A/N: So, there's a bit more action in this chapter! Things are starting to happen.

Beta: Glitter, who is so amazing for still putting up with me and my lack of contractions. ;)

Over the rest of the week, Hermione finds herself settling into her new routine fairly easily. Dr. Snape, while exacting and extremely demanding, is amazingly easy to work with in the lab. He provides her with the items he would like accomplished and she does so. She enjoys the work, even the mundane tasks.

She does, however, find herself thinking about another particular professor during all of her other free moments. She only sees him once more before the end of the school week, and that is at a distance as he is walking into the head building and she is leaving the sciences. With a flutter of her stomach, it only takes a moment – or three – to convince herself not to go to his office; she has no ready reason and does not want to look like an idiot in front of the man who is quickly becoming a distraction.

. . . . . . . . . .

On Tom's part, the remainder of his week is quiet and unremarkable, aside from his constant thoughts of the young woman working with his old friend. Even when he is back at home, and startlingly enough especially when he is in bed, his thoughts are drawn back to whisky brown eyes and riotous curls. Once during the week he is about to visit Severus in the sciences building, but upon seeing Hermione leaving the same building he quickly diverts his path to the head building.

It is annoying.

You are not a teenager anymore, Tom. For God's sake, get a hold of yourself, is becoming a mantra, repeated over and over through the week.

Finally, Friday arrives and with it a weekend away from Hogwarts and its unfortunate distractions. He packs an overnight bag, and not long after Severus arrives at his university flat. From there, they take Tom's car to Malfoy Manor.

Upon entering the huge house, Severus sneers at the decorations before turning to Tom. "As usual, Lucius has managed to make a spectacle of just about everything."

Tom chuckles as he hands his bag off to the servant hovering nearby. "Of course he has. It is his specialty, as you know." He sighs and begins striding through the entrance hall. After years of acquaintance with Lucius, he knows the Manor almost as well as his own home. "I'm sure he's in the library waiting for us. Come along, Severus."

Severus scowls after Tom as he hands his own bag off to the servant. " 'Come along'? Do I resemble some kind of dog, perhaps?"

Tom laughs and glances back to Severus, smirking. "Of course not, Severus. What is it the students call you – a bat? That is far apter." He snorts at the other man's dark scowl. "The only one who resembles a dog is that so-called music teacher, Black. He's so scruffy he could only pass for a mutt."

Severus's scowl deepens even further. "Black is a failure of a human being." The man's hatred of the washed-up musician turned music teacher is well known amongst the faculty, and Tom wouldn't be surprised if it is common knowledge amongst the students as well.

Clasping his friend's shoulder, Tom squeezes briefly. "Easy, brother. It will be a miserable night if you allow your thoughts to dwell on the misdeeds of one idiot. Let's go raid Lucius' ridiculously well-stocked liquor cabinet and relax before dinner."

The black-haired man huffs and walks along with Tom. As they reach the open doors of the library, they pause momentarily, glancing to one another, at the sound of two masculine voices. Walking in after the brief hesitation, the men approach the sitting area in front of the huge fireplace, for the moment unheard by the two in the midst of their argument.

"Father, I've already told you that I'm prepared for this weekend! I have done everything you have requested: read every last stupid book, completed all of my coursework through next week, and followed that ridiculous checklist you gave me."

"You certainly are not acting as though you wish to participate this evening, Draco. Dumbledore requested my presence earlier this week to discuss your behavior, and you are ridiculing the entire reason you are here today. I should send you to your mother's home for the weekend and refuse to allow you to take your bracelet tonight!"

Tom quirks a brow and smirks over at Severus before stepping up behind Draco's chair as the young man in question begins to protest his father's words. "Well, it certainly sounds as if our young Mr. Malfoy is not prepared for tonight."

Draco yelps and jumps to his feet, whirling around to stare wide-eyed at Tom and Severus. "Good Lord! You startled the hell out of me, Uncle!" Unconsciously, Draco changes his address now that they are all away from the school from that of his professors to the more familiar uncles he has grown up with.

Lucius scowls at his son. "Language, Draco. You are not here hanging out with your classmates." He looks back to his friends, raising his glass. "Tom, Severus. Welcome again to my most humble abode." He grins and motions to the drink cart. "Help yourselves, please. Draco, you may go. Dinner is at six o'clock sharp; be dressed and prepared for the evening. If there are any issues, I will put you into a car to your mother's myself."

The young blond huffs quietly before nodding. "Yes, Father. Excuse me, Uncles." He nods to each man before turning on his toe and walking from the room.

Severus chuckles as he pours himself a glass of whisky and settles into one of the large wingback chairs. "My godson seems to be causing some issues for you, Lucius." He takes a deep swallow of the whisky with a soft sound of appreciation. "This is delicious. New, isn't it?"

Tom grins as he pours a gin and settles down into his own chair. "No worries, Severus. I do believe Lucius took care of any issues young Draco may have been having."

Lucius sighs and rolls his eyes to the ceiling. "The boy is going to be my death. He refuses to listen to reason." He lowers his gaze back to Severus, eyes narrowing balefully. "And yes, it is new. Glenfiddich '37 and for God's sake, do not drink it like the swill you keep in your kitchen cabinet. That bottle is worth twenty thousand and I will not be held accountable for what happens to you if you drink all of it in one sitting."

Severus shrugs one black-clad shoulder as he takes a sip of his drink and sneers. "What else is the point of having disgustingly rich friends but to drink well, Lucius?"

Tom chuckles into his glass and turns his head slightly toward Lucius. "I know this will probably receive a smart commentary in return, but is everything prepared for tonight?"

Lucius arches a brow and merely stares at Tom for a long moment before drawling, "I shan't even bother responding to that question."

The other man rolls his eyes. "As I thought. Well, let me know if there is anything else you haven't gotten your servants to take care of. I do like to feel useful occasionally."

Severus smirks into his glass. "When the mood suits you, that is."

Tom narrows his eyes and tosses the remainder of his drink back. "Hah, hah, Severus. Watch your tongue, or you'll be at the Weasley's beck and call tonight." He stands up, setting the glass on a side table. "I'm for a shower before dinner. I'll see you gentlemen in a few hours."

Lucius lets out a huff of a laugh at his threat, smirking at Severus' horrified expression before he waves a hand negligently at Tom. "Go on then, old man. We will meet in the small dining room tonight. I've set aside the large one for the party."

Tom nods and pats Severus' shoulder as he passes the man before he searches out his regular room to relax and prepare for dinner.

Severus turns his head towards Lucius. "I sincerely hope he was joking. I don't think I could not survive another night with those two."

Lucius merely chuckles and shakes his head, looking back to the fire as he settles into his chair.

. . . . . . . . . .

A few hours later, after dinner, drinks, and a return trip to his room to tidy himself up, Tom heads back down the stairs to the main dining room. Pausing to brush his fingers through his hair, he glances up and down the hall. Seeing no one lingering outside the doors, he pushes them open and strides into the large dining room. Smirking, his eyes flick around the room, taking in the decorations and the gathering of people.

For such a large room, the gathering is not necessarily proportionate; there seems to be more available space than bodies to fill it until Tom takes in the tables strategically placed along the sides and center with toys and implements arranged on top of each one. He smirks and nods to the nearest couple, who smile and return his notice with a small bow.

They've not bothered with the masks that some still favor, as anyone with eyes can see who they are by the distinguishing shock of red hair on the man and the waterfall of silvery blonde hair on the woman. Bill and Fleur Weasley are an interesting couple and one of the first to be invited when these parties first began years past.

Bill stands tall and broad, wirily muscled with a smattering of pale copper hair on his stomach and covered from end to end with freckles, and tonight he's wearing only a pair of snug dark jeans and a black woven bracelet. His equally tall but willowy wife leans against his arm, completely nude except for her waist-length hair, a matching black bracelet and her wedding rings. Fleur is completely aware of how beautiful she is. Both she and her husband take a great deal of interest in how much others enjoy looking at her either naked or clothed and are more than happy to flaunt it at the parties and elsewhere.

Standing and chatting with the Weasleys is another statuesque blonde beauty who wears a mask of thin lace and feathers that does little to hide her features. She is dressed in a thin, mint green silk sheath dress and silver heels that push her even higher and draw attention to her slim, toned calves.

Narcissa smiles and blows a kiss with dark red lips at Tom as he passes, the action drawing attention to the fact that she is also wearing one of the black bracelets that adorns almost every person in the room. She turns her attention back to the Weasleys.

Like Narcissa's, most of the masks in the room are primarily decorative. As such a small group, the majority knows who the others are, though there are a few who, for various reasons, have taken care to never fully reveal who they are – except to Tom, Lucius and Severus, who insist on knowing every member of their gathering for everyone's safety.

Even before their divorce, Tom knows, Lucius and Narcissa made no qualms about who they turned their amorous intentions on, and apparently her goal tonight is to take home, or go home with, more than one partner. He smirks in amusement as he walks to the front of the room with another nod. This one is directed at Lucius, who is standing barefaced beside a masked Draco. The younger Malfoy's hair - that distinctive, familial shining blond - gives him away but as a novice he still wears the solid black half-face mask that covers everything above his cheekbones except for his bright eyes.

Tom sighs softly as he turns to face the room, standing beside an almost empty side table. "Good evening, my friends! Welcome to our gathering. It has been a busy month for us all, I know, and tonight is a very special night for a few of our members: we have a new initiate!" He motions towards Draco, who takes an obviously nervous step forward, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows and bows in Tom's direction.

He smirks at the younger boy, then turns back to the small group. "After tonight, he will join our gatherings as a full member. But for tonight, he must observe tradition, to watch and to learn."

Tom turns and motions Draco forward, watching as the boy moves within reach. "Protópeiros, you have been vetted by your sponsor and have completed your studies. Θα πρέπει να γίνει σε Πειθώ, την Πειθώ θα γίνει σε σας, να εμπιστεύονται και να έχουμε πίστη. (1) Today marks the first day of your service to her, and in return, she will guide you in your works, your life, and your love." He reaches out and grasps Draco's arm, pulling him a little closer as he picks up the woven bracelet from the nearby table. "Accept this twine in her name and you are hereby bound to this gathering."

Draco stretches his arm out further and looks up to Tom, nodding. "I accept her binding to this gathering. Είμαι φτιαγμένος σε Πειθώ, την Πειθώ γίνεται μέσα μου, να εμπιστεύονται και να έχουμε πίστη. (2)" He reaches out his free hand and holds one end of the twine bracelet while Tom twists the other and ties the pieces together into a single piece, removable only with scissors, with a few deft moves before he raises the younger man's arm into the air with a genuine smile.

"Behold, our newest brother!" Tom holds Draco's arm up, showing off the bracelet, before he releases him and begins clapping, followed soon after by the others who have been silently watching the ritual. "And now, on to the gathering."

Tom reaches out and grasps Draco's shoulder, leaning in to speak under the noise of the group around them. "Congratulations and welcome, Draco. You did very well." He winks and releases the young man, who is suddenly swept into his mother's arms before he has a chance to reply to Tom. If no one had an inkling of who the newest member is before, they certainly know now as Narcissa squeezes her quietly protesting son.

Severus saunters over to Tom and grasps his hand with a faint sneer. "I am glad he made it through the entire ritual without stuttering or fainting. He was looking a bit pale when I brought him in earlier."

Tom chuckles and clasps Severus' hand before looking over to the smiling Draco, who is currently being greeted by the Weasleys. "He did; Lucius prepared him well. There is a good gathering tonight; it looks as though almost everyone is in attendance."

"It seems so. Narcissa did not bring a partner tonight; however, I believe she is intent on going home with a certain couple, as she hasn't left their side in over an hour." Severus smirks and tilts his head, black eyes glittering as he surveys the crowd. "Demonstrations begin in twenty minutes. Were you planning to participate tonight?"

Tom shrugs one shoulder before he sighs softly. "I don't believe so. I have little patience for it tonight, I think."

Severus' eyes move back to his friend as they narrow slightly. "Hm. Ms. Bell and Mr. Wood are in attendance tonight, you know they are both always willing to work with you. You trained Mr. Wood with her, and she is familiar enough. Or Madam Rosmerta; she brought her new toy and is always happy to be shown new tricks. I am not sure who he is, although apparently Lucius has been informed. He has yet to share the information and continuously mentions them with that insufferably smug look he wears when he knows something no one else does."

"I know who he is and I am not so sure you will want to know, Severus." Tom chuckles under his breath as he grabs a bottle of water from one of the tables pushed against the wall with all the necessities of a light tea set out. Chilled bottles of water and fresh lemonade, pots of tea with the matching china, finger sandwiches and cakes and biscuits, all neatly displayed for any who wants a snack at any point during the gathering.

"Hm. That means he is a student. Dark hair, slim build, rather tall and quiet thus far. He cannot be much older than Draco if at all. As much as it pains me, I will have to assume… Theodore Nott?" Severus arches a brow at Tom as he sips from his own bottle of lemonade.

Tom chuckles again and nods in confirmation. "In one, Severus. He approached me about finding someone to take him under her wing, so to speak, apparently after Draco mentioned something to him in passing. By her own words, he has been 'just the most perfect little boy ever.'" His voice pitches a touch higher here, making Severus smirk at his impersonation of the buxom domme, who at the moment is leading the slender Theo Nott on a shining chain leash complete with black collar, to greet and congratulate Draco.

"Wonderful. Yet another student I will never look in the eye again. It is one thing to know of their proclivities, it is another to know just with whom they are participating in those proclivities." Severus snorts inelegantly and shakes his head, before looking around again. "Well, if you insist on not participating, at least stay and watch for more than twenty minutes this time? Lucius will be working with Ms. Spinnet; she specifically requested his expertise for tonight as he begins physical training with Draco. I think she broke up with that boy she brought along last month and has been holding a bit of a flame for him."

"She's held a flame for whom? Draco or Lucius?" Tom looks over at the girl in question, then back to the dark-haired man.

Severus smirks at the question. "Would it matter? They are essentially the same, at least to look at."

Tom chuckles at that, and with another shrug looks around the room. "True. Of course I'll stay longer tonight. Last month was just… off. And it's always a pleasure watching Lucius work." He glances at the grandfather clock just as it marks the half hour and the crowd in the dining room begins to move with purpose, people separating and moving towards the tables and special fixtures.

Lucius catches Tom's eye as he heads towards the padded spanking bench. Draco follows behind his father with the dark-haired Alicia chatting at him. She is wearing a nude colored dress overlaid with black lace that just barely reaches her thighs. Draco seems to be having difficulty in pulling his pale eyes away from the brush of the hem on her legs while escorting her to the bench on the opposite side of the room.

Severus notices Draco's inattention as well and sneers. "Boys." He huffs and rolls his eyes. "All right, Tom. I will leave you to your thoughts and find my own entertainment for the night. Do try to come out of the corner at some point tonight, yes?" He smirks as he squeezes his friend's shoulder before striding off in the direction of a curvy brunette wearing nothing more than a black corset, pink mask, and matching pair of the ruffliest knickers Tom has ever seen in his life.

Tom chuckles and watches Severus for a few moments as his friend strikes up a quiet conversation with the woman before redirecting his attention to Lucius.

His blond friend has helped Alicia to settle bent over onto the bench with her skirt flipped up onto her lower back. Lucius directs Draco on how to position her body into place as he adjusts her knees on the kneeler.

The older Malfoy nods at his son, then motions him over, showing him the placement of where exactly to land the cane on Ms. Spinnet's body. Squinting slightly to see better, Tom nods in approval at the polycarbonate cane Lucius is preparing to use on Alicia. It is light, practically indestructible, and easy to sanitize when used during a gathering – not to mention the lovely sound it makes when applied to someone's backside.

Tom moves closer to watch, leaning against the wall closest to the bench with a quick smirk in his friend's direction. Their eyes meet again for just a moment before Lucius addresses Alicia.

"All right, little one. We will begin in just a moment, but I do not want you to tense up on me. You will count each stripe and I would like to hear you loud and clear. Do you understand?" Lucius smiles and strokes one hand lightly against the outside of Alicia's thigh.

"Yes, sir. I understand." She sighs and closes her eyes, relaxing on the bench as much as possible.

"Excellent." He drops his hand and takes the cane from Draco, wiping the polycarbonate with a soft cloth before stepping behind and just to the side. His pale eyes flick to Draco before he raises the cane and with a swift twist of his wrist, the first whistle and then distinctive thwack sound out into the air.

"Ah! One, sir." Alicia shudders and presses her forehead into the padding of the bench.

Thwack.

"Two, sir!" She whimpers and clutches at the edge of the bench as the red lines begin to appear on her bottom.

Thwack.

"Three, sir!" She cries out, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as Lucius adjusts his grip and begins to use his entire arm.

Thwack.

"Four, sir!" She keens, her nails digging into the leather.

Thwack.

"Five, sir!" She screams, her thighs quaking as she stays in position while Lucius changes his stance with a small shift of his legs.

Thwack.

"Six, sir!" She sobs in shuddering relief, knowing it will be the last swing for the night. Six glowing red lines make an almost perfect sestet on her brown skin.

There is a smattering of applause as Lucius hands Draco the cane with a nod, lips quirking as he reaches out to help pry Alicia's hands from the leather. He murmurs to her quietly and helps her stand, tugging a handkerchief from his pocket to gently wipe her face before leading her to one of the open couches against the wall.

Tom smiles slightly before he walks over to Draco, watching the younger man wipe down cane with an alcohol soaked cloth before setting it back on the table to dry. "Good job, nephew. You're learning quickly."

Draco looks up quickly then nods. "Oh, thank you, sir. I, uh, I know Father has fought my being here and everything tonight, but I really am glad I've been allowed to join." He swallows, his normally pale cheeks flushed as he glances over to where his father and Alicia are curled up on the couch, watching the older man speak softly to the girl as he strokes her hair. "It is a learning experience."

Tom chuckles and nods slowly. "Yes, it's definitely that, Draco. Just keep watching your father and join in during our sessions, and you'll learn everything you'll ever need to know."

The young man looks back at his professor, seeming to gather his courage for a moment. "Uncle? Father has mentioned – that is… he's said that your specialty takes a great deal of time to perfect, and that you are the best he's ever seen. May I ask… what is your specialty?"

Tom's brows quirk slightly before he grins, flashing white teeth at Draco. "The rope, Draco. I can bring any person in this room a great deal of pain and even more pleasure with only length of rope and a few strategically placed knots. Ultimately, it's up to them."

NOTES:

(1) Pronunciation: Tha prépei na gínei se Peithó̱ , ti̱n Peithó̱ tha gínei se sas , na empistév̱ontai kai na échoume písti̱.

Translation: You will be made into Peitho, Peitho will be made into you, to trust and to have faith.

(2) Pronunciation: Eímai ftiagménos se Peithó̱ , ti̱n Peithó̱ gínetai mésa mou , na empistév̱ontai kai na échoume písti̱ .

Translation: I am made into Peitho, Peitho is made into me, to trust and to have faith.