My Enemy, Friend, Husband, Death Eater, Lover, Git
Chapter 7: Draco's care
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Hermione felt the intense suffocating pressure lessen, and then with a crack it was gone, leaving her disorientated and dizzy. Opening her eyes she saw he surroundings illuminated by candles. Looking further she noted Narcissa standing besides, her body tense. A long thin figure, cloaked and hooded with a masked face stepped towards them, "Welcome, Hermione." An elegant voice murmured.
Hermione looked up, but the only thing she saw were cold black eyes staring back at her from behind the mask. Narcissa made an elaborate hand gesture then bowed to the woman. After a moment or two the unknown lady tapped Narcissa's shoulder, "Your presence is acknowledged Narcissa Malfoy, take your place." Narcissa got up quickly and left.
Hermione cast her eyes downward as the woman stepped forward again, now closer to her. "Hermione Jane Granger, the future Mrs. Malfoy. You know why you're here I believe?"
Hermione didn't reply, she didn't actually fully understand, and the woman took her silence as a no, "well then," she started, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Charna and I'm the leader of the darkstras. "
Hermione didn't know quite how to reply, nice to meet you didn't seem dramatic enough, instead she inclined her head to the taller woman.
"Now for your initiation," Charna said briskly, taking Hermione's arm and leading her to stone platform. Hermione felt rather nervous, as she noticed ten more hooded figures standing there.
"For you to become Draco Malfoy's wife, you have certain responsibilities and this is one of them. In order to become a Darkstra you need to prove your loyalty." Hermione's head shot up, but didn't speak. Charna sensed her unease and said in a mocking voice, "How, you wonder? Oh you'll see."
Hermione looked curiously at Charna, but she turned her head to the altar. Hermione's eyes followed the movement and then gasped. Held up by chains was a middle aged woman, her dressed soaked in blood and sweat. Hermione started to stagger back but Charna stopped her, "We start every meeting by torturing a muggle. This unfortunate lady was our victim. When we initiate a new member, or if an older member needs to prove to us again her loyalty, the task is to torture and to kill the muggle in question."
Hermione's eyes sought frantically for Narcissa but she couldn't distinguish her from the other hooded figures. Charna watched her, amusement clear in her eyes. "I don't have a wand." Hermione managed in a frightened squawk. Charna drew out a wand from her robes and handed it to Hermione.
Hermione held it in trembeling hands, looking down on it she noticed it was completely black, long and straight. It was a ceremonial wand her infinite knowledge told her, also used for weddings, births, and executions by the ministry. Hermione sat down, finding her legs momentarily too weak.
She didn't know what to do. She needed to prove her loyalty but this was going to far. She couldn't kill that woman, she just couldn't. But if she didn't she would soon find herself in a sticky situation. She felt a presence at the edge of her mind, "Hermione, just do it. Don't think, just do. Its too late to turn around now." She heard Narcissa whisper almost comfortingly in her mind.
Charna turned sharply on one of the hooded figures and with a red shot and loud crucio she brought the woman with a yelp to her knees. Hermione felt Narcissa disappear from her mind. "Leave the girl, Narcissa. It's her own choice." Charna snapped.
Hermione watched Narcissa writher in pain and felt a twinge of sympathy, but with the short message Hermione felt she had something. Narcissa told her Dumbledore made her bring here, so Dumbledore would know what would happen, so if he asked Narcissa to bring here he expected Hermione to do as asked. With a shiver Hermione slowly pointed the wand at the woman.
"Expelliarmus!" she whispered. The woman flew back, but the chains restrained her making her stop in mid air. Hermione saw pain in the woman's eyes as her arms were being strained. Guilt flushed her, Dumbledore couldn't have meant this. Charna continued watching Hermione thoughtfully, she had expected the girl to consider a bit longer.
Making up her mind Hermione cast another spell, silently so that Charna wouldn't see, "verdovo," a spell she knew would make the woman unable to feel pain. Then drawing herself up higher she sent a crucio curse. The body of the woman squirmed appropriately but Hermione knew the woman actually didn't feel a thing. Her screams were only a reflex.
After a few more goes Charna seemed satisfied, "Kill her." She snarled, the ultimate test. Hermione hesitated, not lowering her wand, but had no idea what she was going to do. She couldn't kill the woman, but if she didn't it would all be over. She lowered her wand, "I ca-" she started to say but she was cut off as a wave of presence filled Hermione's mind and took over. Hermione saw her wand raising, and felt her lips mouthing a word. Before she knew it, before she could stop it; a green jet of light burst from her wand and hit the woman squarely in the chest. The chains uncurled and the body dropped unceremoniously to the floor.
Hermione felt the presence leave as quickly as it had come and fell to the stone, tears streaming down her eyes. Charna dragged her up mercilessly, then hissed, "Well done, your first kill." And with one fluid motion tossed Hermione onto the altar. Hermione landed roughly, knocking her head on something. Dimly she registered somebody picking her up and seeing Narcissa's steely grey eyes stare at her before everything went black.
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Draco heard commotion in his apartment and woke up because of it. Wondering what it was he got wearily out of bed and pulled on his emerald coloured velvet night robe. With a sigh he pushed open his door, drawing out his wand dramatically but was disappointed to find nobody there.
Then he heard a soft moan and he looked down. At the door lay a small crumpled heap of moans. Rushing towards it he kneeled besides it. He drew the hood covering the face and was surprised to find Hermione there.
He recognized her robes as Darkstra robes and groaned inwardly. He picked her up gently and put her on the sofa. He blushed when he remembered that the Darkstras were nude during ceremonies and blushed even deeper when Hermione rolled and exposed a very bare leg.
Scratching the back of his head uncomfortably he wasn't quite sure what to do. From her leg and face he could see she was bruised and dirty. He also noticed by the dampness of his own clothing that Hermione was soaking wet. He would have to clean her he realised and with dread, nervousness and some excitement which he quickly suppressed, now was not that time he told himself.
He picked her up again and brought her to the bathroom and took of her dirty, and he noted bloody, robes and laid her into the bathtub. He ran the water, controlling the temperature with his wand and magic it run extra fast. Once the water reached her neck he turned the tapped and set to work. The water soon become dark brown with all the dirty and ceremonial body paint that he had to refresh it with a flick of his wand. After her body was sufficiently clean he started rinsing her hair. Getting the dirt and tangles out of her hair was tough business and it was certainly 15 minutes later that he was satisfied. Hermione wasn't unconscious anymore, but not quite registering what was going on. Draco smiled to himself, thinking what her reaction would be if she knew what he was doing.
He dried her off and then cast a drying spell to ensure she was completely dry. He pulled of his own night robe and wrapped it around her, cradling her gently. He brushed her hair, but soon found it impossible. With his wand he did the major knots before drying her hair with a spell too. He knew this much care wasn't necessary but she was after all his future wife, he felt obliged. Not to mention that she looked so cute, half asleep and defenceless in his arms.
He carried her to her bedroom and laid her into the bed, covering her carefully with the covers and tucking her in. He kissed her forehead, not sure why, it just seemed appropriate. He was hesitant, he wanted to stay until she woke up, but he also didn't want her to know what he had done. His need for self preservation led him out of the room and into his own, where he fell into a troubled sleep.
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