"Y-you won't let him punish me for this, Lord?" Hermione stammers out like the pitiful creature Voldemort thinks she is, to cover for her hesitation. That she is. She wants to be sick, she wants to turn and run away, but she can't. Can't stop to think, can't let her horror get in the way – just do it. She has to play the role. So she does. "I – I want to. Want to. But..."