Hermione watched as a girl with olive skin and wavy golden brown hair stepped into the bathroom. She was wearing a skin tight, strapless, black dress that went to her knees, where it flared out into a ruffle. Hermione was wishing she could pull off something like that when she remembered the amazing dress that she was wearing. The girl shot her a smile before disappearing behind one of the stalls.
Hermione searched her mind frantically for the girl's name, but it wasn't coming to her. In fact, she couldn't remember meeting this girl at all. The girl looked strangely familiar though, like she had seen her before. Like you wouldn't remember someone that gorgeous looking, Hermione thought. Deciding that it wasn't worth fretting over and that she'd probably spent enough time standing in the bathroom, Hermione made her way to leave.
"Wait," the girl stopped Hermione, stepping out of the stall. "You're the birthday girl,"
"Yes, I am," Hermione replied back with a small grin. The girl smiled back and proceeded to the sink to wash her hands. "Did I meet you earlier? I'm sorry, you look familiar but I can't remember your name,"
"Well I'm sure you met a lot of people today, and chances are you're not going to remember many of their names," she said sweetly. "But don't worry I'm not offended, or at least I wouldn't be, considering that I didn't introduce myself to you. I came late because I had some business with my godmother to attend to. I look familiar to you because I have the feminine version of my brother's face, who you did meet. I'm Ithaca Peren,"
"Isaac's sister," Hermione said in understanding.
"His twin unfortunately," Ithaca said, bored. "I saw him dancing with you. He seems already quite taken by your presence,"
"I'm sure it was nothing," Hermione stammered, her cheeks going rosy.
"Let's hope so," Ithaca said bluntly as she checked her makeup in the mirror.
Hermione was taken aback by her statement and its tone. She suddenly felt uncomfortable with this girl.
"So, all these changes must be driving you crazy- finding out you're not a Mudblood but the purest of purebloods. How are you liking Malfoy Manor?"
"It's… different," Hermione answered, trying to be polite and ignore the derogatory term Ithaca had just used.
"Which room are you staying in?"
"The room next to Draco's," Hermione said, confused as to why she was asking such a question.
"Hmm. I used to spend my Summers here, along with my brother. We stayed in the guest rooms at the end of the fourth floor, though I didn't spend many nights in my room." Ithaca smirked at her last comment, as if remembering some memory.
"So you're close to the Malfoy's then?"
"Very close. And we just might be getting closer in the next couple years,"
Ithaca looked over at Hermione and smiled at her in a way that could only be described as impish. She finished fixing herself up and headed for the door.
"It was nice meeting you Miss Luxurien. The gift my brother gave you was a joint one from him and me, so don't expect anything else. And one other thing, I don't like when people get in my way- remember that,"
Before Hermione could say anything in response, Ithaca was out the door, the sounds of the other guests having a good time sneaking into the room and reminding her that she needed to be out there too.
"I'd watch out for her if I were you," a portrait of Katherine of Aragon on one of the wall's said.
Great, Hermione thought with a huff.
Draco had never gotten along with Isaac Peren, and there he was, flaunting the fact that he got to dance with Hermione first, and to the song Draco had meant for them.
"Draco…" Pansy warned, trying to get his attention off the two of them. "It's one dance, just let it go,"
So for the next three minutes Draco tried hard just to look at Pansy and nowhere else in the room. The second the song ended he searched for Hermione. They had only been a few couples away from her and Isaac, but it seemed he had danced her into some other part of the floor. He soon spotted them, Hermione dipped lowly in Isaac's arms and his face merely centimeters away from hers.
"I'll take care of it," Pansy said quickly, making her way to Hermione. Draco followed behind her.
"Hermione!" Pansy called. Draco watched as Isaac lifted Hermione back up, but didn't fully let go of her. The minute he and Pansy were close enough to see, Isaac removed his hand from her waist. "Would you accompany me to the bathroom?" Pansy asked. Hermione agreed and they were off. It hadn't exactly been what Draco had had in mind, but it was good enough.
"Malfoy," Isaac said cooly.
"Peren," Draco replied equally so. They glared at each other for a second before turning in opposite directions and walking away. Draco found Blaise and they went over to the drink table to wait for Pansy and Hermione.
"Looks like Peren's trying to get a little comfortable with your girl," Blaise sniggered.
"First of all, she's not my girl," Draco said taking a swig of his drink. "Second, like hell he is." He looked towards the girls' bathroom, waiting for the door to swing open to reveal Hermione and Pansy.
That was when he saw her. She was laughing like she hadn't a care in the world next to Mila Vexen and a few other people he knew she used to spend her time with.
Draco elbowed Blaise hard in the side. "When did she get here?" he asked him.
"Who-? Oh…her. I'm not sure; she wasn't here for the introductions though. I figured she was still away or something, didn't know she had returned,"
"Neither did I," Draco said bitterly. He was still staring at her when she turned and caught his eye, sending him a smirk that could match his any day. They only held each others' gaze for a moment before she turned away again to continue talking to Mila.
"You think she'll come talk to you?" Blaise asked.
"I don't know. Should I want her to?"
"Probably not, but then again I'm biased since I never really liked the girl,"
"Hello boys," Pansy said, showing up next to them having returned from the bathroom. "Hermione will be out in a couple minutes, she just needed sometime away from the party. Now, who were you two talking about?"
"Guess who's back," Blaise said instead, deciding to turn this into a game for Pansy.
"Really, Blaise?"Pansy groaned. "Ughh… okay, is it Bellona Hansen?" Blaise shook his head. "Loren Ardor?
"Nope," Blaise said. "Think Pansy: she hasn't been here for a year, she was friendly with Draco, I don't particularly care if she falls off a cliff-"
"How nice of you Blaise," Draco scoffed. "She wasn't that bad to you,"
"Are you kidding me? She 'accidentally' put nuts, which we know I'm allergic to, into that batch of cookies we made and didn't tell us, 'accidentally' caught my hair on fire, and 'accidentally' let slip to Elexus Kraftor that I was the one who caused her skirt to fly up during her fourteenth birthday. Yes I definitely love that girl,"
"Wait, are we talking about who I think we are?" Pansy said, raising her eyebrows. When Draco nodded she gave a short laugh. "This is going to be interesting. Where is she?"
"She was over there talking to Vexen, but I guess she went somewhere else now- What?" Draco said, noticing that both Blaise and Pansy's eyes were looking at something behind him.
"Hello Draco."
Draco turned around to face the girl he had let go only one year before. She hadn't changed much, if anything she had just grown more beautiful. Her hair and skin were still golden, and her eyes were still brown as chocolate; and the close up sight of her still caused a hitch in his throat.
"Ithaca," he finally managed to say.
"I was wondering if you had forgotten my name for a moment," she gave a small laugh. She then faced Blaise and Pansy and said hi to them. Blaise just grunted and turned away, while Pansy acknowledged her with an obviously fake smile.
"Dance with me," Ithaca said to Draco, taking the glass he had in his hand and setting it on the table before dragging him into the middle of the dance floor. Draco hadn't even noticed that another slow song had begun to play. It was another song he had meant to dance with Hermione to, but once again he wasn't doing that. However, he didn't exactly mind his current dance partner.
"When did you get back?" he asked her.
"About a month ago, I've been meaning to come see you, but my father told me to just wait until tonight. He said you would be worrying about other things. I didn't find out till last night that those things included housing Hermione Luxurien. Had I known that I would've come here much sooner,"
"And why is that?"
"To make sure I still hold the space in your heart behind your mother. I do hope that hasn't changed." Ithaca looked up into his eyes with a penetrating gaze. He hated when she did that; he couldn't seem to think clearly when she did.
"I thought we both agreed that it was best we didn't continue our relationship," he said to her, though his voice was barely above a whisper. They were no longer dancing now, just standing in position in one spot.
"Just while I was away," she answered back. "It didn't mean forever. Nothing can come between us Draco, you know that."
The song came to an end and Draco released her from his hands. He wasn't sure what to say to her, for at that moment Hermione's face came to the forefront of his mind.
"Hey Draco!" Blaise called to him, forcing him to look away from Ithaca. "It's time to cut the cake."
Draco nodded. "We'll talk later," he said quickly to Ithaca before following his friend, leaving her alone in the middle of the dance floor.
When Hermione left the bathroom she wondered why she had let Pansy leave her there in the first place. She had forgotten that when she came back out she'd have to find her, Draco, and Blaise, and pass a bunch of people who may or may not like her along the way. It made her uncomfortable the way they all turned to look at her when she walked passed them. It didn't help that only a couple minutes ago she had been warned by one of them to "not get in her way," whatever that was supposed to mean.
She successfully reached Pansy and Blaise, who were standing close together and whispering something to each other, while looking at something going on out on the dance floor.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked them. She looked to see what they were staring at, and her face fell when she saw Draco dancing with none other than Ithaca Peren. "Who is she?" she said, deciding to play dumb for a moment.
"Ithaca Peren, Isaac's sister and Draco's ex-girlfriend," Pansy said.
Ex-girlfriend…She failed to mention that, Hermione thought. She then remembered what Ithaca had said about staying at Malfoy Manor, "We stayed in the guest rooms at the end of the fourth floor, though I didn't spend many nights in my room." And then she had smirked. Jealousy, which Hermione thought she would never link with Draco Malfoy, suddenly coursed through her.
"She's not our favorite person," Pansy continued. "Blaise particularly doesn't care for her," she chuckled.
"Then why was Draco with her?"
"We didn't tell him until after she left, though I'm not sure it would've made a big difference,"
"That's what you think," Blaise retorted. "There's no way Draco would choose her over me,"
"I always knew you two were secret lovers," Pansy teased. Blaise told her to shut up.
"So you said she left?" Hermione started again.
"Yeah, she moved to Australia with her mother- her parents are divorced. She and Isaac went to Durmstrang together, but after the separation was final she moved with her mother and continued school over there. Blaise and I had our own private celebration to commemorate the event," Pansy grinned.
Blaise grinned himself at the recollection, and then took a glance at the watch on his wrist. Suddenly he had either of his hands on Hermione and Pansy's shoulders and was ushering them towards the dance floor. "You two should get back to dancing,"
Pansy looked at him curiously and then quickly said, "Yes, we've been standing here for far too long." She took Hermione by the hand and took her into the group of people. Clearly there was something going on Hermione didn't know about.
Five minutes later she found out. The music was stopped and Pansy was leading her back to her throne on the platform. Everyone's attention was then brought to the ballroom doors, which were slowly opening. There was a gasp as four house elves walked in carrying a large, four-tiered, cream colored cake, decorated with tiger lilies. Narcissa, Draco, and Blaise were right behind them.
"Hermione just sat in her chair, marveling at the spectacle. It was soon placed in front of her, and Draco smiled as he swished his wand in the air and all the lights went out. Hermione covered her face with embarrassment as not a moment later the cake was lit up with the flames of numerous candles.
"On three!" Narcissa shouted. "One, two , three- Happy Birthday to you…"
Hermione continued to laugh with embarrassment as the room was filled with the sound of everyone singing to her. She always found it awkward to be the center of attention during these things.
"Make a wish," Draco whispered into her ear as the song came to its conclusion, causing her to jump.
Hermione took one last look at the magnificent candlelight before standing up. She took a deep breath and then thought, I wish Voldemort didn't need me to create his heir, then she blew out all the candles, repeating her wish with each new puff of air.
Everyone cheered and clapped, and when she was done Hermione looked down at her guests and smiled. She unintentionally found Isaac Peren in the crowd and he winked at her, causing her to blush. As if noticing the small gesture, Draco quickly grabbed Hermione by the hand and brought her back to her seat. "You get the first slice. Which tier do you want it from?"
"The top one, please." A second later a house elf placed a perfectly cut slice of cake from the top tier onto her lap. It was marble, covered in cool whip, and had a single tiger lily sitting on it. She picked the tiger lily up and upon examining it realized that it wasn't a real flower.
"The flowers are made of sugar," Draco told her. "So you can eat them too,"
"Thank you," Hermione said. "For telling them what my favorite flower was,"
"It wouldn't be your cake without them, now would it," he said, taking a seat on the step in front of her and digging into his own slice. Blaise and Pansy joined them as they sat there eating. At the same time every guest came to get their own slice, acknowledging them with a "Happy birthday Miss Luxurien," before going back to their own spot in the room.
"Happy birthday Hermione," Isaac greeted her when he came up. "I hope I'll be sharing more of them with you,"
Pansy placed her hand firmly on Draco's shoulder, making sure he didn't get up.
"Thanks," Hermione responded with a smile. "We'll see what happens next year,"
"You is holding up the line sir," one of the house elves told him, and after sending a final wink Hermione's way, he left.
"Those Peren twins are sure annoying," Blaise murmured, at which both Draco and Pansy snickered.
"One of them isn't too bad," Hermione said quietly, not looking up from the bite of cake she was about to take. If she had she would've seen the daggers Draco was currently staring into the back of Isaac Peren's head.
The music soon started up again, and being done with their cake Hermione, Draco, Blaise, and Pansy returned to dancing. The second the first notes of a slow song started to play, Draco grabbed Hermione by the hand and pulled her to him. "Finally, I get to dance with you," he said.
"It's not like you haven't danced with me before,"
"It wasn't your birthday before. Now, please tell me you love this song too,"
"I love every song that's played so far, though this is personally one of my favorites,"
"I thought so, you listen to it all the time,"
"Noticing things about me Draco?"
"We spend every day together, of course I do," Draco said as he twirled her around.
"When did you even have time to go through my music?"
"While you were in the shower the other day. I'm surprised you didn't even notice that half of your CDs were missing. I got the rest today,"
"You snuck into my room without my permission?"
"It's my house Hermione, I can do what want," he smirked, and Hermione playfully hit him on the shoulder.
All of a sudden the music came to an abrupt halt, the song not even halfway through. Draco and Hermione looked up, confused. There was some protesting and complaining from the party guests, wondering why it had stopped, but all noise quickly dissipated as their eyes were drawn to the ballroom doors. Hermione's stomach churned over.
Voldemort was standing there, Bellatrix Lestrange at his side, Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy behind him, and a few Death Eaters Hermione didn't care to know the names of behind them. He began to walk towards where Hermione and Draco were, his steps heavy and echoing throughout the eerily quiet room.
"Breathe Hermione," Draco had to whisper into her ear, noticing that her chest had not risen since Voldemort started heading her way. Draco gave her hand a squeeze before letting it go.
"Happy Birthday, Miss Luxurien!" Voldemort said a little too gleefully for Hermione's taste. Seeing him in a good mood was a lot more disturbing than seeing him in a displeased state. He lightly took hold of her hand, and began leading her to the platform. "Come. I do hope you're enjoying the festivities. I remember your mother's eighteenth birthday like it was yesterday, and a great day it was. I see you have acquired her throne, which is quite appropriate as it was given to her on her eighteenth birthday as well,"
Hermione merely nodded her head at the proper times and tried not to look at him. Voldemort's hand felt strange, rough, and clammy in hers, and she couldn't wait for the moments when it'd be free again. He thankfully let go once they were at the platform and he had seated her in her chair. The other Death Eaters had followed faithfully behind him and had taken to standing in the spots where Draco, Pansy, and Blaise had been previously.
Hermione felt surrounded and uncomfortable in the midst of them, especially since she was sitting while they still towered over her. While most of the Death Eaters were stoic in expression, Bellatrix Lestrage looked livid, and like it was taking all her will to not curse someone. Hermione looked around in the crowd of guests for the familiar face of Draco. She came in contact with his grey eyes and kept her focus there, and he too kept his gaze on her. Doing this was something she had secretly decided on not too long ago; that as long as she knew Draco was there she'd be fine. It worked every time they had a dinner in the midst of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
"I'm not sure if you are aware Miss Luxurien," Voldemort began to say, "But there are many traditions in noble Pureblood society, and now that you are here with us I fully intend you to take part in all of them. The one you will be taking part of today is the Notam Generis- or the brand of the family, though the Latin version sounds much more sophisticated in my opinion,"
Brand? Hermione shuddered. I'm going to be branded? She suddenly remembered the part of her mother's journal talking about her eighteenth birthday, and the passage where she mentioned being branded rang through Hermione's mind.
In the middle of the party Grandfather came in to mark me with the Notam Generis, on my inner left wrist of course, just like mother and everyone else. The Ditiae brand looks like this: It's a perfect circular laurel wreath with the greek symbol for "D" in the center. The wreath is supposed to represent power and victory and the D is obviously for our surname. Grandfather was beaming the entire time and I felt so proud to be part of the family. It stung of course, but I tried not to show it. It still kind of hurts now, but it's worth the pain, and that won't last forever. Now when I look at my wrist I remember who I belong to and where my loyalties lie. Even after I get married it will still be there as a remembrance of where I came from. Grandfather also said that it shows others who I am. If anyone dare try and cross me I just have to flash them my family crest and that will settle any scruple. I can't wait to show Andrew.
Hermione wondered how she could've glossed over such an important event.
"How fortunate you are to be here with us during your eighteenth birthday, the day when the brand is bestowed upon those of noble pureblood ancestry," Voldemort continued. Yeah fortunate, Hermione mumbled in her head. "We would've honored you with it anyway even if the day had already passed, but it's much more meaningful when it's given on the day it's supposed to, don't you agree Narcissa?"
"Yes my Lord," Hermione heard her say.
"Lucius, if you would please," Voldemort said, motioning for the elder Malfoy to come forward. Hermione still hadn't taken her eyes off Draco, but the moment Lucius closed his fingers over her wrist Hermione's instincts kicked in and she shot her eyes up at him, and she couldn't seem to look away. His face was like stone- emotionless. He didn't look at her as he stretched her arm out to its full extent and then brought the tip of his wand to her inner wrist. Hermione wanted to move out of the way, but it was asif she was frozen to her chair. All she could do was watch the spot where Lucius was pressing his wand.
"Inuro!" he said, and immediately Hermione felt her skin being burned. Not wanting to scream she clutched the arm of her chair with her other hand. Lucius had moved his wand along in a fluid motion, making the shape of a figure eight. He then pressed the wand once again to the center of her wrist and said "Luxurien," then he removed it from her skin. The area burned for a moment more before subsiding into a mere sting.
Hermione stared at her wrist, which Lucius still had sitting on his hand, and watched as an image began to appear. Stretching from edge to edge was the infinity sign, dark and prominent against her pale flesh. Lucius bent over to look at it closely, twisting her wrist from side to side.
"It is done my Lord," he said, giving Voldemort a curt nod and releasing Hermione. He then rejoined his wife at the side of the throne.
The moment he let go of her, Hermione rubbed the marked spot with her opposite thumb, wanting the stinging sensation that was still coursing through it to go away. She brought her wrist closer to her view and noticed that it wasn't just simply an infinity sign. The symbol was composed of groups of other Greek symbols, with smaller infinity symbols separating them.
"That is the Luxurien Crest, Hermione," Voldemort spoke. He was standing right next to her, but Hermione kept herself from looking up at him. "An infinity symbol constructed with the words power, purity, and perfection- all in Greek- and of course your surname. Everything your family stands for,"
Hermione couldn't stop staring at the image imprinted on her skin, the words Voldemort had just said repeating in her mind. Power, purity, perfection, power, purity, perfection. Everything her family stood for. Everything he stood for. Everything she was supposed to stand for. If Hermione wasn't a pureblood before, she definitely was now.
