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Now time to start the story!

Chapter 7: Christmas Eve

Lately Hermione had so many emotions roaring through her. She was deliriously happy that she still could hold onto a part of Harry by carrying his baby. She was overly pissed off that Malfoy presumed that he could just kiss her whenever he pleased. Did he really think she would want to kiss him after they had just been fighting? And then there was the fact that tomorrow was her ceremony. She wasn't ready, and she never would be. She didn't know if she could handle being a Death Eater.

Suddenly, the same beautiful tawny owl that had carried Voldemort's last letter came through her doorway. It had a pretty large package with it, a letter, and another smaller package. Bewildered, Hermione didn't even offer her arm to the owl this time. If it didn't take it last time, it wouldn't take it now, either. It was probably trained to avoid all Mudbloods. Hermione opened the letter first.

Hermione,

You must be anxious for your ceremony tomorrow. I have heard about your condition from Lucius. Rest assured that we will not harm your child. Perhaps it, too, will be a great wizard or witch. To alleviate some of tomorrow's stress from you, I have provided what you are to wear. Just be ready.

Awaiting tomorrow,

Lord Voldemort.

Hermione still couldn't believe that such an evil man could be so polite. She opened the small package next. It was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen. There was a delicate silver lioness with green eyes hanging from a silver chain.

She then opened the bigger package. A dress like liquid came out of it. It was one of the most beautiful colors of emerald she had ever seen, and it was sure to compliment her complexion. There was a boat neck cut on it, and it had a silver rope around the waist. At the bottom had a silver triangle in the middle of a sea of green. With the dress was a pair glass shoes, just like Cinderella would've had. It was just too bad that her Prince Charming was gone.

Sighing, she said aloud "Lord Voldemort." With a loud pop, he appeared.

"Yes?"

"Master, I was just wondering...what if I'm not entirely sure about my choice?"

"You will be sure by the end of the night that what you are doing is completely right. If you won't join to save yourself, join to save your baby."

Hermione bit her bottom lip, thinking. Here was the person who had ruined her life, treating her like she was his daughter or something. But something didn't quite sit right with her.

"Sir, did you only save my life so you could have my baby?"

"I won't deny that obtaining that baby could be important. But you are important, too."

"I can't in a good frame of mind become a Death Eater."

"But you must because if you don't, you will be killed. You've been here too long, you can't be free to walk."

"This whole place is awful. I hate it here. I don't think that I could ever live here. Although I already know I'll never get a happy life, sir, as you killed the man I loved."

"It's expected for you to think that. But becoming a Death Eater is the best thing for you. Any more doubts, Hermione?"

"No, sir, I suppose not, except that I can't believe I'll have to live in harmony with the man I hate more than anything."

Voldemort chuckled slightly, but then fixed her with a piercing gaze.

"I understand that you don't like it here now, and probably never will. However, I do request that you keep speaking your mind instead of becoming like everyone else here. Although I can't say I like the insults, they are rather refreshing."

"Where is my ceremony taking place tomorrow, sir?"

"In the same ballroom where we first had the pleasure of meeting. I will have Draco come and get you when the time is right for you to come down."

The next day...

Hermione woke up the next morning with the sun. Sighing, she realized this is the day that the worst thing since Harry's death would happen to her. Today she would join the ranks of Lord Voldemort, like it or not. She had Risty bring her a plum, orange juice, and chicken wings. She didn't know why, but they sounded really appealing at the moment. Once she was finished eating, she wandered around the hallway she was living in. She stumbled across he biggest library she had ever seen.

Running her finger along the spines of the books, she pulled out her personal favorite, Hogwarts; a History. She read it for a few hours without interruption. Soon, however, Draco Malfoy waltzed in.

"Granger. I thought I'd find you here."

"What do you want, Malfoy?" There actually wasn't much tension between the two, all things considering. There was only the normal amount of enmity.

"I was just wondering if you would care to accompany me for lunch. And I think you should know, Granger, that it's not really a choice. I am supposed to inform you exactly what is going to happen tonight. We will be going out to eat."

"Then I guess I'll have to change, won't I?" Hermione set down her book and brushed past Malfoy. She went to her room and to the closet she had discovered a few days earlier. She picked out a pair of blue jeans and a white lacy tank top with a gray too-short zip-up hoodie. She didn't really care if where she was going was fancy or not. She let her hair stay down in loose curls. She applied no make-up and put on a pair of tennis shoes. The Death Eaters had provided her with clothes for every mood, and she didn't feel like dressing up.

She met Malfoy a few minutes later. He subtle looked her up and down, and she crossed her arms to cover her chest. Smirking, he started to walk, and she followed.

Once outside, they got into a baby blue carriage, which dropped them off in front of a little town square. They grabbed hot dogs and lemonade from a vendor, and Hermione hadn't felt as comfortable in a while as she did now. They sat down at a checkered table.

"Now," Malfoy started, "Let's get down to business. At about 7 o'clock tonight, you will meet me in the hallway outside of our rooms. I will take you down to the ballroom, where you will receive your Dark Mark. Any other questions?"

"What's it like?" She blurted out.

"What?" He asked, scorning.

'What's it like to get the Mark, stupid?' She thought at him.

"It's actually not that bad." He responded, however resentfully due to her calling him stupid. "They make a fire, I'm not quite sure exactly what's in it, but it's potent. They take a brand and put it in there to become white hot. They hold a ball before giving the Mark, and then right before anyone leaves, they give you the Dark Mark by putting the brand next to your arm."

"Oh." She said, not quite sure what she expected. "Ok, then."

"Are you done with lunch? I have a sort of surprise for you. Don't give me that look," She was glaring at him, "It's customary. Now come with me."

Throwing away their trash, She followed him. He led her to a book store.

"Here you are, Granger."

"What do you mean, here I am? It's a book store."

"And it belongs to you. Congratulations." He said, seeming slightly bored. "Are you ready to go back?"

"I suppose." She said, shocked that they would give her this.

When they got back, it was 5 o'clock. Hermione went to her room to get ready for that night. She slipped into the liquid feeling dress and noticed it fit her in all the right places. She put on the lioness necklace and noted that the charm fell right at her collarbone. Finally, she put on the glass shoes. It really felt as though she was wearing no shoes at all.

When she was done getting clothed, she decided to do her hair. She put it back in a loose French braid, and wished she had her wand so she could enchant gem stones into it. She put on light, natural colored make-up. By the time she was done, it was ten till seven. She stepped out her door to find Malfoy already waiting for her.

"Malfoy, can I borrow your wand?" She grabbed it and enchanted small diamonds to stick in her hair so she would sparkle. She handed him back his wand, and they then proceeded to talk to the ballroom, and what Hermione felt was the biggest mistake in her life.

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Next chapter, she gets the Dark Mark!