Anima

What can I say? It was going to be a one-shot but the muse just struck me in the back of the head. So, like or not? I'll quit while I'm ahead if it's crap.

Chapter 1

Draco silently moved the spoon in his hand, down to the bowl and then back to his mouth. Yet he never once stopped watching her. She was puttering around the kitchen, humming to herself and hips moving in time to the music playing in the background. He’d never heard...or seen...anything like it.

He knew he was in a muggle apartment, which would account for the...oh, what was the word? Eclectic or something. Whatever it was that made these muggle contraptions work. But he couldn’t focus his thoughts on anything right now, his mind spinning and his heart pounding. He’d been accepted. By her, the witch he’d been loathsome to for years. And she didn’t make him beg or plead, simply stated conditions that he was more than eager to comply to.

Although he wasn’t looking forward to being broken in by her, as his father had been forced to do with every year that he returned from school. His father had called him willful after being away from him for so many months. He wasn’t so sure of this willfulness but he’d never questioned it, so desperate to please as he always was. His mind began to spin, conjuring up possible ways that he would be broken in.

Would she whip him? Brand him? Would she use blood letting or perhaps a sexual approach of domination? He glanced back to those swinging hips and hoped for the latter. Though he had no sexual experience, his father forbidding it, he would certainly love to learn under her. He felt heat creep up his face as his active imagination produced several intimate scenes to that thought.

Hermione turned around, leaning back against the counter and drying her hands on a dish rag. She caught the end of a faint blush and wondered what had produced it. But he was carefully examining his cereal and her mind informed her of a possible cause. She mentally shivered in pleasure at the thought, her secret crush here before her and she in complete control of the situation.

She’d been bitter and alone all of seventh year, Harry and Ron running off to find Horcruxes and battle dark wizards, leaving without her knowing. She’d been so angry with them for a while. But she’d returned to Hogwarts and thrown herself into her studies and graduated with honors. But that was before Voldemort had wiped out the last of her family. All she had left of them was this old house, left to her after her parent’s slaughter.

A pecking sound at the window caught her attention,” Oh, Hedwig, I’m sorry...I forgot...” She always forgot to leave a window open incase of an owl. She moved to the window and opened the latch, pulling open the twin panes of glass. Draco was watching with mild interest as she took the letter and handed the white owl an owl treat. Moving to the table and sitting down, she read through the letter a second time before sighing softly and letting her head fall into her hand,” Damn...”

Draco tilted his head a little, curious now but not entirely sure if it was his place to ask. He didn’t want to be presumptuous. Depending on the master, he could be perceived as little more than a pet and pets did not engage in conversation, only speaking when spoken to. He frowned to himself and went back to his cereal, not seeing her raising her eyes to observe him.

Hermione’s mind worked quickly before she nodded to herself, calling for parchment and quill from her enchanted desk and writing back a quick reply,” Thank you, Hedwig.” The owl gave her a hoot and a nuzzle, turned up her figurative nose at Draco for not giving her a treat, and flew back out the window. Hermione tapped her finger lightly to her lips, closing her eyes for a moment and leaning back in the chair.

She made a mental list of what she would need and where to get it. She diverted her attention to her mental calculation of her bank account and determined she had more than enough. That done she quickly reviewed what stops she would need to make along the way before nodding to herself. Opening her eyes and seeing that he was finished, eyes on his hands that were neatly folded on the table, as if waiting for a command,” Draco, come with me.”

He nodded and followed her out of the kitchen and through the living room, down the hallway and to her bedroom. His heart jumped a little, wary and yet excited that she could be moving to domination already. So needless to say he was both relieved and disappointed when she started digging around in a drawer in her bureau, pulling out pants and a shirt,” These might be a little big on you...I don’t know...I have a hard time remembering my dad, sometimes...” She handed them over and he couldn’t help but wrinkle his nose at the thought of wearing some else’s clothing. She caught the look and gave him a bittersweet grin,” They’re clean and they’re temporary until I can get you your own. Wizarding clothing will not fit in muggle London.” A look of subtle defiance flittered across his face,” Draco. Change into them. Now.”

He huffed but did as told, a light scowl on his face as he pulled the shirt over his head. He had promised to obey her after all. It was a bit bigger, but she’d also noticed he was skinny as a rail compared to school. The fact that his ribs were visible was not lost on her and she added to her mental list to be sure she fed him high carb foods. His hands moved to his pants, unfastening them before working them off, revealing toned thighs to her gaze. With a sigh he pulled up the pair of jeans, nose wrinkling again at the odd feel of denim but said nothing. Shaking her head,” You are such a pris. Come on.”

Anger flashing in his eyes,” I’m not used to muggle things, mud-“ He slapped a hand over his mouth, not believing he had let that slip. Two things happened simultaneously. Hermione spun around to face him, ready to read him the riot act about that word. And he hit the floor, curling up into a ball with his back exposed, protecting his face and stomach from her whip or cane or whatever was handy for his beating.

Hermione froze for a moment, eyes widening as she realized what he thought was going to happen. He expects me to beat him for a simple slip? Who...Lucius, that’s who. How could she be so stupid? He was an anima, he needed specific rules of conduct and an understanding of how she would treat him. How could she forget something so basic? He was still following the old guidelines Lucius had established. No, this simply wouldn’t do at all. No wonder he hadn’t said a word until now.

She knelt down, mentally wincing at his trembling even as she gently ran a hand along his back,” Draco. Look at me.” He did so hesitantly, his shivering more pronounced and she sat down on the floor, coaxing him into her arms until he was leaning against her. He lay half in her lap, his head cradled against the crook of her arm and bosom, her other hand running through his hair,” Shh...now, I’m going to make you a promise and I want you to always remember it...I will never strike you on the back, face, or belly.”

Looking up timidly, sounding completely unlike himself, no confidence in his tone,” So...you’ll never strike me?”

Grinning,” Oh, no, I can’t promise that. Because if you misbehave I will spank you, that I do promise.”

“ Spank?”

Searching for a good explanation, then deciding a demonstration was more appropriate,” Turn your hip.” He frowned in confusion but did as bade, resting on his hip,” Now, spanking is where I take my hand, or if you’re really naughty a paddle and I whap your bottom like this.” She gave him a firm spank to his seat and he winced and tried to squirm away. She held him firmly and he settled down, wary of her but a different kind. Not scared so much as worried she was going to continue the punishment,” Now, tonight I will explain the rules to you so you understand how to avoid being punished. I will tell you right away that calling me a mudblood, even by jest or accident will earn you a spanking. So, now that you’ve been warned, doing so again will earn you a warmed bottom. Do you understand?”

He nodded a little and looked down, worried he wouldn’t be able to be what she wanted. That he wouldn’t be able to please her. That’s all he wanted. Just for one person to be pleased with him,” Draco. You can talk to me. You don’t have to be quiet and if you have questions, ask.”

His eyes shot to her own, a flood of happiness filling him. He could talk? He didn’t have to be quiet? So, he wasn’t a pet, then. He didn’t know what he was yet but he wasn’t a pet and at the moment nothing else mattered more