What a Witch Needs

Hi everyone! First off, thanks again to all of you sending me reviews. I’m always checking them and they are great motivators for me, so thanks! Someone expressed a bit of worry about spoilers from Book 6 because they haven’t read it yet. I don’t plan on putting any in immediately but I may adjust some of the motivations of some characters to fit. I’ll warn you if I think it’s a blatant spoiler. I’m not all that concerned with making my story too much like J.K.’s because I’m basically writing what ‘I’ would like to see happen. I’m happy making Harry more dangerous and conflicted about good and evil because to me it makes him more complex AND more fun to write about.

Also, Harry is the main character in J.K.’s story, whereas Harry, Hermione and Draco are the main characters in mine. It’s more difficult developing three characters with their own conflicts to solve as well as the conflict they’re sharing together, but I’m not too happy with making anyone just a ‘side kick’. So that’s why you’ll notice that one character’s storyline will seem to dominate for awhile and then fall back while another person’s storyline takes a turn. Hopefully, I can do them all justice.

Well, on with the story. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownershipe of the characters or places used in this fiction. (Except Marlston)

This chapter was beta’d by gardengirlgarden, Narcissa Black, dramaqueen-196 and aaminah. Thank you all for your valuable input!


So Far, So Good

The carriage had at last reached the top of the hill and, to Hermione’s disappointment, the manor house was nowhere to be seen. Craning their necks in all directions, the three teens could not see anything but countryside down below.

“It seems that Marlston Manor is not close to Marlston village,” Hermione said.

The carriage now headed down the other side of the hill and into a narrow grassy valley. “That’s odd,” Harry said. “The road ends right against the side of that hill down there.”

“Must be a magical barrier,” Draco surmised. “Like platform 9 ¾.”

The horses began to pick up speed as they headed downhill until they were running at full gallop. Hermione grasped the side of the carriage, her knuckles turning white. “I hope you’re right,” she moaned as they approached the hillside at breakneck speed.

Instinctively, they all shut their eyes as the horse and carriage entered the hillside with a cold whoosh of air. When they felt sunlight on their faces once more, they opened their eyes and found the most magnificent sight. Spread for miles around them laid immaculately tended gardens and groves of trees, magical fountains that spurted sparkling colored waters and statues of wizards and witches who were now turning and bowing their greetings. The horses slowed their pace as they made their way down the long brick road through the gardens giving them the chance to look around.

“Now this is more like it,” Draco smiled appreciatively.

“Who is taking care of all this?” Hermione asked. “Marlston doesn’t seem abandoned.”

“Maybe Those That Dwell Below do,” Harry said. “Or maybe it’s enchanted to care for itself.”

When the carriage emerged from a tunnel of high trees connecting over their heads, they had their first glimpse of the manor itself, spread across the land like a large super mall. Its impressive façade sported tall fluted columns surrounding the immense front porch with gleaming tall windows on either side. It looked just as immaculately cared for as the garden and showed no sign of its age.

“It’s… so large,” Hermione said in awe. “How will we ever be able find anything in there?”

“What exactly are we supposed to be looking for?” Draco asked.

“Not sure, a place of power or perhaps it’s an object of power,” Hermione said almost absentmindedly as she gazed at the monster of a ‘house’ in front of her.

“Didn’t Dumbledore know?” Draco tried again.

“No,” she shook her head. “The secrets of Marlston have always been well kept. He only knows that Dark Wizards have always been desperate to come here to receive more power. Problem is, when they leave Marlston, they can never remember how they got it and any notes that they may have made seem to disappear.”

When they had almost reached the front of the manse, the driveway turned to circle around an enormous fountain. Hermione was gazing at the dragons in the fountain spurting red water instead of fire and missed the sight which Draco and Harry now sat looking as the carriage came to a halt.

Harry put his hand on Hermione’s and said, “Hermione, look.”

Standing in a long row in front of the entrance stairway were around sixty house elves. They stood still as they waited for their new mistress, smiles barely repressed on their faces.

“Well, you have your answer about who’s been caring for things around here,” Draco said.

Harry had to look away and squeeze his mouth shut as a big bubble of laughter threatened to burst out of his chest. He couldn’t bear looking at Hermione’s shocked face as she realized that she was now the owner of all these house elves. He wished that Ron were here to see it!

Draco caught Harry’s expression and said, “What’s wrong with you?”

Harry couldn’t answer without laughing. When Hermione turned her horrified expression towards them and said, “I’m a slave owner,” he lost all control and began laughing in earnest.

She looked at him angrily and said, “It’s not funny Harry! You know how I feel about it!”

After Harry tried to calm himself, he said to Draco, “She’s got a thing about house elves being slaves. She’s been trying to free the Hogwarts’ elves for years.”

“What?” grinned Draco. “That’s ridiculous!”

Now Hermione gave Draco and dirty look and snapped, “I am not ridiculous! But I seem to be the only one in the wizarding world with an ounce of compassion for them.”

The argument was stopped short by a strange looking house elf that was much bigger than the others. He had opened the carriage door and was beaming at Hermione, waiting for her to step out.

“Welcome home, mistress,” the strange elf said. “We are very pleased that you have finally returned to us.”

Hermione stepped tentatively out of the carriage followed by Harry and Draco.

“Well,” she said slowly as she looked down the long row of elves, “I didn’t realize that Marlston had house elves living here. I thought it was abandoned.”

“Oh no, mistress,” the big elf said. “Where would we go? We belong here, mistress. Who would take care of Marlston if not us?”

“But who has taken care of you?” Hermione asked, perplexed.

The elf’s expression screwed up in confusion, “Take care of us? We care for ourselves, mistress.”

“I mean, how have you survived? You must have food, other basic needs,” Hermione wondered. “Did my parents perhaps leave you some funds?”

“No mistress, we accept no funds,” said the elf in surprise. “We grow our own food in the gardens.”

“I see,” Hermione said. “What is your name?”

“I am called Bugger, mistress,” he bowed. Harry and Draco snickered behind Hermione and she turned to glare at them for their rudeness.

“Well… Bugger,” Hermione said carefully, “I’m happy to announce that I am officially setting all of you free to live your own lives.”

“What!” Draco said behind her.

All of a sudden the wails of all sixty house elves filled the air. Hermione’s eyes opened wide as they threw themselves down on the ground, crying and screaming. Bugger fell to his knees and cried, “Please mistress… please don’t get rid of us. We will work hard, we will do everything you ask. Please… please… please…”

Hermione began to shake with panic. What was she to do? She turned and looked in distress at Harry and Draco only to find them repressing smiles behind her back.

She put out her hands and said loudly, “Just calm down, please… please stop crying.”

Immediately the elves fell quiet and waited for her next words, terrified looks on their faces. “All right, I get that you don’t want to leave,” Hermione took a deep breath and sighed, thinking about what to do. “If you want to continue on here then I insist that you allow me to pay you wages,” she decided. Again the wails and cries filled the air.

She smacked her hand onto her forehead, completely at a loss for what to say. Owning house elves was completely against all she believed in. She turned to Draco and Harry and asked, “What should I do?”

Draco took her hand and led her away from the loud wails so that he could speak to her and Harry followed behind. He turned to face her and said, “Love, you need to understand something about house elves. They need to serve a master, it’s part of who they are.”

“Why can’t they live in their own families and serve each other?” Hermione asked.

“Because no one would want to be the master,” Draco replied. “They all want to serve and they all want someone to tell them what they should do.”

“It seems wrong to me, Draco,” Hermione said. “Everyone should get paid for working.”

Draco sighed and tried another approach. “Look, love, just think of it this way. They consider themselves part of the family that they work for. Now, if your mother did something for you, you wouldn’t be expected to pay her for it would you? By insisting on paying them you are basically saying that they are mere employees and not part of the Marlston family.”

“Oh dear,” Hermione fretted. “I understand what you’re saying, but I still don’t like the idea of slavery.”

“It’s not slavery,” Draco said. “They’re getting a home, aren’t they? It’s up to you how well to treat them, but don’t insult them by giving them wages.”

Hermione sighed and turned around. Striding back to where Bugger lay weeping she said, “All right, please… stop crying everyone.” Immediately the elves stopped crying and looked at Hermione expectantly again. She felt like a bad mother, giving in to a child’s tantrum when she said, “You can continue as you have been. But I insist that anytime any of you feels the need to request something from me, then I want you to feel free to do so. None of you will live in any sort of squalor.” She remembered how Kreacher had lived in Sirius’ house and she intended to make sure that her elves were well provided for with all the comforts.

The elves now stood again in their row and smiled happily at her. “Thank you, mistress,” Bugger bowed again. “You will not regret your decision. We will serve you well.”

“You seem large for a house elf,” Draco commented.

“I am half goblin, sir,” Bugger replied. “The old mistress acquired me to keep all the others in line.”

“Oh, I see,” Draco said. He wasn’t sure what effect the goblin side of Bugger might have when it came to house elf duties.

“Will you show us around… Bugger?” Hermione asked.

“Oh yes, mistress,” Bugger beamed. “I would be most happy to do so.” Bugger clapped and almost all the house elves ran into the house with three remaining behind to take care of the luggage.

The front door flew open on its own and the elves scurried in, quickly disappearing from sight before the trio walked in. “You won’t have to see the others much anymore, mistress. They’ll get their work done quietly so you won’t be disturbed. If you have a special request, you just tell me and I’ll make sure it gets done,” Bugger explained.

They hardly heard him, however, as they stood gazing around the enormous foyer. A grand sweeping staircase sat in the middle of the room, statues gracing each side of it. Harry leaned over to her ear and said, “Aren’t you glad you don’t have to clean the ‘house’ on your own?”

Hermione ignored him as she said, “Bugger, why would I need this key if you are all here? We went to quite a bit of trouble to get this.” She held out the key that they had retrieved from Gringotts at great peril.

“That key’s for apparating here, mistress,” Bugger explained. “No one can do it without that key.”

“Well I suppose it won’t help me yet anyway. We haven’t learned apparition yet,” Hermione sighed.

They spent the rest of the morning and afternoon touring the enormous halls and rooms of Marlston, taking a break only for an elaborate lunch set for them in the dining room. At one point in the day, Bugger led them into a children’s nursery filled with stuffed animals and baby toys. Along one side was a fancifully carved bassinet. “This was your room, mistress,” Bugger announced.

Hermione walked slowly in, looking about for something that could spark a memory. She was not even a year old when she was hidden away from the war, too young to remember anything. Again she was struck with how normal it looked. She had imagined Marlston would be a creepy, haunted old mansion and not this immaculate and beautiful place.

She clasped onto the bassinet, looking thoughtfully around. Harry came up behind her and put his arms about her waist, hugging her to him. “You all right?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she said. “This doesn’t look like a room of a child that wasn’t wanted, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t,” Harry said, kissing her cheek.

“Bugger? Why are there no pictures of my parents anywhere?” she asked.

“The old mistress and master didn’t care for photographs taken of themselves,” Bugger said after a little hesitation. “There might be some paintings of them somewhere.”

“Might be?” Hermione asked.

Bugger only nodded and changed the subject. “Would you like to see the room we’ve fixed up for you and the young masters now?”

“The room?” Hermione grinned. “You knew that we wanted to stay together?”

“They told us everything, mistress,” Bugger replied.

“They? You mean Those That Dwell Below?” Draco asked.

“Yes sir,” Bugger answered.

Harry, Hermione and Draco looked at each other, not sure what to think about that. “They spoke to you? What exactly are they?” Hermione asked, thinking perhaps Bugger might know more than the villagers.

“I don’t know what they are, mistress,” Bugger answered, to her disappointment. “They don’t speak to me with a voice. They say things in my head.”

“Oh,” Hermione sighed. She found she was very fatigued from the long tour and she said, “I think we are ready to rest.”

Bugger smiled. “Very well, mistress. Follow me.”

They followed him down the long hall and across another sitting room until they reached a pair of large doors. Waving open the doors, Bugger lead them into a large, opulent bedroom with a bed that could have fit a dozen people. It also contained a large sitting area and a connected bathroom with a large sunken bath in the center. Beyond the room with the bath was a large shower room that had a maze of spigots aimed in different directions and large benches with waterproof pillows strewn about. They lifted their eyebrows and looked at each other suggestively.

“I think this will do. Leave us now,” Draco said.

“Yes, sir,” Bugger said, bowing himself out. He snapped his fingers and disappeared from sight.

As soon as Bugger was gone they began pulling off their clothing in excitement, each anxious to try out the magnificent shower room. As soon as they stepped in, the water began shooting out in all directions, making them yelp at the coldness. “It’s too cold!” Hermione said. Then, as if the room heard her, the water became increasingly warmer until Draco said, “Now it’s too hot.” The water then became cooler until Hermione said, “That’s perfect.”

They laughed and leapt through all the various showers, finding ones that felt just right. Some spigots were also midway up the wall and some shot up from the floor. Hermione leaned against the cool tiles of one wall while a floor spigot streamed water upwards, hitting her clit in the most delicious way. “Mmmm… I think I’ll just stay here awhile,” she smiled seductively, rolling her head back and rotating her hips slightly.

Draco walked over to her and kissed her, running his hands over her wet breasts. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have one aimed right at your asshole and one into your pussy too?” he said. Suddenly two more jets shot out and aimed right at the spots he mentioned. Hermione jumped in surprise and then laughed as she repositioned herself over the three jets.

“Hey, Harry, did you see that?” Draco called over his shoulder. Harry came over from an area he was enjoying on his back and watched as Draco backed away from Hermione and said, “Nipples.” Two more water jets shot at Hermione nipples and she gasped and laughed in delight.

Then Draco got a mischievous smile and said, “Harry’s cock.” A jet shot at Harry and Harry leapt out of the way at the shock of it.

“Fucker,” Harry laughed. Then Harry said, “Draco’s cock!” A spigot aimed at Draco’s cock and he laughed.

Meanwhile, Hermione was enjoying her spigots very much as she watch the boys play. She moaned and moved her hands over her stomach.

Then Draco yelled, “Harry’s asshole and follow him around.”

A spigot aimed at Harry’s ass and he couldn’t get away from it no matter where he went. They both were laughing hysterically at this point and Harry barely could say, “Draco’s balls and follow him around.” A spigot began to shoot at Draco’s balls and he put his hands down to block it only to have another one come at him from a different direction..

Soon the sound of Hermione moaning and panting with her orgasm distracted them from their fun. She looked so sexy, all flushed and breathing hard, water dripping from all her curves that they felt it was time for a bit more serious type of fun.

“Spigots normal,” Draco said. A light rain began to fall on them as they both took Hermione’s hands and led her to a large bench in the middle of the room. Draco sat down first and pulled Hermione down on his lap, cupping her slippery breasts in both his hands and licking the water from her neck. Hermione moaned and laid her head back onto his shoulder. He lifted her slightly and slid his cock into her hot wet pussy, groaning against her neck at its tight grasp.

Harry leaned forward and kissed Draco and then Hermione before he knelt down between their open legs. Hermione’s legs were flung wide open over Draco’s and Harry had a perfect view of her glistening clit as Draco’s cock pumped in and out of her. He bent down and began tonguing her folds with long strokes, sucking the sensitive skin into his hot mouth. He grasped Draco’s balls and stroked them while he sucked her, lowering his mouth at times to take Draco’s testicles into his mouth and tongue him. Draco and Hermione groaned loudly as Harry used his mouth alternately on them.

Hermione came first with a shudder. Draco lifted her off of him, still hard as a rock and turned her face down onto the bench where Harry entered her from behind with a long slam of his cock. “Harder Harry,” she screamed and his wet body slapped against hers. He only slowed for a moment so that Draco could stick his cock in his ass. Then they built a pleasurable rhythm which continued for quite awhile until their bodies exploded in pleasure and exhaustion.

After they dried off, they laid on the bed in sleepy satisfaction. “This place isn’t bad,” Draco commented.

“So far, so good,” Hermione said. “But I have a feeling there’s a lot we haven’t seen yet.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lucius strode into the library at Malfoy Manor, tossing his Death Eater robes to the waiting house elf. He went straight to his liquor cabinet and poured a full glass of whiskey, his hand shaking badly and spilling some over the sides.

“Had a rough night?” a female voice asked, startling Lucius and making him spill even more as he turned quickly around. He did not know that his wife had been in the room, sitting quietly on the chaise.

Narcissa lived in constant fear these days as she watched the slow destruction of her family. Worry for Draco had caused her to withdraw from her husband and her friends. She was growing thin and pale, lines of tension never seeming to disappear from her face.

“Five aurors, Narcissa, waiting for me,” Lucius fumed, gulping down his whiskey and pouring another glass. “I barely escaped.”

“And the others that were with you?” she asked slowly, as if not really caring if he answered or not.

Lucius gave a snort of contempt. “There were no others. He sent me alone.”

“Didn’t he say before that none of you were ever to go alone, that you must have at least one other with you?” she asked with the same stoic voice.

Lucius didn’t answer her as he stood looking at the fire, the only light in the room. Only his hand gave the answer away as the whiskey sloshed over the rim with a jerk.

There were many moments of silence and then she said plainly, “He is sacrificing you.”

Lucius turned a vicious face towards her, throwing his crystal glass on the floor. “I am not the only one with a blood traitor for a son!” he snapped. “He has done nothing to the others.”

“Nothing, you say?” Narcissa asked, showing the barest sign of emotion. “Nothing except declare that our children have now joined the ranks of the enemy and as such will be executed as enemies.”

Lucius propped one hand on the mantle and bent his head. “Do not remind me of this,” he hissed.

“What has it all been for, Lucius?” she said. “Without our son, what does any of it matter? If the Dark Lord wins, Draco will die. You fight a war for a man who will destroy our family.”

“Shut up!” Lucius snapped, glaring at her again. “You think I have a choice? Do you?”
Lucius shut his eyes as the Dark Mark began to burn on his arm, summoning him to his master. “He calls for me,” Lucius said.

“Perhaps he is hoping you will not be able to respond,” Narcissa said.

Lucius glared at her before he apparated to the manse of the Dark Lord.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A/N I got a big kick out of imagining Hermione’s reaction when she found out that she owned all those house elves! I knew I had to put that in there.

Also, isn’t Lucius more interesting OUT of Azkaban? He’s also a character that I’m planning to use much more.

Everything seems so wonderful at Marlston, doesn’t it? Or did you pick up on any strange clues? You’ll soon see how Marlston begins to affect our trio. And remember that Snape is due to arrive next week. I wonder what condition they will be in by then. Hmmmmm

Please send my any of your thoughts or reactions. I LOVE hearing from you!