First, I'd like to thank those who reviewed my last chapters, have added my story to their favorite's list and their alert list, and lastly to those who have added myself to their favorite and alert list. You flatter me. I do hope you enjoy this next chapter.
–
There was certain circumstantial information about the scene that was playing at the moment, that everyone must know. Hermione Granger was not one to throw fits, in fact, she had never in her life stomped her foot when she wanted sweets, or thrown things when she was angry, and she most certainly did not blow up anyone like a balloon. She had always been a calm-headed bemused girl.
So those who didn't know what lay behind Hermione's mind at the moment, couldn't possibly imagine that she was calm and concentrated. Voldemort realized it.
"Stop, stop, stop," Tom Riddle's voice called out. The vase that was flying across the room shattered into pieces on the floor. Hermione's brooded. Malfoy tried to keep his laughing negligible. "You're too concentrated, too starchy. This power flows autonomously in you, Hermione. Let it go. Get angry, think of things that make you infuriated, and then focus what you feel in your veins on an object."
Hermione sighed, she didn't think she would ever get this right. Evil power just didn't seem natural to her, no matter how much of it was part of her nature. She sulked and tried again, this time, the table she picked up oscillated only an instant and set on the floor again. Hermione grunted, she hated failing, no matter where or what she was focusing her energy on.
Riddle sighed and sat on his throne. "Malfoy, your turn." he said in such a uninterested tone, one might think he would soon fall dormant.
Malfoy stood in Hermione's position, his eyes grew black almost instantly, a share of wind and energy pilfered his hair and clothes back and the table in front of him lifted. Malfoy felt a want, a need, a thirst for more energy, more power, the table crashed against the wall, windows opened and the algid November air rushed in, hitting them all like like sharp knifes. Malfoy was loosing grip, he turned everywhere looking for energy to suck. His eyes lay on Voldemort.
Hermione perceived his thirst build up in her veins, running like she had never done before, she raced toward Malfoy and tackled him to the ground. Her touch was blistering, burning his veins of the thirst, Malfoy's eyes turned back to grey and all that was left was a certain calming agitation.
Voldemort breathed out. It was times like these that he was thankful for having prearranged their lessons to be together. Although he had never mentioned it out loud, it was obvious, to him, that he could never compete with the couple's instinctive power. Not since he had gathered up all the horcruxes after war.
"Maybe it's best if we leave it at this, for tonight," he said. Hermione and Draco nodded in unison. Helping Malfoy's now weakened body to get up, Hermione felt a certain tingle in her stomach as his head heaped on her shoulder and his breath touched her neck.
Voldemort saw the struggle and more than that, saw the look in Hermione's eyes as she had saved Malfoy. He knew it was time, pulling something from his robe he walked toward Hermione and unceremoniously handed her, her wand. Hermione's eyes widened, although this seemed like a feeble act to Voldemort who easily strode out of the room right after it, to Hermione it meant everything. Not only was she sure, she had gained the Dark Lord's trust, she had been reunited with her long lost friend. Performing a levitation charm on Malfoy she carried him to her room, realizing only as she climbed up the stairs, that she had no idea where Malfoy's room was. A thought that disturbed her as she had lived here for quite a few months now.
Hermione lay him carefully on the bed, covering him and making sure he was breathing correctly, before she too, exhausted as always after lessons, sunk down next to him and drifted off.
–
A staggering light blinded Hermione for a moment and she, disorientated, covered her eyes with the blankets. That's when she remembered when she had drifted off. Malfoy stirred next to her, turning and opening his eyes, staring widely as if confused, then composing himself as if it was nothing new and he could remain calm. Hermione smiled, for a few instants she had seen the look of panic in his eyes before he had realized they had merely slept next to one another. She didn't know why this amused her so much, but the truth was that it did.
"Sorry I passed out," Malfoy said, his voice was groggy from having woken up recently.
"That's alright," Hermione replied. "At least I got my wand back," she smiled.
"Did you?" Malfoy smiled as well. Somehow her smile made his appear. It brightened up his mood always.
Hermione nodded pointing at the magical stick that meant everything to her. A bit of comfort and home in the midst of all the changes of the past months. They both relaxed into the pillows and Hermione felt Malfoy's foot touch hers ever so slightly. She swallowed hard, she was not expecting this. But as quickly as she had felt it, it was gone. She reasoned it had been an accident and as soon as he had realized it, he had taken his foot back into it's original position, yes, that must have been it.
Hermione looked at the clock that stood on the far end of the room, it read seven am. Had they really been knocked out for so long? The door of the room slowly creaked open, a tiny voice sounded from it.
"Mione? I had a nightmare again." It was Diana, once in a while the child would have nightmares of different things that had happened to her. Hermione always allowed her to climb into her bed. As Diana stepped into the room, she immediately turned red, Draco's presence in the room, was definitely not something she had anticipated.
Hermione stood shocked, not sure how to explain to the young girl what exactly what was going on. Draco laughed it off.
"Come here," he said, his voice was not hard or cold like in other times but rather smooth and in a soft-like whisper. Diana obeyed, for once, not because she was scared of Mr. Malfoy, but because she felt safe enough to come closer. He pulled her onto the bed and placed her in between him and Hermione.
"What's this about a nightmares?" he asked, caressing her hair in a fatherly-like way. Diana snuggled close under the blankets. Hermione stood starstruck.
"It always starts out the same, it's dark and I'm alone," Diana explained. "And I become scared." Draco placed an arm around her and pulled her closer to his warm body.
"It was just a dream, don't worry. You're safe now and you'll never be alone again. You'll always have Mione...and me," he added, not sure what on earth had possessed him to do the things he was doing now, but he didn't care, he felt like he should.
Hermione smiled coyly and lay back down onto the bed, tickling Diana until she got a laugh out of her.
"Draco's right, Diana, you'll always have us. You'll always be safe. I promise." she whispered, almost drifting back to sleep.
"Draco?" Malfoy repeated as if he was unsure he had heard correctly. Hermione drifted off.
–
Tom Riddle was not known to be surprised very often. So the look that was plastered on his face as he saw a young child sitting on the table that usually contained three people, bemused Hermione. Riddle sat in his usual seat, letting one of the servants pour him his coffee and serve him his breakfast.
"I see we have guest," he said in questioning tone. Diana stood still, afraid she had done something wrong and would be punished. Hermione explained carefully who the girl was, and that she would like her to sit at the table with them during meals.
"You have grown fond of this child?" Voldemort inquired. Hermione confirmed the inquisition. Voldemort sat back and observed the young girl, who had intelligibly decided that these were adult matters to be discussed and had gone back to her breakfast. "She was a gift to help take care of you," Voldemort said slowly as if confused but not in an insulted tone.
"Yes," confirmed Hermione, "But I am perfectly able to take care of myself, and I think of her almost as a...daughter," Hermione concluded, slightly surprised of how true these words were to her. She liked Diana's company and she had become quite protective of her, almost like a mother to a child.
Diana looked up at this, she had never had a mother, hers had been killed when she was just a baby. She didn't know what to think at this moment. She didn't know if she felt towards Hermione what one should feels towards their mother, then again she didn't know what one was supposed to feel towards their mother. She imagined, from all the books she had read, that it must be a strong love and caring, that she should want nothing but good for her. If this was the case, then yes, she imagined Hermione had become a mother to her.
Voldemort stared around the room, gathering information from what he saw. He then turned towards Draco.
"And what is your opinion on this issue?" he asked him. Draco looked at Hermione and Diana, both their smiles stirred something in stomach, he suddenly felt like he would be the decisive one here. Draco turned back to his Lord.
"I sort of like the kid." he winked at Diana who tried not to chuckle "I don't see why having her around at meals would be so bad." then he casually went back to his breakfast as if nothing had happened. Tom Riddle's eyebrows froze in a very confused look. He could see the potential this child could have in bringing the two adults closer together to fulfill his plan. He liked that idea very much.
"Then it's settled, the girl can stay," and it was with these small words that both Hermione and Diana breathed in relief, Draco felt like he had done well, and Voldemort planned their next step.
–
December twenty-fourth came quickly and the manor was filled with decorations for the engagement ball that was to come that night. Hermione paced nervously in her room, unsure of how to act tonight. It was true that she had grown fonder of Draco and their spending time together had made it so that both more comfortable. She was still unsure if she could face the entire dark wizarding world, filled with pure bloods that hated her, staring.
This was obvious to Draco who sat reading in a chair in the corner of the room. He placed the book down and got up. He grabbed Hermione's hands. A flash of energy out pour in both of them. Hermione stared at him unsure of what to do.
"Hermione, I'm going to be by your side the whole time, and they'll be guards protecting you at all moments, besides, most of the people who were invited follow every last word the Dark Lord commands, and if he accepts this marriage, they'll find some fault in their own logic so that it is acceptable. Hermione sighed.
"I hope so," she said. Malfoy kissed her forehead. Hermione felt goosebumps rise up her spine and her arms.
"I have to go get dressed, please stop worrying," he said in his most caring voice. Hermione nodded to let his fears disappear. Malfoy turned to walk out of the room.
"Hey Draco?" Hermione said, he turned around with an eyebrow raised questioningly, "Thanks for letting Diana stay the other day." she said. Malfoy smiled and nodded in recognition, then he walked out. Hermione sighed, it wasn't long until her tailor had arrived in her room and was fitting Hermione into her dress.
It was made of a cream colored beige fabric and flowed softly down towards he feet. It had only one strap in her right shoulder and the small and almost unnoticeable sparkling diamonds that covered her chest gave it a touch of innocent feminism.
Thankfully for both Hermione and the tailor who still did not like each other very much, the dress still fit perfectly and for that reason, neither had to waste much time on it. Hermione's hair was tamed by witched whom Voldemort had hired, and her makeup done easily in brown tones.
Placing on her shoes and jewelry, all of which was made of pure gold, Hermione sighed looking in the mirror. She was beautiful, but she felt slightly uncomfortable with such expensive treatment. She looked out of her wall-sized window and noticed that night had fallen upon them. Outside the fields were covered with hovering candles that still flickered as if untouched by the snow that hadn't stopped falling since morning. Carriages were already arriving and people dressed beautifully made their way up the steps of the manor into the welcoming hall.
There was a knock on the door and as Hermione turned around she saw Diana's head pop up. The young girl's hair was beautifully done in a fashion that was suitable for a ten-year-old. She was dressed in a color identical to Hermione's, the dress contained two large shoulder straps, it bulged down to her knees with a big red ribbon tied around her waist. Diana talked about how she had never felt more beautiful. Hermione laughed, pleased that her present was liked.
There was another knock on the door, this time, Draco showed up, dressed in a black ribbon-tie suit that suited him well, and a black dress cloak. He smiled and gasped a bit when staring at Hermione. She looked beautiful, her eyes seemed much more intense than normally. Diana ran to him and hugged him. He picked her up and commented on how beautiful she looked before putting her back down.
Hermione grinned at this small exchange between the adult and the child. Draco then looked up at her, telling her it was show time and handing her, his hand to take. Hermione accepted his hand as she saw Diana run to join the guest in the ball.
Draco and Hermione walked towards the staircase as their name was announced. Everyone stopped to look, the piano man began to play an elegant tune as Hermione and Draco made their way down the staircase, arms intertwined, all eyes on them. Draco gave Hermione's hand a small squeeze, letting her know that she need not be nervous, he was there. Hermione relaxed and smiled as she reached the last step. People immediately showed up to congratulate them on their engagement and compliment Hermione's dress and her more importantly, her ring.
It wasn't long until people started to enjoy themselves and left Hermione to rest a bit. Draco excused himself for a moment to speak to someone. Hermione no longer felt alone in the room filled with strange menacing people, all mingling as if none of the past years events had ever happened. Hermione scanned her room but stopped staring at some girls who were picking on Diana and her dress. The young girl looked right about ready to cry, Hermione frowned ready to start scolding them all.
Draco who was staring at Hermione from afar noticed this and followed her eyes. His eyebrows furrowed. He made his way towards the girls. Hermione noticing Malfoy's intervention, stopped, curious. Draco Malfoy was much taller than the young girls, and seeing him make their way towards them, they immediately ceased their teasing.
"Annabelle Parkinson Maldive," Malfoy said. The young girl's green eyes shined at Draco with the same sparkle as her mother's.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" she said cunningly in the most innocent voice possible. It was no secret that Annabelle had inherited more than her mother's green eyes, but rather most of her habits and love for Malfoy. Draco cared to think that was what came with being raised by very young mother.
"Why don't we try to be nice to Diana here, I like her. Besides you wouldn't want me to tell the Dark Lord that you are poking fun at his favorite little child?" he said creating a bit of jealousy in the young girl. Annabelle's eyes widened to the size of tennis balls.
"No, Mr. Malfoy," she said placing her hands behind her small figure and rotating her right foot on her tippy toes as if she were ashamed.
"Good," said Malfoy, "Now run along and play nicely," he finished, deciding that his first fatherly discussion had gone quite well. The young girls ran away as if they had been best friend's from the moment they were born. Malfoy took two drinks from the waiter carrying them and walked up to Hermione handing one to her. She smiled and accepted it.
"Thanks," she said knowing she didn't have to explain what it was that she was referring too. Malfoy nodded knowing she had nothing to thank him for. They both looked around awkwardly before realizing the were supposed to look like a very in love couple.
Draco offered Hermione his hand to dance, which she took eagerly, glad that she didn't just have to stand in the middle room like an idiot. The ballad that played was soft and agile and Hermione felt herself swirling across the dance floor with Malfoy as if it were the most natural thing on earth, even if her head still bashed a little everytime she remembered being barred up in the dungeons. It seemed as if the moment was everything but perfect in everyone's eyes.
Then a window crashed and cold fluttered into the room.