I'm BACK! Please bear with me if there are grammatical errors. I figured you would rather have the chapter sooner than with less punctuation errors. Long time no update and I do apologize but as I've said all along I plan to finish this story! Thanks for sticking with me!
-SilverSlytherinWitch
Hermione smiled softly as she listened to her father and Draco plan the next mission for the Dark Bloods. The group had become the driving force of the Death Eaters in the last two months. They were the leaders that her father wanted them to be and the Daily Prophet claimed that they were the most dangerous of all Death Eaters. Hermione smirked as she read over the article on the front page of the morning paper.
The Dark Lord and his heir, daughter Hermione Riddle!
You heard it here first everyone. The Dark Lord has indeed chosen an heir and it is none other than his daughter Hermione Riddle. I was told this by the Dark Lord himself in an interview. How you may ask? Well let me tell you when Death Eaters show up at your doorstep you usually assume it means something bad. I was informed by his loyal followers that the Dark Lord had requested my presence. Scared out of my mind I followed their lead and ended up apparating with them to a dark sitting room where the Dark Lord waited. He then explained that I was there to write a story on him and his daughter. The beautiful Ms. Riddle then entered the room and the Dark Lord began to tell me their story.
Ms. Riddle was separated from her father at the young age of seven when Order members stormed the Riddle Manor in the hopes of seizing Mrs. Riddle while the Dark Lord was away. Finding young Hermione with her mother the Order killed her mother and left taking Hermione with them. Imagine my surprise to hear such information. I immediately discounted it as more lies from this evil man. However, sensing my disbelief Ms. Riddle pulled from her pocket a vial of Veritaserum and downed it in one go. She then reiterated what the Dark Lord had already told me and continued the tale.
The Order placed a highly powerful memory charm on the young girl and sent her to live with muggles. Now I have been asked not to reveal who Ms. Riddle was disguised to be and I intend to keep this young lady's secret. However, I can reveal that Ms. Riddle has returned to her home in high spirits and is very happy to be back with her father. The Dark Lord then explained that I was called to deliver a message. The Dark Lord intends for Ms. Riddle to be his heir. I must say the young woman seems quite capable. She has an intelligence and confidence that I haven't seen in many years. The interesting part, dear readers, is that Ms. Riddle carries the mark of the illustrious Dark Bloods. When asked about the mark she explained that she was the leader of the Dark Bloods. As you know the Dark Bloods have been responsible for multiple Ministry and Order deaths in the past two months.
I immediately inquired about such claims and the young woman smiled again nodding her head. She boldly explained that her Dark Bloods plan to destroy the Order and everything associated with it. However, I must say I can't blame the girl. After hearing such a tale from her I see the injustice of the situation. To be taken from her family at such a young age is a travesty. After all, the Order has kept their secrets well. Including the identity of Sirius Black as young Harry Potter's godfather. My message has been delivered but I would also like to add that the young Ms. Riddle seems to know exactly what she wants out of life. I look for her to be a powerful name in the future. Bringing you the truth, Rita Skeeter
Hermione set the paper down and spoke, "You know she really has a way with words."
"Yeah, especially when she's threatened with death." Draco agreed.
"Do you think the article worked Father?" Hermione asked sitting back in her chair.
The Dark Lord smiled, "I can assure you that it did."
"How can you assure us of that?" Blaise asked with a confused look.
"Because," Voldemort explained, "We have a new recruit for the Dark Bloods."
Hermione's eyebrows rose, "Really? Who is it?"
"One of Greyback's nephews. His name is Zane and he is a blood werewolf." Voldemort replied.
"Oh that's good," Hermione chuckled reaching to take a drink of her tea, "That's very good Father."
Draco frowned and set down his whiskey, "What's so good about it?"
"A blood werewolf is a person who is born a werewolf not bitten. It gives them a much higher control over their werewolf side. Some say that they can transform whenever they want and the full moon has less control over them. They also have a higher resistance to wizard spells." Hermione explained excitedly, "He could take the Dark Bloods to an entirely different level. He is definitely someone we would want in."
"I don't know Hermione," Draco disagreed, "He sounds like he'd be hard to control. Pompous and arrogant. We don't want any unneeded drama."
Hermione scowled, "Drake you're pompous and arrogant but we didn't kick you out."
"Well yeah but…." Draco trailed off thinking fast, "What if he's a spy for the Order?"
"The Dark Lord just said he is Greyback's nephew. I seriously doubt he's working for the Order." Pansy interjected from Hermione's left.
Theo laughed, "I think Draco is a bit jealous."
Hermione turned to Draco, "Are you?"
"No," Draco denied looking at Theo, "Theo is just trying to start shit."
"Whatever," Hermione interrupted, "Father when will he be here?"
"Sometime in the next two weeks," Voldemort answered picking up the Daily Prophet, "For now you should all focus on the Order and your next plan of action."
Hermione nodded, "You're right Father. Come on guys back to business. Has anybody heard any news?"
Everyone shook their head, "It's hard to hear news when we are always here." Blaise offered as an excuse.
"We never go anywhere but on missions." Pansy added hanging her head.
"Well maybe that will change soon." Hermione agreed looking at her father, "Will we be able to go to Diagon Alley soon? I know the girls and I have some shopping to do."
Voldemort sighed and dropped the paper onto the table, "How much is this going to cost me?"
Hermione grinned, "Oh I'd say maybe two to three hundred galleons. I need new robes you know."
"Fine, but you might want to make it five hundred." Voldemort agreed tossing his daughter a bag of money.
"Why's that?" Pansy asked reaching out to catch the bag.
"You will all need new dresses," Voldemort explained, "For Zane's welcoming ball."
Pansy squealed and Ginny smiled slightly, "Thank you sir!"
"You're quite welcome. Please make sure the boys get new dress robes as well." Voldemort added picking his paper back up.
Hermione grinned jumping out of her chair, "We will daddy we promise!"
"Come on let's go!" Pansy squealed again grabbing Theo and Blaise by the arm.
Ginny grabbed Blaise and they all apparated away. Just as Hermione was going to take Draco's arm he disappeared. Hermione frowned, "I wonder whets up with him."
Voldemort chuckled darkly, "No doubt he is jealous. You seemed very eager to have Zane with us."
"For the sake of the Dark Bloods Father, not for me." Hermione argued crossing her arms over her chest.
"I know my girl, but I believe Draco thinks otherwise." Voldemort explained.
Hermione glared, "Yeah because he is a stupid boy."
Voldemort laughed, "Yes he is. But he adores you. Perhaps you should just reinforce that you feel the same?"
"Fine, but he's lucky I don't neuter him for being such an ass." Hermione grumbled before disappearing as well.
"Yes he is." Voldemort agree quietly.
Hermione sighed as she appeared behind Ginny in Diagon Alley. She quickly looked left and right and pulled her sleeves down to cover her Dark Bloods mark. The street was bustling with people so she wasn't worried about standing out but she didn't want to draw unwanted attention her way regardless. Her father would never let her leave the manor again if her first outing ended in a blood bath. Ginny and Pansy gave her a frantic look realizing they had both left the manor in short sleeved tops. Hermione winked and their marks instantly disappeared.
"Where did the boys run off too?" Hermione asked looking for Draco.
Ginny winced, "Draco immediately drug Blaise and Theo off to Quality Quidditch Supplies. They said to come and get them when we were ready to leave."
Hermione clenched her jaw, "Of course he did. The git."
"Hermione he's just jealous that you were so excited about Zane possibly joining the Dark Bloods," Pansy explained pulling her friend towards Madam Malkin's, "Give him time to cool off and he'll be fine."
"I know he just irritates me. I didn't do anything and he's being a jerk. He just better hope that I forgive him when he's ready to apologize." Hermione growled pushing the door to the shop open and stomping through it.
Pansy and Ginny shared a knowing look before following their sister. The bell jingled as they entered and Madam Malkin's turned to the new customers. The older woman froze in her tracks upon seeing Hermione Granger with Pansy Parkinson. She knew from past encounters that those two girls did not get along. They were enemies in every sense of the word. Pansy hooked her arm through Hermione's and pulled her to a rack of dresses while Ginny Weasley pushed her from behind. The owner smiled quickly deducing the truth from the teens' actions.
"May I help you girls find something?" she asked heading over to them.
Ginny smiled and nodded her head, "We have a friend coming to town and we are having a welcoming ball. We need to get new dresses as well as dress robes for the young Malfoy, Nott, and Zabini."
"I see," Madam Malkin said inclining her head, "We have their sizes on file so I'll get some different robes pulled for you to decide from also I have some new dresses in from France that you girls can look at."
The shopkeeper turned waving her assistant away and personally escorted the girls into the back of the shop. She pulled several dresses off a rack and handed them to Pansy, "Purple is your color my dear. With your dark hair and brown eyes it really makes your skin pop."
Pansy grinned taking the dresses and heading towards a changing room, "Thank you ma'am! Give me a sec and you girls can tell me what you think!"
"I'll go help her with zippers." Ginny said with a grin right before Pansy called to her for help. Hermione giggled at her turning to browse a few different racks.
"Oh no sweetheart," Madam Malkin interrupted her quietly tutting, "I have something special for you."
"I'm sure one of these will be fine." Hermione explained looking towards the racks, "You don't have to trouble yourself."
Madam Malkin smiled with tears in her eyes, "It is no trouble. I knew you mother dear. She had me design her one of a kind wedding gown. I also made you a dress for your fifth birthday. I'm so glad your father has you back."
Hermione's eyebrows rose, "You know who I am."
"Of course, your mother was one of my best customers and a darling woman." She explained walking towards a locked wardrobe in the corner, "I have been saving this. Your mother commissioned it just before she passed. It was to be her Christmas gown that year. I believe it will be marvelous on you."
Hermione gasped as the woman pulled out a beautiful silver corset dress with a full skirt. The top had silver beading that flowed down to the skirt which was silver tulle. It had a feathered appearance to it. (AN: Emma Watson's final UK Premiere dress just a little more glammed up.) She reached out to touch the fabric and smiled realizing the top was silk.
"It's absolutely beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed pulling it towards her, "how much do I need to pay you?"
Madam Malkin just smiled once more, "Your mother paid for it when she commissioned it. You owe me nothing. Just wear it well and enjoy. I am glad I could give you back a little part of her."
"Thank you." Hermione whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Your welcome dear, now let's go see how your friends are fairing."
Two hours later the girls had each picked out their outfits for the ball and chosen dress robes for the boys. Ginny had settled on a short emerald green one shoulder dress that showed off her legs. Pansy had taken Madam Malkins advice and went with a rich purple floor length gown with off the shoulder straps and a slit up one side to show off some thigh. The girls spend the better part of the day buying matching jewelry and arranging for a hair stylist to come to Malfoy Manor the day of the ball to do their hair. Around six the girls stopped at a restaurant to eat before going off to find the boys.
Hermione lead the girls into Quality Quidditch Supplies and immediately headed for the seeker section. Ginny and Pansy went off to grab Theo and Blaise in the Chaser section. Draco was looking at a new pair of gloves when Hermione came up behind him.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked with a sigh.
Draco turned around and nodded, "Did you get everything you needed?"
Hermione frowned, "Draco it's literally been four hours yes I think we have everything. Are you done being a prat?"
"You don't have to act so excited that you're getting a new guy to hang out with." Draco snapped tossing the gloves back onto the shelf.
"I didn't!" Hermione said exasperated, "All I said was that a blood werewolf would be a good addition to the group. I would have said the same if Father had said it was a girl."
"I'm sure," Draco sneered walking out the door.
Hermione stood with her mouth hanging open as Draco stormed towards the apparition point and disappeared. The others came up behind Hermione and frowned.
"What happened?" Blaise asked putting his arm around Hermione.
"Nothing," Hermione growled as her Dark Bloods mark flared into existence, "Nothing at all."
A week flew by and Draco still refused to talk to Hermione. Blaise had tried to get him to see reason but with no success. The Dark Lord had even talked to Draco over lunch one afternoon. Later on that day Voldemort tried to explain to Hermione how Draco was feeling but couldn't. Hermione insisted that Draco was being a jealous prat and refused to talk to him until he apologized. Her mood did turn up when the ball was announced to take place on the upcoming Friday. The girls spent all week debating who would get along with Zane best, if he would be like Greyback, and if he could be even remotely handsome. Hermione always eagerly joined these debated in the hopes of pushing Draco from her mind.
On the day before the ball Hermione decided to have breakfast with her father and asked the Dark Bloods to accompany her. The girls accepted while the guys decided to sleep in. This suited Hermione fine because she knew that Draco would not like her topic of choice anyway. They gathered in the dining hall each slightly sleepy from their late night.
"Good morning Father," Hermione smiled slightly, "How are you?"
"Well and you my daughter?" Voldemort greeted passing around breakfast.
Hermione shrugged, "Good I guess. Excited about tomorrow."
"Super excited," Pansy added with a grin, "Hopefully Zane is single and willing."
"Speaking of Zane, he asked if you might accompany him to his welcoming ball Hermione," Voldemort informed her, "I told him that I would ask you however I did believe you were going with the young Malfoy."
Ginny and Pansy both stilled at the mention of Draco. Hermione shook her head chewing her food before responding, "As it so happens Draco has not asked me so I am free to accept his offer. That is if Pansy has no objections."
"No," Pansy answered looking at her plate, "You are the leader. You should go with him."
Hermione studied her friend for a moment, "Pansy I feel the need to explain that this would be done just in friendship. I have no interest in Zane. I'm just trying to be diplomatic and if I'm being completely honest I'm trying to piss Draco off and make him jealous."
"Oh," Pansy looked up with a grin, "In that case have at him sister, and when Draco is green with envy just push Zane into my waiting arms."
Voldemort chuckled at the girls' antics, "I heard that you have been supplied a dress that your mother commissioned from Madam Malkin. I look forward to seeing your beauty for I'm sure it will match your mothers."
Hermione smiled at her father, "Thank you. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about dresses all morning. Would you prefer to talk about something else?"
"Indeed," Voldemort nodded, "I'm hoping that if Zane decided to join the Dark Bloods and passes initiation that he will be able to bring some of his pack with him."
"Hang on," Ginny spoke up snapping out of her morning trance, "Did you just say pack?"
"Yes, I'm sure I mentioned that Zane is the alpha male of a young pack up north. He hopes to ally with us in the upcoming war and bring his pack with him." Voldemort explained refilling his coffee.
"Father!" Hermione laughed, "You didn't mention any of this at first!"
Voldemort frowned, "Well Draco was very upset so I didn't mention it in front him."
Pansy grinned wolfishly, "You didn't mention it at all sir, but that's alright. Bring on the hot werewolf boys. The more the merrier."
"You sound like a slut when you say that." Hermione pointed out smirking.
"Well someone in this manor needs to be having sex!" Pansy snapped blushing after seeing the look on the Dark Lord's face, "I mean…. I'll watch how I word things from now on."
Voldemort nodded, "See that you do Ms. Parkinson, and please use protection. It would not do for one of our best female warriors to be pulled from the front line for the next nine months."
"Awkward," Ginny mumbled under her breath reaching for more toast.
Hermione grimaced and whispered, "Agreed."
Pansy blushed even redder whether from the topic or the compliment know one could tell, "I'll be sure to remember that sir. Thank you. When will the others be here?"
"They will only come if Zane decides to stay. I must say Hermione he is an intelligent lad. Nineteen and already leading his own pack." Voldemort hinted.
"….He's a werewolf father. I don't want to have a litter." Hermione answered dryly.
The table roared with laughter at her comment and the topic turned to lighter things. Hermione smiled at her friends and family. She was intrigued by this Zane guy. Her father hadn't mentioned that he was nineteen or that he was an alpha. She wondered what else her father had decided to leave out of their previous conversations. However, with Draco's obvious animosity Zane probably wouldn't be the best fit for the Dark Bloods. Maybe Hermione could smooth the situation over once Pansy claimed him for herself. Draco might stop being an idiot and apologize. She could only hope that something would happen to bring her group back to normal. The jealousy was driving her crazy.