The Law

Trigger: Dark Hermione

He scratched at the collar around his thin neck. He despised it, but he was stuck with it for now. He hoped that whomever he was given too would remove the blasted thing, but there was no guarantee. He glanced across the dimly lit room at Theo and Blaise. They too wore similar collars in preparation for the auction.

When Voldemort fell a new regime took over and it was just as dark and disgusting as the one before. Wizards were apparently worse than muggles when it came to the treatment of others. The law had been written overnight and all those that either bore the mark of a deatheater or were found to be a primary associate of one were slapped in chains and carted off to camps across the European Continent.

"Tolerance my arse," he thought. "The only tolerance was for those in power and there was always someone looking to overthrow the ministry. It just so happened that this time his lineage was on the losing end, but he didn't know for how long."

"Draco Malfoy," came a brisk voice he recognized but couldn't completely place. It reminded him of the day he was sorted at Hogwarts, but he couldn't imagine Minerva McGonagall working with this group.

He stood slowly and felt the pull of the magic that held his collar against his skin. It compelled him to move forward regardless of his own desire to stay where he had been. The stage he was led too was brightly lit and he couldn't make out any of the faces in the crowd. It was just as well that he didn't know who was taking him home.

A hidden wizard spoke with a sonorous charm from somewhere in the room. "The next specimen is a grand example of the fall of the deatheater court. Draco Abraxas Malfoy is the only son of the house of Malfoy. His crimes include the attempted murder of Albus Dumbledore and a direct participant in the murder of Charity Burbage. Who would like to take him home and break his spirit? Shall we start the bidding at 20 galleons?"

He heard the murmurs as different bids were placed around the room and he did his very best to tune them out. He was beyond caring what happened to him now. Death would never come and he couldn't hope for better than to be someone's servant. He wished to be bought by someone who at least would ignore his existence, but that was not likely.

"300 galleons," came a female voice from within the crowd. "And everyone would do best to allow me the final bid."

"Of course, Madame," the wizard with the sonorous charm stated. "Yours is the final bid."

He recognized the voice, but he couldn't process that he had just been purchased by her. It was unseemly at the least and his worst fear at the best. Maybe death would be quicker than he had first hoped.

He was taken to a room where he was cleaned and groomed. "She requested his hair be left a little long," said the beauty witch. "And she asked for this black suit in particular leaving the collar intact."

He barely recognized himself in the mirror, but he feared he was the exact version of himself that she desired. "Hello Draco," she purred from behind him. "Look at you. Such a handsome young man."

He could see her in the mirror, but he did not turn around. He had learned to not act unless it was requested. Punishments for his kind were quick and ruthless, especially when they acted out of their own free will.

She stood directly behind him, the top of her head barely at his shoulder. She ran her hands along his back and quickly pinched his arse before moving to stand in front of him. "Look at me," she said firmly.

His silver eyes met her brown ones and he saw pure delight in her gaze. She reached up slowly and drug a finger along his cheek and chin. "Do you know me?" she asked.

He nodded. "And my name?"

He didn't speak. "Say my name Draco."

"Hermione Granger," he stated softly.

"Good boy."

He leaned into her hand that now held his cheek and keened at her gentle attention. "Ah pet," she murmured, "we are going to have such fun."

She slipped the finger beneath the collar of his black shirt and rubbed the collar. "Such fun," she whispered before apparating them away.

FIN