Family reunion

Back at Malfoy Manor, the Death Eaters also prepared for the evening. Voldemort had found them all some masks and hats left over from the last war. As Scorpius put his mask on, he was glad for it. At least Rose wouldn't have to see that he was the one who carried the executioner's sword. He had made sure to leave the sword outside the room, where she wouldn't see it. He still had no idea what he would do if the Ministry were not there to interrupt the execution. All his hopes lay in that one owl. His mask also meant he didn't have to pretend to smile. No one saw his terrified face behind the mask.

Albus ran up to Scorpius' room and opened the door to get Rose. She screamed at the sight of him. He also had the mask and hood on.

"Sorry! I forgot I had this on. It is just me," Albus said, quickly removing the mask.

"Albus! You scared me. That outfit. It looks like something from a nightmare."

"I am afraid it will get worse," Albus said, trying not to cry. He knew that if he started, Rose would collapse as well. "I was hoping to spare you from doing this, but we really don't have a choice. And I am sorry. I don't think either me or Scorpius will be assigned to torture tonight."

"What will Scorpius be doing?"

"Trying not to kill all the people hurting you, same as me," Albus replied, avoiding the topic. "I am so sorry. Don't try to fight it. I've heard that will make it easier."

"Not fight pain!? How can you not fight it?" Rose sounded a little panicked. She was also trying to hold back tears.

"I don't know," Albus said. "It was just what one of the Death Eaters said, when he taught me about the spell."

They walked down the stairs. Even the sound of their feet sounded loud and terrifying. Every step led inevitably closer to the doom that waited. Rose was shaking, Albus trembling. Was there really no way out of this? The clinking of her chain reminded them both that, no, there was nowhere to go. Even if Rose tried to run, they weren't as alone as it appeared. With her chained feet, even if she knocked Albus to the side and ran, she wouldn't get very far. And it wouldn't stop her mother from being executed. That thought made any ideas she had about flight vanish. She didn't deserve to escape. She saw another masked Death Eater behind her, and she knew there was no way out. He carried a long sword. The sword of an executioner. It was really going to happen. She whimpered and moved back, closer to Albus. He made her wait until the Death Eater had gone in. There were other Death Eaters behind them, she couldn't see their faces, but she felt their eyes on her. Albus couldn't comfort her openly whilst they were looking, but he disguised a comforting hand on her shoulder as holding on to her so she didn't run.

They all gathered in the largest dining room, ready with masks and dark robes. Hermione was brought in and dropped in the middle of the circle. She was weak and could barely move with her chains, yet she tried to stand up, refusing to show weakness.

From the backdoor Albus came in with Rose. Albus had put his mask back on, to hide the inevitable tears. He then removed Rose's chains and pushed her towards the circle.

"Mother!" Rose screamed, running towards Hermione and embracing her. Hermione held on to Rose tightly and cried. The Death Eaters all formed a circle around them, eagerly awaiting what would happen next.

"Mother. Forgive me. I failed you, mother. I didn't mean for this to happen. Forgive me. Please!" Rose cried in her ear.

"It's okay, Rose. It is not your fault. I was the one who was careless. You need to get out of here. Run. Don't mind me. Get out of here."

"I can't. There is no way out, they are everywhere. Please Mother, don't be mad at me."

They sat and embraced each other for several minutes before Voldemort intervened.

"Well, such a happy family reunion. I hate to cut it short, but we do have an execution to get to," he said derisively. He walked over and dragged Rose away from Hermione.

Hermione screamed and started kicking at him again. "No! Get away from her! Let her go!"

"Now, now, don't make this worse on yourself, Mudblood. You remain still, or I will show you what the consequences will be," Voldemort said, clearly enjoying himself.

Hermione continued to kick and scream at her captors. Rose also started screaming in horror, knowing what was coming. Voldemort held Rose down with one hand and pointed his wand at her with the other. Hermione realised what he was going to do.

"NO! She hasn't done anything to you! It is me you wanted, let her go!" Hermione shrieked.

"Crucio!" Voldemort said and Rose started screaming in pain.

"No! No! Stop! Rose! Stop it!" Hermione screamed.

Voldemort tortured Rose again and again. Every time he released the spell, Hermione screamed at him to stop. He did not. This went on for over 15 minutes. At the end, Hermione simply huddled on the ground, crying. Rose no longer screamed. Albus held Scorpius' hand, preventing him from intervening.

"Now. I think the lesson is learned. Are you going to make any more trouble, Mudblood? Giving orders to those above your station?" Voldemort asked.

Hermione whimpered and shook her head. "No. No. Please. don't hurt her. Please."

"That's better. Now, your daughter is going to be right here in the background. That way, if you try to do something to displease me again, she is near at hand for punishment. Do you understand?"

Hermione cried and nodded. "Yes. Yes. Please. don't hurt her anymore. Anything… Anything but that…"

"Don't worry. We will get to the "anything" part soon." Voldemort sneered at her.

The crowd started moving. Voldemort threw Rose's cramped up figure at the nearest Death Eater, who happened to be Albus. Voldemort then pointed silently upstairs, telling him to take Rose there, but made no sound, so that Hermione would think she was still with them. Albus hurried to do as ordered, while Hermione was lifted up and dragged along with the crowd. She did not fight back this time.

Albus quickly ran up the stairs with Rose. In his panic, he forgot that others might still hear him. All his focus was on the cramped-up figure in his arms. "Rose! Rose! Please tell me you are alive! Please say you are not dead!"

Rose moved slightly. Moving was painful. She started crying again. She didn't seem able to say anything, merely gasped for air through her tears.

"Rose! I am so sorry. So sorry. Here, lie down here." He laid her down on Scorpius' bed. "Please, just lie here, and rest." He started to get up, but Rose grabbed him.

"No. Don't leave! Please."

"I have to," Albus cried. "I have to help save Hermione. Please, just lie down here. It will get better."

Rose laid down on the bed, crying. She didn't even notice that there no longer was any chain tying her to the wall. Her world was just pain and horror over what would happen to her mother.

Albus ran down to join the others, still trembling. No one seemed to think he had done anything but what he had been ordered to do. He found Scorpius towards the back of the group. He was also shaken but tried to hide it. That was the worst thing he had ever seen. And it wasn't even over yet. The worst might still be to come.

"That was horrible," Albus said, as if voicing the same thought.

"Yes. Yes, it was. But I am afraid that what is to come is even worse," Scorpius replied. He shed a few tears, then pulled himself together. He had a tight grip on the sword in his hand. He couldn't help but notice how Rose had pulled back from him when she had seen that.

"I am glad that Rose won't have to see this next part." With that silver lining, he Disapparated. Albus was quick to follow.