Chapter Six
Humiliation Celebration...
Draco scowled, pacing his room in swift, angry strides. None of that was meant to happen. 'But it did,' he mused bitterly. It did, and it left things quite confusing. Surely, a Slytherin was not meant to have any such petty feelings for a mere Gryffindor. She wasn't worthy. 'But you do,' his mind taunted relentlessly.
And so he did. No matter. He'd have to deal with things as they progressed. Perhaps this truly would be a learning experience for them both. Sighing softly, he took a seat at the table in his room, contemplating his next actions.
He realized indeed, he was going rather soft on the girl. He hadn't even physically demanded any serious uses of her. Cleaning was trivial; a normal maid could do that. But a slave...? That was something to consider deeper in assessment.
A languid smirk crept across his lips, his eyes darkening slightly, as he calculated his next move.
Usagi looked around the living room she hadn't really spent any time in, looking for some flaw to busy herself with. Noticing a slight crease in the folding of one of the blankets, she undid it quickly and slowly refolded it. She needed something, anything to busy her mind from thoughts that did not consist of Draco.
Dobby came trotting into the room, looking at Usagi with a dreamy smile. "It's not necessary for Miss Usagi to clean," he said, going over to help her with the blanket. Usagi looked at him with a sad smile.
"I just... needed something to keep my mind busy," she mumbled feebly.
Dobby tilted his head, looking at her with his large, round eyes. "Is there anything wrong with Miss Usagi? Dobby will surely help if he can!" he said, unable to hide the eagerness in his voice.
Usagi sighed, placing the neatly refolded blanket back upon the couch. Sitting back against the soft cushions, she indicated for Dobby to do the same. Dobby shook his head vigorously. "Dobby is not worthy nor allowed to sit on the Masters' furniture," he said with a faint apprehension.
Usagi smiled wryly. "I won't say anything if you don't say anything," she whispered to him with a giggle. Dobby's ruddy cheeks grew darker and he began approaching the couch, before shaking his head heartily.
"N-no. Dobby will sit upon the floor and talk with Miss Usagi," he said firmly. Usagi looked at him with a curious confusion before shrugging.
"I dunno, Dobby... I guess I'm just confused," she said softly. "I mean, he's so mean to me, but then I see a slightly more..." Usagi blushed, not sure what the word was. "I don't think gentle is exactly right... Just a not so mean side to him, and I get confused. He's so confusing!" she exclaimed, leaning her head back against the sofa.
Dobby looked at her with a curious, troubled expression. He wasn't good with all of these human emotions. "Dobby thinks Miss Usagi is just tired from working. Dobby gets tired when he does a lot of cleaning," he said, nodding to himself.
Usagi smiled at him faintly, nodding in a false agreement. 'You know your life is really going down hill when you go to a house elf for advice,' she mused dully. "Yes, you're right.. I guess I'm just tired," she said, although she'd never felt more awake in her life.
"That's a pity," came a soft voice, startling her enough to jump. She stood quickly from the couch, looking at Draco.
"D-Draco," she mumbled, averting her eyes as he approached her.
"Didn't I tell you it was Master Draco?" he taunted in a silky voice. "Tsk, tsk, dear Gryffindor. You don't seem to learn well from mistakes." He cast an icy glare at Dobby, who squeaked and quickly retreated from the room.
Usagi faltered in her already shaky resolve, taking a small step away from the sofa, away from him. "I... I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"Sorry... Such a pathetic word," he murmured. "Stop moving away from me." Usagi froze in the retreat she didn't know she was attempting. He began to walk towards her slowly. "I think I've been too kind to you these past few days. I think I should be more strict in my demandings."
Usagi glared at him defiantly. "I think you've been doing just fine," she retorted with a scowl. "I hate this entire situation. I..." She looked at him with angry eyes. "And I hate y—"
"Shhh," he whispered, pressing his finger against his mouth in a hushing manner, ignoring the panic in his chest. It was quickly overridden by anger, a deeply boiling rage he couldn't contain. "It would be best if you held your tongue, Gryffindor, lest we say some things we'll regret later on."
Usagi huffed a small laugh. "I don't think I'd regret it," she murmured. She had never hated anyone before, but Malfoy was bringing her close to this unfamiliar emotion.
"I think you're confused, that's all."
"Confused?" she said with a raised eyebrow, not liking the way he approached her in slow, even strides.
"Yes, dear Usagi," he said, her name rolling across his lips in a soft caress of syllables. "The line between love and hate is terribly thin... But a mere silk thread placed between the two. I think your emotions become very confused when I'm in the picture. Your body says differently from the petty words you speak now."
Usagi blushed indignantly, backing away once again. "I think you're attractive, but that doesn't mean I can't hate you," she said in a mumble, her resolve weakening slightly.
"It doesn't mean you can't," he agreed, his eyes shifting slightly. "But you don't."
Usagi glared at him. "I don't think you have any right to tell me how I feel—"
"Sure I do. You're my slave.. I can tell you when to breathe these next two weeks, should I so feel inclined."
"I wouldn't carry it that far," she huffed, refusing to look at him.
"Oh, but I would. Surely you value the life of Crabbe.. He's not in a very high wizardry standing. No one would miss him if an accident of sorts befell him."
Whether this was the truth or not, Usagi couldn't tell. If it was, she had to be extra careful. Usagi's eyes widened slightly. "You wouldn't," she whispered in disbelief.
"Oh, I would... That little deal you proposed for me was better than I ever could have dreamed of." Usagi realized she couldn't back away from him any further, her back lightly resting against the wall.
"I don't understand how you can be so heartless," she cried, turning her pained gaze to him. She took a sharp intake of breath upon realizing he was right in front of her.
He raised a pale eyebrow. "Heartless, hmm? No, I have heart, Gryffindor. And it's aimed in all of the right directions: Power, conquest, and achieving what I want. Right now... I think you might be one of the things I want."
He pushed her forcefully against the wall, causing her to wince in pain. She looked at him with fearful, tear-clouded eyes. Why was he acting like this?
He placed his hand almost gently against her face, splaying his palm flat against her cheek. He stroked the trembling skin for a minute in a delicate caress, before moving his hand down to her chin, finally resting it upon her slender neck. He enclosed his fingers softly against her neck, watching her eyes widen with a horrified surprise.
"Now, I think we should go over the rules again," he said quietly, applying enough pressure that her mouth parted slightly for air but not enough to truly harm her. "You obey every command that I give you. No matter how trivial... if it is not fulfilled, then I refuse to keep my end of this little bargain." She raised her hand to grasp feebly at his as he pressed a little harder. She could feel the dizzying need for air, her breathing shallow and abrupt.
He leaned close to her, then, his hand still encircling around her neck. His lips touched softly against hers, smirking languidly against the parted, trembling flesh. He slid his tongue slowly inside her mouth, touching it against the length of her own, feeling her gasp and writhe beneath him.
He let go of her neck, but continued the kiss, shoving her hard against the wall again as his mouth bruised against her own. She whimpered softly, placing her hands against his chest, whether to stop him or encourage him she wasn't sure. How thin was the line between love and hate?
"Say it, Usagi," he whispered, pressing his hand firmly against the back of her neck. "Say, 'Yes Master Draco, I'll do whatever you want.'"
Usagi could scarcely breath, his mouth hard against hers once more. She gasped out the words, trying desperately to get it all out. "Whatever you want," she whispered faintly, barely containing a whimper as his teeth closed gently against her lower lip, biting the soft flesh before kissing her painfully once more.
Draco pulled away from her, his arms around her trembling frame the only thing that kept her standing. Her eyes were closed tightly, her reddened lips swollen and trembling.
"I'm having a friendly...gathering. A party, if you would," Draco said smoothly, running his hand lightly down the length of her back before pulling away. She steadied herself against the wall enough to stand straight, her breathing still wavering in shaky trembles. "Some of my friends from Slytherin will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. I had forgotten about the plans for it, but it's too late to break the plans now. So I'll have to endure it. It's a pool party," he said with a sarcastic smile. "And since I have to endure it, you will as well."
Usagi looked at him with widened eyes. "M-me?" she questioned. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Are you getting dumber? Yes, you. And, you'll be wearing this nice little outfit." Pulling out his wand, Draco muttered a spell. The thin material of an 'outfit' of some sort appeared in his arms.
If one could call it an outfit.
"I am not wearing that!" Usagi cried indignantly, a blush creeping across her cheeks.
"Oh, but you are," Draco said in a deceptively soothing voice. He tossed her the outfit. "And you'll be happy and smile when you do so... I have a special guest I forgot was on the list. This should be fun," he said in a light voice, amusement evident in his tone. "Get some rest for tomorrow, little Gryffindor." He left the room them, leaving Usagi stranded there with a fuming frown upon her face.
...The next day...
Usagi heard the faint sound of the talking and laughing people at the party. This was so humiliating! She'd still have to face these people once she got back to school. How could Draco be so cruel as to humiliate her this far? She tried pulling down the skirt of her outfit a little more, much to no avail. Blushing deeply, she exited the background, holding her head high with the small amount of dignity she could muster.
The outfit was not nearly as bad as others she had seen girls her age where, she concluded in a desperate attempt at a firmer resolve. The black-and-white pleated skirt stopped several inches above her knees, styled ridiculously similar to a French maid outfit. The matching top was shoulder-less, slightly puffy sleeves adorning the middle of her upper arm. The scarce-in-material top was shortened at the bottom, barely covering her stomach, making the bare flesh visible with excessive movement.
No, she didn't hate him...
She loathed Draco.
"Oh, this is a fabulous party," squealed Pansy, looking at Draco with a wide smile. Draco smirked at her, a cold mirthless look that held little warmth for her. The party was being held outback, a pool party of sorts. Most of the boys there were wearing just their swimming trunks, some of them already in the massively large pool. Draco was wearing his dark green swimming trunks and a light gray tee shirt, not wanting to swim nor get sun burned. He wished he could have cancelled this party now that he had Usagi with him, but in all of the excitement it had completely slipped his mind.
Pansy was wearing a black bathing suit with yellow daffodils boldly printed as the design. Her frame was rather large and bulky, and the harsh contrast of light and dark colors did little to slenderize her appearance.
"Of course. Did you expect any less?" he said briskly.
She giggled, an annoying, harsh sound. "Of course not, Draco."
The door opened, and Usagi walked out to where the party was taking place, a pleasant smile plastered upon her face. She faltered in her resolve upon seeing all of the people and the stares she was getting... she could feel the blush of pure humiliation staining her cheeks already, but she fought it with a severe determination that surprised even herself.
She reveled in a bitter amusement at the slight widening of Draco's eyes, the unmasked surprise evident upon his face. Smiling serenely, she approached him. "Hello, Master Draco. Is there anything you'll be requiring of me?" Her voice was as light and sugary sweet as ever. Draco could only gape.
Pansy, however, was not in as much of a stupor. "What the hell is she doing here?" she hissed, remembering Usagi to be one of the worst Gryffindors... also known as, the kindest. She surveyed the blonde's outfit, a smug smirk coming across her pug-like face. "Oh I see... hired help for the summer?" she sneered.
Usagi could see the jealousy in Pansy's eyes. Jealous of what, she had absolutely no clue. Perhaps it was the fact that she couldn't blast into an outfit like this if her life depended on it. "I suppose you could say that," she said in a cheery voice. She realized if worse came to worst, she could just say that Draco had her under a spell of some sort. "Will you be needing anything?"
Pansy's face gnarled into a hideous look. "Yeah, Gryffindor." (Was that the best insult they could muster, Usagi mused dully, the house name?) "I need for you to leave." Usagi smiled happily, but Pansy continued. "I don't see why you even have to be here," she said with utter disgust.
"Well, you see, Master Draco is having me stay with him the entire break to assist him in the mansion," Usagi said politely.
Pansy's eyes widened into a horrible, twisted expression. "You're staying in the mansion with him?" she hissed.
So that's what part of the jealousy was for, Usagi thought with an inward smile. She'd trade places with Pansy... actually, no she wouldn't, she realized with a faint giggle, taking another look at the pug-like, flower-named girl.
"Why yes, I will be. Master Draco has many needs I have to fulfill," she said in a sweet tone, causing Pansy to gawk with hate and jealousy. Usagi was almost having fun with this, seeing Pansy so flustered and angry.
Draco laughed harshly at this, smirking. "Oh yes, many needs," he murmured.
Pansy shrieked at him. "What? How could you require any such... services from that piece of trash? I'd be much better for you," she said with a smug grin.
Usagi laughed flippantly, keeping her mood light for sanity's sake. "Perhaps you would be. That's why he wanted you to stay with him for two weeks.. oh wait! No he didn't. Whoops," Usagi said with an airy giggle. "If you won't be needing anything, I guess I'll be on my way. Good bye!"
As she began to retreat, Draco grasped her retreating form, his sun-warmed fingers lightly encircling her wrist. She froze and nodded inwardly, turning to look at him. "Yes, Master Draco?"
Draco smiled languidly at her, his eyes shifting slightly. "I'm passing fond of your outfit, Gryffindor," he said in a low voice. "I think I'll have you wear it more often."
'Oh please don't let him be serious!' Usagi screamed inwardly, but on the outside she managed a pleasant smile. "Whatever you want," she echoed the words from their previous encounter, her voice sturdy. "Master Draco."
With that, she left him, walking slow and carefully amongst the people, asking if they needed anything. She hated all of the looks they were giving her, their hormonal teenage lust agitating her. Her eyes widened as she felt several hands grab at her, willing the tears not to come. 'Gotta keep Crabbe-kun safe,' she began to chant mentally, her mantra that kept her motivated.
"Wow... he's certainly making good use of you, Gryffindor," sneered a voice with a harsh laugh. Usagi turned, very slowly, to the source of the voice. Of course, she knew who it was. She felt relieve and dread sweep through her in dizzying, jumbled waves.
"Crabbe," she whispered, standing in front of him. She could already feel her self-control breaking. She looked idly at his friend Goyle, who was laying in one of the sun chairs, watching her with an unmasked disgust... and lust.
"Gryffindor," Crabbe acknowledged with a nod, smirking darkly at her. "How's your pathetic life going?"
It almost felt like the old times when they'd joke around, talking and laughing together. She felt a small smile tug painfully against her lips. "It's going—"
"Oh shut up," he said, pushing her away. She stumbled slightly, barely regaining her footing from the possibility of falling into the pool.
Draco sat up, looking on with interest at the scene that had unfolded.
"Crabbe," she murmured, her smile faltering. "At least you're okay," she whispered weakly.
"Well, I was doing fine until I saw that I had to endure your presence," he said with a trace of disgust in his voice. He adjusted the pale gray shirt he was wearing, matching in color with his swimming trunks. "I could never bare having to spend two weeks with such filth living in my house. Malfoy is a strong person," he commented, a deep loathing in his eyes for her.
Usagi could scarcely see him clearly anymore, his figure but a blurry outline through her tear-clouded vision. She recalled the times when they'd go together to Hogsmeade, their secret meetings in the middle of the night. Had it all really boiled down to this...?
Draco made his way over to the two, leaning against the deck as he watched them.
"Crabbe, I..." She cleared her throat, strengthening her resolve. Usagi was many things in life—clumsy, a crybaby, ditzy, and immature at times—But she was not weak. She smiled at him tearfully. "I'm glad you're okay, and I'm gonna make sure it stays that way... I know you don't know what I'm talking about and I know you hate me, but you're still my friend, somewhere in there."
His face contorted for a moment, a troubled look of fear shadowing across his features. It quickly passed and he smiled smugly at her. "Yeah... I'll be your friend. Especially with you in that outfit," he said haughtily, causing the Slytherins around him to howl with laughter. Many had been watching the scene unfold, with little else to do amidst the small conversation they carried amongst themselves. "Hell, I could even make an exception and we could became really friendly.."
He walked closer to her, grabbing her hard around the waist. Usagi's eyes widened as his large face began to descend down upon hers..
"Crabbe."
Usagi breathed a sigh of relief, Crabbe's face close enough to hers that he felt it tingle against his cheek. He almost ignored the call of his leader, but even he was not that stupid. "What, Malfoy?" he asked, trying to keep his growling voice calm.
"What do you think you're doing?" His voice was bland and quiet, illusory and soft.
Crabbe kept any sarcastic comments in check. "I was gonna see how dirty the filth known as Gryffindor really is," he said with a harsh chortle. Usagi wrenched herself out of his grasp, her eyes horrified and disbelieving.
"Well, I don't think that would be the wisest thing to do. Especially not before I get a chance to do so. She's my little plaything, keep that in mind," Draco said in almost a chiding voice.
"Sorry, Malfoy," Crabbe muttered quickly. He glared harshly at Usagi. "You're lucky." And with that, he gave her a hard shove, sending her toppling into the pool.
Usagi saw dimly as her long hair streamed in front of her, the entire scene occurring in an almost slow motion-like stupor. She felt as her entire body was submerged in the cold water, her hair beginning to unravel from its style. She heard the water-muffled sound of laughter and howling. And she realized all too soon she would have to go back to the surface of the water and deal with it all.
Usagi rose from the water, shivering from the abrupt change from hot to cold in body temperature, trembling from the embarrassment and pain of the entire situation. She slowly waded through the people in the water, getting out of the pool on the side opposite of Draco and Crabbe.
She moved mechanically, keeping her actions simple and her face expressionless. She parted the hair that obscured the front of her face, letting it stream behind her in wet, flowing waves. She rung out the small bit of material she could grasp of the skirt, careful in doing so. She didn't even bother with the top, as it clung to her body relentlessly, giving all of the teenage boys something to think about that night.
She made her way over to the fence where several plain towels hung. Taking one of them, she wrapped it around herself slowly, though it did little to dry off her sopping wet frame. She looked slowly at Draco, and then Crabbe, both of whom were looking at her with slightly widened eyes from her beautiful, albeit wet, appearance.
Usagi smiled sadly at Crabbe, her tears well masked from the continuous drips of water down her face. Bowing slightly and whispering a good bye, she went into Draco's mansion, locked herself in his bathroom, and collapsed upon the cold, marble floor. She felt the water drip down her body and hair into large droplets upon the floor, mingling softly with the tears that streamed in delicate meanders down her chin.
Clutching the white towel against her tightly, she squeezed her eyes shut and let the tears come. "I hate this," she whispered brokenly.
x-x-x-x-x-
To: vegiegurl, devlisheart, samisweet, Starlite Saviour, assraelrui, ABC Gurl, Bambi Star, LiLSeReNiTiE, Tangled Junky, Water Angel1, ThoseRainyDays, ScaredSh-tless, liza, MFlower49, Serenity Silvermoon, Silver Moon Goddess1, ice-princess-hime, Yami Nocturna, Seren Lunar Echo, Dark Universe, Cheerioes, Maiden Genisis, Jessica Hillyard, Raylinz... THANK YOU::hugs: