"Cissy," Bellatrix Lestrange swept into Malfoy Manor the chain of her slave jangling behind her from her delicate hand.
Narcissa Malfoy greeted her sister in her usual cold manner. "Bella, you brought your slave."
"If I don't keep him chained up he tries to escape. Easier to keep him with me. Can your slave look after him while we talk?"
Narcissa observed Hermione coldly as she cleaned the window at the end of the entrance hall. A dismissive wave of Mrs Malfoy's hand was enough to get Bellatrix to drop the chain and push Neville towards Hermione with an equally dismissive "Work."
The sisters swept into the south parlour leaving Neville to join Hermione by the window. With a sardonic look he raised his shackled hands. The skin around his wrists was bruised and cut, like he'd worn the irons for days. The chain dragged along the floor and Hermione picked it up before it scuffed up her clean floor.
"Hey, 'Mione." He said smilingly.
Hermione lifted his hands and slipped into the gap between the shackled hands and him. He smiled into the hug. "I miss you." he said.
"I guess she caught you again, huh?"
"Don't tell me you haven't tried to escape."
Hermione smirked. "Several times but around here without a wand I wouldn't get far. Master Draco would be after me in a heartbeat, just so he could administer the punishment himself before his father got the chance."
"Bitter?"
"Wouldn't you be?" Hermione ducked out from the awkward hug. She turned her back on him and unzipped her dress a little, showing just enough of her scars to give an idea. "I think I trump Harry's, don't you?"
Like Master Draco had done Neville traced a few, but Hermione couldn't read his touch like she had her master's. "Merlin, that's awful. All Mistress does is lock me in the cellar with my memories replaying in my head. She never takes the trouble to punish me herself; she just leaves me to torture myself after planting the images in my head."
Hermione rolled her eyes and zipped up her dress again, turning back in time to see Master Draco pausing to watch them as he crossed the hall. Neville followed her look and saw him, bowing slightly mockingly as they had to.
Draco didn't acknowledge Neville's presence but kept his eyes locked on Hermione. Almost subconsciously Draco walked down towards them. Neville remained quiet as the blond held out a book to Hermione who took it looking perplexed.
"Thought you might like this." Draco said gruffly.
"Are you setting me up, sir?"
"No. Wouldn't do that when my father wasn't around. Thought we established that last night."
Hermione blushed as Neville shot her a very shocked look. "Then what's with the book. First a healing tonic and now a book? Who replaced your personality?"
Draco snorted. "Just read the book. Stupid girl." He muttered the last as he walked away.
Neville stifled his laughter at Hermione's confusion and indignation. "I'm not stupid." She stated.
This made Neville laugh even more. "Neither am I, 'Mione. Not about things like this. Something's going on. Tell me."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Uh-huh? 'Last night.' I know sleeping with the boss is one way to move ahead in your career but you've got nowhere to move to, so it seems a little counterproductive."
"I'm not sleeping with him! Really! I'm just his little whipping girl." Hermione winced and shut her eyes. "That came out wrong."
"Hm." She could tell he didn't believe her.
"Stop it, Nev. I hate him, remember? Bully to boss in one cruel move."
Neville grinned smugly. "I'm not saying anything but it's an awfully short gap between love and hate, you know."
"Stop implying that I'm going to fall in love with him."
"I never said it." that grin was getting annoying.
"I'm beginning to think that maybe you got sorted into the wrong house, Longbottom." She snapped.
Neville glanced around and lowered his voice in case any of the Family happened to be near. "That's another point that's been bugging me. Malfoys got first dibs at the auction and the ferret picked you. And he seems to keep you with him."
"He said that was only to stop me getting bullied worse by his father. He went to Master Malfoy and said that he wanted to punish me for my blood status so all punishments go through him and he dictates what work I do. I belong to him. I'm his slave."
Neville looked triumphant. But she cut across him when he opened his mouth to say something.
"Stop reading into this. There's nothing going on."
"Speaking of reading, what book is it?"
Hermione opened it to the title page. "Huh? 'Mary Bryant'. Why would he give me this?"
"She was a slave wasn't she?"
"Convict, who escaped after she was transported to Australia." Now a grin was forming.
"You find a way to escape successfully, let me know and I'll try it." Neville grinned.
"Ooh, that didn't take long." Hermione said resuming her work, setting the book down on the windowsill.
Neville glanced around as Bellatrix and Narcissa came out. He kissed Hermione on the cheek and they wished each other luck before he scurried back to his mistress.
Later, when Hermione finished the window, she forgot the book. About halfway up the hall she passed the door to the library and remembered it and turned back. Accidentally she knocked it off the windowsill.
The book had fallen open and landed on a bookmark. It was a piece of parchment folded thin. The page marked was entitled 'Matrimony'. Ducking into the shadows Hermione unfolded the parchment.
'H,
Meet me in my room after supper.
Bring something in case parentals walk in.
Don't worry, I just want to talk.
D.'
Hermione was glad Neville had left. That comment about talking aside, it didn't look good as far as Neville's theory went. Without a wand Neville wasn't as scared of Hermione.
I'm sure Master Draco can attest that I don't need a wand to make him see sense. Hermione thought proudly, balling her hand into a fist.