It wasn't the storm raging outside that woke Draco. During storms was usually when he rested the soundest. He opened his eyes as memories of his dream slipped away. Lightning cast ominous shadows across the ceiling of his bedroom. He sat up and took his wand from beneath his pillow. A crash unrelated to the thunder sounded from somewhere in the manor. Draco's wards were exceptional, it was highly unlikely intruders had made it past them. Whoever was causing a ruckus at this hour better have a damn good reason.
Two soaking wet men stood in the foyer. Water was pooling on the ivory tiles around their feet. Struggling between them was a girl. A familiar girl.
At first she was too busy thrashing and cursing to notice Draco's appearance. The two men kept ahold of her even as she attempted to bite the one binding her arms, a brave move for someone in such a compromising position.
Draco cleared his throat and their struggle instantly ceased. They all looked at him, but Draco looked at her. Her expression was a peculiar one, she appeared both horrified and releived upon seeing him, and also a little shocked. Of course her capturers wouldn't have politely informed her of where she was being taken. Surprise!
"Gentlemen," Draco said, "I do believe you have been told not to disturb my home at such an ungodly hour."
The taller of the two men, Draco knew by name. Scabior, a talentless and low ranking follower of the Dark Lord who currently worked as a Snatcher alongside the werewolf, Greyback, who Draco was thrilled to see was not here with him. The second man, short and ruddy looking, Draco did not recognize. It was Scabior who did the talking.
"Yes, sir, beg your pardon, sir. But we came across this one unexpectedly. She was traveling alone near our camp. We chased her to the cliff's edge. She tried to jump off, right into the sea, barely caught her in mid air! Guess she'd rather've died than come with the likes of us, is that right, girly?" he teased, bending low to leer in her face.
She spat at him. Draco couldn't hardly blame her. The shorter man jerked her arm so hard it seemed likely to break. Draco flinched involuntarily, but it didn't appear to phase her. Her jaw was clinched and her eyes alert as she continued to struggle violently. The man hoisted her a bit higher so that she had to stand on the tips of her toes to keep them on the floor.
It was obvious both of the men were clueless as to whom exactly they'd captured. Had they known, she would have been taken directly to the Dark Lord. Scabior may have even finally received the praise he was so desperate for. Aquiring one of Potter's closest allies, what leverage that would give the Dark Lord. Everyone knew there's nothing Potter wouldn't do for Hermione Granger.
"Regardless," Draco continued carefully, "I am displeased at being disturbed in such a manner. As you well know, you are to send a notice before you arriving with prisoners. You are excused this time, but I won't be so generous if it happens again. Leave at once, and I may not tell the Dark Lord you struggle to follow simple protocols."
"Sincerest apologies, Mastor Malfoy, truly sorry," Scabior said as he bowed his head. "It's been a long while since anyone's been captured and we were eager to make you aware."
"And now you have. Leave the prisoner, be on your way. I will handle it from here," Draco said.
The men looked reluctant to release their catch with so little pay off.
"Let me remind you, with my father gone I am in charge, and you will do as I say. Go, now" he said with finality.
They released the prisoner and she dropped to her knees. The two men disapparated with a pop, leaving Draco alone with her. Hermione looked up into his face, but did not speak.
"You're lucky. It seems you've caught me in a rather generous mood."
"You're going to let me go?" She asked almost disbelievingly.
"Of course not," Draco said. "I am allowing you to stay."
"I won't," she started, but his glare silenced her.
"If those two get their hands on you again, well, I won't be there to save you."
"Save me?" Is being your prisoner really any better?"
"Yes," Draco said simply, and he turned away. "I won't lock you up. However, you can't apparate out of here, so don't bother trying. It's very secure, I assure you. It's only you and I tonight. I have not allowed prisoners in this house since father became one himself in Azkaban. There are several bedrooms to choose from. Make yourself comfortable."
He looked over his shoulder and caught her eye. Judging from her appearance she had been leading a rough lifestyle for sometime. Perhaps she would be grateful just to get some sleep.
"Good night, and sweet dreams," Draco called with an air of contempt.
"Wait!" She said, finding her voice. "Why are you pretending to do me a favor? I haven't forgotten what it was like in school. We loathed each other! Why not just send me back out into the world to fend for myself?" She asked breathlessly.
He turned to face her again. She was still soaking wet, her hair was wild, and she was pale. Purple cresents hung beneath her eyes, but her cheeks were flushed, she still had a bit of fight left in her. She must be cold, having come from the outside wearing not much more than a tshirt. It was a pitiful sight. How she had made it this far, Draco did not know. She was still waiting for an answer.
"I told you" he said slowly "I am feeling generous. In fact, I cannot say it's unpleasant seeing a familiar face, even if it's one I don't much care for."
She got up off her knees and looked toward the fireplace. Without asking, she sat down before it in an ornate, velvet arm chair and began warming her hands near the flames.
"This is your house?" She asked.
"More than a house actually. Welcome to Malfoy Manor. I hope you enjoy your stay." He said sarcastically.
She looked him in the eye this time, and the sneer faded from his face instantly. It was surprisingly difficult to keep up his normally cruel facade. She was quite pathetic at the moment.
"A proper host, I suppose, would offer you something to drink," he said.
"You're no host. You're a guard."
"That's right. I am your guard, you'll thank me later. You're far safer with me, I assure you."
She actually laughed. "You, I can handle."
Was she challenging him? He moved closer to her.
"You have a funny way of showing gratitude for being saved."
"You didn't save me, Malfoy." She emphasized his surname, letting him know they were not on friendly terms.
"I beg to differ." He snapped his fingers. With a pop, a house elf appeared carrying a silver tray with a steaming teapot and cakes and offered them to her. She accepted hesitantly.
"They're not poison" Draco assured her. "I want you alive, you are more fun that way." His words came out sly, it was no wonder she didn't trust him. But that was okay. He preferred to be feared, respected, approached cautiously. He was conditioned to be this way. It was satisfying in a way, however, it prevented him from having any real relationships with anyone other than his own mother and father, and he couldn't exactly call those relationships healthy. Having her here could be a good thing, he may be able to benefit from it. After all, she owed him her life.
In the light of the fire as she warmed up and dried, she began to look more as he remembered, with wild curls, thick eyebrows, and a bossy sort of demeanor. Now, however, he noticed new things. She looked.. soft. That was the only word for it. In contrast to his own harsh and angular features, hers were soft, rounded, delicately curved. Strange for him to notice such a thing. He almost smiled. This seemed to unnerve her.
"Are you just going to stare?" She asked.
"Pardon me. You would be used stares if that's how you usually dress." He said, nodding toward her shirt that had been nearly transparent moment ago while wet. Yes, he thought, that will get under her skin. It did. The look she gave him was a bitter one. From under her eyelids he could barely see her pupils. Her brow was furrowed and her jaw set. For a moment he wondered if she would spit at him too.
Draco kept his tone light when he spoke, for that seemed to annoy her the most. "I would have thought all that time with Potter and Weasley, you would have grown accustomed to the hungry gazes.."
And she hit him. Right across the face before he ever saw it coming. It burned like the fire before them. Apparently he had said the magic words and struck a chord she didn't want played. He wasn't even angry. He smiled his coldest smile and leaned closer to her face. She didn't back down, just stared him fiercely in the eye.
"That's the second time you have struck me since we've known each other, Granger. I'm beginning to think you do not wish to be friends," he whispered.
"Malfoy," he could feel her breath on his face when she spoke, "you and I will never be friends. I won't be a pawn in this little game of yours."
"Well, then" he said thinking quickly, for his mind had become suddenly foggy, "don't be a pawn, be a queen. Do you enjoy Chess? We can play if you like."
Out of thin air, Draco conjured an ancient looking Wizard's Chess board. She looked perplexed, for which he was grateful. She was a sharp girl, but if he just played his cards right.. She would not unravel all he had strived to become, he would not let her. It was critical he remain in control.
"On second thought," he lay the Chess board down, "you look absolutely dreadful. Best get some rest. We will pick back up in the morning. After all, we have all the time in the world."
Draco backed out of the room before she could respond, and left her to ponder her current perdicament. Climbing back into his king sized bed as the raindrops continued spattering on the windows, Draco knew he would sleep well the remainder of the night.
He driftes off easily, and for once he dreamt not of masked men with unknown identities, or of blood curdling screams from people he could not see, or of serpents watching him from the darkest corners. He dreamt only of a girl. She was sitting before him, with nothing but a Chess board between them. Her brown eyes were reading him from behind a curtain or curls as she slid her fingers over the ivory pieces, moving her queen to back his king into a corner. Her lips curved into a wicked smile, and she whisped "your move."
Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the first installment. Reviews and criques are beyond appreciated, please give me your feedback! Also, I work mostly from mobile and have no beta reader, so there are bound to be some spelling or grammatical errors I missed when editing.
Stay tuned for the next chapter coming soon, and again, these characters are not mine, they belong to the great J.K. Rowling!