Anima
Hermione stared at her bed, dumbfounded. Draco Malfoy, her long time nemesis and currently wanted for questioning of what went on at Hogwarts during their sixth year lay sleeping in her bed. Naked. Did she mention naked in her inventory?
He was curled up on his side, facing away from her and leaving her to easily see the whip marks adorning his back. There were fresh ones, as well as older scars a few months if not years older. Fury licked at her senses, some of the pieces falling into place. It explained away a lot of his attitude and prejudice.
She spied a letter, rolled and sealed, and snatched it silently less she awaken the sleeping blond. Breaking the seal, she unfurled the parchment and read over the pages. A contract of bondment, signed over to her. An explanation of the anima, which Draco apparently was. And the terms of her under taking. It was becoming quite plain Lucius was intrusting his son to her care, or else he wished the boy killed. Oh how she wanted to give that man a piece of her mind.
Draco whimpered softly in his sleep and she put the parchment away for now. She'd read about anima. They were a type of wizarding class rare and very hard to spot. From birth they were fiercely loyal to one being, willing to do anything and everything to please that one person. Like a subordinate to a dominant in certain relationships.
This loyalty could be passed to another, provided the new owner showed a willingness to do so. If rejected by both old and new dominant, it could quite easily kill the despondent anima. Shedding her shoes and robes, she climbed into the bed and wrapped the boy up in her embrace.
His silver eyes opened a little, peering at her for a moment before letting them slide close. His brow furrowed, licking his lips," Do you...accept me?"
She heard the despair in his voice. Anima or not he was smart. He knew how unlikely her acceptance would be. He certainly wouldn't wish to help his long standing nemesis were their positions reversed. Yet she was here. She hadn't banished him. She tilted her head a little," Can you accept a mudblood in your life?" He whimpered softly, nodding immediately and trying to burrow into the crook of her neck. She caught his chin, his eyes opening and staring into her rich brown ones," You will respect me...you will obey me...and you will never betray me."
His chin trembled as he nodded again, hoping yet afraid it was for nothing. She sighed softly, knowing he'd already won even before she let his chin go and pulled his trembling body against her own. There would be problems. An investigation. She might lose her friends over this. But she would protect him to the best of her ability. After so much death, she decided to take back a little something for herself," Yes, Draco. I accept you."