Unbreakable

By patronsaintof


Disclaimer: The plot remains mine, otherwise the characters and terms you recognize as belonging to JK Rowling are, in fact, hers.

Author's Note:Landlords blow. I hate having to deal with them!

Random fact: Originally, Isabelle was supposed to be good. It's funny how stories just write themselves once you start.


Chapter Twelve
Allure

Ginny Weasley walked through the crowded streets in Diagon Alley. Her eyes flitted from one side of the road to the other, scanning the signs hanging above the doors. She had walked this path many times, and knew each store by heart, so she stopped, curious when she saw a sign she didn't recognize. The Black Orchid stood precariously close to the entrance to Knockturn Alley, but Ginny's curiosity urged her forward. The door was open, but it was dark with shadows inside, flickering candlelight illuminating the room only slightly. Black curtains covered the windows, but there were ledges covered in the same black material, what looked like velvet, between the glass and the curtains veiling the store. On these ledges sat various trinkets.

As Ginny neared, she saw a small statue made of polished marble. It rose no higher than two feet. A man and a woman embraced, the man bearing wings that sprouted from just between his shoulder blades on his back. The woman's back was facing the man, her face turned, and neck twisted to stare up at him, the longing on her face captured well. Her hands were raised in an attempt to touch his face while his arms surrounded her, one reaching across her chest, a hand languidly resting on her breast. Both were naked but for a piece of cloth that was draped across the very top of the woman's thighs where they joined her pelvis.

Drawn towards this particular statue, Ginny noticed nothing else in the windows. The elaborate jewelry and various other statues were ignored. She stepped into the store, breathing in deeply the scent of incense. Something about it seemed familiar to Ginny, as if she'd smelled it before recently. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the darker room, and looking around Ginny was in awe of the beauty of the store. Statues similar to the one she had seen outside were scattered about the room; beautifully embraced men and woman surrounded her, among shining silver jewelry and glittering jewels. An old woman sat behind a counter some ways into the store, a bent looking woman wearing dark clothes, and loose gray hair.

"Excuse me," Ginny said as she neared the woman, "there's a statue outside, a man with wings and a woman. I'd like to know how much it is to buy." The woman smiled at Ginny revealing that several of her teeth were missing. When the woman moved she jingled as if small bells were attached to her, but Ginny could see none visible.

"Yes, Eros and Psyche, but I'm afraid that one is not for sale." The woman said politely, smiling again at Ginny.

"Oh, may I ask why it's on display then?"

"Why, to get you into the store, dear." The woman spoke, her voice lowering. Ginny frowned at her, suddenly feeling very nervous. The woman was walking towards her, still smiling. Somewhere behind her, Ginny heard the door close. She whirled around to see a cloaked and hooded figure standing in front of it. Behind her the old woman crooned, "Don't be afraid."


Sitting still on her bed, staring at the wall opposite her, Hermione Granger remained silent. It was not a willing choice, for if she had opened her mouth to speak she would be unable to. For two days now, Hermione had been without speech. She refused to leave her room, instead remaining in the same position every time someone came to bring her food. No one tried to force her to descend for dinners again, because after her first dinner, on the following evening, she had bit and scratched at the man who came to lead her away, hitting him wherever she could, as hard as she could. The man had left with a bloodied face. Her food was now thrown on the floor carelessly. Hermione had thus far made no effort to retrieve it, causing her to feel faintly light headed and sick.

There came a soft knock on the door, and then it swung open. Draco Malfoy stepped inside, and to Hermione's surprise, he held a cat in his arms. It was the cat. The poor animal looked scared, but it remained motionless in his arms. Stepping into the room, Draco shut the door with his heel, releasing the cat the moment the door clicked into place. The cat dashed forward, slipping beneath the bed. Hermione remained still, her eyes on Draco. Without speaking, he took up his usual place at her desk, picking up the book he had been reading each time he was there. For ten minutes, Hermione sat watching Draco, until she gingerly climbed off her bed and knelt beside it. She peered beneath the mattress, her eyes seeking out the cat.

After confirming that the cat was real, and indeed under her bed, Hermione rocked back on her heels, twisting her head so that she was looking behind her. Draco was reading, or at least pretending to. Pushing herself up from the floor with her hands, Hermione rose to her feet. She walked towards the desk; Draco still didn't look up from his book. It was only when Hermione was only inches away and had a hand snaking towards him that he glanced up at her with a quirked eyebrow and curious expression. She ignored him, pushing past him and grasping the handle of a drawer in the center of the desk. Tugging on it hard, it pulled out and hit Draco, stopping. He didn't move, but Hermione hadn't expected him to. She slipped her small hand into the opening and fished around until she found a few loose sheets of paper and a crayon. The entire time, her eyes kept flitting to his face somewhat nervously.

Supplies in hand, Hermione retreated to her bed, sitting with her back to the headboard. Her knees lifted towards her chest, feet planted firmly on the mattress. It was difficult, but she managed to write what she wanted to say on the paper, with the crayon, though it left it wrinkled and some of the letters were poorly shaped. When she was finished, she set the crayon on the bed beside her, clutching the paper in her hands, which rested on the top of her knees. She peered over the paper and her hands, her eyes fixed on Draco. He was watching her, the book still open in front of him. Then, in one fluid motion, he pushed the chair back and rose to his feet beginning to walk towards her. Whisking the paper out of her hands caused Hermione to feel the small slicing sensation of the paper's edge cut into the soft flesh between her forefinger and thumb on both hands. She sucked in a sharp intake of breath. Draco glanced at her, but said nothing, as he resumed his seat at her desk.

He read what she had written while she nursed the now bleeding small slits on both hands. She was holding her right hand to her mouth, sucking slightly on the cut for a few seconds before alternating hands. Draco's voice brought her attention away from the pain, which was admittedly weak, but surprising. "She came willingly, for the food."

Hermione nodded, one hand still attached to her mouth. Frustrated, wanting to speak but being unable to, Hermione let out a loud sigh, dropping her hand to her lap. The hand instantly rose again, pressing against her chest, her eyes widening when she saw Draco's wand pointed at her. The fear she felt was written on her face, and she noticed the way Draco winced while he muttered something so softly she couldn't hear. A slightly warm feeling tingled her throat and her mouth turned up in a smile. "Thank you." She whispered, her voice hoarse.

"I'll have to put the spell back on when I leave, you know." Draco said, watching Hermione closely. There were tears in her eyes and she was staring at Draco with such gratitude that he had to look away.

"Yes, yes, that's fine." Hermione said, her voice hushed and breathy. She took a deep breath and wiped away a single tear that fell onto her cheeks. Draco looked at her uncomfortably, fidgeting slightly.

Draco cleared his throat then said, "You'll be allowed to keep the cat here with you. I spoke with Isabelle about it already." Hermione's eyes locked on his, glowing somewhat. She was smiling still, and it made Draco immensely uncomfortable to have her looking at him in such a way. A piteous meow issued from beneath the bed and Hermione surged forward so quickly that she lost her balance as she neared the edge of the bed. She lurched forward, but before she could fall, Draco had lunged towards her, grasping her upper arms to steady her and push her back on the bed. At the contact of his hands, Hermione reacted violently. Suddenly afraid, she kicked at him. He released her at once and she fell onto the bed, chest heaving.

"Don't touch me." Hermione said somewhat harshly.

"I wasn't going to hurt you." Draco replied, frowning at her. Hermione returned the expression, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. Draco shook his head. He stepped away from where he stood, making his way to the door. One hand on the knob, he turned back, pointing his wand at Hermione. She had tears in her eyes again and was shaking her head, a pleading look in her eyes. Draco looked away, muttering the spell and opening the door at the same time. He didn't look back as he stepped out. The door clicked closed and Draco leaned against it, sighing. Time was running out for Hermione; he needed to act fast.