"Headmaster surely you are not going to stand for this kind of juvenile behaviour!"
Dumbledore looked up at Snape and gave a faint shrug. "It seems we have no choice unless you think Mr. Wood would make a decent permanent addition to my decor?"
Chapter 20
Hermione's hands were clenched at her sides and she stared unabashedly up at Lord Voldemort. Like the sane person she was, she was terrified at what she had just done, but there was no sense in letting him know that. Hermione had expected him to strike her back or curse her at least, but instead Lord Voldemort just gazed down at her with a cool demeanour. Everyone else's eyes darted between the two figures, waiting for someone to make the crucial first move.
Lord Voldemort's pale lips curled up into a small smirk and his eyes never left Hermione as he spoke. "Malfoy, Knott take Hermione back to my chambers and guard the door."
"Yes My Lord." The two Death Eaters muttered in unison.
"Oh there is no way I am leaving you down here with them." Hermione protested, stepping back into the cell with her friends. "They stay, I stay."
"I do not recall giving you a choice my dear."
"Since when do I listen?" Hermione sneered. Sirius wrapped an arm around Hermione protectively and Remus' hand was resting lightly on the pocket holding his wand.
"Apparently the sleeping arrangements will be changed." He said lightly.
"Surely you do not wish to stay down in this dungeon." Voldemort ignored Remus and spoke to Hermione.
"Hmmm let me think." Hermione tilted he head. "In a dank, depressing dungeon with people I love or a luxurious bedroom with you...I'm sorry I don't see the question in there."
Lord Voldemort sighed and nodded to his Death Eaters. "If you must always make things difficult...,"
Sirius's hold tightened and all four had their wands out, ready to fight. Hermione looked at them; steely eyed and determined, and knew this would only end in bloodshed. Their bloodshed. She patted Sirius' arm and smiled. "It's okay."
"What? Hermione what are you doing?" Sirius growled, keeping her held close.
"It's not worth it." She said, pulling herself free of his grasp. "It's not worth any of you getting hurt."
"You can't be serious...'Mione." Harry protested grimly. "Don't do this."
Hermione turned to Lord Voldemort and held her head high. "Since you broke your promise to not cast an Unforgiveable on Harry; I want to be allowed down here whenever I want."
"I broke my promise?" The Dark Lord asked lightly, leaving Hermione with the chilling
feeling he was plotting something.
"Yes." She snapped. "You did, for every promise you break I get to make a rule."
"Very well."
"So I'll be allowed into the dungeons?
"With an escort; it can be arranged." Lord Voldemort nodded shortly and before she could argue again, Hermione was grabbed by Lucius and Knott and lead out of the dungeons. She heard shouts behind her and spells cracking against the stone wall. She kicked and struggled all the way up the stairs, punching and elbowing anything in reach.
"Get your hands off of me!"
Her elbow made contact with a soft stomach and her right arm was free. Hermione glanced to see Knott doubled over and Lucius smirking. "She's got good aim." He mused.
"Let go or I'll do the same to you...Only lower." Hermione hissed turning to face the blonde Death Eater.
"Is that a threat?" Lucius asked, grabbing Hermione by the elbows and jerking her into his body.
"It's a promise." She spat bringing her knee sharply up to keep her word. Malfoy's hands dropped quickly and Hermione continued evenly up the stairs. She had no intention of running and leaving her friends behind; she just wanted to prove a point.
"Mudblood cow!" Lucius' enraged voice called behind her.
Hermione smiled, but did not stop. "Honestly Lucius keep up with times; it's Angelic cow now."
She sidled into the Slytherin infested bedroom and pulled her sweater off. She was covered in grime from just standing in the dungeon, sweat from her transformation, but above all else she could feel Lord Voldemort's touch all over her. She stripped off and propped her suitcase up against the bathroom door before standing under the cleansing water. Hermione knew it was too hot and her skin turned a bright shade of pink, but she couldn't care less. Lord Voldemort was all over her and, even if it meant scolding her skin to the point of blisters, she had to get him off.
Hermione sat with her head resting on her drawn up knees for twenty minutes before she finally opened her eyes and allowed tears to mingle with water. Her original terror and apprehension were now replaced with pure guilt. Remus, Ron and Sirius would be taunted and probably tortured by Death Eaters while she couldn't even imagine would happen to Harry and Hermione knew it was her fault.
"I should have slapped myself." She murmured bitterly. "Talking to myself...That's a good sign." She sighed and groped for the taps through the steam. Once the water stopped Hermione wrapped a towel around her long curls and dried her body in a kind of daze. Her skin was tingling painfully from the hot shower, but the sensation barely registered. Pain was becoming all too common now, it seemed to have less of an effect. She dug out a pair of white cargo pants and a blue singlet before unwrapping her hair and proceeding to brush it slowly, too carefully while her thoughts wandered.
The door closing snapped Hermione back and the brush stilled in her partially dried hair. She stared at her own pale reflection before pulling the lavish curls up into a loose ponytail and waiting stubbornly in front of the mirror. "You can come to me." She said, frowning as she conversed with herself again.
The bathroom door flew open, flinging her suitcase into the back wall with a loud thud, and the irate figure of Lord Voldemort advanced menacingly towards Hermione. She did not have the chance to so much as blink as his spindly hands grabbed her arms and slammed her roughly against the shower wall. His fingers had created steel cages around her wrists and Hermione was unable to shield the shock from her features.
"What the hell are you doi---." She was cut off by a pair of cold lips viciously capturing her own. Hermione was too stunned to move at first, but she quickly kicked out; trying to push the giant snake off of her. Lord Voldemort responded by pinning Hermione with his body, rendering her caged.
He pulled his lips back and Hermione turned away in disgust, wiping her mouth on her shoulder. "That was disgusting." She groaned.
"Such harsh words my dear." Lord Voldemort whispered in her ear.
"Well if you like; they say actions speak louder than words...Move away and it'll be a bloody symphony in here."
He smirked. "I do believe I am winning, dear."
"Winning? Winning what?"
"Our little wager; your display in the dungeons only served to make things easier."
"What are you hissing about?" Hermione demanded, unsure if she was frightened or just plain annoyed.
Lord Voldemort pressed against her, his lips brushing her ear gently as he spoke. "They say a challenge can be the greatest aphrodisiac."
Hermione's eyes turned to saucers and she stared at him in disbelief. "You don't have a chance in hell...Or heaven; wherever you're most uncomfortable."
"Once again; I was not asking permission."
"Love is not a one way street. You can't force someone to feel the same way you do." Hermione said, twisting her wrists.
"I believe I will be able to persuade you, in time, to see what it could be with me." Lord Voldemort said calmly.
His blatant confidence was irritating Hermione. "Thanks, but I have no intention spending my week torturing innocent people and then basking on a hot rock during the weekend."
The Dark Lord chuckled lightly and stared at the coffee coloured flame in Hermione's eyes, almost daring him to try something. Never one to back down from a dare, Lord Voldemort
slid his hands from Hermione's arms to her hips.
She grimaced as his bony fingers dug into her flesh. "Why are you doing this?" She hissed between clenched teeth. "That is not why you brought me here!"
"Think of it as an unexpected bonus."
"More like a booby trap."
"If you like."
"No, I don't like; that's the whole point." Hermione said, putting her hands on Voldemort's chest to push him back.
"You will." He shoved back, brushing his lips against Hermione's neck so that he was speaking against her soft skin. "I will make sure of that." He planted soft, almost tender kisses across her shoulders and down her regrettably exposed collar bone.
"Ugh get off me you twisted, deranged serpent!" Hermione turned her body to try and free herself of his lips, but Voldemort's body was keeping her pinned firmly against the wall. His breath tickled across her chest as he chuckled and kissed a faint trail back up to her ear.
"Struggle Hermione," He encouraged darkly. "It is not as disconcerting as you might believe to have you writhing beneath me."
Hermione shut her eyes tightly turned away; accidentally offering her milky white neck to the Dark Lord. As his lips worked down, over her pulse and he began to nip the tender skin where her neck and shoulder met, Hermione's mind kicked into to survival mode. She finally opened her eyes and looked around, immediately she caught a glimpse of the shower taps only inches away. Inches suddenly seemed like a massive distance, but her determination returned when a pair of lean, spidery hands slid her shirt up to her bottom pair of ribs. She felt the surprisingly soft material of Lord Voldemort's cloak against her bare skin as he ran his thumbs carefully across her waist. Hermione shifted her hand from his chest and reached out slowly, dragging her finger across the tile until they connected with wet metal. Without another second of hesitation, Hermione twisted the faucet and flattened herself against the wall as searing hot water rained down.
Lord Voldemort's grip loosened and he ducked from under the showerhead, giving Hermione enough space to kick him square in the chest and bolt from the bathroom. She could still feel the invisible trail Voldemort had left on her body and swiped at the hidden marks, trying to rub them off.
"Not enough disinfectant in the world!" She cried, swatting a vase from atop the mantle in her anger.
Lord Voldemort leaned in the bathroom doorway, completely dry and wearing a satisfied smirk. "Such a resourceful little angel you are."
Hermione glared at him and sneered. "Shouldn't you be melting away?"
"Ah, fortunately I am not a witch."
"Yeah, well neither am I." Hermione folded her arms stubbornly.
"That reminds me." Voldemort wandered forward, while Hermione backed off. He stopped and smiled, holding up his hands in a display of peace. "This is only business."
"Business?" Hermione cocked an eyebrow.
"You have my word."
She stared.
"If it is anything more I will give you a separate room." He sighed, knowing she would not take his word.
"Fine."
Lord Voldemort nodded his head just over shoulder. "Did you not notice your wings are missing?"
Hermione looked to the sides and saw he was right. When she changed back to her physical form the wings did not follow. "Where are they?"
"I cannot say, elder angels were known to hide their wings when they needed to blend in to society. However, it is an advanced skill." He frowned advancing slowly. Hermione curled her toes in an effort to stay still and not either kick him or run...Or both.
"So what, when I changed back I just left them behind?" She asked.
"Doubtful, perhaps you accidentally stumbled across this trick." Voldemort spun his finger in a gesture for Hermione to give him her back.
"Right and then how about you, Harry and I make 'Best Friends Forever' bracelets?"
"Must you be so difficult?"
"Excuse me?" Hermione grinned. "I'm difficult? Who just mauled who in the shower?"
He smiled. "Touché', but we agreed this is just business. So perhaps we can be civilized and professional about this?"
Hermione groaned and knew he was right. The sooner she got all of her angel issues dealt with, the sooner she and the others in the dungeon could go home. "Fine, but you start anything and I get that separate room, okay?"
"As you wish."
Hermione reluctantly faced the wall and jumped when her shirt was raised just below her bust. "Five seconds, that's the longest you can last?"
"I need to see your bare back Hermione, now be quiet." Hermione bit back her snide remarks as she felt the Dark Lord running his finger down the same line he had initially released her wings from. She felt something twitch beneath her skin as he finished and on some level she could feel the wings imbedded in her skin.
They're still there. She thought.
"My lord!" Lucius burst through the doors, causing Hermione to start for the second time in five minutes.
Lord Voldemort turned coldly to the Death Eater, who had promptly dropped to the floor. "Pray tell what is so urgent that you would risk your own life by bursting into my chambers unannounced?"
"It's the Potter boy." He cried, not daring to look up. "He provoked Avery and...and...,"
Hermione stepped forward and forgot who she was with for a moment. "And what, Lucius?" She demanded.
Unsure whether or not he should answer, Malfoy just open and closed his mouth like a stunned fish.
"Answer the young lady Malfoy." Voldemort said sounding quite amused at Hermione's gusto.
"My lord, you should come see for yourself." He muttered and all merriment left the Dark Lord's eyes as Hermione just gawked at the cowering servant.
"Very well." He said curtly and turned to Hermione. "Stay here, do not try to leave." He left before she could refuse. The second the door clicked shut Hermione was on the ground, cuddling her legs to her chest and crying silently against the material covering her knees.
"Please be okay Harry, be okay. You have to be okay." She chanted, terrified.
Ron glared at the back of Lucius and Knott as they dragged Hermione kicking out the dungeons. They head her shout of protest promptly followed by a muffled grunt and groan of pain. Something in Harry's head told him it was Hermione who had done the hurting and his confidence welled back up; Hermione would be okay for now.
Remus on the other hand had calmly shirked off the man behind him and was now watching Voldemort as he examined his companions. "Your Death Eaters must be a little out of practice." He smiled.
"Oh, and what makes you say that?" Avery challenged.
"Well it sounds as though Hermione has removed your two fellow Death Eaters without much effort."
"You smart-ass mutt." Avery growled, advancing only to find Sirius' wand between his eyes.
"There's more than one canine-influenced person in the room Avery so I'd watch my mouth if I were you." He growled softly.
Remus pushed Sirius' arm down slowly and nodded. "It's all right Sirius, don't waste the effort."
Lord Voldemort watched the small scene play out without so much as a blink. Instead he examined their robes and how Ron and Sirius seemed to be quite damp compared to Harry and Remus, who were simply muddy. "How did you get here?" He asked.
Harry glared. "Like we'd tell you."
Lord Voldemort quirked an eyebrow, but did not say anything. Harry wondered what he was up to when his head suddenly felt as though it would split in two. He clapped a hand to scar and fell back against Ron.
"Harry! What's wrong?" He asked, shaking his messy haired friend.
Remus looked from the twitching boy to Voldemort and quickly added two and two together. "Stay out of his mind Voldemort."
The second Remus spoke his name Harry stopped shaking and Voldemort's gaze shifted. A short, stocky Death Eater marched forward. "You dare to speak the Dark Lord's name?" He gasped.
"Well obviously I do."
"You cannot speak his name! You have no right!"
"Rookie." Ron murmured and Harry gave a shaky nod.
"Did he stutter? We're not afraid to say it...Voldemort." Sirius ducked and threw his arms over his head as though expecting the roof to cave in. When nothing happened he stood up straight and let out a fake dramatic sigh. "That was close."
Remus didn't bother trying to hide a smile at the exasperated look on the fledgling's face. "Trainee?"
"Obviously." Lord Voldemort drawled. Knott came stumbling down the dungeon stairs and bowed before his Lord.
"My Lord, she has been contained." He said just loud enough for the prisoners to hear. "Lucius is guarding the door."
"Very well." Voldemort waved a hand lazily. "Go help him."
"Of course my Lord."
"Well it seems I have another guest to attend to." Lord Voldemort pocketed his wand and brushed off his cloak. "Do make yourselves at home; Wealsey that should not be too difficult for you."
"Git."
"What did you call the Dark Lord?"
Voldemort sighed as the sound of the overeager Death Eater followed him up the stairs.
Fawkes' faint sing-song cries filled the tense silence as Oliver Wood sat staring at his hands, dumbfounded. Dumbledore was studying his reaction over the top of his half-moon spectacles, while Snape was sulking by the fireplace.
"Mr. Wood?" Dumbledore coaxed gently. Oliver was too far away in his own mind to hear the Headmaster's calls. All he could think of was his Hermione, trapped in a manner somewhere with Lord Voldemort. His hands clenched around the arm of his chair and his blood bubbled and boiled within him.
"Oliver." The sharper tone snapped him back and his soft cinnamon eyes connected with the headmaster's periwinkle blue ones.
"Yes, sir?" He asked lightly.
"Are you all right?"
Oliver nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."
"Severus, pour a glass of Firewhiskey for Mr. Wood please." Dumbledore leant forward and carefully observed his employee's features.
Snape dropped the glass unceremoniously into Oliver's hand and stalked back into the corner, leaning against the staircase. His fingers barely clenched around the drink before it slipped from his grasp and crashed to the floor. The sound seemed to wake Oliver up and he was suddenly on his feet.
"I'm sorry about that Professor." He said, clearing up the glass with a flick of his wand.
"Accidents will happen," He dismissed.
"I need to know what is going to happen once Hermione is...Well once she is finished." Oliver said, not sure how to describe his girlfriend's situation. "Will Voldemort let her go?"
Dumbledore folded his hands and frowned. "That is where the plan gets a little cloudy."
"Cloudy?" Oliver repeated. "The part where Hermione comes home safely is cloudy?"
"Believe me Mr. Wood I have had this exact conversation several times since Hermione's kidnapping and I can assure you I have been thoroughly reprimanded for my lack of a plan." The headmaster said sounding tired.
Oliver bit his bottom lip, as was his habit when he was nervous or in deep thought. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude...It's just I'm scared for Hermione."
"Understandable, but I need you to be calm if you are to help us." Oliver's eyes lit up.
"I can help?"
"If you are willing, I believe your skill on a broom could be very useful."
"Whatever I can do headmaster, please I just want Hermione back."
Dumbledore nodded. "As do we all. Now if you would be so kind as to pack an overnight bag and prepare your broom; I have an errand for you."
Oliver overlooked the degrading label and nodded. "I won't be long."
When the door closed Snape let out a furious sigh and Dumbledore looked to him with an amused smile. "A problem, Severus?"
"You have to ask?" He snapped.
"You have had a grudge against Oliver since the day I employed him and yet you seemed quite indifferent towards him when he was a student. Why the change?" The headmaster asked, watching as Snape skulked to get a glass of amber liquid.
"I was never fond of the boy." He insisted.
"You were never hostile until recently either."
Snape opened his mouth to argue, but instead tossed the alcohol back and gulped heavily. "I don't have anything against Wood, I just don't like him being with Hermione."
"Why not?"
"Because he...he...I just don't approve." Snape mumbled unconvincingly. Dumbledore continued to stare at the Potions Master until he finally ran his hand through his greasy hair. "He just isn't good enough."
"What do you mean Severus?" The headmaster egged him on, wondering if the notoriously cold wizard could actually give into his family instincts.
"I mean...Oliver Wood is not good enough for my niece."
He chanced a look up at the headmaster and was surprised to see him in deep thought. "I think I agree."