A/N: I really, really hope that no one is going to kill me by the end of this chapter. This is the one that I put a preview up at the end of another chapter (not sure which one), I have changed it slightly but only so it worked better.
Hermione arrived at Malfoy Manor just in time for the light lunch that she had been invited to
The sight which greeted Hermione was one of organised chaos. House elves were everywhere working on decorations for the ball that evening.
"Missy Hermione, Mistress said to show you to follow Mipsy to the dining room," the elf said as they turned towards the left corridor.
She was led to a door near the sun room which she had been in before."It's just through there Missy Hermione. Masters and Mistress are waiting for you with Missy Ginny."
"Thank you, Mipsy," Hermione thanked the elf with a smile.
Walking into the small dining room she noticed each couple talking quietly until they noticed she was there.
"Hello, Miss Granger. Please take a seat," Lucius said gesturing to the last seat available.
"Thank you, Mr Malfoy," Hermione said politely.
"Please call me Lucius, Miss Granger."
"Then you must call me Hermione," she said as she sat down.
"How are you, Hermione? I would have come to visit you after you were released from St Mungo's, but I didn't want to overcrowd you," Narcissa asked concerned.
"I am well thank you. Most of the wounds were superficial so they let me home the day after," Hermione replied.
Two small platters of sandwiches were placed in the middle of the table and the occupants helped themselves.
"How are things with Rodolphus and Rabastan?" Draco asked.
"Very well, thank you. We have had a few dates and we have exchanged several letters since we first met, and everything seems to be going well," Hermione replied.
Draco nodded his treasure.
Ginny smiled at her in a way that Hermione knew she was going to be grilled for details later on.
"Rabastan is certainly smitten with you. He cannot seem to stop talking about you whenever he visits. Rodolphus, however, has barely said a word, but he's always been a man of few words," Lucius informed her.
Hermione smiled and inclined her head a little to let the elder Malfoy know that she understood what she was trying to say.
"Have you set a date for the wedding?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, we will marry on the first day of Samhain. We still have to talk about the finer details, but everything else has been decided. What date have you decided on?" Hermione asked turning to Draco and Ginny.
"The thirtieth of September," Ginny replied.
Hermione nodded.
Once everyone had finished their meals, Lucius and Draco rose and bid the ladies goodbye before they went back to work.
"Don't be late," Narcissa called as they walked out of the door.
"What time are you girls going to start getting ready?" Narcissa asked turning back to them.
"In about an hour I should think. We need a good gossip before we see anyone," Ginny replied.
"I will have Mipsy send the beauticians up to your rooms then," Narcissa said finishing her tea and standing up.
"Thank you,"
"It's no problem dear," Narcissa said and left the room.
"So, what's really going on then?" Ginny asked.
"It's exactly like I said. Rabastan and I are getting on really well, but Rodolphus is still a little distant. How are things with you and Draco?" Hermione asked back.
"Things are going very well. You're not telling me something," Ginny said scrutinising her friends face.
Hermione sighed a little.
"I told my parents on Sunday," she said quietly.
"What did they say?" Ginny asked tentatively.
"They said that they didn't like it, and that they wanted me to consider leaving the wizarding world." Hermione replied.
"What did you tell them?" Ginny enquired.
"I told them that I loved being a witch and that I wasn't going to leave. I also told them how we were matched and that the three of us were getting along really well. They calmed down in the end and accepted that I was going to go through with this. They also said that they wanted to meet Rodolphus and Rabastan before we were married."
The two girls exchanged more news about their friends and family, and the general wizarding population before walking to Ginny's rooms so they would be ready when the beauticians arrived.
After three and a half hours of being pampered Hermione and Ginny were finally ready to go downstairs and join the guests for the ball. Hermione had to go down without Ginny as she and Draco had to be announced separately.
"Are you ready, Hermione?" Narcissa asked as she poked her head through the door.
"Yes, I am," Hermione replied as she put her shoes on.
They walked down the stairs together in a comfortable silence. When they got to the bottom Rodolphus and Rabastan were waiting there for her with Lucius.
By the look on both the men's faces she had certainly made the right decision to wear the red dress tonight. Hermione hadn't made a habit of wearing dresses like that, but when she did she went all out.
When she reached the bottom step both Rodolphus and Rabastan were there to greet her.
"You look beautiful, Hermione," Rodolphus said taking her left hand and kissing the back of it.
"More than beautiful, completely divine," Rabastan commented as he kissed the knuckles of her other hand.
"Thank you, you both look handsome too," Hermione replied smiling.
"Are you ready to go in?" Rodolphus asked.
"Yes, I am."
Hermione slipped her arms into the crook of each of theirs and they walked in tandem to the doors which lead into the ballroom.
A wizard was standing there announcing everyone who walked through the doors, and Rabastan told him their names.
As they walked through the doors he said, "Presenting, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange and their affianced, Hermione Granger,"
As soon as their arrival had been announced she could feel several eyes glance in their direction, but Hermione found that she didn't care.
It was another half an hour before Draco and Ginny were presented to all of the guests, and a further hour before Hermione even got to talk to the both of them again.
During that time the brothers had introduced her to several of their associates and Hermione had introduced them to hers.
Neville Longbottom had only given the brothers a stiff nod of acknowledgement, but had greeted Hermione warmly.
Neville had not taken the news that Hermione was to marry the brothers very well. He couldn't see how someone so good and so pure could ever be compatible with them. He had calmed down a little when she had explained that Bellatrix had put the Imperious curse on both of them, and that they accepted their time in Azkaban because they were still responsible for their actions whether they were sound of mind when it happened or not.
"I'm just going over to see Cole Stevens, love. I would take you, but he wouldn't be very welcoming to you," Rabastan explained.
"Okay, I am sure I will be fine with Rodolphus," Hermione replied.
A few minutes later Hermione saw Rabastan storm off through the entrance to the ballroom. She had no idea what had upset him so much but longed to find out.
"Would you mind staying here for a moment, Hermione whilst I go after him?" Rodolphus whispered in her ear.
"Of course, do you want me to stay with the Weasley's?"she asked.
"Yes, I will ask Charlie if he will be kind enough to watch you whilst I see what's wrong with my brother."
After Rodolphus had talked to Charlie he stalked off in the same direction in which his brother had gone.
Half an hour had passed and Hermione told Charlie that she was going to the ladies room. In fact, Hermione had decided that she wanted to know what was taking the brothers so long to come back.
Once she started to walk down the corridor to where the private bathrooms were Hermione heard raised voices; she recognised them as Rabastan's and Rodolphus'.
Stopping just outside of the door, Hermione managed to catch some of their conversation.
"How could you do that to me? I'm your brother for God's sake!" Rabastan roared with anger.
Hermione shuddered a little. She had never seen this side of Rabastan before, not even when he was under the Imperious curse and knew that Rodolphus must have done something bad to earn his ire.
"I did what I had to. I knew you would never take the Mark of your own free will so I made you take it," Rodolphus hissed.
Hermione was confused for a second, and then it clicked into place. Rodolphus had placed Rabastan under the Imperious curse to make him take the Dark Mark, but that meant that Rodolphus was probably never under the curse at all.
"Why did you pretend that you had been under it too? And why did you blame Bellatrix for the whole thing?" Rabastan asked coldly.
"It was an easy way out. People were more likely to accept me back in society if they thought that I had been under the curse too. It also meant that you, and Miss Granger would never doubt me," Rodolphus replied just as coldly as his brother.
"What do you really think of our betrothal to her then?" Rabastan asked.
Hermione's breath hitched a little. She knew that she would be probably hurt by his comments, but hoped that she would be strong enough not to let it show.
"I think it's a disgrace. She should never be allowed to bear our name, let alone our children. Compatibility be damned, she is nothing more than a Mudblood and never will be."
"You're wrong. I am sure as hell going to make sure that she does carry our name, and at least my children. She will be our wife, unless you decide to do something stupid in the next few weeks," Rabastan said firmly.
Rodolphus snarled.
"I am sure Dolohov would be only too happy if I tell him her schedule," he threatened.
"Don't even think about it, Rodolphus. You tell Dolohov, and I will tell Potter what a rotten liar you are," Rabastan hissed.
Hermione backed away not wanting to listen to anymore. She made her way back to the ballroom and placed a fake smile on her face.
"That was a long time in the ladies. I almost sent Fleur in to see if you hadn't fallen down the toilet," Charlie said laughing.
"I had to retouch my make-up," Hermione lied.
She knew that Charlie hadn't believed her, but she wasn't prepared to say anything about what she had overheard just yet.
In fact, Hermione was going to keep it to herself for now and prayed that Rodolphus would not go through with his threat about Dolohov. She didn't want to imagine what he would do to her on Rodolphus' orders.