@impisherium continued from here
Hermione had fought for the crown, truly she had earned her place as a lady of the realm, a noble title. She may have been plucked from a muggle family but she was just as bright and talented as any of the so-called pure-blooded family. She had worked with her best friend’s a Pure-Blood from a noble family and a Half-Blood, no one had expected them to defeat Voldemort; but they had and now they were faced with a society torn, they would have to reshape it. Kingsley had given her land, an estate to call her own even though she had no husband and her family certainly would not be occupying it. Now he wanted to give her something else.
It wasn’t a gift.. it was a sentence for her as well. She was in the room as they made the decisions on what to do with some of those who had sided with Voldemort, some of those that they thought could be reformed. She had been given Draco Malfoy. When she heard that she had tried to fight it, to explain that he had hated her since they were in school; that he would never listen to her or respect her.
But that was why he would be assigned to her; it would only be reform if they had to deal with what they didn’t like - on all sides.
So she stood in a nice dress a couple of days after the battle, it felt so wrong even as the Castle no longer had blood staining the floors. She had killed just as others had, and any death was repugnant even if they were people who would be happy to see her die. Her dress was a dark crimson with sleeves going down to her wrists, the skirts flowing from her waist. The ermine that trimmed her cloak distinguished her in her new status.
She didn’t come from a poor family but she had never expected to be clothed in such finery, the items had come from Kingsley; there would be no mistaking her in her status as a Lady of the Realm. Her nose wrinkled as they led Draco Malfoy into the room, but he wasn’t the first person they had seen this afternoon and they had become used to the stench.
Hermione stood calmly and cooly as he called her a mudblood, and as he tried to run away. And waited as he struggled and was brought forward. She had been granted servants and guards when she was given her title, and two of her guards came up to hold him in place as she set a spell against him. One to make him unable to do magic unless she gave her permission, it was a spell that felt wrong for her to cast but it was necessary.
“I promise you that I want this less than you do,” she replied as her guards held him. The proceedings continued until there was no one left. Kingsley rose from his throne and they all bowed or curtsied.
As it finished she turned to her retinue and nodded, it was time to go to her estate, and they headed to the fireplace and into her home. It was large but warm, as her servants had already started the fires to warm the place. And in preparation for the new servant clothing had been set out. She had been specific though he would have clothes befitting his status.
Though now his previous status was lower than hers his clothes would stil be nice. “Clean him up, I expect to see him in the grand hall when you are done.”
Even if he fought back he would be forced to bathe and get in the clean clothes before being brought to the hall. She looked him over and nodded her approval. “Please, sit and eat. I don’t want you here and this was not my choice, but you will learn to respect me.”
