Still I Look to Find a Reason To Believe
Chapter Three
Hermione woke up, still holding Dakota in her arms, as they fell asleep together yesterday. She stood and walked over to the area of the cell that had a small sheet covering the cold floor, and put Dakota down on it. Dakota woke instantly, the feel of her mother's arms to the stone floor was a massive change.
Hermione brushed some of Dakota's hair away from her faced, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Where are you going, mommy?" Dakota asked, squinting her eyes. Hermione smiled. "Mummy has to go to work, but I'll be back soon, and you and I can work on our numbers again, ok?" Hermione asked. Dakota nodded happily. As Hermione got up Dakota asked, "Mummy, will we food today?" Hermione gave her a sad smile. "I'll try to get you some food, baby."
Dakota blew her mother a kiss, and Hermione blew her one. Hermione opened the cell door and walked outside, shutting the door behind her. Dakota fell back asleep, and Hermione joined the other women, muggles, mud-bloods, and some half-bloods at the front door of the Dungeon.
When the guard came down to escort them down, he whacked a few women with his cane. He lead the way, and Hermione, as all the other women did, followed.
"Mr. Malfoy, Sir?" A man said, in a small voice. "Yes, Thomas?" A very old voice asked from his current position on his seat by the fire. "Well, Sir, I was told you asked for me." Thomas told the blonde man by the fire. Draco Malfoy turned around in his seat, a smirk on his face. "I need someone to escort me to the Dungeon. I would like to have a new servant as my older ones are not meting my standards..."
Draco stood from his seat, placing the book he was reading on the table beside him. "Well, what are you waiting for, open the door!" He told Thomas, who immediately ran to open the door.
As they started walking Thomas began to tell Draco Malfoy a little about the servants available. "Janet Johnson is very popular, hard working, twenty-eight years and-" Thomas was cut off by a gesture of Draco Malfoy's hand. "Thomas, Thomas, Thomas… I wanted young women. I want a woman my age." He told Thomas.
"Oh," Thomas said, dully, "well there is Hilary Hoffman, but she isn't a good pleasure. There is a few good ones, but they all have children. And, well-" Again, Thomas was stopped by Malfoy. "Tell me about the ones with children." He demanded.
"Well, there is Charlotte Mills, with two sons, the ages six and eight. She is very trusting and would do you good, her boys, however are pains. Then there is Carly Mitchelle, who has a baby boy, just a year old. She isn't a very good worker, but very loyal. She'd do her best for you. Shame, though that she lost her second baby. Just a week ago she had the miscarrige, though I think its for the best. She wouldn't be able to feed three babies." Thomas told him.
"She was having twins?" Draco asked him. Thomas nodded. "Yes, my lord. Twin Girls. They died at different times, though. The first one died a week before the second one. The second one would've survived if only she had gotten fed…"
Draco nodded. They reached the dungeons and when to the door that hid the prison cells. Draco passed all the cells examing each person. He came across one cell that had no woman in it, but a small girl, who hid behind a book.
"Thomas?" Draco asked, "Who is this?"
Thomas sighed. "Dakota Kelly, daughter of Jane Kelly, a very hard worker indeed. She left earlier to sell herself. She does every day, and usually she comes back empty-handed. " Thomas told him.
Draco continued to stare into the cell. There was something about this little girl that struck him. "Open it, I want to talk to her."
Thomas nodded and opened the cell door. Dakota looked up, alarmed by the sound of the door. Draco shut the door behind him. "Hey, Dakota." He said, in a kind voice. Dakota continued to look at him. "What are you doing?" He asked. Dakota didn't answer. Draco sighed.
"Where is your Mummy?" Draco asked, looking into her blue eyes. In a small voice Dakota answered, "At work."
Draco smiled at her soft voice. "How old are you?" he asked her. Dakota held up her fingers for him to count. He chuckled. "You're a very big girl. And very smart. Would you tell me what your doing?" Draco asked.
Dakota looked up at him, and just stared into his eyes. "I'm writing to my daddy." She told him. "Where is your daddy?" Draco asked her.
"In Heaven."
A/N: So, I guess you guys got what you wanted? Please review!