Hermione shrugged. "It just…made sense. The fact that you're an influential politician, that Draco's afraid of you, that you're James's lover."
"The fact that's he's my lover?"
"Of course. You'd never accept someone less powerful and influential than yourself."
"And I'm the only possible candidate. Interesting," Marvolo mused, staring at James.
"Well, since you have taken the care to keep this fact to yourself," James interrupted, "I assume you will offer your allegiance?"
"Well I certainly don't wish to go against you, so I suppose that about sums it up."
Marvolo looked her up and down, face inscrutable, before giving a single nod. "Draco, why don't you show Miss Granger to the library. She seems to enjoy James's, I don't see why she wouldn't be just as enamored with yours."
"Yes, My Lord," he said, speaking for the first time since entering. Opening the door, he left quietly, Hermione following behind.
"You were right about her."
"Of course I was," James said before sipping his tea. "She's in line with your ideals and supports your goals."
Marvolo sat back in his chair, a satisfied expression on his face.
"What is it now?" James asked without looking up.
"Do you know what Narcissa has taken to calling us when she thinks I cannot hear?"
"Enlighten me."
"Lords, in the plural. I find I like the sound of it."
"Of course you do, you're too possessive for it to be any other way."
"I don't see why I shouldn't be possessive of what belongs to me."
"Oh? And just who belongs to you?" James asked, voice teasingly light.
"You belong to me, just as I belong to you."
James's face shot up to stare at Marvolo.
"I think it's about time I said it," Marvolo continued. He tried to say something else after that, but James had suddenly vaulted himself into Marvolo's lap, claiming the man's lips. Marvolo broke away laughing.
"Say it again," James ordered, voice hoarse.
"I belong to you."
"Don't ever forget it."
Draco stood immediately when he felt the Dark Mark burn, pushing his chair back from the reading table. He glanced over at Hermione and noted that she hadn't even realized he'd move, she was so absorbed in her book. Figuring it was best that she stay in the library, away from the Death Eaters, he made his way from the room silently. He started when he looked out a window in the hallway as he made his way towards the Meeting Hall, not having realized how late it had gotten. The grounds were covered in darkness and the moon shone bright, highlighting whatever it fell on.
The doors to the Hall were open when he arrived, and he walked towards his parents once inside. He noted that it was more crowded than usual and realized that the Dark Lord must have called a full meeting. Thank Merlin I didn't bring Hermione, he though fervently, knowing what some of these people would do to her.
"Draco, alone, I see," Lucius commented as the younger Malfoy stepped up to his parents.
"I figured it best not to risk it."
Narcissa nodded in approval. "Our Lords will be here together for this meeting. A first to commemorate this joyous day."
The Hall hushed as the door behind the dais opened, however when it failed to reveal the Dark Lord many resumed their conversations. James stood on the dais and observed the Hall, noting those who were watching him back. As he finished his surveillance of the room he took the steps down into the crowd, approaching the Malfoys.
It was Narcissa who spoke first. "James, you might want to pull your collar up a bit," she advised, motioning towards the marks clearly visible on his neck.
His hand immediately flew up to the offending area and, upon realizing what she meant, did indeed pull his collar up.
"I believe this is the first meeting you're attending as yourself?" Lucius asked.
"Yes, it's my formal introduction." James rolled his eyes as he answered. "He likes things to be dramatic."
"He is the Dark Lord," Lucius pointed out just as Blaise Zabini made his way over with Pansy Parkinson.
"Hello, Professor Evans. I didn't expect to see you here."
"And yet I knew I'd be seeing you, Zabini." James's smile was cold, and Draco shuddered slightly.
Zabini was unperturbed. "It's good of you to join us on this auspicious night."
"Yes, I'm glad to have made it possible."
"James," Marvolo's silky voice called out, the Hall falling silent as the occupants heard him. All of the Death Eaters fell to their knees, leaving James standing alone.
"Yes?"
"Stop playing around and come up here."
"As my Lord commands," he said teasingly as he navigated through the kneeling forms in the Hall.
"You may rise," Marvolo called, ignoring James's rebuttal for the time being. "Our foray to Hogsmeade was successful. Longbottom is dead and Dumbledore is not long for this world. Take this night to celebrate. All but my Inner Circle may leave."
There was hardly a sound to be heard as people left, filing out of the Hall heading towards the exit of the Manor. Narcissa and Draco closed the doors as they left, sealing the room.
"As some of you know, the plan for Longbottom's…demise was not one of mine. The credit for today's success belongs to my companion and partner James Evans."
James smirked from his place beside Marvolo, watching as shock hit those standing below him. The use of the word 'partner' caused a stir and those below looked up at James calculatingly, whereas before they had simply dismissed him. The only ones who did not look shocked were the Malfoys who, after having played host to the two wizards, had known all along that Marvolo considered James an equal.
"I trust you will keep this in confidence," Marvolo finished, narrowing his eyes slightly on the Death Eaters before him.
"I believe that will be all," James announced, successfully cutting of Nott when he opened his mouth to speak. "You may leave."
The Inner Circle exchanged glances as they left, undoubtedly intending to gossip about this occurrence, and James signaled to Lucius to accompany them. Soon James and Marvolo were left alone in the room as the Lucius closed the door.
"Did you have to dismiss them so soon?"
"Nott looked like he was about to pledge his loyalty or question me or something along those lines. No matter what it would have been tiresome."
Marvolo laughed. "So you pushed it off onto Lucius?"
"Any good leader knows when to delegate tasks to someone else."
"Since when does our Lord follow anyone else's plans?" Nott asked as he lowered himself onto the settee in Lucius's parlor.
"Since now, apparently. Isn't he the one who disrupted our first meeting? Who did our Lord say he was again?" Rabastan Lestrange asked.
"James. James Evans," Lucius answered, refrained from rolling his eyes.
Parkinson palled. "You're sure it was James Evans?"
Nott scoffed. "What's it matter, it's just some common last name."
"Oh my, Nott, don't tell me you don't know of James Evans," Bellatrix's voice was sugary sweet.
"I've heard of him, not someone you want to cross, that one."
"Oh please Parkinson, you're practically shaking. He can't be all that, he's just a child!"
"He most certainly can be 'all that,' Nott," Lucius cut in.
"And what do you know, Malfoy? You didn't seem surprised earlier when our Lord made the announcement."
"That's because I knew of James already. Believe you me, he is everything he seems."
"So he is that James?" Parkinson asked.
"Of course, a most fitting partner for our Lord." Lucius's tone was smug.
"I didn't realize he'd allied himself with any one side," Bellatrix said thoughtfully. "I'd heard rumors that he was leaning towards Dumbledore's side, actually."
"James is the current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He was recruited to train Longbottom. On the surface he is nothing more than that."
"Only on the surface?"
"Oh come now, Nott. Surely you've heard of him in your political circles," Rabastan rolled his eyes.
"I know of a James, but there certainly isn't any connection to that child our lord introduced to us."
Bellatrix laughed. "Of course there's a connection! He's one in the same. All of the ministers of the most influential countries have ties to him."
A look of dawning comprehension appeared on Nott's face.
"You see," Parkinson said solemnly. "He's one in the same. A force to be reckoned with, and with him our Lord is nearly unbeatable."
"Nearly!" Bellatrix's voice was almost a shriek.
"James might be a force but so is Dumbledore, he still hasn't solved the biggest problem."
"Actually," Lucius drawled, "our Lord has already dealt with the old fool."
"I wouldn't say more if I were you, Lucius," said a silky voice from the doorway.
"James! Joining us, are you?" Lucius asked, smiling.
"I was looking for Cissa or Draco, actually." James sauntered into the room and stole a biscuit from one of the plates sitting untouched on the table, having been overlooked in favor of discussion. "They're not in here with you I see, so I'll go search elsewhere. Oh," he stopped on the doorframe and turned back to the group. "Parkinson?"
"Y-yes?" the man stuttered, startled by being addressed.
"How is Richard? I know you've seen him lately."
"R-richard? He's fine, my Lord."
"That's good to hear, I really must make an effort to see him more often." James smiled sweetly as he turned back to the hallway, closing the door behind him.
"My Lord?" Nott asked heatedly.
"I couldn't help it, he has that presence! This is new to you, Nott, but he's a legend in the political arena. The Richard that he just asked about is the French Minister of Magic! I'd like to see you react differently when put on the spot."
"Indeed, do keep quiet Nott. If he's our Lord's partner then it stands to reason that we should address him as we would our Lord."
Lucius hid his smirk, feeling a sense of accomplishment at Bellatrix's words, knowing that things were falling right into place.
James walked through the corridor briskly, heading in the general direction of the library. He smirked as he thought back to the fools in the Inner Circle, as if they had any say in Marvolo's decisions. He hadn't been able to stop himself from popping into the room in the midst of their discussion and shaking them up. Poor Parkinson seemed to already know of his exploits, if the man's pallor and stuttering had been any indication. He chuckled slightly as he recalled the man calling him 'my Lord' as if he were the Dark Lord instead, which, all things considered, wasn't much of a step at this point.
"James?" asked a voice just as he entered the library.
"Yes Hermione?"
"Why are you here? I assumed there was a meeting from the way Draco snuck out earlier."
"There was, it's finished. I came to take you home, your parents were informed that you'd be arriving later in the evening in the letter Lucius sent them. It seems to be about that time now."
Hermione looked down at the book in her hands and then back up at James beseechingly, causing him to laugh.
"Yes, you can borrow that book. I already asked Lucius."
Hermione sighed in relief as she made her way over to the table she'd been previously occupying. Taking the papers and other items strewn across it she made quick work of putting them away into her bag, book included. Swinging it over her shoulder she walked up to James expectantly.
"Hold onto my arm," he advised, activating the portkey as soon as she had a secure grip. They stopped as soon as they'd started, and James held onto Hermione to keep her from toppling over. "Here we are."
Hermione looked up through her hair. "Thank you." She let go of him and started towards the door, but stopped just before she rung the bell, turning to face James again instead. "James?"
"Yes?"
"Will I…will I see you again?"
James blinked. "Of course. You've given your allegiance to Marvolo, he will be calling upon you at some point with tasks to complete. Do not forget that you're of age in Wizarding World, you could always simply apparate to Malfoy Manor."
"And you'll be there?"
"Most of the time, it's where Marvolo's set up base and it only follows that I'd be nearby."
Hermione blushed slightly. "Of course. I just, I don't know, it seemed like you were seeing me off."
"I'm am, but only to your door for the night. I'll be seeing you, Hermione."
"Goodnight, James."
"Goodnight."
With that Hermione turned around and rang the doorbell, the sound masking James's pop of disapparition.
A/N: Alright, another chapter done. I have mixed feeling about this one, so I'd really like to hear what you all think. And, as usual, thank you for all the reviews!