Second chapter! Hope you like it!

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Lucy

My name is Lucy Edith Warren. Until a few hours ago, my life was pretty normal. You know, I was waitress, I had my family, I went to college. It certainly wasn't anything like the life of the Queen or Oprah, but it was pretty good by my standards. I was happy with what I had.

Then suddenly the ground was taken away from my feet. Next thing I know, I'm ripped from my family, almost raped and dumped in a room with a creature that looks like gremlin. What the fuck is going on?

"Pardon me for asking Miss, but what's your name?" the gremlin thing at my feet asked me, twisting what looked like part of a tablecloth made into a toga around its spindly little fingers. It had large pointed flappy ears and large limpid eyes, with wisps of hair hovering around the ears. It was the weirdest thing I had ever seen.

"Lucy," I said, frowning at the little thing, "And…I hope you don't mind me asking…but who and what are you?"

The gremlin bowed low again, smiling a half moon smile, "Name is Moppy, Miss Lucy. I'm a house elf. I keep the house clean and do what Master Draco wants me to do."

"Right," I said, eye sliding to the door. Sizing up the…house-elf, I knew it wouldn't stop me from doing… a lot. And, even though David or Draco or whatever his name is, hadn't…touched me yet, there was always the chance he was saving that for later. My hands reached up to my hair and pulled out a hairpin. I remembered what my 21-year-old brother had taught me, the last time he had been home from Afghanistan. The thought of Aaron twisted my gut, but I gritted my teeth and headed towards the door. I took the hairpin and slotted it into the lock.

"Moppy would like to know what you are trying to do, Miss Lucy," Moppy's squeaky voice came from behind me, as the hairpin rattled in the lock.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I muttered, listening intently for the tell-tell click.

"I'm afraid Moppy can't let you do that," the squeaky voice continued.

"What are you going to do? Wait for midnight and eat something?" I muttered distractedly.

"Moppy is not sure what you are trying to say Miss Lucy." Suddenly, the hairpin burned between my fingers.

"Ow!" I cried, fingers recoiled from the hairpin. I watched in astonishment as the hairpin melted in the lock, liquid metal dripping down the door, "Oh my…!"

I spun on the spot and grabbed the gremlin, "What the hell is going on! Things are happening that defy science and logic. The bastard managed to get me immobile without using any drugs, he managed to lock the door without even touching it and things keep in heating up without an open flame near. I just… I don't know what is going on and its scaring me."

The little thing cocked its head onto one side and frowned, "Are you a muggle Miss Lucy?"

Tears pricked my eyes but I blinked them away, "I don't even know what that is."

"It's a person who can't do magic," Moppy explained kindly, "Someone who isn't a witch or wizard. If you are…you are the first muggle I have ever met."

"So…what you are saying is that magic exists," I said, releasing Moppy and standing to my full height.

"Exactly Miss Lucy," Moppy said.

"And those people who were forcing us out of our homes…they're…wizards?" I asked, anger starting to thrum through my words.

"Yes Miss Lucy," Moppy replied, "But they're not all like that. Master Draco is good, despite how he tries to act like he's not."

"Oh really?" I said scathingly.

"Really, Miss Lucy. He's saved you, hasn't he? He has risked his own life to do so."

"Yeah…" I said, eyes sliding towards the door. Another plan formed in my head. I set myself up, taking a running stance, tongue between my lips.

"Miss Lucy, may Moppy ask again: what are you doing?"

Ignoring her, I sprinted towards the door, slamming my shoulder against the wood. All it achieved me, was a throbbing shoulder and arm. I swore, sliding down the oak wood, cradling my arm to my chest.

"Miss Lucy, I'm afraid I'm going to have to restrain you. You're making too much noise and trying to get out."

"You restrain me, and I don't care what you are, I will kick your little gremlin arse to Timbuktu and back," I grunted out, still holding my arm.

Moppy's eyes widened, "Muggles are strange," was the last thing she said to me before I was 'restrained.'

Stupid little gremlin.

Draco

It was past midnight when I got back. When the next group took over purging the city, I grabbed Zabini and pulled him aside. "I need your help," I hissed, eyes flickering to the others.

He raised his eyebrows and asked, "With what exactly? The last time you looked like this, you had stolen your father's broomstick and had broken it on the Whomping Willow. What have you done?"

"Come with me," I said, eyes still looking for eavesdroppers.

We apparated to Malfoy Manor again, which looked gloomier and more ramshackle in the dark. He followed me up the stairs along the corridor, before we were standing outside my door. It was silent. Moppy had done her job.

Turning to Zabini I said in all seriousness, "Whatever you see, you must not tell anyone."

Zabini rolled his eyes, "I won't."

I narrowed my eyes, "Swear it or take an Unbreakable vow."

Zabini's nostrils flared with exasperation, "I swear it, on my mother's life. Will you now tell me what is going on?"

I looked searchingly into his eyes until I satisfied myself that he wasn't lying. I unlocked the door and opened it, allowing Zabini to see inside the room.

Lucy was tied up to one of the bedposts, gag in her mouth and her eyes glittering with fury. As soon as she saw me she began to shout behind her gag, her words tangled and muffled. But I was pretty sure she was calling me every name under the sun.

"Oh Malfoy, you didn't," Zabini whispered, "I told you, you were getting too attached."

"Honestly, if she hadn't seen me, I wouldn't have actively looked for her. She was just there, in the wrong place at the wrong time," I said, running my fingers through my hair, "and now I have a muggle in my bedroom."

"Fucking hell, Malfoy! You and your little piece of filth will be annihilated if anyone finds her," Zabini spat, "Are you completely insane?"

"You don't think I already know that?" I hissed, as Lucy continued to struggle against her bonds, "I just…I've known her for a while now. She really isn't like the animals they're made out to be. It was an impulse to bring her here."

Zabini stared at me for a moment before, "Well…its not too late. We can kill her now and say it was accidental."

"We're not killing her," I retorted, eyes fixed on the struggling girl, "I just need to find a place to hide her."

I turned to Moppy, who had been waiting patiently all this time, "how has she been?"

The elf bowed before answering my question, "Miss Lucy tried lots of times to escape before I ties her up by your bed. She's been like this for a few hours now."

I nodded before kneeling down to where Lucy sat, looking dead into her eyes, "I'm going to remove the gag and you are going to remain quiet when I do. Nod if you understand."

She glowered at me, before nodding. I severed the ropes from her mouth with my wand. That was when she spat into my face.

"You never said anything about spitting," she sneered, a triumphant smile on her face.

After wiping the spittle from my face I heard Zabini say, "Not like animals, eh?"

Grabbing Lucy's chin, I made her look into my face, "Don't. Piss. Me. Off. If you don't do exactly as I say, I'll throw you to my comrades and let them have their way with you before I finally let them kill you in some elaborate and painful way. Do you understand me?"

"What are you? Who are you? Why are you doing this?" she asked, eyes sparkling with an unfathomable something.

"We're wizards. We're Deatheaters. We're cleansing the cities of muggles because we're better than you. Malfoy here decided to get all sentimental though and save your arse," Zabini said, looking down at Lucy as if she was road kill.

Her eyes flickered up to him and horror dawned on her features, "So what you're saying is…you're performing purges of all people who can't do magic?"

"Give the girl a prize!" Zabini said sarcastically.

Lucy did something that shocked me. She began to cry. Big fat tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto her bound hands. Her head dropped forwards and she moaned before snapping it back up, eyes slowly getting bloodshot, "My family? They're all gone aren't they?"

I continued to stare into her blotchy face, feeling my gut twist, "Yes, they're gone. They'll be sorted according to how fit they are. The ones who are weak will be culled. The ones who are strong or have a talent will be kept."

Lucy seemed to deflate. She pulled her legs closer to herself and brought her arms to her chest, putting her hands in front of her mouth clasped as if in prayer. She closed her eyes; tears squeezed themselves from out under her lids and trickled down her cheeks. I stood up, allowed her some space to breathe.

I turned to Zabini and said, "So what should I do?"

Zabini stared at Lucy for a long moment, a small crease appeared between his eyebrows before he snapped his attention to me, "well you can't hide her in your bed chamber forever. Parkinson might have something to say about that. In fact…you can't hide her in this house. This place is too central to the movement to be hiding one of them in your cellar. Is there a cottage or a groundkeeper's lodge you could put her in, in the grounds? It has to be somewhere close-ish, where you can take care of her."

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to think. "Uhm…oh! There's the Sanctuary."

Zabini's face twisted into confusion, "The what?"

"My father told me about it last night," I said, remembering my father's jovial, liquor smelling face at the glittering party, "he said, that if Parkinson couldn't please me, I could use the Sanctuary. It's this cottage inside a walled garden, where the men of the family would keep their lovers. It's like a harem, except for one girl. It's magically guarded, just in case any jealous wives or enemies tried to break their way in. It's perfect!"

"Where is it?" he asked.

"I can't tell you. It's a Malfoy secret," I replied, eyes falling on Lucy again, who was still crying silently, "But I know it will be a good place to keep her. It's the perfect safe house."

"Right… you better get her sorted as quickly as possible. We can't have her snivelling here forever," he took one look at her and shuddered, "you sort her out. You know how I hate crying women."

"Right," I said, not relishing the thought myself. I kneeled down to where she was and gently severed her bonds. She didn't seem to notice the ropes fall away from her wrists and ankles, which were now ringed with purple bruises and red welts. "Lucy, Lucy, I'm going to take you somewhere safer. You must be tired. Are you hungry?"

It took her a while to reply, she used her long fingers to wipe her eyes, the rims stained with red, the mascara she'd put on that morning forming black and grey streaks on her wet cheeks. "I'm not hungry," she whispered, "Just…do what you have to do."

Lucy

My name is Lucy Edith Warren. Until several hours ago, my life was pretty normal. You know, I was waitress, I had my family, I went to college. It certainly wasn't anything like the life of the Queen or Oprah, but it was pretty good by my standards. I was happy with what I had.

And then someone punched a hole through my chest. All the air was wrung out of me and it felt like I couldn't breath. I couldn't think. I could only feel. And by God did it hurt.

I didn't notice anyone else. It was only when the boy I'd known as David tapped my shoulder and asked me if I was hungry. I'd lost my appetite. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and become numb.

"I'm going to take you somewhere safe. You'll stay there until…" he trailed off, his winter grey eyes flickered around the room before settling back on me.

It now seemed incredible to me that I used to fancy him. From the moment he had stepped into the café, I had more than one hormone-fuelled daydream about him. With white blonde hair, aristocratic features and eyes that reminded me of gauzy clouds, it was no wonder. But he was tainted now. Everything was tainted.

"Whatever," I muttered, pulling myself to my feet. Fatigue weighed heavy on my bones and I staggered a little, as the blood rushed away from my head. The dark skinned man was still staring at me like I was a rodent. "Why don't you take a picture? It will last longer," I snapped, pulling my large oversized cardigan around my form and glaring at him.

He looked taken aback before he sneered, "You do not talk to me like that muggle. You are not my equal, so don't treat me as such."

I raised my eyebrows at him, "Well someone sounds like a pompous arse."

Turning away from him I looked to Draco, "Take me to your safe place."

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes unreadable before he walked out of the room. "Follow me," he said, beckoning with his palm, "and keep up. Moppy you come too. Zabini, thanks for your help, but you can go."

If I knew that this was the last time I would see the outside world for 7 years, I would have paid more attention to my surroundings. But I didn't know, and I had bigger things on my mind than the scenery. My thoughts were too frightened to take in the idea that my family was gone. So I focused on the day this all started. The day I met David.

That's all I knew him by: David. No last name. Not a fancy name like this Draco Malfoy, who was the stranger. David was my friend. He'd entered the café, looking hopelessly lost but slightly disgusted at the same time. I'd told him to take a seat, smiling the smile that got me tips. I took in his appearance, his clothes. I quickly labelled him as 'Odd'. Lots of different people came into the café, all with their different labels. They could be 'Posh', 'Quiet', 'Nice', 'Picky', 'Irritating', 'In Love' or just plain old 'Normal.' I didn't often get 'Odd'. They were the people who talked to themselves at their table on their own or tried to order from the breakfast menu when it was 10 o'clock at night.

David wasn't Odd because he did these things. He was Odd because he dressed funny and didn't know the most basic things. "How is the Sprite cooked?" was the first thing he asked me, sitting in his emerald green cloak and black robes. See? He dressed funny.

"Uh…what?" I asked, standing by his table.

"How is the Sprite cooked?" he asked, looking at me as if I only had two brain cells.

"You know the Sprite is a drink right?" I said, wondering if he was taking the piss.

He frowned and looked down at the menu again, "So not a fairy?"

I snorted, laughter bubbling up to my lips. "Not a fairy," I confirmed between giggles, "Its lemonade."

"Oh," he began to blush, a slight pink tinge to his pale, pale cheeks, "Don't laugh at me muggle!" he cried out indignantly.

I raised my eyebrows at him, "What did you just call me?"

He scowled and sunk in his seat, "Nothing."

Eyebrows still raised I said, "What would you like then, because we don't serve fried Tinkerbell."

He stared at me, a confused look on his face again, before he said, "Could you recommend something for me to eat and drink?"

"Well let me see," I said, thinking for a moment, "Everyone likes a Coke and Joe in the back does a mean sausages and mash. How does that sound?"

He waved his hand imperiously, "Whatever waitress. Get me that."

I added 'Stuck Up', 'Annoying' and 'Posh' to his labels. "Ok then," I said, trying to keep my temper while scribbling his order down, "It'll be out in a bit. Just sit tight and I'll get your coke."

As I poured his coke I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. He sat stiffly in his booth, pale hands splayed on the table top. His eyes swept the café, taking in the regulars nursing their lunches, his face contorted as if he was smelling something rancid. I walked over with his coke and set it down beside him, "There ya go. Your bangers and mash will be out in a minute, ok?"

"Ok…is your name Lucy?" He suddenly asked, eyes locked on me.

"Uh huh, says on the name tag," I said, tapping the piece of plastic, "Why?"

His eyes flicked to the badge and back again, "Just uh…an acquaintance of mine says hello and hopes you're doing well."

I asked him curiously, "Oh yeah? Who?"

"Uhm…Albus? Albus Dumbledore?" he said.

My face broke into a wide grin at the name of Albie, another Odd but Nice customer of the café. He was an old man, with the longest white beard I had ever seen, dresses extravagantly and liked to drink hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. We would talk whenever I had the time and he would tell stories. They were kooky and quirky and about wizards and witches, but they captivated me all the same.

He hadn't been in for a while now. He had been looking quite fragile the last time I saw him, but whenever the bell above the door rang I would look up and hope it was him, with that same little smile and those sparkling blue eyes. "Albie! How's he doing? I haven't seen him for a while," I asked, smiling hopefully at him.

His eyes widened and his face seemed to twitch, "Uhm…he's…he's dead. I'm sorry."

Cold shock drenched my skin and my smile slipped off my face, "Oh my…wow…huh. I never even knew. When did he die?"

"A few months ago," he said and he was starting to look sick.

Another bucket of freezing shock and sorrow doused me. "God rest his soul," I whispered, "How did he go?"

"He…he…" David struggled for words, looking guiltier by the minute, "He was…attacked. What's the word…?"

"Mugged?"

"Yeah, that word," he said, staring into his perspiring drink.

"Oh my Lord," I said, putting my hand to my forehead, "the poor man. I never realised. Shit." I quickly slapped my hand to my mouth, "Sorry, I don't normally swear in front of customers."

"That's ok," he said, not looking at me.

"Lucy! Order up!" came Joe's cry from the back.

I took a deep breath and tried to smile, "I'll be back in a minute."

I whisked away, glad to have a chance to compose myself. Picking up the bangers and mash I came back, fully prepared and smiling. He still sat there, looking both sick and confused, his glass of coke untouched. "Here you go," I said, setting the plate down, "You haven't tried your coke yet."

He glanced at it and said, "It looks disgusting."

I laughed, "Yeah and that's with the colourings. You know it's supposed to be green without them? Give it a try, its really sweet and kind of spicy."

He tentatively took a sip and quickly spat it out again, "Ugh! It's…tingly on my tongue. What is that?"

'Who is this guy?' I thought to myself, "That's the carbonated bubbles. Creates a little fizz on your tongue."

"Oh…" he said again, frowning deeply at the glass, before taking a sip. He seemed to swill it, as if it was a fine wine before swallowing, "hmm…interesting."

The bell jangled and customers entered, looking expectantly at me, "You eat now, kay?"

He nodded, starting to look a bit more relaxed in his surroundings.

I didn't talk to him for a while, always catching him in the corner of my eye as I worked. I watched, as he slowly seemed to relax, his shoulders unwinding and his tense features slacken. He even seemed to be enjoying his meal; it was gone after 15 minutes.

After I had a moment to spare, I headed to his table, asking, "So will that be all?"

This time he smiled at me. Sure it was a tentative smile, one that wasn't sure about itself, but it was a smile all the same. "Yes thank you," he replied.

"I'll just get the bill for you then," I said, smiling warmly back.

After setting the slip of paper on the table, I went to bus a few tables before coming back to the now frowning boy.

Five large yellow-gold coins sat on the paper, gleaming in the neon lighting. "Bloody hell," I said, picking up the coins and inspecting them closely, "Are these real gold?"

"Sorry I don't have anything else to pay you with," he said, his snooty demeanour back in place.

"Are you foreign? I don't think I've ever seen coins like these before," I asked, still staring at the fat coins.

"So will they do?" he said, eyebrow raised.

I frowned and put the coins back again, "'Fraid they won't. Boss would bite my head off if I accepted foreign change."

He glowered at me, "Well I don't have anything else to pay you with."

I glowered right back, "well you are going to have to find a way to pay for your meal. You ain't leaving until you've paid for your bill."

He looked livid and his right hand twitched. My skin prickled, telling me that this boy was more than what he seemed. We were silent for minute, shooting glares at each other until I finally said, "Oh for god sakes! I will pay for it out of my tips, but you better pay me back!"

As I rummaged around in my waitress pouch, he sat there stunned, "What?"

"The next time you come back, and you better come back," I said jabbing a finger at him, "You bring the full amount with you. Understand?"

He sat there speechless before nodding, "I will." He shifted as if he was about to leave.

Once I slapped a crinkled ten quid on the table and I pushed out a proffered hand, "You're not going anywhere yet. Give me something valuable that you will have to come back for."

"What!" he shouted, causing several other customers to stare indignantly at us, "I'm not leaving anything!"

"Do I look like I was born yesterday!" I replied, getting angry now, "If I let you leave this café now, you're going to bugger off and I'll never get my money back. I promise to keep whatever it is safe if you keep your end of the bargain. So hand it over, whatever it is."

He huffed and muttered darkly as he rummaged in his pockets before finally pulling out a silver pocket watch, a green glittering emerald in the centre of the round circle, "This is thievery!" he muttered, handing it over, "If you lose this…"

I rolled my eyes, "This is just insurance so that you will come back. I won't lose it. But if you don't come back within a week…I'll give the pocket watch to my little brother. He sure likes shiny, pretty things."

He gaped at me, his eyes burning with fury, "Unbelievable!" he whispered, sliding out the booth.

"What's your name?" I asked, "Just so I know who my brother has to thank for his pretty new toy."

He looked livid before spitting the word 'David' into my face and storming out of the café. I smiled smugly and tucked the pocket watch away.

He came back within a week and paid me back in full…and then sat down for a second portion of sausages and mash, this time with coffee. Then he came the week after that. And the week after that. And the week after that. His visits became regular, just like old Albie's. We grudgingly got to know each other and before I knew it, I considered him a friend. Even if he could be a right snob sometimes.

Its weird, how life can give you the strangest circumstances. It could lead to the oddest things.

Such as a man I thought I knew, pulling back a curtain of red ivy to reveal a stone archway, filled in with grey bricks. "Here we are," he said, taking out a thin reed of wood, he tapped the stones in a sequence that was lost to me. The bricks melted away revealing an inky blackness that scared me. "Lumos," Draco whispered, the same thin piece of wood illuminated at the tip, sending a bright beam of light spilling across that inky blackness.

Even in the bright light, I could only see a spill of thick grass across the ground; everything else was a mess of shadows and shapes.

He stepped forward and I followed him, tracing his footsteps deep into what I assumed was a garden. It was when his light hit and oaked door, did we stop. He pulled out an old iron key and unlocked the door, stepping into a gloomy hallway. "Come," he said, beckoning with his hand, "This is your home now."

I stepped in, glancing around. I could tell he was about to get into a tour so I held up my hand, "I'm not in the mood for some real estate bullshit to be thrown at me. Just show me a bed and I will sleep in it."

He paused before nodding. "Just up this way," he murmured quietly, "We'll discuss matters in the morning."

I followed him up some steps onto a tiny landing, before leading me into a musty smelling room. He waved his stick-thingy and the lamps were lit, the bed cleaned and made, dust removed, the fire lit. The room had gone from gloomy and cold to warm and inviting. My brain was past caring to know how it happened. I kicked off my shoes, went to the bed and curled up beneath the covers. I closed my eyes and waited for oblivion.

Oblivion is looking so good right now.

Draco

"Moppy, I order you to look after this girl and protect her with your last breath," I said. I dimmed the lights in her room as she curled in on herself under the bed covers, "You stick by her, ok?"

"Of course Master Draco, I'll do my best," Moppy said. She looked around with clear eyes and said, "I'll get this place all nice for her Master Draco. I'll work through the night."

"Good," I said, "I have to get back to the Manor. Tell her I'll be back in the morning."

"Of course," she said, bowing lowly, "See you soon Master Draco."

I swept down the stairs and back into the walled garden, heading quickly for the Manor. I felt better now that I had a place to keep my muggle safe. She might hate me for it, but I felt better that I had at least saved her life. It was a reminder that there were tiny tatters of humanity inside me.

Whether they were worth salvaging was an entirely different matter.

There! Hope you like it! Please tell me if you think Draco was in character. The first version of this, Draco was way soppier. It was only half way through did I realise it!

Please comment etc. They make my day!

Emily