Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing with her world
Chapter 14: Bow down before the one you serve
The three newcomers took their places at the feet of the Dark Lord. They kneeled quickly not wanting to incur the wrath of Voldemort. All eyes present were focused on the three young people with bowed heads.
"My loyal followers, tonight we have new members that wish to join in our ranks." The Death Eaters remained silent trying to gauge the threat these three people were to them.
This gathering place was barren and stark, only a few trees where present. The moon was hidden by the fierce looking storm clouds that had appeared. All that could be heard through the trees of this deserted place was the soft blow of the wind. But even the wind quieted as the Dark Lord slipped into each of the initiate's minds to make sure of their loyalty.
The first was a young girl, around 20 years old. Her hair was strawberry blond and fell past her waist, which was very small. Any one could see how beautiful this girl was, with her pierced blue eyes and red lips. As she bowed there many Death Eaters could be heard whispering how they couldn't wait to get their hands on her, but she only kept her head bowed in reverence.
Voldemort went through her memories and saw how, even though her family was pureblood, had fought against the Dark Lord for three generations. It also showed how her family had wanted her to become an Auror, she denied this of course and proclaimed her hatred for Muggles and Muggle-born. The girl swiftly got out of that home and was staying with a friend, another Death Eater.
The next was a young boy, he was about 17. His black hair was cut very close to his head and his nose was clearly broken a few times, but was still very cute (A/N: kinda like Owen Wilson). His wiry frame was sitting on his knees and the position he was in hid his height, which was about 6'7. The boy had come from a long line of Death Eaters, and many of the older members recognized him immediately. He had the raw passion and disgust against Muggles that would prove to be very good in the terms of late night Revels.
Draco was last. He kept his head down and his mind clear as he felt the Dark Lord come into his mind and rifle through his thoughts and memories. As his father had taught him since he was a child, he only showed what he wanted the Dark Lord to see and nothing more. There was a slight resistance but Draco gave way a bit to avoid suspicion. Soon the only one in his mind was him and he was grateful for having passed that small test.
"Arise, my new followers. You are apart of this group, until you die or until I kill you." Voldemort said this as all the Death Eaters repeated part of the phrase, "Until you die." There was a stony silence again as Voldemort stood, putting his weight on the corner of his mighty throne. "Wormtail, bring it to me." No one dared to whisper but they were all wondering how Wormtail was there by the Dark Lord's side. They had all heard of this little ingrate being caught by that woman Auror, a great shame to be caught by a woman. The command was short but it definitely got the point across, as Wormtail scurried away to get the wand and bring it to his master.
"Reveal your arms to me." The new Death Eaters raised their left arms and rolled the sleeves up past their elbows. The wand was brought in and it lit up a violent green as it was made ready. The young girl was first, she did not even wince in pain and many could see the impressed look on Voldemort's face. The boy was next; he grimaced and let out a small hiss of pain but quickly shut up as the pressure and pain increased. Draco held out his arm and felt the hot wand dig into his skin.
He could feel the spell wriggling around under his skin and felt it as it wound its way through his heart and soul. The pain lasted for so long but Draco was used to pain, he showed no pain on his face keeping it neutral.
Soon the wand was removed and Draco peeked down at his forearm, looking fascinatedly at the new Mark he had received.
"My followers, you are dismissed until my next Dark Revel when these young initiates will truly be brought in." The evil smirk never left his face as the Death Eaters quickly apperated away.
Severus and Lucius went quickly to try and collect Draco, so they could get out of there as soon as possible. They both walked to the young blonde's side and were about to apperate away when a voice stopped them. "Severus, Draco, stay. I am in need of a word with you."
Draco's eyes closed as he tried to clear his mind once again, not wanting to take any chances. His uncle pulled him to Voldemort's throne. "Yes, my Dark Lord, we are here only to serve you." Severus spoke and kissed the hems of Voldemort's cloak, and Draco soon followed.
"Of course, you are, Severus. But I came upon some very interesting news today." His eyes lowered to the two men and the feigned happiness melted into anger. "Why was I not told sooner that that Potter boy is dating the Mudblood bitch of his?" His rage shook the ground slightly. Voldemort stood up with Pettigrew groveling at his side. "Severus, you are my spy inside that bloody school of his. This will not go over looked. Draco seeing as how this is your first offense against me, I will go lightly, but do expect to be begging for mercy before the end." Pain did scare Draco but he kept his face neutral not wanting to anger the Dark Lord even further.
Voldemort let out a wheezing laugh. "I will not waste my time on you two, but you still will get your just punishment." He snapped his long, spidery like fingers. "Avery, Nott, Goyle, Crabbe." The four men popped into the space in the rapid succession in which they were called.
"Yes, master." Avery said as they kneeled by their Lord.
"Teach these men the meaning of servitude." A wicked smile spread on Nott's face, as he loved the violence that his Death Eater life awarded him. "And no wands, I want them to feel each blow to them. Goyle, Crabbe, do not hurt the junior Mallory too terribly." The two gargantuan men dumbly nodded their heads as they walked towards Draco.
Avery and Nott advanced on the still bent Severus. They pounced stealthily on him, attacking him in the most delicate of places first; to make sure he couldn't fight back. Goyle and Crabbe took their time with Draco and leisurely threw the punches and kicks his way.
Soon the rain of punches subsided for Severus and Draco and a laughing and panting Avery, Nott, Goyle, and Crabbe were awarded for their services. The punishment had taken only twenty minutes but it seemed hours long for the two men.
"Lucius gather them up and get them out of my sight. And make sure they know that if they dare visit the Infirmary they will not live past the next meeting." Voldemort whispered this command to Malfoy Sr., who was bent in a deep bow and apperated away with Pettigrew popping out next.
"Don't worry. You will be home soon and safe." Lucius held both of them as he apperated them back to the Hogwart's gates.
Lucius ran as fast as he could back through the maze of tunnels and passages that the three of them had taken earlier that night. He came into the Head Boy/Girl common room and placed his son gently on the couch. He was about the floo back to Severus's rooms when a voice graced his ears.
"Oh my gods, Draco!" Hermione had frantically come down the stairs and ran to Draco when she had heard a door open and close. Her head tilted up when to look at Lucius. She saw just the barest of glimpses at Severus's beaten form but Lucius was smart enough to step in front on the man before she saw more.
"Miss. Granger, please wait with my son until I can return. I must attend to Severus right away." He said no more, and before Hermione could question him he flooed to the rooms. Hermione quickly took care of Draco, taking away the dried blood, healing his wounds and bruises, and checking for any internal injuries or broken bones. Finding none she left him to sleep and flooed to Severus.
Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace and into the rooms as Lucius was sifting through a potions cabinet. Not bothering to dust herself off she took off to find where he was.
Lucius glanced up with a surprised look, not surprised as Hermione came into the room but surprised that she had waited so long. "Miss. Granger I told you to stay with my son."
"I have taken care of him and he is sleeping exactly where you left him. Now, please, tell me where he is. Where is Severus?" Hermione was panting and trembling with fear. Lucius saw her trepidation and felt his heart slightly go out to her. But instantly it pulled back as he recalled how hard it was to deal with Severus the months and years after his incident with Hermione.
"Leave now, Miss. Granger. I assure you that I will take care of him to the best of my knowledge. All you will do is get in the way." Lucius turned his back on the girl and went back to searching in the cabinet.
Hermione with that classic defiant look on her face approached him. "Now, listen here, Mr. Malfoy you tell me this instant where Severus is so that I may take care of him." Lucius began to open his mouth the insult the girl and tell her to leave once more but Hermione stopped him immediately. "And don't you say a word. If there has been one thing I learned by being friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley it is how to treat injuries."
Hermione placed her hands on her hips and stood her ground just asking for Lucius to speak up against her once more. But he knew that he wasn't going to win this. So Lucius sighed and pointed to a door. "That way, Miss. Granger."
Hermione practically ran to him, but she stopped as soon as she entered the room. Blood was soaking through the linens on the bed, his clothes were torn revealing terrible wounds underneath and definately a few broken bones, too. His face though was almost unrecognizable. The nose was definitely broken, he had to black eyes, and a gash ran from the left of his forehead across his eyebrow, his nose and down to the right side of his jaw. His lips were torn and bleeding and huge lumps were appearing on the sides of his head.
"Oh, Severus what have they done to you?" Hermione sat on the bed next to him and pushed the bloody hair away from his face.
Severus's eyes opened, barely though. He licked his lips as best he could and groaned as he tried to speak. "Hermione is that you?" His voice was crackling and was no louder then a whisper. She nodded as the tears welled up in her eyes. "Why did you leave me? I needed you so badly, why did you leave?" Tears ran down his face re-wetting the dried blood.
"Severus, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I love you so much." But he had already slipped into that heavenly bliss of unconsciousness. Hermione slumped down on him and cried her eyes out. "I will never leave you again. That I promise you." She whipped her nose and cleared Severus of his wounds easily. The bones were mended as best she could and the gash on his face was turning into a long scar that would last him his life. She cleaned away the dried blood and kissed his forehead as she took her leave of the room.
The next few minutes were a blur to Hermione as she shut the door to the room and told Lucius that he was asleep. Her Head Girl status allowed Hermione the privilege of being able to be out of bed at anytime and she was going to take full advantage of that. As a detour from her rooms she stopped by the kitchens to make some Chai Tea to calm her nerves, as the 'smell of Christmas' usually did. When Hermione opened the door she was greeted by Dobby very nicely but she only managed a polite "hi". The house elves gathered around her pestering her to let them make her some food by Dobby chased them off and made sure she was left alone.
Her trek back to the common room took the rest of the night as she sipped her tea along the way and her mind wandered to what Severus had said to her. When Hermione entered the room she checked on Draco and pulled out some potion bottles to relieve the pain that he was sure to have when he woke up. She set them down on the side table and flopped in the chair that was facing the couch. Her eyes scanned over Draco's face. Hermione saw his peaceful form as he slept but cringed when her eyes would reach over the little white lines that would go away after a day or two. The night passed with Hermione in a stupor staring at Draco but thinking about Severus.
Soon a moan emitted from the sleeping figure on the couch.
"Draco, hold still. I will get you pain relieving potions." He complied with her as she got the potions. "OK, here drink these. These will make all of the pain go away."
He nodded his head just slightly as he opened his mouth. The liquids were poured down his throat. Soon Draco's pain cleared as did the fog in his head, but once the fog lifted the memories of the night before flooded back to him. These brought about another moan.
"Draco, are you OK? Is there any extra pain?" Hermione looked over him worried and felt his torso for any remaining wounds.
But he pushed her hands off quickly. "I told you, if Uncle Severus caught us together like that he would hex my balls right off, and I must say I am very fond of them." Draco smiled that famous smirk of his and opened his eyes to find the golden honey eyes of a greatly reassured Hermione staring back to him.
Hermione laughed and hugged him tightly. "Oh, I am so glad. I was scared that I had messed up a healing charm or two when I was helping you last night."
"No, no, no I'm fine. Hey speaking of, how is my good-old uncle? Did father take care of him alright?" Draco's tone faded from light to a very scared as he saw Hermione's smile fade and her eyes water. "What's wrong with him? Is he not OK?" Draco was shaking slightly and he talking like a little child in trouble. His face became serious as the thought of his uncle beaten to death because of him made tears come to his eyes and threaten to spill over.
Hermione noticed the tears brimming over. "He is alive and he will live. It's just something he told me last night." She had planned to stop there but Draco's face just made her elaborate.
"Alright I'll tell you, after I cured you, I flooed down to his rooms. Your father was quiet adamant that I return to you but I was just as stubborn as seeing Severus, enough so that he gave up and let me stay. When I walked in, oh gods Draco, I hardly recognized him. His face was terribly beaten and his injuries were worse then worse. He had more broken bones then I had ever fixed before. His bed was soaked almost through with his blood. After a while, I couldn't stand it I had to leave. I made sure he was asleep, cleaned him up and left." Hermione was sitting on the couch and she was gripping her robes so tightly her fingers were turning white.
Draco blinked away the tears and took her hand away from her robes. "Hermione he was hallucinating. He still thought that he was eighteen years old and that you had returned to him. It will be OK, I promise. He won't remember what he said or anything that happened last night when you were talking to him."
"I know Draco, that's just what I'm afraid of. I want him to remember, so badly I do."
The conversation ended there as the two of them headed down to breakfast. They both noticed that absence of Professor Snape from the Head Table and they said a very discreet good-bye as they ventured off to their respective enemy tables.
"Herm, I don't know how you can stand to live with that boy." Ron said as she sat down at the table. "I would kill myself." Harry and Ginny laughed slightly as she noticed Professor Snape enter through the side door by the Head Table.
Hermione glanced over to Draco who had seen the entrance too and had a worried look on his face. Harry also noticed the entry but his eyes were dancing with laughter.
He put an arm around her waist. "Oh man look at the grease-ball today. He looks like some one beat him over the head with an ugly stick a couple of times." Ron and Harry both laughed but Ginny just reached under the table and took a hold of Hermione's hand to keep the outburst from happening. "No, not just the stick the whole tree walloped the git upside the head." Harry and Ron were crying with laughter by this point and Ginny was starting to wince with pain as Hermione squeezed her hand harder and harder.
"Gin, you OK? You don't look very good." Ron said as he saw Ginny's grimace. He looked over to Hermione to comment to her too, but the look of seething hatred on her face stopped him from saying anything.
But Harry was never accused of being intelligent. "What do you think Hermione: stick or tree?" He asked.
That was it; Hermione stormed up from the table and flew from the Great Hall in a fit of fury. Her plate had spilled in front of her as did her pumpkin juice. Hermione had finally snapped when it came to Harry and she just couldn't wait until the next time she saw him, he was going to get what was coming to him. Oh gods how she wished he would follow her.
A/N: ok, ok I know that I promised a little Harry ass-kicking this chapter but it just turned out as a preamble to it. Sorry it will be next chapter I promise. I had gone further from this point but I had to switch it to a new chapter, it didn't flow right. So the next chapter is when it will be.
And the Chai Tea, yes it does taste like Christmas, at least that's what me and all of friends think.
Thanks so much for all of my reviewers. I hope you guys liked this one, if so tell me with a beautiful thing called a review. They always do make me oh so happy.
I could even make my own commercial about reviews, "After a long, hard day at school I like to relax with a great big pile of reviews." Then I take a drink of Chai Tea.
Ok so I'm hyper today, sorry. But review please and read lots. BYE!