There is a moment between being asleep and awake, a small window of period where one is aware yet unaware. Where the mind hopes that the nightmares were just a figment of your mind working and not reality but unfortunately for number 3, she knew the instant her consciousness aroused that the trauma was very real only she had no recollection of what it was.
Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up breathing heavily, nausea hitting her. Something truly terrible had happened to her. There were lights and excruciating pain that was all she could remember rest was a large black wall of impregnable smoke. She knew she was no 3, a server, a trophy slave and she was up for sale to the highest bidder.
She tried to look around only with her eyes, her neck failed to obey her. The place was foreign to her, all grey and white with bright light shining from the ceiling hurting her already sensitive eyes.
"The golden girl is finally awake," came a sickly sweet voice from behind her. No 3 looked behind startled, there stood a short woman whose face closely resembled a toad wearing all pink and adorning a large unnatural smile, she was holding a small glass ball in her hand which had swirling silver and golden liquid inside it.
"Where am i?" she asked the woman, the only thought that plagued her mind. "Always asking silly question," the woman mocked looking annoyed. "You are where your place is, where you deserve to be, would have put you to the lower order traders if it were left to me," she spat.
Number 3 tried to get up but her legs wouldn't budge and she felt panic rising inside her, she tried a few more times and the toad like woman only laughed at her attempt. "I have to permit you, you cannot move unless I let you," she said. "I can make you do anything I want to," she added coming nose to nose, trying to intimidate her into shrinking backward but number 3 held her spine straight and tried not a wince.
"Is she ready?" a male voice interrupted her tactics of bullying. "Yes sir, I was just letting our golden girl know some ground rules", she informed straightening up, trying to stand tall, not that it made her look any less crooked. "We don't want any damages on her, not a scratch on this one specially," the man added after a pause. "I understand sir," she retorted, looking a little disappointed with her superiors' statement.
Number 3 heard the footsteps walk away and she sighed with relief knowing she wasn't in any immediate danger. She had again lost control over her neck she closed her eyes trying her best to gain control over her own muscles and tendons, hoping to remember how it was done but her mind refused assistance. She opened her eyes and the toad woman was again face to face with her.
"You mudblood, are the reason for me being here doing menial tasks for slave traders," she spoke with rage lacing every word, frothing at the mouth. Number 3 would have shrunk backward without a doubt if she physically could at this moment. "I hope whoever buys you, uses you in every single way possible. I personally sent invitations to the most prestigious yet notorious pureblood families for your viewing," she smiled sickly.
"I personally requested to oversee your demonstration once you are purchased", she added with a sparkle in her eyes.
Number 3 knew she was up for sale and so the thought didn't scare her, it was inevitable. That was what she was, a trophy server. Her only purpose in life was to serve her masters. She wondered why the woman took so much pleasure in all this, it wasn't as if it was something new. She knew this was what was bound to happen.
"It's about to begin," called another voice from behind her, this time a woman. The toad like woman whispered something to the iridescent ball and number 3 felt slight tingling in her spine, she realized she could move now. She inspected her fingers and toes like a small child and to her delight she could move them. She smiled, a little pleased with herself.
"Thank you," she said softly to the woman who looked flustered at being thanked by her but composed herself instantly. "Trust me, you won't be thanking me once all this is over," she barked at her.
The woman started to walk away with her nose in the air and beckoned number 3 to follow. They reached a hallway with a large chandelier that looked very much familiar but she had no memory of ever setting foot in this place. She was being lead though a mirrored corridor where she slowed down slightly to observe her own reflection. The person that was her had long luscious brown hair that glimmered with unnatural shine, it seemed wrong like it wasn't supposed to be that way. Her skin was like rose tinted cream with a sprinkle of slight golden brown freckles on her nose, she knew she had been changed, edited to look like an enhanced version of her previous self. Her clothes were transparent, a white robe that touched the floor with a long train behind her, like a bride only everything that she possessed was for the world to see. She smiled at her reflection who winked back at her like a naughty vixen, she blushed.
A woman in tight black robes waited for them at the end of the corridor. She whispered something to the toad woman and she grudgingly handed over the iridescent ball over to her and walked off with her nose in the air without a backward glance.
The woman in black gave her a tight smile. "Hi, I am Miles, it's an honor to meet you in person," she said anxiously looking around to see if anyone was watching her. Hermione wanted to say something in return but her control had been taken away and she could just fidget lightly. "Oh sorry, I ll just give you full autonomy, just don't give me any trouble …yeah?" she said and whispered something into the small ball.
Number 3 thanked the woman once she gained control but Miles wouldn't look at her and guiltily apologized for some reason beyond comprehension. She looked very uncomfortable and it seemed like she was eager to leave. Number 3 was already making a list of questions she wanted to ask her when she broke the silence. "you will be presented in a few minutes, do your best to just smile ok, don't grimace, don't nod, don't reply, don't say anything even if people question you, just look at your feet all right love," she instructed her with kindness. "I understand mistress," she said automatically. She was supposed to agree with whoever held control over her magic. The thought struck her odd. Her mind knew that but didn't want to agree. It felt unfair.
Miles got her a stool to sit on and number 3 knew she had to keep her back straight at all times. Look down, not talk unless spoken to, to never answer back, to only use magic when given to her by her master and to be compliant at all times. All this made her feel very uncomfortable, like a constant itch that couldn't be relieved. She knew she had to abide by it even if she didn't want to, it was how her consciousness had been designed.
A loud booming voice vibrated the mirrored walls and the portkey that was her stool activated. She couldn't help but gasp as she landed in a ball room full of known yet forgotten faces staring up at her. A transparent black veil embroidered intricately with golden motifs covered her from head to toe. It largely stopped the people in front of her from recognising her but she could see each and every face clearly. She knew she had met many of them in person only she didn't know when.
A handsome man stood in front of her and began the introductory speech with enthusiasm, his voice was clear and heavy, a talented elocutionist. "ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 45th prestigious auction, an auction for the elite to procure the best of the best, a personal trophy or a gift for your family, a companion or a servant, a friend and a confidant, a caretaker.. or a pleasure giver from the hands of the most beautiful mudbloods to ever walk the earth", he paused giving the audience a moment to absorb the importance of the event and they clapped with delight. Too entranced by the glitz and glamour of the speaker.
"After eight years of extensive hunting, research and hard work our team found her residing in the muggle world. She was a tough one to crack, magic like hers mightier than any we have ever come across, twelve of our greatest mind benders took a total of six months to build her a new consciousness, yet she is still a feisty one," he chuckled earning slight laughter from his audience as well.
"Her magic is yours to gain,
Her mind is yours to use,
Her body is at your mercy,
Her beauty is yours to showcase,
Her children if any she bears will be your heirs,
Strong and well-endowed in magic and magnificence.
Let me present to you, our most desired, most wanted, yet the former undesirable no 3, the golden girl and the brightest mudblood of her age….HERMIONE GRANGER," he shouted with enthusiasm.
There was a deafening silence followed by collective gasps and after which excited shouting and murmuring ensured. Hermione granger, a sharp tingle flowed through her spine as she heard her name, so foreign yet so intimately close. She felt warmth spread in her chest, names held power she knew. Her name she recognized at a level beyond her unconscious current mind. It awakened her spirit a little.
The veil caught fire as her name was announced and it disappeared in layers of golden smoke and sparkling ash. There was loud cheering and hooting from the crowd, her chin lifted on its own accord and she stood up with a cat like grace that wasn't hers. Her shoulders rolled backwards showcasing her best assets to the audience. Her rose hued nipples perked up for the display. She could feel waves of humiliation slashing her insides but her face and body did nothing to display any sign of distress, it obeyed to whoever was holding her magic.
"We have an additional gift for whoever purchases her," the host spoke again with a hint of mischief in his voice and the audience quietened. "She is still intact," he revealed. "Twenty four year old intact virgin beauty for our lucky buyer," he said showcasing her as she turned around for the people to look at her shapely buttocks. The host went ahead and held her hand and twirled her which she was made to comply like a professional dancer. The men in the audience eyed her with lust and greed in their eyes while the women observed her with interest and envy. The older women who wanted her as a brood mare for their sons and daughter in laws observed her with scientific interest. Everyone wanted her today. She had been made into a trophy worthy of a champion yet still a commodity, a slave.
"
"So shall we begin?" he asked the audience with excitement lacing his tone when a fat blob of a man stood up and demanded a full viewing of her body. "Sorry Mr Crabbe only the one lucky buyer get the full viewing of our most precious jewel", he informed professionally. The man reddened and sat down with embarrassment. The people quietened down after the ordeal and the auction began. Hermione was too mortified to understand what was happening, all she could hear was bidding and the prices were exorbitant. Something she could never fathom anyone could would pay up for a slave not that she knew what the slave pricing were. After an hour of price surge only a calm male and a nasal female voices could be heard upping the amount. Finally the female won out and the auction was officially closed.
Miles arrived at the end of the auction and escorted her back to a room behind the stage. Hermione's embarrassment was turning into anxiety. Everything she had heard from the host was horrifying. It felt like her soul had been sold along with her body.
"You will be all right love", said Miles as she caressed her face trying to sooth her anxiety. She then started to cast some spells on her.
"What are you doing to me", Hermione asked her in a small broken voice.
"Some basic contraceptive and pain relieving spells", she replied with a straight face. "You will have to renew these every six months though, pain spells will wear off after a week", she added after a thought.
"Will my masters hurt me", she asked her with despair.
"Even if they do it won't hurt one bit now," she soothed holding her face in her palms. "Things will change now that you are back, you are a strong woman Hermione Granger," she consoled herself more than Hermione. "You are stronger than the body you inhabit, stronger than the block in your head," she said quietly looking at her new beacon of hope.
"The owners are ready for the demonstration", the toad woman cut in. Miles handed over the glass ball to her with a slight shrug who all but snatched it from her. The moment her ball of magic changed hands she felt the loss of her limbs. The woman levitated her like a sack of potatoes and started walking back towards the stage room which was empty except for a woman is beautiful blue robes.
"Madam Parkinson I hope you are ready for the demo," she said gleefully as she made Hermione stand back on her feet.
"I would prefer for a demo with the new owners tomorrow madam Umbridge", Parkinson said with delight.
"The mudblood is a gift you see, I have finally found the perfect gift for my dearest friend", she informed and looked over at Hermione with glee.
"Of course madam, when and where shall I bring her?"
"8 pm , the east wing ball room…..MALFOY MANOR," She said after a pause looking at Hermione for any reaction.
Hermione shivered internally at the name. She knew she was in for big trouble.