She could see two figures sitting at the opposite end of the hall, and squinted to try to make them out better. On the right was the woman that had been in her room earlier that day, and she was holding hands with the man sitting on the left. Hermione knew who he was instantly, and couldn't help but to gasp. Red eyes shining in the torchlight, pointed teeth grinning, pale skin glowing; he sat on his throne like a God.
"Welcome to the House of Riddle," He began, hissing at odd intervals. "As my proud daughter, Mia Riddle, you have the honor of becoming the first in my new army of elite Death Eaters. Underage witches and wizards, if you may. And you, my dear, will be their leader, their esteemed Lady of the Darkness." Voldemort finished, standing and coming towards her. She didn't realize she had stopped walking until he reached her. Grasping her left hand in his, he turned it so that her palm was facing upward, and drew his wand. Saying an incantation unfamiliar to her, she watched as a Dark Mark began to imprint itself on her newly tanned flesh. A searing pain shot up through her arm, and not being able to withstand it, she collapsed on the floor, her father and mother looking on with pride.
A/N: This is where the fist chapter was supposed to end but for some reason got cut off… /
Moments later, Hermione awoke in an awkward position on the cold marble floor. Her left arm was still throbbing and it took all her self-control to keep from whimpering. She noticed that Voldemort and the lady were back in their seats at the front of the room, and she stood, facing them with fear clearly visible in her eyes. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do next, until she remembered something Draco Malfoy had said to her before they had parted ways. You'll be expected to sit with the Lord and Lady of the house, being a Lady yourself, and your throne will be the silver one located next to your mothers on the right. Hoping what she was doing was the right thing, she crossed the room and took her place in the silver throne beside the "Lady of the house". They both smiled warmly at her, and seeing Voldemort smile was definitely a sight to see, especially towards a mudblood like herself.
"Well, Mia, after all these years we can finally tell you how proud we are of you. Receiving the top grades in all your classes, capturing the position of Head Girl like Selena had when she was in seventh year. I guess the old saying is true, eh? Like mother like daughter." Voldemort laughed a nasally laugh, probably due to the fact that he didn't really have nasal passageways, but that's not what Hermione was concerned about.
"What do you mean, like mother like daughter? My mother is dead, don't you remember? You sent some of your goons to dispose of them just this morning. And besides, my mother was a muggle, so there is no way she was possibly Head Girl at Hogwarts if she didn't even know it existed until I was eleven years old." Hermione stated furiously from her seat, tears streaming from her eyes about having to talk about her dead parents again. She knew she probably shouldn't start arguing with the Dark Lord when she was a 'guest' in his house, considering he'll probable Avada her any minute, but if he thought he could talk about her parents in front of her, like they hadn't just died, he wanted her to know she wasn't going to sit there and take it without a fight.
"Don't you see Mia? We are your parents. Selena and I. Surely you didn't think that you could be such a talented witch with muggle heritage?" He laughed out loud at the mere idea of a muggleborn
being more powerful than a pureblooded student. "You took after your mother when it came to appearances and intelligence, but you have inherited my need to be the best, to achieve far more than those before and around you, to complete the task at hand and more. You are the perfect heiress to the Riddle throne, and you will come around eventually. You may not accept us today or tomorrow, but soon you will realize this is where you were born to be, where you need to be to survive. You are a very powerful witch Mia, and your mother and I only want what's best for our little girl."
Hermione was speechless. To hear such sincerity and conviction in Voldemort's voice, she wasn't sure she would be able to doubt him. And sadly, it did make sense. Ever since she was little she had wondered where her magical ability had come from. Sure, some of her friends at Hogwarts were muggleborn, but most of them couldn't get half as good of grades as she. Most of them were lucky they could even perform basic spells and yet she was the top student in the entire student body. It just didn't add up. Well, until now that is. Still, she was a bit reluctant to admit that after all these years, her own father was the man she had been fighting against since the day she received her Hogwarts letter.
Voldemort took her silence as acceptance and motioned with his left hand to the large doors at the opposite end of the room. They opened inward, allowing light from the foyer to stream into the room casting eerie shadows on the floor. Hermione watched as a group of teenage boys filed through the doors single file, eyes on the floor in front of them the whole time in respect for the Dark Lord. Malfoy was at the head of the line, followed by Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Adrian Pucey, Marcus Flint (who had already graduated from Hogwarts), Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and someone whose name she was unfamiliar with but recognized from the Slytherin quidditch team from her earlier years at Hogwarts. Each wore black dress robes, which made the whole ceremony seem even more frightening.
"Mr. Malfoy, would you please step forward to complete the initiation process?" Voldemort asked while he stood and proceeded off the platform their thrones were on, stopping in front of Malfoy who looked considerably paler than he had earlier that day. Malfoy knelt and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes before rolling up his left sleeve, exposing the milky flesh it previously covered. He mumbled a few words before looking up at Voldemort, his eyes colder than she had ever seen. "You have prepared for this very well, Mr. Malfoy. Your mind is protected by many barriers, impenetrable to even the most skilled of wizards." After he spoke he pressed the tip of his wand to Malfoy's skin and she watched as the Dark Mark appeared seconds later. Though she could see the agony in his eyes, he did not pass out like she had. This made her feel ashamed until, after every other boy passed the Occlumency test, he became the only one who had been able to withstand the pain without fainting.
Malfoy did not look at her once during his time in the room, and after he left, she could hear the boys telling their fathers how they had all managed to receive the Mark of the Dark Lord. A few females came in after the boys; Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bulstrode. All three were terrified of the Dark Lord, one could tell from the looks on their faces. Yet, they were brave enough to come here and face their fears by receiving the Mark their parents bore on their left arms. Finally, after Millicent was bestowed with her own Dark Mark and the girls left the hall, Voldemort magicked a long dining table into the room, comfortably seating forty to fifty guests, with glowing crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The torches were replaced by blood red sconces, and the walls were painted a
pretty silver color. The table and chairs were all made of a dark cheery, and the utensils, plates and goblets were all constructed out of white gold, the Riddle family crest staring at her from all directions.
"Come, Mia dear, and have a seat on my left. Your mother always sits on my right, and with you here, I can finally celebrate being a family again." Voldemort pulled out her hair for her as she sat down, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She had to prevent herself from shivering, which wasn't a very easy task.
Footsteps could be heard coming toward the room, and all at once it seemed to fill. The seat to her right quickly became occupied by Draco Malfoy, across from which sat Blaise Zabini. He looked at her for a minute before turning to chat with his father who was seated next to him. Malfoy, however, didn't even act like she existed. Either that or no one was allowed to communicate with the heiress of the house. It was at that moment that Hermione felt all alone in a room of fifty people.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests of the House of Riddle. Tonight is a night of celebration for not only your children, but for the Riddle family as well. You see, tonight I finally have the pleasure of dining with my wife Selena, and my daughter, Mia Riddle." Gasps were heard from throughout the room as people craned their necks, trying to get a peek at Voldemort's newly found heiress. "I would like to congratulate each and every one of my new recruits, and I know ask that you feast with me and my family on such a wonderful occasion."
Instantly the food appeared on the tables, much like Hogwarts, startling Hermione. She picked at some off the food that was on her plate; Lamb chops, sweet potatoes and Sheppard's pie. Malfoy noticed this ad finally decided to speak to her. "You know, you actually have to eat it to make it go away. Picking at it just makes it all clump together."
"And what makes you think that the food isn't poisoned? This is Voldemort I'm sitting next to after all, is it not?" She whispered back to him, not wanting to be overheard by her "father".
"I doubt that even the Dark Lord would sink so low as to poison his own daughter, but believe what you may." He then proceeded to eat his own food, and after watching everyone else chat with their friends while they too ate, she decided that maybe Malfoy was right for once. Taking a bite of the Sheppard's pie, she noticed it really wasn't as bad as it looked. She ate a few more spoonfuls before moving onto her lamb. Maybe living with Voldemort as your father wasn't as bad as she originally thought. At least the food's good.
-o.O-
The ballroom was by far the most beautiful room Hermione had ever had the opportunity to lay her eyes on. At least, one that wasn't from a picture in a magazine or library books. A white marble grand staircase rose from the center of the floor, connecting with the upper balcony where dancing was also possible. Chairs clustered around small tables lined the walls for couples whose feet became sore, or friends who wanted to converse with one another for old times sake. Everyone had entered the room before them, allowing them an entrance fit for royalty. Their thrones had been moved into the room
and set upon a raised platform on the left hand side. The Riddle's made their way to their seats and, once they sat down, the real party started.
Hermione watched as the gentlemen offered a dance to the ladies and, for those who accepted, led the way to the dance floor. The music was beautiful; an old ballad played on a piano, harp and flute. Closing her eyes, she pictured the room empty except for herself and a faceless man, dancing slowly to the music. Her fantasy was soon interrupted, however, when she heard her name being called.
"Mia?" It was Draco Malfoy. Though she felt like ignoring him as he had ruined her daydream, she was curious to know what he wanted.
"Yes, Draco?" The way she said his name, allowed it to roll off her tongue like some foreign language, caused him to smirk.
"May I have this dance?" He asked, extending his hand toward her. She obliged, allowing herself to be led to the dance floor. Placing her arms around his neck, his on her hips, she looked into his eyes as they began to dance. "You look nice tonight, Mia." Draco said, never taking his eyes off her face.
"Thank you Draco. So do you, in your all black attire." She smiled as she said it, considering every other occupant in the room was too wearing all black except her mother.
"A man must always look his best." Was his reply, and after that silence fell over the pair as they continued to dance. After two more dances, Blaise Zabini cut in. Draco bowed to her before approaching his parents and talking with them.
"Well, well, well. Who would have thought that the Gryffindor Mudblood was actually a Riddle? I'll be damned." Blaise was a handsome boy; tall dark and handsome definitely fit his description. But he also had an aura around him that instantly made one feel untouchable, almost comfortable in his arms. Hermione knew that these boys were all Slytherins and probably out to get her, but for once, just dancing with Blaise and enjoying herself, she wasn't as worried as she should have been. After a few dances together, Blaise led her to a small table in the far corner and sat down beside her.
"Thank you for the dance Blaise. I'm really starting to enjoy myself." Hermione, or Mia, began. "At first I thought-" Was all she managed to get out before she felt a pair of lips crash onto hers. Struggling against Blaise, she realized that she was stupid for thinking she could let her guard down around these sneaky Slytherin bastards. She began to hit him even though she knew it was not going to help her, until she felt him pull away.
Wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, she threw him the dirtiest look she could muster and left the table, hoping to make it back to her seat without being ambushed.
Malfoy saw her from the opposite side of the room and wondered what made her look so angry that he knew he would have to intervene to find out. "Have a good snog Mia?" he asked, coming up from behind her. He had seen what Blaise had done to her, and though he knew he was being a prick to
her, he was a little jealous that she had kissed Blaise, whom she had known for five seconds, and not him, whom she had known for six years.
She turned to him furiously, but the look of hurt in her eyes gave her away. "No, Malfoy, I did not. And you better warn your pal Zabini to stay away from me if he knows what's good for him." With that she stormed to her throne beside her mother, and refused to dance with anyone for the rest of the evening. Malfoy decided he would have a little discussion with Zabini, for Mia's sake of course, and made his way over toward where his 'pal' was sitting.
"What did you do to her, Zabini?" Malfoy asked as he looked down at his friend.
"Nothing I haven't done to any other girl." Was his cool response. Every Slytherin knew Blaise was a womanizer, using the girls at school for his own benefit. While no one approached him on the subject, they all talked about his horrible habits behind his back. Draco, however, felt this needed to be dealt with now, considering he was messing with the Dark Lord's daughter. Even Crabbe and Goyle aren't stupid enough to mess with her.
"You do realize that she is the Dark Lord's daughter, and was in fact Hermione Granger. She won't hesitate to curse you into the next century, and I won't be counted on to back you up this time. My allegiances lie with the Dark Lord, and if she is his daughter, then they lie with her too." With this Malfoy stood and made his way back to the dance floor, leaving Zabini to deal with the consequences of his actions himself.
Chapter two done! I posted this early since I'm going away for the holiday weekend, and coming home for two days before going on vacation again for a week. I promise to bring my notebook and jot down some ideas for the following chapter. Hopefully I'll be able to post something between vacations. R&R please!
p.s. I also want to thank my first 8 reviewers, since this was the first story I have been able to post. I promise to read some of each of your stories in return and hope you continue reading Mia Who? Toodles!