Hermione paused outside Draco's bedroom door, hand raised about to knock. This could very easily be a trap. As much as she could hurt him by taking him by surprise she knew that what with quidditch muscles and reflexes, and the fact that he was now about 6 foot 4, she wouldn't stand a chance if he took her by surprise and tried to rape her.
"Are you going to stand there forever?" Master Draco drawled, that handsome smirk on his face.
Handsome? Where did that come from?
Blushing a little she followed him into his room. She couldn't help admiring his toned physique as he leant against the mantelpiece with that infuriating ease of his. Unsure if she should sit or stand, she decided to stand since he hadn't invited her to sit.
"You found the note then?" it was more of a statement than a question.
"It wasn't exactly hard to find." Oh god Granger, are you flirting with the bastard? "Although I was a little curious about something."
"Oh?" Stop smirking, you prick!
"Yes. What if I had taken your advice and read the book but hadn't found the note until I got to that page, which could be days later?"
Oh god, that smirk is doing things to me. Damn you Neville, you put these thoughts in my head. I was getting on fine without them there, thank you very much.
"I had thought of that Hermione, and would have waited up here until you deigned to visit me."
Did he really just call me Hermione? He's never used my first name before. It sounds…nice coming from him. Stop it!
"Seems rather superfluous, don't you think?"
"Not for you."
Don't jump him! Don't jump him! Don't jump him!
"Why?" Merlin I have more self-control than I thought.
"Like I said last night I'm planning on getting away from Malfoy Manor soon, and when that happens I'll be taking you with me."
What? "You're what?"
"You are my slave after all."
"You'd take me with you?" the news was such a shock that Hermione sank down onto the nearest piece of furniture, which happened to be his bed.
"Don't get me wrong you wouldn't be free. I'm still going to make you work, simply because it's so much fun to watch you having to work while I do nothing."
Arrogant git! Oh god, he's smirking again. Help.
"Where will you go when you leave here?" somehow she managed to keep her voice casual and her face shocked but impassive.
"One of the other Malfoy estates." He was leaning casually against the bedpost, observing her closely. Hungrily. No! Shut up!
"There are more?"
"You didn't think this was the only mansion my family owned did you?"
"Isn't this one enough?"
"There's six in total plus about ten thousand acres of land. Malfoy Place was left to me by my grandfather and I inherited my fortune when I came of age. It's far away from where a lot of death eaters live and pretty private."
Smug greedy bastard.
"And Malfoy Place is where we'll be going?"
Stop flirting with him, you tart!
"Yes. You will receive a moderate wage, and will be more housekeeper than anything. Although when my parents or any of their friends come to the house you will have to resume the sort of work you do here. You will not be beaten for your disobediences, like I said I really do deserve them. It will be your job to run the house and organise the few house elves we have there already. I shall even return to you your wand. I will elaborate on your duties once we get there."
"What's the catch?"
"Excuse me?" curious rather than incredulous.
"Forgive me, Master Draco, but with you there is always a catch. You don't do anything for anyone without it benefiting you too. You offer me this, and yet there doesn't seem to be anything in it for you other than you acquiring someone to run your house for you. I don't really see what else you're getting through all this."
"Since you put it bluntly so shall I. I shall be getting you, Hermione. Not just as a housekeeper but in other more lucrative ways as well."
"I'm not sure I understand." Yes you do. Neville was right. Go away!
Draco reached down and raised her right hand, tracing the crossed out V burnt into her skin. "The vow you took was one where you promised to be my slave. True we made you take it but I was the one you vowed to. At Malfoy Place you wouldn't be a slave."
"But to break the curse that way would mean my death, and something is telling me you don't want that."
"Exactly. You still have to be my slave in one way."
"But which way? I still don't see it."
"I never thought you could be this dense. Although considering how little experience you've had in this area, it's hardly that surprising."
Prat. What is he on about? It can't be- oh Christ!
"I didn't think you'd ever sink so low as to- I can't even say it." her mouth and face worked as her mind tried to accept this new capacity.
Come on…give in. You want him and you know it.
Not like this!
"The longer it takes you to make up your mind about this offer the less good for you will come out of it. I shall hack away at the list of your privileges with no mercy. Think about what you have now compared to what you will have if you take my offer. It's a small price to pay for moderate freedom, don't you think?"
If only I could wipe that bloody smirk off his face.
You don't mean that.
Piss off.
Shan't. Not until you see sense.
What sense is there in this situation?
You've considered it before. You've lusted after him before.
Not true.
Very true. Take the offer. It's a small price to pay like he said.
Damn you.
"Very well, sir, I'll buy my freedom with my body. But not in this house, I'll be murdered by your father if he catches us."
"True."
Kindred spirit? Hah!