Chapter 13

I bade Harry a quick and brief farewell when we finally reached Kings Cross station. Montague was quick to steer me in the direction of his parents, telling me they wanted to get off as they had a guest staying at their house at present. Even after inquiring who this guest might be, all I discovered was that he was a friend of the Grey's - that didn't clear much up for me as they had a lot of friends.

We used apparation as the method of transport home. My senses were tingling as I finally landed beside Montague, who had passed his test in March, inside a spacious room.

Their house was richly decorated and, when I excited the room into an even larger entrance hall, my eyes traced the railing of a long, sweeping staircase which lead to the upper floors. There was no normal entrance to the property so I assumed the house didn't welcome muggles. Montague was quick to show me my rooms. We entered them through a oaken door on the first floor. I was greeted by a small sitting room with a two seated sofa which was decorated in green and silver. My bedroom contained a four poster bed and large walk in wardrobe, as well as an on-suite bathroom.

The dining hall was massive. I walked in to find a golden plate at each of the five places. Montague and his parents were already seated at their places and, by the looks on the faces, we were still waiting for the other guest. Taken my seat beside Montague, I looked at him inquiringly for answers, he told me not to worry and so I began to make polite conversation with his parents.

I had decided that the guest must be pretty important, as he was already 20 minutes late for dinner and Lord and Lady Grey seemed not in the least bit annoyed. However, when there was a short, sharp knock on the door the entire atmosphere changed. It became thick and heavy, unnerving and slightly weird.

The doors opened quickly and revealed the person I had least expected to see, Lord Voldermort.

Much to the surprise of myself, I remained seated, though tears of fright began to run down my cheeks. I was beginning to wonder if he was planning to kill me here and now, painfully perhaps? Or would it be quick and painless?

"You will not die tonight," he was walking over to me, staring intently into my eyes, as he answered my unspoken question.

I nodded, thankful for this small mercy as the tears continued to fall.

"There's no need to be frightened Miss Potter," murmured the Dark Lord as he sat in the empty seat on the other side of myself, "you will come to no harm tonight."

So I knew I would survive until the morning, well that was comforting! Not! However, I just nodded again, not trusting myself to speak.

We began eating in an intense silence, broken only with the metal of the cutlery against the plate. I felt like I didn't belong here, that I didn't want to be here, dining with the murderer of my parents. It couldn't be right, surely…

Dinner was finished and cleared away before it happened,

"Lord and Lady Grey, would you please leave myself and Miss Potter alone?" when Montague didn't rise he continued, "and you too please Mr Grey, don't worry I won't hurt her."

My boyfriend nodded, I didn't blame him for not arguing with the elder wizard.

"Miss Potter," he began, "are you enjoying you time with the Grey's?"

I nodded nervously, "Yes Sir."

"I trust you have been well since the night of my rebirth?"

Other than the countless nightmares you mean? Other than that I have been brilliant… "Yes Sir."

He shot me a smile that told me he knew I was lying, but made no move to press the subject, "You were originally meant to die with your brother that night," he murmured softly, "but something told me that you would become useful…"

We paused for a moment as I contemplated his word, "I will never become useful to you."

He looked at me with an air of superiority, however, he made no move to hurt me - as I had expected.

"We shall see…" he murmured, "you are a Slytherin and in love with the son of two of my followers and best friend to another. You are already surrounded by future death eaters."

"I will never become a servant of yours," I hissed in parsletongue, though I think I spoke it accidentally, "I refuse to serve anyone. I always have."

The man grinned at me, why was he so happy? Everything that I expected to anger him only made him happier!

"That is the reason," he whispered before standing and sweeping out of the room.

I lay in bed, awake and unable to sleep, for many hours that night. After a while I moved from the bed to the seat beside my bedroom window. My eyes stared intently at the grounds below me; it was bathed in the pale light of the full moon. It was empty apart from the plants and a large fountain in front of the house. I guessed that the lake Montague had spoken about was located behind the building. From where I was sitting, I could see only a long fence that stripped around the property, I would have to ask Montague tomorrow if I could go exploring - if Voldermort didn't kill me first…

It was the rising sun that woke me up the next day. I had fallen asleep in the chair and my neck now felt very stiff and slightly sore. The grounds below me were now covered in dew and the sun was bouncing off it. The July sky seemed not to reflect my downcast mood this morning. It was clear and blue and I could see an old man, supposedly the gardener, tending to the plants around the fountain. However, he must have felt my eyes on him as he disappeared almost immediately after his gaze had met mine - weird…

Breakfast was served in the pantry - a small room off the entrance hall that had a large window which looked out over the grounds. A small house elf, a small creature that is bound to serve wizards, had brought me down to breakfast. It was a nervy little creature with floppy eyes and a tiny body, all it wore was a tea towel around its middle.

I was the last the arrive to breakfast and everyone else had already began eating in my absence. Breakfast was a meal with no set routine and everyone took it at their own times.

"Morning," I greeted, taking the remaining seat between Montague and his mother.

Everyone gave me a stiff nod in reply, except Montague who leaned over and gave me a peck on the lips. I smiled at him gratefully as I began to eat the porridge that another houself had set before me.

I spent the morning drifting around the property, exploring their library, multiple lounges and huge ballroom. Many doors had not allowed me to open them, some were very welcoming - one room had even supplied me with a small toffee in a glass bowl. It did not seem the home of dark wizards. After a while I became bored of my rambles and headed back to my rooms, where I made a start on my large amount of summer work.

Around midday I heard a polite knock on my door,

"Come in," I called, looking up from the half finished potions essay before me.

I was pleased when I saw Montague enter, he was smiling proudly and wearing one of his best sets of robes.

"Have you had a good morning?" he inquired, coming over to me and placing an arm around my neck.

"Yes it was lovely," I replied, "and yourself?"

"Interesting," was all I could prise from him before he continued with, "what would you like to do that you have me to yourself?"

Now was my chance, "May we look around the gardens?"

He nodded and asked me to stand up. Once I had done so he placed his arms firmly around me and told me to prepare myself, we were about to apparate!

"Is there no other route out of the house?" I asked when I recovered my breath.

He shook his head, "my mother said that all the guests we have usually have the ability to apparate, those that can't won't be safe out here without a wizard who can."

"Why's that?"

"My father likes dangerous plants," he whispered, swatting the tendrils from the venomous tentacular that was threatening to curl around my leg.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Love it? No this isn't a trivia game….I'm hinting at reviews…. Love you all

TBC….