Chapter 31: Face off

As predicted, Hermione was summoned to the next three meetings, the first two however, Blaise wasn't present. Instead, the Dark Lord informed them of the changes in his plan of attack against Hogwarts and Harry and what he and Severus had discovered on his special mission. Severus's job was to find the weakness in the Ministry, and he found it, it was the Minister himself. Voldemort planed on striking at the heart of their world before going through with his plans. Before he dismissed them at the end of the second meeting he said,

"As you are all well aware, one of us is missing, this is because he was stupid enough to disobey a direct order. Hermione, will you please step forward." Hermione dare not disobey, he was pissed and she could feel it. "Hermione was once again turned on by one of our own, at the next meeting she will take care of the boy that caused harm to her, you will all be there to witness this or you too will suffer the consequences GO!"

Various death eaters left at their own pace leaving Hermione, her parents, her uncle and his family and her husband alone with the Dark Lord.

"Hermione, my dear child, apparently you did not cast a deep enough fear into my followers when you killed the last follower, you must hit them where it hurts the most."

"Sir I thought killing was a sure way to get to them?"

"Apparently not, you must torture him until he is begging for death."

"But sir…"

"Are you questioning me?" His voice was rising in anger, causing the remaining death eaters to tremble in fear.

"No sir it's just that I don't think I can face him, I'm…" She looked at him and saw the question in his eyes, "Sir I still see his face when I close my eyes, I don't think that I can face him and not have an… episode."

"So what would you like to do?"

"Sir, these are your followers not mine, it is what you think is best.

He let out a dark cackle, causing them all to cower, "Bella, your daughter has been raised well, she definitely knows her place." He looked at Hermione and continued, "Do you want respect from the others?"

"Of course, but I want the most respect to come from you."

"Well said, out of respect, I am asking what you want to do."

Hermione sighed, "I mean no disrespect sir, and may I speak openly?"

"Of course, the floor is yours."

"Sir, what if the blow came from someone more powerful then me?"

"How so?"

"My husband has been a loyal follower of yours for years as has my mother and my father, what if they were the ones to deliver the final blows? I mean, my mother put two individuals into Saint Margo's with the curciatus curse, my father can kill without a second thought and my husband is just fearful in themselves, I mean, I could initiate the brutality against…B-Blaise, but then what if I handed them over to have their own little 'fun.'"

"I see your reasoning Hermione, but I don't understand."

"Sir I feel weak when I look at him or think of him, I should have been stronger, if I was stronger I wouldn't have pulled Severus away from his mission, this is my fault but I fear what will happen when I come to face him, if I show any sign of weakness, I lose what little respect I have from my followers."

Voldemort rubbed his chin in thought, the girl was right, she needed to maintain her respect, "Hermione you are correct, you need the respect, your husband will take control of the situation, but you will decide what blows are to be given."

"Thank you sir."

"My dear child, this is all for you, it has nothing to do with me." Hermione, bowed, "Now, all of you are to go." And he was gone. The group went their separate ways and awaited the next summoning.

As predicted one week later, the same group was summoned again to witness the face off with Blaise and Hermione. The loyal deatheaters stood in a circle surrounding a black covered 'package' and quietly waited for the dark lord to arrive. When he did he spoke:

"My loyal followers, you all know why we are here so let's get on with it, Hermione please step forward." Hermione stepped from the circle and bowed, "Take your privilege young one."

Hermione nodded and without a glance at her family standing behind her deep worry brewing within them all, they knew she had her mother's temper, and they didn't know how far she would go, it was truly scary. Hermione continued to advance on the black body before her, she mentally took a deep breath and didn't hesitate removing the cover, quite forcefully. To no one's surprise, Blaise Zambini was underneath it. Hermione took the moment to stare her peer down, when he finally looked at her with sunken eyes, she smirked evilly and shouted, "Crucio!" His body jerked violently from the curse as she held it on him.

"Please stop, I'm sorry, Please Stop!" Blaise begged brokenly.

"Why should I show mercy on you, you had none on me, you hurt me Blaise, why should I give you any mercy?"

"I was in the wrong, I'm sorry, I really am."

"Yeah, they all are when they are about to die aren't they dear?" Hermione looked at her husband for the first time that evening, he merely nodded. "Hm, let's see, how about a few curses here and there." She threw a few slicing hexes at the boy, "Daddy, care to do any damage?"

Rudolphus nodded and hexed the boy a few times as did Lucius, Draco and Bella. Severus stood and watched as he was tortured at the hands of the Black-Malfoy family. "Darling, he violated me, your property, care to take a blow; I know you have waited since you found him." Severus nodded and drew his wand, he approached the boy and pointed his wand between his eyes, in response, they seventeen year old whimpered. Severus glared at the boy before lowering his wand and pocketing it. He glared at the boy and then after two minutes of hard staring, he struck him with three kicks and one easily bruising punch to his face, the family ring he wore on his right hand cut the boys cheek. When he was done, he stood behind his wife and waited for her to deliver the final blow, "Avada Kadavra!" she said without hesitation.

The family took their spots back into the circle and waited for the Dark Lord to speak. "My followers, if you are loyal as I believe you to be, you will stay away from Madam Snape and her family or your fate will not be as easily handled. You are to respect someone as high up on the food chain as the Lestranges and the Malfoys. If she is crossed again, I will kill you all." And he was gone, Most of the death eaters were so shocked that the young girl was so much like her mother they didn't dare move, so the family left first. They all apperated to Hogwarts and met Albus and Minerva in the Headmaster's office.

"So how'd it go?" Minerva asked.

"How do you think Minerva, we had to kill him." Rudolphus said.

"I take it he bought it then?"

"Well we are all here alive so that is a good indicator," Bella said.

"Severus now is not the time to have sarcasm," Minerva said

"Can we morph back now, I love my husband but I don't even want to be this close to him." Said Severus.

A/N: Are you confused yet? IDK I was bored and this thought came into my head, please read and review