Captive Bride

Chapter 11
Luna stared up at the stark ceiling in her room. There really wasn’t much else for her to look at since returning from meeting the Dark Lord last night. It was night again or at least that was what she had decided. She wasn’t quite sure how long time had passed between her kidnapping and meeting the Dark lord. Sighing Luna rolled over and faced the wall. There really wasn’t much difference in the view other than the pattern in the stone was different from the ceiling. Eventually her eyes closed and she fell asleep dreaming about pointed hats adorning flying sheep.

Suddenly Luna was startled out of her sleep as she was hauled off her bed. Before she could fully comprehend what was going on Luna was, gagged, tied and wrapped tightly in a blanket. When they lifted her from the floor Luna heard the cracks of apparition. Moments later she could hear laughter and people shouting. The stranger threw Luna across his shoulder and stumbled a few yards closer to the noisy people.

“I have her.” A male voice spoke out by her bum.

“Place her over there by the small fire.”

Like a sack of potatoes, Luna was dropped to the ground with a thud, landing hard on her shoulder. A hand came and patted her in the general vicinity of the forehead as the male voice spoke. “Now you just stay there where I put you and behave like a good girl.”

Through a narrow slit in the layers of wool Luna could see people laughing and dancing around the fires. The celebrants all wore hoods and masks, rendering them unrecognizable to others. Luna watched wide eyed as some of the figures came together and started kissing each other. A tall willowy figure approached Luna and bent down close to look back at her. Flickering shadows traced across the blue eyes that belonged to Draco’s mother. Narcissa reached out long delicate fingers and pulled the blanket away from Luna’s face.

“You look like your mother with all that curly hair.” Narcissa stated, “But your coloring came from your father’s line. Not that you need to know but I have recommended that you not be paired with my son; the bloodlines run too close between the two of you and I refuse to have squibs born in the family. I am not even sure why you were even chosen for the Dark Lord’s list originally. There are better uses for one as pure blooded as yourself, you will see.” She smiled a cold smile that couldn’t be seen in her eyes.

Luna was very confused, what was everyone talking about? Why was she being paired with Draco yet again, no one has even touched her for anything other than for transport since she had been kidnapped. That was so odd in consideration of everything she had heard about Death Eaters and their victims. She looked past Narcissa at the dancers who were getting more frantic now in their gyrations. Some were losing their robes and gowns as they were pairing off or grouping together. Oddly enough their masks were still in place no matter how involving they’re actions became.

Suddenly they all just stopped and turned as one towards her. No, they weren’t looking at her but at the man seated on a chair next to her. Luna twisted around on the ground so that she could see what Lord Voldemort was going to do, now that he had arrived at this gathering.

The Dark Lord looked at his followers standing in various states of undress. “We seem to be missing some important guests. Shall we make sure that they do not miss this celebration in their honor?” Gesturing with his wand a loud crack thundered across the area.

There in front of everyone Hermione appeared half dressed landing in an awkward sprawl. She had landed on her ass; legs sprawled out and arms flying backwards to keep from falling on her back. Her school robe was off but thankfully she still had her skirt and blouse on, if half buttoned. A second crack thundered and the older Malfoy, wand on guard, shirt loose around his shoulders, as though he had been undressing as well, appeared.

Malfoy quickly sized up the situation, not happy that they had been summoned against their will let alone while on Hogwart's grounds. He lowered his wand and subtly twisted his body closer to Hermione who was scrambling to her bare feet and doing her buttons.

“Luna!” Hermione shouted and started for her missing friend. Malfoy grasped Hermione by the arm keeping her from going beyond his reach.

*Quiet.* Lucius hissed in Hermione’s mind before speaking up. “My Lord, this is … unexpected.”

“I have been negligent and realized that you were not able to have a celebration in ‘honor’ of your marriage so it was decided that only a party would make up for the lack.” Voldemort chuckled dryly. “I even made sure that the bride would know a few people here.” He gestured towards the bound Luna.

Hermione opened her mouth so that she could speak her mind when Malfoy’s hand covered her mouth. In her head she could hear him speaking to her.

*Don’t make things worse than they are, it will only cause him to show his control of the situation and make things worse. We need to see where things stand first.*
Hermione tightened her lips but stood still. It went against her grain but Lucius had dealt with Voldemort’s way of thinking longer than she had been alive. *It’s a good thing that wizards live a long time otherwise I would have to call you sugar daddy.* She thought in a huff.

“Bring her forward, Lucius. Let me see the blushing bride and be assured of her continued good health while under your care.” Voldemort beckoned them closer to him.

Lucius hand tightened on Hermione’s arm then tugged her forward gently admonishing her, or warning her, to behave herself. He watched everything and everyone for any dangerous move against him. Muggle-born bride aside he was a high ranking member of the Voldemort’s council and the only way of catching the Dark Lord’s attention was to show how diabolical you can be in removing the obstacles in the path to power.

“How did the bumbling fools take the news that the girl now belongs to you and there is nothing that can be done to dissolve the marriage?” Voldemort stroked a hand down the pale arm of the woman standing next to his chair.

“To my knowledge they are still looking for answers. Only the headmaster and a couple of the professors are in the know and they are still looking for answers as they try to interfere between what now belongs to me and mine.” Lucius said in a cultured voice that implied more than good breeding would allow.

Hermione stiffened when she saw who was standing next to Voldemort’s chair. She didn’t know why any jealousy sprang up at the sight of Narcissa. She wasn’t Lucius’s wife any longer. Hermione had ample proof of that in the ring wrapped around her finger. Yes! She did know why. There stood that colorless woman on the left hand of Voldemort, looking at Lucius like he was a chocolate bar and she had been on a six month diet. Suddenly she was pulled away from Lucius grasp when Bellatrix came and wrapped her arms around Hermione.

Hermione struggled to free herself from the wiry grasp that now held her to the petite woman.

“You smell so yummy little one, I could just lick you all over in that school girl outfit. Narcissa look! And she’s the same height as me, but oh so much more cushiony from the top of that hair to her ass.” Bellatrix proceeded to grab Hermione by the said ass to prove her point.

“Let me go!”

“Lucius what have you been teaching the girl. She doesn’t want to play with us.” Bellatrix smiled snidely as she felt Hermione through her skirt.

Hermione couldn’t believe how fast the woman’s hands were. One moment a hand was pinching her bum the next was searching and tweaking a nipple. Then somehow it was reaching under her shirt tails. When she finally was able to catch the hands she had been maneuvered to a point between Voldemort’s knees. Suddenly the two women each had a strong grasp on an arm holding her in place as Voldemort looked her over.

“I never was one to share well if you would recall from before Draco’s birth.” Lucius said through clenched teeth. “Plus she was given to me, therefore making her mine to do with as I will. My Lord, for curiosity’s, sake, how were you able to bypass Hogwart’s wards in order to bring us here?”

Voldemort ignored the question as he looked Hermione over. He even took his wand and poked her in the chest then smiled at her. Gesturing for his women to let Hermione go he leaned back in his chair.

She quickly backed up a few steps, glancing back at Lucius but not for long. She wanted to keep a solid eye on the three in front of her. For some reason the whole situation rubbed wrong with her. It was always wrong whenever she met up with Death Eaters but this felt wrong on a completely different level.

“Come here Hermione.” Lucius commanded.

Not wanting to turn around she took a step back again then another and another till she was plastered back to front with Malfoy. Once she felt the devil she knew, was solidly behind her she looked at Luna. Remembering what it was like to have been in Luna position before or at least bound and on her knees unlike Luna’s full ground bondage, she knew how frightened and confused Luna had to be. Somehow, someway, there had to be a way to escape with Lune but how? As it stood, Luna was placed in the most watched area of the clearing. Everyone kept a wary eye on Voldemort, wanting to be sure that he was pleased with their devotions to his wishes.

Voldemort turned his head and watched as his followers enjoyed the festivities of the constant beat and flickering bonfires. Some groups had advanced to an orgy of each other. Across the clearing he could see his final guests arriving at the far edges of the firelight. He sent Pettigrew over to greet them and guide them towards their meeting through the revelers. Looking back at the young girls both directly and indirectly within his control he found himself well pleased with the current results.

“Bellatrix behave and leave the girl alone. She isn’t yours to play with. Ah welcome, to our small gathering, so glad that you could join us tonight, Lord Wagner. Ah you brought companions as well, excellent.” Voldemort stood up to greet the new visitors. The youngest of the group of men had pushed back his hood in order to watch the orgies. Voldemort smiled when he saw that, perchance a possible weak link into this group of men that will come in handy if the results of this night did not go well.

The group consisted of big burly men covered in fur coats and various caps and hoods drawn low over their faces. Only when one of the men reached over and popped the man on the head did he turn to face Voldemort and those gathered around him.

Bellatrix slowly got off of Luna from where she had been sitting and went to stand next to Narcissa. Voldemort smiled and gestured towards Luna. “There she lays a pure, untouched, talented young witch of excellent breeding. An excellent choice don’t you think?”

“She seems to like the dirt well enough. What does she look standing up and not covered in a rag?” The man at the forefront of the group spoke in a heavily accented aged voice.

At Voldemort’s gesture Pettigew hurried to lift Luna onto her feet. Whisking the blanket off of her, Pettigew pulled her closer to Voldemort. Once there he leaned over and untied her feet so that she could stand with no help.

So there she stood her hair hanging all over the place face from the brisk removal of the blanket, gagged and still tied at the wrists. The old man walked forward and stared at her from under the fur brim of his hat. His milky blue eyes squinted at her, looking for any imperfections that were not obvious to the normal sight. Luna could see her life passing in those eyes, each moment brought out and examined then put neatly back away. She couldn’t break away from his gaze causing an inner strength to wake inside her and start building a mental wall between his mind and hers.

The old man smiled.

“She smells and she is still covered in dirt. To give us this dirty child and make your demands in return is not in our favor. How can we even believe that she is pure? Your followers do not exactly hold the most sterling of reputations, quite tarnished in fact.”

“Check with your wand you should know the spells, as old as you are, you doddering old …” Bellatrix hushed when her sister elbowed her in the stomach.

“The girl has been held in my household, seen mainly by the house elf for food. I have only seen her once myself in the three days I’ve had her. Before that she would have been found at Hogwarts. Consider her the example of the quality that I can provide in your considerations of my offer. Take her with you, see for yourself the type of witchling she is. If you do not agree merely return her, untouched, to me by Midsummer’s Eve. Just remember this, if you keep her a moment past or she gets with child I shall consider our agreement binding.” Voldemort gestured to the side towards Luna. “Do we have an agreement?”

“How dare you! You can’t just go around and give people away. We are not …Cars! Just who do you think you are?” Hermione burst finally, unable to stand quietly and watch as her friend was given away like an object.

Everyone turned to see who had dared to interfere in the Dark Lord’s business. Everyone that is, but the people by the bonfires. Needless to say they were busy with their own by this point. Hermione glared defiantly at the people gathered there. Any business conducted with Voldemort was dark business in her mind.

Voldemort tilted his head back and slightly to the side as he looked at Hermione.

“Gifts have tendencies to have existing ties to their pasts that cannot be cut. I will give you her weight in payment with an option to return for others. If she is as you say.”

“The price may have changed by then.” Voldemort murmured.

“On both sides of any bargain the value changes as demanded quality changes. We will discuss the conditions of the price at that time, now I wish to see her.”

Hermione could feel her husband’s tension behind her and in the fingers clasped over her mouth. Her eyes widen when she saw Voldemort stand up from his chair and go over to Luna.

He pulled Luna to a stand point in front of Hermione and then stroked a finger down Luna’s pale cheek. “Remember this moment, for this is the last time you two will see of each other if I agree.” His voice lowered, “For where she is going, no witch ever has returned from, alive. What I did with you by giving you to Malfoy, they have perfected over hundreds of generations embedded in the old traditions. Perhaps one day you will see your friend once more but for now comfort yourself in that she will be well taken care of. They prize witches of her strength and breed age. Your young red headed friend, the Weasely female is about the same age is she not? Pure blooded also is that not so? Hmm, I have not yet decided what to do with that one. Whatever shall you do, wait you can do nothing, because by then you should be hip deep in diapers and brooding your second child. Then again I really don’t have to wait that long if you misbehave.” His sly eyes peered at Hermione and gestured for Bellatrix to take Luna over to the foreigners.

“Agreed, old man the girl is yours to do as you will.”

Luna threw a scared look over her shoulder as the cackling woman pulled her along behind her. Once there she stood Luna dead center in front of the old man. Then with one last cackle she ripped Luna’s shirt down the front.

The old man placed the tip of his finger under Luna’s chin and slowly inspected her. Turning her face to the side then up as he looked down. With his wand he poked the remnants of her shirt farther over her shoulders. Once finished with his inspection he held out his hand and snapped his fingers. One of the hooded men placed an item in the grasping palm.

Lucius turned Hermione the other way. He knew what was coming when he had been to the stranger’s land years before and he didn’t want Hermione to witness the initial subjugating of a witch’s power. The collar placed on a grown witch’s neck was not a gentle tether. Some witches were even known to die from the drastic struggle for dominance because if they weren’t raised in the traditions the transition could be overpowering. If the girl was lucky the collar will soon be replaced by a mating torc. Hopefully his cousin had raised his only girl-child in the family’s traditions.

“What’s happening? What are they doing to Luna? Let me see!” Hermione struggled to turn and see. Hermione flinched as she heard gasps from Luna which finally ended in a short scream.

Finally twisting enough Hermione could see her unconscious friend being bundled into a fur. She could also see the young man of the group being held back, his fingers twitching at the sight of the bare expanse of pearl-white skin within reach. Luna was then lifted into the arms of the man standing just behind the old man. With one last single nod from the wrinkled face, the old man turned, glancing idly at Hermione and Lucius. Once through the group he strode towards the edge of the clearing into the woods his followers close on his heels.

Staring at the last spot she had seen Luna disappear, her hands grasping at the arms around her, Hermione didn’t know what to say. Thoughts raced through her head but nothing could be uttered. She jumped in Lucius’s arms when a loud crack followed by a crash broke the inner circle’s silence. A small wooden casket lay spilling its contents onto the trodden grass. Gems glittered amid the gold and silver coins.

Voldemort’s eyes glittered just as brightly as he settled himself back into his chair. Silently he gazed across the pile at the gathered followers. Bellatrix started to dance around the smaller fire laughing wickedly as her wand trailing streamers of smoke. Narcissa stood behind the chair holding a goblet her face showing no emotion at the various activities. It was if the bargaining of young girls was a daily occurrence to all but Hermione and she had been one of the bartered girls.

“Stay calm and do not bring us to any attention. I need to get you out of here before any more mayhem is done tonight.” Lucius breathed into her ear. “Now that nothing claims the Dark Lord’s attention to distract him completely from you I need you to do as I say completely. Do you hear me?”

Hermione nodded sharply.

Lucius slowly released Hermione but moved a hand up to wrap around her arm. Pulling her behind slightly behind him he turned to see who else was gathered near the Dark Lord’s fire. The masked faces of the inner circle gazed at the dancing people. Once stout man turned his head and gazed back at Lucius. His eyes slipped down to Hermione then he licked his lips. The man bared his teeth in a parody of a smile when Hermione stepped farther behind Malfoy out of his line of sight.

“It has been a good night don’t you think so Malfoy?” Voldemort hissed into the dark air. With that sentence Voldemort gestured at the simpering Narcissa. Simpering was not a slightly emotion to be seen on an emotionless face. Bellatrix laughed and ran, leaping, towards the larger bonfire.

Narcissa smiled as she kneeled in front of the Dark Lord. Reaching a hand up, she released the clasp for her grown letting it puddle on the ground around her. She started to slide her hands over her body and thrust out her hips under the gaze of her lover. She moved to a beat that no one could hear as bent back almost double as she proceeded to pleasure herself.

Hermione eyes widen as she peered around her husband. His ex-wife didn’t even have her knickers on. She never would have imagined the former Lady Malfoy being this … immodest. Especially in public view. But then the woman had always acted quite snobbish in a cold ‘ice queen’ way in previous encounters.

“Oh my…”

***

Luna slowly roused, gaining consciousness in gradual increments. She could feel the thick softness of some kind of rug beneath her cheek. Her eyes when they fluttered open could only see the expanse of a large floor. Groaning softly she pushed an arm under herself and slowly sat up reaching up with her other hand to push her hair out of her face. Feeling eyes on her back she turned in confusion to see the old man from the fire. Her eyes widen as the man bent down to bow before…

“Krum?”