 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
I Hermione thinks she knows what went wrong—or, at least, that she has a plausible theory. She thinks that, when the chandelier fell and Harry
took back the wands, and he and Ron The Cruciatus Curse, she thinks, the Cruci-bloody-atus Curse! She’s taught herself to swear quite fluently in the cellar of Malfoy Manor. Pacing up and down, alone in the dark, she’s
learned to combine the words for body parts, Then, in the lulls between his assaults, she lets herself resurface, and watches and listens. Because she needs to know what’s going on. She saw Bellatrix’s knife pierce her Disapparating friends, and she has no idea if it injured or—Please God, no!—killed Harry or Ron. And the not-knowing is worse than any physical pain. But if Harry and Ron did escape unhurt, she reasons, why haven’t they come back for me? What, in Merlin’s name, is HAPPENING out there? It’s some consolation that the Malfoys look wretched—Draco’s
so painfully thin, his head’s bowed She watches Draco, as he tries to disappear down the
cracks between the floor tiles, and thinks, The shame’s destroying him, and that troubles
her, because—despite everything that’s passed between Not sorry for him, exactly. No, it makes her feel sympathy for him. Because he’s as much a prisoner as she is. And,
she thinks, it’s worse for him. ... II Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met on the street. Severus Snape’s a regular visitor. Hermione hates him now—Dumbledore’s murderer, Voldemort’s enforcer... Sometimes, when he’s watching Lucius—struggling
to pry the Order’s secrets from her—and, The smug bastard! ... III Unlike Lucius, who’s degenerating into a blond
Neanderthal, Draco’s growing He’s like an anorexic girl, thinks Hermione.
Worrying about his appearance His father seems to blame him for the family’s
disgrace, and punishes him by allowing What Lucius doesn’t realise, she thinks,
is that Draco’s too busy shutting everything out to bother
“Are you all right?” she whispers one day,
when—pale and wraith-like—he sets a tray of bread Draco pulls it back as though she’s scalded him.
“You’re not exactly Witch Weekly’s Lovely Witch
His voice is hoarse and his sneer’s a ghost of
its former self but, for some reason, “I’m fine,” he says. “How are you?” “I’m cold,” she replies, truthfully, “and tired,”—her voice drops—“and I’m frightened.” Draco regards her for several long moments. Then he
glances up the stairs and, as if he’s “Here,” he says, tossing it at her. “Thank you.” She wraps it round her shoulders.
Then, “Draco,” she says, very softly, “why don’t
She’s expecting him to say, “Because of
Mother and Father,” but, instead, he pulls up his The Dark Mark. He might run, she thinks, but he couldn’t hide. “Oh, Draco—” “Just shut it, Granger,” he says, bitterly. ... IV |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
... V Over the next few days he comes down to the cellar more and more. Hermione thinks it’s because he can’t bear to be alone, and that—when his mother’s not there—she’s the only person he isn’t afraid of. He doesn’t say much—just sits there, shivering, lost in his own horrifying thoughts. Eventually, she lifts up a corner of her blanket and,
after a moment’s hesitation, he crawls in beside her, After he’s gone, she wonders why she hadn’t thought to take his wand from him. ... VI When it happens, it’s the most natural thing in the world. Hermione’s grown used to lying in his arms, and
the feel of his erection, pressing against her belly, This time, though, it’s different. This time, as he gathers her close, he relaxes, and
moulds her body to his; this time, he nuzzles This time, she knows what’s coming, and she wants it. And although, technically, she’s still a virgin,
her hymen’s already been broken by an For a long while he lies motionless and Hermione’s
perfectly content, but then he starts to thrust It’s better than anything she’s ever imagined,
a mounting pleasure that peaks abruptly in a great, And, afterwards, she’s energised—she could
climb Mount Everest if someone would only point her “I don’t know,” he replies, and she
realises that, for him, it hasn’t been the momentous experience
“What are you doing?” he cries. “Lumos,” she murmurs, and a soft light illuminates his features. “I just want to look at you, Draco,” she explains. “Oh, Granger,” he sobs, hugging her tightly. ... VII Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. “Come here, Draco,” says Lucius. Hermione, pinned to a chair by the elder Malfoy’s
Body-Bind Curse, stares impotently as Draco “Make her talk,” says Lucius. Draco swallows hard. “Father...” “Come along, Draco. You know how to cast a Cruciatus Curse.” Draco’s face crumples, and his body seems to
shrink. Hermione’s heart goes out to him; “She’s a Mudblood, Draco.” Lucius goads
him. “A Malfoy need feel no compassion for her sort. Draco lifts his wand. “Crucio,” he
croaks, and Hermione feels a mild dose of pins and needles “Oh, you stupid boy,” cries Lucius, slapping his son across the back of his head. ... VIII |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
... IX “We’re getting you out of here,” says
Draco. He’s edgy, verging on the hysterical. “We?” “Uncle Severus and me... I had to tell him about
us, Granger. He could see that something had Hermione draws back from him, suddenly suspicious.
“Why would Snape do that? “He’s doing it for me,” says Draco. She supposes that’s plausible. Snape’s always
treated Draco like a favourite nephew—a son, even. “Oh, for Merlin’s sake, Granger,”
he yells, “just shut up for once, and do as you’re told!”
The Dark Mark. “But maybe something can
be done,” she whispers back. “No.” He shakes his head. “And, anyway, that isn’t the deal.” “Draco...” “Listen,” he hisses. “This is the plan:
today, I’ll send a house-elf with your food. He’s called
Winky. “D’you really think that’ll work?” “Severus says it will. He says he can convince
the Dark Lord that you got Winky to turn traitor “Is Harry still alive?” He shrugs. “As far as I know.” “Draco...” She finds his hand. “What?” His answering grip’s so tight, it hurts. “I’ll miss you.” ... X At first, she thinks about him almost every minute of every day. But then Harry finds her, hiding with Winky at Grimmauld
Place, and she throws herself Draco just seems to fade away. ... XI |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
... XII Seeing him again, in the Room of Requirement, had been a shock. They’d been on opposite sides, of course, and there’d been no time to do anything but fight. She’d been ruthless—ignoring the pain in
his eyes when she’d shot her Stunning Spell; But now, seeing him in the Great Hall, huddled with
his parents, she remembers how he’d “Draco...” He lifts his head, and stares at her as though she’s
a stranger, but—ignoring Ron’s protests, For a moment, he freezes. Then he gathers her up, burying his face in her dirty
hair and, from the way his body’s shaking, And it’s as though they’ve never been apart—his
scent, his touch, his need—she’s back where She’s apologising for abandoning him, for having
been so overwhelmed by the war she’d pushed him “I don’t know...” She comes up on her
toes, and nuzzles his neck. “But I’ll tell them, Draco—now “D’you think they’ll listen?” “I don’t know.” “If they send me to Azkaban—” “I’ll help you,”—she hugs him tightly—“I’ll fight for you. And I’ll find a way to get you out, I promise.” His body relaxes, and she feels his breath, hot against her cheek. “I love you, Granger,” he whispers. And Hermione’s fate is sealed. ... XIII |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
THE END ... Written for the Hawthorn and Vine A Decade Later challenge. Prompts Quotes The illustrations were made by me, using screencaps by janine83,
posted at dj_capslock, |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|