The room was eerily quiet, as the seven men sat around the table each alone with their own thoughts. Finally Thoros Nott spoke up quietly. "My Lord, your daughter is truly the Brightest Witch of the Age. How did none of us see it before? I can't begin to apologize on my son's behalf for any part he played in alienating Hermione from Slytherin House."
Voldemort sighed, he knew he would have to deal with this on his daughter's behalf. It could not be allowed for any of his followers to think he abided the way in which she was treated all these years. She was much too valuable to him to allow it to pass. He'd already crucio'd Lucius and Severus soundly for their insolence where his daughter was concerned. Severus had been understandably conflicted over his vow to Dumbledore and his vow to him. However, his overriding guilt in how Hermione had been tormented under his own watch plus her strength and cleverness, had firmly pushed Severus onto his side. Another debt he owed to his daughter. She was securing loyalty without even realizing it...or perhaps she did...she was his heir after all.
Archibald Flint shook his head in disgust. "My Lord, my own son..." his voice fell away in shame.
Voldemort turned red flashing eyes on the man. "I am aware of what your son did to my daughter, as Severus was kind enough to inform me about the incident in Hermione's second year. Although she did return the favor in kind, however I can not let that pass, Archibald...Crucio."
The man started to scream in agony as Yaxley and McNair looked on in confusion, so Severus informed them of what had transpired Hermione's second year, as well as sharing her own plot and how she accomplished her revenge. Thoros chuckled in appreciation. "She stole from your private stores and brewed Polyjuice in her second year? Merlin, my Lord! I am grateful she is on our side, I shudder to think what might have happened if she had been sorted into Gryffindor."
Voldemort glowered at that thought and lifted the curse from Flint, leaving the man shaking in pain. Things would have turned out very differently had his daughter been sorted into the lions den. She no doubt would've made friends with Potter and that old fool would have the prophecy, not him. By rights, she had no current magical legal guardian, which would make her Head of House her legal representative.
"Severus, it has come to my attention that as such you are my daughter's magical legal guardian. As much as I trust you Severus, I'm afraid I can't allow Hermione to be influenced by that old fool, and I fear he may try and usurp your authority if so desired, especially if her true heritage were to come to light."
Severus nodded his head in understanding as Voldemort sighed in resignation. He wouldn't be able to claim her yet, and that could present a host of problems. Looking around the table in consternation his gaze locked onto Lucius. He trusted the man, as much as he trusted anyone. He had proved his loyalty and his son was in love with Hermione. The Dark Lord wasn't ignorant of the fact that Lucius very much wanted Hermione for his son as the next Lady Malfoy. It could be a fortuitous match, and by asking Lucius to represent Hermione, he was sending a clear message that his son's suit would be favored, provided that Hermione wished for the union.
"Lucius, my friend, as Hermione has settled here for the summer, I would ask that you discreetly make arrangements for legal paperwork to be drawn up to represent my daughter yourself. I'm not unaware of the message this would send," looking at the other men in the room, "however, my daughter will have final say in whom she wishes to court. I owe her that much considering all she has done for me."
Lucius bowed his head in gratitude, not missing the look of anger on Thoros' face. "I will do whatever it is you require, my Lord. My only suggestion is to discuss it with Hermione first, from what Draco tells me the little witch has a volatile temper when provoked, and I'd rather not be on the end of another blackmailing scheme or worse, one of her inventive hexes."
The Dark Lord chuckled at the thought of his daughter's vindictiveness. "Very well, I will discuss it with her tomorrow. For now, Lucius perhaps you could speak with the Minister and put the suggestion in his ear about Dumbledore. When I speak with Hermione tomorrow, we will devise a plan to deal with Skeeter. Yaxley, you work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, go back through the records and get copies of all the transcripts for my loyal followers rotting in Azkaban. Perhaps we can find something useful that we haven't thought of." Yaxley bowed his head in agreement. "We should retire for the evening, I will call you again soon when we have a more definitive plan. In the meantime, my daughter's identity remains confined to those within this room. I will kill any one who betrays what is mine."
The men all nodded at their Lord in solemn understanding. Each one of them had been doubtful of their Lord's decision to bring a mere teenager into his inner circle, and each one walked out of the room that evening reaffirming their fidelity to their Lord and his heir. Lucius had heard Yaxley whisper to McNair under his breath that if he were 20 years younger, he might be vying for the witch's hand himself. McNair then made an off-hand comment about Dolohov, and how he would see her young age as a bonus, not to mention her cunning and brilliance. That comment gave Lucius pause, and he began to plot how he might avoid the possibility of that particular situation from ever happening.
When he looked up he saw Severus' expression of distaste, he realized that his friend had heard the comment as well. Severus looked over at Lucius, who raised a single eyebrow in response. Severus' comment of 'Indeed' was all the confirmation Lucius needed to know that he had an ally. While the Dark Lord may be amenable at this time to allowing his daughter to choose her spouse, both he and Severus knew that the man was not one to keep his word if there was some greater benefit for himself. Would Hermione be protected from that? Lucius was doubtful, so he would have to do what he could to cultivate Draco's claim on the little witch.
When they left the room, Lucius and Severus retired to Lucius' study for a late night nightcap. The two men discussed the meeting, Hermione's plans and her overall brilliance.
"Are you worried Severus, about her plan to discredit Dumbledore?"
Severus shook his head. "As you know Lucius, I begged the man to help Lily and he allowed her to be killed. After listening to Hermione tonight, and much of the information that she shared, I have a hard time believing that the old fool didn't know who the real secret keeper was. I am convinced he allowed the Potter's to be sacrificed, but what I can't figure out is what was the purpose? Did he suspect the Potter brat would survive?"
Lucius steepled his hands thinking over his friend's words. "Lily used Ancient blood magic to protect her son. Where did she get that information from, Severus? It's not as if Muggle-born witches have access to such material, Hermione excluded of course. What if Dumbledore provided Lily the idea in some fashion, knowing she would have to sacrifice herself for the 'greater good?"
Severus' face grew stormy at the thought. "Then that old codger has played me for a fool. I just wish I knew for certain exactly what happened leading up to that night."
Lucius suddenly sat up straight in his chair, his eyes widening. "Hermione!" Lucius sputtered at his friend who just looked confused. "Her ring Severus...". Severus' eyes widened in realization.
"She could recall Lily from the Spirit world. You could ask her yourself." Lucius stated firmly.
"Do you think that is a wise idea, Lucius? Hermione is obviously aware of what the stone does, but our Lord may not be."
Lucius smirked and confided into Severus what had transpired with the Dark Lord's Journal. When he was done Severus sat back in his chair and gulped down the rest of his firewhiskey. "She just gave it back to you? No questions asked? What do you think she is after?"
Lucius shrugged nonchalantly, "I think she knows exactly what she's after, and the rest of us are playing right into her hands. She's as brilliant as she is diabolical, and I for one have no intention of being on the losing side, Severus."
Severus nodded his head in agreement. "Then we must do what we can to assist her in any way necessary."
"That was my thought as well. I know you overheard Yaxley and McNair. I hadn't even given it any consideration, but when Bellatrix and Dolohov are released from Azkaban, we will need to be mindful of Hermione's safety. Bellatrix was always obsessed with our Lord, and discovering he sired an heir, will make her even more unstable if that's even possible. Dolohov is another issue entirely as the man is well known for his cruelty and sexual depravity. He will see Hermione as the ultimate conquest, and I believe will do anything within his power to secure her to his side. I have no intention of seeing that happen, even if I have to kill the man myself. Draco has told me he is in love with Hermione, and now that our Lord has given me his blessing to be her magical advocate, I fully intend to utilize this position to secure a betrothal contract between the two."
"Do you have any sense of Hermione's feelings on the matter?" Severus drawled.
Lucius smirked knowingly, "She is attracted to Draco, and the two have shared some intimacies, but she made it clear to Draco that she will not be allowed to court him openly yet, but did not seem adverse to the possibility."
Severus nodded in relief, "That is good then. Perhaps I can help facilitate them spending more time together. I have to let Dumbledore know whom my choices will be for prefects this year. I had thought of Draco of course, but due to Hermione's unwillingness to remain within Slytherin House I had thought to offer the position to Miss Parkinson. Perhaps I will leave the decision up to Hermione. I will offer it to her with the caveat she return to the dormitories. If she accepts, then the two of them will be spending quite a bit of time together."
"That is an excellent idea, Severus. Come to breakfast in the morning, our Lord will be there as will Hermione. Make the offer with him present and she is sure to accept."
"A bit of Slytherin manipulation and a carrot, Lucius?"
"You know me too well my friend."