When We Were Beasts

I'm Not Your Prey

His face was frozen, muscles taut as the spell tied Hermione to him.

She could feel it, her magic collaring him like a dog. Hermione felt the connection burrow into him, dampening his free will and magic until it bowed to her own.

It felt powerful. And very, very frightening.

Hermione understood as soon as she said it why it was an Unforgivable. Not only because Malfoy was now essentially an extension of Hermione's will, but because it was an effort to keep his magic subdued. She could feel it pushing her, demanding to be freed. The amount of magic it took from her to do it was excruciating, causing sweat to drip from her brow as she weaved her commands into existence.

You will obey my every command without fail or question.

You will not make any attempt to touch or use my wand.

You will not harm me physically, magically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.

You will you will you will-

Hermione knew that someone like Malfoy would find a loophole and end her enchantment the minute he found it, so Hermione made sure to be thorough. She wasn't sure how long she kneeled beside him, laying command after command over his mind like a blanket, but she could see each one take effect.

Each time she pinned a period to the end of her command, his eyes shuttered and the apple in his throat would bob.

Hermione wiped her nose with her sleeve, blanching when a drop of ruby red blood showed on her sleeve. She was coated in sweat, could feel it leaking down her back and neck, but there was one last command she needed to make.

"You will protect me from harm, even at the risk of your own life. I come first, before you and before your desire to return to Narcissa Malfoy."

Hermione swore his eyes flared at her final command, she even pictured him raging on the inside, his magic pushing harder against her, but outwardly he did nothing but continue to stare.

Hermione pulled her wand back towards her, and Malfoy sagged against the rug.

The silence was deafening.

"What happened to you, that you would use an Unforgivable on me?" His voice was hoarse, as if he'd swallowed sand. Malfoy wasn't looking at her. He kept his eyes deliberately on the fireplace. On the worn down rug. On the sword of Gryffindor. Anywhere but towards her. "What happened to Hermione Granger?"

Hermione swallowed, her throat also dry and dehydrated. "You killed her." She said weakly.

Hermione stood on quivering legs and grabbed the first bit of fabric she found from her trunk and all but ran into the bathroom, hiding from Malfoy and from the terrible, ruthless thing she had done to him.

****

When Hermione emerged from the shower, clean and wearing a raspberry pink turtleneck and black overalls, Malfoy was standing just outside the door.