As they made their way to the apparation room, Hermione felt Severus' hands snake round her waist, with and almost possessive grip.
"Relax," he whispered in her ear, and slowly Hermione felt her shoulders relax, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.
It was the first, almost comforting thing Snape had said to her, the whole time at the mansion.
Bringing her back to reality, two house elves appeared in front of them and opened the two French doors that led to the Apparation room. This was the part that Hermione had been dreading, for their stood Lucius, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy. All were the spectacle of fine elegance. Both Lucius and Draco wore magnificent, black wizard robes and Narcissa was dressed in a floor length, backless green evening dress robe, with diamond-encrusted patterns on the bodice. Hermione had never seen such outfits; knowing they must have cost a fortune.
"Severus, old friend, how good of you to invite us," Lucius said whilst bowing slightly from the head.
"Yes Severus, it's been quite a while since we've had the pleasure," beamed Narcissa.
"And look what we've got here. If it isn't the Gryffindor mudblood; don't scrub up too bad do you…"smirked Draco.
"That's enough Draco! How dare you beseech the name of Malfoy, but looking at a mudblood in such a way! You shall be punished greatly for such an act of imprudence!" shouted Lucius, whilst swing his cane upon the boy's head.
Draco scowled at his father, from beneath a bowed head.
"My house elves have informed me that dinner is served. As so not to ruin such good food, I suggest we carry this on in the dining room over dinner."
Severus once again wrapped his hand around Hermione's waist, and hastily began to almost drag her through to the dining room.
With all the anger and hate against the people in the room, Hermione was finding it hard to remain unemotional and cool, with her temper rising quickly.
Once inside the dining room, now laden with a full three course meal buffet, Hermione found herself being pushed into her seat, and Snape sitting beside her.
Dinner was fairly uneventful. Severus and Narcissa made small talk about upcoming balls and such, with not much enthusiasm from Snape's side, with the occasional input from Lucius as to the inferiority of those hosting them.
"…they never could hope to estimate to such great balls, we have held at Malfoy Manor…" sneered Lucius.
Statements like these almost made Hermione laugh. However not wishing to end up arguing with Snape further, she kept quiet throughout the meal, with her head down; staring as if in a trance.
Hermione would glance up occasionally for a sip of the wine or to adjust her hair slightly, only to be met with the eyes of Draco Malfoy. Those dark penetrating eyes she found to be watching her, unnerved her a little.
After another half an hour or so of mindless small talk, a house elf appeared at the entrance to the the dining room to announce dinner. Hermione took this opportunity upon herself, as she did not think she could withstand to hear the pompous, arrogant and rude remarks of Lucius and Draco any longer.
"Sir, may I be excused. I find I've lost my appetite." Hermione quietly spoke to the man beside her.
Rather than replying, Severus merely waved his hand at Hermione, who took this reply to signify a yes.
She made her way out of the dining room and up the main staircase. Once in her room, all she could do was collapse onto the bed and cry.
I miss my family and my friends. But most of all I'm stuck here with the most insensitive man on the earth, while death eaters traipsing throughout the house!
No sooner than she had entered the room however, there was a small knock on the door.
Without even lifting her head from the pillow, "Go away," she mumbled.
There was a moment silence, but Hermione distinctly heard the unmistakable noise of the bedroom door shutting.
" I thought I told you to go away…" she started, opening her eyes, only to see that it wasn't Snape in the room.
"That's no way to treat your superiors!" Lucius smirked from across the room.
No longer being able to contain her anger and frustration, Hermione retorted, "well when I see some…I'll be sure to make them feel right at home…"
"Why you insolent little chit, how dare you speak to me like that you filthy Mudblood."
Lucius marched across the room and slapped Hermione across the face.
"We need some lessons in how to respect our elders and be and obedient mudblood now don't we?"
Lucius knelt on the bed, and grabbing Hermione by the chin, forcibly pressed his lips to hers. She struggled hard against him, but Lucius had managed to pin Hermione to the bed; his weight well outweighing hers.
"Now who's superior?" he smirked.
Suddenly there was a large bang and Hermione's bedroom door blew open. Severus stood in the doorway; his wand pointed directly at Lucius.
"I told you before Lucius I don't share!" Severus spat at the other man.
"There will be another time and place, my little mudblood" Lucius smirked at Hermione, and she couldn't help feeling a tingle down her spine, through the icy tone of his voice.
"Get out" spat Severus.
Like out of a movie, the two men were gone, as quickly as they had gone, ad Hermione once again felt alone, scared and dirty…
After a while of sobbing, curled up against the soft, velvet cushions of the bed, Hermione decided she needed to wash herself of the scene she was just in.
She ran herself a bath, with the surprisingly pleasant chocolate bath scents she found in the bathroom, accompanied by the sweet smell of vanilla bubble bath.
If there were one thing she would miss it would be her rooms. They seemed to suit her every need and knew exactly her preferences for everything.
She allowed the relaxing scents and hot water relax her as she slowly began scrubbing herself clean of Malfoy filth.
After a relaxing hour in the bath, Hermione wrapped herself in the red silk nightgown found on the back of the bathroom door and preceded into the bedroom. Hermione was pleasantly amazed. The whole room had been lit with candles that shimmered in the moonlight befalling the room through the balcony windows.
But it was not this that had most lovingly caught her eyes. What was that lying in the middle of the bed?…
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