Who else was involved in this? What other names were scrawled with ink across those girls' arms? Who was in charge of this Auction?

Lucius Malfoy's smug grin flashed in her mind. When the Snatchers grabbed them, they had been taken to Malfoy Manor. Luna had been kept there for months before that. Was Lucius Malfoy in charge of this prisoner project?

And what did that mean for Draco?

He hadn't identified them that night. Recognized them, certainly, but was reluctant. Not that Hermione remembered much. She'd been preoccupied with Bellatrix's blade.

Did they write Yaxley's name over her scar? She made to lift her arm to look, and remembered she was petrified.

Footsteps. And this time she did recognize Dolohov's heavy, flat feet.

The door crunched open, and she counted her heartbeats. Dolohov moved slowly into the room, crafty enough to stay out of her sightline as he walked to the other side of the conference table she lay on.

"I told them you were special," he muttered. "Said from the beginning you should be kept separate." He growled a laugh. "They're listening to me now though."

He stood somewhere near her feet, her eyes strained to find him. She counted five of her own quick exhales before he spoke again.

"Didn't know you had Wandless like that though. That'll be fixed soon."

Before she could ruminate over the possibilities of what he could mean, a light pressure appeared over her right ankle, freezing her brain.

A finger dragging up the inner seam of her jeans, over her calf.

Her throat contracted with nerves, and she felt herself drowning, choking.

"You Obliviated me. You remember?"

The ceiling blurred, and he reached her knee, passing it.

"I don't, of course." He chuckled. "I was told later about what happened. The Dark Lord had the whelp torture me for it."

Up the inside of her thigh, wedging between her two locked legs. And his chest and face came into focus, looking down at her from where he stood tall next to her shoulders.

"I'm thinking about returning the favor, Mudblood." His finger at the top of her thighs. "After the first time I fuck you, maybe I'll erase it, so every time will be the first time for you." His full hand slithered between her thighs, cupping her, pressing against her. "Warm already."

"I expect you'll be paying me for this, Dolohov?" another person asked. And Hermione had never known relief like the warm joy of hearing Yaxley's voice.

"Just getting a taste," Dolohov replied.

"Seeing as that's my name on her arm, I'd suggest you release her. I could decide not to sell her at all."

Dolohov removed his hand, stepping back and muttering. Yaxley moved into her sightline.

"Miss Granger," Yaxley hissed. "Lydia Baxter is dead. Parvati Patil is dead. Gwen Mortensen is still with the Healers." He leaned down on his elbows, bringing his face closer, adopting a conversational tone. "That was a very expensive coup you just staged. As I am your current Holder, I now have the great pleasure of paying for your sins." He nodded over his shoulder. " Ted Nott may waive the Baxter girl's fee for me. But I'm sure Macnair will not be as understanding.