Shout out to the reviewers and their questions!
LanaLee1- I was wondering if there will be anything positive in this story or if it's going to continue with gore and murder? I agree with you that the story is quite gory and full of murder, however I really want to push the contextual background of the story in the first few chapters so I can then move on with the relationships, so don't back out just yet! Haha, there will be lots of positivity to come. I'm just going to be very cliché and say 'you can't a have a rainbow without a little rain' and that's what my story is about.
Helpfulfred- Draco feeling guilty for Hermione? It was a small momentary flash of guilt, after all they went to school together. He took away someone's life and I guess that can be impacting for both the victim and the perpetrator.
PRE-WARNING: Readers are advised that this chapter contains themes containing violence and sexual assault. If you have an aversion to such themes please do not read on.
The group arrived at a set of gates standing tall and ominous in the evening gloom. Ivy was slowing wrapping its delicate tendrils around the individual iron rods, strangling the little life left in them, waiting for their imminent crumble into the abyss - like the Manor hidden behind the failing barricade. One gate had been open previously and was now leaning precariously on an angle. Harry looked over at Ron for assurance, but he looked straight ahead, giving nothing away.
"Well, let's not wait for the grass to go" Fred suddenly blurted out.
Kingsley and Sturgis led the group through the large gates and down a path towards the manor, the grounds stretched far in both directions. Where once immaculate gardens grew, adorned with fountains and magical creatures now bore the signs of neglect. Weeds had taken over and the once short, perfectly trimmed hedges now grew high overhead.
The Manor itself was a sight. The archaic building stood tall and stoic, it had five floors and wings, spreading itself far and wide across the property. The exterior was stone, every so often a gargoyle had been carved sitting on a perch. They leered down at the newcomers as if privy to their intentions.
The young Order Members were accompanied by Sturgis Podmore and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Moody had not trusted the 'younglings' to fend for themselves in a house full of dark objects.
The double doors opened into a large foyer, marble floors stretched out into the dark corners of the room. A large staircase in the middle was strewn with cobwebs and dust. The place had been empty for quite a while.
"Ok let's split up, Sturgis you and the twins go through the door on the left," Kingsley motioned to a dark door shadowed under the balcony. "I will take Potter and Weasley and head upstairs. Look –" He sighed. "I really don't think we will have any luck here. It's been abandoned for months- but there's no harm" He added quickly upon seeing Ron's glare.
"The house is protected from Humano Revelio since the last uprising" -Harry looked at him questioningly-
"This is where most prisoners of war were kept, they have a large dungeon system. So, we will have to do each floor manually. Come on" He beckoned to the boys. They made their way up the staircase and disappeared into the dark.
"Well-" George began-
"It's just us old chap" Fred finished. He clapped the short man on the shoulder, making his knees buckle, and proceeded to nudge him through the door. George chuckled next to him and followed the two through the door.
"Lumos!" Sturgis murmured quietly and began walking slowly down the corridor. Eventually, came to a set of doors, there was one on the right and one on the left.
"We will take this one" The twins said simultaneously, they entered the door to the right leaving Sturgis out in the hall to fend for himself.
The room was appeared large, the boys vision obscured by large dark shapes. Back outside they heard the other door open as Sturgis began his own search. The twins both muttered lumos and the room lit up around them. It was full of furniture stacked and dumped in an apparent rush, between piles of furniture ran long dark squishy pathways.
"I guess they moved the entire house into one room" George chuckled.
"Seems so" Fred replied. He began walking down one aisle, maneuvering his lanky body around ancient looking dressers and shelves.
He ducked under a brass candelabra, his tall frame however didn't even come close to fitting and with a thunk! He whacked his head on the brass candle holder. The candelabra gave an almighty huff and began kicking and whacking Fred with all the might it could muster.
"Ow, OW! Gerroff me" Fred howled in pain and shock.
The candelabra picked him up with two arms, lifting him high above the ground. His legs swung and kicked out uselessly as the brass creature began punching him in the stomach.
"OOF – GEORGE! – unghhh- HELP!" He yelled and spluttered. If the candelabra could talk he was sure it would be yelling some expletives at him, but for what?! He only bumped the stupid thing.
"Impedimenta!" George suddenly yelled, the spell hit the candelabra and it froze mid punch.
"What the fuck!" George exclaimed, looking at the candelabra with curiosity.
"Just help me down will you" Fred snapped, he was not as interested in the tormentor.
"Oh right, yeah" George replied. He lifted Fred out of the now frozen candelabras grip and placed him on the ground.
"I feel like I've been hit by multiple bludgers," He moaned, crouching over and holding his stomach.
George patted his back, trying to stifle his laughter.
"Why are you laughing? I could have been killed! By a candel-fucking-labra no less" Fred snapped incredulously.
George roared with laughter, tears streamed down his face as he tried to muster a reply.
"I'm- hahaha- so sorry- hehehaha- I just-" He stood tall and tried to take in a few deep breathes. Fred glared at him silently.
"I'm sorry" George tried again, looking sheepish, "But you were just beaten by an inanimate- well actually not an inanimate- you were beaten by a flipping candelabra."
Fred cracked a smile at his brother, and let out a chuckle.
"Yeah, you're right! What an adventure- one day I will tell my children how I battled a mere candle holder in the infamous Malfoy Manor. It will be great!" He spluttered. The two of them howled with laughter.
"Okay, but seriously" Fred panted "Let's get this over and done with, we need to find Hermione" His tone changed as he mentioned the girls name.
George stopped laughing and looked over at him knowingly, he opened his mouth to say something. But closed it with a glare from Fred. Fred turned and continued down the crowded aisle, this time moving slower and carefully.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with it" George said carefully.
"Wrong with what?" Fred challenged.
"I know you" George replied.
"Yeah? What's that supposed to mean?" He muttered back.
"I know how you feel- how you feel about her…" He probed.
He watched Fred's shoulders slump in defeat, he let out a puff of air and turned to his brother.
"It doesn't matter…" Fred muttered.
"She's gone Fred, you're allowed to feel like shit!" George declared.
"No!" Fred snarled at him. "She's gone, and it fucking sucks, but she didn't know! None of them know and that's how it shall stay!" He threatened George.
"Fine" George snapped back "But don't keep it from me!"
"Look," Fred mumbled, his tone suddenly helpless and his voice quiet, "I couldn't do that to Ron. Not after everything they've been through. She doesn't look at me the way she does him, so it doesn't matter- We just need to find her."
George nodded solemnly and remained quiet. Fred had liked her since his last year at Hogwarts, but she was two years his junior, and boy did she have a go at them about Weasley Wizard Weezes. She intimidated Fred, and so he kept it to himself. As the years progressed, Ron began liking Hermione, they became a strange, confusing, undefined couple that the twins were unable to work out and eventually Fred had given up.
"Come on, brother" George smiled at him.
The two of them continued on.
.
.
Hermione awoke to a cacophony of screaming, yelling and utter commotion.
"Get the fuck off her!"
"Shut up you inferior!"
"Let her go!"
"You're fucking vile!"
There were more screams. Opening her eyes, she saw yet another commonplace event. Two Death Eaters were dragging a woman out of the cage by her ankles, she was crying and desperately trying to hold on to the cage. Her dress had bunched up around her waist, showing off her underwear. The Death Eaters towered over her jeering. The men in the other cage were rioting, throwing old food and rocks at the men in protest.
"I said – SHUT UP!" Rookwood roared at the Men, he fired a bunch of stinging hexes into the crowd. A few cowered and moved back, the rest stayed at the edge of the cage, shouting at the Death Eaters.
It was futile, the men had pulled her off the cage and proceeded to levitate her above the crowds of people. The lady's dress was now bunched under her armpits, her ribs were sticking out as she flailed helplessly. She cried for help, tears left streaks down her dirty face.
Rookwood smirked up at the woman, through the crowds a rock soared straight towards Rookwood. It hit him straight in the back of the head, the impact was loud. His smile faltered as the pain set in. The room went silent as the rock cluttered to the floor, the sound echoing around the room. He turned to the men's cage and Hermione saw the back of his head had split and dark blood was oozing and matting with his hair.
"Who… threw… the… rock?" He said dangerously.
The crowd shifted uncomfortably, the men trying to avoid looking into his eyes. Hermione held her breath in anticipation.
"I said- WHO THREW THE ROCK!?" He bellowed.
The crowds jumped in fright. Then, one man moved his way through the crowd to the front, he stood tall and defiant, he looked Rookwood dead in the eye.
"I did" He said, nonplussed.
Rookwood's face contorted into an ugly sneer, he walked towards the cage slowly. His wand was pointed at the man.
"And who do you think you are?" Rookwood spat.
The man smirked slightly.
"Brave?" He mused.
Rookwood snarled at the man, lifted his wand and hit the man straight in the chest with the Killing Curse. The man dropped to the ground, his smirk ghosting his lifeless face.
"Now" Rookwood roared over the crowds cries. "Who wants to join him?"
The crowd went silent again, and he chuckled.
"That's what I thought. Now back the fuck away from the fences" he ordered. The crowds moved backwards and he began moving the woman up the stairs to the loft.
Hermione's gaze followed the woman's body up the stairs where she saw Draco leaning against the railing. He had been watching the whole scene quietly from above. He motioned Rookwood to the right room and the woman moved out of sight. She saw his posture stiffen slightly and he turned and looked straight at her. She glared up at him, he showed no emotion as he turned and entered the room.
Hermione sunk to the floor, she didn't have much energy anymore. They hardly fed the prisoners and Hermione was fast noticing her own weight loss, her ribs had begun to show and her stomach was curved inwards with constant hunger.
"Are you alright?" Madge one of the older women queried, she sat down next to Hermione and gave her a little nudge with her shoulder.
"Not really" Hermione sighed, "I'm tired of being here."
Madge put her arm around Hermione's shoulders and sighed sympathetically.
"Girl, the worst thing you can do in this situation is begin to feel sorry for yourself. That's when you know they've won. When they've successfully broken you."
She lifted Hermione's chin and made her look at her. She noticed the fatigue in the girl's eyes, her face beginning to show the signs of fatigue, shrouded by now matted, wild locks.
"And have they broken you?" She asked.
"No… no they haven't" Hermione replied.
"Then don't act like they have, you and you alone hold the power over your own thoughts and emotions, you control it- not them." She smiled down at the young woman.
Hermione looked up at her silently.
"Okay?" She pried.
"Yes," Hermione replied, "I have control."
"Now, since we have that out of the way. What do you want to do, we have the whole afternoon to kill…" She trailed off with a frown.
"…the whole afternoon to get through?" Hermione tried correcting.
"Yes," Madge murmured.
"How about… how about checkers… we could use rocks?" Hermione tried.
"Yeah, alright" Madge replied.
.
.
"Please! Please don't do it… I don't want to die!" The lady wailed.
Draco sighed with impatience. If only she knew what really was going to happen, then she'd probably beg for death instead.
I know I would…
"Shut up will you" He huffed.
The woman looked up at him from the ground, her eyes were bloodshot and pooling with tears.
"Why are you doing this, don't you have a heart?" She whimpered.
"I said shut up" He snarled. He had been preparing a vile for her magic, he had to tag it with her details. He had begun to fill out the tags beforehand so he wouldn't forget.
"You're only a child, this is wrong… you can't truly believe in this- this regime" She mumbled, she sniffled and looked up at him.
He stopped filling out the form and turned to look at her. She sniffled again.
"Look lady, just shut the fuck up and we can get this over and done with."
"You've killed so many!" She cried, "Your soul is ruined- ruined forever"
Yuck, she's turning into a blubbery mess!
He crouched down in front of her.
"Shut. Up." He growled.
She glared at him through her tears.
"I'm glad I'm dying, it's better than being a prisoner!" She sobbed.
"Oh, honey. Dying would be way better than what I am about to do" he taunted.
She looked up at him and gulped. He held up his wand and cried the dreaded curse…
"Here you go" Draco thrust the vile at Roldolphus an hour later and sat down at the table.
"All good?" He asked.
"Yeah, the usual I guess" Draco muttered. He downed another pepper up and sighed.
"You have dinner with your mother in half an hour" Roldolphus said, again pouring over papers.
"Fuck!" Draco cried, he had completely forgotten. "I gotta go, I'll be back at midnight!"
"Cya later" His uncle replied as Draco ran down the stairs and out of the building.
.
"Master Draco, welcome home!"
The elf bowed low, her pointy ears prodding the ground. She straightened and beamed up at the young man, she wore an old dirty
"Thank you Tilly, is dinner ready?" He asked.
"Yes'm, I spent the whole day making Misses Malfoys favourite dishes. Yes- yes I did!" She cried, her high pitch voice bounced off the hallway as she led him into the dining room.
His mother and father had moved into a smaller manor in Kent after Voldemort's reclaim to power. Narcissa had felt lonely and overwhelmed in the previous manor when Lucius was taken to Azkaban and she proceeded to house hunt. It only became more of a necessity as the Order was made aware of the location and the raids began.
The new manor was open and modern in comparison, white carpets and walls covered each room. Plush couches and furnishings delicately accentuated each room and was handpicked by Narcissa herself. Draco personally enjoyed this house over the other, it felt more like a home.
His mother sat at the dining table, two places had been set. Fine silver cutlery and china dishes glinted under the chandelier.
"Good evening, mother" Draco said, graciously.
"Draco" She cooed, she lifted her hand towards him and he bent down and kissed it before taking his seat beside her.
"How are you?" She enquired. She was dressed to an inch of perfection, her hair was pinned back and her face was beautified with subtle makeup. Not even a war could stir Narcissa from flawlessness.
"Never been better," Draco smiled at her. As if he would tell her how he was really feeling, he didn't want her worrying after all.
"I worry, Draco" She replied, her brow furrowed slightly.
So much for that then…
"Well, to be honest. It's tiring work, but it's for the best. We are making steady progress, averaging around three or four inferiors every day-"
"Draco, I want to hear about you. Not the regime" She interrupted.
"Uh… I'm fine, honestly." He hastened at her concerning look.
"Roldolphus tells me that the Granger girl arrived last week." She said solemnly.
"So?" He snapped.
"My point exactly" She said with finality. "You're allowed to feel emotion for people you went to school with- no matter how much you hated them" She added at his glare.
"I don't have to feel anything" He growled.
Why did they keep pressuring him about this shit, he was fine. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of dinner. Bouillabaisse was served to the pair and the room morphed into silence, occasionally interrupted by the clinking of silverware.
His mother didn't press the subject again that evening, she didn't want to disrupt the short time that they had together. Instead they talked about Quidditch, books and anything that did not give hint to the lingering war outside.
They moved to the sitting room, where drinking cups of coffee, they had a match of wizard's chess. Narcissa failed spectacularly and Draco teased her mercilessly. It was a wonderful evening, Draco had quite forgotten about the ongoing mission at hand.
She kissed him at the door and he promised to come by again as soon as possible. Tilly waved goodbye, peering out behind Narcissa's dress. Draco smiled back at the pair and disapparated.
He walked down the street towards the prison, it was dark and quiet. It was well past midnight, he had been having too much fun and overstayed at his mother's. Fortunately, his night shifts didn't include magic removal, but merely walking around the perimeter. It wasn't a bad job, he had hours to think and be alone.
He passed the gate and walked towards the right, there was a small shed up ahead, where equipment was stored. He walked towards it, looking around for any signs of intruders. As he got closer he heard noises, he couldn't make out the sounds. He quickened his pace...
He heard whimpering… a deeper voice was grunting, he heard the slap of skin against skin, the rustle of boxes.
He sighed in frustration. The rules were clear, no sleeping with the inferiors, lest they give you diseases… He shivered at the thought and made his way to the shed, whoever it was was about to get into a load of shit.
He lit his wand and opened the door, it was a nasty sight. The man's pants were around his ankles, one hand was holding the inferior's hair, holding her down, she was bent over a box, her dress had been bunched up around her shoulders. Her back was splayed with a number of cuts and bruises. She cried out in pain as he continued to thrust, groaning into the dark.
"Oi!" Draco yelled at the man. He stopped mid-thrust and turned his head. It was Avery. He heard the girl gasp in pain and relief.
"What the fuck Malfoy" He snarled. "Get the fuck out of here!"
"You know the rules, Avery. Get off her" He said calmly. Avery sneered at him.
"Or you can stay, and I tell the Dark Lord. He wouldn't be too pleased, I'm sure he'd have an excellent punishment for you. You remember what happened to Yaxley?" Draco threatened.
"Whatever" He spat, he bent down and pulled his pants up. "You're a lousy fuck anyway!" He spat at the girl. She had fallen to the floor, where she remained crouched in a ball, whimpering quietly.
Avery stormed past Draco and disappeared into the darkness. Draco held his wand a little higher, allowing the light to wash over the room. He walked further into the shed towards the girl. The sudden movement caused the girl to jump and she scrambled further backwards.
"Come here, now." Draco ordered. He would have to clean her up and get her back in the cage before anyone noticed the commotion.
She stopped crawling, but didn't come and closer.
He crouched down and tried to get a look at the girl, her matted hair covered her face and she turned her face away from him. She was clearly hurt and ashamed of the situation she was currently in.
"Look at me, I need to get you back to the cage before anyone notices you're gone" He sighed exasperated. She continued to ignore him.
Draco had had enough, using his hand he grabbed her chin and moved her head towards him forcefully. Her hair fell back around her face. His heart stopped momentarily. Her lip was cut and bleeding, her face red from being forced against the box. Her skinny arms had begun to show signs of bruising from Avery's strong grip.
It was Hermione.
She looked at him with scared eyes, she was shaking, and she was broken.
"Th-thank-y-you" She whispered. She didn't look him in the eye. If there was anything to admire the girl for it was her strength. It had disappeared, as she crouched in the dark room Draco slowly felt his anger building.
He was going to kill Avery.
Sorry it's been a while. I didn't think I would struggle to write this chapter but I did. Review please! :)