Chapter 1: The Marked Ball

Ailing Red Rose / Ailing Red Rose

The first time He saw her She was a child. The second time He saw her She was a warrior. The third, a goddess. A beautiful goddess, completely deserving of the grandeur that surrounded her. As she descended the marble steps, Draco on her arm, She seemed completely unmoved by her surroundings, as though She was better than them. And, as He bowed when She passed her, He could see that She was. But He knew a secret, a deadly secret, which made her behavior all the more wondrous.

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She held her head high, her nose slightly pointed into the air, but not so much as to be obvious. She stood up straight so as to show off her neck and chest. She was wearing an exquisite gown underneath her outer dressrobe. Draco had bought it for her when she agreed to go the ball in his honor. His honor of becoming a deatheater. It was a deep shade of green, showing her allegiance to Slytherin, and was embroidered with many pearls of different sizes. It was low cut to expose the better part of her chest to the general public, and it was extremely tight fitting. Not much was left to the imagination in that dress. She did not smile when Draco led her down the entrance stairs she merely surveyed the crowd before her, wondering if they were worthy of her presence. When She passed the members of the Inner Circle, when they bowed to her and Draco, She allowed a small, satisfied smile to play around her lips. She wanted them to know how pleased she was by their respect, for their respect brought her power. She wished to radiate power, and that She did. She could tell when everyone turned to stare at her.

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The evening passed uneventfully. And She believed herself to be safe, that is, until He made his way to her and Draco. Draco was busy showing off his newly forged dark mark to his loyal followers, but She was well aware of Him stalking his way over to them. When he stood before them She stretched out her arm to its full length, warning him to keep back, and smiled, exposing all her teeth.

"Severus," she purred.

"Hermione," he purred back, kissing her outstretched hand. As soon as Snape let go of it Hermione snaked her arm around Draco's shoulders.

"It's so wonderful to see you here, we were afraid you wouldn't come," she said, nuzzling Draco's neck, "Weren't we, honey?" Draco seemed to be rendered speechless for the moment, she was clearly having an effect on him. "Honey," Hermione, repeated, now laying her head on his shoulders.

"Yes…Yes! Indeed Severus, you see, we weren't quite sure where your true alligences lay," he said, now quite in control, despite of the fact that the whole of Hermione's body was now pressed up against him.

"I assure you," he said, his voice velvety, "My true loyalty has always belonged to the Dark Lord. I can only hope to further prove my loyalty," he bowed his head.

"Of course, Severus. But one can't help but be reminded of that time, what was it? Seventh year, I believe, during Potter's pathetic," Draco spit out the word, "Little attempt to battle with the Dark Lord. You were gone for long periods of time, and when you did appear, it was not entirely clear whose side you were fighting for," Draco smiled, evilly, he clearly wished to bring everyone around him down, until he was the only one left at the top.

"If you have reason to doubt my loyalties Draco, I insist that you take them up with our Master. One, can never be too careful. But," now Snape grinned, a frightening sight for anybody who had only seen him scowl, "Before you do, I would recommend you think about it. What would he think? You?" he sneered, "Trying to discredit one of his most influential followers? He might think you a common social climber, Draco. And that would not be wise." Draco seemed somewhat stunned by this defense of Snape's territory. Hermione was merely bemused. But she did not let it show. Her face showed growing anger, with a slight look of terror in her eyes, at Snape's veiled threat.

"Good evening, Severus, but I fear there is something I must discuss with Draco," she rubbed up against him, once again, "In private."

"Of course," said Snape, obligingly, "I wouldn't want to stand in the way of two lovers." Hermione smiled like a cat and Snape suddenly couldn't tell where Hermione ended and Draco began. Draco, by now, had lost all sense of being, and, Snape could tell, was barely managing to control his bodily functions. Snape smirked and turned away.

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Dawn started to unfold as Hermione went about gathering her pants from the floor. Draco stirred in his sleep. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at him and rolled her eyes. It was clearly her who was in charge of this relationship. She had been the one to drag him away from the party, she had been the one who had led him into this bedroom (which was neither of theirs), and she had been the one to get him to agree to having sex in the Dark Lord's palace. Hermione stopped in her search for her bra to think about what she had been doing for the past few months, years if you looked closely. She was becoming the one person she had always considered her enemy. But she had do to do what had to be done. And, with that thought, she jumped at the window with the grace of a cat, and walked over the Severus Snape, quietly crouching in the shadows.

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AN:

Well, this is my new story!! And, I have to tell you, I think it's my favorite so far. It's so much fun to write and it's so interesting to think about!!please review!! Please please please review!! You have no idea how much I want you to review!!

Ailing Red Rose