"It's a temporary suppressant,” the girl whispered. “Should only last three days—”

"Don't talk to her. If there's a question or direction, talk to me," Dolohov said darkly.

The girl pressed her lips together and nodded.

Suppressant. Some kind of inhibitor for her magic? When had that been developed?

"You gonna take it, or do I need to pry your jaw open?" he asked her.

The young witch squeezed her arm when she handed it to her. Hermione looked at her with wide eyes.

"Three days," the girl said.

"What did I just tell you," Dolohov snarled.

Hermione looked to Dolohov, large and in the only doorway, wand drawn. The young witch bit her lip. The older witch kept her back to the room.

Three days. And then what?

Hermione swallowed it. Two large gulps. Minty.

As the girl took the bottle back from her, Dolohov said, "And the other. The spell." The girl's fingers shook.

"For her?" The young witch turned over her shoulder to stare wide-eyed at Dolohov.

He raised a brow. "She's a Mudblood, isn't she?"

"But..." The girl looked at her.

Hermione watched her struggle, unable to ask what was happening as they talked about her.

"Is there a problem?"

"Wouldn't that be... a huge waste, sir?"

The older witch didn't turn around but continued to write on her chart.

"Under what circumstances could you see us needing her to be fertile?"

A heavy rock dropped in her stomach. She looked down at her hands. They were sterilizing all the Muggleborns.

"She's supposed to be quite bright. Very talented. Those genes would—”

"She's dirty. Perform the spell," Dolohov said with finality.

A churning in her stomach. She didn't want children. Not like this. Not with one of them.

"I'd like to speak to Mr. Yaxley about this. He is her Holder and I think he—”

"Are you disobeying direct orders?" Dolohov advanced.

Hermione closed her eyes. She didn't want to bear Dolohov's children. She should be glad he was on the same page. But to be sterilized was so permanent. Like the future was set. Like there was no way to reverse anything about to happen to them.

"Yes, sir. I am."

Her eyes snapped open to see the young mediwitch standing between herself and Dolohov. The older woman turned, pressing her lips together.

Dolohov laughed. And then quickly, "Crucio."

Hermione flinched when the girl dropped. The room was too small for her screams.

"I'll do it." The other woman stepped forward, pulling her wand. Dolohov released the other girl, and she panted below Hermione's feet.

The older witch stepped over her partner, standing in front of Hermione with a firm expression. "Lie back."

Hermione didn't fight her. She needed to save her energy for battles that mattered. She couldn't use wandless magic for three days. She couldn't physically best anyone. And without either of those options, she couldn't outthink them either.

She leaned back, and watched as the mediwitch hovered her wand over Hermione's stomach, placing a hand on her waist to hold her to the table.