Anything you recognise...I don't own.
Chapter 4-Double Calling
The next few days passed in a swirl for Draco and Hermione: neither had been called to Voldemort since their marking but Snape had said that the Dark Lord had called him and had hinted that they would be called soon. In the meantime however they had to go about business as usual which meant lessons and hating each other.
The fifth night after the revel, Draco was lying on his huge bed when he heard Hermione's voice:
"Draco?! Are you there?!"
He sat up and looked at the fire at the end of his bed-Hermione's head was in it. He jumped off the end of the bed and sat in front of the fire.
"Hey."
"Hi." Came her reply, "Listen, we've been called to a meeting of The Order."
"Who has?!"
"Most of us...you, me, Harry, Ron...everyone....even Snape and Dumbledore are going."
"Why? Has something happened?"
"I don't know but we've got to go to Snape's classroom...Dumbledore's set up an unofficial port key."
"What's wrong with floo powder or apparating?!" he snapped, without meaning to...he hated port keys, always had done.
"The Networks' being watched by the Death Eaters-a large group like ours moving through would draw attention to us. And Ron hasn't passed his apparation test yet-Dumbledore wants us arriving together."
"Fair enough." Muttered Draco, "See you down there then."
"Yeah, bye." She answered vaguely and vanished from the fireplace. Draco immediately made his way down to the dungeons. He bumped into Hermione, Harry and Ron at the top of the stairs. He received an evil glare off Harry and Ron; as though warning him to stay away. Off Hermione though he got a small, shy smile, as thought they shared a secret (which, he supposed, they did).
They walked down the stairs in stony silence before entering the classroom. Professor McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore awaited them. Dumbledore beckoned them foreword to take hold of the port key (a potions jar).
They all crowded round and Draco's hand brushed with Hermione's. He noted how she had tied a jumper around her waist because her low slung jeans didn't do the job. He had done a similar thing by wearing a long sleeved T- Shirt under his normal T-Shirt.
He soon felt the familiar tug behind his naval and immediately felt he'd rather be anywhere else than whooshing along through space. They all landed with a thud in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.
Draco looked around-Hermione had been right when she'd said everyone had been called up-everyone else was already there: Tonks, Mad-Eye, Lupin, Kingsley, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Mundungus, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and a few other that Draco didn't know. They were all sat in various places around the kitchen-at the table, on the worktops, on the floor, anywhere they could...the Weasley twins were perched on top of one of the cupboards, crouching down as they only just fitted.
Dumbledore took his pace at the head of the table and a quiet descended on the room.
"My friends," he began, "I have called you all together for a matter or up most importance: my sources inform me that Voldemort is in the beginning stages of planning a large attack on myself and Mr Potter: one which he believes will be the last."
A murmur passed around the small kitchen. Dumbledore continued:
"Unfortunately we know very little at the moment. However, Severus has informed me that our spies-Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy-will have quite a large part to play in his Voldemort's plans. He will be calling them soon I shouldn't wonder."
Dumbledore fell silent and Snape rose:
"The Dark Lord has indeed informed me that Draco and Hermione are to play a large part in his pans to overthrow Dumbledore and conquer Harry. This fact leads me to assume that he is planning something at Hogwarts. His weakness is our strength as he is clueless as to Hermione and Draco's true intentions and has marked them as his own."
Draco felt twenty pairs of eyes fall on himself and Hermione as the population of the room searched them for a glimpse of the mark. Draco saw Hermione tighten the jumper around her waist.
Snape continued:
"As each part of the plan is revealed to either myself, Hermione or Draco it will be repeated back to all members of The Order. It is then up to all of us to foil his plans by piecing together each section of information we receive."
As soon as he sat down the members of The Order all began to talk at once.
Within moments of Snape falling silent and the member's eruption of noise Draco felt a burning down his arm. He cried out...it was so painful. He heard Hermione's cries of pain-neither of them had been "called" before. Snape, used to it, had simply apparated immediately.
Draco stood, as did Hermione...neither wanting to move and draw attention to their positions. Draco sighed:
"Bloody hell." Before transfiguring his clothes into formal black robes. He stood still again, waiting for Hermione.
She didn't want to. He could tell: everyone was watching them and transfiguring her clothes would mean revealing her mark to those closest to her. It would be proving that she was different...a servant of the Dark Lord.
"Shit!" He heard her mutter before she waved her wand.
Her jeans became an extremely short black pleated skirt which hung below her Dark Mark on her hips (there was a gasp from the onlookers). Her T- Shirt became a short sleeved white shirt with a black PVC bra underneath it...the shirt was completely unbuttoned. A pair of high-heeled vamp shoes appeared on her feet and on her legs were a pair of thigh high socks...her hair cascaded down her back and once again her eyes became blackened and her lips blood red.
The members of The Order (all except Dumbledore), were gasping and muttering as Hermione Granger-Head Girl and loyal friend-now stood before them, looking like a naughty school girl with the mark of He-Who-Must-Not- Be-Named branded across her hip.
"Oh shut your mouths....you look like goldfish!" she snapped, before disappearing with a 'pop'.
Draco smirked and followed her.
---------------------------
Draco landed with a "pop" next to Hermione. He caught her eye and they immediatly fell about laughing.
"You should've seen their faces after you'd gone." Draco gasped.
"Were they really mad?" Hermione asked, trying to control her breathing between giggles.
"I think Weasel and Potty were a bit pissed off, everyone else looked more shocked than anything else...that their wonderful Head Girl could talk to her elders in such a way. Dumbledore, Tonks and Lupin all thought it was great joke."
Hermione giggled again, wiping a tear gently from her eye, trying to not smudge her eyeliner.
"C'mon." she said, taking his arm and walking into the next room.
----------------------
Voldemort was waiting for them and Snape was with him. They walked over and knelt before the Dark Lord.
"Stand." He commanded, and they stood.
"My Lord." Hermione purred, "I have missed you...I was beginning to think you had n wish to see me." She stuck out her lower lip in a slight pout and Voldemort smiled at her.
"I have missed you my Raven, and I will always have need for you. However, now is not the time for pleasures...we must begin work. As you know I need to kill Harry Potter, and to do that I need Dumbledore out of the way...this is where I have been having previous trouble." He cast a look at Snape who hung his head in fake shame.
"But my Lord, how will this be done?" questioned Hermione.
"A good question my Raven and one I have given much thought to. It must obviously must be done when there are no students in the castle...as tempting as it is to bump off a few of those filthy mudbloods they've got around the place I fell panic would be caused, most likely this will draw attention to the ministry before our final plans ensue, and this we do not need."
"May I suggest the Easter Holidays My Lord...for the attack." Piped up Snape.
Voldemort turned to him:
"I myself was thinking of the Christmas holidays..."
"An excellent idea my Lord but with one drawback...the castle will be full of students and teachers alike. Dumbledore, the old fool, is to hold a grand Yule ball to lighten the spirits of the students in these, ahem, 'dark' times."
Voldemort let out a high cold laugh that chilled Draco to the bone.
"Ha ha ha, the old fool. Very well Severus, it will be as you say, during the Easter Holidays."
"My Lord." Draco said, "I have to ask, if you are planning the attack at Hogwarts, how do you plan to enter the castle? It is so well protected."
Hermione answered first:
"I am assuming the Dark Lord will make his grand entrance when Dumbledore lowers the wards to allow us three to apparate into the castle. That way he can enter straight to Dumbledore where the old fool will meet his timely demise."
Voldemort smiled at her.
"You are indeed intelligent Raven." She returned the smile and he spoke once more.
"What part am I to play in your plan My Lord?! For I feel you would not call me unnecessarily."
"Of course not my dear: You and Draco are to spy for me-on the Headmaster. I need to know his moves and keep him from knowing mine. Hermione you have already informed me of your friendship with Potter but Draco, I also need you to befriend the boy...two heads are better as one as they say. We must ensure that he remains at Hogwarts over the Easter holidays."
"Potter always remains at school for the holidays; we will face no problem there...the problem will be me befriending him." Commented Draco.
"You will do it." Threatened the Dark Lord and Draco shrank in the overwhelming presence.
"Yes my Lord." He muttered. Hermione chose that moment to put on her sweet, sexy voice:
"My Lord," she purred, "after Dumbledore has been disposed of, what is your plan for the Potter boy?"
"Ah, Raven, I am glad you asked: Once we have disposed of the "greatest" wizard in the world we will move to find Potter....I expect you to have ensured him in the great Hall; perhaps with the rest of the teachers...it would be fun to dispose of them all at once. Of course we will out number them so any resistance on their half will be dealt with easily, although torturing is obviously permitted." He laughed again. "I myself will have to dispose of Potter." Hermione stuck out her lower lip and pretended to sulk:
"Oh my Lord I so wish I could be the one to make him squeal and squirm."
"I know my dear," Voldemort answered, resting a pale hand under her chin, "but as we are al aware I must fight him until he dies...which he will."
"Oh my Lord, it truly is a wonderful plan." Hermione squealed, "I can't wait to see their faces when they realise our trick."
"All in good time my eager Raven."
Draco felt his temper beginning to rise at the Dark Lord's favouritism of Hermione, but he controlled it...with difficulty.
"A drink." Commanded Voldemort, "to celebrate our imminent victory."
Hermione made to move.
"Sit." Voldemort ordered and she sat. "Draco, you can get the drinks-Snape? A straight Brandy I believe?" Snape nodded, "I will have a double Whiskey on the rocks and my dear Raven, what will you be drinking tonight?"
"Um..." she was thinking-what do Death Eaters drink...aside form Whiskey and Brandy as she couldn't stand the stuff, "I'll have a screaming Orgasm please." She finally responded, smiling sweetly at the three men around her.
Voldemort chuckled at her choice of cocktail
"An excellent choice. Draco, fix those drinks and one for yourself."
Draco nodded and made his way over to the impressive drinks cabinet, his anger mounting. He heard Voldemort, Snape and Hermione talking-Hermione was laughing sexily at something one of the others had said. He downed a double Vodka to try and calm his anger.
He fixed the drinks, pouring himself a Brandy, and downed another double Vodka before making his way back to the others in time to hear Hermione ask:
"When will you be calling us again My Lord, being out of your company for too great a time makes me feel unwanted." She stuck out her lower lip again in a little pit and Voldemort caressed it with a long finger. Draco felt his anger rising as he saw the Dark Lord eating out of the palm of her stupid Know-it-all palm.
Voldemort reached over and took his drink from Draco, his eyes never leaving Hermione.
"Halloween my dear. I am holding a magnificent ball here at the Manor. Formal wear will be mandatory. I expect you to be looking your best; I wish you to be as elegant and beautiful as the Raven you are."
"Yes my Lord. I am sure I will be able to find something to your liking."
"Yes, I'm sure." Voldemort smiled, "Oh and I think black would suit you better."
"My Lord? Do you refer to my outfit?"
Voldemort merely smiled at her and returned to a conversation with Snape.
Draco smirked at the fearful look on Hermione's face.
-------------------------------
A few hours and many drinks later, Draco and Hermione apparated back to the castle, leaving Snape and Voldemort talking.
"Did you like my cocktail?" laughed Hermione, before continuing, "I thought it would lighten the mood a bit; well, as light as you can get when you're conversing with the Lord of Darkness. It seemed to work though; I mean it all went OK. I was a bit nervous that we hadn't seen him since the revel and we hadn't really spoken to him then. We're quite good at this Death Eater impersonating stuff aren't we?! I'm a bit nervous about what he said about me and black...what can he be talking about?! I..."
"WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THAT ABOUT?!" Yelled Draco; the anger that had been building up all night was finally bursting out.
Hermione stooped talking and stood looking at him, confusion all over her pretty face.
"What do you mean?" was all she said.
"That performance back there." Ranted Draco, on a roll now he'd started. "Coming over all butter-wouldn't-melt evil goddess. You had them eating out of your hand and me acting like your bloody lap dog."
"I didn't...I tried..." Hermione stuttered, trying to explain, but Draco was too angry and full of double Vodkas to listen:
"We are SUPPOSED to be equal in this. I'm not just here for your entertainment. Unlike you I volunteered for this mission yet here are you getting all the favouritism, being praised and honoured and flashing your cleavage like you're some kind of..."
"I'M THE ONE HE CAN FUCK IF HE WANTS TO!!!" Hermione suddenly screamed, taking Draco aback. "Flirting with him proves that I trust him, which means there's more chance of getting vital information out of him for The Order. Do you think I LIKE being favoured by that...that demon for the things I've been made to do?! If anything it's a punishment to be favoured by him; it is certainly not something to be jealous of, and is defiantly not reason to cause a little tantrum like this out of a supposedly mature Wizard"
Draco tried to interrupt but now she was on a roll;
"AND, just because you volunteered and I didn't it doesn't make you one jot better than me...we're in this together, remember?! You, Draco Malfoy, have spent too many years of your short, pitiful life being cruel, making other people's life and getting praise for it. The things you put people through do not deserve to be celebrated. You may be on the side of The Order but you've still got a long way to go before you redeem yourself."
And with that, she turned on her heel and stormed to her rooms, leaving Draco staring after her, his mouth opening and shutting in silent protest.
----------------------------
Later that evening, Draco lay on hid large settee in front of the roaring open fire in his room, cupping a glass of Brandy. He swirled it in the glass, warming it as he stared into the flames, thinking about Hermione.
His thoughts were mixed and rapidly changing from indignant anger at her outburst:
"How dare she talk to me like that!"
To embarrassment:
"I can't believe I was shot down by someone a foot smaller than me."
To awe:
"She's quite a firecracker isn't she."
To guilt:
"Maybe she was right." As he drank more and more these thoughts and emotions each fought for his full concentration. He rid himself of the awe and embarrassment, satisfying them by telling himself he'd had enough of the awe the night a few nights earlier, and the embarrassment by the fact that no-one would ever find out that the King of Slytherin was shot down by a small Gryffindor Witch.
Anger too, eventually disappeared due to his alcohol consumption and soon he was left only with guilt. He drained his glass and crawled into bed; maybe she had been right-all his life he had been taught that power was good, that prejudice was right and that weakness was not an option. And for every evil deed he had committed and every cutting remark he had casually thrown at people (and there had been a few of both), he had received praise.
Yet two years ago he had abruptly changed his ways. For five years he had been Potter's nemesis and, OK they weren't exactly best friends now but they were on the same side.
He realised that he had made the naive assumption that the one good deed he had committed would make up for all the years of appalling things he'd done.
He'd been wrong, as Hermione had quickly pointed out.
That night he slept restlessly.
Chapter 4-Double Calling
The next few days passed in a swirl for Draco and Hermione: neither had been called to Voldemort since their marking but Snape had said that the Dark Lord had called him and had hinted that they would be called soon. In the meantime however they had to go about business as usual which meant lessons and hating each other.
The fifth night after the revel, Draco was lying on his huge bed when he heard Hermione's voice:
"Draco?! Are you there?!"
He sat up and looked at the fire at the end of his bed-Hermione's head was in it. He jumped off the end of the bed and sat in front of the fire.
"Hey."
"Hi." Came her reply, "Listen, we've been called to a meeting of The Order."
"Who has?!"
"Most of us...you, me, Harry, Ron...everyone....even Snape and Dumbledore are going."
"Why? Has something happened?"
"I don't know but we've got to go to Snape's classroom...Dumbledore's set up an unofficial port key."
"What's wrong with floo powder or apparating?!" he snapped, without meaning to...he hated port keys, always had done.
"The Networks' being watched by the Death Eaters-a large group like ours moving through would draw attention to us. And Ron hasn't passed his apparation test yet-Dumbledore wants us arriving together."
"Fair enough." Muttered Draco, "See you down there then."
"Yeah, bye." She answered vaguely and vanished from the fireplace. Draco immediately made his way down to the dungeons. He bumped into Hermione, Harry and Ron at the top of the stairs. He received an evil glare off Harry and Ron; as though warning him to stay away. Off Hermione though he got a small, shy smile, as thought they shared a secret (which, he supposed, they did).
They walked down the stairs in stony silence before entering the classroom. Professor McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore awaited them. Dumbledore beckoned them foreword to take hold of the port key (a potions jar).
They all crowded round and Draco's hand brushed with Hermione's. He noted how she had tied a jumper around her waist because her low slung jeans didn't do the job. He had done a similar thing by wearing a long sleeved T- Shirt under his normal T-Shirt.
He soon felt the familiar tug behind his naval and immediately felt he'd rather be anywhere else than whooshing along through space. They all landed with a thud in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place.
Draco looked around-Hermione had been right when she'd said everyone had been called up-everyone else was already there: Tonks, Mad-Eye, Lupin, Kingsley, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Mundungus, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and a few other that Draco didn't know. They were all sat in various places around the kitchen-at the table, on the worktops, on the floor, anywhere they could...the Weasley twins were perched on top of one of the cupboards, crouching down as they only just fitted.
Dumbledore took his pace at the head of the table and a quiet descended on the room.
"My friends," he began, "I have called you all together for a matter or up most importance: my sources inform me that Voldemort is in the beginning stages of planning a large attack on myself and Mr Potter: one which he believes will be the last."
A murmur passed around the small kitchen. Dumbledore continued:
"Unfortunately we know very little at the moment. However, Severus has informed me that our spies-Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy-will have quite a large part to play in his Voldemort's plans. He will be calling them soon I shouldn't wonder."
Dumbledore fell silent and Snape rose:
"The Dark Lord has indeed informed me that Draco and Hermione are to play a large part in his pans to overthrow Dumbledore and conquer Harry. This fact leads me to assume that he is planning something at Hogwarts. His weakness is our strength as he is clueless as to Hermione and Draco's true intentions and has marked them as his own."
Draco felt twenty pairs of eyes fall on himself and Hermione as the population of the room searched them for a glimpse of the mark. Draco saw Hermione tighten the jumper around her waist.
Snape continued:
"As each part of the plan is revealed to either myself, Hermione or Draco it will be repeated back to all members of The Order. It is then up to all of us to foil his plans by piecing together each section of information we receive."
As soon as he sat down the members of The Order all began to talk at once.
Within moments of Snape falling silent and the member's eruption of noise Draco felt a burning down his arm. He cried out...it was so painful. He heard Hermione's cries of pain-neither of them had been "called" before. Snape, used to it, had simply apparated immediately.
Draco stood, as did Hermione...neither wanting to move and draw attention to their positions. Draco sighed:
"Bloody hell." Before transfiguring his clothes into formal black robes. He stood still again, waiting for Hermione.
She didn't want to. He could tell: everyone was watching them and transfiguring her clothes would mean revealing her mark to those closest to her. It would be proving that she was different...a servant of the Dark Lord.
"Shit!" He heard her mutter before she waved her wand.
Her jeans became an extremely short black pleated skirt which hung below her Dark Mark on her hips (there was a gasp from the onlookers). Her T- Shirt became a short sleeved white shirt with a black PVC bra underneath it...the shirt was completely unbuttoned. A pair of high-heeled vamp shoes appeared on her feet and on her legs were a pair of thigh high socks...her hair cascaded down her back and once again her eyes became blackened and her lips blood red.
The members of The Order (all except Dumbledore), were gasping and muttering as Hermione Granger-Head Girl and loyal friend-now stood before them, looking like a naughty school girl with the mark of He-Who-Must-Not- Be-Named branded across her hip.
"Oh shut your mouths....you look like goldfish!" she snapped, before disappearing with a 'pop'.
Draco smirked and followed her.
---------------------------
Draco landed with a "pop" next to Hermione. He caught her eye and they immediatly fell about laughing.
"You should've seen their faces after you'd gone." Draco gasped.
"Were they really mad?" Hermione asked, trying to control her breathing between giggles.
"I think Weasel and Potty were a bit pissed off, everyone else looked more shocked than anything else...that their wonderful Head Girl could talk to her elders in such a way. Dumbledore, Tonks and Lupin all thought it was great joke."
Hermione giggled again, wiping a tear gently from her eye, trying to not smudge her eyeliner.
"C'mon." she said, taking his arm and walking into the next room.
----------------------
Voldemort was waiting for them and Snape was with him. They walked over and knelt before the Dark Lord.
"Stand." He commanded, and they stood.
"My Lord." Hermione purred, "I have missed you...I was beginning to think you had n wish to see me." She stuck out her lower lip in a slight pout and Voldemort smiled at her.
"I have missed you my Raven, and I will always have need for you. However, now is not the time for pleasures...we must begin work. As you know I need to kill Harry Potter, and to do that I need Dumbledore out of the way...this is where I have been having previous trouble." He cast a look at Snape who hung his head in fake shame.
"But my Lord, how will this be done?" questioned Hermione.
"A good question my Raven and one I have given much thought to. It must obviously must be done when there are no students in the castle...as tempting as it is to bump off a few of those filthy mudbloods they've got around the place I fell panic would be caused, most likely this will draw attention to the ministry before our final plans ensue, and this we do not need."
"May I suggest the Easter Holidays My Lord...for the attack." Piped up Snape.
Voldemort turned to him:
"I myself was thinking of the Christmas holidays..."
"An excellent idea my Lord but with one drawback...the castle will be full of students and teachers alike. Dumbledore, the old fool, is to hold a grand Yule ball to lighten the spirits of the students in these, ahem, 'dark' times."
Voldemort let out a high cold laugh that chilled Draco to the bone.
"Ha ha ha, the old fool. Very well Severus, it will be as you say, during the Easter Holidays."
"My Lord." Draco said, "I have to ask, if you are planning the attack at Hogwarts, how do you plan to enter the castle? It is so well protected."
Hermione answered first:
"I am assuming the Dark Lord will make his grand entrance when Dumbledore lowers the wards to allow us three to apparate into the castle. That way he can enter straight to Dumbledore where the old fool will meet his timely demise."
Voldemort smiled at her.
"You are indeed intelligent Raven." She returned the smile and he spoke once more.
"What part am I to play in your plan My Lord?! For I feel you would not call me unnecessarily."
"Of course not my dear: You and Draco are to spy for me-on the Headmaster. I need to know his moves and keep him from knowing mine. Hermione you have already informed me of your friendship with Potter but Draco, I also need you to befriend the boy...two heads are better as one as they say. We must ensure that he remains at Hogwarts over the Easter holidays."
"Potter always remains at school for the holidays; we will face no problem there...the problem will be me befriending him." Commented Draco.
"You will do it." Threatened the Dark Lord and Draco shrank in the overwhelming presence.
"Yes my Lord." He muttered. Hermione chose that moment to put on her sweet, sexy voice:
"My Lord," she purred, "after Dumbledore has been disposed of, what is your plan for the Potter boy?"
"Ah, Raven, I am glad you asked: Once we have disposed of the "greatest" wizard in the world we will move to find Potter....I expect you to have ensured him in the great Hall; perhaps with the rest of the teachers...it would be fun to dispose of them all at once. Of course we will out number them so any resistance on their half will be dealt with easily, although torturing is obviously permitted." He laughed again. "I myself will have to dispose of Potter." Hermione stuck out her lower lip and pretended to sulk:
"Oh my Lord I so wish I could be the one to make him squeal and squirm."
"I know my dear," Voldemort answered, resting a pale hand under her chin, "but as we are al aware I must fight him until he dies...which he will."
"Oh my Lord, it truly is a wonderful plan." Hermione squealed, "I can't wait to see their faces when they realise our trick."
"All in good time my eager Raven."
Draco felt his temper beginning to rise at the Dark Lord's favouritism of Hermione, but he controlled it...with difficulty.
"A drink." Commanded Voldemort, "to celebrate our imminent victory."
Hermione made to move.
"Sit." Voldemort ordered and she sat. "Draco, you can get the drinks-Snape? A straight Brandy I believe?" Snape nodded, "I will have a double Whiskey on the rocks and my dear Raven, what will you be drinking tonight?"
"Um..." she was thinking-what do Death Eaters drink...aside form Whiskey and Brandy as she couldn't stand the stuff, "I'll have a screaming Orgasm please." She finally responded, smiling sweetly at the three men around her.
Voldemort chuckled at her choice of cocktail
"An excellent choice. Draco, fix those drinks and one for yourself."
Draco nodded and made his way over to the impressive drinks cabinet, his anger mounting. He heard Voldemort, Snape and Hermione talking-Hermione was laughing sexily at something one of the others had said. He downed a double Vodka to try and calm his anger.
He fixed the drinks, pouring himself a Brandy, and downed another double Vodka before making his way back to the others in time to hear Hermione ask:
"When will you be calling us again My Lord, being out of your company for too great a time makes me feel unwanted." She stuck out her lower lip again in a little pit and Voldemort caressed it with a long finger. Draco felt his anger rising as he saw the Dark Lord eating out of the palm of her stupid Know-it-all palm.
Voldemort reached over and took his drink from Draco, his eyes never leaving Hermione.
"Halloween my dear. I am holding a magnificent ball here at the Manor. Formal wear will be mandatory. I expect you to be looking your best; I wish you to be as elegant and beautiful as the Raven you are."
"Yes my Lord. I am sure I will be able to find something to your liking."
"Yes, I'm sure." Voldemort smiled, "Oh and I think black would suit you better."
"My Lord? Do you refer to my outfit?"
Voldemort merely smiled at her and returned to a conversation with Snape.
Draco smirked at the fearful look on Hermione's face.
-------------------------------
A few hours and many drinks later, Draco and Hermione apparated back to the castle, leaving Snape and Voldemort talking.
"Did you like my cocktail?" laughed Hermione, before continuing, "I thought it would lighten the mood a bit; well, as light as you can get when you're conversing with the Lord of Darkness. It seemed to work though; I mean it all went OK. I was a bit nervous that we hadn't seen him since the revel and we hadn't really spoken to him then. We're quite good at this Death Eater impersonating stuff aren't we?! I'm a bit nervous about what he said about me and black...what can he be talking about?! I..."
"WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THAT ABOUT?!" Yelled Draco; the anger that had been building up all night was finally bursting out.
Hermione stooped talking and stood looking at him, confusion all over her pretty face.
"What do you mean?" was all she said.
"That performance back there." Ranted Draco, on a roll now he'd started. "Coming over all butter-wouldn't-melt evil goddess. You had them eating out of your hand and me acting like your bloody lap dog."
"I didn't...I tried..." Hermione stuttered, trying to explain, but Draco was too angry and full of double Vodkas to listen:
"We are SUPPOSED to be equal in this. I'm not just here for your entertainment. Unlike you I volunteered for this mission yet here are you getting all the favouritism, being praised and honoured and flashing your cleavage like you're some kind of..."
"I'M THE ONE HE CAN FUCK IF HE WANTS TO!!!" Hermione suddenly screamed, taking Draco aback. "Flirting with him proves that I trust him, which means there's more chance of getting vital information out of him for The Order. Do you think I LIKE being favoured by that...that demon for the things I've been made to do?! If anything it's a punishment to be favoured by him; it is certainly not something to be jealous of, and is defiantly not reason to cause a little tantrum like this out of a supposedly mature Wizard"
Draco tried to interrupt but now she was on a roll;
"AND, just because you volunteered and I didn't it doesn't make you one jot better than me...we're in this together, remember?! You, Draco Malfoy, have spent too many years of your short, pitiful life being cruel, making other people's life and getting praise for it. The things you put people through do not deserve to be celebrated. You may be on the side of The Order but you've still got a long way to go before you redeem yourself."
And with that, she turned on her heel and stormed to her rooms, leaving Draco staring after her, his mouth opening and shutting in silent protest.
----------------------------
Later that evening, Draco lay on hid large settee in front of the roaring open fire in his room, cupping a glass of Brandy. He swirled it in the glass, warming it as he stared into the flames, thinking about Hermione.
His thoughts were mixed and rapidly changing from indignant anger at her outburst:
"How dare she talk to me like that!"
To embarrassment:
"I can't believe I was shot down by someone a foot smaller than me."
To awe:
"She's quite a firecracker isn't she."
To guilt:
"Maybe she was right." As he drank more and more these thoughts and emotions each fought for his full concentration. He rid himself of the awe and embarrassment, satisfying them by telling himself he'd had enough of the awe the night a few nights earlier, and the embarrassment by the fact that no-one would ever find out that the King of Slytherin was shot down by a small Gryffindor Witch.
Anger too, eventually disappeared due to his alcohol consumption and soon he was left only with guilt. He drained his glass and crawled into bed; maybe she had been right-all his life he had been taught that power was good, that prejudice was right and that weakness was not an option. And for every evil deed he had committed and every cutting remark he had casually thrown at people (and there had been a few of both), he had received praise.
Yet two years ago he had abruptly changed his ways. For five years he had been Potter's nemesis and, OK they weren't exactly best friends now but they were on the same side.
He realised that he had made the naive assumption that the one good deed he had committed would make up for all the years of appalling things he'd done.
He'd been wrong, as Hermione had quickly pointed out.
That night he slept restlessly.