Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter VII

Hermione for once used her powers as a superior and let another girl run towards the kitchen and get a meal for their master. She took the opportunity to get some beef stew, claiming Malfoy had specifically asked, although he actually hadn't said a word on what to get, it just happen to be that she had craving for it at the moment. She hoped Malfoy did too.

The food smelled delicious, Hermione's mouth watered at the smell. Thank god for magic, thus why she didn't have to wait long. Or maybe I should thank god I said it was an order from Malfoy? she thought, grinning.

'Finally!' she said, as she heard Malfoy turn off the shower. She hoped that he would again let her eat with him; else there would be reprise of this morning's show. Hermione couldn't handle so much embarrassment again. Although so far her stomach was behaving.

'Granger, fetch me some underwear will you?' Malfoy said coming out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel. Hermione's face turned beet red at the sight, mumbling, 'What are you doing?'
'Getting out of the shower…'
'No! This! I mean that!' She pointed at his bare torso, embarrassment washed over her face.
'Can't take a little skin, Granger?'
'I can- no, it's… don't you have any manners?!' Struggling with her words, she finally managed to get out something that sounded a little bit intelligent.

'Just go get me some underwear and a lose pants.' Shrugging his shoulders not feeling the least uneasy, he ignored her rant. Malfoy appeared to be quite serious, so she couldn't just disobey him. Giving up the fight, she sighed and took a deep breath. 'Fine!' With big steps she marched over to his dresser and wardrobe grabbed what he had just asked and she marched back to him. Her pacing did slow down the more she came near him. Eyes on the ground, or anywhere where he wasn't, Hermione extended his clothes with a hand.

'Granger, don't be such a prude.'
Hermione ignored his taunting and waited for him to grab the clothing.
'I always knew you were a prude… Even back in Hogwarts.'
'Whatever, Malfoy! Just put them on already!' She snapped.
'Alright.' With that he let his towel fall on the ground, Hermione didn't think her face had ever turned as red as then it did that moment. She turned her back at him and even let his clothes fall, ignoring his tongue clicked of disapproval.
'That's not very helpful.'
'You are being obnoxious.' She retorted back.
'You aren't really behaving like a proper servant.'
That one stung a little.
'Then behave like a proper Master! And get clothed before you come out of the bathroom like every other normal person does!'
'But I needed your assistance…' His voice sounded teasing and Hermione could actually hear him smirk.
'Assistance!' She snorted.
'Fine…' Admitting he was indeed just trying to get under her skin, 'But then I would've missed out on seeing you all flustered.'

He walked passed her, brushing her shoulder intentionally and turned his head at her. 'Hmm… haha.'
'What?' Hermione asked finally moving out of her stubborn position to follow him.
'What is so funny!?' She asked again, raising her voice a little.
'Your face is matching the sheets.'
Hermione turned even redder only this time out of anger.
'I assume your headache is all gone?' She hissed.
'Yes.' He happily nodded, clearly enjoying himself.

Sitting down in his chair, Hermione didn't wait for his approval and sat down across him.
'Eating?' He smirked.
'Eat.' She mimicked him again, shrugging her shoulders.
He actually did start to eat, Hermione made no movements. Was he going to eat like that?
'What?' He asked with his mouth full, confused at her stare.
'Shouldn't you put on a shirt?'
'Am I making you uncomfortable?' He asked sarcastically.
'No.' She sneered, 'You are ruining my appetite.'
'Then don't eat.' He retorted back.
'But we all know what happen when you don't feed Granger… Weird noises…' He muttered the last part, keen on teasing her. Hermione grabbed a plate and smashed on everything possible and started to stuff her mouth, clearly not caring if she looked any what decent in front of him. She could look like a pig for all she cared, but he did not make her feel uncomfortable nor was he going to tease her about her stomach. Stupid stomach, Hermione cursed at the thoughts.

'Once again you prove your attractiveness by eating so… graceful.' Malfoy curled his nose at the sight. Hermione simply shrugged her shoulders, not caring.
After swallowing a rather large piece of meat she had almost choked on, Hermione reasoned that getting under his skin wasn't going to happen if she killed herself by not chewing decently on her food.

Regaining her wits letting her logic mind enter her thoughts again, Hermione straighten up.
'So… Who is it that you are marrying?' Finding the courage to speak about what she had just witnessed. 'No one.' He snapped, his eyes stared at her for a moment and continued eating. 'I'm not marrying anyone.'
'I'm sorry…' Hermione mumbled, feeling stupid to think Malfoy would talk to her about it, her, out of all people.
'I indicated that to get him off my back.'
'Oh.' Hermione simply answered.
'You and him aren't on good terms, I see?' She asked softly, as if she asked any louder it would ruin the atmosphere. Which was calm, for once. 'No.' He simply answered.
Hermione didn't press the subject any further; obviously he didn't want to talk about it.
'My father…' He whispered, Hermione face snapped up to look at him, but he was staring at his wine, clearly his head was with his memories. She could see sorrow written on his face, his face harden a little. 'My father changed a lot during the war.'
Hermione didn't say anything, it would be better to let him speak, let him choose what he wanted to tell her. 'I think… I think he was really worried. About me, about the task that was placed upon me.'
Malfoy's mission to end Albus Dumbledore's life… She wasn't mourning his death anymore but it stung to sit next to a person that was semi-responsible for it. 'About my mother.' Lucius Malfoy seemed to have age by decades during that time. Not to mention Malfoy's father had been in Azkaban during that time period too.
'He changed a lot after…' He didn't finish his sentence. He numbly got of his chair and stumbled towards his armchair, the long one. Hermione presumed it was his favorite since he was always fond to sit on it.

Deciding to be bold she followed him and sat next to him. Studying his expression, she saw him again. That boy she had last seen, the boy she had seen lying in bed just an hour ago.
But not the boy from her time during Hogwarts, no, that one was long gone, she noted. This one wasn't so carefree. This one carried a lot... A lot of what?
Grief.
Yes, that is what it was, grief.
Her thought swarmed through her head again, confused and unfocused.

'Why do you think we do this?'
'This?' He asked, not understanding her question.
'This. Talking. Eating. Getting under each other's skin.' She continued.
'Why do you think we do this?' Asking her question more specific.
'Why do you think we do this?' He asked her.
Instead of arguing that she had asked it first, Hermione answered truthful. 'I think because you are playing a game with me. I don't know what for or what is the goal of this game, but I'm certain that it's a part of your plan.'
'My plan?'
'I don't know what your plan is either.' She confessed.

'I don't have to time to play games, Granger.' He heaved a sigh at what she was saying. He understood her concern though. 'I think were both too old for that.'
She nodded in agreement, somewhat indicating that she had been thinking that too. It explained why she had asked the question. Again.
'I think…' He started. 'I just like having you around.'
This surprised Hermione, her head shot up to meet his blank stare. He didn't even blink.
'You are… One of the few things I control.'
Hermione lifted an eyebrow. 'Don't give me that look. You're smart. You know as well as I that everything and everyone is under control.'
'But you are-'
'Don't be so naïve, Granger.' His response was sharp, as if he had thought she would've known better. 'I'm not.' But you're still not answering my question either, she added in her mind.

'I don't have a lot of friends.' He resumed talking again, sounding just as monotone as before.
'Because I don't need them.' He paused, 'Because they fear me.' Hermione realized that Malfoy had a bigger status now than when she was free. He was a lot like most dark wizards, feared by everyone, even those around him. 'I spend my time… providing my own amusement.'
'Those… Girls?' Hermione didn't blush this time, but still felt a little uneasy talking about something so private. 'Haha… Those too.' He said amused but ignored her. 'I stay here. At the Malfoy Manor. So in the public eye I'm a hardworking man, who hardly leaves the house.'
'But you are that too.' Hermione spoke up, 'You do work hard.'
'I don't have anything else in my life.' He answered bitterly.
'That's why I have become what they wanted me to.'
'And that is…?'
'A puppet for the public.'
Hermione was shocked a little. She didn't think he would see through other peoples deceit so easily, clearly he wasn't some naïve boy. It wasn't as if she didn't view him like that either, she too thought he was no more than a puppet.

'It doesn't matter…' He whispered quietly.

It did, because now she understood his answer when he said she was one of the few things he controlled. Even back at the ministry things were decided for him, he was merely the man who made the announcements, the man the papers wrote about and the one who the public welcomed with open arms. She somehow pitied him. He too was someone's servant. He too was being used.

'I… don't really know what to say.' She whispered back, they we both not facing each other, staring at the space before them. 'Don't say anything, Granger. Just stay like you are.' He whispered, this however did make Hermione look. Only for a second though because Malfoy was stealing a glance of her too, both surprised. They remained silent after that. Enjoying the sound of nothingness.

Hermione didn't know what Malfoy was thinking but she knew that, for once, her head was silent too. She enjoyed the slightly awkward but serene moment. So did Malfoy apparently, because he didn't move either, sitting next to each other side by side.

It was as if a secret truce was formed.

It took us a while for either of us to make any sort of movement, but when one did, it was I who broke the moment. I slowly got up and walked towards my bedroom, 'I'm going to bed.'
Stating the obvious, I was tired and I had the need to cover myself up, pull my sheets over my head and hide myself, not just from Malfoy, but from the entire world. My body needed rest. And I felt slightly frighten by what had just happened, it occurred to me that we had indeed formed some sort of bond now. Perhaps I was feeling guilty for sharing a moment with Malfoy. 'Goodnight.'

'Goodnight.' He answer tiredly, he was staring at her. His face was a little paler than usual, and he had dark circles underneath his eyes. His eyes. Piercing blue, as if they could see through her, remained focused on her. He kept staring until she shut the door and could no longer see if he was still staring or not. She had a feeling he was.

Crawling underneath the blankets after washing herself a little, she lay in a haze. Uncertain of what to think. Malfoy. Even when she closed her eyes she could see him a bright as day, the image of a few minutes ago never leaving her mind. Perhaps he was taking just as much of a risk as she by confiding in someone. Somehow darkness managed to swallow her whole, letting her fall in to a somewhat peaceful slumber.

*****

'Granger…?'
Hermione felt groggy and couldn't really focus where the voice was coming from.
'Granger?' It spoke again.
She knew that voice, a little hoarse but certainly owned by her master.
Master? Malfoy was here? Why… Oh! He was in her room! Opening her eyes wide, she got up immediately, 'Malfoy!' she hissed.
'Not a morning person, are you?' He answered smartly. He was standing in the doorway, leaning, his smirk still in place. He still wasn't wearing a shirt either. It was too early in the morning to comment about that. Evading his sight she looked through her window and was greeted by the warm sun. Just then noticing that the sun was already up and even higher than last morning, meaning it was even later then when she woke up yesterday!
'Don't worry.' He said, as if reading her thoughts. 'No one was allowed to disturb me.'
'I'm supposed to tell them that!' Hermione shrieked, how could he stay so calm?

Because it wasn't his neck that was on the line, Hermione's logic mind added sarcastically.

'I don't need to explain them what my personal servant is doing for me.' He pointed out, 'They obey me, like you do.'
'Well not really,' He then smirked, 'they don't get to sleep until noon.'

Noon? It was noon already? Oh! 'Well I would've liked it that you woke me earlier!'
'You are supposed to wake me not the other way around.' He bit back, but he was clearly still amused. This made Hermione shut up, because he made more than a good point when he said that.
'Oh…' Right, she thought. 'Sorry…' She muttered quietly, 'Don't be.' He cut her off. 'I've only just awoken a few moments ago.'
'Ah!' Hermione gasped, 'Then why did you make feel so guilty about it?'
'I didn't.' He answered back. 'You did that by yourself.' Wearing his usual smirk, he walked in.

'Granger…' he started, a false business like tone. 'I'm heading towards the library.'
'I want you to assist me there.'
'Doing what?' Hermione asked amused by his unusual loose behavior. Something had changed. 'Reading.'
'Reading? You need my assistance on reading?'
'Yes.' He nodded.

'I didn't know you couldn't read Malfoy.' She smirked back. He smirk grew wider at her comment, clearly not offended. 'Explains a great deal though…' 'It does?' Genuinely interested in what she was going to say. 'You did keep reading books upside down.'
'Haha…' He laughed, a real smile gracing his features. 'I'm afraid you have me confused with that other blonde.'
'Haha…' Hermione giggled.
'Loony.'
'You certainly are…' She said, a smile never leaving her face.
Malfoy smirked, 'Sharp, Granger. Very sharp.'
'Doesn't go with the Malfoy attitude though.' She added. 'No… Hence why I need your assistance,' He resumed the earlier conversation, but stayed true to the character he was playing, 'To save myself.'

'What do you want me to do?' She asked more seriously. 'Read books.'
'Out loud?' Hermione asked confused. 'No…' He said, then gave it a thought. 'Or Maybe… Perhaps some dirty little novel.'
'Malfoy!'
'I can already imagine how your face will look thought.' He remained serious, for a moment Hermione thought he was truly considering. 'No.' He finally said, 'I just want you to read. For me, with me, however you like.'
'Really?' Hermione's eyes lit up with excitement. 'Yes.'
'Okay.' Then noticed that she was still sitting on her bed, and her sheets were fortunately covering her poor nightgown. Flushing a little, 'I'll be there in a minute.'
Malfoy just smirked at her reaction when she realized the situation, but remained silent and simply nodded, closing the door behind me, leaving her in her privacy.

She didn't know what had happened between now and last night, but she hadn't expect such a drastic change of behavior. There was no use to ponder about it as he explained himself that he wanted her to be around because she was one of the few things that he controlled. He was using her to ease his own soul. And so was she. If he thought he was in charge, then so be it.

Somehow out of the privacy of Malfoy's room they had resumed their positions again, that of master and servant, and had turned back to their normal behavior. Walking silently towards the library, Hermione realized that this was somewhat of a relief. The thought of being so carefree all the time was a lie. Even when she was alone with him, she could never truly trust him. She was never carefree, every thought always crossed her mind. Besides she wouldn't know how to behave in front of others, it would feel as betrayal. Who she was betraying she didn't know since there was no side to choose from, she even had to silent the nagging feeling in her stomach and tell herself to let herself enjoy the rare moments she truly wanted.
Like reading.
The moments were she could be at least a little bit of her former self. Not that she was ever herself without restrains. Sure she would show bit and pieces of her, but never be herself completely. Not even with Annette, who did not hold back on being herself, or so she assumed. Perhaps, Annette was just more carefree, but just as closed as she when it came down to the past. Or, perhaps, Annette didn't cling to the past anymore, like she did.

Letting her mind rest, she took a deep breath as she entered the library. Breathing in the smell of old books; she couldn't stop a smile forming on her lips. 'Pick anything you like.' Malfoy almost sounded like a father who was spoiling his child, he even carried the same smile of approval on his lips. Hermione did feel like a child. Like one in a candy-store, she was allowed a treat. She was allowed a moment of true freedom.

'A novel?' He asked confused. Hermione just shrugged in response. Not really certain herself why she had chosen such a book. But she had always loved reading them in her free time, letting her fantasy take her to another time and space, letting her slowly fall in love with the characters and then she would close her eyes and envision them. To share their feelings, the feelings of betrayal, or hate or despair, but also comfort, warmth and love, things that made her wonder about life. It didn't necessary had to have a happy ending but a beautiful story could touch her heart, right in the core.

She remembered a time where she was free to read as much as she wanted. She would sometimes postpone reading the end because she didn't want the book to be over. How silly now that she thought of it.

Malfoy gave her peculiar look, confused at what she had chosen and wondered what could be going on inside of her head. He didn't say anything and just nodded. He went to lie on a similar couch like the one he had in his room, and picked up a book, it wasn't Hogwarts: A History. It made her think about their first discussion. Somehow she had let it sly that he was the one that was responsible for the students of Hogwarts and their current system.

'No more about Hogwarts?' She asked, her tone was calm but she knew she sounded cold and bitter too somehow. She couldn't stop herself from asking, it just hurt her that young children are suffering and she couldn't do anything about it. She was so glad when she had received that letter…

'I… No.' He answered. Again doubting whether he should tell her or not. He remained quiet and pretended to read his book with utter concentration. Hermione neglected her thoughts and ignored his presence.

Somehow she managed to forget the entire world around her and only live in the world of the book she was reading. It wasn't until hour and a half later, when Malfoy spoke up and broke the spell she was under, that she stopped reading. 'I didn't mean to upset you.'

Hermione looked at him confused. 'About the book….' He hesitated a little, 'I didn't think about it.'
'You didn't think about the children?' She accused him sharply.
'No, I didn't think about how it would affect you.'
'So you just admit that you still don't care about those children?' Hermione didn't back down and she could feel her temper rising. The atmosphere had turned from calm to electric.

'I wanted to catch your attention.' He ignored her, 'I knew you liked it. God knows, it was you who were always walking around with it.'
'Want do you want me to say? Thank you!?' Hermione bit back, if he thought his confession would make her less angry, well then he had another thing coming.
'I didn't say that.' He shot back, losing his patience. 'I didn't think about it, I just wanted you to talk to me.' Emphasizing the words that mattered, hoping it would get through her thick skull.

'Now you just made it sound like some type of love confession.'
Malfoy snorted at the ridiculousness of what she was saying, 'No, but I just… wanted to talk.' 'That doesn't make it okay.' She softened a little when she saw his expression, which reflected the despair one could hear in his voice.

'Do you have any idea?' She said quietly. 'Do you have any idea how it is to be… treated like dirt? Scum? When you're not even really certain of why people talk to you that way? Do you realize how much it hurts? I didn't grow up in this world…' She paused, trying to find the right words to say out loud, 'I wasn't normal either where I grew up. I had always been the bookworm and the know-it-all. I… was never really popular.'

Malfoy stayed motionless, his expression was hard to read but she could tell he was listening intensely. 'But that was okay, because somehow as a kid I knew there was something out there, something I would do that others could only dream off. I would just have to be patient until that time comes.' She swallowed a small lump that was forming in her throat, seriously Hermione that wasn't something you could still cry about, she said to herself harshly.

'And then… Then I finally got that letter.' She smiled at the memory, 'And then I thought: finally, my time has finally come. I was so excited. But then I learned… It was just the same. Only worse, I didn't even know how this world functioned. And I studied hard and somehow managed to fit in.'

She looked at him, her brown eyes boring into his, 'And then I learned there were certain thing I would never fit in with it. Things I couldn't change. And then there was you; the very first boy to call me that. …a mudblood.'

Malfoy didn't say anything, so she continued, taking a breath to calm herself, 'That hurt so much when you called me that, in front of all those people. You really made me feel dirty and useless.' She fell a small pang go through her heart, the young girl inside of her was still hurting. 'And then I met Harry and Ron. And my entire life changed. I realized I was so much more than that. I was proud of who I were. And I loved Hogwarts deeply. It became a home.'

'So know, when I think about those girls and boys who are muggle-borns too, I think of how horrible their experience must be. You can't feel as if you belong there, when people are telling you, you don't belong there at all. You can't call that a home, it's not warm or gives you shelter. You can't call that… a life worth living.' That last part was something she felt personally all the time. This life wasn't worth living anymore. It was something you know just would have to endure. Malfoy stood up and turned around not making any eye contact with her, he practically fled out of the room. Hermione suddenly felt very foolish of sharing her thoughts with him. He didn't care. He agreed with this type of living. He wanted to live like this.