"Take the boys downstairs," Bellatrix said, breathing heavily, staring me in the eyes. I cringed, knowing what she was going to do. I heard Ron fight, trying to free himself to get to me, but his captors were too strong.

As soon as they were gone, Bellatrix reared back and struck me in the face.

I staggered sideways, clutching my face.

"Where did you get that sword?" she screamed at me. "Where? Did you get into my vault at Gringotts? Did you? Did you steal it? Did you? TELL ME!"

She struck me again, so hard this time, I fell. Sobs racked my body.

"We didn't steal anything!" I cried as she slapped me again.

"Don't lie to me!" she shrieked. She pointed her wand at me and screamed, "CRUCIO!"

Fire, burning fire running through my body. I couldn't breathe, only scream. She screamed "CRUCIO" again, and I screamed louder.

"That sword is meant to be in my vault at Gringotts, how did you get it?" Bellatrix whispered as she stood over me, her wand pointed at my chest. "What else did you and your friends take from my vault?"

"Please…we didn't take anything," I sobbed. "Please. I didn't take anything."

"I don't believe it."

She pointed her wand at me again and screamed, "CRUCIO!"

I was on fire again, my screams echoing through the room. I was writhing on the floor in pain. Pain so unbearable, I was wondering when I was going to die.

Below, I thought I heard Ron screaming my name, but I couldn't really tell.

Bellatrix's foot collided with my side and I curled in on myself, crying.

Next thing I knew, she was on top of me, her face inches from mine.

"Did you take anything else?" she asked me in her evil voice. "Tell me!"

"We didn't take anything," I sobbed. "We didn't. I swear…"

She harrumphed and pulled the sleeve of my jacket up. Then I felt her wand tip on my forearm and a searing pain.

I shrieked and kicked, trying to get her off of me, but she held fast.

She carved something into my arm, but the pain was unbearable and I felt myself slipping. I looked at the words now carved into my flesh: Mudblood.

"Get the goblin," Bellatrix ordered someone.

A few moments later, I heard thumping up the stairs and Bellatrix said, "Is this the real sword of Gryffindor?"

"No. It is a fake," the goblin replied in his gravelly voice.

Bellatrix breathed a small sigh of relief. "Consider yourself lucky, Goblin," she breathed as she sliced her dagger across his face. She stood and walked to me. "The same can't be said for this one."

"Like hell!"

Ron and Harry charged forward and disarmed Bellatrix. Then they began fighting Narcissa and Draco. I heard Harry shout a Stunning Spell at Lucius, where he landed with a crash onto a table.

While Ron and Harry fought Narcissa and Draco, Bellatrix dragged me to my feet, her knife pressing against my throat. In the back of my mind, I could feel my arm throb.

"STOP!" she yelled.

The fighting ceased when they saw the knife at me throat. I could feel the cold tip cutting my skin and a small trickle of blood oozing down my neck. She held my head back, my throat fully exposed. My gaze was on the chandelier that was right above us.

And the elf that was slowly unscrewing it.

The sound of bolts being loosened caused everyone to look up. Just in time for the chandelier to fall.

Bellatrix stumbled back, letting me go.

I ran forward, right into Ron's arms. He caught me and we stumbled back to where Harry, the goblin, and Dobby stood, waiting.

"Stupid elf! You could've killed me!" Bellatrix shrieked at Dobby.

"Dobby never meant to kill anyone! Only maim…or seriously injure," Dobby said.

Narcissa raised her wand, but Dobby disarmed her.

"How dare you take a witches wand!" Bellatrix screamed indignantly. "How dare you defy your masters!"

Dobby, still holding Narcissa's wand, stood tall and said, "Dobby has no masters. Dobby is a free elf. And Dobby is here to safe Harry Potter and his friends."

With that, Dobby held out his hands, which we all took and Disapparated.

The feeling of suffocation was almost unbearable, but then I was on sand, still in Ron's arms. I was shaking uncontrollably.

"Dobby, is this Shell Cottage?" I heard Harry ask.

I looked around and saw Dobby hunched over, clutching his chest. I felt the breath leave me. No! I thought desperately.

"Dobby?" Harry asked again. He turned and saw Dobby and ran just as Dobby collapsed into Harry's arms. "Dobby!"

"Harry Potter…" Dobby said.

Harry pulled the dagger out of his chest and tossed it aside.

"Hold on, Dobby," Harry said desperately. "We'll fix this. We'll fix this. Hermione, have you got something? Hermione?"

I just stared at him, tears beginning to pour out of my eyes. I knew I couldn't do anything for him. There was nothing to do. Dobby was going to….

"Hermione…? Her…." Harry trailed off, staring at me. "Help me!"

But all I could do was shake my head.

"Harry Potter."

Harry looked down at Dobby's small form, tears running down his face.

"Such a beautiful place," Dobby said, a small smile on his face, "to be with friends. Dobby is happy…to be with his friend. Harry Potter."

I felt sobs raking my body once more for the little elf.

"Harry…Potter…"

And he moved no more.

Dobby, our little hero…was gone.