Chapter 10

Power Play

Hermione woke the next morning to find the fairytale book lying open on her chest. It had acted as her comforter yet again; a teddy bear to hug away the bad dreams.

Hermione yawned. She picked up the book, curious to see what passage she had been reading before she drifted off into blissful slumber.

"…Little did she know nor wonder, that he would return with the soon coming morn…"

That had been the final few words she had been left with the night before last. Eerily enough, those too, had come true, proving over again that truth is stranger than fiction.

"…And so the young warlock had. He returned on his fathers instruction; for the princess needed new clothing…"

Hermione balked at this line. Yesterday, she had indeed received a bundle of new clothing at Malfoy's request.

"…At sundown, the princess changed into her new attire. She looked the most lovely in all the land. When the prince gazed upon her, he could see this to be so. Yet, he felt only spite and jealousy for the girl as his inner evils had corrupted his person, twisting his features into a malicious mask. The princess's heart had beautified her from the inside out. She was beautiful- and he was not.

"How ugly thou are, princess," he called cruelly.

The princess was clever. The jibe cut her, but not as deeply as the prince would have enjoyed. She replied, with a curtesy, "Sire art too kind. Though thou own figure far proceeds mine by that principle."

The prince left, for he knew it was true…"

Hermione cocked her head to one side. That passage was different, she thought, familiar but slightly different. I am not a beautiful princess, nor did I say such things last night. Malfoy believing himself to be ugly, surely that could not be so, he's far too vain…how peculiar.

Hermione read on.

"…The day died and the princess slept. A new day dawned with news…"

Her reading was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Strange. Malfoy doesn't normally knock. He just enters. Pig.

"Come in?" She replied, somewhat curiously.

Button entered bearing a tray of foodstuffs. Hermione felt strangely disappointed.

"Oh."

Button squeaked, "M'lady! Breakfast in bed!"

"Oh!" Hermione cheered.

The little House Elf bowed low. The plate wobbled on her palm.

"Button hopes it is to your liking!" Button shuffled forwards, making her way over to Hermione's bed. Her chin barely reached above edge of the mattress.

Button pushed the plate up onto the bed. Hermione couldn't help but notice Button's fingers. They were bandaged. Hermione rolled to the side, so she could see her better.

"Button," she began.

Button squeaked, "yes miss!"

"What happened to your fingers?"

"Button don't know miss!"

"Surely you must!"

Button shifted, uncomfortable.

"Well, miss,"

Hermione coaxed, "please tell me."

Button heaved a sigh, "Master Malfoy is supposed to bring you breakfast everyday, but this morning he didn't want to miss."

Well obviously, Hermione thought darkly. After last nights incident, she was surprised Malfoy hadn't set fire to her room whilst she slept.

"Go on," she encouraged.

"Well, he also said no one else was to bring you breakfast either. But, well, oh deary me, Button kept thinking about- about how you didn't eat last night, and you must be so hungry and well…" Button rushed on.

"So Button decided to bring you breakfast, and well, while Button was making it…"

Hermione already knew what had happened. Harry had explained to her Dobby's strange behaviour after he had deliberately disobeyed his owners, to help Harry. Dobby had hurt himself, delivering his own penance in an attempt to reconcile his guilt. Obviously, Button had performed the same ritual. Hermione's insides writhed in fury.

How dare he! She thought, S.P.E.W protests clanging like the bells of a cathedral.

"Oh you poor dear! That is atrocious!" Hermione consoled.

Button shook her head, her ears flapping. "Oh no, Miss, please, don't. Button already feels awful, betraying Master Malfoy like that. If he finds o-o-out he'll…BAD BUTTON!"

Button leaped up, running headfirst towards the closest wall.

"NO!" Hermione shrieked.

Button thumped into the cold stone. She fell to the floor.

"BUTTON!"

Button stood once again, and then repeated the attack on herself. She beat against the wall, again and again.

Hermione pushed the food tray aside. She threw back her covers, and ran to Button.

"Button, no!" Hermione wrenched her up by her tiny shoulders.

Button shrieked, "no! NO! LET BUTTON GO! MASTER MALFOY! BUTTON IS SORRY!"

Hermione shook the house elf.

"Button! It's all right! Calm down! Here, look, I'm eating breakfast now! Your delicious breakfast- see?" Hermione brought Button back to her bed. She set her down near one the bed's wooden four-poster banisters. With a steady hand she plucked at the silver platter's covering. The food spread was modest, beautiful in its simplicity. A steady stack of pancakes, toped with melting butter and hot maple syrup, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a small bowl of strawberries.

Button cowered by the post.

"Nothing to worry about, Malfoy won't be mad, he won't even know!" Hermione soothed.

She picked up a fork, and speared a strawberry.

"Mmmm…"

She popped it into her mouth.

"Delicious!"

Button looked relieved.

"Button is glad you like it miss!"

Hermione grinned, "oh I do like it, very much, thank you Button. You've done so well."

Button beamed at the compliment.

"Well, Button best be off now, Miss, Lady Potts will be wondering where Button is…"

Button bounded off the bed. She gave a little wave, and swiftly exited.

Hermione mulled over what had just happened while eating her breakfast.

So Malfoy doesn't want to see me? Fine. I don't exactly want to see him either.

She considered Button, the image of her trampled fingers vividly imprinted upon her memory.

But when I do eventually 'catch up' with him, I'll be telling him a thing or two about House Elf rights!

It was on this vengeful note that Hermione finished her breakfast. The tray was placed on the floor beside her bed. She got up, made her bed and bathed. Mrs. Potts had ordered Button to collect an array of toothpastes and such the day before, so her cabinet in the bathroom was now filled with numerous hygiene products. Hermione brushed her teeth for seven minutes in an act of furious cleansing after her bath.

The clothes that had been made for her, rested at the foot of her bed. (Hermione had not summoned the courage to ask for a wardrobe yesterday.)

The pretty clothes were eyed warily. Minutes ticked past as Hermione clutched at her slipping towel, trying to make a comfortable selection. She at last settled on a set of ivy green and black underwear. Next, she elicited a matching bottle green dress robes, trimmed in black lace. It was low cut, as had her nightdress been, with long sleeves and skirts. Hermione admired the dress in the downstairs mirror.

Pretty and plain…don't mix.

A brush of her bushy brown hair completed the dressing regime. Hermione ventured upstairs.

Malfoy sat at the end of her bed looking grumpy. His eyes lit at the sight of Hermione. They scrolled over Hermione, drinking in her appearance.

Hermione put her hand up as Malfoy opened his mouth to speak, "I don't want to hear it."

Malfoy quieted.

Hermione continued, "Whatever rude comments you have to say, you can to keep to yourself."

Draco gave a sneer.

"Furthermore," Hermione took a breath, "House Elves have rights. You shouldn't be so cruel to little Button."

Draco's face contorted, confused.

"What?"

"I said you shouldn't be so mean to Button!"

Draco groaned, "don't be stupid mudblood"

"-I'm not being-"

"- yes you are. Look, I am not the one being 'mean' to that filthy house elf. She's 'mean' to herself with her silly clumsiness. Look at what the klutz did this morning! She ironed her own fingers!"

Hermione glared, "only because she felt so bad about disobeying your ridiculous orders!"

Draco stared at her through slitted lids.

"What do you mean she disobeyed my orders?"

Hermione exclaimed, "oops."

Draco laughed, "oops? Oops?"

Hermione blushed.

"Where's that fancy vocab of yours everyone's so fond of? Hmm? Oops- you lost it!"

Draco stood, chuckling.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione barked, changing the subject.

"Well, I was supposed to bring you breakfast-"

"More like lunch by now"

Draco smirked, "so you noticed I was running late? Miss me then?"

Hermione backtracked, "that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?" He questioned coolly.

"I meant, you're deliberately behind scheduale. You're trying to show me who's boss, who has got the power, if it wasn't for you I'd starve, all that nonsense. I already know that you're under protocol, as you so humbly worded it."

Draco inspected his fingernails.

"Under protocol, yes, but I still have more control over this little situation than you ever will. As I was saying, I was supposed to be bringing you breakfast but Button beat me to it, naughty naughty. I shall make her pay."

Hermione raged, "No you won't!"

Draco stepped towards her.

He leant into her, close. So close, their noses were but inches apart. His eyes glittered dangerously.

"Yes. I. Will."