Night's visitor

Night’s Visitor
Chapter 7
Unknown Freedom

Disclaimer: I would if I could, but I can’t so I don’t! Life’s so unfair!!

Thank YOU for your wonderful reviews! They make me so happy!!! *Squealing of happiness* They also really help to wake me up when I’m in a no-writing-for-too-long coma, really they do- even if it doesn’t show ‘‘^^’’’

I have realized – finally - that this story probably is an AU, but I didn’t plan it to be… and tragically enough my characters seem to come out as very OOC …. I’m a failure!!! I hope you can read it anyway, because there won’t be any improvement even now that I am aware of my mistakes. Changing the characters’ personalities - would be weird, and changing the world - is not going to happen…. That would change the story, and then there wouldn’t be any story left.

There will be more people from the HP world in this chapter. I thank myself for that. A story with only Hermione and Draco would be booooring!

Chapter 7
Unknown Freedom

Hermione was furious. Her breath came out in angry huffs, her body was tense and she stomped down with her feet so hard that the sound echoed down the corridor loudly, even barefoot as she was. She was boiling with rage. That insufferable idiot! He was just like Pansy - she should’ve known! All rich were the same!

She didn’t hear him following her so she guessed that either he had decided to give up on her, or he had actually been shocked enough by her outburst that he hadn’t regained his bearings yet.

“Idiot! Stupid! Idiot” Hermione growled.

She had no idea were to find an exit, but because of that it was easier for her to continue on mindlessly. She turned left, when such an option appeared, just because she felt like it. The new corridor was just as long and grand as the previous. Velvet tapestries, smaller chandeliers hung from the ceiling, big portraits and paintings were lined up on the walls and here and there were mirrors, or statues, or flower arrangements…

It was almost like a museum, or an exhibition of expensive decorations, and not a place were people lived.

“Maybe they don’t live here, I have never seen such luxuries in a “home” before.”

Against her will, Hermione felt her temper cool down with each step. Her brain’s natural curiosity was slowly pushing itself before her anger and instead of cursing at Blondy; she was starting to take in these new surroundings.

This house must belong to a family even wealthier than the Parkinson. From gossip and experience, Hermione had some knowledge, about the noble families of the town, and the Parkinson had been one of the most influential and rich in the bunch. This family though, was the rich among the rich…

“How odd that Blondy comes from such a family, while I don’t even have one any more. He really should pick someone from his own class. Then he and she could amuse themselves with discussing the worthlessness of “simpletons”… and laugh at people who live in something smaller than a castle.”

Reality was catching up on her again. The adrenaline was starting to ebb and her legs began to shake. She had to take deep breaths of air from the exertion. Casting a longing glance down the hall in the direction that she had been walking, she reluctantly stopped.

“Who am I kidding?” She sighed and closed her eyes tiredly. “I wont be able to get away like this. Like Blondy said; the whole house will be full of people, ready to bring me back to their master, as soon as they lay their eyes on me. I can barely stand up, much less find a safe, unguarded exit.”

Suddenly she heard a male’s voice shout to her from behind.

“Who is miss? What is miss’ business here?”

She whirled around to see a servant staring at her suspiciously some meters back… coming from the wall it seemed, as there was no door there. He was bald, had black and green servants clothes and carried a pile of ironed linen.

“Miss must answer!” The man demanded. Then he furrowed his brow as in deep concentration and took a good look at her dress.

“Miss is that Miss, isn’t she? The one that young master brought here! The one who run away!” He frowned at her. “And now you is running away again. No, no miss. Master would be very angry at me if I let young miss go.”

Hermione stood still as the man stomped towards her and felt like she was shrinking the closer he came. Now she was going to be brought back to Blondy, probably to have him screaming at her for a while and spit out more stupid prejudiced idiocy…

She wasn’t ready for that, she felt. The man reached out for her, but she decided that there was no harm in trying the fleeing thing a little bit more - and dodged.

“No!” The man exclaimed surprised and dismayed. “Come back here, miss! Miss is going to be in more trouble!” The servant called after her. But for some reason he didn’t try and run after her.

“Maybe he has a bad leg or something” Hermione thought distracted.

Many servants did get worn out pretty fast, from doing hard work too often or under bad circumstances. Had Hermione continued at Pansy’s for much longer, she was sure she would also be feeling pains. Especially since Pansy had loved to give Hermione the hardest chores.
She got to the end of the hall and there turned right.

Then she collapsed on the floor.

“Stupid, stupid legs!” She exclaimed. “Work - or I’ll never use you again!”

Of course - her legs didn’t hear, nor obey, her and there she lay; she sprawled on her back with her legs bend in different awkward directions. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and scooted over to the wall, which she rested her back against. She sighed wistfully.

“What a day.”

A moment later, she could her the sound of someone running frantically down the same hall that she had come from. Then Blondy came crashing out right beside her - hair and clothes billowing behind him – almost running straight into the opposite wall in his haste. He gained his footing and started down this new hall, completely missing the fact that she was sitting there, a bare metre from him.

Hermione, smiling sarcastically, let herself enjoy the malicious delight of seeing him running top speed in the wrong direction.

“And this is the one I’m supposed to be the mate of…” she mumbled and then took a resigned breath.

“You know – I don’t think you are going to find anything over there!” She called after him.

Stopping abruptly, Blondy spun around. His eyes widened when he saw her on the ground. He quickly straightened his posture before walking coolly back.

“You gave up already then?” He asked, clearly annoyed. Blondy places himself right before her and looked down on her with crossed arms. His breathing was a little brief due to the running, but otherwise he had calmed himself completely.

“Why do you sit on the floor?”

Hermione glared at him. “Because my legs won’t work.”

Blondy looked at her, contemplating on offering his hand, but decided not to. Instead he sighed and sat down next to her, his back also against the wall.

There they sat, without speaking a single word to each other. Hermione didn’t have anything to say to her abductor, and Blondy had too much to say, but realized that saying anything would piss his intended mate off more.

They sat, and sat some more. About half an hour had passed, by the time the servant from before happened to come across them, on his way to another chore of his. He stopped in surprise, then did a deep bow to Blondy. His eyes flickered over Hermione, and he cleared his throat nervously.

“Has something happened to young master and miss?” He looked imploringly at their feet. Blondy sighed deeply, and shook his head.

“No. We are fine just were we are. Leave us.”

The servant hastily nodded obediently and backed off as fast as he could without tripping.

Due to the servant’s interruption, Hermione had awoken from her deep thoughts. Her legs felt fine now, so she was ready to argue some more, or at least flee again.

“You didn’t have to tell him off so rudely. He was just concerned, about you.”

Blondy whipped his head around to face her. “You are finally going to speak to me?” He asked.

Hermione growled quietly, then forced herself to relax. “Don’t push it! I am going to tell you what I want. You are going to listen, and let me do what I want.” This she said looking him straight into his eyes. He stared suspiciously back at her, already knowing that whatever it was, he wasn’t going to like it.

Hermione took a deep breath and began her rant. “I want to be let out of here. Since you took me from my place of work, which also happened to be the place where I live-d, I have to find a new one. And for once in my life - I am going to make my own decisions. You will not interfere in my new life - and you will leave me alone!”

Blondy was quiet for a while, then he shook his head, quite coldly. “That is not possible. I told you; you are MY mate. To not see you again, would literally be torture for me. We might not like each other, but I need to see you and quite often at that, if you won't be living here. Preferably once a day. At the least once or twice every week, and that is pushing it.”

Spluttering Hermione shook her head. “NO! I want to be free! I will not let another rule my life again!” Panic was starting to creep in. At first in this new place, realizing that she could never return, as Pansy would punish her to death for this, she had been afraid and angry. Being a maid was all she knew, all she had ever done, what was she supposed to do now, owning nothing and having no plan for the future?

Then the relief had set in. She was free from Pansy! She could finally get the life she had dreamt of, maybe even going to school- if she found a work and began saving for the school fee! She could earn money, buy things, get her own real home! And she was free! Really free!

Now it looked like invisible walls were closing in on her, capturing her once again within someone else’s will, and she wasn’t able to get out.

“You want your freedom that much? Even enough to kill me?” Blondy said. Neither his voice nor his face betrayed any emotion.

Hermione froze.

Did she?

Did she want her own forever-desired freedom that much?
Enough to kill Blondy… the stranger sitting there, in front of her? She wilted, closing her eyes sadly.

No she didn’t.

She could never forgive herself if she did such a selfish thing.

“No. I don’t.” She whispered.

Blondy relaxed. “Thank you, for that.” He said and she met his eyes. He really was grateful, she could see it in his eyes, but she doubted that he would have let her go, had she said she didn’t care. He looked like the type of person, who would have locked her up in a room somewhere for the rest of her life if it suited him.

And still she cared more for his life than her own freedom.

Blondy frowned. “Don’t look so depressed, it doesn’t suit your complexion. I understand that you want your freedom - everyone wants to be free. If it makes you feel better - very few are truly free in this world.”

The glare Hermione sent him, spoke of what she felt about that sort of consolation, so Blondy shut his mouth.

It took a moment for him to dare to speak again. “What I mean is; I will let you go - as long as I can see you enough every week, to not feel immense pain or go crazy. Can you agree to that?”

Hermione pursed her lips together and then started chewing on her bottom lip. “… …” Sighing.

“Yes, I can.”

Blondy nodded. “Then we will have to decide, on a meeting place and when to meet. Apart from that… would you accept finishing your breakfast, and maybe freshen up before you leave? I am not offering this to trick you, but I think you will feel more comfortable about starting your new life, if you’re not starving or stinking on your first day.”

It was so sensible, that Hermione could only nod. Blondy stood up and offered her his hand- she only shook her head – and he calmly retracted it, with a quirk on his lips. He was relieved enough, that they had come to an agreement, that he wasn’t insulted by her refusal.

She stood up on her own and together they walked back into the hallway leading to his room.
They door had been left open, and she could see the tray with food on the bed. The tea was probably cold by now, but it would taste good anyway. She crawled up on the bed, careful not to tip the tray, and started eating. Blondy let her be this time. He also let her finish eating before talking.

Ten minutes later the food was gone and Hermione was gulping down the last of the tea.

“Do you want to use the bathroom now or after we have talked?” Blondy asked. Hermione took a careful sniff and a glance at herself, and choose not to wait.

“I’ll go now, I think.”

Blondy nodded and pointed to the door. “That is the door to my private bathroom. Towels, shampoo and such are all in there. If you put your clothes outside the door, I can have a servant wash and dry them so that you have something clean to go in.”

Hermione tilted her head, doubtful. “How could they have them dry before I go?”

“Remember that veelas are not ordinary people, we and the people around us have a couple tricks to use. Your clothes will be dry before you go, if you want them to. Or I could have my servants find you new sets of clothes. You will need a change of clothes sooner or later.”

Hermione frowned “…I don’t know…”

“I only want to make sure you will be OK. It wouldn’t benefit me if you had to spend your first earned money on clothes and have to starve until the next pay.”

She blinked. She would need new clothes, since everything she owned was back in her room at Pansy’s place. “OK.”

She turned and walked inside the bathroom, where she undressed, folded her clothes and, after covering herself carefully with a big white towel, dumped her clothes outside the room. The bathroom was huge, like Pansy’s had been. But here the interior went all in silver, green and dark blue.

She decided to use the shower for cleaning, and then take a shorter relaxing bath in the beautiful bathtub. It had been years since she had experienced the luxury, therefore she wouldn’t let the opportunity slip pass her now.

Being the practical girl she was, she still stepped out of the tub thirty minutes later. Blondy had put the new clothes, along with her old ones outside the door, and when she lifted the pile she found a pair of black shoes underneath.

The new clothes were two simple, but very nice looking dresses, one lilac colored, with small flowers embroidered around the neck, and a green one, both were such an improvement from her old maids dress that she felt a bit uncomfortable trying them on. Folded inside the clothes she found socks and matching undergarments and her whole face lit up in embarrassment, when she discovered that they fit her perfectly.

She put on the green dress and her new shoes, then opened the door and met Blondy on the other side. He didn’t comment on her delay, just pointed at the bed, where she sat down and so they began discussing where and how often they would meet.

“I have to help father with business during the day, so I’d prefer if it was in the evening” Blondy said. Hermione agreed.

“As soon as I find a job I will also be occupied during the day, so that would be ok, only - not too late. I don’t like the thought of wandering around alone late at night.”

Blondy nodded. “No, that would be unsafe. I suggest at six pm. It would give us a time margin for you to go home safe, even if a meeting would take more time than estimated.” Hermione agreed again.

“How often do you want to meet me?”

Blondy didn’t answer, but kept silent and looked carefully at her. Slowly he spoke his wish.

“EVERY DAY?” Hermione exploded, that was way too much. She could stand meeting him now and then, but Every DAY?

Blondy sighed.. “I don’t know how I will react to not meeting you more than once every day. I just found you, letting you go is going to… well I don’t know what yet, but it should cause a reaction in me. It’s just in the beginning, like the first month or so. If I find that the affect is little, or none. Then we can meet more seldom.” He explained, and for the first time Hermione saw Blondy looking truly embarrassed, he clearly didn’t like having this weakness for her. Well, neither did she.

“Every day is too much.” Hermione said resolutely. “Every other day, that I can agree to, starting tomorrow. Not every day. If we find that you get in trouble because of it, then we can see each other more, but not now.”

Blondy looked like he wanted to protest, but then only nodded. He wasn’t going to push it more - while used to getting his way - he was a complete beginner at the workings of being a veela - and he wouldn’t risk anything with pushing her too far, yet.

“Where do you want to meet?” She asked.

“You should know the city fairly well?” He asked. She nodded.

“Then by the fountain, on the small square behind Rose Street. There we will be undisturbed, since it is quite secluded and rarely used.” Rose Street was a street a bit off from the center of town and away from the larger shopping streets. It had a few flowers shops; hence the name, and one café, but most of its buildings accommodated family homes.

Hermione could agree to this too. With that they were finished. Blondy glanced at the pile of clothes, laying by Hermione’s side and bent down to pick something up from the floor. It was a leather bag, with buckles on the front to keep its content safely inside.

“Take this for your possessions.” He gave it to her. “I have told my servants to prepare food, for you to take with you.” Hesitantly she nodded. This was beginning to be a little too much.

Sure, she needed everything he could offer her, but her pride and trust towards him was telling her that it was enough. She would take care of herself, as an independent person, and she was starting to feel that he gave her all this, to make her feel obliged to listen to him.

The door opened and in came the same servant from before, the bald one. He carried a tray on which a paper bag and a bottle stood. The servant bowed deeply to Blondy again then walked over to Hermione and made a smaller bow, as he held out the things to her.

“Here miss. There’s food in the bag and juice in the bottle. Me hopes miss will like it.” Hermione took the things with a nod of thanks and put it, along with her clothes, inside the leather bag.

“I want to go now,” she proclaimed. Blondy silently stood up and she followed him. They walked out of the room and began walking down the now familiar corridor. After many left and right turns, a three to four stairs going down, they were standing in front of two big doors. It was too small to be the main entrance of the house, but she guessed this was were everyone beside the masters of the house came in and out.

“When you get outside, you will be at the end of Serpent street, if you follow the street all the way back you will find yourself in the west side of town. It shouldn’t be to hard for you to find your way from there.”

Hermione nodded, took a step towards the door, but then stopped and turned quickly to face Blondy again. “I just realized, that I don’t know your name.”

“If you give me yours; I will give you mine.”

“Still the cocky bastard”, Hermione thought, with a frown, but she didn’t let herself be upset.
She was just seconds away from being free, for the first time in her life, after all.

“Hermione Granger,” she said.

“Draco Malfoy,“ he answered with a slight nod.

Hermione was getting sick of him and decided, for the good of both of them, to leave now. She turned and went over and opened the doors. The street on the other side was empty, no benches, no flowers, no people, not even windows on the walls flanking the street. From the bright sky she deduced that it was maybe an hour after lunch.

A perfect day to start a new life!

Over her shoulder she met Draco’s eyes. “We’ll se each other tomorrow. Bye.”

He nodded. “Good bye. Please do not get yourself killed until we meet again.”

Hermione closed the doors harshly behind her. That annoying man! He had to go and make her angry hadn’t he? Sighing she took off down the street, the leather bag against her back and her new shoes making soft sounds against the cobblestone ground.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

It took twenty minutes, to reach the end of the street and as Blondy – Draco hadn’t earned enough respect to be called by his name- had said; she would easily find her way around.

She had no money, therefore finding a job was quite urgent, but any work wouldn’t do. She didn’t want to work anywhere where Pansy could come across her, or hear about her. If Pansy found her, she would definitely try and ruin everything for Hermione.

She chose a street going to the northern parts of town, the harbor. Pansy hated everything that didn’t smell sweet, and thus - spoilt as she was - fish was rarely served in the Parkinson house. Servants were even told never to go to the harbor, without permission.

“Fish is great.” Hermione thought cheerfully as she trudged on. “I have no experience with it, but I am sure that given time I will love those small, scaly, cold and wet creatures with my whole heart!”

The sun shone on her and everything was great. She reached Fisher Street and the smell of salt water, fish and ships filled her nose and mouth. The sound of sea gulls cut through the air. Fisher Street ended with the huge harbor square… and what a sight it was!

Hundreds of people, who were checking out the different wares the fishermen had caught, filled the square. Talking, laughing and bargaining could be heard form everywhere. It was quite overwhelming. She kept herself on the side, it was interesting but in that chaos she wouldn’t find a job. Fishermen only hired people with experience from the ocean.

While she came to the other side of the square, heading towards a tavern she had noticed in the distance, she heard an odd sound coming from an alley. She stopped and listened carefully, and yes- there it was again. It sounded like arguing, between a woman and what sounded like several men, but it was the intensity in their voices that had caught her attention.

Hermione doubted it would be long before the verbal fight turned into a physical one. She steeled herself. She couldn’t just ignore this. If the woman needed help – then it was Hermione’s duty as a fellow woman to help her “sister” in need.

She quietly sneaked into the alley. The people weren’t visible at first, but it was also much darker in here, so until her eyes adapted she was practically blind. Then she saw the back of one of the men, which told her they were all hidden in a cross-alley. And she could now clearly hear the conversation.

“Red haired bitch!” One of the men roared. “You really are nothing but a slut, tempting us with that sinful body of yours!”

“Yeah!” Another agreed. “Give us a piece of you, girl, and we won’t hurt you that much.”
The men laughed.

“Fuck off, all of you! You’re disgusting me!” The woman’s voice was heard. She was furious, Hermione could hear, but there was also an underlying tone of… fear?

“I must stop this, before it is too late!” Hermione thought panicked. She looked around in the alley. Here was a lot of trash, and several emptied beer bottles. She secured her bag on her back, picked up a bottle with her right hand, and a wooden pole with her other and crept up behind the man, who stood with his back so conveniently towards her.

Raising the bottle she brought it down with all of her strength on his head, shattering it. The man yelled out in pain and spun around to face her. The blood running down in his face made him look like a horrible monster. Then his eyes became unfocused and she had to jump back as he fell to the ground.

Sweating she looked up at the others. The – four - men left were flabbergasted, and the woman, a red haired girl maybe a year or so younger than Hermione, looked pale and shocked.

“COME ON!” Hermione screamed.

She swung the pole at the two men closest to herself, managed to get two good “omphs” out of them, and then dove forward, snatched the girl’s hand and started to drag the girl behind herself as she ran towards the light in the end of the alley.

The men woke out of their shock only the second after, but that second was enough for Hermione and the girl to get out, and hide themselves in the huge crowd.

For five minutes they kept mixing with the crowd, all the time keeping check on were the thugs were. When they saw them give up their search and instead carry off their fallen comrade, the girl and Hermione let themselves relax and catch their breaths.

Once Hermione’s hands had stopped shaking she looked into the girl’s face. Her eyes were green and her face full of freckles. She was smiling brightly.

“You saved me!” She exclaimed. Hermione nodded slowly.

”Those sickos wanted to rape you, I couldn’t just ignore you.”

The girl shook her head, “Don’t say that. Many would have. I am so grateful – you have probably saved my life!” The girl suddenly jumped and threw her arms around Hermione.

“My name is Ginny. Ginny Weasley. Please, you must come home with me, so that I can introduce you to my family. They are all going to want to meet you, after what you have done for me!” Ginny looked solemnly into Hermione’s eyes.

“Please, I want to somehow repay you for your kindness. Hermione was happy for the praise, it was so seldom someone actually showed appreciation for what she did. Slowly she started smiling.

“OK.” She answered, then remembered herself: “My name is Hermione Granger, by the way.”

"#""#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#"#""#"

Phew. I’m finally finished with this chapter, and once again I’m very satisfied with it.
I actually have a plan for how the story will continue, and that feels great, now I can slowly build the story, like laying a puzzle where I finally can see how the picture is going to be.

R&R if you want ;D

/ / Quivering Quill