Hermione glanced around her miserably wishing she had managed to get finished and out of her bedroom just a few minutes earlier. If she had she would have been safe downstairs with Draco now, not trapped in here with Lucius.

He was currently trying to be his version of romantic, which she truly detested because it meant him kissing and touching her, although she knew it wouldn't be long before he lost patience with her lack of interest and just raped her as he always did eventually. It had happened so many times now that she had become almost inured to it, as scary as that thought seemed.

All she could do when he finally got fed up with trying to get her to react was attempt to blot out what was really happening and think instead about Draco, her only ally at Malfoy Manor. As he did every night now, Draco would sneak into her bedroom once everyone was asleep and hold her tight, comforting her as he shared her tears and pain, and the beautiful boy expected nothing in return.

There was nothing he could do to stop his father, they both knew that even though he had once suggested to Hermione that he confront him in hopes that the stark realisation that others knew what he was doing might up his father's level of guilt from getting pissed every night to actually leaving her alone. However, Hermione was certain this would do nothing but cause more pain for both her and Draco. The fear that he would be sent away from Malfoy Manor and she would be left alone with no defence or solace from Lucius' attacks made her plead for him not to do anything.

Hermione sometimes thought that if it weren't for Draco she would probably have tried to harm or even kill herself by now. But her new brother kept her strong, reminding her that there wasn't long until school started; only another couple of days now until she could get safely to Hogwarts and finally escape Malfoy Manor and Lucius forever — because once she got away nothing on earth would drag her back here again.

She realised with panic that she hadn't been paying attention to Lucius. That was potentially dangerous if he realised she wasn't taking notice of him. He didn't like it when she zoned out. Until he actually raped her he needed her attention fully on him at all times, like some petulant toddler who needed constant praise.

Hermione was lying beneath him on the bed, submitting to his kisses automatically, not wanting to become involved in what Lucius was doing to her. She still wasn't a willing participant, whatever he liked to think, and she had no intention of joining in as he kept urging her to every time he came to see her. He was clearly in the mood to try to change her mind, though, and it was making her feel sick because that meant she would have to suffer his presence longer.

For a moment she wished she could place her mind somewhere else, somewhere she wouldn't care what Lucius did to her, but he wouldn't allow that. If she became too distracted he got rough with her and Lucius could hurt her without even trying. However awful the thought, she would suffer his mauling of her as she always did because she honestly had no other choice.

Lucius was talking to her again but Hermione didn't want to listen. Knowing him, he was probably trying to assure her that the things he was doing to her were because he was in love with her, which was something he had been telling her ever since his second unwanted visit to her bedroom. It seemed that his initial rape of her had been enough to trigger this unasked-for emotion at the same time as the guilt, and was a feeling she was apparently expected to reciprocate although she still had no idea how his perception of her could have changed so much, particularly when outwardly it appeared he hadn't changed his opinion on Muggles or Muggle-borns in any way. Maybe it was this dichotomy that kept him in his study every evening tanked up to the eyeballs with booze.

Hermione didn't know, but she was pleased as it meant there was at least some respite from his lecherous behaviour, even if it was only because he was too drunk to get up the stairs and he hadn't yet thought to Apparate to her room. She had once considered that maybe if he tried Apparating while drunk he might seriously splinch himself, which would then free her from his attentions completely — with any luck for even long enough for her to go back to school. But knowing the way her luck was running, Hermione suspected it would probably work perfectly and then Lucius would be Apparating in on her all the time, wherever she was, and she would never have a single moment of safety.

The worst thing about the escalation in Lucius' affections had been his insistence on her calling him 'Daddy' whenever they were alone together, which was beyond creepy considering what he did to her. However hard Hermione tried to point out that her father would never have done anything like the things Lucius was forcing on her, his only response was that he was everything her father had been and more.

Time and again Lucius told her he could offer her that which her own father never could because they were not actually related and she should be grateful that he was providing her with a home and safety as well as the sort of pleasure she would never get elsewhere. Hermione had given up arguing with him. Instead, she suffered in silence and waited for her too-short time with Draco to ease the pain.

The panic grew as she realised that something else was happening in this room today, something different from the way sex with Lucius usually went. She had expected that by now he would have given up trying to make love to her and moved onto the forced penetration he always seemed to enjoy so much, but that wasn't happening. Instead, Lucius was holding her down, forcing her hands above her head as his tongue brushed over her breasts leaving a wet trail over her nipples, and she had a horrible feeling something bad was about to happen.

She tuned back into what Lucius was saying, realising too late that he wasn't just trying to convince her of his love for her. What he was saying made her cringe and her stomach clench with fear knowing that what was about to happen wasn't going to be good for her nor was it likely to be quick.

'. . . so you've given me no choice, my sweet,' Lucius told her, his voice a little chiding as if she had done something he was having to berate her for.

Hermione had no idea what she had failed to do or done wrong although to be fair, with Lucius it could have been absolutely anything.

'Perhaps this will give you the boost you need. Maybe you need a little something extra to get you going.' Lucius' voice was definitely more salacious now.

Hermione hadn't had a chance to work out what he was talking about before she found herself gripped by silken ropes that came from out of the bedposts with a flick of Lucius' wand and wrapped around her wrists and ankles, tightening and pulling her until she was spread-eagled across the bed.

Before she could even cry out in disgust, Lucius cast a second spell and all her remaining clothes were gone, leaving her naked. A wave of shame rushed through Hermione's entire body, leaving her tearful and wishing desperately that she wasn't in such a vulnerable position.

Although Lucius had been romantic with her, he had never taken much interest in her body other than what he could do to it with his cock, and with the exception of her breasts he never usually bothered to look at it, focussing only on getting her knickers off. But now she was spread wide, flashing off everything if Lucius wanted to look, and today it seemed he did.

A feeling of absolute terror filled Hermione like iced water trickling through her veins as his hands slid slowly over her naked body, caressing and touching in ways he had never touched her before. Oh god, this was so much worse than she could ever have imagined. But there was one tiny potential glimmer of light which she assumed Lucius hadn't considered, and it should be enough to end any games he was thinking of subjecting her to.

'It's almost time for lunch,' she stammered, silently reminding Lucius of the house rule that everyone had to be at the table before anyone could start eating. Surely he wouldn't make Narcissa and Draco sit and wait until he was finished with her, would he?

Lucius gave a small chuckle, his eyes crinkling with glee. He stroked Hermione's hair back from her face as he looked into her eyes.

'Are you hungry, my sweet? I'm sure I can provide some protein to keep you going if you need more energy.'

Hermione shook her head, making clear with her disgusted expression that this was not what she meant at all. Still stammering, she said, 'But we need to go downstairs . . . the rule . . . Draco and Mrs Malfoy—'

'Don't worry about them. They'll soon get fed up with waiting for us and have their lunch. Draco's not going to starve himself because you're not with him at the dinner table,' Lucius told her with a look that convinced Hermione that he knew about her alliance with his son, and she couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her.

'But we're going to Diagon Alley after lunch. We need to get our school equipment,' Hermione said, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice as she battled the tears that were threatening to spill.

She hadn't wanted to remind Lucius about the trip as that would trigger the realisation that she would be leaving him to go back to Hogwarts in only a couple of days and she dreaded to think what effect that would have on his behaviour towards her in the short time remaining. At the same time, she had no intention of missing out on only her second opportunity to leave Malfoy Manor since she had been incarcerated here almost six weeks before, and that meant reminding him that now was not a good time for him to decide to play bondage games.

Lucius watched her for a moment then waved his wand and muttered a silencing charm, and Hermione's sense of panic increased. She didn't want to think about why Lucius needed a silencing charm. He had never previously bothered with one as her bedroom was stuck well away from the main area of the house in his wing, a place Narcissa would never visit even if he gave her permission, which Hermione suspected he never would.

But as scary as the action was it was actually a secondary consideration for Hermione at that moment. All she could think of was the need to escape Malfoy Manor for a few hours and the even greater need to finally get her school books and her new robes, a new Potions kit and all the other school equipment she had left at home on the night she had been taken to the Ministry of Magic. Hermione still hadn't received an owl bearing the usual letter so she had no idea even what books she would need this year but she assumed one had arrived along with the letter for Draco and Narcissa would know what they needed to buy.

'Oh yes, Hogwarts. I'd forgotten all about that place,' Lucius muttered as Hermione stared at him, her face pleading with him to release her.

Hermione was taken by surprise at this comment, wondering how he could have forgotten about the school that she and his son attended and that he and his wife had previously attended, too. It didn't make sense. But it didn't look like he was going to release her from the ropes holding her, either, and that meant she still wasn't going to get to leave the prison that was Malfoy Manor.

As Lucius joined her on the bed, his hands back on her body, Hermione girded herself for what she needed to do, trying to stop the sick feeling in her stomach.

'Daddy, you know I need to go and get my robes and I haven't got any equipment for school after having to leave my home so rapidly.' Hermione did let her voice quiver this time and tears appeared, glistening in her eyes although they were as much from what she was having to say rather than because she was remembering that terrible evening when her parents had died. 'I know you wanted to . . . .' her voice died away unable to speak the words. She took a deep breath to steady herself, then continued, 'Please, Daddy. Let me go and let's go down to lunch. No one will even need to know we were nearly late.'

Lucius' laugh when it came was long, loud and completely chilling. The tears Hermione had just about been holding back began to slide down her face as her body shook with sobs that started silently but grew louder as he dashed all her hopes.

'Don't worry about not going to Diagon Alley, my sweet. You and I are going to have much more fun staying here.' He watched her sob for a moment then added as if being consoling, 'You don't need to there go anyway. You're not going back to Hogwarts so you don't need to do any shopping. You're going to be staying here at Malfoy Manor . . . with me.'

Hermione stared at him in horror, not believing what she was hearing.

Lucius, seemingly ignoring her, continued, 'With everything going on out there at the moment it wouldn't be safe for you to leave me. But don't worry, Daddy's going to look after you . . . and keep you safe.'

This last was whispered in her ear as he lay on top of her, his mouth breathing hot air into her ear as her stomach squirmed.

'Please . . . .' she moaned quietly, not even sure exactly what she was pleading for but knowing she had to say something, had to fight against this new incarceration Lucius was forcing on her.

Lucius chuckled richly. 'You don't really think I'd let you go now after all the trouble I've just gone to getting you nicely tied up, do you? We've got some new games to play and this afternoon while Narcissa and Draco are away shopping will be the perfect time for them.' He finally took in Hermione's upset expression and added, 'I know you're probably disappointed about not going back to school, Hermione, but I just can't let you go. I'm sure you understand that.'

Hermione felt the urge to retort that she didn't understand, but knew that arguing with Lucius wasn't going to improve her situation.

'You belong to me now, Hermione,' Lucius told her his voice gentle but with the steely undertone of knowing he was completely right in what he was saying, any pretence of being family long gone. 'You will do what I want, whenever I want it, and you will give me your complete and utter devotion. It's time to stop playing and get serious. You are part of this family now and you will give me what I need.'

Hermione squealed as his hand stroked between her legs, fingers pushing and probing as she writhed uncomfortably in the bonds that held her tight.

Lucius' voice held no trace of warmth as he commanded, 'You can start by telling me where Potter and your friend Weasley have gone.'

'Eat your lunch, Draco. We need to go to Diagon Alley and get your shopping done,' Narcissa told her son.

She stared at Draco, who gazed back at her mulishly. So far he hadn't touched his lunch.

'Where are Father and Hermione? What's happened to the rule about us not eating until everyone's at the table?' he enquired.

'We're making an exception today,' Narcissa explained, trying to sound lighthearted about it. 'Your father and Hermione are busy and we need to go shopping, so we haven't got time to wait for them. Now eat!'

'Busy doing what?' Draco asked although he was certain he knew.

There was only ever one thing his father did with Hermione and it made him feel ill that there was nothing he could do to stop him. But until now they had always managed to make it to the meal table, had always abided by the house rules. It worried him that his father was breaking them and, worse still, that his mother was allowing him to do it.

Draco felt the urge to shout at her, to let her know that he knew what was going on, but for some reason that he couldn't quite pin down he had a nasty feeling that doing so would just make Hermione's situation worse, and he honestly didn't want that to happen. Instead, he glared at his mother.

'Come on, Draco. We haven't got all day. We've got a lot to do this afternoon. You need to eat your lunch.'

'I'm waiting for Father and Hermione,' Draco said staunchly. 'Surely they can't be too much longer. Hermione needs to come to Diagon Alley, too. She needs to go more than me because she didn't have anything when she came here. She'll need a whole new set of equipment as well as school robes — all sorts of things.'

'Hermione won't be coming with us,' Narcissa said quietly. Draco stared at her in surprise. 'She isn't returning to Hogwarts so there's no need for her to come shopping with us. She can stay here with your father.'

'But why isn't she going to school?' Draco looked and sounded completely flummoxed.

Narcissa delicately dabbed her mouth with her napkin, then dropped it onto her now empty plate. 'A new policy has been implemented at Hogwarts with the change in regime. Mudbloods aren't allowed to attend—'

'But both you and Father said that she isn't a Mudblood anymore,' Draco protested, cutting his mother off. 'You both told me she's a Malfoy now, so she should still be able to go to school. What was the point of bringing her here otherwise?'

Narcissa's mouth pinched into a thin line but she looked uncomfortable. 'The truth is that your father doesn't believe Hermione is ready to go back to school just yet, Draco. She's still having trouble getting over her parents' death, understandably, and while she has made a great effort to fit into the family and become one of us there are students at Hogwarts who will remember what her blood status is and may try to cause trouble.

'Severus is going to have a difficult enough job this year as Headmaster without having to look out for Hermione all the time. Your father thinks it will be easier all round if Hermione rejoins the school after the Christmas holidays, if she's ready by then, by which time she'll have had that extra time to acclimatise herself to our way of life and more time for people to forget what she was.'

'I can look after her at school. I'm her brother now, and I'll happily stand up to anyone who wants to cause trouble for her,' Draco insisted.

Narcissa patted his hand and looked at him fondly. 'That's a lovely thing to say, Draco, and I'm glad you've accepted Hermione so easily, but the truth is that she's not ready to go back out into society. She's still grieving — sometimes it overwhelms her—'

'That's not grief,' Draco mumbled before he could stop himself.

Narcissa looked at him sharply. 'Your father has decided and that's all there is to it,' she told him in a tone that brooked no argument. 'Now eat up your lunch otherwise you're going to go hungry.'

'I don't want anything and I don't really want to go to Diagon Alley today. I might just go and see how Hermione is.'

'No!' Narcissa's rebuke was like a whip crack. 'We are going to Diagon Alley and that's the end of it.'

Draco's voice was pleading now. 'Then at least let me check with Hermione to see if she needs anything before we go.'

'She doesn't,' Narcissa said.

'How do you know? Have you asked her? I know she was really looking forward to going out. She was talking about how good it would be to get away from Malfoy Manor for once, about all the things she wanted to buy when we got to Diagon Alley. She was really looking forward to going to Flourish and Blotts and Scriveners,' Draco said.

'She's changed her mind,' Narcissa said coldly.

She clicked her fingers and a house-elf appeared. 'You can take the plates now,' she told it.

'But—'

'No, Draco. No more,' Narcissa warned.

'I just can't believe you're leaving her here . . . with him,' Draco said.

'We need to go,' Narcissa told him, completely ignoring Draco's remark. 'Now come on, we've got a lot to buy and not much time to sort it out.'

She stood up, gazing at Draco until, unwillingly, he stood too.

'The quicker we go the quicker we can get back, and then I'm sure you can go riding or whatever,' she pointed out.

'I want to play chess with Hermione,' Draco said.

Narcissa's eyes narrowed, then she sighed. 'I'm sure you'll be able to when we get back, assuming she's feeling okay by then.'

'She won't, though, will she, not if she's been locked up with him all day,' Draco said unhappily.

'Your father is helping Hermione come to terms with her situation,' Narcissa explained. 'He's helping her to realise that she isn't all alone in this world, that she has a family . . . who care about her.'

'Is that what he's doing?' Draco said, sounding unconvinced.

'Enough, now move!' Narcissa ordered, and she pointed in the direction of the drawing room where the Floo waited for them.

Draco gave a huge sigh as he left the dining room, looking longingly up the stairs for a moment as he made his way across the entrance hall and towards the drawing room. Narcissa pushed him to make him move faster.

'I'm sorry, Hermione,' he said under his breath as he left his almost-sister behind.