MELTING THE ICE

Chapter 2: Malfoy Manor

The three appeared in the entryway of Malfoy Manor: Lucius first, then Draco and Hermione. Lucius calmly waited for his son to get control of his slave, standing there watching the scene unfold without any move to help.

Draco was holding onto the chains binding Hermione's hands. She was struggling for all she was worth, fighting her hardest to escape. Her legs were free, and the only thing keeping her from running away was the pair of handcuffs on her. She stopped pulling for a moment and looked down at her chains. Her eyes widened in recognition: these were not magical cuffs by any means, but bindings of muggle origin.

Hermione shut her eyes and concentrated. She focused her thoughts on the metal before her and muttered a few choice words. With a snap, they broke open and fell of.

She was barely free of the chains when she was already running towards the door, scrambling as fast as she could go, almost out of the mansion. Draco was just staring at her with an open mouth, too amazed to do anything but gape. He now, for the first time, fully understood the extent of Hermione's powers. It was no wonder that she had always bested him in the exams if she was capable of this type of wandless magic.

Lucius watched Hermione try to escape. He barely batted an eye, flicking his wand effortlessly. Hermione was yanked backwards by Lucius' spell, now with a black leather collar around her neck. There was a silver serpent inscribed on it, making it look like a snake was wrapped around her. A chain connected to her collar appeared in Draco's hands.

Lucius spoke with the authority of one who is not used to argument: "Be sure you hold onto her this time. I won't have the patience to track her down, or the drive to purchase you a new one."

"Yes, father," Draco muttered. He turned his ice-glare to Hermione. "I will have no more problems with her."

"This collar is charmed against and escape spells she may be able to use. You now have been warned against what she can do. Do not underestimate her again. She is now your duty: I want nothing to do with your disciplinary matters of her. She is entirely under your control. I expect you to be able to handle this now." He spoke with a disapproving tone, then turned to leave the room, his robes billowing out behind him.

Hermione had been waiting passively during the whole lecture, but she lost her air of calm the moment Lucius left. "Your father already has doubts about whether you can 'handle' me or not, Malfoy. Be a shame if you disappointed him, wouldn't it?"

"Granger," Draco began, "you're nothing but a mudblood whore." She flushed. Draco continued, "you are my slave, and you have no rights. You never will. You're mine, to do with as I want--and I want. You will find that if you anger me, the consequences will be severe. You will soon learn to do what you're told, when you're told."

Hermione's eyes flashed angrily. Before Draco realized what was going on, she had whipped her arm up and slapped him in the face. "I will never listen to you, Malfoy," she shouted, stumbling away as far as the chain would let her. You know that I was always a better witch than you were, that I'm smarter than you'll ever be. I don't know what sick thoughts are going through your head, but I will NEVER submit to being your slave."

Draco brought his hand up to his cheek, stunned by Hermione's outburst. His eyes hardened as he jerked the chain, causing Hermione to fall in front of him. She saw the look on his face and terror flooded her expression, her chocolate eyes clouding with fear. She raised an arm to defend herself, but was no match for Draco's strength.

He punched her, letting his anger take control of him. He hit her in the face, and again in the side. She cried out, a single tear escaping from her eye.

Draco paused for a moment. What am I doing? he thought. This is a girl whose only fault is her muggle parents, and that she's smart. Why am I doing this to her? I shouldn't be doing this, this is wrong. All she tried to do was escape, and who wouldn't? He looked down at the cowering girl on the floor next to him. She had wrapped herself into a ball, as if to shield herself from the blows she undoubtedly expected to rain down upon her.

She looked so beautiful like that, so vulnerable. For a moment he stopped, considered his thoughts. But the spell broke.

"Get up," he growled, ashamed in more than one way. He was embarrassed at having lost his temper like that, using a physical method of punishment, was briefly ashamed at having treated one of his former schoolmates like that, and very much ashamed at the thoughts of pity he had. He was a Malfoy, a member of one of the most powerful wizarding families. Mudbloods were slaves, and they deserved that position in life.

Hermione pushed herself to her feet. She was obviously in pain, but refused to let her expression show that she was hurt, thereby managing to take all satisfaction away from Draco.

He regarded her calmly, noting her resistance of being broken. She still stared him full in the face, even after his show of dominance. When she spoke, it was a voice filled with hatred.

"You may call yourself my master, but I will never be your slave. You can give me as many testosterone-filled displays of power as you feel, but I am just as good in magic as you are, if not better. And I swear to you, if I ever get the chance, I will take my escape. If I have to kill you to be free, so be it." Her voice trembled for a moment. "No matter what you say, I know that the Dark Wizards haven't taken over completely. Harry is still alive, and he'll rescue me."

Draco's voice was slow. "Potter has no power in this household. You belong to me, and I will enjoy breaking you."

He raised his wand. "Ensenaro," he whispered. Silvery ropes flew out of his wand and wrapped themselves around Hermione's wrists. With a single gesture she was bound once again.

"Listen to me, Granger," he said. "I expect a lot from you. You're a smart girl; you should be able to figure out that the only way you'll survive is to follow my orders." He walked toward the stairs, pulling Hermione's chains so she was forced to follow. "Come. I will explain to you your duties."