Chapter Eighteen: Knights

Tom debated for over an hour whether or not to cancel the meeting he'd scheduled with his knights, but in the end he decided to go. Hermione had dozed off in his bed, but he wasn't sure he should leave her there alone. There were things in his room he'd rather keep hidden.

In the end, he decided to wake her. "Hermione? Wake up, Mione, I have an appointment to meet some of my friends. You might want to take a nice, hot bath and go curl up in your room with a good book, as I'm certain I'll be gone a while."

"Mm, you're right, that sounds like a brilliant idea," she agreed sleepily, then pulled him to her for a kiss. "Unless you want to just stay here—"

"Now, now, no trying to keep me all to yourself," he chuckled as he tried to get away. "I've got to get going. Up, up, and I'll help you carry your clothes to your room while you head for the tub."

"Have you figured out which tie is mine?" she teased him as she grabbed her shirt off the floor and wrapped it around herself, then started to head for the door.

"Give me that, you silly woman," said Tom with a laugh. "I've already seen how delectable you are, why hide from me now?"

Hermione giggled and swatted at his hand when he tried to take the garment. "Stop that, my nipples are all puckered up."

"Hm, that sounds like something I might like to see," he said as he wrestled playfully with her until he'd gotten the shirt away. With an appreciative glance, he got onto his knees and wrapped his hands about her waist, drawing her torso to his eager lips. "That one tastes pretty good, better try the other one," he commented as he swirled his tongue in tantalizing circles over each. "I'd better stop, or I might be tempted to stay right here after all."

"And we can't have that, now, can we?" Hermione said with a husky laugh.

"I've created a sex fiend," Tom chuckled as he back away and stood up again. "Go and take your bath, love. I'll come in and see you when I return.

"Promise?" she asked with a smile.

"Definitely promise," he said as he kissed the top of her head. Hermione went into the bathroom while he set her clothes on her bed. She never heard him leaving over the sound of the water as she filled the tub.

#

It was dark and gloomy out in the forest. The harvest moon was high in the night sky, but shed little light through the thick, overhanging trees that had already begun to drop their leaves even though Halloween was still a few days away. The meeting tonight had been planned for some time now, and Tom was ready for it.

He could hear the low murmur of voices as he approached the clearing, deep in the heart of the trees where their planning could go unheeded. Only the Slytherin boys would be present tonight, though occasionally he allowed them to bring their girlfriends if nothing important needed discussing. Tom imagined himself there with Hermione on his arm, wondering if she would find it as thrilling as he did, flouting all the rules.

"Riddle, it's about time," said Abraxas with a slightly amused half-whisper. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd be able to tear yourself away from the fair Hermione."

"Hermione is of no concern to you," Tom answered, schooling his features to reveal no weakness where she was concerned.

"But perhaps she should be, no?" Abraxas said, looking over his shoulder at the others, who had obviously elected him to speak of their concerns. "I mean, what do we know about her? We don't even know if she's pureblood, do we?"

"Whether or not she is of pure blood is no real concern of mine, Brax," he said as he stepped into the middle of the group and began to pace about dramatically as he spoke. He knew what an impressive sight he was with his flashing eyes and enigmatic tone. When he'd gained the silent expectation he'd been aiming for, he continued, "No matter her upbringing, no matter her past, Hermione Granger is a powerful and knowledgeable witch. She will make a fine addition to our little group, if only we can convince her."

"Riddle, I think your own upbringing is clouding the issue here," Abraxas said boldly, looking over his shoulders yet again for the support he expected. "We formed this little club to put a stop to the mixing of Muggle and Magical blood. You have yourself said, on many occasions, that it is not to be desired. I'd hate to think your own muddy blood is skewing your thinking process. Or is it perhaps that you're thinking with something a bit lower for a change?"

"Malfoy, if I were you, I would not believe so faithfully in that lot to have your back," Tom pointed out icily as he gave the ten boys who looked on a cursory glance. "Whatever assurances they may have given you, I can assure you that not one of them would be foolish enough to forget just how powerful I truly am."

"You're just a half-blood pretender being led around by his d—" Abraxas began with a smirk, and then his face began to contort in pain as Tom wordlessly and wandlessly hit him with a Cruciatus curse. He keened in pain for a full minute before Tom released him as he fell to his knees before him.

"That's much better, Malfoy," he said, smirking himself now. "You must always remember this position before me after this. And if the rest of you are quite finished, we need to start planning out our own little Halloween celebration. The Muggles certainly won't be expecting the likes of us, will they?"

Nervous laughter met his ears, along with numerous voices of agreement. Abraxas stood up and limped over to join the other knights, ready to do Lord Voldemort's bidding yet again.