Chapter 6

"How's the Mudblood?" The drawling voice of Draco Malfoy floated up the stairs to Hermione's sleep-addled ears.

"Draco, I have asked you not to call her that. You don't have to put on a show for the Dark Lord, and you hardly have to call her that for my benefit," Snape replied in a reproving voice.

"Fine, but you didn't answer my question. How is she? She ready for some fun?"

Hermione had started to make her way out of the room, but stopped dead. She'd completely forgotten about the 'fun and games' aspect of her imprisonment.

"Why does it concern you? She'll survive. Since you need her to survive, you should be happy."

Hermione quickly made her way down the stairs, feigning ignorance to their conversation.

"Miss Granger." Snape nodded in greeting.

"Professor."

Draco simply watched her enter the room.

"Good morning, Malfoy."

"Granger."

"Tea is in the kettle. We have much to discuss this morning," Snape said.

"About what?"

"The rest of your duties."

Hermione felt the blood drain from her face. "What will I have to do?"

"That all depends, Miss Granger. What makes your more uncomfortable – torture or rape?"

How he could speak like they were nothing was completely beyond her comprehension. "Er, I don't think I can honestly answer that."

"Well, you'll have to pick one before tonight. Whatever the Dark Lord sees will bring you the most discomfort will be your task."

Quickly she said, "Then I will project torture. I think rape would bother me more... Well, I know it would. But torture I can live with. I can hold myself up pretty well," she rambled.

"That's enough. We will practice projecting when you have finished."

"I think I'm finished. I've lost my appetite...."

He looked at her before replying, "Very well. This will be different than our normal session. I will still be trying to break through your barriers while you project what it is you want me to see, but you will have other distractions." Snape looked over at Malfoy.

Hermione really didn't like the look in the younger Malfoy's eyes.

"It's payback time, Granger."

She looked to Snape for help, but he simply shrugged.

Standing up, she started to walk to her normal chair for her Occlumency training. It was times like these that she started to regret agreeing to this.

"Not today. This will be as real as possible. You will kneel or stand before me because that is how you will be in front of the Dark Lord."

Hermione refused to kneel. Unless she was forced, she would never show deference to that snake!

"Legilimens."

Snape never gave her warning anymore. As soon as she felt his presence, she shoved all thoughts out of her conscious mind. Her field of flowers was second nature to her now. The hard part was allowing only certain memories and feelings to pass through her barrier. If she could just turn her mind into a blank slate, this whole mess would be easier.

"Draco."

At the word from Snape, Hermione felt a sharp pain in her left foot. She felt her field start to falter as pain invaded her calm façade. Trying to ignore her foot, she focused on letting everything go. Another sharp pain struck her right shoulder. She could feel blood starting to run down her arm.

"Hands."

This time there was no pain. Malfoy had walked up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. The sudden contact almost shattered her concentration. Getting used to the sensation, the flowers stayed strongly in their place. She was completely unprepared for what he did next. Malfoy started making small circles with his hands, almost like he was going to massage her back. The touches became more fleeting the more time that elapsed. When he reached the nape of her neck, Hermione's concentration finally broke.

Snape pulled away as soon as she faltered.

"Draco, that's enough."

The caresses were gone in an instant. Hermione felt strange at the sudden loss of contact.

"You were doing passably. You need to always show memories through your shield. When you faltered, the memories ceased. That small mistake could cost you your life tonight," Snape warned, toying with the wand in his hand.

"Yes, sir."

"Let's go again. Draco, this time, don't wait."

"My Lord, she and I are here to do your bidding," Snape said while kneeling before Voldemort.

"Very good, Severus."

Snape got up and walked to his spot in the circle that had formed around Hermione. She was kneeling in front of Voldemort with her head held high. Her body hurt, and her mind felt raw from the training earlier, but there was no way she would allow Voldemort to know anything.

"My faithful, you will have a chance to play tonight. But first, my pet," the name sounded like a curse from his mouth, "what information do you have for me?"

"I have no information of worth to you," she spat.

A small and dangerous smile appeared on Voldemort's lips. "We shall see."

That was all the warning Hermione received before Voldemort was tearing into her mind. Severus had been brutal, but nothing compared to this. She fought to keep her memories private. Only revealing what she thought would appease him. The pain tore at her mind. Knowing that she could die was the only thought keeping her from giving in and letting Voldemort have free reign.

She saw a memory of her and Harry in the common room. Next was the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. She let some of her fear for Harry show through. A memory of Snape stalking around his classroom came next. A feeling of hurt pride accompanied the memory. The following thought, a worry about being tortured. She showed Voldemort what she looked like after her training earlier today. There was blood on her clothes and bruises were forming along her face. Pure terror was the only emotion she allowed to show for these memories.

The pain was gone as abruptly as it started. She was left dizzy and swaying in the middle of the field.

"Ah, your Gryffindor courage seems to flounder when faced with suffering." An evil smile was on his face, making him look even uglier than normal.

"My faithful, take pride in torturing this Mudblood. Seek enjoyment, but do not kill her. She will still be useful to our cause." Voldemort stepped back and stood to watch his servants advance on her.

"Always a pleasure, you silly girl," drawled a voice from behind Hermione.

A small sense of panic invaded Hermione's thoughts, and a shudder ran through her body. She hadn't realized Lucius Malfoy was out of Azkaban.

As if sensing her thoughts, he said, "My Lord fetched me just for this."

A spell tore through her left bicep, leaving a gash. She swayed slightly but made no other indication she was affected.

"You'll wish you were dead once I'm done with you," he whispered in her ear as he circled back behind her.

Hermione heard a whip crack just as pain lashed through her back. She fell forward, trying to get away. Her arms collapsed under her weight; the strain of the day too much for them.

"Oh, no, my sweet. You will take this standing up."

Someone had grabbed her arm and yanked her upward. Looking at the person holding her arm, she was shocked to see Snape. His eyes gleamed for a moment, and she felt a welcomed pressure on her mind. A sense of calm filled her, and she snatched her arm away from his grasp to keep up appearances.

The whip slammed into her back again, tearing her robe. Lucius Malfoy chuckled and whispered a spell. Hermione was startled to feel the cool night air all over her body. Malfoy had removed her clothes. She started to cover herself, but Snape placed a hand on her arm and tightened his grip in warning.

"Well, Mudblood, show yourself. We've all been waiting for this." Lucius leered as he circled completely around her.

Hermione saw Malfoy flick his wand and the whip turned into a knife. "Too bad my son is such an utter failure. He would have enjoyed this immensely."

Malfoy threw the knife to a waiting Death Eater. He was tall and broad. 'Not as big as Crabbe and Goyle,' she thought.

"Hello, chit. Are you enjoying being our toy?" the man said, trailing the flat side of the knife along her ribs.

With a sudden movement, the knife cut a straight line across the lower part of her ribcage.

She clenched her teeth in pain but made no sound.

The man simply chuckled and said, "Oh, don't worry, I'll be sure to make you scream before this night is out."

Author's Notes: Thanks to my dearest beta readers, GinnyW and snarkyroxy. Any feedback and thoughts are welcomed.