Lightening crackled across the sky, illuminating the purple trees that surrounded the meadow Hermione in which found herself. Turning on her heel, looking at the sky, she squinted. A red sun shone through the clouds only to be split by lightening and disappear behind a cloud. Droplets of water fell all around her, soaking and drenching her to a mind numbing cold. She shivered and began to walk to the woods, hoping that the rain would let up under the coverage of the oak trees.
Beneath the leafy coverage, she could hear the water beat on the tops of the trees, and occasionally a few drops would find their way down to her.
'Hermione…' a voice said. She turned suddenly and saw nothing and a strange chill took her over.
'Hermione…' the voice said again and she took off in a run, trying to get away from the chill. The sun started to show through the thick branches.
"Do you think she'll ever wake up Milord?" Bella's voice was soft in the evening and the Dark Lord picked up a brown lock of hair belonging to the Corpus Tutela lying on the black silk bed. The Dark Lord nodded his head and smiled, a strange glint reaching his eyes.
"She'll wake up soon enough. She's dreaming right now." His voice hissed back to his follower.
Hermione's eyes fluttered and a frightened moan escaped her lips. Her brow tightened into a knot and the moans turned to frightened gasps.
It felt like the world was closing in on her, choking her. Rustling came through the trees and an unknown force swept her backwards, causing her to land in a patch of leaves. Chuckling could be heard now; nearly hyperventilating Hermione stretched out her right hand, and wished for something… anything to protect her. A glow filled her hand, and slowly a dagger appeared. Clenching it, Hermione crawled to her feet, and waited for the attack.
Imagine Voldemort and Bella's surprise when a knife materialized out of nowhere only to land in Hermiones outstretched palm. Both wizard and witch backed away from the sleeping girl only to watch her arc the knife up in the air, and come down in a gleaming slash. Both could have sworn that they heard a scream somewhere in the distance. They glanced at each other and went forward. Hermiones knuckles were white and her fist was frozen around the knife. Voldemort pried the clenched hand open and took the knife from her, while Bella cooed to Hermione and soothed her hair, telling her how well she'd protect her Lord.
Hermione could feel the blood on her hands, blue fae blood dripping from her onto the forest floor. A relaxed feeling came over her and she blinked a couple of times. Slowly the forest vanished, and large faces began to come through the trees. Finally the trees disappeared and the faces came into focus. Voldemort and Bellatrix LeStrange stood over her, watching… and was that a worried expression on the overgrown snakes face? She couldn't tell, it was masked too fast. Bella however wasn't hiding her pleasure. The pleasure of an insane woman. She had a mad glint to her eye, only made more diabolical by the dark black hair cascading to her face. She had been pretty once… and in her madness, it seemed that she had become something that belonged in a painting of a dark forest.
"You're quite the talented little witch aren't you?" Bella asked softly, caressing Hermiones face with a cold elegant finger. Hermione shivered and looked at her in question.
"My dear, it seems you can summon things in your dreams as well as reality. This knife is a good example." Voldemorts voiced slithered across her skin like a snake as he held up a knife, no evidence of blood, but the glint of death still clung to it. Hermione shivered and began to stumble over her words.
"I… didn't… I… mean… I did… but I've never done… oh hell." She flung her arms up in exasperation then let them land on the bed with a 'fump'.
"You must be hungry." Bellas voice brought her out of her unhappiness for a moment and Hermione looked up before giving the slightest of nods and sitting up and getting a look around the room. Rich tapestries covered the windows, opened in the middle to let the view of the rain hitting the glass be seen. A fire roared at one end of the room, surrounded by plush couches. A table stood by a window, covered with papers and books that were filled with dark magic.
"Well then…" Voldemorts voice made Hermione turn to him. "I suppose that it would be best if Bella let us alone for awhile. You can eat, and I can talk."
Hermione tried not to grimace at the thought of listening to Voldemort speak, her head hurt too much. But she didn't want to say anything about it. Bella turned, snapped her fingers and a house elf appeared, bowing with a tray of food. Once again Hermione tried not to grimace. This house elf, who was apparently named Floppy due to his ears, reminded her of Dobby. From what Hermione knew, Dobby had been beheaded by the Malfoy's as soon as they had been given the chance.
Hermione took the food from the house elf and gave him a small smile before he popped away into the abyss.
"Eat.drink…" She heard Voldemort say, and without a moment's hesitation or worry that the food could be poisoned Hermione tucked in. Then Voldemort began to talk.
"Well… I suppose that it's safe to say that you won't be leaving my side for awhile… if ever." His triumph could be heard in his voice and Hermione tried to not choke on her pumpkin juice. "I believe, that tomorrow night there will be a dinner held with my inner court to announce you coming to my side."
At this point the thought ran through Hermiones head that she didn't exactly come to his side. More like someone spilled the beans on her, and someone else caused her to get a concussion so she was stuck by his side. The words stupid, snake, world, suck and ass were running through her head.
"Eventually my dear, I will marry you. Make no mistake about it… I will." This time Hermione did choke on her pumpkin juice and nearly spat it out at Voldemort, who had an amused cruel look on his face.
"You had to say that while I'm drinking something, didn't you?" Hermione accused him as Voldemorts eyes and mouth twisted into a mischievous grin.
"Oh naturally, I like watching you become surprised and alarmed. Though I can say that being covered in sticky pumpkin juice would not be an ideal situation for me. However, you knew it was coming… you should have been more prepared." His tone had changed to banter now, and Hermione gazed at him confused.
Why was he sounding playful? Hermione was really confused. She would have expected to of been crucioed by now. But… this was different. She was allowed to get even with him if he harmed her. Maybe that was what could possibly be keeping him at bay with his torture.
Hermione looked away from him and he chuckled. "My dear, you've had quite a week. I think that I will leave you to rest." He stood and bowed before leaving the room with a smirk.
Hermione sighed and finished her food before setting the tray on the bedside table. She curled up in the down comforter covering the bed and was soon fast asleep. Only in the early hours of the morning did she wake up to feel a cold arm wrapping around her, and hot breath on her neck. With a resigned sigh, she kept her eyes closed and drifted off in the arms of Lord Voldemort.