AN: Thanks for the reviews! They make my day. Heading into the weekend now, so it might be a couple days, hopefully I'll get something posted tonight before my shift ends. Just an observation, for those wondering how 'dark' it may get, both my stories are a bit similar, in one Fleur has too much control over the situation at hand, this is an exploration of her lack of control. Furthermore, the more out of control Hermione will perceive her relationship with Ron spiralling, the more control she will try to achieve with Fleur. Hence the fights and such leading to a worsening of conditions with Fleur but when things are 'good' she returns some freedom or rights. So if it seems a little back and forth and crazy, it is, but there is a reason to it.

Also TW for uh sexual violence and such. Rating has been increased too.

Fleur had found herself, once again, falling into bed with Hermione, her collar still tight around her neck, its weight unfamiliar. Once again their relationship had changed. Once again Fleur was certain she would lose. Once again she was broken.

Her love kissed and nipped and licked away, oblivious to the pain, ignoring the tears that Fleur refused to shed. She laid there, willing her body to stop responding, but how could it not? Not when her love was there, a familiar weight atop her, touching her in all the right ways, making her gasp and shudder, shiver beneath her fingers. She mentally cursed herself for having allowed this to happen, for being powerless to stop it.

She was brought to her climax as Hermione bit her inner thigh sharply, a sudden intake of breath from the blonde and a proud smirk from the brunette, her fingers tracing the curves of Fleur's body lightly.

"I want the world to know you belong to me," she said, a hint of fondness hidden below the layers of cold contempt sending a very mixed message to the blonde. She slowly climbed her way up the other woman's body, humming happily to herself as Fleur wrapped her arms around Hermione, an act of intimacy that she had been instructed to do.

Betrayal buzzed at her fingertips, hurt echoed throughout her core, and she schooled her features, perhaps out of a false pride, though there was nothing proud about her now. At least not in this situation. She longed for the days in which she had admired the other witch from afar, looking but never touching, never knowing what could happen between them, thinking that she was just out of reach, the promise of happiness just beyond. How foolish she had been.

She listened as her mate's breathing evened out, still curled up against her, now calmer, loving and tender, she clung to her like a koala, begging silently for some sort of protection. Fleur fell into a fitful sleep, her dreams to be plagued with nightmares.

She didn't feel any more rested when she woke, the bed cold, her partner no longer there, a wave of relief passing over her. She made her way to the shower to ready herself for work. Fleur paused for a moment, when she passed by the bathroom mirror and saw the black atrocity around her neck. Her fingers ran lightly over the gems emblazoned on it, a flash of sadness taking over her fingers before she steeled her nerves again. Skillfully, she slipped her fingers to the back of her neck, finding the buckle there and attempting to remove the barbaric device only to be shocked by a jolt of electricity as they touched the metal.

That was something that hadn't been mentioned. A morose sigh and she stepped into the shower, resigning herself to having to shower with it and as was becoming common-place, cursing her fortune.

The blonde slowly made her way to work, enjoying having some freedom at last, their morning ritual having been drastically altered since their changed relationship began. It hearkened back to old times, a faint memory of the past, of what had been and what would no longer be.

Fleur found herself walking to work, enjoying the slowed pace, no longer feeling a demand to escape her tiny apartment to avoid her troubles at work. Stopping to get coffee, she inhaled deeply, relishing in the smell of roasting beans and warm chocolate, something she hadn't realized she'd missed as much as she had. She had a good feeling about the day at hand, things seemed to be looking up for her.

She was determined to find satisfaction in everything she could, especially now that what she once would have thought was pleasant no longer was.

Her day had gone, surprisingly, quite well, though she had not made any progress on the mystery vault, the runes still not any clearer to her than they had been yesterday. She ran a hand through long blonde locks, pushing her hair back out of her face, "Merde!" she hissed under her breath, not used to being this stumped by a simple lock.

A light chuckle from opposite her desk caught her attention, she looked up, eyes flashing panic briefly until she saw the owner of the voice was none other than Hermione, a smile on her face. Fleur leaned back in her seat, "Hey," she greeted cheerfully, "what can I do for you?"

Hermione sat down in one of the empty chairs across from the blonde, placing a cup with a strange pinkish liquid down in front of her. Fleur took it, an eyebrow raised, examining it carefully.

"It's a smoothie." Hermione answered the unspoken question hanging between them. She cleared her throat, a moment of silence, gathering her thoughts before speaking again, "Sorry about this morning, I didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful there. I had to meet with Ron. Can you believe it," she continued on, not waiting for a reply, "I'm getting married in a month. I hadn't realized it was that close, but my dress appointment is today."

Fleur looked at her nervously, her emotions were now on high alert.

"I want you there with me," Hermione stated, it wasn't a request exactly, she knew Fleur couldn't argue.

The older witch nodded, and the two stood up, walking out of Gringott's arm in arm, light chatter between them, and Fleur could feel her heart begin to sing again as the old Hermione bubbled its way to the surface. She felt light, carefree, smiling at spending the day with her mate. She didn't realize at first that her collar had begun to hum lightly, a not altogether unpleasant feeling.