chapter 8 BE STRONG

"Wake up."

Hermione just groaned and tried to ignore the voice, completely forgetting where she was and what was happening.

"I am not telling you again, Mudblood."

Mudblood. That word brought her back into reality and reminded her where she was. Her eyes flew open and she quickly tried to pull herself into a sitting position. She was still disoriented and she forgot about her injuries. When she moved, the pain caught her off guard, causing her to wince. She could scream, but her pride was stronger.

The memories of the previous day came back to her as she remembered being slapped, kicked and thrown into the wall.

Lucius only laughed at her discomfort and it just made Hermione hate him with more passion. She could tell he was kneeling down next to her, but he was not as close to her as he was when he was touching her face. Once she was in a sitting position with her back to the wall, Hermione remembered what happened at night and she wondered if she should tell him that she knew he was watching her. And touching her. That was a fact that worried her the most. She couldn't understand what made him do that. But she decided that at that moment it probably wouldn't be such a good idea to let him know she had been awake.

"How are you feeling?"Lucius asked calmly.

Hermione couldn't prevent the sceptic look on her face. Should she tell him the truth or lie? She was hungry, starving and a part of her just wanted to obey him. Everything would be so much easier.

Hermione licked her dry lips and answered carefully:"Like someone beat me up."

"Good," he replied, "That was my intention."

Hermione had to grit her teeth to prevent herself from answering him.

Lucius was silent for a few moment as if he was waiting for her reply, but when he realized she wasn't going to say anything, he continued:"It is a surprise to see you're capable of willing obedience. I wouldn't have thought that three days ago."

He was mocking her and Hermione knew it. It took all her mental strength to not just spit at him and show him how obedient she could be. Beaten, starved and hurt, Hermione decided to act logically. She was hungry and she needed food. How to get the food? By acting obedient. At least for some time.

"Now give me your hand," Lucius ordered.

"Why?" she asked growing more suspicious.

"I will not repeat myself. Give me your hand," Lucius ordered, his voice stronger this time.

Hermione bit her lip and after a moment she did what she was asked. She felt something being put in her palm, a small bottle. When Lucius released her hand, she quickly pulled it back from him.

Lucius asked, amused:"Well? Aren't you going to ask me what it is?"

"It's a bottle. And I presume it's a potion," Hermione answered, wondering what was he planning.

"True. It's a Healing potion," he stated calmly.

That caught Hermione off guard. He had beat her until she nearly passed out and then he decided to give her a Healing potion?

"What do you want me to do with it?" The moment that question left her mouth, she realized how stupid it sounded. What else do people do with potions other than drink it?
"I have some guests coming in and they requested your presence," Lucius explained without any kind of emotion.

Fear started to build inside Hermione. She shook her head, panicked, remembering what had happened the last time she had to entertain Lucius' guests. It had been only a day ago.

"No...You can't do that. Not again..." she babbled, panic making her even more confused.

"I can do what I please, Mudblood. Do try to remember that. And I don't see the reason for you behaviour. Do you not want to meet my guests?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hermione took a deep breath and reminded herself to stay calm:"No. I don't want to."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but your wishes are irrelevant here," he drawled, "However, you can calm down. When I say guests, I don't mean my friends from yesterday."

A small part of Hermione relaxed, but she was still worried. She was nothing but a mudblood to him. Why would he want her to meet his guests?

"At the moment you are in no condition to walk or do anything else, so drink the potion."

Hermione tightened her grip around the bottle and whispered:"I don't want it. I don't want anything from you."

He was silent for a moment and Hermione waited for his reaction. What surprised her was that he didn't lose his temper as she expected him to.

"You will drink it," he said again with absolute certainty and a warning in his voice.

Hermione knew it was better to just follow his orders. Her whole body hurt and why decline the option to feel better?

Without words, she drank the potion, and some kind of heat spread all over her body. It lessened the pain, but it didn't take it away. At least she was feeling a little better.

"Good girl," he said to her with a smirk, then Hermione felt him move away from her as he got up.

He continued:"They will arrive in half an hour. I have some work to do, but I will come for you in time. I would advise you to be smart, Mudblood. Talk only when spoken to and restrain yourself from making smart comments."

"The position of intellectual supremacy is not an easy thing for the male ego to compete with, is it?" Hermione said without thinking about what consequences her words might have. Only after a second she realized she should had kept her mouth shut. She had only drank a Healing potion. The last thing she needed was another beating.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Mudblood," Lucius said in a low voice.

"I wasn't being sarcastic."

Hermione wanted to slap herself at that moment. What was her problem? Why couldn't she keep her mouth shut?

The next moment she winced as she felt that familiar stinging slap across her face. Magical slap. Hermione already knew what it meant. After three days with Lucius Malfoy she had learned to distinguish a warning slap from a rage slap.

"I believe I don't have to say anything else," Lucius hissed at her, "You will do what is expected from you. That means keeping your filthy mouth shut when ordered to. Is that understood?"

Hermione nodded calmly, but inside she was burning with rage. After a few seconds, she felt him move away from her as he stood up.

"You don't seem so well, Mudblood. Stop your irritating behaviour and maybe you will get some food today. But do not get your hopes up."

He then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Hermione let the fear show on her face. How she hated being ignorant. How she hated being at Malfoy's mercy. But what she loathed the most was her weakness. Only a week ago she had been certain that she would never beg for mercy, that she would never cry in front of the Death Eaters. She realized with shame what she had became, what she allowed herself to do. Two days ago she had called herself a Mudblood. He made her call herself a Mudblood. He had the power over her and he could do anything to her.

Lucius Malfoy was stronger than Hermione. With a wand and without it. He proved her that a few times. At the beginning she was convincing herself that at least her mind was stronger than his. That he can't break her mind will, but soon she was proved otherwise. That made Hermione only more disappointed in herself. Everything she thought about herself had been a lie.

Shaking her head, Hermione tried to think about other things. Worry washed over her as she remembered what Lucius had told her. He had guests coming and that wasn't a good thing even if they weren't the same Death Eaters from a day ago.

She started to hyperventilate as he mind worked, trying to figure out why Lucius wanted her to meet his guests.

The lack of oxygen was making her feel dizzy. She would soon pass out and hopefully never awake again.

But there was still something inside of her. Something that didn't let her give up on everything, a small hope that somehow everything will solve itself. It was illogical, but Hermione was clinging onto it.

As minutes passed by, she realized that her brains were slowly becoming her enemy. There were constantly horrible scenarios and terrifying ideas in her mind regarding what will happen to her.

Hermione had a feeling she would go completely mad if she kept laying on the ground and not doing nothing. So she forced herself to stand up. It took her longer than she expected, but when she was finally on her legs, supporting herself on the wall, she realized that the potion Lucius had given her really worked. She could still feel pain in her ribs and on her face, but at least she could move.

Suddenly the doors opened and Hermione recognized the sound of Lucius' boots.

His smooths voice filled the room:"Well, I see you've finally decided to get up. Now come here. There's someone downstairs that wishes to see you."

"Who?" Hermione asked, afraid to know the answer.

"You will restrain yourself from asking question, Mudblood. You will keep your mouth shut and obey if you know what is good for you."

At first Hermione wanted to shout at him, but she stopped herself in time. If she wanted to survive, she had to play by his rules. At least for some time.

So she took a deep breath and slowly walked towards his voice. With each passing day she learned to accept the darkness around her and she was already capable of walking without the fear of tripping over something or falling down.

When he gripped her arm tightly, Hermione knew there was no escape. She would have to go with him and face whatever he had planned for her.

He led her out of the room and down the long corridor. Then there were stairs and that made everything more difficult. Hermione couldn't remember that she had walked down the stairs the last time he took her out of the room to meet his fellow Death Eaters. But she was under the Imperius curse at that time. It was possible that her mind let some things slip.

Hesitating, Hermione carefully stepped down on the first stair and then she felt Lucius' grip on her arm tighten and she realized that was walking slower as if to give her time. She didn't want to think about his reasons for not just pulling her down the stairs and she just concentrated on each step. When the stairs were finally over, Lucius's walk fastened again and this time he was almost dragging her behind him.

A minute later, Lucius suddenly stopped and Hermione bumped into him. She heard Lucius let out an annoyed sigh, but he said nothing. He opened the doors and then they walked in. Hermione's body was slowly starting to tremble with fear. She didn't know what to expect and when they walked in the room, she held her breath, wanting to listen for any kind of noise that would tell her how many people were in the room.

But everything was silent. All she could hear was Lucius' breathing next to her.

Then the silence was shattered by a shriek.

"Hermione!"

The voice was coming from another side of the room and Hermione recognized it immediately.

"G-Ginny?" she asked quietly, fearing that maybe she had heard wrong.

"Yes, Hermione, it's me," Ginny answered.

Hermione stood frozen in shock. She could hear Ginny take a step forward, but was stopped by something.

"Let go of me!" the younger witch hissed at someone and struggled and Hermione wondered who was holding her back.

"Calm down, Ginevra. There's no need to act like an animal," a man said calmly.

Hermione opened her mouth in complete shock. She knew that voice, she could recognize it anytime. She had listened to it for more than six years.

Ginny was still struggling:"Let go of me, Snape!"

"P-Professor?"

The moment she let that word out, Hermione wanted to slap herself. What was she thinking by calling that traitor 'Professor'?

"Five points to Gryffindor for stating the obvious, Miss Granger," Snape replied sarcastically.

Hermione didn't know what to say, her mind was completely blank and that had never happened to her before.

"What have you done to the girl, Lucius?" Snape asked with a hint of shock in his controlled voice.

"I have every right to do with her as I please."

"I don't doubt that. Am I right to assume you have found her inability to stay quiet extremely irritating?"

Lucius drawled coldly:"True. But no need to worry. Few more days and she will be disciplined."

"Or dead," Snape added without any kind of emotion.

Hermione felt like throwing up. How could they talk about taking a human's life?

Lucius smirked, then asked:"What do you think, Severus? Should we allow them a few minutes of privacy?" Lucius asked, still not letting go of Hermione's arm.

He was touching her skin and it didn't seem to bother him. If anything, it seemed as if he didn't want to let go of her.

"I promised, haven't I?" Snape answered.

Hermione had no idea what they were talking about, all she could think of was that Ginny was still alive.

"But are you sure they can be trusted?" Lucius asked, scepticism clear in his tone.

Snape was confident:"Trust me, my friend. Ginevra knows what is good for her. She will not cause problems."

"Pippy!" Lucius then raised his voice and the small elf was beside them in a second.

"Yes, M-Master?"

"Lead Ginevra and the Mudblood into the study. You have a few minutes," he then leaned to Hermione and whispered in her ear:"Do not try anything stupid."

Hermione nodded, and then he released her arm and backed away from her. Hermione hesitantly took a step forward, then felt someone embrace her tightly. She recognized the small body as Ginny and she responded, wrapping her arms around her.

Hermione felt useless tears stream down her face, while she buried her face in Ginny's shoulder.

"Please, do spare us the dramatics," Lucius hissed, annoyed,"Pippy, show them the room."

"Come, Hermione," Ginny whispered and they walked together, following the house elf.

The room was not far away, it was next to the room where Snape and Lucius stayed.

The moment the doors closed and the elf dissapeared, Ginny once again hugged Hermione and this time she let herself cry as well.

The two friends stayed that way for a long moment. Hermione was pressing Ginny against herself, as though that could make everything easier.

Ginny was the only reminder of her former life and it was painful, but all Hermione needed at that moment was a friend.

"Oh Ginny," she murmured between desperate sobs. She could feel Ginny's body shaking from her own sobs.

"Hermione, we have to talk. I don't know if we'll ever get the chance again," Ginny whispered, still hugging her friend.

Hermione took a deep breath and slowly pulled away from her. At that moment she was glad she couldn't see anything, because she wasn't sure she could stand the look in Ginny's eyes. She couldn't stand seeing her just as broken as she was.

"My god, Hermione, w-what happened to you? What has that bastard done to you?" Ginny asked between sobs.

"He...It doesn't matter. I'm alright..." Hermione started, but Ginny cut her off.

"Alright? You're covered in bruises and your face...What has happened to you? Why can't you see?"

Hermione shook her head, trying to sound strong:"Bruises heal, Ginny. It's..nothing. And I've been blind since that day at the battle field. I don't know who was it."

"Have you had anything to eat since then? You look thinner that I remember you and it had been only a few days ago!" Ginny realized with horror.

Hermione recognized the fear and desperation in Ginny's voice. Not wanting to worry her further, she smiled weakly:"I'm fine. What about you, Ginny? What happened to you? Are you alright?"

The younger witch took Hermione's hand in her own before she started:"I was at the battle field and I got hit by a spell. It knocked me down. That's all I remember. I woke up in a bed and Snape was there."

Hermione's eyes widened with shock:"What do you mean by that, Ginny? Has he..done anything to you? If he has, I swear..."

"No, wait! He was in the room with me, not in the bed. He was...taking care of me."Ginny admitted quietly.

"What?"

"I don't understand it either, Hermione. He said I was his award and that I'm his possession, but he's done nothing to me yet."

Hermione couldn't keep the scepticism from her voice:"Ginny, are you telling me the truth? You don't have to lie to not worry me..."

"I'm not lying. I don't know what to think. He's done nothing to me. Not even after I...well, I..."

"After you did what, Ginny?"

"The first night I was uncontrollable. I was terrified. And I-I stabbed him with a letter opener," Ginny explained with stronger voice.

"What did he do?" Hermione couldn't believe what Ginny had done and survived. She was sure that if she herself stabbed Lucius with something, she would be dead a minute later. He had beaten her almost unconscious when she had only slapped him.

Ginny continued:"He pushed me away and restrained me, then left. But when he returned, he did nothing."

Hermione was confused by her words. It didn't seem right why would Snape act that way.

"Ginny, don't push him. Listen to me. You don't know what they're capable of. The Death Eaters, I mean."

Ginny was silent for a moment, then Hermione asked:"Do you know anything about the other survivors? Have you heard anything?"

Ginny threw herself into Hermione's arms, sobbing again:"Hermione…It's terrible..they're all dead…Ron…Harry…all dead..."

One words stabbed Hermione like a knife:"Ron?"

"Yes...Snape told me," Ginny whispered, her voice shaking.

"How?" was all Hermione could say.

"He...that bastard killed him. Malfoy..."

"Draco?"

Ginny shook her head:"Lucius..." she trailed off, a new wave of sobs taking her over.

Hermione stood completely frozen. All her tears had stopped and she started blankly into the darkness.

"But...that's not possible, Ginny. He would have told me..."

"It's true. Snape has no reason to lie to me. I had to swear I wouldn't attack Malfoy before we came here. I've hardly been controlling myself, but I knew if I did anything than I wouldn't be allowed to see you."

"He...he killed Ron? Ron's dead?" Hermione whispered, rage taking over her, "He will pay for that, I swear."

Angry tears were running down her face.

Hermione had always been strong, had always looked for a way out, for a solution. And now? She was cowering in front of Malfoy.

"And the others? Your family?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. There's a chance that some of them survived, but I don't know...Snape doesn't know or doesn't want to tell me..."

"Ginny, how did you come here? Why did they left us alone?"

"I asked Snape if there are survivors and he said that he knows where you are. When he informed me that he's going to visit Malfoy I insisted go with him to see you."

Hermione nodded and smiled again. It was a sad smile.

"Hermione…what has he done to you?" Ginny murmured almost inaudible.

Hermione was older that Ginny and she felt it was her duty be strong for her, so she tried to comfort her.

She put on a strong mask and smiled weakly:"He wants to break me, but he hasn't succeeded. Don't worry about me, Ginny."

"I do worry. You don't know how you look. Even Snape was shocked when he saw you, I noticed it."

Hermione tried to change the subject:"Ginny, there must be some survivors left who have not been captured. Try to find out. And...run. I'm sure there's still a resistance anywhere that you could join."

"And you?" Ginny asked,"Please don't give up, Hermione," she pleaded, squeezing her hand.

"I'm not giving up, Ginny. But I have no chance in running away while I'm blind. All I can do is wait," Hermione explained, hoping she sounded convincing.

"I-" Ginny started, but was interrupted as the doors opened.

Hermione knew what it meant.

"Your time is up," Lucius informed them, "And I have returned the favour, Severus. Miss Weasley, I hope you made use of the time you had. You will not be seeing your Mudblood friend anytime soon."

Hermione felt Ginny tense beside her.

"Come here, Ginevra. It's time to leave." Snape ordered curtly.

Ginny gave Hermione a quick hug and whispered:"Be strong," with that she released her and Hermione heard her walk away from her. She felt tears in her eyes as she realized that this was possibly the last time she talked to Ginny.

Only a second later Hermione winced as she heard a noise and then Luicus's angry voice cut the silence:"You filthy blood-traitor! You can thank Merlin that you are not in my possesion."

There was a sound of struggling heard and Hermione wondered what was happening.

"Calm yourself, Ginevra!" Snape ordered.

"Murderer! I would kill you if I could! But you will pay for everything you've done!" Ginny screamed.

From what Hermione could tell, Ginny was trying to attack Lucius and Snape was holding her back.

Lucius just chuckled evily:"Oh, but I think that I've been punished enough. That a dirty blood-traitor dares to spit on me is truly a punishment horrible enough. I hope you will not let that pass, Severus."

Than Hermione understood everything. Ginny probably spat on Lucius. It made sense. The younger witch had told her that she had to act obedient so that she was allowed to visit her, but now that the visit was over...Ginny could do what she wanted.

"I can assure you, she will be punished for this, Lucius," Snape said coldly, still holding the struggling Ginny in his arms.

"Remove her from my sight and do enjoy punishing her," Lucius ordered.

"With pleasure."

Hermione could then hear Ginny being dragged out of the room and then she was once again left alone with Lucius.

"What did you talk about, Mudblood?" he asked, amused.

Hermione was bitting her tongue, trying to stay silent. She did not wish to provoke him, she wasn't strong enough.

"Cat got your tongue?" Lucius smirked, than made his way towards her.

Hermione stopped breathing when she felt him stand before her.

"Shall we return to my bedroom?"

Hermione still said nothing. But when he gripped her arm, she couldn't stop struggling against his grip, feeling nauseated at his touch. He had killed Ron with his hands. The hands that were now touching her.

Without another words, Lucius forced her to start walking. With each step that she took, Hermione was feeling more and more sick. She was afraid she would throw up on Lucius. Even if he deserved it, she wouldn't be able to stand the punishment that would follow.

Once they were in the bedroom, Lucius let go of her.

"What is wrong with you?" he asked, irritated.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione whispered.

"Tell you what, Mudblood?"

She stayed quiet, fearing that if she opened her mouth, only cries would come out.

"'My patience is not limitless, Mudblood. Why didn't I tell you what?" he demanded.

Hermione swallowed hard and forced the tears to stay in her eyes as she answered:"That you killed him."

Lucius smirked and Hermione could almost see the proud expression on his face:"You will have to be a bit more specific. I have killed a lot of people. You don't actually expect me to remember every one of them, do you?"

How could he be so cold? So evil? Is there really no feeling inside of him?

"Ron," Hermione forced out.

"Oh, him," he said, sounding bored,"I didn't think he was important enough to be spoken about. After all, he was only a pathetic blood-traitor."

That caused rage to explode inside Hermione:"Don't call him that!"

In a second he was beside her, his warm breath tickling her cheek.

"One more outburst from you and I'll punish you severely," he whispered in a low voice.

Hermione knew she was making a mistake, but at that moment she didn't care. Her heart was stronger that her mind. That's why she was sorted in Grffindor.

Before she even realized what she was doing, the words flew out of her mouth:"Why did you kill him? Why?! Because he was also responsible for Draco's death?"

"I'm warning you. Do not speak my son's name," Lucius spoke in a low, dangerous tone.

"Who else is also responsible for Draco's death? Ginny? Luna? The Weasleys? Hagrid? That's all a lie and you know it! If anyone's to blame, it should be you!"

"Shut your mouth!" Lucius shouted viciously, then slapped her across the face.

The force of it knocked Hermione down to the ground, but she could stop screaming at him:"You are the reason he became a Death Eater! You're the one to blame for everything! You know it, but you're not man enough to admit it!"

Lucius grabbed her by her hair, pulling her upright and pressing her forcefully against the wall. He then closed the distance between their bodies. Hermione tensed and gasped, trying to ignore that her body was pressed against his and the only thing that protected her from him was a thin robe.

He held her wrists above her head and Hermione struggled in an attempt to push him away, but it was useless.

"So you think I'm not man enough? Maybe I should show you how much of a man I am," he muttered quietly, something dangerous in his tone.

His thumb glided slowly over the soft skin of Hermione's wrist, while keeping her arms fixed above her head. That caught Hermione off guard. His touch was gentle as it was at night when he touched her face and neck, thinking she was asleep.

But before Hermione could respond, he became rough again. He pulled he away from the wall and threw her across the room. Hermione stumbled in the darkness and fell into something, something hard that bruised and battered her, and then there was a loud, ringing crash.

Hermione was positive it was a dressing table. And the mirror was broken. Hermione dropped with her knees and palms onto the fragments of the broken mirror. She shrieked from the pain that was jolting through her body.

"What have you done? What have you done, you despicable Mudblood?" Lucius' voice was filled with rage, panic and grief?

Hermione was laying on the floor, feeling like everything was spinning around her. All pain disappeared and unconsciousness took over her.

"That was Narcissa's dressing table, you filth. You will pay for it, I swear," Lucius's tone was full of hatred and disgust.

And that was the last thing Hermione heard before the darkness overtook her mind.

Thanks to all who like my story! Don't forget to review and tell me what you think! :)