Author Notes: Happy New Year, friends! Well, I hope this is an excellent start to the new year. I hope you're all enjoying it and will keep interested.
James was scratching his head at the voluminous amount of books sitting on Remus's desk. Lily was leaning over the werewolf as they read together and he scribbled different passages down he thought he might need. Since Sirius and Remus got back from outside the Malfoy estate, they've been odd. Whatever the stranger's appearance was, it was devastating for the two of them.
"Remus, this isn't going to be an easy task," Lily sighed with a pout.
The werewolf reached up and patted her shoulder. "I know, but we have no choice. She needs us, Lils."
"Yeah, and Lucius is lucky I don't still a broomstick far up his tight ass. How fucking dare him let his father touch her like that," Sirius growled and tossed the book he was reading on the floor.
"Calm down, mate," James huffed as he fixed his glasses.
"No, this is fucking ridiculous! This poor witch has been passed around like a party favor! The only thing saving her from a cock ride is her cover story. That and their leader threatened death I'm sure," Sirius shouted as he stood up. "We need to save her. The small scribble of a letter she left us was so heartbreaking. 'I missed smiling, thank you,' is not something a sweet witch should have to write," he finished as his face filled with color.
Lily cringed and pressed her chin to Remus's shoulder. "Is there any way to get rid of it, Remus?" she whispered with worry in her tone.
Remus exhaled slowly and nodded. "There is one way, but it's not going to be sound. It's horribly dangerous, and it could kill her. I'm looking to see if there's another way. Albus promised to write back to me of any knowledge he had on dark objects of the likeness."
Lily pulled away and ran her fingers over Remus's shoulder before waving at Sirius. "Come here; you need a hug around the neck," she sighed at the flustered animagus.
Sirius groaned but grabbed the redhead in a big embrace. "Lils, we are at ends with this. She's in pain, and we can't save her right now," he mumbled.
She made calming sounds and hugged him. "I know, Sirius, but getting upset won't help her. We need to take a deep breath and figure it out. I know you feel indebted to her."
"We are, she saved us from that fucking raid. I don't know how they knew," Sirius whispered and tucked his chin to her shoulder. "I just want to know why she's so important to them."
"Well, let's find out how to get her free first," James said finally with a nod.
The older man was smirking as he watched, the younger witch in the garden. Over the past week, he had found it most intriguing that she was so submissive. No pureblood and certainly his late wife were nothing of the sort. Was it the collar or her fear of worse punishment? He liked the concept of either.
Hermione's latest humiliation was being forced to dote and lavish the man old enough to be her father in loving gestures. The horrible part was that if he weren't so insulting to her, she wouldn't have objected so severely; it most certainly beat out being at the Carrows or with Lucius.
Abraxas was withered with some ailment she dared not ask about, but he did not strike at her as long as she obeyed. His fascination with her more delicate regions was distracting. Often she would face his probish ways after bathing. He found other means to torment and torture her than beatings and sucking knobs. His amusement was purely about making her beg him to stop as he tutted and scolded her for not being good.
He enjoyed having a pet. That's what she was, his little pet. The wizard would have her eat her dinner at a smaller table next to him, sit on a pillow next to his feet and even be locked up in her little room at night.
Today was no exception. He wanted her to pick flowers nude before going and cleaning up for his guests. He was having over a few pureblood friends, and he demanded her to be ready to serve them however he requested. Abraxas watched her maneuver in the garden in the cold air, finding different flowers and placing them in a basket.
"Come along, my little bunny. We must clean up," he ordered, and she gripped the basket before walking up to him. "Look at your hair. I thought I told you to straighten it," he growled, gripping the mess in his hand.
"I'm sorry, it won't go any straighter, sir," Hermione whimpered with a grimace at his force.
"Now, what do we do?" he inquired, releasing the locks.
Hermione's lips pursed and she leaned to the older man, kissing his cheek. "I'm sorry, sir," she murmured.
Abraxas smirked and tugged her closer, touching her chilled chest. "I have a friend you will like tonight. He enjoys finer cuisine usually, but I promised him you were still tight," he snickered, and the witch gulped before nodding.
He released her and hemmed before gripping his cane and walking inside. "Don't worry; he isn't like a Carrow for Salazar's sake. From what I hear from a few witches, he is still quite generous if you are."
Great another party… "Of course," Hermione murmured as she followed him.
"Abraxas!" A booming voice announced as stomping was heard on the stone floor.
Hermione hid behind the older man as Evan Rosier came barreling toward them. "Ah, Rosier, why aren't you out doing the work of men?" Abraxas declared, hitting the tip of his cane on the floor.
"You cannot just decide to ignore a summon to speak if you're housing the object in question," Evan growled and tilted enough to see Hermione cowering behind him.
"I can and I will. I don't have the energy to pop in and out as easily as everyone else and refuse to leave my home," Abraxas said with a nod. Rosier reached for the naked witch and Abraxas smacked his arm with his cane. "Boy, don't mistake my illness for weakness. She's under my care and by all rights is my charge. You want to take her; you need my son's permission."
Hermione held herself closer to the older man and hid her face in her hair. Rosier was beyond livid at the reactions of his arrival. "Mark my words, Malfoy, she won't stay here."
"Get the fuck out, boy," Abraxas ordered as he waved his hand.
Rosier stomped out of the grand entrance hall, slamming the door roughly. Hermione still clutched onto the man and fought shivering. The man turned enough to take her chin between his fingers and clicked his tongue on his teeth. "Little mudblood, you're so gentle. How did you ever make it in your time?"
Hermione stared at him through her eyelashes. "May I please go bathe?"
He smirked and touched her green collar. "You're so much smarter than my son gives you credit for. You know you have so much power without wielding magic. I imagine you believe as long as you bat those pretty eyes at me that you can escape this unscathed. That's alright; I am far too old to play politics with them. Just as long as you be a good girl, I'll keep those greedy snakes away."
"And you're not a greedy snake, sir?" she asked and bit her lip; she let her tongue go away with her.
His laugh was thick before jerking her closer with a violent tug. "Snake I may be but greedy I am not. Now, on your knees, girl," he hissed, tapping her side with his cane.
Hermione hated this game. Even worse since she was cold and nude. She climbed on the ground and sat down on her calves, staring up at him. Abraxas smirked and stroked her cheek with the top of his cane. It trailed down her, and the snake head on the edge of it ran between her legs. Her eyes shut as the teeth hooked against her sensitive flesh.
"You're my charge, mudblood," he murmured, and all she could do was nod as her face contorted. "Good, now hop along, Bunny. Get clean and wait for me in my room."
Hermione waited for him to pull his tool away from her before nearly sprinting away. Abraxas grinned to himself and whistled as he enjoyed the small cringe-worthy moments for his little bunny. He would be sorry to see her leave this week to go back to his son. That thought made him hammer his cane down on the stone a bit rough as he walked toward the stairs.
The witch stirred and felt small hands on her shoulder. "Miss," a low voice breathed.
Hermione jerked and glanced over. "Zangy?"
The small house elf bobbed its head and pressed a finger to her lip. "Master doesn't need to know that Zangy is here. Someone is waiting for Miss outside to save poor Miss. Master is sending Miss back to Malfoy Manor, and Zangy doesn't want Miss hurt anymore," his delicate voice shuddered in a light breath.
"Who's here?" Hermione murmured, now wide away.
"A dog and a wizard with a long beard ask Zangy to go get Miss," Zangy whispered with a nod. "Come, Miss," he insisted and tugged at her hand.
Hermione pulled her sore body from the bed and followed the elf to the door. Zangy snapped his fingers, and they blinked into existence on the other side of it. The house elf was nearly dragging the witch down from the top floor and skipping stairs as they fled.
It was dark and menacing as they sprinted to the back door. What if they were caught? What if it was a trap? Hermione missed someone in moments like this but wasn't sure who. The odd pair got into the garden, and the house elf pointed toward the fence. It peeled apart, and Hermione saw them just beyond the border. If she crossed it, it would most certainly lead to pain. The orchards were her only safe place that bordered the barrier.
The old wizened man she recognized most certainly. He was younger than her memory served, but still the same Albus Dumbledore. Next to him was the panting black dog that turned into Sirius. Did they find out a way to remove the dark enchantment? She almost didn't care at this point. Zangy let go of Hermione's hand and walked through the line. The house elf wouldn't trip the ward, but she would.
"Ah, Zangy, have you brought our friend? She must be standing on the other side," Dumbledore's familiar timbers made Hermione sigh with relief.
"Yes, Zangy brought the poor Miss here," the house-elf responded with an enthusiastic nod.
"Hermione, I know that you aren't quite up to speed, but we are going to freeze the enchantment on the collar and remove it in the safety of a warded home. When you cross the border, I want you to stand in front of me and remain incredibly still. This will only take a swift moment," Albus declared as he pulled out his knotted wand.
Hermione inhaled deeply and shook out her limbs. "Okay," she huffed with a nod.
"Miss says she's ready," Zangy affirmed for the wizard.
"Now," Albus said with a bob of his head.
Hermione stepped forward, and several things happened all at once. Her knees grew wobbly as her mind felt like sharp objects were prying into it and her neck burned. Zangy held out his hands and tried to calm the witch from crying out, but it was Albus reaching out with his wand and tapping the collar to halt the pain.
She was sure Abraxas heard the ward breaking. Hermione's panic grew, but it was shortly lived as Zangy waved. "Zangy will miss Miss's kindness," he said with a sad smile.
"Thank you, Zangy," she responded.
Albus grabbed her arm, and she felt the unusual tug at her navel as they blurred out of sight and landed suddenly on someone's doorstep. Hermione was gasping in shock as she pulled her ragged nightgown closer to her body. The older wizard knocked on the door, and it flung open suddenly.
Hermione gasped and started to tear up. "Harry!" she cried and launched herself at the gangly wizard.
Her body shook as she sobbed and the man stood there trying to console the witch. "Miss, I think you have me confused," he murmured.
"Harry, I missed you! I was so lost!" Hermione was in near hysterics as she held him tightly.
"Prongs, are they here?" Sirius's voice entered the space, and he saw the frail witch holding onto the young Potter so tightly. "Oi, what's going on?"
Hermione stepped away from him and wiped her eyes frowning. "You're not Harry? You look so much like him… oh," she paused and covered her mouth in surprise.
Now it was James's turn to gape and blink. "Are you suggesting you knew a relative of mine."
"I don't know, I'm confused," she said shaking her head.
"Why don't we get you inside, Hermione. A change of clothes and a spot of tea," Albus offered and waved for her to enter the house fully.
Hermione glanced behind the older wizard and collected the scenery… she knew this place. "This is Godric's Hollow," she murmured, and now something serious dawned on her.
"Come along, Hermione. Remus is nearly ripped at the seams he's so worried," Sirius tried to encourage her inside.
Hermione turned back to the men standing at the door and saw Sirius holding out his hand. The witch walked forward and took it in hers out of security as they entered the house. For now, she was safe. Only for now...
