Daphne comforts, and confronts, Hermione

Hermione was led into the baths. She curled up on the seat in the tub as Daphne undressed and turned the taps on.

The Mermaid sat up with an excited look before Daphne shot her a look, making her jump behind the rock she was normally perched on.

Daphne made her way next to Hermione, her enormous breasts bouncing with each step before she motioned for Hermione to sit on her lap. Hermione, feeling somewhat hopeless, did so without a word.

As the warm water filled the tub, Daphne just held Hermione as she let out sobs. This was the worst Hermione had felt since Ron had left her and Harry back when they were hunting for horcruxes.

"There, there, pet..." Daphne crooned, stroking Hermione's hair. "Pansy knew how to get the best of you. She saw your weakness and struck at the right time."

That didn't exactly help, Hermione thought, as she planted her face into Daphne's shoulder, still depressed about the fight.

As she sat there, being comforted by her antagonist, she felt Daphne's eyes gazing into her. Hermione immediately tried to close her mind. She didn't want Daphne looking in to get any more information.

"Ah... Well... You can understand why she was frustrated, at least," Daphne said coolly. "How did you know that Pansy was meeting Draco outside the shrieking shack?"

Hermione's breath shuddered in fear. "I... I didn't mean to listen in... It just... happened." She hoped this would suffice. It wasn't technically a lie, after all, but it wasn't exactly the whole truth.

By this time, the tub was full, so Daphne reached behind her for her wand to turn off the taps before placing it back outside the tub. "And you just wandered into Hogsmeade, without clothes, for what reason?" Daphne sounded skeptical.

Hermione had to think fast. "I... I was trying to get robes."

"And how were you planning to get them? Just pay for them in a shop? Just waltz in naked and get fitted at night when they're normally closed?" Daphne moved her hand down to Hermione's clitoris and began to gently squeeze it, perhaps a little harder than necessary.

Hermione tried to go for the half-truth. "I was looking for old Gryffindor robes... Even if they were in tatters that I could repair..."

"Oh really? And why would they be in Hogsmeade?" Daphne pinched the clitoris harder making Hermione squeal.

"The shrieking shack used to be for Professor Lupin when he attended school!" Hermione shrieked, in a mix of pleasure and pain.

Daphne immediately let go. "Professor Lupin? What do you mean?"

Hermione looked Daphne right in the eye, so she could see that what she was saying was the truth. "The whomping willow was placed on the grounds, and the shrieking shack was built, specifically for Professor Lupin. Whenever there was a full moon, he'd be led down into the secret passage where he could transform in the shrieking shack."

Daphne's eyes widened. "And... And he'd leave his robes there when he was done, would he?" She still sounded skeptical, but Hermione had an idea.

"Well... I've seen him transform before. When he did, his clothes ripped because they couldn't fit his body. I thought that if he ever left a Gryffindor robe in rags, I might be able to piece it together again..."

Daphne gave a hard look at Hermione. Hermione hoped that what little occlumency she had read about, combined with half-truths, would keep Daphne from knowing about the meeting with Ginny.

Daphne gave a resigned look. "Very well... I suppose it was a rat then, that bit your toe?"

"Yes... Though that was hardly the first rat in the shack," Hermione remarked bitterly, remembering Peter Pettigrew, who had been revealed in the shrieking shack.

Daphne continued to hold Hermione, who had calmed down enough after trying to protect her information. After a while, Daphne spoke up again. "Well, as I was saying... You know why Pansy was frustrated..."

Her hands began to rub Hermione's back. "Pansy fancied Malfoy for a long time... And then he suddenly had a change of heart about everything... The Dark Lord, thoughts on magical blood, Potter and his friends... And since he decided Pansy wasn't good for him after that, the tosser decided to go for my sister." Daphne's voice became cool again at that.

"And so when you offered to help with practical defense magic, she wanted to best you. To prove that she was better and that it was Malfoy who was wrong to change sides." Daphne sighed, as her hands moved to cup Hermione's small breasts, gently squeezing them.

"A-and so when I tried to apologize to Millicent for deflecting Pansy's hex at her..."

"Yeah... She saw how you not only could out-perform her in spellwork, but you looked like you were hoping to care more about her friends than she did."

Hermione looked at Daphne, who had an odd expression. One that expressed bemusement, concern, and affection all at once.

Hermione didn't know what to say, so she looked at the bubbles in the water for a while. Without turning to Daphne, Hermione asked a burning question. "Why didn't she use one of the unforgivable curses if she hated me so much?"

"Ah... That was actually a compromise I asked for..."

Hermione spun around. "You? Why? Couldn't you just use the Imperius Curse on me to make me obey you as your pet?"

Daphne chuckled. "Come now, Hermione. We both know that we were taught how to resist that in our fourth year. And besides, I rather like you having a little resistance when training you." Daphne moved Hermione's legs under the water, positioning one of her legs above Hermione's. Hermione could feel Daphne's labia against her own.

"Now... I know you spent a year with two men," Daphne began, whispering, "but let me show you that you can have just as much fun without a cock. I know you didn't get to squirt when Pansy cursed you... So let me help you."

Daphne began to move her hips under the water. Hermione moaned. This was so nice... Her leg was wrapped around Daphne's back, holding their waists together. Hermione was keenly aware of how much of herself was touching Daphne... Their breasts were pressed together, their lips were close, even Daphne's pubic hair served as a reminder to how the Slytherins had cursed the hair from her own crotch.

As Daphne picked up the pace with a smug look on her face, Hermione rolled her head back, moaning in pleasure. It didn't take long for all the pent-up feelings in Hermione to come flooding out under the water, as her body shuddered in pleasure again.

"There we go..." Daphne kissed Hermione on the cheek. "Pets get rewards when they behave, see? Now, let's get dried up and head down to lunch."

Hermione still wasn't sure she liked being called a pet, but she had to admit that time spent with Daphne was some of the most pleasurable times she'd ever had at Hogwarts...