A/N: Hey guys! So the long awaited chapter is here! Sorry it took so long! I had part of it typed up, and didn't have time to finish it till now! Busy weekend...hope everyone had a good Memorial Day! I did:-D Anyways...the last (but not final) chapter I'll try to post it tomorrow...If not definitely by the end of the week!

Chapter Eight

A few weeks later found Hermione in a cold stone room surrounded by a circle of young Death Eaters. She was surprised to recognize the majority of them from Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy was walking around the outside of the circle giving instructions.

"Today, we will be working on the Cruciatus Curse. I am sure that many of you have much experience with this curse-" Lucius looked at Draco as he said this, but he kept his eyes straight ahead -"either using it, watching it, or even being on the receiving end of it." He chuckled at this.

"Now, Crabbe, I would like you to go first. Remember to put feeling behind the curse, feel the hatred for this Mudblood. Step forward and take out your wand."

Crabbe moved into the circle, the two Death Eaters to either side of him moved closer so the gap was filled. He took his wand out and pointed it at Hermione, looking hard at her.

Hermione was freaking out. This didn't look like the same stupid oaf who was always stuffing his face at school. No, this was now a body made out of rock solid muscles who actually looked like he knew what he was doing.

Lucius had stopped pacing the floor, and now looked into the ring. "On my count Crabbe. 1...2...3!"

"Crucio!" Crabbe shouted, pointing his wand straight at Hermione. She shrieked and ducked to the side, falling on the floor. The curse, instead, hit the Death Eater who had been standing behind her. Crabbe immediately stopped it.

Hermione stood up quickly, getting ready to duck and cover if she had to. Crabbe pointed his wand at her and shouted "Crucio!" again. And again, Hermione dodged to the side, the curse hitting who was behind her again.

Draco smirked. He was silently cheering her on. If she moved and avoided curses this well when she's a target, he could only imagine how well she would do on a battlefield. "And if her power is on our side, we'll be unbeatable." He thought. He hadn't brought up the idea to Hermione again, he wanted to see if she'd come around.

"Stop!" Lucius ordered. "You are letting her get away. If this were a real fight, her with a wand, you would be dead by now you foolish boy!" He stepped into the ring, taking out his wand at the same time. "Goyle! Grab her and hold her, this needs to be learned."

Goyle stepped out of his place, the gap once again closing up. He walked to Hermione, who gulped and started backing up. She didn't get far though as he lunged forward and grabbed her arms twisting her around.

Hermione didn't go without a fight though. She pulled against Goyle's hold, and jumped up, trying to kick him, yelling obscenities and shaking her head. Finally she gave up and stood there, still testing her restraints. Lucius walked up to her, still struggling and glared at him. You insolent little Mudblood." He said, almost affectionately, running his hand down her cheek. Hermione jerked her head and snapped at his fingers. Lucius yanked them back and stood there. "Why you…" And with that, he slapped her across the face, leaving a bright red mark.

Hermione stood there stunned for a few seconds before lunging at him. Goyle's hold had gone slack, so she slipped through. She hit Lucius in the nose, causing him to stagger back. She continued to pummel him until he fell. Hermione jumped on top of him and slapped his face, hard.

"How do you like it?" She screamed, hitting him again. "How do you like being hit, and slapped, and cursed at, huh? You think it's so fun, then I think you should be on the receiving end of it for once!"

Lucius finally got this bearings about him, and threw Hermione off. "Crucio!" He yelled, panting, his face red and bruised, even bleeding in a few places.

Hermione lay there screaming. She knew what she had done was wrong and incredibly stupid. But she couldn't help herself.

"This is how it is done!" Lucius cried, looking a little wild and crazy. "She tried to overtake me, but in the end, it is I who comes out on top."

Draco had almost started laughing and cheering when Hermione had attacked his father, but had stopped himself, knowing it would only earn himself a place right next to her.

Lucius lifted the curse, letting Crabbe take over. He started to pace up and own, yelling. "If you want to be on the winning side, you must be able to master the spells! If this mere Mudblood can get the best of you, and without a wand even, what hope do we have? You may as well kneel down right now and let me Avada you. Anyone? No? Well then I don't want to see this-" He waved his hand towards Hermione, screaming on the floor -"again!" And with that, Lucius swept out of the room, knocking down anyone who was in his way.

Crabbe took the curse off Hermione and the Death Eaters started to disperse, muttering to one another.

Draco stayed behind and walked towards Hermione, who was laying on the floor. Her face was extremely pale and she was gasping for breath.

"How you feeling Granger?" Draco said sarcastically. "Did you like it?"

Hermione only laid there gasping, shutting her eyes in pain. Draco furrowed his eyebrows in concern. He knelt down next to her and looked her over. He waved his wand over her, saying some minor healing spells. Hermione's breathing slowed until her chest was no longer heaving. She sighed in relief. "Thank you Malfoy." She said sincerely.

Draco was taken back. She was thanking him? After what she had just been through? "Well, uh, you're welcome Granger." He said.

And then the awkward moment came. Neither of them could look at the other. They stared at the walls, the floor, down at their hands, anything to keep them from looking at each other.

Draco finally looked at Hermione, who was looking at her hands and fidgetting. "So how did you like it Granger?" He finally asked.

Hermione looked at him in surprise. "Are you bloody mad Malfoy? I just got Crucioed by your father!" She exclaimed.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I wasn't talking about that." He explained. "I meant the part where you bloody beat him up."

Hermione blushed and looked down. "Oh that. I don't know what got into me. I was just so frustrated and tired of being used as a practice target. I just went crazy."

"Well I for one enjoyed the show." Draco stated. "But it also betrayed your true feelings."

"Oh great." Hermione said sarcastically. "Just something else to add to the list."

Draco inwardly smirked. So the Mudblood had a sense of humour did she? "I meant your feelings about what we had discussed before. It's obvious you want to take your frustrations out on people. Why not let us teach you?"

Hermione thought about it. "Well on the one hand, it totally goes against everything I've been brought up to believe…but on the other hand it is an outlet for me."

She looked up at Draco. "What about the other Death Eaters? Wouldn't they resent me and what you're doing?"

"I'll talk to them and explain." Draco reassured her.

Hermione sat still for another minute with a thoughtful look on her face. "All right. I'll do it."

Draco stood up and grinned at her. "Good. Training starts tomorrow, bright and early." And with that, he left.

Hermione sat back and smiled to herself. "He's not all that bad once you start talking to him. Pretty good looking too. Oh what am I saying? Who cares…I'm probably not getting rescued, who's here to tell me what's right and wrong? I'm already training to be a Death Eater for Merlin's sake!" She settled down and waited for somebody to take her back to her cell.