𝐻𝑒𝓇𝓂𝒾𝑜𝓃𝑒'𝓈 𝐵𝑒𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓎𝒶𝓁 (Book 3)

Chapter 2. Stop it

The meeting was filled with nothing but silence. When Voldemort stood up, everyone else did. A few people apparated. The rest left by the front door. Hermione stayed at the manor. "We'll live here for now." Bellatrix said, looking into Hermjone's eyes. She had heard that the Malfoys had a large library where they kept some good interesting books, and some dangerous ones too. Hermione walked through the winding halls of the house. She walked into a room that was a few floors up. Immediately, she saw Draco trying to rub off his dark mark. Suddenly, she pulled her sleeve up. Sure enough, hers was there. She lowered her sleeve. "Stop!" Hermione yelled at him. "I'll do whatever I like! It's a burden, you mudblood!" Draco yelled back. Hermione looked at Draco with confusion, didn't Draco want to be with Voldemort? "I'm not a muggleborn!" Hermione shouted at Draco. "Shut up!" Draco yelled back. "No. I'm a death eater. So are you. You can't change that. You're lucky to be born as one!" Hermione retorted. "You got to choose at your own free will Black!" Draco yelled. Hermione felt a tear almost fall down her face, but she sucked it back in, yelling, "I WAS TORTURED BY MY OWN COUSIN! LET ME ASK YOU THIS, MALFOY, HAVE YOU BEEN PUT THROUGH THE CRUCIATUS CURSE THREE TIMES IN A ROW, ONE OF THEM CASTED BY THREE PEOPLE, AND THEN HAD TO WATCH YOUR BEST FRIENDS DIE, ONLY FOR YOUR TORTURERS TO FORCE YOU TO STARE AT THEM AGAIN? HAVE YOU?" Hermione started crying, and she made to leave the room, but a large hand pushed her forehead back. "Aren't we in a hurry?" Lucius Malfoy said, releasing Hermione, only to pull her by her arm back into a chair. He leaned over her, smiling evilly. "What are you doing in Draco's room?" He asked. His happy tone was teasing Hermione. She looked at him scathingly. "I hate you..." she said under her breath, as quietly as possible. "What was that?" Lucius yelled, and he pulled Hermione by her arm onto the floor. Hermione remembered that she had left her wand at the table where the death eaters had met. Lucius pulled his wand out of its case and pointed it at Hermione. Her wavy brown hair brushed up against her tearful eyes. "As I recall, death eaters don't attack other death eaters." Hermione said, as calmly as she could. Her body had reached a breaking point. If she was cursed again, she would most likely die, or faint. "HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A DEATH EATER!" Lucius screamed. And he waved his wand harshly, as Hermione felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She screamed, holding her head, hitting the floor as her entire body shook. "STOP!" She screamed. "DRACO! HELP!" Hermione would do anything to leave this torture. "Draco, may I remind you, Black," Lucius said over Hermione's piercing screams, "only serves the dark lord." Then, Draco got up. He pushed his father aside and picked Hermione up. Hermione was still crying, and her tears hit adracp's sleeve as he ran, holding her, all the way to the front door, when Voldemort himself, stopped him in his tracks. "Drop her." Voldemort said, looking Draco in the eye with his red ones. Draco was petrified. He let go of Hermione, her body slamming on the floor. She moaned, and Voldemort kicked her in the side. Hermione closed her eyes, making them think that she had fainted. "Draco, What are you doing?" He asked, more kindly than Draco felt comfortable. "We were... going for a....  stroll." Draco said weakley. He had no resort. He didn't know what to say. Hermione blinked her eyes open. She could see Voldemort on her left, and Draco on her right, standing tall over her, staring at each other. Then, Voldemort pulled his wand out. Draco, without moving or pulling his wand out, started crying. Voldemort smirked. He pointed his wand at Draco, "Crucio!" Voldemort yelled. Nagini raised her head from Voldemort's shoulder, and hissed as Draco screamed in pain. Hermione stood up. Slowly. She looked Voldemort in the eye. "Leave him alone." She said shortly and coldly. Hermione had come to realize that Draco was just like her. Forced into being a death eater, and partly enjoying it at times.