Author's note: Hey everyone! I am so sorry that I haven't updated sooner! School is already getting very demanding! Anyways, please enjoy this chapter and leave me a review to tell me your thoughts!

-Ari


Sitting cross legged on her bed, Hermione slowly opened her eyes darkness, only the slight sliver of the moon beam cutting through the gap of her curtain surrounded bed.

She paused for a moment and then breathed out deeply, unraveling herself and stretching out silently. Tonight was it. Tonight she was going to officially take the Dark Lord's place. In an instant, nervousness and doubt swept over her, but, she immediately pressed it back down and pushed it out of her system.

She crept out to the edge of the forbidden forest the same way she had done only a few nights before. When she saw Lucius standing near a large stone boulder, she paused, feeling the doubt snake through her again, and shook her head, erasing any leftover thoughts of fear and doubt.

Standing up straight, she walked briskly towards him. When she reached him, they acknowledged each other, then he apparted them to the manor.

They landed in front of the ominous, looming gates with a loud 'crack'. Surprising even herself by landing gracefully, Hermione attributed her solid landing to the numerous hours of agility training.

She followed him up the winding path towards the front door, which upon their arrival, was opened by a house elf. Hermione almost missed it, when she passed the elf, but she swung back around, and noticed that the elf had on regular clothing instead of the usual pillowcase.

Confused she was about to ask Lucius when he filled in, "Ah yes, I figured ever since what happened with Dobby, it was wise to free all the house elves and pay them for their services, but they all stayed on their own accord." As he finished his sentence, she noticed that he gave the house elf a small smile, which was retuned.

Smiling and shaking her head in amazement, she smiled to the elf, who returned it with a friendly smile. She followed him through the dark and winding corridors.

When they emerged, she took in the sight of the meeting room, wide and open with dark emerald green walls, ebony high backed chairs and various other dark furniture. The windows were covered in heavy darkened silvery grayish satin curtains that blocked out any and all sources of light, which she found strangely comforting.

They continued through various dark, winding hallways and up many staircases until they reached a simple but still ornate door with a silver handle.

Lucius stopped instead of reaching for the handle and Hermione nearly crashed into his back.

"He is waiting for you." he said with a grave expression.

She took a deep breath, straightened up, and stepped forward. Taking one more steadying breath, she placed her hand on the shiny silver ornate handle and twisted it, pushing the door open.

When Hermione stepped through, she noticed black curtains closed on the high windows and was beginning to suspect that the entire manor had those, everything else was in dark hues of blackened tones.

Her eyes finally landed on the bed, where the Dark Lord in the form of Tom Riddle was propped up against the black headboard by plush pillows encased in black silk. His eyes, following her every move, were a deep crimson color that looked as if they had dulled and lost their fire.

They simply stared at each other for a while, then he spoke, in a voice that used to hiss with menace but now was a low rasping sound, "So this is you. My successor. The ever so bright Hermione Granger. The mudblood. The most intelligent student to attend Hogwarts since myself." he paused, "best friend to Harry Potter. One third of the esteemed 'Golden Trio'. Said to be on the side of light…" he trailed off.

"But we both know that's not true anymore is it Miss Granger, otherwise you would not have accepted my offer, a few months before."

His still piercing gaze locked with hers, she responded, "The side of light," she spat, "is foolish, they have no idea what real military strategies are, they don't understand what's it's like to use anything as a weapon, and I would be ashamed to be any way a part of something so idiotic." she finished with a sneer.

He smirked ever so slightly, "Ah, Miss Granger, you have anger in you. Good, let it be one other thing that will drive you towards your goal, but never allow it to control you."

Silence hung between them as she absorbed what he said.

Suddenly, she asked, "Why did you choose me? It should have been someone else." she glanced down at her feet, then said quietly, "A pureblood."

"You were the only one I picked, I never considered anyone else."

At his statement, her head snapped up, she furrowed her eyebrows, "But why me?"

Instead of answering her question, he beckoned her forwards with one frail hand, and wheezed out, seemingly in pain, "Come!"

Once she approached his bedside, he grasped her cold hand in his equally cold one and rasped out, voice straining, "My time is done, the throne is now yours," he inhaled a shuddering breath, and with the last of his strength, "my powers are now yours. You will do me and our side proud, you will tear the side of light asunder, you will give the dark it's long awaited glory," his tapped out for a millisecond, and then he spoke what she was sure to be his last words, she gripped his hand tightly, and he gathered the final remnants of his strength, and gave her an almost proud smile, "You will do all those and more, because you have more potential than anyone, you are worthy… I chose you because you are worthy."

She felt a blast of power, streaming from him into her through their conjoined hands.

After what felt like hours, the haze settled and she gasped, taking heaving breaths of air, feeling as if she had a huge power boost.

Still reeling in shock from his last words, 'You are worthy.' it took her a moment to notice that his grip on her hand had gone slack.

She gently removed her hand and placed his by his side, "I promise to bring our side to greatness once again and do you proud." she whispered, standing up and wiping away tears.

Turning and leaving the room, she found Lucius standing outside the corridor, pacing, with a concerned expression.

He nearly jumped when he took in her appearance, "Oh gods." He breathed.

"What?!"

"Your eyes!"

Eyes widening, "I need a mirror!"

As soon as she said that, an elf popped in holding a small hand held mirror and gave it to her.

Holding it up to her face, she almost jumped in fear and shock as well.

"But-but how did that happen?"

"He gave you all his powers." Lucius breathed out with amazement.