She was downstairs in the study reading quietly in an old red leather chair, a green throw blanket over her legs. The rain tapped against the glass of the window. She had the window cracked enough to let the cold breeze in. The candles flickered around from the wind. The previous day seemed like a bad dream. Harry came over only to continue to drag her down. Ever since Voldemort had been defeated, she felt that she didn't have a place in the Golden Trio anymore. Her wants and needs were ignored, she had to walk away and ask for them to visit her.

Now, she was alone and cared for by someone she never imagined would stick his neck out for her. He was still cruel to her at times, but that's how he was raised. She felt like he was making an effort. A small effort, but something, nonetheless. He vowed to never hurt her and stop if she ordered him to. Both of them worked together well. They even seemed to have their own playful banter and language when it came to how they treated each other in private.

She flipped through the pages of her book, she used her index to practice a motion. Getting back into a routine for classes was a little harder than she thought. After being on the run for over a year she still felt like she was in flight mode, she needed to survive. Even though she loved to study, being alone in the house made everything feel worrisome. Even after a visit with Harry. She didn't feel comfortable, maybe that's why she had decided to wait in the study for Malfoy to return from his trip.

Hours passed and she soon fell asleep in the chair. She was cuddled in a green blanket and her book rested on her chest. She was curled in a position that looked uncomfortable, but with her tiny frame, the old chair appeared to swallow her.

The fire crackled as a green flame burst as Malfoy stepped out into the room. He clutched his side, but stopped when he saw her asleep in the chair. He was silent as he walked over to her. He watched her asleep for a few moments before he picked up her book and placed it on the wooden table next to the chair. Then carefully picked her up into his arms like a sleeping child. He moved through the dark house quietly except for the squeaky steps.

Her head rested against his chest. She shifted slightly when she heard the wooden steps. He opened his door and carried her into his room. He laid her down in his bed before he stepped away to change. She opened her eyes halfway when Malfoy laid her down in his bed. She watched him as he changed. "… I tried to wait up for you." She half yawned.

"You didn't have to; I didn't tell you to wait." He murmured.

"I know, but I wanted to." She spoke up. "Do you not want me to?"

"What if I hadn't have come home?" He asked pulling a tight black shirt on.

She noticed the bruise on his left side. "I guess I would have slept in the chair all night."

"Like a loyal pet." He smirked as he changed into dark green pajama bottoms.

"I'm not a pet." She sat up in his bed looking at him a little upset.

"You kind of are." He walked back over to his bed. "You are my possession after all." He placed his right hand on her cheek.

She puffed up her cheeks a bit. "Your possession." She scoffed.

He frowned. "Why would you wait for me if you weren't."

"I was concerned something happened, I know you went home, but I thought I would wait and see how that went. I thought with your father being locked away it might not be a pleasant visit." She spoke sadly.

"You are not to ask me what I do when I go home." He spoke coldly.

She frowned. "I understand." She looked at him before reaching out and touching near the bruise she saw. "Something happened didn't it."

He snatched her hand quickly pulling it away. "Drop it."

She froze when she felt him grab her hand. "I-I'm sorry."

He let go as he laid back on his bed. He felt her start to slid off the bed, but he reached over and pulled her back to him. "No, I want you in here tonight."

She felt Malfoy drag her back and against his chest. His arm wrapped around her tiny waist. He rested his head on her shoulder. "Why do you want me in here?" She whispered as she felt him pull his dark comforter up and over them.

"I'm telling you to stay in here tonight. I don't have to give you a reason." He spoke. He wouldn't let her roll over to face him, he kept her facing away from him as his grip tightened on her.

She hesitated for a moment before she nodded. Something had to have happened when he went home. The bruise was a sign that something had happened. Maybe something he wasn't prepared for. He wouldn't talk to her, but he needed her close to him for some reason. She hoped that he would talk to her at some point about what happened.

She wondered if he had a fight with someone in his family or maybe he was hanging out with old friends and they got into a fight. Maybe he was trying to do something that was leading him away from her. Something just as bad as the last war. Just because Lord Voldemort was gone, didn't mean that everything came to a stop. After all, Malfoy still referred to her as a dirty mudblood. "Are you going to leave again?" She whispered.

"I'll be gone all weekend again. Once class is over Friday I'm heading back home." He spoke softly.

"Do you want me to come?" She whispered back.

"Do you really think that's wise?" He responded as he moved to her arm pulling back the blanket to reveal the engraved lettering of the word "Mudblood".

She swallowed hard when she looked at the scar that never faded. "I would be going back to the place where this happened."

"You think that's wise to return to a home that would never accept you?" He whispered.

She frowned as she pulled the blanket over her scar. "It didn't break me."

He moved his fingers over her arm, feeling her etched skin. "I can't look at you. Not in that house. Not when I watched my aunt carve into you and torture you before my very eyes. I couldn't save you then, but I can save you now by telling you to stay here where you will be safe."

Save me? She thought to herself as she looked out towards the dark hallway from his bed. What is going on in that house? "Malfoy, do you think I hate you for what happened to me?"

Malfoy let out a defeated sigh. "Just go to sleep, we have school in the morning."

Hermione nodded as she closed her eyes halfway. "You did save me in the end in that house by not letting your aunt know my real name, you didn't tell her."

He didn't answer her as she felt him grow heavy against her body. He was tired, he wasn't trying to fight her or argue with her. He wasn't just mentally tired; he was also physically tired. She didn't want him to fall asleep thinking she was upset with him. Something was going on, he didn't want her there at all. She thought at first his mother would not be accepting of her, but she felt like maybe the death eaters were starting to move again. Even though Voldemort was gone, maybe they were looking to Malfoy as the new leader. Someone, to lead them to continue making sure that purebloods were better off than muggles and muggle-borns, but where would that leave her after he rose to power if that is what he was truly trying to do?

She woke early, not from the sounds of chirping birds, but to his hands sliding down her thighs. His warm breath against her neck was enough to cause a shiver to run down her back. His hands moved from her thighs and to her breasts. He cupped them gently as he started to move against her. She tilted her head to the side as she let out a gasp when she felt his hands. Malfoy took this moment to claim the side of her neck with his lips. "This early?" She whispered out.

She felt his hands move away, she thought that maybe she had startled him by being awake, but she was surprised when she felt him start to slide her knickers down and off of her. She felt him pull his pajama pants down and felt him climb on top of her. She felt his warm body against hers as she felt him pull the comforter back on top of them. He climbed onto her and pushed his way into her form.

She gasped out again when she felt him start to pump into her slender form. Her head tilted back as she placed her hands back against the dark wood of the headboard, she tried to keep herself from sliding up the bed from each thrust he made into her body. He didn't stop his pace nor how hard he thrusted into her.

He moved her legs so they rested against him so he could thrust into her deeper. "Such a tight little mudblood." He grunted out as she started to moan. She hated it when he degraded her during their moment, but she couldn't help how good he made her feel. "Stop…. Calling me that…" She panted out between her moans.

He smirked when he heard his words. Malfoy loved to tease her, loved to make her feel that she was less than. Truly like his possession. "You are mine." He continued to thrust into her. "I claimed you first and I will be the only one to have you." He thrusted into her harder, his hands resting on her waist. He thrusted into her one last time and kept her in place as he released into her. She panted heavily still as one last moan escaped her lips.

He let her legs down as he finally pulled out of her and laid beside her breathing heavily now. She was trying to get her breathing under control, she carefully reached out and took his left hand into hers lacing her fingers within his. He didn't pull away from her, or stop her. She felt a little unsure of everything still. If he was truly working to continue Voldemort's work, why would he continue to fuck her let alone keep her so close. The others had to know from how close they acted at school. Unless it was an act to ensure that they went undetected.

If the leader was hanging out and acting like he was in love with her, they would never see it coming when he rose to power with the younger death-eaters. What would happen to her when the time came? He already made sure she was on some form of contraception so he couldn't get her pregnant, and there was no way that he would wear a rubber not when he was rough with her. His possession was also used as a shield. Her heart was sinking. He would never love her and she needed to understand that.

Malfoy moved his hand away from hers as he got to his feet. The sunlight was barely coming into his room. "You should shower." He spoke coldly as he started to get dressed.

Hermione sat up as she pulled her shirt down. "Malfoy?"

Malfoy didn't even bother to look at her as he pulled a white buttoned-up collar from the closet. "What is it?"

"I forgot to tell you Harry stopped by on Saturday." She moved off of the bed, pulled up her knickers, and pushed her skirt down.

"What did he want?" He turned to look at her as he started to button his shirt.

"To ask me if I was truly in a relationship with you, then he proceeded to tell me how I betrayed Ron." She walked and stood in his doorway.

"Nice to see how he was checking on your well-being." He scoffed. "More concerned about the bro code more than anything." Malfoy moved and stood a few feet away. "Unlike those cowards, I will always protect you. Now go shower."

She felt Malfoy scoot her out of his room before he closed the door. She stood for a moment looking at the closed door. For how long will you protect me? She thought to herself. She still had mixed feelings about everything. She felt like maybe he did care about her, but at times it felt like he hated her and wanted to use her strictly for her body.

The week came and went, Friday came around and she knew he would be gone again. "Malfoy are you sure I can't go with you?"

Malfoy looked back at her as he got a book from his room as she stood near the stairs. "You are safer here than with me right now."

Hermione frowned as she nodded. "… You are going to be gone all weekend again?"

Malfoy walked past her and headed down the stairs with her following behind. "I already told you last night I was not going to be around again."

"I just, are you doing something that isn't good Malfoy?" She asked and stopped halfway down the steps.

Malfoy stopped at the bottom of the stairs. He wouldn't look at her as he gripped the handrail. "Granger. I told you not to ask about what I'm doing if I wanted you to know I would tell you."

"I know, but you don't have to do bad things anymore." She spoke up.

He smirked and looked back at her as he lifted his sleeve to reveal the dark mark. "You can't escape your past just like I can't escape mine."

"Malfoy just stay. Don't go." She spoke sadly.

Malfoy shook his head. "Granger, you are my possession and right now, I promise I will protect you."

"Protect me from what you are leaving me alone to do God knows what, just because you want to chase something that isn't you anymore." She swallowed hard.

"I will not listen to a filthy mudblood. You are to stay here and wait for me. You are not to leave this house." He spoke heading back up the steps towards her.

She hesitated for a moment before she stepped back only to feel him grab hold of her wrist roughly. "Malfoy, you're hurting me." She cried out.

He pulled her close letting go of her wrist as he pulled her close. "Do as I say. Just stay in the house." He whispered out.

Something was going to happen. Her eyes lowered halfway. "Malfoy, you finally have a choice. Please don't do this."

He pushed her away causing her to fall on the steps. "Just stop! This is my choice! I have to do what I have to do."

She fell back on the steps as she lowered her head. She couldn't stop him. Her stomach churned as anxiety rose within her. She would have to wait and see what happened. Whatever it was he was worried about her. If he wasn't worried about her safety he would never have told her to stay put. He stepped away from her and moved back to the study where the fireplace was. She heard him yell for the manor, then she heard a loud roar and then silence.

She was left alone in a house without him. She carefully stood to her feet as she hesitated walking back down the stairs. Everything was quiet in the house. She was getting used to him always being with her, but now. He took off when they had free time to do whatever.

Sunday morning was actually nice as she worked in the garden. She listened to the radio for any signs that there might be trouble, but she didn't hear a word. Maybe Malfoy wasn't going to do anything or the other death eaters. Maybe her concern was nothing at all. She knelt down by her small raised garden bed. She didn't mind the quiet, but she didn't like the worry. She stood up and patted her blue jeans off the dirt she was knelt in.

She looked up when she heard knocking on the fence. She blinked as she walked over and unlatched the gate. Her body tensed as she saw Ron standing there. "Hey Hermione."

She rested a hand on the gate. "You aren't welcome here." She moved to close the gate only to have him stop her from closing the gate on him.

"Listen, I'm sorry." He moved his way in and closed the gate behind him. "I think it was all a misunderstanding."

"Ron you tried to Rape me and Malfoy stopped you." She was looking around the yard now for her wand.

"That's what he told you. I brought you home because you didn't feel good remember?" He asked as he looked at her sadly.

"If I was sick, you would have stayed to make sure I was okay and you didn't." She stopped when she backed up against the greenhouse wall.

"He forced me out, he told me no one was allowed to stay overnight so I left you. Bloody hell you trust that man more than me?" He asked.

"As you would say, I am shacking up with him, and I'm happy to be living with him." She mocked him. "We have a good relationship surprisingly and it's all thanks to you Ronald."

She watched as he grew angry and watched as he withdrew his wand and casted. "Silencio, Stupefy!" He shouted as red sparks escaped the end of his wand. Unfortunately for her, his casting wasn't the best. Instead of being rendered unconscious she could watch the world around her, but couldn't move.

She didn't have time to react as she felt her lips tighten close and her body stiffen before she fell to the ground. "You are so naive," Ron whispered as he carefully picked her up. She couldn't even move, she couldn't scream as he carried her into the house like a limp doll. She heard the steps creak as he carried her into her room and laid her on the bed.

"I'm going to finish what I started." He whispered as he moved, pulling her pants off. "He's too busy out of the house to protect you this time." He mocked.

Tears started to roll down her cheeks. He was right. She couldn't even try to alert Malfoy this time. "You know you were supposed to be mine, but no you wanted to go back to school, you didn't want to start a relationship right now, but now. Now you are little that prick touch you and fuck you." He growled out. "It's not fair, not when I put all the work in." He pulled her knickers down roughly before he pulled his pants off and boxers climbing on top of her.

She couldn't move, she couldn't even scream or try to push him off of her. She didn't want this. He moved his hand and started to rub against her clit before he forced his fingers in, fingering her to get her nice and wet. "I guess it doesn't matter who fucks you, you are still going to get nice and wet aren't you." He pulled his fingers out and moved her legs as he moved in between and inserted himself into her slender form. "You are mine for the next few hours and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it." He started to thrust into her.

The tears rolled down her cheeks as she felt her body move with each thrust, he made into her body. He growled as he watched her. He pulled out and moved her onto her stomach. "You look so pathetic I can't even look at you." He lifted her enough and took her from behind. He inserted himself back in and continued to thrust into her limp body. All she could do now was look at the closed window, the sky was gray, and the storm clouds were coming in now. Was this something he had planned to do that night until Malfoy stopped him?

Would Malfoy know something happened once he got home? What would happen to Ron? Malfoy would surely kill him once he knew what he had done. She could hear his breathing pick up before she felt him slam into her body forcefully. He pinned her down as he pumped into her a few more times and kept himself in place. "You were so nice and wet for me. I wish I was the one that got to take you for the first time, but this will do. I'm sure he won't want you after this." He whispered into her ear. "I got one more round in me before he'll be home. What a sight that would be to see. Too bad I'll have you all cleaned up and your memory wiped of this incident. I'm going to enjoy him being gone on the weekends."

She could feel panic start to rise as her heart raced. She wanted to move, she wanted to scream. He pulled out of her his cum leaking from her. "This was such a good time, I'm sure it was for you too, you were nice and wet. I'm sure you can't wait for me to fuck you again." He smirked as he flipped her onto her back. "Hopefully I timed everything right with your ovulation. I'm sure he won't be thrilled if you somehow got pregnant and if I was the one to get you pregnant even better."

He could see the panic in her eyes, her fingers twitched slightly. "Harry made sure to replace your little muggle pills with candy, I can't believe you didn't notice." He dragged her down to the edge of the bed, her legs hanging off the edge. "Might as well have you ready like the little slut that you are." He chuckled. "Such a cock tease."