"Cissy, put the boys in the cellar. I'm going to have a conversation with this one, girl to girl!"

Blood everywhere. Desperate screams.

"You're a lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth! What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife! What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!"

Bellatrix's words flew through her mind, the memory sending shivers down her spine. She had known that the anarchial Bellatrix Lestrange wouldn't let her go without consequence. The pain came with relief, however. The house elf Dobby had returned to save her and her friends. A chandelier crashed to the ground, dust flying everywhere, the once-grandiose and ostentatious house of Malfoy now tainted.

"Stupid elf! You could've killed me!"

More scuffling, wands raised, they were about to attack. Disarmament with a snap of his fingers.

"How dare you defy your master!"

"Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf."

The house elf, his eyes fixed unwaveringly upon Bellatrix, snapped his fingers. In that instant, everything changed. Ron, whose hand was wrapped around hers tightly, was sweating profusely. Her own hand, shaking with worry, slipped from his as Dobby snapped his fingers. She felt her friends twist on the spot and disappear into darkness. She screamed desperately, she did all she could to grasp something, any part of them. But the attempt was futile. She hadn't made it.

She grasped her knees and pulled them to her chest, entire body shaking violently. Backing in to the fireplace, and settling against the wall, she stared into Bellatrix's worn and heavy-lidded eyes. She could see Draco standing behind, eyes filled with fright, his face giving the impression that he was living in a nightmare. Lucius and Narcissa clutched each other, clearly panicked. Bellatrix Lestrange was the only soul in the room who kept her composure. She stood quite still, a chilling sight to behold. It was like watching a snake, coiled up and ready to attack at any time.

It was over. Harry and the others had escaped without her. They wouldn't return, not now. It was far too dangerous. Hermione Granger belonged to the Death Eaters for the time being, there was nothing she could do to change that.

Bellatrix's lips curved slowly, forming a smirk. Her black eyes shone mockingly at Hermione. She turned quickly to face the Malfoys. "He was here! Potter could've been killed if you three cowards hadn't let him go!" She shrieked. "Wait until the Dark Lord hears about this. I'm surprised, Lucius, that someone with your past wouldn't try a little bit harder! Cissy, you've always had atrocious taste in men.." Bellatrix added, her voice suddenly dry. "And you, Draco..." The simple sound of his name had the boy frozen with fear. She sauntered up behind Draco, her ghostly pale and cold hand clutching his shoulders. "Never before have I seen someone so USELESS. Like your father you are! You let him take Pettigrew's, yours, and my own wand, idiot!"

She turned the boy around to face her, and slapped him across the face with all of her might. The sickening sound filled the room, and the red mark left by her hand contrasted greatly with Draco's already pale skin. Lucius shut his eyes tightly, and Narcissa gasped.

"PLEASE! Bella, he's just a boy!" She exclaimed, afraid of her sister's rage. Bellatrix laughed coldly, turning away from the family once more.

"You should be thankful that I don't have my wand or dagger, Cissy. He deserves worse, and you know it." She spoke loudly, every word laced with disgust. "At least I killed the elf. Although I can't deny I'd have loved to see him bleed. To watch the light leave his sickeningly proud eyes." She stared into the distance, as if imagining the very thing, a lustful smile appearing on her face. "Now, what shall we do with the Mudblood? If Draco hadn't given my wand to Potter, I'd have loved to play with her for a few hours.. I could have her begging me for death within minutes. You'd all see how it's supposed to be done."

It was the first time that all four of the Death Eaters had focused their attention on Hermione. She looked to the ground, avoiding eye contact. Her clothes were covered in ash and blood, her face spotted with dirt and cuts. Clamping her hands tight in fists, she noticed for the first time that she still held Bellatrix's wand, something she'd grabbed from Harry before they Apparated. She did the best she could to move her shaking hand behind her back, praying that none had noticed. The wand was her only hope. It was useless. Bellatrix was a cunning and sharp witch, and she saw it immediately.

"Oh, I see what you're doing.." She exclaimed, a few haunting chuckles following, "very naughty. I'd love to see how you're going to escape, Mudblood. However your filthy and unworthy flesh is dirtying my possessions!" Her shrill voice echoed in the silent manor.

Bellatrix walked briskly towards Hermione, eyes filled with rage. "Give it here, whore." She stuck out her hand impatiently. Hermione teared up, but took the wand out from behind her back. She tried her best to think of a spell effective enough to get out of the situation, but nothing surfaced. Her mind was blank with panic. "St-s-stupefy!" She screamed, pointing the wand at Bellatrix's heart.

The Death Eater laughed as a few pathetic red sparks leaked from Hermione's wand. She snatched her wand from the girl's shaking hand and used her other arm to grab a few clumps of Hermione's hair. Pulling with all of her might, she dragged the Mudblood out from the fireplace and into the middle of the room. Hermione's helpless screams echoed around her. She laid on the stone floor surrounded by strands of her own hair. Blood seeped down her face like red tears. Bellatrix looked down upon her, and spit on the ground next to her. Lucius and Narcissa did all they could to laugh with their fellow Death Eater, making light of Hermione's misery. Draco stood frozen in the corner. His grey eyes were fixed upon Hermione as well, though he wasn't laughing. His lips lay flat, his arms crossed upon his chest. There was still a patch of pink on his cheek from earlier.

"WELL? What are you waiting for Lucius? CALL HIM! NOW!" Bellatrix screeched, her heel pushing into Hermione's chest, ensuring that she wouldn't try and move. Beads of blood appeared next to Bellatrix's shoe, which was clearly piercing the skin. Lucius cleared his throat. "I don't know if he's- if it's going to-" He started, in a barely audible mumble.

"DO IT, COWARD!"

He lifted up his sleeve, and it was done. A faint pop echoed through the house. He was coming.