Written for Assignment 4 Health and Fitness with Professor Bex - Task 4: Runner's Knee: Write about someone picking up a hobby.

Summary: It's time Voldemort learned a more calming hobby!

Word Count: 581

Voldemort's New Hobby

"Tom Marvolo Riddle!"

A chorus of 'uh-ohs' and 'ooooohs' echoed around the dining table of Malfoy Manor.

Voldemort froze, staring at the entrance to the dining room over the heads of his Death Eaters. "Did she full name me?" he asked them softly.

Everyone but Snape immediately stood and started to leave but all became literally frozen when Hermione Granger appeared at the entrance, her wand pointed into the room.

"You went too far this time, Tom!"

"What did I do?" he whispered to Rabastan on his right. Rabastan shrugged. Voldemort turned to Lucius. "Quick! What did I do?"

"What did you do?" Hermione asked in a low voice. A dangerous voice.

She smiled slowly, bringing her wand down and clasped it with both hands in front of her. "What did you do?" she asked again.

"Are you sure she's not your relation?" Fenrir muttered his question as he started to hide behind Voldemort.

"Have you made any visits to a church recently?" She started to walk into the room. Death Eaters shuffled to keep a good distance away from her.

Voldemort tapped his chin with his finger while he thought about this. "A church… a church…" He snapped his fingers and pointed his finger at Hermione with a triumphant smile. "Just yesterday! How did you… oh."

"My parents were married in that church! My grandparents were married in that church!"

"I see, I see." Voldemort nodded thoughtfully, taking a slow step towards the door leading to the kitchen. "It's… you see, the thing is… the Truce Year has been more stressful than I thought it would be."

"Then take up arts and crafts! Do not go around blowing up religious buildings!" she instructed with a manic tone.

Hermione suddenly stopped moving. The room held its breath. The Death Eaters held their breath. Voldemort took another step towards the kitchen.

"Yes! That's it!" She smiled excitedly at Voldemort who held up his hands, throwing dark green sparks out of his wand. "It's time for you to pick up a hobby!"

One Week Later

"Ow!" Voldemort shrieked. His voice echoed around the empty dining room. He sucked at the tip of his forefinger and set the material on fire. "Who even cross-stitches anymore?"

Another Week Later

"Your stitches are not going in the same direction. Unpick it and start again," Mrs Granger instructed firmly, handing over the hoop holding the cross-stitch he was working on.

Voldemort stared coldly at her. "That took me four hours. I'm not unpicking it."

"Hermione—"

"Okay! I'll do it again!"

Mrs Granger smiled slowly.

"I see where she gets it from."

Yet Another Week Later

Voldemort sighed in contentment as he held his project at arm's length. He'd done it. He had finish the small pattern of a cat. His stitches were all the right way. Even the French knots had behaved.

He placed it on the little table by the side of his high-back chair and stared at it.

"I told you that this is better than destruction," Lucius said quietly from the couch, his knitting needles clicking away.

"I know… I know." He swiftly pointed his wand at him. "Do not tell that little witch!"

Lucius merely raised an eyebrow without looking at him.

"I'd maybe singe the edges so it looks like you didn't enjoy finishing that."

"Absolutely not! That took me the better part of this week to finish with no mistakes! Singe it?! I'll singe your hair if you speak of this again!"