A/N:
So I feel like I clearly communicated that I wouldn't be doing this, however, here we are. I have moved the status from complete to in progress. I gave into peer pressure (oh yes, you know who you are) and we will continue. It feels quite odd to have two on going works in the same pairing at the same time. We'll see how it goes.
I suppose this is where I ought to do a few disclaimers as we are going forward. Obviously this will be canon divergent. We were canon in Deathly Hallows until Snape left the grounds after the duel with Minerva. I will play with bits and pieces of the original plot as it suites me, but I will be changing things.
To that end, our lovely members of the dark side will be OOC, because JK wrote them so incredibly evil changes were necessary for me to be able to do anything with them. This is a dark A/U, so don't expect sunshine and roses all the time. But I also promise to carefully label whenever we get close to anything that might offend.
Thank you to Uniquely Named for being a wonderful beta. (Even when we fundamentally disagree about my choices of characterization.) :)
Bellatrix took the potions from the girl's shaking grasp, tucking them into the pockets in her robe.
"Listen," she started sharply, expecting the girl to look up at her. When the young witch continued to stare across the room she gripped the girl's chin firmly until their eyes met. "Look at me when I speak to you. Had my plans gone well the first time, we would have had time to go over all of the changes now that you belong to me."
The dark witch watched brown eyes blink rapidly in confusion.
"Right, well I suppose you don't know any of the details of the spell, do you? The only details would be in the restricted section. It's both complex and considered dark magic. You haven't been sneaking in that section again have you, pet?"
"I... No... I haven't been at school. How did you know?" Hermione was genuinely perplexed.
"You will find that there is little I do not know. Simply put, I bound our magical souls. Though, it is not exactly equitable. I can live without you, but you will not be able to live without me. I have full control over your magic now. You won't be able to use it against me unless I will it."
Hermione's jaw dropped open and fear shook through her. Not only was the Death Eater speaking to her like a normal bloody person, but she sounded almost like a professor.
"Don't be so confused, mudbaby. You are not the first to have been called the brightest witch of her age. I am the standard by which things are set. Do they no longer teach occlumency? I wasn't even attempting to enter your mind."
"They never got around to teaching my year. Our Defense Against the Dark Arts training was a bit inconsistent," the young witch answered dejectedly.
"Yes. I suppose it has been. But never mind, you will be well versed in the Dark Arts soon enough. Philosophically, I have always been of a mind that magical pets are more useful when able to serve fully. But it will be my choice, not yours."
"You want my magic?"
Bellatrix dramatically rolled her eyes. "I chose you specifically, muddy. Any other pet would have been an insult to my own abilities. You aren't the most powerful witch, though we can work on that to some extent. I am not entirely clear on how your blood status effects that, but I suppose we'll find out. But one cannot create intelligence. It would not do for me to have an idiot following me around."
Hermione closed her mouth and leaned back against the counter for support.
"I also control what you can tell others. It works similarly to a secret keeper oath. The bond itself will monitor it, but I would not recommend trying to get around it. I suspect betrayal would be rather unpleasant for you. Do you understand?"
"I think so?"
The dark witch growled and grabbed the front of Hermione's shirt until there were mere centimeters between them. "I know you are new at this, mudblood. But listen very very carefully, as I do not wish to repeat myself. When I ask a question I expect a direct answer without delay."
The young witch found the quiet calm tone to be more dangerous and frightening than the angry shouting the woman was famous for.
"Let's try this again. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Hermione whispered.
"Good. We must get be getting back to the Dark Lord. Take that cloak there off the wall and pick up your bag. It won't do for you to freeze. When we arrive, you will stay behind me at all times. Keep your eyes down. Speak to no one but my sister. If I am called upon to take action without you, you will stay with her. Am I understood?"
"Yes."
"Take this," she said holding out the girl's wand. "Do not take it out unless it is life or death. Some of the Dark Lord's followers might take it upon themselves to disarm or punish you. And that would be problematic for a number of reasons."
Hermione grasped the familiar wood in her hand reverently. She never expected to hold her own wand again.
"Now don't get sentimental. There isn't time. Come." She reached out her arm.
The brunette hesitantly stepped towards the witch and nervously gripped the strong arm. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a smirk playing across the beautiful features. She pressed her eyes tightly closed just as the pull of apparition took over her body. When her body finally stopped moving, she clung to the dark witch's arm until it was firmly pulled away. She slowly opened her eyes. The familiar trees of the Forbidden Forest rose high around her. The dark witch stepped slightly in front of her looking rather intimidating and entirely different than she had in the storeroom. It occurred to Hermione that this shift was likely very important, but she didn't have the energy to contemplate such things when she was being circled by Death Eaters with wands drawn.
"Put them down," Bellatrix barked at the approaching group. "Now!"
The young witch noted that the female Death Eater had yet to raise her own wand, a clear sign that she believed her own skill to be far superior. As she had been speaking, Narcissa moved slowly closer until she was near enough to pull Hermione to safety. There was clearly a good deal more preparation that had taken place than Bellatrix was letting on.
"Do as she says," a hissing voice wafted over them.
Obediently wands were lowered to their owner's sides.
"Now, go prepare yourselves. I imagine we will be having visitors soon." The crowd dispersed swiftly at his command leaving the three woman standing alone. "I see you got what you were looking for, Bella. I trust that you also managed to get the potions I requested."
"Yes, of course my Lord," she said fishing them out and handing them over.
He tucked all but one away in his own robes. "We have a spy, you know."
"We… What, my Lord?"
"Severus has been playing both sides for years. I'd been looking for a time to tell you when you couldn't go off firing spells at him."
The dark witch tensed at the statement. She hated hypocrisy and had since she was a small child. And the wizard was absolutely correct, she wouldn't have hesitated to crucio the greasy little chit into madness.
The Dark Lord smiled knowingly and then motioned to Hermione. "I presume that you managed to complete the spell?"
"I did, my Lord."
"And she gave herself to you willingly?"
The curly haired witch straightened proudly. "She did."
"Curious," he responded. "Show me that it is done."
"Pet, tell him where you got that cloak."
The young witch opened her mouth with every intention of simply stating that it was Professor Snape's and that she took it from the store room. But the sound died halfway up her throat, coming out as a strangled whimper. She looked to Bellatrix in desperate confusion. She literally could not speak even though she wanted to. The dark witch leaned indecently close to her body and whispered in her ear, "Good girl." The spell controlling her ability to speak had clearly done its job.
"Very impressive, Bellatrix," he hissed. "But will she talk?"
Hermione's eyes went wide. The moral consequences of what she already gave into today were beyond her comprehension, but willingly telling Voldemort everything, that just seemed a bit much.
"She will," the dark witch answered firmly. "I will let you choose the method. Based on our interaction today, I believe that it is possible for me to train her to be a willing and powerful pet. But there are many ways to get information. I do not think she is quite willing to simply tell us everything she knows, perhaps in time. Her mental barriers are weak. You, in particular, would have no problem getting into her mind. There is torture. Though the last time I tried that it had rather the opposite effect, honestly."
"Would you allow me to use veritaserum on your pet?" he finally asked, cutting off her seemingly endless list of suggestions.
It struck Hermione as odd that he would even ask her permission.
"Of course, my Lord. Though I will warn you, I am not all that familiar with her. I really don't have any idea what she is going to say."
"Then perhaps it will be both entertaining and informative." He handed over the vial of potion he had been toying with as they spoke.
Bellatrix palmed it and smiled mischievously at him. She circled Hermione, who felt rooted to the floor. The young witch was frozen in place, equal parts appalled at her lack of fight and intrigued at what the mercurial witch might want to know. She tensed when the witch stopped behind her and pressed the entire length of her body against her back. As arms circled her waist, she felt her body relax and lean instinctively into the embrace. Inexplicably against her better judgement, she felt safe in the Death Eater's arms. She felt foolish and wondered if the potion was really even needed. She seemed to be defenseless against Bellatrix's charm or spells, it was impossible to distinguish. She flinched in something like pleasure as a warm open palm was placed on her stomach, holding her securely against the woman who captured her. The woman's other hand pressed the potion into Hermione's insistently. Soft lips brushed her ear as the woman spoke.
"Drink the potion, mudbaby. Be a good girl and do as I say," Bellatrix cooed softly. She smiled at the subconscious nod and immediate movement of the hand holding the vial. She traced her hand up the arm to the soft bushy hair. She wove her fingers through it, pulling it back against her shoulder forcing the young witch to tilt her head back. It was an extremely attractive angle. The pale soft neck was exposed in vulnerable offering, practically begging to be kissed. She watched in satisfaction as the glass container raised to lips in spite of a slightly shaking hand. The dark witch gave into the urge to caress the pale skin as the potion slid down her pet's throat.
Hermione could barely think beyond the seductive delivery of the potion. Her skin buzzed everywhere those devious hands touched her and several where they did not. She thought she might fall apart when red lips pressed into her neck. She was unable to contain a whimper of desire and the urge to sink further into the strong arms. Apparently the stupid bloody potion worked quickly and meant she couldn't lie to herself either. Fantastic.
"She does appear to be most willing," the wizard said clearly amused.
Hermione tensed at the statement. His voice was a clear reminder of where she was and who she was with.
"Oh this is so fucked up," she groaned unhappily. She righted her head to be met with a smirk from Voldemort and a cold appraising look from Narcissa.
"Do continue, pet," Bellatrix coaxed over her shoulder.
"I shouldn't be here," Hermione almost shouted. "I shouldn't be with you. Any of you. I shouldn't have left the castle. My friends. Oh merlin, I betrayed my friends. They'll never speak to me again, if they even survive." The young witch clamped her hand over her mouth in an attempt to stop the words from spilling from her lips. A tear streamed down her face in grief.
"Now now, Miss Granger," the Dark Lord said in his best imitation of a soothing and kind voice. "There must be a reason why you are here. Tell me, why."
"Because I wanted her," she growled. Her eyes went wide at her own words. "I couldn't resist her. I didn't want to." She clenched her jaw, reminding herself she only had to answer the direct question.
As if on cue he continued. "Why didn't you want to?"
"Since she tortured me, I couldn't think of anyone else, of anything else. I either wanted it to end or wanted it to never stop. I couldn't live in limbo any more." Tears now ran freely down her face. The arm around her waist steadied her as the other played gently in her curls. "And her offer…" The sentence was broken by a full body sob. Hermione attempted to bend in half, but was held securely up. "It was too good. I could have what I wanted. I never get what I want. I am always just the convenient intelligent girl. Only worth as much as the last book I read, never really wanted. Certainly not desired."
"And you think Bellatrix desires you?"
"I don't know, but at least she is honest about how this will work. The lines are clearly drawn." Hermione was near hysterical by the end of her sentence. She took solace in the possessive near painful hold on her body and the quiet shushing sound in her ear. Whatever it was between herself and the dark witch was tangible and real.
"Then you are truly committed to her?" he continued his line of questioning. While he was fascinated by both the magic used and the motivation of the witch, his real goal was to get her talking. This clearly had to be dealt with before she would tell him what he really needed to know. In all honesty, he would have preferred to allow this best lieutenant the opportunity to lead this emotional processing, but there simply wasn't time. And the girl would have her uses, both for her information and for her connection to Bellatrix.
"I must be," she answered as though perplexed at the reality of her answer. "I understood the choice I was making." In spite of the bravery of her words and realizations, her body was trembling. Her free hand clung to the dark witch's cloak, grappling at some sense of security. "I am ashamed that I betrayed them. But I am even more ashamed that I still would make no other choice."
"Miss Granger, in your new life you must understand that there is no reason to feel shame. The choice you made to belong to the most powerful witch of our age will be greatly respected once the war is over. You will be feared as an extension of her. You will be allowed to live with magic and in comfort as a muggle born. You mustn't feel guilt over taking up an appropriate place in the new world. You are a brave witch. Do not doubt that."
Hermione relaxed at the comforting words from the most feared wizard in England. The irony wasn't lost on her, but his argument was so reasonable, so convincing and said with such conviction. She was beginning to understand how he managed to amass such a large group of followers. She breathed deeply. There was no going back in time now, no other path available to her. All decisions had been taken entirely from her. To find peace, she only had to give in.
"Tell him what the Order has planned," Bellatrix commanded. She had allowed her Lord to lead the conversation until she felt the girl submit in her arms. Under different circumstances she would have celebrated the sweet moment. The stubborn and strong witch had surrendered to their future without violence. The sadness and regret was to be expected, but happily the girl continued to show great potential.
"This is their last stand," the girl whispered. She felt the air shift as both Voldemort and Narcissa stepped closer to hear her quiet words. "They have the rest of the horcruxes." Her eyes went wide in terror. She wasn't sure if that was a secret among his followers. And though she couldn't control her mouth, she still feared being punished or killed for it.
"It's alright," he said soothingly. "They already know. Go on."
"We already destroyed the locket. Ron has the cup and Harry is looking for the Ravenclaw item. Don't know what that is exactly, but we think it is in the castle. And that only leaves the snake. Then Harry can kill you."
"But I have the Elder wand. What does he have to combat that?" The Dark Lord's voice had a perplexed quality Hermione hadn't heard before.
"The resurrection stone and invisibility cloak," she answered bluntly.
"Then all I must to is separate him from those items and the rest of the Order."
"I don't know. I've been thinking," she rambled before she could stop herself feeling the full effects of the potion on her. "You know about his connection to you?"
Voldemort nodded slowly. He had used it to his advantage in the Department of Mysteries and a few times since with great success.
"It just happened, didn't it? Harry didn't initiate it and I've been guessing you didn't either. Because you don't seem to control it all the time. Which can only mean one thing…"
"You think he is a horcrux," the wizard whispered in a deadly quiet voice.
"I don't know any other way to explain it," she answered sadly.
"That complicates things," he said pensively.
"May I offer a suggestion, my Lord?" Bellatrix spoke firmly. He waved his hand indicating she should continue.
"We should still lure the boy out of the castle as you planned. We can still attempt to kill him. If it doesn't work we can always find a way to contain him. But instead of staging a final battle, we should go in search of the objects and bring them to safety. If Potter doesn't die today, he will die eventually. And taking down a few of his followers would be… satisfying for the troops."
"Astute, as always Bellatrix," he said. "I have something to take care of down at the boathouse. Call the inner circle, tell them of the change of plans. But leave the masses as they are. We need them to create chaos."
"Yes, my Lord," she answered immediately. After she watched him stride away, she turned the witch in her arms so that she could look directly at her. She wove both hands through the girl's hair and down her shoulders enjoying how eyelids fluttered even at the most innocent touches. She cupped the young face gently. "Very well done, pet. I am pleased with you."