Conquered for curia_regis
Title: Conquered
Author: aleysiasnape
Recipient: curia_regis
Pairing(s): Lucius/Hermione
Word Count: 2,743
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Dark Lord has won, AU
Summary: Post-Hogwarts. After a long war, Voldemort has won and Hermione has been giving to Lucius as a slave
Author's Notes: This is my first time writing a dark fic with a happy ending. I sure hope I came close to what the recipient wanted.
After a long and drawn out battle, ultimately it was a victorious win for Lord Voldemort, who was now in control of the Ministry of Magic and trying to set things right for the winning side. “Lucius, step forward and receive your rewards,” Lord Voldemort commanded as Lucius and Severus glanced at each other, curious as to what their master had in mind for them.
Lucius bowed before Lord Voldemort, “Yes, my Lord?”
“Your rewards are as follows: you are in control of the Ministry and I give one of the Golden Trio to you. Bring Miss Granger forward.” Lord Voldemort spoke as he pointed to Rodolphus Lestrange for the task.
“Come along, Mudblood.” Rodolphus muttered, ignoring the struggling young woman in his arms. He pushed her to her knees, forcing her to bow before Lord Voldemort.
“Well, well, well, Miss Granger. I have decided your fate, and that is one of a long servitude with Malfoy.” Lord Voldemort cackled with glee as he motioned for Lucius to take the Mudblood away.
Hermione tried to make eye contact with Severus Snape, hoping that he would come to his senses and rescue her, to take her away from all of this, but she knew that he if he did, it would be their deaths. The last thing she heard before Lucius Apparated her away was that he was the Headmaster of Hogwarts once again.
*
Draco paced back and forth in the study as he anxiously awaited his father, wishing he could have joined him at the meeting. He occasionally glanced at the Floo, worried that the same fate happened to his father, just like it happened to his mother during the war.
*
Lucius Apparated into his study with Hermione in tow, “Settle down, Miss Granger,” Lucius hissed in her ear as she struggled in his arms to get away. He slapped her trying to get her to stop struggling. She only yelled at him around her gag.
“Father? He gave you Granger?” Draco asked in shock as he noticed Hermione’s disheveled hair and clothes.
“Be still, Miss Granger,” Lucius growled in her ear, as he undid the gag.
“What the hell are you two going to do to me? Interrogate me? I won’t give you any information!” she spat angrily at them.
“Granger, we don’t work that way anymore. Not after what happened to Mother,” Draco responded. He wanted nothing more to do with Voldemort, but since Voldemort had won, they had to be extremely careful.
Lucius’ Floo activated, and out stepped Severus Snape in his Headmaster robes.
“Please sir, help me,” Hermione begged him as he walked by, ignoring her.
Lucius ran a hand through his hair. Things were getting out of hand. He needed Hermione’s cooperation. “What news, Severus?”
“He expects you to have Miss Granger fully under your control in two days time. He is coming here.”
“What? He expects too much!” Lucius bellowed, slamming his hands on his desk.
“I am sorry, Miss Granger, but you are going to have to stay here for the time being,” Severus informed her as she glared at his retreating back.
Hermione slumped her shoulders in defeat. No one was coming to rescue her any time soon. “I will do whatever you ask, Lord Malfoy.” She spoke sorrowfully as she hung her head in submission.
“Father, you think this is wise?” Draco muttered to him as Lucius took Hermione’s arm.
“It’s the only way, Draco, this way, Miss Granger. I will show you where you will be sleeping tonight.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Hermione spoke disdainfully as she followed Lucius upstairs. She was shown his master bedroom. “Here, my Lord?” Hermione asked in surprise as she took in his room. She was expecting the dungeons or something much worse.
“Yes, here, my pet, to keep a better eye on you. Now we must bathe and prepare for bed.” He led her to his master bathroom. Her eyes widened as she saw the sunken tub already prepared.
He undressed and sank into the warm, bubbly water to soothe his aching muscles. He turned his head and waited patiently for Hermione to join him. He ordered, “Come here pet, join me.”
She hesitated to undress while he watched. Growing impatient, Lucius reached for his wand, making her clothes disappear. She gasped in surprise as he motioned for her to join him in the bath. She scurried towards the water, on the opposite side, not trusting him a bit.
“Miss Granger, I am not going to hurt you. For this to work out between us, you need to cooperate with me. Otherwise, he might decide to give you to someone else, and no, not to Severus. I hear that he awarded Severus with another member of the Order. I could not find out who it was. We were not privy to that information at the meeting tonight. You were lucky that he didn’t give you to Rodolphus.”
Hermione shuddered as she remembered Bellatrix killing Narcissa before a member of the Order killed her. She swam closer to Lucius.
“Yes, that’s it, Hermione. While we are alone, you may call me Lucius. In his presence, you must remember to call me Master or Lord during his stay here. I cannot foresee how long he will stay with us.”
After the bath, they both settled in the bed, her on one side and Lucius on the other. He sighed, knowing that nothing would get done that night, as they were both too exhausted from the day’s events.
*
Hermione shivered underneath the covers, unconsciously seeking Lucius’ warm body as she snuggled close to him, drifting back to sleep.
Morning came too quickly for Lucius. When he opened his eyes, he found Hermione draped across his chest. He sighed, torn on what to do. “Should I wake her, or let her sleep? She had a trying time with my fellow Death Eaters. I should let her sleep in,” he mused as he gently disentangled himself from Hermione, grateful that he wore pajama pants to bed.
“Ipsy.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Bring us breakfast. Tell Draco not to disturb us for the rest of the day. I need to train my new pet.” Lucius said as he put on his robe.
Ipsy Disapparated from the room, to carry out his orders.
Draco breakfasted alone in the dining room. He was expecting something like this from his father when Ipsy showed up. “I know Ipsy, I won’t disturb father,” Draco said as he eyed the tray Ipsy carried.
Lucius sat in the chair next to the bed, reading his newspaper, and waiting patiently for Hermione to wake up. He glanced up, occasionally checking up on her, knowing that he was becoming attached to her and that he would have to hide his feelings when Lord Voldemort arrived. “Ahhh…thank you, Ipsy,” he spoke quietly as Ipsy Apparated into the room, tray in hand.
Ipsy had already left when Hermione woke up and stretched, not knowing that Lucius was watching her the whole time. It was the first decent nights sleep she’d had in months. “I’d best behave for him or I might wind up in the dungeons,” she thought worriedly as she turned her head, noticing him watching her.
“Hermione, you are awake. Good, first thing’s first, you need to keep up your strength,” Lucius murmured as he placed the tray of food in front of her. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since her capture.
“Breakfast in bed for a…” she started to say, but he silenced her with his finger.
“Hush, pet. We must act like Master and slave when the Dark Lord comes.”
“And is Draco part of the plan?” she dared to ask.
“I try to keep him out of things. But you…” Lucius gasped as Hermione bent her head down, kissing his arm. “Hermione…what are you doing? You need to eat…” his voice drifted as he noticed the tray was already close to empty.
“You’re so tense, you need to relax,” she murmured softly in his ear as she gently massaged his shoulders, trying to work the knots out.
“Have you seen what I do? That madman is coming back here to my home again, Hermione. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my home or wand this time. Hermione…” his voice trailed off as she turned his head towards her and kissed his lips.
“I thought this is what you wanted, Lucius? Aren’t you lonely?” Hermione panted as she straddled his legs, staring at him in the eyes.
“Pet…I need to teach you some things before we get to this part of our relationship.”
Hermione sighed as she got off his legs and lay beside him. “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”
“Not yet, my pet, Severus will help us.” He sounded sure of himself.
“We’re wasting time, lying in bed all day. Isn’t there some sort of outfit I should be wearing?”
“I had not thought of that my dear. I should give Draco something to do…” he noticed Hermione raised her eyebrows curiously. “Trust me pet, he has impeccable taste.”
She crossed her arms as she lay back on the pillow. “He’d better. Do you trust Headmaster Snape?”
“I do. In fact, if I recall correctly, he saved you once.”
“He did, third year.”
“You must trust him, pet,” Lucius spoke as he leaned in to kiss her, taking her by surprise.
“I thought you wanted to take this slow?” She looked confused as he gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I would like for us to become close. I will do everything in my power to keep you here and safe,” he vowed as they kissed again.
“Ipsy.”
“Yes, Master?” Ipsy appeared as Lucius handed him instructions.
“Give this to Draco. Tell him I’ll be teaching Hermione for the remainder of the day.”
“Yes, Master,” Ipsy said and disappeared to carry out his orders.
Ipsy Apparated before Draco and handed him the note. Draco read and reread the note. “It looks like father has everything planned out,” he complained as he activated the Floo to inform Severus.
Severus raised an eyebrow as he read the note. “I should go over there. Lucius should not be falling for her so quickly.” Sighing, he looked up at Draco.
“You need to find a worthy costume for Miss Granger. He needs to believe they are Master and slave.”
“Yes, uncle. I just hope we…” Draco’s voice trailed off as Severus gave him a sharp glare, knowing the portraits could relay information back to the Dark Lord.
Draco quickly got the hint and left. He had to find a suitable outfit for Hermione today before the Dark Lord’s arrival.
*
Hermione couldn’t believe her eyes at what Draco brought her to wear. She blinked, looked at the outfit, at them, and back at the outfit again.
Draco spoke softly to his father. “I’m surprised she’s kept her mouth shut!”
“Shush, Draco. She’s in shock from the color, that’s all,” Lucius spoke softly as he watched her eye the flimsy two pieced outfit, her hands skimming over the green material with obvious dislike.
She glanced at them, grabbed the outfit, and stomped all the way to the bathroom, ignoring them completely.
Lucius sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “And things were going so well between us,” he muttered to Draco, ignoring his son’s smirk.
“Well, you did give me instructions to buy the costume. You didn’t exactly tell me what shade.”
“True.” A smile appeared on Lucius’ face when Hermione stepped out of the bathroom wearing the outfit.
“Now, that’s more like it.” Lucius approved of the costume and that she'd managed to tame her hair. She bowed to him, wondering what was in store for her.
'So far, he’s been kind to me. Will that change once Voldemort arrives? Lucius will have to act the part that he would loathe to play.'
Lucius circled Hermione making sure everything was perfect. 'If anything goes wrong, it will lead us to our deaths,' Lucius thought worriedly as he made a mental list of things to do in his mind for Hermione.
“Draco, leave us. I must teach her.”
“Yes, father. Shouldn’t uncle Severus be here as well?” Draco asked, but then he noticed his father’s look and hurried out. Draco stayed out of his father’s way for the next two days.
Lucius knew he had a challenge on his hands in training Hermione. He promised, that after all this was over, he could have her in his bed.
When their time was up, Draco and Severus awaited patiently for Hermione to make her appearance with Lucius.
“Did she give your father any trouble?” Severus questioned.
“No. She probably thought that we would send her to the dungeons if she misbehaved any,” Draco replied quietly as they watched them descend the stairs.
She followed Lucius as he had a leash attached around her waist. “Really, Lucius, is that necessary?” Severus noticed how uncomfortable Hermione looked.
“Yes, we need to play the part perfectly, or it’s all our heads,” Lucius spoke tensely to Severus as he gently tugged Hermione to his side.
Severus got a good look at Hermione, noticing that she had her head bowed and appeared very submissive to Lucius.
Lucius felt the wards change as they got into position, waiting Lord Voldemort’s arrival.
Lord Voldemort was indeed impressed with Hermione’s transformation. “You have done well, Lucius, having conquered this Mudblood so quickly. This pleases me greatly. You may continue to have her as your slave.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Lucius bowed, grateful that Hermione had pleased the Dark Lord.
She served the other Death Eaters at the table as Lord Voldemort continued to watch her very closely. Severus noticed and managed to catch Lucius’ eye. Lucius remained calm as she poured the wine into everyone’s glasses, not knowing that it was laced with poison. Once through, she knelt by Lucius’ side awaiting further orders. He calmly placed a hand on her back, daring anyone to touch her.
Severus and Draco managed to sit close to Lucius. They were careful not to drink the wine and gave Rodolphus strict orders not to as well.
Lucius raised his drinking glass and the others did as well, toasting the Dark Lord. “To victory!” Lucius, Severus, Draco and Rodolphus pretended to drink while the other Death Eaters drained every last drop.
“I am pleased, Lucius. She is very obedient.” Lord Voldemort praised him as he finished eating, not knowing that he had consumed poison.
“Thank you, my lord.” Lucius bowed his head wondering when the poison would take effect.
The Dark Lord stood up, a bit unsteady at first, as Rodolphus went to his side. “My Lord, are you feeling all right?” Rodolphus moved to stand beside Draco, wondering what the hell was going on and why he was asked not to drink the wine.
Hermione didn’t flinch, keeping her eyes downcast as the Dark Lord passed by with the other Death Eaters trailing behind him.
Rodolphus looked puzzled as Draco shook his head as he waited for the last of the Death Eaters to leave the manor.
When they could speak freely, Lucius and Severus cast several spells to prevent the others from prying into their conversation.
“Will someone care to explain to me what that was all about?” Rodolphus muttered irately as he sat down.
“We thought it was best for us to kill the Dark Lord using a very strong undetectable poison placed in the drink. It will take time, but rest assured, we will be free from him,” Lucius drawled as he sat down, petting Hermione’s hair.
Rodolphus raised an eyebrow curiously, “You just don’t want to give her up, do you?”
“No.”
*
When the post arrived the next morning, Lucius grabbed the paper, his eyes falling on the article spread across the front page: THE DARK LORD DEAD - WIZARDING WORLD FREE.
Severus peered around the paper, asking, “Were we successful?”
“Yes, old friend, we were.”
Author: aleysiasnape
Recipient: curia_regis
Pairing(s): Lucius/Hermione
Word Count: 2,743
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Dark Lord has won, AU
Summary: Post-Hogwarts. After a long war, Voldemort has won and Hermione has been giving to Lucius as a slave
Author's Notes: This is my first time writing a dark fic with a happy ending. I sure hope I came close to what the recipient wanted.
After a long and drawn out battle, ultimately it was a victorious win for Lord Voldemort, who was now in control of the Ministry of Magic and trying to set things right for the winning side. “Lucius, step forward and receive your rewards,” Lord Voldemort commanded as Lucius and Severus glanced at each other, curious as to what their master had in mind for them.
Lucius bowed before Lord Voldemort, “Yes, my Lord?”
“Your rewards are as follows: you are in control of the Ministry and I give one of the Golden Trio to you. Bring Miss Granger forward.” Lord Voldemort spoke as he pointed to Rodolphus Lestrange for the task.
“Come along, Mudblood.” Rodolphus muttered, ignoring the struggling young woman in his arms. He pushed her to her knees, forcing her to bow before Lord Voldemort.
“Well, well, well, Miss Granger. I have decided your fate, and that is one of a long servitude with Malfoy.” Lord Voldemort cackled with glee as he motioned for Lucius to take the Mudblood away.
Hermione tried to make eye contact with Severus Snape, hoping that he would come to his senses and rescue her, to take her away from all of this, but she knew that he if he did, it would be their deaths. The last thing she heard before Lucius Apparated her away was that he was the Headmaster of Hogwarts once again.
*
Draco paced back and forth in the study as he anxiously awaited his father, wishing he could have joined him at the meeting. He occasionally glanced at the Floo, worried that the same fate happened to his father, just like it happened to his mother during the war.
*
Lucius Apparated into his study with Hermione in tow, “Settle down, Miss Granger,” Lucius hissed in her ear as she struggled in his arms to get away. He slapped her trying to get her to stop struggling. She only yelled at him around her gag.
“Father? He gave you Granger?” Draco asked in shock as he noticed Hermione’s disheveled hair and clothes.
“Be still, Miss Granger,” Lucius growled in her ear, as he undid the gag.
“What the hell are you two going to do to me? Interrogate me? I won’t give you any information!” she spat angrily at them.
“Granger, we don’t work that way anymore. Not after what happened to Mother,” Draco responded. He wanted nothing more to do with Voldemort, but since Voldemort had won, they had to be extremely careful.
Lucius’ Floo activated, and out stepped Severus Snape in his Headmaster robes.
“Please sir, help me,” Hermione begged him as he walked by, ignoring her.
Lucius ran a hand through his hair. Things were getting out of hand. He needed Hermione’s cooperation. “What news, Severus?”
“He expects you to have Miss Granger fully under your control in two days time. He is coming here.”
“What? He expects too much!” Lucius bellowed, slamming his hands on his desk.
“I am sorry, Miss Granger, but you are going to have to stay here for the time being,” Severus informed her as she glared at his retreating back.
Hermione slumped her shoulders in defeat. No one was coming to rescue her any time soon. “I will do whatever you ask, Lord Malfoy.” She spoke sorrowfully as she hung her head in submission.
“Father, you think this is wise?” Draco muttered to him as Lucius took Hermione’s arm.
“It’s the only way, Draco, this way, Miss Granger. I will show you where you will be sleeping tonight.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Hermione spoke disdainfully as she followed Lucius upstairs. She was shown his master bedroom. “Here, my Lord?” Hermione asked in surprise as she took in his room. She was expecting the dungeons or something much worse.
“Yes, here, my pet, to keep a better eye on you. Now we must bathe and prepare for bed.” He led her to his master bathroom. Her eyes widened as she saw the sunken tub already prepared.
He undressed and sank into the warm, bubbly water to soothe his aching muscles. He turned his head and waited patiently for Hermione to join him. He ordered, “Come here pet, join me.”
She hesitated to undress while he watched. Growing impatient, Lucius reached for his wand, making her clothes disappear. She gasped in surprise as he motioned for her to join him in the bath. She scurried towards the water, on the opposite side, not trusting him a bit.
“Miss Granger, I am not going to hurt you. For this to work out between us, you need to cooperate with me. Otherwise, he might decide to give you to someone else, and no, not to Severus. I hear that he awarded Severus with another member of the Order. I could not find out who it was. We were not privy to that information at the meeting tonight. You were lucky that he didn’t give you to Rodolphus.”
Hermione shuddered as she remembered Bellatrix killing Narcissa before a member of the Order killed her. She swam closer to Lucius.
“Yes, that’s it, Hermione. While we are alone, you may call me Lucius. In his presence, you must remember to call me Master or Lord during his stay here. I cannot foresee how long he will stay with us.”
After the bath, they both settled in the bed, her on one side and Lucius on the other. He sighed, knowing that nothing would get done that night, as they were both too exhausted from the day’s events.
*
Hermione shivered underneath the covers, unconsciously seeking Lucius’ warm body as she snuggled close to him, drifting back to sleep.
Morning came too quickly for Lucius. When he opened his eyes, he found Hermione draped across his chest. He sighed, torn on what to do. “Should I wake her, or let her sleep? She had a trying time with my fellow Death Eaters. I should let her sleep in,” he mused as he gently disentangled himself from Hermione, grateful that he wore pajama pants to bed.
“Ipsy.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Bring us breakfast. Tell Draco not to disturb us for the rest of the day. I need to train my new pet.” Lucius said as he put on his robe.
Ipsy Disapparated from the room, to carry out his orders.
Draco breakfasted alone in the dining room. He was expecting something like this from his father when Ipsy showed up. “I know Ipsy, I won’t disturb father,” Draco said as he eyed the tray Ipsy carried.
Lucius sat in the chair next to the bed, reading his newspaper, and waiting patiently for Hermione to wake up. He glanced up, occasionally checking up on her, knowing that he was becoming attached to her and that he would have to hide his feelings when Lord Voldemort arrived. “Ahhh…thank you, Ipsy,” he spoke quietly as Ipsy Apparated into the room, tray in hand.
Ipsy had already left when Hermione woke up and stretched, not knowing that Lucius was watching her the whole time. It was the first decent nights sleep she’d had in months. “I’d best behave for him or I might wind up in the dungeons,” she thought worriedly as she turned her head, noticing him watching her.
“Hermione, you are awake. Good, first thing’s first, you need to keep up your strength,” Lucius murmured as he placed the tray of food in front of her. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since her capture.
“Breakfast in bed for a…” she started to say, but he silenced her with his finger.
“Hush, pet. We must act like Master and slave when the Dark Lord comes.”
“And is Draco part of the plan?” she dared to ask.
“I try to keep him out of things. But you…” Lucius gasped as Hermione bent her head down, kissing his arm. “Hermione…what are you doing? You need to eat…” his voice drifted as he noticed the tray was already close to empty.
“You’re so tense, you need to relax,” she murmured softly in his ear as she gently massaged his shoulders, trying to work the knots out.
“Have you seen what I do? That madman is coming back here to my home again, Hermione. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my home or wand this time. Hermione…” his voice trailed off as she turned his head towards her and kissed his lips.
“I thought this is what you wanted, Lucius? Aren’t you lonely?” Hermione panted as she straddled his legs, staring at him in the eyes.
“Pet…I need to teach you some things before we get to this part of our relationship.”
Hermione sighed as she got off his legs and lay beside him. “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”
“Not yet, my pet, Severus will help us.” He sounded sure of himself.
“We’re wasting time, lying in bed all day. Isn’t there some sort of outfit I should be wearing?”
“I had not thought of that my dear. I should give Draco something to do…” he noticed Hermione raised her eyebrows curiously. “Trust me pet, he has impeccable taste.”
She crossed her arms as she lay back on the pillow. “He’d better. Do you trust Headmaster Snape?”
“I do. In fact, if I recall correctly, he saved you once.”
“He did, third year.”
“You must trust him, pet,” Lucius spoke as he leaned in to kiss her, taking her by surprise.
“I thought you wanted to take this slow?” She looked confused as he gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I would like for us to become close. I will do everything in my power to keep you here and safe,” he vowed as they kissed again.
“Ipsy.”
“Yes, Master?” Ipsy appeared as Lucius handed him instructions.
“Give this to Draco. Tell him I’ll be teaching Hermione for the remainder of the day.”
“Yes, Master,” Ipsy said and disappeared to carry out his orders.
Ipsy Apparated before Draco and handed him the note. Draco read and reread the note. “It looks like father has everything planned out,” he complained as he activated the Floo to inform Severus.
Severus raised an eyebrow as he read the note. “I should go over there. Lucius should not be falling for her so quickly.” Sighing, he looked up at Draco.
“You need to find a worthy costume for Miss Granger. He needs to believe they are Master and slave.”
“Yes, uncle. I just hope we…” Draco’s voice trailed off as Severus gave him a sharp glare, knowing the portraits could relay information back to the Dark Lord.
Draco quickly got the hint and left. He had to find a suitable outfit for Hermione today before the Dark Lord’s arrival.
*
Hermione couldn’t believe her eyes at what Draco brought her to wear. She blinked, looked at the outfit, at them, and back at the outfit again.
Draco spoke softly to his father. “I’m surprised she’s kept her mouth shut!”
“Shush, Draco. She’s in shock from the color, that’s all,” Lucius spoke softly as he watched her eye the flimsy two pieced outfit, her hands skimming over the green material with obvious dislike.
She glanced at them, grabbed the outfit, and stomped all the way to the bathroom, ignoring them completely.
Lucius sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “And things were going so well between us,” he muttered to Draco, ignoring his son’s smirk.
“Well, you did give me instructions to buy the costume. You didn’t exactly tell me what shade.”
“True.” A smile appeared on Lucius’ face when Hermione stepped out of the bathroom wearing the outfit.
“Now, that’s more like it.” Lucius approved of the costume and that she'd managed to tame her hair. She bowed to him, wondering what was in store for her.
'So far, he’s been kind to me. Will that change once Voldemort arrives? Lucius will have to act the part that he would loathe to play.'
Lucius circled Hermione making sure everything was perfect. 'If anything goes wrong, it will lead us to our deaths,' Lucius thought worriedly as he made a mental list of things to do in his mind for Hermione.
“Draco, leave us. I must teach her.”
“Yes, father. Shouldn’t uncle Severus be here as well?” Draco asked, but then he noticed his father’s look and hurried out. Draco stayed out of his father’s way for the next two days.
Lucius knew he had a challenge on his hands in training Hermione. He promised, that after all this was over, he could have her in his bed.
When their time was up, Draco and Severus awaited patiently for Hermione to make her appearance with Lucius.
“Did she give your father any trouble?” Severus questioned.
“No. She probably thought that we would send her to the dungeons if she misbehaved any,” Draco replied quietly as they watched them descend the stairs.
She followed Lucius as he had a leash attached around her waist. “Really, Lucius, is that necessary?” Severus noticed how uncomfortable Hermione looked.
“Yes, we need to play the part perfectly, or it’s all our heads,” Lucius spoke tensely to Severus as he gently tugged Hermione to his side.
Severus got a good look at Hermione, noticing that she had her head bowed and appeared very submissive to Lucius.
Lucius felt the wards change as they got into position, waiting Lord Voldemort’s arrival.
Lord Voldemort was indeed impressed with Hermione’s transformation. “You have done well, Lucius, having conquered this Mudblood so quickly. This pleases me greatly. You may continue to have her as your slave.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Lucius bowed, grateful that Hermione had pleased the Dark Lord.
She served the other Death Eaters at the table as Lord Voldemort continued to watch her very closely. Severus noticed and managed to catch Lucius’ eye. Lucius remained calm as she poured the wine into everyone’s glasses, not knowing that it was laced with poison. Once through, she knelt by Lucius’ side awaiting further orders. He calmly placed a hand on her back, daring anyone to touch her.
Severus and Draco managed to sit close to Lucius. They were careful not to drink the wine and gave Rodolphus strict orders not to as well.
Lucius raised his drinking glass and the others did as well, toasting the Dark Lord. “To victory!” Lucius, Severus, Draco and Rodolphus pretended to drink while the other Death Eaters drained every last drop.
“I am pleased, Lucius. She is very obedient.” Lord Voldemort praised him as he finished eating, not knowing that he had consumed poison.
“Thank you, my lord.” Lucius bowed his head wondering when the poison would take effect.
The Dark Lord stood up, a bit unsteady at first, as Rodolphus went to his side. “My Lord, are you feeling all right?” Rodolphus moved to stand beside Draco, wondering what the hell was going on and why he was asked not to drink the wine.
Hermione didn’t flinch, keeping her eyes downcast as the Dark Lord passed by with the other Death Eaters trailing behind him.
Rodolphus looked puzzled as Draco shook his head as he waited for the last of the Death Eaters to leave the manor.
When they could speak freely, Lucius and Severus cast several spells to prevent the others from prying into their conversation.
“Will someone care to explain to me what that was all about?” Rodolphus muttered irately as he sat down.
“We thought it was best for us to kill the Dark Lord using a very strong undetectable poison placed in the drink. It will take time, but rest assured, we will be free from him,” Lucius drawled as he sat down, petting Hermione’s hair.
Rodolphus raised an eyebrow curiously, “You just don’t want to give her up, do you?”
“No.”
*
When the post arrived the next morning, Lucius grabbed the paper, his eyes falling on the article spread across the front page: THE DARK LORD DEAD - WIZARDING WORLD FREE.
Severus peered around the paper, asking, “Were we successful?”
“Yes, old friend, we were.”