Chapter 15:
Hermione hurried to the mirror. Shite, I knew I was going to be late. She hip bumped Draco out of the way and hurriedly brushed her hair.
He stepped back and glared at her, "You know, you aren't the only one that needs a mirror. I mean, I know I'm naturally irresistible, but it does take a few final touches."
"Oh shut it, you ponce. It's your fault we're going to be late." She opened her eyes wide and swooshed some mascara over her lashes.
He glanced at her in mock astonishment, internally wondering how she didn't poke her eye out. "My fault?! You're the one who wouldn't get off the bloody floor!"
Huffing, she said, "Oh and I tickled myself to keep me there?" She raised an eyebrow at him in the mirror and put light eye shadow on the same lid.
He snorted, "Details, details." He then stepped next to her and recommenced brushing his hair into its long ponytail. He tied his sleek white-blonde hair back with a black leather thong. He angled his head to ensure that his hair was even and that he didn't have any marks. His face had matured over the years and lost some of its previous sharpness. Now it held purely aristocratic, chiseled cheek bones and a firm chin. His mouth wasn't too thin or too thick and his nose suited his face. However, his eyes were his favorite feature. They were steel grey, but according to V, could change to a light blue or stormy grey if he let his emotions show.
He threw his shoulders back, his morning ministrations finished, and strode out of the bathroom. He went a put on a silken white button up shirt and tucked it into his leather trousers. They weren't the cheesy, tight leather trousers that men wore on the front of PlayWitch, but looser, more flexible supple black leather. After he buttoned up his shirt, he pulled on his knee-high dragon hide boots over his trousers. The boots didn't look it, but dragon hide was one of the most flexible materials on the market, a person could literally do anything in them. He found his leather cloak that matched V's and laid it on the stand next to the door. He then walked over to the bathroom door and leaned against the frame and sneered, "You know, no matter how much time you take, it's not going to make your face look any more appealing."
Hermione had just put the finishing touches of lip gloss on her lips, but at his comment looked over at him in shock. Is he really going to become a prat like he used to be?
Tut, tut my dear. You know we will both have to be begrudgingly respectful when we go downstairs, why not make it look the part? And on a side note, your face couldn't get any more appealing because it is already gorgeous as it is.
She huffed at him and swept past into the other room. Veiled insults are hardly signs of respect, dear sir. She laced up her sandals. She walked over to the mirror and looked herself over. Granted, we aren't going to be able to broadcast our thoughts down there, due to both the distance between ourselves and the number of Legilimens in the group.
She had on the same outfit from the night before; it was comfortable and flexible - that's all she needed in an outfit. She also knew that Draco had been admiring the bandeau leather top and how great her bum looked in the pants. She stared at her marked forearm for a moment, getting used to the moving snake that resided in a permanent tattoo.
We'll just have to be ready to act. God and I always hated drama in Muggle school. She had placed her protective bands on her biceps once more and this time one on each wrist as well. Her hair was pulled back from her face into a light ponytail, which had been flipped so that the hair fell down her back loosely and left her face free.
He snorted at her musings and mentally questioned her knowledge of their telepathy.
She turned away from the mirror and looked at him a moment before turning to find her cloak, "It's all in some book or another that I read at school." He rolled his eyes. "Well clearly due to our emotional involvement with each other, the bond has taken another step; however, it's only when we are being particularly distinct in our thoughts or are alone with each other. At least for now. It mentioned that it may be like that even if the couple does take eternal steps, in reality it depends on the strength of the bond."
She walked towards him, cloak in hand. When she reached him, she pulled him down for a hard kiss. Something to remember me by, darling. He raised his eyebrows as she pulled back and smirked.
She stepped away from him and pulled the cloak over her ensemble and buckled it. She let her private self float away and felt the militaristic and slightly dark personality of V take over. Draco noticed her eyes harden slightly and her body went into alert mode. He knew she had stepped into her role.
He too hardened his exteriors and ensured that his mental walls were in place. He swung his cloak over his shoulders and buckled it too. He motioned to the door once they were both ready.
They walked out of his room together; two dark, leathery creatures, intent on their prey.
They stood together outside of the Dark Lord's suite once more, waiting for His permission to enter. Hermione resisted the urge to tap her foot and leaned against the wall languidly instead. She watched the door with hooded eyes. At a flicker of movement her eyes flashed to Draco, who was clearly impatient at the Dark Lord's show of power.
She rolled her eyes at him and he sneered back. Heavens, if he wasn't Lucuis's son through and through, I'd say he was Snape's. She then grinned at what Draco's reaction would be if he had heard her think that. He raised an eyebrow at her and she shook her head slightly.
Then the door opened and Wormtail stuck his ratty face out to beckon them in. Hermione straightened and walked ahead of Draco into the room. She kept her robe on this time and moved into the sitting room. The Dark Lord wasn't in the room, so she looked back at Wormtail questioningly.
"He shall join you in a few minutes milady. He has a treat to show yourself and Draco," said the small man in a high pitched, whiny voice.
Draco raised his eyebrow at Wormtail's address of V. He doesn't even give me that much outward respect and I scare him. I wonder how serious Our Lord is about her. Until now, Draco had merely assumed that V was a passing fancy to Voldemort and she would soon be out of His eye. It was starting to look like, however, that He was in fact planning far larger things for the Lestrange heir.
As they were seated in two wing-backed chairs, the Dark Lord swept into the room, causing both to spring back up and kneel before Him. He quickly frowned and brought His hand to Hermione's head and murmured, "You do not need to kneel before me, little one. A curtssssy sssshall do." With that she rose up and swept him her most refined curtsy.
Draco, however, remained on the floor. He gathered that this was a lesson, teaching him his place concerning Miss Lestrange. So He didn't see too much this morning; otherwise I would be on the floor writhing in pain.
"Young Malfoy, you may risssse as well." He had apparently put on His company hissing.
Draco stood to see Voldemort caressing Hermione's bust line with His eyes, and His hands barely restraining themselves from ripping off her cloak to view her skin. And that's with the cloak on. I'll have to talk to her about wearing those, I may like them, but He shouldn't! Draco realized how irrationally he was thinking, he just couldn't do anything about it.
Voldemort then looked up at Hermione's face and said, "My dear, did you ssssleep well? And enjoy your run with young Malfoy thisssss morning? I do hope he behaved himsssself." With that a glare was shot at Draco.
Oh for pete's sake He's acting like a scored lover! The Almighty Dark Lord, felled by a female. Draco resisted the twin urges to snort and roll his eyes.
Hermione batted her eyes at the Dark Lord and said huskily, "It would have been better had I more time with you My Lord, but my dreams helped me through. Mr. Malfoy was a gentleman; he showed me a number of decent paths this morning." She ducked her head as though embarrassed at her implication of dreaming about the Dark Lord.
Draco saw His eyes light up and her statements. The Dark Lord placed a hand on her shoulder and Draco felt the beginnings of another headache coming. Well this is going to be a nuisance. He pushed the feelings into the back of his brain and locked them away, he needed to concentrate.
He watched as Hermione looked up into the Dark Lord's eyes and shivered slightly, whether in arousal or horror was up to the participant. Draco felt like he was going to vomit when he saw his Lord bend down and kiss V lightly on the lips. She blushed and stepped back a little, but said nothing. The Dark Lord seemed pleased at her seemingly innocent act and straightened. He motioned to the chairs for all three to sit.
Once seated, He said, "And to businessss. You two will be the new leaderssss of the younger recruitssss. You will not have to train them or accusssstom them to any ssssituationssss; that will be dealt with before they come to you. You two will lead them in groupssss that you sssselect on sssspecific missssssionssss. These misssssionssss will generally be raidsssss or sssstealth, sssssince I understand they are your fortessss."
He glanced at both to see their nods of acceptance. "I have two sssspecific misssssionssss for both of you. Draco," He turned to look at Draco directly in the eye, "I have a sssspy in the Order that I want you to keep your eye on. Sssshe issss to be your toy. Break her and enssssure that sssshe will not rat ussss out to them. I am unssssure of her true loyaltiessss."
"Yes, milord." Draco answered quickly, wondering who it could be that he was to guard.
The Dark Lord turned to Hermione, "V, I want you to ssssearch out and kill Hermione Granger. The Weassssley sssson that wassss friendssss with Potter issss dead, but sssshe issss the last link to Potter. I have received noticssse that sssshe has ressssurfaced and hassss gone back to the Order. We hope that due to her and Potter'ssss previoussss divorce, thingssss will be rocky, but I cannot take that chance."
Hermione resisted the urge to laugh in His face and said with an evil smirk, "My pleasure Milord. Does she need to be kept alive?" Best to sound bloodthirsty.
He laughed, "No little one, I would like her face kept recognizsssable, for we sssshall leave her for them to find. Do what you will with her body, however. I sssshall enjoy sssseeing it before you give her back." He nodded at the two of them. "Your competence asssssuressss me that I have chossssen the correct leaderssss. Miss Lesssstrange'ssss bloodthirsssssty nature and Mr. Malfoy'ssss knowledge of torture ssssshall tide you well. Now you sssshall both meet our sssspy."
Hermione sat forward slightly, her eyes narrowing on Wormtail who went to let someone into the room. She watched the door open and a hooded figure come through. They ran before Voldemort and kneeled quickly, kissing His hem. He snorted in disgust and turned to the other two. "I introducssse you to Ginevra Weassssley."
Hermione's eyes narrowed even more, while Draco fought off shock. Hermione scoffed, "The Princess Blood Traitor? No wonder you question her loyalty." She stood up and circled the kneeling figure. Thank Merlin I wiped her memory of my heritage before I left, she would have told Voldemort in a heart beat otherwise! She sneered at the kneeling figure and glanced at Draco to see his reaction. He appeared rather appalled.
"My Lord, you want me to … to deal with this filth?" He grimaced at the figure on the floor.
"I undersssstand your disssgusssst for her, but sssshe issss usssseful to ussss. Sssshe issss with Potter. You do not have to touch her if you do not wissssh, but sssshe issss yourssss to weild." Voldemort waved his foot and the figured on the floor stood, threw back her hood, and glared at the two before her.
"And who are you to say all that. I am not filth! I am as pureblooded as any here!" She stamped her foot. "I am useful, Our Lord said so." She moved closer to Him, as though to intimate a relationship.
Hermione nipped that thought in the bud. She walked around the Weasley girl towards the Dark Lord's chair and towered above the shorter girl, "You besmirch our pure blood with your traitorous name. Do not think to compare your weakblooded self to me, blood daughter of Rodolphus Lestrange and Celeste Lorraine, both from houses pure for six centuries; daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange née Black, another house pure for centuries."
Her eyes flashed, "I mock your weakness and look forward to seeing you pay. Your brothers at least have spirit; you, foul little girl, are nothing but a whore." With that she smirked and laid her hand lightly on the Dark Lord's. She was playing her cards so that Ginny would take the bait and the Dark Lord would think she was jealous. They both took the bait.
The Dark Lord laced his hand with hers and drew her down for another kiss. Hermione pushed back the repulsion and thought only of how ticked off Ginny would be.
The redhead screeched, "I'm not a whore! You're the slut kissing Him! I refuse to be treated this way!"
Hermione felt the Dark Lord stiffen under her lips and knew that Ginny had indeed gone too far. He pushed her back slightly and stood up over the now terrified Weasley. "You will not sssspeak to her in ssssuch a way. You are lucky we did not kill you on ssssight Misssss Weassssley, I would advisssse you to remember that. Misssss Lesssstrange issss purer in blood and innocencssse than you could ever hope to be."
He turned, red eyes piercing and nostril slits flaring, to Draco. "Take thissss filth out of my sssssuite and enssssure that sssshe learnsssss better language. Do not let anyone ssssee her, we need to keep her pressssence quiet for now. Misssss Lesssstrange sssshall be with you momentarily to aid you in her lesssssonssss."
Draco, who had been watching the entire scene unfold detachedly, stood and knelt to His Lord. Then he grabbed the Weasley chit by her hood and dragged her to the door. Once the door was closed by Wormtail, the Dark Lord waved him out of the room and the pair were alone once more.
He dropped the hissing and drew her back onto the arm of his chair, "You do not need your cloak any longer my dear. I will not monopolize you for too long, but seeing your youthful skin refreshes me." He drew off her cloak and she mimicked a shiver of arousal at his hands. He ran a hand caressingly over the leather and murmured up to her, his eyes never leaving her cleavage, "You have pleased me today, little one. Were you jealous of her attentions towards me?"
Hermione faked another shudder and huskily said, "My Lord, I do apologize for my forwardness, but I couldn't stand that she would want my lov … my Lord." She hooded her eyes at this blatant inference and let a blush creep up her cheeks.
"My, my I seem to have a slight power over you, little one." He ran his other hand over her abs.
She was screaming in horror on the inside, but managed to maintain her exterior's poise. "Oh, Milord, you cannot know. I am yours to command." She inched away slightly, "But Milord, I do not want you to think I am fast as she intimated. Her slanders wounded me, do I truly act like, like … a slut?" She almost whimpered it out. As much as I hated drama, I might just have a career, if this all blows up in my face.
"Do not listen to the Blood Traitor, little one. I know your true nature." He ran his hand lightly over her cheek and mouth. "I also want you to tell your parents that I have a select mission for them. I shall meet with them at 3. Tell them they owe you for their return to my right hand. Does this please you?"
She jumped up, like a giddy school girl, "Oh Milord, you are too generous. I do apologize for not being here when you needed me. I feared you would be unable to forgive me!" She knelt down at his knee and placed her hand upon it.
He leaned back and watched her happy face, "I would have thought you would be angered at me, little one, for not waiting patiently for you."
She placed a look of surprise on her face, "Oh My Lord, I would never have expected that of one as great as You! You know my family serves to please You. We were distraught at the idea of You being unhappy with us," she closed her eyes as if in pain and whispered, "especially myself. I wanted to come back so many times, but I was unsure if I would be welcome had I not completed my training."
He laid a hand on top of hers and shifted slightly in His chair, Gah he's aroused … ewwwwww!, "I see now, that I misjudged your family. I am willing to admit that. And I would have welcomed you, little one, but I am glad you finished your training. Now go put it to use and make that little one pay for her earlier remarks." With that he helped her off the floor and smacked her bum lightly to get her moving. He placed her cloak on her shoulders and let her out the door quietly.
She practically sprinted away from His rooms, once she heard the door shut, appalled at what she had been forced to do.
She knew she would have no release in Draco's room, so she stopped in a darkened corner to regain her composure and sanity.
She then made her way to Draco's room, weaving in and out of the shadows. Once there, she knocked lightly twice and slipped in.
There was no one in the immediate bed chamber, so Hermione walked through it to the closet and on towards a door she had thought led to a dressing room. She felt around the wards with her mind, finding they weren't too strenuous; she waved her hand and felt them collapse. She entered quickly, summoned her wand out of her collar and replaced the wards with far stronger ones. She turned to look at the two and smirked.
Ginny was vertically spread-eagled, nude, in the middle of the room. Her arms were tied above her head in leather strips and her feet were clamped down to the floor in leather grips. Draco had clearly been verbally taunting her before Hermione had entered.
She walked over to Draco and murmured in his ear, "See anything you like?" She ran her hand across his shoulders, keeping her wand trained on the red head. Draco stepped away from her and smirked. He leaned against the wall and watched the Dark witch play with the little traitor. I believe I'll let her have her revenge. Merlin knows I'll have plenty of time for more later.
"You know, Miss Weasley, we don't take kindly to others calling us names." Hermione cocked her head a little and continued speaking in a little girl's voice, "It hurts," she pouted. "But not quite as much as you will be when I'm done with you."
She straightened up and looked at the girl standing in front of her with beady eyes. "I hear you're Potter's whore now, no?" She watched Ginny stiffen at the word.
"I'm no whore," she spat. "I'm his girlfriend." She stared haughtily back at the woman she knew only as V. There had been rumors among the ranks of 'V.' She had supposedly been away in Asia training with Draco. Apparently she was one of the most powerful witches out there, even counting Granger.
That was the reason He wanted her for His consort. Ginny had been disappointed in that last bit. She had come to the Death Eaters, frustrated at Harry's depleting money supply and angered at the Mudblood who stole him from her.
It was all Hermione's fault. Damn bitch. He wouldn't have lost his money or gotten depressed.
Ginny glared back at the woman. She was a tall woman, and definitely not slight. Her body was built with muscle, shown off by the bandeau top and tight leather pants. V's skin was tanned and clearly well taken care of; her hair was frizzy, but rather straight and black with colorful highlights. Her face however was the most intriguing.
Her lips were larger than what was fashionable and her nose was not cute or ugly. Her brows arched up in a mocking glance automatically and her eyes were a sea green. However, her eyes could flash almost red if she was really angry, and Ginny had been seeing that flash more than she would have liked. She watched the young woman, she couldn't have been older than twenty-six, prowl around her.
Hermione was tapping her lips with her wand. "His giiiiiirlfriend. Well that explains it all then. He won't marry you eh? Still mooning after his Mudblood wife? Was she a better fuck than you, little girl?" Hermione sneered at her and stood directly in front of the pinned redhead.
Ginny sputtered, "That Mudblood bitch was no good for him and he knew it. He'd been sleeping with me for months before she even found out. Said she was frigid." Ginny smirked.
Hermione merely grinned, "Oh ho, so you lied? You are a whore? Well, well." She turned to look at Draco, "Draco, I think we should teach our new spy not to lie so much to us, it won't get her very far." Her voice turned menacing on the last few words.
Draco prowled up beside her and smirked evilly. As they looked each other in the eye they dropped their cloaks and turned towards the redhead in perfect rhythm.
Hermione flicked her wand at the wall behind her and it began showing images of Hermione Granger and Harry Potter in various passionate poses. "I think Miss Weasley that it might do you good to understand a little humbleness. Perhaps you boyfriend lied as well? Perhaps, he simply couldn't satisfy his other witch?" Hermione arched a brow.
Ginny was watching the screen in horror. Despite everything she had done, it had all been for Harry. She only wanted more money to be happy with him. She knew he would understand eventually. Watching him be happy with another that she hated so much was horrible. A tear fell down her cheek and Draco snorted. He waved his wand and muttered a quite spell, Ginny immediately felt pin pricks on her lips and ears.
"To teach you to appreciate what you are able to hear, and to make you understand that you should only repeat that which you hear." He sneered at her. "Repeat after me, traitor. I serve only the Dark Lord."
Ginny tried to avoid it, but the pain in her lips became so horrible that she began crying in earnest. It felt like they were being ripped from her face. "I.. I .. I serve," she began in a broken whisper. She wanted the scenes in front of her to stop. Harry had never seemed that happy with her and it all seemed too real. Her lips began to burn again, "I serve o.. oo..only the Dark Lord." She began sobbing in earnest.
Draco frowned at her weakness and waved the spell off. He turned towards V and said, "This one isn't going to last long, is she?"
Hermione glared at the sobbing figure, "If you want her, I would advise taking her now, versus later." She sneered, "Not that it would be any good, she's probably all stretched out."
Draco chuckled at that, she turned to look at him and saw he was watching the images. "I don't think I could touch something that had him in it. Granted it looks as though he doesn't have much in the way of family jewels eh? Potty-wee-Potter indeed."
Hermione grinned evilly. "Indeed. Well if you won't, then I have an idea."
She walked over to Ginny and began tapping each of the redhead's muscles with her wand. After a complicated little wave, she smirked and backed away.
Ginny looked at her frightened, "What … what did you do to me?" She couldn't feel anything different, but knew she hadn't gotten off that easily.
"Oh you'll find out eventually." She turned away, "Malfoy, I have business to attend to, are you coming or staying?"
He glanced at the redhead and back, "I'll come." He picked his cloak up, "We'll be back traitor."
He walked out the door past V who was merely leaning against the doorframe watching. Ginny wondered what that meant when suddenly she felt it, all of her muscles were contracting at different rates and she couldn't help it. It happened for almost 20 seconds and then suddenly stopped. She looked over at V, panting.
"It'll come at various periods. Tootle-tip!" With that Hermione flounced out the door, replaced the wards and went to catch up with Draco.
They made their way through Malfoy Manor towards the foyer, where they would apparate to the Lestrange's. As they entered the hall, Hermione sensed Lucius Malfoy entering on the other side. She watched him make his way towards her and nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Milord, I was just returning to my home. I trust my father spoke with you last evening?"
"Yes V, I was pleased to hear from him. Is Draco, going with you?"
"Yes, I think he could do with a visit to his aunt's, no?"
"Indeed, congratulate them on your success, my dear."
"Thank you, I shall."
She turned back to Draco and they apparated away.