"Omph!" Hermione staggered on her feet, she would have fallen down for sure, but thankfully one of Lord Malfoy's friends steadied her by taking hold of her other arm and pulled her up.
"Thank you, sir. You are far too kind. Do you play Quidditch perchance? Your reflexes are very apt." Hermione inquired politely with genuine curiosity present in her voice. The man tilted his head, but Hermione couldn't tell whether he was looking at her or not for the silver mask obscured his face.
"Why, yes. As a matter of fact, I do enjoy a good game from time to time. Although, I must admit that my apt reflexes were honed in a different manner. Would you like to hear about it, Mu-Miss Granger, while we wait for the Dark Lord?"
"Oh, please, sir. Do tell." Hermione bobbed her head excitedly while her eyes wandered around the luxurious receiving room.
"As you know, as a member of my Lord's vast army, it is expected of me to perform certain activities to contribute to our rightful society and main goal. You know of it, yes? Good, good. Well then, some of these activities pertain to purging the unsavory from those of pure birth, like myself or my son, Theodore - you attend Hogwarts with him -, unfortunately, some of those of inferior breading do not comprehend their error and try to resist. Can you imagine? And so, one such as myself must develop apt reflexes to be able to disarm them and then get rid of them. It'd be quite a shame if a member of our high society were to be maimed or even perhaps killed because he lacked the necessary skill and reflexes to offend and defend. Wouldn't you say, Miss Granger?"
"But of course!" Hermione nodded emphatically. An expression of utmost understanding was etched onto her face.
"Ah, and here comes our Lord, mind your manners Miss Granger, the Dark Lord doesn't tolerate rudeness."
Whatever Hermione what about to reply was interrupted however, as she bent over and hurled all over Mr. Nott's polished shoes.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not feeling all that well suddenly. Perhaps I should sit down." And she plopped down unceremoniously on the carpeted floor. Her head was feeling funny but she mustn't forget the manners! She wasn't quite sure where her wand was at the moment, but still! She waved her hand in the general direction and the vomit vanished, unfortunately along with Mr. Nott's shoes. Oh well, she tried.
"Well, I certainly had people cry and scream at my sight, but I can't quite recall anyone throwing up." The Dark Lord drawled. "I don't look quite that bad, do I?" He asked the woman behind him.
"Not at all, My Lord. Serpentine is the new black this season." Narcissa Malfoy was perhaps the only woman to joke in the face of the Dark Lord about the Dark Lord.
"Alas, it seems our guest is indisposed, My Lord."
"So it seems, my dear. And how it came to be, Luciusss?" It was quite evident the good humor was gone. The hiss that came with Lucius' name evidence enough. The after mentioned man stiffened and shot his wife a telling look. Apparently she was still displeased about their last disagreement.
"Not at all my fault, My Lord. She was handled with utmost care. She, ah, indulged herself with some specific beforehand?" And she must have, he just wasn't sure how it came to be. Merlin was on his side thankfully, as he was spared from further explanations. He suppressed the instinctive shiver when his mind was entered and Lord Voldemort skimmed the happenings in the forest. At least he was being subtle and painless. He mentally sent silent gratitude to his one and only master.
"Yes, yes, enough with this groveling. Leave, all of you." He commanded, and like the loyal followers they all were vacated the receiving room without a second glance with occasional murmurs of "I live to serve, My Lord" and deep bows of respect, or some might say fear.
When alone with the mudblood Lord Voldemort approached the leather armchair and sat down regally. He tapped his fingers on the armrest in thought. He rather doubted the girl indulged herself as the elder Malfoy suggested. A one-time thing in the middle of the day in company? Unlikely. Addiction? Impossible. Her hair although rather unflatteringly bushy were healthy and shiny, her fingernails were well-kept and her complexion clear. Oh well…
"Legilimens!"
Well, well, well… Such an interesting turn of events. Just a surface scan and yet it reveled so much. Although it cost Nott senior his Italian shoes it certainly came in use to him right now.
"Miss Granger. Miss Granger, look at me, now. Yes, that's good. Are you aware of what is happening to you right now?" He took the pathetic groan as a no. Just as well, then. He delved into her unprotected yet fuzzed mind and pushed the erratic memories away. He didn't need them, after all. He needed to get somewhere deeper, somewhere else. Under the surface thoughts and feelings, behind the curtain, so to speak. He went deeper and deeper, batting the misplaced memories away. When he was finally submerged where no conscious thoughts would pay him any mind he began.
BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE
One, two, three, four, five…
One, two, three, four, five…
One, two, three, four, five…
Oven cleaner, spot remover, mimicry of human blood, aid in healing…
What's the fifth one? I had it! I had it just a moment ago… Hadn't I?
"But what about the rest? What about the other seven uses?"
I… I've known them! I did! I've known them all…
"Have you? Have you really? Have you ever really known anything at all? What about Ron? What do you know about him?"
Sharp pain, hot pain, cold and stabbing pain, pain like a vice around the heart, never letting go, allows you to draw half a breath, but never full, never filling. Pain. Just pain.
"Is that all?"
No, not just pain, betrayal. Yes, betrayal too. And God, how it hurts!
"Yes, it does, doesn't it?"
Yes, it hurts like that time… like when… like…
Oh no, I don't remember that too!
"Hm, and what can you tell me about dragon blood?"
Dragon blood? Yes, well, it has twelve uses, of course.
"Can you tell me?"
Oven cleaner, spot remover, mimicry of… mimicry…
"What's the matter? Do you know them all or not?"
Of course I do! I know them! I know them all! I know everything about dragon blood that was ever discovered! I swear I do!
"Of course you do, I believe you."
…you do?
"Certainly, I'm sure you just forgot."
Yes, I forgot… But I never forget things!
"You don't? Ever?"
No, I remember everything, always.
"I see, and what do you remember about Ron?"
Sharp pain, hot pain, cold and stabbing pain, pain like a vice around the heart, never letting go, allows you to draw half a breath, but never full, never filling. Pain. Just pain.
"Is that all?"
No, not just pain, betrayal. Yes, betrayal too. And God, how it hurts!
"Yes, it does, doesn't it? Just like that time when he left you on your own, doesn't it?"
Yes, he left me, and I needed him. I needed him so badly…
"Like you need Harry?"
I don't need Harry…
"Oh, that's right, my bad. It's him who needs you, is that right?"
…
"Nothing to say? Come now, you know it's true. Without you, he'd be nothing. You know it. Just like you know everything else. You are the real power behind Harry Potter. That's why he needs you. That's why he keeps you."
I'm not a pet to be kept around!
"No, you are not. And yet, he keeps you around like one. He calls on you when he needs you, and when you have served your purpose he discards you in fervor of his real best friend. You know who that is, don't you?"
Sharp pain, hot pain, cold and stabbing pain, pain like a vice around the heart, never letting go, allows you to draw half a breath, but never full, never filling. Pain. Just pain.
"Is that all?"
No, not just pain, betrayal. Yes, betrayal too. And God, how it hurts!
Yes, it hurts like that time… like when… like…
…It hurts just like when Harry discards me every time in fervor of… of him.
"That'sss right, good girl…" Lord Voldemort chuckled as he left the mudblood's mind. It was enough for now. He couldn't be so obvious as to alert her imminently to any outside interference. He wanted her to come to her own conclusions… well, mostly her own.
Now to delegate his guest's well-beginning to some capable hands. "Possy!"
"Great Master calls Possy?" Ugh, the atrocious creatures… "Take Miss Granger to a guest room in my wing and put her to bed. Make sure she sleeps and then feed her. Alert me when she awakens. That's all, you may go."
"Yes, Great Master! Possy goes now!" He surveyed the empty room and summoned a decanter. After pouring himself a decent drink he sighted in bliss. Ah, finally in good company…