Chapter Four
Tiptoeing up the stairs to Draco's room, Hermione looked back at the boys, carrying the pensieve (McGonagall had been keeping it, and had handed it over without question). Nudging the door open, she looked in and saw Draco asleep, one of his arms dangling down to the floor. Stepping towards him, she froze as he moved slightly, but he had only moved his arm so that the Dark Mark was clearly visible. She heard Ron mutter something that sounded like 'Honestly, Hermione?'' but ignored him and crept further forward. She hadn't wanted to stun him in case he woke up, and she was hoping that in a completely relaxed state, he wouldn't be able to fight against her stealing his memories. Placing her wand against his head, she closed her eyes and focused for a minute, only hearing his gentle breathing. Not daring to look at his face because of the feelings that she was sure would overwhelm her; she drew the wand away, only looking down to check for the silvery strand. Oh thank Merlin, it's worked. But how do I know what I'm getting? Chewing on her lip for a minute as she dropped the strand into the waiting pensieve, she smiled slightly and bent closer to his ear and whispered 'Hermione'. Working frantically, she pulled out all the strands that she was hoping would correspond with memories of her. Finally, when the basin seemed to be brimming, she began to back away, but Draco's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
Shooting a terrified glance at Ron and Harry, she motioned for them to back away and try to get away. This will have all been in vain if they get caught! They got outside the door and looked in at her, beckoning her madly, but Draco had a firm hold on her. He was mumbling something, of which only her name was audible. Mouthing 'sorry' at the boys, Hermione bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, determinedly rejecting the familiar scent that floated up to her. It worked, and Draco let go of her, letting her back away, with her aching heart.
Quickly running back along the corridors, they walked back and forth in front of the Room of Requirement, asking for a place where they would not be discovered. Flopping onto the carpet in the room and placing the pensieve between them, Hermione gave the contents a cursory stir with her wand. ''Right. Shall we go then?'' Without waiting for an answer, she plunged straight into the silvery mists. Harry and Ron quickly followed her, and all three found themselves waiting in an enormous, dark cavern. Deatheaters surrounded them and all three instinctively reached for their wands. However all heads snapped towards the back of the cavern as Voldemort walked in, and all the Deatheaters sank to their knees. Harry's jaw clenched, and Hermione reached out to rub his upper arm. Voldemort began to speak, his sibilant voice proudly giving out details of recent murders. Finally, Draco was called to the front of the cavern.
Unlike the other Deatheaters, he was not wearing the mask and long robes. His silver blonde hair shone in the dark, and he looked nervously at the impassive faces. Falling to his knees and bowing his head, he waited for Voldemort to speak.
Funny, he doesn't really look like he wants to be here. Hermione quickly stopped herself. Draco was a Deatheater, he had the Mark and he was a bastard, and a scumbag. Enough said. Think bad thoughts about him, and maybe, just maybe, the rest will follow. Oh Merlin, who am I kidding?
''Do you know Hermione Granger?'' Hermione gasped at hearing her name emanate from the cruel mouth.
''Yes my lord. She is a worthless Mudblood in my year at Hogwarts.''
''Mudblood, yes. Worthless, no. I plan to have the infamous Miss Granger on my side.'' Hermione grabbed at Ron's wrist and breathed in deeply. ''Imagine the effects on the Boy-Who-Won't-Die and the rest of those fools! The wonderful Granger flinging curse after curse at them! They won't be able to fight against her, their dear, precious friend.''
''But my Lord…she is closely affiliated with them'' Draco spoke as though he were afraid to do so.
''That is where you come in boy. You will bring her to me, willing to do my bidding. I have no doubt that she will be able to fight against the Imperius curse because of her relationship with Potter, so you will have to find some other means of bringing her to me.''
Without another word, the memory dissolved and they found themselves back in the Room of Requirement. Hermione stuck her wand into the mixture and pulled that memory out, thrusting it into a small vial and throwing it to one side. Without saying another word, she jumped back into the mixture, not giving the hurt a second to catch up with her.
When Harry and Ron joined her, she was watching Draco brewing the potion in his bedroom. Watching him add lacewings and stirring anti-clockwise, she wanted to spit on him. Spit on him and his beautiful, gorgeous, sexy face. He poured it into a bottle and they followed him as he went down to the Common Room. Hermione watched herself come into the room in her black shorts, the apprehension clearly written across her face. Ron snorted. ''Hermione, what are you wearing?''
''At this point, I was only flirting with him to try and get information.'' She snapped and watched as she and Draco sat on the sofa and spoke. ''This will go on for a while. I think we spoke for about two hours.'' Secretly, she was surprised that Draco had remembered that much of their conversation, but she hid it and put up with the teasing from Ron and Harry. Clearly, they weren't that bothered anymore now that everything was out in the open. She smiled back at them, and realised how much she had missed them. Finally, it got to the point where Draco offered her a drink.
''Guys, pay attention, this is when he does it!''
In silence, they watched as Malfoy poured a drink from the bottle that he had brought down with him and gave it to Hermione. Pretending to drink from his glass, he watched as Hermione downed it. Listening to their following conversation, Hermione realised where her desire to change her clothing had come from. Well, that's not going back to normal, I like it this way. Oh Merlin, I know what's coming next! Grabbing the guys, she spun them around. ''Guys, we don't need to watch any more of this. All we do is…''
But Ron had already turned back and seen them deep in a clinch. ''Hermione! You're giving just as good as you're getting there.''
''Ron, I didn't have any inhibitions left! Please, I don't want to remember this, I just want to leave.'' Leaving the memory, they bottled it, and flicked quickly through the other ones, seeing how Draco had planted his hatred of Harry and Ron into Hermione. Finally they came to the last one.
''I think this will be the first one I took, so I don't know if it will be of any use to us. But I suppose we could have a look anyway.'' Tumbling into the memory, Hermione landed in a scene she didn't recognise.
''I think this is a dream. I don't remember it.'' Running forward, she heard Ron following and Harry shouting after her.
Suddenly, she and Draco sprang up in front of her, in a passionate embrace. Blushing slightly, she forgot everything as Voldemort stood next to her, about twenty times bigger than usual. He watched calmly as Draco entwined his hands in her hair, but then reached down and plucked the dream Hermione away, dangling her far above Draco.
Draco began screaming. ''Give her back! Give her back you bastard, she's mine! She's not a Deatheater!'' Hermione stiffened. ''She doesn't belong to the Dark Side! Hermione, Hermione, come back, please come back!''
Abruptly, the dream was cut off; presumably at this point Hermione had taken the memory. Finding themselves back in the Room of Requirement, they turned to each other, the boys fearing to find some form of love on Hermione's face.
''We have his weakness.'' She smiled weakly at him. ''It's me. And he's going to lead us straight to the rest of the Deatheaters.'' And if I get to stay close to him for just that little while longer, that can't be a bad thing.
Draco woke up and rubbed his arm idly, feeling the Dark Mark as he did. Last night's meeting had been utterly pointless: more endless bragging, and he didn't even particularly want to be a part of it. When he had got back, Hermione had been in bed already so he had gone to sleep, only to dream about her. Dreaming about Voldemort stealing her, dreaming about her going back to Potter and Weasley. Well, the latter was never going to happen, what with the potion…
Shit! The potion! She wouldn't have had any last night! She's probably with McGonagall right this minute. Fuck, fuck and FUCK!
Just as he was about to go and throw himself into the lake, Hermione opened his door and wandered in, with the sweetest smile that he had ever seen. Sitting next to him, she placed her small hand on his bare chest and pushed him back down onto the pillows.
''I missed you last night.'' She said, kissing his lips gently. ''It was horrible not having our little routine of a drink! I hope you don't mind, I came up here and had a glass of your Fire whisky when I couldn't sleep.''
Draco breathed out. ''That one?'' he pointed at the bottle of Melange Subtil on his desk, which did look like it had less potion in it than last night. Hermione had rinsed the bottle out thoroughly and substituted it with coloured water.
''Yeah. I was out like a light.''
Harry and Ron, listening on the other end of some Extendable Ears grinned at each other. Malfoy wasn't expecting anything now. Hermione kissed him gently again and told him she had to go to the library and do some work and left him.
Thank fuck for that! Was Draco's only thought, desperate not only to save his own skin but keep Hermione close.
I wish it wasn't this easy. At least under the potion I didn't have to accept any blame for feeling this way. Beckoning to Harry and Ron, the three of them ran into Hermione's bedroom and sat down.
''Ok, so he doesn't think that I know what's going on, that's the first stage of the plan sorted.''
''What are you going to do next?''
''Pretend that I'm so pissed off with you that I don't want to fight for the Order of the Phoenix anymore. Then he will mention that conveniently enough, he happens to be a Deatheater.''
''And takes you to meet Voldemort! Brilliant.''
''What happens if Voldemort wants to brand you with the Dark Mark Mione?'' Harry asked her.
''I was thinking about that. I'm going to try and get hold of some temporary skin – you know, the one that Lavender used when she wanted to pretend she had a tattoo. I'll just bind it to my skin, and hopefully the Dark Mark will bind to that, rather than to me.''
''And if it doesn't?''
''Then I'll find a way to remove it, or cover it up. My arm is not the most important thing here, Harry! Just think, if I know where they're going to be meeting, you can go there and ambush Voldemort. If he's caught off guard, then you'll be able to kill him, and I'll be there to destroy the Deatheaters from the inside!''
Harry sighed. He still wasn't happy with this plan, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it was entirely his fault – that Voldemort had picked Hermione just to spite him. Of course, he knew that Hermione was amazingly clever and that would have attracted Voldemort, but did the fact that he was friends with her make her more conspicuous, more vulnerable? Shaking his head slightly, he smiled at Hermione. ''I'll be there.''
''I want you both to do me a favour though.'' Hermione looked at them seriously. ''Every time I come back from a meeting, every time I come away from Malfoy, every time I come back from any kind of interaction with the Deatheaters, I want to be tested with Veritaserum. Just ask me whether I'm in league with Voldemort, or if I'm planning to join the Dark Side. I don't want anyone to be in the position where they don't know what I'm thinking, and I want everyone to trust me.''
The boys grinned and nodded. Typical Hermione thinks of everything.
''So now, we need to make sure that he thinks I hate you. Go downstairs and act like you've just come through the door.''
Doing as she said, they went, and came back in. Hermione, listening to check that Draco wasn't in the shower, pretended to notice them and shrieked with rage. ''WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? HOW DID YOU GET IN? GET OUT!''
Ron and Harry stepped back in shock as Hermione bellowed, to which she narrowed her eyes and waved her hands. Suddenly realising what she expected of them, they began whining at her. ''Mione, don't be like that, we were worried about you…''
''AND WHY EXACTLY WOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT ME?''
''Mione, come on, relax.''
''RELAX? RELAX? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR RELAXATION!'' Just as Hermione was beginning to wonder what exactly they should do with 'relaxation', Draco emerged from his room.
''What the fuck is going on?'' Looking around, he noticed Harry and Ron. ''What the hell are they doing in here?''
''I was just asking them.'' Hermione looked at him and smiled but then turned around and glared at the pair stood beneath them.
''Well, come on Potty, Weasel Bee, what the fuck are you doing in here? Because I really don't think that you should be harassing the Head Girl.''
''Fuck off Malfoy! We want to talk to Hermione without you there.''
''Well tough, because I don't want to talk to you without Draco here!''
''Mione? Did you just call the Ferret by his first name?''
''Fuck off Ron, he isn't a fucking ferret.'' Hermione had stopped shouting now and was spitting the words at him. ''He's more of a man than you'll ever be.'' Thankfully she had her back to Malfoy, because she was suddenly finding the situation amazingly funny, and it was all she could do not to giggle. She didn't normally swear, apart from the occasional internal outburst, and the amount of bad language that she was using was sounding so alien, she couldn't help but think about how abnormal the whole thing was. ''Just piss off. I've said all I want to say to you.''
''Hermione. Please. Don't do this.'' Harry looked up at her and noticed that she was trying not to laugh. He felt the corners of his own mouth jerking around and bit on the inside of his mouth savagely.
''No. I won't listen any more. You've been trampling me down, making me feel like shit, stopping me acting in the way I want. I won't take it any more Potter.'' She said the last word as venomously as she could and stepped towards Draco (no, Hermione, call him Malfoy). Wrapping an arm around his waist, she smirked down at the boys.
Draco was in heaven. Ok, it wasn't quite as good as Hermione humiliating the two Wonderboys in front of the entire school but her humiliating them and then picking him had to be a close second. Pulling her closer to him, he lifted her chin and kissed her full on the mouth, just imagining the look on their faces. Hermione kissed him back but then broke the kiss, to stare at the two boys.
Widening her eyes apologetically, she stared them down. ''What are you waiting for? Piss off. Don't speak to me again.'' Storming past them, she opened the door and waited for them to leave, slamming it behind them. The boys immediately pulled out Extendable Ears and began listening.
Hermione turned around and smiled at Draco. Play it cool. He can't know anything is out of the ordinary. Just begin talking about how much you hate them, and he'll think that the potion is working.
''Honestly. They annoy me so much.''
''I've been trying to make you see that the entire time. Come and sit here.'' He patted the sofa next to him. Hermione looked at him, lounging in a black t-shirt and boxers, with ruffled hair, and went to him without a second thought. So not over him, so not going to be getting over him anytime soon. But I hate him, I hate him for what he did to me. But it doesn't stop me wanting him. Come on, Hermione, brightest witch of your generation, try acting like it! But any form of common sense was a long time in coming, and she kissed him as desperately as she had while under the influence of the potion. Harry and Ron looked at each other as they heard the silence and then shrugged. Hermione had to maintain a front. There wasn't anything personal in it.
Oh Merlin, I'm completely letting Harry and Ron down. They think I'm over him. I know I'm in lust with him, but how can lust possibly overcome all of the disgusting things he's done? Hermione, you need to wake up! Come on! Wrenching herself away from his beautiful, soft mouth, Hermione didn't even have to try for a look of regret.
''Draco. I don't want to cause any offence, but do you know Deatheaters? Because I heard the rumours about you last year.''
She could see him judging the situation, whether it was the right time to tell her. ''Because I don't want to fight alongside Potter and Weasley anymore. I don't want to put my life in the hands of those who won't even let me grow up, who want to track my every move.'' She took in a deep breath and turned his arm over so that she could stroke the Dark Mark. ''I want to help the Dark Lord.''
Convinced that her tongue was turning black from all the lies that she was telling, she waited with bated breath to see if Malfoy would take the bait. Come on, you want to believe me, just believe me. Don't try and make me take Veritaserum, you think that I'm under the influence of Melange Subtil. Come on, please say something!
''I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear you say that.'' Draco's voice was the trademark Malfoy drawl, but it wasn't repulsive, it just made Hermione want to lean forward and kiss him again. ''Yeah, obviously, I'm a Deatheater.'' He held up his forearm. ''The Dark Lord will definitely want to see you – he has heard of your skill with magic. Next time I'm summoned, I'll bring you.''
''Thank you.'' Hermione smiled at him sweetly, and fingered her wand.
''Of course, I suppose you could always thank me for what I'm going to do for you.''
Hermione batted her eyelashes coyly. It's awful that I don't really need any encouragement to kiss him. But this can be my reward for my hard work. It's all going to have to stop soon anyway. Hopefully Harry and Ron will go. Glancing towards the door, she couldn't see the ends of the Extendable Ears and correctly assumed that they had left. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Malfoy's, the only boy that had been consistently foul to her at Hogwarts, and never wanted to leave him. Opening her mouth so that his tongue could slip into her mouth, she let him push her back and lie on top of her. Running her hands down his back, she felt him do the same, tugging at her shirt. Out of the blue, she felt a rush of fire overcome her, and she pushed him back. He landed on the floor and was about to open his mouth and protest but then Hermione straddled him, pulling her shirt off. Draco smiled up at her – ''brave little lioness.''
The pair kissed a little longer, and gradually Draco was looking down at her again, his hair even more dishevelled. ''Are you sure that you want to do this?''
''Draco, I wouldn't be lying underneath you without my clothes if I wasn't sure.''
Kissing her, he slipped inside of her. Gasping slightly at the sudden pain, Hermione soon smiled as he kissed her again. I don't know I should be doing this but thank Merlin we've had this. Thank Merlin I've had this time with him. Then all thoughts were forgotten as she focused on the handsome face above her.
Later, Draco woke up and looked down at the beautiful mess that was their entangled limbs. Moving away gently, he kissed Hermione and covered her over with a blanket. He went up to his room, and pulled on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Throwing a pinch of Floo Powder into the fire that he had lit, he stuck his head in and shouted the name of the place where he knew he could contact his master. Giving the password, he waited for a servant to fetch Voldemort. Finally, he arrived.
''My lord. Hermione Granger has chosen to join us.''
''Excellent. Boy, you may just have redeemed yourself here. What did you use?''
''Melange Subtil. I ingrained the hatred, but she asked me if I could bring her here.''
''Excellent. Bring her here this evening.'' With that, Voldemort swept out of Draco's line of vision. He pulled out of the fire and went back down the stairs to watch Hermione. She was curled up peacefully, her eyelashes resting on her cheeks as she slept. He dropped another kiss on her mouth and sat back to watch. I hadn't realised that she was still a virgin. I thought she and Weasley would have done the nasty, but apparently not. Merlin, I'm lucky. Draco was finding it easier and easier to admit that he had feelings for Hermione. Now, the idea of calling her Mudblood no longer appealed. Ok, she was Muggleborn, but that was an accident of birth, she was easily the best witch he had ever seen. He didn't want her to be a Deatheater, but if that was all it took to keep her safe, he would make sure that she followed Voldemort for as long as it took.
Hermione wriggled under the blanket and then her eyes flicked open. Seeing Draco, she sat up, the blanket falling about her waist, leaving her chest completely exposed. She looked down, looked at Draco, gave a saucy wink and then covered herself up again. Resisting the temptation to leap on her again, Draco coughed. ''We are meeting the Dark Lord tonight. He'll send a portkey for us, he doesn't want the location getting out.''
''Fantastic!'' Hermione leapt up, genuinely thrilled. This means it worked! We managed to fool him. ''I'm gonna go have a shower and get myself cleaned up. No one will be calling me filthy.'' She laughed and carried on, and then turned around, frowning slightly. ''Draco, I'm a muggleborn. Why would Vol…I mean, why would the Dark Lord want to meet me?''
''He's a half and half Mione. I suppose he can overlook birth in exceptional circumstances, and you are definitely exceptional.''
Beaming at him, Hermione carried on up the stairs, only stopping once she was in her room. Running to the window, she looked around for Hedwig; Harry had promised she would be there. Seeing the white owl, she let her into the room and scribbled a quick note.
It worked! How fantastic is that? I'm meeting Voldemort tonight. I don't know where which is a bit of a bummer. He's sending a portkey, but for next time, we can make a tracking device. Then you'll be able to follow us. As soon as I get back, I'll send you a message and we can meet and discuss all events. Stay safe while I'm gone. Mione x
Harry let the note fall into the fire. ''Ron, she's doing it again. She's so thrilled to be useful and succeeding that she's forgotten that she is going to have to meet Voldemort.''
The redhead tipped his head back against the sofa. ''We can't go and see her, can we? Malfoy'll twig that something's wrong.''
Harry nodded. ''How could she have forgotten everything about Voldemort? If she makes a single wrong move, or gives a single thing away, then she's dead.''
''Harry, she's amazingly clever, she isn't going to let anything slip. And Voldemort will think that she's under the influence of that potion, so he won't give her Veritaserum. Harry, what's wrong?''
Harry had gone as white as a sheet. ''Ron. Ron, Voldemort knows legilimency.''
Hermione was blissfully unaware of the panic of her friends. She had completely forgotten about Voldemort's mind reading powers, and while she was scared about meeting him, the thrill of the chase was getting to her. She was on the road to success and she wasn't going to give in now. Smoothing down the tight black trousers and black t-shirt she had on, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and slipped on a black robe over the top. Carefully drawing on a thick line of black kohl around her eyes, she coated her lashes in mascara and pattered down to the Common Room. Draco stared at her: the way she had outlined her eyes was making them glow like precious stones. Holding out the portkey (a thick book), he gestured for her to grab hold of it. A minute later, she felt the familiar jerk behind her navel and the next minute had landed in the cavern that she had seen in Draco's memory.
Draco was already standing up, and she took the hand that he extended and let him pull her to her feet. He had put on his mask, and the eerie features creeped her out so much that she suddenly realised what she had gotten herself into. Her heartbeat picked up so much that she was sure everyone else could hear it. It felt as though it were about to burst out of her chest. A sense of dread enveloped her and caught in her throat as the adrenaline rushed through her body. She noticed the other Deatheaters watching her and straightened her shoulders.
I've got this far. I'm damn well not going to fall at the last post. Raising her chin, she felt the reassuring shape of her wand, at easy reach, and looked towards the front of the cavern. At that moment, Voldemort swept out. All the Deatheaters fell to their knees, and Hermione swallowed the bitter feeling in her mouth and joined them, bowing her head to stare at the floor. She saw Voldemort's robes in front of her, bringing cold air with them and bent her head even further.
''Miss Granger'' the 's' was exaggerated in the 'miss'. ''We are honoured by your presence.''
''Not nearly as much as I am to be here and in your presence my Lord.'' She instinctively knew what she had to say.
''But what brings you from the side of the wondrous Mr Potter.''
''I have been seriously misguided my Lord. Potter holds no charm for me.''
''I doubt that Potter holds much charm for anyone.''
Hermione remained still, not sure what was expected of her. Should she join in with savaging Potter, or would that mark her out as too keen? ''A loser never does hold much charm my Lord.''
She breathed in relief as he chuckled evilly. ''Raise your head Miss Granger.''
Composing her features, Hermione raised her face. She met the red gaze for a few seconds before letting her gaze hover more meekly in the region of his neck. ''What an intriguing face you have Miss Granger.''
''Thank you for your kind consideration of it My Lord.''
''Hypnotizing eyes. Almost similar to those of a vampire.''
Oh Merlin! Is he planning to turn me into a vampire? I can't get past that one. Hermione fought down her panic and let a look of adoration play about her face.
''So, what do you plan to do for me Miss Granger?''
''My Lord, I have long been referred to as the brightest witch of my generation. I wish to bring my powers to your service, puny though they are in comparison to yours. If I can do anything to assist your rise to power, I will consider myself extremely lucky.''
''Impressive Miss Granger. But I have only ever seen your powers when they are thwarting me. Perhaps you would care to show me what you can do that would aid me.'' It was not a request but a command. Pulling her wand out of her pocket, Hermione fixed her gaze on a large boulder in front of her.
''Briser tranchante!'' she commanded and let a violent purple light escape her wand. It thudded into the boulder, which promptly shattered into a thousand sharp daggers. Each flung itself through the air to pause at a Deatheater's chest. She turned to Voldemort. ''With one more motion of my wand I could kill all of your followers. Now imagine me turning that power on Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I can perform that spell on anything – even water will turn to ice shards underneath it.''
Voldemort looked meditatively at his followers. ''Where did you hear that spell?''
''I made it up myself my Lord.''
''Once again, Miss Granger, impressive. However, I cannot quite shake the impression that you are holding something back from me.''
Hermione and Draco both breathed in sharply. ''What must I do to convince you my Lord?''
Please, everything depends on this.
Instead of answering, Voldemort turned his wand on her. ''Cruciatus.''
Hermione writhed in pain, screams echoing around the cavern. Releasing the curse after a minute, the Dark Lord watched her panting. As her defences were down, Voldemort began to slide inside her mind. Feeling his presence, Hermione instinctively filtered off memories of her plots with Harry and Ron and built the strongest wall that she could around them, desperately thinking that she wanted to join Voldemort. Conjuring up the most evil thoughts that she could, she tried to create future impressions of what she would be willing to do.
Voldemort stopped and withdrew. ''You were hiding something Miss Granger.''
Hermione's eyes widened, and she braced herself for the killing curse. Voldemort turned to his Deatheaters. ''she was hiding something. She is…'' a long pause followed as Hermione lay there, aching and waiting for her death ''innocent.''
What? Innocent?
''She has never killed. True, she has evil thoughts, but they have never been implemented.'' He turned back to Hermione and smiled, his red eyes glinting. ''but I do so enjoy a challenge. Corrupting Miss Granger will be highly enjoyable. Welcome to the Deatheaters.''