In the end Hermione takes up the cattle prod simply because it seems the least threatening – no blood, no lasting damage, just pain – and holds it tight in one hand as she turns back to Malfoy. "On your knees." He scrambles up immediately, and she slaps him in the face as hard as she can with an open palm. Her palm stings hot with the pain of the blow, and his head snaps to the side, cheek flaring red with the shape of her hand. His breath hisses in and his eyes flutter shut. She does it again. "Look at me!" she snarls, trying to play the part and feeling like she's failing. "Look at me you bastard." He opens his eyes and stares up at Hermione and she slaps him again, harder, her palm sore, and then grits her teeth and jams the cattle prod against the slight dip between pectoral muscle and shoulder.