She longed for a hug. How Hermione wished she could sink into the strong arms of Ron, at least for a moment. But they were still bound by the spell that had kept them in one spot all afternoon.
Harry's body lay at her feet and the tension-filled dead silence had dissolved into exuberant cheering on one side and desperate sobbing on the other. Harry Potter, the Chosen One, was dead. Seeking help, Hermione let her eyes wander through the room, trying to take in everything despite being frozen on the spot. She met Professor McGonagall's gaze, who seemed as desperate as she was. The venerable professor was approaching her eighties and for the first time Hermione could really see her age.
"What shall we do with the rest of the Muggle lovers and Mudbloods here, dear friends," Lord Voldemort's voice cut through the cheers and sobs.
Icy cold fear spread through Hermione's body - now the time of death had come for her too. Loud shouts rang through the hall, most of them demanding the death of all prisoners.
"I see you want to come clean," Voldemort said, as the brief disturbance began to subside, "but I disagree. As rulers of this new world, we cannot afford to let anything other than politics distract our attention. As in ancient Rome, it falls to us now to decide the fate of the world, while our slaves provide for our physical well-being!"
Once again loud murmurs broke out, the remaining Death Eaters discussed the proposal of their master. Mudbloods as slaves? The temptation of this proposal was great, some whispered, as being a slave would surely be even more painful than a quick, instant death. It took only a few minutes, when even the last one was convinced that this was the much better plan.
"I thought that you would choose to accept my proposal. Just imagine what you could do to the defenceless wizards and witches here. There should be no limit to your imagination in dealing with your slaves, for slaves are no more than tools in everyday life; they must function and if they don't, you can throw them away and replace them," the Dark Lord proclaimed with a laugh.
Applause rose and Hermione noticed how especially in the faces of the old Death Eaters a strange expression suddenly appeared. Instantly, the young witch became very aware of her own nakedness and blushed.
"Hermione...," she heard a whisper from Ron, "am I getting this right...? We are to serve these brutes? Crawl before them in the dust?"
She swallowed. "If only that was it, Ron ... what I see in the eyes of some Death Eaters there, frightens me much more ..."
Though she was hardly able to look him in the eye, Hermione could sense the unspoken question showing up in Ron's face. "Well, what do you think those old sods are going to do to women? Or maybe even men..."
A choking sound showed her that Ron now also understood what she feared. Without her wand and as slaves who were no more than dirt, there was no way to protect oneself against any kind of crazy fantasy. And whether the Death Eaters' disgust with Mudbloods was big enough to make them shy away from rape, she dared to doubt. Hermione did not know whether, in view of that future, she might have preferred death after all.
"Severus, my faithful servant," Voldemort's voice resounded again, "come to my side. You are my most loyal subject, though I have long doubted you. Your actions over the past few days have proven that you stand by me, and for that, you shall be rewarded. You shall be the first to choose a slave!"
Unmoved, Snape stepped forward and positioned himself so that he could see as many prisoners as possible. A nausea spread in Hermione at the thought that one of them would fall into the hands of this cruel, lying man. Did he intend to take a former student as a slave and satisfy his perverted thoughts of her? The trembling, which she had already felt before, became stronger.
"Thank you, my Lord. The choice is vast and I intend to use the advantage of first choice in my favour. As I find Mudbloods repulsive, I choose a pureblood witch whose mind is so clouded that she has allied herself with the enemy. I think I can also say that she was especially important to the departed Potter, which will add to my enjoyment," said Snape. Although his voice expressed contempt and scorn, his face remained untouched. Hermione, on the other hand, instantly understood his intentions.
"I choose Ginny Weasley."
"No!" The angry voice of Ron sounded through the hall again. "You won't dare lay your filthy fingers on my sister!"
"No?" asked the former teacher amused, "and who's to stop me - you, little Weasley?"
Laughter spread and even the Dark Lord showed an open grin. The words of his dearest servant pleased him. "Very well, Severus. Your choice is both excellent and understandable. Ginny Weasley shall be yours. Enjoy."
"Ginny... oh, God," Hermione sobbed. She could understand Ron's feelings - first he lost his best friend and now he had to watch his younger sister, naked and helpless as she was, being sent to the hated teacher and greatest traitor. Ginny, on the other hand, seemed calm, but Hermione immediately recognized what was really going on inside her: She had lost her great love. No matter what else might happen to her, nothing could be more painful for her than this loss. At least, Hermione hoped that Snape knew no cruelty that would eclipse the death of Harry.
"And now, Severus, tell me who is next to announce his choice!"
Just for a moment the Potions Master pondered, then he had decided. "Lucius Malfoy. Though he has not always acted honourably, we should thank him for always making his estate available for meetings."
Lord Voldemort nodded his agreement and gestured for the elder Malfoy to come forward. "Come here, Lucius. Severus has spoken true. Make your choice now - make it for your whole family, for I will not allow you to have more than one slave!"
Snape grabbed Ginny by the hair and pulled her aside so Lucius Malfoy could take his place. Unlike Snape, the blond wizard seemed to be undecided as to who he should take as slave. Seeking advice, he looked at Snape, but the latter raised only one eyebrow and looked back sternly. Hermione could not figure out what to make of this interaction, but obviously Lucius had drawn some clue from this gesture, for suddenly he seemed determined.
"First, I would like to thank you, my Lord. I know that I have disappointed you, so I am honoured that you now treat me so preferentially," he began his speech, "I will do the same to my old friend Severus. I also choose a student who was close to Harry Potter. I even go so far as to say that without her we would have triumphed over Potter long ago. And as great as my disgust for Mudbloods is, the idea of having them in my power day in, day out gives me great pleasure. And I'm sure my son Draco will also appreciate teaching this ever-annoying girl a lesson or two. My choice is Hermione Granger!"
She had known. From the very first words that old Malfoy had uttered, she had realised that he would choose her. It was only logical - the two most important people in Harry's life fell into the Dark Lord's left and right hands. Hermione sensed the magical bonds loosening from her, but she was determined not to fall into the clutches of Lucius Malfoy without contradiction.
"Granger, come here. Say hello to your new master," Lord Voldemort commanded.
She shook her head. She would never acknowledge Lucius Malfoy - or his son - as her master. She took a deep breath and turned to Ron who stood beside her, speechless and petrified.
"Ron," she whispered, "never give up. We'll get through this somehow and get back together again," she told him in a low but firm voice. Then she kissed him with all the passion she could muster. It was the first kiss between them, and Hermione feared it would be the last one as well. She spent every second before she would be pulled away from Ron kissing him, but the moment was far too short. She already felt a pair of strong hands on her shoulders, felt the strong figure of old Malfoy pulling her along.
Grimly she looked back at Ron, who in turn kept eye contact with her. His eyes were veiled with tears, but underneath, Hermione discovered new courage and determination. They would both fight for what Harry had started, they would both find a way to drive the darkness out of the world. Though their paths diverged for the time being.
"Touching, Mudblood," Lucius Malfoy said to her, "but it won't help you. Don't think you'll ever see that redheaded oaf again! You're mine now - and I look forward to it very much! You'll never see your friends again!"
Hermione could not suppress a tremor, but she tried not to be discouraged. There was always hope.
"Never say never," she whispered determinedly and looked her slave master defiantly in the face.
His answer consisted of a slap, which swept her to the ground. At the edge of her consciousness, Hermione could still see Voldemort now giving one Death Eater after another the choice of taking a slave. Everyone tried to get the youngest possible female slaves, but the her attention faded and she was only too happy to surrender to the comforting blackness of unconsciousness.