More Than She Aksed For

"Diffindo," Hermione whispered. She had to catch up with the voices she was following; if she lost them she could be in big trouble. Pushing through foliage as silently as possible and trying not to trip over any roots, Hermione wondered why she could no longer hear any movement in front of her. In several seconds she learned the answer.

The trees around her began to thin, and Hermione could see a clearing about ten feet ahead where a group of about six people were congregated. The men she had been following must've found their destination. Crouched behind a tree Hermione had just about made up her mind to join them when their small huddle broke up and she saw the girl.

She looked to be about Hermione's age, perhaps a little younger, with long black hair and large green eyes, currently glistening and wide with fear. Behind her were two others, but Hermione could not take her eyes off the one nearest her. She had scrapes up and down her legs and her clothes were ripped. It looked as if someone had dragged her through the forest, and as Hermione soaked in the scene she realized that it was quite probable. The men clustered around the three girls were wearing hoods and masks, and Hermione didn't have to guess twice who they were. Death Eaters, faithful servants to Voldemort, having a night out and upholding their master's tradition of muggle hatred. Anger boiled up in Hermione. She could feel it pulsating through her veins. There were few things she despised more than discrimination, and it was all she could do to sit tight as the scene unfolded in front of her.

Silently, the Death Eaters spread out to form a wide circle around the three girls, who in turn huddled closer together. Then, one by one, the Death Eaters raised their wands and cast all sorts of horrible spells into the center. Hermione was thankful for the lack of light and the tight circle the men had made; she couldn't see what was happening within. She could hear the incantations however, and she knew it couldn't be pretty. The first few were spells Hermione had seen before, basic hexes and curses, but at the fourth incantation she shuddered. "Anguis mordere!" She did not know the spell, but she did know the voice casting it. It was the cold, clear intonation of Lucius Malfoy, and Hermione wanted nothing more than to kill him in that moment. A respected member of the wizarding community, constantly at Fudge's side, and then- this! How could he get away with it? Hermione's attention was soon diverted to the loud screams coming from the three girls, and once again she was glad she couldn't see the middle of the circle.

"Silencio," boomed a new voice. Hermione took in a sharp breath as the night air fell silent. That voice too sounded familiar. "Excellent choice, Lucius. Now, who's next?" She did know that voice, but Hermione could not believe she was hearing it here, now. Snape. So often he had scolded her, been unreasonable and completely uncooperative, but she had never thought him capable of this. Hermione watched the clearing with renewed horror as the circle began to move apart. The Death Eaters were pairing off, and each twosome took one of the girls and moved to a separate corner of the clearing. The girl with the long black hair was nearest Hermione, and she could now see everything. Her face was covered with horrible bite marks, and she was limp with what had obviously been expertly delivered Crucio- just enough to knock the spirit out of her, but not enough to knock her out.

In the distance Hermione could see the other two pairs of Death Eaters rapidly undressing their victims, but the black haired girl remained clothed. She didn't have to wonder why for long. "Imperio," commanded the nearer figure. It was Lucius again. Hermione watched in horror as the black haired girl began to give the two Death Eaters a strip tease. The one area of her body Lucius was not controlling was her face, and the girl's expression of shame mixed with fear was obviously adding to his thrill. The figure next to Lucius gave a hearty laugh. Though she had never heard him laugh before, Hermione recognized him again as Snape. "Excellent again, Lucius," he said amusedly. "Now, if you don't mind..." He strode up to the girl and began to caress her. Lucius forced her to respond, and Hermione had to look away. She felt the bile rise in her throat, but she resisted the temptation to be sick. She knew the noise would be heard, and she would be no better off than the poor girl in front of her.

For two hours Hermione crouched on the edge of the clearing, sickened by staying, too afraid to leave. Eventually she stopped watching, but the night air carried sound very well, and she heard every spell, every moan, and every cry. The more she heard from Snape, the more upset she became. He was her teacher, for Merlin's sake! She was confident she would never be able so sit through another potions lesson, much less look Snape in the eye. Why was he doing this? Hermione could not understand his vigor in torturing these muggles; there was no doubt he was enjoying himself most thoroughly. Why? Wasn't he a member of the Order? Had he turned back to Voldemort? Her head spinning with questions, Hermione barely noticed when the Death Eaters left. Eventually the heavy silence permeated her thoughts, and Hermione looked out at the clearing to find it emptied, with the exception of three crumpled bodies lying in the center. Overcome with a feeling of smallness and helplessness, she stood up and leaned against the tree that had hidden her all night. Her back to the bark, mind in a shambles, she started to cry.