The Dark Lord smiled as the four appeared in front of him. "Well done my children, I am ultimately proud of you. You have achieved more in a few mere weeks than your predecessors ever have. I had the pleasure of watching the boy's reaction and it was simply beautiful."
They bowed low whispering their gratefulness to Voldemort. "I will have none of this nonsense, children. I have come to the decision to have you treated as equals, and will have the highest ranking in my followers. You four are the only of my beloved devotees will be treated as I am and are the only that will ever have the power to disregard these foolish customs such as bowing although I will have reigning power over you. You must call me Tom; it will make everything far more discreet."
Draco stood up tall, before the others followed his lead. "My L- Tom, we accept your decision with open arms."
Voldemort nodded. "Very well. I must tell you that having such a responsibility comes with another responsibility that is vital to our works."
Hermione stepped forward boldly. "I think I speak for all of us, Tom, when I say that we would gladly follow anything that you ask of us. Tell us of it and we will gladly comply."
Tom Riddle stood up, lowering his hood to stare directly into the faces of his most valued followers. "Blaise, Ginny…Hermione, Draco…you are to get married at this very moment."
Hermione collapsed onto her bed, releasing a sigh of both happiness and insecurity. She, once Hermione Granger, had suddenly been pulled into a different world; she was now of the Zambini bloodline, one of Voldemort's highest followers and was now married to her one time enemy. It was almost a dream, one that the former Hermione Granger would have greatly disliked.
She smiled softly. Maybe this year wouldn't be as bad as she had thought it would be.
Draco grinned as he slumped into the chair by the fire. He, Draco Malfoy, was finally with the girl he had yearned for. She was intoxicating, perfect in every way, and he had never been able to have her. But then, she became a Zambini and one of Voldemort's favoured followers. And now, finally, she was his. She was a Malfoy, the newest Mrs Malfoy to the long line of purebloods.
He smiled softly. This year was turning out better than he had hoped for.
Ginny grinned as she spun around the common room in delight. She, Ginevra Weasley, had broken free of the chains that had restricted her. She wasn't the angel she had once been but now one of the greatest in Voldemort's league. On top of that, she was married to the boy she cared for dearly. Letting out a bark of laughter, she mused over what her mother's reaction would be.
She smiled softly. This year was proving to be greater than ever before.
Blaise shut the bathroom door loudly before smirking at his reflection. He, Blaise Zambini, had finally 'settled' down. He, the secret womanizer, had found one girl he truly liked and now she was his. He had gained the position of Head Boy and was part of Voldemort's most favoured followers, considered his equal. Letting out a small whoop of triumph, he thought of the effect it would have on Potter.
He smiled softly. This year was rapidly becoming his favourite year ever.
Harry screamed with frustration as he entered the Room of Requirements. He had just seen Hermione, Ginny, Blaise and Draco strolling into their room looking awfully content with their company. In a mere few weeks, he had lost the two girls he held closest to his heart as they ran to his enemies and now he was left an empty shell of the strong, defiant boy he had once been.
He sighed softly. This year had already become the worst he had ever faced.
Ron frowned as he noticed the pair that entered. Harry had his head held up, Veronica Timberland clutching at his arm. The sixth year had a superior and triumphant gleam in her eyes, whereas Harry's held weariness and pain.
"Harry, mate, what are you doing? You don't really think that you'll get them through jealousy, do you?" Harry glared at Ron's reasonability.
"Piss off, Ron. Just shut up and mind your own business, got it? No one cares about you." Ron blinked at Harry's harsh words. Harry merely glared before grabbing a bread roll and a bowl of soup.
"You don't mean that, Harry." Ron warned carefully, watching to see if he had broken the limit. Harry had been ripping the bread into small chunks and settling them onto another plate. His head shot up.
"What if I do?" He asked, challenge shining in his eyes.
Ron leaned forward so he was inches from Harry's face. "Look here, you bleeding idiot. You're pushing everyone who cares about you further and further away. You've already lost Hermione and Ginny. Watch where you're treading or you may find you've gone too far, again." He pushed his plate forward, knocking over a glass of pumpkin juice into Harry's bowl, before storming out of the room.
Harry sighed, grumbling at the mess before racing after his once best friend.
Hermione sighed as she leaned against Draco as they sat on a rock near the lake. His arms slowly snaked around her waist, his lips silently attacking her neck without hesitation. She let out a childish giggle before squirming against him at the feeling of his warm lips against her cool skin. "Draco…" She attempted chiding him, failing terribly.
She felt a wave of satisfaction as she saw a flash of red and black in the corner of her eye. Ron seemed to be walking away steadily, Harry calling after him. She merely looked on as Ron seemed to explode at the other boy who had the decency to sport a sheepish expression.
Ron sighed before giving Harry a 'guy-hug' as they had dubbed it a while ago. Harry had a triumphant expression on his face which fell away at the sight of Draco 'attacking' Hermione. She closed her eyes, savouring the moment before turning and pulling his lips onto hers.
Draco pulled away slightly. "I hope you're not just doing that for the reaction out of Potter, dear wife of mine. It would be terribly damaging to my swelling pride." He whispered. He felt his insides warm at her laugh before she grasped his hair in her hands and pulled him into another kiss.
"WHAT THE HELL D'YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, HERMIONE GRANGER!" She sent the blonde a quick Malfoy-like smirk before turning around, an innocent expression plastered onto her face.
"I beg your pardon, Harry?" She asked, standing up to meet him eye-to-eye. Draco uncertainly stood up behind her, grasping her hand tightly. She shifted her eyes to match Ron's glare, "You want something too, Ron?"
Ron opened his mouth but quickly shut it, nudging Harry softly. It seemed to be the trigger to Harry's rant. "WHAT THE HELL D'YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING! YOU'RE FRATERNIZING WITH THE ENEMY, YOU BLOODY BINT!" Hermione rose an eyebrow before sending him a piercing glare.
"Could I talk to the pair of you for a moment? Excuse me, Draco." She said, sparing a wink at the blonde and dragging the other two. "What do I think I'm doing! What is wrong with you? Why don't you both just shut up and remember Dumbledore's orders, hm?" She sent them one more glare before rushing back to Draco, pecking him lightly on the lips and walking back up to the castle.
"Harry mate, I don't really reckon this is all about the bloody task. She's getting her emotions far too into it all." All Harry could do was nod softly.
Ginny sighed as she watched the pair from the window above her. Draco and Hermione were far more open about their emotions now than ever and yet Blaise and her had barely even hugged. He seemed too nervous to make the first move in case he offended her and she was just plainly scared.
"Gin?" She spun around at the voice, flashing the boy a weak smile. "You're angry at me, aren't you?" She merely shook her head once before trying to pass him. But Blaise was too fast.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. A smile smirk appeared on his lips as her cheeks flamed. He pecked her on the forehead once before capturing her lips in a stolen kiss.
This was the moment she had been waiting for.
Ron almost threw up at the sight that confronted him the moment he had stepped back into the large school. His little sister, his only sister, was wrapped up in the arms of a raven-haired Slytherin and they were quite attached at the lips.
Harry had been walking behind him, lost in his thoughts. Having not been looking where he was going, he crashed into Ron sending them both to the floor. The pair that had been so intimately involved a moment ago sprung apart, a guiltily innocent expression on their faces.
Ginny grabbed the boy's hand before quickly pulling him away. After years with six older brothers, she had learnt not to wait around for the reaction to come.
Fred and George grinned as they made their way up the lawn that led to Hogwarts. They had spoken to Dumbledore and the old man had said that it was okay for them to visit their old school.
Fred grinned at his brother's response and turned to answer him when he noticed his brother wasn't beside him. Turning around he saw George staring behind him in complete shock. Fearing that it was yet another of Hagrid's wild beasts, he spun around as quickly as possible and almost fell to the ground with complete horror.
In the distance he could see a girl walking hand-in-hand with a platinum haired boy. The hair was recognisable instantly. It was Draco Malfoy. Peering closer, he recognised the girl from a picture that had been sent to him from Ron. It was the new Zambini, Hermione.
"Fred, d-dyou…"
"Uh huh. What-"
"Is going on here? I have no idea. You know what we-"
"I agree. Where's Ron?"
They quickly raced into the castle before the pair could see them. George was about to suggest that they go to the Gryffindor Common Room when he saw Fred splutter and cough.
"What's wrong!" He asked, worrying for his brother's health.
Fred's mouth opened and shut, gaping like a lost soul. George rushed beside him and peered over the banister to where Fred was pointing. The recognisable red-hair of his family was below, mixed in with raven hair. "Harry and Ginny?"
George suggested but Fred shook his head frantically. "I saw the face. LOOK!" The pair had broken apart and the boys face was unmistakable. It was that damned Zambini boy that had always taunted them. They were about to scream in horror and ire at their sister but a voice stopped them.
"Fred? George! Oh it's amazing to see you both again!" Hermione was quickly approaching them, her hand firmly implanted into the blonde boys. Draco was walking behind her, an expression of disgust spread across his face.
"Her-Hermione." Fred muttered before fainting into his brother's arms. George looked once at his brother before falling into a similar sleep.
George blinked a few times at the light in front of him, trying to figure out where exactly he was. His brother groaned from the bed beside his and it was a few seconds afterwards that he realised he was in the room he had spent a good deal of his schooling in. He was in the Infirmary.
Hermione's head appeared above him. "Hey George! You scared us when you fainted!" He smiled. Maybe he imagined seeing her with Malfoy. Ginny was standing beside his brother.
He let out a quick burst of laughter as he looked at the girl that had caught his brother's fancy. "You'll never guess the dream I had! AHA! I thought that you were dating Malfoy! HA! MALFOY!" He burst into laughter but it was brought to an abrupt end when he noticed the raised eyebrow on her face.
"What d'you mean you dreamed it? I am dating Draco." Once more, the world went black.