What a Witch Needs

Hi everyone! Thanks for all your terrific reviews on the last chapter! As you can tell, the three of them are starting to accept things that they normally wouldn’t have before. This is one of the effects of being at Marlston and this increasing with time. Hermione is probably the most resistant right now but her barriers will soon be broken down when she makes an important discovery in an upcoming chapter.

Someone mentioned that Draco seems too soft right now. I just wanted to say that he is only this way in his relationship with Harry and Hermione. He is in love, after all, and for the first time feels that those two truly love and care for him, something he has been craving all his life. He doesn’t want to mess that up. It’s with some of his comments that you see his true nature come out around them. His encouraging of Harry and Hermione to behave more like Dark Wizards also shows that he is still very much a Malfoy. You’ll find some more of his crueler aspects when he deals with other people in future chapters.

I’ve also had some requests for a dominant Hermione. You will see some of that come out while she stays at Marlston, but on the whole the dynamics just don’t mesh for her to remain that way. In a relationship with two guys and one female, there is too much male sexual energy to have the female be the dominant one. It turns the guys into pussies and for most of us that’s a turn off.

Well, enough of my rambling! LOL Here we go:


*This chapter was beta’d by gardengirlgarden, Narcissa Black, and drama_queen196. Thanks for all your help!

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownership of the Harry Potter Universe.



The Pet

Severus Snape appeared before the grand gates of Malfoy Manor at precisely 7:00 a.m., the time which had been indicated on the note he received by owl yesterday. The snow crunched under his feet as he made his way through the gate and toward the manse.

“Severus,” a voice nearby called out, stopping him in his tracks. He looked to the side and saw Lucius Malfoy sitting on a bench within a garden enclosure. Snape made his way over to Lucius and sat down as the blonde wizard made an offering motion with his hand. “Thank you for coming,” Lucius stated.

“What is this about?” Snape asked. He could see that Lucius was not himself; his usual haughty air seemed very subdued. Lucius had a lack of confidence about him that Severus had never witnessed before and Snape thought he knew why. Lucius had fallen out of favor with the Dark Lord; he had made too many mistakes, failed too many times. The Dark Lord had even told Severus that Lucius was no longer to be included in the inner circle meetings. This meant that Lucius had become… expendable.

“I needed to ask you a question,” Lucius said, gazing distantly at a leafless tree.

Snape sighed, “You wish to know if Potter is really a Dark Lord?” Snape had been getting asked that question frequently lately as more and more parents stormed Hogwarts for answers.

“I already know the answer to that question, Severus,” Lucius said with a frown. “You think I’m a fool? I felt the boy’s power.”

There was a few moments of silence before Lucius asked, “There is something Draco told me, something I wish to know the truth of.”

“Yes?” Snape asked.

Lucius looked at Severus closely and said, “First, I need to know that what we are about to speak about will never be repeated to anyone again. Can you make me that vow?”

Snape remained quiet, not sure if he could make a vow like that to Lucius.

Then Lucius added, “For the sake of Narcissa, will you vow?” Lucius knew that Snape had always had a soft spot for Narcissa. They were once rivals for her hand.

Snape glanced up at Malfoy Manor, knowing that Narcissa was in there somewhere. “I vow,” he said.

Lucius nodded. After a few moments he asked, “Does Potter have the ability to remove the Dark Mark?”

Snape’s eyes widened slightly. He regretted that he had told that bit of information to Draco and he hoped that Lucius did not know it was he who had done so. This was a very dangerous topic for two Death Eaters to be discussing. Snape looked about and did a quick silencing charm for extra reassurance.

“Why would you ask such a thing?” Snape hissed.

“I told you already,” Lucius explained. “Draco mentioned it. I want to know if it is true.”

“Why?” Snape asked. “What do you want with that kind of information?”

Lucius glared at Snape. “Don’t play ignorant with me, Severus. I know the Dark Lord confides in you. Tell me that he isn’t angry with me and this conversation will end now.”

When Snape remained silent, Lucius nodded and looked away. “I will not lie down and wait for my certain demise,” Lucius said. “I must consider other… options.”

“Why do you choose me, above all others to come to for help?” Severus said crisply. “I serve the very Lord against whom you wish to commit treason!”

“You, Severus, know things. More than you tell the Dark Lord I would wager,” Lucius said, surveying Snape’s face for a reaction.

Snape deliberately kept his face impassive, neither denying nor confirming Lucius’ suspicions.

Then Lucius said, “You know that when they come for me, they’ll come for Narcissa too, don’t you?” Lucius was satisfied to see a small twitch on Snape’s face at this reminder. “As for Draco, they have already placed an order of execution on him if they can get their hands on him. If I’m not mistaken, I do believe you had some admiration for my son in the past.”

Still Snape remained silent.

Lucius added finally, “If you won’t do it for me, at least do it for them. Narcissa has always spoken highly of you.”

Snape looked away from Lucius and sighed. Then he said, “Potter can remove the Mark.”

“You are certain?” Lucius asked, excited to finally be getting some answers. “How do you know this?” Lucius glanced down at Severus’ arm.

Snape glared at the implication and he pulled up his sleeve to show Lucius that his Mark was still there. “I know this, because I have seen it done.”

“Who?” Lucius asked in confusion.

Snape shook his head. “Not by Potter,” he added, “by the Dark Lord himself. It was long ago, when I had just received my Mark.”

“Why haven’t I heard of this? I received my Mark before you did,” Lucius asked.

“You weren’t there that night,” Snape said. “We had been invited to Marlston Manor for the marking ritual. Peter Pettigrew was there along with a few others.”

“Pettigrew?” Lucius said in disgust. He never could stand that rat of a man.

“Yes,” Snape grinned, “Pettigrew was actually a Death Eater for about twenty minutes. We were all marked that night. But then Pettigrew blundered his words during the ritual and the Dark Lord grew very angry with him. He said that Pettigrew was too stupid to be a Death Eater and he did a reverse ritual, removing the mark.”

“You saw it done?” Lucius asked.

Snape looked at him suspiciously. “Yes,” he said, carefully.

“You believe Potter can do it?”

“Potter had all the powers that my Lord has. They were given to him at the time that my Lord was presumed to have died,” Snape answered. If he did not believe that Lucius was genuinely in danger, he would never have admitted this. Voldemort would have both their heads if he knew they were speaking of these matters.

After more moments of silence, Lucius said, “I need to speak to my son. Can you arrange this Severus?”

“After your last meeting with Draco, I do not think he would welcome it,” Snape said, with a sharp look at Lucius.

“Things have changed now,” Lucius said. “I no longer wish to convince him that he’s wrong. And… Narcissa is worried about him and his… safety.”

“Draco is safer than you could imagine,” Snape said sardonically.

“May I see him?” Lucius persisted.

“He’s currently away from Hogwarts,” Snape informed.

“Away? Away where?” Lucius said in surprise. “Is it school policy to send children away from school without parental permission or knowledge for that matter?”

“He was invited to a ‘friend’s’ home for the holidays,” Snape answered. “It’s a perfectly safe place, I assure you.”

“Not with Death Eaters seeking to kill him on sight!” Lucius snapped. “Where is he? Surely not with Potter’s family, Draco wouldn’t spend the holidays with filthy muggles!”

“Careful how you speak of your ‘new’ Lord’s family,” Snape smirked. “Though Potter doesn’t much care for his relatives, he does get highly offended by any slurs against muggles or muggle borns. Pure blood does not impress him.”

Lucius glared at Snape’s smug comment and said, “Just tell me where my son is. I don’t have time to waste waiting. But then you probably know better than I just how much time I may have left.”

“Draco is at Marlston Manor with Lady Marlston and Potter,” Snape said.

“Lady Marlston? The heiress has been found?” Lucius said incredulously.

“Indeed,” Snape smirked. He wondered how Lucius would react when he found out who Lady Marlston really was. “There is no possible means for any one to harm him while he’s there, so Narcissa need not worry.”

Lucius was more pleased at this news than he let on, however. Draco would do well if he could charm the heiress into marriage, assuming that he lived through this war, that is.

“Actually, I’m due to visit Marlston the day after Christmas,” Snape said. “I could pass on a message for you if you wish.”

“I want to come with you,” Lucius decided. “I need to speak to Draco and Potter.”

Snape lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “It will be difficult for you to enter Marlston, Lucius. Even if Draco agrees to speak with you, Potter will be a whole different matter. He will not forgive or forget so easily. If it were not for Dumbledore’s arrangements I doubt that even I would be let in the door.”

“What other choice do I have Severus?” Lucius said. “I’ll do whatever is necessary to prove that I’m sincere. I must try.”

Snape looked at Lucius carefully and said, “They will not trust you, Lucius. If you persist, you will have to take much abuse at their hands before you can gain their trust. Potter is as abusive as his father was. He’ll think it’s great sport to make you suffer.”

“It’s that or death, Severus,” Lucius said sincerely. “I’ve endured my share of pain before. I’m no coward. Take me with you. Give my family this last chance.”

Snape looked at the ground in indecision. Lucius’ choice was making his own even more difficult. If Lucius had Harry remove his Dark Mark, then Harry would wonder why Snape did not do the same. Or should he? Was it the right time? But accept Potter as his Lord? That was asking a bit too much.

Snape sighed and said, “Tell no one where you are going. As for Narcissa, you cannot leave her alone here while we are away. Send her to Hogwarts. She can stay in my quarters while we are in Marlston. She’ll be safe there.”

“Thank you, Severus,” Lucius said with a breath of relief.

“In the meantime, you must secretly set protections on your home and make sure all your assets are secure in a secret location. You will not be able to return home for awhile when the Dark Lord finds out what you have done. You will have to go into hiding,” Snape explained.

“I understand,” Lucius nodded. “Thank you, Severus. We are in your debt.”

“We shall see,” Snape said.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hermione had dressed for the day and prepared to leave her room and meet the boys downstairs. She opened the door and jumped, startled, when she saw Bugger standing there in the hallway.

“Oh, Bugger, you frightened me,” she said with a hand over her heart. He always seemed to be popping up everywhere and it was unnerving at times.

“I’m sorry, Mistress,” Bugger apologized. “This message arrived for you this morning.” He handed her a piece of rolled parchment.

As she took it she asked, “Did you send my note to Dumbledore this morning?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Bugger bowed. “I have been sending them every morning as you requested.”

“Thank you,” Hermione said, as her eyes skimmed the note in her hand. It was from one of the villagers, a Mrs. Phoebe Marsh.

She glanced up at Bugger and said, “Mrs. Marsh says she has a gift for us. She wants to come to the manor and present it personally. Do you know this woman?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Bugger said. “The Marshes are a loyal family, been in the village for generations.”

“Will they be allowed in here?” Hermione asked, not sure whether Those Who Dwell Below would let the villagers enter.

“If you invite them, they will be, Mistress,” Bugger answered. “If they have bad intentions, then they will be brought here in a more… unpleasant manner. No one can hide the truth from Those Who Dwell Below.”

“I see,” Hermione said, thinking over Bugger’s words. “Well, then, write back and tell them they may visit tomorrow.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Bugger bowed.

“Oh, and Bugger?” Hermione added. “Does Marlston have any holiday decorations? Christmas is in three days and it would be pleasant to at least have a tree…”

Bugger’s face lit up and he said, “Yes, Mistress. We do have plenty of decorations. They haven’t been used for a long while. We’ll get right on it, Mistress.”

“Thank you, Bugger,” she smiled. Then she went to join Harry and Draco for breakfast.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next day the carriage pulled up to the front of the manor containing Mrs. Marsh and a younger woman. Draco peered out the window of the main parlor when he heard the carriage pull up and he straightened out his clothing. Looking at Harry slouched in a chair with one leg draped over the arm of it and reading a book he said, “Harry, it wouldn’t hurt you to look a little more dignified in front of people. Didn’t you bring anything besides jeans and this?” Draco plucked at the sleeve of Harry’s T-shirt in distaste.

“No,” Harry said, still absorbed in his book.

“You’re a Lord, Harry,” Draco said. He put a hand in Harry’s hair and tried to adjust it. “I think we need to do something about this scruffy look you have going.”

Harry pushed Draco’s hand away from his hair, “Stop trying to make me look gay.”

Draco glared at him and snapped, “Are you saying that ‘I’ look gay?”

“I didn’t say that,” Harry mumbled. “But if the shoe fits…”

“Asshole,” Draco grumped. “Just because ‘I’ take some pride in my appearance, doesn’t mean…”

“Cut it out, you two,” Hermione interrupted as she walked through the room. “The Marshes are here.”

Harry sat up straight and crossed his legs, making effeminate gestures with his hands.

“Prick,” Draco grinned.

“Harry, stop it,” Hermione hissed at him when she heard Bugger approaching with the two women behind him. Harry returned to normal as soon as they came into view, putting on his brooding Dark Lord face.

Bugger stood to one side of the door and announced, “Mrs. Phoebe Marsh and her daughter, Trina Marsh.”

The two women stood side by side and bowed to them. Then Mrs. Marsh said, “My Lady, my Lords, thank you for inviting us here. I hope you’ll enjoy the gift I have brought for you.” She looked at her daughter and the girl opened her cloak and let it fall to the ground, revealing a skimpy, black, fur lined thong with a matching fur bra.

The three of them looked at Trina in shock, wondering just what kind of gift Mrs. Marsh was offering. Draco looked at the pretty young woman with jet black hair. She appeared to be about nineteen or twenty years of age and she definitely was the type that filled your mind with all sorts of dirty thoughts.

When Hermione found her voice again, she said, “Won’t you please sit down?” Hermione had no idea what to make of this. It seemed as though she was offering her daughter as a ‘gift.’ That just couldn’t be true, could it?

Unlike the boys, Hermione tried to avoid looking at the ‘assets’ Trina was displaying as she sat to speak to Mrs. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh, however, seemed a bit disappointed about something.

“Well, you’re our first visitor, Mrs. Marsh,” Hermione said, trying to make small talk. “What is it you do?”

“I’m a seamstress, my Lady,” Mrs. Marsh said. She looked at her daughter and then back to Hermione with a worried frown. “She doesn’t please you, my Lady?”

Hermione opened to her mouth to speak, but nothing seemed to come out. She blushed and laughed nervously when she finally said, “I don’t understand what this is about…”

When she glanced at the boys, she could tell they were enjoying her discomfort greatly and she wanted to smack those silly grins clean off their faces.

“Oh,” Mrs. Marsh exclaimed. “You don’t know, do you? Pardon me, my Lady. I just assumed that you would know of Marlston’s traditions. I forgot how you’ve been away and all.”

“Traditions?” Hermione asked nervously.

“Members of all the old families in the village have served as Marlston pets at one time in their lives,” Mrs. Marsh explained.

Hermione opened her eyes wide and said, “Pets? Villagers were kept as pets?”

“Yes, my Lady,” Mrs. Marsh smiled. “It’s a great honor. Why your parents kept many ‘pets’ around for their pleasure.”

Hermione sat staring at Mrs. Marsh in horror. Harry and Draco were giving each other amused grins.

“An honor?” Hermione said slowly.

Bugger could tell what Hermione was thinking and he said, “Forgive me for interrupting, Mistress, but the pets were always treated well. They were pampered, you might say.”

Then Mrs. Marsh said, “Oh yes, we were. I was once a pet, in my younger years of course. After we served for awhile, we would be sent home with bags of gold and other rewards and honors for our families. We were never mistreated.”

“Well, that sounds like a very good deal to me,” Draco said from his side of the room. Hermione turned to glare at him.

“We really can’t accept, Mrs. Marsh,” Hermione said. Both of the women looked hurt at her rejection. “You see, we are returning to school when the holidays are over…”

“You can keep Trina until you leave,” Mrs. Marsh suggested. When Hermione still looked confused, Mrs. Marsh said, “Please, my Lady. Let Trina stay. We’ll lose a lot of status in the village if you send her home now. She’ll have a hard time finding a husband later if she’s labeled a reject.”

Hermione sighed, “Oh dear.”

“We can’t do that to poor Trina can we, love?” Draco said.

Hermione looked at Bugger and made her decision. “Bugger, please take Trina to a room. She’ll be our guest for awhile.”

“Oh no, my Lady,” Mrs. Marsh said in horror. “Pets don’t have their own room. They stay on the pet beds.”

Hermione looked at Bugger in question. Bugger clapped his hands a large, round, cushioned pet bed appeared in the corner of the parlor. Trina got on her hands and knees and crawled seductively to the pet bed with everyone observing the line of fur that concealed the ass crack on her thong.

“You don’t have to worry about a thing, Mistress,” Bugger said. “I’m in charge of feeding her and I’ll see to it that she bathes as well.”

Hermione felt as if Marlston was turning into a mad house as she watched Trina curl up in the pet bed and purr, “Meow.”

“She wants to be called Kitty, my Lady,” Mrs. Marsh grinned. “She always had a thing for cats.”

“I’m quite fond of pussies myself,” Draco said. Harry grinned and nodded in agreement.

Mrs. Marsh stood up and bowed to them once again. “Well, I’ll leave you in peace to enjoy your new pet,” she said. “I must get back to my shop in the village. Farewell, my Lady and my Lords.”

She left the room with Bugger who would show her the way back to the carriage. Hermione looked at Harry and Draco and said, “I don’t believe this! That woman just gave us her daughter to… to…”

Draco walked over to her and put his arm about her, “Oh come, love, it’ll be fun.”

She wiggled out of his arms and glared at him, “Tired of me already? What? Two people are not enough for you?” She looked at Harry and said, “Harry, help me out here!”

Harry only shrugged in his chair and said, “It doesn’t bother me. She’s your pet, Hermione. I’m not planning to touch her.”

When Hermione looked at Draco, Draco said, “I won’t touch her either, love. She’s for you.”

Hermione turned red and said, “What?”

“Don’t you see,” Draco explained, “this is the perfect opportunity for you to experiment. She’s willing and she’s temporary. It would be more difficult to play around with another girl at school without her expecting some sort of relationship with you. Not many girls want to be used only for sex. This way there’d be no complications or hurt feelings.”

“Who says I want to experiment in the first place?” Hermione said. “Harry, you weren’t very keen about this suggestion before.”

“If it bothered me, I’d feel it,” Harry said. “So far, it’s not bothering me. Maybe it would if something actually happened, I don’t know. There’s no way for me to know until something happens.”

Draco put his arms around Hermione from behind and kissed her neck while turning her to face Kitty. “She’s hot, isn’t she?” he whispered in her ear.

“Draco, please,” she sighed. “Don’t push.”

“Besides,” he whispered, “we don’t have to touch her to have fun.” He lifted his face from her neck and looked at the ‘pet.’ “Kitty?”

Kitty sat up on her pet bed and looked at them expectantly.

“Remove your top and show Lady Marlston how pretty you are,” Draco said with a sexy voice.

Hermione’s breath caught in her throat as Kitty smiled seductively at her and reached behind her back, unclasping her furry bra. The straps fell down her arms as the bra came off. Kitty now sat purring and gliding her hands over her stomach and breasts, teasing her own nipples with her fingers.

Hermione was speechless. This felt so strange, yet deep in the pit of her stomach a strange excitement was building as well. Draco wasn’t making it any easier as he was kissing and licking her neck and running his hands over her breasts and stomach.

“What do you think of Lady Marlston, Kitty?” Draco rasped, grinding his erection against Hermione’s rear.

Kitty purred and smiled an I-want-to-fuck-you smile at Hermione. “Meeee-oooow,” she said in emphasis. Hermione began breathing harder as Draco’s hand move down to the junction between her legs and began rubbing her through her clothing.

“What would you like to do to her, Kitty?” Draco asked.

Kitty took her hand and began licking it seductively. She spread two fingers apart and flicked her tongue at the junction. Hermione threw her head back on Draco’s shoulder and moaned as he continued rubbing her clit and grinding his erection onto her ass.

“Mmmm, yes, Kitty,” Draco rasped against Hermione’s throat. “I like doing that too. She tastes so good.”

“Fuck,” Harry said from his chair. He was rock hard at watching all this. He put his hand on his bulge and tried to rub himself through his jeans.

Then Hermione broke out of his arms and stepped away, closing her eyes and trying to get her wits back. Draco was looking at her in surprise. “Hermione?” he said.

“I… I think lunch is ready. Yes, I can smell it,” she babbled nervously. “I’m starved.” She hurried out of the room and Kitty sighed in disappointment.

“Shit!” Draco exclaimed, trying to get his own arousal under control. “I pushed too hard, didn’t I?” he asked Harry.

“Seems so,” Harry said as he stood and clapped Draco on the back. “But you also got her a bit turned on too. Let her decide next time. Come on, let’s go to lunch.”

“Yeah, all right,” Draco said in disappointment. He glanced at Kitty and said, “Sorry, maybe later.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A/N Not as much sex as the last time, I know. But I needed to move the plot along. Perhaps you can see some of the twisted delights ahead now that Kitty is there and Lucius and Snape will soon be there. What fun we can have!

As you can tell, we are heading for some femslash as well. So just close your eyes if you don’t like that. LOL

As usual, please let me hear from you. I do pay attention to your comments and I try to incorporate some of your wishes when it fits into the plot. So make some noise!