Chapter Four
When the dungeon doors opened again, Remus stilled his pacing and blinked rapidly against the harsh light of the outside world. Hermione descended the stairs, well dressed and composed, even her hair had been tamed into submission.
'Did you bring a book for us?' he asked excitedly.
'No.' Hermione replied coolly.
'Are – are you alright?' Remus asked, reaching out to her and stepping forward. The chain snapped taunt and he stopped, just out of reach. 'You said you would come back first thing this morning, it's been hours.'
'I had other duties to attend to.' Hermione replied. She settled her usual position in front of the supplies. She didn't look at him though, so Remus felt the need to press.
'Emergency in the pantry?' he quipped.
She levelled a glare at him. 'Lord Master Ron had need of my services, so I provided them for him.'
The answer obtained, Remus sub-consciously stole a glance up the dungeon stairs. 'Is, he a good master?'
Hermione hesitated for a moment before she answered. 'He's lonely. And overlooked. He's been second-rate his entire life, and never had a friend. The only boy in his year and house was Neville Longbottom, and as far as I know, Ron bullied him mercilessly through his entire schooling at Hogwarts. And he was bullied in return by Lord Malfoy's son. Ron Weasley is a deeply unhappy man.'
'So that makes it alright for him to take you to his bed?' Remus asked.
'Everything Lord Master Ron owns has been handed down from his brothers. I am the only thing given to him specifically.' Hermione defended him. 'Besides, it is my skill set, and I am good at fucking and pleasuring.'
Remus flinched and bent his head. 'I'm sorry.'
'Don't be.' Hermione said. 'Besides, you're only eight years too late.'
She watched the colour drain from his face as he stared at her, trying to count backwards and he feared the worst. She enjoyed his pain for a moment before she laughed and took pity. 'It's okay. I'm older than I look.' She held out a hand. 'I need to take a sample of your blood.'
He willingly placed his arm in her hand. 'How old are you?'
'Twenty-two.' She replied.
'What!' Remus exclaimed. 'You were only fourteen?'
'That was when my pleasure training was completed.' Hermione nodded, dragging a small dagger over his flesh, thick blood dripping into a rusty chalice. 'My first Lord Master was very gracious to me. I served him, but he did not touch me for a full year.'
Remus felt acid churn in his gut. 'He must have been a real saint. Ow!'
She smiled and raised her eyebrows, daring him to keep complaining or disrespecting her late Master. She pulled the dagger out of his skin and set it to the side and wiped it on a cloth.
'Now your hair.' She gestured and Remus bent his neck downwards, presenting his light brown hair to her. With a few sharp tugs she had all she needed.
'Tell me about your old Master?' Remus asked quietly, his neck still bent.
Hermoine ran a hand through his hair, pressing her fingers into his stinging scalp. 'He was very handsome. Old, but also young. He was a very powerful wizard, and Head of the very powerful House, but… playful and charismatic. He was a good Master.'
'What happened to him?' Remus' voice took on the same hushed tones Hermione's had dropped to.
'He died. Two years ago now. The Twins, Fred and George remind me of him sometimes.'
'You must miss him.' Remus said.
'Very much.' Hermione said, fingers tucking behind his ears. 'My Master was very kind to me. He let me read and think and explore, indulged my thirst for knowledge when he could have just restricted me to his bed.' Hermione released Remus' head and smiled at the fond memories of her Master as she packed up the supplies.
'What was his name?' Remus requested.
'His name was Sirius Black.' Hermione replied.
'No.' Remus breathed. A deathly chill took over his body, mouth dropping open as the name registered.
'What's wrong?' Hermione asked, worried.
An unquenchable anger rose up in Remus and he bit down on his tongue hard enough to draw blood. 'Get out.' He growled.
'Lupin–' she reached forward but he shoved her away. His hands were shaking with fury as he clenched them into fists and pressed them into his forehead. Nails dragged down the scars on his face, making them freshly redden.
'I held onto hope for so long.' He whispered.
'Did you know him?' Hermione demanded. 'Tell me!'
'Please, please just leave me.' He begged. Remus tucked himself against the wall, gathering the extra chain around his arms until it dug into his skin.
She stayed, for a moment, until the steady sound of his skin scraping against the rough stonework as he rocked himself became too much. It unsettled her, this extreme reaction, but she could be patient.
She would pull the answer from her disobedient pup, Hermione decided as she took the samples out of the dungeon. With kindness or with cruelty, she would extract any information about her former Master.
When the dungeon doors slammed shut, Remus bent over his waste bucket and vomited out the slimy contents of his stomach and drank from the trough. He counted out 10 panicked breaths, and then purposefully slowed his breathing, counting his heart rate until he lost count in the triple digits. He buried his head in his hands.
Half-naked, scared and chained in a dungeon, Remus wept with disappointment and pain for the friend he thought was a better man.
Please read and review!
