Hermione stretched and yawned as she sat up in her bed. She blinked for a moment as she tried to remember exactly how she had gotten there. The last thing she could recall was lying in the hallway pouring her heart out to Malfoy. What on Earth had possessed her to do that, she would never know. Shaking her head, she looked at the floor and spotted her dress. Wait, wasn't her dress supposed to be on her? There was no way she had taken it off herself, and the house elves would never dare do such a thing…. Malfoy. She panicked for a spilt second, until she realized he wouldn't dare harm her in such a way. Not when she could tell 'daddy' and have him permanently removed from this world. She looked down at her body. Oh Lord, the marks. There wasn't any possible way he hadn't seen them… Maybe he wouldn't say anything. Or better yet, maybe by morning the alcohol and sleep deprivation would help him forget. She rose from the bed. Sighing, she could only hope for the best.
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"Master says it time to get up sir."
"Go away," Draco growled.
"Master says"
"I'M AWAKE, NOW LEAVE!" The frightened house elf immediately left with a 'pop.' "Stupid beast," Draco mumbled to himself as he literally rolled out of the bed and onto the floor, landing on his back. He lay sprawled on the floor, in the nude, for a moment before standing and entering his bathroom. Water already filled the tub, as it did every morning. Groaning, he sunk into the tub and remembered the adventures of the night. Why he had been to uncharacteristically nice, he didn't know. Maybe it was how helpless and lost she had seemed. Just like moth… No, he wasn't going to think about that. Hopefully she wont remember anything. She didn't seem like the type to drink on a regular basis, so maybe, if he luck was on his side, a glass of wine might have been enough to leave an empty spot in her memory. Or she'll just pretend she didn't remember. After all, she had hated him for a little over 6 years. He most definitely didn't want to deal with an emotional, and nice Hermione. Maybe she would just continue hating him. There seemed to be so many maybes when it came to this one, simple, girl.
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"Ah, perfect timing again my dear," Voldemort said as Hermione entered the dinning room. "I was about to come get you. Draco informed me you weren't feeling well last night." She smiled and took her seat to his right.
"I was just a bit overwhelmed. I'm not accustomed to all the people and activity," she replied.
"I hope it has passed," Voldemort said with something that could almost have been called concern.
"Oh yes, I'm feeling much better. I'm sure I will adjust to everything in no time."
"Wonderful. Oh, and I thought I should tell you, Lucius and Draco will be joining us for lunch this afternoon. Lucius didn't get the chance to introduce himself last night. He is a very intelligent man. I've already told you he is the closest follower I have. You will hold him as high as I do once you've been allowed to get acquainted."
"How long will they be joining us for?"
"I'm not sure. Lunch will take an half an hour or so, depending on how much the house elves decide we need to eat. Then I'm afraid Lucius and I have some business we must discuss. It will only take a couple hours at most. I'm sure Draco will be happy to entertain you until we are finished. There is quite a bit to discover around this old manor and I'm sure you didn't get to all of it last night. You two will enjoy finding it all."
"Sounds lovely." Voldemort signaled the end of the conversation as he began to eat, and Hermione followed.
Fifteen minutes later, Voldemort glanced at the clock and stood. "The Malfoy's will be here at noon, so make sure you are ready and waiting in here to greet them. It's only proper for the hostess to welcome the guests," he said.
"Of course," Hermione answered. He quickly exited the room. She looked down at her casual wizarding robes. Apparently they weren't appropriate for lunch with their guests if she still needed to be "ready." An entire afternoon with Draco Malfoy. She sighed. At least it wasn't going to be boring.
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"Master says it time to get up sir."
"Go away," Draco growled.
"Master says"
"I'M AWAKE, NOW LEAVE!" The frightened house elf immediately left with a 'pop.' "Stupid beast," Draco mumbled to himself as he literally rolled out of the bed and onto the floor, landing on his back. He lay sprawled on the floor, in the nude, for a moment before standing and entering his bathroom. Water already filled the tub, as it did every morning. Groaning, he sunk into the tub and remembered the adventures of the night. Why he had been to uncharacteristically nice, he didn't know. Maybe it was how helpless and lost she had seemed. Just like moth… No, he wasn't going to think about that. Hopefully she wont remember anything. She didn't seem like the type to drink on a regular basis, so maybe, if he luck was on his side, a glass of wine might have been enough to leave an empty spot in her memory. Or she'll just pretend she didn't remember. After all, she had hated him for a little over 6 years. He most definitely didn't want to deal with an emotional, and nice Hermione. Maybe she would just continue hating him. There seemed to be so many maybes when it came to this one, simple, girl.
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"Ah, perfect timing again my dear," Voldemort said as Hermione entered the dinning room. "I was about to come get you. Draco informed me you weren't feeling well last night." She smiled and took her seat to his right.
"I was just a bit overwhelmed. I'm not accustomed to all the people and activity," she replied.
"I hope it has passed," Voldemort said with something that could almost have been called concern.
"Oh yes, I'm feeling much better. I'm sure I will adjust to everything in no time."
"Wonderful. Oh, and I thought I should tell you, Lucius and Draco will be joining us for lunch this afternoon. Lucius didn't get the chance to introduce himself last night. He is a very intelligent man. I've already told you he is the closest follower I have. You will hold him as high as I do once you've been allowed to get acquainted."
"How long will they be joining us for?"
"I'm not sure. Lunch will take an half an hour or so, depending on how much the house elves decide we need to eat. Then I'm afraid Lucius and I have some business we must discuss. It will only take a couple hours at most. I'm sure Draco will be happy to entertain you until we are finished. There is quite a bit to discover around this old manor and I'm sure you didn't get to all of it last night. You two will enjoy finding it all."
"Sounds lovely." Voldemort signaled the end of the conversation as he began to eat, and Hermione followed.
Fifteen minutes later, Voldemort glanced at the clock and stood. "The Malfoy's will be here at noon, so make sure you are ready and waiting in here to greet them. It's only proper for the hostess to welcome the guests," he said.
"Of course," Hermione answered. He quickly exited the room. She looked down at her casual wizarding robes. Apparently they weren't appropriate for lunch with their guests if she still needed to be "ready." An entire afternoon with Draco Malfoy. She sighed. At least it wasn't going to be boring.