God knew how long it had been since Bellatrix had infected her with a part of her soul. It felt as if everything Hermione had known, had felt, had ever thought had darkened. No longer did Bellatrix torture her physically and sexually but now the connection gave her a mental element she had yet to explore. Often she would invade her mind and distort her memories and thoughts, forcing out her anger and hate as she messed with her body.
The raven haired Death Eater got off on her reaction but for the life of her she couldn't control herself as Bellatrix messed with her mind. It was perfectly plausible that her mind was beginning to fall apart at the seams. The constant agony both physically and mentally, it surprised her that she was even capable of thinking straight at all.
"Tell me Muddy is it him? Is it Harry Potter?" questioned Bellatrix as she held her knife to Hermione's throat as she sat on her knees inside the Malfoy living room. Her cold brown eyes shifted away from the madwoman at her side to the young, dark haired man knelt in front of her. Personally she would've preferred Bellatrix's torture that to admitting that it was Harry Potter in front of her. She may have lost nearly everything to the raven-haired Death Eater but she would die rather than betray her friend. Her loyalty was all she had left now.
Tell me the truth Mudblood or else.
Hermione's face twitched at the prickly sensation of Bellatrix's thoughts invading her mind. Looking blankly at the boy in front of her Hermione felt a spark of pride at the boy's quick thinking. Harry's face was swollen to the point where it was almost impossible to tell if it was him but Hermione knew; no one else would have Ron Weasley accompanying them.
Harry looked at Hermione in horror as her dark; almost black eyes stared at him silently. What the hell had they done to her? She looked nothing like the intelligent, loving Gryffindor that was Hermione Granger. Her hair was much darker than the chestnut brown everyone knew and lifeless as it hung limply against her cheeks. Her dark eyes were dull, lacking that curious spark that had always been there.
The long cut that started at her cheek bone and travelled down to her collar stood out against her pale, sickly skin. Her body was thin from what Harry could gather, a loose shirt that was unbuttoned at the top hung from her thin shoulders like a tent while her jeans were baggy.
He watched as Hermione shook her head to answer Bellatrix's question. The dark haired Death Eater pressed the blade closer to her neck as she whispered into Hermione's ear.
"Are you sure?" she asked threateningly. Hermione's dark eyes glanced at the deranged woman from the corner of her eye and Harry began to fear for her mental state, there was nothing in her eyes to indicate she was even slightly concerned that Bellatrix might slit open her throat and kill her.
You're lying to me Muddy.
Hermione's eyes tightened slightly as the knife cut into her neck and few drops of blood stained the blade. Bellatrix kept the knife at her throat as she stared into the dark eyes that she helped create.
Just because you have part of my soul don't think I won't hesitate to kill you Mudblood, I still have enough soul left to put it into that Looney Lovegood girl downstairs.
Hermione broke eye contact and looked at the ground. There was very little defence she could create against Bellatrix's invasive mind so what was the point. A shocked gasp escaped from Bellatrix as her eyes landed on the sword in one of the Dark Lord's minions hands. All hell broke loose in the room as Bellatrix stunned the ones who had captured Harry and Ron in a fit of lunacy.
Hermione watched with little interest as Bellatrix disposed of the men before turning her attention to Harry and Ron. Her eyes were wide as she stared down at the dark haired teen.
"Where'd you get it?" she demanded hotly as she pointed her wand at him while holding Godric Gryffindor's sword in her other. When Harry refused to answer and simply looked up at her in confusion she hissed at him before pointing her wand at him.
"Crucio!" she commanded. Harry released a strangled cry of pain as he collapsed onto the floor and began to writhe. Ron struggled against the hold of Lucius Malfoy as he watched his best friend convulse in pain.
Bellatrix was so focused on Harry that she failed to notice that Hermione was getting up with the sole intention of stopping her until Narcissa bellowed out the cruciatus curse and sent the teen into her own pain-filled fit on the floor. Voldemort's most unhinged follower hissed in anger at the sudden display of defiance from her Horcrux, she released Harry from the curse and glared at the tormented young witch on the floor.
You dare to defy me Mudblood. Haven't you learnt your place yet?
"Stop it!" yelled Harry as he watched his friends body writhe in agony. With a nod from Bellatrix, Narcissa Malfoy released the teen and Hermione gasped for breath as she lay very still. It had been a long time since the curse had been used on her and the pain was still as sharp. Hermione clutched at her head as she felt the familiar sensation of Bellatrix invading, the pain was sharp and felt like a nail going through her skull.
"Stop it! For Merlin's sake stop it you're killing her!" No she wasn't, but she was pushing Hermione as close to death as she could. She wanted to break the Mudblood, force her to snap and become an emotional cripple. She wanted to see the look of torment on her French lover's face as she witnessed the madness she had driven Hermione to.
Hermione released a strangled cry of pain as it felt like her head was splitting in two as unpleasant memories surfaced in her mind's eyes though she couldn't focus through the agony. Her eyes were closed tightly shut while her fingers dug into her head. As swiftly as the pain had started it faded and Hermione panted in relief.
That Mudblood was just the beginning.
"Put the boys in the cellar!" she demanded as her black eyes darted towards Lucius and Narcissa. Hermione barely registered Ron and Harry's yells of defiance as they were forced to move. The dark haired brunette glanced up at Bellatrix through half-lidded eyes defiantly which caused a swift kick to her ribs. That coupled with the numerous cuts forced ripples of burning pain to shock her system.
Hurts doesn't it
Another kick to her ribs reiterated Bellatrix's point. Followed by another. And another until a satisfying crack echoed throughout the living room accompanied by a pained moan. Bellatrix pushed the teen onto her back with her foot before applying pressure onto her battered chest.
"You belong to me now Mudblood and I won't stand for anything less than complete obedience" she stated coldly as she continued to put pressure on Hermione's chest. The dark haired brunette struggled to breathe as sharp shots of pained coursed through the right side of her chest.
You're mine.