Hi readers, I'm sorry I haven't written in a REALLY, REALLY long time but now that I'm a senior I do what I want. Thanxs for you're patients.

Hermione woke to the penetrating smell of hazelnut cream which was probably even now being poured by Ella into a small coffee pot filled with a musky odor of dark coffee. The warm comforters pressed all around her as she tried to get out of bed. It was relatively easy getting out of bed now. She had gotten to the routine in the castle, wake up early, study, lessons with Voldemort, lessons with Bellatrix, sleep. She was now use to the very little sleep she got while being here.

The rug felt warm and comforting under her feet. She threw on her silky bathrobe that poured over her skin. She couldn't stand silk slippers though no matter how hard she tried to wear them even Bella said it was pointless of trying to make her wear slippers after she fell down six times in one lesson. Hermione drifted along the slight up currants of the morning breeze. On a small silver tray with ornate leafy patterns sat a small coffee service.

Hermione delicately poured out her hazelnut coffee into her small cup. She put it calmly on a saucer and started to pour another cup of coffee when the Dark Lord entered the room. His cloaked swirled around him and Hermione thought to herself, Always has to enter with flare. The Dark Lord smiled at her as if to say why yes I do.

The first time the Dark Lord did this she promptly screeched in his ear and dropped the coffee pot and the mug. He sighed outward and asked why Hermione had been screeching instead of pulling out her wand and muttering a hex. Hermione sighed, why hadn't she pulled out her wand? Bellatrix had put him to it, she had said that no matter what else was going on that Hermione was to focus only on pouring the tea or coffee and she'd be testing Hermione's concentration in the future. Bellatrix then asked the Dark Lord to inconveniently pop in. They had been having regular visits ever since and although Hermione would never admit it to anyone she did like these regular visits. She liked having time to talk to her father without the death eaters listening in.

She handed him his cup of coffee and he took it and smelled the contents carefully. Hermione understood the motion as checking for potions inside the drink. Hermione herself had learned to do this and was now even able to tell when some of the cleverest poisons were in her drink, but she still knew that not all poisons were detectable. She smelled her own. Voldemort one night at dinner with Bellatrix had put poison in the sweet cakes. She promptly started to suffocate, at that moment Voldemort administered an anidote which saved her. She waited until the Dark Lord began to sip his drink and she started drinking hers. She had learned these agreeable manners all on her own from watching Bellatrix at meal times.

Voldemort smiled with content, "Are you ready for the trials?"

Hermione smiled, "If I'm not ready now I'm not sure when I will be."

He smiled, she had learned to evade answers and it had really become quite a useful skill.

He delicately said, "This is you're last night in the castle."

Hermione smiled at him, "I will miss it here."

"I know you will, what will you do with all you're free time while you are away?" He asked with a slight tease to his voice.

"Oh I don't know," replied Hermione, "sleep, read a little bit, memorize everything you taught, life will seem kind of tame after this."

Voldemort smiled, "Oh no the fun has just begun especially after tonight."

Hermione's automatic response was to go blank, but she really wanted to wince. She was being initiated into the inner circle of death eaters tonight and she wasn't sure if she was ready. It seemed like a rather large step and if it meant hurting her friends she wasn't quite sure she would be able to follow through. She knew she could do this, but she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to.

Voldemort lifted his eyebrows, "You wish to turn back?"

Hermione sighed, "Even if I could I can't. I want to be with the death eaters you know that but if it comes to killing my friends I can't."

She could sense his agitation as he said, "Friends who don't even stand behind you when they learned you're true parentage?"

Hermione sighed again. This was one of those things the Dark Lord would never be able to understand. "I forgive them for being so frightened and scared. I will join the death eaters, but only to save you're life when you ask for my help in doing so. I will not kill Harry, but so long as I am near you I will not let him kill you."

Voldemort nodded his head. Although he didn't understand Hermione's loyalties he had to accept them as what she wanted and he could not force her to do what she could not and would not do. Hermione knew that if called to make a choice between Harry and Voldemort she could not choose but she would do her best to make sure that neither of them ended up dead. It's the only thing she could promise her father.

Voldemort carefully put his saucer and mug down on the tray and said, "Until tonight then. Rookwood will be up to retrieve you at seven o clock. Be ready and waiting." The Dark Lord then vanished into thin air.

Hermione continued to sip her coffee and ate her croissant in silence. She was thinking about the night to come and what was expected of her. It was like pre exam gitters except much worse at least on an exam you had a piece of paper that you could study from but now she was facing a test that Hermione was afraid that she wasn't ready for and wouldn't really ever be ready.

She took a shower, then went down to the library hoping that reading would quite her nerves. She sat in a stiff backed chair, but couldn't concentrate on the book she was reading. An annoying question kept coming to the surface of her mind, was she ready? Hermione couldn't help but think of the worst case scenarios such as the Dark Lord dismissing her with a sigh saying there was no way she could be a death eaters. She also imagined having to battle with Voldemort one on one. That she would never pass. She would never be as skilled as he was at dueling. Hermione, your being silly, she told herself, surely if Crabbe and Goyle could past the test then she could. Maybe it had to do with how much of a debt the death eaters owed Voldemort, to insure loyalty?

Hermione couldn't help thinking that tonight was the last night in the castle and how much she was going to miss it. She liked it's dark changing hallways and the giant library that kept her entertained as she read about the dark arts. She told herself it was all theory based although she knew that for Voldemort it wasn't. He probably tried all the experiments in the multitude of books that she had read, but truly she didn't mind as much anymore. That was Voldemort, she didn't want to mutilate her body just to see what she could do, but he was curious. Through all of her time with Voldemort she had learned to appreciate him as a great wizard, she still condemned the terrible things he did to people; actually Voldemort and Hermione had arguments still about the torture and murder of others. But she understood that he was powerful and no one could argue against that. She appreciated his knowledge, but she saw the dark side and she still didn't like what she had seen.

At that moment Cassandra walked in with a slight staggered, she had just returned from a hunt. Cassandra crawled up onto Hermione's lap and started to purr Hermione smiled and she stroked the back of Cassandra's now massive head. She had taught Cassandra to keep close by and if Hermione ever called for her she was there within 15 minutes.

Cassandra had kept Hermione company while Voldemort had been away for a week. He wouldn't tell Hermione what he had been doing, but she pleased him when she told him how much reading she had finished. He looked exhausted and Hermione became immediately worried. She sat next to him in the library as he asked questions about the books making sure that she had read and understood every detail. She answered precisely and after the questionnaire was satisfactorily complete he picked other books off the shelves and told her to read them before she went to bed. She took the books and as he stared into her eyes she tried to perform Legilimens to see just how tired he was. His guard was down for only for a second, but she could still feel how exhausted both his mind and body were and how depleted he was.

His shields came back up at once and he nodded saying, "You're getting better." He left the library and silently closed the door. Hermione needn't have worried he came back the next morning with no obvious fatigue and try as she might to get into his mind she couldn't. Then he promptly devastated her in a duel for a morning work out.

Cassandra rolled over as Hermione began to rub her belly. Voldemort hated this behavior and said that it was unfit for a cat of her breed. He looked at Cassandra one day while Hermione scratched between her ears as she purred, "You're acting like a common borehound."

Hermione didn't mind this behavior though, she actually encouraged it. She liked treating Cassandra like a beloved pet rather then a servant.

Hermione could feel her scoot so that she could get a better rub. Hermione decided to try and get another book. She started to read and immediately put the book down and she started to meander between the bookshelves. Try as Hermione might she just couldn't shake off the feeling of anxiety and as she paced the library Cassandra sat on the couch looking at Hermione as if to say, "You're being stupid." Hermione looked up at the clock it was only one o'clock. She sighed inwardly, so much time to kill. Hermione sat back down on the chair and tried to sleep, but she couldn't.

Cassandra moved toward the door and stared at Hermione as she sat by the door as if to say, "Come on." Cassandra sometimes lead Hermione out of the castle and out onto the grounds. She enjoyed the time she spent with Cassandra mingling in gardens filled with honking daises. Hermione knew she was had to be in her bedroom by 4:30 in order to get ready in time, Bellatrix's orders. But another part of her wanted to escape the anxiety, she needed a distraction.

Hermione followed Cassandra as she moved out the door and into the winding and ghostly hallways. She had found out from Ella why she couldn't move in the hallways. "They are jinxed," she squeaked. "They are only visible to those with the mark!"

Hermione put herself extremely close to Cassandra as she made her way down finally they came to a door that even Hermione could in the twisting darkness. Cassandra opened it and Hermione stepped into sunlight. She was blind practically as her eyes tried to adjust to the sunlight. As her eyes adjusted she looked around at an unfamiliar garden. This didn't really surprise her considering that the grounds were even more extensive then the castle according to Ella.

It was a small courtyard with trees around the edge with beautiful flowers growing along the ancient bark. The flowerbeds were staggered like a stadium and were beautiful as they clung to each other for support. To the far left was a small bed of roses. Cassandra climbed up a tree to sulk in the sunlight. Hermione took a closer look at the bed of roses and as she drew level her mouth practically dropped open. They were Ebony roses. A very rare magical find and very difficult to raise. They were used only in the most powerful glamour potions. Hermione didn't dare touch the flowers knowing how deadly just one prick of the finger could potentially become. As she looked around the garden she saw all kinds of deadly plants around, despite it's pleasant look. There was Devil's Snare plus a Tantulus Tantila. Cassandra just purred next to Hermione.

Hermione wanted out of this garden, this was nothing like the garden with the honking daises. But when Hermione turned around for the door, but there was none. She looked all along the high white wall. She tried to think of all kinds of spells, but the door was simply gone. She was stuck in this deadly garden until she could find a way out of here. Hermione kept her cool as she had been trained and looked at the garden ahead.

There were high walls, which she knew had been spelled so that she couldn't get out. Hermione looked all along the walls looking for an exit on the other side of the garden she saw an arch. It was about 40 meters from where she stood and on it were ebony roses. The only way to rob an ebony rose of it's power was to feed it love. She looked around at the more welcoming plants surrounded by the deadly looking ones. There was a love potion she could make, but she knew it would take at least two days to complete. She didn't have that kind of time.

She looked at Cassandra with a glare in her eyes. "What have you gotten me into?" Hermione breathed out. Cassandra wouldn't have led her here if she couldn't get out. To utter the words of your true love was supposedly enough in some legends. She sighed, how on earth was she suppose to know who here true love was?

She automatically thought of her adoptive-parents. Somehow she didn't think that they were it though. Harry? She strongly doubted it, even though he was here friend he didn't love him like that. Voldemort? She really liked the man who was her father, but her feelings for him were somewhat muted since he wasn't the feely touchy type. Ron… was the only guy she truly loved.

Hermione knew that he was it, but she did look around to make sure that it was only Cassandra who was with her when she collected spit on her tounge and uttered Ron Weasley in a low whisper. She spit on the ground, and the ebony roses started to wilt immediately. The door opened and she entered into an even more beautiful garden thankfully with no dangerous plants. She started to wander in and out of the beautiful plants that grew here. She smelled all kind of flowers, including ones that made her giggle uncontrollably, and just enjoyed a long stroll in the garden. She walked back up the castle with the smell of sunshine and pollen still on her.

Cassandra led her back to the castle with a quiet stroll. Hermione was technically suppose to be in the library. Hermione opened the door to her room and saw Ella standing near the fire working on her dress. Hermione yawned as Ella fanned out her dress. Hermione looked at the ornate dress with a delicate weave on the bodice, it was gorgeous. Although Hermione had been taught all about proper form and manners in a ballroom situation she had never actually experienced one inside the castle. It was rather strange realizing she was going to be wearing that dress soon. Hermione looked up at the clock in her room to realize it was almost five o'clock. She was doomed, Bellatrix had made it perfectly clear that she was to have a good wash along with proper drying techniques there was no way that Hermione would be able to get it all done in time.

She turned to Ella, "I really need you're help Ella."

"What do you need mistress?"

"I need a bath drawn immediately while I get all of my stuff together for a good bath. Don't worry about the dress at the moment, you can figure that out while I take a bath."

"You're bath is already drawn mistress, Mistress Bellatrix is waiting for you in the bathroom."

"I thought that no one was to see me before tonight."

"My Lord said that it was alright if Mistress Bellatrix attended you."

Hermione rushed into the bathroom and pulled open the door. Before Hermione closed it however Cassandra decided to come in. She curled up next to the sink as she watched Bellatrix give Hermione the evil eye.

"Why in heavens name are you so late?"
Hermione gave Cassandra a look of oh ha-ha. Cassandra gave her a look of yes this is rather funny.

Hermione sighed, "I ran into some problems."

Bellatrix looked at her waiting for the rest of the story, but Hermione just stared back at her.

Bellatrix sighed, "I can figure out where you were later, but right now I need you in the bath."

Hermione felt weird undressing in front of Bellatrix, but did as she was told. The bath was warm and soothing, but after a while even the warm bath water couldn't make her feel better. Every inch of her skin was scrubbed down with a jinxed wash cloth so that it felt almost raw. Hermione cleaned under her finger nails while Bellatrix got rid of her calluses. Her hair was scrubbed twice to make sure that every inch was washed. She felt raw all over. She got out of the bathtub and wrapped a robe around herself.

The minute she was out of her bath Hermione was dumped with some sort of oil. It felt really weird as it spread over her head, her hair started going every which way. "This is my own recipe for hair care, it'll make sure that when we do you're hair everything will stay in place."

Once her hair had finished it's strange liveness, Bellatrix thrust a bottle into Hermione's hand. "Now you're going to go out there and put as much lotion on your body as it will take, while I take a bath. I will be out in a minute."

Hermione teetered out of the bathroom and started adding liberal amounts of lotion. By the time Hermione was done Bellatrix came out with her hair up and perfectly curled, with her undergarments on.

"You look amazing."

"Thank you. Now let's get to work, I need to powder you so take off your robe."

Hermione did as she was told and Bellatrix pulled out her wand and doused Hermione with talcum powder. There was an even coat of shine over her whole body.

"Good, now I think everything minus paint is ready to go for you're body, you shaved this morning?" Hermione nodded her head grateful that she remembered.

"Alright I think a dark forest green will do well for you're feet." She flicked her wand in the direction of Hermione's feet and they were instantly covered in a smooth coat of paint. "French for the nails." Another flick of the wand and Hermione's hands looked perfect. Hermione stood for a moment looking at the grace of Bellatrix's handy work.

"Undergarments let's go." Hermione sighed and put on her undergarments while Bellatrix pulled out a long piece of ribbon for her hair. Bellatrix jinxed her hair so that it twisted and curled exactly the right way. Bellatrix looped the ribbon in with her wand and twisted it on top of her head. Bellatrix came and shook her hair a little bit; "There is beauty in chaos. Let's get this make up on you," she flicked her wand and the brushes went right to work on her face. There were brushes everywhere, on her eyes, ears, lips, even on top of her breasts.

As the brushes did Hermione's makeup Bellatrix gave Hermione a steely look, "You know what I expect of you. If you drop one crumb of food I will personally send a howler to wherever you're staying."

Hermione fought off the urge to smile, "I understand."

"Good you're done," the brushes landed back in their cases. Now Ella will help you get dressed." Ella helped Hermione step into her dress and zipped her dress and buttoned the only button on the back neckline. Hermione held herself with full posture and looked towards the mirror over her bureau. She looked stunning, she barely recognized herself. She looked almost seductive and couldn't wait to go back to the Burrow looking like this. Ella bowed and left the room.

"Turn." Hermione turned around for Bellatrix.

Bellatrix sighed, "Yes, this will do. You look radiant, I will leave you so you can prepare for what lies ahead." Bellatrix closed the door behind her and left Hermione to stew in her anxiety. Hermione forgot what with everything Bellatrix was doing what was happening tonight. She felt a tight knot in her stomach, her nerves were on edge.

It was five till seven and she started pacing the room trying to forget that tight feeling in the bottom of her stomach. Cassandra looked positively bored in the corner. Cassandra got up and went to Hermione, she stood next to her and purred. Hemione knelt down next to Cassandra and petted the top of her head. "I know I'll do alright, but I'm still allowed to be worried aren't I?" Cassandra purred, Hermione stroked her head once more.

There was a bang at the door, Hermione sighed and stood tall and erect to face what was about to come. Hermione opened the door and thought, "I'm going to do what I need to do." She stepped out into the door way and saw Rookwood standing in front of her. Hermione tuned to close the door, but before she did Cassandra disappeared down the hallway. Hermione knew Cassandra was going to be their for her orientation. She turned to Rookwood who offered her his arm.

They walked in silence through doors and down corridors till it seemed they were in the very lowest part of the castle. The only lighting in this corridor was torches. Hermione's anxiety started to build, but she just kept repeating to herself, "I'm going to do what I need to do." As they came to a corridor even Hermione was able to see a giant door looming in front of them.

Rookwood rapped on the giant willow door, and a distant voice came from the other side, "Enter." The door swung open and Rookwood lead Hermione into a vast cavernous room. The death eaters were maskless and standing in a circle around the center of a raised floor platform. On the platform with red eyes gleaming at Hermione was Voldemort, "Come."

Hermione stood just before the platform and knelt in front of the Dark Lord. This was common protacal with the Death Eaters and Hermione wasn't about to break tradition. She rose again and looked straight into his red eyes. He searched her memory looking in every corner of her mind. "Are you loyal to me?"

"I am my lord."

"You're mind speaks true. Do you understand what it means to be a death eater?"

"Yes to follow the Dark Lord and to be faithful to him."

"Will you be faithful, always?"

"Till the end of life."

"Then stand and receive you're mark."

Hermione stood and went to the raised part of the floor, while the death eaters turned to see Hermione. Voldemort put his finger to Hermione's arm and pressed in his thumb. The pain was unbearable she wanted to shout in agony, but she stayed up she battled through it. She flatly refused for her body to bend to physical pain. Voldemort spoke to Hermione and looked right in her eyes. "This is you're mark, this is you're pledge; to be faithful to me, always."

Hermione felt the pain sear through her body her veins were on fire, and then the world blackened in front of her. She stayed up despite the pain. She was going to get through this with all of her dignity still in place no matter what her body wanted.

Some death eaters say that a part of Voldemort entered into Hermione. Others said that Voldemort awakened her own powers. Some say that ancient magic was invoked. All the death eaters agree though that Hermione was her father's daughter. Once the rumors started to spread through Diagon Alley the next morning everyone agreed that she was to be feared, the girl with the violet eyes, Princess Iola.

Hermione's vision came back to her with perfect clarity. She stood next to the dark lord with perfect smoothness. The death eaters stood in awe. The dark lord allowed a brief smile and said, "This is my heir, since I am your lord, she will be known as the princess Iola." The death eaters gave Hermione a slight bow, "Princess Iola." Hermione nodded to the death eaters. Voldemort offered his arm to Hermione and escorted her to the dinning room. As Hermione ascended the stairs with perfect grace she finally looked around at the inside of the castle. It was beautiful with rich carpets and portraits. There were torches that lined the walls giving all the shadows a smooth edge. She was pleased that after all this time she could finally see the hallways around her.

They soon entered the dinning room which was now hung with a glittering chandelier and a long table. Hermione stood standing until Voldemort seated himself. She scrapped in her chair and the table began to make small talk.

Voldemort said, "You're new eye color is very becoming." Hermione looked down into the plate in front of her and in the silver there was no brown staring back, but light purple. Hermione gazed at Voldemort in shock.

"Well it does prove one thing," he said, "it proves you're powerful."

Dinner was rather uneventful and quiet, the death eaters were too afraid of Hermione to say much. Hermione had perfect etiquette, she saw Bellatrix give her smile from across the table.

Once the 4 course dinner was over Voldemort stood and offered Hermione his arm. She accepted as he walked her to the dance floor. Hermione looked slightly perplexed, was this common protocal. Hermione didn't think so. As the music started Voldemort explained, "It's common custom to dance with you're daughter, especially if you won't get to see her for a very long time." Some how she thought that this was just an excuse to dance with her. The music started and Hermione followed him in a waltz.

Voldemort took Hermione in his arms and started with a basic and began to lead her around the dance floor with a distant lead. Hermione followed his pace, she looked into his eyes, she would miss him. He was always there when she made a mistake and telling her to fix it, she would be looking for him whenever she did something wrong at Hogwarts and would be disappointed every time.

He lead her past the death eaters, they seemed miles away. He spun her allowing her to show off a little, and when the dance was over with Hermione held him in her arms for a little while longer before nodding politely to the applauding death eaters. Voldemort looked at the clock and exhaled, "It is time, you're things are already on their way. Come." Hermione took her father's arm as he led her off the dance floor. As she looked at all the death eaters unmasked she saw Bellatrix give her a slight smile.

When she entered the hallway the shadows were no longer there, all she could see were solid walls. She felt her spirits lift, she was one of the only people in the world who was welcome here. Voldemort walked her down the flights of stairs until she was on the long walk to the exit. Voldemort kept walking with her to the gates she had seen it seemed so long ago.

Voldemort turned to Hermione and his lips twitched, "You're new eye color is beautiful, Iola. I think it's beautiful."

Hermione smirked, "So do I." As she looked into his eyes she felt tears on the back of her throat. She put her arms around him and hugged him, "I will miss you."

Voldemort eased out of the awkward position and put a kiss on her cheek, "I will miss you too. I have something for you, whenever you need me call on me." He gave Hermione a beautiful ring that was made out of silver and could wrap around the whole base of her finger.

He put it on her finger and tapped it with his wand. "Remember call on me if you ever have a need. Please write to me." Hermione nodded her head and went to the gate she turned around and said, "Good-bye, my lord, father." Voldemort nodded his head, "Good-bye my daughter." Hermione swung the gate wide open and left with a slight sob caught in her throat.

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