Manors

Introductions

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY; THEY BELONG TO JK ROWLING.

Luna had spent the last seven nights hidden in what used to be the Ravenclaw Common Room. Since the War had ended, Hogwarts had become a medical facility to aid Voldemort's Army in the ongoing battles with those still left to fight him. There weren't many left. Luna, Hermione, and one of the newer witches had been captured in the Battle of Hogsmeade whilst tending to the wounded in the cellar at Honeydukes. Fortunately, and also unfortunately, it had been Fenrir Greyback and his posse of imbeciles that had found them. His infatuation with Hermione had allowed the three witches to keep their lives. Ultimately, Voldemort demanded they be brought back to Hogwarts and put to work immediately.

Luna had been sneaking out of her room and hiding in the Ravenclaw Common Room for seven nights because staying in her room meant listening to the quiet cries of Ginny Weasley over the death of Harry Potter. She was incredibly valid in her emotions towards his death; however, Luna didn't understand how the cries had continued after seven months. Thus, she snuck past the Death Eaters and up the tower to sit in one of her favorite corners and stare at the night sky. Which, by the way, the night sky had been tampered with to have a constant Dark Mark looming. It disgusted her. 

She had been sitting for only ten minutes before she heard something fall over from the stairs that led to the main corridor. She stood abruptly, instinctively reaching behind her ear for the wand that hadn't been there since Greyback had stolen it. 

"Who's there?" Her own voice sounded different. Somehow, it sounded sadder. 

There was no reply to her question only a single thump before a hand closed over her mouth. It smelled of musk and dung, and Luna tried to bite the hand before a wand pressed lightly against her neck. She'd immediately recognized the scent. Greyback. 

"Ophelia," he hissed into her ear, "Why are you out of bed at this hour? Don't you know that this hour is when the creeps come out?"

She inhaled sharply as he pressed the wand into her back, twisting it so that the back of her white button down slid up to expose the delicate skin. "I'll go back to my room. I truly didn't mean any harm. I just missed the sky."

"You think I give a fuck what you missed, Ophelia? Regardless, you're needed at Malfoy Manor. Lord Voldemort requires your assistance in the healing of Lucius Malfoy." He spun her around and planted an aggressive kiss on her lips before snarling at her with pointed teeth. She spat at his feet, trying to rid the taste of him from her mouth. Then, something he had said to her made her freeze. Malfoy Manor. 

Hermione had just returned from Malfoy Manor. She had just spoken with Luna about the horrors that persisted there once Draco recognized her under her bright blue hair dye and fake glasses she'd worn in an attempt to conceal her true identity. Fenrir Greyback wasn't nearly as smart. He saw a pretty woman under the war that stained her cheeks and decided to fixate on her. Draco, on the other hand, had never been amused or taken by the females at Hogwarts before the war. That was the day that Luna had dyed her hair from the white-blonde mess it had been to a deep brown that would fit the alter ego she had become: Ophelia Willow. 

"Was Hermione unable to heal Mr. Malfoy during her time at the manor?" Luna's voice was barely above a whisper.

Fenrir dug his wand into her stomach, sighing as though it gave him pleasure to do so. "Hang on." Without another warning, Fenrir clutched Luna's waist so that she was against him tightly and apparated to the nearest Floo Exit. Once they landed, Luna shoved away from him and spat at his feet again, warranting a hard smack across her cheek. He grabbed a fistful of floo powder and shoved her into the tight fireplace before hissing, "Malfoy Manor," as though he too didn't want to go.

Luna knew the night was going to be long. 

She had no idea what Lucius may do if Draco recognizes her.

Images of the bruising that covered Hermione's left side upon her return to Hogwarts flooded her mind. 

That cannot be me. He cannot know. You are Ophelia. Her thoughts were loud and clear. Get in. Get out. 

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Hey yall! 

I hope you've enjoyed this little snippet so far! Give me feedback, as it is what helps my writing improve and keeps the motivation to write there! If I don't write a whole lot in the beginning, it's because I'm brainstorming and trying to get together exactly where I want to go with this story. I know this first part isn't much, but I think it was important to have a quick little backstory down before getting into the important things!

I appreciate you all!

As always,

Keez.