A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience with me while getting this chapter out. I participated in a Ficfest, and that took priority over this chapter for me. Anywhoo, I love you all so much. I hope you enjoy this chapter. **** TRIGGER WARNING**** There is torture in this scene, rating has gone to 'M'. Much love- Bookworm

He was so tired, but he couldn't skip another day from Potterwatch. George had been so kind to point out he had skipped being on the show for well over a month. He had bribed Fred by bringing him breakfast in bed, and promising they would take some polyjuice and go outside. Ever since they had been forced to leave The Burrow, they had been forced to remain inside and it had taken a toll on both Fred and George.

"Rapier, what do you say?" Lee asked, looking concerned. When Fred glanced around the table, confused, Lee repeated the question. "What do you think about You-Know-Who leaving the country?" He asked.

"Erm… Is he taking a holiday? Seems bad timing to me River." He said with a shrug, and leaning closer to the microphone. "Seems to me that he's taking it easy on Potter, giving him a chance even, if he has taken a holiday." He whispered in a conspiratorial tone. With a glance around the table, he saw everyone grinning encouragingly at him, and decided to continue.

"What does it say when the most feared wizard in a century takes leave of his post? Says to me he's lost his nerve, River. Of course, what do I know? I'm basically a child compared to him. Which brings something else up, You-Know-Who is running from children. Never mind that they are technically adults, they are barely. You-Know-Who isn't up against an army like we are, his rivals are children. The person who seems to be his biggest threat," Fred took a moment to let out a laugh, "has been so since before he was born. A baby! Who is scared of a baby?" He laughed.

"Thank you for that… colorful… commentary Rapier." Kingsley said with a chuckle.

"And, on that note, it seems we have come to that time again for us to sign off. Stay strong, stay vigilant. Harry, we are behind you." Lee said, raising a questioning eyebrow to Fred, who nodded. "We have one last message tonight before we release the next password, Rapier?"

"Otter, I love you. I need you to be strong, and I need you to be safe. Come home soon." Fred said, finishing his statement with a nod to Lee.

"Thank you Rapier. Your next password will be…" He trailed off, thinking, before grinning widely. "Barny." He said, making everyone around the table laugh.

"Keep each other safe: keep the faith." Remus said before Lee ended the show.

"It's good to have you back mate." Lee said, standing and giving Fred a hug.

"It's good to be back." Fred admitted, feeling more like himself than he had in a long time. Lee released him, but was quickly and roughly replaced by a beaming George. Fred let out a laugh, and returned the hug tightly.

"Thank Merlin. You were scaring me." He heard George say softly, and he nodded.

"I know, I'm sorry…" Fred muttered.

"It's fine." George said, shaking his head and releasing his twin. "It's fine. Let's go get the polyjuice, we can go to that magic shop." George suggested, and Fred eagerly agreed.

Harry looked around the tent at Ron and Hermione, their faced expressing the same shock he imagined was mirrored on his own.

"He's out of the country?" Ron asked, looking for anyone to confirm what he just heard. Harry nodded slowly, and Hermione slowly closed her mouth.

"What does it mean?" She asked slowly, eyeing Harry closely.

"I… I dunno." Harry admitted, rubbing his hand on his cheek. "Maybe he is… Hermione, what if the Elder Wand exists?" He asked, and she opened her mouth to reply, but he continued to speak. "I know we said that the Hallows had nothing to do with the Horcruxes, and maybe they don't. But what if they have to do with Vol-"

"NO!" Ron bellowed, and Harry rolled his eyes, but continued to speak.

"You-Know_Who then! What if he is looking for the Hallows? The Elder Wand is unbeatable, right?" Harry asked, pausing for Hermione to actually answer.

"Well, yes but Harry-" She started to tell him that it didn't exist, but he once again began to speak.

"Then that's what he's after. He's after the wand. That has to be it!" He shouted excitedly, standing and beginning to walk around the tent.

"Harry, the wand is just a legend." Hermione said desperately, attempting to steer him away from his train of thought.

"Hermione, he has proven legends right before, just look at the Chamber of Secrets!" Harry said excitedly. "If he is out of the country, now is our time to try to hunt the rest down while he's distracted." He said.

"I don't know Harry… We don't have any leads on any more Horcruxes. We have time Harry." Hermione attempted to reassure him.

"Hermione this is Volde-"

"NO HARRY!" Ron screamed, his eyes wide.

"-mort we are talking about." Harry finished, ignoring Ron.

"Harry it's taboo!" Ron shouted, standing and scrambling about. "We need to leave. Now." Ron insisted, shoving his items into his rucksack haphazardly. "NOW!" He shouted, looking wildly at Hermione and Harry. They dashed to pack their possessions, but were stopped by loud noises outside the tent.

"Snatch 'em!" They heard. Hermione froze for a moment, they had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. She bit her lip before turning to Harry.

"I'm sorry." She said, her eyes tearing up as she lifted her wand and shot a stinging jinx at Harry's face. As she watched his face swell, she snatched his glasses from his face and shoved them into the beaded bag.

"Wha- 'ermione." Harry said, struggling to speak past his swollen lips.

"Shhh." She said as the snatchers crashed into the tent. She was grabbed roughly around the waist, her feet ripped off of the ground.

"Look what we 'ave." The man who held her said in a thick accent as he carried her outside. She struggled violently, attempting to shake herself out of his grasp. "Oooh we 'ave a fighter." He chuckled. She continued to struggle against him, maybe if she got away she would be able to get them out of this. A face appeared in front of her, grinning at her, and she spit in his face. His grin seemed to widen as he brought a hand to her face in a sharp slap. It stunned her enough that they were able to tie her hands behind her back after shoving her to the ground.

"Don't! Don't touch her!" She heard Ron yell angrily, followed by a thud.

"Don't hurt him! Please!" She pleaded.

"If you're boyfriend doesn't learn to keep his mouth-" She heard another thud and angry tears sprung into her eyes. "shut. He'll get a lot worse. Let's just see if his name is on my list." The man said in a raspy voice that was familiar to her, but she couldn't quite pinpoint. "Delicious girl…" The man said, stepping close to her and taking a piece of hair in his hands. "What a treat… I do enjoy the softness of the skin…" He said, stepping in front of Hermione. She saw his face, and immediately felt sick to her stomach. She recognized him from wanted posters and ads in the paper, she was face to face with Fenrir Greyback.

"Now," He said, dragging himself away from Hermione, "let's see who we have." He said as he walked to where Hermione could see Harry was on the ground. She felt anger rise in her chest as he leaned over and roughly pulled Harry into a sitting position.

"What happened to you ugly?" he asked, Harry failed to answer and was punished with a strike to the stomach. "I said, what happened to you ugly?" Greyback growled.

"Stung." Harry muttered. "Been stung."

"That's a statement." Greyback laughed. "Name?"

"Dudley."

"And your first name ugly?" Greyback asked.

"Vernon. Vernon Dudley." Harry answered quickly. Hermione's heart beat roughly against her chest at his answer, hoping that the snatchers hadn't done their research on Harry.

"Check it, Scabior." Greyback commanded before moving onto Ron. "And you, ginger?"

"Stan Shunpike." Ron said quickly, but was met with laughter.

"Like 'ell." Scabior said. "We know Stan. Put in the work for us, 'e 'as." There was another thump and a grunt from Ron.

"Bardy. Bardy Weadley." Ron said.

"A Weasley, eh? Easy enough." Greyback said in his raspy tone.

"And you? Who are you, girly?" He asked, once again leaning closely into her face.

"Penelope Clearwater." She answered without thought.

"Blood status?" Greyback asked, running a long finger along her cheek. She flinched away from him, but answered quickly.

"Half-blood." She said, leaning away from him.

"The 'ole lot of em look like they should be in 'ogwarts…" Scabior said, studying their little group.

"We lebt." She heard Ron say. She silently begged for him to shut his mouth, knowing that the more he talked, the quicker they might figure out who they were.

"Decided to go camping? Use the Dark Lord's name for a laugh?" Scabior barked out.

"Nod a laugh." Ron insisted. "Aggiden." He muttered.

"An accident?" Someone said as laughter surrounded them. They were moved then, tied together to two other people that the snatchers had already gotten. The bindings were tight around them, and Hermione kept her movements to a minimum so avoid hurting herself. She closed her eyes, wishing that she had studied wandless magic when she had the chance.

"Anyone still have a wand?" She heard Harry mutter when the people tying them up had walked away.

"No." She and Ron both muttered.

"I'm sorry… I said his name." Harry whispered.

"Harry?" Hermione heard a new, though still familiar, voice say. Her eyes sprang open when she realized who had spoken.

"Dean, is that you?" She whispered.

"Don't tell them who you are. They sell people to the ministry for gold." Dean said hurriedly.

Hermione heard Greyback walk back over to the group and begin speaking with Harry again. Harry told him that he was in Slytherin, as the name he had given apparently wasn't in the book that Scabior had been holding. She held her breath until he stopped talking, only letting out a small sigh of relief that Harry had lied well enough for them to believe him. However, that was their last shred of luck.

Hermione had forgotten that the Sword of Gryffindor was out in the tent, and unfortunately would have been easily found.

"Where did you get this?" Greyback asked, gazing at the silver sword. Hermione felt herself begin to sweat, surely their gig was up.

"My father. We took it for firewood." Harry said, his voice shaking. Hermione closed her eyes, maybe they could still get out of this.

"Look at this!" Someone yelled, holding up a paper in his hands. " 'ermione Granger. Moodblood travelling with Potter." The man yelled gleefully, pointing to Hermione. Her heart beat hard against her chest, knowing that no matter what they said now, they wouldn't be getting out of this.

"That makes you… Weasley. And you…" Greyback walked to stand in front of Harry. "Potter." He whispered. "Change of plans, we aren't taking this lot to the ministry." Greyback said loudly. "Malfoy Manor." He announced. Hermione's breathing sped up, coming fast and hard from her lungs, as they were pulled unceremoniously to their feet. The snatchers disapparated, dragging their prisoners with them. Hermione's breath had been labored, but it was squeezed out of her as they moved through space. They landed roughly, Hermione falling to her knees and incidentally pulling the others down as well, she cried out as someone landed on her leg and felt a snap in her ankle. They were pulled back up onto their feet, though Hermione tried to keep her weight off of the ankle she assumed had just broken.

"We've got Potter!" She heard Greyback yell as they walked as a group to the large gate that sat between them and a large mansion. This must be Malfoy Manor. The gates swung open at Greyback's announcement, and they quickly walked up the lane to the large front entrance. Hermione struggled to keep up with the group, her ankle wouldn't allow her to put any weight on it.

"Why are you here?" A woman's voice asked as they arrived at the door.

"We have Potter." Greyback said, Hermione shuddered at his voice.

"Let me see him." The woman said, and the group rotated so that Harry was facing the door. Hermione could see the woman from the corner of her eye, and her breath hitched when she realized that it was Bellatrix Lestrange.

" 'e's a little swollen ma'am, but it's 'im! Can see 'is scar 'ere." Scabior said, pushing Harry's face forward.

"Bring them in." Bellatrix hissed, stepping out of the doorway and allowing them entrance. They were forced up a set of stairs, Hermione cried out when she fell and someone stepped on her hurt ankle.

"Get up, girl." Greyback said, grabbing her arm and pulling her up roughly before shoving her up the last few steps.

"This way," a softer woman's voice said, "my son, Draco, is home for Easter. If this is really Potter, he will be able to tell us." She said, and Hermione realized that it was Narcissa Malfoy that had taken over leading them further into the house.

Fred was relieved, for the first time in a long time he and George had been able to actually act themselves. They had spent a while at the magic shop, looking at all of the different tricks, before buying some and taking to the streets to perform muggle magic. Funnily enough, none of it was really magic and all just tricks. They had gotten the hang of it about a year ago, and had decided that it would be fun to show off a bit.

When they had arrived back 'home' they had been scolded heavily by their mother, but had smiled the entire time. This was the most normal thing they had done since they had been forced to shut down their shop.

"That was brilliant." Fred said, collapsing onto his bed.

"Indeed it was Freddie." George agreed. "And we still have some tricks left, maybe we could scare mum or dad?" George asked with a laugh.

"Or Muriel." Fred suggested with a grin. "She can't write us off more than she already has."

"Very true." George agreed. "How are you Freddie?" George asked, laying next to Fred on the bed.

"Brilliant." Fred said without hesitation.

"I mean it Fred, I've been worried about you." George said seriously.

"I know you have been." Fred sighed, frowning. He knew that he hadn't been himself lately, but he hadn't been able to pull himself out of the dark pit he had found himself in. "I know." He said again, sitting up and looking at his twin.

"Are you okay?" George asked again, also sitting up.

"I don't think I will be again, at least not until…" He trailed off, and George nodded.

"Hermione." He spoke her name softly. "She'll be alright. You know that, right?" He asked.

"I just… I want her back. It feels wrong. We are all here, with people we love and safe. Hermione is…"

"She's with Harry, and Ron. She's with people who love her Freddie, she isn't alone." George assured him.

"They are on the run George. How can they be safe when they are on the run from You-Know-Who?" Fred asked, rubbing his face with his hands.

"I can't answer that." George whispered. "I'm sorry."

"I just want her back." Fred said softly. "I love her. I know, I should just be happy that I'm with you and everyone else, but I don't…." He trailed off, not wanting to upset his twin.

"It doesn't feel complete without her?" George asked, and Fred nodded. "I know, it's always been the three of us."

"Four. Can't forget Lee." Fred added, making George smile.

"Right, four." He said, and they both lay back down on the bed, side by side.

"George?" Fred asked into the silence after a moment.

"Yeah Fred?" George replied.

"I'm going to ask her to marry me, when they get back." Fred said, and George laughed.

"Good, I was going to for you if you didn't." George said with a smile, getting a nudge from Fred in the ribs. "I'm just saying, she'd never know it wasn't you." He laughed.

"Are you kidding? She would know right off, she'd probably say yes though, just to make mum flip when she figured it out." Fred laughed loudly. There on the bed they stayed, laughing for hours about memories from school and what they would do when everything went back to normal. They fell asleep still laughing, next to each other like they had done when they were children, and at peace for the first time in months.

Bellatrix was in her face, Hermione tried to lean away from the hot breath that was landing on her face. She pulled out a knife and grabbed Hermione by the arm, spinning her about, and roughly cutting the bindings that held her.

"Take the other two down to the cellar, Greyback." She commanded. "The mudblood and I will have a little chat." She said, her mouth close to Hermione's ear. Hermione struggled, attempting to move away from the vile woman that had a tight hold on her.

"No! No! Take me!" Ron yelled, his face turning a deep red.

"If she dies, I'll be sure to take you next." Bellatrix laughed, dragging Hermione into the middle of the room before facing her.

"Where did you get the sword?" Bellatrix hissed, holding her knife against Hermione's throat.

"We found it." Hermione gasped out the first excuse that came to mind, attempting to pull herself out of the woman's grasp.

"Oh really? Let's try that again." Bellatrix said, taking her knife and carving into Hermione's collarbone. It elicited a bloodcurdling scream from Hermione that echoed in the large room and made her throat burn. "Where -" another carving, another ragged scream, "did you -" she dug in deeper, "get it?" She finished her question with a twist of her blade.

"We found it!" Hermione screamed. Unsatisfied with her answer, Bellatrix threw her to the ground.

"Likely. That sword was in my vault, what else did you take?! CRUCIO!" Bellatrix screamed, getting down and sitting on Hermione's chest. She felt an all consuming pain rake through her body, and she struggled to move. Something told her that if she was able to get away, the pain would end. Just as soon as it had happened, it was over. She struggled to breath, and attempted to push the woman off of her. Between the marble under her and the woman on her, she found herself unable to move her chest to take in more air. Bellatrix grinned and grabbed Hermione's hands, slamming them hard on the marble before placing her knees on top of them.

"Nothing! We didn't take anything!" Hermione cried, she couldn't help herself. She hated crying, but she was in so much pain.

"LIAR!" Bellatrix screamed.

"No! I swear!" Hermione cried out, shaking her head as she felt the sharp blade dig into her arm. She could tell that the cuts were deep, she could feel her own blood running down her arm and pooling underneath her.

"Where did you get it?" Bellatrix asked, carving into Hermione's arm. The knife sliced cleanly through her flesh, with no resistance at all, but she could feel her skin splitting and the blood pulsing out of the laceration. With every heartbeat, she felt new blood pour onto her arm and felt her hand grow cold from lack of the needed substance.

"It's not real!" Hermione screamed, saying anything to get this to stop. She pounded the heels of her feet into the ground in an attempt to draw some of the pain away from her arm. "Please…" She cried, she just wanted it all to stop. Bellatrix then finished carving her blade into Hermione and sat up.

"Wormtail! Get the Goblin, he'll tell us if it's real." Bellatrix commanded. She tapped her blade to Hermione's arm, and let out a singular laugh. "A little reminder for you, so you never forget your place." She whispered, leaning her face close to Hermione's. There were footsteps coming closer to them, and Bellatrix stood from her place on top of her. Hermione turned her head weakly, and saw through her tears that Wormtail had brought a goblin back with him.

"Is it real?" Hermione heard Bellatrix ask. Her eyes traveled down to her arm, which was stinging harshly and bleeding profusely. She couldn't make out anything from it at first, it was possible that she had just been carving aimlessly into Hermione's arm. It took a moment, staring at the throbbing incisions.

"No madam, it's a fake. A good one, but still fake." The goblin said.

"Fake… good." She heard Bellatrix mutter. "Good."

Mudblood. She made out the words, and a fresh wave of sobs racked her body. She slapped her other hand on to her arm and wiped away the blood, spreading it along her arm and ignoring the sting that came with. More blood seeped out of the nasty lettering, and she wondered if it was possible that a major vein had been cut. If she was lucky, maybe she would die. Then, all of this would be over. No more torture, no more Voldemort, no more running. She would be free, but what of the people that she would leave behind? She couldn't die, not now, not when she wasn't done yet. Her thoughts were interrupted by running feet and the beginning of a fight. She felt herself being dragged up to her feet, and her head fell forward. She was too weak to pay attention to what was happening around her, until her hair was grasped and the knife held back to her throat. There was enough pressure, that Hermione felt the knife break the skin and blood trickled down her throat.

"Enough! Or I'll kill her!" Bellatrix shouted, and Hermione saw that Harry and Ron were standing before them. They threw down their wands, both looking livid. "Good, now let's tie them back up until the Dark Lord arrives. Except the Mudblood, Greyback you can take her. I'm sure the Dark Lord will not begrudge you of a prize after everything you have done tonight." She told him, releasing some of the pressure from the knife she held.

Hermione furrowed her brow at a grinding sound, and focused her attention above her, to the large chandelier. She looked past the glass and iron to see what looked like a house elf sitting on it. She smiled as she realized what it was doing, but panicked when she realized that the fixture would fall directly on top of her. Bellatrix seemed to realize this just as soon as the chandelier began to fall, and she dove to get out of the way. Hermione stumbled forward, only just getting out of the way as the glass shattered on the ground. She fell, sprawling on the ground. She pushed herself up, and crawled forward, bringing glass with her on the ground. She shook her hands, hearing small pieces of glass release from her palms and fall to the ground.

"Hermione!" Ron called to her, running to her and pulling her to her feet. "We have to go." He said, putting her arm around his shoulders and stumbling over to where Harry was fighting Draco for a fistful of wands. Dobby had grabbed the goblin and pulled him to the top of the stairs, where the rest soon joined him.

"Dobby?! You dropped the chandelier? How dare you! We are your masters!" Bellatrix screamed, wiping blood from her face.

"Dobby has no masters! Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to safe Harry Potter and his friends!" Dobby cried, standing at his full, though still quite short, height. Hermione saw a flash of silver just before she heard a loud crack and they were apparated out of Malfoy Manor by Dobby. As they were squeezed into nothing, Hermione felt all of her pain rush to the surface, everything went black.