Twisted Lust

Swiping the mascara on, no black clumps on the massive eyelashes, stretching out forever. The
eyelashes, surrounded by smoky eyes, a palette of grays and blacks, melding into one another.
The lips, painted the darkest of reds, a blood red, a glamorous red. Sensual and sexy. Two
princess cut opals adorned the ears, glinting in the harsh light. Hair done up, dyed the darkest
of browns, just a hint away from black, ringlets falling onto pale shoulders. Milky smooth skin.

Saying she was breathtaking would have been an understatement.

Hermione looked herself up and down in the mirror, not really having noticed the way she
looked before. She wasn't ashamed to say she looked spectacular, and that's how she wanted
to look. She wanted to be remembered this way, and she had found long ago that beauty could
be used to her advantage.

Draco made his way up the steps, tapping his feet before entering, soaked in rain.
He tossed his briefcase on the floor

"I'm Home my little temptress" he called out, his voice ringing off every facet.

Hermione smiled at her reflection, as if they shared a secret with one another.
She re-tightened the laces on the back of her bustier dress, glancing at her angles in the
large mirror. She could be such a narcissist.

"You there Hermione?" he called out again, annoyed with her lack of response.

She laughed to herself silently, knowing that he would be butter in her hands, but then again,
she loved him, so so would she.

"If I don't get a response, I'm assuming you're in the shower awaiting my company" he
called out again, mischievously.

Pacing back and forth, glancing at the stairs every second. He went to the closet at the
base of the foyer, turning in his wet coat. And a glint of black caught his eye.

What was walking down the stairs, that couldn't be her. No, she was gorgeous, but the woman
standing up there was, was, was...... Well you get what he was trying to say.

He tried to maintain his composure, but the way she was dressed, he just wanted to touch her,
touch something of hers.

"Do you like it?" she asked coyly with a small wink.

"If we didn't have to be somewhere in an hour, I'd rip off your clothes and take you on
the stairs."

"That can be arranged." She walked down towards him. Cornering him in the closet.

Kissing him, a low sensual kiss, that was just begging for more.
He roamed his hands, grabbing at whatever he could find, devouring her kisses like
they were air.

She pulled back, slightly flustered. Leaning in again and whispering in his ear,
"but like you said, we have to be somewhere in an hour."
She gently nipped at his ear, before turning and walking into the kitchen.

"Tease!" He called after her angrily.
"You keep this little act up, and I'll just take you at the party, in front of everyone."

"I'd like to see you try" she said, laughing from somewhere far away.

Hard to tell she was crying a few hours ago.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The party was held in a large conservatory, run by the Wizard Ministry. Basically, full
of the upper-class, full of those who thought they were better than others. What a fun
place for all the purebloods, what a perfect place for a Malfoy.

From the sounds of it, Hermione guessed the party had been on for already an hour or
so, she was used to calculating these things.

"Uhh Draco?" she asked him, his grip on her arm possessive and unsure.

"yes" he answered distractedly.

"Are you sure the party started at 9?"

"No it started at 8"

"Then why are we here an hour late?"

"Hermione.

When you look like that, one can't help but resist showing you off."

She rolled her eyes, disgusted at the concept, but a little thrilled never less.

"No one will notice, they'll all be too busy talking about money and politics."

"Not when you come in"

He walked with her towards the doors, pushing them forwards, loudly.
Loud enough so it could be heard over the orchestra. So of course everyone turned to look
who had arrived, what had made the commotion. And they were all greeted by a most,

amazing, wonderful, splendid, every stupid thing you could think of saying,
to describe the couple that had walked in.

Hermione was self conscious, but she wouldn't let it show, so she pretended she was deeply in
conversation with Draco, as to not let on to her fear.

"Every man in this room is dying to kill me and be at your side. And every woman is dying to kill
you so that their husbands won't think of you when they're having lousy marriage sex."

Hermione blushed a deep red, lightly whacking Draco on the arm, not noticeable to the common eye.
He grinned, bending over and kissing her on the cheek.

"You bad, bad man"

"It suits a bad, bad woman."

And he led her out to one of the tables in the front, occupied by the Minister, and other of his
little minions, all highly respectable of course.

"Ah, the Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger."

"It's Mrs. Malfoy, Scrigmour." Draco said tersely.

"Ahh yes, yes yes, dear, forgive me, all the preparations for the ball, you know,
have me running a muck in my own ideas."

Yes, all the preparations his assistant spent months planning.

"Never less, what a delightful couple you two are, such a gracing to be seated at the same table."

"You are too humble, we are delighted to sit at your table Minister."
Hermione said in her special tone, when she was addressing someone above her who she had
little respect for. Her fakest smile every plastered onto her flawless complexion.

"You are too kind my dear" the Minister replied with a lopsided grin.
"But if you two will excuse me, I have matters to attend to."

He left, the others sitting at the table followed him in suite.

"You my dear, are a wonderful, delightfully two faced woman."

"Yes, well it comes with my charm."

"How lucky am I? Not only am I married to the most gorgeous person alive, who everyone is
crazy lusting after.

[Including the Minister] he added in an undertone to her ear.

But she excels in public appearances, what more could I ask for."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Your wit and charming intellect?"

"No, no that."

"Your wonderful personality?"

She rolled her eyes, pretending like he was hopeless.

"How about my amazing talents in the bedroom which you fail to keep up with."

"Is that a challenge? Remember what we discussed at home."

She turned her head laughing, her eyes surveying the room.

What for?

__________________________________________________________________

Time passed, the minister gave his little speech, the audience laughed appreciatevly.
They sat down for dinner, with all the stuffy undersecretarys and wizmengot people.
A lovely dinner, and Hermione and Draco charmed them throughout, while secretly
hating the people. And wishing for nothing more than to be rid of them.

It was 10:30 now, and Draco extended his hand to her, for a dance.
Not the kind of dancing they did in clubs.

His head was light with champagne and wine, but Hermione's wasn't. She had pretended,
pretended to drink endless amounts, but really she'd only had a glass to drink. Hardly anything
to her. She need to be completely awake, completely aware.

A soft, slow song came on. She pressed her head on his shoulder as they danced around
the room, the perfect pair.

"Draco"

He hummed along pleasantly, dipping her a little with the music, making her do a spin."

"Draco"

"Yes?" he continued humming in tune with the music.

"When you inherited the manor and all, did you clean out the house?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Yeah. I was just surprised by the conversation." he continued twirling around with her.

She wasn't worried about him answering, she knew when he had a little to drink, he became
much more open, she could ask him anything that wasn't too shocking.

"Well, when I got the manor, we took everything out."

"Everything?"

"Yes, everything. Down to every knife, down to every handkerchief, every book, everything."

"Did you inspect them all?"

"With help from ministry officials, they wanted to take all the dark arts stuff."

"But then why didn't they take all the torture things."

He pulled back from her and gazed into her eyes.

"How did you find out about those?"

"I was upstairs, cleaning, in the attic. And I stumbled upon them all."

"Oh"

He took her arm again, it was a more lively tune, spun her around.

"There are some things Hermione. Some things that have been in my family for years.
And, they don't have dark magic on them. But these things, I just can't get rid of them,
I mean they're all broken so what does it matter, can't harm anyone."

"But if they're broken, why did you keep them?"

"I don't know. They just had memory, value."

"Have you ever used any of them?" she asked timidly, trying to pretend like it was a
normal question.

"What kind of a question is that?" he asked angrily, spinning her forcefully so she lost balance.

"It's just a question Draco, don't get so offended."

"No! I haven't used any of them. Lay off my back."

"Ok, but you did go through everything right?"

"Yes. Everything. Why do you want to know, is there something, is there
something dark that I need to get rid of?" he asked her, concern etched into his voice.

"Yes. Something dark, I just found it the other day."

"Really?" he asked, pulling her head from his shoulder so he could look at her.

"It's ok Draco, i'll show you tomorrow or something."

"No, show me when we get home, I don't want things like that around the house."

She tried her best to smile at him reassuringly, but her thoughts were once again in turmoil
at his recent words.

He looked through everything? she asked herself.

The dancing broke apart, people returned to their mingling. Draco wanted Hermione to follow him
to some empty room or such, but she wasn't going to let him have that satisfaction. yet.

She walked around the room, her mind set on what she was looking for.
And she saw it, away in the distance, messy jet black hair.

Walking behind him, she trailed a finger down the back of his neck. He jumped.

"Hermione! God you scared me there for a second." he laughed, hugging her close like old friends.

"I'm so glad you came."

"Well you sounded pretty urgent and concerned and stuff when you called me in the morning."

"I'm just glad you came, walk with me?"

"Sure thing"

It was then that he really looked at her, wow, she was unbelievably beautiful.
But he wasn't going to make an advance or anything, that was off limits.

He loved her, and he wasn't going to ruin things the second time around.

They walked around, and she was oblivious to the fact that Draco was looking for her now.

Just then the music started to play once again, and Hermione pulled Harry's arm off to the dance floor.
She danced wildly with him, he wasn't much of a dancer, but it was fun, it was always fun with her.
And maybe she was dancing a little suggestively, too close, too exposed, too touchy in the
wrong places. And don't think no one noticed.

The Minister sidled up to Draco.

"And I thought you came with her tonight" he said with a laugh, tapping Draco on the back.

Draco laughed to, he had no idea what the hell that Scrigmour guy was talking about.
All he really cared about was finding Hermione, it had been atleast half an hour since he last saw
her. Where was she!?

The crowd kept dancing, but slowly a circle was opening around Harry and Hermione, it was always
nice to see respectable youth having fun at these parties.

The minister got up to give another speech, everyone kept dancing though, like they were supposed
to. He randomly called off couple after couple, saying cute little remarks about one after the other.
Obviously, alcohol had gotten to his head too.

"And here are the Farlands, always a cheery couple too. And our war hero, Mr. Harry Potter with
that stunning Ms. Granger. Aren't they lovely together?" He asked, the crowd gave a small
applause and grin of recognition.

Harry laughed, pulling Hermione to him for the slow song that was approaching. And she wanted to
laugh to, until she caught sight of Draco's face between the crowds. Looking so murderous she was
surprised his gaze hadn't set anyone on fire. She mentally cringed and pretended not to notice.
Moving Harry and herself further into the crowd, where it was the thickest, safer there from
someone's wrath.

But that wasn't enough. A crowd? Hah, if you think that would stop Draco.

He made his way through the happy, laughing people. Oh he was anything but.
Trying hard to restrain himself from going over there and clobbering one of them
with his own bare hands. He spotted the messy hair of Potter, and the sleek
updo of his. HIS. Hermione.

One second she was close to Potter and laughing. The next she was being dragged
roughly away, and she couldn't really pry off Draco's arms. He led her out of the crowd,
up the stairs, and into a room on the right.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"What are you talking about. You obviously had too much to drink toni--"

"Shut up. You know what I'm talking about."

She crossed her arms to leave, but he pulled her back.

"One minute it's Potter RAPED me, oh no, I can't believe it. And the next minute
we're throwing ourselves on him, looking like you're ready to take him into some
room and have your way with him. And don't tell me no one noticed.
EVERYONE is noticing."

"Draco"

"AND. AND. you humiliate me in front of all my colleagues, everyone who is important,
everyone who is respectful. I come with you. And you

LEAVE ME

AND GO FLIRT WITH SOMEONE ELSE!

How does that make me look? How does that make me feel?"

He screamed angrily at her, he looked ready to hit her. But he never would.

"Damn it Hermione! What did I do to you?"

He looked up at her, with painstaken eyes, so heart wrenching.

"Nothing"

"Then why are you doing this to me. Everything is fine and then this.
And why is Potter here, did you invite him?!"

"Well"

"Did you?"

"He was alone, I just felt bad when I was talking to him and-"

"You were talking to him." he started thinking quickly.
"Is that that noise I heard when I was talking to you, just some pans Hermione?
And you have bloody, mother fucking Potter saddled up in the kitchen.
I leave for a few days and already you're consorting with the enemy!"

"The enemy! Harry is not the enemy"

"He damn well was on Halloween. Or are you blocking that out to.
Always blocking everything out. Don't you fucking get it."

"Stop. Stop insulting me. Stop insulting him. He's better than you, sTOP!"
she screamed angrily.

"Oh, so he's better than me. Does rape make you better? Tell me Hermione, have I
ever tried to rape you?"

"N...n..no"

"NO! Very good. You can keep your facts straight."

"Draco how can you be so cruel." she was starting to cry.

"How Can i be cruel? How can I be cruel!? Hermione, you're mocking me, you're
lying to me, you're flirting in front of me!"

"but"

"And with POTTER!"

"Draco i'm"

"I'm what? Sorry? Hermione, I love you, and you do this. How am I supposed to react?"

"No. You know what. You brought this on yourself."

"What?"

"Everything. Everything. This is all your fault!"

"What are you talking about, have you been drinking."

"No! NO I HAVEN'T. It's YOU. ISN"T IT?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Come here"

"What?"

She grabbed his arm, immediately apparating them back into the manor.
Completely avoiding the party, leaving it.

"Want to see that dark stuff I was talking about Draco?!"

"What"

"I just stumbled across it. And i've prepared it all for you!"

She waved her hand and all the lights dimmed. Something, some deranged noise.
Some deranged noise started to grow louder. But what was it. It was sick, and twisted,
and completely chilling to listen to. And yet it wouldn't go away. And he didn't even know
what it was.

And it became louder and louder, so loud you couldn't really hear all the other things.
It sounded, it sounded.

It sounded like someone pleading, someone screaming, crying. What was it.
He looked at Hermione, her eyes full of light, like she was concentrating on something else.

"Draco" she whispered. And the voice sounded exactly the same as the one that
was magnified across the room. The crying voice.

And he heard another noise, a lash, a chain, and then screaming.
Bloodcurdling screaming.

She grabbed his arm, pulling him, he didn't want to, but he couldn't stop following her.
She grabbed his arm and led him to the dungeon door. He started protesting,
trying to fight her. He hated going down there.

But she was determined, she kept her grip on him, unlocking the door, almost dragging
him down, stair after stair.

"Hermione"
he screamed, his voice barely audible over her screams.

"HERMIONE"

But she wouldn't turn around. She was determined.
And she yanked his arm, through the long passage.

And he realized where he was going, he didn't want to go, he tried to resist, but her hold
was maniacal. And at last she pushed him into the last dungeon room. Pushed him so he fell
on the floor, the noises enveloping his mind.

And when he looked up, he was surrounded. Surrounded by images projected on the walls.
Surrounded by Hermione being raped, being beaten with a knife, and they wouldn't go away.

He started crying,
"make it go away. Make it go away." He repeated over and over, but it wouldn't go away.

And she kept being raped, demolished. He didn't want to see. He didn't want to look.
But it was everywhere, it was surrounding him, the noises, the images. And he couldn't escape.

"Hermione, please, please just stop it."

He looked up at her, at her tear stricken face that gazed at him with venom. And he thought she
would pull her hand, pull her hand out to help him, and instead she pulled something from
behind her. And threw it at his feet.

The whip coiling and lashing on the floor. The metal spikes adding to the sounds.

He looked up at her once again.

"I found it. I found it all."






____________________________________________

I don't know about you. But I am REALLLLY excited about this chapter.
Like I know it's crazy and everything, and sad. But I was so full
of passion when I wrote this.

SO. This leaves lots of open doors.
As many of you guessed, the new years party was not
happy happy as it should have been.

But does this mean that it was Draco?
Because if it isn't........

You're just dying to know the real real truth right?
Well, I think it's obvious, but then again.
I do love my surprises.

So review. I love reviews.
And i love your reviews. thanks if you review.