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Chapter Fifteen: Dilemma
Her face felt extremely cold and numb as she groaned, stirring feebly, not wanting to rouse from her slumber, wishing to remain inside her own world, in her dreams where she could live her life happily and away from the ever impending turmoil she felt being at Hogwarts."Hermione?" Came a distant voice, sounding far away and muffled, barely audible to her sleeping brain. "Hermione!" The voice repeated, and with a sudden yank, she was dragged violently backwards into a sitting position. "What are you doing?" Kevin broke through, looking at her ridiculously.
"Wha...?" She managed to blubber out, blinking furiously.
"Why was your face inside the sink?" She shook herself a little and looked around her. She was still in the kitchens, just as she had been previously that night when she had entered, late and covered in blankets that needed washing urgently. The last thing she remembered was scrubbing them ferociously, only to wake up still on the floor, blankets in hand and surrounded by water and bubbles. No wonder her face had seemed so cold, had drawn her from her sleep so violently, along with Kevin's deafening voice.
"I...oh...yeah...Master's been throwing up all night." She pulled a disgusted face, a little bile rising in her throat just thinking about it. She had never been able to handle illness in other people, could barely stand it when she herself was ill, never mind her Master whom she had to care for whether he was well or not.
"That would explain that delightful smell you're exuding." Kevin shuffled from her a little, his nose turning upwards. Glaring at him slightly she folder her arms tightly, before then wiping her face down, trying to warm it a little and remove the soap suds from her hair by patting it down.
"Thanks. Don't try and make me feel attractive will you?" Kevin chuckled at her, helping to remove further bubbles by stroking her hair, reaching around to the front of her dress, and into her apron, pulling out a large comb which he knew she kept there for when Carla became entangled in her own hair. Pulling her sideways a little, he shuffled onto a chair, slowly beginning to brush her hair for her whilst she chuckled at him, "Oh you...I'm meant to smell wonderful all of the time!"
"Surely you'd rather I be truthful about your foulness? I'm surprised I'm not dead right now." She spun her head in an attempt to scowl at him, yet it soon turned into a smile as he held up her hair in apologies, seeming to have lost the comb within it. Taking her hair she gave it a tug, the comb falling free, and she resumed brushing it herself, shuffling round to face him.
"It'd be one less thing to be confused over I guess..." Her face contorted a little, causing him to frown, seemingly trying to think what she could possibly be indicating.
"How do you mean? Is it Viktor?" He asked almost obviously, not bothering to sugar coat any of their conversation. She knew why, there was no point in trying to hide anything from Kevin; she was too open to him, to giving. He had always been able to draw things from her, particularly matters that she held deep within her, emotionally. She had last broken down to him the previous year after being accused by journalist Rita Skeeter of trying to steal the heart of both Master Harry and Viktor, by having her name publically dragged through the dirt in various newspaper articles. "That horrible woman. She doesn't care, does she, anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they?"She remembered crying into his shoulder that day, refusing to go to her Master over the situation for fear of mockery.
"In a way...no...yes? I don't even know." She finally breathed, her mind whirring, not really knowing how to answer him, instead allowing her shoulders to sag in sadness. Kevin's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, but one rose again afterwards,
"If it's that git of a Master..." He began, the blood rushing to his head as his hands began to twitch slightly. Yet he was cut off by a loud coughing sound coming from behind them by the exit of the kitchens.
"If you'd be so kind as to bugger off, the sister of her git of a Master would greatly appreciate it." The two of them span around hastily and Hermione shot to her feet in fear and surprise,
"Mistress!" She cried, louder than she had intended, quickly looking from Ginny to Kevin and then back to the ginger haired girl before them. There was a moment silence as Kevin and the few House Elves around them fell quiet and received various glares from the youngest Weasley child. He looked to Hermione, who gave him a small nod, to which he stood and grasped her arm, lightly squeezing it,
"I'll see you later, Hermione..." Letting her go he walked sheepishly over towards the fireplace, giving her one last look, before disappearing in a whirl of blue fire. Hermione looked back towards Mistress Weasley, shuffling a little where she stood, uncomfortable and unsure of what to say. Yet she needed not, as Ginny spoke to her first.
"Now. We need to talk I think. This has gone on long enough." Confusion crashed into Hermione's face, crushing her features with fear and anticipation, causing her to draw back a little, pushing her back accidentally and painfully into a hook that was jutting out of the wall behind her, usually used for hooking various utensils onto.
"I...I don't understand." She stuttered out, earning a distasteful look from her counterpart who looked around rapidly.
"Is there somewhere we can go? These things need not be overheard." Hermione gave a long slow nod and then turned on the spot,
"Um...yeah...sure..." Walking to the other side of the kitchen, closely followed by Ginny. As she reached the small set of tables and chairs Hermione waited for her to sit, before drawing the curtains around them tightly. As she sat she squirmed a little as Ginny gazed at her from across the small table, seemingly unable to decide how to start. She gave a heaving sigh and then slapped her hands onto the table,
"Look, you're a nice enough girl but you have to stop this. And now." She said definitively, as if it were the most casual of things to say in the universe. Yet she could not think for herself, what the young girl could have been referring to, unless she had someone discovered her few chaste kisses with her Master, which she had hoped to have kept private. Panic began to rise in her stomach for the thought of the consequences she would suffer for tasting the lips of her Master. Trying desperately to calm herself, she slipped out,
"I don't understand." Something seemed to snap inside Ginny, and her mouth opened, words spilling from her mouth quicker than she had anticipated.
"Look Granger, he's my brother, and I love him very much. He may not know it, but I do, he's starting to like you. Maybe not romantically, but at least as a friend, and it's putting him in danger. It's putting my entire family in danger." She stopped herself suddenly, looking a little surprised that she had lost control so suddenly, composing herself once more. Taking a shaking breath she continued a little quieter than before, "Hermione. Please. I can't let my family come to harm." Hermione could barely think, her brain whirring, barely able to comprehend how she could have caused such damage without even realising what she had been doing. Not realise how much danger she had placed not only herself in, but also her Master and his family, for her own selfish reasons. Trying to create some kind of justice for herself, she began,
"But...I haven't...I don't want to cause any-" Yet she was cut off as Ginny hissed at her with urgency,
"Well you are! Stop encouraging him, you're ruining his life. I saw how Malfoy looked at you, that night at our house, and I know what he was thinking." Hermione was instantly taken aback by this statement, not exactly understanding what she could have meant. To her, she had received the look of death, as if the young Master Malfoy would take great pleasure in slowly torturing her to death rather than ending her life with a whip of his wand.
"Master Malfoy? I don't even know him." Ginny rolled her eyes and tucked her arms into one another, clearly exasperated and on edge.
"You know of him. That's enough. Now you stop this stupid flirting with my brother, or you'll regret it." She stood up abruptly, the chair scraping backwards as she looked around uncomfortably. She walked towards the curtain and drew it back, ready to exit,
"But-" Hermione spun around, about to resume her defence, yet Ginny spoke once more, in a hushed tone, not even looking back at her brothers slave, perhaps from fear or from shame, which she was not sure.
"Look. I kept your secret once. Even returned your stupid earring so you wouldn't get caught. But I won't be doing it again." The curtain fell and she left Hermione to stare open mouthed after her, her breathing dragged out and rattling, panic setting in once more. She had been so sure that it had been Master Harry who had figured out that she had secretly attended the dance, not Mistress Ginny, not the Weasley child who apparently despised her the most out of the entire family. Yet she had kept her secret, had faithfully kept her life safe and unexposed, and had not even outed her to her Master. For a moment she felt the youngest of the Weasley children had given her a precious gift of kindness, showing her well hidden compassion and caring that undoubtedly only her family were ever witness to. Giving a small hesitant smile, she fidgeted a little before standing, composing herself, and then following back out into the kitchen.
~x~x~x~
"Go fetch me juice." Ron demanded instantaneously, practically throwing his goblet at Hermione, who dived for it before it hit the floor with an almighty echoing ring. She had been stood behind him, waiting patiently for him to finish his evening meal, in which he had ferociously stuffed himself silly and was continuing to do so with no signs of letting up any time soon. His head suddenly snapped around, cheeks full to bursting as he looked at her confusedly, "Nowf!" A splatter of green mush flew from his mouth, flecks splattering the hem of her dress. She looked down to it distastefully and then back toward him, only to be met with the back of his head as he turned away casually, clearly more interested in repiling his mountain of food. Giving a loud huff she smashed down the goblet onto the table beside him, yet he took no notice of the crashing nor of Crookshanks' hiss at the noise whilst he was busily sat by Ginny eating a strip of chicken with rather messy consequences. Her Master did not even move as she picked up the empty pitcher and pulled it towards her, centimetres from colliding with his head. Her nose twitched at his ridiculous priorities and then she span around on the spot, intent on making her way towards the great double doors in order to refill the jug for him. Yet blocking her way stood a familiar long haired girl who smiled sickeningly at her.
"And me!" Lavender giggled, pushing her own goblet into Hermione's face as hard as she could, creating a small 'ding' as it hit her teeth. Snatching it out of her hand, Hermione glared as Lavender shoved Harry further up the table so that she could squeeze in next to Ron. Harry gave her a dishevelled look, whilst Ginny stared across the table at her in disgust, as though she could quite happily take her fork and plunge it into Lavender's neck. "What are you waiting for slave? Off you go!" Slipping an arm around Ron's who was furiously stabbing at a large slab of meat, she suctioned herself to him, refusing to let go no matter how he shook himself.
"Don't you dare get anything for her." He hissed, glaring at the girl and then up at Hermione, who backed away a little before coming back and placing the other goblet beside his on the table. Yet a sudden waft of hair smacked her in the face as Lavender span around herself, grimacing slightly as though she were trying to smile but was too furious to do so,
"You had better, or I'll make you, and your family, very very sorry!" Hermione flinched a little, gritting her teeth at the girl, less than impressed with her threat, wondering what she could possibly have done to her. Deciding not to retort she promptly turned her back and stomped away, walking the short distance to refill the jug, highly tempted to spit into Mistress Lavender's goblet out of pure spite. Yet she could not even bring herself to that, instead allowing her anger to fester as she trudged back towards her Master, staring down and slapping her feet loudly upon the floor, earning a few disgusted stares from the Masters and Mistresses around her. Lavender saw her approaching and broke into a large, patronising smirk and then waiting until she had come close before patting her upon the head as if she were a dog. "Who's a good girl?" She said, her voice annoyingly high pitched and condescending. Hermione gave a sudden twitch and whipped her head up to scowl at her, barely able to control herself and allowing herself to hiss spitefully and viciously before she could stop herself,
"Be grateful I don't smack you with this." Lavender's jaw dropped in shock as she eyed the obviously heavy and considerably full pitcher, oblivious to the smile that had suddenly broken out over Ron's face as he turned to Hermione and winked at her, causing her to blush ridiculously as she quickly slammed the pitched onto the table, a little of the pumpkin juice sloshing out and onto the table.
"How dare you, you insignificant little tramp!" Gripping Ron's arm tighter with one arm she swung her other out towards Hermione and took her sharply by her loosely hanging hair, dragging her forwards and pushing her face into her own. Speaking with a sudden vicious tone, she dropped her voice dangerously low, her words practically dripping with venom, "You! You ugly girl! You...you...you disgusting, stupid-"
"Oi!" Ron cut in suddenly, glaring at Lavender who had fallen silent under his authoritative tone, not wanting to anger him, but desperate to carry on her rampage and prove herself as a Mistress. Turning back into her sweet child-like form she cuddled back into his side, her head resting upon his shoulder,
"But RonRon. She insulted me!" She squealed, sounding highly offended, batting her eyelashes furiously, pressing herself into him and refusing to let up her vice-like grip upon him. Yet it was Ginny who replied, clearly wanting to rid the table of the airy girl who had crashed into their peaceful meal.
"Shut it LavLav. It would bring me great pleasure if your face would connect sharply with that jug." She gave a twisted smile, eyeing Hermione playfully, seeming as though she was almost willing her to take up the pitcher once more and ram it into the side of Lavender's head. Yet the girl shrieked loudly once more at Ron in disgust, almost begging him to defend her,
"Ronnie! Tell her RonRon! She's being mean to me!" Looking as though she were about to cry Ron sighed heavily and put down his cutlery and took both of her hands in his, looking at her sincerely and earning a wide and grateful smile from her,
"She's being truthful." He dropped her hands suddenly and began eating once more, ignoring her and her sudden realisation that his earnestness had been false and demeaning. Yet he seemed to rethink himself, adding, "But, Granger, stop being a cow and just get pouring, I can't be dealing with all of this women hassle." Hermione smiled a little at the lightness of his voice, and began to fill his goblet, and then pouring a little into a bowl for Crookshanks, even offering to fill up Mistress Lavenders goblet for her. Yet the girl whipped her head around and gave Hermione a hard shove away from her, sticking her nose into the air, not caring that the remainder of the pumpkin juice was now soaking into Hermione's clothing.
"Go away you vile creature!" She spat, sipping her juice contently, muttering loud enough to be heard by only those closest to her, "Filthy Mudblood." Hermione immediately reacted, lifting her arm ready to throw the jug into the back of her head. She could accept her Master and his family saying such hurtful things to her, making her feel disgusting and worthless, she had stayed and signed up for such treatment. Yet from a silly little girl who was far too stuck up for her own good, she could not accept such criticism. Ginny saw her ready to strike and suddenly addressed her directly, causing her to flinch and lower her arm quickly,
"Hermione! Can you go upstairs for me, fetch my books?" There was a moment's pause as Hermione tried to register what had just been asked of her, realising that her Master's sister was saving her from her own actions.
"Yes Mistress." She gave a little bow and began moving away, ready to exit the hall, only to catch Lavender's last sly remark in her direction,
"Bye bye Mudblood!" There came a sudden piercing squeal followed by a shriek, "Aaah! Get this grubby being off of me!" She spun around, only to be greeted by Lavender throwing her body backwards and forwards manically, a large orange blob securely attached to the top of her head. Hermione placed a hand over her mouth in horror, crying out,
"Crookshanks!" Running forwards, she had intended upon dragging the animal from her before he did too much damage in his defending of Hermione. She had half expected even her Master to step in and free Lavender, yet he simply chuckled and nudged Harry, who smiled gleefully. "Stop! Bad cat! BAD CAT! BAD CROOKSHANKS!" Hermione cried, fearing for the repercussions of his behaviour both for him and herself as the room broke out into random fits of giggles and various bouts of mockery. All she could think was of what her Master could possibly do to her for such a show her pet had caused at dinner, full of embarrassment, regardless of whether it was aimed at a clingy and childish girl whom he could not shake or not.
"Ooh! I'm going to strangle you, you mangy, scraggly rat!" Screamed Lavender, earning another roar of laughter from the rest of the hall, who were whooping and jeering manically in her direction. As Hermione reached her Master, ready to snatch her half Kneazle and run for her life, Ginny had already jumped over the table in one swift movement and was baring down over Lavender,
"You most certainly will not!" She gently took the cat from her head, who ceased his screeching almost immediately, and began purring, wrapping himself around Ginny's shoulders, and then leaning across and licking Hermione's now flustered cheek. "Who do you think you are, you silly little girl?" Ginny suddenly took hold of Hermione's upper arm and began walking away from a seething Lavender and a highly confused Ron and Harry who were sat gaping open mouthed at the fiery young red head and clearly confused brunette. She stopped only to look back at Lavender one last time, her voice like acid, burning through the air in her direction, "There's no wonder your father can't wait to get rid of you."
~x~x~x~
The morning had taken a cold turn from the rays of the rest of the week that had passed in a warm haze in previous days, the tall wooden bookshelves and the cold stone walls of the library only aiding the cold further as Hermione sat huddled into her long dress, perched upon a hard wooden chair, watching her Master scribbling away furiously, his quill flicking by his long nose, causing it to twitch every so often, making her smile at his cute little mannerisms. Master Harry meanwhile was staring lazily at the book in front of his, his eyes unfocused and unclear as his face fell forwards into it."Blaaah!" He spurted suddenly, rolling his head from side to side without removing his forehead for the book in front of him. "What even is this? It makes no sense!" Practically crying, he looked over to Ron, whose face suddenly fell to match his, sobbing,
"I've rewritten the first line fourteen times now." Holding up this parchment, Hermione could just make out variations of the same sentence over and over again down the page with great gashing lines through each of them.
"We have no hope..." Harry sighed defeated, not even wanting to look at the pages of his book, never mind research any of its contents to put into his essay. "And I'm seriously wanting to become an Auror you know." Leaning back in his chair, Ron let out a huge sigh, a small smile upon his face as his mind drifted to the future, thinking of the possibility of becoming a Dark Wizard Catcher, working as part of an elite team for the Ministry of Magic.
"Wouldn't be a bad job mate, but it means getting through this shitting Potions crap first." Looking back towards his parchment, he let out a strangled cry, giving a fake lament as he pushed it into his face in anger and frustration.
"There's no way Snape would let us in though, not without getting an Outstanding in our O.." Harry pointed out, "Almost makes me wish I was Carla, and only had to worry about keeping my socks clean." He chuckled a little at the thought of actually having to sort out his own clothes.
"We could scrape an Exceeds Expectations?" Ron reasoned, his imagination suddenly running away with him, "Then bump him off and suck up to his replacement." Harry snorted, imagining the triumph of shoving his Potions Master off of a cliff, only to be heartbroken as he levitated back up towards them, an eighteen inch homework essay for him in tow.
"I wish. But it's not good enough."
"What...in the hell...do I use Spines of Lionfish for?" Ron cried, crushing the parchment in his hands in anger, muttering furiously before throwing it to the floor and then standing upon it ferociously.
"It's used in Wiggenweld Potions, and most common Herbicides." Hermione muttered quietly from where she sat, not bothering to look up at them as she spoke, "It you're doing homework on Herbicides, I would have thought you'd have naturally assumed that's what it was for." Her voice was barely audible, yet both boys stared at her amazedly. After a pause, Ron said quietly, almost not wanting himself to be heard,
"Thanks." The boys lapsed into silence once again, ignoring Hermione as she rocked backwards and forwards feverishly, shaking a little from the cold, thinking of the job that she had to do, the things she had to sort, all without the knowledge of her Master. She coughed lightly, and Ron looked up towards her quizzically, seemingly almost unsure of whether he should respond to her.
"Er, I'm going to find Carla." She stumbled over her words a little, her insides shaking, hating herself for lying to her Master, but still hoping beyond hope that he would believe her and allow her to leave without question.
"Oh?" He simply replied, looking a little hurt that she was leaving, squashing her insides into a small a space as possible.
"I haven't seen her in a while actually. Make sure she hasn't drown in her own fluids won't you Hermione?" Chipped in Harry, removing the sudden pressure that Hermione had felt, opening her up a little and making her feel better about her situation and obligations towards other people.
"Yes Master Harry. Though there is a slight chance she's already dead floating in them." She stood up and then pushed her chair underneath the table, walking away from them. As she was about to round the edge of the bookcase, her Master called out towards her,
"Don't be long 'Mione!" She stopped suddenly at his flippant remark, one hand on the bookcase she was about to round, the other holding her chin in confusion and she turned her head towards him, even though his head had turned back towards his parchment.
"Yes Sir." She replied lightly, before stepping out of his line of view. Breathing a sigh of relief she began to walk hurriedly towards the Grand Staircase, almost sprinting down its steps and towards the third floor. Running down the corridor, she came to a stop outside a statue of Gunhilda of Gorsemoor and whispered, "Dissendium." Opening the hump on the statue, which she climbed into, falling down a small slide and out into an open passageway. A huddled figure caught her attention, "Viktor!" She was suddenly engulfed by a pair of strong arms as he pulled her into his chest tightly.
"Hermy-own-ninny!" Pushing back from him, she hung her head, almost not wanting to look at him out of embarrassment and shame from their previous encounter including her Master.
"I'm so sorry!" She breathed, feeling their terrible meeting her fault, not wanting him to think badly of her because of her Masters behaviour, no matter how flattered she had felt by his over protectiveness which some would see as possessiveness. Placing his hands upon her shoulders he leant his forehead against hers, with his eyes closed tightly, putting her in a rather awkward position, wanting to move away, yet finding her body unresponsive to her brains commands.
"It iz not your fault. Weasley has issues I am thinking." He said slowly, opening his eyes again as she stood back from him. She suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, remembering how she had guiltily lied to her Master, now going against his desires of her no longer seeing him. Their secret meeting racked her with remorse and shame, finally managing to stutter out,
"You realise, I can't see you anymore?" There was another pause, as Viktor seemed to have an internal battle between sadness and anger, debating which response he should give.
"Vy must you do this to us?" He finally asked, trying to take her hand, but she pulled it away, not allowing her to touch him for fear she would retract her statement.
"It's not only for me. You know what I am. And you know what you are." She said defiantly, knowing that she was speaking the truth, and that their relationship needed to come to an end.
"I care not!" Viktor moved towards her once more, making a grab for her, a little angrier than before, causing her to flinch,
"I care! I'm sorry Viktor; I'll always care for you though. We just can't be." Turning from her, he slammed his fists into the wall, breathing heavily, scaring her a little as she backed away into the opposite wall. Yes she knew of his strength, she knew of the fight he possessed within him, yet she did not desire to ever see it. Hoped that he would kept it hidden when it was not needed, as not to show his darker side, scare her from him.
"I'll take you as my own slave then! I bargain for you? Buy you; I know is family iz ver poor." She was taken aback by his abruptness and his accusations, portraying her Master as poor. He was a Pureblood, and she knew that all Pureblood families were interconnected, all rich and supportive of one another. Yet she was shocked more by his treatment of her, suggesting that she could be bought and sold as a possession, a material object that could just as easily be thrown away.
"I am not a prize to be won, bought or sold!" Looking as though she were about to cry, she barely let him speak,
"But-" Cutting across him again, she attempted to make herself heard loud and clear, wanting to make him understand,
"No! He's my Master, and I'm his slave. It will stay that way." There came another long pause in which he simply stared at her, before breaking through as he moved back towards the entrance of the passageway as the slide melted into a set of stairs.
"This iz not the last off it." He began to climb out of sight, leaving her alone in the dark, giving out a sudden large sigh of relief, grabbing onto her hair and pushing it back into her head. Taking a large, deep breath, she followed him upwards and out of the statue, leaning back onto it. Looking upwards and breathing heavily she calmed herself, and then patted herself down, Viktor waiting patiently in front of her.
"I vould you know. I vould pay so much, joost so I haff the power to set you free." He nodded as she looked at him cautiously, eyeing him as walked away from her, leaving her to hang her head in deep thought. Straightening herself once more she sniffed upwards and gulped loudly,
"I'd better go and actually find her," She mumbled to herself, knowing that she had to at least attempt to cover her tracks a little, getting Carla to support her story. Scuttling down the corridor she was completely oblivious to her Master, who suddenly stepped out from where he had been perched upon a window ledge, hidden out of sight, listing to the remainder of their conversation, his face burning scarlet in anger and embarrassment.
Japan's Arc Angel x
