A/n this chappie is an edited version of the original…..ummmm it had been so long, that I had forgotten what the hell was happening, and added a certain character in chapter three that was supposed to not be there, so I changed this one a weeeeee bit. ciao
Chapter Two- A Worthwhile Demonstration
Hermione Malfoy straightened her mask hesitantly, and looked around the giant dining hall. All the inhabitants were wearing dark masks, like herself, and wearing identical black robes. This made it impossible to figure out who was who, and difficult to find the Dark Lord himself. She glanced over at her husband, who was smooth and poised as ever, shaking everyone's hand, and murmuring welcomes in an unidentifiable voice.
All was going as planned. Any time now, and Dumbledore was going to take it. Whatever "it" was, only Draco, the Dark Lord, and Dumbledore knew, but Draco had assured them that it was crucial to Voldemort's plan. Hermione had guessed that it was a substance capable of inflicting major pain, but her husband was unable to tell her if that was so.
Their daughter, Fiona Bianca Malfoy, stirred peacefully under Hermione's robes. Hermione had placed a Silencing Charm on the baby, and hidden her quietly. Children were never allowed at the meetings, and were always left outside the inner chambers when they were conducted. She had lied and said that Fiona was sick today, and left at home with one of the maids. Assuring her child was always with her made sure that she could make a swift escape to the Aurors shelter.
Suddenly, a roar of rage escaped from the Death Eater farthest from them. A jet of silver sparks escaped his wand, and all of their masks flew off. In terror, Hermione looked over at her husband, who nodded, a grim smile over his face. He nodded, and she whimpered slightly, then slunk out the door, the confusion covering her. The Dark Lord himself was commanding a giant spell that would enrapture the entire building. She ran, clutching Fiona to her chest, and felt a giant wave of power singe her robes as she leapt out the door.
Looking stealthily into the nearest window, the curtains being blown off by the spell, she saw that the curse had stunned everyone but the spell caster himself. Voldemort was going from person to person, checking faces. With a look of triumph, he loomed over her unconscious husband, and hissed "enervate."
Draco's eyed flipped open, and he simultaneously uttered a small spell, "labia lege alba," just as Voldemort hissed "crucio."
Hermione shook with terror as Draco screamed unendingly. The other Death Eaters were beginning to awake, and they stared, with befuddled looks on their faces, as the Dark Lord's right hand man was being tortured my his master. Voldemort ceased his curse, and Draco fell limp to the ground, blood pouring from his exploded veins. He looked so weak. She pried her eyes from him, and noticed something strange. Most of the Death Eaters were laughing cruelly, but there were two that whispered to each other quietly, and looked around. Hermione quickly ducked under the frame, holding Fiona tightly to her body.
There was a crack as a whip, and she whirled around to see one of the Death Eaters leering at her. She whipped out her wand, but he extended his arms in peace.
"Mrs. Malfoy?" he asked.
"Y-y-yes," she stammered in reply. The Death Eater smiled, and stepped into the light. It was Professor Snape! She gasped, but was quickly silenced by his hand on her lips.
"Shhh, they will hear. I daresay, Mrs. Malfoy, I never expected that you were still alive, much less the wife of a respected Death Eater."
Hermione nodded, and pushed away from him. "How am I to trust you, Mr. Snape?" she inquired, giving him a shrewd calculating look.
He smiled at her glances, and pulled her a few blocks down towards a lilac fire hydrant. He muttered something below his breath, and the hydrant disappeared. In its place appeared a small door, no more than a foot tall, with no apparent bell, or knocker. Snape looked pleased at her puzzled expression, and gestured for her to enter. She made a motion to kick the small door in frustration, but instead felt her entire body, starting with her extended foot, become sucked through the entrance, and fall into a large lounge-like area. Situated around the table were many bedraggled-looking witches and wizards, all wearing sooty black cloaks. The tall, awkward man at the far foot of the table jumped to his feet, squinted slightly, then gasped, "Hermione?"
"Yes," she managed to choke out, and before she even knew it, she felt his arms around her, and she looked up once again at the same clear, blue eyes she had gazed into many times before. She began crying, in fearful, powerful sobs that rocked her body like ocean waves, but a moment later Hermione became well aware that they were surrounded by a crowd of people, all gasping, and mumbling her name amongst them. A certain red haired woman caught her eye, and she screamed, "GINNY?"
Ginny screamed as well, and they were about to fall into a hug, when a small cry uttered from under Hermione's cloak. She quickly unraveled Fiona from her wrappings, and as soon as she did, a flood of questions burst out.
"Is that your child?"
"Are you married?"
"What are you doing here?""Where have you been all these years?"
Ron gave them all a stern look. "Everyone, please give Mione some space, she's obviously quite distraught. I'm sure she will tell her story to you all when she's properly rested, until then, could you please leave her alone?"
Obligingly, the crowd dispersed. Hermione caught the faces of Dean Thomas, Padma Patil, and even Professor Minerva McGonagall walking away, but felt a crash of disappointment when she saw that Harry was not among them. Ron took one look at Fiona, then solemnly asked, "Will you tell me what's been happening with you all these years?"
Hermione looked from his face to Ginny's, who was sitting quietly on an ottoman in the corner. Memories of the past five years flooded into her already clouded mind, but miraculously, she regained her senses, and began her story.
A/N Nooooooo! I'm stopping here! But I'm going to post the next chappie really soon. Its probably going to be a two parter, and will explain what the heck is going on!