Alone
What if Sirius Black was never convicted? That day when the Aurors cornered him on Peter Pettigrew's disappearance, they had the sense of mind to validate the last spell casted from Sirius's wand. This meant Harry Potter grew up with two of his father's best friends, Sirius and Remus Lupin who both treated him as their own flesh and blood.
Living with the two wizards brought changes to the boy who lived. Both offered Harry knowledge that had helped in his Hogwarts classes. So when Professor Flitwick taught the levitation charm, Harry offered to correct Ron. The disastrous teasing by Ron to Hermione never happened and Hermione was never trapped inside the girls bathroom.
On times of trouble, Harry was always able to talk with Sirius or Remus or look back to experiences with them. For instance, Remus, kept himself safe by planting a Devil's Snare surrounding his werewolf hideout to keep unwanted passersby. Of course, he taught Harry how to escape in case he got caught.
Harry Potter living with real wizards, experienced enough to survive his Hogwarts years without Hermione's help.
However, come their 6th year, when Dumbledore died and Hogwarts was invaded by Death Eaters, Hermione was not one of the recipients of the Felix Felicis. Instead of focusing on fighting off the Death Eaters, the professors had been protecting their students, leaving Harry to fight for himself. It was at that moment when the great Harry Potter disappeared.
Bellatrix cornered Harry. He was able to deflect her curses as he was shouting for everyone to leave the school. However, he got distracted by a younger wizard fighting off grown wizards. This caused the biggest mistake as he became a recipient of the spell "Crucio". Bellatrix then ordered another Death Eater to bring him to their master as she went for the other students.
The last thing Harry saw was a brown haired witch running towards him. "Leave me." He uttered as he lost consciousness.
Years later.
Draco Malfoy walked through the Ministry of Magic uncontested by the Aurors. Aurors these days are very different. They were all sporting the dark mark on their arms.
He went up a flight of stairs and proceeded down a hallway until he reached an unassuming blue door. He checked his pocket to ensure he brought his galleons. Satisfied, he turned the knob and walked inside.
"Mr. Malfoy, you're again in need of our resources?"
"Let's just start Mr. Bringgs." Draco said to an old man standing on a peg for his left foot as he joined several wizards in the far end of the room.
Mr. Bringgs nodded and waved his wand across from the waiting wizards to move a wall. "Come along, filthy mudbloods." He ordered a group of witches and wizards who noticeably wore snake cuffs.
The group paraded across the room.
Draco kept a careful eye on the group looking for promising mudbloods. His eyes fell on a gangly brown haired witch. Her head was bowed down but he caught a glimpse of her eyes and noticed the familiar blank stare. "I want that mudblood." He pointed at the subject.
"Business or pleasure?" Mr. Bringgs asked.
"Business. My company is expanding and nearly all of my house elves are being transferred there. I need resources."
"Bringgs, I need all the females." A man in a red cloak demanded. "My entertainment business needs it."
"There are five females here. You shouldn't miss one." Draco argued.
"Gentlemen, let us follow the rules." Bringgs smiled slyly. "Highest bidder."
~~~
Draco handed all of his galleons and collected his prize. "The egg?" Draco turned back to Bringgs.
Bringgs threw him a small silver egg. "Hefty price for a lanky mudblood."
"I'll make sure I get my galleon's worth." He led the witch down to the lobby where he can disapparate together. "Damn. You're worth the price of two. I hope I don't regret this." He mumbled before disappearing.
~~~
Draco and the witch arrived in an old Manor which is double the size of the Malfoy Manor he used to reside.
He activated the alarms before hiding his wand inside his robe. "Alecia!" He called out.
A blonde witch scurried to his side.
Draco turned to his new guest and pulled stands of her hair.
Alecia took out two bottles and handed one to the new guest. She then took the hair strands from Draco to put inside the other bottle. Alecia drank the potion and slowly transformed into the image of the new girl. "Your turn." She ordered.
The new girl, who still had a dazed look, followed the instruction. She in turn took the form of Alecia.
"Thank you Alecia." Draco smiled. "Switch for a week?"
"Okay." Alecia nodded. "Should I take her downstairs?"
He nodded as he pulled a blue egg from his robe. "Just a week." He promised as he opened the egg and handed it to Alecia.
She accepted and watched the snake inside the egg crawl out and slithered to her left arm. It circled around her wrist and bit its own tail forming the similar snake cuff the new guest wore. "Just a week." She repeated under her breath.
~~~
Alecia led the new girl to a dungeon with opened cells. She nodded to a couple of wizards they passed when they were halted by another wizard.
"Just one?" He asked.
Alecia nodded. "Must be someone special."
The wizard stared at Alecia's face. "I know her."
Alecia rolled her eyes. "Sure you do, Dean."
"No, honest. I do know her." He insisted. He tried to touch the new girl but Alecia slapped his hand away.
"She's not ready." Alecia warned.
Alecia half dragged the brown haired witch to a nearby empty cell. "You can rest here for a while. I'll bring you some food later or would you rather eat now?"
When she didn't get a response, she got out of the cell and locked it. "For safety purposes." She tried to explain.
~~~~
Dean Thomas, left the dungeon and went to look for Draco at his favorite hiding place, the den.
He knocked and turned the knob. "Draco?"
"Yes Dean?" Draco motioned him to come inside.
"The new girl, she's Hermione isn't she?"
"Yes. She'll be perfect." Draco smiled.
"She may have been a perfect student but she's broken now."
"You were once broken too." Draco argued.
"I remember. But I don't think there's anything left of her."
"I hope you're wrong." Draco smirked.
~~~
Hermione woke to a presence in her cell. 'My new master's here.' She thought to herself. She immediately stood from her bed and bowed her head in his direction.
Draco tried to get her attention. "You slept all day yesterday. I wanted to make sure you're okay." He smiled and waited for a response.
Hermione stared at the floor, unresponsive.
"I was hoping you could join me for lunch." Draco walked to her side. He pulled out a potion from his robe and handed it to her. "A few more days till you get your strength." He explained.
Hermione willingly drank the polyjuice and once more took Alecia's form.
"There are rules in this Manor which I would like to discuss. One of which is that I want you to be honest with me. You have to tell me the truth about what you're thinking and what you're feeling." He waited for any sign of response. "Starting now."
Hermione kept silent, her eyes remained locked to the floor.
"I am not fond of using the cuffs but if that's the only way I can get a response from you." His hand searched his pocket for an egg.
Hermione shifted her gaze to him.
"Finally," Draco smiled triumphantly. "Alecia left some clothes on your bed. You should get yourself cleaned and..." he stopped, distracted by her actions.
Hermione started to undress, pulling the brown fabric over her head. Her clothing akin to the pillow case that Dobby wore.
"Hold it." He turned his back from her. "There's a common bath outside. Turn right and at end of the hallway there's a marked room." He counted to 10 before turning to face her again.
Hermione was holding her fresh clothes.
"Come see me in the den when you're done." Draco smiled and left the door open.
Draco asked Alecia to guide Hermione to his den. He then met Dean and asked to serve lunch for him and Hermione.
~~~
Hermione was greeted by Alecia who was sporting her face in her cell. She deduced that Alecia had a high rank in this household since her new master often called her and by her name at that.
Being a mudblood slave since her 6th year in Hogwarts, she's been assigned to some of the most despicable purebloods in the community. She's endured all sorts of torture from physical scarring to mental abuse to emotional breakdowns and even sexual abuse. Suffice to say, she had experienced the darkest of days.
"Are you all set?" Alecia smiled at her.
Hermione wondered whether this was a test. She had to learn her place quickly. She knew sometimes, that the right hand slaves were fiercer and more sadistic than their master.
"You can talk freely." Alecia walked to her side to get her dirty clothes. "Draco prefers to know what's on our minds."
"Doesn't he know Legilimency?" Hermione thought aloud.
"Really? I had no idea." She replied in earnest while fishing out a potion from her pocket. "Polyjuice tastes horrible. But on occassion the Aurors come to check up on us especially the newly purchased. You know since muggleborns are a dying breed." Alecia shook her head. "Oops, slip of the tongue. I meant mudbloods. However, I did hear that there's been reported several Obscurial in the muggle world. Poor souls. Hogwarts should start recruiting muggleborns again."
They left her cell and started to leave the dungeon.
Hermione did not react. She had been so accustomed to being called a mudblood she accepted it to be true.
"Honestly, first meal with him is crucial. He'll decide if you're a prime pick or not." They passed a cell with a witch in scantily clad clothes. "Or you can work yourself to the top." She teased.
Hermione took everything she said with a grain of salt. She hasn't figure out whether Alecia was being kind or was setting her up.
"Just don't get him angry." Alecia said when they reached the den. She knocked three times before calling out. "She's here."
"Come in."
Alecia winked at Hermione as she opened the door.
Hermione entered silently with her head bowed.
Inside, a table for two was setup beautifully in the middle of the room, their meal already in place.
"Sit down." Draco pulled a chair for her which she obliged.
He sat down opposite her and tried to lock her eyes. "I hope you're feeling better." He waited until she nodded. "Remember the rule I mentioned earlier?"
"Forgive me sir if I've offended you." Hermione stood from her chair to bow at him.
"Please sit down."
Hermione puzzled, but did as was told.
"It's been 9 years since we went to Hogwarts."
'8 years for you.' Hermione corrected in her mind.
"It's no surprise that you survived all those years. You've been a great student, very knowledgeable." He sighed when he didn't get a reaction. "How many?"
Hermione with his rule in mind replied, "how many what, sir?"
"How many masters and mistresses have you served?"
Hermione closed her eyes as she pictured the faces that made her life hell. "Four."
"Forgive me, I don't understand. You've only had four? It's the smallest number for that period." He started to eat and motioned for her to do the same. "There's a guy here who was captured two years ago and he had 10 employers."
'He must've fought harder.' Hermione winced. "I apologize for my action." She lowered her head.
"Do not apologize. You're in a different place now." He tried to reach for her hand but she pulled them away.
"I apologize sir. It was a reflex." Hermione was unsure about what he wanted. She's survived a lot of things by giving what her master or mistress wanted.
"Look at me." Draco ordered.
Hermione forced herself to lift her head to look at him.
"You're safe now. No one here's going to harm you. You're free to say what's on your mind. No one's going to penalize you for it."
Hermione almost snorted.
Draco shook his head knowing she didn't believe him. He continued to eat. "Who was your last and for how long?"
"Lord Horris Bane." Saying his name left her mouth with a sour taste. "I've served him almost eight years."
Draco watched her body language and knew those eight years have been horrible for her. "Sorry, I had to ask. It's protocol. I don't want to be kept off-guard."
Hermione sat straight and still in her seat.
"I need to know these things. I need to know how to handle them if they come for you."
Hermione looked up, her eyes painted in fear.
Draco had to admit he had seen broken people before but her reaction was by far troubling. He noticed she never moved; she never touched her food or glass. If she could control gravity her hair probably won't fall to her face.
He had an idea on how to help her. He stood and walked to her side.
She mirrored his actions and stood up.
Draco turned her to look eyes with her. "I know you've been tortured but I don't know to what extent. Most of the witches and wizards here have been tortured and most of them I found with less years of servitude in comparison to your eight years."
"I do hope you can learn to trust me that I would never do you any harm. Also, it helps if you could share your stories if not with me then with somebody else in this Manor. I want you no, I need you back at your best."
Hermione was studying, unsure of the sincerity in his voice.
"You don't believe me do you?" Draco stepped back.
Hermione answered still thinking about his first rule, "No, sir."
Draco sighed.
He sat back in his chair. "You should eat before it gets cold." he ordered as he ate. 'Eight years under Bane and this is what's become of her. A Gryffindor striped off of her courage. She's no good this way.'
They ate in silence with an occasional comment about the food.
~~~
Hermione returned to her cell in the dungeon. She sat on her bed unsure what to do.
Her peace was disrupted with Alecia's bubbly presence. "How's your first meal with Draco?"
'She definitely belongs in his favored group.' She deduced in her mind. "It was okay."
"Did you like the food? Dean's our best chef here. He insisted on making your first meal."
"Dean Thomas?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"So you do know him." Alecia took note of this finding. "He wanted to say hi but I thought he just wanted to seduce the new girl." She teased.
"Is everyone here..." Hermione started but regretted so she stopped midsentence.
"Slaves? Yes. We were but technically still is." Alecia wondered whether she said too much. "You get a couple of weeks to rest and recuperate. After that you'll get your 'chores'." She used air quotes on the last word.
"Chores" Hermione thought, 'a nice word for forced labor.'
"Draco assigns things but the one chore we all have in common is to cook." She tried to explain.
"What kind of things?" Hermione wanted to know how to protect herself and survive these chores.
"It's different for everyone." Alecia noticed her interest and wanted to take advantage of it.
Before she found Hermione, Draco called for her and Dean.
"She needs all the help she can." Draco asked them both.
"Let me talk to her. Surely she'll let her previous housemate in her circle of trust." Dean suggested.
Draco almost agreed. "No. Alecia is great in helping another to open up to me."
"I won't disappoint." Alecia nodded her acceptance.
Dean snorted.
"You're up next if she fails." Draco promised.
"You know, it helps if you get close to Draco. He'll give you lighter chores." Alecia tried to convince her.
"You mean have sex with him?" Hermione asked seriously.
Alecia laughed. "I haven't gone that route yet."
Hermione was confused. 'How else can a slave become close to the master?'
Alecia noticed the slight change. "Honestly, you should try conversing with him. You can practice with me." She offered assistance.
"I am supposed to trust you?" Hermione frowned.
"I swear you can." She answered sincerely.
The couple of weeks went fast for Hermione. She rarely left her cell even when it was never locked. She's even skipped meals preferring the self-imposed isolation.
She did get frequent visits from Alecia but they rarely talked about anything but how to please Draco.
"You've kept silent all those years. It's time to speak your mind." Alecia insisted.
"That's starvation for a week and mental torture of being locked in a small room without a place to relieve yourself." Hermione didn't realize she said it out loud.
Alecia was sympathetic. "I was lucky. He found me five months into servitude." A flash of her tortured life appeared in her mind. "I can't imagine what you went through those eight years."
Hermione for once was comforted by the fact that she wasn't alone. She wouldn't wish the same fate to anyone but knowing that there are people who understood her plight was comforting her.
"So, time to earn your keep." Alecia shifted her tone to cheerful.
Hermione sighed. "So what do I do?" She noticed that Alecia was no longer wearing the snake cuff.
"Draco will talk to you after breakfast." She led Hermione out of her cell. "Remember what I said?"
Hermione nodded. "But isn't it too late to persuade him to give me a lighter chore?"
"You have a few minutes to make a better impression." She winked.
They were standing outside the dining hall when Dean, a tall and strong version in comparison to his Hogwarts years met them from outside. "Good morning ladies."
"Dean, can you set her to sit next to me?"
Dean rolled his eyes as he led them to their table. He smiled at a raven haired witch. "Do you mind moving to another table?"
She blushed as she followed his instrution.
"Show off." Alecia teased.
Hermione sat on the empty chair and examined the room. This is the first time she took a good look of the area. It was the first time she saw that there were tables set good for 20 people. She usually sat close to the door. Eat her meal in silence, kept to herself and then leave.
Now she wondered whether they were all slaves. Most of the people inside wearing the snake cuffs same as hers but a few walked freely without them, including Dean and Alecia.
"You want to make an impression right?" Dean asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes." Hermione answered.
Alecia seemed very proud that she's mingling.
"Take my seat." Dean flashed a smile filled with boyish charm. He pulled his chair for her.
Alecia disapproved, shaking her head. "Hermione, don't forget our talk."
Hermione accepted his offer and sat across Alecia. "I won't."
"There you go again." Dean sat next to Hermione. Dean was accustomed with Alecia's strategy to get new witches and wizards to talk to Draco.
"We use our strengths as you do with that stupid smile of yours." Alecia argued.
"It works, doesn't it?" He nudged Hermione.
"Flirting with you? What benefit does one get?" She asked .
Dean frowned.
Their small talk was disrupted with Draco's arrival. "Smells good. Who made breakfast?"
"John." Alecia answered with a smile.
"I'm famished. Did some cardio early this morning."
"Pacing in your room does not constitute a good cardio." Dean teased as he put eggs on his plate.
Draco snorted as he sat at the top of the table. On his left was Alecia and his right Hermione. "Good morning Hermione." He hoped for a response but didn't expect one.
"Good morning, sir." Hermione greeted back.
Dean touched her hand and mouthed, 'drop the sir.'
Hermione nodded.
Draco smiled at Alecia who returned the favor.
Draco took a bite of his omelet and chewed happily. "John, you're getting better every time." He called out his praise.
"Thanks!" The wizard stood beaming then bowed to a room clapping their approval.
"Wish we could say the same to you." Alecia mumbled loudly.
Draco arched an eyebrow. "I thought we agreed that it's the thought that counts."
"Have you even asked for Dean's help?" Alecia wanted to show Hermione that it was okay to say what's on their mind.
"I have!" Draco raised his voice.
"He's probably not a good mentor then." Alecia teased not startled with his outburst.
"Oi! I resent that." Dean frowned.
"I remember you were good with potions." Hermione cautiously joined the conversation.
"You remember correctly." Draco smugly replied.
"Then..." Hermione hesitated.
Alecia nodded, urging her to finish her statement.
"Then?" Draco asked.
She thought about rewording her statement. "From where the conversation's going, it seems like your potion making skills are not translating well to cooking."
Dean smirked. "Couldn't have said it better."
Draco was both glad she's trying to fit in yet he didn't like to admit his failure at cooking.
Alecia snickered. "Have you done any cooking Hermione?"
"Um no. I'd probably do worse than..." she paused unsure if it was okay to call his name. "Draco."
"Oh my. Two days of inedible food." Alecia teased. "I might not going to survive my chores."
"I could only imagine how tiring watching potions brew." Draco enjoyed this kind of banter.
"That's what I thought too." Dean joined in.
"You on the other hand could stand to lose some weight. Your smiles are getting smaller as your cheeks become fuller. You might not be able to do your chore of seducing witches."
Dean put on his most charming smile. "Maintaing this smile takes a lot of work." He teased.
"Speaking of chores, we need to discuss some items later." Draco directed this to Dean.
Alecia made faces as if taunting him about getting in trouble.
"Oh and Hermione, I think Alecia already mentioned about chores?" Draco sounded formal.
"Yes." Hermione replied.
"Join me for a walk when you're done eating?"
"I'm actually done." Hermione put her utensils down.
"Oh, I'm not." Draco winked at her.
Hermione blushed.
Alecia was glad Hermione improved from blank stares to joining casual conversations.
~~~
Draco left with Hermione while the rest cleared the tables.
Hermione was nervous at the same time excited about what her chore would be. Since breakfast she held on to the hope that like Alecia she could start practicing magic again.
Draco led her to a part of the manor she hasn't been to yet. Hermione memorized the portraits as they passed by. One in particular portrait she admired was that of a young boy, all dressed up and standing straight. He was so stiff that one could mistake it as an ordinary portrait.
"Do you like it?" Draco asked.
"You look very uncomfortable and forced." Hermione voiced her opinion.
"That's how I felt for most of my life." Draco admitted.
"It didn't seem like it when we were in Hogwarts." Hermione awkwardly stared in his eyes.
"I only realized it after Hogwarts." Draco sighed. "If only Potter survived that invasion in our 6th year.
Hermione bit her lower lip. "I was caught then and put into slavery the next day." That day was still clear in her mind. Her final act against the current ruler still sealed inside her brain. "Harry was just a boy, he didn't stand a chance."
"Well, we have to make do and try to live as normal a life as we could." He faced his portrait and stared at his eyes. "Ferret. Don't you dare laugh, Hermione."
Hermione tried not to smile.
The wall next to the portrait disappeared. Draco stepped inside. "Come in." He asked Hermione who was waiting for the invite.
The unassuming room was filled with books. Hermione turned around and her heart skipped a beat. 'Am I going to be able to do magic again?'
"Welcome to my library." Draco smiled, encouraged by the slight sparkle in her eyes.
Hermione started to walk towards a shelf in the far left corner but stopped unsure if she was allowed.
"Go ahead." Draco motioned her to go through his collection. "Mind you, the good books are hard to find. Everyone's trying to control who gets the information/knowledge and leave those who are in the resistance in the dark."
It was common knowledge that there was a resistance. However, no one knows who they were, how they meet, and when will they resurface. It seemed that they were all waiting for a sign to rise and fight.
"I understand." She touched the spines of the books accessible to her. "What am I supposed to be doing?" She found enough courage to ask him.
"Like I said before, this place is not the usual household. Alecia may have mentioned chores?" Draco asked.
"Yes, and in the dining room she said that she was brewing potions?"
"She's well versed in that area. She's the one who prepares the polyjuice and other useful potions."
"And Dean? I don't think he's just a chef?"
"He's chore is between us." Draco felt he needed her loyalty and trust before he can disclose everything.
"What about mine?" Hermione turned to face him.
"Just read." Draco shrugged.
"Am I allowed to perform magic?" Hermione tried to push her luck.
Draco sighed, "Under my supervision."
Hermione smiled slightly.
"That's an order by the way." Draco took out her egg.
"Understood," Hermione nodded.
"I can't risk my and everybody's safety right now." He tried to explain.
"Actually, I am a bit confused. Why are you doing this? Why are you collecting slaves?"
"In time," Draco promised an explanation when he can trust her.