Concerning Women Prisoners of War
Painted Dragon
A/N: all standard disclaimers and warnings apply. Sorry bout the delay, I had a hectic couple of weeks. A lil warning, language gets a bit fierce in this one, so beware. Now, on with the show!!
Chapter 4
The Reality of Hell
When The Lord your God gives you victory in battle and you take the prisoners, you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry. Take her to your home, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails, and change her clothes. She is to stay in your house for a month and mourn her parents; after that you may marry her. ~ Deuteronomy 21:10-14
For Ginny Weasley, the next two weeks of her life was hell. Malfoy went back to his old games, ordering her around, making her do repulsive serventile acts possible. She cleaned out the chamber pots of prisoners, with her own toothbrush. The first day of this disgusting chore, the smell affected her so badly that she vomited. Malfoy forced her to clean that up as well, but she was forced to use a bucket and brush. Cleaning Spells were not allowed to be used; everything was to be done by hand, something Ginny was not accustomed to.
After cleaning up other people's fecal matter, Ginny was sent to the bed chambers of Serverus Snape and Wormtail, were she was to help bathe the two men. Many a time Wormtail tried to seduce her, and many a time she flatly refused. This usually resulted in her getting being beaten severely and occasionally raped. She would never tell Malfoy, however, for she knew he would do nothing about it. She was only a lowly servant, sent to fulfill the wishes of the men she worked for. It was her just punishment, but deep down, she wanted to tear them man from limb to fucking limb.
Her only saving grace was Professor Snape. He insisted that he was perfectly capable of bathing himself. However, she was to do his laundry, and help him wash his back. When she was through, he would dismiss her to her chambers, where she would wash Malfoy's clothes. Then she would eat dinner with him, and go to sleep on the cot set up next to his bed.
She was given a break on Sunday's, when she would meet with Mrs. Malfoy to plan for her wedding. Ginny felt broken, jaded even; but somewhere, deep down, the fire inside her was burning. It was only to be a matter of time before she snapped; soon, her temper would rise to a raging inferno, and burn all that were in her way.
It was Friday, three weeks into her initial servitude. She had yet to hear anything from her parents, and she was to be married in a week's time. She had just finished bathing Wormtail, where she was beaten and raped again, and was on her way back to her chambers. Snape had returned to Hogwarts earlier that week, due to the Christmas holiday officially ending.
Ginny limped into Malfoy's chambers, to start cleaning his room. Her left hip felt broken, but she was unable to tell for sure. She would ignore it and keep pressing on, while just keeping hope that her hip would heal in time.
Heaving a great sigh, she lit all the lanterns in the darkened room. Afterwards, she proceeded to wash the floors, wash Malfoy's clothes, and polish the woodwork. Slowly making herself around the room, Ginny polished the furniture. She got to Malfoy's armoire, and slowly polished the ornate piece of furniture. Her hand hesitated for a second on the middle drawer, and an irresistible urge came over her to open it. She put down her rag and slowly opened the drawer. There were few clothes in the thing, and to the untrained eye, one would not notice anything suspicious. However, Ginny had many brothers, and she could spot a false bottom when she saw one. Quickly removing the clothes from the drawer, she pressed down on one end of the drawer, and lifted the board that popped up. Placing the board next to her, she peered into the drawer. Inside the false bottom were plenty of dirty magazines, certain things that could be considered illegal, and several envelopes addressed to her.
Ginny grabbed the envelopes, and quickly replaced the board and clothes. She sat down next to the armoire, and opened the first envelope and began to read. It was a letter from Ron and the twins! She giggled at Ron's threats to kill Malfoy and make it look like an accident, and the twins attempt to make her feel better by offering to help. A lump formed in her throat as she read the heartfelt letter from her parents telling her that they'll always love her.
The most empowering letter was from her eldest brothers, Charlie and Bill. Instead of telling her that they would always love her (even though they would) or offering to kill Malfoy, they gave her advice on her new marriage. They told her that she was, is, and always will be a Weasley, no matter whom she marries. They also made mention that since she is a Weasley she is to act like one, no matter the circumstances.
'You are a powerful woman, Ginny,' wrote Charlie, 'and you are not to be pushed around by any man, even if he is the man you married. You are the one who runs the house. Make mom proud.'
Upon reading her brother's letter, the tiny, dying flame that was once the tempest called 'The Weasley Temper', slowly began to rekindle. It would only be a matter of time when her temper would become the raging inferno that it once was.
Ginny was so absorbed into her reading that she did not notice the time, nor did she notice Malfoy entering the room. She was rudely snapped out of her reverie when the letters that she held was snatched from her hands.
"What the hell are you doing?" Malfoy hissed, rage contorting his face. Ginny avoided his gaze.
"I was reading the letters you kept from me, "she said quietly.
"Who told you, you could read these?" he yelled. Ginny didn't give an answer.
"God Dammit, Weasley, answer the fucking question!" Malfoy screamed. Suddenly, something in Ginny snapped.
"Don't use that language!" she said quietly, lifting her head up.
"What language? You mean my swear words? Fuck, fuck, fuck, shit whore, bastard!" he taunted. The string of obscenities continued, and the rage inside of her busted. She stood up slowly.
"Shut your bloody mouth Malfoy!" she screamed. He stopped.
"What did you just say to me, girl?" he hissed.
"I said shut your bloody mouth. You sound like a damn sailor, and I won't allow sailors in my household!" Ginny stood up straight and lifted her chin defiantly. The imitation of her mother threw Malfoy off base for a moment, but a deathly calm washed over his face.
"It's not your household yet, Weasley. As of right now, you are still my servant," Malfoy had a chilling calm in his voice.
"How many bloody times must you remind me?" she whispered.
"And you're a defiant servant at that!" Malfoy continued, "I do not allow disobedience with my slaves." He hit her, hard, on the mouth. He bottom lip busted open and blood poured out. The fire within Ginny exploded again, this time stronger than ever before.
"I…am…not…your…SLAVE!" she screamed, tackling him. She ignored the pain in her hip as she made the swift move. She began to beat on him; her mind was so fuzzy with rage.
"I am your fiancée! I am not a worthless being, I am a human! Quit telling me how worthless I am, quit pointing out I am below you, quit making me feel like flubberworm poop!" She screamed, as she hit him. Malfoy grabbed her hands, and rolled over, pinning her underneath him.
"Who said you were worthless?" he demanded. Ginny screamed in rage, trying to hit him.
"Answer me, Virginia," he demanded again, his voice once more, calm. Ginny stopped her struggles momentarily.
"You did, now let me go!" she yelled, trying to wrench her wrists out of his grasp.
"I have never said you were worthless," his voice was gently calm, "Not even at school. The only thing I did was tell you that you're poor and a disgrace to wizardry."
"Liar!" she screamed.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," came the sardonic reply, "Please, Virginia, tell me, who said you were worthless?" his voice was louder this time, and more demanding at that. She screamed again, half out of rage and half out of pain as her left hip collided into his during her struggle. The right sleeve on her servants robe fell down her arm as she tried to hit him, exposing all her bruises.
Malfoy grabbed her arm, and lifted it up for a better look. He grabbed her other arm and saw the bruises there as well. Rage contorted his face once again as he lifted her up violently and pulled her into the well lit bathroom. Ginny cried out in pain from her injured hip.
"Strip!" he demanded as they got into the bathroom. She shook her head.
"I said strip!" he screamed, a vein popping out on his forehead. Reluctantly she reached for the sash on her servant's robe, which was a grey version of a Japanese kimono. She untied the bow, and her robe fell open. She shed her robe, and stood there in her underwear, in front of Malfoy.
"Completely," he demanded, calming down a bit. Glowering at him, she removed the rest of her clothing. His face became clear and smooth as he walked around her, inspecting her body carefully. She couldn't help but feel a bit self conscious as his eyes roamed over every inch of her bruised and battered body. A cool hand was placed on her warm, tender hip, and she winced. Malfoy stood in front of her again, this time a bit closer, his hand still on his hip.
"Were you a virgin before you came here, Virginia?" he asked gently. She looked him in the eye and sneered.
"That's a private question," she snapped. His right hand slid down towards the inside of her thigh.
"I'm serious Virginia, give me a truthful answer," he said softly. She couldn't tell him the truth .If she did, she could be deemed unclean.
"Yes, I was," she whispered. She gasped as his hand went higher, and did something that only a married couple was supposed to do.
"Who defiled you," he hissed, angry once again. He removed his hand from between her legs and clenched that hand into a fist. However, he stayed close to her, almost as if he could protect her body.
"I…I…I…I'm sorry," she stammered. Her temper broke again, turning her into a stammering wimp. To see that she displeased him after his gentleness with her suddenly upset her.
"Did you lie to me, Weasley?" he asked, confusion replacing his anger. She couldn't answer; she didn't know what to say.
"You weren't a virgin?' he asked quietly. She shook her head out of shame. She was unclean for him, unworthy of his touch!
"Did somebody here touch you against your will, Virginia?" again, he was gentle with her, but firm. This time she looked him in the eye.
"Yeah, someone did," her words were cold. His jaw tightened, along with his grip on her.
"Who, who did this to you?" he demanded. Again, he was angry, but this time, she didn't care.
"You," she snapped. It wasn't true; Malfoy was never cruel to her. The first time he hit her was tonight.
"I never would hurt you like this, ever! Who did it?" His grip tightened on her hip and she cried out. For the first time her life, she saw tears roll down Malfoy's cheeks.
"Wormtail," she whispered in awe of his emotion. He took a deep breath and backed away from her. Letting out a scream, he punched the wall, breaking the linoleum on the bathroom walls and slicing open Malfoy's hand. Ginny swore she heard bones cracking.
"You are mine," he spat out through clenched teeth, tears running down his cheeks, "Do you understand me? You are mine! No one is to touch you but me! If they do, you are to tell me! Is that understood?" He was shaking with rage. She nodded. He let go of her and sat on the toilet, his head in his hands.
"Bathe and go to sleep. I'll heal you in the morning." He said, holding back sobs. She obliged, and took a bath. She watched him cry while she dressed. She walked back over to the bath, and ran the water.
She went over to Malfoy, and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, tears shining on his cheeks.
"Get up," she demanded, pulling him up by the shoulder. Slowly, she began to undress him, a look of concentration on her face.
"What are you doing?" he asked his voice thick from crying.
"Undressing you for your bath, that's what," came her brisk reply. He reached to stop her, but she swatted his hands away.
"I can do it myself," he insisted. She gave him a stern look.
"This is my job, Malfoy, just let me do it," she said, as she unbuttoned his shirt. He held his body rigid as she took off the shirt. She commanded for him to lift his arms up, and he obliged. She was treating him like a toddler, but the idea didn't really bother him. This was the first time anyone was so motherly towards him.
She attempted lifting his undershirt over his head, but his arms were to long. He laughed in spite of himself, and helped her get it off. Completely forgetting himself, he handed hr his shirt with his left hand, exposing the Dark Mark to her. She took the shirt from him, but looked at the mark, slowly running her hand over it. He snatched his arm away.
"I'll finish from here," he said gruffly, "go over to the cabinet. There should be a potion in there for mending bones. Take it and go to bed." Looking him in the eye, she nodded, and limped away to the cabinet, over on the other side of the bathroom. She found the potion, and drank some. The taste reminded Ginny of sewer water, and she gagged. But in moments, her hip lost all pain, and she walked back over to the tub, where Malfoy was sitting.
She knelt down at the edge of the pool sized tub, and picked up a sponge that was sitting next to her. She picked up the soap, and lathered up the sponge, and began to wash Malfoy's back.
"I thought I told you to go to bed," he said, the conviction in his voice nonexistent.
"How many tattoos do you have?" she answered, as she passed the sponge over a large black Celtic knot in between in shoulder blades.
"Three," he answered, "The one on my back is the Black clan knot. The one on my right arm is self explanatory, and I have one, right behind my ear, which is my initials." He muttered. Ginny looked at his arm and saw a big Welch Green dragon on his bicep. She gave a small smile, and then looked behind his ear.
"DLRM," she read, "Does the 'L' stand for Lucius?"
"Lucas," he answered, "The 'R' is for Raphael,"
"The archangel that is supposed to bring love," she breathed. He turned and smiled.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" his eyes glimmered with happiness.
"I pray to him every night," she answered. His smile slowly dissolved.
"I'll finish it up from here," he said, giving her a forced smile and taking the sponge from her hand. She nodded and stood up.
"Good night, Malfoy," she said, exiting the room.
Some time later, after he finished bathing, he walked into the darkened chambers and saw Ginny lying on the floor, sleeping. Something unexplainable happened to him, as was per usual, lately, and he bent down and picked her up. He laid her on his bed, and covered her with the blankets.
"You'll never be worthless to me, Weasley," he uttered, placing a kiss on her cheek. She stirred a bit, but didn't waken. Just then, the Dark Mark began to burn and Malfoy got his wand out.
"G'night Ginny," he whispered as he disappeared from sight. If one would've looked closely, they would've seen a smile on the young girl's face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Finally, done! What ya'll think about it? Review! I'll try to get out the next chapter asap. I know Draco is a lil ooc, but we'll see why in a little bit…
Oh! I had some ppl ask me why Ginny had to cut her hair. As much as I hated to get rid of Miss Weasley's beautiful hair, it was law for them to do it. Getting rid of the hair meant she was 'shaving off her past'. The Hebrews did it so the woman could wear her hair in a Hebrew style after the hair grew back (female POW's were not Hebrew). In this story, Ginny won't have to wear her hair a certain way, but it was to symbolize her "loss of childhood and past"; When her hair comes back (in the next two chappies!), it will be the growth of her woman hood.
Major, major, major props go out to all my reviewers. I love all of you! Individual thank you'swill be in the next chapter.
Next Chapter: Hannah's Wedding, Ginny's reaction, and a bit more insight to Draco's strange behavior….