Allo, this is cordyangel sayig hello. Trying to update more often.Read, review and enjoy!

Chapter 8: Right Hooks and Murmurs

Draco had been gone for four hours before Hermione was beginning to get a little worried. Or annoyed. She really couldn't decide which. At last she became tired of waiting for him to show up. So, once again she braved the vast Headquarters of the Cobra.

As Hermione walked through the halls she heard a grunting of sorts. Her first thought was that it was an animal but as she came closer she realized it was a man. She found the source of the noise and pushed open the door.

The room appeared to be a gym of sorts. There were weight trainers, machinery and punching bags in every corner of the room. One man in particular caught her eye and she moved closer to identify him.

It was Draco. But for the first time since she had arrived, she really looked at him. His pale hair was silvery as ever and his eyes were still a startling gray. His features, which had once been pointed and sharp had become classic aquiline. He was undeniably handsome and sexy to boot. There was no way anyone would believe he had to pay to get sex.

But despite all of his handsomeness, there was something wrong. His cold eyes were red rimmed and his pallor was paler than it should have been. He was too thin.

He looked as if he hadn't gotten a decent rest in years. The fact that he was covered in a sheen of sweat wasn't helping any. Hermione's eyes traveled down Draco's body and rested on his forearm. That's when she saw it.

The Dark Mark.

Hermione had always wondered whether or not he had actually went through the ritual and taken the Dark Mark. A wave of sympathy swept over her. It didn't matter whether or not Voldemort lost; Draco would always have the scar. No matter what.

It took Draco a full ten minutes before he realized that he had company.

"Where'd you learn to fight like that?" Hermione spoke first.

Draco continued punching. "I didn't," he panted.

A few moments passed before she asked her second question. "Why? I mean, if you can hurl curses at someone, why do you need this?"

"You can never be too careful" was his response.

Sensing the conversation's end Hermione quietly slipped out of the room.

What's up with him? If his wand was any farther up his arse…

Voiced coming from a room marked RESTRICTED distracted Hermione. Maybe this was the scoop Hermione had been waiting for. She crept closer to the door just in time to hear a tail end of someone's conversation.

"… we are not good men. Lust is what we do best. Among other things. Just don't let your infatuation blind you. If she has power, it needs to be aligned with our's. If she doesn't comply, kill her." Hermione recognized the voice of Voldemort and let out a tiny gasp. Immediately she slapped her hand over her mouth.

"What is it?" Voldemort questioned his companion.

"I thought I heard something my Lord. Forgive me, go on…." Hermione knew without thinking the voice belonged to Lucius.

Hermione listened for a while longer but it seemed as if all the juicy parts were done. She headed back to her's and Draco's room in a daze. When she walked through the door Draco had just stepped out of the shower. Tiny droplets of water rested on his hair, his shoulders and his pale bare shoulders.

"I've been waiting for you." Draco said.

"You've got some nerve!" Hermione shouted. "I was working! And pray tell what were you doing? Punching the stuffing out of something again?"

Draco calmly waited until she was finished. "What did you find out?" He asked quietly.

Hermione looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You said that you were working so, what did you find out?"

Hermione took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Not much," she admitted. "Your father and Voldemort were talking about killing someone."

He snorted with disdain.

"What?" Hermione demanded, angry again.

"Hermione, we are at the Headquarters of one of the most evil wizards of all time. Murder is not exactly unheard of."

She was shocked that he took the news so calmly. But she did not get a chance to rebuke him because Voldemort walked in.

"Most evil wizard of all time? You're making me blush." he chuckled good-naturedly.

For a moment, Hermione panicked. How long had he been listening? But then she came to terms with the fact that if he did know more than what he was letting on, there was nothing she could do about it except wait. She greeted the Dark Lord with a fake smile pasted on her face.

"Welcome my lord" Draco smiled warmly. "I did not know you had returned. How was your trip?"

"A success I'm happy to report. But surely we won't talk about this in front of your charming Kylie. We'd bore the poor girl to death."

Draco looked towards Hermione with surprise at the fact that she had already acquainted herself with him. She gave him her best innocent look.

"I hope you don't mind that I invited Kylie as a guest. I'm so sorry if I offended you." Draco apologized.

"Of course not, she is so charming that I commend you on bringing her here. Anyway, I don't want to intrude, I'm only here to invite you to my welcome home dinner. Naturally, Kylie's presence is required as well. Dinner is promptly at seven and dress for the occasion. I'll have your head if you're late!" He finished gleefully. Hermione winced. He probably isn't joking.

Draco thanked Voldemort profusely before letting him out.

Hermione, who was feeling especially viscous now because she was being forced to dine with scores of people whom she would love nothing better than to see dead began to tear into Draco.

"When did you become such a world class arse kisser?"

As usual, Draco was unwilling to get into it with Hermione, so he just ignored her. That really annoyed her. The one thing that Draco used to be famous and good for was never failing to rise to a confrontation. She stomped out of the room and into the bathroom, turning on the shower.

Treading carefully, Draco braved a question. "Didn't you already shower today?"

"Thank you for that piece of information." She snapped. "If you must know, with all these men constantly staring at me I can't help but feel perpetually 'dirty'"

Draco knew the feeling. Ever since he'd received the Dark Mark in April he'd become obsessed with being clean. But no matter what, he carried the mark wherever he went.

Forever.

A/N So, tell me what you think. Too short? Let me know. I'm trying to make posts longer but I don't know how long to make them! If you haven't already, check out my other fanfiction called Whole Again. Have a nice weekend!

Oh, and thank you everyone who is kind enough to review. Your input is very much appreciated!