Granger's Wolf

A Choice

Crucio

Hermione had experienced the cruciatus curse many times before, and could tell this one was weak. He didn't mean it. She was in so much pain, but it wasn't the head-splitting pain she knew too well. She wanted the pain to end, but not to the extent of hoping for death.

The pain stopped abruptly, and she heard angry voices, but couldn't bring her mind to cooperate and decipher what was being said then.

'... Too soft. Too weak...'

'... A disgrace to the Malfoy name...'

Hermione focused on her surroundings and found Draco looking at her, eyes red, and lips trembling. Voldemort's cold voice went on about Draco's weakness and incompetence, while Lucuis looked ready to choke his son to death. They both thought Draco's clear distress was caused by his failure, but Hermione knew better. She saw Zabini vanish the book in her peripheral vision.

Bellatrix was smirking and was slowly approaching Hermione. She then pushed Hermione flat on the floor and placed her bare foot on Hermione's arm, grinding until she heard the bones crack, 'My Lord, may I show Draco how torturing mudbloods is done?'

'Certainly, Bellatrix. I have always admired your thirst for blood.'

Bellatrix looked down on Hermione and her eyes flashed dangerously. She reached into a pocket and extracted a dagger, clearly goblin-made, which meant its blade was unsually sharp and, knowing Bellatrix, it was most probably cursed. Her scars would never heal.

Hermione felt the dagger digging into her arm and screamed. Then she felt it moving. Bellatrix was carving her arm, and was doing it with an excruciating slow pace. She tried to push her off, but Lucuis incarcerated her. Hermione couldn't move, she hated feeling helpless. Bellatrix sounded almost excited, 'The M is almost done, My Lord', then she pushed the dagger deeper into her arm at the end of the first letter of the word she hated so much. Mudblood. Then she pulled it out abruptly, causing Hermione to gasp at the sudden increase in pain, and drawing more blood. Bellatrix continued carving the remaining letters on her arm. She would start each letter with a deep thrust of the dagger, and end it with a deeper one, then she would pull it out quickly.

Hermione's screames had become much weaker when Bellatrix pulled out the dagger, finally done with her project. Hermione's vision was unclear. The voices were far away.

What happened in that cell, in that night, was the worst thing she had ever been through. It would scar her for life, if she still had any left. Hermione was irreparably hurt, both physically and mentally. What did she ever do to deserve that much hatred? She had never felt that much helplessness before. Hermione was trapped and being tortured, and there was no one to help. Harry wasn't there to save the day, Ron wouldn't shield her, and her parents were far away, with no knowledge of an imprisoned daughter. The pain in her arm was almost equal to a good-cast crucio, and the cuts were too deep. She lost so much blood.

Voldemort was impatient, 'Yes, it was a lovely show, Bellatrix. Not let us uncover the Order's secrets.'

No. Hermione panicked. She didn't have energy left. She wasn't sure if her occluding would be enough. If Voldemort himself did it, she wouldn't be able to trick him. The best she could do was to pretend to put up a fight before letting him in, then she would show him the memories she had prepared.

Before she was ready, she felt him invading her mind and destroying the walls she had built. She pretended to fight him and tried to rebuild the walls for a while, but he was too strong. He crushed them all with practiced ease, then looked into the memories she prepared. Then He pulled out of her mind. What? That's it?

Voldemort's snake-like face remained expressionless for minutes, and then, very quickly, he directed his wand and Draco and shouted, 'Legilimens!'

Voldemort caught him off guard. Draco's eyes widened. He didn't expect it and didn't prepare. Then Draco seemed to have controlled the situation. After a few tense minutes, Voldemort nodded and left the cell, followed by Lucius. Bellatrix made sure to step on Hermione's freshly injured arm before leaving, but Hermione couldn't summon the energy to scream.

'I have to heal her-

'No. Go after him. He suspects you.'

'But she's hurt and -

'I'll heal her, Draco. Just go.'

Before welcoming the darkness, she felt a trembling hand on her cheek.

                               ~~~

Hermione heard hurried footsteps and hushed whispers. She was sore everywhere, and had a terrible headache. She found herself in a clean bed and found her left arm heavily bandaged. She shuddered at the memory and didn't want to think about how horrible the scar underneath the bandages would be. Draco was by her bed when he saw that she was conscious again and held her hand, 'How are you feeling?'

She noticed that he looked sad and tired, and his fingers were twitching again. He had been tortured. 'What happened?'

Before Draco could answer, Zabini came into view, 'No. You have to hurry. Give her that when you arrive because a portkey is too much for her right now.', he gave Draco a green potion.

Draaco reached into his pocket and took out a large key wrapped in a white cloth, then helped Hermione out of the bed and explained, 'The Dark Lord suspects me. I couldn't shut my mind fast enough, it seems. We can't stay here anymore. We'll hide somewhere safe.'

'What about your mother?'

He looked so sad that Hermione regretted asking, 'I can't help her now.'

'It's all my fault. I'm sorry-

Draco shook his head, ' No, It's not your fault. I should have been prepared. I should have expected it.'

Zabini cleared his throat, 'We're running out of time. And you have to Obliviate me.'

Draco nodded, then hugged him, 'Stay safe, Blaise. And thank you.'

He patted Draco on the back and stepped away, 'See you soon.'

Draco directed his wand at Zabini, aiming for the memory of Blaise helping them escape, 'Obliviate.'

Zabini looked dazed and confused. Before he could sober up, Draco unclothed the key, made Hermione grab it then, with one last look at Zabini, activated it.

Hermione never liked traveling by portkeys, and her current condition made it ten times worse. They landed in a beautiful forest. Draco gave her the potion, then took out a piece of parchment from his robes and handed it to her. Shield Cottage. The cottage was protected by the Fidelius Charm. Brilliant. It slowly appeared in front of her eyes, and it was small and cozy. She instantly loved it, but Hermione Granger wouldn't hide away in a cottage during a war and return after it ends.

When she was done admiring the cottage, she found Draco's eyes on her, and he looked nervous. He then gave Hermione her wand, and her beaded bag.

Hermione was finally free. She could finally return and fight alongside Harry and Ron. She had a choice.