Severus Snape stood in the doorway of the cell, his figure looming above the heads of the three teenagers. He wasn't wearing a Death Eater robe, or mask. Bellatrix, and to Harry's irritation Lucius Malfoy, along with one other Death Eater, entered the cell in Snape's wake.

" Here they are, Severus." Bellatrix looked up triumphantly at Snape, who shared a glance with Lucius Malfoy.

" You may leave, Madam Lestrange".

Bellatrix shrugged, but before she left, she whispered loudly to Lucius and Snape. " Torture them until they are on the brink of death." She looked at Hermione before she continued." I want to hear them scream."

Lucius smiled. Snape did not show any sign of emotion. That angered Harry, and he pulled away from chains that had circled his wrists as soon as Bellatrix had entered.

" Coward," He hissed at Snape, still struggling to free himself from the bondage.

The potions master's eyes visibly darkened. " I would hold my tongue if I were you, Potter. The Dark Lord prefers silence and screams over chatter and nonsense." He walked swiftly over to Harry and pulled him up by his hair. " So don't be a fool and think that you will be of any exception."

" Let him go!" Hermione called out. Snape didn't even look at her.

" Granger, shut up."

Lucius Malfoy approached Snape. " Severus, we don't have all day, now, do we?"

" Fine." Snape dropped Harry, who fell to the ground on his knees. " Do it."

Malfoy strode over to Hermione, and pointed his wand at the chains around her wrists. He muttered a spell, and they dispeared. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the center of the spell.

" Let's see how long they last after watching her." Ron paled at Malfoy's words.

" What are you doing? What are you doing to her?" Ron's voice was high with fear. The unnamable Death Eater restrained Ron, and held his head up so that he was forced to wacth Hermione.

" You will watch this, Weasley." Lucius said quietly. " Crucio!"

Hermione was taken off guard, and suddenly she screamed. She thrashed about on the stone floor, her head thrown back. Her arms and legs writhed, and she mantained enough control to suppress more screams. It was obvious that Malfoy was angry, and he lifted the curse quickly. Hermione immediately stopped twisting. Harry was close enough to see that although tears streaked her face, she held a determined look on her face. He followed her eyes, and saw that they were on Ron.

Ron was very, very white. He was breathing heavily, his mouth open in shock. Suddenly, he yanked himself out of the grip of his captor. " Don't do that to her! Don't even touch her!"

Malfoy smiled again. " No. Crucio!"

He did this several more times, and each time both Ron and Harry yelled out so much that they were gagged. And every time, Hermione did not scream. Malfoy, frusturated, kicked her aside. Hermione was still consious, and she dragged herself away.

" Severus, your turn."

Snape hauled Harry to where Hermione just lay, and threw him on the ground. He didn't evne hesitate before starting. " Crucio!"

Malfoy did the same to Ron after Harry was tortured several times. Harry had never hated Snape more in his life. Harry would have been angry at dumbledore too, for trusting the man, if Harry hadn't been relying on Dumbledore and the Order to find them.

This went on for what seemed like days. They all had bruises and welts and cuts and scrapes. It was cold in their cell, the stone floor made it even colder. They were only given some scraps of unnameable food. It was hard for Harry to imagine that this could actually be going on. The Order had everything together, how had they not planned this? Harry had laways been closely guarded, so how was it that he, Ron, and Hermione were suddenly in such despair? Someone had to be at fault here.

It pained Harry to watch his friends be in so much pain. Bellatrix seemed to have taken a cruel liking to torturing Hermione, probably because the teenagers' stubborness wouldn't allow herself to scream. Soon, Harry thought that they might as well give in and just yell, because that seemed to be all the Death Eater's wanted.

That's what Harry thought until the Dark Lord finally decided to show himself.