Under the Darkness | Dramione | English Version

XII

Hermione woke up after a few hours, outside there was a sunset that painted the sky orange and pink.
She sat on the mattress much softer than that of the shop and recognized the room at Malfoy Manor where she had been taken by Blaise previously.
She had headache and she remembered the fight with Malfoy, he had her head slammed against the wall, she touched where she hit and realized that her hair was stained with blood but no wound was there.
She got up and went out of the room, door had been left open.
She didn't know where Malfoy was, and she had no intention of finding out, she took off her shoes and went down the stairs to the big hall, hid from an elf who passed by without seeing her, and took the stairs leading to the dungeons, she remembered them after she saw Harry and Ron being dragged there.
She closed the iron door behind her and it gave a left squeak.
After a large main cell there was a corridor with other small cells, it was in one of those that he held her but they were all so equal that in the dark she did not recognize it.
She continued for a long time leaning on the walls because of the darkness until she found another door, this time of wood, with the fingers she felt it was finely carved, she recognized two animal figures, two coiled snakes carved in high relief; she tried to open it but it was closed, she wished to have her wand, she tried with the name of Salazar Slytherin given the animal present on the door but not even this made it open.
She began to fear, for sure Malfoy and all the Manor elves heard the left squeaking of the dungeon door and she was sure that at that moment they were already looking for her.
Draco in fact heard the squeaking and after placing the pen in the inkwell he got up and headed to her room obviously empty.
Meanwhile, Hermione's mind was going through every possible solution or password, but she didn't think like Malfoy. He was devious and self-centred and thoroughbred.
She had an enlightenment, a snake, purity, egocentrism.
«Sanctimonia Vincet Semper.» she whispered.
She read it before the sixth year, in the daily Prophet, in the article that spoke of the trial of the family after the battle of the Ministry.
A clock roared in the corridor and slowly the door opened revealing another corridor this time lit by torches, finally a little light thought as she hurried to get one for safety.
After a few meters she found herself in front of stairs of which she did not see the end. She began to doubt that she could find a way out but by now she had entered and certainly could not go back so she continued with her heart in her throat.
She seemed to descend to hell (as if she was not already there) and after what seemed hours she stopped where a linear and flat path began again.
All of a sudden, all the torches went out without a hint of air and she started to fear not getting out of there.
While the darkness quickly engulfed her, Hermione was looking for a spell that she could try without the wand to make light, but none of those found worked.
«Mudblood...»
That mellifluous voice resonated so much that it was impossible for her to understand where it came from.
She flattened herself against the wall while her mind worked in panic to find a solution to that trap from which it was impossible to get out.
«I know you're here.»
She felt a step, but again it was impossible to tell if it came from the right or from the left.
«You haven't been so quiet with the dungeon door.»
A bit of air passed by her side and she breathed deeply, she had held her breath without noticing.
«It was fun fighting out there but now you are unarmed and would not be the same. Come out.»
Another step, this time closer, much closer.
She felt a breath of wind again but this time it was hot and damp and frighteningly close to his cheek.
«Buh.»
From the wand of the Death Eater a ball of light left that lit their faces terribly close, Hermione almost screamed.
In the silence that followed they both heard the heart beats of the girl rumbling in that narrow space.
«Have you ever caught a mouse? When you trap it and see its heart beating through the hair, it beats so hard that you can see it well and you can follow the rhythm and count the beats...»
Draco grinned and with the light that illuminated only a part of his face took on a monstrous appearance.
«You are that little mouse Mudblood.»
He approached her ear and she tried to get away but found herself bumping her face against his arm leaning against the wall next to her head.
«You are trapped.»
He walked away, giving her a chance to start breathing normally again.
«If you come back up without too much trouble I'll make you prepare a bath. That blood must be removed.»
Hermione broke off from the wall and overtook him but before continuing looked at the man with hatred in the eyes.
«I will escape Malfoy, if it's the last thing I do.»
«It will be.» he replied, pushing her with one hand on her back to walk.
Back in the main hall Hermione looked around admiring what surrounded her for the first time. The walls were of a dark color, noted details that the first time did not see being too busy thinking about how to save herself, Harry and Ron, as for example the decorations in the stone around the windows, the fireplace now off dominated by a shelf also stone (or marble?). Compared to the first time there was more light, the candlesticks were lit and the individual candles were scattered on every available flat surface.
«Nancy.»
The woman looked at him for a millisecond before an elf materialized next to them.
«Master Draco.»
«Prepare a bath for our guest, with salts and oils, I'll take care of the clothes.»
He smiled at the Gryffindor with an arrogant smile and with his hand pointed at the stairs.
«I'll wait for you when you're done.»
She followed the elf to her room, saw her opening the taps with a snap of her fingers and while the tub was filled with water, colored bottles of liquid rose by themselves and dropped drops or grains of substances unknown to Hermione into the water.
«What are they?»
«Oils and salts as the master ordered.»
«What are they for?»
«Relaxing and invigorating, they will do you good. »
The girl followed the edge of the luxurious tub and looked at the mirror when she found herself in front of it.
It took her breath away when she saw again that collar that was around her neck, in all that waking time she had not noticed that she had put it back.
«Bastard.»
She whispered in her teeth.
«The bath is ready.»
Hermione thanked the creature and tried to send her away without succeeding.
«Nancy must stay, the master does not trust yet.»
«As if I trusted him.»
Although she reluctantly stripped herself and immersed herself in that hot water.
It were only two months since the last bath, but it felt like years.
Whatever the elf had put in the water was taking effect, she felt calmer, the muscles relaxed and the headache eased considerably.
She remained in the bathroom for a long time, then began to wash and especially to remove dry blood from the hair.
When she came out of the tub, Nancy handed her a towel and disappeared with a pop; Hermione squeezed on the white fabric feeling uncomfortable and picked up the dripping hair stopping them with a plier left in a basket on the cabinet.
On the bed she found what Malfoy had left her, underwear, fine fishnet stockings, and a lilac dress. While the skirt fell soft and smooth to the ground the whole was held on by two thin straps, from which two strips of fabric began to form a sort of very small sleeve just under the shoulders.
Hermione sat on the bed and sighed, the pillow was stained with blood so she turned it around and leaned her head on it with her hair still wet.
For the umpteenth time she let freedom slip, either she lost her ability or Malfoy was really smarter than her.
She immediately gave herself stupid for the thought done, could not be inferior to Malfoy, ever.
She snorted and turned aside, looking at what was outside the window, she quickly closed her eyes and fell asleep.
At six o'clock an elf woke her up to warn her that the master was waiting for her at dinner, she thanked him but did not get out of bed; she had no intention of sitting with him or eating his food.
She didn't wait long before he came.
«Aren't you hungry Mudblood?»
«No Malfoy and even if I had bites of hunger, I certainly wouldn't sit with you.»
«If you expect me to leave you here to starve, you are wrong. You can eat with me for your choice or under Imperio curse, you just have to decide. If you didn't have all these problems in receiving a warm meal we would go love and agree Mudblood.»
Hermione obviously caught the sarcastic tone in the man's words, she glanced at him and approached him.
«I don't understand what you're trying to do Malfoy. What do you care if a Mudblood survives or not? One less, what does your righteous Lord want?»
«When you get a prize, you polish it and treat it well to keep it at its best. You are the best hunting prize I have ever found in all these years.»
He explained enjoying the expression of disgust that slowly formed on the woman's face.
«You are a filthy bastard Malfoy.»
«I am but still I'm the one who gave you a home and a hot meal that is cooling because of you.»
«I will not dine with you.»
He expected a rant instead the blond simply shrugged his shoulders.
«All right, let's see how long you can hold and when you come to ask me for something to eat.»
He turned his back on her and left the door open behind him.
The girl managed to fall asleep before feeling her stomach complaining of lack of food but the next day it was more difficult.
She woke up with cramps and dry mouth, spent the morning drinking water enduring that annoying feeling of emptiness typical of drinking water without eating and stayed in bed to save as much energy as possible.
She looked for paper and ink to do something and distract herself but found none.
At sunset an elf never seen before (who knows how many there were at the Manor) appeared in the room.
«Pim is here to change the sheets.»
Hermione, however, could not get up, her stomach was writhing from hunger and gurgling in a frightening way.
«Can Pim do something for you?»
«Bring me some food. Please.»
The elf took a small step back and shook his head.
«Pim doesn't know if-»
«Please, a small piece of bread, something that Malfoy doesn't miss. Please.»
The creature shaking its head back and disappeared, leaving Hermione bent on the bed on the edge of tears.
She did not know if she fell asleep or if she lost consciousness but was awakened by the noise of a apparition, the room was dark but she could see the silhouette of an elf.
«Pim will be back early in the morning to pick up the tray. The young lady does not make noise.»
Hermione slipped out of bed and knelt on the ground in front of him.
«Thank you.»
She said right before he disappeared.
He had brought her two pieces of dry bread and a glass of milk, the woman went more than well, softened it in the liquid and once finished everything hid the tray under the bed to prevent Malfoy from seeing it, with her belly full, she managed to fall asleep more serenely, and the next morning she woke up before Pim came back for the tray.
«What you are looking for is under the bed, thank you very much for what you have done.»
The elf did not answer, grabbed the tray and disappeared.
Draco showed up in his room a few minutes later.
«It seemed right to warn you that I'm going out, don't try to disappear you because you can't, don't look for a way out because you won't find it. I'll be back in the early afternoon. -looked at her well and raised an eyebrow- You're fine for someone who hasn't eaten in more than twenty-four hours.»
«As I said, I don't need your help.»
«We will see.»
He disappeared and left her alone in that huge mansion.