A Slave to Die For: chapter 1
pairings: DM/HP, HG/RW, GW/NL, SB/RL
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"Harry Potter." Draco repeated, frowning. That name rang a distant and quiet bell, like something that he had dreamed about many years ago. Draco placed his hand on the wrought iron gate leading to his ancestral home, Slytherin Palace. The bars of the gate, which were actually masterfully detailed metal snakes, hissed and slid up into the shoot above their heads.
"Ingenious. Still Life charm?" Hermione whispered under her breath, and Draco turned his head to stare at her from the corner of his eye.
"Yes, it was created by Salazar himself. My favorite part about it is that the snakes will attack if anyone without permission tries to get in, or out. The basilisk venom that lies in their fangs is a strong deterrent for anyone foolish enough to try it, though. Ah, welcome to your new home." The two slaves shot each other a worried glance. No way getting past this exit without their new owner's say-so.
The five made their way through the welcoming garden full of exotic flora and magnificent marble statues of various creatures and people. One was a handsome centaur, with a beautiful young woman asleep on his back. He seemed to be gazing at the heavens, deep in concentration. It was the most prominent figure in the whole of the garden, and it was Draco's favorite.
They proceeded into the castle proper, where the Entrance Hall lay. Harry and Hermione were transfixed at the sheer magnitude of the single room, and the elegance of everything in it. The ceiling was gilded in gold, and the solid marble floor was polished to reflect. On the walls, larger-than-life size portraits of various Malfoys hung. As they passed, Draco lazily named them off.
"Meet my great-great-great uncle Rodolphus, he was a mass murderer. Oh, and my fourth cousin Emmeline, she slaughtered both her children before turning on her husband and claiming the crown. Great Grandmother Benjamina, she was a nut if I ever met one. And my personal favorite, Aunt Bellatrix." He stopped short at her frame, and glared furiously up at a tall, thin, and pale woman with midnight black hair and hooded eyes. Her thin, blood-red lips were quirked in an insane smirk, and her dress, which was a flowing ballroom gown of the deepest crimson, had a large boa constrictor draped across it, and wrapped around her neck. Harry got the deep impression that this was not a woman to be trifled with, if her portrait radiated evil and danger.
Harry hoped that the prince would take his chains off him and Hermione soon, his feet were aching, and his wrists weren't much better. Draco turned and led his cronies and his slaves up the grand staircase, to where the largest portrait hung. This one was not dark and foreboding like the others, but warm and bright.
It was a woman with long, blond curls and full lips. Her eyes were of the brightest blue, and lit up her face.
Harry vaguely recognized the nose and eyebrows, when Draco murmured, "And this is my mother." Ah. So that's where he knew that nose. It was small and slightly pointed, like the Prince's. The royal reached up and lightly touched the painted hem of her light blue ballroom dress. Harry saw Hermione's eyes soften at the tender gesture. He glared scoldingly at her, and she simply pointed at the gold plaque under the frame.
Queen Narcissa Black Malfoy
Loving Mother and Wife
The Year of Merlin 1567-1592
Harry did the math in his head, and concluded that Draco's mother died when she was twenty five years old, twelve years ago. Hermione pointed to Draco's back, and held up five fingers. So Queen Narcissa had died when her son was five. Well, that didn't matter. He still bought them to be mindless slaves, and he was still going to give him Hell.
Draco sighed and, lifting his head up regally, proceeded up the staircase to the left, which led to a long, dimly lit hallway of doors. Hermione shuffled her feet, and could not contain a whimper of pain when Goyle tugged forcefully on her chain. Harry made a move to attack the large guard, but Crabbe pulled on his own tether, making the rough manacles on his wrists and feet rub into his sensitive skin. He didn't quite bite back a hiss of stinging pain. Fortunately, his collar was made of leather, and didn't cut into his neck. Draco glared at his cronies.
"What do you think you're doing? I would like them to be able to function! Unlock those filthy cuffs around their feet and hands, but do not take off their collars. I still do not know how much restraint you two have." He finished, looking at Hermione and Harry. The two thugs muttered their apologies to their prince, and broke off the iron shackles. Hermione bent down and rubbed her sore ankles, and Harry did the same to his wrists. "Give the chains to me, you morons, and go open the doors." They stumbled off to unlock a series of doors before Draco got to them. Harry counted twelve apertures that they passed through as Draco took his slaves' collars and led them like dogs up to his private wing, which was much more airy and warm than the rest of what Harry had seen of the palace. Hermione, feeling a bit bold, tried to stop moving, but Draco was far stronger than either of them imagined. She was forced to move lest she fall on her knees, and Harry decided not to try the mysterious prince pulling them through the hall.
The teen royal opened a large oak door, which was decorated in beautiful carvings of angels and devils, and admitted the two slaves into the most comfortable room in all of the Slytherin realm. He closed the door behind them and locked it with a wave of his hand.
"Now, let me see your bonds." Hermione hesitated forward, and Draco smiled at her. "Honestly, do you think I'm going to bite your head off? I just want to take off the silly band." And the girl walked up to her master, who looked relieved that she didn't run away or yell at him or cry or do something stupid. He touched the leather collar and it fell to the floor. Draco took Hermione's hands in his and stared into her eyes. "I am not going to hurt you in any way. Ask any of the other servants who work for me. I have never hit any of him. Now, my father is the one you want to watch. Steer clear of him if you can help it. Harry, let me see your collar now." Harry strode forward, and exposed his neck to his owner. With a touch, it too was lying on the floor. "Now, I know of a job for you, Harry, but I do not know where to put Hermione. What do you two suggest?"
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Do you have a library?"
Draco studied her. She was a very interesting and many-faceted creature. She was obviously quite brainy, and would be a very good addition to the expansive Slytherin Library. He would look into it. She seemed very eager to get her hands on such a job, like it was her dream, just within fingertip's reach.
"I'll see what I can do. Now, I'm curious. How long have you two been in servitude?"
Harry and Hermione looked stunned that they were part of a civil conversation with their master, who had promised not to do what wealthy Slytherin slave owners were infamous for.
This was not what they were expecting. Hermione was softening to her new master it seemed, but Harry would hold out for as long as he could. He hated being a slave, even if the master was kind. He would escape and be his own man, no matter what. And Hermione would come with him, even if she was Head Librarian. He had promised her that they would be free one day. And he never broke his word.
"Harry has gone from house to house since he was five. I met him ten years ago, when my family was captured and sold as slaves." She spat the last word.
"I see. And what country are you from?"
"Gryffindor." Harry snapped, glaring hard at Draco, who quirked an eyebrow at the moody servant.
"Ah. Well, I must be going. Hermione, I will have to place you in Molly's care before I can talk to our Head Librarian here, but you have my promise that I will speak with her. Harry, your job will start as soon as you get a bloody bath. You both reek."
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author's note: thanks to everyone who reviewed this, I hope you enjoy it. I dedicate this to Kristen, who is a HP/DM freak, as well as my beta reader. Cha, chica! Please review!