Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns and profits from the creation of Harry Potter; I do not.

The Bond Servant

Chapter Nine

Hermione woke up the next morning to see that she had been placed in her bed, still in her dark dress robes. The last thing she remembered was crying as Abraxas Malfoy, of all people, held her. She was unsure how long she had cried before falling asleep, though she did vaguely remember him carrying her into the house.

Sitting up in bed, she could easily see that her small bedroom was empty, save herself. She glanced at the clock, seeing that it was two hours after her report time for St. Mungo's, and cursed as she ran to her wardrobe. She had forgotten to set an alarm.

Running downstairs in her uniform, she came to a quick halt upon seeing that Abraxas was seated on her couch. "Uhm… hi," she said, quietly, looking at him in surprise.

He nodded in response. "Good morning. Do not worry about work today. I contacted Healer Forsythe and told him you were under the weather. You are off for the day but expected back tomorrow."

"I… uhm… thank you?"

"Is that a statement or question?" he asked, stoic except for the miniscule glint of playfulness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just had expected you to return to Malfoy Manor," she replied, taking the last few steps down to the landing. "Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"

Abraxas raised an eyebrow. "It is half past ten. I have been up for several hours, and the elves from the manor already supplied me with breakfast."

Hermione nodded, stupidly, unsure why Abraxas was still at her home at all. The question must have shown on her face.

"After last night's… events, I thought it important that we have a conversation," he said, confidently. "Twinkie!" When the house elf appeared, Abraxas continued. "Please fetch Miss Elias a cup of tea, as well as one of those blueberry scones that she likes so much and a few eggs cooked over hard, extra crispy."

Hermione sat down in the arm chair facing the couch, her eyes meeting never straying from Abraxas. "Thank you," she sat, quietly, surprised that he had taken note of what her favorite things for breakfast were. "What do you want to talk about, specifically? Do you want Adeline to be here, too?"

Abraxas shook his head. "No, I already told her what I had decided when I flooed her to say I would be staying the night here."

"You slept here?" she asked, befuddled.

He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips slightly, in a way that looked so much like Lucius when he was annoyed that she had to suppress a smirk. "I do require sleep occasionally. I typically try to sleep at least once in a twenty-four hour period."

She rolled her eyes, and continued to stare at him, waiting for him to broach whatever he wanted to talk about.

"It is not often that I have to admit to being wrong. Usually, I am not wrong. Occasionally, I am wrong but never admit to it. Rarely, like today, I am forced to concede by error in judgement."

"And how were you wrong?" she asked, hoping that he had finally seen the light.

"With great fear of the words 'I told you so', as I am sure Adeline will take care of that wifely duty later, I must admit that Lord… the Dark Lord is what you have said he is. Watching him, last night… it is clear that he is unhinged and enjoys inflicting pain. As a result of that revelation, I find that I am unable to support him any longer."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I am sure that you know it isn't as easy as just saying that you don't want to serve him anymore." She looked at the Dark Mark, still fresh and angry, branded in her forearm. She then looked to his, mirroring hers perfectly.

"Yes. Due to that unfortunate fact, I have decided that I wish to be forced to serve him for as short a period of time as possible. I wish to join the resistance in an effort to kill him, as you rightly assumed was necessary," he responded, lowly.

Hermione smiled, exhaling. "I am very relieved to hear you say that," she said, quietly.

"I am not sure if I feel any relief, more trepidation. I am sure you are aware that what he did to those muggles last night will look like child's play to what he would do to us if we were caught."

She nodded, solemnly. "I am well aware."

"I also feel as if I will have an extra responsibility within the ranks. What happened last night… you struggled. You almost lost your bearing when Antonin finished the boy, and the amount of anger you expressed to Bellatrix, it worries me."

Hermione looked down, feeling tears fighting to form. "I… I didn't imagine he could do it so calmly like that. And then… with Bellatrix, I just couldn't take it anymore. It all built up, and I was so angry that it was…"

He held up a hand. "I understand. She has baited you since the moment you met her and combined with everything you witnessed last night, you snapped. Snapping is not acceptable though. I suspect you will have to do things you aren't proud of, just like I will, but you need to fight not to take joy from it. If you learn to enjoy it, you risk losing yourself to the darkness."

She nodded, "Yes, I'll try not to…"

"You will do better than try. You will not lose yourself like that again. Am I understood, Hera?" His voice was strong and authoritative. For once, she found herself bowing her head and acknowledging his power in this situation. He was right.

"Yes, sir," she said, quietly.

He nodded, standing. "I understand you might be hesitant to share your… zealousness… with the Order. I will not tell them of the slip. In the future, look to me if you are struggling. I will help if I can. Now, I must be going. Adeline has set up a meeting for me with your leader. I was told I will have my questions and concerns answered. We will talk soon?"

Hermione nodded, standing as well. She walked Abraxas to the door and opened it wide for him. "Thank you, Abraxas… for everything you are willing to do for us and for me."

"You're welcome." He was about to turn around and walk away when Hermione reached out reflexively, hugging him tightly. He didn't respond for a moment before delicately raising his arms and hugging her back. How many people would have been able to watch what she did last night and not demonize her? Even attempt to understand her?

Hermione let go after a moment and stepped back, blushing. "I… I am sure I will hear from you soon."

Abraxas nodded, and she watched him as he walked out of her warded area. She was almost sad to see him go.


Hermione shied away from her adult friends for a while after the night of initiation. The Order had been informed of the bare minimum of details, glossing over how harshly she had punished Bellatrix. Dumbledore seemed to know more had happened, but he did not question her.

Abraxas had become a stringent supporter of her since learning that she was a "seer". Considering any information from the Death Eater camp could be explained as having coming from Hera, only Roland, Adeline, and Dumbledore knew that Abraxas had turned spy. Abraxas had made a point of standing at Hera's side at all subsequent Death Eater meetings.

It wasn't a sought after position, it seemed, to be at her side. Bellatrix had not challenged her since. Hermione could still tell that she was angry and wanted revenge, but it was counterbalanced by her urge not to find herself on the wrong end of Hera's wand again. Cygnus had taken up a position at his daughter's shoulder, assuming the same protective position that Abraxas offered Hera. Rodolphus had initially tried to act like everything was normal, but he was noticeably skittish. Hermione was sure he half expected her to curse him at any second. The thought hurt.

Antonin had barely said two words to her in the past month. Given, he wasn't speaking much to anyone. He seemed to have retreated into himself a bit more. His father, unfortunately, did not. Vaughn, Cygnus, and Niall had taken to muggle baiting in their spare time. Hermione had been spared seeing any of it, but the three men eagerly talked about their conquests. Unfortunately, their zeal to hurt non-magicals seemed to be spreading. The murder of Eliyona's killer and his mother had ceased to be a topic of important conversation.

The only person even somewhat normal with her (despite Abraxas's new normal being welcomed) was Roderick. He had seemed to become even more interested in her since she tortured Bellatrix. He didn't seem turned on by it necessarily, but he definitely had upped his efforts to win her over.

Despite Abraxas being at her side during meetings, Roderick would speak flirtatiously with her, ignoring the older man's glare. When they met up for their dates, he was becoming bolder, occasionally trying to grab her hand or drape an arm over her shoulders. She tried to discourage him whenever possible, but she was thinking that the last three months would be unbearable compared to the first three.

Her feelings were not helped by the impending arrival of Lucius. The Malfoy heir was coming home on the 23rd for a clandestine meeting with herself and Dumbledore to check his shields. If he was deemed adequate, Hermione would start to lay out the facts for him. She planned to start small and give him a break when it was needed, saving whatever information that was left for March.

She had already promised herself that she would refuse to accept his proposal without him knowing her real name. Hermione Granger. That was the name she wanted him to whisper in her ear as they bound themselves to each other for the rest of their lives, not the name she had assumed out of necessity.

After their meeting, she would return with him to Russia. She would only stay for a little over a week, greatly occupying herself while he worked during the day and touring the country with him at night and on the weekends.

She was greatly pleased to not be forced to attend the Malfoy Ball that Christmas. Its guest list was turning decidedly darker, and she did not feel like wearing her mask at the moment. She had already informed the Dark Lord of her plans, and he had accepted them readily enough. Abraxas mentioned a deep-seated desire to cancel the whole thing, but she knew that he wouldn't because of how it would look.

School was speeding by without much worry on her part. Her lesson plans from the previous year were in use again, and her students were enthusiastically participating.

Sirius and Regulus seemed to have a tentative relationship within the school without Bellatrix in attendance. They seemed almost as happy as Hermione was that the new Lady Lestrange had no reason to grace the halls of Hogwarts. This Christmas, they had both decided to stay at the school, a fact which thrilled Sirius.

James and the other Marauders were going to be going home for the holidays, but Sirius was staying in hopes to build his relationship with his brother. Severus was also staying, being warned by his mother than his father was angry and still struggling to find another job.

And so it was the 23rd of December, and Hermione was waiting at the edge of Hogsmeade, eager for Lucius to arrive by portkey. Dumbledore was already waiting for them in the mostly quiet castle, and they planned to stay the night in her guest quarters before taking the portkey back to Russia in the morning. She tapped her foot impatiently, looking in either direction. She wasn't sure exactly where he would land.

A strange popping sound met her ears, and she turned in direction to see Lucius standing next to an oak tree. Immediately, she ran the twenty feet or so to him and jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She kissed him enthusiastically for a moment before pulling back and looking at him.

He grinned, and she ran her hands over his chest and arms. "I think you are getting sexier and sexier every time I see you," she whispered, feeling his taut muscles beneath her roaming fingers.

He smirked, leaning in to kiss her again. "Well, I can't have you choosing that bastard Nott because you think he is sexier. I had to step up my game."

Hermione rolled her eyes, taking his hand. "Come on, Dumbledore is expecting us."

They rushed across the grounds, both anxious to get the meeting over with. Hermione had already discussed with Lucius what she wanted. Dumbledore would check Lucius's mental fortifications, and if they were found to be strong enough they would both inform him that Dumbledore was the head of the resistance. Then, Hermione would take him back to her quarters to tell him that she was actually a spy. She would also tell him that the Order knew her to be a seer, so they relied on her information. If that went well and he didn't seem too overwhelmed, she would tell him the full truth. She was time traveler, not a seer. She was tempted to hold off on telling him anymore, but she had lied to him for long enough. She wasn't sure how he would handle it if it went too much longer.

They went up the rotating staircase, and Hermione knocked on the headmaster's door before going in. Albus was seated at his desk, smiling at them. "Hera, Mr. Malfoy. It is good to see you again. Hera tells me that she wishes to share some privileged information with you?"

Lucius nodded, calmly. She was quite sure that he had already gathered that the headmaster would be part of the resistance. Of course, she would have been more surprised if he hadn't been involved.

"Very well, Lucius. Please take a seat. I am afraid that in order to test your shields, I will have to go in as if I am very eager to get the information. It will most likely hurt. Do you understand why?"

Lucius nodded again, looking slightly nervous at the thought. "Yes, headmaster. I believe I am prepared."

Albus smiled. "Wonderful. Hera, would you mind pouring us a few cups of tea?"

Hera nodded, walking to the small table to the side of the room that always had the necessities. "Two sugars and a touch of cream, Lucius?"

When Lucius turned his head toward Hera to respond, Albus struck. "Legilimens!" he said, quickly.

Lucius's face screwed up in pain as his head jerked back to the headmaster. The two men stared at each other for several tense minutes, as Hermione watched. Lucius was gripping the arms of the chair so tightly that his knuckles were white.

Eventually, the headmaster pulled back, eyes twinkling. "Mr. Malfoy, I apologize for my roughness, but I thought it would be best to attempt to catch you unawares."

Lucius's nose twitched in annoyance, just as his father's did. "Yes," he said, snappishly. Dumbledore only smiled a bit more.

"The verdict, headmaster?" Hermione asked, nervously.

Albus nodded to her. "Lucius seems to have picked up his mother's natural talent in this area. His shields are better than yours, I believe, if truly pressed."

He looked at Lucius, then. "You could also look into learning Legilimency, Mr. Malfoy. I think you could have talent there as well, and it can be a useful tool."

Lucius nodded, smiling at Hera. "Finally! No more secrets," he said, exhaling slowly.

Albus smiled at Hera, "Perhaps that tea would still be helpful, Hera?"

Hermione smiled in return. "Headmaster, I think Lucius is already aware of what your part is in this. He will only need confirmation. Then, I would prefer to go ahead and explain the rest in private. I am sure he will likely be in touch with you."

Lucius looked to Albus and raised an eyebrow.

The headmaster smiled, "Very well. Mr. Malfoy, I am the head of the resistance against Lord Voldemort."

Hermione hissed lightly, fighting the urge to rub at her arm, and Albus looked at her apologetically before continuing. "I have gathered a rather powerful group of people willing to fight against him. If you are willing to join, you would be most welcome to do so. Unfortunately, the secrets as to its membership and other things will have to be temporarily kept from you, until you are willing to make an oath to protect us and our secrets. Hera, as the one bringing you in, is the one other order member you are allowed to know of at this time, but she is free to share information regarding her position and other things she deems necessary under a vow."

Lucius nodded. "I understand, headmaster. Thank you for the information. I am sure I will contact you upon returning from Russia, if not before."

Albus smiled. "Wonderful… With that being said, you can go speak privately. I do encourage you to have temperance, though, Mr. Malfoy. Hera is very valuable, and all that she has done as been for the betterment of society as a whole and several people in particular. Try to understand and not act rashly."

Lucius looked slightly confused at that but nodded, standing from his seat. "Thank you for your time and efforts, headmaster," he said politely, taking Hermione's hand once more. Hermione waved at Albus as he pulled her from the office.


Upon arriving in her small quarters, she showed Lucius to the couch while she poured them each a brandy. Handing it to him, she sat hers down on the small coffee table. "I have ran over how to tell you what I need to several times, and I have decided that there is no good way. So, I am going to tell you in steps. There is a lot that I have been keeping from you out of necessity. If I feel like you are becoming overwhelmed, I will request we wait a few days so you can process it before I add more."

Lucius nodded, looking curious as he reached out to grab her hand. "Go ahead," he encouraged.

Hermione smiled. "Before we begin, there is one vow I need you to make about the revelation of a single order member. This person you can trust to answer any additional questions you have as well as help explain the story. I already received permission to tell you," she said.

Lucius nodded again and held out his wand. "I, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, will not give out the identity of Order Members without express permission of its leadership." The gold sparks formed, and Hermione smiled and took a deep breath.

"I am sure you are under the assumption that the headmaster approached me about joining the resistance. I am afraid you would be incorrect about that. I am the actual founding member of the resistance, having brought the subject up to the headmaster years before he would have thought it up himself."

Lucius looked surprised by that, his pale eyes wide as he stared at her. She smiled, taking his hand once more.

"I'm sure you are wondering how I knew that the Dark Lord would be such a threat, even before Dumbledore. In truth, I know that he would be a threat and that his rise to power would cause destruction because I have already seen it happen. Hundreds will die if he is left unchecked. He will brutally fight and kill, ordering those that fight for him to do the same. Hogwarts thirty years from now will see a first year class that absolutely dwarfs what we have now due to the sheer amount of death."

Lucius looked startled at that, and his skin had paled. "What… what do you mean that you have Seen it happen?"

Hermione smiled. This was something she had counted on and hoped for. As outlandish as the idea of a Seer was, a time traveler was even more so.

"The resistance all knows me to be a Seer. I am sorry to keep information like this from you, but surely you must understand the danger someone who knows the future would be in if the Dark Lord found out? The entirety of the order is under an unbreakable vow not to give out that information."

"I… and because you knew what Lord Voldemort would do…"

Hermione winced but ignored the pain. "Because I knew the damage he would cause, I reached out to the headmaster to form the resistance before it would have been otherwise. The things I know are things that will happen without intervention. What I know is not inevitable. The resistance would have been formed later, when the Dark Lord was tired of hiding."

"The headmaster has been working with me since I arrived at Hogwarts to help prevent casualties. It is the reason that we had the dueling competition, and it is the reason I am the dueling instructor. We are hoping that, if prepared, more people will be willing to fight, or at least have a hope of defending themselves."

Hermione stopped, looking at her lover. Lucius looked completely floored by the information.

"A seer…"

Hermione sidestepped for the moment. "That first Christmas Ball, when I met the Dark Lord, I had a severely adverse reaction. I ran from the ballroom into the family living room, and your mother found me throwing up there. I decided that she deserved to know and that she could greatly help, so I had her arrange a meeting for us with Dumbledore. I told her I was a Seer there, and she wished to join the resistance I was forming."

"My… my mother?"

Hermione squeezed his hand, "Yes. The things I know are often centered on specific people. There are people that I have absolutely no knowledge about, which is sometimes a hindrance. I did, however, know exactly what your family was in for if I did nothing. It is one of the reasons I was sponsored by your family to begin with."

"What did you know about us?" Lucius said, blinking far more often than was usual.

"Nothing much about yours parents… I knew Abraxas was going to join the Dark Lord. He would then lead you to do the same. You would marry Narcissa and have a son who would be forced to join them as well. The Dark Lord would punish you horrifically for displeasing him. On his orders, you would torture, murder… perhaps rape, though that is just a suspicion. You would eventually come to greatly regret joining and the position your family had been put in, but it wouldn't stop you from eventually being sent to Azkaban. You would die there, hated by society, with the only person to really care about you being your son. The man I saw… I don't think I could have loved him."

Lucius looked a bit green at that. "But… but that won't happen now?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Not unless you let it. I don't know what will happen to you, but you have already diverged from the path I saw for you."

He pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, love… thank you."

Hermione hugged him back. "I love you, Lucius… there's more…"

He pulled away, surprised. "More?! Just how many secrets do you have?"

She looked down, knowing this next part would be harder on him. "As you noticed, the Dark Lord has taken an interest in me. That night that I got drunk and you left? A few days after Eliyona's funeral? He approached me at St. Mungo's. He told me he saw great potential in me and wished for me to join him. He also made it somewhat clear that refusing would not be taken well. I would have died."

Lucius stood up. His skin had taken on a sickly hue. "You didn't! Hera! Tell me you didn't!"

Hermione sighed, "I had to. I… I am a spy for the resistance."

The anger came quickly. "So you think that it is okay to put yourself in my place?! Do the horrible things he would have had me do?! What have you done for him already, Hera?!"

Hermione looked at her lap, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "I had no choice," she said, quietly.

He stomped over to her and grabbed her arms, pulling her to stand in front of him. "Of course you had a choice! You could have run! I would have helped you! What… what does he do to you?!"

"I… he hasn't done anything to me yet. He knows I have a… difference of opinion as to torture. It is only expected of me to discipline anyone who questions the position he has given me. I haven't had to kill anyone. I think he takes joy from knowing that he is responsible for corrupting me, getting me to see his side of things."

That was true. She and Abraxas were almost certain that the only reason the Dark Lord tolerated her lack of eagerness was because he liked "mentoring" her into being more like him. Sadly, she thought he might be making headway with that mission. She was sure Bellatrix would agree.

"Who else?! Who has joined him? My father?!"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Though I don't think his heart is in it. And… Antonin. Rodolphus. Roderick. Bellatrix. A good majority of the Slytherins that graduated with us."

Lucius paced. "He'll come for me next, then…"

Hermione shook her head. "No… I made him promise to leave you be unless you approached him. I told him you were mine, and he agreed to it. He won't touch you as long as I am alive."

"As long as you are alive?! And what else does he expect of you? I bet you are fucking him… oh, wait, that must be why Nott wants you. If you are good enough for the damned Dark Lord you are good enough for him. And what? Will you fuck him to maintain your cover!? WOULD YOU?!" The last was screamed into her face, and she lurched back, unused to hearing such aggression from him and ashamed of what he was accusing her of. Did he really think that of her?

"I… I… I've been with no one except you. The Dark Lord doesn't want me like that. And Roderick, he's being gentlemanly…"

"GENTELMANLY! If he is willingingly serving Lord Voldmort, he's a bloody psychopath!" Hermione was so upset she barely took note of the burning in her forearm at hearing the Dark Lord's name.

"He just wants to make his position better with the Dark Lord! I don't think he actually wants me, and he is well aware of the fact that I plan to dismiss him at the earliest opportunity! Lucius, I just want you! Support me in this!"

Lucius kicked the coffee table over violently and walked toward the portrait. When he spoke, it was quiet and serious. "I don't want to be involved with someone who has such little value for their own life… for the life we could build together. Perhaps if Roderick is so gentlemanly, you should accept his proposal! Stay here for Christmas."

He then opened the portrait door and stepped out, slamming it shut in his wake.

Hermione fell to her knees in tears.


Author's Note: 23 wonderfully kind reviews! Each one of them made my day(s), and I was happy to hear from a lot of new readers! Please keep them coming. As to this chapter, I am sure that people are possibly upset. Sorry. On the other hand- not sorry. I have the added advantage of knowing what is coming. On that note, with Chapter Ten you can look forward to Hermione's altered Christmas plans as well as some quality time with Roderick and Lord Voldemort. Yay! (I'm already wincing at the reviews I am expecting to get for this.)