Hermione laughed, putting down her butterbeer. She had barely touched hers, while Ginny was going back for a third.

"The point is to relax." Ginny justified her habits, taking a gulp to emphasize. "We deserve to let loose a bit, especially you. Do you ever relax?"

"Of course, that's one reaons I love books so much!" Hermione leaned back in her seat. "They can carry you away anywhere, open your mind, make you forget all your stress."

"I might believe you if you read only fantasy novels, but you read mostly non-fiction and take notes on everything you read."

"I read fiction too." Hermione insisted. "And if I write notes, its because I think that there is information to be found even in the most fantastical world. And -"

"What was that last part? - Hermione?" Ginny tapped her friend's shoulder, but the other girl was unresponsive, her breathing shallow. "Don't tell me you're allergic to beer?"

Hermione came to with a deep breath, gasping for air. "There was -" She faltered, trying to find the words to describe it. "It felt so strange, like a tugging inside. Or the universe shifting a few feet within my heart."

"Odd." Ginny scratched one calf with her sandaled foot. "I think I'm going to need a margaurita. Obviously you're getting drunk faster than I am, on butterbeer fumes no less."

"I'm serious." Hermione felt at her hip. "My wand is even warm." She bit her lip. "Do you feel anything? Like something in the world has changed, something big, without us knowing?"

"Now that you mention it..." Ginny pursed her lips. "I have this weird feeling...OH NO THE SKY IS FALLING!"

Hermione jumped and Ginny laughed.

"No, really." Hermione's face paled. "It's like it just got colder." She rubbed her collarbone thoughtfully.

Ginny closed her eyes and swirled the liquid in her glass, her breath slowing. "Nothing. I don't feel anything."

"Well I do." Hermione stood and started fanning herself with her hand.

"I thought you said it was cold?" Ginny smirked.

"Well it's hot now." Hermione frowned and unbuttoned her blouse a couple of buttons. Sweeping her bushy hair back she turned to Ginny in agitation. "I feel like I am being pulled somewhere, only I don't know where to go..."

"Mione!" Ginny jumped, splashing her alcohol on her skirt. "When did you get THAT?" She stared at her baffled friend.

"Get that tattoo!" Ginny shrieked in excitement. "I want one! Is it magical?"

Hermione looked to where Ginny was pointing and gasped. In the center of her chest, between her collar bone and cleavage, was a family Crest about two inches high. She touched it briefly, and drew her hand back with tingling fingers. It did not seem inked, but rather a part of her skin. "Wha...?" She blinked questioningly. "Ginny this is no tattoo, it might be dark magic!" She gave a small cry, her mind going to the worst possible scenarios.

~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snape frowned as Lucius took his sweet time playing with the dice. What in Merlin's name would he do if he won? Take the girl back to his manor and make her scrub cauldron's all summer? He could find things for the girl to do, she was smart. And during the school year he could send her off to some college, she would no doubt love that. But she was always asking questions! And never the right ones. She relied on books far too much, scoffing at anything experimental. And while he knew the importance of following directions, he was always looking for ways to improve. There was a reason he was considered one of the top Potion's Masters in the world.

Lucius quirked a brow, "So, why do you want Hermione? Lonely in that large house of yours? I suppose even a girl of her tainted...pedigree...would be a good lay."

Snape coughed and nearly snorted firewhiskey out his nose. "She is good with potions. An assistant, especially one I do not have to supervise, would be valuable."

Lucius shrugged. "Not that it matters. My luck is formidable." He smiled, and for the second time in a row rolled 6, 6, 6.

"I can see that." Snape drew in a breath. He would owe Lucius a lot of money if he lost, but he was more worried about Malfoy's plan for the Granger girl. He could tell the die were full of dark magic, and despite the anti-cheating wards in the bar, Lucius must have some sort of bond with them. 'Wrapped in night, carved of death, rested in the blood, formed of fright'...Snatches of a dark children's rhyme ran across his memory. 'Turn the Die and watch the toll, Blood will coat death's favored Roll'. Something like that. It was a wizarding jump rope rhyme that ran in many of the older families.

Snape picked up the dice and rolled them one by one, as he preferred to do. He rarely gambled, but he had never lost at dice or cards. Quidditch bets were another matter entirely, he noted sourly.

7.

7.

"Well Lucius." Snape released the last die with a flick of his wrist. "It seems Miss Granger's future depends on the turn of this die."

The bone die rolled to a stop, and Lucius's face went white in rage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carved of Death

Wrapped in Night

Rested in the Blood

Formed of Fright

Turn the Die

Watch the Toll

Blood will Coat

Death's favored Roll