The Sweetest Sin

Chapter 3: Up To Something

"Answer me!" yelled the voice from behind her, turning her around to face him but continuing to pin her against the wall.

Unable to say anything, Hermione stood there and simply shook in fright. Draco stood before her, glaring at her with anger-filled eyes. She had no idea what he was going to her - right now, death looked like the most likely possibility. At last, she managed to squeak out, "I'm...I'm so sorry."

"What did I tell you yesterday, Granger?"

"I didn't think..."

"Obviously not. I TOLD you not to come up here. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING UP HERE THEN?" His face had become even paler than usual, and he had a crazed look in his eyes.

"I didn't do any harm to anything up here," she answered, a hint of defiance in her voice. Immediately, she regretted the tone she'd used.

"But you disobeyed me." He threw her down on the floor with disgust. She hit the ground forcefully, and as she did, she felt a jolt of pain shoot up her spine. Without thinking, she let out a cry of pain. He ignored her distress, and instead said, "Get out of my sight right now."

Hermione shakingly got to her feet and started to limp away, but he shoved her onto the ground again. Kneeling down, Draco looked directly into her face. Her cheeks were scratched from him slamming her against the wall, and she looked terrified. "You're a stubborn mudblood, Granger. There is no place in this house for slaves like you."

She gasped, immediately thinking he was going to send her away. As much as she hated the abuse, she needed the job more than anything.

"No, I'm not giving you back to the MEA," he added as if reading her thoughts. "I'm going to have fun breaking you in. It'll be a bit of a sport for me. Lets see how you turn out in one month." He gave her a cold smile, then stood up and kicked her in the side. "Get up and leave."

Although Hermione's entire body was aching from being thrown around, she nevertheless struggled to her feet and staggered back down the stairs without looking back at him. She fought the urge to let the tears spring to her eyes as she entered her room and collapsed on the bed.

The pain was overwhelming, but not as much as the shame. I can't believe I let him push me around like that, she thought as she closed her eyes and tried to forget what had just happened. Physical pain she could stand, but not mental. Coming into this house, her dignity was all she had left, and now it looked like that would be stripped of her too. No, she thought firmly, I won't let him. I can fight him.

With that thought planted in her mind, she got up and limped over to the basin of water that sat at the foot of her bed. Leaning against the wall, she began to wash away the pain.

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A few hours later, Hermione woke up to the sound of Pansy's shrill voice coming from upstairs.

"Mudblood, come upstairs," came the order.

Cringing, Hermione gingerly got up and left her room. As she stepped onto the main floor, she saw Pansy standing near the stairs.

"Do come over here," Pansy called.

Hermione obliged.

"Draco has required that you wear these," Pansy said once Hermione was standing in front of her. She held up a medium-sized cardboard box.

Raising an eyebrow, Hermione asked, "What's in that?"

Pansy gave her a look of contempt and replied, "I don't know. You're Draco's mudblood, not mine." Without another word to Hermione, she turned around and climbed up the stairs.

"So much for her having changed," muttered Hermione under her breath. She listened carefully and when Pansy's footsteps could no longer be heard, she hurried back to her room, carrying the parcel with her. Curious as to what was in it, she was on her bed with the box in front of her within seconds.

Hermione carefully untied the white string which had been tied around the box. As she opened the lid, she gasped. Inside lay a beautiful, sky blue robe, neatly folded up. Hermione's hands trembled as she reached into the box and pulled out the magnificent garment of clothing. She couldn't even remember ever touching something so finely made. The fabric was soft and smooth, so much that it slid through her fingers with ease. There were no decorations on it and it obviously wasn't as nice as what the purebloods wore, but it was still far more eloquent than anything Hermione had ever been allowed to go near, much less wear.

Underneath the folded robe was a simple set of undergarments - a black bra and plain black panties. A slight frown appeared on Hermione's face as she realized that these were all she was going to wear underneath her robe.

"Oh well," she said softly to herself. "Just think how lucky you are to get to wear that robe."

Hermione slowly took off her own tattered robe, then put on the undergarments. Taking a deep breath, she slipped the robe on. Hurrying over to the mirror, she took one look at herself and immediately a grin spread over her face.

"But why would Malfoy give me something like this?" she asked herself out loud as she ran her fingers along the robe, smoothing out the barely-there wrinkles in the silky fabric. "I'm just a mudblood...why spend so much money on me?"

Silence answered her, and she sighed. "I hope he's not up to something..."

Just then, she heard the door to her room creak open. Whirling around, she saw Draco standing at the top of the stairs.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

"This is my house, Granger." As he said these words, he slowly began descending the stone stairs. Once he had stepped off the last step, a glint of something unrecognizable appeared in his grey eyes and he smiled icily. Hermione shivered, and took a step backwards. She saw his gaze travel down the section of her body that wasn't covered by the robe, and once again, got the impression that he was undressing her with his eyes.

"W-what do you want?" she stuttered, her hands instinctively wrapping the robe around her.

"Why, I came here to see how you're getting along with your new garments. Obviously very well," he said with a smirk.

Hermione blushed furiously. What the hell is he doing?

"I also came down here," he continued, "to remind you of your appointment upstairs in my room tonight. Be there at 10 PM sharp. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," she muttered, not thinking about anything but her desire for him to leave her alone.

"Now, now, Granger...that mumbling won't do. Lets try that again. Be there at 10 PM sharp. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," growled Hermione through gritted teeth. "I'll be there."

He raised an eyebrow, then said, "I'm glad to see there's some fight in you."

No response to his last words came to her mind, so she simply stared back at him in defiance.

Holding her gaze, Draco crossed his arms and remarked, "You know, you have very lovely eyes. I'd love to see those eyes staring into mine while they're marked with pain."

Hermione clenched her fists. Why was he doing this to her? "What do you mean, 'marked with pain'?" she asked slowly.

"You'll see," he replied simply. "For now, save your physical strength." He moved toward her and briefly touched the bruise he had left on her cheek from the previous day. It had not yet healed, so even his slight touch caused her to wince in pain.

She glared at him and pushed his hand away. "What for?"

"So many questions," he said, shaking his head in an amused way. For once, he didn't seem angered by her hostile actions. Instead, they seemed to please him in a strange way. "They won't be answered for now. I have a meeting to attend to with Pansy now, so enjoy your personal time. We'll be back at dinner. Oh, and don't wander while you're here," he added as he turned to leave. "Although, after tonight, I doubt you'd get the urge to anymore." He laughed softly, and then was gone.

A shiver travelled down Hermione's spine because even though Draco was gone, she couldn't entirely shake off his icy presence. Every time she thought of him, a knot of terror grew in her stomach - she didn't know why this was, or how it could be, because she had never been afraid of him back during their school years. That was before he was superior to you, Hermione, she chided herself. Now he is, so stop wishing you could go back in time.

"What does he want with me tonight?" she asked herself out loud, surprised to find that her voice was quivering. If it's anything like this morning...

Grimacing at the memory, she sat down on her bed and buried her face in her hands. She let out a weary groan as she tried to suppress the overwhelming anxiety that was building in the pit of her stomach. Thoughts were running wildly back and forth in her mind, but one question rose above them all - what would happen tonight?