Chapter 2.
The wizard with the scowl whistled as he carried Hermione up the creaky old steps, and she watched with dread, as the girls in matted robes with dirty, tear-stained faces disappear as they ascended to the top of the stairs.
When he pushed opened the door to the first floor of the manor, a blinding light forced her to shut her eyes as tightly as she could. The penetrating beams were so bright that she saw red through her eyelids.
With each heavy step the wizard took, he disturbed the dust beneath his feet, and it floated up like billowing puffs of smoke.
A searing pain shot through Hermione's shoulder when he tossed her carelessly to the floor a few moments later.
"Hey," A wizard's voice she had come to know as Avery called out. "Easy with the merchandise."
Hermione moaned, and rolled onto her back. When she attempted to open her eyes again, she braced herself, holding a weak hand in front of her face.
When her eyes adjusted, she saw that the room he had taken her to was small, but well lit. A large window with no curtains was positioned in the center of a moldy, termite infested wall, and she gazed out of it in awe.
The sun was shining brightly as the rainclouds ventured North, revealing an orange and purple sky. Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored the feel of the rays on her face. It was so warm. So bright. She hardly noticed the witch in red robes standing near a tall fireplace as she soaked up as much warmth as she could.
"Is this the only one you have?" The witch in red asked him in a disappointed voice.
"Yep," Avery confirmed. "The rest are either pureblood or half. We haven't come across any squibs yet."
"I don't take squibs," She said distastefully. "It's called the Mudblood Market, not the squib market."
"Right." Avery nodded. "Now about payment-"
"You'll get half of what was agreed," She told him curtly, as she eyed the lifeless witch at her feet.
"Half?" He yelled.
"Yes, half."
"What about our agreement?" He scoffed like a child.
"It's quite simple, Mr. Avery," The witch explained, putting on her long silk black gloves. "When you go to the store to buy an apple, do you want to pay full price for the shiny red one, or the bruised and blemished green one?"
Avery looked as though he were trying to solve a math problem in his head. "The red one. Yeah definitely the red one," He eventually answered with a dumb smile on his face.
"Exactly." Her red lips curled into a smile. "You have a bruised apple, therefore, I'll be paying half of what was promised."
Avery gave her a sour look.
"Fine." He eventually muttered. "But you take her as is."
The woman smiled wickedly and snapped her fingers. An elf appeared at her side.
"Ruby, grab the girl." She told the elf. "We have work to do."
Hermione rolled on her stomach and attempted to crawl for the door, but it was a feeble attempt at escape as she heard the witch behind her cast a sleeping hex.
"Somnium!"
Author's note: Up next- The Mudblood Market!