Chapter 2: Sold
Hermione opened her eyes wondering where the deatheaters could have possibly taken her this time. She was in a small lumpy bed with dirty blankets. The young woman took in her surroundings. It was a small room with a bed and a bedside table in it with her package she had received earlier. There was a piece of parchment on top of it. She took it and read it. The note contained all of her information on it, or rather Velia de Galdo's information. Her quick lies had saved her once again knowing full well that if they knew she was actually 20 instead of 23 they would go back for Antonio and lock her up.
Velia continued to look through the rest of her parcel. It contained black undergarments along with a tiny black skirt and top to go with it, as well as black strappy heels.
The door suddenly slammed open making Hermione nearly have a heart attack.
"Good. You're awake. Get dressed then drink this." He threw a bottle of potion at her.
"What is it?"
"Health food." He snickered then slammed the door shut.
Hermione rolled her eyes and quickly shoved the potion down her throat before dressing in the scantily clad clothes.
Just as she was smoothing down her skirt as much as possible the deatheater came back in and motioned for her to follow. He scanned her up and down hungrily before grabbing her wrists and dragging her behind him.
"You're category nine, number seven. Just go out there and relax and look your best. The boys will do the rest." Then he shoved her into a room where there were about 14 other girls who were dressed in the same attire as she was in different colors. They were all just as beautiful as the next.
"Number one! You're up!"
A nervous blond stood up from the floor and went to the door trembling from head to foot. She looked no older than 16. Hermione could hear the yelling from the other room. They were howling and whistling as the girl stepped out of the platform. As the door clicked shut silence filled the room. Hermione looked around to see if she recognized anyone. She searched each face, but none were familiar.
There was nothing left of her old world anymore. Not her looks, nor her books. Everything was changed. Gone. No family or friends were there to console her as she nervously picked at her fingernails, trying to hold back the tears.
One by one, each girl was called out to the stage never returning. Hermione was next, or rather Velia.
"Number seven!" The deatheaters eyes searched around for the culprit. She quickly put her hand over her number. She would not stoop so low as to let them manhandle her while being sold to some sexist bastard. At least not without a fight.
The deatheater spotted her and strutted her way. She stood there, chin held high.
"Number seven! Let's go!"
Hermione had practiced wandless magic for the last five years. She concentrated with all her might, saying the spell over and over in her head. The deatheater had finally made his way to her and reached out to grab her. As soon as his hand touched her skin, it sizzled and he hissed in pain.
"Bitch!" He slapped her then hissed again when his skin touched hers. He pulled his wand out and muttered a spell her mind went suddenly blank and he reached out for her for a third time. This time he was unharmed. "Now play nice and impress your new owner." He whispered a counter spell. Her concentration suddenly came back as he shoved her on the stage.
It was bright. Too bright. And loud. Men were yelling and howling at her, making rude gestures and grabbing for her.
"Number seven! Velia de Galdo! A young Italian halfblood starting at 100 Galleons!"
Deatheathers were pushing and shoving her around, trying to life up her skirt. She threw punches at them trying to make them leave her alone, but it was to no avail.
"Watch out guys! This one looks feisty!"
"100 galleons!"
"200!"
"500!"
"700!"
The room quieted slightly.
"700 going once! 700 galleons going twice!-"
"1000!" A deep voice sounded from the back.
This time the room immediately quieted down.
"Any more takers?"
"1100!" Another challenged.
"1200!" Yet another.
"2000." The voice from the back said once more.
"Going once! Twice!" A dramatic pause. "Sold to Mister Malfoy!"
Hermione's heart pounded hard inside her chest the minute she heard those words.
Lucius Malfoy. There was no way she would survive being owned by Lucius Malfoy. He was one of the most evil and terrifying next to the Dark Lord. She had also heard many rumors about this many. Of how he raped and physically abuse all of the women he came upon. Many of his females didn't make it more than a month at the Malfoy Manor.
Hands immediately grabbed her and started dragging her away to another room. She thrashed and kicked and elbowed her captors as hard as she could. She elbowed one deatheater hard in the jaw before they finally pulled the wands out and yelled "Stupefy!" at her.
She had already been away from her home for a week. And she would never return. Tears instantly filled her eyes. She took in her surroundings for the day. They hadn't kept her in the same place for more than one night at a time. Today's room was made of cold stone walls, a urinal, mirror and a new set of clothes folded neatly on the side table. She unwrapped herself from the covers and quickly dress and attempted to use the urinal, finding that it was not an easy task. Luckily her new clothes included a robed, which she gratefully wrapped around her body, trying to warm her frame.
It was unbelievable cold. She quickly jumped back in her lumpy bed and curled up into the cover with her cloak. She closed her eyes thinking of her home where it was warm and friendly. Helping Sofia turn up the potatoes and chuck the corn. Cooking dinner with Francesca, she missed them all very much.
Thinking back to the past brought up even older memories. Laughing on the train to Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. That was all back before the war had started. Before Voldemort had become a threat again.
All of that was gone. It was all over in a flash. Both Harry and Ron were gone. Her parents were gone. She was away from her second family. She had nothing.
The door slammed open. She lifted her head to the door, expecting the usual, a bottle of health food. Instead it was an actual meal. She took the sight in greedily.
"You'll be meeting you're new master today and he will take you back to his home. He wants you looking you best so you'll be bathing today. Eat quickly and thank your own for the food when you see him. If it were up to me you'd be eating potions the rest of your life." He sat the tray of food on the side table and left. "I'll be back in ten minutes."
Hermione's stomach growled loudly, but she waited for the deatheater to leave before she ate. The moment the door closed she quickly snatched the tray up and took in the food. There were hot pancakes with butter and syrup, a side of bacon, orange juice, and an apple. She ate it all ravenously.
As soon as she finished eating the deatheater came back in she stood up and followed him, excited to finally be able to bath after living in a week of filth.
It was a long silent walk to the lavatory. The clicking of the deatheaters hills on the hard stone floor was echoed loudly through the halls. At last the came to a hault and he opened the door to reveal a small bathroom equipped with an open shower, toilet, sink and mirror. There was a bag setting on top of the sink, which she assumed had all of the bathroom supplies that she needed.
"I'll give you forty-five minutes and if you're not ready by then I'll haul you out naked if need be." With that said he slammed the door closed and Hermione was left to her own comforts, even if it was an open shower.
The young woman siphoned through the parcel and found all of the necessities to shower, as well as brush her teeth. She also found hair accessories and deodorant.
The first step into the warm shower water felt like heaven. She felt as if she could stay in the water forever. However, knowing that she only had 45 minutes to clean herself up she picked up the shampoo and began to wash her hair. The air around her filled with the aroma of oranges and spices, it smelled absolutely delightful. The conditioner and body wash smell the same, intoxicating her nostrils. She washed and conditioned her hair several times before stepping out of the shower and wrapping the fluffy white towel around her body.
She found a magical hair dryer and hair brush and quickly got to work with dryer her hair. She nearly shrieked when she saw herself in the mirror. After not seeing herself in a week she had completely forgotten she didn't look like herself. Her hair was not in messy brown knots; in fact it took no effort at all to run the brush through her hair as she dried it.
Next was her teeth, she could hardly wait to brush her teeth again. They had felt so grimy and nasty in the last week she just knew her mouth was filling with cavities. However, on further inspection, she found that her teeth were not filled with cavities. The relief this brought her was surprising because she didn't think she should care about trivial things such as cavities.
Finally she donned on her clothes. They were simple, yet efficient. Black slacks and heels with a dark green long sleeved blouse, along with a warm black cloak. She was glad to finally be wearing something that actually covered her body. The moment she was through with her things they all disappeared. Hermione looked back at the counter and realized that there was something left on the counter. She looked closer and found that it was make-up and perfume.
Honestly, who are they expected me to try and impress? Lucius Malfoy? Please.
She gave the make-up one last look and knocked on the door. It opened to a displeased looking deatheater.
"You have to use everything in the bag. No exceptions. It's what he wants."
"He who?" It was weird to hear the sound of her own voice after not talking for nearly a week."
"Who do you think you dumb wench? You're new owner! Now get your arse back in there and use everything that's given to you!" He shoved her harshly back into the shower and slammed the door.
She humphed and went back over to the counter and grudgingly put the make-up on. Hermione looked herself over in the mirror. Her black hair was pin strait from blow drying it, not something she had even been able to manage with her old hair. It was incredible to her that such a simple charm could take such a great effect. She sort of missed her wild light brown curls, even if they were bushy.
"Alright, times up!" The deatheater opened the door and looked her over. "Much better. Now move it."
Hermione walked through the door and let the deatheater push her through more and more dark stone corridors. It was nice to be more fully clothed considering how cold it was. Which made her wonder where she could possibly be since it was midsummer in Italy.
It took nearly ten minutes to reach their destination. It was ten minutes of agonizing pain as Hermione's heart beat harder and faster with each step. When they did finally reach the lobby of her prison she was surprised to find how warm it was compared to the dungeons. Her eyes squinted as she adjusted to the brightness of the room. Hermione looked around, searching for her new owner, for Lucius Malfoy.
She couldn't find him though. There was only one other in the room with them. His back was to them facing the fire. He still had his deatheater mask on, as he was seemingly staring into the fire. There was no long platinum blond hair sticking out, so she knew it couldn't have possibly be Lucius Malfoy. He always had a way about flaunting that hair of his.
The man finally turned around and faced them. He walked towards them slowly, as if he were hunting his prey. His hands went up to his mask as he slowly took it off. Hermione watched, horrified as she saw his silky platinum hair revealed its self.
"Ah, Miss Velia de Galdo. At last."