Chapter 16- Meeting Voldemort
Hermione stood in front of her full-length mirror, looking curiously at the girl staring back at her. She looked nothing like how she felt. She could hear Draco pacing downstairs, waiting for her. She looked at the mirror again. Her hair was darker with the absence of the summer sun, and was now a deeper, chocolate brown color that curled even farther down her back practically to her elbows. Her eyes matched her hair to some extend. They were darker, and looked more deadly. Her tan had been replaced by a pink flush that seemed to be permanently attached to her cheeks. She was wearing a black robe, more formal than her ordinary school robes. She glanced sideways out her window. The sun was setting in a beautiful array of colors. She closed her eyes
"Hermione!" Draco called up the stairs, anxious to get this night over. He looked up as she came down the stairs. She looked different, but he couldn't quite place his finger on how. "Ready?"
Hermione looked at the face she had grown to love. She nodded to Draco as to answer his question. Her eyes looked him over. He was wearing an almost identical dark black robe to her own, the hood pushed back. His pale face look slightly flushed also, and he was absentmindedly pushing a stray piece of white-blonde hair from his stormy gray eyes.
"Any minute now." His voice shook. Draco felt more nervous than ever before. He felt Hermione enter his mind, softly calming his fears. He was looking into her eyes when he felt a sudden searing pain in his left shoulder. He doubled over, gasping in pain, "Now."
Hermione grabbed the floo powder next to the fireplace and turned to Draco. Her heart raced as she saw him breathing deeply. "Draco-" she started but he had already recovered.
"Come on! Quickly!" he cried angrily. Grabbing her arm, he steered her to the fireplace. He waited until she had thrown her floo powder into the fire calling, "Riddle Manor!" before grabbing a handful for himself.
"Here we go." He mumbled.
~
Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace, finding herself amidst at least twenty other wizards, each wearing black robes with their hoods up. Standing up straight, she quickly dusts herself off and moved aside as Malfoy tumble out of the fireplace behind her. She looked at the room. It had a high ceiling and walls of mixed of gray and black. The curtains were pulled shut; the only light came from the fireplace and various candles around the room. Draco glanced at her quickly before turning to face the Death Eaters whose attention was fixed on the pair of them. Some acknowledge Draco with a nod, but most just stared at Hermione. She glared back, eyes blazing in challenge. A tall man with white-blonde hair that fell passed his shoulders and hard, cold gray eyes that was so different from Draco's yet so similar, stepped forward.
"Your late." Lucius's eyes surveyed them disapprovingly.
"You can't apparate on school grounds, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione replied curtly. She kept her eyes locked with Lucius's.
"I didn't ask for excuses."
"I don't need your approval, sir." Hermione replied boldly, noticing Draco tense next to her. She could practically feel Lucius's rage as she contradicted him. She saw his grip on his cane tighten, but he restrained from striking. Instead, he leaned close to her ear to whisper something no one else could hear.
"Do you know how many mudbloods just like you I've murdered in my time?" giving her a cold smirk. He turned, walking back to the other Death Eaters. Hermione knew she was being baited, but couldn't help herself.
"Why should that concern me?" she replied loudly so everyone could hear, even though they didn't know what Lucius had done to provoke her. He didn't reply, but merely covered his head with his hood. Hermione and Draco didn't look at each other. They knew what was coming next.
Hermione's gaze hardened as Voldemort enters followed closely by Wormtail, who was sobbing in pain. She caught his eye and quickly turned away. Her heart raced. How could she be so stupid? Voldemort is right there! His eyes… red with thin black slits. He could tell. She knew he could tell already. She'd been preparing with Snape for a month how could Snape think she was ready…
Hermione was pulled away from her thoughts as she heard a scraping noise as all the Death Eaters got to their knees, kissing Voldemort's robes, including my Draco… Hermione wanted to scream! Voldemort looked down at them with cruel satisfaction as they formed a silent circle.
"Welcome, Death Eaters." Said Voldemort quietly. Hermione wasn't sure what to do as Voldemort's attention turn to her. "Miss Granger," he said softly, beckoning her forward. Hermione felt a shiver seep through her. Slowly Hermione stepped onto the rotten rug the Death Eaters were gathered on, making her way across to Voldemort.
"My Lord," she looked up to meet his terrible eyes. She couldn't believe anyone could be so evil. All she could feel from him was pain, darkness and power.
"You know I should kill you." He whispered, in a low voice. "However you may be useful. Of course you may always be planning against me. This makes me consider you a threat." Hermione kept her gaze fixed on the ground.
"I am not in league with that fool, Dumbledore. I want real power. I have a gift, and I can use it. I want to be feared." Hermione raised her eyes in defiance. Voldemort stared back.
"We shall see. Crucio!"
~
Draco ran out of the circle as Hermione fell to the floor in pain. This wasn't supposed to happen! He stopped as he felt a strong force in his mind, ordering him back. He looked from Hermione on the floor to Voldemort. He wasn't sure who had sent the message to him. Hermione stood up to meet Voldemort's glare, Draco quietly got back in his place. Voldemort looked from Hermione to Draco and back again. Draco looked down at the dirty carpet, focusing on keeping his mind blank. After some time, Voldemort walked the few steps to Hermione, who flinched as he drew near.
"Extend your left arm and step into the circle." His voice made chills up Hermione's spine nevertheless she followed his instructions. "Accio knife." Draco squeezed his eyes shut as Voldemort lowered the knife slicing into Hermione's flesh. She didn't say a word but focused her attention on a hole in the curtain to her right as she felt pain spreading throughout her arm.
~
Hermione and Draco stepped through their fireplace hours later. Draco turned to Hermione. "Are you okay?" he asked, feeling sick to his stomach from the night's events.
"I'm fine, Dragon." Hermione replied, smiling coyly at him. Draco wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest. Draco took her hand in his and led her to the couch where she curled up against him, eyelids heavy with fatigue. He looked down at her breathing softly, already deep in sleep. He gently kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, unconsciously moving her closer to him.
"We'll talk to Dumbledore in the morning." He reassured himself, falling asleep next to Hermione.
A/N: drop me a review! ;-)