Intoxication

"See how our wants horrify us."

- Ruth Awad

Chapter Two: Rotten Apples

"I am a lot closer now…"

How does he know?

How does he know?

How does he know?

Theo's words echoed like a gong through Hermione's mind. Her mind was racing a mile a minute as she paced back and forth the short distance her room provided, thinking of every scenario that brought that snake here. He clearly knew the Order had horcruxes or else he wouldn't have said what he said. But how did he know? Did they have a leak? Did they have an imposter? It wasn't that far fetched of an idea. Snape was a double agent for how long and no one suspected a thing. If he could fool Voldemort whose to say someone couldn't fool the idiots that she worked with. It was entirely plausible that someone in their midst was working against them.

However,

Surely the Death Eaters and Voldemort must know that they have been hunting horcruxes. It was common knowledge in the wizarding world at this point that Voldemort had split his soul to preserve his life and whoever destroyed the horcruxes could ultimately destroy him. It was entirely plausible that Voldemort could be sending out his minions to get his horcruxes so they couldn't be destroyed. Theo said that he and his Slytherin posse were about "big picture" things, and it doesn't get much bigger than horcruxes.

"I am a lot closer now…"

He was after her horcruxes. She tightened her fist around the locket even tighter as she paced to the point her knuckles were turning white. As soon as she left the basement she headed straight to her room to ensure that her horcruxes were still safely kept away from the public eye, from the Order, from everyone except her. The locket and the ring were snug in her beaded bag in the back of drawer where they had been since she was entrusted to keep them safe.

Twirling the black-stone ring around her finger as she walked with her other hand, she couldn't make heads or tails of what to do next. Did she tell the Order about what he said? The more she thought about it, the more she realized it depended on how he got captured. If he got captured close to their base, then she was positive that Voldemort knew where their base was and in turn, knew where at least some of his horcruxes were. If he was captured somewhere else while the Order was on a mission and brought back here then the chances of them knowing where their base was were slim.

Did he get purposely captured if that was the case? Did they plan for him to get captured and brought back to wherever the base was to get closer to horcruxes if they had them? Did he even know that they had two horcruxes? Was he just guessing hoping that their scheme was all for naught? Or did he know for sure because of a mole?

Her head was pounding, pain pulsating behind her eyes as the thoughts and options flowed rapidly like water over jagged rocks. Her sight started darkening around the corners of her eyes and her blood was pumping like battery acid through her.

You're having a panic attack.

Gasping for a breath of fresh air, Hermione crawled into bed and curled into a fetal position; the locket held in both hands against her forehead as the ring felt cold against her skin.

You have to calm down.

"I'm trying", Hermione rasped to herself.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Hermione inhaled deeply and exhaled shallowly through her nose, repeating the process with the companion in her head and slowly she felt the edge start to lessen, the dark corners around her eyes starting to fade away as the room started feeling bigger. Not much bigger, but bigger. Sighing, she rolled onto her back, the options of what to do still hanging over her.

She was hesitating.

Hesitating choosing an option.

Hesitating to tell the Order.

Hesitating to do what she knew what the right thing. And that was telling the Order that Theo was here for the horcruxes whether he got captured close to her or not.

Why am I hesitating?

Because they will take your horcruxes away from you.

The voice hummed in her ears, speaking out what she realized was her biggest fear in this whole scenario.

It wasn't the fear that the Death Eaters knew where their base was. It wasn't that Voldemort was coming for what rightfully was his. It wasn't even that her friend's lives could possibly be in the biggest danger.

She knew, and the voice knew, it was that if she told the Order what Theo said, they would 100% take the horcruxes and hide them in a location she would never see again. Lifting the locket in front of her face, she admired Salazar's taste in jewelry and watched with fascination the black spiral magic that swirled constantly in the middle of it.

A piece of his soul is in my hands.

It was impossible not to feel drunk with power at the feeling of holding part of Voldemort on her. Many nights where she laid with it in between her naked breasts and felt on the edge of pleasurable release at the drunk feeling of rage and darkness that swirled from it. In a world that sucked all of her emotions out of her, made her into a killer that couldn't sympathize anymore because if she did, she would want to end her own life because of the guilt, these two pieces of jewelry seduced her and made her feel again. They were the only things that brought her to feel anything other than emptiness. If she didn't have them, Hermione feared she would never feel anything ever again.

No.

She had to keep them. The Order couldn't and wouldn't know what Theo said.

The correct decision.

Hermione nodded as she sat up," What do I tell them about him though? I killed that other kid."

They won't care about the kid. He was inconsequential. They just won't admit it.

They only care about the important one.

Hermione nodded as he told her what she already knew. He had a point. They would probably give her shit about killing the useless kid, but they really only cared about Theo. She'll just have to lie to them. Say that he wouldn't give anything up. Say that he wouldn't cooperate. She had to talk to him again though. Find out what happened that got him captured and to see if Hermione could figure out if he was bluffing. Find out if he knew which horcruxes she had.

As she went to take of the locket, the voice rang out loudly.

You can't trust anyone. They can't be away from you.

"I can't just walk around with these on me", Hermione looked at her reflection with wide eyes," Can I?"

Of course you can. You must.

The final frontier. The one thing she always refrained herself from doing.

The temptation has always been there, but she always drew the line and told herself she couldn't wear them in the public eye, wear them where they could be seen by others.

Or could she?

With deep breaths and shaking hands, she unclasped the locket and watched as Marvolo Gaunt's ring slid down the chain and made a small clink as it landed against the locket. Clasping it behind her neck, she placed it behind her shirt, so it lay where it always felt like it was meant to be.

Against her heart.

She turned every which way in the mirror in her room making sure no lumps or shapes could be seen and feeling grateful for the weight she had lost this past year, so her jacket now hung loosely on her.

You're doing the right thing.

"I know", Hermione nodded to herself," I just wish it didn't feel so right."

"So, what did he say?"

Harry and Ron cornered her in the kitchen the next morning. She was on her way to going back down to Theo to pry out more information from him when her two friends finally laid eyes on her.

"Didn't say much", Hermione shrugged impassively," I was on my way back down there to see if he would talk this time."

"Well, what about the other kid?" Ron tried," Did you talk to him at all?"

"I did."

"And…?" Harry dragged on the short word like it was its own sentence. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him sensing that he was annoyed with her.

"He's dead", Hermione stated matter-of-factly and tried not to bask in their shocked faces.

"What do you mean he's dead?" Ron was the first to speak.

"Is there another way to put it?" Hermione scoffed and turned to the kitchen counter behind her, getting together the sandwich and apple she had grabbed.

"I just don't understand", Ron replied," How is he dead?"

The pulsating black magic on her started thrumming as the seducing male voice in her head started laughing quietly to himself.

"I killed him", Hermione turned back to them with the food in hand," Obviously."

Lie. Tell them what they want to hear.

"He was just playing games with me."

More emotion.

Hermione inhaled a loud shuddering breath," It was so hard being down there with those monsters. The kid just kept talking about how many lives of our friends and family he had taken."

Ron placed a gentle hand on her shoulder as they nodded, that damn sympathy and pity in their eyes.

"Having them in our home is so hard", Hermione willed her eyes to water," Interrogating them is so hard."

"I know, Mione, I know", Harry assured her," Don't think we don't appreciate all that you do."

Fucking liar.

Hermione's insides were seething. That isn't how he acted earlier. He was making her seem like the villain, calling her out in front of everyone.

None of them appreciate you.

"I know it was rash, but it couldn't be helped", Hermione told them," Killing him, that is. I think he-"

Hermione feigned choking on a sob causing Ron to envelop her in a hug.

"I know this must be so hard on you. It's been hard on all of us", Ron whispered into her hair," You have no idea how worried I've been about you."

They want to hold you back.

Hermione nodded with fake understanding as she pulled back and wiped the pretend tears from her eyes.

"I'm not going to give up!" Hermione told them, pulling at what little Gryffindor pride she had left in her," I'm going to get answers one way or another. I swear."

I need answers. I need to know what he knows to protect my horcruxes.

"We're proud of you", Harry squeezed her hand in his as she walked by him, heading towards the door that led to the basement. She said nothing in reply as she opened the door and swiftly shut it behind her, wanting to get as far away from those two imbeciles as possible. The stairs creaked beneath her feet as she descended towards her own personal Slytherin pet sitting in his cage right where she left him.

"Are those for dear little old me?" Theo eyed the food in her eyes, suspicion and hunger both blaringly obvious in his eyes.

"Perhaps", Hermione tossed the apple in the air before catching it.

"Let me guess", Theo rolled his eyes and leaned back as he held onto his folded legs," You want more answers."

"Ding, ding, ding!" Hermione smiled sardonically," Two points to Slytherin."

"Ohhh!" Theo bounced giddily," I wonder if I will win the house cup."

"Well, you didn't while we were in school", Hermione reminded him," Let's see if you can now."

She sat across from him on the ground, placing the food in front of her but making sure it was just out of his reach.

"Did you get captured near here?" Hermione rolled the apple around with one finger.

"Awe, you're getting it all dirty", Theo grimaced.

"Beggers can't be choosers", she reminded him.

"Who said I'm a beggar?"

"The cage that you're locked in", Hermione motioned to his confinement with her wand.

Theo snorted," I'm hardly a beggar."

"So that must mean they know where you are then", Hermione asked blatantly.

"Perhaps", he shrugged," Perhaps not. Maybe I've sent them a signal to let them know where I am."

"It would have tripped our wards", she informed him.

"Maybe, maybe not. Exciting to find out, isn't it?"

"I'm quivering in anticipation", Hermione sneered. "Anyone that comes for you, I will kill them on site."

"Oh, don't I know it", he laughed at her, his white teeth standing out from his dirt covered face," Trust me, I know not to ruffle your feathers after you killed junior over there."

The junior in question was still a lifeless body in the corner of the cell next door. His body was starting to swell from decomposition and the smell was less than to be desired.

"But… I am hungry", Theo continued," So for half that sandwich I will let you know something."

Hermione tore it in half and held it out for him.

"Info first."

"Hah!" Theo yelled," No fucking way. I can live without your crumby sandwich, but I'm choosing not to out of boredom. Food first."

Sighing with defeat, she put it through the bars for him to grab. Theo grabbed it and immediately took a bite that was about half the slice she gave him.

Being down here with him was interesting. It felt interesting. She didn't feel as disgusted or angry as she perhaps should have been. She imagined her cohorts would be yelling or crying at him, begging for information, trying to plead with whatever humanity he had left in him.

But she knew that wouldn't work.

He was a Death Eater, yes, but he was a Slytherin first. The House of Cunning. You have to fight fire with fire and crying and threatening him wouldn't get her anywhere. If it wasn't for the unfortunate circumstance they were in, Hermione could see herself actually enjoying his company. He had excellent banter and retorts and kept up with her easily. It was refreshing compared to the empty headed optimistic duo she was used to.

"Do you know that we have horcruxes or are you just guessing?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I know", he said through the food in his mouth.

"How?" she pressed," Do we have a mole?"

"Maybe on Pothead's ass or Weasel's nose, but not in the form of a person, no", Theo took another bite.

"Then how do you know?"

Theo shrugged," That I can't answer. You'd have to ask him."

There was no question or doubt that she knew what he meant by telling him. There was only one him. But that was news to her. Could he feel them throughout the world? The little pieces of soul he had sprinkled upon humanity. Did they call out to him, asking to be brought back together?

Exhaling through her lips," Well do you know which ones and how many?"

"Wait-", he held up his hand to stop her," You're not going to deny that you have them?"

"Seems pointless if he already knows", Hermione told him," And told you to come get them."

Theo pursed his lips to the side and was clearly thinking of his next move through narrowed, fixed eyes. Hermione couldn't help but envision them on a chess board, slowly dancing their pieces around, Theo after her queen and her after his king.

"You have more than one", Theo told her cautiously," But less than three, I'm sure. And I don't know which ones they are or where they are in this ruin of a house, but I know they're here somewhere."

Or on someone.

Hermione extended the other half of the sandwich to him," Did you get captured on purpose?"

Theo hissed through his teeth as he accepted the food," What a tricky, tricky question. You really ought to have been sorted into Ravenclaw you clever girl."

"It's just a question."

"It's a loaded question", he looked at her knowingly," And you know that."

"If I tell you yes, then you know, that we know where the base is and it's a waiting game until they come here and get back what's rightfully his and me while taking out as many of you as they can. If I didn't, you know I got captured on purpose so I can get close to the horcruxes but am now stuck here trying to figure a way out."

Hermione said nothing but she felt her cheeks start to warm slightly. Clever boy.

"So, which is it, you wonder?" he asked rhetorically," Did he get captured close to here and now they know where we are, or did I get captured hoping to be in the predicament I am currently in while trying to find a way to escape?"

Hermione said nothing as her mind started racing again. She was so used to dealing with people talking in circles and her feeling like the smartest in the group, that she forgot that there were others that could keep up with her. Which pawn to move from here…

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see", Hermione sighed with defeat as she held out the apple for him," Won't we?"

"That touched the ground", he told her," I'm not eating that."

"Even as a prisoner you lot seem to have such refined taste", Hermione smirked as she stood, dusting her pants off as she did so.

"Awe are you leaving me already?" Theo feigned whining," I was having so much fun."

"I'm sure you'll live", Hermione said over her shoulder as she stalked towards the staircase leading upstairs," Unless I kill you first. Enjoy the company of your rotting comrade."

Pacing, pacing, pacing.

Hermione paced the grounds over and over.

She was waiting for Bill to come back from his errand running so she could get more intel of Nott's capturing. He wasn't going to give up the information she so desperately needed so she would have to go to the source. Should the Death Eaters be on their way here, right this second, she knew it would be a bloodbath. Vowing to herself that no one was going to take the horcruxes away from her, even if it meant some of the Order had to fall.

Maybe it was sick of her to think that way, but how many innocent lives did they let fall just for their cause? She was sure if she tallied all the numbers of the people who volunteered to join the Order and die for the sake of believing in Harry, it would cast a very large shadow over the number of lives she had taken.

But you're an artist with the blood you take.

There was a part of her, a small part, that did miss and longed for the nostalgia of her younger years. Her parents' lives had long since been taken and Hermione was sure if they saw what she had become, they would be afraid of her. She had become something to fear.

Was it a good thing in the end? As she continued to pace, flattening the grass underneath her feet, she wondered if she would ever feel peace in her life. Ever feel like she could relax, not looking over her shoulder for someone casting a killing curse or trying to rip her in half. It didn't seem possible. Harry acted like that day wasn't that far away, but to Hermione, it was a work of fiction. Nothing will ever return to the way it was. She almost laughed as she imagined her as an old lady still killing Death Eaters and being the assassin that she was.

We'll trade your wand in for a cane.

"Hermione?"

Looking up from her feet she saw Luna standing on the staircase in front of her.

"Hey Luna. What's up?"

Luna descended the staircase and walked over to the restless Gryffindor," Your thoughts are moving so quickly I can hear the buzz echoing around you."

Smirking to herself at her quirky friend's antics, she waved her hand around like she was shooing a fly.

"Did I get rid of the buzzing?"

Luna smiled softly," I don't think you'll ever get rid of your buzzing. Are you waiting for someone or something?"

"Yeah, just Bill", Hermione sighed, placing her hands on her hips and kicking the small amount of dirt in front of her shoe," I just had someone questions about Theo Nott's capture that Nott isn't providing."

Luna nodded but Hermione didn't miss the look of trepidation that was behind her friend's eyes.

"Is something the matter, Luna?"

"I heard you killed the other inmate", Luna told her.

This again?

"I did", Hermione confirmed, her fingertips digging into her hips," What of it?"

Luna shrugged," All this death just makes me feel heavy."

"I suggest ingesting some helium then", Hermione poked fun at her and earned a small smile from Luna.

"Oh, look!" Luna pointed to the horizon," Here comes Bill!"

Hermione turned and saw the eldest Weasley walking towards them with his wife, Fleur, by his side. They had bags flanked at their sides that Hermione could see carried various canned and jarred food for the house no doubt scrouged from abandon houses in the countryside they inhabited. The thought of eating pickled foods well past their expiration date made her stomach turn.

"It's nice to see you two outside", Bill smiled at the two girls as he approached them," Enjoying the weather?"

"Oh yeah, we're working on our tans", Hermione smiled at Bill," Can't you see how golden-brown Luna is?"

"It's hard to recognize me, surely, with how bronzed I am", Luna played along and gestured to her extremely pale-skinned arm. The group laughed and Hermione briefly felt like she belonged again, but the locket beating against her own heart was quick to remind her what she was waiting on Bill for.

"I was actually waiting on you, Bill", Hermione started," I have some questions regarding Nott's capture."

"Oh, okay", Bill nodded, setting down his bags," What's up?"

"Was he captured near here by you or was it on a mission somewhere else?"

As Hermione asked the foreboding question, she prayed that Bill was wiser than most of the Weasley's and would understand what it meant if he was captured here. That the Death Eaters would know where they are upon Nott not returning if he was sent to this specific location. She prayed that he was captured on a mission away from their temporary home.

But as Bill's eyes widened as he thought over Hermione's question, she was sure he now realized what it meant that he was captured close to here.

I guess he isn't the smartest Weasley… Damn.

"Bill- "Hermione started his name and they both knew what it meant.

It meant: Say what I already know and damn us all.

Swallowing a hard lump that appeared in his throat, Bill quietly answered," He was captured near here."

Crack!

An ear-splitting crack resounded all around them, like a giant lightning bolt hit right where they were standing. The ground trembled and the winds picked up, tousling the trees all around them, sending a tornado of leaves. Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, a giant dragon patronus erupted from the horizon and soared over them, its ominous blue wings covering the space around them, casting shadows as streaks of black, dark magic started darting towards the ground like kamikazes as Death Eaters started appearing.

"Run!" Hermione shouted and ran towards the house. She heard Luna, Bill, and Fleur behind her as magic spells started bounding towards them. None of them luckily hit their marks as they ran into the house and slammed the door behind them.

"Set off the wards, get Harry, get the others!" Hermione ordered the three of them," Be quick! Don't try to grab anything. Get to safety and for Merlin's sake, kill who needs to be killed!"

Hermoine ran deeper into the house but had no plans to go for her friends. Had no plans to grab other members of the Order or to see what the plan was. There was only one destination in mind.

Theodore Nott.

Throwing open the basement door, she flew down the stairs and ran up to him.

The bastard was grinning.

Grinning!

"I was captured near here", Nott smugly answered her.

"I fucking got that!" Hermione yelled at him," How many of them are coming?"

"Pshhh-"Theo exhaled loudly through his lips and rolled his eyes upwards, seemingly trying to show indifference," One of their own being held captive at the Boy-Who-Lived and trying to kill their master? I'd imagine everyone."

He said the last word with a smirk on his face and a cocky look in his eyes.

"Everyone?"

"Everyone, Granger", Nott now smiled fully," You lot are going to be massacred."

"But! Call me a saint, I'm feeling generous."

"If you can get me out of here, I'll make sure you are killed quickly, without all of the pomp and circumstance that I'm sure my cohorts will be dishing out to your friends by the handle full."

Hermione wanted to scream. Anger coursed through her not helped by the locket and ring that still laid against her skin that was now practically burning against her. She felt their need to go home and almost wanted to give into them, the magic surrounding them seducing her to sway to their way. She felt so foolish not having thought to ask Bill last night. She could have been better prepared. But after Nott's threat to her horcruxes, she wanted, no- needed to go to them to secure that they were still safe from his clutches.

Fat lot of good that did for her.

"Well?" Nott pressed, irritation very present in his tone. Hermione shot him the dirtiest look she could before waving her wand wordlessly in front of her. His chains came undone, and the cell door opened soundlessly. She didn't think for a second, he would honor his word, but she was hoping to maybe use him as leverage to possibly make her escape. Just as he stood and stretched, she attached a rope to his wrist and then to hers. As soon as it tied, it disappeared.

"Well, that was stupid of you", Nott quirked an eyebrow," Tethering me to you."

"You're my ticket out of here unscathed", Hermione told him and pulled the invisible tether forward. He fell towards her, and she quickly turned his back to her with her wand at his throat.

"Lead the way", Hermione order him. They shuffled towards the door and awkwardly walked up the stairs towards the sound of chaos that was resounding from outside.

"Sounds like a hell of a party', Nott commented," Am I your plus one?"

"Yeah, we're going to a funeral", Hermione hissed," Stay quiet."

Just as the words left her mouth, a dark cloaked figure emerged from around the corner of the doorway.

"Don't cast!" Nott yelled at the figure, but they were already raising their wand. Too bad Hermione was quicker.

"Avada Kedavra!" Hermione yelled and her favorite shade of green erupted from her wand towards the figure. They were dead before the fully raised their wand.

"Merlin, Granger!" Nott jumped back," Warn a guy next time!"

"Here's your warning", Hermione pushed him forward," Every Death Eater I see is getting killed."

They stalked through the house shockingly silent for two people closely walking together. The only sound emitting from them was the killing curses Hermione was spewing like gospel in church.

"I do hope for your sake, none of these are your close friends", Hermione snarked as they approached the front door cautiously.

"I assure you none of my friends are dumb enough to enter a house they aren't familiar with", Nott told her, and she realized he had a point. The Order had the upper hand inside the house. They've lived here for months and know all of its advantages. Opening the front door slowly, they stuck their heads out and witnessed the carnage that was unfolding before them. The smell of blood hung heavily in their air and Hermione saw Death Eaters and Order members marking the ground with their bodies, even some of the essentials like Seamus and Oliver Wood were now dead. The duo walked down the stairs, attempting not to attract to much attention to them as Hermione held Nott's grimy shirt in her hands as she pulled him backwards towards the side of the house away from the battlefield.

"What- are you planning on keeping me as a pet?" Nott hissed quietly at her as they disappeared into the dark woods that lay on the edge of the property.

"Only until I'm far enough away to apparate to our next headquarters", Hermione told him.

"Next headquarters?" Nott tried to turn his head to look at her, but she smacked it with her hand to face forward. She didn't divulge any more information than that. She needed to get away from here. She needed to get the horcruxes away from here. If only Nott knew he was inches away from them.

"This isn't going to work Granger", Nott told her," They're swarming the whole area."

As the view of the battlefield disappeared between the trees, she knew it had to be now.

She quickly pulled him towards her so his back collided with her front as she hissed in his ear," You lot will never fucking kill me."

Hermione pushed him forward roughly and forcefully, so he landed on his hands and knees as she undid the tether that bound them together and took off at a sprint in the opposite direction. The mantra: I have to get out of there echoing in her head.

Give in to it.

"What?!" Hermione seethed to herself.

Give in to it.

"That's what you have to fucking say to me?" she panted, her feet still carrying her far away. She couldn't hear any spells cracking or shouting anymore. Only heard the wind moving around her and her own heavy breathing as her feet pounded into the leafy ground. The voice hadn't talked to her all day, and this is what he fucking says? Give in? Give in to what? Being fucking murdered? Being captured? He was always her voice of reason, her deep desire spoken out loud, and now even he was turning against her.

After running what felt like miles, her lungs burning, and her heart on the edge of burning out, she finally started seeing the clearing on the other side of the woods where she knew a hidden portkey lay that led to their next headquarters. She Just. Had. To. Reach. It.

Just give in.

"Shut the fuck up", she hissed to herself.

I'm almost there! Just a couple more feet…

As she reached the edge of the woods where the clearing awaited before her, two dark cloaked figures emerged from behind the large oak trees, wands already raised and at the ready. She skid to a stop, falling on her butt as she slipped in the wet leaves. As she quickly scrambled to her feet, she felt a wand tip press hard into her back.

"Never say never", Nott whispered against her ear.

"Your breath fucking stinks", Hermione threw her elbow behind her and knew it made it's contact when she heard Nott's nose crack underneath her sharp elbow bone.

"Fucking cunt!" Nott screamed. Turning to look at him, he had blood pouring from his hand as he clenched his face. Turning back to the two cloaked figures, she drew her wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" Hermione yelled, but the green missed. The Death Eater to the left quickly side stepped and cast their own charm as blue shot towards her. She ducked and ran to the side.

"Avada Kedavra!" she tried again, green flashing towards the Death Eater towards the right, but he waved his wand and set it crashing into the tree behind him. Her breath was coming fast as the locket thud against her reminding her what was at stake. She sent a flash of red towards them combusting the trees that were in between the two Death Eaters sending them sprawling to the side. With all three Death Eaters now trying to regain their footing, she took the opportunity to run into the open field towards the boulder in the center that held a one lonely worn-out boot that was hidden from public eye but would lead her and more importantly, the horcruxes, to sanctuary.

I'm almost fucking there! Hermione's eyes watered as she used every ounce of strength, she had left to pump into her legs to get her closer to the portkey. She. Was. Almost. There!

She could feel the desperation coursing through her as she heard the running footsteps of the Death Eaters as they tried to catch up with her. Hermione could practically feel their fingertips against the back of her neck.

Just give in.

"Never!" Hermione rasped out. She reached out her hand as she saw the boot wedged between two rocks, screaming out to her to grab it, to reach safety. She barely felt the brush of the leather against her hand when a spell sent her flying backwards from it. As she landed on her back with a loud crunching thud, she pried open her eyes to see a Death Eater crouched on the rocks in front of her, twirling their wand playfully in their hand.

"Nooooo", Hermione whimpered, tears now flowing freely, her eyes cast towards the sky. She wouldn't make it to the next safe haven. She wouldn't make it to see her friends again. She wouldn't make it to see tomorrow most likely. Three Death Eater masks clouded her vision as they blocked out the sky with Nott's bloodied face taking up the other spot.

"Well, well, well", he smiled viciously through blood-stained teeth," Would you look at what she got…"

He bent down and with his wand, she felt him drag the chain out of her shirt and she heard the clatter of the locket and ring as they landed on the ground next to her head.

"Looks like we're bringing her in fellas." Was the last thing she heard before her world lit up in red.

Just give in.