CHAPTER 7
THOSE EYES
As Draco reached Pansy's side he instantly dropped to his knees, his heart pounded in his chest at the sight of her. His breath caught in his throat as he took in her gaunt face, her once vibrant eyes now filled with pain and fear. "Fuck, what have they done to you?" He whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of his emotions. His years of Occlumency shattered in an instant as he looked into those eyes, feeling the rawness of her suffering. "Pans? Can you hear me?" He asked, his voice tinged with worry.
"Dra…co?" Pansy struggled to form the words.
"Yes, it's me. It's Draco. I need to get you home," His hands trembled as he began undoing his robes, intending to cover her fragile state with them. Moving to place the robes over her, Draco then drew his wand to cast a warming spell, a piercing scream erupted from Pansy.
Tears streamed down her face as she crawled away from him, desperately shaking her head. "NO! NO NO" She cried, terror evident in her eyes. The sight of his wand moving hastily brought back horrifying memories of her time in the Red Keep.
Draco froze, his heart breaking at the sight of her torment, Pansy had always been like a sister to him, thoughts of what could have happened to her whirled through his mind, he was seething with anger. She had been so strong, fierce, and vibrant. To see her so tormented by the mere sight of a wand tore his heart.
"Pans, it's alright, you're safe, I won't hurt you." Draco pleaded, "I Promise." keeping his wand lowered, he could see her struggling to breathe each breath ragged. The sight of her like this intensified Draco's anger, he'd find the death eater that did this to her.
Draco extended his hand out to her in a sign of peace. "Look at me please, it's Draco." His movements were slow and voice soft. Pansy's gaze met his, his once icy glare had transformed into pools of deep, vibrant blue, that roiled like a tempestuous ocean, churning with the fury of typhoons. Those angry saddened eyes comforted her. Draco slowly lifted her into his arms.
"It's okay, I've got you. We are going home now." He reassured her as he looked into her haunted gaze, Pansy offered him a soft nod. As they reached the apparition point, relief swept over the both of them.
It seemed as though hours, minutes, or even days had passed as Hermione lay wilting away in the manor. She hadn't seen Draco in quite a while, leaving her at peace from the brutal legilimency session he bestowed upon her. The peacefulness seemed to always fade into grief and anger that seemed to suffocate her like a blanket, Rha-Theodore's betrayal had been ingrained in her mind, cutting deep each time she tried to file it away.
She hated them both and the way they had loomed over her snickering at her as Draco gifted her his sick surprise. She hated Theodore for tearing her away from everything she held dear, her kingdom, her people, and her children. She hated that he'd taken her to the very throne room her mother died in, handing her on a silver platter before a man responsible for the war. The loss of her dragon eggs and Seraphus consumed her, she prayed to The Seven that she hadn't been held captive by Voldemort. She hated Draco for keeping her captive in this manor, hated who he bent the knee to, hated the joy he revealed in watching her suffer. Most of all she hated herself for allowing this to happen.
She wanted so badly to let a simple Dracarys roll off the tip of her tongue, watching as they engulfed into flames and burned. She'd imagine the flames dancing in her eyes, the ashes would gently kiss her cheeks as she watched the fire consume them all. Watching as Malfoys stupid blonde locks wither like ash, a smile donned on her face as these thoughts whirled through her mind.
Silence haunted the manor she'd heard loud pops once and a while as the elf, whom she'd found out was named Geeney would apparte in and out leaving her bowls of stew. What hurt the most in haunted silence was when Hermione began hearing voices. These voices had been familiar but they were neither Draco nor Theodore. Whispers echoed through the halls, accompanied by tender kisses and laughter that consumed the manor. It seemed as if they had been mocking her with their happiness, the haunting whispers tormented her; it had been a cruel reminder of the happiness that eluded her.
Hermione hadn't felt this abandoned since her first meeting with the Khals. she felt a lump form in her throat, she wanted to scream and cry. The ache of loneliness spread through her like cyanide, The laughter throughout the manor was taunting her, a constant reminder of her solitude. The only conversation she'd gotten was when she and Draco spat hateful words at one another while he violently tore through her mind. Her loneliness seemingly made her more ambitious. She needed to plan her escape, she was going to escape, she had to escape.
Lost in her thoughts Hermione hadn't noticed the door had been opened, she had been quickly taking from her trance as the sound of someone clearing their throat caught her attention. Hermione's heart raced as her eyes darted to the door only to find Blaise Zabini looming over her, his presence like a storm.
"Blaise?" Hermione questioned as she took in his transformation. He seemed taller, his shoulders were broader, his boyish features had been replaced with sharp, chiseled lines showing how the war had affected him. His dark eyes exuded mystery, he wasn't the young wizard that once shot curses at her, he was a man now, a killer on the wrong side of the war fighting for the wrong king.
"Mudblood, Draco needed me to search your mind today while he was gone." Blaise's face had turned in a scowl as if she had done something to annoy him, his disdain of her had been palpable. With a flick of his wand, he released her from the invisible restraints.
Hermione quickly rose to her feet, shock evident in her features to his actions. This could be her chance. Hermione quickly lunged for Blaise's wand, but he had been too quick as he swiftly sidestepped her, grabbing her arm with a firm grip. Hermione struggled under his undeniable strength, yanking her arm back she broke free sprinting out into the manor. Panic rang through her body as she made her way to the staircase, the door was mere feet away. She could do this at least that's what she told herself before she felt his hand yank her back as he dragged her to the office.
Blaise's expression had remained vacant as he shoved Hermione into the sofa, as her back collided with the cushion she felt the wind slightly leave her lungs before bringing her eyes to his. "SIT," he commanded, Hermione reluctantly obeyed as her heart pounded in her chest.
Blaise strode back and forth, his eyes never leaving her as he tapped his wand against his palm. "Nice little stunt back there, try it again I will avada you. Draco may need your precious little dragons but I don't. I do not need anything from a mudblood." He sneered, belittling her as he halted from his pacing. "Now let's make this quick, I have better things to do than sift through your mind."
Hermione rolled her eyes, even when Draco was gone he made her life hell. "Skorkydoso rōvēgrior." Her accent was thick as she spoke in her native language sarcastically.
Blaise delved into Hermione's mind, his presence was less traumatic than Draco's. It was still intense, sending a surge of pain throughout her mind. He swiftly walked through her mind, he hadn't known that while Draco had been gone Hermione spent the day reorganizing her memories, practicing her Occlumency for the next session. His movements were calculated as he searched for answers. After a few moments he grew bored only seeing memories from Hogwarts, Her time in Meereen, and Rhako. As he walked towards the next memory, a loud screech caught their attention, was that in her mind or in the manor? He quickly withdrew from her mind.
Another blood curdling screech pierced through Hermione's ears. Her eyes lit up as she looked to Blaise, "is that Seraphus? Is that my dragon?" Without a single word Blaise swiftly walked out of the door leaving her unbound and the door wide open. Hermione hurried to the window, tears welled in her eyes becoming overwhelmed with joy as she watched the moonlight dance across Seraphus's golden yellow scales.
The tears quickly dried as yelling erupted in the manor, it sounded frantic Hermione watched through the door as a woman with long blonde hair quickly went down the hall of the manor. "Stupid bloody dragon!" the voice said frantically.
"BLAISE!" She heard Draco call out, he was home and frantic but why? "I'VE GOT HER." She watched as Draco made his way up the steps a woman laid seemingly unconscious in his arms making his way into another room, Blaise and the blonde quickly following. Had he taken someone else? Hermione sprinted out of the room, feeling the dragon awaken in her, feeling Ashara coming back. Hermione's breath caught as she looked towards the girl, her hair covered her face, she noticed the ragged breaths. Hermione's mind raced with the possibilities of the horrific situation unfolding before her.
Sprinting towards Draco, Hermione pounded on the broad expanse of his back, it did nothing. Draco's perfectly sculpted physique was flawless, a masterpiece made by the gods. Her small fist betrayed her with each fruitless blow, Draco's muscle ripped beneath her touch invincible and infuriating. the weight of her blows could do nothing. Her words carried the weight of her indignation as she screamed at him. "YOU'RE MAD, YOU GO AROUND ENSLAVING WOMEN? YOU'RE ALL SICK!" She was seething with anger, how could he do this to someone else, she just couldn't fathom it. "I WILL BURN YOU MALFOY!" Hermione continued pounding on his back, yet he stood unmovable like a mountain. With a final fruitless blow, Hermione let out a ragged defiant shout."VALAR MORGHULIS!"
Draco slowly turned, his grip had been like a vice around her wrist as he pushed her into the wall pinning her with his body. Leaning into her face, his eyes darkened like storm clouds going cold as he stared into her big brown eyes. The look of disgust behind her eyes only fueled his anger more, how could she say such a disgusting thing. "I advise you to be very careful with the threats, I will be the one to serve your dead body to the Dark Lord once he is done with you." He snarled, fury evident from the harsh lines etched into his face. Hermione hadn't cared how angry he was; she stared back at him defiantly.
"You do not get to talk of things you do not know about mudblood." He snapped, anger and pain etched into his features. Finally releasing Hermione, she held her reddened wrist against her chest. Hermione kept her eyes low for a moment, the intensity of the situation left the room silent, only broken by Draco's footsteps retreating from in front of her.
"Draco there is no need to be angry, Hermione was just curious." Luna commented, before turning to Hermione. "Hello Hermione, I know this may be a lot to process but this is not a random woman, this is Pansy, she is our family." Hermione watched wide eyed, shock evident on her face as she stared into Luna's eyes
"Luna? Wha-What are you doing here?" Confusion riddled Hermione's mind, why would Luna be here? Living with death eaters in Casterly Rock? Surely she wasn't a death eater right?
"Why, I live here now Hermione. I am married to Blaise." Luna's voice was soft as she slowly stroked Pansy's hair from her face, tears streamed down her face gently pelting Pansy's. Hermione couldn't wrap her head around anything that was happening, she felt ill as she noticed Pansy's battered body.
"Oh god… what happened to her." The sight of the bruised woman on the bed, brung a flood of memories of Hermione's first encounter with the Dothraki.
"Get. Out. Now." Draco said coldly, giving Hermione a stoic look. "Blaise send a raven to Theo, I'm sure the first place he'd go is King's Landing to the red keep so send it there. Luna send a raven to Maester Tarly about Pansy's condition, she remembers nothing, it appears she's been tortured." Hermione watched as the duo hurried out of the room, Draco paced back and forth with worry evident on his face. Hermione hadn't seen him in such distress before, she hadn't thought he'd known any emotion aside from his usual anger.
"She'll be okay, Malfoy." Her words trying to come out somewhat compassionate, she wasn't sure if she'd cared or not. They were death eaters, who'd kidnapped her she shouldn't care, yet seeing Pansy in this state reminded her of herself.
"GET. THE. FUCK. OUT!" Draco roared, his cold beady glare locked onto hers. He was seething with anger, why the fuck wouldn't she leave? "YOU DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT HER. LEAVE. NOW."
"She needs milk of the poppy for pain." Hermione offered with a little huff as she walked out. She hadn't been sure why she'd said it, why she chose to help heal another death eater.
"Geeney!" Draco quickly called out, watching as the house elf quickly apparated into the room. His big green eyes met Draco's before dropping to the bed noticing Pansy. "Oh no Miss Parkinson." Sobs began to pour from the little elf's mouth as he clinged to her arm.
"Geeney bring me some milk of the poppy, essence of dittany, and murtlap essence." Draco said to the crying elf as he sat at Pansy's side patting the elf's back. "Make her some sister's stew as well."
"Yes Master Malfoy." Geeney quickly apparated in and out leaving the potions to Draco before popping out one last time. Draco sat at Pansy's bedside for what felt like hours. Anxiety etched deep into his features, his eyes glued to her fragile form as he watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
Pansy's eyes lightly fluttered open, confusion etched onto her face as she warily took in her surroundings. Panic filled her belly as she jolted up looking around, she finally met Draco's gaze and her panic slowly subsided.
"We are home Pans, here I need you to drink this." Draco said as he handed her the potions, hesitating, Pansy looked to Draco with suspicion. "It's only to help you heal." He reassured, Pansy gave him a slight nod before taking the potions and downing them.
Was this really her home? She felt safe here or at least she had been trying to convince herself of it. Her "home" exudes darkness, the same darkness that she felt in the red keep or as she was taken before Voldemort. From the deep gray that coated the wall to the king sized bed she laid in as the ivory comforter finely detailed with golden snakes draped her body. A thunderous voice caused her breath to hitch, panic welled within her stomach evident on her face as Draco firmly gripped her hand.
Theo barged through the door's of the manor frantically, his eyes were crazed. "WHERE IS SHE? IS SHE ALRIGHT?" pain was beautifully etched into his eyes. He needed to see her for himself, he needed her to be okay.
"It's alright, I'll be back. Luna will be here any moment now." Draco reassured her before dropping her hand. Pansy cautiously watched as he strided out of the room, leaving her alone in solitude for a mere second before Luna made her way to Pansy's side.
As Theodore made his way to the staircase, Blaise quickly walked in front of him blocking his path. "She is in her room, but before you go up there, she isn't in the best condition."
"Get out of my way mate, I need to see my wife." Theo was brimming with urgency as he tried to push past Blaise, but he didn't budge.
"Theodore, listen to me, you don't want to scare her. Whatever happened when she was taken has caused her to lose her memories. She might not remember you." Blaise added, heavy footsteps caught the pair's attention as Draco quickly made his way down the stairs.
Draco stood side by side with Blaise as Theodore attempted to push past once more. "Bloody hell she is my wife Blaise she will remember me. Now please move." Anger began boiling through his veins, Pansy needed him and he needed her.
Draco cleared his throat "Get yourself together Nott, listen to Blaise. She's going to need you mate but scaring her with this outburst is not the way." Draco's voice had been laced with compassion. "She's lost her memories, she can't speak. Maester Tarly will be here tomorrow, if you go in there like a bloody fucking crazed man there's no telling how that'll effect getting her memories back or her speaking. We need that to know who did this to her, so get yourself together."
"I swear by the old gods and the new. Now please let me see her." Theodore's voice broke with pain, Draco and Blaise stepped aside. Quickly making his way up the steps, his heart sank as he walked into the room, his beautiful wife was donned in bruises and cuts all over. Anger welled in the pit of his stomach he was going to kill whoever had done this.
"Hi Darling." Theo held back a sob as he made his way to her side, Pansy quickly turned from Luna's gaze and horror filled her eyes. Memories of the man standing before her whirled throughout her mind, memories of his body lying cold, dead in a pool of blood flashed in her eyes.
Screams and sobs poured from Pansy's throat, "no, no." She frantically scrambled towards the other end of the bed as far as possible, grasping for Luna, this wasn't real she saw him dead. Through her tears, she stared at him, her own fear mirrored in his face. This isn't real, Pansy's mind repeated to her.
Theodore's heart plummeted as he watched his wife's eyes widen with fear, tears kissed his cheeks as he took a hesitant step forward. His voice cracked, as he spoke, "Darling, please… it's me, Theo… your husband." He had only been met with more sobs, as he watched his wife burrow her face deep into Luna's embrace trying to avoid his gaze. Theo's body trembled, the pain of her memory loss broke him. Would she ever remember him?
Pansy world had become shrouded in a haze of confusion, the distinction between reality and imagination seemed to become a delusion. she sobbed as she grappled with the violent images, they had been so vivid and gruesome. How had he been standing right here in front of her? The bloodied images felt so real "Dead." she cried out loud "y-ou d-ied." She struggled to get out.
Pansy's fearful gaze locked on the man before her, his eyes married together with sorrow and passion. "I'm right here Darling…" Theo's voice tinged with empathy, he'd wanted nothing more than to reach out, soothing her pain while simultaneously inflicting it upon himself. "Please remember me." His broken pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Theo, maybe we'll let Pansy rest." Luna offered him a soft smile of sympathy, her fingers caressing each strand of Pansy's hair. The pain swirled in Theo's eyes as she met his gaze, with a silent nod, he turned walking out of the door. Theodore struggled breaking under the weight of his emotions as Draco and Blaise's muffled voices echoed comforting words, their pats on his back seemed consoling, yet their actions felt futile.
"She'll come back mate." Draco reassured before removing his hand. Frustration was etched deep into Draco's face, mirroring the silence that hung heavy in the living room, the dark decor only seemed to add to the sadness that hugged them like a blanket. The tension was only broken by the shuffled sound of Blaise making three glasses of dornish red.
Theo quickly downed the drink before getting up and making himself another one. "I want to kill whoever did this to her, I will kill whoever did this." His eyes glinted with anger and desire, his words laced with vengeance.
"Maybe we could do legilimency?" Blaise questioned as he sipped his drink.
Bringing the glass from his lips Draco shook his head, "No she's far too weak, we'll have to wait for the maester."
As the second drink washed down Theodore's throat, he tried to drown out the pain pulsating in his heart. He wanted to wash away the pain he'd felt when his wife looked at him, those eyes filled with horror bore into his soul. His bloodshot eyes and flushed complexion indicating his drunken state, Theo stood from his seat, his feet unsteady as he walked towards the bottle of the dornish red wine taking gulps from the bottle. "It's her fault." his words slurred as anger laced his voice.
Blaise gave a confused look, "whose?" he said as he continued to sip his drink.
"Fucking mudblood." He cursed his words laced with rage as he continued to chug the wine, a creak above caught the trio's attention as they turned meeting Hermione's fearful gaze. Theodore quickly lurched to his feet making his way up the stairs, Panic welled in Hermione as she dropped the book she'd stolen from the manor's library, as adrenaline coursed through her body she ran into another room. Theodore quickly chased her. It was all her fault, she was the reason any of this happened.
The air left Hermione's lungs as Theodore grabbed her by the throat, crimson liquid poured from her head as he slammed her into the wall. His rage-filled eyes bearing deep into her. He was fueled by malice and anger, his drunken state made him all the more dangerous. "THIS IS YOUR FUCKING FAULT!" He shouted, his wine-filled breath assaulting Hermione's nose.
Theodore continued squeezing harder, he needed someone to blame and it was her. If only he hadn't been tasked with finding a bloody Targaryen mudblood, Pansy wouldn't have been taken. Theo began slowly lifting her whilst squeezing harder, constricting Hermione's breaths. She tried kicking and scratching but it did nothing, his eyes glinted with malice as they bore deep into hers. "I SHOULD KILL YOU, THIS IS YOUR FAULT."
Theodore's grip around Hermione's throat tightened as tears stained her puffy red cheeks, her lips stained blue from lack of air. Draco hurried into the room, a look of concern mixed with calculation on his face as he gripped Theodore's shoulder. His tone carried a trace of malicious pleasure as he spoke "Theodore, enough, as useless as she is. IF she is a Targaryen the dragon's may die without her filthy blood." Draco narrowed his gaze to Hermione, his lips curling into an arrogant sneer that stirred rage within her.
His words snapped Theodore out of his rage-induced trance, and he released Hermione, who crumpled to the ground, her chest heaving as she desperately gasped for air. Draco's words stinging her soul, how dare he question her bloodline, speak of her dragon's dying, calling her useless.
"Stay here" Draco said sternly, his eyes cold and uncaring that she'd almost died as he stared at her helpless form. She lay there wheezing in distress as he left the room. Hermione's battered body resisted the effort to move, but her will to survive forced her to her feet, as she dragged herself to the bed, where she curled up in her solitude. Her mind was unable to comprehend how Theodore could think any of this was her fault, He'd betrayed her after she welcomed him into her kingdom, received his disguised affections as he adorned her with kisses and false promises. How could he think it was all her fault, and not the fault of the King he had bent the knee to.
The flecks of fire that danced in Hermione's eyes, the same flecks she shared with Seraphus began to fade. She prayed to the seven that her flame would reignite, that she'd feel the fire and become Ashara once again.
Memories of her mother flooded her mind. "Always be a dragon." She would say, Hermione held onto that as her eyes fluttered shut
The fire in those eyes yearned to reignite.