Chapter 7

After a few moments enjoying his hug, Hermione spoke up.
"The library?" she asked,

"Yes, the library." Malfoy agreed. He dropped his arms to his sides. Hermione took his hand in hers.

"Show me then," said Hermione smiling sweetly.

"Yes, Miss Granger." Malfoy led her out of the room and down to the far end of the corridor and stopped outside a large oak door. "The library," he announced. "After you Miss Granger."

"Thank you Mr Malfoy." She giggled enjoying the sheer obscurity of formality in the current situation.

"Something funny Miss Granger?" he asked. Hermione shook her head feeling chastised. "Go on then," he said.

Hermione pushed the door open to see the grandest library she had ever seen in her life. She wasn't sure if it was bigger than the Hogwarts library, but it sure gave it a run for the money. It was full of rich dark woods, which seemed to dominant the entire Malfoy Manor. Several large red leather couches were dotted throughout the room, and bookcases filled to the brim covered all the wall space from floor to ceiling. It was astounding. Hermione thought about Beauty and the Beast, her favourite childhood film. The Beast had presented Belle with a library. Is that what she and Draco were – Beauty and the Beast? Only Hermione wasn't sure who was who.

"Like what you see?" asked Malfoy sounding very pleased with himself. Hermione realised she'd been stood in the entrance with her mouth gaping wide open. A wow was all she could manage, and she made a conscious effort to close her mouth. Malfoy chuckled.

"Help yourself to whatever you'd like," said Malfoy, "You'll have to take it back to my room to read though." Noticing the expression on Hermione's face he added "Parents."

Hermione didn't know where to start. There were so many books. So many so rare that she was sure that the Malfoy's must be some of the only people to have copies of them. She spent a good ten minutes walking round. She picked up six books.

"We can come back here again," interjected Malfoy.

"Thank you," smiled Hermione. Maybe things weren't so bad here at the Malfoy Manor. Then she remembered what was yet to come. Was Malfoy only being nice to her to make things easier? Maybe he didn't really care. She swallowed the lump which had formed in her throat.

"Are you done?" asked Malfoy. Hermione nodded, all the confidence from earlier leaving her. She allowed herself to be led back to Malfoy's room.

When they entered she noted that he didn't lock the door behind them. He was clearly beginning to trust her. He took the books from her hands and placed the on the desk.

"Hermione"

"Yes," he wanted something, she could tell. She kept her expression guarded.

"You know what I am expected to do," he paused.

"Yes," replied Hermione. She thought they had two weeks. Did he want to do it right now? She wasn't ready. She couldn't do it yet. "Please don't," she said meekly.

"Hermione, you agreed. It won't hurt, I promise."

Anger coursed through Hermione's veins. Is this why he was being so nice to her? Was he trying to woo her? How dare he? She thought she had an understanding of him.

"How dare you promise that? How do you know it won't hurt? I thought I could trust you" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. Yes she really did think she could trust him. Why was he doing this?

"No Hermione, you don't understand," he pleaded horror spreading over his face. "I didn't mean that. I wouldn't. I'm sorry."

"I don't understand," she said stumbling on her words through her tears.

Malfoy reached forward and pulled Hermione to him, and wrapped his arms around her. She let him, even though she was angry, upset and confused. His arms brought her some comfort.

"I meant about hurting you. Not that I would. But I have to make it look like I have. Oh I'm sorry Hermione I didn't mean…" his words failed him. He squeezed her, trying to comfort her. It worked. Hermione's tears slowed. She was relieved. She'd thought that the Draco she had gotten to know was pretend. He wasn't, or at least she didn't think he was.

"What do you need to do?" asked Hermione.

"Give you bruises and marks on your skin. Think of it as costume makeup." Draco smiled darkly. "It won't hurt though, I really do promise," he added gently.

"Okay, do what you need to," said Hermione. She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. She heard Malfoy begin to mutter some unfamiliar incantations. She kept her eyes, finding the patterns in the words Draco was muttering comforting. This went on for several long minutes, until Malfoy spoke.

"Hermione," he said softly, "I've finished."

She opened her eyes, blinking to grow accustomed to the light again. She rolled up her sleeve to look at her arms. They were black and blue from bruises, and she had several welts. She felt ill. She ran to the closet and closed the door and held it shut behind her.

"Hermione," called Draco. She ignored him. She stripped off down to her underwear, and glanced up at the full length mirror. She barely recognised the person staring back at her. She was covered in bruises all over her body. She had large welts all over her back. Her face was the worst though. Hermione had always thought she had quite a pretty face. Not anymore. She had black eyes, several cuts and a split lip. She looked hideous. She struggled to be thankful even for the fact that none of these wounds were real.

"Hermione," Malfoy called in desperation, but Hermione barely noticed. She couldn't stand to look at herself any longer. She sunk to her knees letting go of the door handle as she went. A sob shook her body. What had she let herself in for? She continued to sob, as a now familiar pair of strong arms wrapped around her. She hadn't even noticed him come in. She let him hold her tight, as she cried out the horror of the past couple of days. In this beautiful man's arms, she decided, that she was in fact the beast.