Again, sorry for the long wait. I hope you guys haven't forgotten DX
-ooo-
Every day that passed since the encounter melted into the next and soon Hermione could not tell how long it had been. Had it been days or weeks, Weeks or months? All that would mark the days apart is when Narcissa made her weekly visit.
The woman was never late or early, always on time at 2 o'clock never breaking schedule. Hermione thought she was hypocritical, considering she had said herself that being "spontaneous" was "healthy" for their relationship. But then again how healthy can your relationship be when your husband has a seventeen year old girl locked up in the cellar? It didn't matter, she hated the both of them. She didn't care about the stability of their relationship.
However she could not shake the memory of the day in the library, seeing how passionately they kissed. How jealous she was, never being kissed that way or ever kissed at all.
During her time in high school all her friends around her had already had made it far beyond kissing. They had done things Hermione could only dream about.
Like Sarah, who in her two years of knowing had over ten boyfriends and countless multiple sexual encounters. She was a real rebel as adults would say, she was everything Hermione was not.
On multiple occasions she had told Hermione that she had slept with the grade 10 biology teacher, Mr. Allum, a much older man in his late 30's who was happily married with two children. Hermione could not believe such a thing, she would have never thought Mr. Allum of all teachers would ever sleep with a student. He was a good respectable man! There were plenty of boys after her anyways, why would she ever do that to him?
But Sarah would just laugh at how painfully naïve Hermione was.
"Don't spend your time on boys 'mione," she would say. "They are a complete waste of time. Unexperienced, unpassionate, immature! Yes I have been with a whole lot of them but never have I experienced such extraordinary passion then I have with an older man. It takes a man to do what a boy could never, make you feel like a woman. Men are delicate creates however, they want to make you believe you need them more but let the truth be known, they can't survive without the subtle advances of a sweet nymphet. With the just a little teasing, the right words, and careful flirtatious body language you can have even the strongest man on his knees at your every beck and call."
Hermione never believed Sarah, not all men would ever want to ruin his life for a night of pleasure.
Still, she could not help to think of this when looking at Lucius. Would he really have risked everything to have an affair that he was too ashamed to carry out? Why risk throwing his life away for someone as plain as Hermione Granger, bookworm virgin extraordinaire? The thought of him touching her didn't seem like a possibility anymore and for that she was thankful. But none of it mattered, nothing did at this point.
Hermione had given up trying to escape, all was hopeless. She doubted she could "seduce" her way out. The best thing she could do now was hope that this "Harry Potter" would win the war so she could go back home. That was if there was a home to come back to.
She prayed this war of theirs would not reach the Muggle world. She couldn't bear the thought of having to stay under rule of those who would abuse her or die at their hands.
Draco's words gave her some small sliver of hope. The words would ease the day and help her calm down after Lucius' beatings.
Being able to read the books had helped too even when she was caught reading and thoroughly punished with a cutting spell, nothing could keep her away from the one thing she loved most in the world.
She had already read half of Gilderoy Lockhart's works, and several books on wandless magic and werewolves. Hermione drank the words of each book, always keeping her unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
These books had opened up a whole new world of possibilities for a Muggle like her. She had never been so passionate about studying all the library had to offer, Muggle or not.
Hermione spent most of the morning in the library on her knees rearranging bottom shelf books and on the tips of her toes placing novels in their places on the tallest shelves.
Today was a rather calm one, she'd only seen Lucius for a few minutes and he didn't have much to say to her. He seemed more preoccupied than usual, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
Ditzy and Hermione talked earlier that morning during breakfast discussing the various things she had learned about house elves from the books in the library. The little thing was overwhelmed with happiness that they could start to better understand each other, he didn't have to be alone now. She could feel change in the air, somehow the knowledge she gained made her feel like she was closer to the freedom she longed so deeply for. But it wouldn't matter if she couldn't do magic or even brew a simple potion. She couldn't do a single thing with this information, she was nothing more than an average magicless Muggle. Still she would study the books for her own pleasure and to give her an edge on what was to come.
…
"Muggle."
She snapped out of her day dreams and turned to towering serpent of a man, who looked down on her.
"Finish up what you are doing, I'm holding another meeting tonight and the kitchen needs cleaning."
"Yes, Sir."
Hermione slid the books back inside the bottom shelve and arose from the floor. Tugging on the hems her worn black dress she meekly shuffled past Lucius. But he placed a sudden grip on her shoulder.
"Stop right there."
She stopped quickly in her tracks, staying as still and firm as she possibly could, not daring to move an inch forward. Lucius' fingers slithered over her shoulder, gouging into her nerves.
With a smooth motion of a careful hand, he turned her forward to face him. Hermione stayed perfectly still but inside she felt she was about to burst out trembling. No matter how many times he had hit her or cut her she would never get used to the pain.
He brushed the long strands of curly hair backwards away from her face and chest as he ogled her small thin body. Gently he gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Again she was prisoner in those cold carless grey eyes that made her feel as if she was trapped in an eternal fog.
He hadn't touched her like this since Christmas but he was drunk then. She could always tell when he had been drinking, the smell of wine in his breath never failed to burn her nose. But no, he didn't smell like his choice of bitter red wine. He smelled of his usual favorite earthy petrichor cologne, which reminded her of late night rain.
Lucius held the back of her head in his palm, enjoying the feel of her soft hair untwine between his fingers.
"If we have a repeat of last time you will be punished much more severely than the last. Do not think I won't let Dolohov hurt you again. If you dare disobey me and make a scene no one will come to help you and I will finish you off there and then."
The fear and pain in her eyes said more than any other words could. Satisfied, Lucius let go of her slowly, letting his warm hands tease cold skin. Her head dropped down to look at the floor, almost too afraid to look back. She couldn't see him but she was certain he had the same repugnantly smug smile on his face, the one he made when she gave into him without a fight. He face was warm with shame and bitterness.
"After you finish, set the table for ten… You can count to ten, can't you Muggle?"
"…Why do you always try making me look so stupid?"
She braced herself and clenched her fists, he was just trying to intimidate her and she knew he was not to be feared.
He cocked up his eye brows at her daringness, "will she ever learn" he asked himself.
"You can't even look up at me, yet you act so brave. Pathetic."
In a rage she grabbed him by lapel and tugged. He did not move nor defend himself, he only looked down at her in bored anticipation.
She looked up to speak, to yell, to do anything but no words came. What was there to say that hasn't already been said… She would just be wasting her breath asking to go home or to be set free.
He pryed her hand off, "Aggressive now, are we? You had been so obedient these past few weeks, shame. I was almost going to reward you."
She tried tugging her hand away but he held his grip firm. Lucius pulled her in closer, their chests almost touching. Hermione cocked her head back and buried it into her arm like an angry child holding down a scream.
"You seem to love making things harder to yourself but why? What do you seek to accomplishment?"
He leaned his head in closer to hers and breathed his warm oolong and honey breath on her already warm cheeks.
"Let me go…"
"Why should I let go if you were the one to grab me first?"
Again she pulled away but it was useless.
"Please!"
His other hand found the small of her back, there was no backing out of this now. If she tried to move her head back any further it would snap, she felt like a moth wrapped up in Lucius' thick web.
He walked the two of them further against the wall, pressing her body against the hard stone bricks. She shut her eyes, she couldn't bear to look anymore. All she wanted to do was melt away.
"Don't do this please…"
"You change your mind then, Muggle? I thought you weren't afraid?"
Hermione struggled against him. She tried to answer but squeaked instead.
"Answer me Muggle."
Lucius' hand moved away from her back and gripped forcefully on her neck, blocking off the air she already had trouble breathing. Her tears kept flowing thick down her cheeks and onto his bare hands. The girl struggled to talk, she could only let out wheezes that sounded gargled through the spit.
"I'm a-af-f-ra-a-aid."
He let go of her throat and watched frothy saliva drivel out of her gaping mouth and down her chin like a toddler.
Lucius sneered immeasurably, twisting her arm and pulling her away from the wall back to the middle of the center of the library. If it were not for Lucius' death grip on her arm she was sure she'd would have collapsed to the floor. She didn't want to deal with this anymore.
"You will go to the Kitchen without another word, do you hear me Muggle?"
The girl nodded furiously, still averting his gaze.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you!"
She had no other choice but to look up her captor. His face was rose in frustration, he had riled himself up over nothing. He knew she wasn't at fault or had no reason to lash out at her, he was just brimming with resentment and guilt every time he looked at her. He didn't know how to feel about the girl, how he wanted her in his arms for so long yet wanted to see her bow before him.
He wanted to be loved by her the way he had seen so many others but this was not Lucius. Lucius was not meant for tender love. That is how it has always been with women. Except for his wife, who served more as a companion than a lover.
He had multiple affairs while married to Narcissa, none which she knew of. None could fill the void of passion for which he lacked and the sexual desires he held. All the women were the same, they gave him power and control instantly. These smart and powerful women would fall for him without even trying and that bored him to no end.
So what had made little Hermione Granger so different from them?
She was small and weak, hardly a real woman. While the women before her were developed and very mature. She buried herself in towers of books while women like that would enjoy the high life and luxuries Hermione could only read about.
He wanted someone he could break into submission, someone pure and weak but with willpower that provided a real remonstrance. He wanted a challenge that no other woman before her could provide. She would give into him, he would make sure of it.
"Yes…"
Lucius let her go with a tug and a push. The girl stumbled backwards and lightly held her own wrist, feeling the blood rush back in. She flinched hard feeling a cool rush of blood flow back to her hand.
"Go now."
She did as he commanded and left quickly to the kitchen not wanting anymore conflict. If she had gone any faster she would have lost her breath again.
-ooo-
The kitchen was yet again filled with the food that Ditzy had prepared, a large glazed bird garnished with sweet fruit sat on the kitchen island along with smaller plates of food like biscuits and mince pies.
Hermione was more than half way through the dishes with only an hour to spare before the party. She was worried she might not finish in time, she kept getting distracted with her own thoughts.
Out from the murky sink water she pulled out a grey cooking pan, dented and darkened from years of use. It was beaten and battered, but it still served its purpose. As she scrapped the last of the burnt food that clung to the inside of the pan she looked out the kitchen window and watched the snow fall.
It hadn't snowed in a week, it looked so beautiful falling as the sunset cast a sea bittersweet orange and tea rose over the entire manor. Although it was still winter she couldn't help but receive a warm feeling from the sunset like it was summer. A season where she had always been free to do as she pleased.
"Ello!"
It was a shrill voice, like a high-strung banshee that pierced the girl's ear. She let the pan fall back into the water and turned.
It was the same wicked woman from his last party, the one with a head of black curls just as unruly as Hermione's. The woman smiled devilishly at her, glinting her crooked brown teeth and eyeballed the small girl with her big glassy coke bottle eyes.
"Hello Miss."
She wasn't scared of this woman like she was with Lucius but somehow knew this woman would show her no mercy if she angered her. Hermione wiped her hands dry on her wrinkled apron.
"It seems we have a rat in the kitchen!"
Hermione didn't understand the woman's suddenness, "Oh? Should I alert ?"
"No no no! You know little Lucy's tempa', you should get rid of the thing yourself before he finds out."
The girl gulped down her pride quietly, there was no way she could possibly catch and kill a rat if she found one. Bellatrix's entrance was so sudden she didn't have time to psych herself up to kill a rat.
"Well… Where is it Miss?"
Bellatrix pointed a long blade like finger near the opposite side of the room near the pantry and some cabinets.
"I saw it scuttle under there!"
Hermione gulped hard she was sure this was going to be some cruel prank but she had no other choice but to go look for it.
She carefully felt around in the sink for something to kill it with. There was nothing except a fork for eating, some egg spoons, two bowls and the pan she accidently dropped back into the water. Since Lucius hid all the knives from her she decided the pan would serve nicely. A nice sharp blunt hit to the head would quickly kill it. No pain just darkness.
"Are you sure, Miss?"
"Don't question me, Girl! I saw it with my own eyes!... I'd kill it myself but that's your job not mine. Besides I figured you wouldn't mind getting a little rat blood on you since you are already filthy~"
Hermione ignored that last comment and walked over to the lower cabinets Bella had shown her. She squatted down, gripping the heavy cast iron skillet as tightly as she could. There was nothing there, it must have already ran off.
She turned back to Bellatrix who was leaning on the kitchen counter with her arms crossed, she still had that devious smile plastered on her face like a mask.
"It's gone."
"I know it's there!"
The girl turned back to peer back into the dark gap.
A large dark brown rat with matted brown hair popped out quickly let out a high pitched squeal of defense.
Hermione flew back in panic, she backed up quickly against the kitchen's island counter. She could hear Bellatrix's fruitless attempt of holding back her laughter.
The rat came out dashing towards Hermione, the thing was more hideous in the light of day. It was only impulse, she kicked the rat clear across the kitchen. The girl held back her yelp of fear and disbelief.
Bellatrix now howling with laughter clapped her hands together.
"Good job, Girl! Go check if it's dead, go, go!"
Hermione rushed over to the little brown rat on the floor. It was flipped over on his back squirming and squealing. She stood over it unsure what to do.
The woman followed behind her and laughed at the sight of the dying rat withering around pathetically.
"Well, go on." She shoved Hermione forward. "Finish what you started."
"I can't…"
"Put him out of his misery!" Bella chortled.
Hermione pursed her lips together and furrowed her brow. She couldn't bear to feel the crunch of bones and guts under neither her pan. Nor did she want to be the one to clean it off.
"Now!"
There was no time to think. She lifted the pan high over her head, ready to strike. It was best to just get it over with.
"I'm so sorry.."
She swung down hard.
"Expelliarmus!"
The pan flew forcefully from Hermione's hands and clattered to the floor. What just happened, she could not tell.
She looked over at the older woman who had her wand out looking mildly shocked.
"Are you mad?"
"I…"
From the floor the rat squirmed more, it was growing rapidly in size. Its long fur turned to hair, his tale receded, and his paws turned into long arms and legs. Soon enough the rat had transformed into a man.
He was a rather husky fellow, with a piggish nose, and long nappy graying blonde hair. His teeth we bucked and long like a rats too. It looked as if he had been living in a cave.
"You crazy Bitch!" the man shouted, clearly out of breath.
He scattered up from the floor and holding his side, still in pain from Hermione's harsh punt.
"I'm so sorry!"
He snarled at her, "Why you little Brat…" he turned to Bellatrix. "Why did you let her do that?!"
The woman's face had gone back to laughter and giggles. She obviously thought this exchange was amusing.
"Didn't think the little cur had it in her."
The two of them looked over at Hermione who had picked the pan up off the floor and held it tightly.
Bellatrix eyed her up and down, silently judging every aspect of the girl. There wasn't much to Judge, Bellatrix looked worse than Hermione but she chose to look that way.
"Maybe we should turn you into a rat and see how you like being kicked!" the little stubby man spat.
"Good idea, Petey. But it seems to me shes more of a mouse."
She ran her wand over Hermione as she circled around. Hermione wanted to swing the skillet straight into the side of Bella's skull but was too nervous to move.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'm sorry please."
It was too late. She could feel large round mouse ears peak from her head and a large whip like tail emerge from underneath her dress. She tears began in her eye as she felt her hands and arms start to get furry.
There was a loud stern cough from the door way that stopped everyone cold.
Hermione felt a strange wave of relief hit her like a cool breeze in the heat of summer. Seeing him and feeling this way wrong but she couldn't help it. Despite what he had done to her earlier she knew he was here to protect her.
Lucius walked up to her and examined Hermione who was leaning so far into the kitchen island that she might as well be sitting on it. In his mind he noted how much she already had looked like a mouse, she was small and quick like one and had a knack for getting into places she didn't belong. He thought this look suited her quiet well. With her big wet fearful eyes she looked more like a mouse than ever.
He turned to Peter and Bellatrix, "The two of you shall not disturb my servant ever. She has work to do. Get out of my kitchen, I will be with you shortly."
Bella pouted and Peter looked away bitterly. To Hermione they both looked like bratty children being lectured by their father after being caught red handed for something they knew they shouldn't be doing. Bella's eye shot from Lucius to the girl, her eyes were filled with loathing that scared the little mouse.
"Now."
The two of them left the kitchen huffing in vexation, they weren't done with their fun yet. But they had no other choice. Before making their exit they both looked back at the girl, as to say "He can't protect you forever you little rat..."
Lucius turned back to the mousey girl who looked back it him with wide honey eyes, "Explain yourself."
Hermione almost scoffed in disbelief, she hadn't done anything. But she remained cool, he did scare them away after all.
"She told me there was a rat in the kitchen and I must be the one to kill it. The thing leaped out at me and I kicked him across the room. I was going to put it out of its misery like she had commanded but she knocked the pan out of my hands and and…"
She looked back up at him, he looked as if he was going to laugh but he forced his smile back down.
"They tried turning me into a rat…"
Lucius looked behind her at the long pinkish tail that swayed out from under the black cloth of her dress, and then back up two her two big mousey ears that twitched impulsively.
She searched for more meaningful words of gratitude but the only thing she could say was "Thank you."
Hermione didn't even give it a single thought when she had wrapped her arms around his torso and held him warmly. She could feel him stiffen and hear the sound of his warm blood pumping into his cold heart. She felt her blood rush too; her heart flutter and her stomach tighten.
They were silent for a second or two. They just looked at each other unsure what to say. He looked scared of her almost, like she had just killed someone. The tables had so suddenly turned, she was the one who surprised him.
"Ditzy." Lucius he called.
"Apologize you Idiot!" she cried out in her mind, "Apologize before he decided you look better with your face all black and blue!" Standing there looking at him almost made her wish Bella had turned her into a mouse so she could skitter away into a hidey hole far away from Lucius' judgments.
He looked down on the girl like he always did, but in his eyes she couldn't make out what he felt. They had gone from fearful to concerned.
"Yes Master?"
Ditzy stood before them with his hands folded over his chest. They had been so distracted they didn't notice he had had come into the room. He could have stood there for hours before the noticed.
"Take Ms. Granger back to her room. When you are done set the table, dishes and all."
The leathery little monster looked over at Hermione who still had her large ears and long tail that swayed like it had a mind of its own.
"Oh Miss."
Lucius took one last long look at them and exited the kitchen, hastily leaving the room to join his guests who had arrived early. He'd be damned if he walked in on Bella flapping her gums to all the other Death Eater about his little pet mouse.
-ooo-
Ditzy took her back to her room and wished her a good night.
She kicked off her boots and tossed them against the room completely frustrated with herself and what she had done.
But finally she was alone after such grueling and very confusing day she could finally sleep this all away and dream of some place better than here. A place far away where Lucius and his friends could never hurt her, maybe someplace quiet where her and Draco could be together…
She ran her hands down her face and through her hair. She dare not look at herself in the mirror, she didn't want to see how stupid she looked hugging Lucius. He was probably so in shock he forgot to beat her over the head or something.
Still, Hermione could not help it… She peaked at herself in the broken mirror examining her bulbous animal ears and her long front teeth. Her face flushed cherry from pure embracement and she stumbled back to the bed.
Hopefully tomorrow Lucius would be merciful again and remove the curse from her. He had to at least have some mercy. She would drop dead if Draco ever saw her looking as monstrous as this. He wouldn't laugh at her but she still didn't want him to see her this way.
She climbed into her sheets not bothering to remove her work clothes and slip into her pajamas.