The old halls of Gaunt Manor echo with Hermione’s ragged breaths. The place smells of dust, decay, and old blood — the remnants of a once-noble line now steeped in darkness. Bellatrix’s laughter slices through the air, cruel and manic, as she circles Hermione like a vulture.

Hermione kneels on the cold marble floor, wrists bound, dirt streaking her face. Bellatrix grabs a handful of her hair, jerking her head up to meet her eyes.

“Well, well…” Bellatrix purrs. “Harry Potter’s little friend. Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding, hmm?”

Spencer Gaunt stands a few steps away, half-shadowed by the dying firelight. His family’s ancestral home feels like a prison now, its walls closing in with every sound Hermione makes. His wand hangs limp in his hand — he wants to move, to speak, but every muscle in his body is locked.

“She’s lying,” a Snatcher says from the doorway. “We found her with Potter and the Weasley boy.”

Bellatrix’s grin widens, eyes flashing. “With Potter? Oh, how delicious.”

Hermione’s lips tremble. “Please—don’t—”

The plea is cut short by a sharp slap that echoes off the walls. Spencer flinches before he can stop himself. Bellatrix’s wand rises, her tone suddenly low and vicious. “Let’s see how long you can beg before you scream.”

“Wait.”

The word leaves Spencer before he realizes it. His voice trembles, barely louder than a whisper. Bellatrix turns her head slowly, her eyes gleaming in the firelight.

“What was that, boy?”

“She’s—she’s not a threat,” Spencer says quietly. “You don’t need to—”

Bellatrix cuts him off with a laugh. “The heir of the Gaunts defending a Mudblood? How adorable.” She takes a step toward him, smirk wicked. “You’re soft. Just like your mother.”

Spencer’s jaw tightens, but he says nothing. Bellatrix turns back to Hermione, wand tip glowing a sickly red.

“Crucio.”

Hermione’s scream pierces the room. Spencer’s hand clenches around his wand, his throat tight, his heart pounding. He doesn’t move — can’t — because in this house, defiance is death.

But as he watches her collapse to the floor, something inside him breaks.