Title: Wounds Unhealed
Author: Maid Of Many Names
Author's Email: fractured_flower@ozemail.com.au
Rating: R
Summary: Voldemort is finally defeated but his death is not as permanent as many would have hoped. Albus Dumbledore schemes to protect the wizarding world and Hermione Granger has a unique place in his plans.
Author's Note: Due to the restrictions of ff.net, all adult material has been edited out. If readers desire to read the edited material, please email me.
Part 1
"Please sit down, Miss Granger."
Discreetly, Albus Dumbledore watched the young witch settle herself on the chair before his desk. Measuring and cautious, her eyes slid over the other two people in his office before she returned her gaze to him. Her poise and watchfulness belonged to a seasoned veteran of both skirmishes and betrayals. Albus had to restrain a sigh. So many children had been sacrificed. Their innocence had been crushed and they had been forged into warriors long before their time. It was too late to dwell on regrets, though. Even as the rest of Hogwarts rejoiced, he, Minerva and Severus raced against time. It would be his sad duty to see the young witch before him, take the burden of the future on her shoulders.
"May I ask why I've been called?" Hermione asked.
"Of course you can, my dear. I apologize for keeping you waiting. A man as old as I sometimes gets lost in his thoughts. Rather ponderous thoughts they were too," Albus replied. "You've been called because we need your help."
Albus watched as Hermione digested what he had said. Once she would have agreed to help without question. Some of her desire to please and instinctive trust of authority figures had waned. War had robbed many of their childhood, and Miss Granger was just one of many. The change in her both troubled and pleased him. It would make his request harder but it would make her far more successful at what he had to ask of her. While he had yet to pose his request, Albus doubted she would refuse. They had all strove too hard to fail now.
"Does my summons have to do with my position of Head Girl?"
"Alas, it is not. Despite the celebrations, I fear the war is not yet over."
"Have the remaining Death Eaters gathered for an attack?" Hermione asked with concern.
"Nothing quite so simple. It is their master that we must concern ourselves with. While his physical body was destroyed, along with the majority of his followers, Voldemort will return. I once said that there were many doorways between life and death and even now Voldemort searches for one. Professors McGonagall and Snape have been working with me to prevent that from happening. That would be disastrous for the wizarding world."
"Have you found a way to stop him?" Hermione spoke, her throat closing.
"That is where you come in, my dear. Forgive me if I seem to ramble but this is a complex matter. I trust you remember the incident in your second year with Tom Riddle's diary?"
"Yes, I was petrified but Harry, Ron and Ginny explained what happened," Hermione replied, confused at the Headmaster's tangent.
"Then you should know that Tom Riddle siphoned off Miss Weasley's energy in order to leave the diary. He may well have achieved life had Harry not destroyed the diary."
"B-but how could he have truly been alive?" Hermione questioned. "I mean, everything I've read suggests that life cannot be created from nothing."
"It's the lack of a soul that prohibits this. Even when you transfigure a boot into a mouse, the mouse really isn't alive. It simply takes on the semblance of a mouse."
"Then how could the diary have achieved life?"
"Tom Riddle also knew of the limitations of magic in creating life. In drawing energy from Miss Weasley, he created himself a body but not a soul. The body was enough, however, for him to draw his soul from the ether."
"His soul? Voldemort's soul," Hermione realized.
"Precisely, Miss Granger. He would not have had the memories of his years as Voldemort, though. The magic that Voldemort used to keep his memories intact even in death was overridden by the memories of the diary."
"I don't mean any disrespect, Headmaster, but-"
"What does this have anything to do with our present situation?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione replied with a blush at her impertinence.
"Voldemort will return; that is inevitable. We have searched for a way to stop him and we have failed. As we must act quickly, there is little hope of finding a solution. Instead, we must take another approach. A soul is an infinite and most wondrous thing, Miss Granger, but it cannot exist in two places at the same time," Albus finished, his eyes twinkling.
A soul can't exist in two places, Hermione repeated in her mind. Realization hit hard and she could feel her cheeks pale, although she managed to keep her expression smooth. She had learned the hard way to keep her emotions in check, not that her impassive expression would fool Dumbledore. Or Professor Snape, who loomed behind the Headmaster, Hermione amended. In the privacy of her mind, her thoughts exploded. A dozen ideas that went nowhere screamed for attention. The risk- it was incalculable. Rumors that the Headmaster had crossed the line of genius into madness seemed to echo in her ears. For some moments Hermione wrestled down the futile flurry within her. She could explode with shock later. Now she had to find out what Dumbledore wanted with her.
"You intend on bringing Voldemort back as Tom Riddle," Hermione finally replied.
"You are correct again, Miss Granger, except that we have already done so."
"Even at seventeen he had killed and opened the Chamber Of Secrets. Tom Riddle or Voldemort, he is dangerous," Hermione argued with a growing sense of discomfort.
"That is why we will take precautions."
"And that is why I've been called?" Hermione asked, with a sudden stab of unease.
"You have been called because you are the brightest witch in all of Hogwarts. You also have first hand experience of the Dark and Voldemort. If we go forward with this plan, there must be something that checks Tom Riddle's activities. You are the perfect person for the job."
"Why not a professor, or adult wizard or an auror, sir? Surely someone with more experience would be more suitable," Hermione asked in a flood of surprise.
"That kind of experience in this case would be a detrimental. Most adult wizards have spent a good part of their lives under the threat of Voldemort. They do not have the flexibility of youth on their sides."
"Then I'm surprised you haven't asked Ginny Weasley. If anyone could guard against Tom Riddle, it would be her."
"We considered her," Albus admitted.
"Miss Weasley does not have the perspective required for the task," Professor Snape spoke for the first time, and ignored a glare from Professor McGonagall for the slight on one of her Gryffindors.
Vaguely, Hermione registered that Snape had given her a strange kind of compliment. Had the situation be anything but what it was, she would probably have been surprised. A compliment from Severus Snape was a momentous occasion. As it was, she barely gave it any thoughts. When she had been summoned, Hermione expected the Headmaster to require the services of the Head Girl, or perhaps ask for her aid in one of the many after-war projects starting up. This seemed unbelievable.
The war had taught Hermione many harsh lessons. Those lessons had peeled away some of her innocence and naivete, but she couldn't fool herself. To do what Dumbledore was asking, would require far more guile than she had. Did he really thing she could outwit Tom Riddle? The Headmaster's gaze made her fidget. Uneasily, Hermione let her eyes stray to Professor McGonagall. Her Head Of House's determination and confidence bolstered Hermione's sense of courage. The part of her the desperately wanted to please her teachers fought its way into the front. Surely, they wouldn't ask her if they didn't think she could do it?
"Severus is correct. I fear Miss Weasley's tragic experiences with Tom Riddle would make such a choice problematic. Miss Weasley also has another year at Hogwarts yet. Miss Granger, you have the intelligence and the strength to do this," Dumbledore spoke into the silence.
"What exactly would I be doing?"
"In essence, you would become Tom's guardian or warden. Naturally, you would need to prevent his further use of the Dark Arts and other destructive behavior. We must insure he will not continue down the dark path. You would also be responsible for introducing him to the modern world, both Muggle and wizarding."
"How could I stop him from practicing the Dark Arts? I doubt that he would be inclined to heed me."
The idea of Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort, doing anything she said was ludicrous. Maybe she was bossy, but she wasn't that bossy. Hermione felt very uncomfortable with the Headmaster's idea. Returning Voldemort, in any form, was a frightening prospect. If he slipped whatever leash the Headmaster wanted to fit him with, the war would begin again. That sent a shiver of horror itching its way over her skin. Hermione had seen more suffering than most people would in several lifetimes. Would she dare take responsibility for Tom Riddle?
"That is why Severus and Minerva are here. First, Severus will ply you with several potions. Then Minerva, Severus and I will cast the essential spells. Effectively, this will render him, among other things, unable to harm you or go further than a mile away from you. He will also be unable to use magic without your knowledge. To an extent you can control his use of magic."
"For how long would I have to do this?"
"For life, Miss Granger. Once the process is complete, it cannot be reversed."
"Life?" Hermione echoed and then found herself bubbling with anger and shock. "What if he turns Dark anyway? Besides, I doubt the Ministry would let Tom Riddle just walk away!"
"The Ministry and the wizarding world have no idea that Tom Marvolo Riddle is Lord Voldemort."
The sheer scope of what Dumbeldore was asking her, scandalized Hermione into silence. She would not only have to hoodwink the Ministry but the remaining Death Eaters and her friends. Her whole life would be changed irreparably. Her life would be dedicated to guarding Tom Riddle. Just the thought of it made her feel dizzy. She couldn't believe she was being asked to sacrifice her life to baby-sit Tom Riddle. In all her dreams of the future, being a young Voldemort's jailer was not one of them.
Hermione couldn't help but wonder what would happen to the promising future she had worked so hard for. That was if she agreed at all. Even as shocked as she was, Hermione's mind worked over what Dumbledore had said. All in all, it was a neat trap that Dumbledore had sprung on her. If he hadn't picked her to be his guinea pig, she would probably have been applauding the brilliance of his idea.
A wave of selfishness rose up and Hermione found it very difficult to fight. She wasn't convinced she was the best choice for a jailer anyway. Why he wouldn't just be given the Dementor's Kiss?
"I understand the theory behind returning Voldemort as Tom Riddle. If nothing else, it might buy us time to find another solution. What I don't understand is why he couldn't be sent to Azkaban? Surely a Dementor's Kiss would stop him from returning again?" Hermione asked, knowing she was being disrespectful but unable to help it.
"There is a high risk that the Kiss would allow Voldemort's memory to surface."
"But sir, the result would be the same, wouldn't it? The Dementor would still have eaten his soul," Hermione questioned.
"It is not something the Ministry publicizes, but it is theoretically possible for the soul of a wizard to posses a Dementor. It would take a wizard of great will and ability to manage it. I doubt Voldemort would hesitate to try."
The answer was blunt and neat crushed her flash of hope.
"This might sound petty, but what about my scholarship to university? My family?" Hermione asked in a small voice and her mind added 'My life'.
"I know what we are asking of you is extremely difficult. It's not a duty I would willingly press on an adult wizard. The circumstances being what they are, I do not see another choice. Be sure that I ask this of you with the deepest of regret. I can, however, guarantee that your further studies would not be disrupted. Your family can be told if you feel the need."
"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione questioned.
"Forgive us, child," McGonagall spoke and then looked away.
Three pairs of eyes drilled into her. Her heart rate doubled. She could fairly feel the pressure of three set of eyes on her.
"I'll do it," Hermione agreed.