If You Were Mine

Dungeons and Deals

Her head was pounding and her entire body ached like she had been hit by a bus. She had been sat in the dungeon, in total darkness for two days, or was it three? She couldn't remember. Pepper had arrived shortly after Malfoy had left on the first day, she undid her magical bonds and brought her scraps of food and water and a gross enchanted bucket for her to do her business; it was five star treatment at the Malfoy's.

She was certain this was how she would die and she had no idea how long it would be before they stopped sending the elf and she just wasted away.

On the fourth or fifth day Pepper arrived with a lamp, giving light to the dungeon in what felt like forever. Hermione's eyes took a long time to adjust, it caused her head to hurt even more and she almost missed the darkness she had grown so used to.

Hermione finally had a good look around the vast dungeon. Why was it scarier in the light? It was the shadows that danced, making her see things in the corner of her eyes. She took calming breaths and tried not to be afraid.

'I want to speak to your master, can you fetch him?' Hermione asked Pepper as nicely as she could. Pepper winced and then vanished with a pop. She returned ten minutes later with a black eye. 'Pepper what happened? Who hurt you?' Hermione felt dreadful, this was her fault.

'Master will come when he is good and ready Mudblood,' she said the words as if reading from a script, then vanished.

'Fucking Lucius! Heavy handed cruel bastard, doesn't deserve house elves!' she swore. Hermione was seething. She should have specified to Pepper to call Draco, not Lucius. Although it wasn't as if she had any success convincing Draco to let her go, he hadn't been back to the dungeon since he had locked her in there. She tried to think what she could offer Lucius in exchange for her freedom. She had nothing to offer.

Hermione had bided her time, giving them a chance to free her, waiting for an opportunity to escape. Her nerves had prevented her from trying up until now. She had endured enough. She was getting out of this dungeon today, one way or another.

She pulled the cloak out of her pocket and draped it over herself. She pressed herself up against the wall close to the door and waited for Pepper to return. It might be hours, or even a day before she would be back.

Eventually Pepper returned, with some food scraps for Hermione. 'Miss?!' Pepper looked around the dungeon. Her eyes widened with concern when she failed to locate Hermione. Pepper popped away.

Within a matter of minutes, the noise of hurried footsteps came bounding down the stone steps. Lucius barged in through the metal door. He scanned the room quickly.

'I'm going to strangle that boy!' Lucius growled. Hermione slipped past him, and Lucius darted back up the steps narrowly avoiding her.

She held her breath as he passed, then she quickly made her way up the rest of the steps. There was yelling from above.

Hermione found Lucius advancing on Draco in the hallway.

'You dare defy me!' Lucius screamed. Draco looked utterly bewildered. Lucius pinned him against the wall, his forearm and elbow across Draco's neck. 'Where is she?' Lucius snarled.

'I don't know what you're talking about!' Draco struggled to speak. He gripped his fathers arm with his hands, trying to loosen his hold.

'You have one hour to play with your little mudblood, then I want her returned to the dungeon! Do you hear me boy?!'

'I haven't gone near her, Father I don't know what your talking about!' Draco gasped. Lucius pushed against his neck harder, his head thumped against the wall.