Gypsy

Chapter Thirty Seven

There has always been, in my opinion, something inherently uncomfortable in the sound a house or home makes when it is being prepared for a party. I never enjoyed the buzzing excitement that wafted through the air and into peoples expectations once that first clang of setting silverware was heard, or the pulse of magical charms that were used to lift the oh-so-typically-posh floating candles. It made me uncomfortable at Hogwarts, and it made me even more uncomfortable now. Malfoy had been 'kind' enough to fetch a proper Healer to fix my busted face and body. I tried to stay calm when the Healer had moved closer to assess my injuries, but still flinched when he raised his hand to perform a spell. Malfoy had looked queasy when this happened, and glanced at the space where Avery had been 'taken care of', like he wanted to kill him all over again. Once I had stopped flinching at the poor sweating Healers every move, and allowed him to complete his work, Riddle had allowed me to return to 'our' room to prepare for the evening. Currently I was enjoying the comfortable bed under my exhausted body, as I lay sprawled our like a Grecian goddess who had eaten one two many cocoa treats. I had noted that the door had opened a few minutes ago, and felt the dark energy of the antichrist as he leaned against a wall and observed me.

There was a slight sigh, then "do you require assistance in choosing an outfit?"

I curled my lip at the thought of the ball tonight, I knew I should get ready, but I was tired. Being assaulted, beaten and saving a friend from rape really took it out of you. "Give me a moment, trauma is a bit of a bitch to push past."

A scoffed noise from Riddle, "You seem to face everything with a unfailing sarcasm these days."

I smiled wistfully, remembering my trapped mind and having nothing to do but converse with myself. I tapped my head with a finger, "trapped in here for six years and even you would learn to grow a pair."

"You think I am a coward?" He didn't sound annoyed, Riddle barely gave his emotions away in his voice but I could tell he was curious.

I think this is the longest we have ever spoken... "No, not really. I think you're a bully, and you crave control, but you aren't a coward." I rolled over on the bed so I could see him, I was sitting the wrong way on the bed so he was nearly upside down. Less scary this way. "You are scared of me though... Or at least you're scared of the fact that even with a tiny soul like you have, you are still forced to 'feel' something when it comes to me." He was silent, so I continued. "You don't feel to the same extent as what Malfoy feels, he wants to be around me constantly and would probably hold hands with me in front of all his Pure-Blood friends if I asked him to."

His eyes tinged with red, Riddle pushed off the wall. "You think he wants you more than I do?"

"No," he stopped moving and tilted his head curiously. "Malfoy wants to be around me, to have me feel something, anything for him. You don't care about that, you just want to possess me, control me. But you can't, couldn't even really do it when we were in school either. But you don't mind, you just want me to know that you could control me if you want to, which is why you collared me again." I fingered the band around my neck, I honestly barely felt it, and Riddle hadn't used it to control me today so maybe we were both changing.

The room was silent, slightly red eyes stared unblinking at me. "Do you require assistance in choosing an outfit." A repeat of his question from before, a typical Riddle attempt at erasing everything I had just stated and reverting to 'pre-truth-bomb'. I sighed out a breath, and nodded.

The ball was pretty much what I had pictured. From the second we entered, famous triad that we were, all eyes zoned in and the harpies converged. I ignored most of the sycophants as they gushed at their precious leader, instead I looked around the ballroom. The massive room was surprisingly un-biased in colour scheme, instead of the predicted green and silver there were tasteful white and black themed decorations. Long candles floated overhead, guessed that one, and circular tables placed around a large dancefloor that faced a stage. Above the stage there was a banner that read 'Purification Ball', my lip curled. Around us were richly dressed wizards and witches, being waited on hand and foot by people branded with a myriad of letters. No doubt this was the rest of Riddle's own 'collection', he had bought to Malfoy Manor. I saw a few walking around with a large 'W', I assumed they were Werewolves. "Creature 1403, pleasure to see you again." I flinched at the label, but recognised the voice. It was that so called 'Healer' from the Ministry. His pudgy body was shoved into a suit that was on the wrong side of being tight, and he was holding a leash in his hand that was attached to the collar of a haughty looking woman. I glanced at her neck and took note of the V brand she had on her neck, another Veela. Her eyes glazed over me as if they were unseeing, but I took note of the flash of recognition when she looked at my brand that was currently on show. The outfit that Riddle had helped me choose was, as agreed upon, not a dress. Instead it was a tight pair of black leather-like pants paired with a black corset style top, it was a little 'showy' for my taste but nothing too revealing. My evil overlords had deigned to allow me to walk without a leash, something that had momentarily made me feel grateful and then furious at myself that I felt the urge to be grateful for something that they shouldn't be doing anyway. The Ministry man made an uncomfortable sound in his throat when I didn't reply to his greetings. Tilting my head I widened my eyes and glared at him, people were always put-off when you looked at them without blinking. The Veela behind him smirked when he shifted on his feet, and opened his mouth to probably say something degrading. "No leash tonight then eh?" He let out a nervous chuckle and tightened his hand on the chain connected to the woman behind him, she glared at the back of his head but said nothing. "I see your Masters are busy tonight," I looked behind me at the crowd that had gathered around Riddle and Malfoy. "They caused quite a stir a few hours ago, making wild claims about Mudbloods having the 'right' to choose whether or not they were paired with a Pureblood or Halfblood." I stayed silent, let the fat fool talk himself into a hole. "I guess that was your doing," he frowned and took a step forward. His hand tightened on the woman's leash and she stumbled forward when he yanked. "You think you can make a difference?" Keep talking fat man. "When I have you on my table..." he was practically salivating, "well lets just say I won't be as easy as I was last time." He was getting excited, I could practically taste his sweat in the air. The Veela at his side became visibly nervous, her eyes darted between myself and the man.

"What is your name?" My question was innocent enough, he looked taken aback for a moment before responding.

His jowls quivered for a moment, before he gained control again. "Healer Andrews, Ministry appointed investigator of magical creatures for classification."

"Yes, that makes sense. Give a monster a job title and suddenly he thinks he is doing the 'right thing', yes?" He gaped at my question, I continued and even took a step closer to him. "I remember your little room, with your little table and the look in your eyes when you put this mark on my arm." I touched the brand and he looked down at it, a proud gleam in beady eyes. "I didn't mention that to my... Masters, as you call them. That look in your eye, and that tiny little bump that started to pop up when you saw the pain in my eyes." I looked pointedly down at his pants, pretty sure its inside of itself now going by the look on his face.

The Veela let out a snort of amusement, and all to quickly his rage switched from me to her, to somebody he could actually hurt. He yanked on the chain around her neck, and she fell forward onto her knees. I heard them slap into the hard ground and cursed my mouth for getting away from me. Stepping up he forced a fat finger in my face, spittle hit my cheek when he spoke. "Listen here you filthy abomination, you think that the fact that you have Malfoy and the Minister in your spell will protect you from me..." he closed his eyes and took a breath, when he opened them again he smiled. "It wont." He yanked on the chain again and the Veela was forced to crawl closer or be choked. When she was up against his side, he grabbed her hair and forced her face towards his crotch. "Look around you, nobody cares what I am doing right now." I looked around, confirming his disgusting words. Nobody even glanced our way, and I knew that Riddle and Malfoy's view of me was blocked by the crowd around them. "I could do whatever I want to her right now, and nobody would care because she has that little brand on her neck. You have one on your arm, and if not for your Masters I would have you on your knees the same as her."

I looked down at the Veela, she had gone somewhere else in her mind, I recognised the blank look on her face. Healer Andrews glared at me, obviously expecting me to back down. Nope. Smiling sweetly I took a step forward, I felt my claws come down over my nails, a burning pain but it helped focus my mind. Arm poised to slam up into his precious crotch, I nearly jumped out of my skin when a hand slammed over my wrist and stopped me.

"Good evening Healer Andrews." God damnit Riddle. I fought the strength in his hand, only giving up when he tightened his grip to the point of almost pain. "I do hope my little Nymph is being polite."

Healer Andrews relaxed visibly at the sight of his precious Minister and Lord, he bowed quickly in greeting and allowed the Veela at his side to fall a bit to the side. "Good evening Minister, she is a fascinating specimen. Have you not trained her yet? If you are to busy, which is understandable, I would be happy to offer my assistance." He waved his hand down at the Veela, "Macy here is very well behaved. Kiss the Ministers shoes Macy." The Veela crawled forward and went to kiss Riddle's shoes, I looked on in horror. Before she could Riddle reached down and laid a hand on her shoulder, she flinched back towards the floor.

"Stand up Macy." She stood, it was as if a blank wall fell over her face again and she looked as haughty as she did when I first noticed her. "I believe that the kind of 'training' you offer, would only destroy my little Nymph." Riddle smiled politely at Healer Andrews, who looked decidedly flustered at Riddle's dismissal of his services.

He regrouped quickly, "regardless Minister, she will be required to surrender herself to the Ministry for further tests later this week."

Riddle didn't miss a beat, smiling cordially. "Of course Healer Andrews, anything for the furtherment of understanding how these creatures work."

Healer Andrews arched a brow, somehow he must have seen something uncertain in Riddles eyes. "I believe this time a more thorough investigation will be necessary, and of course her sterilisation." I flinched and looked at Riddle, to his credit he remained stoic. "If you recall Minister, you required the sterilisation of all creatures identified. Maintain the purity of our lines... Yes?"

It was posed as a question, but I knew Healer Andrews was dying to reveal this little secret to me. Riddle gave a curt nod, then gripped my arm and marched us back towards Malfoy and his adoring fans.