Hermione entered the dining room at exactly 11:58. Voldemort was already seated at the head of the table. She was dressed in navy blue velvet wizard's robes, trimmed with silver thread. Underneath was a matching sleeveless shirt and a knee length black skirt.
"Wonderful timing. You look beautiful," Voldemort said.
"Thank you," Hermione inclined her head as she curtsied.
"Why don't you wait by the door for the guests to arrive. " It was a command, not a question. Hermione merely smiled and took her place in front of the gilded grand double doors. "Oh yes, Mrs. Malfoy will also be joining us. Address her as Narcissa."
"Wouldn't that be disrespectful?" She asked.
"Darling, you will address everyone by their first names. You are above all of them. Learn that quickly or they will take advantage of you in your time of questioning." Before Hermione could respond, the clock struck 12:00, the doors opened, and in walked Lucius, flanked by Draco, and a beautiful woman she assumed to be Narcissa. She was wearing a floor length black skirt, a black silk shirt. Over them, she wore an elegant dark violet silk wizard's robe. "Good afternoon," Voldemort said.
"Hello, please, wont you take a seat?" Hermione greeted them with a smile.
"Good afternoon my Lord," Lucius bowed his head to Voldemort, then to Hermione. "I would be honored, my Lady." Draco bowed and Narcissa gave Hermione a faint, but warm, smile along with her gracious curtsy. Hermione merely acknowledged the male Malfoys with glance, while Narcissa received a pleasant smile.
Walking over to the table, Hermione sat in her usual seat to Voldemort's right, and Lucius took the empty space to his left. Narcissa sat to her husband's left, and Draco took the seat next to Hermione, and across from his mother. As soon as everyone was properly seated, the silver plates in front of them were filled with a salad, French onion soup, and a delicate wine. Voldemort nodded, and everyone picked up their silverware and began to eat.
"Narcissa, this is our Lady, Desdemona Hermione Riddle Voldemort, daughter of our Lord Voldemort," Lucius said. The conversation was held in between bites of food.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. You much prettier than I had expected, and I was expecting far more than I thought I should have," Narcissa said, smiling brightly at Hermione, who was lightly blushing.
"Oh, thank you," Hermione said as she returned the smile. Hermione and Narcissa had small girl talk, complimenting each others robes and other things, while the male Malfoys and Voldemort discussed other things. "It's really nice to have another female to talk to."
"I'm sure our Lord will hold another grand get together sometime soon, with all of the families. There are several girls your age, whose company I'm sure you'd enjoy far more than mine," Narcissa said.
"I might. We'll see."
"Actually, that's a splendid idea, Narcissa," Voldemort spoke. "I've been considering it, but with the results of the last party, I don't want to overwhelm Desdemona again."
"Again?" Lucius questioned.
"You must remember last night, she was so tired and overwhelmed she returned to her chamber before she even had to chance to mingle around and socialize," Voldemort answered. "Would you be ready for such a thing? I'll warn you now, there will be at least 10 times as many people."
"I need a few more days to adjust, then I would enjoy a party. Perhaps Saturday?" Hermione suggested.
"Anytime is fine with me. Lucius, I'll give you a list of families to owl the news to." Lucius nodded in reply. "Well, it seems Lucius and I have much to discuss. I hope you'll excuse us." Voldemort stood and Lucius immediately followed.
"Narcissa," her smile faded at his first word. "Why don't you return to Malfoy Manor and leave Draco and our Lady alone to talk and explore." She nodded, her gaze at the floor, before she stood.
"It was a pleasure to be here. My Lord, my Lady," she curtsied and Apparated back to the Malfoy Manor. Hermione looked over to find her father and Lucius had already disappeared. Once again, she was alone with Draco Malfoy. She stood, as did he, and they began to walk down the hall.
"So… What do you want to do?" Draco asked.
"I don't know… There isn't much to do around here," Hermione replied.
"Sure there is. This place is bigger, and most extensive than my manor. There's a Quidditch field around here, if we can figure out how to get outside. I know the Lord has quite a few horses and," Draco stopped mid-sentence when he saw the astounded look on Hermione's face. "Is something wrong?"
"Vol, Father, he has horses?"
"Yes"
"What breed?"
"Well, when I was riding a few months ago, I believe I saw several Arabians, a few Quarter-Horses, some Thoroughbreds, I know I saw an Andalusian and even a Lipizzaner." Hermione's eyes widened with excitement. "You like horses?"
"Oh I love horses! Come on, let's go to the stable!" she grabbed onto his sleeves and tugged.
"What?"
" I don't know where the stable is. You've been there, so you must know where it is. So, go on and lead the way. I have been horseback riding in months and I'm dying to go, so move it." Her childish excitement wasn't as annoying as it should be. The way her eyes seemed to light up, and the feel of her clinging to his arm like that… well, it was a turn on. She just seemed so damn innocent.
"Impatient, aren't we. That's not very Lady like…" He took a step closer to her. She didn't seem to realize what he was doing.
"Of course I am, now let's go!"
"What if I don't want to go?" he took another step closer. She still didn't get it.
"I can order you to!" She tried to hide her smile and suppress a giggle as she took a step back, glaring. Draco really wasn't to difficult to be around when he was being pleasant. It didn't shock her as much as she would have thought when she realized she was smiling, giggling, and just joking around with him.
She took another step back, and straightened her shoulders to make herself seem more mencing. Her back was almost against the wall now. She finally couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed aloud. The way she smiled, and the sound of her laugh, it was liquored chocolate… intoxicating. He stepped towards her, so his body was only centimeters from touching hers. He lend forward, his face was slightly above hers.
"Maybe I want you to." Hermione slightly tilted her head up. His lips were only an inch from hers. The feel of his warm breath was amazing. She breathed in deeply as he lowered his lips to her.
The second his lips touched hers, electricity shot down her spine. Every nerve in Hermione's body burned. Her mouth seemed to open against her will and her tongue welcomed his. Just like she always had to do with HIM. Her mind screamed at her, screamed that this was Malfoy she was kissing, the same Malfoy that tortured her for years, the Malfoy that made her miserable. But her body had another say in the matter, and her arms slide around his neck, her fingers through his hair, as if it was trying to prove its point. He pushed her against the wall as his arms snaked around her tiny waist. As his tongue exploded her mouth so softly, and his hands caressed her body so gently, she couldn't help but to think of the other night, the night he held her as she cried. She couldn't help but to think he was an amazing kisser. She couldn't help but to question whether or not her opinion of him, which had stood so strong for the past 6 years, was wrong. She couldn't help but to think Draco wasn't like HIM.
Gods, she was an amazing kisser. Everything she did was mind-blowing, from the way her tongue caressed his to the way her hands tangled in his hair. As good as it was, it seemed to him as though everything she did was automatic, like a trained response. It was odd and he found himself wondering if her response would be just as automatic and welcoming if he… no. He had no right do to that, it wasn't gentlemanly. But he couldn't help himself. His left hand slide up her right side and onto her breast. She took a sharp breath in at the contact. He pushed her robe off her shoulder so that only her shirt and bra were separating his hand from flesh to flesh contact with her breast. She whimpered quietly as he began to massage her, but it wasn't the whimpering he usually heard. Hers wasn't filled with lust; it didn't encourage him to continue his activity. No, it was a fearful whimper, yet she did nothing to stop him. She actually continued to kiss him. This wasn't right; it was right at all.
Then he remembered the night before, when he had put her to bed, the bruises that covered her body. He forcefully pushed her to wall, so his powerful body crushed her delicate one. Breaking the kiss, she pulled away from him as she gasped in pain. She looked as though she wanted to scream. Her arms reached up and tried to push him away, like she actually thought she could move him. He released some over the pressure he was using to cause her pain, but she was still trapped against the wall as he pinned her wrists to the wall with one of his hands.
"Tell me what happened to you," Draco said firmly. Her honey eyes were a swirling pool of fear. "I saw the bruises last night, and now this tonight. Something, or rather someone, did this to you, now why don't you just tell me who and how?" She pressed herself against the wall and tears began to pour from her eyes.
"I… I… I…" was all she got out before Severus Snape entered the hallway from the front door of the Manor. Draco immediately stepped away from Hermione. As soon as their body contact was gone, she ran down the hall and disappeared. Thankfully Snape was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't notice. Draco would have to find and deal with Hermione later. Now it was time it deal with Snape.
"Wonderful timing. You look beautiful," Voldemort said.
"Thank you," Hermione inclined her head as she curtsied.
"Why don't you wait by the door for the guests to arrive. " It was a command, not a question. Hermione merely smiled and took her place in front of the gilded grand double doors. "Oh yes, Mrs. Malfoy will also be joining us. Address her as Narcissa."
"Wouldn't that be disrespectful?" She asked.
"Darling, you will address everyone by their first names. You are above all of them. Learn that quickly or they will take advantage of you in your time of questioning." Before Hermione could respond, the clock struck 12:00, the doors opened, and in walked Lucius, flanked by Draco, and a beautiful woman she assumed to be Narcissa. She was wearing a floor length black skirt, a black silk shirt. Over them, she wore an elegant dark violet silk wizard's robe. "Good afternoon," Voldemort said.
"Hello, please, wont you take a seat?" Hermione greeted them with a smile.
"Good afternoon my Lord," Lucius bowed his head to Voldemort, then to Hermione. "I would be honored, my Lady." Draco bowed and Narcissa gave Hermione a faint, but warm, smile along with her gracious curtsy. Hermione merely acknowledged the male Malfoys with glance, while Narcissa received a pleasant smile.
Walking over to the table, Hermione sat in her usual seat to Voldemort's right, and Lucius took the empty space to his left. Narcissa sat to her husband's left, and Draco took the seat next to Hermione, and across from his mother. As soon as everyone was properly seated, the silver plates in front of them were filled with a salad, French onion soup, and a delicate wine. Voldemort nodded, and everyone picked up their silverware and began to eat.
"Narcissa, this is our Lady, Desdemona Hermione Riddle Voldemort, daughter of our Lord Voldemort," Lucius said. The conversation was held in between bites of food.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. You much prettier than I had expected, and I was expecting far more than I thought I should have," Narcissa said, smiling brightly at Hermione, who was lightly blushing.
"Oh, thank you," Hermione said as she returned the smile. Hermione and Narcissa had small girl talk, complimenting each others robes and other things, while the male Malfoys and Voldemort discussed other things. "It's really nice to have another female to talk to."
"I'm sure our Lord will hold another grand get together sometime soon, with all of the families. There are several girls your age, whose company I'm sure you'd enjoy far more than mine," Narcissa said.
"I might. We'll see."
"Actually, that's a splendid idea, Narcissa," Voldemort spoke. "I've been considering it, but with the results of the last party, I don't want to overwhelm Desdemona again."
"Again?" Lucius questioned.
"You must remember last night, she was so tired and overwhelmed she returned to her chamber before she even had to chance to mingle around and socialize," Voldemort answered. "Would you be ready for such a thing? I'll warn you now, there will be at least 10 times as many people."
"I need a few more days to adjust, then I would enjoy a party. Perhaps Saturday?" Hermione suggested.
"Anytime is fine with me. Lucius, I'll give you a list of families to owl the news to." Lucius nodded in reply. "Well, it seems Lucius and I have much to discuss. I hope you'll excuse us." Voldemort stood and Lucius immediately followed.
"Narcissa," her smile faded at his first word. "Why don't you return to Malfoy Manor and leave Draco and our Lady alone to talk and explore." She nodded, her gaze at the floor, before she stood.
"It was a pleasure to be here. My Lord, my Lady," she curtsied and Apparated back to the Malfoy Manor. Hermione looked over to find her father and Lucius had already disappeared. Once again, she was alone with Draco Malfoy. She stood, as did he, and they began to walk down the hall.
"So… What do you want to do?" Draco asked.
"I don't know… There isn't much to do around here," Hermione replied.
"Sure there is. This place is bigger, and most extensive than my manor. There's a Quidditch field around here, if we can figure out how to get outside. I know the Lord has quite a few horses and," Draco stopped mid-sentence when he saw the astounded look on Hermione's face. "Is something wrong?"
"Vol, Father, he has horses?"
"Yes"
"What breed?"
"Well, when I was riding a few months ago, I believe I saw several Arabians, a few Quarter-Horses, some Thoroughbreds, I know I saw an Andalusian and even a Lipizzaner." Hermione's eyes widened with excitement. "You like horses?"
"Oh I love horses! Come on, let's go to the stable!" she grabbed onto his sleeves and tugged.
"What?"
" I don't know where the stable is. You've been there, so you must know where it is. So, go on and lead the way. I have been horseback riding in months and I'm dying to go, so move it." Her childish excitement wasn't as annoying as it should be. The way her eyes seemed to light up, and the feel of her clinging to his arm like that… well, it was a turn on. She just seemed so damn innocent.
"Impatient, aren't we. That's not very Lady like…" He took a step closer to her. She didn't seem to realize what he was doing.
"Of course I am, now let's go!"
"What if I don't want to go?" he took another step closer. She still didn't get it.
"I can order you to!" She tried to hide her smile and suppress a giggle as she took a step back, glaring. Draco really wasn't to difficult to be around when he was being pleasant. It didn't shock her as much as she would have thought when she realized she was smiling, giggling, and just joking around with him.
She took another step back, and straightened her shoulders to make herself seem more mencing. Her back was almost against the wall now. She finally couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed aloud. The way she smiled, and the sound of her laugh, it was liquored chocolate… intoxicating. He stepped towards her, so his body was only centimeters from touching hers. He lend forward, his face was slightly above hers.
"Maybe I want you to." Hermione slightly tilted her head up. His lips were only an inch from hers. The feel of his warm breath was amazing. She breathed in deeply as he lowered his lips to her.
The second his lips touched hers, electricity shot down her spine. Every nerve in Hermione's body burned. Her mouth seemed to open against her will and her tongue welcomed his. Just like she always had to do with HIM. Her mind screamed at her, screamed that this was Malfoy she was kissing, the same Malfoy that tortured her for years, the Malfoy that made her miserable. But her body had another say in the matter, and her arms slide around his neck, her fingers through his hair, as if it was trying to prove its point. He pushed her against the wall as his arms snaked around her tiny waist. As his tongue exploded her mouth so softly, and his hands caressed her body so gently, she couldn't help but to think of the other night, the night he held her as she cried. She couldn't help but to think he was an amazing kisser. She couldn't help but to question whether or not her opinion of him, which had stood so strong for the past 6 years, was wrong. She couldn't help but to think Draco wasn't like HIM.
Gods, she was an amazing kisser. Everything she did was mind-blowing, from the way her tongue caressed his to the way her hands tangled in his hair. As good as it was, it seemed to him as though everything she did was automatic, like a trained response. It was odd and he found himself wondering if her response would be just as automatic and welcoming if he… no. He had no right do to that, it wasn't gentlemanly. But he couldn't help himself. His left hand slide up her right side and onto her breast. She took a sharp breath in at the contact. He pushed her robe off her shoulder so that only her shirt and bra were separating his hand from flesh to flesh contact with her breast. She whimpered quietly as he began to massage her, but it wasn't the whimpering he usually heard. Hers wasn't filled with lust; it didn't encourage him to continue his activity. No, it was a fearful whimper, yet she did nothing to stop him. She actually continued to kiss him. This wasn't right; it was right at all.
Then he remembered the night before, when he had put her to bed, the bruises that covered her body. He forcefully pushed her to wall, so his powerful body crushed her delicate one. Breaking the kiss, she pulled away from him as she gasped in pain. She looked as though she wanted to scream. Her arms reached up and tried to push him away, like she actually thought she could move him. He released some over the pressure he was using to cause her pain, but she was still trapped against the wall as he pinned her wrists to the wall with one of his hands.
"Tell me what happened to you," Draco said firmly. Her honey eyes were a swirling pool of fear. "I saw the bruises last night, and now this tonight. Something, or rather someone, did this to you, now why don't you just tell me who and how?" She pressed herself against the wall and tears began to pour from her eyes.
"I… I… I…" was all she got out before Severus Snape entered the hallway from the front door of the Manor. Draco immediately stepped away from Hermione. As soon as their body contact was gone, she ran down the hall and disappeared. Thankfully Snape was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't notice. Draco would have to find and deal with Hermione later. Now it was time it deal with Snape.