Chapter 1: An unexpected house guest

I don't own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. If I did I wouldn't be needing loans to go to University. As a university student I will write as I can but my classes are the first priority, then work so I can eat and pay bills and then things that make me happy.

So this takes place after DH. I don't know how Cannon it will be so we will see. I am not a big fan of Ron as a person or Harry/Ginny ships. I have always gravitated to Harry/Hermione ship. This won't be a Ron or Ginny bashing story, okay maybe Ron won't be cast in a great light but nothing to horrible. I think Ginny is an important person in the HP universe. Yes this is a slave fic. I kind of know where it will end but not how it gets there.

"So what do we do now?"

"I don't know Bill. She looks like she's about to keel over so I suggest we show her to the guest room and let her sleep."

Bill turned and look at the woman that was determinedly staring out the window at the sunset lit sea. The clothing was an odd mismatch of ill-fitting garments that looked like they had been thrown at her and the person responsible had called it good. The cloak was a plain gray summer one that was nearly worn through at the shoulders and that hem was well worn. The dress underneath was equally worn and the original color was unknown as it was now splotchy gray and brown. Her obsidian hair was better cut then when Bill had seen her first this afternoon. Even with its shortened length it still gave her a regal quality that he would expect of any Slytherin.

"I just be upstairs if you need me. I want to talk to Harry and Hermione then maybe my parents and see if they have any thoughts on the subject of what we are to do."

Sighing he looked at Fleur as she started out of the room. He wished that he had a time turner and could go back to this morning and warn himself not to answer the Burrow fire call. Well no use putting it off he couldn't very well leave the woman in the living room with no answers or directions. Bill started out of the dining room and over to the woman that had unexpectedly arrived.

He really wanted to sleep and not think about this unexpected addition to the household. Somedays it really sucked to be oldest child and future head of house. Why couldn't she have stayed with mum and dad? Why did Ron have to still live at home? It really wat that last point that irked him. If Ron hadn't lived at home she could have stayed there and then he wouldn't have to be having this conversation or "house guest".

Walking up he carefully watched her. For one moment he was glad the she didn't have her wand then he remembered for the 50th time that day that its absence only reinforced the nature of her rather vulnerable position. Bloody ministry making life literally impossible because they couldn't wait to pander to the victorious Light and Harry. She was a powerful woman and also hurt mentally and physically.

"Daphne?"

His husky words caused her to twitch and then coil in even further for just a moment. But then it was gone and in its place was an ice queen. Someone like that was someone to watch if only to save your own skin. The ice queen turned and lowered her head just enough to give the illusion of respect but they both knew that it was a sham.

"Yes Master?" Her voice had taken on the correct tone but she was unbending in body.

"Fleur and I are guessing that you are tired and we really need a moment, okay a night to try and process what has happened today. So if you will just follow me I will take you to where you will be staying okay?"

"Your wish is a literal commanded Master. I will of course follow it."

Bill winced internally while keeping the calm demeanor that he in no way felt inside. The two walked out of the living room and turned right in the hall that separated the dining room from the living room to mount the stairs. At the top he turned left and took her into the guest bedroom that Fleur had made up for her. They had removed everything sharp and spelled the rest so that she couldn't hurt herself. Bill felt guilty about it but he was worried that with all the current trauma she would decide to end her life tonight at the first chance. He wanted to keep her alive and hopefully give her a place to heal. Besides he didn't want to explain to Dowager Greengrass or Astoria how their daughter/sister had come to be dead or injured within one day of arriving in his care.

She looked at him and then asked, "What about my wand?"

Bill looked morose as he spoke, "I am sorry but at least for now you will have to go without it. I promise that you will be safe here and that you will be left in peace. I know you really don't know me and have no particular reason to trust me or Flure but I will say that you are safe. We can talk more when it is light out but right now I want you to rest and she and I need time to work this all out."

With that he turned to leave. Daphne's face melted into a scowl of rage and anger. She started to lean forward to take a step and get back her wand then she snapped back to reality. Her life, at least for the moment, depended on her controlling her temper. So by the time Bill could get to the door she already had herself back under control.

"Ho I forgot to tell you there are some clothes in the chest and some basic toiletries in the washroom. I hope you rest well."

"I hope you rest well" the lunacy of that statement was an unfunny joke of the highest order. With him gone she was alone in an unfamiliar room in an unfamiliar house in God knows where part of the country. Daphne finally gave into tears.

Across the small landing Bill firmly shut the door and leaned heavily against it. His heart was pounding and he felt even more ragged and yet he and Fleur still had to hash out exactly what they were going to do. Fleur was deep in conversation with someone on the other end of the floo connection. They had installed a small fire place partway up the wall so you didn't have to get down on your knees and put a crick in your neck while talking. It had been something that she had introduced him to. Why more people in Britian didn't have this little fire was beyond him. It really was nice to not put that crick in your neck.

There was no hurry so Bill walked over to the wingback chair and sat waiting for Fleur to finish. He didn't have to wait long as a minute later she pulled her head out and turned to look at him. Brushing a little soot from her hair she sat on the bed opposite him.

"That was Harry and Hermione that I just spoke with. They are aright but have even more on their plate then we do."

"Who got landed with them?"

"They got two people."

"What" Bill choked out. "You have to be kidding. Please tell me this is some sort of really bad joke. Who?"

"No joke and it is Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy."

Fleur looked sad but there was some small comfort in the fact that Draco had a known location after weeks of uncertainty. But the question that was on both their minds was how to handle Daphne and Draco and this complicating problem of them being slaves.

"Have they talked to them yet?" Bill asked

"Not yet. I actually interrupted them on the way to that conversation. I expect that they will tell Draco if only to put him out of some misery and help him be at peace."

"I vote we don't tell Daphne tonight. After all nothing is going to be done tonight and we will all be going to the ministry in the next few days so I am sure we can tell her after the press dies down a little."

Fleur agreed that there was nothing to be done tonight and that the next few days were going to be heard enough. They would wait till things calmed and then they would mention Draco. She was tired and so the two of them changed without preamble but neither could fully relax to the point of sleeping. So they sat up reading late into the night. Bill stayed on the bed while Fleur moved to the chair.

And hour later the mirror chimed and Bill glanced at Fleur with surprise.