"Hermione! Come down!"
Hermione sat up and stretched. She looked at her clock and saw it was 8:30am. Wondering what the hell her parents wanted with her at this time of the morning, she got dressed quickly into a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. Walking out her door she felt something was wrong, but brushed it aside. Slowly going down the stairs, watching the steps as they past, only looking up when she saw the floor coming up at her. When her eyes lay on the sight before her, she almost fell over. There lying on the sofa was her dad, with a shocked expression on his face. The morning paper was left crumpled on the ground and tea spilt across his lap. Moving her eyes slightly over the right, she saw her mother standing, but only just, as it was clear she had been tortured. Hermione only had to look over her mother's right shoulder to see the Death Eater's mask stare back at her. This… thing was holding a wand against her mother's throat. Tears slowly began to well up in her eyes as she realized she was about to witness her mother's death. Totally unarmed she stood glaring into the slits where the eyes were hiding behind, issuing a silent challenge.
"Now, now do we really need all the dramatics?" drawled a cold, high pitched voice that could only belong to one person. Voldemort. She turned slowly towards where he stood, in a long black cloak, his long finger grasping a wand. "Hermione, I know you're not armed. We could stop this from happening, although my followers seem to have gotten a little carried away." A small smile crept its way across his face. "But your mother is still alive. We could take her from her misery if you agree to one little, tiny thing, your mother can go free."
Hermione looked into the red eyes that could make her life hell. And nodded. "What do I have to do?"
"Ah I told you she would say yes. It has to do with the Gryffindor pride I think." He said looking around all the followers that were present. "Come here. Don't be afraid, I won't bite."
'No you'll do much worse.' Hermione thought as she crossed the room to face him. Lifting her chin up, she stared defiantly into her eyes.
"Give me your right hand." He ordered in a tone that left no arguing. She felt a little more at ease knowing it was the left arm that the mark was placed on, she raised her right arm to him and he grasped her hand. His skin was like cold ice. She felt as if she had suddenly stepped into Antarctica as the coldness flew from her hand, up her arm and into her chest. From there it continued its course around her body. He held on tighter and she knew something was wrong. His eyes, the little emotion she could get from them, betrayed his innocent actions. He pulled her closer to him and spun her around so her back was pressed across his chest. Someone grabbed her left arm and she tried to break free from his grasp, but she wasn't quick enough and she felt the right side of her jeans being torn from her hip and immediately afterwards she felt an excruciating pain that left as quick as it come. She was pushed forward away from his body, but being turned around in the process. She faced his gleeful face with one full of worry.
"Welcome to our ranks, Mrs. Malfoy." He purred.
"Let my mother go! I did what you wanted, now leave us alone!" She said turning around to face her mother, not noticing the name he had called her, feeling Voldemort coming to stand behind her.
"Look down, at your hip." Hermione did so. She wanted to die. Placed on her hip was the Death Eaters mark. That black tattoo stood out clearly on her pale white skin.
"Now look over at your mother." His voice was filled with malice, but unnervingly quiet. She looked up and into the eyes of her mother. She had never seen them so weak.
"I LOVE YOU HERM-!" But she was cut off by the unmistakable yell of the worst Unforgivable.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" A voice screamed, pointing a black wand towards her mother's chest, where underneath was the slight swell of her younger sibling. Unborn. She felt herself being pushed towards her mother. She stumbled and fell on top of the limp form. She felt a pull on her navel and knew immediately she was holding a port-key. Before she knew what was happening she landed at her new destination with a thud.
Hermione was picked up by someone strong, and then pressed onto a sofa.
"Thank you McNair." Said a voice she thought she recognized but couldn't place. She opened her eyes and stared into the man's face. Lucuis Malfoy. She knew where she was and didn't feel very at ease with it.
"Narcissa! We have a guest!" A slim, elegant woman walked through heavy oak doors and continued down the stairs towards them. She was wearing a black dress that clung to her body. From the floor to her shoulders were modest patterns, weaved in with white thread. The dress hung from her shoulder to have sleeves that were like a second skin. She sat down opposite Hermione, and it was just then that she realized she was wearing half a pair of jeans and a skin tight tee in the presence of the Malfoy elders.
"Miss Granger. What a pleasure it is to have you in our house! I'm Narcissa Malfoy and this is my husband, Lucius. I'm sure you've meet our son Draco? Have you not?"
"Yes I have. We're not particularly sociable with each other though." Hermione replied reaching for the cushion to hide her exposed side.
"Don't worry about hiding dear. We feel like we already know you. Here, I'll take you to your room and you can have a nice long sleep. I'm sure you're just bursting to see the rest of the Manor! Yes don't worry sweetheart, you can be bathed and dressed in fresh clothes after your nap!" Narcissa said enthusiastically reaching for Hermione and taking her up the stairs to her fourth floor room.
"Draco!" Lucius called when the duo were well out of hearing range.
"Yes father?" Draco replied, walking forward out of the shadows to sit where Hermione was just minutes ago.
"I believe you. The girl is amazingly beautiful. It will be a pleasure to announce her as your future bride tonight at the ball. Her hair is long and curly, nice shade of brown and she's slim and curvaceous. I believe He picked well."
"Of course I picked well, I wasn't about to give my heir an ugly bride. That just wouldn't be nice!" Voldemort replied, sweeping into the room to sit in an unoccupied arm chair. "Has Narcissa gotten the gown? Is it custom made? I would expect nothing less from her. Don't crowd the child in blacks and greens. Make it blue. Understand?"
"Yes sir." Lucius replied immediately. "Narcissa contacted Madame Izett this morning, and it was made within the hour. It is one of the designs Narcissa made herself, planning to wear it to a future, but decided this was better for Miss Granger. I can change the color from the cream it is now to dark royal blue."
"Very good Lucius. I won't have her ever wear dress-robes. No Malfoy woman from Narcissa onwards shall."
"I shall tell her immediately."
"Draco, tell me, are you pleased with your bride?" Voldemort asked turning to face Draco. Draco had gotten used to his presence and now could face him easily, having being favoured and the chosen heir, Draco had a feeling Voldemort wouldn't hurt him. As much.
"Yes. She is intelligent as well as pretty. But she may put forward an objection to the marriage and rules placed down."
"She is my follower now. She will do as I command or face the consequences. Has her wand been removed and replaced?"
"Yes it has master. A double core for her unlimited power." Lucius replied.