After Midnight

Okay, so here's the next chapter. I'm not very happy with it, but please tell me what you think if anyone has any ideas, please send them forth! I tried to show how someone as strong as Hermione would allow herself to be in this situation. Cheers!


Draco trudged up the stairs of the manor loosening his robes as climbed. He’d had a long, stressful day and the only cure for it was currently asleep in his bed. Walking into their bedroom he carefully closed the door to their sons’ adjoining nursery. Shedding himself of all his clothing he looked down at his sleeping wife. Stroking himself to attention he muttered a spell that removed the sundress she’d been wearing along with her knickers. He gently nudged her and she rolled onto her back, her limbs splayed out in abandon. He quit touching himself then because his cock was fully hard and aching to be inside his mate. He nudged her legs apart and settled himself between them. Licking his fingers for moisture, he reached down to her folds and began to tease her pink opening.
Hermione moaned in her sleep and unconsciously bucked her hips towards his hand. Draco grinned and used his thumb to play with her clitoris. When he was satisfied that she was wet enough to receive him he positioned the head of his shaft at her opening, only inserting the tip before pausing to reminisce about the first time he took her and how similar the situation was. Pumping his hand along his shaft to mimic the motions of his seventeen year old self, he gave in and buried himself to the hilt inside her warmth.
Gasping, Hermione woke up and almost screamed when she realized that someone was inside of her. Draco’s mouth covered her own, drinking her terror and he held her close while she took time to realize who was with her. She calmed down, but he could feel her heart beating rapidly against his own and smirked.
“What’s the matter, love? Didn’t you miss me?”
Leaning into his shoulder she admonished him. “You scared me!”
“I suppose I did, but wasn’t it a lovely way to wake up?” He took one of her breasts in his mouth as he languidly moved his hips, getting comfortable in her body. As much as he loved the frantic fucking they often did he also loved the feeling of just being sheathed in her. Sometimes he would come home from work, bury himself in her and talk about his day, just loving how close to her and dominant he felt when their bodies were joined. His favorite place to be was inside his wife, cradled between her thighs.
Nuzzling her neck, Draco frowned. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Hermione was fuzzy at the extreme contrast from panic to arousal. It had been ages since he’d had to use the spell to make her wet and wanting him. “What?” she asked confused.
Biting her neck brutally he heard her gasp in pain, but felt no remorse. She needed to be reminded from time to time about her new place in life. “Did. You. Miss. Me?” he accentuated each word with a fresh bite to that same spot on her neck just below her jaw line and ear lobe. Shortly, she would have a purple bruise, clearly visible.
“Y-yes,” she stammered. He pulled back and looked at her darkly. Although she knew he wouldn’t hit her, she was still afraid of the consequences so she reiterated her statement. “I missed you, Draco.” He smiled, pleased with her words and the use of his name. He began moving inside of her, slowly and deliberately. Hermione’s head rolled back and it was one of the few times he allowed her to close her eyes. Her hands moved down his pale, muscled back and he shivered at her touch. She lifted one leg to hook it around his waist and pulled him in deeper. He loved seeing her like this.
He pushed in and out of her, grunting with the exertion, pinning her arms behind her head. He became more frantic as her moans became louder. He bit down on her neck again, this time at the base as she came, screaming and his essence poured into her womb. He lay gasping on top of her for a few moments, feeling the stress of the day melt away. Just as he pulled his now limp manhood out of her, he heard an ear piercing cry from the next room.
“Oh, dear Merlin, they were sleeping and we woke them up.” She immediately made to get up and go to their children, but he stopped her. Pulling his boxer shorts on he entered the nursery and picked a screaming Troy up in one arm and a sniffling Dominick up in the other. He brought them back to their bed and Hermione’s arms reached for the squirming Troy. The one year old rubbed his eyes and continued his crying, albeit with less noise. “There, there, it’s okay. Mummy’s sorry she woke you up,” she whispered while rocking him gently.
“Daddy isn’t,” Draco said mischievously while bouncing Dominick on his knee. He leaned back on the headboard, pulling Hermione and Troy to one side of his chest while Dominick slowly drifted off on the other side. The four of them lay quite still while the youngest two drifted off to sleep. Draco studied Hermione’s face and saw the contentment in her eyes and the smile on her lips. It was moments like these that he not only didn’t regret what he’d done, but knew that he would do it all over in a heartbeat.
Stretching lightly, the object of his thoughts spoke. ‘I thought maybe we could have dinner in the garden tonight. The trellis is in bloom and looks so lovely. I took their picture out under it earlier.”
“We can’t. There’s a dinner tonight at the Lestranges and we’re going.” He absentmindedly played with her curls enjoying the peace of the moment. What she said next dampened his good mood.
“Oh,” she said, and then tentatively, “Will the Zambini’s be there?”
“I don’t know.” Draco pulled away from her, grabbing his sons and moving their still sleeping forms back to the nursery. He hated being reminded of the fact that something other than himself and their children kept her at his side. He turned back to her slightly panicked face as she kept her eyes on their children and he noticed her bruised neck. Studying her for a moment he said, “Start getting ready and be sure that you wear your hair up.” Knowing that his mark would be on display made him feel better as he stalked to his office.
Half an hour later he walked back into the bedroom to see his dress robes laid out on the bed for him. He could hear Hermione in the shower, so he slowly began putting on his dress clothes. Doing up the buttons he scowled at the memories that had been brought up by her question of the Zambini family.

~FLASHBACK~
Draco was getting tired. It had been three days since he had brought the mother of his children home and the only thing he had to show for it were deep scratches on his arms and chest. She had attempted wandless magic on him once and had actually knocked him slightly off balance. He had laughed at her attempt, but had been secretly impressed and turned on. His was a very powerful witch, indeed.
“Why are you still running, Hermione?” he circled the bed in the room she had only left twice since her arrival. She was watching him warily on the other side.
‘Stay away from me!” she hissed. Without a wand, she felt extremely vulnerable. She might have been able to perform wandless magic, but it was nothing in comparison to what he could do without a wand. She was loosing her stamina to keep away from him and she knew that soon her distended belly and natural tiredness that came with being pregnant would slow her down enough for him to catch her. It happened every night and sometimes during the day. She was tired, but she’d be damned if she actually gave in and made it easy for him.
With one swift motion, Draco was over the bed and had her in his arms. He sat down on the bed, pulling her with him and kissing down her neck. “Why do you keep this up when both you and I know that you enjoy this?” His hands started to unbutton her dress.
“You’ve taken everything I’ve ever loved and killed it!” She sobbed openly and didn’t try to disentangle herself from him. He was much stronger both physically and magically.
“That’s not true,” he said calmly as he eased one arm out of its’ sleeve. “I never planned on your parents being killed and I’m truly sorry for that, love.”
“You killed the Weasleys and Harry!”
He grew angry at her mention of the redheaded family and Saint Potter. Turning her quickly, he grabbed her shoulders harshly, digging his manicured nails into her skin. “They didn’t deserve you! They were common and filthy and had no idea what a treasure you were. Besides, it isn’t as if Weasley had wanted you. You should be glad that someone who wants you bad enough to do anything to be with you has you. Weasley would never have appreciated your love and Potter was too busy with that whore of a Weaslette to ever want you.”
“Her name is Ginny, you bastard!” Hermione suddenly had new strength in her. Over the past four weeks she had lost her parents, Harry, the Weasleys, McGonagall, all of Dumbledore’s Army and countless other order members. She had thought that no one was left, but she was wrong. Remembering the girl who had been like a sister to her renewed her strength to fight. “You didn’t kill her, but you gave her to Blaise Zambini!”
Suddenly Draco grinned, making her terribly afraid of him. “Oh, she went to Blaise, but only for one night. He doesn’t have the Dark Lord’s favor the way I do. She’s going to be auctioned off. Apparently there are a lot of people eager to have a go at Potter’s whore.” The wheels in his head started turning. He needed something, anything to get her to be more amenable to his advances and he didn’t want to have to use spell craft or potions to do it. He couldn’t use threats against his children, because he knew he could never harm them. He wasn’t his father, dammit. But the Weasley bint could prove useful to him yet. Turning to look at his darling he asked, “Would you like to see her?”

Draco led her down a dark corridor in the basement of the Riddle Mansion. She could hear the base sounds of a couple having sex in the next room and thought she recognized Bellatrix Lestrange’s voice. Finally they stopped in front of what had probably been a storeroom and Draco stepped back while Theodore Nott unlocked the door and shoved Hermione inside. In the back corner Hermione saw a huddled figure scoot as close to the wall as possible. Her heart dropping to her stomach, she realized that the cowering, dirty form was Ginny Weasley. Realizing who it was, the redheaded girl gave a cry of happiness and launched herself at Hermione. Hermione caught the girl and stroked her back soothingly while Ginny sobbed into the crook of her neck.
“Oh Merlin, Hermione, I thought they’d killed you! How did you get here? They didn’t hurt your baby did they?” Ginny huddled herself to Hermione’s warm body as she spoke. Hermione kept her arms firmly wrapped around her while she explained how it was that she became pregnant. Upon hearing who the father of Hermione’s baby was, Ginny cried even harder.
“Mione, I’m so sorry…”
“It’s okay. Enough about me, what about you? What’s happened?”
“The first night I was with Blaise Zambini and I thought that was truly awful, but then I was sent here.”
“Oh Gin, have others…?”
“No, the only one was Blaise, but I’d go back to that just to escape the crucio, and other dark curses. He put the Imperious on me, so it didn’t hurt. They have one that makes you relive your worst memories over and over again. Hermione, this wasn’t supposed to happen.” With that Ginny began sobbing all over again while Hermione held her.
“No, it wasn’t. I wish I could make it better for you.” As soon as she said it, the wheels in her brain started turning. Maybe she could make it better for Ginny. She was about to tell her so when Nott came back in and grabbed Hermione by the upper arm wrenching her away. Ginny scrambled trying to reach her again but Nott pulled out his wand and threw her back against the wall and cast crucio over her. Hermione cried out in horror as she watched Ginny writhe on the floor. As soon as she was back in the corridor she was tossed back to Draco’s waiting arms. He held her close and she actually leaned in to him for comfort.
Once back at the Manor, she began her bargaining. He told her that if he hadn’t asked for her that her fate would have been the same as Ginny’s. She gave in to his sexual demands, but refused to be a participant in the act, rather she just let it happen. When he became tired of this, she told him that if he would bring Ginny to the manor that she would participate more. He put the Weasley girl in the servants quarters and kept her locked while she waited until the Dark Lord said it was time to auction her off for the cause. It was small, but clean and much warmer than where she had been. Having her there, however, meant that Hermione kissed him back and he got a taste at how passionate a lover she could be when properly motivated. Even though he didn’t allow her to communicate with Ginny, Hermione felt better knowing that her presence in Draco’s bed kept her friend warm and safe. It was the day the medi-wizard arrived to tell her that she was having twins that Draco informed her that Ginny would be sold. Hermione had been having sleepless nights trying to figure out exactly how to keep that from happening.
“But couldn’t you buy her? She’s a very good worker.” Hermione was walking through the garden with Draco. He had one arm around her waist that would have made them look like a couple in love if it hadn’t been for the distressed look on Hermione’s face. Draco laughed at her.
“No, I couldn’t. She’s got more mouth on her than a carp, she’s as annoying as a kneazle and I barely tolerate her insufferable presence in my house as it is. You’re lucky I love you so much.” He leaned in and kissed her temple while pulling her closer. “Besides, even if I wanted to, the Dark Lord wouldn’t allow it. No one would tolerate me having both the last surviving member of the Golden Trio AND Potter’s whore. She’ll have to go to someone else.”
“Someone else. That means Blaise will get her, won’t he?” Hermione was suddenly hopeful. Ginny had said she preferred Blaise to the torture of Theodore Nott and the others. Maybe if she went to Blaise she could actually see her and the two of them could plot escape.
‘He’ll get her if he has enough money, which I doubt he does. I’ve heard that Crabbe and Goyle are going to pool their money to get her. Poor Blaise, he really is besotted with her.” Draco listened to his lover gasp and knew she was remembering what she had seen of Crabbe and Goyle’s last victim in the Riddle house. This was all working quite well. He knew that the second she saw Ginny that her sharp mind would look for a way to help her. Her only foothold in power was him, so she used what she had in order to ensure her friend’s safety. She would make a wonderful mother.
“But you could help him, couldn’t you?” she asked softly.
“Inside Draco was ecstatic. “I could float my friend a little money, but what would I get from it?” He had to tread carefully and make her think she was the one who was controlling their bargaining.
“What else could you want? I’m here, I’m in your bed and next week you’re forcing me to marry you. I don’t have anything else left.”
“You have your will.”
“What do you mean?”
“Next week, instead of just a ministry wedding, I want you bonded to me. You have to come of your own free will. I can’t Imperious you and have it last. If we’re bonded, I’ll make sure that your little friend goes to Blaise.”
“I’ll do it.” Hermione had no hint of trepidation in her voice.
The next week, Draco had Hermione dressed in the most exquisite white gown he could find and the bonding ceremony was complete. She would never be able to leave him. Even if somehow the Dark Lord’s hold over the wizarding world was broken, Hermione would never be able to be more than thirty feet away from him without severe physical pain unless she was in the Manor. Even if Draco preceded her in death, she would never be able to have another man as her lover. On the inside of her right thigh she had a small blemish that looked like a birthmark in the shape of a dragon. It was his mark on her that symbolized his ownership.

~~END FLASHBACK~~
Once Draco was finished getting ready he walked into the bathroom to find Hermione twisting her hair into a bun and securing it with an ornate hair stick. Her dark green dress hugged her curves and he watched the light catch in the expensive fabric that was fashioned to show off her cleavage in the best way possible. When she was done applying her make-up, she turned to face him and smoothed down nonexistent wrinkles in her dress nervously.
“How do I look?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly. She knew he was displeased and his displeasure could mean that Zabini’s favor with the Dark Lord could run out and Ginny would be thrown to Nott or Crabbe or Goyle. She would stay with him not only because of her bond, but because even if she left, she would have to leave her children. She did everything she could to please him because she wanted to save the one remaining piece of her old life. If telling him she loved him kept Ginny as safe as possible, then she would do it without hesitation.
Draco leaned on the doorframe and finally replied. “You look like you belong to me.”
“I do,” she replied.
“How do I look?” he asked, his eyes boring into hers.
“Painfully beautiful,” she answered honestly. He moved forward and grabbed her around her waist, kissing her hard on the mouth before apparating them both to the outside of the Lestrange Manor. Taking her by the hand they made their way up the stairs.
While Draco made the required small talk he was forced to engage in, he kept his hand on her waist the entire time. She knew that everyone they spoke to could see the mark on her neck and that they knew how it got there. It made her feel ashamed to know that everyone in the room thought she was his wanton little whore. She could see Ginny sitting in a chair on the edge of the room, Blaise’s hand on the back of her neck. She looked so different from when she had last seen her. She was clean, had a slight glow to her cheeks and most importantly, she looked well fed and not mistreated. Seeing Ginny alive made her able to withstand all the back handed compliments being tossed her way. After seeing Ginny tonight and knowing that it was Draco’s power within the Death Eater circle that kept her in good condition, Hermione knew that tonight she wouldn’t have to be asked before telling Draco she loved him.
A part of her already loved him anyway. Everytime he picked up one of their sons or calmed them down in the middle of the night, she saw genuine love coming from him. Although she missed her old life and felt stifled in her new one, she wouldn’t wish Troy and Dominick away for all the galleons in the world. He’d been correct in his assessment. One day she would love him back. It was already starting to happen.