A/N: I know I haven't updated in awhile and I'm sorry. But I just got caught up in being in high school, grades, football games, pep rallies, guys, did I mention guys and homecoming is in a month and we'll beat Pelham High School, so yeah, anyways, I hope you like this chapter and I'll have the next out sooner.
Hermione lay on her bed, in a half-sleep, her thoughts a swirl of incomprehension. She heard vaguely, though it sounded a bit hazy through her sleep, a knock sounding at the door. She slowly opened her eyes, and blearily blinked before sitting up from the bed. She called out, "Who's there?"
"Ebony and Ginny, please let us in, I've figured out what happened, please," Ebony pleaded.
Hermione felt tears pricking at the back of her eyelids but she furiously blinked them away, refusing to cry. She slowly got off her bed and walked to the door and swung it open.
Ebony and Ginny hurriedly came inside and Hermione shut the door behind them and securing it again. When she turned, she saw that Ginny had a bewildered look on her face and Ebony looked sad.
"I figured out what happened, Hermione, I-" Hermione cut Ebony off.
"You've said as much and if you understand how I feel, you don't. I'm now officially married, bound to a man that I have no wish to be with. In addition, it cannot be broken if only by death. I have had one of the largest decisions of my life taken from me, decided for me; do you know how that feels?"
"Yes in way. Perhaps not in marriage Hermione, but I could never be a normal person, I could never be in the Ministry because of who I am. This is the life I can have because of who my father is. The Ministry would never trust me and as such, neither would other such institutions. I tried to be a Healer, I had the education and the knowledge but they denied me. They were telling me that because of my parentage, I could not have that job, of course not in some many words but I knew what they meant," Ebony said heatedly.
Hermione stared at Ebony with different eyes. She had never known what Ebony had gone through. Compared to her life, Ebony's was harder, a lot like Harry's though on the difference of extreme. Hermione had grown up as a muggle before going into some sort of fantasy world that turned out to be not quite the fantasy, what with battling a dark lord and other such dark beasts and evil, conniving people, Hermione knew her life hadn't been easy but Ebony had never had an easy life.
Hermione remembered when she went to Hogwarts and she was ostracized because of her birth, because she was a muggle-born and didn't have the magical heritage and background. She remembered how that had hurt and how she worked towards rights of others, including herself. There were too many prejudices in the Wizarding World and they held women back too much. Well, women who were smart and purebloods weren't held back but they were often rare. Most pureblooded women married the elite men of their society circles and stayed at home, never lifting a finger for a thing and definitely not working.
Hermione turned away from Ebony and Ginny to face her bed when her eyes fell upon the brown leather journal. The one which held the prophesy and her fear reared its head once more. Could she truly be pregnant? The book held that answer and she needed it.
Hermione hadn't realized that Ebony was watching her and being faster, reached the journal before Hermione did. Hermione glared at her, holding out her hand and demanding the journal to be given to her.
Ebony merely ignored her and flipped open the book to see the prophesy and seeing the lines of the prophesy as they were fulfilled. Ebony had become engrossed in the book and didn't even realize that Hermione had gained an advantage until she plucked the journal from Ebony's hands and neatly turned it to face her.
Then it fell from Hermione's hands as she read the truth, the truth that she was indeed already pregnant with Voldemort's child. Hermione soon followed the book to the ground, lying there, clutching her stomach and staring at the journal with a chalk white face.
"No, that isn't true," Hermione, said in a shaky voice.
Ebony knelt down on her knees, her face level with Hermione as she looked in Hermione eyes. "A prophesy never lies. It self-updates. If another had written the prophesy then it would merely say the words but since I wrote it and I made the prophesy, it has magic and power behind it."
Ginny walked over and hugged Hermione tightly. Hermione seemed to come from her stupor and clung to Ginny's robes, a numb, strange feeling encompassing her.
A knock sounded on the door and everyone looked up. Hermione let go of Ginny's robes and Ginny sat down next to her and Ebony got up and answered the door. Voldemort flounced into the room with several house elves following him.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, looking towards Hermione.
"Hermione is only feeling…sick," Ebony said, drawing out the words before sick.
Hermione glanced up at Voldemort; anger filling her body as she took in how calm and cool he looked, as if nothing had happened at all.
Voldemort nodded slightly before gesturing backwards towards the house elves. "There is a ball tonight and since Hermione is the Dark Queen she will attend the ball. These house elves here have the gowns which you will wear. In addition, jewelry and other things that you will need. I will come back to get Hermione and the two of you at promptly 7:00."
Voldemort turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving the three surprised women and scared house elves. They dropped the gowns, jewelry and other things into Ebony arms before scurrying away.
Ebony sighed softly and closed the door before locking it with a strong locking term that she invented. "Well then, let's find out what we'll be wearing," Ebony said, walking towards the gowns.
"You aren't truly serious?" Hermione asked with a look of shock.
Ebony turned to face her. "Of course I'm serious Hermione, something is certainly up with Voldemort, if you understand me and I don't believe that right now would be a good time to cross him."
Ebony held up the first gown, a long silk and chiffon confection of blue with off the shoulder straps. "Hmm, I wonder who this is for."
Ebony sighed and set it aside before holding up the next gown, another long gown made of purple velvet and three quarter length bell shaped sleeves.
The last gown was a long, satin burgundy gown that had beautiful full skirt. The front of the gown had off the shoulder straps that were quite thin. The front was rather modest it seemed, having a higher neckline than the other gowns but the back plunged down. A small note was attached to it that said this would be Hermione's gown.
Hermione looked with distaste at it. "That? Are you certain? There is no way I'm going to wear that thing!"
Ebony rolled her eyes. "I'll wear the purple gown, Ginny if you want the blue."
"That's a perfect arrangement. The purple will set off your eyes and the blue accents my fair skin. Now, Hermione's gown sets off her fair skin and dark hair."
"I could care less, because I certainly don't want to go to a ball."
"I know that Hermione, but please, try to work with us."
Hermione crossed her arms over her rumpled clothes as she weighed her two options of going along with this and actually having some fun and then not going along with it. "Do you know anything of the balls?" Ebony asked, interrupting Hermione's train of thoughts.
"No."
"Well, then I will tell you and you might as well know more of the duties of the Dark Queen and what is expected of her, I suppose you could say."
"The balls are grand affairs, though I believe Voldemort only ever holds them as social gatherings because the ladies speak of them incessantly. But Voldemort always opens the first dance and as such you will be dancing with him now as the Dark Queen."
"Oh and the duties of the Dark Queen or things entailed to you with said title. Well, you do have to oversee the ladies meetings, you sometimes sit in on the deatheaters meetings, you sit by Voldemort, and you dance every first dance with him. Moreover, for every event, you will be right there. Now for the powers given to you as the wife of Voldemort. Well, the deatheaters will listen to you and worship you as they do Voldemort. The women will look to you for guidance and the best part is that you may snub any person you wish and they can do nothing about it."
"Really?" Hermione asked in an eager voice.
Ginny giggled. "Do you really want to lord over them?" she asked.
"Wouldn't you? They've always treated me as if I was less than them and now I am higher than they are in a sense."
"I suppose, Hermione. I never was a muggleborn though people have always called the Weasley's blood traitors and they say that is nearly as bad as muggleborns," Ginny said.
"Fine, I'll go along with it," Hermione gave in.
Ebony smiled widely and then nodded to Ginny. They grabbed her arm and pulled her into the bathroom while Ebony covered all the mirrors with a spell. They dragged the gowns, jewelry and other things into the bathroom while rummaging through the cosmetics, scents, potions, oils and other things on the shelves and cabinets. "Well, we certainly have enough things to work with," Ebony commented with a smile as she looked through some scents.
Hermione rolled her eyes before Ebony and Ginny started to pull her rumpled clothes off of her. "What are you doing?"
"You're getting a bath."
"Are you saying that I stink?"
"No, Hermione but you'll smell nice once we add some of this scents or oils."
Ebony ran a warm bath while dumping an oil or scent into the bath. She wouldn't tell Hermione what it was, saying that it should be surprise for her to figure out herself. Hermione slipped into the bath, having finally consented to it.
Hermione soaked luxuriously in her bath for half an hour before she was pulled from the bath by her friends. They dressed her up in the gown before pushing her into the chair in front of the mirror, not that Hermione could see herself. Ginny and Ebony were muttering behind her before they performed a spell that made Hermione's hair dry.
Then they began to pull her hair back and brush it. Hermione could only feel what they were doing. They held up her hair before slipping something around her head. Then she felt them pulling on her hair then she felt them securing it close to her head.
Hermione lifted her hand to touch her hair but Ebony pulled her hand away and gave her a reproving glance. They turned her around in the chair and powdered her face. Then they slid some light eye shadow over her lids. Lastly, they covered her full lips with lipstick.
Ebony went over to the jewelry and gowns and picked up a beautiful necklace with black diamonds it seemed on it. She secured the necklace around Hermione's neck and Ginny and Ebony stepped back to look at her.
Ebony looked down and noticed that Hermione wasn't wearing any shoes and quickly slid some silver shoes onto her feet. Ginny held out her hand and Hermione stood up and Ebony took the charm off the mirror. Hermione turned around and looked into the mirror at herself.
It was like looking at a completely different person, really. Hermione thought that in a way, she really did look like a Dark Queen with her dark gown that set off her chestnut hair and fair skin.
Ebony and Ginny smiled at her before they began to change into their gowns, doing their hair and putting light makeup onto their faces. Ebony's gown was the lowest cut and Hermione noticed that Ebony wore a long silver chain around her neck with a light blue disk at the bottom of it. Ebony noticed her looking and quickly slipped into her gown and away from view.
Hermione shook her head just as the clock chimed 7:00 from the hallway. "Hermione, will you go answer the door?" Ebony asked as someone knocked.
"No."
Ebony sighed as they heard a bang. The three women looked at one another before Ebony waved her wand to make the room clean again and then they ran into the bedroom. Voldemort stood in the room, holding Hermione's ruby bracelet with his wand out. The door behind him was hanging oddly on its hinges. He wore long black dress robes and his black hair was meticulous. "My Hermione, why aren't you wearing the bracelet I gave you?" he asked in a smooth, low and dangerous voice.
Hermione walked up to him and his blue eyes observed her. "Because you gave me that bracelet and I told you that I would wear it when I trusted you."
He said nothing but pocketed the bracelet and pulled out a blue stoned ring set on a silver band. He took Hermione's hand and shoved the ring on her middle right finger. The ring immediately sized to her finger and small writing appeared around the back. Hermione wrenched her hand away and then tried to pull the ring off but it wouldn't budge a bit.
Voldemort took her arm and looped it through his own before he leaned close and whispered in her ear, "That ring won't come off."
"I've noticed," Hermione replied dryly as they walked out the door with Ebony and Ginny following.
He led her down a dizzying array of hallways before they reached large wooden doors that opened of their own accord. It seemed that conversation had been going on inside the ballroom but as Voldemort and Hermione entered, silence filled the ring and everyone began to bow as they walked past them. Voldemort led Hermione to the dance floor it seemed and the people stopped bowing and scurried backwards.
Voldemort let go of Hermione's arm and took her hand in his own and resting his other on her hip. She rests hers on his shoulder. The music started and Voldemort began to lead Hermione across the floor, gliding easily and effortlessly.
Hermione glanced around her to see people in dress robes, most very elegant and exquisite. Most of the dancers and other people wore masks but still others wore none at all. Most of the people not wearing masks, Hermione didn't recognize.
Hermione noticed also that the deatheaters, those wearing masks she guessed, were watching herself and Voldemort closely. "They're watching us," she whispered.
He spun her out a bit before replying against her neck, "I know my dearest."
"Would you stop calling me that?" Hermione hissed through a clenched smile.
Voldemort raised a brow before saying, "This is not the place to discuss such matters. You will act like the perfect wife and not let my followers know a thing," he said, resting his cheek against hers and whispering into her ear.
Hermione glared briefly and she felt Voldemort's arm tighten around her to show his displeasure. Hermione turned her head away from him and Voldemort smirked delicately. Voldemort let his hands trail down…Hermione wanted to slap him but immediately pushed down the urge, remembering where they were. She also fought down emotions that seemed to erupt just from his touch.
Ebony watched Hermione and Voldemort dance from the shadows of the ballroom; she could tell that they were having an argument, something not readily noticed by the others. It was quite obvious in the way that Hermione held herself that she was uncomfortable and something was clearly bothering her. However, Voldemort, Ebony couldn't quite figure out. It seemed that he was pleased about something, but what that something was, was a completely different matter.
Ebony felt a soft heat against her chest and looked down at her dress. The front of her gown was glowing blue and she turned away quickly before hurrying away, further into the shadows and out of the ballroom…
Hermione and Voldemort finally ended their dance and Voldemort led Hermione to two chairs upon a dais. He pushed her lightly into the one on the left before taking his own seat in the right. Hermione observed that more people began to dance. Moreover, the people without masks were making their way towards the dais.
The first man, who got there, wore expensive looking dress robes and his brown hair was long and pulled back. He had a rather demanding, and intimidating. He looked at Hermione leeringly before he turned his attention to Voldemort and bowed low.
"My lord," he said in a French accented voice.
"Arnaud Laurent. I don't believe that you have met my wife and the Dark Queen, Hermione."
"No, I have not had the pleasure of greeting the lovely lady," Arnaud said with a grin.
Hermione smiled back and said, "It is quite the pleasure to meet you also, Mr. Laurent."
"No, no, such a beautiful creature such as you should not say such things. It is an honor really to meet the wife of Lord Voldemort."
Hermione felt like rolling her eyes at this man's pathetic attempt to charm her. Just then, Ebony appeared at her side. Hermione glanced at her before looking back to Arnaud. To her surprise, Arnaud at paled at seeing Ebony and he looked a bit green.
"Excuse me, my lord," Arnaud said, "I must speak with Lucius."
He fled towards the blond man across the room and Hermione watched him go with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
She glanced back to Ebony and saw that Ebony's face was quite stony and angry looking, her eyes still glaring at the fleeing back of Arnaud.
"I must go find Ginny," Hermione said suddenly, standing.
Voldemort spared her a glance before saying, "Alright, but come back in at least an hour."
Hermione nodded and pulled Ebony towards the shadows of the ballroom. "What is going on?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"You cannot tell me nothing, I saw how Arnaud looked at you, as if he were afraid, which I might add, he could be."
"What are you speaking of?" Ebony asked.
"Ebony, there is no use to change the subject, tell me what is wrong."
Ebony sighed. "I will tell you…but, I'm not ready now. I just, I can't talk about it."
Hermione nodded. "I'm not pressuring you, but I am here for you, that is what friends are for."
Ebony smiled slightly and the two women went off to look for Ginny…
Hermione walked back to the dais chair with Ginny at her side, sometime later. She took her seat, glad that Voldemort was occupied…by Bellatrix no less. However, Hermione thought, Bellatrix looked a bit like a vampire with her overly pale skin, black hair, sunken features and black dress robes. Ginny tapped Hermione on the shoulder and pointed in front of her.
Hermione looked to see Lucius Malfoy bowing. "My lady," he greeted.
"My husband is occupied," Hermione replied coldly, wishing to have nothing to do with a Malfoy.
Lucius glared at her turned cheek, not realizing that Hermione was watching him from the corner of her eye. He looked like he was trying to keep his temper in check and breathed out heavily.
"Actually, my lady, I was hoping that you would wish to dance with me?"
"Well," Hermione was cut off by a high-pitched scream.
Lucius eyes widened as if he recognized the sound and Hermione looked at him curiously but Ginny furiously tapped her on her shoulder. "I can't find Ebony!"
"What!" Hermione yelled, jumping from her chair.
She glared at Lucius as she remembered the events of the night. Ginny grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the doors, from which the scream came, out of the ballroom. However, someone sealed the doors shut. Hermione looked back to see Lucius advancing. He slipped his wand into his robes.
"It would seem that your rather dear friend didn't go along with the plan."
Hermione felt almost rather than saw Ginny disappear from her side. Malfoy was grinning maliciously. "I will make sure that you pay and Ebony pays for the torture that my son went through."
"Arnaud," Hermione said.
"How very intelligent of you, mudblood."
"Boo-hoo, Malfoy," Ginny said, pointing his wand at himself, "It would seem that you are going to lose," she pointed the wand at the door, unlocking it before stunning Lucius.
Hermione and Ginny ran out the door, Ginny still clutching the wand at her side. They found Arnaud and Ebony in the hallway, Ebony's gown in tatters, the front of it ripped so badly that the blue disk necklace shone against her porcelain skin.
Arnaud smirked and tried to touch the necklace but something kept his hand away and a burn mark appeared. Ginny hexed him very fast and stunned him. Hermione ran to Ebony's side and Ginny undid the silencing charm on her. Ebony collapsed against Hermione in hysterics.
There was a commotion as people began to spill out into the hallway, trying to see what was wrong but Voldemort pushed through them and surveyed the scene. "Go on up to your room, Hermione," he said.
"Now, for you," he said, turning his eyes to Arnaud who looked scared.
Hermione and Ginny made it up to Hermione's room and Ebony had calmed down. "Hermione, Arnaud tried to do that before, but I hexed him, rather horribly I might add to get away but Lucius and he set this up, I know it. You have to get away, Hermione before they get their revenge, please."
"But-" Hermione started.
"No, that wand of Draco's is still under the settee; take it once it is dark and go down to the first floor. Turn left and follow the passageway to the end. There is a door there which will lead out into a forest and from there you can get back to the Order. They know of your marriage anyways."
"How?"
"They will tell you," Ebony said as she slipped a nightgown over her head, and threw one to Ginny. She gave Hermione a long dress that could double as a nightgown.
"I don't understand, why would Lucius and Arnaud try something like that under Voldemort's nose and why would they try to do something to me, I am Voldemort's wife."
"That's the point though, they knew about Voldemort's plan to marry you, they both knew. However, they don't know that Voldemort truly does love you and that he would kill them, follower or not for you, they think Voldemort is above that, above human," Ebony said.
"Voldemort loves me?"
"I believe so, he has never actually said such a thing out loud but from his actions and his body language, I do believe that he loves you," Ebony said.
Hermione smiled slightly though she felt something in her heart at those words. She brushed it off as guilt because he loved her and she was running away from him….