Disclaimer: If I had as much money as J.K Rowling did, would I even be here? I'll probably be rolling around in gold or something, throwing fifty-dollar bills in the air. But enough with my wistful dreaming. Oh yeah, no copyright or trademark infringement intended.
Summary: How can one simple decision change the outcome of the world? It happened to Napoleon. It may happen to Harry Potter, and the wizarding world.
Pairings: Draco/Hermione
Author's Note: I know this story may sound slightly OOC (Out of Character), but I'll do my best to try and keep the story flowing. My concepts of Harry Potter may be incorrect so please, feel free to correct any of my mistakes. Oh yes, italics are flashbacks.
Dedication: Written in their respective wishes, my lovely Dragonboat sisters, Brittney Hugelshofer, and Cherise Louie.
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Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. -Author Unknown
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Hermione closed her eyes, silently willing the tears to subside. A lump rose to her throat, as she tried to squash the feeling of dread away from her stomach.
"For Harry, Hermione, for Harry," she thought fervently.
Recent events had taken a toll upon the Light sight. Their most important spy, Severus Snape, had been murdered by Lord Voldemort's own hand. Suspicions were aroused when Professor Albus Dumbledore had not heard from Snape for a number of days. The fears were confirmed when a frightening letter was sent to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Obviously, the contents were not revealed to the young inhabitants of Grimmauld Place, but Harry, Ron and Hermione were informed of Snape's death. As a consequence of the death also meant that the Order of the Phoenix could not keep reliable tabs on Voldemort's plans, subsequently quelling to a higher level of fear never experienced before. Shadowed eyes, and facades of happiness only added the level of tension felt in the household. This had brought on a drastic change in young Harry Potter, evident only to his closest friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry's growing quietness and subdued attitude was inevitable. Sirius Black's death was devastating; he was the last family member that exhibited love toward Harry.
Hermione knew that every attack, and every Light death weighed heavily upon Harry. He had blamed himself for Sirius's death, and the several deaths occurring after Snape's death. Snape's death was a dark, grim day…
Harry and Ron sat, eyes fixed squarely on each other. The atmosphere in the room crackled with intensity. According to the boys, it was the chess match of the century. Harry was remotely close to beating Ron, an achievement that marked a possible blow to Ron's ego.
Hermione snorted inelegantly, as Harry lifted a hand ever so slowly, toward his queen. Ron raised his eyebrows as if to say, "You sure?" Harry closed his fingers over the piece and started to move it forward. However, this move was never completed, as Tonks had suddenly burst into the room, her hair disheveled, and eyes wild.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, meeting room. Now," she ordered them.
Hermione asked, "Why?"
Tonks replied crisply, "Dumbledore's orders."
They scrambled off of the floor, and followed Tonks silently out of Harry's room. News from the meeting room was never good news. They tread over the threadbare carpet, lined with decrepit walls, stained with age. As they filed into the meeting room, they found Professor Dumbledore sitting at the long table, weariness evident in his face, the sparkle in his eyes extinguished.
Dumbledore smiled as he saw them, but it was a sad smile, one that did not quite reach his eyes.
"Please, sit," he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of him.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down, just as Tonks discreetly left the room, giving them privacy.
Dumbledore stretched out his fingers, and then tented them. He took a deep breath.
Harry was writhing with agitation, he was internally screaming with impatience. He needed to know now.
"I don't quite know how to break this to you," Dumbledore said hesitantly, "but Severus Snape has been killed."
Utter silence reigned. Shock reverberated through the atmosphere.
Severus Snape had not been a kind figure in their lives but he was one of the few familiar things in their lives that still existed.
Dumbledore sighed as his shoulders sagged visibly. "I'm not certain whether you are aware of this but Professor Snape was a valuable source of information for our side. Things are now very dangerous and just be careful."
"Professor?" Ron said quaveringly.
"Yes Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"How exactly did Professor Snape die?"
Snape died by Voldemort's own hand. No one was quite sure on how he was murdered but it was quite definite he was. The only evidence needed were the contents of that fateful letter.
Following Snape's death, several Order members had been brutally murdered, among them, Bill and Charlie Weasley. The death of the two oldest of the Weasley clan, forced the rest of the Weasleys to recuperate rather rapidly, for there were no times of weakness. If Voldemort knew of these weaknesses, he would have annihilated the Order as quickly and relentlessly as possible. They had to be strong, individually, and unified.
"Be strong, Hermione, be strong," she whispered to herself, feeling fear creeping up her spine in cold waves.
A hooded shadow glided to the centre of the circle of Deatheaters. He spread his arms wide, and looked around the dark figures.
"My fellow Deatheaters, a great asset walks with us tonight. She will help us bring down Harry Potter and his followers!" Voldemort exclaimed.
Murmurs filled the circle, wondering who was this mysterious stranger, who would bring victory to Voldemort.
"Miss Granger, step forward, my dear," Voldemort said.
Hermione moved forward, shuddering slightly at the voiced endearment. Gasps soon echo throughout the clearing, realizing that this was one of Harry Potter's best friends, "Mudblood" Hermione Granger.
"Miss Granger has agreed to join us in the pursuit of a Dark world. No one is to harm her, and we must ensure that the Light side does not attempt to capture her." Voldemort intoned.
"Now, Miss Granger." Voldemort said, turning to Hermione, "you will not receive the Dark Mark, as it would draw much attention if discovered. Also, you will not go on attacks, as we feel you are too valuable to sacrifice. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Lord," Hermione said.
Voldemort faced his Deatheaters again, guiding Hermione in front of him. "Do you swear your allegiance to the Dark Lord, only to be released upon death?" he asked.
Hermione swallowed and whispered, "Yes, my Lord."
Voldemort just replied, "Good. Meeting adjourned." He disappeared with a slight pop.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and began to walk back to Hogwarts from the Forbidden Forest. However, she wasn't paying attention, and promptly walked into a dark clothed someone.
A pair of steel gray eyes glittered at her.
"Hello, Granger."
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Well, that's the first chapter! Please review!
Love, Vinyalambe