Chapter Text
Harry and Dumbledore were sat in the crisp white kings cross station during the battle of Hogwarts.
“I’ve got to go back, haven’t I?”
“That is up to you.”
“I’ve got a choice?”
“Oh yes.” Dumbledore smiled at him. “We are in King’s Cross, you say? I think that if you decided not to go back, you would be able to . . . let’s say . . . board a train.”
“And where would it take me?”
“On,” said Dumbledore simply.
“I’ve had enough battles for a lifetime. I’m sure they can take it from here. Will you be coming with me?”
Dumbledore viewed Harry over his half moon spectacles “Of course Mr Potter. Do lead the way.”
A few minutes later, after being confirmed dead by Narcissa Malfoy, Harry’s body was carried by Hagrid from the forbidden forest through to the Hogwarts courtyard. The shocked crowd sobbed bitterly at the sight of his body lying at the Dark Lord’s feet. Neville, a true gryffindor at heart, still bravely stepped forward. He still pulled the sword from the sorting hat and killed Nagini. But this time Harry didn’t stand up.
Without Harry’s shield Neville was shot down and at the sight of the two boys lying dead together, and with their numbers depleted, the Order of the Phoenix were forced to surrender to the larger force that was the Death Eaters. Having fought hard and lost many, finally the second wizarding war was over.
And Voldemort won.
The blood traitor families like the Weasley’s were placed in Azkaban. The members of pure bloods society who had remained neutral during the war, were sent to take over the jobs that the Death Eaters wouldn’t sully themselves with but largely the purebloods where treated with some respect, even the blood traitor’s. The same could not be said for the half-bloods and especially not for the muggleborn.
They were sold for manual labour, to be hunted for sport, or in the case of the high profile or beautiful ones their fate was far worse. As Hermione Granger was both a high profile and beautiful young witch, she had landed herself in the later category.
She had initially started with all the other muggle borns in the Hogwarts dungeons but as the days wore on, they were split into three groups. The old or injured were sent off as one group about three days after the battle, the young but inconsequential were sent off about a week after the battle. That left just a few people, all members of Dumbledore’s army.
Dean Thomas, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones and Hermione.
The four of them were in too much shock to speak, all lost in their own worst nightmares of what was to come. The two Hufflepuff girls sat cradling each other in one corner, Susan sniffling quietly as tears stained her face. Hannah sat with her chin resting on Susan’s head, her face expressionless but tear tracks visible against her skin.
Dean sat alone glassy eyed and shell shocked, it struck Hermione that this was the first time she had seen him without Seamus and she wondered how the boy would manage without his best friend by his side.
Hermione herself had remained calm since the events of Harry’s death nearly ten days ago, she assumed it was a disassociation of some form but she was grateful for it. It allowed her to keep a clear head and to fully absorb everything that had happened thus far, it also allowed her to speculate what would happen next.
She knew this group, only the four of them left, had been chosen for something, but she didn’t know what that something was. She knew the other groups had been sent for manual labour, working on the “hunting parks” where the injured group would be hunted for sport by Purebloods and Death Eaters alike. She wondered if she was being saved for the Dark Lord himself to hunt or if they served some other purpose.
Suddenly, the lock of the main dungeon door clicked open. Alecto Carrow walked through the door with a copy of ‘Hogwarts- a history’ within her hands, this struck Hermione as odd but she decided not to bring more attention to herself, she assumed the reason would be explained soon enough, or she would be dead and would no longer care.
Alecto looked around at the four Hogwarts students and sneered at the tears on Susan Bone’s face.
“Stop snivelling, half breed! Or I’ll give you something to cry about.”
Susan sat up quickly and wiped the tears from her eyes, knowing already how ruthless the Carrow siblings could be.
“Much better! See, isn’t it nicer when we all act like grown ups.” Her voice was condescending and cold, it spoke of dangers to come. She set the book down on a small wooden stool that was just outside of the main dungeon bars. She turned back pointing her wand at Susan “Crucio!”
Susan started screaming and convulsing in pain, as Hannah looked down at her friend in horror, as she saw an unforgivable curse pulse through her friend's body.
“Stop, please!” Shouted Dean as he jumped to his feet. Alecto’s eyes turned to Dean, while still keeping the spell held on Susan.
“Why? Do you want a turn instead?” As she carefully finished her spell on Susan and brought her want to point directly at Dean’s chest. He didn’t know what to say but the look on his face gave away that no, he definitely would NOT like to take a turn.
He slowly sank to the floor and back to his corner, Alecto’s wand followed him the whole way.
Alecto then turned her eyes towards the only person who had remained silent throughout, Hermione.
“Now Mudblood, it isn’t like you to not intervene when people are in pain. Why do you care for House Elves and Goblins more than your school friends?
Hermione cleared her throat, looked up at the older witch “We lost, you won. Most of my friends have been sent to be worked or hunted to death and I’m sure there is much worse in store for us. I doubt a cruciatus curse will be the worst that’s coming.”
Alecto raised one eyebrow inquisitively; she had expected the Mudblood to be a jumped up self righteous thing, like her friend halfbreed Potter and the blood traitor Weasley. But apparently this witch was clever enough to know, or at least suspect, that worse was to come for them.
“Very good Mudblood. Very good. Now everyone, your friend here is right. Much worse is coming for you four in particular. Now I’m going to unlock your cell, and we are all going to use this portkey to move to our next location. If any of you try to make a run for it, that will not be the only unforgivable curse used today. Do you understand?” Her voice was low and threatening, and each of the four students understood that she meant what she said, they each nodded.
Alecto unlocked the cell door, stepped inside and placed the copy of Hogwarts-a history on the stone floor.
“Well... everybody hands in. Surely in your years here they have at least taught you what a port key is? Everybody touch the book!”
Each of the students rolled onto their knees and placed a finger on a corner of the book. Alecto, who wouldn’t be seen dead kneeling, simply placed the top of her shoe on the book, directly on Hannah’s finger. The girl cried out but made no move to protest.
As Alecto made contact with the book again they were all pulled away, the magic of the portkey keeping them stuck like glue as they sped through space. Finally they all let go and they started hurtling towards the ground. Without their wands the Hogwarts students were struggling, with no way to control their falls this landing was going to hurt. Alecto simply drifted down from above them, watching to see who had the worst landing. The students were getting closer and closer to the ground and with just a metre or so to go Hermione screamed “Arresto Momentum” and the four students stopped in mid air.
The wandless magic had clearly taken a lot, as a mere second later they all hit the floor with a bump but it was a much less painful landing
Alecto landed softly next to them, one eyebrow raised. “Impressive use of wandless magic Mudblood. Such a shame it was wasted on you. Anyway, welcome to your new home, until you are sold at least.”
Hermione looked up at the gates of Malfoy Manor.
She inpected at the property cynically, of all the places she could have been brought, of course she was to be sold under the watchful eye of her school enemy Draco Malfoy.
As the five travellers entered the large double doors of Malfoy Manor Alecto’s brother, Amycus, was waiting for them and took his sister’s arm.
“Ah my sweet sister, I have been waiting for you.”
“Not long I hope brother, after all, the portkey was used precisely on time.”
“Be that as it may, our ‘guests’ are expected in the main hall.” With that the siblings set off, arm in arm, leaving the four teenagers with no choice but to follow.
Hermione felt the scar on her arm tingle, as memories of the last time she was in the main hall flashed before her eyes; Bellatrix brutal torture, their daring escape and Dobby’s sacrifice. She felt her composure slipping as the memories tugged at her self control, once again she took a deep breath and pushed the memories down, filing them to be dealt with when her life wasn’t in danger.
Amycus knocked on the main hall door and a voice from inside answered (was that Lucius Malfoy?) “Come in.” Hermione took one more steady breath and was the first of the teenagers to step through the door.
The Manor’s drawing room was exactly as she remembered, black wood floor surrounded by white marble pillars. The only difference this time was the amount of people, last time she was here there was only the Malfoys and a few snatchers, now the hall was filled with Death Eaters. She recognised the Malfoys, Dolohov, Rookwood and Macnair, but the others were unknown to her. There must have been around 30 in total, the largest number she had seen together (excluding the battle of Hogwarts). They sat or stood behind a long wooden table like a panel of judges on a reality TV show, all except Lucius Malfoy who was standing at a podium facing his fellow Death eaters. And suddenly Hermione realised. This was an auction, and they were the lots.
Lucius waved his wand at a gavel that thudded against the podium and Dean was promptly pushed forward.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you lot 1. Lot 1 is an 18 year old male, Halfbreed, Gryffindor. I will start the bidding at ten Galleons”
Bids however never came. Finally after a few moments Fenrir Greyback raised his hand. “I’ll pay ten for him. He can join the pack.”
Dean looked first at Fenrir, then to Mr Malfoy and finally at the floor as he realised what joining the pack meant. He would be becoming a werewolf. A masked Death Eater came from the side of the room, clicked a metal collar around Dean’s neck and handed the connected chain to Fenrir.
“Although of course we will have to break your spirit. It has been too long since I ruined a half breed. Maybe you will survive to become a different sort of half breed.” He chuckled to himself a deep animalistic chuckle, then strode out the room dragging Dean by his neck out the door.
“Lot 2 will be a pair” Lucius continued nearly under his breath “seeing as we can’t separate these two or they go hysterical. Lot 2 is for two. Both are 18 year old female, halfbreed, Hufflepuff. Of course as there are two I am expecting double our last lot. Plus, as I’m sure you're all aware, the females go for a much higher price in this market. So we shall start the bidding at 25 Galleons”
The bidding for the girls climbed fast. Starting at 25 galleons but soon up to 200 Galleons, at this point however bidding had slowed and Lucius was simply waiting.
The final bid came from the Carrow siblings in unison.
“222 Galleons from us two for those two.”
No one seemed to want the cost, plus having to argue with the Carrow twins and their strange fascination with 2s. So they won the lot. The girls looked terrified and when Susan started to cry Alecto raised her wand and said “I thought we covered what I thought of crying?” Susan instantly stopped her tears and dejectedly went to receive her collar. The twins led the two friends out the same door that Dean had left and it closed with a small bang.
Hermione was now alone, facing down a room of Death Eaters, she held her nerve and simply tucked her hair behind her ear, straightened her skirt and then looked up at Lucius expectantly.
This seemed to surprise the elder Malfoy, he had heard from his son of the brazen young witch, who gave as good as she got and on one occasion has even physically assaulted his own son. This calm and accepting witch was not what he expected at all.
He cleaned his throat and cleared his head.
“And lot 3. Hermione granger herself. I’m sure you all know but as it is customary. Lot 3 is female, 18 years old, Gryffindor and is a filthy Mudblood. Miss Granger was also part of the ‘Golden trio’ who pushed back out Dark Lord's rise to power, although ultimately were not powerful enough to beat us. It is said she is the brightest witch of her age, although as she is a Mudblood this may be incorrect. Of course, for a member of the golden three we are asking for a considerable donation to our Dark Lord. We will be starting at 400 Galleons.”
Shouts came from every direction as the Death Eaters clamoured over each other.
As the numbers climbed higher a voice from the back of the room said., “One thousand Galleons.”
There was a moment of silence, then a few mutters of “Too rich for my blood,” “I wouldn’t pay that much for a Mudblood, even if it is Granger,” and “More money than sense those lot”.
Hermione looked pleased with herself as she realised just how much she had sold for and resolutely thought to herself, if I can be tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange I can survive anything. But her breath caught in her throat. The person who had just bought her, who had paid well above the odds for her, was just walking out from the back of the crowd.
And it was Bellatrix Lestrange.
Granger’s forced calmness completely abandoning her she looked to Malfoy in terror, sank to her knees and started to beg.
“Mr Malfoy no, please no, anyone but her… I’m begging you, anyone but her. I...I could serve you. I could work with your house elves or in your garden just please, please not her!”
She had never begged before but her experience with the dark witch had nearly killed her the last time. And this time there was no one to rescue her; no Luna in the basement, no Dobby snapping in to whisk them away. She would be left with Bellatrix until her heart gave out or Bellatrix got bored and killed her.
Malfoy kicked her away from his feet, straightened his robe and then said straight to his sister in law. “My darling Bella, she’s all yours.”
Once more the masked wizards brought the metal collar, once more the chain was handed to the new owner, but this time there was no silent and defeated slave, Hermione fought with everything she had. Pulling back, screaming, sending wandless curses flying at her new Master, who even without her wand in hand could have easily brushed them aside.
Eventually, bored of her new Mudblood’s screaming, Bellatrix sent a sleeping spell towards her new pet. Hermione felt her eyes grow heavy and, though she fought hard, she fell into a deep sleep.