Why was he always such a puzzle? It kept her off balance, unsure how to handle him. She sat on the couch and opened the book she had. Her heart was pounding in her chest in anticipation of getting out of this room for the first time in a week.
Draco came out of the bathroom holding a hand towel, drying his face. "Did you eat breakfast?" She was still too thin, but he noticed she was improving. Every day he came back into the room she seemed a little stronger. He had to be sure she didn't fall into despair. Draco liked to provoke her and see the fire return to her eyes. It was never his intention to break her. He only needed her to fear him and the outside world. Insea had been told to report on her moods daily. The elf said this morning how he liked her singing. Draco was glad she was stable. There was so much more to do.
"Yes." Hermione answered, her nose still in the book but unable to concentrate on it. "Insea is very helpful and good company. It's nice that you take care of him. He is sweet and always so eager to please."
"They're all eager to please. It's what they do." Draco called from the closet. She could hear him mumble "Silly woman." He came out looking exceptionally handsome as was befitting a Malfoy. "What do you think?" He turned in place as she looked on. Hermione noticed the fire in his eyes as they raked over her body. Strolling over to her he picked her up and kissed her passionately. "You are so very beautiful Hermione. I've given you this time to recover your bearings, but I'm done waiting for you to stop crying. You will be mine tonight. Willingly. As you promised."
oopOqoo
The Hogwarts cuisine was excellent as usual. They were meeting over lunch in the headmaster's office. The green flames had barely subsided when the urgent questioning began.
"Did you find her? Is she safe?"
"It was more like she found me Severus. You know the confundus traps on our halls all lead to the port key, and then the hold down below. Like fish in a barrel. It was a good thing I had just left the room when Voldy went mad, well… madder. I watched her as she crouched and weaved and ran right into it."
Severus Snape gave a heavy sigh of relief. "I take it you're keeping her in your room? Is she likely to be able to escape? You can't turn your back on that girl for a moment. She's devilishly clever and is always looking for the answer to a puzzle."
Draco grinned. "Don't worry. I've got her on lockdown so tight her fart couldn't get out. I had to get a little rough with her. Treat her how she expected a spoiled prick and death eater would treat her." He paused for a moment remembering as his voice went quiet. "She was so thin Severus. I don't know how someone survives being that thin." He grinned recovering his bravado, not wanting Snape to know his true feelings. "Still has a decent pair of tits though." He cleared his throat and huffed. "I had to convince her to obey me, and of the danger she's in. She's quite frightened of being without me now. Granger even gave me her word she wouldn't try to escape if I promised to protect her from Him."
Severus growled his disapproval, but it was Draco's risk and so his call. He knew the boy would do no lasting harm to her. Turning away he decided to change the subject. "Well, Dumbledor's plans are shot to hell now, what little I know of them. It would be helpful if we knew what Potter was really up to all this time. All those fantastic stories and rumors. The Prophet never tells the whole story."
"I know, I know. That's why we began this stupidity in the first place. Where did you get those snatchers then, under a bar stool? So now it's all fucked up! Potter and Weasley are dead, and Riddle is franticly looking for her. It's a good thing he doesn't suspect me. There are benefits to being nearly invisible to him." Draco was leaning against a wall with his arms and legs crossed.
Snape rolled his neck and the vertebrae snapped and crackled like dry twigs. He sighed as the tension abated a little. "It was a calculated risk and necessary for my cover that I use a third party. I gave them plenty of gold, told them to capture the trio and bring them to me, ALIVE. I handed the location of the boy wonder and his party over to the snatchers on a silver platter. How was I to know they'd bungle it so badly. Greedy bastards."
Snape grinned. "At least the fools got what they deserved in the end. Sorry about the mess."
Draco huffed in disgust thinking of the lost opportunity. "Potter ran like a rabbit, and they killed him. So much for Gryphindor bravery. We needed to interrogate them and assist if possible. But no! Potter always had to be 'the chosen one'. As if he could fight Riddle all on his own! Usually getting everyone around him killed in the process. They wandered around like lost sheep for months. It was inevitable that they would be caught. I'm sure it was only Granger's brain that kept them out of Riddles hands as long as they were. It could have been so much easier on everyone if they had just co-operated. At least they would all still be alive."
Snape was still smirking when he pulled out his chair for lunch. "Well one out of three isn't bad. Especially when it's the one with all the brains. Still alive to tell us what we need to know. Sit down and eat. We have to consider what our alternatives are. Do you have an idea how to get the information out of Granger without tipping your hand?"
Draco became subdued. "She wants to see the bodies. To say goodbye. I told her we could go and see them. She knows by now that nothing I do comes without a price. She'll have to spill her guts in return and maybe a little more. Besides, she broadcasts her thoughts like she's the BBC. All I have to do is bring it up and she'll display her memories for me."
Snape nodded. "Good. Let me know as soon as you can. I've been going through Albus' things hoping for a clue to his endgame. The bastard kept his plans close to the vest, but between what I know and what she knows, we may just be able to pull this off."
Draco looked up to Dumbledor's portrait. "He's still sleeping I see. Why the devil can't he wake up and help us?"
Snape grinned. "It doesn't work that way Draco. I tried taking it off the wall and shaking it. All that did was knock the vase off the table in the background."
Draco laughed. "You should let me try. Even if it's just for the fun of it." Draco picked up a potato with his fork. "Okay, Bring it on. What do you think you know?"
Severus took a mouthful of wine. "Have you ever heard of a horcrux?"
oopOqoo
Hermione wiped her face from her third hard cry of the day. If she didn't stop soon she would become dehydrated. She laughed at what Harry would think of all this. He'd tell me to knock it off and get back to work.
Turning the taps on in the bathroom she used a flannel to give her face a good scrub. She remembered Draco's warning to get it under control, but she was sure she would break down when she saw them. Well, it was just too bad that the coward couldn't handle a few tears. She was a human being with feelings, and the sooner he learned that, the better.
Insea had brought her lunch hours ago. Roast chicken and veg. She only pecked at it. Hermione was so anxious with nothing to do but wait until tonight. She was sure he meant what he'd said. Her nerves had her on the edge to the point of madness. Even the books she'd tried to read didn't hold much appeal to her. All she could think about was what Draco would do to her when he got back. He had promised to fuck her blind that first night. Hermione realized to stay sane she had to look at this from a different perspective. Clinically, as if she were studying him. All the angst and fear and worry would get her nowhere.
