She'd known she would have to give him something in exchange for her request, though a part of her had hoped he would do it on principle. Tom Riddle may be a power-hungry psychopath, but he truly did care for Hogwarts. It was special to him. Still, what was one night in all of this? Tomorrow she would go home and mend her broken pieces in Donal's arms.

Tom led her toward his makeshift throne, seating himself on it and smiling at her all the while. Elena knew what she was intended to do, but she had said she would be willing, not that she would anticipate his every desire. She took the moment before he gave the inevitable order to study him once more.

He was every bit as tall and commanding as he'd been when younger, but the darkness he'd used to rend apart his soul had taken a heavy toll. He was somewhere between a snake and a man with his flat nose and light scaling across his flesh. His eyes were now fully crimson, and the pupils were slit like a serpent. He wasn't the twisted, melted thing she'd seen last, but he was imposing, frightening to behold.

"Elena," he drawled. "Come, pet."

She shook her head free of the careful study and sat primly on his lap, her ankles crossed where they rested against his legs, upright. Yes, she was playing the role of his tonight, but Elena would make sure he saw how far she'd come. She chose this, she was under her own power.

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back against his chest, breathing in her scent and releasing it against her throat. "You smell like sunshine, pet. Sunshine and Dreamless Sleep. Why is that?"

"I brew potions and live in a forest where I often forage," she said impassively.

"Lovely." His tongue flicked against her skin and she felt her lip curl before she could help it. "You're being so very brave. You know I'm going to destroy your cool façade before the evening is over."

She shrugged. "Perhaps. I'll rebuild myself again."

He hummed, stroking her throat.

Elena was pleased at her composure. She had thought she would be terrified, but she was curiously alright. She knew her grandchildren, those who were younger, would be returning to Hogwarts after the summer. They would be safe. She would return home and play with the little ones in her garden, giving their parents a much-needed break. Donal would assist her in weeding among her herbs. He would hold her when she needed it. Life would be the same placidity she'd come to love.

Once she was settled on his lap, he went about his business as he was wont to do. Death Eaters trekked in and out of the room to give reports. She scowled at the snatchers, hoping the man she thought of as her son-in-law was safe. She would have to speak with him when she returned home. The Death Eaters, mostly men, all eyed her in confusion at some point, but said nothing. Everyone pretended this was ordinary for Lord Voldemort.

Between reports from a werewolf whose hungry grin reminded her of Lestrange and a young man who couldn't have been long out of Hogwarts something slipped over her shoulder. She thought it was Tom's hand at first before feeling the cool smoothness of snakeskin. Sliding across her, surrounding her was the largest snake she'd ever seen.

"Nagini," Tom warned. "Play nice. Elena is here temporarily." He stroked the large creature's head. It rose to sniff along her jaw before laying its head on Tom's shoulder and hissing softly. They engaged in a short discussion, Elena stiff despite Tom's supposed protection. He smiled and eyed Elena as he spoke.

"Something funny, Tom?"

Nagini hissed and sputtered at her face.

"I thought you were going to be willing this evening, pet," he said evenly, soothing the snake with his long fingers gliding over its back. "That is not the proper way to address me."

Her eyes narrowed and she rolled her jaw. "Pardon me, my lord."

"Much better. See, Nagini. She is nothing to concern yourself over." The serpent butted its head against her chin, her neck before sliding over her lap. "She says you are far too covered considering your purpose here. Do you mind, pet?" Tom— Voldemort— brandished his wand as his eyes looked over her. She gave one permissive nod and he transfigured her into something more familiar. The skirt became shorter, black, formfitting, the hem above her knees as she sat. The blouse became black as well, sleeves shortened so he could stroke the parchment fair skin of her arms. It was not unlike the clothing she would wear to work once upon a time; even her shoes had become black heels.

"No hose?" she quipped.

He was studying her face for a reaction and spread his lips in that mocking smile of his as one hand slowly popped open buttons to reveal her chest and a hint of her brassiere. "Why bother? Apparently, it is en vogue now for women to forgo them." His gaze dropped to the revealed flesh of her chest and satisfaction rolled off him in waves. "You still bear my marks." His voice was intimate as long fingers stroked the scar between her breasts.

"They become more trouble to get rid of than they are worth after a while," she admit. "No one sees them these days other than myself and I would remember them even were they gone."

Nagini laid across them both contentedly. The serpent seemed not to mind her presence now and had even rubbed across the visible scars as though to share pleasure in them. Tom was stroking them both absently, two pets and nothing more.

Dolohov stayed with Tom for the day, while Nott appeared to have business elsewhere and disappeared for a while. The Lestrange brothers appeared and she could read the darkness in their eyes as they watched their lord's spidery fingers wander over her.

"My lord, Severus has returned to report on the school," the older of the two said upon rising from his knee.

"Very well. Escort him in." Elena could feel the reverberations through her, his chin resting on the top of her head. Elena straightened up in his lap, watching as the newcomer strode into the room, sweeping to one knee almost elegantly. He was younger than she'd thought, a soft forty at most despite the weariness in his eyes. He'd lived a hard life for one who should have another century ahead of him. "Severus, my dearest friend. Rise, please."

"My lord," the man intoned as he did as bidden. His black eyes touched on her only just before returning to the monster holding her. "I have filled the empty positions at Hogwarts; both of the Carrows have volunteered to teach. Letters with the new regulations will go out along with the yearly materials next month."

"Excellent, dear boy." The warmth in the creature's voice was almost genuine and Elena wondered if Severus Snape was among his inner circle. He would have to be, considering what she knew about him. "You'll stay for dinner."

"Of course, my lord." When the younger man's focus again was drawn to her, the hand around her waist moved to her chin.

"Curious, Severus?" She knew that tone, though she'd not heard it in too long. In her periphery, Antonin stiffened. "This is Elena Mullens, a pet of sorts from my wayward youth. She has agreed to reprise that role for the evening."

Severus Snape, murderer of Albus Dumbledore, considered her. "Bellatrix will not be happy."

"I've ordered Rodolphous to find a distraction for Bella, something that will take her into the small hours of the morning." He had tangled his hand into her hair by now, tugging at her roots rhythmically in a way that bordered on pleasant and painful. "I've even given permission for multiple Death Eaters to join in their festivities, as well as any prisoners currently in the dungeons."

"That is gracious of you, my lord."

"Isn't it?" Tom pulled her head back, arching the long line of her throat and his teeth grazed her skin. "I plan to have my own fun for the evening; far be it from me to deny others the same opportunity."

"I think you're making Severus uncomfortable," Elena coolly informed despite the awkward angle of her neck. "My lord."

"Yes, Severus is soft where women are concerned; he much prefers doling out clean deaths and insulting children." Tom returned his attention to the man. "You may go, Severus. I'll see you at dinner."

"My lord, Madam Mullens." The sound of his boots trailed out of the room.

They were alone now, unless one counted Dolohov and the serpent. Tom still had her head tipped back to him and he stared down at her with those red eyes. Nagini slithered down to lay her head over Elena's lap, tail winding over her and Tom's legs as though to hold her in place. The hand that wasn't in her hair trailed finger pads over her lips, down her throat, to slide into her blouse and dance over her breast. "Are you still my little masochist under this brave face, doll?" She stared evenly back at him and he smiled. "A new game to play after all this time." He raked his nails gently over flesh, then twisted at her nipple until it hardened, and she gasped unwillingly. He chuckled and pulled her higher toward him, mouth ghosting over hers. "I can smell you, pet. Nagini can as well. Can you, Antonin?"

The man spluttered, having not expected acknowledgement. "My lord?"

"Come closer. You still find our little doll appealing, do you not?"

She could sense his trepidation as he neared the throne-like seat and Elena could see his carefully blank face. He was still the dark, brooding man she'd known before but there was a levity he'd gained in age, and an edge that belied the peace of his features. "I do still desire her," he agreed, taking in her contorted position.

"What do you think, sweetheart? Shall I give you to Antonin when I finish with you for the night? Let him take his pleasure before I release you in the morning?"

"That's your prerogative." Her pulse had jumped at the suggestion, but she continued her even breaths to show him she would not be thrown off.

"I'll think on it." Tom ghosted a kiss over her lips and released her hair so she could stretch her neck.

Notes:

Next chapter may contain triggering material.