chapter 5 FEAR

Where is he?

Hermione was still curled into a ball, laying on the floor. She didn't dare to move, afraid of the pain that would hit her. Her back was killing her, she was sure she had bruises all over it. She was never before in her life been thrown into a wall and somehow she knew it wasn't going to be a last time. The stabbing pain was so persistent that she almost prayed for the numbness of unconsciousness. But she shouldn't let herself be unconscious. She had to fight, even if she didn't see the reason to even stay alive.

Then she heard a small 'pop' and instantly her head moved up.

"What is Miss doing on the floor?"

Hermione recognized the voice of the House elf and immediately relaxed, thankful that it wasn't Lucius.

"Go ask your Master. He's responsible for it." Hermione answered bitterly and soon she regretted her cold attitude towards the elf.

The small creature was quiet for a few moments, then Hermione broke the silence:"Where is he?"

"Pippy must not tell."

Annoyance showed in Hermione's voice:"Then what can you tell me? If you just plan on standing there, you shouldn't have came."

"M-Miss, do not be angry with me. Master sent me to see what you are doing."

"He sent you here? That means he's still in the house?" Hermione concluded, her logical thinking kicking in.

The elf started pacing up and down the room nervously:"Miss should not know that!"

Hermione demanded answers:"What has happened with his wife and Draco?"

"It's not Pippy's place to tell you that, I'm sorry."the elf said apologetically.

Before Hermione could ask another question, the elf disappeared, leaving Hermione alone again. So he sent an elf to see what she was doing. Hermione almost wished he'd do what he has to do straight away, rather than just leaving her alone to wonder. It seemed like endless hours have passed since he left. It could have been only five minutes, but Hermione discovered that time goes so slowly while you're waiting in fear.

Why hasn't he come back? Why did he sent the House elf to check on her?

Just be grateful he hasn't come back. She told herself.

It's just that she hated sitting there, wondering. Waiting. Interminably waiting. She was sure he was doing it on purpose. Prolonging the agony by giving her time to think about what he may or may not be about to do to her.

What is he going to do to me?

She shuddered at the coldness in the room. Well, maybe it wasn't cold, but she had only a nightgown on. That was the thing that had her confused. If he was disgusted with her body, as he said he was, shouldn't he want to see as little of her skin as possible? Why did he gave her only a nightgown to wear? Maybe it was all part of his plan to humiliate her and make her uncomfortable. If it was, it was working.

Hermione tried to move as little as possible, not wanting to cause her body more pain. She listened to the silence in the room and wondered how her life would be from now on.

Slapping, cutting wrists, being thrown across the room into a wall... was that how her days are going to look like? Hermione didn't want to die. No matter how hard she was convincing herself that if it becomes too much to handle, she would end it all. End her life, or make Lucius end it. She wanted to live. Ever since he left her alone in the room, she's been telling herself that's she not afraid of him, of what he might do to her.

What a stupid lie.

She was terrified. She had never in her life felt that much fear. Never. Even when she was at the Battle field. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into a dreamless sleep with a hope that she would wake up at Hogwarts and that everything that's happened was only a dream.

The first thing that came to Hermione's mind when she woke up was that she was feeling sick. She felt like throwing up, but how was that possible when she hasn't had anything to eat in two days?

She knew she should move. Her whole body was aching from lying on the hard floor for hours on end. Her throat was completely dry and it hurt when she swallowed. She really needed some water and food.

A small voice in her head was telling her that she was responsible for the fact that he had not given her food. If she obeyed him, things would be much easier. For the first time in her life, Hermione wanted her brain to shut down. She did not want to think about countless ways in which he could torture her. And the reasons which he had to torture her.

Then the doors opened and Hermione heard a sound of shoes, immediately recognizing it.

He's back.

"I see you've been resting the whole day,"Lucius said to her, his voice very low, so low it made her heart catch in her throat.

"Well, now you are where you belong: on the ground at my feet,"he added and Hermione stopped herself before she shot an insult at him. The last thing she needed was to be thrown into the wall again.

"Stand up,"her ordered, impatient,"You will stand when I speak to you. Unless I say otherwise. Is that understood?"

This time Hermione couldn't stop herself:"Then you might try and not throw me across the room."

The horrible silence fell upon the room. Hermione thought she angered him again, but then she heard his laugh. He chuckled at her, but it was an evil tone in it. It actually sent shivers down Hermione's body.

"Do you expect me to believe that you are actually hurt because of that little punishment?"he asked, his voice full of doubt.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe he was serious. She would like to see how would he feel after being thrown across the room and into a wall.

"Answer me, mudblood,"he demanded.

"Y-Yes,"she managed to say.

"Well, I would like to see the proof. You don't expect me to just believe your words?"

Hermione tensed, wondering if this was just his sick game. Not knowing what to do, she stayed on the floor and waited for his instructions.

She didn't have to wait a long time as she heard him walk towards her. She knew what was going to happen and she prepared herself, but that didn't prevent her from letting out a loud cry as he roughly grabbed her by her arms and pulled her up.

"Oh, please, mudblood! Stop acting, it won't do you much good,"he snapped at her.

It was only then that Hermione noticed how much her whole body hurt. All she wanted was to lay down and not move until it would pass, but that wasn't an option. He wouldn't let her.

He was still gripping her arms and Hermione quietly wished he wouldn't let go of her, because she wasn't sure if her legs could hold her.

"See, you are standing. That wasn't so hard, now was it?"he asked, emotionless.

Hermione tried to stand completely still, even small movements caused her back inormous torture.

"What if I do this?"he asked as he pulled her a few feet away from where they were standing, away from the wall. Hermione stumbled as she tried to keep up with him. Then he stopped and Hermione realized they were probably standing in the middle of the bedroom.

How she hated him. He knew well enough she was hurt and yet he made her walk. She gulped down her exclamation of rage, but he could read her expression well enough.

"Ah, that upsets you, doesn't it?"he asked with amusement.

Then his hands slowly traveled from her arms to her waist. He was still holding her, not letting her sink to the floor.

Hermione's heart was beating frantically, almost bursting out of her ribcage. A shudder ran down her spine, her body trembling more and more while his hands still stayed on her waist. She could feel warmth from his skin through the thin material of her nightgown.

"Useless, helpless, with such a delicious amount of fear in your eyes. Tell me- what are you afraid of?"he asked quietly, noticing how tense she was.

"What are you doing?" Hermione didn't know what else to say.

He smirked at that and stepped back, walking around her, behind her body. Hermione stayed still, keeping her head faced forward. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled up.

"That wasn't an answer to my question, was it?"

She felt his warm hands on her bare shoulders, his body pressed lightly against her back. Hermione's breath caught in her throat.

What… what is he...?

Lucius eased the straps of the nightgown off her shoulders and Hermione instantly hugged herself with her hands to stop the dress from falling down her body. She knew she should fight, take a step forwards, away from him or tell him to stop, but she just stood there frozen, almost afraid to breath.

Then she felt his hands on her back and she hissed in pain at the contact.

"You weren't lying. You have bruises,"he said calmly, lost in his thoughts for a moment, before his old cold voice returned:"But you deserved what happened to you. I do not tolerate disobedience from anyone, especially mudbloods."

Removing his hands from her, he stepped away and Hermione immediately pulled the straps back on her shoulders.

"You didn't answer my question,"he reminded her.

Hermione needed a few moments to calm down.

"W-What question?"she asked hesitantly as she took a few deep breaths and tried to still the trembling of her body.

"What are you afraid of?"

"You,"Hermione answered truthfully, not feeling the strength to resist him anymore. She was so tired.

Lucius was pleased by her answer. Hermione could tell by the tone in his voice that he was smirking at her:"My, but this is certainly an improvement," he drawled maliciously. "It's quite refreshing not to have to put up with need to prove yourself to me."

Hermione was biting her tongue, annoyance slowly rising inside of her.

"You finally admit you're afraid of me. That didn't take me too long to achieve. Maybe I overestimated you."

"Who wouldn't be afraid? I am trapped here, at your mercy, not being able to see, to defend myself. Not knowing why I am here or what you are planning on doing with me,"Hermione couldn't stop the words.

She paused and when Lucius said nothing, she continued:"Fear is a normal reaction. I'm not ashamed of it. There is no person who wouldn't feel afraid at not knowing why they're tortured and what will happen to them."

"I will give you another reason to fear me, girl. You want to know why you're here, is that correct?" his voice was dripping with malice.

Hermione nodded, though now she wasn't sure if she really wanted to hear the answer.

"You are here because you deserve to be here. You deserve everything that happened to you and what will in the future happen to you," he explained coldly and Hermione could actually feel the hate from his voice.

"I am only sorry that I have to somehow satisfy my rage with you. I wanted him. But he is no longer alive, and that leaves you."

"Are you talking about Harry?" Hermione asked, confused.

She gasped out in pain as Lucius suddenly slapped her across the face. Her head turned with the force of it and tears already formed in Hermione's eyes.

"Never again speak his name!" he snapped at her.

Hermione quickly nodded, resisting the need to touch her burning cheek and waited for him to continue.

"The Dark Lord killed him before I got to him. It's a pity." Lucius spat the words out with disgust.

Hermione felt the pain mixed with grief in her chest at his words. She knew Harry didn't survive the battle, but she didn't know the details. And she did not want to know the details.

"Why did you want him?" she asked carefully after a few moments.

"I thought a bright witch as yourself could figure it out by now."

Hermione remained silent, not knowing what to say. She had a few theories, but didn't want to reveal them to him.

Lucius's voice was burning with rage once again:"He killed my son in front of me."

That sentence caused Hermione's head to feel dizzy. All air was pushed out of her lungs as the words slowly sunk in.

"Draco is dead?" her voice was shaking with horror. She never wished him death and it shocked her. She has known him ever since she was eleven and it wasn't easy to find out that everyone you knew were dead.

But what caused absolute fear to build inside her was the fact that now she knew why Lucius chose her. It wasn't just because of her blood status. It was much, much deeper.

"B-But what does that has to do with me?" she asked quietly.

His voice was cruel and hard:"Do not play dumb with me. You are as guilty as Potter. You were friends with him, supporting his every decision. And since he is not here to pay for his actions...Well, I guess you'll have to do."

There was a complete silence for a few moments. Hermione wished she could see, so she could read the emotions on Lucius' face.

"How afraid are you now?"he asked, amusement clear in his tone.

Hermione felt like the whole world came crashing down onto her as realization hit her. She was at the hands of a sadist, a complete sadist, who blamed her for the death of his son. There was no way out of the situation she was in.

"Do not tire yourself with answering, the trembling of your body tells me everything, mudblood,"he said and Hermione could almost hear the sneer in his voice.

He continued:"It's time to go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a difficult day. For you, anyway."

"Why?"Hermione asked quietly.

"I'm expecting some company tomorrow,"he explained, "I have my fellow Death Eaters coming in for a dinner. And guess what or better said- who will be the main entertainment," excitement was evident in his tone.

"What will you do to me?"Hermione asked quietly, holding back her tears. She didn't exactly know what it means to be the entertainment, but she could imagine it.

He chucked cruelly:"I will not do anything to you. But I cannot say the same for my friends. Some of them have an awful taste in their choice of fun. Not as sophisticated as mine."

She understood what he was trying to tell her and she felt sick.

"Now, let's get some rest, shall we?" with that he grabbed her arm again and almost dragged her towards the bed, dropping her onto the floor roughly.

"Rest. You will need it," his voice was silky and gentle, but Hermione knew it was all just an act. How can a person so cruel and evil have such a gentle and soft voice?

Lucius said nothing to her as he undressed and Hermione forced herself to lay down onto the floor. Her body needed rest. Besides, she wanted Lucius to fall asleep. That was the only time she felt safe, knowing that he won't hurt her.

When she closed her eyes, she heard him again.

This time his sounded murderous:"You're never going to speak about my wife or son again. If you ever voice their names again, I swear I'm going to make you pay, I'm going to torture you on and on until you begged for death. Is that understood?"

"Yes," she answered immediately.

Then she heard him walk over to the bed and mattress sinked behind her as he lies down. "Nox."

It didn't make any difference to Hermione, but only when she knew that the lights were off, she could relax. Calming down her breathing, she tried to convince herself that Lucius was only trying to scare her. There would be no Death Eaters coming in for dinner. He only said it to frighten her, he was just messing with her mind. He's sick, he's twisted. He'd do anything for a bit of sadistic enjoyment at her expense.

Or maybe he was telling her the truth?

I hope you like where this story is going. Thanks for reviews and tell me what you think of this chapter! :) :)