By the time the Easter holidays arrived Hermione couldn't quite decide if Harry and Ron were looking forward to going home or dreading it. Since Molly had told them what they would be doing over the holidays they'd done nothing but moan about having no free time, however whenever things got bad at school they were complaining that holidays weren't arriving quickly enough.
In the end Hermione decided that the boys were probably relived when it was time to go home for a few weeks. A week before the end of term the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match had taken place and Gryffindor had been thrashed, meaning Slytherin won the Quidditch cup. Almost all of Gryffindor blamed Harry and Ron for the loss and the atmosphere in Gryffindor Tower wasn't the best. It didn't help that Harry and Ron were also in terrible moods because they didn't manage to win the cup during their last year at school and now they wouldn't have a chance to redeem themselves.
Hermione on the other hand was looking forward to the holidays. Not only would she be able to spend some quality time with Draco, but she would implement her plan for exacting revenge on Harry and Ron. Little did her two friends know as they were moaning about working for Fred and George they would soon have more important things to worry about.
Eager to set her plan into motion Hermione had called a Death Eater meeting for the day after they arrived back from school. She had considered holding it the day school broke up, but she wanted to spend some time with her parents first. As her plans progressed and she spent more time with Draco, Hermione felt she didn't always spend enough time with her parents and no matter what happened with her quest for power she wanted to remain close with them both.
In the end Hermione had spent all evening and the following day with her parents, filling them in on what was happening with her life and telling them about her plans for the future and her immediate plans for Harry and Ron. Voldemort was especially keen on her plans for Harry and Ron and he made sure Hermione knew just how impressed he was with her dark nature.
After spending the day with her father, Hermione left him to go and get ready for the meeting. As usual she applied her Dark Lady glamour charms and made sure her make-up and nails were immaculate. Dressed in a long, tight dark green dress Hermione set off to the Manor for her meeting. As he normally was, Lucius was waiting for her and the pair walked to the dining room together.
After greeting her Death Eaters, the first thing Hermione did was alter the seating arrangements. Draco moved up the table so he was practically at her side and Marcus, who was up and about and feeling much better, also progressed up the table. Finally Hermione made room for Draco's four friends and gave them seats in the middle of the table.
"First, I want to say how great it is to have Marcus and Draco back with us after their terrible ordeals." Hermione started. "Both of them have moved up the table as both showed me great loyalty under pressure. Because of the charm on their marks I know neither one mentioned me when they were missing and I greatly appreciate it."
"How are you even sure Marcus was asked about you?" A Death Eater from the crowds along the wall shouted out. "He has no memory of the incident."
"We are fairly confident that the Sirius Black also had Marcus." Hermione answered. "We think when Marcus wouldn't talk he targeted Draco, hoping he would be more use to him."
"As if." Draco snorted.
Hermione chuckled softly at Draco, before returning her attention to the rest of the room. "Also taking a seat at the table are Theo, Blaise, Gregory and Vincent. As I'm sure you're all aware the four of them risked their own lives to rescue Draco."
"What are you going to do about the Order?" Amycus questioned. "Did they know what Black was up to?"
"I don't really know. It was Sirius who had Draco and unfortunately with Marcus's memory been removed we have no idea if there was anyone else involved." Hermione admitted. "But if anymore of the Order were in on it, I'm sure they would keep quiet anyway."
"What about Potter and Weasley?" Mr Parkinson demanded. "Pansy said they were involved."
"It's true, they were the ones who took Draco." Hermione replied. "But I assure you they will pay for what they've done."
After a while of discussing various other matters Hermione dismissed the Death Eaters, although she asked Draco and his four friends to stay behind. As her right hand man Lucius also stayed behind, but she'd visited him just before the school holidays to inform him of her plan and he knew exactly what was going to happen next.
"I want to talk about Harry and Ron." Hermione said when everyone else had left. "And what I intend on doing to them."
"And what is that?" Draco asked, hoping whatever it was it was painful for the two Gryffindors.
"We're going to kidnap them, torture them and dump them at the Burrow with their memories obliviated." Hermione smirked. Her plan was met by grins all around and a bit of laughter.
"How are we going to get to them?" Theo asked.
"I happen to know they're spending most of their holidays working at the twins shop in Diagon Alley." Hermione answered. "Blaise, Theo, I want you two to watch them and work out when's the best time to grab them. Once we've set up a plan, I want you two along with Vince and Greg to grab them and bring them to me. Lucius is sorting us somewhere to keep them, I'll let you know where when you need the information."
"And what am I doing?" Draco asked, looking disappointed to be left out of the plans.
"I thought you might like to do to them what they did to you." Hermione told her boyfriend.
"I'd like that." Draco nodded.
"Good." Hermione smiled, before turning back to the other four Slytherins. "Blaise, Theo you can start your stakeout tomorrow."
"How long do you want us to watch them for?" Blaise asked.
"Just a few days probably, you just need to work out the best time to grab them."
"Do we get to do any torturing?" Crabbe asked. "They kidnapped our best friend, we want to make sure they suffer."
"Don't worry, you'll all have your chance to show Harry and Ron what you feel about them." Hermione chuckled, before dismissing the four Slytherins.
"Are you staying tonight?" Draco asked Hermione after his friends had gone.
"Unless you don't want me to." Hermione shrugged.
"I want you to." Draco replied with a smile.
"Good." Hermione leant over and gave Draco a quick kiss. "I have a few things to discuss with your father first, I'll be up when I'm done."
Recognising a dismissal when he heard one Draco said goodnight and left his girlfriend and father to talk. All alone Hermione and Lucius decamped to his study, where Hermione removed her glamour charms and settled into one of the comfy chairs in front of the fire. Lucius sat down in the chair opposite as the pair got down to business.
"How's things going with the Minister?" Hermione asked. "Is he going to be announcing his retirement soon?"
"Since you wanted me out of the way while everything is going on with Potter and Weasley, I've arranged for him and his wife to join Narcissa and I in the south of France. By the time we return he'll make the announcement."
"And will he name you as his chosen successor?" Hermione knew that the current Minister naming Lucius as a candidate to replace him didn't guarantee him the job, but it did give him an advantage and once his name was in the frame they would do everything in their power to ensure he got the job.
"Of course." Lucius smirked confidently.
"Great. Hopefully before school ends you'll be Minister of Magic and will have had a chance to implement some of our new ideas." Hermione grinned.
"Definitely." Lucius nodded. "By the end of the year things will be perfect for you to just drop off the radar. The Order will just think you've chosen not to remain in the wizarding world with all my new laws regarding muggleborns."
"That's great." Hermione said. "And how are you coming along with finding me some sort of business to run?"
"I looked at a few possibilities." Lucius replied. "You could go down the potions route, you could easily travel with that business, but you could lack influence. What I thought would be the best move would be for you to buy buildings around the world and transform them into something the wizarding community in that area needs. You can use a project like that to speak to various governments around the world and get them on board with your ideas."
Hermione sat thoughtfully for a few minutes, running over the potential possibilities in her head. All of a sudden inspiration hit her and she knew Lucius was on to a good idea. She knew exactly how to make a splash in the wizarding world once she left school.
"While you're in France, I'll get father to sort me out a business account and set me up a company. I then want you to start looking for either a large building in the country somewhere or a decent bit of land." Hermione said.
"Do I get to hear your idea?" Lucius asked.
"You were the one who told me, Lucius." Hermione chuckled. "I'm going to build and create wizarding businesses throughout the world, starting in Britain."
"And what exactly are you starting with?" Lucius questioned.
"I'll let you know once I have a few more plans, but needless to say it fits in perfectly with your new laws as Minister." Hermione replied as she stood up. "I just need a bit more time to mull over the details, but I'll tell you really soon what I'm planning."
"I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be a success." Lucius remarked as he also stood up.
Together the pair left the study, before going their separate ways. Lucius headed off to wherever he was going while Hermione headed for Draco's room. Idly Hermione wondered if Lucius and Narcissa were bothered that she often stayed over with Draco and were just going along with it because of who she was. Hermione hoped that wasn't the case and if they didn't like her staying over they would feel as if they could tell her so.
When Hermione entered Draco's bedroom the blond was just emerging from the bathroom. Watching him walk across the room she couldn't help but notice how much better he was walking now he wasn't at school. While all his cuts and bruises had long since faded his ankle was taking longer to heal and still wasn't quite right. However at school he was still hobbling around quite badly, even though his ankle was improving.
"You're moving around much better." Hermione remarked.
"Yeah, my ankle only hurts if I've been walking for a while." Draco replied.
"Funny, it didn't look like that a few days ago at school. You made a massive fuss about struggling to climb the stairs in the stands before the Quidditch match a couple of weeks ago."
"What can I say? My bad ankle helps remind people what I've been through and keeps the pressure up on Potter and Weasley." Draco grinned wickedly. "Not to mention the extra sympathy I get from people."
"Girls you mean." Hermione muttered, stalking across the room until she was standing in front of Draco. "Don't think I haven't noticed the way Pansy and Daphne hang all over you."
"You're not jealous, are you?" Draco smirked.
"Of course not." Hermione snorted. "I just suggest you're very careful about who you get sympathy from. I warned you when we first got together, that I don't share."
"The only person whose sympathy I'm interested in, is yours." Draco said, wrapping his arms around Hermione. "Pansy and Daphne are just friends, I'm not interested in them."
"Make sure it stays that way." Hermione smiled, leaning in and giving Draco a brief kiss.
"Why would I be interested in anyone else when I have you?" Draco replied. "You're the only witch I want."
"Good, because you're the only wizard I want." Hermione said, reconnecting their lips.
Within minutes the couple had fallen onto Draco's bed, intending to make the most of the fact they had the whole night together not just a few hours.