A/N: Okay, chapter seven like I promised! I won't update tomorrow (more chances for you guys to review wink wink), but I will finish posting on Friday and Saturday. So I better have lots of reviews to come back to on Friday...I mean it!

Chapter Seven

It had been three weeks since Hermione's capture. During the days she was taken out and used as a practice target for the younger Death Eaters still in training. At night, she sat in her cell leaning against the wall, eyes unfocused, in a haze of pain. Other times, when training became a bit rowdy, she would have to be brought in unconscious, only to be awoken the next morning to start the routine again.

It was obvious that it was taking a strain on her. Her face became gaunt and hollow, with black rings under her eyes from the lack of sleep. The rag dress was starting to hang from her, and her bones were sticking out more than usual.

One morning after Hermione woke up, she immediately noticed that there were two pieces of bread by the door instead of the normal one, along with the usual pan of water. She scooted her way over there, groaning at the sharp aches and pains she was feeling in her body.

She hunched over the bread, ravishing it. She was halfway through the second piece of bread when she suddenly stopped and stared at the bread in her hand. "What have I become?" Hermione thought. "I'm sitting here like a damn dog, practically begging for treats."

Hermione sat down with her legs crossed and tried to eat normally. Finally, she sighed and gave up. Leaning back against the wall, she brought her knees up and laid her head against them. "Maybe today they'll leave me alone and let me rest." Hermione thought hopefully.

She was starting to drift off when the door slammed open. Hermione was jerked up and looked into the eyes of Draco Malfoy. Her instinct was to back up and cower, but her pride and the many recent "lessons" had taught her she shouldn't.

Draco walked closer and conjured up a chair to sit in. He leaned forward, towards Hermione, making her cringe and try to shrink into the wall.

"So Granger, what happened in that meeting with the Dark Lord?" Draco inquired. "What did he mean about you betraying your friends?"

Hermione glared at him. "What do you care? If you had really wanted to know you would've asked me the next day."

"Well I haven't gotten the chance to until now." Draco tried to explain. "So…what happened?"

Hermione hesitated. She wanted to talk to somebody about what she was feeling…but why did it have to be the stupid ferret who was here now, waiting and listening?

"Have you ever…" Hermione searched for the right words. "…I don't know why I'm even bothering." She sighed, putting her head in her hands.

"No, go on. I'm listening." Draco pleaded, leaning forward.

Hermione looked at him suspiciously, but continued. "Well, have you ever been completely surrounded by friends, but always felt totally alone? That's how I felt every day at Hogwarts. Befriended for my grades, used…but not once has anyone ever been my friend for the hell of it." She spat out. "Almost like the school whore, everybody uses me so much." She laughed bitterly. "And I couldn't even stand up to them, my own friends. If they asked, I said yes. If they wanted to study I said yes, even if it meant cutting into my own homework time. I just wanted it all to stop, even it that meant breaking my friendship with Harry and Ron. That's what your Dark Lord meant about my "traitorous thoughts"." Hermione had tears in her eyes, but also a hard glint in them and a scowl on her face.

Draco sat back astounded. The Gryffindor Princess, the goody-goody, wasn't quite as perfect as she seemed. "So…why didn't you? Stand up for yourself I mean?" He asked.

Hermione looked at the floor between his feet. "I don't know. Too cowardly I suppose. Don't have the guts to fight for myself. I wish I had though." She said, scowling.

Draco leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and looked at her thoughtfully. "I think you should've too. But nobody has the right to call you cowardly. You should hear the other Death Eaters talking. Hardly anybody survives their tortures for more than a week, and look at you. Ready to get on with the fourth week." He smirked at her.

Hermione smiled a little. "Bloody ass." She said. "Nobody should have to go through this at all."

"Well…if you had the chance to put your feelings into words, or more specifically, curses, would you? Get out all those feelings and finally make somebody see what you're feeling." Draco implored, looking at her.

Hermione thought. "He has a point. Oh what am I saying! I couldn't purposely hurt somebody! But what if I want to? It would finally be my chance to make someone feel what I feel, see how they like being used all the time."

Draco watched the emotions play across Hermione's face. He couldn't believe that the Dark Lord's idea might work. If they got Granger over to their side, it might just be the deciding factor in the war. If Potter got a look at Granger in full Death Eater regalia, Dark Mark and all, he would throw a shit fit and probably break down and start crying. Draco smirked at that.

"I don't know if I could Malfoy…I mean just hurt somebody I don't even know." Hermione said.

"Well think of it this way Granger." Draco said. "There would be lots of books for you to learn out of. And you would get your wand back during training sessions, so long as you don't use it to try to escape."

Hermione gaped at him. Books and her wand back? Plus a sort of revenge on everybody who used her for her grades.

"Let me think about it Malfoy." She said. Was she seriously going to think about this? Apparently so.

Draco stood up and opened the door, motioning for her to follow him. "Very well. Until you make up your mind, it's back to the old routine for you."

Hermione gulped. This sucked…big time.