Sorry for the huge gap between stories. College has been kicking my butt. Meanwhile I had an inspirational Dramione dream last night and figured I would get my butt in gear on this wonderful sick day. I am currently in bed with strep and tonsillitis. So! It is a story day I think.
AU where Voldemort has won
Summary: After the war, Hermione has gone into hiding in a Muggle convent, one of the few places Voldemort has not destroyed. Posing as a Muggle, Hermione has managed to survive the war. When out on an errand for the convent, Hermione runs into her old schoolmate Draco Malfoy.
Rating: M for mature due to sexual situations (consensual and nonconsensual) and language
"Helen, it has been requested that you go to the market and retrieve more bags of flour. The runner boy will be there to help you return them to the Abbey. As always you may stop and retrieve lunch while you are out. Do not be long though." Mother Superior bowed her head to Hermione, referring to her with the Muggle name she had chosen.
"Of course Mother Superior. I will be back as soon as possible." Hermione accepted the money that the Mother Superior handed her and walked to the Abbey door. Once outside she pulled the hood of her habit farther over her hair, trying to hide her face from passersby. Ever since the war had ended she had been taking refuge in the Abbey, trying to stay hidden from Voldemort's Death Eaters.
Hermione walked briskly down the street, avoiding eye contact with anyone, Muggle or otherwise. Finally reaching the market, Hermione quickly entered, eager to get back to the Abbey. The Market was right next door to the Leaky Cauldron, unbeknownst to the owners of the Market or the Muggle walking by. Occasionally, Hermione would catch herself glancing in the windows, searching for a familiar face.
There were none to be found of course. All of her friends were dead. Everyone she had known had died in a last ditch effort to destroy the Dark Lord. Shockingly, she had been spared from death by Draco Malfoy.
It was supposed to be the final battle of the war when Harry would finally defeat Lord Voldemort. But something went wrong and Harry had been brought down by the evil wizard's trickery and deception. The Order of the Phoenix had retreated back into Hogwarts, their current base, to regroup. But the Death Eaters followed them to the castle and broke through the wards. The Order had scattered, hoping to get to the escape routes before the Death Eaters overtook them. Hermione had upstairs to the tapestry across from the Room of Requirement. It was there that Malfoy, Zabini, Nott, and Goyle caught up with her.
The group quickly overtook her and had her on the ground, tied up with magical cords. It appeared that Malfoy was the leader of the pack and laughed along with his cohorts. The man had stood over her, telling his fellow Death Eaters that he wanted to 'have his way with Gryffindor's princess before he offed her'. His housemates had snickered and moved on, ready to kill the next member of the Order.
Hermione had braced herself for the worst. Her wand was gone, lost in the fighting and the following chase. Blood ran down her face from a cut she had received from Marcus Flint, her wrists and ankles throbbing from Theodore Nott's magical cords. Malfoy had breathed over her, wand pointed at her throat. She braced herself for the worst as Slytherin's Prince moved his wand to point at her forehead. Much to her surprise, she felt the cut on her forehead heal, the blood simultaneously clearing from her vision. The tall man standing over her knelt down and looked her in the eyes, his steely grays guarded.
"Go Hermione. Don't come back here. Stay hidden until this is over." Draco stood, stowing his wand back in his robes. "I mean it Hermione. Don't come back. Don't try and kill any more of them or we will both be dead."
With that, Draco had walked away, leaving her on the ground, more confused than ever. She had followed his orders though, quickly creating the doorway to the Boar's Head pub. She fell out of the portrait on the other side, gasping for breath. Standing and running until she couldn't breathe, she had found herself outside of the Abbey and had stayed there for the next five years, only leaving when it was asked of her.
Today was one of the days she had been asked to leave. After five years, she was still terrified whenever she walked out the door and into the streets of London. The Market had been the only place she even dared to enter, it's oblivious staff of smiling teenage boys and elderly cashiers making her feel safe.
"Sister Helen?" A voice permeated Hermione's thoughts, jolting her awake. "I'm sorry Sister Helen. I didn't mean to scare you. Are you here for more flour?" Hermione looked down into the face of a smiling teenage runner boy. She pitied and envied his naïve innocence, wishing not for the first time that she had never received her Hogwarts letter.
"Yes. Yes, thank you. Mother Superior has requested ten bags put onto the account for the Abbey." Hermione smiled tentatively back, eager to get back to the Abbey.
"Okay Sister Helen. I'll get them on the truck and bring them by. Would you like a ride?" The runner boy asked, already turning to head to the back and get the flour.
Tell him no. Hermione jumped, a slippery voice entering her head, twisting around her thoughts.
"No, no that won't be necessary." Hermione automatically replied, not sure why she was obeying the voice. If she had learned anything during the war it was that no one could be trusted, especially a voice in her mind.
Good. Now I need you to exit the Muggle food store and enter the alley to the left of the store. Do not go near the Cauldron. He will be there soon. The hair on Hermione's neck prickled and stood on end. He could only be one person, Lord Voldemort.
Hermione quickly walked out of the Market, eager to get as far from the Leaky Cauldron as possible. Spotting the alley the voice had told her about, Hermione entered and walked as far as she could into the alley. Her knees gave out as she rounded a dumpster and Hermione fell sobbing into a crouch.
"Granger get off your lazy arse. We need to move, now."
"Please get out of my head. Please." Hermione cried into her knees, her habit falling askew.
"I'm not in your head you idiot. Get up." Hermione felt a hand grab her upper arm and pull her up, trying to shake some sense into her. "We need to move now. He will be there soon and He will know that you are nearby. It is not safe for you here anymore. We need to go!"
Hermione opened her eyes, shocked to see a pair of guarded grey eyes staring back at her. Draco Malfoy.
"No…no you are one of them. I can't trust you." Hermione tried to wrench her arms free but Draco had grown stronger.
"Stupid Granger. Don't be daft. I saved you five years ago and I have to do it again. Please Hermione. Trust me." Draco put a hand on her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Please."
Draco's eyes were pleading, his face set, completely prepared to force her to leave. Hermione stood, staring at him, speechless. Malfoy had clearly grown stronger over the past five years and could easily force her to go with him, with or without magic.
"Dammit Granger!" Draco exclaimed. He grabbed her violently, wrapping her in his arms. Hermione squeaked in protest, her habit falling over her eyes. She was completely at the mercy of a Death Eater. With a quiet pop, they had Apparated. Seconds later they landed on a gravel road. A bird was squawking in the distance, a strange call Hermione couldn't recognize.
Hermione was forced out of her evaluation by Malfoy roughly dropping his arms and grabbing her wrist. She felt herself being yanked being him over the gravel. Habit over her eyes, Hermione was unable to see where they were. She heard the squeak of a gate being opened and felt herself being pulled through some very powerful wards. She heard Draco utter a spell and heard what sounded like a heavy wooden door being thrown open.
"Ellie! It started." A loud crack sounded and Hermione knew a house elf had Apparated nearby. "Prepare the side room and get a meal sent up. I am relying on you Ellie." Hermione was surprised to hear Draco talking almost tenderly to the little elf. Finally able to yank her habit off, Hermione gasped. She was in Malfoy Manor, Draco kneeling in front of her talking to a small house elf in a floral dress.
"Of course Master Draco. Right away!" The little elf disappeared with another crack and Draco stood, dropping Hermione's arm for the first time since they had arrived.
"Granger I need you to trust me and to follow me. I will explain everything once you are settled in and changed. I can't stand that Muggle outfit. It's a complete turn off." With that, Draco turned and started towards the stairs. "If you don't start moving your arse I'm going to make you Granger." He called back to Hermione, not even turning to see if she was following.
Confused by his statement about her dress, Hermione was unable to follow at first. Realizing she was being left behind in a strange house, Hermione took off after Draco, her shoes making soft pat pat pat sounds on the floor. She took off after him up a grand looking staircase and spotted Draco entering a room at the end of a wood-paneled hall. Lifting her skirts, Hermione ran after Draco, catching the door before it could close.
Hermione gasped in awe. She was in a grand bedroom half paneled in dark wood, a large bed in the center. Ornate wallpaper in shades of emerald green was flawlessly affixed above the paneling. Heavy green drapes covered the windows, shrouding the room in darkness. A small panel was open next to the bed. Clearly when the panel was closed it would blend in flawlessly with the surrounding pieces. Draco was ducking through this secret door, his height making it impossible for him to simply walk through. Hermione quickly ran after him, following him down a narrow hall. The hall opened up to a bedroom, not as large as the one it was connected to, but equally as extravagant in shades of rich scarlet and silver. The room was protected by more wards, evident from the magical spark in her aura.
"This will be your room Granger. Ellie will bring you some food and has left clothes in the bathroom. I will be back so get presentable. You look worse than normal." Malfoy ducked back into the hallway and slid the panel back into place, leaving Hermione in her nun's habit.
"Excuse me Miss but the Master has requested that I help you bathe then give you some dinner." Hermione hadn't even noticed Ellie standing in the corner, hands absentmindedly twirling her skirt.
"Oh yes…of course." Hermione walked numbly to the bathroom. Everything seemed too surreal. Not an hour ago she had terrified for her life behind a dumpster in a dirty Muggle alley. Now she was in one of the grandest rooms she had ever entered in the esteemed Malfoy Manor.
The washroom was just as grand as the bedroom it was connected to. The claw-footed tub was filled to the brim with steaming water and lavender-scented bubbles. She allowed Ellie to help her remove her habit and gown. For years that habit had been all that stood between her and certain death. To remove it in the house of the enemy was terrifying. The feelings lessened when she stepped into the water and felt the bubbles climb up her legs. It had been awhile since she had had a proper washing and Hermione was eager to scrub herself. If she was going to be killed she might as well be clean when it happened.
After a good hour in the tub washing her hair, shaving her legs for the first time in five years, and simply enjoying the magically warmed water, Hermione accepted the towel Ellie handed her. After drying off, she looked for the clothes Malfoy had said would be in the bathroom. Sure enough there was a comfortable looking ensemble waiting for her on the counter. Everything fit perfectly.
Ellie grabbed her hand and led Hermione into her room, snapping her fingers and creating a roaring fire in the grate. The smoke seemed to disappear before it reached the flue, surely part of Ellie's skill. Quick as a flash, Ellie disappeared and returned with a tray of rich food, much more appealing than the standard rations at the nunnery.
"Master Draco says to tell you he will be in shortly to join you but to enjoy your meal. He also said that he hopes you are enjoying your stay so far." Ellie gave a little curtsy and disappeared with a pop. Hermione took the opportunity to explore her new room. Every drawer was filled with clothes and the wardrobe even had two ball gowns in it. A vanity stood in one corner with an ornate mirror and silver hair brushes.
"So, a nunnery is it Granger?" Hermione jumped, dropping the brush she had been admiring. Malfoy stood behind her, lazily twirling a wand in his fingers. She stared at him dumbly, not sure what to say.
"Do you recognize this Granger?" Malfoy asked, holding the wand in his hand. He pointed it at her as he predatorily circled her, his grey eyes penetrating her own golden-brown orbs. "I found it that day, five years ago. I hoped I could give it back to its rightful owner since she was too distracted to properly hold it." Hermione gasped. It was her wand! It had been polished and seemed to hum in delight at being hear its witch.
Hermione immediately started towards her captor with her arm outstretched for her wand. At the last second Malfoy held it above her reach, his patented smirk climbing up his face.
"No no Granger. Can't have you hexing me now can I?" Malfoy put the wand tip on Hermione's chin lazily tracing her jaw line as her walked around her. Stopping when he had reached her back, Malfoy stepped closer. Hermione could feel his hot breath on her neck as he whispered in her ear. "That wouldn't be any fun now would it?"
Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she smelled Malfoy's cologne. It was a remarkably attractive smell, not too overpowering. It brought her back to her memories of trips to her favorite camping site; a wooded beach on the coast. The salty air mixed with the sweet pine and musk of the forest always made her feel safe. Smelling it on her adversary and jailer was not what she had expected.
Noticing her reaction to his presence, Malfoy chuckled. "Cat got your tongue Granger?" Malfot stepped away from her, dropping nonchalantly onto the ruby-colored chaise lounge. His long pale fingers picked a strawberry off her dinner plate and sucked on the sweet fruit. As if trying to seduce her, Malfoy raised an eyebrow at Hermione's gaze and licked the sweet juice off his lip.
Hermione found herself wondering what it would be like to suck that juice off of his chin. Realizing she was thinking about licking fruit juice off of Draco blooding Malfoy's face snapped Hermione back to reality. "No you devious little ferret. What in the bloody hell is going on here?" Hermione's ire rose in her gut, firing weakly into life as it hadn't in almost 5 years. "Why have you captured me? Why do you even care if He finds me? You belong to him anyway. I'm sure he would be thrilled to know that you ended my life." Hermione stomped across the room angrily finger pointed at Malfoy's face.
"I didn't capture you. You are free to leave whenever you like if you really have the want to do so. I care if he finds you because the last thing I need is to have my reputation as a Death Eater ruined by letting you escape. And he wasn't thrilled when he thought I ended your life. I got Crucio for five minutes straight when he thought you had died at my hand. He fancies himself some sort of god now and wanted to kill you and the rest of the Golden Trio himself. Unfortunately only two of the three fell to his wand." Malfoy stood, glaring down at Hermione's smaller form. "What is going on is that you need to stay here or you will be killed. Theodore Nott has it in his head that you're alive and he wants you for himself Granger and not in a pleasant way. I felt that you deserved—" Malfoy immediately stopped talking, realizing that his guard was dropping and was about to reveal more than he wanted.
"Felt that I deserved what you slimy bastard? Felt that I deserved to be treated not-so-pleasantly by you?" Hermione asked quietly, her voice filled with contempt.
Malfoy crossed to the door and dropped her wand on a small table next to it. Stepping through the door, he stopped himself with a hand on the frame. As he stared back at her, Hermione thought she saw sorrow in his eyes."I felt that you deserved better than to be gang raped and forced to live as Nott's sex slave." With these parting words, Malfoy swept through the door, closing it hard behind him.
Shocked, Hermione dropped to the lounge. Was it possible that Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, who had tormented her for her entire school career, actually cared about her? Something wasn't right about the situation and Hermione wasn't sure she wanted to know the truth anymore.