When Hermione Fights

The First Assignment

Chapter beta: Dani

Chapter translator: Aivy

~WHF~WHF~WHF~WHF~WHF~WHF~WHF~

I couldn't believe it! Now I was standing here again in front of my mirror; it was as if I was regularly getting ready for a theatre performance. Unfortunately Lucius was right: respect for a person stemmed from how they appeared, acted and presented themselves. You could control a lot with your appearance and I submitted to that completely without grumbling, because I saw the correctness of the statement.

Draco and I had made ourselves comfortable in the library with a crackling fire after the meeting in the Dark Manor. I had needed that to chase the chill from my joints that had snaked up my legs and found its way inside me, deep inside me. The Dark Manor was not only dark, but bitterly cold. We had spoken little, not to say nothing at all, knowing Severus and Lucius would take care of that when they were finally released.

After a while, as expected, the two dark figures had stormed our retreat and appeared excited, but also reassured, about how it had gone.

They scolded me for my humorous thoughts about the throne, but they were right - although I told them that I believed HE had been amused and that HE had punished me with Crabbe and Goyle in what I considered a very humane way.

That made both Lucius and Severus raise an eyebrow and both showed their amazement that I had seen through the Dark Lord.

"Don't underestimate her," Draco interjected, "she was playing Avery too!" Which resulted in Lucius reprimanding me sternly.

"Hermione, don't push it! You're irritating them beyond measure."

"Who doesn't the minx irritate to no end?" came the cynical, very ambiguous interjection from - yes, from whom I wonder? I hope you can guess, because his dark eyes were flashing venomously at me. I would have loved to give in to the childish desire and stick my tongue out at him.

I knew that myself. However, I also had to show that just because I was an inferior, filthy Mudblood didn't mean I was stupid! I would fight and I had to fight and my men could only help me so much. I had been in dangerous situations ALONE often enough; I didn't need them. Not at all. I didn't want to be dependent on their protection or their help.

It might be arrogant of me to be so sure of myself, but I had to be, otherwise I might as well throw in the towel. Fortunately, the two of them left us alone and we spent the rest of the evening in harmonious peace.

The next day brought a lot of news, which I was able to understand much better than I would have been able to otherwise, thanks to my latest occupation as a Death Eater. Some new sources of information had opened up for me.

Yesterday, an article had appeared commemorating Amelia Bones and mourning her death and condemning the brutal murder of the "single, middle-aged lady," which was carried out with ice coldness, and also bringing the sad and tragic family history of the Bones to the table. For example, Amelia's brother, Edgar Bones, had been killed in the first war, along with almost his entire family. Poor Susan, whom I had been able to get to know a little thanks to the DA. She had already suffered a lot in the war. I felt sorry for her, especially knowing which four madmen had murdered her aunt and, well, I don't think it was a quick death that had been granted to the old lady. There wasn't a line to spare for Vance, as she hadn't held such a high office. There was just an obituary of her murder with the dates and that was it.

Today the Daily Prophet had announced that a group of giants had roughed up the west coast yesterday. The Muggles would think it was a hurricane. The action had been successful in that the Death Eaters had caused trouble, but the Ministry, with the help of many, many Aurors, had managed to control the giants and put them to flight. At least something that was good news for once and Macnair would be in trouble for his failure. I really couldn't suppress a nasty grin.