He gave a rough laugh of disbelief, his normally polished voice echoing strangely within the room. He shook his head, Impossible, Miss Bavarde. Lucius Malfoy does not consort with those outside strictly Slytherin parameters.

My family, if you have bothered to listen to tiring gossip, Professor, are infamous dark wizards. I was the only Gryffindor in the history of my household, I answered. I still could not comprehend why I was telling this to my most hated teacher. Besides, Professor, you said yourself that I lost an extraordinary number of points for a girl my age. I hardly remember you deducting from Slytherin, I replied snappishly before he could.

And I take it that your husband has no knowledge of this?, he asked, raising an eyebrow. I shook my head, and folded my hands in front of my lap, usually a sign of ushering another person to exit one's presence. He pointedly ignored my gesture.

What do you think your Lucius Malfoy would do to you, once discovered?, he asked, each syllable coming lazily off his tongue. I stared, aghast at his implications.

I have no idea.........the thought never occurred.., I began, but he cut me off with a wave.

Yes, yes. You never thought that you would be telling probably the most distrustful person you could imagine. Have faith in me, Miss Bavarde. I am no gossip, he finished firmly, and I sighed. Perhaps my formerly wicked Professor was more of a man than I had believed. Besides, I wish to see no more blood spilt because of a stupidly minute difference, he said at length.

You actually think Lucius would kill me just because I was made to go to Slytherin in my second year?, I whispered, fingers and toes growing cold with trepidation. He smiled at me, looking like a complacent cobra.

The Malfoys are not known for their forgiveness of deceptions, was all he replied, and I was mouthing something in return when a noise distracted me.

The door knob turned again, china grating against metal and we both jumped. The Professor went to swiftly unlock it; I stood there shivering, feeling that none of the warmth from the fire would ever un-chill me.

Lucius strode in, completely unpreturbed by the fact his wife was alone in a locked room with a notoriously vicious ally. He walked over and placed his arm meaninglessly on my own.

Ah. I see that you have both been able to become more acquainted, he said, and I looked frantically at the Professor, whose eyes did not even flicker towards my own.

Lucius, we have other things to discuss, he said curtly, nodding at me. I gave a flurried bow and Lucius an inattentive caress upon his face. He pulled my hands close and pressed his lips to them, his cold mouth colliding with his cold rings.

Good bye, Lourdes, we shall see you at dinner. Go for a walk in the gardens or in the library, he said amiably, and quickly followed the Professor's lead.

I sank into my chair,putting my face in my hands, nudging the mess of cake and tea on the carpet with my foot. Never had I believed such a compromising truth would be revealed to so perverse a man. I had made a pact with my father, one that I had actually intended to keep, that this truth would never resurface.

I wandered up to my room, the vast marble staircase sinuously winding to unfurl its stone tongue along the green carpet that adorned much of our house. I sat in front of the vanity and tugged at my hair, watching the whole mass of pins come undone in a perfumed flurry. I undid my dress, with the help of the mute house elf that always stayed the corner of my room solely for this purpose. As it uncinched the corset, it gasped and I turned round, wondering what the matter was.

What's wrong?, I asked, more sharply than intended, for I annoyed to be stirred from my reverie. It said nothings, its giant, ugly eyes regarding the hideous purple bruise forming fissures upon my wrist. I clasped my fingers around, it smiling warningly and the elf resumed its business, still staring rather wretchedly at the mark.

I slid into trousers, velvet trousers, and a loose black top. My hair I left free to the drafts and breezes that sailed around our house, as well as the many ghosts the wandered aimlessly.

The carpet was quite cushioning beneath my toes, and for irony's sake, I had painted them black. There were vast rooms in the house, many of which I was either forbidden to go into, or because there wafted an odd feeling of foreboding.

In the dining room, I had once noticed part of the carpet becoming undone, and when I had lifted it, I noticed a trap door. Not thinking that Lucius would become angry, or that he even knew the thing existed, I lifted it.

What I had found, however, I will not say, for those things I had seen used only in the most vile texts that Lucius owned. When he had discovered that I had gone into the secret room, he gave me a very warm smile before going into his study and retrieving something that looked like a hair brush.

Have you ever been properly groomed?, he asked me, extending his hands lovingly. I shook my head, and stupidly took hold of his hands, thinking that my dear husband would certainly never harm me just because I had unwittingly perused his dark arts relics.

Suddenly, his fingers clamped down my shoulders, and his eyes grew steely. I struggled to rise, wanting to scold him for this game that I was not amused with, but he still kept me down. He slowly brought the brush up to my face, passing it over me, watching my eyes became glazed at what I registered. That was no brush, it was covered in tiny, glass wires. I couldn't scream because his hand was suddenly at my throat, and I couldn't move because I was afraid I would collapse and vomit. He brought it to the side of my face, and I gurgled, for there was no other vocalization I could muster.

The pain was unbearable, and I still have wispy scars alongside my face. He dragged it slowly down, pressing harder as he reached my jawbone. Suddenly, he let go of my throat and I screamed, more loudly and more frightened than I ever had in my life.

, it became a monosyllabic string of words, because I was too distracted staring at his eyes. For a moment, I thought he would slowly carve my whole face out, leaving me an empty, fleshy mask.

Why did you go into the chamber?, he growled, wiping my blood onto his trousers, why did you go and look at things you weren't supposed to? Did I not tell you I would allow to wander where you pleased, as long as I designated first?.

I nodded, closing my eyes because I had no wish for him to see me falter and cry. I'm sorry, Lucius, I'll never do it again, I promise, please, please don't hurt me, I was begging now, clasping my hands together, some mockery of muggle prayer. He laughed, amused, and pressed down harder upon my shoulder. I heard the bone snap, but only vaguely registered that my arm had been broken; I was too afraid that I would bleed to death first.

Now go. The house elves will take care of you. If I catch you in there again, I assure you there are far worse things that await, he whispered, his whiteblonde hair become dotted with my own sanguine secretions. He closed his gray eyes and took me by my broken arm, gently lowering me into the arms of a standing servant.

It was the first time my husband's cruelty had ever been used upon me.











A/N: Yeck. Slightly sadistic, and definite hints of a S&M freaky Malfoy, but whatever. I would immensely appreciate some reviews, and for people to tell me whether or not I'm just making an ass of myself. Thanks.