I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Winter has finally decided to grace the Midwest with its presence, and it may go. It keeps trying to give us this disgusting clear stuff. (Ice) I still don't own anything beyond several bags of chemical rock salt. But thank you all for your support and even reading this.

Chapter 12 Death Eater Dinner

Hermione showered and left her hair to air dry per Maisie and Bee's instructions. She stood in her dressing room before the open wardrobe, debating which dress to wear. Finally, she pulled out a pine green sheath dress, the asymmetrical top resembled the top worn by a Grecian statue, with one wide strap over her shoulder. The dress was sleeveless with a square neckline. A slit on the right side came up to mid-thigh. She paired the dress with black Manolo Blahnik peep-toe pumps that clasped around the ankles. She cast cushioning and balancing charms on the pumps. To brighten the dark color of the dress she matched it with white gold and diamond jewelry.

One of the last things Eleanor and Hermione had done together was to go get pierced again. Hermione added a second hole to each ear and pierced her right helix. Eleanor pierced the same helix, "Even if I cannot remember you, you will be part of me forever. And you will remember me." Her heart squeezed at the thoughts. In memory of her parents, she wore Eleanor's favorite dangling drop earrings. Each earring had three simmering strands of square diamonds handing from a two carat square diamond. Above those, she wore her own one carat square diamonds, a gift from the Grangers. She transfigured the ball of the helix hoop into a crow, representing the Lestrange family. She slipped the matching bracelet on and asked Maisie to help her put on the matching choker. Together the elves arranged her hair in a cascading waterfall of curls, held in diamond accented barrettes.

"Simply perfect, thank you, both." The elves beamed at her praise. She hurried downstairs to meet the Lestranges.

Bellatrix eyed her critically, "A little on the risque side, but I like that." Rodolphus glared at her.

"This is conservative compared to some dresses," Hermione informed her.

"You look lovely, Hermione," Rodolphus told her. "But save those more risque dresses for events I don't attend. This is enough skin for me."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "Don't be absurd. Let's go."

Despite no official announcement being made, or the adoption even having occurred yet, both Lestranges treated Hermione like their offspring. They waited for her to depart the floo and presented her to their hosts. Even still, Bellatrix deserted them the instant Voldemort entered the drawing room. "Unsurprising," Rodolphus muttered under his breath without much emotion. Idly, Hermione wondered if he would begin seeking female companionship soon as his wife clearing preferred someone else. "Those ingredients can't come in soon enough."

"Will you divorce?" she asked before she could stop herself.

"Unlikely, the Dark Lord has never expressed any interest in matrimony, and she's content just sharing his bed. I'm content just having her out of my hair. And staying wed will keep the vultures away."

"Vultures?"

"Widows and husband seekers, an unmarried man must be in want of a wife."

"All I ask is for someone older than me. I'm afraid I might smother her in her sleep otherwise."

"You have a delightful little violent streak, don't you?" He smiled at her proudly.

Hermione shrugged, "I'm finished tolerating fools."

"I fear for those of your generation," he murmured.

"I've met a few I can tolerate," she flashed him a feral grin.

"Just tolerate? You wound me, princess." Adrian covered his heart and staggered back dramatically.

"Better than loathe entirely," she quipped.

"Your words cut, my lady," Adrian shook his head sadly.

"Your ego will survive," she rolled her eyes.

"But will my heart?" he asked a plaintive voice.

"I would be more worried about my head if I were you. She has no interest in you, your heart will be fine." Marcus told his friend. "Evening, Lestrange, hello, little dove. You look stunning." He made a show of looking her over. "Simply stunning."

"I'd start worrying about your own head, mate." Adrian nudged him, nodding his head towards Rodolphus's frown.

Ignoring the others, Hermione smiled up at Marcus, "Thank you. You clean up nice."

Marcus gave her a small smirk, "I try."

Adrian pouted, "I think it is eminently unfair of you to attach yourself to the first bloke you meet just because Rabastan introduced you." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"So this is Bas's fault?" joked Rodolphus with fake gruffness.

"And I did not pick the first of you I met, and Bas did not introduce us," Hermione primly replied.

"He didn't?" Adrian sounded surprised.

"No, he did not."

"Then how did you meet?" demanded Adrian.

"Hogwarts. He may not have had the reputation as the nice Slytherin, but he was always nice to me." She informed him primly.

"How did I miss this?" asked Cassius, joining them. "Good evening, all."

"You weren't paying attention at the right time. And be honest, how often did you really pay attention to me?"

"Does now count?" Cassius leered.

Marcus growled, "Do you have to flirt like this in front of me?"

Adrian and Cassius answered in unison, "Yes."

Cassius laughed, "You know how this works until there is a sealed engagement all's fair."

"Do I get a say?" Hermione inquired politely.

"Since you don't have a legal guardian that anyone here recognizes, maybe," pondered Adrian.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Rodolphus. " Right now your legal guardian is probably McGonagall since Dumbledore died. But your opinion is paramount in all things. And these boys would do well to remember that family name is not the only thing taken into account when it comes to marriage." He eyed them. "But, as you seem comfortable in their company, I will leave you. Lucius is summoning me."

"Of course, if they annoy me, I'll hex them."

"Sounds acceptable."

"What was that exchange about?" inquired Cassius.

"Never you mind, it is a long complicated and I don't wish to discuss my personal business in a public area full of gossips."

"Speaking of gossip, I heard there was a kerfuffle with Parkinson and Higgs this morning. Spill!" Adrian asked.

"What do you know?" Hermione sassed back.

"They flooed home this morning starkers because you vanished their clothes."

"From my bedroom floor. Those slags fornicated in my bed last night. I had a house elf hex them to the floo and then home. Their foolish fathers thought to complain about me to the Dark Lord, who immediately showed them their error."

"Their disrespect to the Malfoys for leaving public areas, wow," Cassius remarked.

"And to the Dark Lord, you're his guest," Marcus whispered.

"Precisely."

"Oh, to have seen Pansy's face," sighed Adrian.

"Get a pensieve and make it worth my while," Hermione teased.

"If I make them play nice, you have to play nice," Marcus lightly pinched her side.

"Again, make it worth my while."

"Minx," he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her to his side.
"You like it," she smirked up at him.
He looked down at her, then frowned. "Why have I never noticed you have multiple piercings?"

"Nice change of subject. Because when my hair is down the tops of my ears are covered and I don't always wear flashy earrings in every hole."

"Hmmm, they look nice," he leaned over her slightly.

Tock, the head elf entered the room and quietly addressed Narcissa. She caught Lucius's eye. He nodded, "Ladies and gentlemen, my darling wife informs me dinner is served."

As the dinner guests organized themselves, Marcus offered Hermione his arm. She began to take it when a voice interrupted, "My apologies, Mr. Flint, but I wish to escort Miss Granger this evening, with her permission, of course." Voldemort smiled politely.

"If Hermione wishes," Marcus released her.

"Certainly, but don't leave without saying goodbye."

"As you wish," Marcus promised.

Voldemort seated Hermione to his left as he took the seat at the head of the table. Lucius sat to his right, Narcissa beside him. Rodolphus sat to Hermione's left with Bellatrix next to him. Hermione didn't recognize anyone else near them. Marcus, Cassius, and Adrian sat with Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and the others closer to their age at the other end. She assumed their parents were somewhere in the middle. She took a deep breath and pulled on her formal manners learned from her Grandmother Granger. She loathed those lessons with the sour-faced old woman, always harping on about protocol and responsibility. Yet, the lessons sank in and stayed. Without needing cues Hermione sailed through the first three courses. Though never introduced through the context of the conversation she began to identify the parents of her classmates, and her new, dare she consider them, friends. The conversation centered around their problems cementing their control at the Ministry.

A large brutish man grunted, "The old ways would have worked wonders, a little intimidation, a murder or two, and bob's your uncle."

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making a derisive sound. Instead, she ducked her head, rolled her eyes, and kept eating. However, Voldemort must have been watching for her reaction, "You disagree?"

"With oh so much, history is full of violent tyrants being overthrown by the rabble banding together. But benevolent leaders that gently shaped their expectations with firm, but fair, leadership left empires spanning centuries. At least until their successors become demonic despots who get overthrown," she smiled sweetly.

"Impossible," scoffed Crabbe, Sr.

"Thought the Romans until the barbarians were at the gates," quipped Hermione. "The British treated colonial natives as little more than flunkies and servants, certainly never their equals. The American colonists saw themselves as English citizens. The nobility and military treated them like they did the other colonists- they were to blindly obey. It did not end well for us British." Crabbe Sr stared blankly at her. "The touted, greatest army in the world got their arses handed them to them by a bunch of angry farmers with pitchforks. I am, of course, glossing over the assistance of the French and the Hussein mercenaries working for the British and numerous other facors. But the point stands, treat your subjects well and they will be content under your rule. Single out a group, make everyone live in fear, they will never stop fighting you."

"A child like you cannot understand the complexities of war or politics," MacNair sneered.

"I assure you I understand war quite well after engaging in it for the last seven years. But this entire conversation is moot. I don't care what you do. My opinion was asked, I gave it."

You don't care?" snorted Avery.

"Not in the least. You can kill each other and sort it out. I do not care."

"You expect us to believe that?" demanded MacNair.

"I think you'll find, "Mr. MacNair, I don't have to care what you do or do not believe. I don't answer to you.

"Then why are you here?" he asked harshly.

"Because I was asked to dinner," she resumed eating.

"That is not what I meant."

"I feel rather overdressed for this inquisition." She glanced at Rodolphus. She felt him press his leg against hers in support.

"You should watch how you speak to your betters, girl."

Slowly, Hermione placed her silverware at four and eight on the plate. She raised her head from the table, her brown eyes flashing dangerously. "No one in this room is my better, and poor few are my equals." MacNair raised his wand but Hermione was faster. Where MacNair sat a large eel now coiled. Hermione looked at Voldemort, "That's your only freebie. Next time I let them hex."

"Understood," he nodded. "What are you planning for MacNair?"

She shrugged, "Do you especially need him? Sir Hiss has been complaining he hasn't had fresh eel in a while. I think he might be due a treat." Bellatrix chortled at her bored tone, she might have been discussing the weather.

"While I cannot disagree with your assessment or intention, could I request you not feed my followers to your familiar?"

She cocked her head to the side considering, "The problem here is that if I back down now, everyone will think me weak and childish."

"I assure you, Miss Granger," Lucius spoke up, "no one will be making that mistake anytime soon."

"Hermione, dear, he won't stain the chair fabric will he?" Narcissa inquired politely.

"No, ma'am. And I suppose I can forgive one of your followers this time." She flicked her wand. The eel levitated and changed back into a wizard. "But next time it is on."

MacNair sputtered for a few seconds before composing himself. Voldemort chuckled, "I think apologies are in order." MacNair straightened looking smug. "Neville?"

"You want me to apologize, my lord? I was turned into an eel!" he protested.

"I'm aware. I was here. I stopped her from feeding you to her familiar. But you attacked my guest, who is under my protection, and you pulled your wand at the table." He smiled affectionately at Hermione, "Miss Granger defended herself."

"I apologize for my brash and thoughtless actions." He directed his apology more towards the Malfoys, but Hermione didn't object. His having to apologize when she did not was victory enough.

The conversation picked back up as people resumed eating. Several mentioned frustrations from minor rebellions at the ministry, trying to cause problems and setbacks for the new regime. And the continued problem of the Order of Phoenix. From safe houses, they continued to encourage resistance and harried the Death Eaters when they could. The diners complained about everything while watching Hermione for a reaction. She kept her attention on the delicious food before her. "The joke shop might make a good target," someone suggested. Hermione imagined the possible booby traps the twins might have arranged. She couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face.
"Something amusing, pet?" Rodolphus asked.

"Just imaging the possibilities."

"Of?"

"The traps the twins would have set up in case you attacked. They can be rather ingenious." She smiled fondly.

"Oh?" asked Voldemort.

"That is so not going to work. And shouldn't you pretend to be at least bothered by the fact I am enjoying your followers' hypothetical pain?"

"I have no plans to order an attack on any business in Diagon Alley, so they are safe."

"That's nice for them."

Over dessert, smaller conversations broke out. Voldemort addressed Hermione, "You said make you care. We seem to be failing."

"Rather spectacularly on most fronts."

"While I may not be able to make you care for our cause, I can offer you your chance for revenge against those who wronged you."

"I will consider your offer, thank you."

Most of the older adults retired to the smoking room or Narcissa's salon after dinner. MacNair made a hasty escape. The younger generation headed for the game room. Hermione thought to go grab Sir Hiss when Marcus grabbed her hand. "Stay, a few people want to meet you."

She allowed him to tug her along, "But that raises the question, do I want to meet them?"

"Sure. Full disclosure, I don't personally know some of them, but Rabastan asked me to make introductions, so I will. What happens after that, as always, is up to you."

"You're lucky I like you."

"After the dinner show, I am inclined to whole hardheartedly agree," he smiled fondly at her.

Cassius and Adrian waited for them just inside the doorway. Cassius grinned, "I just want to reassure myself that you like me and forgive any inner house rivalry shenanigans from school."

Hermione blinked, "Because of Parkinson and Higgs, or MacNair?"

"Either, both. We good?"

"We're fine, Cas."

"That's a relief," he wiped his brow dramatically.

Chuckling at his mate's antics, Marcus tucked Hermione's hand on her elbow and lead her over to one of the sofas. Two young women sat side by side. Hermione guessed one was closer to her age, the other Marcus's. "Hermione, this is Alexandra Casteen, she graduated from Beaubatons this year. And Vanessa Hawkins, she was homeschooled." He
smiled at her, "Ladies, this is Hermione Granger."

"A pleasure to meet you," Alexandra said in an eager voice.

Vanessa held out her hand, "Splendid to make your acquaintance, Miss Granger. And thank you for putting that fool in his place."

"Glad you enjoyed it." Both girls scooted apart to make room for Hermione between them.

"When do you expect your ASPIC results?" Alexandra asked.

"The British call them NEWTs. I expect them any day. Possibly next week."

"Mine should be arriving soon as well."

Vanessa spoke up, "Do you have any career plans, Miss Granger?"

"Call me, Hermione, please, and no."

Draco snorted, "Oh, please, Granger. Pull the other one. You've been planning to go help the werewolves and house elves for years."

"While house elves deserve better treatment, and werewolves do not deserve their treatment, I no longer desire to waste my time and efforts spending years getting nowhere being forced to accelerate the careers of ignoramuses and buffoons, while being petted and trotted out like a show pony. Most of you can get bent." She looked away from him.

"Oh, please, you won't be a show pony. You're just the Dark Lord's newest darling. Only a matter of time before he gets what he wants and disposes of you," Draco sneered.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep, Malfoy," she retorted.

Cassius glared at him, "Knock it off. You don't have to be best friends, but as a host, you should be polite."

"Thank you, Cas, but Malfoy's opinions matter very little to me. And for us, that was quite civil."

Hermione made plans to see Alexandra and Vanessa soon. Both girls expressed an interest in muggle fashion and promised to help Hermione organize her jewelry when she mentioned the jumble she left it in.

After bidding them farewell, she turned to Marcus. "I should go collect my familiar. I'm moving to Lestrange Hall after the incident this morning."

"You have that ugly excuse for a cat here?" asked Goyle.

"No, Crookshanks may or may not be with the Weasleys. I meant my first familiar. The one that chose me when I was 5 or 6." She turned back to Marcus, "Want to come meet him?"

Jumping at the chance for alone time with Hermione he agreed, "Certainly." She led him to her former room. "So why Lestrange Hall? I mean, I know Rodolphus likes you, but still."

"Roddy and Bellatrix's marriage contract stipulates she can't divorce him and he can restrict her extramarital affairs until she produces an heir."

"Everyone knows that at this point. She isn't quiet about her annoyance."

"And Bella doesn't want to step down for 10 months. Nor do either of them want to do the parent thing. They picked an adoption ritual and asked me to be Rodolphus's heir," she shrugged. "They need an heir, I need the protection of a magical family."

"That's awesome."

"It doesn't mean I'm any closer to joining his side, just that I'm willing to stay around longer."

"Did Malfoy Sr and Snape help you today?"

"Yaxley, too. There's just a lot of information to process and go through."

Sir Hiss waited on the bed, coiled up with his belly showing on one layer. Marcus grabbed her wrist, "Hermione, there's a large snake on your bed."

"I know, that's Sir Hiss. I thought his name would give him away." She picked him up. "He's a rainbow snake. They're native to Florida." Sir Hiss hissed at her. "He says he was sent to England to be a pet. The family dumped him when he got too big. He liked our pond," she listened again, "and me."

You can understand him?"

She nodded, "I can."

"Is parseltongue something you can learn?"

"No, it isn't." His eyes widened in surprise. She sighed, "Can we talk about this later?"

"I have an away match tomorrow, how about the day after?"

"That should work," she smiled at him.

"I'll bring take away," he promised.

"Thanks."

"Do I get a good night kiss, or will Sir Hiss object?"

"He has no objections, if I have no objections," she petted the snake's head.

Marcus stepped closer, "Do you have any objections?"

She released Sir Hiss who dropped back onto the bed. "Hmm, no, I don't think I do." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I believe you may have a good night kiss, maybe even two."

"Two kisses, how generous." He brushed his lips against hers before pressing against them firmly. She groaned and stepped closer into his embrace. He pulled her closer. Reminding himself her soon-to-be-father waited downstairs he pulled away. "Can't return you too mussed." She raised a questioning eyebrow. "Lestrange won't take it too well if it looks like I was up here ravishing you."

"You mean you won't?" she teased.

He pulled her to him by the hips, "Oh, I will, just not tonight with a good as parent below and your familiar watching."

"I don't know, sounds like a fun challenge to me."

He kissed her forehead, "Not tonight, not here."

"Tsk, fine. I'll behave here."