Disclaimer: I'm the co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, on the Literary Magazine editing staff, treasurer of Speech and Debate, first chair flutist during contest season, the best cashier ever at my hometown BP, an obsessive girlfriend, and a free babysitter (who is trying to get a B in Algebra II). I am not, however, JK Rowling.
AN: Remember, I'm a slow writer. This is still taking place during the 5th year, so nothing that's happened in the 5th or 6th books pertains to this fanfic.
Draco put his own Death Eater robes on. As he hadn't officially become a Death Eater, he didn't have the Death Eater mask.
As soon as he was dressed, he started towards his father's wing. He still had a while before anything started, but he wanted to make sure no one touched Hermione.
Hermione awoke on the floor in a small room. She sat up and looked around. There were no windows and on door. When she stood up to check the door, she felt something poking her side. Reaching to her robe pocket, she realized that she still had her wand.
'Something's not right with this...'
Severus and Shaylee had apparated right into the Malfoys' stable.
"OK... Where exactly are we?" Shaylee asked, looking around at the hay and buckets of feed.
"The Eiffel Tower," Severus answered sarcastically.
Shaylee rolled her eyes. "Well, they sure have made a few changes since the last time I was there."
Severus sighed and entered a stall to where he could see both the house and greenhouse.
While he was busy keeping an eye out for others, Shaylee was taking a tour of the stable.
Severus only looked away from the house when he heard Shaylee gasp.
"Sevvy! It's the cutest colt ever!"
He groaned and looked back outside.
"Hey..." Shaylee walked back into the stall with Severus. "Are we early? Because I don't see anyone else..."
"I know... That's what's worrying me."
"Hello, Father," Draco greeted as he entered his father's office.
"Hello, Draco. You're just in time," Lucius answered, turning to the door behind his desk.
"Miss Granger lies within. Perhaps you'd like to do the honors?"
A feeling of suspicion briefly fluttered through Draco's stomach, but he ignored it and opened the door.
Hermione looked up from her spot on the floor. "Draco? Draco! What's going on?"
Draco held back his smile as he realized Hermione would have no problem with the acting.
He didn't say anything as he took Hermione's arm and "forcefully" guided her out into his father's office.
"Ah, Miss Granger... Let's go downstairs, shall we, Draco?"
"Sevvy! I want this horse! It's so cute!"
Severus sighed as he looked at the greenhouse. "I don't see Scott." He turned to Shaylee. "Your boyfriend's late, Princess."
Shaylee rolled her eyes. "Scott will be here, Sev."
"How can you be sure?"
Shaylee sighed and looked up from the horse. "I have a psychic connection with him." she answered sarcastically, leaving the colt in its stall to join Severus by the window. "Budge over."
She looked over at Severus, who was still looking fixedly out the window. "I don't have a thing for Scott, Sev."
Severus kept looking out the window. "I think that's him right there," he said as another hooded figure joined the group of Death Eaters by the greenhouse.
Shaylee sighed and nodded. "I wonder if Ron and Harry are here yet..." She looked over at the forest where they were supposed to be waiting.
"I haven't seen them, but they are supposed to be under Harry's Invisibility Cloak."
Hermione was led down the stairs and through a rickety trapdoor into a damp dark room.
There were a few hooded figures huddled in the corner, whispering. As soon as they saw Lucius, they separated and bowed to him.
Lucius led Hermione and Draco over to an ancient-looking wooden chair with chains attached. "Sit," he said harshly to Hermione, forcibly taking her from Draco and shoving her into the chair. The chair was identicle to the ones that had been used in the Death Eater trials upon Voldemort's first defeat, and as soon as Hermione sat, she was restrained by the chains.
Draco bit his lip as he noticed a tinge of authentic fear in her eyes. He hed back a sigh as he moved back with the other Death Eaters, who were now conversing with his father.
He got close enough to hear, "has arrived," before the speaker suddenly stopped speaking and there was that uncomfortable silence when you walk into a conversation you aren't supposed to hear.
Something started nagging at Draco's mind, but he had no time to dwell on it before a dark and familiar figure emerged from a shadowy corner and instinct brought him down in a low bow with the other Death Eaters.
Hermione's eyes widened as, for the first time, she laid eyes upon Lord Voldemort.
Behind Malfoy Manor, two voices, unattached to human figures, sounded.
"OK, the next time we fly with the invisibility cloak, we ride one broom."
"Whatever, but I'm not riding in back like a girl."
"Are you saying you want me to wrap my arms around your waist, Ronniekins?"
"No, I'm saying I don't want to wrap my arms around your waist."
"Hey! That hurts my feelings!"
"Good."
There was silence for a few moments.
"Ow! That's my foot!"
"Sorry. I think I see something."
Harry could make out one building about 100 yards from them, which he assumed was the stable, and the corner of another building jutting out from the other side of the house.
He also spotted a group of six human-shaped figures moving toward the house.
"There they go. It's almost time."
Lord Voldemort'seyes glowed even more scarlet as he saw Hermione. Moving closer to her chair, his eyes never moved from her, but his hand waved his followers to a standing position.
"So, young Draco," he spoke, though his eyes were still attached to Hermione. "You've brought Miss Granger here, as I asked."
"Yes, Master." Draco bent in a brief bow as Voldemort was circling Herimone.
Voldemort halted in front of Hermione and stood still as he continued to study her.
"So," he began. "This is what all the fuss is about."
His eyes narrowed. "Miss Hermione Granger, top of the 5th year class at the greatest Wizarding school in the world, award-winning swimmer, and the source of all Harry Potter's talent. A mere Muggle, and not even a very attractive one."
Draco felt a defensive twinge of anger in his gut, but held it in.
Voldemort began pacing in front of Hermione again. "I've had you brought here for one reason only."
Both Hermione and Draco involuntarily held their breath as they waited for Voldemort's explanation.
"Time and time again, I've been defeated by your best friend... Harry Potter." He spat out the name contemptuously. "And it was only recently that I realized all of his luck couldn't possibly be from his mother's blood... There is something else inside of him that makes him succeed."
Voldemort paused, making the whole situation seem comically staged. "The advice and help of his friends. Their love..." His lip curled with disgust."...and loyalty and brain power... Namely yours." He fixed a glare on Hermione and his eyes flashed bright red.
Hermione's mouth opened, then closed. She opened it again, trying to think of something to say.
"So... You think Harry only defeats you because I tell him what to do?"
"Yes, yes. You are a very quick one... It's no wonder you're first in your class," Voldemort mocked.
"I'm not the reason Harry succeeds over you. He already has brains, talent and a great heart. That's more than you can ever hope to have," Hermione retorted, aware that talking back to the Dark Lord was not necessarily a smart thing to do.
Voldemort narrowed his already-beady eyes. "None of this matters to you, my dear," he said with a cruel smile. "The only reason you're here tonight is to be killed."
