A/N: Okay, I know it's been forever since I updated. I feel like a horrible person. But I will make it up to you all! I will stick to it. Alright, here it goes! Chapter six!
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter Six – World, Meet Lady Riddle
"I see Lady Riddle has taken to you, Severus," Narcissa murmured the next morning, her voice piercing the heavy silence like a knife. Narcissa was completely healed, but had been forced to stay in bed by the three men that surrounded her. She now lay in the large Ravenclaw bed, leaning back on her pillows and watching my reaction with amusement.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked my wide eyes locking with hers, my voice growing deeper. The mere thought of Hermione being 'taken' to anyone at present was laughable in and of itself. Let alone by me in particular. Her bat-like former Potions Master. Yes, the thought was quite alarming.
Draco and Lucius laughed genuinely at my expression, Cissy smiled ruefully.
"I warned you, Severus," Lucius said, leaning against the wall beside his wife's bed. "I told you she would be interested in you."
I growled trying to hide my own sudden amusement, picturing the young woman looking at me doe eyed, giggling at me like a love sick school girl. Hermione have feelings for me? How absurd.
"I've noticed your exchanges, too, Severus," Draco put in, a sly smile on his lips. "I find it rather amusing, especially since you both hated each other at school with a passion. Father, if looks could kill the two of them would have long since been dead."
I opened my mouth to say I had done no such thing, that I had never hated the girl, that it had been my duty to treat her so. Then remembered I wasn't around such friends at the moment, and shut my mouth with a snap. I grunted, striding away from the bed and taking a seat in one of the elegant armchairs that were offered in the room. I sank into it, sliding down it so as to ignore their gazes of mirth, staring at my knees.
"Have you left her side at all in the past two weeks, Severus?" Narcissa asked. "All the times I have seen you if you weren't with our Lady you were receiving orders from our Lord. Even you must admit the girl is fond of your pressence, even if it is innocent."
"I am merely a familiar face to her," I replied smoothly, my eyes catching hers again from across the room. "Nothing more."
"Perhaps," Lucius said, a smirk playing on his lips. "But Draco here is as familiar to her as you are, if not more so, and she hasn't clung to him as she has you."
I sneered and opened my mouth to speak, but at that moment a sudden pain surged through my forearm, making me wince. I clenched my jaw and looked up at my fellows. Draco and Lucius hissed in pain, clutching their arms.
"Our Lady calls, Cissy," I said apologetically, getting to my feet. "We shall return."
With a good luck and a farewell from Narcissa, Lucius, Draco and I disappeared.
"This is unexpected," I said watching Hermione closely. She had explained her plan to us by now, and I was slightly alarmed. I wondered if she had informed Albus of this new development yet, but I shook the concern off like a bothersome fly. Of course she would have. She was no fool.
Hermione clenched her jaw, tilting her face up to mine defiantly. "Father approved of the idea, Severus."
"It was not my intention to offend, milady," I said bowing, soothing her ruffled feathers.
"No matter, let us go. The Minister awaits us," she said motioning for Lucius, Pansy, Draco and I to put on our silver masks and pull up our black hoods. We positioned ourselves around the Lady for her protection. If the ministry dared take her prisoner (which we were certain they wouldn't), we would fight to the death.
Hermione nodded to me and with five loud cracks, we were gone.
The first thing I registered was the noise. The hall was packed with Ministry workers, important and unimportant. It was rush hour, everyone would be leaving for home now. Or so they thought. Despite the arrival of five very imposing figures in the middle of the hall, no on had yet to notice or arrival. They seemed to focused on their own trivial lives to comprehend that five Death Eaters were in their midst, wands drawn and ready.
Smirking, Hermione gave us all a small nodded. Lucius, Draco, Pansy and I raised our wands together above our heads, answering her silent order. A loud bang echoed and a shower of green and silver sparks lit the hall, announcing Lady Riddle's presence. Screams and shrieks rang in my ears as witches and wizards backed away giving the now most feared woman on earth plenty of room.
"What is the meaning of this?" I heard Fudge's voice say. "What is happening! I demand-"
Hermione put her wand to her throat. "Silence!" Her voice boomed.
I couldn't help but smirk as the Minister came forward pushing himself through the terrified crowd, and all became silent. They knew who they were dealing with now. Good. I thought. The Minister deserved any misfortune he got. Fudge had remained one of my least favorite wizards since Hermione's fifth year when he had doubted Albus and the Order, telling the wizarding world that the Dark Lord had not returned, and then sending Umbridge to rule the castle. It had been utter chaos for the Order until Fudge had finally come to his senses and realized that Albus had been right all along. The Dark Lord, in fact, had returned.
"Ah, Minister," Hermione said smoothly, smiling in welcome. "Pleased to meet you."
Fudge began spluttering like a rabid dog practically foaming at the mouth, aghast to who was standing before him. "Miss Gra- Uh-"
"Address her correctly, fool!" Draco hissed his voice lower than usual, his grey eyes flashing.
"Lady Riddle," Fudge said watching Hermione with fear and worry in his eyes. "What-"
"Where are they?" Hermione interrupted the bumbling man, her amber eyes darting behind the idiot Minister. "I can practically smell their filthy auras. Ah, Headmaster, Potter."
Dumbledore and Potter appeared on either side of the Minister, their faces set. Potter looked furious, the Headmaster, calm, but alert.
"I see Ms. Skeeter's information got to you all quickly. Good. I'm not a very patient woman, Minister. I'm glad to have gotten that part over with as quickly as possible."
"You traitor," Potter spat, his wand suddenly out. "How dare you-"
Lucius made to step out, his wand pointing at the Potter boy, but Hermione grabbed his wrist, forcing his arm down. Her eyes glittered in warning, darting between Lucius and Potter. Hermione put up her opposite hand, signaling Draco, Pansy and I to follow Lucius and lower our wands.
"We're here only so I can introduce myself to the Minister, my Death Eaters," she said soothingly her voice sweet, but poisonous. "And to get a few matters straightened. We will be leaving shortly. Ignore the boy."
Potter's face tightened in his fury, knuckles white from gripping his wand tightly. I was impressed, my eyebrows shooting up behind my mask. I was unaware that the boy had the ability to act so convincingly.
"You won't be going anywhere, Lady," Fudge sneered in mock pleasentries. "You are surrounded. You are outnumbered. And I have powerful Aurors at my command. Not only that, I have Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter at my side. I could take you in easily and have you executed in at matter of hours. In fact I would like to see you try and stop me."
Hermione let out a silvery laugh that carried through the hall making everyone, including myself shudder. Note to self, never piss off Hermione. The thought made me cringe inwardly. I was no fool, I was very aware of who exactly her father was.
"But you forget, Minister," she replied a sickening smile playing across her lips. "I have been mentored by my father. My father being the most powerful wizard in the world, I think I have learned a few things. Also I have brought the most skilled Death Eaters with me. We could kill you all easily, leaving without a scratch. However," Hermione added, raising a hand to stop the Minister who opened his mouth to speak. "If you were to capture my loyal Death Eaters and myself, and that is if we didn't kill ourselves before you had the chance, what would my father say?" Another shiver ran through the crowd. The fear in the room almost palpable "He would hunt down every single member that assisted my capture or murder, and he would kill them and their families. You see, Minister. You cannot touch me. You will never be able to touch me, in fear of my father touching you."
Hermione and Fudge were only about a couple of meters apart. Every eye was fixed on Hermione and Fudge. The collective breath being held throughout the room was terrifying.
"So, basically, what I am trying to tell you, Minister, is," she said, her eyes never leaving his wide ones, "I can do whatever the bloody hell I want, and you can't do anything about it."
I smirked. Fudge deserved it.
"Good day to you, Minister, Headmaster, Harry," Hermione smiled a brilliantly white smile, gave us the signal, and we were gone.
"Ha!" Hermione said, once she had opened up the Nightly Prophet that Bella had brought for her. "We made the front page." She threw the paper down for Lucius, Pansy, Draco and I.
I looked down; there was a picture of all five of us, Hermione in the middle while Lucius, Draco, Pansy and I pointed our wands at Potter. In the photo Hermione put up her hand, smirking openly at the Minister.
Lady Riddle's Debut at the Ministry of Magic
Lady Riddle, formally known as Hermione Jean Granger only a week ago, introduced herself to stunned workers at the Ministry yesterday afternoon as they were leaving work for the day. The Minister, Cornelius Fudge, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Supreme Mugwump of the International Federation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore, and esteemed Harry Potter, all were there yesterday afternoon to confront the known daughter of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She was heard threatening the Minister and his workers if they touched her or the four other unknown Death Eaters that were with her he would regret it and told him point blank, 'I can do whatever the bloody hell I want.'
The Ministry is in an uproar, trying to sort out the facts and deal with this new threat to the Wizarding world. "If you see Lady Riddle in the street, do not approach her." a Ministry official told Rita Skeeter. "She is extremely dangerous and her presence should not be taken lightly. Owl officials if there are any sightings of her in your area. If she addresses you, act respectfully and get away as fast as you can."
The Minister made it clear in a press conference last night that Lady Riddle is as powerful as her father, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but it will probably be common to see her among us. "Do not touch her," the Minister warned. "We all know the wrath of her father. That is what he is famous for. Do not bring it down upon you if you can absolutely help it."
We tried to ask Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter for an interview, but they declined, only saying that they will be supporting the Minister and the people of the Wizarding world as long as this new threat stands.
Rita Skeeter
"They truly are idiots," I heard Draco mutter next to me.
"Ah, but Draco, they have enough brains to tell the public to not touch our Lady," Lucius said sneering.
Hermione, who was practically grinning from ear to ear collapsed onto her chair.
"You all did very well," Hermione said proudly, her eyes shinning. "I am glad I brought you as my guard." I felt Pansy and Draco straighten beside me. "And I have a reward for all of you. Lucius, you have restored my father's favor in you, and you have been reinstated as his right hand man." Hermione turned to Draco, Pansy and I. "As for you three, I have been told by my father recently that he wants me to acquire companions. Three to be exact. And I have chosen you three." She was looking at me as she said this, a smirk on her face.
I tried to ignore the looks of amusement on Lucius and Draco's faces as both pairs of grey eyes flicked in my direction knowingly. I knew I would be hearing about this later.
"As you are probably well aware this means one of you must be at my side at all times. Except when ordered, of course." Hermione returned to look at Draco and Pansy. "All three of you will given permanent rooms in the mansion. Severus, I know you work during the school year, but you will be expected to be here during the holidays, and possibly during other important events that will be held on the weekends. Clear?" I could tell she was enjoying ordering me around more than I could imagine. The playful smirk on her face gave her away.
I bowed. "Of course, my Lady."
"You will be the first to accompany me," she continued, motioning to me. "You will be with me until after dinner this evening, and then you will switch off with Pansy. Draco, at nine o'clock tomorrow morning I want you to report to my rooms. Lucius, my father wants a word with you. You are dismissed. As are you, Draco and Pansy." She waved a hand at them to leave.
Draco winked at me as he brushed past, while Lucius smirked at his polished boots. I couldn't help but curse Hermione at that moment. The girl was going to be more trouble than she was worth. I raised an eyebrow at their retreating backs, before turning my attention back to the Lady before me.
Hermione stood, holding out her hand, as the other three Death Eaters made their way to the door. Light sparkled in her eyes, identical to Dumbledore's usual one. She was toying with me!
Instead of glaring at her, as would be my usual response, I played her game and approached her. Taking her small hand in my own large one, I brushed her soft, delicate skin with my lips. "My lady," I said my voice a deep rumble, feeling the grey pairs of eyes watching us from the door.
Hermione began laughed as soon as the door closed with a loud click at the other end of the room. I had never heard her laugh fully before, and the sound was pleasant to my ears as she did so.
"Severus," she said trying to catch her breath and holding onto my arm for support. "You will never believe how much fun I had doing that."
"Oh, I can imagine, Hermione," I said with a small smile.
"I've noticed that they have been giving the two of us strange looks and I just had to mess with them," she breathed, regaining her composer. "You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"
I pressed my lips together, turning my eyes away. "It's nothing to be concerned about, Lady."
Hermione chuckled squeezing my hand in hers.
"Alright," she said softly taking the hint that I didn't feel comfortable speaking about the subject.
I looked at her warily. No one had ever just taken my word like that before. And here she was, this slip of a girl that I had known for years, and yet had only been familiar with for the past couple of weeks, taking my word as if it should always go unquestioned. I swallowed my astonishment down, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
"Shall we head to your rooms?" I asked politely, pulling my hand from hers awkwardly and offering her my arm instead.
"I suppose," she replied with a smile, taking it firmly.
A/N: Review! Review! Review! More will be coming in the next couple of days. I already have the next chapter written, I just have to do some minor tweaking and it'll be ready.