Chapter IV: Feathers

A collective shiver ran through the house elves."Missus wants to see Mr. Malfoy?" Perpa's lip trembled when she uttered his name. "Why does Missus want to see him?"

"I need his help to—," Hermione paused. "I'm sorry but that is all I can tell you for now."

"We will help Miss Herm'ne! We are all at your disposal," Perpa bowed until her ears grazed the floor.

Looking around at the small, beaten house elves Hermione began to feel a small surge of hope. The moment was broken when heavy steps and bantering echoed down the hallway leading to the fruit bowl painting. The house elves' ears flattened against their heads in fear. In the excitement they had forgotten that it was close to dinner time and Rodolphus was to come by for Bellatrix's personal meal. The demented witch demanded to be served only the best for both her and her Lord.

Months of training and dueling pushed Hermione into action. Her eyes flit to an open pantry that was partially hidden in the corner of the kitchen.

"Don't mention my presence to anyone," she said as she closed the pantry door behind her.

The walls of the pantry seemed to close in around her and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead. If she were caught, a swift death would be the least probable outcome considering the Death Eater's knack for torture. In the dim light Hermione couldn't discern any possible hiding place; she was vulnerable and she knew it.

A small whimper and a thud followed quickly after the portrait was swung open. From the small gap between the door Hermione saw Rodolphus swagger into the kitchen. As he made his way across the kitchen he shouted, "Where is my wife's dinner?!" he continued pacing between the tables. "Has she not made it clear that any type of... shall we say, deficiency will be dealt with specifically by her?"

He ended his speech by taking a loud bite out of a green apple. Taking the plate from the trembling hands of a beaten house elf, the dark wizard pivoted on his heel and left. No one moved in the kitchen and Hermione slumped to the floor in joy. Thankfully he hadn't bothered in checking the pantry, and why should he have? She could only imagine him doing such a menial task. Picking herself up from the floor she slowly made her way out of the pantry and called Perpa over to her, "Does anybody else come here to the kitchens after dinner?"

"No, miss Hermione," she said. "He is the last one to come here and the only one that does."

The exhaustion from the day's tasks caught up to the bushy haired girl in an avalanche. There was nothing more she could bring herself to do for today. The pantry was no five star hotel but it would have to do for the night.

"Perpa, would you mind if I spent the night in the pantry?" Hermione asked the house elf. "I promise I will not be a nuisance."

Tears began to form in the house elf's huge eyes, "Oh how kind Miss Hermione is! It would be our honor to have you stay here."

After being given blankets, a pillow and hot chocolate Hermione quickly fell into a fitful sleep.


Splintered wood and shards of glass littered his private chambers and were the only proof that he was grieving. Draco's face was a mask and, besides aloofness, it did not betray the inner storm within him. His father had not been a loving man, on the contrary, Lucius Malfoy had been a bastard to both his wife and only son. Yet, how could one not mourn the loss of a father? Especially when it was one's own hand by which they were killed. For how ever long he lived Draco was sure that the look of surprise and betrayal in his father's eyes would always haunt him. He had tried to not become a monster like his father and here he was—the spitting image of Lucius. Lucius. Fucking. Malfoy.

With a grunt he tipped over his dark ebony desk and watched as parchment drifted to floor, light as feathers. It was only a name but in this world it defined who you were expected to be, and where your loyalties had to lie. Falling into his chair Draco tried to clear his mind. After killing Lucius, Voldemort had all but preened at the Malfoy heir.

"Finally, a Malfoy worthy to bear the Death Eater mark," casting a sneer towards Lucius' cold body Voldemort turned towards Draco. "You will do very well. Pureblooded, powerful and willing to do whatever it takes. Tell me, are you loyal to me, your lord?"

Still in shock from his first kill Draco did not respond.

"I will not repeat myself again. Are you loyal to me, Draco?" Voldemort dragged out his name as if tasting it on his tongue.

Survival instincts took over and he managed to respond with an affirmative, "Of course I am, my Lord. You have me at your service."

Shortly after that Voldemort left the Manor but promised to visit him soon. Draco walked towards his room, locked it, and proceeded to unleash his frustration on everything in his wake. His mother tried to force her way in and through sobs asked him to let her in. The Slytherin Prince was deaf to her pleas which only incensed him more. To think that she would care for a monster like him! He deserved none of her tears. This is where he was now, sulking in his chair. Narcissa had left hours ago, after screaming her throat raw at the locked door.

Looking around at the wreck he had made, Draco's eyes landed on an enchanted globe his father had given him for his 11th birthday. Inside it there was an enchanted replica of Hogwarts that changed to mimic the original castle. At the moment rain was crashing down on the miniature Hogwarts and its grounds. Tomorrow he would be returning to Hogwarts. Only one thought came to his mind: Bloody hell.


"Neville!"

A cumulative gasp followed after the lanky boy stumbled into the room. Except for his flimsy attempt at a smile, the rest of Neville's face was unrecognizable. Cuts and bruises covered the visible parts of his body and spots of blood were blossoming on his tattered robes. A guttural "Hi" was all his battered body was able to utter before he collapsed on to the floor.

Ginny was the first to run to him and soon all of the students were helping lift him on to a long table that now served as a medical ward. Pulling her hair into a bun, Ginny sprang into action, "Hannah, go into the bureau and bring me some blood-replenishing potion," Ginny began to wash away the dried blood on his face. The white towel she was using was soon unrecognizable with the color of rust. Lost in her task Ginny didn't notice Neville's eyes flutter open. Drawing in ragged breaths, Neville captured Ginny's wrist in his hand, "Let me go, you bastards!"

The towel fell from Ginny's hand as she searched her fellow Gryffindor's eyes. The once deep pools of brown now were a blank slate. His eyes frantically wandered around the room without recognizing anything. Understanding washed over the ginger. Neville had been tortured beyond recognition. Ginny's voice shook, "Hannah. Knock him out."

"Why would you want that? Can't you see he has been hurt enough?"

"And he is hurting right now!" Her scream echoed in the room. "He doesn't know where he is, Hannah. They have destroyed his mind and now we have no way of bringing him back." Locking eyes with the blond, Ginny grabbed her wand, "Keeping him awake would only cause him more pain. And as his friend, would you want that?"

Shaking her head in a negative, Hannah backed away. Moments like these were not uncommon and when there was peace no one could help but feel on edge. Neville was by far one of the most outspoken against the Death Eaters that now roamed the halls. Some called it bravery, others stupidity. As for herself Hannah didn't know what to think. What did it matter if one was stupid or brave when in the end the result was the same? No longer did anybody gasp or shudder at the view of an unconscious body covered in blood.

Ginny sheathed her wand, "Dean and Seamus, please carry Neville over to a spare bed. Be careful not to move him too much. He has two broken ribs and the batch of Skele-Gro isn't ready yet."

No. Fighting back wasn't of any use. They would just break you the more for it.


A/N:

Sorry for the late update, life has been kind of hectic. Anyways, thanks to all who have read so far! It means a lot, really. Don't forget to review!