"Master has declared that dinner shall be served in an hour." The little creature completely unaware of what she had interrupted. "Sir Malfoy can ready in the master suite, and your highness, the princess suite is open." Before any questions could be asked, the elf was gone again.

"I'll meet you out here in a half hour, Granger." Draco said, sounding as aloof and unfeeling as Hermione had accused. She nodded stiffly, going into her suite.

It was perfect for a slytherin princess. Silver, emerald and black were the only colors that were in the room. The canopy bed was covered in silks and velvet. The bathroom was even more impressive. A gleaming silver bathtub was big enough to fit a baby whale. So, of course Hermione took a bath in her personal swimming pool. She checked the time when she got out, and she only had two minutes to get dressed. She slipped on her dress. It was a high necked silver dress with a plunging backline that ended just above her bum. Her skirts were pinned with a snake head brooch. Hermione was just attempting to tie the silk ribbon in the back when Draco walked in.

He looked dashing in his black tuxedo, his silk emerald tie brining a darkness to his silver eyes. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Well, don't just stand there, help me tie this!" Hermione said impishly. He complied, tying as she carefully put it heart shaped silver earrings that matched the slim chain she wore around her neck. The charm was a heart with an emerald set in the center.

Suddenly, a vibrating noise came from Hermione's purse. She pulled away from Draco and pulled out a cell phone. She quickly opened it and said, "Harry! Are you guys ok?" Then she realized she wasn't alone. "Écouter Harry, je suis au manoir Malefoy. J'ai rencontré mon père, il est bon. Je vais appeler quand je peux. Ils me traitent bien, et je suis sur une mission. Soyez prudents! Je t'aime." Hermione spoke rapid fire. When she had finished, she pulled the phone from her ear and replaced it in her bag.

"I didn't know you spoke French." Draco said plainly.

"I speak French, Spanish, Latin and Greek." Hermione replied, starting out of the suite. "Montrer la voie Sir Malfoy."

So Draco slid a hand around Hermione's bare back and led the way to the Dining hall. He leaned close to her before they entered the hall.

"Remember we are together." He said with a cocky grin.

"Remember I know where you sleep." She replied, pushing the door open and started in.

Voldemort sat at the head of the table, death eaters occupied the rest of the table, and only the two spots next to the Dark Lord remained empty.

"Princess, you were almost late." The king of the darkness said to his daughter.

"I'm never late. Everyone else is simply early." Hermione said, sitting on the chair Draco had pulled out for her.

The high laughter that filled the room was warmer than usual, and the death eaters looked a bit surprised. "Let the meal begin." Food filled the plates, and everyone waited with almost bated breath as the Dark Lord took the first bite. Hermione watched with the others, and took a bite not long after her father.

Soon the hall was alive with talking and eating; Not at all what she had expected from a group of killers. Hermione felt her father's eyes on her, and she turned to meet them.

"How does life at Malfoy Manor suite you, Daughter?" He said, eyes shifting to the blonde haired boy who was pretending not to listen. "Not too many problems?"

"No, the Malfoys have been very kind, and any sass from Lucius is easily dealt with." Hermione replied off-handedly, taking a bite of her salad. "Narcissa has bought me so many dresses and Draco has been kind enough to get me ready for the ball."

Her father laughed gently at her first comment. "Well, I trust you will let me know if you need anything. Have you thought anymore about the details of your inheritance?"

"Some. I still need to meet the suitors, and of course with the ball coming up, I should be able to make a decision before the end of the year."

"That seems a bit soon to make a good decision. Are you sure you don't want to take more time?" Voldemort said, eyebrows rose slightly.

"I shall do as I please, and you have no means to stop me." Hermione turned to her other neighbor, choosing to leave her father to think about what she had said. "Hello Bellatrix." She said to the witch at her side.

"So you are the Dark Lord's daughter; The one who has caused all of a fuss? How has life at the manor treating you?"

"Very well thanks." Hermione smiled nervously.

"See anything you like?" Bellatrix wiggled her eyebrows and glanced at Draco.

"Maybe." Hermione blushed. "I'm waiting until the ball though. Keeping all options open."

"Smart girl. What are you wearing?" The death eater was happy to have a girl other than her sister to talk to now.

"I was thinking about that." The young girl said with a sigh. "Do you have any advice?"

"Wear gold…or Red. Everyone wears slytherin or ravenclaw colors, and for once, I would love to see some Gryffindor." Bellatrix smiled, remembering everyone's shock when she had worn orange to her first ball.

"Thanks, Bellatrix!" Hermione smiled, and watched as the older witch turned to the hunched up wizard next to her.

She turned back to her father, who was deep into a conversion with Draco. "If we take France, will we still have the funds to do anything else?"

"Honestly, We could take France along with the rest of Europe, and still be set for future generations."

'Take France? Are the death eaters planning on take over the world?' Hermione wondered, continuing to listen while pretending to be too interested in her food.

"If you're sure, but I want to branch out from just Europe! Imagine if we could take America! Canada and Mexico would be easy after that." Voldemort said, sounding rapturous at the thought of taking America. "But I do need to make sure she has enough when she shall continue as sovereign."

"Have you made any decisions regarding who shall take the throne with the Princess?" Draco asked, sounding almost nervous.

"I'm leaving it completely up to her." Voldemort replied.

"Is that wise, Sir?" Draco asked, now openly afraid.

"We'll have to wait and see, Draco. But I have faith in my daughter. She's intelligent, and a strong person."

"No disagreement there, but what if she is too loyal to her friends?" The blonde had stopped eating, and was now completely focused on his superior. "What shall we do?"

"I never said that she had to reign the way I have. My Daughter is free to rule with her husband as she sees fit." Hermione almost gasped at her father's words.

She looked up at her father, putting an end the conversation. Her father had looked at her, and her eyes latched.

'I knew you were listening, Hermione. We must work on your spying skills'A raspy voice said in her head.

'It's my first time, I think that allows for a few mistakes. Care to tell me what gave me away?' She sent mentally back to him.

'You weren't eating normally, and I saw you eyes turn to Draco more than once.' Voldemort chuckled out loud, causing Draco to furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

"I did not!"Hermione yelped. Draco's pale eyebrows were so scrunched together; they looked like a single white caterpillar.

"But you were, Princess. You cannot deny it. I shall ignore it for now, but you must practice prudence in all decisions." Her father lectured at her, a small smile gracing his snakelike face.

"It's rude to ignore someone." Hermione said, hiding a blush. She had been studying Malfoy. One thing Mad Eye Moody had told her was that outer appearance was a great tool to use against your enemies. So, Hermione was now an expert on Draco Malfoy's outer appearance. He had the palest blonde hair, it was almost white, but there were splashes of golden when it caught the light. His eyes were a stormy silver that usually veiled his emotions. Draco had pale pink lips, and two small freckles, one high on his right temple, the other on the left side of his neck.

"I don't mind at all." Draco said, smiling broadly at Hermione's blush. "In fact, I find your conversation quite intriguing."

"Of course you do, ferret boy." Hermione replied childishly. "I know personally that you were completely lost. In fact, you're dying to know what we were talking about."

"Of course not, bookworm!" Draco replied. Both of the teens had forgotten that Voldemort sat listening to their every word, and frankly, Draco was almost done being nice.

"I'm not as needy as you are."

"Care to say that again?" Hermione pulled up the huge skirt of her dress to reveal a black thigh holster that held her wand and an emerald encrusted dagger. She whipped out her wand, and pointed it threateningly at the blonde across from her.

"I'm not afraid of you, Granger." Draco laughed.

She raised her wand. "Maybe you should be." Hermione had perfected sounding sensual and hypnotic, and practically purred her warning to the boy who had almost kissed her thirty minutes before.

"umm….." Hermione had gotten him distracted with that seductive voice once again.

Tom Riddle watched his daughter beam and continue to berate her male counterpart. "I guess you aren't as smart as you care to let on."

Draco turned a pale pink. "I'm smarter than you, filthy little mud…"

"Watch what you say, Draco. I've got higher bloodlines than you!" Hermione warned. "I'm descent of three of the Hogwarts founders, not to mention Lord Voldemort's heir."

Draco was getting frustrated. "You still are a muggle loving bit.."

"You can't use that one either!" Hermione laughed.

"Why not?" The blonde asked.

"Do I look like a dog to you?" Hermione smirked. "The word you were about to use refers a female dog."

"Well, you are an arse faced ninny." Draco screeched.

"You, Draco Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, are a pig headed ignoramus. You have no respect for anyone but yourself and are an imbecile, and have no business insulting me!" Hermione's voice was full of acid and superiority.

A round of applause started up with everyone who had heard Hermione.

"How in the name of Merlin do you know both of my middle names?" Draco stammered at the girl across from him.

"Know thy enemy, Draco. I know tons about you." She gestured to the rest of the table. "Test me if you'd like."

"Ok, the person next to you is…."

"Bellatrix Druella Prosperina Lestrange, born in 1952, called Bella by close friends; Oldest daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black; She has a walnut wand, 12 ¾ inches, dragon heartstring; Attended Hogwarts in 1962, Slytherin house; Joined the death eaters shortly after graduation, completely loyal to her cause, dangerous and sadistic when it comes to muggles; Married Rodulphus Lestrange, and helped him, Rabastan and Barty Crouch in the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom, where she was sentence to life in Azkaban. She escaped in the 1996 mass break out with nine other death eaters. Bellatrix is a great leader, and teacher, as she has taught Draco occlumency and legilimency, as well as nonverbal and wandless magic." Hermione recited. "Did I miss anything?" She addressed this to the women at her side.

"No, all of your facts are correct." Bellatrix stared in wonder.

"Does everyone in the order know all that?" The Dark Lord asked.

"Of Course not!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm the only one. Dumbledore had everything filed down, and he left them to me. I've been memorizing them and keeping them up to date."

"Very impressive!" Her father beamed at her. "Who have you memorized so far?"

"Well, all the old wizarding families to my generation, as well as all order members, and you and mum." Hermione said with a small smile. She was very proud of herself for knowing so much, and learning it all since Dumbledore's death only two years ago.

"I wish to speak with my daughter, Bellatrix, and Draco privately. The rest of you may do as you please until our meeting in the throne room in an hour." Voldemort announced, taking Bellatrix's arm in his. Draco grudgingly put an arm around the princess' waist once again.

Hermione felt male eyes on her, and knew the male death eaters were ogling her backside. Draco's arm was suddenly protective and possessive instead of the light friendship it offered earlier. She blushed at the closeness between them. Draco's side pressed into the back of her hip, and his arm stopped her from pulling away.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I don't trust those men as far as you can throw them." The blonde whispered in her ear.

"Are you implying something?" Hermione asked. "Thank you though, they're pretty intimidating."

"You mean the great Granger is afraid of something?" Draco laughed.

"Not afraid, intimidated. There is a difference." Hermione shot back.

Author's Note: So, I understand that the Death Eaters are being very nice, but you have to remember, it would be dangerous not to. Hermione acts the way she does, because she has a plan.