You guys bring a happy tear to my eyes. I checked my email to find I had two pages worth of story alerts and favorites ;)
I posted a link on my profile that is what I imagine Draco's room to look like. Just take away the plant in the corner, imagine the sequence on the walls and everywhere else isn't there, and board up the windows. Also, the models I thought resembled Draco and Hermione for this story are on my profile as well.
Also, please drop by my exquisite beta, TrashedXandXScattered, and read the wonderful stories she's written!
Anyway, here's the third chapter :)
Chapter Three
After half an hour of soaking, I decided my skin had more wrinkles than a prune. Water dripped off of my body as I pushed myself out of the tub. The faint slap of wet feet hitting against the tile echoed in the room as I walked over to the sink. As I grabbed a towel to wrap around myself, I realized that the house elf had already taken my nightgown and replaced it with one of the tee shirts and a pair of jeans. I found a blow dryer and spent the next twenty minutes drying off my underwear. Another thing I needed to ask Malfoy… What was up with all the muggle technology? First the lighting, and now a blow dryer? I didn't think he had taken a Muggle Studies course in Hogwarts, and I seriously doubted he hired muggle workers to set up electric wiring and a power system. Once I deemed myself as decent, I tried to open the bathroom door. To my surprise, it was unlocked. Curiosity took over and compelled me to explore his room.
His room seemed to be composed of only two colors: deep violet and black. I meandered over to his bed and sat down gingerly. The bedspread felt as if it was made from the finest silk, and to my tired body the bed seemed like a miniature heaven. I laid down and propped my head up with my hands. Gazing around, I saw that Draco had a small couch, cushioned chair, dresser, and bed table. Above the dresser was a mirror. I knew that I probably looked like I had just been through a horror show, so I resisted the impulse to stare into my reflection. I yawned, feeling drained from my earlier crying spree. Shaking the sleep away, I then studied the four photo frames above the bed. Oddly enough, they were empty. Malfoy couldn't have forgotten them; they were hanging above his head for goodness sake. As I let my brain come up with different ideas, I couldn't help but lay down completely. My eyes felt heavy with exhaustion, and I reasoned that a little nap wouldn't hurt. Draco hadn't come to fetch me yet, and I'd fix the bed when I got up. No harm, no foul, right? With this last reassurance to myself, I slithered under the covers and fell fast asleep.
When I finally woke up again, I felt relaxed and refreshed. Not bothering to open my eyes yet, I stretched my arms up in the air and rolled over onto my right side. I lightly collided with something hard, yet soft at the same time. I carelessly flung my left leg and arm over it, and decided to rest just a tiny bit longer. I heard a dark chuckle that sounded suspiciously like a man. Opening my eyes slowly, I was overcome with a sense of dread as I realized that I was cuddling with Draco Malfoy, Slimy Git Extraordinaire. Pushing me onto my back, he rolled on top of me.
"Have a nice nap?"
I didn't like the sadistic gleam in his eyes. He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand and cupped my cheek with the other. Leaning down, his breath lightly hit my ear as he whispered.
"Did I not make it clear to you that you weren't allowed to touch anything? Have I been too kind to you? Are you really that stupid to think I couldn't hurt you? Newsflash: I. Am. A. Vampire."
He emphasized his statement by smirking at me. His razor sharp fangs glimmered in the dim light.
"Bloodsucker. Leech. I am lethal. I am not the Malfoy you knew, or rather, the one you thought you knew. Vampirism has changed me, Granger. I have no problems with brutally maiming you. However, I thought that you would appreciate being treated somewhat civilly. All I ask of you is to follow my orders and allow me to drink your blood. Besides, I thought you would recognize that you are far better off staying with me than being caught by the Dark Lord. Do you realize what he does to Muggleborns, Half-bloods, and Blood Traitors? He rapes, tortures, humiliates, and scars them beyond recognition. He throws parties with different 'fun stations' where you can rent a room and a Muggleborn for an hour. During that time, the Purebloods are allowed to do whatever they wish to them. If they are at death's door, they are given a revival potion. Do you want me to treat you that way?"
I shook my head. He sighed and leaned back slightly, looking satisfied with my answer.
"Now, since you have broken one of my rules- even though it was petty- you must pay the price. I will lock you up in the room I provided for you for the rest of the day. You will submit to me fully as I drink from you. Do you understand?"
I spat in his eye. Hissing in pain, he sat up and let go of my wrists to cover his eye. I took the opportunity to knee him, with all the strength I could muster, in the groin. He howled out many expletives, but I didn't care. I didn't look back as I burst out of his room and ran like Voldemort himself was chasing me. Dashing down the hallway, I came to a screeching halt when I reached the staircase. I jumped on the railing and started to slide on my stomach. My belly burned from the friction as my shirt was lifted up, and I winced. That was going to leave a bruise later. Glorious adrenaline kicked in when my feet touched the floor, and I started to run again. Not knowing where the exit was, I flew towards the kitchen. My senses were overloaded. I could practically see, feel, touch, taste, and hear my demise as I searched frantically for an unlocked door or an open window. A blood-curdling roar resounded throughout the house.
"HERMIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOONNNNEEE!"
With my heart pounding in my ears, I raced out of the kitchen and turned left; I had seen two other doors near the staircase. Throwing my weight against the door on the right, I plowed through and slammed it behind me. Gasping for air, I took a millisecond to admire what appeared to be a library. I quickly snapped out of it, promising myself to appreciate the room when I found a proper hiding spot. Not wanting Draco to know where I was hiding, I went against my instincts which told me to bar the door. If he found the door gave him any resistance, he would know I was somewhere in here. I bolted down a row of bookshelves that went straight to the back of the room. I was in luck. In the very back of the library, there was a fireplace with a rug in front of it. At an angle around the fireplace, there was a rocking chair, a couch, and a recliner. The couch was far enough off the ground so that I could squeeze underneath it, and it had a piece of fabric that hung from the bottom of the couch to the floor. Wiggling to get under the couch, I thanked Merlin that I was thin all around. I had just made it under the furniture when the door opened with a loud BANG. The hairs on my body raised; I could sense he was coming closer.
"Oh Hermione," he purred, "you can run, but you cannot hide from me for long."
I held my breath, praying that he couldn't hear me.
"Come out, come out wherever you are, Love."
I closed my eyes, praying that he couldn't see me.
"You're only succeeding in making me want you more. Why don't you come out and end this little game?"
I stayed frozen, praying he couldn't feel me near.
CRASH! The rocking chair hit the wall hard.
BOOM! The recliner was tossed to the side.
Creak. Like in some cliche horror film, I could hear his footsteps approaching. Then…
Silence.
"Will you come to me willingly, my love, or will I have to drag you out?" he whispered maniacally.
He waited for some sort of response. I gave none. Once again, silence overwhelmed everything.
After what seemed like hours, I figured he had left. Ever so slowly, I turned my head to my left. There was no shadow indicating that a foot was near. Hope started to trickle back into me. Maybe he had given up and left, thinking that I truly wasn't in here. Perhaps he figured I wanted some time alone… I scoffed at myself. That was highly improbable. There was no way Malfoy would leave without getting what he wanted. However, hope does many things to a person. Hope can bring confidence and joy. Hope can give you clarity in even the darkest of times. With hope, you can thrive even in despair. It was hope that told me to squirm out from underneath the couch.
It was hope that gave me back to my enemy.
As soon as I stood up, two steel-like arms clamped around me. I gasped in both pain and shock as I could feel his uneven breath hit my ear, sending shivers down my spine. His lips softly brushed from the top of my right ear to the pulse point on my neck, lingering there for a while before sliding back up.
"Caught you, love."
I let out a terrified shriek as he tossed me up into the air, only to catch me bridal-style in his arms. I looked into his eyes and had to stifle a gasp. His eyes, normally a blue-grey, were now bright red. He looked carnal, as if he were a time bomb that could explode any second. He barred his fangs, and I started to writhe against him, trying to push him as far away as I could with my hands. He merely leered at me, his horrific evil smile exposing more of his pearly whites than needed. I froze, and his wicked expression grew even darker as he realized that I was no longer struggling. Within seconds, we were back up in his room, on his bed, his teeth sunk deeply in my neck.
I wailed in agony and started furiously raking his back with my nails. The pain was infectious. At first, just my neck was on fire, but then it started spreading to my head, shoulders, chest, and the rest of my body. I felt as if I were back in the Salem witch trials, being burned at the stake, except that, unlike those witches, I had a chance to survive. If I stopped fighting him, Draco wouldn't be cruel. Draco would let me live. All I had to do was give up. Just let him do whatever he pleased with me. I didn't have time to contemplate my actions, for I could feel the pain starting to lessen. I looked at the blonde vampire with my eyes, and saw him lick the wound on my neck. It instantly healed. He gazed up at me, and I drew in a quick breath between my teeth. His eyes were still bright red. He held himself up on his forearms, but kept the length of his body pressed against mine. I watched his tongue dart out to lick his lips, catching any blood that was left on them. Slowly, he leaned down until his lips were barely a half-centimeter from mine.
"You're mine, my love. I know it. I've known it from the moment I was turned. Tell me that I'm yours as well."
His eyes were searching and pleading at the same time. I didn't know what to say. What would you say if your enemy called you their 'love' and told you that you were theirs? I decided the best course of action would be to act as I normally do with him.
"Whatever, Ferret. I know that little trick probably worked for your other girls, but I am not one of them. Get off me this instant, you vile worm!"
I realized my mistake once his eyes turned black. It was as if someone reached inside his brain and flipped the switch from Vampire-Human hybrid to Animal.
"Mate. Will. Submit. NOW!" he snarled in my face.
Grabbing the back of my neck, he crushed our lips together. I pushed against him, but he merely growled and pinned my arms above my head with one hand. He dropped his full weight on me, and I whimpered in fright. He took that opportunity to slide his tongue inside my mouth. I pushed my head desperately against his hand, but his own head followed my descent. He eagerly explored my mouth, tasting each part of me. I cried out in frustration. He answered by grinding his pelvis against mine. His overpowering scent and taste of spearmint and citrus alone was coaxing me into being submissive. His sweet, soft tongue was enticing my own to come and play a part in my own seduction. There was only one thing I could do.
I bit down on his tongue. Hard.
Yelping, he quickly disconnected our lips. His onyx eyes glared at me, but the effect was ruined when his bottom lip trembled. Bit by bit he started to break down. His arms were wobbling, his nose taking in ragged breaths, his lips in a trembling pout.
His eyes were the last to go.
As the cold fury left his eyes, I was left staring into the depths of a crying man. His eyes were still as black as night, but they were filled to the brim with tears. He sunk his head down on my chest and started sobbing. His pitiful sounds of distress were pulling at my heartstrings, and I was filled with the sudden urge to comfort this man.
Memories of just a few moments ago flashed through my head and quickly steeled my heart.
He gripped my shirt in his hands and let out a gut-wrenching moan of sheer pain, as if he were being slowly chopped to death by a blunt knife, or as if his soul were being shattered.
"Why? Why don't you love me as I love you? Why won't you be mine? Why do you run away from me? You're my mate! My eternal partner! We were meant for each other! WHY?"
Then he just stopped everything. Stopped moving, breathing, crying, wailing... I looked down at the top of his head and heard him mutter.
"You hate me."
His eyes met mine in a flash as he murmured darkly, "You could never learn to love me."
Pain flickered through his gaze. "You want me dead."
Almost as if I had imagined the whole thing, his eyes were back to their original blue-grey. He immediately leapt off the bed and looked at me with disgust.
"Get up."
I wanted- no- needed to know what was going on. "Draco-"
"I said get up."
Sighing, I got off the bed. "Draco, what did yo-"
"Follow me."
I did as he asked and followed him out of his room. He walked briskly past the staircase to the opposite end of the hall. Opening the door at the very end, he shoved me into the room he had given me.
"Draco, liste-"
He interrupted me yet again in clipped tones. "I will bring breakfast to you in the morning. You will stay here for the duration of your life. I will take you out once a day to shower and go to the bathroom. You are not allowed to speak under any circumstances. That is all."
He left the room and locked the door.
I curled up on my bed and cried myself to sleep.
The rest of the week consisted of the same thing every day. I'd wake up to find breakfast on my desk. I'd then write an entry in my makeshift diary. By the time I had let out all my stress and anxiety, he'd be back with lunch. After lunch, I'd get to go to the bathroom and take a shower. Once I was back in my room with the door locked, I would imagine Ron was here with me until Draco would come with dinner. He would let me use the bathroom one last time, then I would let him take my blood before going to sleep. Wake up the next day, and repeat everything over again. At first I had rebelled the cycle. I would bug Draco into talking with me, which always ended up in a skipped meal. I would resist going back to my room, which would result in me not being able to use the bathroom at all the next day. Instead of taking blood from me every other day, like he said he would, he took it every day. I quickly found out why. I was always slightly fatigued the next day, and it made me not want to talk. Draco seemed to want to avoid me like the plague. He would never look me in the eye. In fact, he wouldn't look at me at all. He always referred to me as 'the human'. When he brought me food, he would say something like, "Here's food for the human" and nothing more. It made me angry and sad at the same time. Angry for degrading me to something as primal as my species, but sad that I would never see anyone else but him. He was the only person I'd see for possibly the rest of my life, and yet he hardly communicated with me. I'd rather deal with his snide, stuck up remarks than this. We were both suffering on the inside, I could tell, but I could do nothing to help...
Until late one evening, exactly one week from the night he first captured me.
AN: From here on out, each chapter will have more content and length. I had to establish this much before I could get to the good part. :)
