A Terrifying Peace

"Very well done, Draco."

"I saw what Hermione did, Father. She truly is a lady in every sense of the word. Viktor thought so quickly on his feet, I could finally see the resemblance to Uncle Severus. Surviving and surviving well is going to be far more important than being an idiot about school rivalries."

Between his father's praise and the beaming smiles from Hermione and Luna, Draco resolved to work so that his friends would never have to fear for their lives because of the circumstance of their existence. He finally understood what it meant to stand for something. He was also glad to have been taught Occlumency, so Voldemort would never know his true loyalties.

Voldemort strolled toward the now gathered Weasleys. Fleur was taken and given to Walden MacNair. When Bill attempted to protest, he was given to Greyback, to be "taught his place." Waiting for the other shoe to drop, it was with surprise that Charlie agreed to start up a dragon reserve on the Hogwarts grounds. He was to be joined by various Death Eaters, of course, and for his oath of loyalty was given Cho Chang as a wife. The Dark Lord then offered George a boon for swearing an oath, and George asked to be killed quickly instead.

"I am offering you sanctuary, and you ask for death? Are you insane, boy?"

"Yes, my Lord. My twin was killed by a falling wall, and I am missing a part of myself."

"Ah, you were a twin soul, I see. I will grant your wish, then." Molly cried out as her son died before her eyes.

"You bastard! I don't know why these children are swearing oaths to you! They should be fighting to the death!"

Voldemort turned to Crabbe, Sr. "I believe your wife was killed, wasn't she? Are you willing to take this one?"

"Aye." The hulking man turned to Molly, cast a permanent silencing charm on her, then dragged her off. When her struggles got to be a bit wild, he cast a spell no one knew that made her docile. The man worked a farm and could tame animals; apparently he didn't find Molly much different.

"Anyone else wish to question my methods?"

"You fiend! You gave my Hermione to a Death Eater! You killed Harry! You gave my mum to that troll! You shouldn't exist! You are a perversion!"

Arthur tried to keep his youngest son quiet, as did Percy, but to no avail. Ron was very quickly strung up where his mother had been and was being used for target practice. No one in the hall could watch for very long; the boy should have just asked for a quick death the way his brother had done.

*-*-*

"That is what you were trying to keep me from, Father, wasn't it?" Draco turned to his father with wide eyes.

"Yes, Draco. Hermione very astutely warned me that you and the unfortunate Mr. Weasley were two sides of the same coin. But I am very proud of you, son. You were able to read the situation and reacted like an adult. Any posturing on your part, especially with our Lord behaving in this manner, would have resulted in your becoming the entertainment."

"Well, I hope Little Red keeps her head about her. I would have thought she and Potter would have done the deed."

"She was his beard," replied Hermione. "Harry was in love with Ron. But Ron thought he was in love with me. It wasn't a particularly comfortable situation."

Everyone in the small group stared at Hermione except for Luna. "It makes sense. Harry tolerated far more bad behavior from Ron than a reasonable person would from a friend. It also explains the Nargles floating around both of them."

They all turned to look as Voldemort turned to Percy, Arthur and Ginny. "Do you wish a place in my new world?"

All three red-heads looked at each other. "Yes, my Lord."

He sent Arthur and Percy to the Ministry, along with Rodolphus Lestrange and Walden MacNair. They were to start rebuilding.

He reached out to Ginny and stroked her face with one scaly finger. "You surprise me, my dear. I would have thought you would have given in to Mr. Potter."

"He did not compare to you, my Lord. Not at that age. He did not even know that he could have called in the life debt to get that extra boost of power. He was certain to lose. I am at your mercy."

Voldemort laughed delightedly. "Rabastan, I know I promised you a pureblood wife. Are you willing to take this one?"

"I would be honored, my Lord. She will also be testing in six months?"

"Yes. She is intelligent enough to learn what she needs."

Katie Bell was given to Severus, who was thankful she was an adult. Hannah Abbott was given to Theodore Nott, after he apologized for his behavior with Pansy, but pointed out that she had crawled into his bed wearing nothing but a flimsy negligee, and he was but a man.

Surprisingly, Neville Longbottom was asked if he was willing to be another apprentice in the new regime, and taking his cue from Hermione, he said yes. To keep him in line and reward him as Hermione was rewarded, he was given Daphne Greengrass as a spouse-to-be. He won himself points with the Greengrasses and the Dark Lord by bowing low before his new lady and pledging himself to her, second only to his service to Voldemort.

Shortly after that unexpected event, Voldemort called for all to listen to him. He managed to get a hold of the radio waves on the Wizarding Wireless.

"To all of Wizarding Britain, those in the right have won. I claim my right as the Conqueror of Britain. I have already begun to make changes. All of those young women of marrying age need to present themselves to the Ministry within the week. If you have saved yourself as tradition demands, you will be rewarded with a proper six month engagement if you have not taken your NEWTs and a binding if you have. If not, well, my men have needs. Those who have behaved as badly as any Mudblood whore will be treated as one. We will not take blood status into consideration, as breeding stock is necessary. You will be trained how to behave properly, with deference. As for the young men, if you pledge your life to me, you shall be rewarded."

*-*-*

After his speech, the Dark Lord turned to those in the Great Hall. To his pleasure, Hermione had asked Viktor to clean her up, and she stood with her fiancé, giving credence to the fact that she deserved to be elevated. All those girls in the hall who were smart enough to take their cues from her had done the same.

"My Lord," spoke Lucius quietly.

"Yes, Luciussss."

"Narcissa and I would like to sponsor Miss Granger and Miss Weasley along with Miss Lovegood to teach them wizarding traditions and history. Narcissa is also very good at Charms and Runes, and I can teach Arithmancy and Dark Arts. With Severus teaching Potions and Herbology, they will have a good foundation for their NEWTs."

Voldemort smiled. His smile broadened when the new Mrs. Snape chimed in. "My Lord, if it pleases you, I would like to sit in on the tradition and history class. I have passed my NEWTs, but I would like to fit into our new society better."

"So it shall be."

*-*-*

Due to the Malfoys' sponsorship, Viktor, Hermione, Rabastan, Ginny, Katie and Severus joined Luna, Draco, Lucius and Narcissa at the Manor. Seeing as Voldemort had decided to take over the Minister's Mansion, this made the place ideal for the conspirators.

Once Lucius had reset the wards, they sat down in the parlor for tea.

"Well, Miss Granger, did that go as expected?" asked Severus.

"No, Uncle Sev. We got far more from the Dark Lord than we expected. What made him do that?"

The unusually grave voice of Rabastan Lestrange broke in. "You surprised him. When Viktor told him you had saved yourself as per tradition and asked to keep you, it gave him something to work with. He wanted to show he wasn't Dumbledore and is willing to give people a chance. But truly, how many girls will still be chaste, especially with a war going on? There will be full whorehouses very shortly."

Hermione responded, "So we are to be poster children, then?"

"I believe so, my dear," said Lucius, thinking he understood what she meant. "But it could be worse. At least we do not have to protect you girls from the more brutal Death Eaters."

"Poor Fleur. I wonder how she will survive MacNair?"

No one answered Ginny.

"My dear, did no one tell your family of the contingency plans?" Narcissa asked.

"Of course they did. But unfortunately my family liked to believe that Dumbledore was always right and that Harry couldn't lose. I lost my faith in Dumbledore after I realized the wards at Hogwarts should have told him there was a Dark Artifact there. Even more, when I realized he could have used it to find the other Horcruxes. But no, he had to let Harry play hero and make everything fit his stupid prophecy."

"I do apologize for that, child. I thought that item would be found; I never meant for anyone to be hurt," Lucius spoke to Ginny for the first time directly.

"I believe you. I heard what you did in the Great Hall. You made it so that we could be together."

Draco snickered. "I didn't know you cared so much, Little Red."

"Ferret, your company beats working in a whorehouse anytime."

"I hope you did not mind my claiming you, Ginevra," Rabastan spoke again.

"No, I did not. Hermione told me how you were controlled by Bellatrix and how Professor Snape was helping you break free. My grandparents on my father's side were an arranged marriage, and they ended up in love. With you I feel I have a chance at happiness." The little red-head did not know just how much her declaration meant to a man who had lost most of his happiness to the Dementors of Azkaban.

Viktor saw Rabastan's face when Ginny spoke and turned to Hermione. "That is what will win the war. Those simple declarations of truth. Those from both sides who are willing to bend to make life better."

"Well, children, everyone to bed. Now, those of you that are just engaged, please wait for the Dark Lord to give his express permission to bed your spouse. He did not say it was all right for you to do that tonight. His generosity only goes so far, and he is still quite insane, even if he is showing more sense than Albus Dumbledore this evening. Also, please think of a boon you might wish if your restraint causes him to grant you one." Narcissa, pleased to have so many young people to mother, shooed them all off to bed.

She pulled Katie Snape aside. "He's a good man, dear. He just doesn't know how to express himself."

Katie smiled. "I've seen him with Hermione. He truly adores her and is quite thrilled that she will be family. I have no worries. As Ginny said, there are far worse things that could have happened. At least this way I can continue to work toward my original goals. Respect is a good way to start an arranged marriage."

"Even if you don't find me attractive, wife?"

Katie laughed. "I don't find you unattractive, and well, if you are half as good at using your hands as you are your voice, I will have no trouble with the rest."

Viktor was amused. "I believe innocence does not equate with virginity, Uncle Sev."

"I'm not the only one, Viktor. Your darling fiancée is also an avid reader. It is amazing what you can find in a book." Katie enjoyed the rapid rise of two sets of dark eyebrows.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Katie and turned toward the rooms the Malfoys had set aside for her and Viktor. "Let's go, Vitya. We should rest while we can."