Bellatrix Lestrange was lounging before a large fire on an expensive black leather couch, a glass of quality blood red wine in her slender hand as she smirked evilly down on Hermione who was sitting on the floor before her like a pretty doll. Bellatrix had caste the Imperious on her young captive and was enjoying the show. Hermione had served her wine and was currently polishing her black heels.

"Lick them, makes them shine better," Bellatrix grinned as Hermione slowly rose the shoe to her mouth.

"Bella darling, have you seen Lucius?" Narcissa walked in suddenly, Bellatrix looked up at her sister, breaking her hold over Hermione who took a slow breathe in as she lowered the shoe back down before her to continue polishing it.

"He was down in the dungeon with Crabbe and Goyle. They had a couple half-bloods from Hogsmeade they were interrogating," Bellatrix answered, Narcissa spared Hermione a quick glance but turned to leave.

"Thank you," Narcissa remembered that she had to try and be nice to her insane sister.

"You're welcome dear sister," Bellatrix threw after her retreating figure. She returned her gaze to Hermione.

"More wine," Bella held out the glass. Hermione hurried to comply, hoping Bellatrix wouldn't notice that she was no longer under the Imperious and re-caste it. It took three Crucio's before Imperious would even begin to work and Hermione's body still ached from the pain.

"Now, darling, kiss your Auntie as a thank you for her wonderful treatment before going down to the kitchens and getting her a nice snack," Bellatrix tilted her cheek up, Hermione resisted the urge to backhand the woman. She lightly pecked Bella's cheek and hurried off to the kitchen.

Hermione asked one of the haggard looking kitchen houselves for a cheese platter. She could feel Bellatrix's mental commands knocking on her mind but they didn't penetrate. She had full control over her body but she didn't know how long she could last before the insane witch realized that Hermione was merely playing along. The houself handed her the plate of food and she wandered off back to Bellatrix.

"Watch it mudblood," the elder Crabbe slammed into her, knocking her plate to the ground. It shattered as Hermione froze, staring down on the mess and tried to keep her expression empty, imitating others she had seen under the Imperious. The elder Goyle cackled at his old friend's antics.

"Bellatrix must have finally succeeded in casting the Imperious on her," Crabbe waved his hand in front of her face. Bellatrix was silent in her mind so she was stuck dealing with these idiots.

"Leave her alone," Lucius called out, he was walking towards them with Bellatrix on his arm, she was grinning up at her brother-in-law like she had gotten one over on him for something. Hermione resisted the urge to react to the Deatheaters around her, feeling Lucius' suspicious eyes moving over her.

"The Dark Lord will be here tomorrow to retrieve her. Have you retrieved any information out of her?" Lucius asked Bellatrix, shifting his eyes back to Bellatrix.

"It takes time for the Imperious to fully work over her mind and of course Sevvie will be here tonight with the veritaserum," Bellatrix answered, caressing Hermione's cheek affectionately.

"Very well, Crabbe and Goyle were just leaving, weren't you?" Lucius growled at the two fat men beside them.

"Yes, of course. Come on Goyle," Crabbe dragged his friend away.

"Are you sure the Imperious is working?" Lucius asked as the two idiots were finally out of earshot.

"You doubt me?" Bellatrix's voice had a careful hint of undisguised poison in it.

"Never but this mudblood has proven to be…unusual," Lucius walked around her with a critical eye.

"Her mind is strong but nothing I can't handle," Bellatrix waved away his suspicions casually.

"Just make sure she's ready for tomorrow and don't forget, no marks," Lucius glared at the woman darkly before turning and taking his leave of them.

"I'll know Bella," Lucius's voice trailed off behind Hermione as Bellatrix glared into her face.

"No marks, no marks. What's the fun in that?" A serpentine smile slowly grew on her ruby red lips. Suddenly pain erupted across Hermione's face starting at her right ear as she reeled back.

"You dirty little mudblood, I know you were pretending," Bellatrix screeched above her as Hermione held her burning cheek. Bellatrix's nails had left ragged gashes across her face, her blood dripping onto the polished ebony stone floor. The witch grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her back to the parlor they were occupying earlier. Hermione whimpered as her shoulder collided with the mantle by the fire, she slid to the floor as Bellatrix levitated a couple burning coals from the fire.

"No one deceives me," Bellatrix hissed, her heel holding her arm down as the coals came down on the sensitive flesh of her upper inner arm, she screamed at the searing pain. The woman kneeled down with a knife in her hand, Hermione tried to struggle away from her but Bellatrix was deceptively strong. A mad light entered the woman's eyes as she held Hermione down and started carving into her arm.

"I know more about torture than just the unforgivable curses little girl," Bellatrix finished her mutilation, rising and brought her heel down into Hermione's stomach, driving the air out of her as she folded her bloody arm into her body. She lifted her leg to continue her beating.

"Aunt Bella," somebody said behind them, Bellatrix froze before lifting her head from her victim.

"Dra-" Bellatrix turned but was hit with a stunning hex from the side. She slammed back against the mantle. Ropes appeared around her limbs as Ron deftly plucked her wand from her fist.

"I'll be taking this," Ron snapped it in half and gingerly helped Hermione up from the ground. Draco cast a silencing spell on her as Blaise closed the door softly.

"We only have a moment before my father detects us," Draco murmured, levitating his Aunt onto the couch.

"Hurry," Blaise pulled a worn metal tea kettle out of his robes. Hermione gave her attacker one glance, Bellatrix's mad eyes were glued to her, following her as the portkey spun them out of Malfoy Manor.

"Hermione!" Molly folded her into her strong arms as the group appeared on a grassy knoll in a small park somewhere in the outskirts of muggle London.

"We have to move," Ron hissed as Tonks and two other Aurors walked towards them, they gestured for the group to follow them down a narrow cobbled street.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked weakly, feeling the bloodloss starting to take effect.

"We can't tell you yet, it's not safe," Blaise answered as they helped her down the street in a pack.

"Now," Tonks casually said and the group split up. Molly pulled her into a building as Draco and Blaise took a sharp right. Ron and one of the aurors kept going straight. Tonks and the last Auror disappeared into a small shop down the street. Molly led her along a hallway and down some stairs into a parking garage.

"We're being followed, don't worry. We're almost there," Molly breathed, Hermione resisted the urge to look behind them. Molly reached a black car parked on the far side of the garage when footsteps came from behind. Molly's body stiffened as she reached for her wand.

"Get in," Molly pulled away from her.

"You know how to drive?" Hermione looked shocked as Molly got in behind the wheel.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me dear," Molly started the engine as one of the back windows exploded.

"Stay down," Molly peeled out of the garage. They sped off as Hermione looked back at two Deatheaters running after them, their figures disappearing quickly as Molly sped away.

TBC

***Author's note: Please review! Thanks!