There was a stunned silence from the onlookers.

'Me?' Echoed Voldemort. He searched his memory. Had he disarmed Draco? He had done a lot of things to Draco, but was disarming him one of them? He couldn't remember.

'When?' He asked at last.

'The night we...' Draco began...

He stopped. Turning crimson he looked down at the floor. His mother, father and aunt were staring at him, waiting for the answer. He should have saved this revelation until Voldemort and he were alone, but he had been so desperate to resolve this situation that he hadn't thought before he began.

'The night of the meeting, when you were planning the Azkaban breakout.' He answered stiffly, avoiding eye contact with anybody.

Voldemort thought back. He remembered that night alright! That was the first night Draco had played at being his slave. That was the night he had bound him, lashed him, gagged him, fucked him with a butt plug, left him tied up alone and then come back to him and screwed him. That was the night he and Draco had begun to explore a new level in their sexual relationship. There had been other nights like it since then, when the mood took them, but that had been the first time. It was a memorable night, alright, but had he disarmed Draco that night?

Voldemort was grateful for his grey snake-like complexion, otherwise he might have been blushing as much as Draco was as the memories came back to him.

'I disarmed you?' He mused. Without being too graphic, Draco was going to have to describe exactly when this had happened.

'Before the meeting.' Draco said, setting a context which alleviated their embarrassment a little. 'When we were getting ready. I was making myself look like a slave...' He paused awkwardly. 'You said I shouldn't be allowed my wand, and you took it from me.'

Voldemort thought back. Draco was correct.

'I would have given you the wand, but you took it and it caught me off guard.' Draco continued. 'I gripped it as hard as I could, it was instinctive. But you're much stronger than me.' He stopped, at the risk of getting into embarrassing territory again.

'I remember.' Said Voldemort as the scene returned vividly to his mind. 'I felt you resist me, but I thought you were just playing, getting into character. It felt odd though, I remember it now.'

'That was the moment it happened.' Draco cried. 'I was the master of the Elder wand, but at that moment, you disarmed me, you became the master!'

Draco handed the wand back to Voldemort, who felt a familiar tingle of power as the wand was reunited with his cold grey hand. It felt right. The power surge last night must simply have been an adjusting phase. Now he could tell instantly that he was the master. It felt right. It was his. He smiled at Draco in wonder.

'You are right, Draco.' He hissed. 'You are right.'

Draco, in great relief and happiness, flung himself into Voldemort's arms, quite unabashed and almost unaware of the others, who suddenly felt like they wanted to be elsewhere and no longer be witnessing this demonstrative outburst of affection.

Voldemort rested his hands on Draco's shoulders and spoke directly to him.

'There are things I need to do now, Draco. There are plans to be made. Finally we can get things in motion.'

He turned to Bellatrix.

'Bellatrix.' He barked. 'If you have a mind to redeem yourself for your behaviour yesterday, you can go with a message to Yaxley and tell him I wish to meet with him this afternoon. I will require yourself and your husband also.'

'Yes, my Lord, at once my Lord!' Bellatrix answered.

She may have been cheated out of Severus's death, but at least now she had the chance to be of use again to the Dark Lord. Plus her husband was being asked for. This would probably mean he would be given some mission to complete that evening... which would mean that she would be free to pursue other 'interests'. She disapparated at once.

Voldemort turned again to Draco.

'I am going to speak with Grayback and his pack today, and one or two others.'

Draco nodded.

'Stay here today Draco.' Voldemort told him, as he gently swept a stray lock of blond hair from his face affectionately. 'Stay with your parents. I will come back to see you this evening.' He said softly.

Draco smiled at him appreciatively.

'If you are returning this evening, my Lord, perhaps you would us the honour of dining with us?' Narcissa interjected suddenly.

Had she not been his mother, Draco would have hexed her on the spot!

For a fraction of a second Voldemort looked as horrified at the proposal as Draco felt. A family meal with Draco's parents? Sadly no excuse came quick enough, and it was arranged for 7pm.

Voldemort gave Draco the smallest fleeting kiss on the forehead before he disapparated, and Narcissa and Lucius stared, both relieved and shocked at the gentleness and affection the Dark Lord showed their son.