It's been an age I know. But I've had the biggest writers block ever, it's a serious curse and life's been hectic with new exams and so on. This chapter has been evil to me, took me ages to write obviously but it's now done and life goes on, so read and enjoy!

Chapter 8

Be Grateful

Hermione threw her hands up to protect her eyes from the blazing light surrounding her. Her eyes shut tightly; she felt a strong nudge against her back and stumbled forward. She walked in silence trying to see through the small slit her eyes allowed.

'So this is what sunlight feels like, I forgot it was so harsh' she thought. She began to feel the soft warmth it brought, and slowly began enjoying the sensation.

"Move" a harsh male voice ordered, bringing her back to reality with an uncomfortable bump. She opened her eyes a little wider; a large lawn lay before her, filled with flowers, trees and wildlife. They were currently standing on a dark gravelled path, which lead off into the distance.

"We walk from here. The Zabini's don't like visitor's apparating close to the house. Now move" he told her, as if she was curious as to where they were.

The short journey brought joy to Hermione's heart, the smell of the flowers engulfed her and the heat of the sun warmed her cold body. They reached the house sooner then she would have liked. It was the biggest house she had seen, dark brick with balconies, large windows gleaming in the sun. A large door stood before them, the man raised his hand to knock. However this was not needed as the door swung open from the inside. Two people stood on the other side.

"Give my thanks to Mae had a lovely time- Oh, this must be fore you Blaize"

A kind looking aged man gave Hermione a puzzled look, "I didn't know you were re-staffing", he turned to a calm Blaize Zabini, who was currently holding the door, open for him.

"You know how it is mansion to run and all"

"Ah! If only I did. Yes one can dream. Well I'll leave you to it" nodding to Hermione and the stern guard he walked cheerily down the drive.

"Don't see many people like that nowadays" the guard said a little mockingly.

"Yes well, I'll take her from here"

Hermione felt a sharp dig to her back forcing her forward. Zabini stepped out of her way allowing her to enter the cool house.

The man stood at the door, giving Zabini an expecting look.

"I've paid her fee"

"All respect sir, but money never makes it to the right hands. Delivery is such a tricky business"

Zabini raised an eyebrow, sighing irritable after a few seconds he reached into a pocket and pulled out a few gold coins, giving them to the out to his outstretched hand.

"Thank you. Pass on Azkaban's best wishes and support to the family and the Dark Lord. Have a good day" he said in a slight cocky voice; at standing talking to the second most powerful person in the wizarding world. Completely oblivious to the cold looks he was getting form both the members inside the house.

Zabini shut the door before the man had turned away.

"Tut, best wishes! Doesn't know what he's dealing with talking of such things" he finally turned his attention to Hermione, whom was very interested in the floor.

Uncertainty past between the two of them. Hermione stood head bowed refusing to look at him. Her new life stretched unpleasantly before her. In this strange cruel world, full of ambiguity and the unknown.

"I see they cleaned you up. They did a good job at it. Azkaban is an evil place, they have no right to treat you like they did", she looked up at him in surprise, dark eyes met light brown. Eyes Hermione saw which were full of understanding and pity. She hadn't expected kindness, compassion? She frowned looking for a trick, yet he gave nothing away. A voice was heard from down the hall, causing her to look away. When she looked back all warmth had vanished replaced with a strange emptiness.

"I'll show you to Mae, or Mrs Collins I suppose you'll have to call her", his voice became slightly monotonic. "This way" gesturing he waited for Hermione to begin walking.

The hall way was very long and clean. White tilled flooring with wooden bracketed walls. Beautiful objects and antiques lay on richly carved desks and cabinets, paintings and tapestries on the walls. It was carefully decorated, not to much but not to basic. Hermione didn't think she would live to see such splendours again. It was like she had walked into a rich sixteenth century house. As they reached the end of the hallway they passed closed doors, rooms containing more splendour then the last she was guessing. A large stairway which twirled up onto the second floor stood to the right, Zabini motioned her to go through a closed door right at the end. Pushing the door open, Hermione entered a large kitchen. A woman was stood in the centre, talking loudly to a small crowd of people whom were of all ages. The group averted their eyes from the woman to Hermione. The woman who had her back to Hermione didn't notice their lack of attention for a few minutes. Hermione turned to Zabini, but found herself to be completely alone.

'Now what?' she thought angrily.

"Ah, this is the new Azkaban buy" the woman was now facing her. She looked to be about forty, a brunette with streaks of grey which was tied up in a loose bun. She had piercing blue eyes which were narrowed at her. She had her hands on her hips and was stood to attention in a plain black dress suitable for working in; this woman was obviously in charge. Hermione felt a jolt to her stomach, this woman reminded her of Professor McGonagall a teacher and close friend from Hogwarts. She just appeared younger and had different features.

The woman turned her attention back to the group "David's gone. No questions. He didn't follow orders you know what he was like, and you know the rules", and a lot more blunt Hermione added to herself. The woman shot a warning look at a young woman whose mouth was open to speak. "I said no questions" she looked at Hermione, "Come here!"

Hermione did as she was told, trying to shake off her disorientation. She felt she was living a very vivid dream.

"Name?"

"Um… Hermione" she said croakily, fully aware of everyone's full attention on her.

"Second name?" the woman said impatiently folding her arms.

"Granger"

"Well, Granger meet everybody. Everybody meet the new David. Introductions in your own time. Back to work" Everybody begrudgingly left the room, casting Hermione interested looks. It seemed this David was a lot to live up to.

"I've read your file, you're fortunate to be here understood. You of all people are lucky to be alive, if it wasn't for the master you would still be in Azkaban or worse it's only because he's so close to the Dark Lord. So be grateful! Lucius was in trouble; turns out

He's been taking advantage of his power over there." She laughed a high pitch bark, taking Hermione out of the room back into the hall. "Stupid man, no idea how to do things right, just what concerns him and his precious boy. Honestly Narcissa's lucky she got out of that marriage when she did." Hermione just stared as she was pulled along, the slight cockney voice washing over her. She tried to pull away, immediately feeling uncomfortable with the contact. The woman snapped out of her rant in surprise. She seemed to figure out the problem.

"Better get over that my girl. Nobodies going to put up with nonsense here, it was that very reason Rachael had to leave. I promise you nothing of that sort will every happen here. We all have our jobs here and we get on with them like it or not. We work as a team and contact will obviously occur." She gave Hermione a strong look before continuing down the hall.

Hermione stood in thought for a moment, clutching her arm. The sooner she got used to this the better she concluded, anything is better then back there.

She hurried to catch up, slightly uncomfortable with her limbs, having not used them properly for months. The woman smiled slightly, but sobered again quickly when Hermione caught up. "I am Mae Collins. Call me Mrs Collins I look after the management of the Zabini household. There is one rule here, you work. Once you've been here for a while you can call me Mae, you earn my respect by working hard and following orders you do that and we're be the best of friends. You don't work you're out. It's a cruel world out there, things have changed. They usually buy Muggle's for work. We've got house elves of course but Muggle's are in fashion at the moment. For servants, sport everything." She opened a door showing a thin staircase, "Workers stairs, you only use these, not the main one" she added as they climbed "I was surprised when I heard the Master bought a Witch but you!" she looked back at her, as if to check she was real.

"Aren't you a Witch?" Hermione asked surprised

"Me? Yes of course I am" she said bluntly, entering a small room. "This will be where you will sleep. You're sharing with Becky"

It was small and plain, two beds, draws and a mirror. One side of the room had more homely touches, showing it was more lived in then the other side. Hermione's bed was directly below a slopped ceiling where a staircase must be, making it more cramped then the other side. Hermione forced a smile at an expected Mae Collins, at least it wasn't cell she would have a bed!

"Good, apparently you've got some things to be delivered. I'll get someone to bring them up when they come. Right I'll give you a brief outline of what is expect, I haven't got the time to give you a full tour."

Hermione was introduced to Becky her new room mate. She was a few years older then her, a Muggle and a maid. Mrs Collins spent twenty minutes going through what she would have to do, which could be summed up as 'just work or you're out'. She then left Hermione with Becky giving her the job of looking out for the new girl and showing her the ropes.

"You get used to her" Becky told Hermione, "She's been here a while I think"

"How long have you been here?"

"Nearly 6 months. Probably longer, apparently the top Zabini's been using memory spells. You know taking us normal people and making us forget who we are and stuff. This whole Magic thing came as abit of a shock I can tell you! Do you remember where you were from?"

Hermione took a few seconds to answer, Becky didn't know who she was, her past. Maybe that was a good thing, not as much would be expected of her, she would just be a Muggle like everyone else; "No, I don't remember" she lied

"Oh, shame, I lived down near the sea, lovely place it was… still no point crying over spilt milk. I'd better show you around." Hermione gave her an odd look; although Becky seemed nice she found it strange how she spoke of her lack of freedom so calmly and impassively.

The house was huge; it would take a while until she remembered where everything was. She was given a shorter overview of her list of chores, which consisted of doing most of what Becky did. The house elves did a lot of the cooking and lighting the fires. The maids did chores such as the cleaning, shopping, sorting out clothes for the house members to wear and running errands.

"Simple really, it just means we get the least amount of sleep then everyone else does. Silly really, all they need to do is wave their wand say a load of rubbish and it would be done in less then a second. Just an ego thing, honestly Wizards are so selfish, it's like living in the Victorian era" she said lowering her voice slightly afraid of being over heard.

"Hmm" Hermione answered awkwardly.

"Well that's it mainly. Only that you can't go into the main Master bedrooms, Mae and Kate do them. We might as well head back to the kitchen I expect everyone is down there wanting to meet the 'new David'." She emphasised with a smile. "I'd give Emily her space though; she and David had a thing going if you know what I mean. What with you replacing him and all, she might be a little more pissy then usual. You'll recognise her quickly, she the one with blond hair and filthy look. Thinks very highly of herself she does. Apart from her everyone else is alright once you get to know them. Mae is just doing her job, trying to make sure everything runs smoothly. Kate is Mae's second she's really nice, we all think Blaize has little thing for her." Hermione privately shivered at the thought. "The other girls are nice; Jacob's a bit grouchy he's Mister Zabini's personal assistant or butler what ever you want to call it." She told her as they made their way back to the kitchens. Hermione followed Becky still completely unaware of where they were in the house. "The gardeners are nice, you'll like Tom he's a half blood. You should see the wonders he can do with the earth without a wand." She smiled to herself thinking about him, Hermione smiled sadly back at her, the thought of being with another man churned her stomach, yet she would have to tackle that problem as she was going to have to work with them.

"How many live here?" Hermione asked

"Well theirs the Master and Mistress, then theirs Blaize and the little Abigail. Of course we always have people staying in the guest rooms."

"Oh, I though Blaize Zabini would be living on his own. What is the family like?"

Becky sobered, "If you keep your head down you'll be fine. Never forget what they are and what they're training Blaize to become. Its strange how someone so… normal can do things that they make him do…he doesn't even seem to react he completely changes when they come. It's like he's two different people"

As the two of them made there way back to the kitchen Hermione half listened to Becky as she took in her surroundings, trying to remember the 'landmarks' of the house. They passed a large window facing the back of the house. Hermione stopped to look at the view. Countryside stretched before her, a town stood near the horizon, as did a large wood and a farm.

Becky turned round realising Hermione was no longer next to her, she saw her a few meters behind looking out the window. She smiled seeing herself in her, she finally felt she might have made a friend, all the others were already paired off in friendship groups she was the odd one out; the extra maid. "Nice isn't it. Tell you what I'll take you down to the town if you want on our day off"

"We have days off? Hermione asked her surprised, looking away from the view.

"Didn't I tell you that? Twice a month, we need permission of course but as long as we're good we're allowed a little us time. It's the only thing that separates us from the elves, bless them poor little things. I've tried making friends even 'accidentally' leaving the Mistress's clothing out but-"

"I know what you mean Dobby is the only elf I've seen happy when released you should have seen Harry's face when he told me he did it" she shut her mouth in horror, why did she have to think of him.

"Who's Harry?"

"No-one just someone I knew that's all" she forced out, she fell silent. Sensing the tension Becky didn't push the subject.

"Come on then, let's get back"

By the end of the day Hermione had been introduced to most of the members of staff, she had found Emily the moment she and Becky entered the kitchen. The glare would have hit her from a mile away. It seemed Emily blamed Hermione for David leaving. 'Don't blame yourself, he was a lazy bugger' Becky had told her. She had been introduced to Tom, she felt worried when she did, due to the fact that if he knew magic he might know who she was. Yet despite herself she liked him immediately; he was the same age as Becky which was 22. He had blond hair and blue eyes and was very cheerful and funny; 'and gorgeous' Becky couldn't help but add. He didn't react when Becky introduced her to him, so she relaxed now hoping Mae would be the only one who knew and wouldn't say anything to the staff.

"So Hermione where are you from?" Tom asked

"Don't push it Tom, she doesn't remember" Becky added. They were seated in the kitchen with several other people, all saying they had done their work when ever Mae came in.

"That's alright, not many of us know either"

Hermione looked around trying to take in all the faces, as they talked among themselves. The maids wore robes like she did; Mae and Kate wore black ones. The gardeners wore Muggle clothing but with the Zabini family crest on there jackets. She had yet to see what the Butler wore. She also noticed that they all wore jewellery of some kind with a 'Z' on it. The women wore bracelets the men wore rings. Becky saw her looking at them.

"You'll get yours later; I expect Mae's sorting it out now. They're charmed stops us from running away. Abit like tracking devises. Cost a fortune apparently from what Mae was saying." Tom tugged at his ring, "They don't come off, completely waterproof, and seem to grow as you do, so it won't cut your circulation off or anything" he told her with a smile "The girls are lucky get a very 'Purdy' bracelet, wish I had one" he joked "Oh and what lovely dresses, you all prepared to go out dancing? I'd love a dress" he leapt off his chair and grabbed a nearby girl and spun her round causing her to scream as she was flown around. Everyone laughed, it seemed Tom did this sort of stuff often; he was the only one who could muck around with out being fired, as he was good at his job, besides Mae liked him.

"What happens to you if you have to leave?" Hermione asked.

Everyone shrugged and looked away from her, "It's best not to know" Becky said quietly.

It was at that moment Mae entered the kitchen, "Thomas, what on earth are you doing. Put Celia down we need her, what are you all doing in here? Dinner needs preparing soon, everyone out. Hermione you come with me"

Swallowing Hermione slid off her stool, casting a look back at Becky she exited the room after Mae.

"Don't look so worried, the Master is just issuing you with a bracelet" she told Hermione seeing her pale face.

Hermione sighed inwardly; she didn't want to see Zabini not now not ever. He confused her, earlier she took him to be kind, compassionate. Yet he was a Death Eater he killed; he was just like Malfoy. Walking briskly up the servant stairs and onto the second floor, Mae soon knocked on a wooden door. Hermione thought she remembered Becky saying this was Blaize's study, or was it his bedroom? Upon hearing his voice to enter Mae opened the door. She was relieved to find it was his office.

"Mae, you brought her good. Sit down please" he told Hermione. Mae left to Hermione's discomfort. She sat on a plush chair in front of a table. Blaize Zabini sat on the other side looking for something in a draw to his side.

"Ah, got it" he pulled out a black box. Opening it he pulled out a golden bracelet, identical to everybody else's. Placing it on the table, he pulled his wand from his robes and placed the tip gently on the 'Z'. He closed his eyes and muttered something incoherent. The bracelet glowed lightly for a few seconds before turning to as it was. He opened his eyes pleased. He picked it up, looking back at Hermione standing.

"Right I just need to-"

"I'll do it" Hermione stated reaching her hand out.

"What ever is easiest" he said shrugging, dropping the bracelet into her hands. "You know I'm surprised you're still here, I thought you would have planned and carried out many escapes by now." He told her as she unclipped the lock with a nail. "Not complying with my every whim" he smiled. She shot him a dark look feeling her blood boil inside her, no he never was kind just playing with her, like an animal with a piece of meat. "I guess you've changed since school, which is a good thing" he turned round and opened another draw behind the desk. "You used to be so infuriating… couldn't stand-" he turned back, his voice stopping. The chair in front of him was now empty. The bracelet was on the floor, he laughed in revelation he picked up the bracelet. "Well it's about time"

Hermione breathed deeply as she ran, she found the main stair case and hurried down it, knowing any second Zabini would catch up with her. She met Mae at the bottom, she yelped as Hermione narrowly missed her. She fell to the floor, in shock and watched her fling open the front door and run out. As she stood up and picked up the pile of fabric she was holding she screamed once more as Blaize Zabini rushed down the stairs. He stopped just in time catching Mae as she lost her balance from fear of being run into again.

"Which way?" he half panted while expressing amusement.

"Door" she pointed her eyes wide.

Blaize was out the door quickly, finding Hermione with his eyes he began to chase after her. Mae ran to the door.

"Blaize, apparate! She'll go to the gate, they all do" she shouted, Blaize turned waving showing he heard before disappearing.

"Funny didn't have her down as a runner, I owe Tom a galleon!" she smiled.

Hermione finally reached the bottom of the garden. She ran following the path. After a short while she saw a pair of gates, she stopped suddenly realising this would be the first place they would go to. She panted heavily, sweat falling down her brow. She cast a look wildly around, it was to late now, she was here she might as well use them. She raced to the gate, slamming into them lightly. She pulled and pushed but they wouldn't open. She screamed in frustration, "Why is everything against me!" she shouted, "Haven't you thrown enough at me!"

"Obviously not"

She shot Zabini a filthy look, "What do you know. You don't know what I've been though!" she shook the gate again. She slowly slid to the floor, her back facing him. "Just make it quick, please. I can't cope with anymore pain" she said softly, for the first time in an age, she felt a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Do what?" he asked confused

"Well you're obviously going to punish me for running, just kill me, and rid the world of another Mudblood" she told him facing the small road in front of her. Woodland spread to either side; she could hear the birds and the sound of the breeze through the trees. If he was going to do it, she would face her freedom, not him.

"I'm not going to kill you!" he laughed surprised.

"You're not" she finally faced him.

"No, I spent a fortune on you, do you honestly think I'd do that on the very day I bought you. I doubt the money has even left my account yet. You have no idea how much persuasion I had to use on the Dark Lord. I had to beg him to let me have you"

She gave him a sceptical look.

"It's true!" he told her, "Now if you don't mind it's dinner soon and I for one am starving." He pulled her bracelet from his pocket. "You've probably upset Mae though she didn't think you'd run. I think the entire household has been putting bets on you. I thought you would, and for a second I thought I'd lost" he reached down gripping her arm.

"Don't touch me!"

He frowned his smile fading, "Yes, enough games. Here put this on I insist. My Father isn't as forgiving as me. Why do you think I chose the time of your delivery when he wasn't here." He left the bracelet hanging; she looked at it glistening innocently. He pulled out his wand, "Please" he stated.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What?"

"What exactly do you expect from me?" she asked confused.

"Nothing" he stated, the house needs more staff, I think you're be right for the job"

She took the bracelet, as she pulled it round her wrist and let the latch close a tear slide down her face. Her fate was sealed; Mae's words filled her head 'Just be grateful'.

"Well that reason and the fact it's a personal dig at Malfoy. I'm now currently winning thanks to you" he smirked playfully.

Well, what do you think? Reviews can be my present  Merry Christmas. For your present I'll update sooner I have the next chapter all planned and it will be updated shortly after New Year. Magic-Lou