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CHAPTER 7: NEGOTIATIONS

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Lucius grimaced as he levitated the unconscious Hermione and strode towards Voldemort's throne room. He'd already had enough today with Cissa, Bella, and the mudblood...he just hoped Voldemort wasn't going to act crazy as well.

Wrong again.

He surveyed the throne room which was littered with crushed cans of cola and empty potato sacks. Worst of all, the Dark Lord was wearing sweatpants. Sweatpants. Lucius gulped and knocked at the door.

"Enter Lucius."

"My lord, why are you on your computer?"

Voldemort batted a hand but did not remove his red eyes from the screen to which they were glued.

Lucius hoped as hell that Voldemort wasn't wasting anymore time on World of Wizardcraft, that damned online game. Lucius and the other Death Eaters sometimes worried that Voldemort was losing grip of reality and confused the game with the real world.

"The Floo network is down, so we're going to have to Skype Potter."

"Oh."

"Do you know what Potter's skype name is?" Voldemort banged his fist. "There is damned long list of Harry potter's on here!" He had accidentally rang up a few Eastern European call boys, plus one Asian or Japanese guy that looked completely terrified.

Lucius recalled from his extensive espionage. "I believe his username is," he coughed, "VoldemortUPyours."

"Curious name, it's almost as if he's saluting me." Voldemort pondered aloud as he typed in the username.

Finally Voldemort's handle, TommyBoy1953, connected with Potter's VoldemortUPyours. There was a short melodious ring and then a boy with messy black hair and glasses appeared on the screen. Voldemort smiled widely and adjusted his webcam.

"Greetings Potter."

"Voldemort up yours," Harry muttered, "What have you done to Hermione?"

Voldemort laughed and pulled his mug closer to the camera, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Quit playing games, you old wanker. You said you wanted to negotiate and that's what I'm here to do."

"Manners Potter, you do not want to anger me while your friend's life rests in my hands. I will set the conditions, and pace, of our negotiation."

Harry fell silent. There was a frightened look in his eyes.

Tommyboy1926 couldn't help giggling in delight. He did so love negotiations.

"Now as you aware, Hermione was kidnapped from her family home exactly 28 hours ago. Since then she has been under Lucius Malfoy's care."

"Lucius Malfoy?!" Harry practically choked.

"Yes, Mister Malfoy has kindly taken it upon himself to look after your friend. He has been most instructive-"

"Let me see her!" Harry demanded.

"Uh, uh, uh, what is the magic word?"

Harry looked like he wanted to vomit, "Um...Please?"

"Very well," Voldemort said placidly, "Lucius, bring out your captive-" However, the words died in Voldemort's throat, as he did a doubletake of Hermione whose face was tanned beyond recognition. Voldemort broke into a wide grin.

"Oh now Lucius, you have done me proud!" Voldemort's eyes twinkled.

"What's going on there?!" Harry asked in semi-panic from the computer screen but everyone ignored him as they laid eyes on the hideously tanned and ducklipped face of the mudblood.

"It was nothing my lord," Lucius grinned, "I told you I would show the mudblood her place. She looks more like a muggle than ever, doesn't she?"

"Oh, yes, it never ceases to amaze me the way these muggleborns parade themselves as witches and wizards, when it is so obvious they are muggles and always will be. No one of our kind would ever look like that."

"Precisely my thought, my lord," Lucius grinned, "Should I bring her back? I stupefied her because she was being a nuisance."

"Yes, do!" Voldemort said eagerly.

"WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HERMIONE?!" Harry Potter yelled from the computer screen where he only had a view of Voldemort's face. Watching Voldemort's reactions to Hermione was like watching a reaction video on youtube except he didn't know what Voldemort was reacting to.

"Just a moment, Potter," Voldemort chuckled, "You will soon see your friend!"

Lucius pointed his wand at Hermione's arm, "Rennervate!"

Hermione opened her eyes to find herself in a torchlit dungeon with Lucius Malfoy clutching her by the arm. She glared up at Lucius hatefully before she caught sight of Voldemort, himself, standing a few mere meters from her. Fear was struck into her heart but then she noticed Harry's forlorn face on a computer screen nearby Voldemort. Without thinking she immediately ran to the computer and turned the webcam towards her.

"Harry!"

Harry screamed as he saw her. "Hermione?! Is that you?"

Harry looked scared. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing I can't handle!" she said through tears welling up in her eyes. Harry looked like he could barely recognize her. Did she really look so bad?

Lucius and Voldemort both sniggered in the background.

"But Hermione look at yourself, its gone too far! Can't you see that?!"

Hermione tried not to break down in tears, "Listen Harry, I'm fine, whatever you do don't negotiate with them!"

Lucius was immediately there behind her with his wand pointing at her. Before he could utter the words for Silencio, Hermione screamed really fast, "Tell Ron,
I said hi-aaaaaahhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" She screamed in pain as Lucius wrenched her off the computer chair with a kick that sent the little wheeled chair flying across the room.

"Silencio mudblood!"

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-end of chapter 7-

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