Hermione fell against the wall again, gasping for air as she was released from the Cruciatus curse. The torturing was starting to take a toll on her, and she shut her eyes tight, hoping that she would have enough energy to get her and Ginny out of there.

Alecto let out another raspy giggle from above her and asked, "Wishing for death yet, mudblood?"

Grinning to herself, Hermione looked up and stared Alecto right in the eye as she said, "Your burning parchment was worse."

She got great enjoyment out of watching the anger flash in the redheaded witch's eyes, knowing that she would probably pay for it with another Cruciatus curse. She was proven right and silently suffered through another round of the seemingly endless pain. The only ray of hope that kept her going was the knowledge that Draco and Blaise knew where she and Ginny were and were most likely rushing to them. Hopefully she would've gotten her and Ginny out of there before the boys got there.

The pain released and she collapsed against the wall again, staring up at the ceiling and panting. Alecto let out a huff of disappointment at Hermione's strength and said, "We should probably go torture the blood traitor now. I think she might break more easily than this one."

Hermione waited until their backs were turned before whispering, "Confundo."

The two Death Eaters paused and looked at each other. "Did you hear something?"

Alecto turned back around and stared at Hermione. "Did you just try to use the Confundus charm on us?"

Chills ran down Hermione's spine as she realized with horror that the spell didn't work. "N-no! I wouldn't dare do such a thing!"

Rodolphus pointed his wand at Hermione and sent another Crucio at her, his face expressionless. Hermione screamed loudly as the pain returned for a short period, and when it was lifted she realized they had left the room.

Hermione...I think they're coming for me!

I'm so sorry, Ginny, I thought I stopped them in time!

Ginny's thoughts were cut off by a sudden loud shriek from another room and Hermione let out a yell, pulling against the chains with the strength she had left. She felt completely and utterly helpless in that moment, since she knew that without their wands, they wouldn't be able to fight back properly and wouldn't stand a chance. She couldn't try to initiate the escape plan now, that would be certain death.

Another guttural scream of immense pain filled the room next to her and she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She had tried so hard to keep them from hurting Ginny, from possibly hurting Ginny's baby. And she had failed this time.

There was silence for a few moments and she thought she could hear Ginny crying. Then there was Alecto's condescending tone, followed by Rodolphus's deep voice. While she couldn't pick up the words, she knew that they were taunting Ginny. Possibly asking her questions like they did with Hermione. When there was nothing, another scream filled the room next to her, this one lasting longer than the other two. Hermione tried to push away the worrying thoughts that were eating away in the back of her mind about whether or not Ginny would be alright, and if the baby would make it through this.

Relief flooded her as she heard Ginny's door open and close, followed by the sounds of footsteps walking back down the hallway. Hermione immediately reached out mentally to Ginny. I'm so sorry, Ginny!

There was silence for a few moments before Ginny responded. If you ever take one of those for me again, I will personally beat some sense into you with a beater's bat.

Hermione couldn't help but grin. Duly noted. Are you alright?

I think so, everything's still aching a bit. I don't know, I'm scared of how it's going to affect the baby.

I'm worried about that too, but as soon as we get out of here you are going to St. Mungo's to get checked out.

There was silence again. She thought about Draco and how angry he might be because of her kidnapping. That thought somewhat terrified her; how much has he destroyed trying to get to her? Or was he still under control? He was fairly good at keeping his Veela in check, but something like this may have just been the final tipping point.

Hermione, did you feel that?

Feel what?

Her question was answered immediately as there was a warmth spreading through her, followed by the familiar comfort that Draco always brought her. She smiled and laughed slightly as she realized what that meant.

They're coming to get us! Hermione, we're going to see them soon!

Ginny's excitement was contagious and Hermione was soon unable to stop smiling at the thought of seeing her Draco again. But then Alecto's words came into her head again and her expression immediately changed. Ginny, we have to get out of here before they get here. They can't be here.

Why, what's going to happen?

Alecto said that the Malfoys and Harry are the real targets because they are the reason Voldemort fell, according to those two.

We need to get going then because I can feel Blaise getting closer!

It wasn't too long after that Hermione had regained her strength and was mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do. She took a few long, deep breaths to calm her quickly-beating heart and focused on seeing Draco again.

After standing up, she looked down at the chains and focused. "Engorgio!"

The chains began to grow in size, and once the cuffs were large enough she was able to slip her hands through them and free herself. She groaned and rubbed both of her wrists as she quietly made her way to the door, pausing for a few moments to listen. After hearing no sounds, she put her hand over the lock and focused on it unlocking.

She cringed slightly at the lock clicking rather loudly in the silent room and waited to see if anyone would be coming, but there was nothing. Letting out a small breath she opened the door as quietly as possible and peaked her head out of the doorway.

The hallway was very dark even with the three torches placed evenly throughout the length of it. The walls looked very old and crumbling almost, making her worry that they might just accidentally destroy the entire building if the rest of it was as old as these walls were.

Luckily there seemed to be no one around and she slowly made her way out of the room, looking at the two doors on either side of the room she was held in.

Ginny?

Yeah

There are two other doors out here and I'm not sure which one is yours. I'm going to knock quietly once on them, let me know if you hear it.

Okay!

Hermione went towards the door to the right of hers and tapped on the door once.

I heard it!

Quickly waving her hand over the door again and hearing it unlock, she quietly opened the door and found Ginny against the back wall, standing up. She rushed over to her friend and grabbed the chains that were holding Ginny to the wall. "Engorgio!"

Ginny pulled her hands through the cuffs once they were large enough with a sigh and the two girls embraced happily. When Hermione pulled back, Ginny gasped. "Hermione, your face!"

Waving her off, Hermione said, "Don't worry, they're healing! Come on, let's go find our wands."

Ginny hesitated, casting a fearful glance towards the door. "Hermione..."

Putting her hands on her friend's shoulders and giving them a slight squeeze, she said, "Ginny, we're going to be alright. Just stay behind me until we get out of here."

Ginny's brow furrowed and she retorted, "Don't forget what I said about taking curses for me."

"Oh I won't!" Hermione laughed slightly. "Here, I think this might help us."

She waved her hand over Ginny and cast a Disillusionment charm, and Ginny shuddered as she said, "That's so weird, feels like you cracked a raw egg on my head and it's dripping down me."

Hermione laughed and cast the spell on herself as well, grimacing at the fairly accurate description of the feeling. When they were both blended into their surroundings, Hermione reached out and took Ginny's hand and led them to the door. "Come on, we need to go find our wands now."

They quietly left the room and went down the hallway, staying close to each other. Luckily it was fairly dark in the large house which helped conceal them against the walls. There was no sign of anyone so far, but Hermione was constantly on alert.

They went up a set of stairs and turned a corner, voices hitting their ears from a nearby room. Ginny froze and her breathing quickened in a panic, but a squeeze from Hermione's hand helped her calm down and remember that they weren't entirely visible. Hermione pulled them forward past the room but they paused on the other side of the door as they heard what was being said.

"Rabastan has lost the whereabouts of the young Malfoy," Rodolphus said. Hermione was surprised to hear disappointment from the usually emotionless Death Eater. "He says they still have the Aurors all looking for those two traitors, and that Draco and the Zabini boy were helping."

"Was Potter with them?" Alecto asked.

"Rabastan seems to think so; apparently he and the other blood traitor left with them," Rodolphus answered. "No matter. I'm sure soon they will find out the whereabouts of the girls and come find them. And once we have Draco, Lucius and Narcissa will surely come after him."

Chills ran down Hermione's spine as she listened, leaning forward to look into the room. It was a rather dusty and dirty living room with two large arm chairs facing one another, with the two Death Eaters sitting in them. There was a roaring fire against the wall that was the only source of light in the room, which struck Hermione as odd but she didn't dwell on it for too long as something caught her eye on the table between the two chairs.

Two wands were in a small cage on the table, and she recognized her wand as well as Ginny's. Excitement filled her and she leaned back to look at Ginny, thinking, They have our wands in there!  

How are we going to get them?  Ginny thought back.

Hermione thought for a few moments before answering. I'm going to try to summon my wand. Hopefully they'll think I'm trying to get out of the cell and leave to go torture me more. If they leave, we can go in and get the wands.

Ginny nodded and Hermione quietly summoned her wand. They heard the sound of wood tapping against metal as Hermione's wand tried to leave the cage and go to her, and there was a chuckle from one of the Death Eaters.

"Looks like the mudblood is trying to summon her wand again," Alecto mused. "Shall we go remind her that she isn't allowed to do magic?"

There wasn't an answer but the girls heard shuffling and footsteps. They both held their breath and pushed themselves against the wall as the two Death Eaters emerged from the room and walked down the hallway away from the girls, disappearing around a corner.

Hermione and Ginny rushed into the room as quietly as possible and went to the cage. "Alohamora!"

The cage opened and the girls grabbed their wands, sighing with relief. Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand again as they both left the room, continuing down the hallway quietly.

A sudden shriek broke the silence of the house and both girls jumped. Hermione cursed to herself and they took off running down the hallway away from the sounds of footsteps that were fast approaching.

"Where are they?!"

Hermione and Ginny quickly ducked into a dark room, Hermione hiding underneath a desk that was against the wall and Ginny disappearing into a small wardrobe. Ginny tried to slow her breathing as quietly as she could, peeking out through one of the doors that she left cracked open so that she could see what was going on.

Alecto and Rodolphus both appeared suddenly in the room, and Hermione backed herself up against the wall as best she could underneath the desk. The two Death Eaters searched around with their wands lit, casting suspicious glances over everything.

"Rodolphus," Alecto started quietly, "Go wake Amycus. He needs to help search for the traitors."

Rodolphus said nothing but left the room, leaving Alecto by herself. When Hermione could no longer hear the footsteps going down the hallway, she cast a silent but powerful stupefy that sent Alecto flying against the wall.

She groaned as she fell to the floor and slowly started to get up, but Hermione was already out from underneath the desk and said, "Silencio!"

No noise came out of Alecto's mouth as she let out a silent cry to the door in a failed attempt at alerting Rodolphus. Hermione gritted her teeth and flung the woman against the wall again, this time knocking her out.

Ginny had appeared next to her by then and said, "What if she wakes up?"

"Hopefully we won't be here when she does," Hermione muttered. "But just in case...petrificus totalus."

Alecto's unconscious body immediately stiffened with her arms snapping to her sides and her legs snapping together.

Hermione  let  out  a  small  breath  and  looked  over  at  Ginny.  "Come  on,  Rodolphus  is  getting  Alecto's  brother.  We  need  to  find  our  way  out  of  here."  

A/N: Thank you all for being so patient with me! I'm apparently not as good at managing my schedule as I thought I was...but I promise you'll get two chapters today, I'll be uploading the next one as soon as I'm finished with it. Love you all! <3

Oh and I realized I made a mistake in a previous chapter when I had Hermione confuse them originally, used the wrong incantation for the spell. This one has the correct incantation and when all is said and done I'll go through and edit for mistakes :)