So sorry for not posting in two months! I guess I was a tad bit worried about how it would turn out seeing as I'm not that brilliant of a writer, so it took me a while to convince myself that I could do it! I still don't understand the beta system etc. so if you see any errors please let me know so I can fix them! I hope this was worth the wait, see you at the bottom :)
Despite the disgust she felt thinking about the people she was being held captive by; Hermione couldn't help but be amazed by the Manor. For a house so dark and uninviting from the outside, it managed to radiate an elegant and almost welcoming aura, once one ventured into the private wings. But Hermione would not be lulled into a false sense of security. After training under Auror Moody for a year before his death, constant vigilance became a phrase she lived by, especially when dealing with prejudiced bastards such as the Malfoys.
The duo turned left, Draco's quarters at the end of the grand hallway. Hermione limped quickly behind Draco as he strode with purpose, almost looking as though he wanted to run far away from the 'filthy Mudblood'. He whipped out his wand, and with a pompous flourish, the doors to his chambers were opened, and he pushed Hermione in, not caring about the immense pain she was in.
"You're a fucking prat you know. How many more Mudbloods have you had to dirty yourself with? To think only three years ago you would have run screaming if anyone asked you to even talk to someone of filthy blood like me. But look at you, doing as a hypocritical snake wishes. Daddy would be so proud." Hermione spat sarcastically, taking pleasure in the irritation growing steadily on his pale face. She would be punished for it, but if she had to survive in the hell hole called Malfoy Manor for however long she was required, she would do as she wished.
"I would keep my mouth shut if I were you, Granger," he drawled in a sickeningly sweet voice, "you will not be warned again." With a tone of finality in his voice, he summoned the Morning Prophet and laid it at her feet.
"Set it out as you would like, it's where you'll be sleeping, if at all." He said with a sadistic grin, before leaving his chambers and locking the doors behind him. Left alone in the confinement of the bland bedchamber, Hermione took to walking around, inspecting everything, and looking through his drawers etc.
In the deep oak cabinet to the left of his bed, he stored his abundant supply of formal wear, ranging from his debonair suits to his tasteful robes. On the right of his bed, he stored his Quidditch gear. Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she remember the shed in the Burrow's garden, overflowing with the Weasley kids' Quidditch items, and the weekly games they hosted, inviting friends from Hogwarts and the Ministry. But that was before the Wizarding World was corrupted, and long before Harry Potter died.
Quickly wiping her tears and moving on, she limped over to his work desk, wincing every few seconds if the pain was getting unbearable. She rummaged through his drawers, making sure to place everything in the exact position she found it in before moving on to the next one. It was the middle right drawer, in which she found her salvation. A spare wand lay on top of Hogwarts: A History. It was obviously kept there so in the event of a raid, Draco would have a way out, and now that Hermione found it, she could use it for her own escape.
She desperately waved her wand arm in the motion required for apparation, but to her utter dismay, nothing happened. A quick scan revealed that incredibly powerful ward were in place, and it could take her weeks to break them all. Rather than dwelling what could have been, she made a quick decision. If she was being forced to stay in Draco's care, she would not stay in pain. Muttering some complicated healing spells ensured her wounds would not reopen, and were disinfected. She also healed many bruises and blemishes on her skin before she started feeling dizzy. It was only then that she realized too many healing spells on an extremely wounded body would make one dizzy to the state of unconsciousness. Figuring she had only a minute or so before she passed out, she quickly returned the wand to the drawer in which she found it, and taking a few lethargic steps, she led herself to Draco's bed, and collapsed on top. She fell asleep almost instantly, engulfed in the softness of the rich bed.
"Come in, Son," Lucius Malfoy drawled, seeing Draco standing at his study door, "how is that Granger girl?"
"She is fine father, too weak from Yaxley's Cruciatus to retaliate to anything." Draco reported. Lucius nodded solemnly before beckoning Draco to take a seat, so they could discuss their plan.
When Draco returned to his chambers three hours later, having had dinner and now in the mood for a peaceful sleep, he discovered Hermione sleeping on his bed, appearing to have collapsed on it, rather than tucking herself in. He stared at her for a moment, taking in the light brown streaks in her curly, chestnut hair, the soft appearance of her lips, even after enduring torture, and the innocent appearance on her face. Hermione Granger didn't look like a nineteen year old woman fighting in a war, she looked like an eleven year old boarding her train to Hogwarts for the first time ever, completely unaware of the dangers she would face in years to come.
Shaking himself out of his slight trance, he judged his few options. He could just push her off the bed and face whatever threat she would pose, or he could sleep in the adjoining room. After contemplating for a moment, he decided against both ideas and instead levitated Hermione's limp body into the bed, underneath the duvet, and joined her. Keeping a metres distance and facing away from her, he slipped into his dreamland, far away from the damnation the Wizarding War brought.
A shrill shriek and a loud thump echoed across the large room as Draco startled to consciousness.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!?" Draco shouted in exasperation at being woken up far too early for his liking.
"You- I- One bed- explain yourself!" Hermione screeched. Draco sighed before glaring at her.
"Consider yourself lucky Mudblood, this was a one-time thing, and if I ever see you near my bed again, I might take Greyback up on his offer." Draco spat before calling for a house-elf and leaving his chambers. Hermione gave a shiver of disgust as memories flashed through her mind.
"She has a good body for a filthy Mudblood."
"We can share, can't we, my dear boy?"
"Can Pipsy serve you Miss?" a child-like voice broke through her montage of flashbacks, and she looked down at the frail house-elf. Hermione was about to refuse before she noticed a shocking fact. Pipsy was wearing a dress. A proper dress that a child in the Wizarding World would wear.
"Pipsy, what do you get for working at the Manor?" Hermione enquired politely.
"Misses Cissy buys Pipsy pretty dresses, Pipsy likes dresses. The other elves get whatever they want too!" Pipsy said excitedly. Hermione gave a small smile before asking for a small breakfast. At exactly eleven am, when she had washed up and changed into clothing Pipsy had laid out for her, another house-elf, by the name of Willa, told her 'The Lord' required her presence.
Hermione made her way down the grand staircase and was just about to walk into the drawing room when she heard a soft hissing behind her. She turned around slowly before freezing with shock.
"Good morning Mudblood, I presume Draco has told you today is… shall we say 'breaking in' day?" the figure hissed before stepping into the light with a sinful grin on his face.
Wow okay I hope that was satisfactory, I'm personally dreading the next chapter because of sensitive issues and this is all very new to me c: sorry if it's still a bit short but the chapter is around 200 words longer than the last, so I am trying to work on it :) as my first fic, I won't be shocked if it's shorter than my intention, but we'll just see how it goes.
Please leave some reviews below if you liked it, or even if you hated it (just let me know why)
Mrs Zabini x