(Untitled)

[barelybitten]

The only reason Bill agreed to come with Lucius to this party was the promise that he might be able to see Ginny. Considering that they were locking all the slaves into one room (guarded by a only a few people), he thought that it might just work. If he and his sister behaved and didn't talk too loudly, they could talk and he could let her know

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[slavetogood]

Being tossed into a room full of slaves certainly wasn't Oliver ideal evening, especially since it didn't involve Parvati. But he didn't have a choice. Tonks had to be here, and though she would have preferred to leave him at home, she was expected to bring him.

Landing roughly on his face, Oliver stood up and shot a glare at the guard, who responded with a swift hit to Oliver's back with the short whip he carried. Groaning at the lash, he looked around to spot a familiar face. There, over in the corner against the wall. Bill Weasley. What the bloody hell is he doing here? Oliver thought, making his way over to him. The last he knew, Bill was safe at Hogwarts, getting help from Hermione.

What could've happened for Bill to be back with Lucius? "Bill?" he asked, joining him against the wall. "What are you doing here?"

[barelybitten]

The constant sound of the door opening and closing was about to drive Bill mad. It was still early in the 'party' if slaves were still arriving, then. He had closed his eyes, intent on at least getting some sleep. He wasn't sure what Lucius had planned for tonight, so he wanted to be prepared.

He felt the shift in both temperature and air movements as someone sat next to him. Even before Oliver could sit down, Bill had snapped his eyes open and turned to see who it was. Tonks, it seemed, had arrived.

"What does it look like I'm doing here?" he asked in return. "I'm holding up this wall so it doesn't fall." It was sarcasm, but he didn't think he could do much else. It was, he figured, a fault of being around Lucius too much.

[slavetogood]

"When did you return to him?" Oliver asked. "What happened? The last thing I heard, you were at. . . you know where," he said. The slaves knew exactly where "You Know Where" was, but they never spoke of it outloud for fear of the Contention being discovered and raided. "What happened?"

[barelybitten]

"A little before Valentine's." Bill glanced at the guards, glad to see that they seemed more interested in a cowaring slave somewhere on the other side of the room than their conversation. "He told me he knew where I was at. I had to return or risk that he was telling the truth and have him kill everyone there to get to me. Nobody ... there told you?" He thought that Hermione or Parvati would tell him, if not Tonks, what had happened.

[fiestynomore]

Ginny was a mess. She knew she had to be on her best behavior tonight, because Narcissa wanted everyone to know how great she is at 'breaking' her slaves. This would mean speaking as little as possible. Although that would be difficult if she were to see anyone she knew. She'd been told that there was a slight possibility she'd seen her brother, if she remained calm enough. She'd been ever so quiet and well behaved since then. Not that she really believed she'd see him, or anyone. She half thought it would be some kind of trick. That she'd be walking into an empty room or something

[barelybitten]

"Sorry, but I need to see my sister," he told Oliver. Which was true, Bill needed to see Ginny. She was in the same room and he hadn't seen her in years; it took all he had not to run to her once he was standing.

Instead, he moved a bit toward her, careful to keep his posture submissive for the guards. As soon as he was close enough, he let out a small cough, raising a hand up to Ginny's shoulder as if steadying himself.

"My apologies," he said to the guards, letting his hand drop. "Just a cough... I'll return to sitting now." He bowed his head, wincing as he heard 'blood traitor' and 'mudblood lover' fall from their lips. He made sure to tug a bit on Ginny's arm as he moved back to the wall. "Come," he whispered to her, praying that she recognized him.

[fiestynomore]

Ginny was taking small steps further into the room, when she noticed a figure approaching. She first thought was to back away, but instead she just stood there, frozen. That was when she heard the cough. Raising her head just enough to see where it had come from, she had to bite back a gasp. Was that...

She didn't dare look at him again, until she felt the tug on her arm, and the whispered message. It was him. He was really there. She would see Bill afterall. Suddenly, she felt as if she might pass out. She cautiously made her way towards the wall, still in slight disbelieve at the situation.

Once she had reached the wall, she leaned on it for support, and glanced subtly to see if the guards were still watching her or not. It appeared they were not, for the moment at least. She took that moment to whisper the first words she'd said all day, besides 'Yes, mitress'.

"...Bill?" she said softly.

[barelybitten]

"Oh, Gin..." Bill slid down to the floor, tugging on his sister's arm so she would sit as well. "Come on, it'll be okay." He owed Lucius so much for this. Even though all the slaves were in the same room, Lucius didn't have to bring him, or warn him.

All he wanted to do was wrap Ginny in his arms and take her to Hogwarts so she would be safe. Then, of course, he'd have to return here and face the wrath of both Lucius and his wife. That was not something he wanted to deal with, but he couldn't leave his sister like this.

"I'll help you... somehow. I promise you."

[bound_harry]

Harry was taken to the room with the other Slaves, but he had a certain air to him. Snape had told him he wouldn't be harmed if he behaved, and if there was a mark on him that wasn't there before, there would be hell to pay. To hide the fact that he didn't have the tattoo like everyone else, he wore a collar that Snape had given him to hide his neck completely. So that no one would be tempted to take it off for a peek, a spell was put on it to keep it in place.

He went in and recognized nearly everyone there, but pretended they were all strangers. He had to be Snape's Slave, Nathaniel, not Harry Potter. Harry Potter was dead. It was easier for him to act the part with the dejected looks on everyone's faces, and he moved to sit in a far corner on his own when the guards let him go without manhandling him. He appreciated the perk that went along with a threatening Master.

[hr_neville]

Neville was huddled against a wall, hugging his knees. In all outward appearance he was just being well-behaved, but inside he was seething. He ached all over and there were fresh cuts on his back and arms, but he wasn't even thinking about that.

He'd been in and out of nearly thirty Pureblood homes, and none of the occupants had ever liked him (except one, but he tried not to think about that either), but they hadn't had any cause to hate him with any particular malice, either. Not beyond resenting his crimes as an inferior being. But Bellatrix knew him, had known his parents... he clenched his fists and tried to push that thought to the back of his mind. Usually he was good at that, but all the defensive means he had developed over the last few years were crumbling in the face of this previously unknown complication.

Frustrated beyond all rational thought, he ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn't really looked around at the others - if you've seen one, you've seen them all - but it had occurred to him that now he was back

[bound_harry]

Harry glanced around at the others, seeing Bill with Ginny and wondering if he ever imagined the two would look so distraught, until his eyes came to rest on Neville. He didn't see Hermione or Ron, and hoped that was a good sign that maybe they wouldn't be there. Maybe they were still free.

Carefully he scooted over to Neville and sat down, swallowing a lump in his throat. "Neville," he said, his voice quiet and curious, "are you alright?"

[hr_neville]

Neville looked up, surprised. He didn't recognise the man in front of him, despite his earlier observations. "Do I know you?"