A/N: How are you all enjoying the story so far (if at all)? Please, leave it in the reviews. Stay classy.
The Dark Lord knows me well, as a challenge like this would be right up my alley. Although, even with my advantage of a well-organized mind, and the initiative to pursue random (but not useless) pieces of knowledge, when I'm not doing my death eater duties, the other two contestants have certain attributes that I lack. For arguments sake, if we were thrust into a life-threatening situation, I would try to rationalize and take a more logical standpoint, while Dolohov would act-first-think-later, and Crabbe would take the more difficult route, since he always felt he had something to prove. In any scenario, however, one tactic would prevail over the others. Hopefully all of our questions are based on intellect and book-smarts, or practical scenarios, because Harry's life depends on it.
"Now, if any of you have seen this glorious show before, you would know that it is very different from the Muggle version! I have only three categories, and they aren't ranked by grade level, but instead by consequence. If you miss the question, you get the consequence. For example, if Mr. Dolohov here missed the question in the Finger loss category, he will have a difficult time entertaining his dragons on his flute!" The Dark Lord was smiling wickedly as Dolohov paled at the possibility. He then set his jaw and wore a look of determination. I have to win.
"Good, ladies first." Severus said as our master took his seat on his throne. "Ms. Granger, choose...your...cat-...egory." He often dragged out his sentences, and I had to resist the urge to burst into laughter. "Alright Sev, I'll have," I looked at the glowing blue board, then confidently continued, "Hogwarts: A History for the beheaded level!" I shouted aloud, followed by the murmurs and gasps from a crowd I hadn't noticed before. I looked to my friends uncertainly but they all just nodded at me grinning; this was also up my alley. "Brave choice, Ms. Granger. Here is your question: Which two Hogwarts students were the only recorded in Parseltongues in history, besides Salazar Slytherin?" Sev couldn't help but smirk. I didn't even hesitate. "The only two recorded Parseltongues other than Salazar Slytherin are yours truly, our well respected Lord Voldemort, and my very best friend," I turned to Harry with a grateful smile, then answered, "Harry James Potter." The crowd applauded when my head stayed attached to my neck, and Sev moved on to Crabbe.
The game didn't last long, since Crabbe and Dolohov were losing a lot of blood, and like everyone predicted, I was victorious. I took my place beside the Dark Lord and the ex-potions-master on stage, carrying a bouquet of black roses and a portkey wrapped in a handkerchief. It was a tube of my favorite lipstick, a deep red color. "Alright, Hermione you have proved the strength in your knowledge, your bravery and willingness to help out a friend, so you shall be rewarded accordingly." The Dark Lord clapped me on the back as the crowd hooted and cheered, littering the stage with conjured flowers and trinkets. "Thank you, Master." I say before heading over to my friends as the crowd left the conjured stands. Draco reached me first. "Wow Hermione, that was insane! You blew the other two out of the water!" He was saying this while squeezing the Magic out of me in a bone-crushing hug. He quickly dropped me and sped away when he spotted Pansy, shouted for her to join him later for a movie. We all knew Draco was mad for Parkinson, I just wish he wasn't so...tactless. But, then again, Ron wasn't very good at expressing himself appropriately either when it came to me. He would be rude and obnoxious, instead of caring and romantic. He also knows I just don't feel that way about him. Ugh, don't even get me started on Harry! He is just so oblivious; women young and old throw themselves at him, yet he only has eyes for one, and that is Severus' adopted daughter, Dahlia.
I'd never admit it...EVER, but I've grown very fond of Harry. In a way, I did like Ron, but that was only because I thought Harry fancied Ginny! Once we joined the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort, the possibility of him and Ginny ceased to exist. He tried to convince her to join us, but was left heartbroken as she went with her family, ruthlessly rejecting his offer. He was depressed for a while after, since he and Ginny had grown pretty close, but that was replaced with hatred, and he got over her. Dahlia caught his eye when she showed up at the Riddle Manor for the celebration of the Dark Lord's rebirth. Everyone had mixed feelings towards Harry during that time, since he dueled our master that day, but most everyone was clapping him on the back, thanking him for making this all possible. Dahlia wasn't exactly a Death Eater, but since her dad was, she got along well with everyone. Apparently she was in our year at Hogwarts, and was in Slytherin. I guess she kept a low-profile, being the daughter of her head of house and all. Ever since that day, when he offered her a dance, then later got engrossed in deep conversation about who knows what, he's been smitten. Frankly, I don't see what's so great about her. Yeah she's tall, with waist-length blonde curls, Caribbean-blue eyes, and smooth pale skin, plus she's an absolute wiz at the Dark Arts, but other than that, it's unclear what Harry sees in her!
Ron stalked towards me with a contemplative grin, then leaned in. I quickly took a few steps back, avoiding his Fire Whiskey scented lips. His mouth was still puckered as I walked outwardly around him, weaving through the growing crowd of partiers; Lord Voldemort would celebrate anything.