The Loan

by shen summoner

In a magical world where Voldemort never rose to power, but the purebloods did, here comes a story about a community so shattered, that it requires women to put their bodies on loan to ensure the continuation of the magical species. Or, at least, the continuation of the family lines that matter. Hermione Granger is in the middle of it all, and Draco Malfoy is indebted to her.

1. Chapter 1

THE LOAN

preface

---

You know when you feel like it's all over? Like all hope is lost? Like the world's shattered to pieces right before your eyes, and you can't help but watch as it paves a way for your own destruction? That's what Hermione felt right now.

It had been going so great. For her, for Ron. She still remembered when it happened. She remembered it with a vivid clarity that frightened her.

They'd been lying on the rickety bed she'd fashioned for them at an old cottage by the countryside. Just the two of them, lounging about in blissful ignorance, butt-naked, happy. It was a much needed break that had arrived in workaholic Hermione Granger's life at the right time. A week away from work at the Ministry and stupid things like laundry and The Daily Prophet, was a week in heaven.

And then the letter had arrived. She'd held her lit cigarette aloft with one hand and clumsily opened up the paper, as the owl that had brought it to them pecked at her thigh, and Ron clasped her to him, running his fingers down her back, kissing her neck.

'What is it?' he'd asked, sucking at her shoulder.

She'd gone white.

And that had been the end.

Today, as she and the other "hopefuls" waited in line at the Ministry to be assigned their matching pair, she paused to view her reflection in the spotless marble floor.

Gaunt could be a word for it. But she would think that Angry described it better. It had been three months, now. She'd put up a fight. She'd filed complaints. She'd tried to hide. She'd tried to kill herself. None of it had worked.

So now, she waited. She waited, for her number to be called. She waited, for the impending doom. She waited, for her to be paired with the couple to whom her body would be loaned. She waited, for the beginning of the end.

-X-X-X-

A/N – This is an idea I've really wanted to explore for a while now. The chapters are obviously going to be longer. It's going to be a dark fic – perhaps traces of non-con – nothing rose-tinted about this one. It's exciting and I hope you guys stick around.

I haven't given up on TMMM, just been really busy, and my laptop, too, started malfunctioning and was out of order for about three weeks. Hopefully, I should have that updated within this week.

Leave a review to tell me what you think! I'd love some encouragement.