A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter! And HUGE thank you for your patience with this one. I don't know if you follow my other story Spiderwebs, but basically, I had a baby in October, and had a difficult time keeping up with writing while I was pregnant. But I am back now, and you can expect regular updates (about one a week) to resume! You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter twelve and be on the lookout for chapter thirteen in a few days!
Hermione was slowly growing used to having a suddenly full social calendar with afternoon teas, brunches, and evenings spent in each other's parlors drinking wine. At first, she'd only been invited at Walburga's whims, but as she met more and more people in the fashionable pureblood set, the more invitations she was receiving, and more often, by women of her own age group. Once Bellatrix had taken a particular interest in her, she'd been able to network more than ever.
Still, she had yet to garner the notice of Narcissa Black, who was by and far the it girl of 1974.
But, that hadn't stopped Hermione and Theo from snagging an invitation to what was sure to be the social event of the year, if not the decade. Hermione was disappointed to admit that it was only on account of Theo's friendship with Lucius that they had been asked to join for the wedding of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black, and not because Hermione had finally reached the upper echelon of pureblood ladies society.
It was an event that they certainly couldn't miss. It would likely be one of the biggest tests of their cover story that they'd faced so far.
By this point, Hermione hadn't even needed Theo's assistance in asking about how she should dress. She simply penned a quick note to Bellatrix to inquire after Narcissa's colors to ensure that her robes wouldn't match. Then, she was off to the shops in search of a sapphire blue set of robes with a new waistline to disguise some of the new roundness of her belly.
Her pregnancy had gotten out of the dangerous first trimester without issue. They'd hired a private healer to come make housecalls to ensure that everything was progressing well, but Hermione had only been told to take a prenatal potion and eat well. Wizards had not yet created a method to determine if the child was a boy or a girl, but Theo agreed that it was best for them not to attempt the spell on their own. They both liked the suspense.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Hermione turned to the side, wondering when she'd become so terribly vain. She hated that she hadn't "popped" yet, where it was evident that she was pregnant, and not just suddenly puffy. No amount of Theo telling her how beautiful she looked could make her feel better about it. She dreaded the days when she'd be as round as a beach ball. While she felt puffy and tired most of the time, there was no denying the pregnancy glow that she now had, and she supposed she could at least enjoy that.
Despite this, she was able to waltz into the wedding ceremony on Theo's arm, presenting the world with a confidence that she didn't really feel, but one that Hermione Nott should have.
Hermione had never been to a real wizarding wedding ceremony, her own having been held in the Room of Requirement, but she was unsurprised to learn that it would be held on the grounds of Malfoy Manor, in front of an old flowering hawthorn tree. The summer air was warm, but not oppressive, and the grass had been charmed to cushion the guests' feet, so no high heels would sink into the dirt.
There were no seats, but Theo led her to what was Lucius's side of the congregation, looking around for someone they knew. Eventually, they found Evan Rosier and fell into polite conversation until the ceremony would begin.
Narcissa wore gorgeous silvery robes that made her pale skin look almost translucent, her blonde hair shiny in the waning sunlight. Each step that she took made the fabric shimmer, leading Hermione to believe that it likely had numerous stones stitched into the design. Lucius stood ramrod straight, with his hair tied back, wearing rather uninspired robes in black.
They were not close enough to hear the words being exchanged, but Hermione tried to remember the call and response from her own ceremony. Her hands tightened around Theo's. She wasn't sure that she would want a ceremony as grand as Lucius and Narcissa's, but she wasn't sure that she didn't want more than what they had - rushed, in the dark, and without really knowing one another.
In the blink of an eye, the ceremony was over. There was no awkward demand for consummation of their vows, and instead, the couple retreated into Malfoy Manor while the rest of the guests were funneled towards the large tent that had been assembled next to the hedge maze that the Malfoys kept.
Theo grabbed himself a cocktail, while Hermione contented herself with water. "Is there going to be a formal dinner?" she asked her husband, looking around at all the guests. There were so many people there, she felt a bit breathless.
"I would guess so, but I imagine there will be a long cocktail hour before," he explained. "The Malfoys will want to make sure that they are seen as generous hosts."
Before Hermione could comment that the opulence didn't seem generous, but rather ostentatious, Bellatrix was walking up to them with Rodolphus in tow. "Oh Salazar, you really are pregnant!" she exclaimed, generating the interest of several people around them. "I can't believe you are doing this to me."
"Hello, Bellatrix," Hermione greeted the other witch with a laugh. "It's only temporary," she insisted.
"Yes, but then you will have a baby, and you won't be so interesting anymore," Bellatrix whined. "Promise me you won't turn into one of those boring witches like Cissa? I swear, she never lets me have any fun. And I was just started to look forward to our brunches together."
"I promise I won't suddenly become dull," Hermione said with a snort. "Of course babies take a lot of time and effort, but isn't that what nanny elves are for?" she asked with a hint of a smirk.
Childcare for their baby had been a contentious issue for Hermione and Theo. He had insisted that every pureblood family in the Sacred Twenty-Eight used house elves that specialized in the reading of children to do the majority of the labor of raising a child, despite nearly every witch being what equated to a stay at home mom. It would be seen as unusual if they did not have one. Hermione hadn't been able to let go of her modern sensibilities, wanting to look after her child herself, thinking that it wasn't really fair to the baby or the house elf to have that kind of arrangement. In the end, he'd only managed to convince her by reminding her of the odd hours their little ruse required and how much they would be out of the house. Hermione finally relented.
"Good," Bellatrix answered with a matching smirk. "Because Narcissa has become such a bore now that she is married to Lucius. All she wants to talk about is being Mrs. Malfoy and providing him with an heir. I couldn't care less."
Hermione wondered how long Narcissa would have that bubbling excitement, knowing that Draco wouldn't arrive for another six years. "But surely you want the same at some point? You and Rodolphus?" Hermione gently prodded. She was never entirely sure if Bellatrix liked her husband or not. Was their future childlessness a choice?
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "I don't know. I suppose it will have to happen someday," she answered, pursing her lips together in annoyance. "Though I still don't really think that Rodolphus deserves me."
Rodolphus wrapped his arms around his wife's middle hearing her admonishment. "How can I prove my worth to you, wife?" he teased, obviously feeling the effects of the freely flowing firewhiskey.
"Stop fucking random witches for a start," Bellatrix countered, batting away his hands.
A sour look came over Rodolphus's face at being chastised in front of witnesses like the Notts. He was suddenly quiet and sullen, taking a long drink from his glass, leaving it empty. "I'll just go get another drink," he said, before skulking off, putting distance between him and his wife.
Once he was gone, Bellatrix's face lit up like it was Christmas morning. She grabbed Hermione's hand tightly in her own. "There is someone I want you two to meet," she said triumphantly, as though she had just stumbled upon the greatest idea. "I wasn't sure if you were ready at first, but now I'm positive that you are the right kind of sort."
She was dragging Hermione through the crowd, weaving through excited revelers and shoving past anyone who got in her way. Theo was following behind her, trying to keep up. Eventually though, Bellatrix got where she was going and pressed Hermione forward.
"My Lord, may I present to you Hermione Nott. And her husband, Theo," she added as an afterthought. Bellatrix pressed her hands to Hermione's shoulders. "Hermione, this is Lord Voldemort," Bellatrix whispered into her ear, her hot breath making the hairs on Hermione's neck stand on end.
Hermione could feel Theo's arm come to wrap around her waist, almost a protective shield, but she was too focused on the man in front of her. He was not as tall as she would have expected, but he was trim and good looking. Nothing like the pale, snake like man she remembered from her time in the future. His dark hair was thick, but otherwise unremarkable. It was his eyes that were sure to haunt her dreams. They were dark, but there was no mistaking the almost red tint to them that broadcast his evilness. He was already a very bad man.
She prepared mentally for him to search her head, but did not feel any attempts to enter her mind. Dumbly, she stuck out her hand for him to take. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Voldemort," she said, feeling as though this were the biggest lie that she'd attempted to date.
He gave her an indulgent smile, showing off imperfect white teeth. "The pleasure is all mine, Madame Nott," he answered, taking her dainty hand for a moment. Then, he took Theo's hand in a firmer handshake. "And you — Theodore, was it? A relation to you, Alfred?"
Alfred Nott, who Voldemort had presumably been speaking to before Bellatrix barged into the conversation, looked thoroughly irked. "Yes," he said with a sneer. "A second cousin if I've read the tree correctly."
Theo answered with a laugh of his own. "First cousin once removed, I think," he taunted, delighting in embarrassing the other man. Theo has never really explained why he hated his father so much, but it seemed as if the feeling was mutual. "But family trees like ours are so convoluted, I wouldn't expect you to have it memorized."
Voldemort laughed as though he had some personal experience in the matter as well, even though it seemed like the Gaunt family was more of a branch than a tree, Hermione thought unkindly. "Too true, Theodore," he agreed.
"I actually prefer Theo," her husband corrected, apparently uncaring that he was correcting the most powerful dark wizard alive.
It appeared as though it was the right call. Voldemort seemed to be warming up to him immensely. "It seems as though congratulations are in order," The dark wizard said, vaguely indicating towards Hermione's stomach. "When is she due?"
Hermione could not hold back the answer. "Late in January. We are very excited," she said, pride dictating that she contribute to the conversation, especially considering she was it's topic.
"Barely married and he already has a healthy heir on the way. What a lucky wizard," Voldemort said, giving Alfred a nudge. "Watch out Alfred, or you might be leaving your fortune to him."
The jape at Alfred's expense had him glaring at Theo more than he already had been. It appeared that Theo's father did not like being reminded of how insecure his future really was. He had no familial pressure to find a wife and have a child, until Theo showed up with a young, pretty wife. Was that what had made him so slow to act the first time around?
"Not likely, Tom," Alfred answered, giving Hermione a hard stare. Theo had told her that his father was one of Voldemort's oldest friends, but she was not prepared for him to use Voldemort's muggle name. She was even more surprised when Voldemort didn't admonish him. They were close, closer than she would have expected. "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak with Cygnus," he added, before taking his leave.
"I've heard so much about you, but you are also quite difficult to get information about," Voldemort said to Theo, sounding begrudgingly impressed.
Theo laughed. "It's nothing I've done on purpose," he explained quietly. "I'm afraid I simply lived a very boring life before returning to England. I was in Croatia, helping to deal with the vampire uprising there."
Voldemort seemed intrigued by Theo's former life, explaining his time in Albania when he was a younger man. He had many run ins with the dark creatures, but never had issues with the vampires. Theo was able to talk with ease about his participation, having done considerable research on his ancestors time there. If Voldemort wasn't buying it, he didn't give any hints. He was an excellent conversationalist, and Hermione almost found herself forgetting that he was the face of pure evil. She could understand how easy it would be to get sucked under his charming spell.
He didn't seem interested in her at all, and she found herself feeling a bit put out. What did Theo have that she didn't?
Bellatrix gave her hand a little squeeze, before leaning in to whisper in her ear once again. "Lord Voldemort has big plans for the Wizarding world," she said. Even though she couldn't see it, Hermione could practically hear Bella's grin. "He's going to put those dirty mud bloods where they belong." With that, the other witch was flouncing off, apparently to look for her sister.
Hermione wondered what Bellatrix would think if she knew that her new friend really was a muggleborn, just masquerading in pureblood robes. She had to stamp down the sudden burst of pride that she felt when she realized that she really had pulled the wool right over everyone's eyes, even the most notorious hater of muggleborns.
Standing and looking pretty on Theo's arm was really quite boring, but Hermione also knew that she couldn't do anything to accelerate the conversation between Voldemort and her husband. It simply wouldn't be done. Instead, she stood, running through the method of brewing veto taser under to keep herself occupied until they were done.
Theo Nott could not hold Voldemort's attention all evening, even though they shared time in Eastern Europe, and eventually he was making his excuses to make his leave, wanting to greet the newly married couple. Hermione caught the sneer on her face before anyone else noticed when she saw the way even Lucius Malfoy was practically falling over himself to impress the Dark Lord.
Looking around and ensuring no one was paying her any attention, Hermione leaned into Theo. "Do you think he would be acting like that if he knew all the sacrifices his family will make for him?" she asked, think that Lucius was little more than a worm. "That he is resigning his son to a fate that will make him miserable?"
He shook his head. "I think he'd be over the moon to hear that he was going to have a son, he wouldn't listen to anything else you had to say," Theo explained, before letting his hand drop to the curve of her stomach for a moment, desperate to feel a kick after she'd felt the first one. It was an act that was almost too intimate for public.
Disappointed when he didn't have success, he dropped his hand. "You really can't speak out of turn like that, Hermione," he scolded her for being outspoken. "It's not the sort of behavior most pureblood husbands or fathers would have tolerated."
Hermione blushed at being told off. "Sorry," she said, thoroughly chastised at putting their cover under scrutiny. "I'm just not used to him taking so little interest in me."
"I think the less amount of interest he has in you the better," he countered, giving her hand a squeeze. "Let me take the brunt of his attention."
"Only so long as he doesn't charm you into forgetting why we are here," he answered, not liking the way that Theo had laughed at his jokes. She knew that Theo was committed, but still...she couldn't shake that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Oh, don't be jealous," Theo said, with a roll of his eyes. "We have bigger issues to deal with than you wanting to be more involved with the Death Eaters."
Hermione wanted to hotly contest that statement, wanted to shout from the rooftops that there was nothing she wanted less. But then, his words registered in her mind. "Bigger problems?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, like Alfred's fury at being upstaged by our child. I didn't even think of the possibility that us having a child could affect him," Theo said, running his fingers through his dark hair, frowning. "Voldemort is right. In Wizarding law, if Alfred were to die his fortune would go to us...to our baby. He's going to want to do whatever he can to avoid that."
She swallowed, wondering if Alfred would attempt to harm them or their baby, just to prevent his fortune from passing to them. "I guess we will have to keep a closer eye on him," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Add it to the list of things we need to keep track of."
Across the party, she found Alfred easily enough, still in conversation with Cygnus, but glaring at the back of Theo's head. "He certainly doesn't trust us," she added with a sigh, hoping that this loose thread wouldn't threaten to unravel them.