The night was a restless one for both of them. Hermione tossed and turned, anxious that at any moment Draco would grab her and do… something. She wasn't sure what she was afraid of more: blunt pain, or other… forced things. Though he'd been brave enough to say the word earlier, she couldn't muster the strength to think it, even if only to herself. Draco laid awake most of the night, listening to her whimper when she did sleep, and toss when she couldn't. When his clock read 9 am, he just couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, stretching. He dressed slowly and languidly. He didn't feel a need to rush simply for Granger's sensibilities. He was content with himself. He figured she'd learn to be, or just keep cringing and blushing. She was cute when she blushed. He could count on his hands how many times he'd seen someone blush in the last few years. People seemed more scared and apt to scream than blush. Draco really did prefer the latter, in all honesty. But you take what you can get.
After a lazy shower, he wandered back to the bed, studying the sleeping form of Hermione. She was so peaceful looking, he noted. He didn't want to wake her, not yet. There was, of course, more to the agreement between them, but they weren't his rules. He hadn't felt a huge need to mention them.
Ah, coffee: elixir of the gods. Draco sipped at a cup, glancing over his delivered issue of the daily news. Voldemort had kept the paper up and running, but it wasn't really worth reading. Since he had his fist clenched tightly around every column writer, nothing was ever interesting. Unless, of course, you called new standards and laws interesting. Voldemort, to Draco's revulsion, was always changing laws, simply to amuse himself. It was grating on his nerves, but he was powerless against it. His history prevented him from doing anything. He was a bad guy. The good guys would never trust him to begin with. Not to mention most of the good guys were dead. That did put a damper on rebellion, didn't it?
Pushing the coffee away from him, he checked the clock again. He figured he'd get his errands done before Granger woke up. Maybe waking up alone would do her some good. He wasn't oblivious to the fact that every time he moved, she froze up like a jackrabbit on a highway.
He grabbed his coat, locking the door. He thought of leaving a brief note to her, but decided after a moments consideration, that she wouldn't care. How could she care? He shook his head as he left, walking down the street in a stately manner. People cowered before him, and in some ways, it made him feel better.
At least someone respected him.
Hermione opened her eyes slowly. She tried to keep her breathing quiet for fear of waking Malfoy. After a moment she chanced a look to his side of the bed. It took her a moment to realize it was empty. With shaking fingers, she traced the dent his head had left in the pillow. Sitting up, she stretched awkwardly. Her body felt like it'd been ran over by a couple of large trucks. She nibbled on a fingernail as she looked over the clothing she was wearing. While it was comfortable, it was surely not clothing meant to wear while sleeping. Oh well. At least he let her have clothing, she thought to herself. Hearing her stomach grumble, she made her way cat-like into the kitchen.
Most of the food contained was boxed or frozen. But food was food. She settled on a box of mac and cheese that was only a couple months over the expired date, and ate her fill. She'd forgotten how good food could taste.
After that, she didn't know what to do. It'd been so very long since she'd had time to herself. Having found pen and paper in Draco's study, she started to tentatively write out a grocery list. She didn't feel the need to form a budget, as her family had so often done. Everyone in the whole wizard world knew that Draco Malfoy had everything he could ever want and more. He was Voldemort's right hand man, after all. She bit her lip. Cooking. That was going to be rough.
As she lazily tapped the pencil against the table, she looked out the window. They were locked and shut tightly, the dark curtains opened only slightly. Hermione sighed, moving over to them slowly to push the curtains open. The window looked out into what during other times of the year, was probably a garden. Right now, in winter, most things were dead. She could see a bench, and a swing. A swing, hm? Now that peaked her interest. Peering closer, she tried to make out the details on it. She could see some design had been carved into the sides, but from this distance, she couldn't tell what.
Escape. The thought hit her fully right at that moment. She could escape. Draco was gone -- she'd searched the house for him. There was no one outside. She'd been so used to doing exactly what she was told, that she hadn't even considered escape. She bit her bottom lip, pushing her hair behind her ear as she glanced around.
Suddenly, reality hit. Where would she go? There was no one alive who would shelter her -- she was Draco's personal item. She cupped her hand on her neck, staring out the window still, but not really seeing anything. Her eyes glazed over as she thought about her lost friends.
The last battle had been a good one, she told herself. She was trying to convince herself, she knew, but it was something she needed to be reassured of. It'd been fought where they didn't have the advantage, on enemy turf. The numbers had been about even, but that hadn't mattered. Bellatrix and her cohorts had found some sort of old spell that had wiped out many of their best bets. Harry had pushed her out of the way when the fire had sprung up. It was a brutal spell, like all of it's time. She chewed on her lip still, closing her eyes, trying to block out the screams. Harry had screamed. Voldemort had liked that part. Others had been in that circle, Ron, Ginny, so many familiar faces had been burned in that spell. The ones who were left, few as they were, went out with a bang. It was her, Oliver, the Weasley twins, and Neville. They had taken out quite a few.
Hermione still held a grudge against Draco. He'd been the one to disarm her, to force her to stand down or die. She'd opted for death, but he wouldn't grant it. His eyes had been so sad when she'd asked for death, and for the life of her, she couldn't think of why. Maybe he knew what was in store for her.
If she had a chance, she'd kill him. He'd been the one to find the spell, she knew. She'd do it. What did she have to lose?
Her lip stung. She gently brushed her fingertips over the part that hurt, staring with open fascination at the dark blood that smeared them. She heard the door open, heard Draco say her name. "Granger?" She turned, looking at him. He was carrying a large number of boxes and bags, being rather clumsy about it.
He took in the scene, looking at her fingers, the blood dripping down her lip, the pen clutched tightly in her other hand. "Dammit, Granger, I can't leave you alone for even a morning." He dumped his findings onto the table, going to the bathroom closet and getting a washcloth. He ran it under water, coming back to Hermione, who still hadn't moved. He wiped the blood from her fingers, curling her hand around the rag, and moving it to cover the bleeding on her lip.
He looked down at her, at her tear filled brown eyes, the confusion in them. He sighed. "I've got some stuff for you. Come see." Not bothering to see if she took an interest, or if she followed him, Draco moved back to the table to start unpacking boxes. One bag was food. "You like fruit. I got some." He moved the bag to the kitchen counter, stacking the boxes and opening them one at a time. "I got you some clothes. They're your old size, before…" His words trailed off as he looked at her. They both knew what he meant. Neither wanted to mention it.
She didn't question how he knew her old size, or how he'd known that she'd like fruit. She just accepted it. Still holding the rag to her lip, she looked over the clothing that he'd bought. It was nice. Very pretty. It was feminine enough to be stylish, but comfortable enough to be bearable. Two of the boxes were casual outfits, pants, shorts, shirts, and sweaters. The boxes that had been wrapped, now those worried her. Draco took the boxes into the bedroom, talking to her as he opened drawers, putting the clothing in them. She was surprised to see he'd even bought pajamas, and not slinky ones like she would've guessed. "The drawers on your side are for you stuff. Whatever you'd like to keep in them."
She was gently caressing the ribbon on the decorated boxes that remained. Draco stood in the doorway, nodding at her, urging her to open it. He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning that had saved all his pennies and nickels to buy his parents something. She set the rag down, opening the boxes slowly. The first one contained makeup, all sorts. Brushes, shampoos, conditioners, top of the line. Hermione glanced over them all, silent.
The next she opened was the smallest. For a moment, she was confused, eyeing the object it contained. Draco spoke up, explaining. He was getting into a bottle of wine in the kitchen, not meeting her eyes. "Once you're in better health, we'll be required to attend social functions. It's proper for owned persons to wear a collar, and leash, if desired." The collar was dark blood red, almost black, and it was velvety soft. From it hung a small jewel. She fingered it. It was a dark topaz colour, with gold wire wound about it like a cage. She swallowed, pushing it aside quickly and moving to the other boxes. Draco took another drink, watching her.
The leash was a simple silver chain that had small bells near where it attached to the collar. They jingled prettily when moved, but to Hermione, they only made her sick with dread.
The dresses were beautiful. All dark tones, with silver chains identical to the leash used in them. Some were belts, others were decoration, or the string that laced up the side or back. She looked at them with words stuck in her throat. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to tell him that she was not his, and he had no right. But she knew it didn't matter. She was his, unless she escaped. And even then, it wouldn't matter. They'd bring her back. They'd do worse things.
She was crying, tears falling without her even noticing until one rolled off her cheek and splattered on her hand. Draco was there then, his hand on her shoulder, feather light and cautious. "I'm sorry, Granger." It wasn't much, he knew, but it was all he could offer.
Hermione pushed his hand away, "Leave me alone, Malfoy. Just because you didn't have the guts to kill me doesn't mean I don't have the guts to survive without you." Her voice was filled with spite and anger, though tears were still falling from her eyes. How she wished she could've died with Harry and the rest. That would've made things so much simpler. But things couldn't be simple, could they? For some reason, she was alive. That's how it was, and she'd best deal with it. Wiping the back of her hand across her eyes, she sniffed, straightening her back and looking Draco in the eyes. "What do you want for dinner tonight"
Draco watched her, admiring her strength. A flower with a stem of steel. He could appreciate that. He knew that's how it had to be, though. If it wasn't for that, she'd be dead, crazy, or so broken she wasn't Granger anymore. "Surprise me." He swept away from her, taking with him his bottle of wine and glass, disappearing into his study, the door closed softly behind him.
Hermione stared at the door for a few minutes, silent. Then the tears came again. She didn't bother trying to stop them. She picked up the clothes off the table, pushing them box and all into the bottom drawer corners. She'd face that when she had to. Right now, she had to find something to cook.
Well. A surprise. In that case, it'd be something she wanted. He could deal. What's the worse he could do? Kill her? The thought made her choke on her tears, issuing a bitter laugh. Right.
A/N: So, there's chapter two... Getting eight reviews in such a short span inspired me to post this up. I honestly hope this is okay... The next chapter includes an... interesting social function. I'm kinda stuck at a standstill as far aswhere to go with chapter 5. I have up to four done. Hope you all enjoyed it, and please, review, if you feel so kind. Any suggestions are welcome... but the plots laid out to a certain point already. Thanks for all the great reviews already! Edit: I went through and put in some missing breaks / punctuation. My original has the punctuation, but this one takes it out... probably converting the files or something, stupid things. So if random periods go missing, forgive me, and smote microsoft.