A/N: This part contains some graphic description of icky stuff.

The following day, Draco retreated to his father's study. Like all rooms of the manor, it had been taken over and used by Death Eaters. He had already been by earlier in the day but found several people inside the room. Now it was empty and he took the opportunity.

He went to a shelf behind his father's massive mahogany desk and skimmed the titles of the books along the bottom shelf until his eyes fell upon the volume he was searching for; a biography of Merwyn the Malicious.

"Hello, Nephew."

Draco jumped at the sound of his aunt's sickly sweet tone. He recovered quickly and stood.

"Aunt Bella," he greeted her formally.

"What have you got there?"

"Just some light reading."

She looked at the book, her eyebrows furrowed. "Merwyn the Malicious?"

"It's a laugh."

She nodded. "We missed you at dinner," she spoke conversationally. Draco immediately became suspicious. Had she been looking for him? Why?

"Oh? I lost track of the time."

"You must be starving!"

"I had a late lunch."

"You haven't been eating much these days."

"That's not true, I just eat at odd times."

"Don't you like our company?" Her tone was teasing but her eyes were serious.

Draco chanced a look at his aunt, protecting his thoughts. "What's not to like?" he teased back and added a smirk.

"Well, just know that you can come to me if there's ever anything on your mind," she touched his arm briefly and smiled, "now that Narcissa is no longer with us."

Anger burned within his gut and flashed for a moment in his eyes before he could contain it. Bellatrix smiled. "Oh, did you hear the news about our little hostage?" she asked.

"You mean Granger?"

"Yes, the filthy mudblood. She's in the dungeons, you know."

"I know. Crabbe, Goyle and I went yesterday to see."

"Did you?!" she seemed pleased. "I was thinking of paying her a visit myself, have a bit of fun, you know?"

She scrutinized his reaction but Draco was flipping through the pages of his book, still fuming over his aunt's heartless statement of his mother.

"You should join me," Bellatrix continued, "I'm sure there were plenty of times you wished you were able to hex the mudblood while at Hogwarts!" His aunt's tone grew excitable.

Bile rose within his throat and burned on its way down. He returned his gaze to his aunt, smiled, and answered, "absolutely."

"Oh goody!" She clapped and jumped up and down. "Shall we go now?"

"I can't," he answered calmly, hoping to keep a cool facade. "I promised Nott I'd meet up with him." He lied smoothly.

Bellatrix did not respond at once; she seemed to be waiting for something more. Had she caught him in his lie? Was she trying to get inside his thoughts? He remained passive, patiently waiting for his aunt to say something.

"All right then," she pouted. "Another time." She smiled sweetly and left the room.

Draco released a long breath once he was alone. His heart was beating too fast. She was suspicious.

She was watching him. He wasn't safe. He tucked the book inside his robes and left the study in search of Theodore Nott. What if his aunt came across him? Panicked, he searched several rooms until he found him. He approached him leisurely.

"Hey, Nott."

"Draco! To what do I owe this great honor?"

"Get stuffed. Have you seen Bellatrix?"

"No, thank Merlin," he said under his breath. Draco smiled. It was no secret between him and his friends that his aunt was a bit of a nutter.

"Fancy a drink?"

"Of course. Lead the way!"

The two met up with Blaise Zabini, Goyle and Crabbe. For a little while it almost seemed as if they were not in the midst of a war but just friends hanging out. Draco was relieved when Bellatrix came in and found the boys drinking and laughing.

He wondered if she had gone down to the dungeons to have her fun with Granger. She had been in the dungeons three days now. What had they been doing to her? He shook the thoughts from his head and focused on the glass of Firewhiskey in his hand. Three hours later Draco, drunk again, stumbled back to his room where he once again crashed upon his bed and fell asleep fully clothed.

It wasn't until the morning when he had sobered up after some food that he was able to look at the book. It was no ordinary book of course. It had been spelled to hold within it whatever you wanted as long as the object was smaller than the book.

Draco cast the secret spell and opened the book. Instead of the pages he had flipped through the day before, now the cover opened into a box. Inside the box were several gems. He pocketed the stones and returned the book to its original form. When he had the opportunity, he could cash in the gems for money.

Draco had to bide his time while waiting for the opportunity to cash in the precious stones. What he was going to do after that, he wasn't entirely certain. He knew he had to move quickly now that his aunt was keeping an eye on him. The urgency of the situation made itself apparent when he was cornered by Bellatrix.

"There you are, Nephew!" she greeted him with a sacharin smile and wrapped her hands around his arm. "I've been looking for you!"

Gregory, who had been with him, decided it was time to leave. "See you later, mate."

Draco wished Goyle hadn't been so spooked by Bellatrix. Now he was alone with his aunt.

"I thought you could join me this morning and visit our little mudblood," she spoke cheerfully, as if Granger were staying in one of the guest rooms.

"I don't have the time"

"Oh, Draco!" she pouted. "It's almost as if you were afraid to see her."

"Don't be daft, why would I be afraid of her?!"

"Well, I don't know. I would have thought you'd be itching to get revenge, put the little chit in her place."

"Believe me, I would love to," he lied. "But I'm afraid I'd get carried away and kill the girl. I don't think the Dark Lord would forgive me that."

"You needn't worry about that. I won't let you get too carried away," she smiled sweetly. "Besides, Mangela has begun his experiments! We can see what he's been up to!"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and Draco was unsure he could refuse her again. He decided that he would have to go. Perhaps it would alleviate some of her suspisions and buy him some time? He schooled his features and smiled at his aunt.

"Well then, lead the way."

Bellatrix beamed at him and lead the way to the dungeons. Draco hoped to run into Nott or Crabbe or anyone who would either pull him or Bellatrix away. Unfortunately, they reached the dungeons with no interruptions. Draco felt a queasiness in his stomach which he hoped he could control.

The narrow staircase was dimly lit by a torch as the two made their way to the bottom. Instead of heading straight ahead toward the cells, Bellatrix turned left and went to a large room. Brightly burning torches lined the walls and illuminated the room. In the center was Mangela, a Death Eater Draco had met once before.

Mangela was an expert at healing wounds. This was because he enjoyed developing new hexes and potions for torture. He was very good at what he did. He was creative and took great pleasure in his work. He was a thin man who wore thick spectacles. He turned as he heard them approach.

"Bella, darling!" He greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. "So nice for you to come visit!"

Draco blanched at the blood splattered apron the man wore. Behind him Draco could see that Granger was laying on an examination table.

"I'm always interested in your work!" Bella gushed.

"And who is this?" Mangela asked turning to Draco.

"This is my nephew, Draco."

"Ah, Narcissa's boy." He shook Draco's hand.

"Yes," Bellatrix answered and put an arm around his shoulders. "I'm trying to fill the void."

Draco's anger flashed and he longed to throw her arm off his shoulder. Instead, he kept his temper sensing that his aunt was goading him into a reaction. She was testing him with all this and he knew he had to pass.

"Well, you're in good hands, my boy! Your aunt is one of our Lord's closest advisers."

"Show us what you're up to!"

"Well, I'm only just starting so I haven't got very far."

The man moved aside so that Hermione was in clear view. She still wore the tattered dress from the wedding. She lay perfectly still and Draco wondered if she had been frozen. Her eyes were open though they didn't move or seem to recognize their voices. She seemed to be in a trance.

"I've extracted some of the blood and will begin by comparing it to other samples." He held a vial containing a deep red liquid. Draco's stomach lurched and he looked away. He never realised he was so adverse to blood.

"Why, it's not mud at all!" Bellatrix laughed hysterically at her little joke. Mangela chuckled.

"I was just about to take another vial," Mangela explained while he set down the sample and picked up a rather nasty looking object. It was quite sharp but didn't resemble a knife so much as a pick of some sort. Casually, he stepped over to Hermione's prone form and pierced the palm of her left hand.

Draco jumped as Hermione cried out and tears leaked from her eyes which were now shut tightly.

"There's a good little mudblood," Bellatrix cooed as she petted Hermione's matted hair.

Draco felt slightly flushed as he watched blood spurt from the end of the tool Mangela used. It was hollow so that the blood poured from the end into an empty vial. It took several moments for the vial to fill. The whole time Bellatrix stood over Hermione. Hermione continued to squeeze her eyes closed.

Once the vial was filled, Mangela dropped Hermione's hand carelessly onto the table top, the metal tool still protruding from her hand as blood leaked out. After he carefully sealed the second vial and labeled it, he pulled the tool from her hand and cast a healing charm to stop the blood.

"What will you be doing next?" Bellatrix asked.

"Well, this is all very new research. There's no protocol. I thought I'd extract some brain samples next."

"Won't you have to kill her for that?"

"I don't believe so."

"How do you get samples of one's brains without killing them?" she asked, clearly fascinated.

"I use a similar tool as the blood collector. I drill a hole in the skull, not very large, just big enough to insert a metal tube. It simply cuts through the brain matter and retrieves a sample to"

Draco felt the blood drain from his head and suddenly the room began to spin. His knees weakened and he fell onto the stone floor. Both Mangela and Bellatrix watched in shock. Suddenly, Bellatrix laughed.

"Oh my," Mangela said as he helped Draco to his feet. "Someone has a weak stomach."

"Sorry," Draco apologised for some reason and dusted himself off. He kept his eyes from Hermione.

He knew she had heard every word and knew what was coming.

"Will you be needing the mudblood any longer?" Bellatrix asked once she had calmed herself.

"No, I'll need time to examine and compare the blood samples. You can take her if you'd like."

"Splendid! Draco and I thought we'd have some practice."

"I've developed a new potion as well," Mangela stated. "Perhaps you can test it?"

"Of course, I'm always happy to advance the study of magic!"

"Good girl! I'll get the potion for you."

Bellatrix released the binding spell that held Hermione and then cast another hex that caused a spot on her dress to catch fire. Hermione screamed and fell from the table, smothering the flame with her dress. Bellatrix laughed at the sight.

"Knew that'd get her up!" she winked at Draco.

He managed a weak smile that his aunt seemed to accept. Hermione sat crumpled upon the floor,sobbing.

"Up, little mudblood!" Bellatrix singsonged and waved her wand again. This time Hermione stood and began to dance, twirling in circles. The sight disturbed Draco; a sobbing dancer in a singed and torn dress while his aunt cackled merrily and spun around herself. He had never fulled appreciated his aunt's insanity until that moment.

"You're turn!" Bellatrix sang and she released the spell. Hermione fell again into a heap on the floor, exhausted and breathing heavily.

Bellatrix waited for Draco to act and for a moment he was at a complete loss at what to do. He recalled a jinx Pansy had been struck with in their fifth year and he cast the antler jinx at Hermione.

The weight of the antlers was too much for Hermione's weakened neck and she slumped forward, the antlers hitting the stone floor with a thud.

"Good show!" Bellatrix clapped her hands with joy. "Engorgio!"

The antlers on Hermione's head grew in size and she screamed in pain.

"Good one," Draco said but immediately ended the curse and the antlers disappeared. He cast another spell that turned Hermione's skin blue.

"Borring!"

Bella sang. "Let's try something a little more interesting, shall we?" She flung the next hex with zeal and suddenly Hermione clutched her stomach and pain etched her face. Draco didn't recognize the hex but knew the game had changed. Bella couldn't be entertained without inflicting some pain. He had to think quickly.

He cast a stinging spell. His aunt simply rolled her eyes.

"If you aren't going to play properly, you may as well leave," she drawled.

Right then; the testing continued. He aimed his wand at the girl.

"Crucio!"

Hermione squirmed as the spell struck her. He tried not to show any panic as he watched. He knew the spell would be very strong if cast without pure intent but Hermione was weak. She rolled on the floor and looked at him with watery eyes. They pleaded with him silently to end the pain. He looked to his aunt who watched with amusement.

"Not very original, Nephew but effective," she praised him.

Their game was interrupted by Mangela. Draco released the curse upon Hermione at once.

"Having fun?" Mangela smiled.

"Of course!" Bellatrix smiled.

"Here's my latest"

"Oh, let me see!" Bellatrix stepped forward and took the glass bottle from his hand. She held it up and admired the fluid inside which changed from yellow to orange in swirls. "It's warm!"

"Yes," Mangela smiled proudly. "I haven't decided upon a name yet but I'm leaning toward Liquid Fire."

"Sounds delicious! What does it do?"

"It hasn't been tested yet but I believe that if a small amount is consumed, it would feel as if one's internal organ were set aflame."

"Does it do any damage?"

"No. That's the beauty of the potion. It's purely harmless except to one's psyche."

"Perfect for interrogation," Draco observed.

"Exactly, my boy."

"May we test it now? On the mudblood?" Bellatrix asked.

Mangela looked at the girl who was now sitting up on the floor, clutching her knees to her chest and breathing heavily. "I think we should test it another day. I fear the other hexes might interfere with the effects of the potion."

"Tomorrow then!"

"Yes, perhaps."

Bellatrix giggled like a little girl promised to be taken to the circus. "Then we shall see you tomorrow!" She handed the bottle back to Mangela and turned to Draco. "I'm feeling a bit peckish."

Draco nodded.

"Why don't you be a good boy and put the mudblood back in her cage, hm?"

"Yes, Aunt Bella."

She smiled and patted his cheek before heading out. Draco tucked his wand inside his pocket and stepped over to Hermione. She flinched as he approached. He scooped down and gathered the girl in his arms, surprised and slightly horrified at the lightness of her.

"Kill me," she pleaded.

"What?" he whispered, despite himself.

"If you have any decency, you'll end my suffering."

What could he say? If he killed her Voldemort would be furious. Perhaps he could make it look like an accident? Could he take her life even if was to save her from more suffering?

He reached her cell and stooped to place her on the ground. She grabbed his robes and held them with all the strength she could gather. Her dark eyes pierced his light ones as she begged.

"They'll kill me eventually, Draco. Please!" she sobbed.

Draco felt extremely uncomfortable. He pulled her hands from his robes and left her on the floor. He closed the iron gate and locked it. His chest hurt and he could bear no more. He turned and left her.

"DRACO!" she screamed.

His eyes began to sting as he climbed the stone steps back to the place that used to be his home.