Compliance. Do what they say and they won't hurt you. She'd repeated it like a mantra. Compliance. Do what they say and you'll be safe. Compliance. Do what they say and Harry will be safe.

Compliance.

They'd been searched - Hermione more thoroughly than the boys - and Disapparated, reappearing nauseously outside a mansion that seemed dark enough to influence the weather around it. Traveling with her hands behind her back threw off her center of balance so badly that she almost collapsed back onto the man holding her once her feet hit the ground. Almost. It was colder here than it was when they left, and the sky wasn't as bright. Heavy clouds nearly blended into the fog surrounding their knees, but Harry was next to her, doing his best to send her reassurance through his own fear. She could feel it, but for once, it didn't really help. She was without her wand, without her magic, without her hands. And she was afraid she'd be without her dignity if they didn't hand them over to someone else soon, which was a terrifying thought in itself.

Down a long driveway they were led until coming to a tall gate. Hermione glanced over to the wall surrounding the mansion and tried to keep her mind from reeling at the sight of snakes carved into the stone columns.

Compliance .

It was Malfoy Manor, and for probably the only time in her life, she prayed for them to be left alone with Draco. Maybe he would help. Defy his parents like he almost had that night he was supposed to kill Dumbledore, but couldn't. His weapon of choice was mostly words.

Bellatrix Lestrange was the first to greet them as the Snatchers pushed Harry's face against the gate and moving his hair to the side to reveal what Hermione could only assume was the indentation of a scar that hadn't been morphed by the jinx.

"Get Draco."

"He'll have fun with you, gorgeous," Hermione's captor whispered in her ear, and a shudder rippled through her body. She knew it wasn't true - he wouldn't touch her like that with a ten-meter pole - but it was awful to think about just the same.

The gate opened and they were roughly ushered through before Bellatrix closed it back and redid the enchantments. "I know you two," she sneered, looking between Ron and Hermione. "And he's no Longbottom." She was following Hermione so closely, she wasn't sure if she was trying to smell her hair, too.

Greyback let go of Harry and moved into the house first, presumably to get the Malfoys. Bellatrix held the door so they could all go through, slamming it shut behind them with an bang that echoed through the enormous marble foyer loud enough to make even the Snatchers jump in surprise. So they were scared of the Malfoys, too. That was a thought to file away.

Bellatrix took over Harry, grabbing a handful of his hair and pushing him to the middle of the room as the Malfoys entered. Greyback took Hermione in one hand and Ron in the other. As if he trusted them to stay put. Compliance. Hermione caught Draco's eye and his jaw visibly clenched as he read the room, lingering on her gaze for a few seconds before stepping closer to Harry.

"Is this who we think it is, Draco?" Bellatrix hissed, pushing Harry down onto his knees. He grunted as his kneecaps collided with the floor, but didn't break his own eye contact with Draco. "Well?"

"I can't be sure."

He was procrastinating. Lucius grabbed the back of Draco's neck, obviously irritated. "If we are the ones to hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be forgiven. All will be as it was, do you understand?"

Even though Draco's back was to them, Hermione could tell he was nervous.

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy," the head Snatcher piped up confidently.

"You dare talk to me like that in my own house?!"

Narcissa quickly rushed to pull Lucius away before he hurt the Snatcher or his son in the process.

"Don't be shy," purred Bellatrix, reaching for Draco's hand and pulling him closer. "Come on. Now, if this isn't who we think it is and we call him, he'll kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure."

Malfoy looked at him for a few more seconds, thinking, stalling. "...What's wrong with his face?"

"Yes, what's wrong with his face?" Bellatrix asked, jabbing the tip of her wand into Harry's cheek and looking to the Snatchers.

"He came to us like that. Probably something he picked up in the forest."

"Or ran into a Stinging Jinx." Hermione's heart sank - of course they'd know what that was. Only a matter of time before it wore off. Bellatrix stood, leaving Harry free under Malfoy's gaze. "Was it you, dearie? Give me her wand. Let's see what her last spell was." Hermione must have given herself away, because a sinister laugh erupted from Bellatrix's throat. "Got you."

But as she reached out to the Snatcher for Hermione's wand, something in his hand caught her eye and made her stop dead in her tracks. "Where'd you get that from?"

"It was in her bag when we searched her. Reckon it's mine now."

If Hermione wasn't so terrified, she may have laughed at what that man just set himself up for. Leather ropes shot from her wand and wrapped around the man's neck, forcing him to drop the sword into Bellatrix's hand as he was flung back against a pillar.

"Are you mad?!" Greyback yelled, shoving Ron and Hermione into a corner where Narcissa held them at wandpoint as he stormed Bellatrix. Leather ropes quickly tightened around his neck, and he fell to his knees. Then, she moved to the lead Snatcher, who suffered the same fate.

"Get out!" she screamed, letting them struggle for a few seconds before releasing the ropes so they could walk. "Go!" Once they were out of sight, she swirled around to face them. "Cissy, take the boys to the cellar! I want to have a chat with this one, girl to girl."

Narcissa forced them into the waiting arms of Peter Pettigrew, who shoved them down a flight of stairs and into a cellar. Harry's eyes tried to adjust to the small bit of light shining through a tiny window, but without his glasses, he was still out of luck. "Enjoy the show," Pettigrew teased before shutting and locking the door.

"What are we gonna do? We can't leave Hermione alone with her!" Ron panted.

"I know, I know. I'm trying to think. Give me a minute."

"We don't have a minute!"

"I know, Ron, shut up!" If only he had Hermione's brain, he'd have a plan already. But he'd been so consumed with the fact that Malfoy hadn't given him up that he hadn't thought about what was going to happen next. And he definitely hadn't thought they'd get separated.

"Ron? Harry?" an instantly recognizable voice softly echoed through the cellar as a figure emerged from the darkness. Ron took the Deluminator from his pocket, glad the Snatchers hadn't deemed it important enough to confiscate, and clicked it. Suddenly remembering Hermione had put his glasses in his pocket, he slid them on the best he could over his swollen face as a single lantern lit up the space just enough to see through some of the shadows.

"Luna?"

Hermione's blood-curdling scream flew down the stairs and ripped straight through Harry's body, and he could feel it, as if his stomach was being split in two. He fell back against the wall in shock, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain Hermione was in. But it came again, and he slammed his shoulder against the bars of the door, ignoring the jolt of pain it brought. "Let her go! Leave her alone!" He tried rattling the door to no avail. "SHE WON'T TELL YOU ANYTHING! STOP IT!"

Tears stung his eyes as he felt Ron's arms around him, pulling him away from the bars, and he couldn't help but fight back. This was all his fault. If he hadn't asked that question at Xenophilius's house, he wouldn't have answered, they wouldn't have needed to get away, the Snatchers wouldn't have captured them, and Hermione wouldn't be enduring whatever torture Voldemort's right-hand woman deemed appropriate for answers Hermione truly wouldn't have. It was pointless.

"Harry, you're gonna hurt yourself," Ron grunted.

"I don't care! They're gonna kill her if we don't do something!"

"Harry, look at me. Look at me!" On the verge of tears himself, Ron roughly grabbed his chin, forcing Harry's attention. "Yelling's not going to get her out. They're not going to listen to you!"

Another scream of pain tore through Harry's heart, and he shook his head. "I can feel it, Ron. I can feel what she's doing to her."

More people were coming from the shadows, and Harry wiped his eyes to see Griphook and Ollivander down there too. He'd had to bring Ollivander in for information about the Elder Wand, but why Griphook? He couldn't concentrate. This was too much. Too real. Everything before this had been easy. He'd rather see her bleeding on the ground than listen to her being tortured. At least one of those things, he could fix.

"There's no way out of here," Ollivander sighed. "We've tried everything. Too many enchantments."

Hermione's screams seemed to stop, and he hoped it was because Bellatrix was finished. But he could still feel Hermione's energy coming through, and even though it was weak, it meant she was still alive. Ron's Deluminator doused the lights as Pettigrew's quick footsteps came down the stairs. Harry thought to make a run for it when the door opened, but he knew it would be a death sentence. Pettigrew only forcefully ushered Griphook over and took him up the stairs. Harry didn't even find himself sorry that he was glad Griphook would be taking Hermione's place.

He was desperate. His own words came back to him. What would he do for her? Anything. Risk his own life? Absolutely. But would he risk Ron's? Luna's? He pulled Sirius's mirror shard out of his sock where it had been cooly pressing into his ankle. It hadn't provided them anything so far, but whoever he'd been seeing on the other side was obviously a real person who might be able to do something. "Help them," he whispered into it before putting it back and moving to the gate again, pushing through Ron as he tried to hold him back. "Take me!" he yelled at whoever was listening at the top of the stairs. "I'm Harry Potter! I'm the one you want!" He turned back to Ron, who looked like he was debating whether he should hug him or punch him. Another scream came from Hermione that briefly sounded like, " No! " and Harry felt a surge of her terror that lit his nerves on fire. He shook his hands out in an attempt to settle it. Had he just made things worse for her?

A figure appeared in the middle of the dungeon and Harry turned back. "Dobby? What are you doing here?"

"Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter, of course!"

"Are you saying you can Apparate in and out of this room?"

"Of course, sir. I'm an elf," he said matter-of-factly. But Harry didn't have time to question it.

"Take everyone to Shell Cottage in Tinworth."

"What about you, sir?" he asked, taking Luna and Ollivander's hands.

Footsteps were coming down the stairs again.

"I'll be all right. Don't worry about me. Take them and go." But Ron wasn't moving. "Ron, go."

"I'm not leaving you, mate. Not again."

"I'll come back for you, Harry Potter and Mister Wheezy."

Then they were alone until Pettigrew showed up through the door. "You're really planning on sacrificing yourself for them?" he sneered, unlocking the door and pointing his wand immediately at Harry. "Come on then, stupid boy. If you're not him, you'll be in much worse trouble, you know." Ron made a move to follow, but Pettigrew held him back. "You're not going anywhere, Weasley. Just him."

"No," Harry insisted. He was second-guessing stalling, but Hermione was still quiet. Bellatrix must still be with Griphook. "He's coming with me."

"I don't think so."

With Pettigrew's attention on Harry, Ron tried to scamper up the stairs, but Pettigrew stunned him quickly, and he fell hard. Immediately, Harry tackled Pettigrew, fighting to reach for their wands, but the feeling of cold metal around his neck stopped him from going too far. Pettigrew's silver hand was pinning him to the wall, clearly stronger than the man could be by himself. He tried using both his hands to pry it off, but it was too late.

"St-Stop," Harry gasped. "You… you can't kill me."

"The Dark Lord gave me this hand. It's an extension of him," Pettigrew smirked. "Might be worth a shot."

"What… what if it's… not?" He sensed something deep in Pettigrew's eyes, like he wasn't totally in control of this hand. "Please," he finally managed to get out. "I… saved your life, Peter. In third year. Remember?" He could feel Hermione's energy fading a little, as if she was fighting consciousness. Hang on, Hermione, I'm coming.

At Harry's words, the hand on his neck seemed to retract just the smallest bit to allow him some relief. But just as he was relaxing, Pettigrew's hand was quickly moving to its owner's neck instead. It was choking him . No. Harry knew Pettigrew didn't deserve to die like this.

He dove for Pettigrew's pockets and took the first wand he could find to revive Ron, who tripped on the stairs as, for the first few seconds he was up, he thought he was still running. "Ron, help me!" he whispered, ushering Ron over and trying to pry the hand away from Pettigrew's neck. Ron looked at Harry with hesitance, but tried to help as well, even though it was no use. The powers Voldemort had given it were too strong to be overpowered by the two of them, and they couldn't use magic to help or they'd draw attention more than he was sure they already had.

"I'm sorry," Harry uttered, shaking his head in utter despair. "I-I didn't mean…" He was so tired of watching people die in front of him that he hadn't meant to hurt. He thought he'd just let them go. But no. There Pettigrew was, struggling to breathe under his own hand while Harry and Ron could do nothing but watch as finally, he went limp on the floor.

"Shit," Ron sighed. "What was that all about?"

"He hesitated. His… his hand.."

"Well, well, well… this is an… interesting turn of events," Malfoy sneered from the top of the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder before stepping down a few more. Harry pointed his wand at him, backing up against the wall. "Put that away, Potter. I came to get you when he took too long." He stopped, looking down at Pettigrew's body. "Is he dead?"

Harry nodded.

"Pity. Where are the others?" he asked, looking into the cellar. "And don't play stupid."

"Gone."

Malfoy nodded, getting Ron's wand from Pettigrew's pocket and handing it over. "Hide these and play along," he hissed through his teeth as he grabbed the back of Harry's and Ron's shirts and pushed them up the stairs. "She'll be all right. Granger. Healing potion. Nerve regeneration. Rest."

His jaw tightened as he got in view of everyone else in the foyer, but Harry's mind was reeling. Malfoy was helping? He was helping Hermione ? He was helping them? He'd already bought them time by not giving Harry up when he had the opportunity.

Bellatrix was still interrogating Griphook, but all Harry could focus on was Hermione's still body lying on the floor, tears still rolling down her cheek. Play along. Stay calm.

"What'd you bring him up here for?" Bellatrix asked as she looked up at them, pointing her wand at Ron.

"The whole school knows he's got a thing for the Mudblood. He'll say anything if you threaten him with her safety. Figured it might come in handy if Potter won't talk."

Bellatrix grinned, and Harry fidgeted uncomfortably under her gaze, and for a split second, he debated backing up closer to Malfoy, because that seemed safer. God, what had this world come to? He could tell his vision was coming back as the Stinging Jinx wore off, and Bellatrix giggled.

"So it is you. Harry Potter, all bright and shiny and new again," Bellatrix whispered, sliding the tip of her wand down his cheek and neck. He forced himself to keep eye contact with her. "Now I'll ask you , and you better tell the truth or I won't be as careful with your friend." A gleam of satisfaction moved through her eyes as Harry tensed. "Where. Did. You. Get. That. Sword? It was in my vault. And now, it's here. With her."

"We found it."

"You're lying ! You're all LYING! Someone was in my vault! Let's try you again, shall we? And this time, I won't be as gentle." She turned back towards Hermione, her wand outstretched, and any calculated plan Harry had come up with was out the window.

" Expelliarmus !"

With Bellatrix's back turned, her wand flew out of her hand easily into Harry's, but Narcissa and Lucius started shooting spells at them as well, bouncing them off the floor, walls, and columns. Draco grabbed his wand, but Harry was a little faster, struggling for a split second before pulling it out of his grip. He didn't trust him not to play along himself and fight back, and he didn't want to risk it. Defenceless, Draco hid, and Harry and Ron managed to knock out the older Malfoys before turning back to Bellatrix, who'd pulled Hermione up off the ground by her hair, a knife to her neck. The whine of fear she let out was enough to make Harry comply with whatever Bellatrix wanted.

"That's right," she grinned, licking her lips with a smirk. "Any more trouble and she's dead. Drop your wands." Harry's immediately hit the floor, followed by Ron's. Malfoy hurried to collect them again as well as his own from Harry's pocket. "Call him, Draco."

Malfoy froze at the command, flicking his eyes to Harry. There was a great deal of indecision and, Harry was certain, fear at what would happen to him once Bellatrix found out what he'd done. All Harry could think about was the scared boy he'd found crying in the bathroom. The one who he nearly killed. The one who was saving his life. It didn't make sense, but nothing in this war made sense.

"What are you waiting for?!" Bellatrix screeched, and Malfoy cringed, pulling up his sleeve reluctantly to reveal a very prominent, and most likely very new, Dark Mark. His wand was shakily made its way closer to it. Obviously, Malfoy had never done this before, but Bellatrix was impatient. Or bored. Harry couldn't tell which, but she rolled her eyes, then paused.

Harry, Ron, and Malfoy followed her gaze to see Dobby sitting on the enormous chandelier above them and painstakingly unscrewing it from the chain tethering it to the ceiling. The few seconds was all he needed before it was falling. Dobby Disapparated and Bellatrix moved back, effectively pushing Hermione forward as glass shattered, candles rolled, and iron crunched. Ron grabbed her and pulled her away as Harry ran to Malfoy, who'd tripped over his father's cane in his haste to get away. He fought with him again, tugging Bellatrix's, and Malfoy's own wands away a little easier than he thought it should have been. Dobby was standing on the railing, his arms outstretched for all of them. He was going to get them out. Hermione was safe. A flash of metal caught the corner of Harry's eyes as Griphook grabbed the sword and grabbed onto Hermione's pant leg.

Harry didn't dare turn his back on Bellatrix; he backed up towards the group, wand at the ready.

"Stupid elf!" Bellatrix called, making her way through the shards of broken glass that littered the floor. "You could have killed me!"

"Dobby never meant to kill!" he defended. "Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure!"

"How dare you! I'm part of the Malfoy family! How dare you defy your masters!"

"Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf. And Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!" Harry glanced back to make sure they all had hands on Dobby before he Disapparated. The only time he'd traveled with that many people had been to the Quidditch World Cup, and he wasn't a fan. It wasn't comfortable, and they all managed to end up in different spots, but no one else mattered except Hermione.