I have to start off with an apology. I have been neglecting this story for quite some time which I'm not proud of, because I really enjoyed this idea. Anyway, here's hoping for more updates and I hope you all enjoy it!

The one thing I was not expecting was the contempt in her eyes to dissolve. She looked tired. She stood the same way, with her hands resting on the bars of the bed. This time it seemed to be for support, rather than to appear intimidating. She didn't speak for some time, I'd almost started to relax into the bed.

"This is not easy." She said, instantly grabbing my attention. I didn't respond, I didn't know how to respond. "I need to ask you a favour." She managed to say, through gritted teeth. I nodded. My willingness to listen to her seemed to win me some favour. She exhaled, before sitting herself at the base of the bed, although she was careful not to sit too close to my legs. "The Dark Lord is coming here tomorrow. I believe he has some questions about Potter that he wishes to ask you. I have a feeling that you have told the Dark Lord everything that you know, am I correct in that assumption?" I nodded, my voice still frozen inside my throat. "I think we can work this to both of our advantages. In return for your obedience and cooperation through this difficult time, Lucius and I are willing to extend our protection to you and defend your story of events to the Dark Lord. You are going to be part of the – of the family after all." Narcissa said the last part hesitantly and it made me shudder in response. I didn't want to be part of the family. I wanted to go and find my own family. But I could work this to my advantage.

"I agree, but on one condition." I said and her lip lightly curled.

"Go on."

"I don't want to be tied to the bed anymore." I gulped, the worst she could do was say 'no'.

"That is do-able. But it comes with conditions of its own. It comes with a certain trust. How can I trust that you won't escape? How can I trust that you won't try to hurt someone? Will you give me your word?"

"I will."

"And if you break that word, you will be punished and being tied to a bed will pale in comparison. If you are to be free to move around this house, then you must be able to come downstairs when you are called and behave yourself. You are still a guest in this house after all." I nodded.

"That's fair." Once I had spoken and agreed to her terms, she moved from the bed. Her wand was directed at my hands and I was finally released, never having to worry about being tied down again. She was on her way out of the door when she turned to me.

"We will have to find you something suitable to wear tomorrow if the Dark Lord is gracing us with his presence. You have to appear domesticated after all."

When she had left, I could finally release the pod of air that had been congregating in my chest. I lifted myself from the bed, and moved over towards the window. The trees outside swayed in the breeze, the clouds moving by at a snail's pace. Although I wasn't completely free, I was freer than I had been and it almost brought a tear to my eye.

Draco

"We've made progress." My mother announced as she joined my father and I in the lounge.

"Do tell." My father mumbled, not raising his glance from the book he was reading. "Did she accept our offer?" My attention was peaked.

"What offer? What are you talking about?" I queried. My father finally shut his book.

"Well, we have made a deal with the girl." My father started.

"Hermione, Lucius. You have to start and try calling her by her name if this is too work." What in Merlin's name was going on? "We have allowed her freedom inside this house, so long as she abides by our rules and the rules the Dark Lord has laid out. She is aware that if she breaks those rules, there will be punishment and she has given me her word. Don't pull your face like that Draco, we had to do something. The Dark Lord is coming here tomorrow, we couldn't still have her still tied to a bed. It doesn't say much for us."

"So you've made a deal with her? To get her to act domesticated. Do you not think it's dangerous to let her wander around the house, she could do anything?" I protested. I didn't really want her walking around the house, not by herself anyway. She hated me, she could change at any moment. I wasn't ready for this yet.

"The deal is already struck Draco. She does not have a wand. We have it. If you are so worried about it, maybe you should go and connect with her. She is to be your wife after all." Lucius muttered, his attention refocussed on the book once more. I was outraged. They had quickly changed their attitudes!

"So suddenly you both are alright with this?"

"We are not alright with it. We just have to accept it. The Dark Lord has accelerated our hand and if we do not act soon, he will. The stage is set before us Draco, we just need to perform our roles. Take these up to Hermione for me, will you?" Narcissa waved her wand and a fresh pair of pyjamas landed in a neatly folded pile in front of me. I scowled but behaved how I was told, making my way up the stairs to the guest room.

Hermione

I was still lodged in the window sill when Draco entered the room, a look of surprise clearly etched on his face. He walked over to the bed, placing the bundle he had in his hands down.

"You move quickly." He mumbled, leaning against the wall nearest the bed with his arms crossed. I raised my eyebrows, pulling myself further into the window. "My mother told me all about your deal but she didn't tell me that she had let you go right now, I thought she would have at least left it until the morning." I shrugged, looking back out of the window. The sky was darkening, the odd bird flying back towards its nest. "What are you even looking at?" I nearly jumped out of my skin as he appeared right behind me, craning a look to see what I was seeing.

"The world." I mused. Draco scoffed before stepping back from the windowsill, suddenly realising that his front had been pressed against my back.

"The way you talk, it's as though you've been kept in a box all of your life." I shot him a glance. It had been close enough. "Sorry, I didn't think." I finally removed myself from the safety of the window, the pyjamas on the bed catching my eye. I scooped them up, stepping into the en-suite and quickly changing. It was then I realised just how much weight I had lost. The pyjama bottoms hung from my hips, the t-shirt baggy. If I'd had my wand, I probably could have made some alterations. But that was a completely different matter.

Draco

She was in the toilet for quite some time, but I really didn't want to go and check on her just in case she wasn't decent. She emerged a few minutes later, looking uncomfortable. I could see why. Hermione had never been of a large build. She had always been slender. But the way she looked now, the only thing I could describe it as was sickly. Even though we were never close friends, it pained me to see her this way. It wasn't right.