Punishment?

Thank you to my lovely reviewers as always. This is the last chapter, and I hope you have all enjoyed the story :)


They lay intertwined in this manner for a few minutes before a gaping hole seemed to open up inside Hermione again. The constant self hate that she kept down to a dull throb had left her desperate for comfort and kindness, something Lucius couldn’t provide. She could pretend he did though, by getting him to care for her physically. Hermione turned to face Lucius, the pleading in her eyes shocking him.
“Again?” Lucius’s eyebrows rose, “God, we only just had sex woman.” Hermione shook her head and tried to hide her need.
“I don’t want to…have sex…I want to…” She didn’t know how to finish her sentence and tried to portray what she wanted through her actions. She gently stroked his hair and kissed him lightly on the cheek. With a sigh, Lucius realised what it was she wanted and caught her hand lightly.
“It wouldn’t mean anything. I’ll do it, but it would mean nothing.” He seemed reluctant, as if there was something more behind his words, but Hermione just ignored him and nodded. Lucius shook his head softly before moving on top of her. He kissed her gently, and stroked her skin with his fingertips. There was little desire between the two, more a mutual understanding like that between two lovers that had been together for too long. He slipped in gently and Hermione wrapped her arms around him, the tears she’d been trying to fight spilling down her cheeks. Lucius brushed them away, a pained expression on his face.
“Sorry…” Hermione mumbled, “I just need to get a bit out.” Lucius nodded, a tight feeling in his chest as he moved in and out of Hermione slowly. The settled into a gentle pace, and they clung together for an age before Lucius came. Hermione’s tears started again at the feeling and she grasped Lucius tightly to her. Before she even knew what she was doing, Hermione opened her mouth.
“I love you Lucius.”

The shock on his face was soon mirrored by Hermione’s as the whole bedroom began to shake. Snapped out of his caring state Lucius pulled out and looked at Hermione coldly before standing up and moving to the edge of the bed. The room was moving downwards and there was a terrible feeling in Hermione’s stomach. Her fears were confirmed as the bedroom landed with a thump in the middle of the room, surrounded by death eaters. There were all hooting as Lucius bowed and jumped off the bed approaching a nearby death eater to collect his robes and wand. There was a hazy replica of the bedroom up towards the ceiling and as the picture flickered and disappeared, Hermione realised they had been watching the whole thing. Hermione thought she distinctly felt her heart breaking as she realised that everything Lucius had just done was a continuation of his plan to break her beyond recognition.
“You love him?” Hermione shuddered as she recognised the high, cold voice mocking her. Lucius stood beside the bed, a smug smile on his face.
“This plan has worked beyond what I ever could have imagined. You, mudblood, must be ashamed of yourself, and rightly too. You have been raped, tortured and abused; we made no secret as to what Lucius’s little sessions with you down here were supposed to do. You are not a hormone driven 15 year old anymore mudblood. You have no reason for your stupidity and lust, no excuse to claim you love a man simply because he is good in bed.” There was an amused laugh from Voldemort as he shook his head in disbelief.
“We captured you specially, because we heard you were so smart, so strong and had such strength of mind. It was wasted effort, mudblood; you are weak, weaker than any other we have had in this dungeon. You are nothing, and are worthless.”

Tears stung Hermione’s eyes, he was right, they were all right. She could have lived with torture and rape, but she could not live with herself after what she had said and done. She leaped across the bed and before anyone could react, grabbed Lucius’s wand. There was a sharp intake of breath as she pointed it squarely at his heart. The scrabble for wands ceased for a second as Hermione turned the wand and held it against her own temple. Lucius stared into her pain filled eyes as she swallowed and whispered,
“Adava Kedavra”
The room was silent as Hermione crumpled onto the bed, wand falling from her hand. No one seemed to move and Lucius automatically reached out. Her shoulder was warm and soft under his hand, and he felt a pang of remorse, the first time in his history of torture. Her hair had fallen over her face and as he gently moved to smooth it back, he saw a few strands stir. Calmly, Lucius brushed the hair aside and felt the warm breath on his hand before resting a finger against her neck. His quick mind weighed up the possibilities, and though the inner conflict inside of him was fast, he was surprised by even the thought to do good. With a mental shake he looked up into the calm face of his lord.
“She’s… alive.” The death eaters began talking animatedly and Voldemort rose angrily.
“Enough! The stupid girl will have addled her brain beyond comprehension, take her out and dump her somewhere where the order will find her. She is no use to us and if we can’t entertain ourselves with her pain, we shall cause the order pain at her state.” With that he swept out, followed by some of his inner circle. Lucius sighed as he looked at the foolish girl on his bed before scooping her up, handing her to another death eater and following his lord out.