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Hermione could only try to struggle against Lucius' strong grip. She managed to free one of her hands that he had pinned above her head and she dug her nails into the first area of flesh on Lucius she could reach- his face. She felt her index finger scratch against something moist and she quickly realized it was his eye.
Lucius roared and slammed his fist to the side of her face. For the second time that day Hermione saw stars. He was no longer toying with her.
She felt the tip of his wand dig into her neck.
"Try anything else like that, Mudblood, and you will wish you were dead." Hermione couldn't manage a response. She was dazed and could barely move. She felt something warm rolling through her hair and she realized it was blood.
She cursed herself inwardly as she felt hot tears welling up. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her desperation but she had never felt this helpless or terrified in her life.
She tried to move again but couldn't. Lucius ran his hands roughly up her legs and muttered something about Mudblood whores. When he started pulling her pants down her legs, Hermione's panic reflex kicked in and she jerked her leg, kneeing him in the side.
He directed his fist to her abdomen this time. She coughed and choked on bile. Before he continued he flicked his wand and removed the Silencing Charm so he could hear her cry and scream. As soon as it was lifted she felt a whimper escape her mouth and then he hit her again, hard, in the abdomen. She cried out in pain.
He finished pulling her pants down and, while carefully keeping her legs pinned, he pulled her underwear down to her knees. That was all he needed.
He looked at her thoughtfully before vanishing her top so that she was bare to him. He then flicked his wand again and ropes binded her arms above her head to the bed. He wasn't going to allow a filthy Mudblood to strike him again.
Hermione's mind was going crazy, telling her to bite, kick and scream but she couldn't make her body respond to her commands. When she felt her clothes vanish she whimpered, unable to muster a scream. She felt like this was a nightmare, like it couldn't really be happening. She began to pray that it was just a nightmare.
Snape arrived at the Death Eater's headquarters and strode quickly inside.
"You look so serious, Sevvie," a woman's voice mocked. Snape spun around to face Bellatrix.
"Bellatrix. I'm afraid I don't have time to enjoy your presence at the moment. I am looking for Lucius, it is quite important," Snape spat the words out to try to dissuade her from her usual games. She seemed to reluctantly take the hint.
"Well as far as I know, he went to do some Mudblood hunting. Hasn't come back yet," she cocked her head to the side smirking at Severus.
He barely nodded at her before turning on his heal and walking back out. The only other place Lucius could be was at his vacation home in the secluded countryside. He knew Lucius wouldn't risk bringing a female prisoner to his manor for his wife to walk in and find what he was doing.
Hermione couldn't move. Lucius was beginning to disrobe when- BAM!
The door to whatever room they were in flew open and a tall dark figure stood in the doorway. Hermione's vision was still blurry and she couldn't tell who it was, but she was silently praying for a savior.
"Lucius, I do believe that the Dark Lord would not appreciate this very much. You are damaging valuable goods." The voice sounded somewhat familiar but her ears were ringing too much for her to pick it out.
"Oh, please, I was just having a bit of fun. You wouldn't go telling the Lord on me would you? After all, I doubt these … goods need to be delivered in top condition," Lucius sneered as he faced the intruder and pulled his robes back over his shoulders.
"Need I remind you what-"
"No, Severus, you need not remind me of what the Dark Lord has commanded," Lucius drawled. Hermione's heart faltered. Severus? As in Snape? She suddenly became very aware of her nakedness as her initial relief wore off.
There were a few moments of tense silence.
"Very well, Severus. Let's take this Mudblood to Him," Lucius deigned, with contempt clearly in his voice.
Lucius leaned over the bed to untie her hands and as he did he whispered in her ear, "I will finish this later." Hermione hardly felt safer at the thought that she was going to be brought to Voldemort. What was Snape playing at? She couldn't help but feel uneasy even though she knew Snape was working with the Order. Or was he?
As soon as the ropes were gone Lucius backed away from her. "Get up," he snarled. Hermione knew it was in her best interest to do as told, but her body would not comply.
Lucius, already livid at the loss of his prize, had no patience.
"CRUCIO!"
Hermione shrieked in absolute pain. She couldn't take much of this.
"Expelliarmus!" and the pain stopped. Her head was swimming but as she opened her eyes she saw Snape standing over an unarmed and angry Lucius.
"That is quite enough of that," Snape warned before tossing his wand back to Lucius. "I don't believe her mind will do much good to the Dark Lord if you have scrambled it," Snape said coolly.
Lucius, breathing hard in anger and frustration merely snarled.
"Go inform Him of the prisoner you have found and I will make her more…presentable for Him," Snape commanded in a voice that dared Lucius to disagree. Lucius gave the slightest nod of his head before he Apparated away.
Snape looked at Hermione for the first time. She looked horrible. Her face was bruised and bloodied, as were her chest and stomach. He noticed her shift uncomfortably under his gaze. Snape saw she was naked, but it didn't look like Lucius had managed to do anything exceptionally horrendous yet.
He walked cautiously toward the bed, not knowing how she might react. When she didn't move, he silently healed the biggest wounds and Hermione could feel some of the dizziness go away and her vision cleared.
Severus glanced around the room before he leaned in closer to heal her facial wounds, whispering just loud enough for her to hear.
"I cannot simply modify his memories and take you back to Grimmauld Place. The Dark Lord has become increasingly watchful for those kinds of things. I cannot allow you to escape without practically screaming my true loyalties," Snape explained in an unusually low and calm voice. Hermione simply nodded, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with her nakedness. As if reading her mind he flicked his wand and her clothes reappeared on her body. She inwardly sighed in relief.
"I must take you to Him," he began slowly. "I do not know what I will say to him yet, but I will find away to return you safely." Hermione looked into his eyes for the first time. She couldn't help but find comfort in his words. She believed him.