What I've become

1
As Lucius laid Hermione upon one of the guest beds, Mr Weasley was just walking into the kitchen of the Burrow which they were now using temperately as headquarters.
“I waited outside the ministry for over an hour but she didn’t show…neither did Lucius…I did see Patrick Keenan coming out of the ministry but he didn’t seem to be going any where but home,” Mr Weasley said to the room as he shrugged of his travelling cloak and taking the only remaining seat at the table.
“It would seem you were hoodwinked Remus,” Snape sneered a vicious grin spreading over his face.
“Well she figured me out…how was I supposed to know when she was lying or telling the truth?” Remus replied calmly.
“But why would she lie to you?” Harry asked. He and Ginny were both leaned up against a far counter.
“I don’t know why…clearly she was hiding something from me…she said she didn’t know where the party was being held…but maybe she really did but didn’t want to tell me,” Remus said his words directed at Dumbledore who was also sat at the table.
“Are you thinking what I think your thinking?” Dumbledore asked his eyes loosing there sparkle.
“Why what are you thinking?” Harry asked his eyes narrowing.
“That…perhaps the party was being held at Malfoy Manor and she was saving herself from an argument with me,” Remus explained, Harry’s eyes widened.
“Hermione would never go there…she wouldn’t be that stupid!” Harry exclaimed pushing away from the counter.
“Perhaps if she truly believed his honesty about it being a party for the governors board she wouldn’t have had a problem with going to Malfoy Manor…plus she must be feeling pretty isolated, you guys not being friends and all,” Remus said nodding at Harry and Ginny then looking at Ron and Luna.
“And she told me that Lucius was being perfectly nice to her and openly honest to her about where his loyalties lie…he has given her no reason to mistrust him in a warped sense.” Remus finished, Harry looked around the room in disbelief.
“She wouldn’t,” he said softly but realization slowly seeped into his face.
“Well we have to look at all the options not just one,” Dumbledore said to Harry, Harry shook his head slowly.
“Well we have to go there…now and see for ourselves,” Harry said quickly moving forward but stopped when no one else moved.
“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Dumbledore said softly.
“Why not? We have to do something” Harry said glaring around the room once again.
“We can’t because Lucius’s Manor is his private property, we can’t go there with out his or the ministry’s authorized permission,” Dumbledore explained his kind eyes trying to calm Harry down.
“But what if it was a trap?” Harry asked desperately his fear for Hermione growing, “surely if we told the ministry about this they would do something” Harry finished.
“If after a couple of days, if she is missing then we could the information to the ministry…”
“A couple of days! No it could be too late then” Harry shouted his anger rising rapidly.
“I’m afraid there is nothing else we can do without proof, for all we know there really could be a party for the board and all we would end up doing is getting Hermione even angrier with us,” Dumbledore said calmly, Harry stood with his fists clenched at his sides his eyes going to everyone in the room hoping someone would join him, but everyone avoided his gaze, Ginny came up behind him and placed a soothing hand on his shoulder.
“Come on Harry you know there right…there’s nothing we can do without breaking the law,” Ginny said softly, Harry’s body lost its tension and he allowed Ginny to pull him back to the counter.
“So what do we do other than wait?” Ginny asked her hand rubbing Harry’s shoulder to keep him calm.
“Well if it all turns out that it was just a party and Hermione is back safe at home tomorrow then we just go about the original plan of tailing her and Lucius,” Remus explained.
“The first thing to do for you two is to send Hermione an invite to your wedding in two weeks time…I trust that she was going to be your maid of honour but after what has happened she would find it hard to believe that you still want her to be it,” Remus said to Harry who merely nodded in response.
The room went silent and when no one said anything else on the matter Dumbledore got to his feet, “Well then onto other issues…Kingsley, you said you had something important to tell us…” Dumbledore said addressing Kingsley who had been stood in the corner.
“Well as I’m sure you all already know there has been a ruckus at the department of mysteries over the past couple of days” Kingsley said moving forward so everyone could see him.
“Well I have heard all sorts of rumours…like the daily prophet have being saying it is a sign of an apocalypse…Well…I heard talk of some of the prophesy that have exploded” Kingsley said his eyes lingering on Harry who’s face fell.
“Mine” Harry said looking shocked; Kingsley sighed and looked at Dumbledore, “It’s just a rumour Dumbledore, so many have been going around its hard to tell which ones are true…obviously this one has been kept quite, the panic it would ensue,” Kingsley said in a shuddery voice.
“Well how can we find out if mine did explode….and if it did what does it mean?” Harry asked, Kingsley’s eyes went downcast.
“Well we don’t know for sure but…it won’t be anything good,” Kingsley said in his gruff voice.
“Is there any way to be sure?” Harry asked.
“Not really…there not letting anyone even near there at the moment,” Kingsley replied, turning to Dumbledore he noted the old mans face seemed to have more lines than he ever remembered seeing and his eyes where blood shot and drawn.
“I think we should call this a night,” Kingsley said, everyone in the room followed his gaze then nodded in agreement.
“I know I look bad you don’t need to tiptoe around me,” Dumbledore said well naturedly, “I merely need a good nights rest is all” Dumbledore said but agreed it was time to call it a night.
Later that night as Harry lie in bed in his own house with Ginny breathing lightly beside him, he worried about Hermione, would she be home tomorrow having been to a party tonight, or would she be missing?
Then his mind turned to the exploding prophesy balls, could his sphere have exploded, obviously the original one was destroyed years ago, But a copy had been moved there a year later.
If his had exploded what did it mean, was he free from his duty, if Voldemort found out would he stop his quest to kill him, all these questions and more filled his mind and chased away any thought of sleep…he just hoped everything would turned out ok.
2
Hermione rolled over in her sleep and clutched the empty pillow next to hers as her dream started to abate her eyes flickered, groaning her eyes fluttered once, Her mind started to relive the last moments before she fell asleep, she remembered talking to Lucius and downing her wine…then the room swimming before her, Lucius picking her up and his scent bringing back the memory of her dream of his lips meeting hers.
Hermione bolted upright in bed, but it wasn’t her bed, this bed was twice the size of her own and it smelled strongly of mildew from lack of use, the room its self was large with two doors one was closed shut and the other one was ajar showing a large on-suit bathroom.
Hermione’s breathing quickened as her heart pounded with fear, pushing the covers of her body she was almost relived to find she was still fully clothed in the dress she had worn the night before.
Swinging her legs to the floor Hermione pushed herself to her feet, her legs buckled instantly and she toppled to the floor.
Slapping her legs impatiently she realized they felt numb and weak, whatever Lucius had given her, was clearly still at work in her system.
Grabbing the edge of the bed Hermione pulled herself up to her knees, then to her feet, her legs shook and wobbled in protest but using the walls she made her way to the closed door.
Grabbing the door handle she tried to open it but as she had suspected she found it locked tight, nearly crying now Hermione tugged and pulled on the door handle.
Her heart froze when she thought she heard a noise at the other side of the wood, pressing her ear against it she listened intently and she heard what sounded like muffled footsteps approaching the door.
Forgetting about her weak legs Hermione backed away from the door quickly, which resulted in her collapsing to the floor again.
The footsteps stopped right outside the door and stayed there for awhile as if listening closely, Hermione heard keys jangle in the lock and then a muttered spell.
The door opened slowly and Hermione held her breath as Lucius came into the room wearing a silver cloak, his hair not tied up as normal but hanging loosely about his face.
“Glad to see your awake,” Lucius said closing the door behind him, Hermione remained where she was, her eyes glued to Lucius in disbelief.
Lucius moved into the room and went to the window and opened the curtains so that bright sun poured into the room.
“I trusted you,” Hermione whispered to his back, Lucius turned slowly and looked down at her with pity.
“You should trust me…you’re in no danger,” Lucius replied, Hermione gaped at him and scoffed.
“Why am I here…what did you do to me?” Hermione asked trying to move her legs and a tingling sensation swept over them.
“Don’t worry about your legs…they will return to normal in a few hours I should imagine,” Lucius said ignoring Hermione’s question.
Walking over to Hermione Lucius bent over and picked her up again and only fear made Hermione allow him to do it, Lucius took her back to the bed and placed her upon it in a sitting position.
“Why am I here?” Hermione asked again, Lucius straightened up and shook his head.
“Why won’t you tell me?” Hermione asked almost shouting.
“Its not the time…But I will explain everything when the time is right,” Lucius explained pulling the covers back over Hermione’s body.
“You won’t get away with this, my friends will figure out I’m missing and come find me…” Hermione said but thinking twice about that remark she said.
“Or work will see that I’m missing and come looking for me,” Hermione finished.
“I agree your friends may come looking for you but as for work I’m afraid they will not,” Lucius said pulling out a piece of paper and showing it to Hermione.
Upon the paper was a small paragraph of writing saying that she, Hermione, has had to take a leave of absence due to a death in the family and will not be back for some weeks due to grievance and funeral preparations.
Hermione made to snatch the paper from Lucius’s hands but he jerked it out of reach.
“Not a bad forgery if I say so myself,” Lucius said with a smile as he tucked the letter back into his cloak, Hermione turned her face away from him as tears formed in her eyes.
“I can’t believe I trusted you…your going to take me to Voldemort aren’t you,” Hermione whispered as tears slipped down her cheeks, Lucius brushed them away with his thumbs.
“Not until you’re ready…or want me to,” Lucius said straightening up, Hermione whipped her face around to look at Lucius with dismay on her face.
Lucius locked eyes with her again and smiled, “you will understand everything soon enough, darling.” Lucius whispered and turned to the door, Hermione opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again her word failing her.
Lucius turned at the door, “Axel will bring you some food shortly, please eat…there is plenty of clothes in the wardrobes so please help yourself to anything you want and ask axel to bring you anything you desire…the bathroom,” Lucius said nodding to the ajar door, “is yours to use as you see fit,” Lucius finished, his eyes lingered on Hermione again before opening the door and leaving, Hermione heard the jangling keys again and the muttered spell before retreating footsteps.
Hermione slid down in the bed and sobbed.
3
About an hour later Axel the house elf appeared in Hermione’s room carrying a tray of food, Hermione was still laid upon the bed rubbing her legs trying to bring life back to them so she could try and find a way out of there.
“Excuse me miss, axel is bringing you breakfast” Axel said shuffling forward, Hermione ceased rubbing her legs, she had, had no intension of eating anything while she was in this house but as the aroma of food filled her nostrils her stomach rumbled angrily.
Straightening her legs and sitting up she allowed Axel to place the tray over her still numb legs, the plate was filled with a variety of food ranging from cold meats, fruits, cereal and a glass of orange juice that sparkled in the sunlight.
“Thank you,” Hermione mumbled, picking up an apple and taking a hungry bite.
“You is welcome miss” Axel said and bowed low.
“Don’t do that to me” Hermione said almost harshly, Axel looked up at her in surprise.
“Axel is having to miss,” Axel replied his head still bowed.
“Well you shouldn’t, I don’t like it…your not under my rule,” Hermione said looking away from the elf.
“Is Miss ordering Axel not to bow?” Axel asked in a confused voice.
“I’m not ordering you to do anything…just leave me alone,” Hermione mumbled.
“Ok Miss” Axel said moving away from the bed but before he disappeared Hermione turned back to him her face filled with hope.
“I’m sorry for my rudeness…I do have a request to make of you,” Hermione said, Axel seemed to be on the verge of bowing before stopping himself and nodding.
“I need you to take a message to someone for me,” Hermione said smiling, but Axel’s eyes dropped.
“I is sorry miss but Axel is not being allowed to do that,” Axel said, Hermione’s face fell into a scowl.
“And why not?”
“Master is telling Axel that you would make such a request and master is saying Axel is not allowed,” Axel said, Hermione sighed angrily.
“Then just leave…Just go,” Hermione said bitterly anger rising in her chest.
“Axel is sorry miss, but Axel must listen to his master,” Axel said, Hermione just glared at the apple in her hand.
“Can Axel bring you anything else?” Axel asked, Hermione ignored him her nostrils flared. “Miss…can Axel bring you anything else?” Axel repeated, Hermione ignored him again. “Miss…”
“Just get out!” Hermione screamed, the apple in her hand rising up and zooming like a missile at Axel, the apple bounced of Axels chest with a dull thud and landed on the floor.
Hermione’s chest raised and fell rapidly as she struggled for control; Axel looked at her with surprise before following her order and disappearing.
Hermione stared at the apple on the floor wondering what had made her do that, it wasn’t Axel’s fault that he could not take a message to Harry and the others.
Getting control of her breathing again Hermione turned her attention back to the food and decided she would apologize to Axel later when he returned with dinner.
4
Lucius, after leaving Hermione went down to his private chambers, some time later as he was sitting at his desk thinking of the best way to bring Hermione round to his way of thinking, Axel popped into the room.
“Axel is giving young miss her breakfast sir,” He squeaked, Lucius looked up at the elf and noted straight away that a bruise was beginning to form on his chest.
“Did she do that?” Lucius asked none politely and pointing at the Elf’s chest, Axel looked down and nodded.
“Miss got angry and her apple threw itself at Axel.” Axel explained, Lucius smiled to himself a plan forming in his mind.
“Axel, have you seen to my wife this morning?” Axel nodded gravely.
“Axel is taking miss her breakfast and found that she had not yet awoken, Axel is then leaving the tray in misses room,” Axel informed, Lucius had, had the suspicion that Narcissa would suffer lasting effects from the sleeping draught, he then bid the elf to bring Hermione’s dinner to him later on so that he could deliver it to her himself.
Axel bowed low, his long nose inches from the luxury carpet before he left Lucius at his desk, pulling open a drawer Lucius pulled out the tattered book with Sahar’s legacy.
After studying it for over an hour Lucius figured he knew as much as he could know about Hermione’s/ Sahar’s past, yet he still felt unsure.
As dinner time approached Lucius put away the book and awaited Axle’s arrival, when the elf did appear, with a tray in hand, Lucius rose from his seat and snatched the tray from the elf and ordered him to attend Narcissa and make sure she had no breathing problems, Axel nodded and left the room with Lucius in toe.
Lucius made his way up to Hermione’s room his nerves on edge, reaching her door he took a deep breath and started to unlock the door.
5
Hermione, after axel had left her, tried to control her anger and panic, she continued to work on her legs, trying to bring life back to them after awhile she managed to wiggle her toe’s and then stood up, her legs wobbled, but tensing them up and then relaxing seemed to help and soon she could walk around the room without problem.
She tried the door again with no success, clearly a spell was at work within it, moving to the window and peering out Hermione gazed out upon the vast landscape that was Malfoy’s property.
Stepping back she surveyed her room and spotted a medium sized armchair in the far corner, rushing to it she tested its weight and deemed it fit enough for her to lift.
Carrying it to the window Hermione lifted it up over her head and heaved it at the window, then covered her head with her hands expecting an explosion of glass, but instead she just heard a dull thud, uncovering her head she looked upon the chair that lay on the floor and the window unscratched.
Picking up the chair again Hermione threw it at the window this time she kept her eyes glued to the chair and watched it bounce of the window as if it was made of rubber.
Hermione let out a scream of rage, rushing to the window she slammed her fists against it; the window made a dull noise but did not break.
Dropping to the floor she sobbed a fresh and gripped her hair in frustration.
Some time later she was still sobbing on the floor when Hermione heard footsteps approaching the door, jumping to her feet she ran to the door and pressed her ear against the wood and listened closely, the steps drew closer to her room, Hermione looked around desperately for something to use as a weapon, her eyes fell upon a bedside lamp.
As the door opened Hermione raised the lamp over her head ready to swing, when Lucius’s head appeared around the door, with a cry Hermione brought her hand forward bringing the lamp down towards Lucius’s head.
There was a clatter, Lucius swung his hands up to protect himself and caught Hermione’s wrist in his, with her free hand Hermione swung for him, hand clenched in a fist, but Lucius caught that one too and held it tightly in his hands.
Pushing backwards Lucius forced Hermione to drop the lamp, with a grunt Lucius pushed Hermione towards the bed and fell upon it and pinned her beneath him, screaming Hermione tried to claw at Lucius’s face but her hands where held too tightly above her head.
“Let me go!” Hermione screamed slamming her head back against the bed, her chest raised and fell rapidly; Lucius’s eyes fell upon Hermione’s face as she glared up at him, her hair fanned out across the pillow, the swell of her breasts appearing over her dress when she breathed in.
“Calm yourself!” Lucius growled deeply, digging his fingernails into Hermione’s wrists, Hermione let out a gasp, then glared more intently into Lucius’s grey eyes, Lucius could feel heat radiating from Hermione’s body as she got angry and as he watched her eyes they swirled and misted until the brown was no longer there but a mucky green in its place, Lust rose in Lucius’s chest as he looked upon Hermione’s form, taking a deep breath Lucius calmed himself.
“I’m not here to hurt you…just bringing your dinner,” Lucius said jerking his head over his shoulder at the fallen tray on the floor.
“And unless your not hungry I will call Axel to make you some more,” Lucius said beginning to release his grip, Hermione did not show any sign of fighting back and stayed stretched out across the bed. Lucius swung his legs over Hermione and got to his feet, Hermione stayed where she was.
Lucius drew his wand and cleaned up the mess before turning to Hermione, “Axel!” Lucius shouted, Axel appeared instantly and bowed low.
“Could you bring miss granger another platter of food,” Lucius ordered, Axel glanced at the bed where Hermione still lay, her dress hitched up over her thighs, before bowing to his master and leaving.
“Miss Granger...” Lucius said softly his head turning to the bed; Hermione took a deep breath but didn’t reply. “Hermione,” Lucius said more sternly, Hermione shifted on the bed and sat up, her eyes greener than ever.
“In time I will tell you why you are here…but you must learn to trust me, you have not, and will not be in any danger while you are here with me, you might even find that you enjoy your time here…if you just give yourself the chance,” Lucius said his eyes scanning Hermione’s blank face.
Hermione took a deep breath and looked down at her chest and closed her eyes, Lucius moved to the bed and sat beside her, tears leaked from beneath Hermione’s closed eyes.
“If I turn out to be wrong about my suspicions…I will let you go home,” Lucius said brushing a stray strand of hair from Hermione’s face, Hermione shot a glare at Lucius that told him to back of, the heat that poured from her body almost scolding him.
Getting to his feet Lucius went to the door, “I would prefer to treat you as a guest in this house rather than a prisoner but if you keep being this way I’m afraid I have little choice,” Lucius said, Hermione turned her head away from him, Lucius stood in the mouth of the door way and studied Hermione for a long moment before leaving, locking and sealing the door behind him.