Voldemort's Mistake
Disclaimer: The usual.
A/N: Thanks a bunch to my new beta, Confuzzler.
"Well, well, well..." Voldemort was hissing in delight while eyeing viciously the figure that was tied to a wooden chair, the only piece of furniture in the whole room. "It seems that I will finally have my prize, eh, girl?"
Being at such a short distance of finally getting his revenge on Potter, he had ensured himself some privacy with his prisoner, so that he could savour this moment of victory by psychologically torturing her. He paced back and forth, his eyes never leaving the girl, his sneer always in place.
She glared at him, her hatred finally overwhelming her fear. "You'll get no ransom for me, if that's what you're talking about." Hermione Granger had never actually seen Lord Voldemort before, and, the moment he had entered through the door, she had been paralyzed with horror. Now, however, her mind was swimming in hatred towards the... man?... that had caused so much grief to her best friend, Harry Potter.
Voldemort laughed. It was a cold, piercing laugh that resembled a serpent's hiss. "Oh, no, my dear Granger. It's not a ransom what I'm after." He continued pacing the room, obviously enjoying his little victory. "You know as well as I do that your... boyfriend," he spat the word "will uselessly attempt a rescue."
Hermione blanched. Is he after Ron now? Why? She wondered. Now, that was another matter. She and Ron had been dancing around each other for the whole summer and more than half the school year. Harry and Ginny had usually acted as mediators just in time for a full-scale war to be prevented, the cause of it being either Viktor or that Veela. Or the Christmas Ball. Or Harry and Ginny's relationship. Or schoolwork. Or if Earth was round or flat. In the end, however, and much to Harry and Ginny's relief, they had found each other. The thought of Ron falling into Voldemort's hands was enough to make Hermione's resolve and boldness evaporate.
Voldemort had kept talking. "Potter will not have a chance when he walks through this door, invisibility cloak or not." He smirked at her.
Hermione blinked in astonishment. Voldemort is an H/Hr supporter! she thought. A sensation of amusement, then sickness washed over her. Much as she tried, she couldn't contain the words that escaped her mouth.
"Agh, no! I don't feel like that for Harry!" she said, looking revolted at the very idea. She brought a hand to her mouth, or rather, she tried, bound to the chair as she was.
Now it was Riddle's turn to blink. "Huh?" He had stopped in mid-pace. "But... you're the... you..." The Dark Lord's confusion was more than evident in his voice. "You're supposed to!"
"Why?" Hermione asked. She was surprised to see such a flaw in Voldemort's plans. Heh, she thought. I think I just blew up his little house of cards.
"He- he's the hero... and you're the girl, so that makes you two-" The Dark Lord looked utterly lost.
Hermione rolled his eyes and let out an indignant sigh. "Oh, please! Such immature thoughts are unbecoming to a Dark Lord."
Tom shook his head and turned back. "Nonsense. You're obviously trying to create a deception. You won't succeed, girl."
The bushy-haired teenager's exasperation made itself known with a frustrated, strangled and very loud sigh. "So short-sighted! History will remember you as the fool that tried to rule the world but ended up having an argument with a teenager about her love life! Harry would be overjoyed!"
Voldemort whipped about. "How dare you?"
Hermione shrugged. "Easily."
Riddle charged forth, his wand withdrawn. "You shall pay!"
Hermione glared at him. "How typical of people like you to attack defenceless people. Look at me!" She tried to open her arms in indignation, but couldn't. "I'm bound to this bloody chair!"
"Fine!" Voldemort was nearing the end of his patience. "So be it! Rescinda!" The multiple ropes that tied her to the chair gave way and fell to the floor.
"As a matter of fact, my dear girl, I prefer it this way." The Dark Lord levelled his thirteen-and-a-half inches of yew at the girl.
"The Great Dark Lord Voldemort," drawled Hermione. "who sought legendary battles against unarmed teenagers in his thirst for glory. Impressive indeed."
The exasperated Tom reached into his pocket and withdrew another wand. "Here you are!" Voldemort hissed, throwing it to the girl. "Are you happy now?"
"HAPPY?" Hermione yelled. "HOW DARE YOU? HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO BE HAPPY WHEN I HAVE SUCH AN UGLY FACE BEFORE ME?"
Voldemort's snake-like eyes were so wide open that they almost popped out of their sockets. "WHAT? ME? UGLY? JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, I HAD HUNDREDS OF GIRLS LIKE YOU AT MY FEET!"
Hermione was very confident, since she had practised things like this over a hundred times with a certain redhead. "BEGGING FOR MERCY, NO DOUBT! YOU'RE SO HYPOCRITICAL! YOU SAY YOU HATE MUGGLE-BORNS WHEN YOUR OWN FATHER WAS A MUGGLE!"
"DON'T MENTION HIM IN MY PRESENCE OR-"
"STINKING COWARD ORPHEN WHO-"
"UNGRATEFUL MUDBLOOD-"
"YOU LOST FOUR TIMES TO A BOY!"
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
"GLADLY!" Hermione yelled. She opened the door, walked through it and slammed it shut before Voldemort had time to say anything.
*******
Lucius Malfoy was patrolling the perimeter when he detected a figure that was coming his way. Whoever it was, he or she was huffing and muttering under his or her breath. When the figure reached one of the very few illuminated spots he saw that it was the mudblood.
He had expected her to start running for the hills as soon as she noticed him, but instead she kept on walking with angry strides. Lucius did what he thought was the most intelligent action.
He gaped.
The bushy-haired girl looked at him and yelled, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT?"
The powerful Death Eater stumbled back and fell to the floor, not understanding an inch of what was happening. "Wha... what are you doing here?" He had attempted to sound menacing, but his current position made him sound rather pitiful.
"YOUR DELIGHTFUL MASTER KICKED ME OUT! BE SURE TO SEND HIM MY REGARDS!"
With that, Hermione kept on walking, leaving a dumbstruck man on the floor, wondering what had just happened.
*******
An hour later, the portrait hole to the Gryffindor Common Room opened. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Dumbledore and McGonagall, who were the only people inside, turned sharply towards the entrance, wands outstretched.
"It's only me!"
The three words had different effects on everyone: Harry and Ginny opened their mouths and stayed that way; McGonagall clutched at her chest; Ron dropped his wand, not deciding whether to run towards the voice's owner or stagger back in astonishment.
The headmaster, however, remained composed and asked, "How did you escape?"
Hermione grinned. "I pulled a Ron."