Chapter 18:
Hermione was ready to punch someone. Even more, V was ready to Crucio someone.
She had been kidnapped and was forced into the small room she now inhabited. All around her were instruments of torture, her only sustenance was a murky brown, odd smelly liquid and strange crackers. She was debating how long she needed to wait before she could make an escape. Anything to get me out of this horrible torture chamber!
She was at tea.
Yes tea! It's like a bloody four year-old's tea party, all these Purebred, high society fakes lounging about, gossiping about everything and everyone. She had gotten pulled into going by her mother, who insisted that it was what was proper and she needed to be introduced into the Pureblood customs. It seemed, however, that her mother had been coerced into bringing her as well; considering that the two stuck out like sore thumbs amidst the stuck-up aristocrats who never dared to get their hands dirty.
She and her mother were the only active members of the Dark Lord there. Not that the others didn't support, they just didn't feel that battle and war was a "women's place." Basically they're just pansies and scared of the Dark Lord.
She sneered to herself. She now somewhat understood why her mother had always seemed so passionate about serving – she had to go above and beyond to prove herself and keep herself from becoming a plaything for the Death Eaters or Lord Voldemort.
Hermione glanced around scornfully, playing with the tie-belt on her floor length "tea" dress. Apparently the women all wore floor-length dresses when out in formal society, not necessarily formal ones, but floor-length all the same. Probably don't want to show their scars from being beaten – hardly ladylike, that. She sighed and forced herself to reapply her attention to the girls chattering around her.
She had been placed with the "young women" of the group and she couldn't think of a worse fit. Granted her mother didn't seem to be enjoying her group either. Hermione had a feeling that out of the three sisters, Narcissa had been the social one, Bella the passionate, and Andromeda the thinker.
Speaking of pansies, Hermione shuddered as Pansy Parkinson's voice whined into her ears. Hermione turned her attention back to the group and snorted as she realized what Pansy was speaking of.
"I still can't believe that we have to stay within each other's mansions. How ridiculous. I mean we are going to be ruling society, why not let them see what they have to look forward to," she huffed. "I simply can't abide being fitted for my outfits with Mother fluttering around my room and the possibility that Draco or Blaise might stop by. Although, I suppose I should simply give up on Draco, considering all the time he spends with you dear," she looked right at Ginny Weasley, who had ironically been accepted into the fold instantly. Apparently she hadn't told them of the real nature between herself and Draco.
Hermione grinned and waited for the real answer, knowing Ginny would be squirming due to the presence of Draco's co-captain in the circle.
Ginny looked around nervously and said, "Well I don't know, Pansy you're so amazing that I could never hold a candle to you. He does seem to be spending a fair amount of time with me though. He even helped me after I'd tripped," she blushed and giggled a little falsely for Hermione's tastes, "although I did only have a robe on."
Pansy smirked and pretended to look shocked, "Ginevra! What on earth were you doing out with only a robe on?! Helping a few of the men relax after a hard days work?" She looked around at the other girls, mostly former-Slytherins from the years around Hermione's.
One girl, Hermione was rather sure her name was Greengrass, giggled and sneered, "That would have been you Parkinson, I heard that the White brothers were rather vocal one night." At the other girl's blush, she continued, "I've heard they like it rather rough, is it true?"
Pansy looked around and whispered quietly, "No! They like the girl to take control… can you imagine?! Heavens, I was so shocked. I simply sat there for a moment. Granted they were both rather large, so that more than made up for the fact that I had to lead."
The other girls nodded sympathetically. Hermione raised an eyebrow at the group, what the hell? Are they like whores that just lay there? No wonder these men are pathetic, they haven't had a decent lay in centuries. Well except Draco, I'll have to ask him if he ever did one of these girls and see what he says.
She mused on that for a moment before realizing that the women were looking at her as though for an answer. Shite!
"I'm so sorry, I drifted off, what did you say dears?" She simpered.
Pansy looked around knowingly and said, "Well dear, I had said that you probably wouldn't know anything about it, considering your devotion to the Dark Lord and fighting for Him."
Hermione forced herself to blush and stammer, "Heavens, I couldn't imagine going against his personal wishes. All that power," she fanned herself and sheepishly grinned, "What girl could resist?"
The others looked at each other in mild surprise and Millicent said, "Clearly you're a naïve one."
Ginny snorted and Hermione glared at the witch, making her take a step back at the fire in the eyes of the Dark Lord's favorite. Hermione turned to Millicent and said innocently, praying she would take the bait, "I don't know what you mean, Milli. He said that he liked my innocence and it was something to be preserved."
Pansy coughed a bit, "Ha. You're probably the only innocent Dark Witch alive Lestrange. Hardly something to be proud of."
Millicent grunted, "And just wait till he can't handle the temptation anymore, then he'll be after you like the insane animal that he is."
Everyone gasped in horror at her blasphemous words, and Hermione turned on the V-charm. "Surely you don't think that Our Lord has lost His sanity. Why, He's the most powerful man out there!"
Millicent sighed and whispered, "Maybe He is and I agree with what He stands for, but He is no mere man. When He is rutting on me, His face goes all twisted and He makes all these insane noises and questions." She shuddered and then realized exactly what she had just let out.
Hermione forced her eyes to water and say pitifully, "He … you? I … but when? Surely … not now?" She glanced at Millicent and the lack of response there allowed her to continue her little performance, "Oh … I see," she said in a small voice, "well I think I shall go see if Mother needs anything, good day ladies." She turned just as a tear made its solitary way down her cheek and she cheered inside for the whispering gaggle of girls.
It would be all over the ranks soon, Lord Voldemort had cheated on the Lestrange heir and broken her heart, she wondered what side people would take. They couldn't very well show her too much open support, but the Dark Lord knew how important a Pureblood match was for his own Halfblood self. He would be placed in a corner.
She made her way over to her mother and laid her hand on her arm, keeping up the pathetic face. The other ladies looked at her questioningly and her mother shot her eyebrow up. Hermione flashed a warning glance her way, hoping to convince her to play along. "Mother, would it be alright if I left? I don't quite feel myself anymore." She whispered, but loudly enough for the others to hear.
Her mother's eyes danced and she said in the same voice, "Of course my darling V, you must be rested for your meeting tonight with Our Lord. You remember He said 8 o'clock sharp!"
Hermione did a fake little gasp and let her hand go to her heart for a second, "Of course. That is … that is if He still wants me to go." She pretended to choke out the last word and walk quickly and rigidly from the tea room.
Once she had apparated back to Lestrange Manor, she practically ran to her room and found Draco draped across her bed, staring at the ceiling. She raised an eyebrow at his presence and said quietly, "48 blocks of stone."
He looked over at her quickly, having been lost in thought, "What?"
"The number of blocks on the ceiling."
"Oh." He turned his head away from her once more.
She furrowed her brow, transfigured her outfit into his t-shirt and boxers once more, and sat down next to him on the bed. "What's eating you?"
He continued to stare at the ceiling and said in a monotone voice, "I had to kill a Muggle today." He didn't respond to her slight jolt, but continued, "I was told to rape and kill this woman – I knew I couldn't do it. I told Him that I would not lower myself to that since his present of the spy had worked so well. Apparently, He too heard the gossip that Weasel slag is spreading and accepted it. But I still had to kill her. And you know something? I actually was bothered by it." He rolled onto his side and looked into her eyes.
What she saw pierced her heart; his eyes were broken, barely holding unshed tears and she wondered why this sole event had done what so many other murders hadn't. She pulled him to her and cradled him against her chest, "Why was this one different? I'm sure you were simply putting her out of her misery."
He thought, Because if I hadn't met you, I still wouldn't care.
She felt her eyes widen at his admission and marveled at the irony of their situation. She had hardened herself, so that she could do what she had to in order to survive the war; Draco had begun to soften himself, simply so he could maintain his sanity and herself.
What a fucked up pair we are. Now I begin to understand my parents. Imagine Azkaban and years of misery after even this. She shuddered and simply held him close as he broke for the first time since his Mother had passed away.
She woke a few hours later, curled up in a snoring Draco's arms. She snuggled into his warmth a bit more and then stiffened. She sensed another in the room. She sat up slowly and looked to see her mother near the doorway, merely watching. "Mother …"
"Do not try to explain my love, its better to keep it unsaid for now. I was merely curious about your little show this morning. The V I know wouldn't cry over a man in front of high society." Her mother smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry Mother, but it was too priceless, I bet that was all they could talk about after I left." She said quietly, attempting to not wake Draco up. She couldn't actually leave the bed, because his arms were firmly wound around her waist.
"Indeed. Pansy was in her glory as you might imagine, the little Weasley was rather glad to see your comeuppance and Millicent's mother was practically in shock. It was fabulous. So why exactly was this performance necessary?" She looked at her daughter questioningly. "I've rather firmly established my fearful presence and your crying did not bolster it." She winked.
Hermione grinned, "I may have a plan, I'm just not sure yet. It's going to require Him being in the wrong though. I knew He was using other witches, He just thinks I don't. And what well-born witch stands up for that, even in the courting stage?!" She said mock-indignantly.
Her mother laughed and said while walking out the door, "Just be careful darling. Now I'll send up some sandwiches, but just remember, you have to meet him in an hour – and he has a strong sense of smell … Draco."
Hermione glanced over her shoulder and saw his eyes reflecting the candlelight as he watched her seated figure. "I'm so sorry if I woke you!"
"No worries," he said and brushed her hair away from her face. He then pulled her down next to him and kissed her softly. "So your mum knows, eh? Always said that family was a quick bunch. Now I just need to avoid your Father and I'll stay alive to see the war."
She grinned, "Oh I'm sure he knows – you didn't see him glaring at you during dinner?" She started laughing at his rather fearful grimace. "Oh come on. He likes you. He's really not as bad as you think. Just protective."
He rolled his eyes at her, Yeah, protective enough to go to bloody Azkaban! You can say what you like V, but your parents scare the crap out of me. I'm just glad I'm related to them! Now I suppose we can't …?
She raised an eyebrow and kissed his forehead lightly before getting out of bed. No, Mother was right on that one. He'll have heard the gossip by now from the party …
He sat up, the spectacle about you finding out Millicent?
That's the one. He'll have heard it and will want to mollify me. She began digging through her negligee drawer.
Are you sure? He climbed out of bed and made his way over to the tray of food that had just appeared in the adjoining sitting room.
Of course, He understands the political implications of marrying me. It would give Him a whole other level of validation along with the heirs he so desperately needs. I have a feeling He wants to do with an heir, what He did with Nagini. Place a piece of His soul in it. The last piece. She tossed a few pieces of silk over her shoulder with disgusted looks.
That's just wrong, your son would be the soul of your husband … ew! Came Draco's thought from the room over.
The man is insane … hell, He's not even a man. You expect it to be fluffy bunnies with Him? She rolled her eyes and tried on yet another floor-length negligee.
This one was silver with green trimming. It was fitted around the chest area, where it went in a v-shape, accenting her chest with lace, held up by thin silk spaghetti straps. The gown then fell from the bodice in yards of silver silk.
She could have worn a hoop skirt probably and had extra pleats. It came all the way down to her feet and then had a train in the back. There was a matching silken robe, extremely sheer and cut to frame the bodice versus cover it up.
Matching green dressing slippers finished off the outfit. She gave a little twirl, letting the skirt billow out and grinned. She heard a groan behind her and turned to see Draco, a half-eaten apple in his hand staring at her with dark grey eyes.
She grinned and made her way towards him, making sure that he would see her when she passed in front of the fireplace. Sure enough, she heard his breath catch and saw him gulp slightly when she passed, knowing the fire shown through the sheer material revealing her nude body underneath.
He stared at her as she passed into the sitting room and began to eat quietly. You aren't going to Him like that, are you?
She huffed, Of course I am. The whole point is to let Him see what He is missing. Really, Draco, you sound jealous.
The hell I'm jealous. I've got a right to be! You're flaunting what's mine in front of the most insane creature in the UK! He was practically growling at her.
Yours? She raised an eyebrow at him.
Ugh. Shouldn't you get going, you've got two minutes.
I think I'll let him squirm a little. She nibbled a peach and then took her napkin and dabbed at her mouth.
V, you're pushing it. Don't get so cocky. He looked at her with renewed concern.
She took her cloth napkin and dipped it in the glass of water in front of her. She then dabbed at her eyes and rubbed them furiously, making them red and raw.
Her eyes were smarting of their own account due to the rough treatment. She felt her Mark begin to burn as 8 o'clock hit. She stood and kissed Draco on the forehead. As she made her way out the door, she thought she heard him whisper, "Be careful."
Hermione reached the door to His rooms at 8:01 exactly. She had needed to stop and make sure she was sobbing; otherwise she would have only taken thirty seconds. She could literally feel His anger pulsing through her mark, and felt, for the first time, a sliver of fear. She raised her hand and knocked on the door timidly.
It was thrown open by a blast of light and Hermione jumped back. She didn't really need to force the quivers and tears that she knew were essential to her act. The Dark Lord practically bellowed, "Get in here you ungrateful witch!"
Hermione began to sob and entered with her head down, shaking. Of all the imbecilic things, like I would ever cry like this. Ugh! She curtsied to him and fell immediately to the ground writhing in pain.
She felt like every nerve was splitting. This Crucio was incomparable to His earlier curses and Hermione truly felt His power and rage at that moment. She realised that she had made a grave miscalculation about the Dark Lord, and tonight she would pay.
She did not give Him the satisfaction of a noise while he applied the curse to her for almost five minutes straight, her ninja training had at least saved her there. But once He lifted it, she curled into a ball whimpering and groaning.
"You dare to make me wait? I am the Dark Lord you ungrateful little … You may be my potential wife, but you are first and foremost my SERVANT!" Spittle was flying from His mouth in His rage and His eyes were glowing red. His face was contorted and His body shook.
Between sobs, Hermione attempted to speak, "I am sorry My Lord, so … sorry," she was gasping for breath as He continued to hit her with small bouts of the Cruciatus curse. "How … have … I lost … you?" She whimpered. She made an attempt to stand and He pulled her legs out from under her with a small spell.
She fell back to the ground and felt her knee-caps break.
"I believe that you need a lesson in humility, little one," He said silkily, the insanity in His eyes scaring her more than even the words He had uttered. He shot several stinging hexes at her, two hitting the bottom of her feet on the sensitive arch, two hitting the backs of her knees, two hitting the insides of her thighs, and two hitting the undersides of her breasts. She gasped and knelt in front of the fire, praying He would be distracted for one minute. He wasn't.
He shot curses that heated her blood, so she felt like fire was flowing through her body; other curses that made the hair on her limbs feel like needles pricking her skin; and more Crucios.
She kept her silence the entire time, bearing the brunt of His anger, and retreated into her own mind to a place where she could keep her sanity and stave off the triggers of pain. Once she realised that he had finished with her and was waiting for her to recover, she reconnected with her body and grimaced at the pain she felt roaring through it.
She glanced at the Dark Lord with glazed eyes, "My Lord … was I not … good enough? I did not," she took a big gulp of air, which really only hurt more since she could feel a few broken ribs, "mean … to be late. I lost track … of time … while I was … upset." She let the last word drift off into the silence of the room.
She knew that now was not the time to let her acting go; she knew her mission was hanging by a thread, I got myself into this and I will not let the others pay for it. She glanced up at the seated Dark Lord and noticed Him frowning at her.
He said huskily, and she noticed with revulsion that he was quite aroused, "You will learn, little one, that I am not to be questioned or contested. You should not have been upset in the first place. I did not trouble you with my desires, because I wanted you pure for what would have been our wedding day."
His face grew stormier, "I would have let you come to me willingly, you little witch! I would have let you raise my heir! You would have been my Queen!" His eyes had begun to glow, his mouth was once again contorted in rage, and she fell back to the ground as His strongest bout yet of Crucio ripped through her already broken body. On top of all the pain, she felt lashes being striped into her back, ripping the material of her gown.
As he stopped the hexes, He said quietly, "Get out of my sight. It will take days for me to calm down enough to consider forgiving you this slight."
She pulled herself off the ground, pushing away any feeling of pain and numbing her mind. As she stumbled to the door, she clung to the wall and looked back at him. He stared at the fire, clenching and unclenching His fists.
She murmured quietly, "I would have come willingly My Lord and I would have had a dozen children with you, had you asked." His eyes shot to hers in surprise. She let a tear roll down her cheek, "Your curses and Your hexes have broken my body My lord, but it was Your distrust of me that broke my heart. I was not afraid of Your advances, I was hurt that You did not think me capable of taking care of them and turned to someone below me instead. I am unworthy, I see that now." She took a shuddering breath and turned to the door. She said quietly as she left, "Goodbye my love."
It took her a good half-hour to pull herself to the Malfoy entrance hall. She knew that many of her muscles had been torn and most of her bones were slightly splintered. She prayed that someone would find her; I don't think I can apparate.
Suddenly she heard a clicking of boots and saw a flash of white-blonde hair. Oh gods, please don't let it be Draco. Just as she felt her mind going blank and her eyes mist over, she caught a glimpse of the Senior Malfoy standing over her, a look of horror on his face.
When she woke, all she could see was white light. She heard voices swimming around in her head and wished they would speak English so she could understand. She moved her right arm slightly and felt a dull throb. The voices stopped for a moment and she suddenly heard a couple of mumbled, "V!" and "Wake up darling, you're safe now."
Once her eyes had adjusted to the light, she caught sight of her parents standing next to her with worried looks, Mr. Malfoy on the other side grinning slightly and then Draco standing at the end of the bed.
His face was paler than she thought it could ever be and he looked as though he hadn't slept in a few nights. His hair was on end, like Harry's had often been from running his fingers through it. A thought flashed through her brain and she looked at Draco, "What day is it?"
He answered quietly, "You were asleep for two days."
His voice cracked slightly and she thought softly, I am so sorry. I took it too far and I think I've lost the mission.
His face contorted slightly, The mission! We almost lost you!! Merlin V! You almost fucking died and all you can think of is the mission! I almost lost you! You're the only thing I have to live for. He turned away and stalked out of the room.
She looked after him with tears in her eyes, Draco! Wait … he can't hear me. I'm so sorry. She thought brokenly. I love you and I don't know how to deal with it.
She glanced at her parents and Malfoy Sr.'s worried faces. "It's alright. It will all turn out. I need to go to Harry now though. I told him I would train him today."
The three people around her began to argue angrily, telling her that she still wasn't healed and she needed to rest.
"Yes and I'm sure that's what everyone else thinks too. It's the perfect time for me to leave and help him. You can't make me stay, I need to do this." She looked at her parents and they nodded reluctantly.
"Miss Lestrange," Lucius handed her a long package; "I thought you might like this to help you."
She opened it slowly, pacing her movements to still the pain. When the paper had been taken off she was confronted with a sleek black cane, similar to Lucius' but with a hole on top for her wand and an intricate bottom. She turned the cane over to look at the design and grinned. She pulled on it and a saber came swishing out. She beamed up at Lucius and said, "It's fabulous. Thank you!"
She summoned her wand from where it had been resting on the table next to her, transfigured the handle into a dragon and placed it in the cane. She then pulled her legs over the side of the bed and made to stand up. All three once again rushed towards her, grumbling at her to "slow down!" She growled at them and stood shakily. She waved them away.
"I have to do this. You know it as well as I. I may have messed things up with the Dark Lord, but I will not let that hurt us in the end." She glanced at her parents, "Has He demoted you at all?"
Her father shook his head and her mother said quietly, "Not at all, He's been in a rage the past few days and actually gave us time off to help you. V, what happened?"
She shook her head firmly, "Not now. I've got to get to Harry. I will tell you later." She transfigured her clothes into her former black leather, gasped at the slight scars on her visible skin and changed the top into a breathable Asian tunic.
With a last glance at the rather furious adults in the room, she apparated to Grimmauld Place.
She growled at Harry and said, "Faster! You have to react faster. Don't think, just do! Make your muscles do the work! When you're tired and you've been fighting for hours, your mind won't be the thing ordering you around. Your muscles have the memory, make them do it!"
He was panting and doubled over, attempting to catch his breath. "Never would I have thought to hear Hermione Granger telling me not to think."
She glared at him and snarled, "That's 'Mi to you, thanks. Now get going." She flicked her wand slightly and he yelped. She had placed a few charms so that his feet burned if they were on the ground for more than 5 seconds at a time and his arm burned if he didn't cast a spell in the same amount of time.
After another ten minutes, she let him stop and catch his breath. She raised an eyebrow as his panting and said smirking, "Let's test your animagus now. You can do it, can't you?"
He glared at her, "Of course."
She grinned ferally and said, "Let's go then." She transformed into her lioness/puma form and growled at him. He transformed into a stag. Surprise, surprise, she thought to herself. They circled the room, eyeing each other.
Suddenly she took off towards him, zig-zagging to throw him off. She leaped towards his flank and was immediately caught by his antlers, throwing her off.
Damn he's been practicing with Remus. She transformed back and raised an eyebrow. "Remus?"
The stag nodded slightly and looked at her haughtily. She grinned, "Well then, looks like you've got the four-legged ones down – let's see how you do with a winged opponent." The stag quirked his head; she grinned and transformed into her phoenix form.
She dove at him and managed to get a peck in before he could figure out the movement to get her off. They went at it for almost two hours until he was able to anticipate her moves and defend himself. She transformed back and felt the wounds on her skin from before, throbbing and bleeding. She groaned and turned to an exhausted Harry. "Well that was decent. Keep training this week for 4 hours a day and you may just be ready."
He glared at her, "You're a vindictive little witch aren't you?"
She smirked and turned away, "I told you I would get you back someday dear." She heard him gasp and turned her head, "What?"
He was staring at her back, "What the hell?"
She grimaced and cast a wrapping spell that would bind her wounds for a period of time. "Just a little present from the Dark Lord."
He gaped at her, "And you fought with me after that?!"
She stared at him with a cold glare, "In battle you will not be unharmed, learn to fight through the pain or ignore it completely. If you get distracted, you will die."
She stalked away up the stairs and apparated back home, only to be confronted by an extremely large snake curled up in her foyer. She stepped back warily and watched what she knew was Potter's replacement of Nagini. She still marveled over his cleverness at replacing the other snake with this one, which he was able to duplicate down to the last scale and ensure through Parseltongue had the same mind and voice as the former Horcrux.
She glanced back down at the large python in front of her and noticed its head rearing up towards her with a note in its fangs. She groaned and took it carefully. The snake slithered away out the door and she shivered.
She turned to go to her room, reading the letter as she walked. Just as she reached her door, she folded up the letter with a thoughtful glance. She opened it and said, "So how would you feel about me going on a date with another man?"