Exceptional love

Chapter 18

Harry leaned against the wall, crossing arms over his chest and sighed impatiently. Currently he, the twins, and Hermione were waiting within a small bare and cold ante chamber, waiting for all the called Death Eaters to arrive and assemble. Voldemort had not yet arrived, nor had Lucius, but Severus was already there, so Harry figured it would be safe enough to enter without his husband.

"Think he's going to be here tonight?" one of the twins asked.

"He has to be," Hermione answered. "It's a full meeting tonight. And since he's now in the Inner Circle, Draco's attendance is very mandatory. He's probably already inside."

Three days had gone by since the incident with Narcissa and neither he nor the twins had seen Draco since. Not that he was in trouble. He wasn't. It was just that Narcissa had a bit of a breakdown after Draco went all manly on her and Draco had to see to her after wards. At least that's what the owl the twins received said. Apparently there had been screaming and sobbing and a feinting spell and several vials of Calming Draught.

Five minutes later, Harry whipped out his wand to check the time with a tempus. "They should all be here by now. Ready?"

"We were born ready, mate," replied Fred and George.

Hermione pinned the three boys with stern looks. "You must behave. Remember, this is Voldemort's territory. We mustn't show him any disrespect here."

Harry raised a brow while the twins looked at her oddly. "Hermione," said Harry. "We never disrespect the Dark Lord. That's not what we're trying to do when we prank and tease him. And he knows it."

"I know Harry," she said as she and the twins drew on their masks and their aliases, "but here we are guests, to stand back and watch. Nothing more."

"Speak for yourself," Belial mumbled as he drew on his own mask. "Voldemort is going to announce our marriage, which means I'm not simply going to be a bystander. And if you think I'm going to behave, Hermione, then you've gone mental."

"Are you two done?" Agni asked, waving for Belial to take up the front position in front of the door. "We really want to get in and see our lovely Draco."

"How much do you want to bet they'll all bow before they realize it isn't the Dark Lord coming through?" he asked. The door they were about to go through was the one Voldemort used. The Death Eaters always entered the room by way of the back door, unless they were entering the room along with the Dark Lord, but only high ranks were seen walking in with Voldemort.

"Ten galleons?" Rudra put forth.

Belial nodded and grasped the doorknob. As the door swung open, he shot a grin over his shoulder at the three behind him before walking in... and immediately laughed. Most of the Death Eaters were on their knees. They must have knelt the moment the door cracked open.

His laughter had heads snapping up in surprise at the sound and then the assembly rose to their feet, some scowling at the newcomers, others watching them with deeply hidden curiosity in their eyes. Belial caught sight of Drake, standing beside Severus and Bellatrix and he gave the blond a wink, though he didn't think his best mate saw it as his attention was on the two wizards following him.

He felt bad for them. It was the first time in a few days they could see each other, and yet they couldn't really speak or touch now. They had to play a game until the meeting was over since no one knew who Rudra and Agni really were- with the exception of the Inner Circle and Remus. And they couldn't act like they knew each other well now because their intent to marry had been all over the Prophet recently.

Belial's smile abruptly disappeared when his gaze travelled over to the dais to find someone already upon it. Ignoring the silence of the room, he narrowed his eyes upon the figure kneeling down beside the thrown upon the dais. He growled as he strode towards Peter Pettigrew. He strode right up onto the dais, ignoring the gasps- most of which were outraged- and kicked the huddled black cloaked figure right off the edge.