Chapter 9

Hermione was still angry the next day. Actually she felt disgusted and hurt. Although she couldn't quite understand why she was hurt. Its not like she trusted him, far from it, but it hurt to be treated that way. Still, something in her felt that he should have taken care of her.

Maybe Connie was just right. This is strictly a financial transaction. Care did not extend beyond that. If she was going to survive in the world, she would have to become harder. No more ridiculous notions that arseholes like Draco Malfoy would watch out for her. This was not a world where anyone watches out for her.

Except for maybe Edna and Delia. They could tell that something was wrong and was trying their upmost to wring it out of her. She was not going to tell them, although she could imagine Delia stomping over to Draco with her rather debilitated walk and hitting him with her purse. At least she got one giggle out of the whole affair.

Hermione had to figure out what to do now. She would have to sell the necklace he gave her. It would probably keep them going for a few months, but after that she would have to do something. She considered selling the brand new wardrobe, which would extend their survival for a little longer.

She knew what Connie would say, keep the wardrobe, find another, someone rich and generous. She wondered what Connie would say about what Draco did. Was she supposed to put up with something like that? She didn't know Connie well enough to judge how she would react to something like that. Connie was probably savvy enough to never get herself in such a situation. Hermione hated feeling stupid.

At least it was a nice day. The sun was shining making a clear crisp winters day. The weather eventually turned over the coming days as did Hermione mood.

Hermione knew she needed to start planning. Begging was not something appealing and if she wasn't smart she would be on the street plying the trade which was an even worse fate.

Hermione didn't know what to do, so she wrote a note to Connie asking her to help advice her. Hermione quite liked the idea of a Patron. A kind man, who liked a quiet life with a gentle companionship. Hermione had no idea how to achieve that, but she bet that Connie did.

Connie came around a few days later, knocking on the door and taking Hermione out. Hermione was wearing one of the less formal gowns, which was a little less bright, but it was still clear to what class of society she belonged to.

They slowly walked arm in arm to one of the Patisseries in Diagon Alley. The French bakery had quaint little brass and marble tables and chairs. This was a store that served purebloods and the dowdy pureblood women would look upon them disapprovingly as they sipped their hot chocolates. Hermione got the idea that Connie liked goading them.

Hermione hated this world and she was pretty sure Connie did too, although Connie went out her way to highlight their hypocrisy.

"There is no power in being a wife." Connie said. "They exist to breed and their entire value as a person is based on being able to squeeze something out of their loins. They have no life outside that."

Hermione was listening, trying to understand Connie and why she would go out of her way to flaunt her status and beauty.

"They are so repressed, they are not allowed to do anything." She continued. "And they disapprove of us. Most of them fail. Their fertility is atrocious. I feel sorry for them. The expectations on their lives were there even before the war. Not as bad as now, but they were always very controlled."

Hermione had never even considered their perspective before, or the limitations to their lives. She couldn't see Ron treating Pansy in that way, but he wasn't raised like the rest of them. Ron and Pansy already had two children, but the Weasley genes are known for being bountiful. She wasn't entirely sure whether Draco had children or not, but she guessed she would have heard if he did.

"Don't you want children?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know." Connie shrugged. "I have accepted that I won't have any and I am not wallowing in grief over it."

Hermione had been outraged that it had been forbidden for her kind to have children, but it was more of an issue being forbidden over any actual sense of loss. Maybe because she was still too young for children. Maybe over time the loss would become achingly real. Hermione dreaded that.

"Now about your situation." Connie said.

"I like the idea of a patron." Hermione said, acknowledging that she may not be strong enough to play the game that Connie did.

"Unfortunately, there is a little snag." Connie said and Hermione ears peaked. "It seems that Malfoy has put out a bit of a fatwa on you."

"What do you mean fatwa?" Hermione asked guardedly.

"It means, he will not approve of anyone taking up with you."

"He can't do that." Hermione said, feeling anger rise like bile.

"He can't control what you do." Connie said. "Although the Ministry tends to be lenient on purebloods abusing our kind. I've never seen it before, but he has put a general threat out there that anyone who takes up with you will have to deal with him."

"So what? Not everyone cares what Malfoy wants." Hermione snorted.

"He is very powerful. Powerful enough to enforce his will." Connie said. "You must take this seriously."

"So what are you saying?" Hermione asked, hoping Connie will find a way forward to her.

"I think you are going to have to go back." She said, but continued when she saw Hermione's expression. "Only until he tires, which won't be long. This is just a matter of being defied. Once he is over that, he will lose interest."

"And I should just put up with being abused. Paraded in front of his friends like a puppet."

Connie sighed. "I realise this is not an ideal situation for you, but he is wealth and he likes to show it off. Use that. Play on his determination, use it to accumulate wealth."

Hermione was shaking her head and her eyes were water up.

"I know this is awful, but the faster you do this, the sooner you can stop. Retire for good." Connie said grabbing her hand. "You are not responsible for the way things are. They are. So take them for all they have."

Hermione felt even worse after seeing Connie, she had hoped that Connie would set her right for a decent future. Going back to Draco was not what she wanted, but she did believe Connie when she said that she had few other options at this point until Draco relented his claim.

Hermione had to shelve her fantasy about a nice quiet life of reading and gardening in the country with a gentle and potentially caring man.

Draco made his approach a few days later.

"Where are you going Granger?" He said as she walked past him in one of the MQ alleyways.

"I have to get some firewood." Hermione said, holding the empty firewood basket.

"The biddies getting cold?"

Hermione didn't answer. She had taken Connie's advice on board and as much as it grated her, she had accepted what the outcome of this little dealing would be.

"We are ok." She said.

"Sold the necklace then?"

Hermione nodded.

"That won't keep you going for long."

"I don't care, I won't be abused." She challenged. "I will make it stretch."

"Then what? No one else wants you." He said.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. Because you've promised to destroy anyone who tries, she wanted to yell at him.

"I'll be fine." She said and started to turn.

"Don't be so damned stubborn." He said. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I was drunk and it was an inconsiderate thing to do."

Hermione just stood. She let the hurt show in her eyes. So she was playing it up a bit. She was genuinely hurt, but it wasn't her instinct to show him.

He seemed to soften a bit. "You know I am not exactly known for my sensitivity. I promise, I won't do it again."

Hermione was still silent, astounded by hearing an apology from him. Was he drunk now?

"I will give you Grimmauld Place to live in." He said to Hermione's shock. "You and the biddies can stay there. Surely it would be a damned sight more comfortable. I know you're fond of it."

Hermione knew that he couldn't actually give it to her as she was not allowed property of any kind, but it was a generous gesture, letting her stay in Harry's house. Hermione almost cried for real. Maybe more from the irony of the whole thing.

"Fine." She said. "But not tonight. And not tomorrow. I will move tomorrow."

She walked away. He didn't argue so he must have accepted her terms. It had sounded like he actually was sorry, although she knew he wasn't capable of it. Why would he be sorry, he had been trying to humiliate her most of her life. Guess he finally succeeded, she thought as an afterthought, because he got her good. Now what? What does he want now? More humiliation? How much until he got tired and let her go?