The foursome appeared at the old Riddle house into a packed room.
Draco kept his head down at first, knowing his father would be somewhere up
the front, Voldemort's right hand man.
"I don't like that thing," Pansy muttered as Nagini slithered past, flicking her tongue at Pansy. Draco ignored it, there was no point in worrying over a snake, what exactly would it do? Bite him?
"My youngest Deatheaters, welcome," came a menacing, unmistakable voice. Lord Voldemort appeared through the crowd of people and came to a halt in front of the four Slytherin seventh years. Draco looked up at the tall, hugely powerful man and didn't feel a flicker of fear.
Lord Voldemort looked at each one in turn, smiling at each. He tucked Pansy's hair behind her ear and she whimpered in fear. His touch was deathly cold and she knew he was quite capable and willing to kill her in a second.
"Do not fear me, I am your master Miss Parkinson. You are to serve me and cherish every moment you spend in my presence," Voldemort said, smiling vampishly. Pansy nodded quickly and looked at her feet. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Master Malfoy, would you come with me?" Voldemort said. It wasn't a question, it was a command. The dark Lord turned and Draco was left with no choice but to follow behind him.
Lucius Malfoy was conversing with McNair, briefly looked at his son as Draco walked past and he didn't say a thing.
"In here, Draco," Voldemort said, standing aside and allowing Draco to go into the empty room first. It looked like a study, it had a desk and a glowing fireplace with some comfy looking chairs arranged either side of the fire with a very old looking rug between them. Draco wrinkled his nose, he could almost smell the Muggles and the room wasn't exactly plush. Lord Voldemort had the power but he obviously lacked taste or money. Or both.
"I do not dwell on material things Draco. I have no need for expensive things. I am sorry if this room isn't up to your standards," Voldemort replied from across the room. Draco turned mouth open; he forgot what an excellent Occulems he was. Voldemort walked over to Draco, levitating two glasses of some amber coloured liquid. "Sit."
Draco obeyed and sank into the nearest chair, the heat from the fire tingling his face.
He watched Lord Voldemort sit down slowly and sip from his glass before sending Draco the second glass. Draco took it and knew immediately it was Firewhisky. It smelt old and expensive.
"Do you know why I chose you and the three others for Deatheaters? I could have basically anybody but I chose four eighteen year olds," Voldemort began slowly, sipping his drink. He hadn't moved his eyes from Draco since Draco had entered the room.
"No, I don't," Draco replied. "My Lord," He added quickly.
"You know my history with Potter. I know your history with Potter too, I know much more than you think. I do not want him alive. This is the year I will finally end him. He is of age now and an extremely powerful wizard. He's more powerful than you, Draco. But his power comes from his goodness, yours come from your hatred and your shame which is a potent poison if used in the correct way," Voldemort paused and put his glass down on the small table beside him.
"You along with Pansy and Crabbe and Goyle Junior have a very important year ahead of you. You will assist in the downfall of Harry Potter. You can be closer to him than any other Deatheater I have without PolyJuice. Do you understand me Draco?"
Draco gulped. He would love nothing more than to assist in the death of Potter but...Hermione. Soon she was consuming his thoughts and Draco tried desperately to push her out.
"Your priorities are right Draco. The best way to weaken a hero is to take away everything he lives for. I believe he would do anything for his two friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. If I were to kidnap them, he would follow them to the ends of the earth."
Draco felt physically sick. He knew if he didn't get out of here and back to school he would say something he would regret very much.
"I will do what I can for you, my Lord," Draco said, drawing himself up in his chair and looking the dark Lord in the eye.
"Good Draco. I hope I will not regret my decision. Go back to school now and I will call for you when I have perfected my plan. Remember, evil always prevails even if you think you are beaten. Evil will always prevail."
Draco had been retching in the Head Boy and Girl bathroom for a good half hour.
His eyes stung and his stomach was burning. His heart hurt the most though, at what he knew he would have to do.
One thing was on his mind, Hermione and ways to protect her. He would not let the Dark Lord take her as bait. Weasley, yes but Hermione...he couldn't think about it any more.
He retched again just as the door opened and slammed shut.
"Malfoy?"
Draco's head shot up and he smoothed his hair back but it fell straight back into his eyes. He wiped his mouth and turned to see Hermione looking shocked. He fell back against the wall, too weak and tired to care.
"Merlin, Draco! Let me guess, you're drunk again?" Hermione said, going to a sink and wetting a towel with cold water. She laid it on the back of his neck gingerly, well aware he would probably curse her. But he looked so small and human.
"I am not drunk," Draco croaked, his throat stung like hell and although the cold towel felt good, he reached for it and flung it on the floor.
"Oh grow up Malfoy! I'm trying to help!" Hermione said angrily, snatching up the towel from the floor, rinsing it again and laying it back on his neck.
He heard her walk away and begin running a shower and jostling the curtain angrily. Then she was back.
"Can you go to the hospital wing or something? I want to shower in peace please," Hermione asked airily. Draco knew he could not move, he'd just have to lie here all night.
"Like I'd want to catch a glimpse of you. Do a Shielding Charm or haven't you mastered that one yet?" Draco spat back as best he could. His stomach was settling slightly but he was still sick with fear.
Hermione left and went back to her shower. Draco could hear her prattling about with bottles of shampoo or something, he wasn't sure but she was taking her time getting into the shower.
Draco pushed himself onto his knees and with his head spinning, he stood up. He took a few sloppy steps and had to lean heavily with his shoulder against the stone wall until the dizziness stopped.
He reached for his wand and performed a refreshing spell on himself. He looked and smelt better but he didn't feel it. He wobbled over to where he could hear Hermione.
He stopped dead when he saw what she was doing. She had her back to him, unaware he was there.
Draco felt his breaths become ragged as Hermione prepared to step into the shower. He couldn't tear his eyes from her unclothed form, everything was how he'd pictured but better. Much, much better.
"Are you gone, Draco?" Hermione yelled, startling him so much he clutched his heart and grabbed the sink. She waited with her head slightly turned so she could hear.
"No," Draco said hoarsely. It was Hermione's turn to be shocked. She screamed when she saw how close Draco was and scrabbled furiously for a towel to cover herself.
"You, you...were you spying on me? How dare you! I can't believe you Malfoy, you sneaking, slimy little..." Hermione began shouting but something inside Draco made him lunge forward and push his lips against hers.
He placed a hand on her chest and pushed her back roughly against the wall, making her squeak under him. She hadn't pushed him away yet.
Draco kissed her with such passion, Hermione believed she may faint right there and then through the shock of it all. She couldn't deny she was enjoying it.
Draco's mind was racing but he knew he didn't want to let her go. It was wrong, so, so wrong. She was never supposed to know about his secret desire but he just needed to hold her. He knew as long as he kissed her, she was safe from everything.
Usually, Draco would've made further moves if it had been any other girl but he didn't want to ruin it. She was letting him kiss her and that was good enough. She deserved to be treated better than any other girl Draco had been with.
"Draco," Hermione murmured, pushing him away finally. Draco stepped back slightly, giving her the space. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to carry on in his life. If he could just stay here with Hermione, all would right with the world.
"What am I doing?" Draco said suddenly, narrowing his eyes at Hermione and her surprised expression.
"Draco, what are you doing?" She replied. She was still clutching her towel around her with one hand.
"Just, forget it. I'm not well. Forget it. It meant nothing," Draco said quickly and angrily. What was he saying?
"But, Draco..." Hermione began but he had already turned and was leaving the bathroom. He heard Hermione shout his name angrily, desperately but he had already slammed the door shut and was practically running down the corridor toward Slytherin Dungeon.
"I don't like that thing," Pansy muttered as Nagini slithered past, flicking her tongue at Pansy. Draco ignored it, there was no point in worrying over a snake, what exactly would it do? Bite him?
"My youngest Deatheaters, welcome," came a menacing, unmistakable voice. Lord Voldemort appeared through the crowd of people and came to a halt in front of the four Slytherin seventh years. Draco looked up at the tall, hugely powerful man and didn't feel a flicker of fear.
Lord Voldemort looked at each one in turn, smiling at each. He tucked Pansy's hair behind her ear and she whimpered in fear. His touch was deathly cold and she knew he was quite capable and willing to kill her in a second.
"Do not fear me, I am your master Miss Parkinson. You are to serve me and cherish every moment you spend in my presence," Voldemort said, smiling vampishly. Pansy nodded quickly and looked at her feet. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Master Malfoy, would you come with me?" Voldemort said. It wasn't a question, it was a command. The dark Lord turned and Draco was left with no choice but to follow behind him.
Lucius Malfoy was conversing with McNair, briefly looked at his son as Draco walked past and he didn't say a thing.
"In here, Draco," Voldemort said, standing aside and allowing Draco to go into the empty room first. It looked like a study, it had a desk and a glowing fireplace with some comfy looking chairs arranged either side of the fire with a very old looking rug between them. Draco wrinkled his nose, he could almost smell the Muggles and the room wasn't exactly plush. Lord Voldemort had the power but he obviously lacked taste or money. Or both.
"I do not dwell on material things Draco. I have no need for expensive things. I am sorry if this room isn't up to your standards," Voldemort replied from across the room. Draco turned mouth open; he forgot what an excellent Occulems he was. Voldemort walked over to Draco, levitating two glasses of some amber coloured liquid. "Sit."
Draco obeyed and sank into the nearest chair, the heat from the fire tingling his face.
He watched Lord Voldemort sit down slowly and sip from his glass before sending Draco the second glass. Draco took it and knew immediately it was Firewhisky. It smelt old and expensive.
"Do you know why I chose you and the three others for Deatheaters? I could have basically anybody but I chose four eighteen year olds," Voldemort began slowly, sipping his drink. He hadn't moved his eyes from Draco since Draco had entered the room.
"No, I don't," Draco replied. "My Lord," He added quickly.
"You know my history with Potter. I know your history with Potter too, I know much more than you think. I do not want him alive. This is the year I will finally end him. He is of age now and an extremely powerful wizard. He's more powerful than you, Draco. But his power comes from his goodness, yours come from your hatred and your shame which is a potent poison if used in the correct way," Voldemort paused and put his glass down on the small table beside him.
"You along with Pansy and Crabbe and Goyle Junior have a very important year ahead of you. You will assist in the downfall of Harry Potter. You can be closer to him than any other Deatheater I have without PolyJuice. Do you understand me Draco?"
Draco gulped. He would love nothing more than to assist in the death of Potter but...Hermione. Soon she was consuming his thoughts and Draco tried desperately to push her out.
"Your priorities are right Draco. The best way to weaken a hero is to take away everything he lives for. I believe he would do anything for his two friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. If I were to kidnap them, he would follow them to the ends of the earth."
Draco felt physically sick. He knew if he didn't get out of here and back to school he would say something he would regret very much.
"I will do what I can for you, my Lord," Draco said, drawing himself up in his chair and looking the dark Lord in the eye.
"Good Draco. I hope I will not regret my decision. Go back to school now and I will call for you when I have perfected my plan. Remember, evil always prevails even if you think you are beaten. Evil will always prevail."
Draco had been retching in the Head Boy and Girl bathroom for a good half hour.
His eyes stung and his stomach was burning. His heart hurt the most though, at what he knew he would have to do.
One thing was on his mind, Hermione and ways to protect her. He would not let the Dark Lord take her as bait. Weasley, yes but Hermione...he couldn't think about it any more.
He retched again just as the door opened and slammed shut.
"Malfoy?"
Draco's head shot up and he smoothed his hair back but it fell straight back into his eyes. He wiped his mouth and turned to see Hermione looking shocked. He fell back against the wall, too weak and tired to care.
"Merlin, Draco! Let me guess, you're drunk again?" Hermione said, going to a sink and wetting a towel with cold water. She laid it on the back of his neck gingerly, well aware he would probably curse her. But he looked so small and human.
"I am not drunk," Draco croaked, his throat stung like hell and although the cold towel felt good, he reached for it and flung it on the floor.
"Oh grow up Malfoy! I'm trying to help!" Hermione said angrily, snatching up the towel from the floor, rinsing it again and laying it back on his neck.
He heard her walk away and begin running a shower and jostling the curtain angrily. Then she was back.
"Can you go to the hospital wing or something? I want to shower in peace please," Hermione asked airily. Draco knew he could not move, he'd just have to lie here all night.
"Like I'd want to catch a glimpse of you. Do a Shielding Charm or haven't you mastered that one yet?" Draco spat back as best he could. His stomach was settling slightly but he was still sick with fear.
Hermione left and went back to her shower. Draco could hear her prattling about with bottles of shampoo or something, he wasn't sure but she was taking her time getting into the shower.
Draco pushed himself onto his knees and with his head spinning, he stood up. He took a few sloppy steps and had to lean heavily with his shoulder against the stone wall until the dizziness stopped.
He reached for his wand and performed a refreshing spell on himself. He looked and smelt better but he didn't feel it. He wobbled over to where he could hear Hermione.
He stopped dead when he saw what she was doing. She had her back to him, unaware he was there.
Draco felt his breaths become ragged as Hermione prepared to step into the shower. He couldn't tear his eyes from her unclothed form, everything was how he'd pictured but better. Much, much better.
"Are you gone, Draco?" Hermione yelled, startling him so much he clutched his heart and grabbed the sink. She waited with her head slightly turned so she could hear.
"No," Draco said hoarsely. It was Hermione's turn to be shocked. She screamed when she saw how close Draco was and scrabbled furiously for a towel to cover herself.
"You, you...were you spying on me? How dare you! I can't believe you Malfoy, you sneaking, slimy little..." Hermione began shouting but something inside Draco made him lunge forward and push his lips against hers.
He placed a hand on her chest and pushed her back roughly against the wall, making her squeak under him. She hadn't pushed him away yet.
Draco kissed her with such passion, Hermione believed she may faint right there and then through the shock of it all. She couldn't deny she was enjoying it.
Draco's mind was racing but he knew he didn't want to let her go. It was wrong, so, so wrong. She was never supposed to know about his secret desire but he just needed to hold her. He knew as long as he kissed her, she was safe from everything.
Usually, Draco would've made further moves if it had been any other girl but he didn't want to ruin it. She was letting him kiss her and that was good enough. She deserved to be treated better than any other girl Draco had been with.
"Draco," Hermione murmured, pushing him away finally. Draco stepped back slightly, giving her the space. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to carry on in his life. If he could just stay here with Hermione, all would right with the world.
"What am I doing?" Draco said suddenly, narrowing his eyes at Hermione and her surprised expression.
"Draco, what are you doing?" She replied. She was still clutching her towel around her with one hand.
"Just, forget it. I'm not well. Forget it. It meant nothing," Draco said quickly and angrily. What was he saying?
"But, Draco..." Hermione began but he had already turned and was leaving the bathroom. He heard Hermione shout his name angrily, desperately but he had already slammed the door shut and was practically running down the corridor toward Slytherin Dungeon.