Hermione

The first thing I noticed when I was grabbed roughly from behind was the stench of rotten flesh.

"Get - off - her!" Ron shouted, panic on his face as he too was grabbed.

I screamed as the large Snatcher who restrained him thumped him hard in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. "No! Leave him alone, leave him alone!"

"Your boyfriend's going to have worse than that done to him if he's on my list," a horrible voice rasped in my ear. "Delicious girl... what a treat... I do enjoy the softness of the skin..."

I shuddered, trying not to let my fear show. We were completely screwed and I had no idea how we were ever going to get out of this.

At first, the Stinging Jinx I had put on Harry looked as though it was going to buy us time in their uncertainty about his identity. However, in a twist none of us were expecting, they decided to take us straight to You-Know-Who himself.

"I 'ere he's staying at the Malfoy's place these days," one of the Snatchers said as they discussed our fate. "I suggest we take 'em there so he can thank us personally. Might get a bit of dough for the Mudbloods, too."

A coldness crept across my heart. Ron and I immediately exchanged fearful looks (there was no point trying to decipher Harry's expression thanks to my efforts). Lucius and Narcissa knew exactly who Ron and I were. And, of course, if Draco were to be there...

They tied us to the other prisoners who happened to be Dean Thomas and some grumpy little goblin. Was nice to catch up with Dean though, even if Harry and Ron were a bit surly with him over the whole dating Ginny thing still.

And then, after a group Apparation, we found ourselves standing outside some ghastly looking wrought iron gates at the top of a drive that led to... holy cricket. I knew Draco was rich but not in the way that made the Queen look poor.

No wonder he was so spoilt.

I glanced up at Ron who I could tell, by his expression, was thinking the same thing.

"Bloody Lucy and his pretty birds," the lead Snatcher snarled as he kicked a peacock out of the way to get to the intercom.

I tried to stifle a startled cry, but was unsuccessful. As a result, I was rewarded with a painful kick to the back of my legs by the Snatcher behind me. "Shut it, girl!"

Ron turned, growling. I shushed him before he could give the Snatcher lip and land us in even more shit.

My heart sank as Bellatrix came skipping down the drive, laughing and singing manically as she did so. Her personality was quite terrifying to say the least. Psychotic sprang to mind, in fact.

I shuddered and felt Ron press into my side as she approached the gates.

"It's all right, 'mione," he said in a hushed voice, "I'm here."

That would be little comfort to me later on.

She took one look at Harry and her eyes lit up, screaming at the top of her lungs to 'GET DRACO!' despite the fact that we were a long way away from the manor and it was unlikely anyone inside would hear.

We were dragged down the driveway, tripping and stumbling as the Snatchers hit and kicked us to move faster. I began to sob, the pain and humiliation unreal.

I did not want to see Draco like this, did not want him to have to be put in a position where he would need to choose between us and him.

Would he risk his life by lying to save us?

I had decided before we even stepped inside the manor that I would forgive him. I did not want him to be dragged into this any more than he already was. At the end of the day, Harry would always have to face Voldemort. It was just a shame it was before he was ready.

Although... Harry seemed to fare pretty well in previous face offs.

As we entered the echoey hallways of the vast and opulent building, I could hear my heart hammering against my ribs, feel the prickle of sweat in my palms.

And there he was, stood pale as a ghost in between his mother and father inside a room that contained the largest chandelier I had ever seen in my life.

His eyes met mine almost instantly, and he held my gaze for a fraction of a second before dropping it. In that split moment he had given away to me the fear contained within him. I was the one chained up and likely to face death, yet it was him who I felt sorry for the most.

"Ah, Draco!" Bellatrix trilled as she snapped her fingers at the Snatchers to pass her Harry. "Look what I have here for you... it seems some old school chums dropped by for a play date."

He glanced up at her nervously, terror rife in his eyes as he silently inched closer to his mother's side.

"I just need-" Bellatrix continued as she yanked Harry forward, his face still puffy and swollen, "-for you to confirm that this boy here is indeed Harry Potter before I call the Dark Lord."

Draco didn't move. He stood frozen on the spot, his hands trembling by his sides and face tight with fear.

"Come on, Draco," his father coaxed, a glass of red wine sloshing about in his hand. "Go and take a look. If this is indeed Potter then we might get back into the Dark Lord's good books."

Draco's eyes swivelled, his Adam's apple bobbing profusely in his throat. It was only when he locked eyes with his mother and she gave a small nod did he finally concede and allow his father to lead him over to Harry.

I held a breath as Draco came to a still in front of Harry, seemingly scared of looking at him. Next to me, Ron made a movement, and I could tell he was just as apprehensive as I felt.

"Well?" Bellatrix pressed, impatient. "Is it him? Look closely now."

Draco hesitated, his eyes raking over Harry's face with reluctance. "I can't - I can't be sure."

My body relaxed a fraction as the breath finally left my lungs. He was choosing to save us.

And, as though he sensed what I was thinking, Draco's eyes flicked briefly to mine, the tip of his tongue sweeping nervously across his lips.

I silently thanked him, hoping he could hear.

"But, wait-" Lucius said, and to my horror he was squinting over at me. "Isn't that the Mudblood who is reportedly on the run with Potter? The Granger girl? Draco, take a look, if it is indeed her then that must be Potter."

The terror on Draco's face was palpable. His feet began to protest as his father eagerly grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him across the room towards where I was stood.

And then there he was, his face shoved right in front of mine. He was so close I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, the citrusy notes pleasantly tickling my senses and taking me back to happier times I couldn't recall.

"Come on, boy-" Lucius snapped, shaking Draco fiercely, "-is it her? Is it the Granger girl?"

Draco's breathing was fast and terrified, matching my own as we held one another's horrified gaze. I wanted to reach up and touch his face, to tell him it was okay, that he didn't have to lie, that we could find another way out of this without endangering his life.

"Well, Draco?" Bellatrix prompted. "We can easily find out if you're unsure, all I have to do is Accio a copy of the Prophet with her picture inside. So tell me, is this the filthy little Mudblood you used to complain to Mummy and Daddy about?"

I saw the crumple of his face, and the agonising look in his eyes as he stared sorrowfully at me before casting his gaze down to the floor. "I... maybe... yeah."

It felt as though someone had reached inside my ribcage and squeezed a hand tight around my heart. But I knew he had no choice, that they would have known if he had lied, and risked his and his parents lives in the process.

"Very well," Bellatrix said, seemingly satisfied, "call the Dark Lord then, Luc- wait... WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!"

Everyone's eyes swivelled to Bellatrix as she pointed at something in one of the Snatcher's hand.

Oh hell, it was the sword. My heart raced fearfully in my chest as he explained he'd nabbed it from our belongings.

"THAT'S MINE!" Bellatrix screamed manically, her voice piercing our eardrums. "THEY MUST HAVE STOLEN IT FROM ME!"

She began hissing and spitting, tearing her hands wildly through her hair as she marched across the room towards the Snatcher. The atmosphere was tense and Draco moved himself so close to me that I could hear his heart pounding furiously in his chest.

"Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Scabior," Bellatrix instructed to the Snatcher as she grabbed the sword from his hand, "but leave the Mudblood. We're going to have a little girly chat."

My blood ran cold as she whirled round to look at me, the wickedness in her eyes more frightening than anything I had ever seen in my life.

It was a look that said she had no mercy.

I could feel Draco's panic as he inched yet closer to me, trying to shield me from her approach as she slinked towards us, her hips sashaying like a cat's, her grin wider than a clown's.

"No!" Ron shouted as she pushed Draco aside to cut me free from the ropes. "You can have me, keep me!"

Bellatrix struck him across the face without hesitation, the sound of the blow echoing around the room.

"If she dies under questioning, I'll promise I'll take you next," she said. "Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book."

Quick as a flash, she grabbed me by the hair and dragged me into the middle of the room, away from the others.

Coming to a halt, she pulled my head right back and I felt something cold, flat and hard press against my throat. My insides turned to liquid - it was a knife.

"Now," she rasped, her hot breath tickling my ear. "You are going to be a good girl and tell me how you broke into my vault."

"I- I didn't-" I stuttered fearfully, the feel of the blade making me nauseous. "It just- it just turned up-"

"LIAR!"

I flinched as she pressed the blade more firmly into my skin, a frightened whimper passing my lips.

"Please," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I promise, I'm not lying-"

To my relief, she dropped the knife from my neck. However, instead, she raised her wand and flicked it. "Crucio!"

The pain wasn't like anything I'd ever endured before. It was out of this world, like my whole body was on fire. I dropped to the floor, literally not being able to stand it and I could feel myself jerking and writhing uncontrollably, my lips parted in a scream that was even deafening me.

When it lifted, I found myself curled up, gasping for breath, my cheeks wet with tears where my eyes had literally watered in pain.

Footsteps by my head told me she was pacing over me. "Now," came her sharped, clipped voice. "I'm going to ask you again, and this time I want answers or else the pain will be even worse and even longer."

She paused, bending down to move her lips close to my ear again, her hair tickling my face. "How- did- you- break- in- to- my- vault?"

I couldn't help but cry then, frightened sobs leaving my lips. "I- I honestly don't know what you're talking about-"

I was cut off by my own screams, pain rendering me incapable of doing anything else. The agony was too much, I wanted to die, I needed to die. I scrabbled about desperately in my head, looking for a place to shut myself away in before I went completely mad.

There must be a way, I told myself, surely there must be a way to endure this torture?

And then the most extraordinary thing happened. It was like finally finding the correct combination to a locked file, freeing it for me to peruse at my leisure.

Professor McGonagall asking me to tutor Draco... dinners at the Slugclub... Ron kissing Lavender... Draco kissing me...

It was all coming back.

And as the torture went on, so did the memories.

Sleeping in Draco's arms... losing our virginities together... realising I was falling for him... being happy, so happy...

"I love you, Draco."

"And I love you too, Hermione Granger... never forget..."

But I had forgotten, because even though he loved me, he'd taken them all away.

Yet now they were all back, every single lost memory of those six months.

When the pain lifted again, so did my eyes. I was disoriented, fuzzy, my body trembling and exhausted as I lay in a heap. Confusion hit me when I realised I was being pinned down.

She'd given up on questioning me it seemed. Instead, she was grinning manically down at me, holding up a bloody knife in her hand.

"Lest you forget who you are," she lifted my right arm, and there, in grotesque bloody letters, the word Mudblood was carved.

My head lolled to the side and the last thing I saw before I passed out were a pair of the saddest grey eyes I'd ever seen.

I'm sorry, they said.

So was I.

*****

A/N: Off on my holiday tomorrow, and putting a ban on technology (see how well that goes!). So no updates for a week. I will return next Friday although update will more likely be on Saturday (28th). Thank you to those who have been reading, voting and commenting. You don't know how much your support is appreciated by me, and hopefully I'll see you back when I return ❤️