A/N: Hey all. Well thanks for the reviews, they all rock. Anyway onto the chapter.
DISCLAIMER: I only own the five slaves.
Chapter FourteenDraco sat silently in his mother's reading room waiting for Hermione and Tonks to return from the funeral. Tonks had slipped a sleeping draught into Lucius' coffee that morning and now he sat dozing at the breakfast table with his cup in his hand and the paper in the other. Tonks planned on creating false memories once more and weaving them into his mind.
Draco had spent the day reading and wandering around the house. Normally he would spend it chatting to Hermione or teaching her the art of blocking people from her mind. So today, he felt rather… lost without her company. It was as though he had come to depend on her company. He enjoyed having her with him everyday, learning more of her life, ambitions. To Draco she was fascinating. He knew, what was happening was wrong. He was friends with her and despite him being on the light side, it was still wrong. If Lucius found out Draco knew he would be severely punished and Hermione as well. She could possibly be killed and he couldn't handle that happening to her. He had almost lost his mother; he would not let someone else who he had become close to face death for him.
With that thought in mind the fireplace whirled alive with Tonks stepping out first.
"Hermione's on her way. She is just speaking with Minerva," said Tonks before sighing, "I suppose I should get to Lucius."
Draco just nodded as she transformed herself and walked out of the reading room. As the door snapped shut behind her Hermione came whirling into the fireplace. She stepped out dusting soot from her clothing.
"Hey," said Draco as she smiled at him a little, "How did it go?"
Hermione walked over to the lounge and sat beside him, "Like any other funeral I guess. Molly had written a letter," Hermione paused as a lump formed in her throat, "In it… she said Harry and I were like her own children. I never knew she felt that way. I mean I did about Harry, but not me."
Tears fell down her cheeks silently and Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his hand rubbing up and down the side of her arm. She rested her head on his shoulder looking at the wall crying in silence.
After a few minutes Hermione sat up right, "I should get changed."
She stood and walked over to the painting of the apple tree. She opened it and stepped in changing in the corridor when the painting shut behind her. After changing back into her toga, which she had left in the corridor when she changed that morning, she stepped back out into the reading room. She walked over to Draco and handed it too him. He used his wand to clean it and disguard it back to his mother's wardrobe with a spell.
"Umm," said Hermione hesitantly before hugging Draco, "Thankyou for being a friend," as she pulled back she suddenly pecked him on the cheek. Stepping back they both stood in silence before Hermione turned and left the reading room heading for the kitchens.
Draco let out a deep breath he didn't know he had been holding. His cheek burned where she had kissed him. He sat back down and let out yet another deep breath.
She had kissed him. Well it was a peck but she did it and it made him feel… funny. A feeling he had never experienced before. His stomach had fluttered again at the sight of her. His breathing had quickened when she sat beside him and he held and then when she kissed him his heartbeat became rapid.
"Oh Merlin," whispered Draco leaning back against the lounge, "I like her… I bloody like her."
HD
Hermione held her fingers to her lips as she walked through the house and back to the kitchens. Why on earth did she do that? Peck him? A hug, well that was fine, but a peck on the cheek! Hermione shook her head feeling her cheeks go red from embarrassment. She should not have done that. No doubt he would never speak to her, which meant she had lost her closet friend within the Manor, other then a rarely seen Tonks.
Hermione walked down the kitchen stairs as Bridget came out looking worried but when she saw Hermione her face became one of relief.
"Oh Hermione, you're back," she said smiling, "How did it go?"
Hermione sighed, "I guess like any other funeral would go… Bridget I did something stupid."
"What?"
"I kissed Draco," she whispered so Scott in the kitchens wouldn't hear, "I mean it was a peck but I did it!"
Bridget looked at Hermione shocked, "You kissed that thing?"
"Shh! Look," whispered Hermione, "Draco is on our side and for the past two months he's been teaching me how to block people from prying through my mind… but through that time we have formed a friendship. And when I am with him… I am a lot happier. We laugh, joke… tell each other what's on our minds. And when I came back from finding out about Molly dying… I broke down because it brought something else up. He was there for me… and today I came back and he comforted me again… and then I got up to leave I hugged him and then pecked him."
Bridget sat down beside Hermione, "What do you feel when you are with him? Funny in the stomach?"
Hermione went silent, deep in thought. She sighed and finally nodded. She did feel that way around him, mainly when he was standing close to her.
"Hermione," said Bridget slowly, "I think you might have a crush on him."
Hermione looked at Bridget in shock, "Me like him? In that way? No way!"
"Then how else do you explain the funny feelings and sudden peck?"
Hermione couldn't and slowly she began shaking her head, "No way… I can't like him… I mean he would never go for a witch like me. I'm not his type a pureblood."
"For all you know," said Bridget, "He might like you the same way."
Hermione shook her head, "No. We should get back to the kitchen. Dinner needs to be started. And don't say anything to Scott… there is something not right about him."
Bridget nodded and her and Hermione stood, walking down the steps to the kitchen. Hermione pushed the door open and Scott stood up instantly.
"What took you so long? You said you would be back by five. It's nearing six-thirty," said Scott angrily.
"I'm sorry. My friends needed me more than I anticipated," lied Hermione icily, "Their mother just died Scott. Back off."
Scott looked at Hermione annoyed and clenched his fists tightly, one inching for his pants. Hermione instantly pulled her wand out pointing it at his chest.
"Go right ahead, Scott," said Hermione warningly, "Do what you want to me."
Scott scowled and sighed, "I worry about you Hermione."
"You are trying to control everything I do," replied Hermione, "I'm not a child and I can take care of myself."
Hermione lowered her wand, slipping it back into the pocket inside her toga she had created for her wand when she first got it back. Scott turned and sat over in the corner of the kitchen grumbling too himself darkly.
"Okay everyone. Let's get a move on with dinner. Roast chicken with the normal roast vegetables and then chocolate cake with chocolate fudge and vanilla creamy ice cream," said Hermione getting out the vegetables. She could easily use her wand but didn't want to flaunt the fact that she had one. She glanced over at Scott who glared at her and turned away.
Hermione frowned, there was something about his eyes… they looked too familiar for Hermione's liking. Maybe she should talk to Draco about them and see if he can remember them. The thought of Draco sent her blushing as Hermione turned away to begin chopping the vegetables. Beside her Sophie worked silently chopping the carrot the way Lucius liked it cut.
HD
Draco headed too dinner that night as Lucius and 'Melanie' headed down the hall. Lucius was holding Melanie close to him, his hand on her arse. Draco looked at the ground in disgust, although he knew Tonks was probably holding back the urge to throw up on the mats.
After finally accepting his feelings for Hermione, Draco soon realised she was most likely taken. He knew her and the youngest male Weasley had something going on when they were attending Hogwarts. No doubt that had finally come into play when the war was over. Plus why on earth would she feel the same way for him? He was horrible to her in school and during her first month at the manor and like he had figured, she was probably dating Weasley.
Draco sat down at the table as Sophie set out the dinner plates for them. A few seconds later, Hermione herself led the other servants out with the roast dinner platters. It smelt wonderful and the potato's had been coasted in mixed herbs, just the way Draco liked them.
"So son," said Lucius looking at Draco as he placed meat onto his plate, "How has your day been?"
"Alright," said Draco placing some beans on his plate, "Yours?"
Lucius wasn't listening. He was looking at his potatoes. Unlike Draco, he did not like mixed herbs on his potatoes. Draco lowered his fork a little as his father stood up.
"Father?" questioned Draco.
"In a moment Draco," snapped Lucius walking out of the dining hall.
"What's he doing?" hissed Tonks worriedly.
"I don't know. But it doesn't look good," replied Draco although he knew what may be happening.
HD
Hermione praised Bridget as the fragile girl placed the last cherry on the cake. The kitchen door banged open sending the six slaves too the ground cowering. Lucius walked in, towering over them all in a threatening manner.
"Who cooked the potatoes?" asked Lucius in a sneering tone.
"H-Hermione, sir," stammered Scott gesturing to Hermione who looked at Scott shocked – he had cooked the potatoes.
Lucius instantly turned too Hermione glaring at her with malice, "Of course. Who else could ruin a wonderful meal?"
Hermione opened her mouth up to say something but Lucius yanked out his wand hitting her with Cruciatus Curse. The slaves, other then Scott cried out as Hermione screamed in pain, her body withering on her ground pain visible in her face.
Smirking Lucius ended the charm and Hermione remained on the ground panting. Bending, Lucius yanked Hermione up from the ground and dragged her along behind him. Hermione groaned as her entire body slid up the stairs. At the top, Lucius dropped her and turned too her.
"Get up and walk," he hissed.
Hermione grunted in pain as she pushed her self up. She stood swaying and turned walking up the hall with Lucius' prodding her back. Grabbing her by the hair, Lucius yanked her back and shoved her into the dining room. Hermione fell forward and fell too the ground. Lucius looked at his son and Melanie, both whom he didn't know were hiding faces of shock and anger.
"This witch put herbs on the potatoes," said Lucius, "I do not like my potatoes that way. As a consequence I am taking her too the cells to be punished and locked away until I see fit to let her out."
Draco merely nodded as Hermione looked at him with weak eyes, the shine from them gone. Lucius pulled her back up and dragged her away behind him.
When they were gone Draco looked at Tonks, who had tears in her eyes.
"We can't do anything," said Tonks running a hand through her hair, "All we can do is pray he won't kill her."
"He won't," said Draco truthfully, "He'll keep her alive just so she lives with the pain he inflicted upon her."
They both fell silent as the first of Hermione's screams echoed up from the cells. Each one hit Draco hard, tearing his heart into pieces.
HD
Lucius laughed coldly as he ripped through Hermione's toga with the leather, thick whip. The girl hanging from two chains tied around her wrists cried out, biting her lip until she felt blood trickle into her mouth. Lucius hit her once more, this time tearing through her skin on her back and side. Lucius dropped the whip and Hermione began breathing in painful breaths thinking the torment had ended. But luck was not on her side. Her eyes opened wide as she heard the tinkling of a chain.
Without warning the metal slammed into her back and Hermione let out an ear-piercing scream. The once strong Hermione Granger was now withering in pain, humiliated and bleeding badly. Once more the metal chain connected with her back, followed instantly by two more.
Satisfied with his work, Lucius let Hermione down from the chains, her body dropping too the ground. With out a care in the word, he dragged her into a cell and shut the door behind him on his way out.
Hermione laid on the ground, tears rolling down her face. She could feel the blood seeping from her wounds and reached into her ripped toga for her wand. Slowly she sat up, wincing and sobbing out loud in pain. She tried to reach her back to heal the wounds but pain shot through her blinding her too the point of passing out.
HD
Draco waited until it was almost two am until he ventured down to the cells. He looked around him checking for any sign of someone watching him before opening the door to the cell and heading in. He lit his wand and walked down the metal staircase making sure to be silent. At the bottom he saw the two chains hanging down from the ceiling and the blood covered ground.
"Oh Merlin," whispered Draco seeing the red stained chain and leather whip. He began looking in the cell doors until he finally found one with a still figure in it.
He opened the cell door with a key hanging on the wall beside it and ran in falling too the ground beside Hermione. He rolled her off her back and look at what his father had inflicted upon her. He held his wand above her back and took in the deep, bloody gashes, some with material embedded in them.
"Merlin," whispered Draco pointing his wand at fire brackets around the cell and lighting them up to create better light. He then created a bed and lifted Hermione onto it, laying her on her stomach. He needed medical supplies to do anything. He used a summoning charm to bring him Sirius kit from the hidden room. Hermione groaned and turned her head a little, her breathing becoming short, shallow breaths.
"Hermione?" said Draco kneeling down beside her head.
Her eyes opened and she blinked a few times as though trying to get him into focus, "D-Draco?"
"It's me. Don't worry, I'm going to heal you."
"B-but Lucius is will know… he'll know if he comes and sees me."
"He won't if I offer to be in charge of you and your continuing punishment. Did you cook the potatoes?"
Hermione shook her head, "Scott did, but he blamed me and Lucius believed him. I had no chance of escaping punishment."
A stony look came across Draco's face and his fists clenched together as the medical supply kit arrived, landing beside him gracefully.
"Right… once I am done here that turd will pay," said Draco firmly standing up.
Hermione didn't argue. The pain was unbearable; her back ached and burned in places. When Draco's warm hand touched her back softly she flinched. The gashes had a green tinge around them, mingling in with the purple of rising bruises. Footsteps echoing down the stairs alerted both of someone's arrival. As Draco was preparing to put out the lights Tonks' voice echoed.
"Hermione? Draco?"
"In here," said Draco walking to the doorway.
Tonks looked down at the blood and her mouth fell open in horror, "Dear Merlin… how is she?"
"In pain – Scott caused this," said Draco icily as they walked in.
Tonks rushed to Hermione's side kneeling down and taking hold of her hand, "Everything will be fine."
Hermione nodded, "I know. It's all part of bringing him down."
Draco was amazed at the hope still visible in Hermione's words. He pulled out a vial of healing medicine that would stop the blood upon contact. He grabbed a dropper and read the label on the back of the vial.
"Hermione," he said softly, "This will burn, but it will stop the blood."
Hermione nodded and Draco dropped the potion in each gash, pausing to remove material in some wounds before continuing. Hermione kept her lips pressed firmly together, breathing in deeply whenever the potion made contact with her wounds.
"How are you holding up?" asked Tonks looking at Hermione worriedly as Draco placed the vial back into the case.
"F-fine… they still hurt," replied Hermione closing her eyes.
The sight of her in pain angered Draco even more. Scott was going to pay severely for this. Draco would make sure of that.
"I am going to close them now," said Draco finding another vial of healing liquid that would close wounds within five minutes of contact with a non bleeding, deep wound.
He found a clean dropper and began applying the liquid. This time it caused a soothing feeling over Hermione, taking away her pain. Relief overcame her features as she relaxed her muscles as the healing began taking place. Draco watched as the wounds pulled the skin together making only red lines remain. Hopefully they would fade away over time. Bruises remained in some parts but Draco knew it had done the best he could.
"I've done all I can," said Draco as he helped Hermione sit up properly.
Hermione smiled at him and gave him a hug in thanks, but this time restrained from pecking him on the cheek. Draco smiled at her pulling away. He was disappointed she didn't kiss him, but the again, she probably was dating Weasley and Tonks was in the room.
"Thankyou," said Hermione, "Both of you… thanks."
Tonka shrugged, "It was nothing. Now I only have Lucius sleeping. I should get some sleep. Goodnight and Draco, remember to speak to your Father."
Draco nodded and Tonks left the two alone in silence. It was an awkward one, which lasted five minutes before Hermione broke it.
"Draco… about the kiss-" she started before he cut her off.
"It was nothing. Just a thankyou one," said Draco brushing the topic away.
Hermione nodded, slightly stunned, "Right… thankyou kiss."
Draco nodded and closed the kit up. He held it in his hands looking at Hermione, "Look, I wish I could stay longer but I have something important to deal with. I'll leave the bed here until morning. I want you to rest alright?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes Doctor Malfoy."
They both smiled warmly at each other before Draco left, shutting the cell door behind him.
HD
"She had it coming," snapped Scott as the other four slaves looked at him angrily, "She has been sneaking off with that Malfoy boy. They are most likely screwing each other."
"Malfoy is helping Hermione learn something to help with the war, Scott!" snarled Bridget, "He is on our side you loser!"
"So what?"
"So what? Because of you, that… that complete wanker used an unforgivable on her!" cried Sophie, "And who knows what else he has done to her!"
Tears filled Sophie's eyes as Bridget placed an arm around her soothingly glaring at Scott with disgust and hatred.
"You betrayed us, Scott," said Bailey angrily with a nod from Zack, "We are all meant to stick together and you go and get Hermione into trouble for something she didn't even do."
At that moment the kitchen door swing open with a bang. All the muggleborns looked at the doorway in terror as Draco walked in with clenched fists.
"Where is he?" he asked angrily lighting the room up with his wand finally spotting Scott.
Draco walked over too him and yanked him up by his shirt and dragged him out of the kitchen and up the stairs. At the top he slammed him into the wooden wall emitting a grunt from Scott.
"I have every right to inflict the pain on you, you caused Hermione," hissed Draco, "You are a lying, two-faced git!"
Draco punched Scott in the gut and let him go watching the man slide too the ground at his feet. Scott laughed making Draco step back a little frowning.
"I wouldn't even think of touching me Draco Malfoy," said Scott his eyes twinkling with evil delight, "You have no idea who I am. Neither does your father but when he does, won't he just love to know what I have discovered about his so called loyal son and girlfriend."
"What are you on about?" snarled Draco yanking Scott's head back by his hair.
"This…"
Draco was shoved backwards as Scott stood, his body rippling all over. He grew taller and less muscular and the dark brown hair became black… and greasy.
"Snape," gasped Draco looking at his mentor.
The murderer looked at Draco smirking at his once favourite student.
"How you disappoint me, Draco. Falling for a mudblood, Potter's bestfriend of all ones," he said in his rolling tone, "Well I can't have you running off to Hogwarts now, can I?"
Before Draco could react his world went black.
HD
Hermione was woken from her sleep and yanked from her comfortable bed. She looked up in terror, glad to have hidden her wand under a loose stone, as Lucius began feeling her body all over for it. He turned too the person standing in the shadows and Hermione gasped as he walked in.
"Snape," she said her brown eyes wide.
"Well too you I am Scott," he smirked.
"Scott? You mean you…" Hermione didn't have to finish as Snape nodded with a smirk.
"You speak the truth, Severus. My son healed her. He is a master at the healing arts," said Lucius gravely before turning back to Hermione glaring at her, "And you make him fall for your mudblood ways! You brainwashed my son into betraying me!"
Hermione finally connected everything that was happening. Snape being Scott knew everything, from Tonks being Melanie too Draco coming to the light side and them both working together. Everything they had worked fall had come crashing to the ground in one tremendous heap. Taking a deep breath to keep herself calm she glared at Lucius.
"I did not brainwash your son!" she snarled, "He made every choice on his own!"
Lucius backhanded Hermione across the face and stormed out as she fell back hitting the ground and not the bed as Snape used his wand to make it disappear.
Hermione crawled over to the corner of the cell where her wand was hidden under the loose stone. She brought her legs up to her body, shaking in absolute fear. Lucius could easily kill Tonks and herself. If only Hermione had known, had stopped Draco from healing her back, then maybe they wouldn't be in this mess and Snape would be seen as a liar. But no, everything had fallen apart right before her. They had lost an even greater chance of winning the war.
A/N:And this is where I leave you. I am going on holidays tomorrow but luckily for you all I will be back next Tuesday. I can't update on the Wednesday due to having to go to a lecture for the course I am doing but hopefully on the Thursday I will update... so in a week. Anyway thanks for the reviews!
Until next time…
Love yas!
Love Coz!