Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling, don't sue me.
Tie the Ribbon Round
When the ribbon was first put on my neck I was too weak to lift my arm let alone to fight them off. But I do remember feeling so restricted, so trapped, by this simple piece of scarlet silk. But of course it wasn't simple was it? An array of spellswere put on it to make sure I would be obedient, and could not escape, not silk anymore but cold steel, like the bars of a cell. All to keep me trapped within the ribbon. It was really a symbol, of my station in life, of my servitude. Anyone could look at it and see who I was, a mudblood, the worst kind of slave. People would either sneer and hit me, or they would walk quickly away without looking back, not wanting to be seen with me. Just because of the ribbon.
I didn't go to one of the camps. I guess I was lucky in that way, but I did go someplace just as bad; Malfoy Manner. What I found out later was that he had told them if I should be found, to bring me right to him. It was Crabbe and Goyle, the ever faithful servants, that brought me to him, I couldn't fight I was still wounded from the war. The war, it hurts me even now to think about it.
Flashback
When the Voldemort finally attacked Hogwarts we were ready. Finally it would all come to a head, all the fighting in and out of Hogwarts would all come out tonight. Harry, Ron, and I walked out the door together following McGonagall as she led us all out onto the grassy slopes. We walked with the other students and aurors out to meet the Death Eaters. We could see them walking to meet us like an epic battle. But most of the actual battle is still a blur to me. I only remember trying to stay alive, curse after curse. Until I came face to face with Blaise Zabini.
"Mudblood." He sneered at me.
"Bastard." I yelled right back, not showing my hurt at the name. I knew this boy, we had gone to school together, taken classes together, and here we were, about to fight to what would probably be the death. I all became real now, the division of the people,the entire war, became so painfully real at that moment. I don't know how long we dueled but I was getting tired when I felt a spell hit my back and I blanked out.
When I awoke I remember feeling cold and realized I was in some kind of dungeon with a bunch of other people. I hurt everywhere, like I had been kicked repeatedly, my arm felt broken, and my wand was gone. Everyone there looked tired and many people were hurt. Some, the lucky, were still unconscious, I wanted to help but found I couldn't move. It was then that I felt the silk of the ribbon rub against my skin. We had lost and this was just the beginning
End Flashback
As the shadow of the Malfoy house loomed over me, I felta sense of foreboding. I struggled against Crabbe and Goyle but it did no use and only made my arm feel worse. As we approached the door Crabbe grabbed a big brass knocker that had a snake woven around it and knocked on the door. At once a house elf opened the door and ushered us into the huge hall. Goyle leered at me before pushing me into the house, where I stumbled and fell, almost loosing my balance.
"Master Malfoy will be with you in a moment," the house elf squeaked. "Would you like to sit down in the parlor?"
"They will not be staying long Twitchy," Malfoy said to the elf as he walked down the large marble staircase. He ignored me as he addressed his cronies, "You have found her. Any problems?"
"No. We found her in one of the holding places and brought her strait here." Crabbe said.
"Good. Here is the money." Malfoy threw a bag of money at Goyle. "Now leave, I willcontact you if I need you for anything else." Crabbe and Goyle left.
As the door closed he finally turned to face me. "So the mudblood Granger finally put in her place." I raised my hand to slap him but found I couldn't move it. "None of that. That ribbon is more than a decoration you know." He reached out and touched it, I flinched away. "You can't hurt or disobey a pureblood. But I do think it needs something." He pretended to think a moment then waved his had at my throat. I felt something appear on the ribbon but I couldn't tell what it was.
"There, looks perfect. Well Granger do you know why you're here?" I didn't say anything; I refused to respond to him, to play his game. "Answer me." He said his voice dangerously low.
It was a command I couldn't ignore, the ribbon wouldn't let me. "No, I don't know why I'm here." I didn't look at him.
"Well you are here to work for me. To do my every bidding." He looked at me a moment the suddenly said, "Do you know what happened at the end of the war?"
"No." I said, I didn't let it show how desperately I wanted to know.
"You will come to my study tonight; a house elf will fetch you." Was all he said, chnging topics at the speed of light,before he started to walk away.
"Wait will you tell me what happened, the war I mean?" I asked, hating myself for depending on him to know.
"Perhaps." He said with a silky smile. He walked back up the stairs.
A house elf appeared as soon as he was out of sight. It was Twitchy, he told my to follow him, I did and soon found myself in a basement room. It had a small mattress on the floor in the corner, a sink with a dingy mirror, and a handful of candles scattered around the room.
Twitchy started to leave before I said "Wait my arm, I think it's broken."
"I'm sorry I can't do anything about it." Was all the house elf said before leaving.
To my dismay I started to cry. It was the first time I hated my heritage, because that was the only reason I was here. I wanted to scream in rage, to pound my fists at the unfairness of it all but instead I walked slowly over to the sink to wash my face.I caught a look at myself in the mirror. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my hair was tangled and covered in mud, as were much of my clothes. But the first thing that caught my eye was an ornate M with a snake twisted around it attached to the ribbon.
Authors Note:
Well this is my first story so if you review (please do) be nice! Let me know what you think. Thanks.