A few weeks ago, this story was taken down from due to "obscene content" that did not "correspond to rating". So, I'm putting it back up for the sake of my readers and taking out anything that could be considered "obscene". The original will appear in all its glory at http:tangledupinblue. I'm sorry, for all this. I hope you still enjoy the story. I haven't done any editing, so it's still not the picture of perfection

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Chapter One: Elastic

Hermione Granger, also known as number three twenty nine, kept a tight line to her lips while carrying a silver platter hot enough to fry an egg on. As she had come to do so very often, Hermione glanced about the hall she strolled down, trying with all in her to remember a time when it hadn't been like this. To remember when these tall stone walls belonged to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a school prized for its desegregation. Recalling the days when her only cares were school and mischief; where books brought her joy, and she took pleasure in chaste kisses.

o-o-o-o-o

I look back to find my way

And reminisce nice about the good old days

o-o-o-o-o

Those days were long gone. She was now twenty-three, and the property of another individual. Hogwarts was a term one used if and only if they wished to be slain. Any mention of the past was granted forty lashings with a dragon-leather whip, soaked in salt, or a caning with a bamboo rod, imported just for this purpose, depending on the extent of crime.

Unfortunately for Hermione, she talked in her sleep.

o-o-o-o-o

When you dream you hit bottom

Chances are good you're gonna wake up dead

o-o-o-o-o

It seemed her subconscious could not keep her thoughts to itself. It was like a gossiper, spreading evil and sometimes untrue accusations to unworthy ears. The guards told to watch over her unit as they slept had more than once reported her and she had a good few whip marks on her lower back to prove it.

It had been a good six years ago that her last happy memory was dated. Then, there had been a war. It wasn't surprising; no one expected Voldemort to simply give up. The outcome of this conflict, however, was completely unanticipated.

The attack was spontaneous; one random day, one random ambush. Hermione remembered it as if it were yesterday; she had been sitting in Transfiguration, rolling her eyes at Harry as he groaned over their test the following Tuesday, when a scream was heard. This was soon followed by another and another... coupled with the all too familiar buzz of a hundred simultaneous curses.

With a cold sneer at her own mind, Hermione recalled liking the situation to Professor Mauriz's favorite end-of-term wind down activities. At the end of second term, just a day before leaving for Christmas, Professor Mauriz, this year's DADA teacher, had let all hell break loose and given the children permission to hex each other, provided it was all in good fun. Turning into a chicken, a purple nose, a finger growing from your chin and anything that would make those around you laugh. It was all completely harmless, and Hermione admitted to taking part. She happened to think Ron and Harry looked good with fused foreheads. Her peers seemed to think the same.

Although her heart wanted to jerk at the thought of her friends, Hermione restrained herself. She wasn't allowed to feel emotion. That was the sort of thing that would get you a caning. A mistake like that could loose you your life. Truth be told, however, it was debatable whether or not this was a bad conclusion.

o-o-o-o-o

If the rest of my life is gonna be like this

I think I'd rather die

o-o-o-o-o

Returning her train of thought back to the station, Hermione again recalled the screams and buzzing. It was completely likable to Professor Mauriz's sessions, which gained him morale and covered his back.

When the reality of events was realized among the students, chaos ensued. Teachers gave up quickly on getting everyone to remain calm and asking students to return to their common rooms; no one seemed to want to listen to reason. The Professors did not abandon the students; they simply forged into battle. It was unexpected that the students would follow.

Evidently, the adolescents needed leadership, but at the same time refused to be led. Therefore, they resorted to screaming until the teacher left the room, and chasing after quickly.

It was no more than ten minutes after the first scream was heard that the entire student body was crammed into the lobby and great hall, terrified and trying without luck to fight off the multitude of death eaters.

However unexpected, all played out relatively as if it were planned. A few students were lost in transition, but Harry defeated Voldemort, the deatheaters dissolved into thin air, Dumbledore gave a great laugh and announced that everything was bloody wonderful...

And, of course, Mauriz spun on his heel and sent a blinding green light right into Dumbledore's chest.

o-o-o-o-o

I will be up on top

When the sky falls down

And it all goes wrong again

o-o-o-o-o

Hermione, to this day, was not sure if he had meant to hit the professor or if he were aiming for Harry, who was tucked beneath a withered arm. Both student and teacher were thrown backward, and Hermione had specifically remembered herself chanting "Oh god, Harry!" without any such regard to her professor. And, she recalled a warm wash of relief as Harry stood from the accident, prying a lifeless white hand from his shoulder. It was not until she ran into his arms that she realized the reality behind the events of second's prior. Harry held her to him as if she were his one last breath, but his eyes were trained on his traitor of a professor. The entire hall was bathed in silence, every eye staring at Mauriz, who simply smirked and twirled his wand. He milked the situation for all it was worth, then threw his head backward and uttered a horrendous cackle, which caused the hunched Hermione to flinch.

Without warning, Mauriz stopped his laughter and sent a long, eloquent chant across the room. Gasps were heard as wands burst into flame, melted, or simply flickered into nothing. An entire room, defenseless at the hand of a madman. A few first years ran for the door, hoping against all hope that they might escape alive, but Mauriz was too clever for that. He snapped his fingers and the doors slammed shut.

"Do you think me a fool, comrades?" he called into the silence, secretly proud of the mass of flinches he received for his efforts. He laughed coldly. "I assure you, you are very much mistaken."

"Why are you doing this, Mauriz?" Harry called out, clutching Hermione closer as she squeezed him, and acting as negotiator. "What do you want from us?"

"Well, well... Mr. Potter. One of my best students... and yet... you couldn't stop me. Didn't even see through my guise, did you? Some asset you are to the light side... but, then again, I suppose you were, weren't you? You've defeated my rival, Mr. Riddle, and for that, I must thank you... for I could never have even gotten this far with that bastard in the way. Honestly..."

"What do you want, Mauriz?" Harry repeated, more sternly. Hermione whispered his name, as if coaching him on his tone, but Harry paid her no mind. This was how he'd always handled these things, and he wasn't about to change plans simply because it was a mass-murdering madman in front of him and not say... Malfoy. Mauriz had simply shaken his head.

"Harry... Harry..." he chanted, then looked up. "All I want from you, dear boy... is your woman," Mauriz said simply, as if it were not much to ask. Harry turned slightly, so that he was somewhat more in front of Hermione, and had to look over his shoulder to face his addresser.

"Over my dead body," Harry voiced, sure as the sun no one would ever touch his Hermione. They may not have had an official relationship, but there was a mutual bond between them. They had feelings for each other and they both knew it. Ron knew it; everyone knew it. Mauriz chuckled once more, making Harry's eye twitch. Oh, how he hated that laugh.

"Don't worry, Potter... I planned to kill you anyway. You are much too big a threat to keep around. As for the rest of you..." the professor started, spinning as to view all his captives. "Some of you shall live... and others... won't be so lucky."

"Tell me what you want, Mauriz!" Harry exclaimed, voice sharp as a thousand tacks. Mauriz smiled as he turned back to their new leader. With Dumbledore stiff on the floor, Harry had taken it upon himself. For this, Mauriz was quite thrilled.

"If you had any brain within you at all, boy, you would have guessed by now what I want. I want the same thing you did... the same thing Riddle did. I want the world, and I want to do with it what I wish."

Harry gave a cold nod, as if in agreement, and Hermione began to tremble.

"And what," he said, gulping, "Do you wish?"

"So glad you asked, Mr. Potter..." Mauriz boomed, grinning wickedly. "Imagine, if you will..." he began, "A world filled with only the beautiful... where each man can choose from a thousand wives... and each woman holds no purpose but to please he who chose her. Where the source of your blood means nothing, but the quality means life or death... take example... your mudblood." Again, Harry stepped into a more protective stance. Mauriz simply seemed amused. He reached out an arm and, even through Harry's struggles, Hermione had no choice but to float toward him, feet an inch from the ground. She tried to call out, but it was of no use; her free will had been seized. "She may have a tarnished ancestry... but she is a looker, isn't she?" Harry's blood boiled as he was forced to watch in horror as Mauriz forced himself on Hermione and she was forced to accept him with open arms and lips.

"You bastard!" Harry exclaimed, and charged at his former professor. Mauriz broke himself from Hermione and emitted that sinister chuckle once more. Harry was stopped by a force field of some kind, unable to push within ten feet of his captor.

o-o-o-o-o

She says,

Jesus owes her money

She says,

The angels are her friends

o-o-o-o-o

"Patience, Mr. Potter... your time will come. But first, I want you to imagine a few more snippets of the future. First off, we shall start with a bit of cleaning..." Mauriz stated, then swept his wand around the room.

One by one, every man and a good few women fell lifelessly to the floor, then disappeared into a whisper of smoke. Had anyone been paying attention, they would have noticed a trend; those standing were the picture perfect females and those who showed promise of being such in the future. Harry was the only man left, aside from Mauriz.

"You see, Harry, how much better this is? Now that we've weeded out the filth... wouldn't you love to have your pick of these women and know for sure they could not reject you, or anything you ask of them? They could all be yours Harry. I have decided to spare you one last day, with which you can do as you please with... my girls. All you have to do for me is one little thing..." Harry glared.

"You're sick, Mauriz..."

The professor shook his shoulders carelessly.

"Perhaps... but I'm just living out every man's fantasy. You could join me, Harry... and ensure the safety of your precious love."

Harry's eyes flickered to Hermione, and he tried to ignore the fact that she was fawning over the evil wizard who bound her, practically begging for another kiss. Mauriz seemed to quite enjoy this.

"Because you never know, Potter... something... terrible could happen..." he stated, and Harry watched in horror as Hermione dropped to the ground, clutching her abdomen in pain.

"Stop... stop, you're hurting her..." he pleaded, pressing against the force field. Mauriz cackled again and lifted the spell from Hermione, who grinned and stood up again, immediately resuming her fawning.

"Will you join me?" Mauriz prodded, and Harry wasted not a moment before responding.

"Will you promise not to harm Hermione?" he asked, and Mauriz gave a nod.

"All you have to do to prove your loyalty, boy..." he said, "Is set fire to your headmaster."

Harry gasped and spun to view Dumbledore, who was still in his serene spot on the ground, a good ten feet from where he was standing when hit. It didn't take Harry long to turn back, a look of pure hatred embossed on his face.

"You bloody bastard... I would never join you."

"Very well, then. Good day, Mr. Potter," Mauriz said and, before Harry could rebut, he himself burst into a thousand tiny purple sparks. At that precise moment, Hermione was lifted of her curse. She jumped away from Mauriz and let out a shriek of pure panic, running to where Harry (or Harry's body) should have been. She sobbed as the little purple flakes rained down on her. The professor simply smiled. "Come, ladies..."

That was a very long time ago. As calculated, almost six years. A lot had changed since that fateful day; Hogwarts had been built up and filled with supporters of Mauriz, hand picked, of course. The Hogwarts women had been dished out, picked like teams for soccer, and were now boarded up in different sections of the castle, according to their master.

Outside this building, the world was just as superficial. All men, muggle and wizard alike, had been given the choice of either A) Following Mauriz or B) Death. Many refused him on the grounds that they would never cheat on their wives, others accepted out of fear, but, for the most part, the remaining men in the world were pig headed and chauvinistic. Unsurprising, really.

As for the women left, all were beautiful and most bimbos. A few unsightly intellectuals were kept alive, but for the sole benefit of Mauriz. They became the cooks, craft makers, shop-dwellers, and clan mothers. All men lived in the lap of luxury, and all sweet women lived in the lap of their men. They could not be bothered with children.

Motherhood became a punishment. If you stepped out of line, your contraceptives were taken away. Of course, you were still required to please your master. If you didn't play your cards right, you could end up with a baby on the way. All pregnant women were taken from their clans as soon as they began to show and brought to the M.C. Literally, this stood for Maternity Campanile, but in secret it was referred to as Murder Central. Mauriz had created a spell, which would age a child in both body and mind at a rapid speed. It had taken him years, but he had done it. The growth process inside the womb was not altered, however and Hermione believed it was more for the torture of the mother than the well being of the baby.

o-o-o-o-o

You just take your pill, and everything will be alright

o-o-o-o-o

Once the baby was born, the woman was given a week of domestic chores to recuperate (cleaning, cooking... blowjobs), and then forced back into routine. The baby, while its mother returned to a life of hell, was given a month or so in the care of the clan mother, one of the lucky ones too 'unattractive' to be of physical aid. When the child could successfully raise their heads while on the stomach and respond in some way to the dinner bell, they were brought into 'The Chamber'. If the child was a first-born, the mother was permitted to enter the chamber with her baby and watch as Mauriz's infamous spell was administered. Over the course of about an hour, the child would grow from that of an infant, to that of a teenager, approximately thirteen. This new being was given five minutes to 'get to know' their mother (and father on rare occasions) and then was sorted.

Hermione, as she recalled this term, gave a cold chuckle. As terrifying her own experience with 'sorting' was, she couldn't imagine the horror these children must endure. True, they held the brain capacity of an average child of their age group (due to the spell) but it was hardly enough to save them from piecing things together.

If the child was a boy, he was asked that fatal question. Will you or will you not follow the rules of the Leader Mauriz? A no would grant immediate death, and a yes would gain them an inspection of their own; if the boy were diseased, he was cured or killed. There was no sense spreading diseases when they could easily be stopped. After this, the boy was given a week with Mauriz himself to learn the ropes of the new society, and then given living quarters.

If the child were a girl, she would immediately be examined. If she were overweight, unattractive, or diseased, the child was put to death. If otherwise, she was given a number and sent straight to the holding chambers.

o-o-o-o-o

She is perfect in that fucked up way

That all the magazines seem to want to glorify these days

She looks like a teenage anthem

She looks like she could have been happy in another life

o-o-o-o-o

The fate of a NewChild, as the month old baby girls were called after growth, was almost always the same. She would wait in the holding chambers like a doll on display until some man, whose wife had probably just been killed or rejected, happened upon her and decided to wed. If wed the girl was given a steel ring of anything but elegance and engraved with her master's symbol. She could not remove this extremity unless told to do so. Then, she would be kept as a wife either until she was no longer attractive (in which case she would be killed) or until she stepped out of line and was 'rejected'. To be rejected by your master is something few girls had ever been brave enough to do. For this to occur, a woman must do something to either upset their husband or simple cause them to loose interest. Then, the rejected was sent back to the holding chambers to await a new victim. And so ran the circle.

Hermione, luckily, had yet to watch her own offspring endure such testing. True, she had wondered exactly what it was like to see thirteen years of your child's life pass by within an hour, but not to the point where she would willingly get herself pregnant. That would be plain horrible, for anyone. True, Hermione was of the more insolent women and yes, her c.c.s had been confiscated at least a half dozen times, but she had only gotten pregnant once. And, due to the fact that this man found the idea of fucking two women at once (as he liked to call it) she was pummeled with summons. This, combined with her purposeful lack of food consumption, lost Hermione her very first daughter. Contrary to belief, she sighed in relief, cried for ten minutes or so and resumed her life. She had killed her own child, but at the same time saved her from a no-doubt worse fate.

Hermione was currently married to a tall, pot-bellied, handsome black man named Charon. She had been summoned this morning and, after the usual bit of consoling from her chamber mates, Hermione donned her 'work' clothing and started off to his bedroom.

Charon had fourteen wives, all between the ages of thirteen and thirty. As per, one should expect to be summoned approximately every two weeks, provided they did not tread on holy ground while in his presence. Then it could be more or less, depending on how terrible a crime they had committed. When summoned, a wife was expected to don tight clothing and report to their Master's chambers for work. A little bell each woman dreaded.

The summoning bells lined the wall above the door. There were fourteen, one for each wife, and a number below each. Number three twenty nine had rung this morning. Hermione.

She was simply one among the wives. They all slept in one bedroom, under the watchful eye of twelve guards. Hermione had never met any of these women before Charon decided to wed her. None of them had attended Hogwarts, and a few didn't even speak English. It was just as well; she would do herself wrong to become attached to these women. Chances are she'd be rejected within the next week.

Hermione had been rejected nearly six times in just the past year. She was a legend; every of her husbands told his neighbor, who told his brother, who told someone... the entire castle knew about her. And so, she was wed to only those men who were attracted to this gossip, who found her a challenge, and eventually they would all give up. Charon was scheduled to do so very shortly.

Hermione balanced the hot tray in her hands, trying to alternate the weight shifting as to save her hands from scalding. Of course, they would be red and raw by the time she reached his room, but it was expected. Charon liked his tray hot. In truth, she supposed it was because it hurt her to carry, and therefore she would attend to him quickly.

And so, wearing only a black leather bra and matching shorts so short she could actually feel herself hanging out of them, Hermione marched to her Master's door.

o-o-o-o-o

She looks like a teenage anthem

She looks like a magazine girl

She looks a teenage anthem

Like she used to be happy in another world

o-o-o-o-o

It wasn't a long walk; he lived just on the other end of the corridor. When she did arrive, Hermione placed the try flat on one hand and lifted the other to knock. A groan of a reply came from inside and Hermione entered, immediately dropping to her knees before him.

"Rise," he commanded amusedly. It always seemed to be comical to Charon that the women were at his beck and call. Hermione did as requested and placed the hot tray on the desk by the door. She clenched her fists at her sides and tried to concentrate more on the persistent itch in the back of her neck than the scald of her hands. Hermione, like every other wife in the world, had her number tattooed on the back of her neck, just in case a check was needed. She found herself constantly scratching it, although it was initiated almost six years ago.

When his breakfast was placed safely on the table, Hermione turned toward the bed where Charon sat, watching her bemusedly. She sighed.

"Sir," Hermione said in reluctant greeting, and Charon lifted a finger, wagging it at her.

"You didn't curtsy for me, love."

He always called her that... love. As if he loved anything but sex and his big plush bed.

o-o-o-o-o

I get no pleasure

When I'm going through the motions

Of my mediocre day to day

o-o-o-o-o

"I apologize, sir," Hermione said, but did not correct her 'mistake'. Charon glared slightly, and Hermione smiled inside. He was angered so easily.

"Well, do it now, love," he commanded, but Hermione lifted her nose to the air.

"I'd rather not, sir."

Charon seethed and Hermione shook her head. She had no idea what gave him the idea that he could take a challenge. This was nothing; she'd had to drop hot coffee on her last husband, Bernard, and 'accidentally' call him 'Bastard' six times during sex before he released her. She was just refusing to bend her knees for this man, and he was already ready to throw her out.

"And why is that?"

"I fear I may be with child, sir, and in doing as you ask, my knees may buckle, putting our child to harm," Hermione lied.

o-o-o-o-o

I'm just an actor

Just like Robert fucking Redford

When I say those stupid words that they

Expect me to say

o-o-o-o-o

She knew she wasn't pregnant. In fact, she'd had a test just that Sunday. She hadn't slept with her husband since, and, therefore, had nothing to fear. This said, Hermione heard through the grapevine that Charon found such 'insolence' very unattractive, and would, therefore, either not call on her, or more wonderfully, reject her. Charon looked disgusted the moment she mentioned herself tainted, and he let out a breath.

"Are you sure?"

"I believe so, sir."

"Very well," Charon choked, leaning back against his headboard. "In that case, you are released. Go to collect your things and send in one twelve." Hermione tried to look heartbroken. She bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said, bowed softly, and turned around just in time to hide the smile which plastered itself on her face. 'You are released'. Oh how she loved those three words... the closest thing to 'I love you' she would ever hear. For the nicer of the Masters, Release was synonymous with Rejection. If they wished to be harsh, they would use the original phrasing, but, in such a case, it was not Hermione's fault that she'd misbehaved, and, therefore Charon spared her face to face refusal. And so, she did as told; returned to her chamber maids and sent another to their doom, then collected what few things she did own and high tailed it to the holding chambers.

o-o-o-o-o

I don't want to be your good time

I don't want to be your fallback crutch anymore

o-o-o-o-o

AN: I do not own Hermione Granger, Harry, Ron, Hogwarts, or any other such character. Also, I do not own the lyrics represented in this story. As I could not find one appropriate song, I've composed a medley of lyrics from one of my favorite bands; Everclear. Songs include:

(All Fucked Up) (Amphetamine) (Chemical Smile) (I Will Buy You a New Life) (Misery Whip) (Santa Monica) (When It All Goes Wrong Again)