she pulled the girl up by the shirt front. Hermione's eyes fluttered open.
"Are you an angel?" she whispered before passing out.
When she awakened she felt much better, no longer hungry at all. "Bella, she is awake." A female voice called out. Hermione sat up, suddenly terrified. She was no longer in the dungeon, she was in a formal sitting room, Narcissa Malfoy watching her with interest.
"Get up." Bellatrix ordered, coming back into the room. Hermione got up as quickly as she could. "Follow me." Bellatrix led her to a bathroom, using her wand to fill the claw-footed tub. "Bathe. Everything you need is here."
Hermione wasted no time stripping out of her filthy clothes, dipping a foot into the water and finding it blissfully warm. She sank into the tub and quickly washed her hair and body, not sure how long she would be given. When she was done she looked for a towel, finding only a soft robe hanging nearby. Just as she tied the belt closed, Horna appeared. "Is Miss Finished?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Follow me please. Miss Bella wants to see you."
Horna led her down another hall and entered a kitchen where Narcissa sat sipping tea. Bellatrix sat across from her sister, watching Hermione standing uncertainly against the wall. This was the first time since she had awakened that she had truly seen her captor. She was sure she was hallucinating at first, Bellatrix didn't look a day over twenty-five. Her teeth were perfect, brilliant white, her face unlined. Why did no one ever tell me she was beautiful? Hermione wondered. Bellatrix noticed her expression and smirked. "Enjoying the view mudblood?" Hermione blushed and looked away. "A gift from the dark lord." she said. "A reward for my faithfulness and service."
"And don't think we aren't all envious." Narcissa remarked. "You don't look much older than the day you left Hogwarts."
"I did spend fourteen years in Azkaban. I've earned more than a pretty face." Bella said bitterly.
"Really, Bella, I don't know what you expected." Narcissa said.
"Not this. After all I have done for him, Rabastan is appointed minister. And I? Who has done everything? Head of magical law enforcement?"
"A means to an end. That's all any of us are. Will you do what he suggested?"
"No. There is no point and he very well knows that."
"What did you do to me?" Hermione suddenly blurted out.
"What do you mean? I haven't do anything to you. Yet."
"I feel...normal. Healthy."
"Just a few potions to counteract the weeks of starvation."
"Be careful Bella. I must go, I've been gone too long already." Once Narcissa had left Bellatrix turned her attention to Hermione.
"Come here pet." Hermione obediently crossed the room. When she was standing in front of the death eater Bellatrix commanded her to kneel, and then leaned forward to grasp her by the chin. "Now, what have we learned so far?"
"I'm sorry I don't know what you mean."
"You remember our time together at Malfoy Manor?"
"Yes." Hermione was unable to keep the panic from her voice.
"You know that I can be cruel. I can hurt you immeasurably. Your time here with me can be unbearable, as you well know. On the other hand, I can also be kind. Gentle." Bellatrix ran her thumb over Hermione's bottom lip. "Now, don't you prefer this side of me?"
"Yes Miss Black."
"So what have you learned?"
"If I do what you want you will be nice to me? You won't hurt me?"
"Exactly." Bellatrix toyed with her hair. "Do you know why I picked you?"
"No Miss Black."
"Many reasons. I very well know that you were the brains behind Potter. Everything he achieved was because of you. I know that you're said to be the brightest, most talented witch of your generation. You're brave. You're prepared to die for what you believe in. It seemed a waste to let you die so quickly."
"But, I'm muggle-born."
"I know. It's fascinating. But there is no denying your power. I admire all of those qualities. It doesn't hurt that you're quite beautiful as well."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"That night, as you writhed beneath me, pleading, begging for your life, I've never been so turned on. If you had not escaped I would have taken you right there on Cissy's expensive rug. It's been far too long since I've had a beautiful woman."
Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. Bellatrix wanted her to torture for sexual gratification? "But you just said, if I was good, you wouldn't hurt me."
"And I won't. There are many ways to make you beg. Anyway, you captured my attention. If I had not chosen you the next in line would have. Rabastan most certainly. And he would have not wasted a moment defiling you. You wouldn't have wanted that surely?"
"No. Thank you. For saving me." Hermione's head was reeling. Was Bellatrix telling the truth? If she was well behaved would she leave her alone?
"You're welcome. Now, as far as your duties here are concerned, I wish for you to aid Horna in her work. It has been a long time since Black Manor was occupied and I want it returned to its former state. Just so you know, there is no way you can escape the house and it will be very painful if you try. And will disappoint me very much."
"I understand."
"Somehow I doubt that. But, we shall see." Horna will show you to your new room.