"I love you." Whispered Tom. "I love you. You are my past, my present, my future."
Hermione shook her head, had she truly given the Dark Lord the ability to love? "I.."
"Don't you love me?" hissed Tom, leaning towards her to claim her lips in a heated kiss. Hermione let out a tiny moan as protest against his mouth, his tongue seeked entrance, and found none. His nails dug into the flesh of her arms lightly, but still her mouth opened with a small gasp, and promptly his tongue was thrust into the opening.
"I.. I think I do.."
"Try harder." He ordered, pressing against her. It was the second time they'd done this in the girl's toilets on the second floor. It was where everyone went.. when they wanted a bit of privacy. A simple charm on the door and you wouldn't ever be disturbed. He pulled away from her, resting his hand on the white sink. It was cold and slippery beneath his touch. "Tell me.. tell me you love me.." He whispered as his lips relinquished their claim on hers, and moved to kiss her jaw line and beautiful tender neck. He could kill her this instance if he wanted. All he had to do was mutter those words, all he had to do was break her neck..
She groaned deeply. Managing a breathless, "Please.." but her senses returned ever so quickly. She didn't need to go this far. Not yet. The game was far from over.
"I need to know." His eyes pleaded with hers, and made her heart melt into tiny pieces. She was so vulnerable in that instant, so very very weak. Her wand lay on the side of the sink, away from her reach. He could hold both of her wrists in one hand, and could pin her down just as easily. Physically she could never deffend heself. Magically she could not deffend herself. And the mental walls that she had built so carefully yet hastily were falling down and crumbling to ashes, bit by bit.
Running his nails across the pale skin she abused so regularly Tom smirked. His fingers traced the curves of her body, fumbling underneath her robes, across her breasts now full, and unclasping her bra. He began to tease her skin, and smiled at the small sounds of pleasure that emmited the lips of the beautiful girl. She was beautiful, even he had to admit that. In fact, he found that each day he was more and more attracted to her. Of course, there was no room for attraction, not in his plan. But it couldn't hurt to enjoy himself as he carried out that twisted plot. Still, she was beautiful. He nibbled her neck as he reminded himself not to get too attached to the girl. It would only hurt more when he ripped her flesh to pieces. He sank his teeth into the crook of her neck, and smiled as her knees buckled slightly.
"I-I-"
"What is it?" he murmured. He pulled away letting her collapse to her knees. He chided her as he twirled her hair through his fingers. The robes that cloaked her body soon fell to the tiled floor, and then she was on her knees, panting heavily, only the satin bra that he had unclasped covering her. He wanted to rip her to shreds that instant. Did she know how much he wanted to kill her? To let her blood run over his fingers like water? He wanted to tear at her soft, luscious flesh. To pierce her skin and sink his hands into her body. He wanted to feel her radiant hair falling out dead into his fingers. Tom longed to combine her body with his, and feel her begging for her life. To watch the last breath of her body leave, twisting and writhing in agony before she died in his arms. The lust for her death was so strong, he could practically smell her corpse already. "Tell me."
"I-I-" She groaned as he undid his shirt, grinding his hips against her. "I love you."
"Good." He smiled. He let her touch his pale chest, her hands dancing softly, wincing at each touch. He knew she didn't want this, but her body wouldn't let her do anything else. Tom didn't need to use the imperius curse to have her under his power, he owned her already. He wanted her to be afraid, but she wasn't. Why?
"Tell me again."
"W-why?" she murmured sweetly, playing his game, because that was the only way she could win.
"Because." He hissed. "I told you to." Before she could take a proper breath, his lips clamped onto hers. She rolled with him, turning the situation, so that it was he who lay on his back, but as soon as she had become dominant, she was pinned once more to the floor by Tom. Struggling playfully to free herself, she abruptly stopped, and tensed. "What is it?"
Shaking her head she blinked slowly. "N-nothing.." if this prevented an innocent thirteen year old from being killed by a basilisk then so be it. If Ron never died then that was better than anything. And Harry would have parents. He'd grow up the same, loyal friend, without the suffering. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind, reminding herself why she was doing this. To save them. The lie worked for her, because at that point in time she truly believed it. But had Tom been able to hear her thoughts he would have known she was lying to herself immediately.
Tom's mouth latched onto her delicate neck once more, his hand wandered down and unzipped his trousers. He felt her skin prickle underneath his tingling touch. "I love you Tom.." whispered Hermione. "I love you."
The word's hit Tom like a bullet to the heart. His mind writhed in the agony that it felt more than twenty years later. Twisting and turning the serpent that controlled his brain cried, an eerie melodious screech sounded through the chambers of his mind as the words she whispered to him sounded out. Inside his mind those words repeated themselves constantly, over, and over again. Because love didn't exist in Tom Riddle's world, and it certainly wouldn't exist in Hermione's. She would pay for the poison she fed him, as it run it's course through him.
An hour later, he helped her dress, cradling her in his arms. She smiled at him as he laughed. The chamber of secrets had been opened for the first time in centuries, and the monster, that slept so peacefully, had been awakened.
Tonks' hair was now a deep shade of purple, the same colour as her robes. She walked along the great hall, three hundred sleeping bags were placed in the hall, each with a pillow near one end. Each belonged to a particular person. It had been an estimated amount, but there we go. All of the students were now sleeping in the hall, seeing as it was considered safer. In fact, everyone was sleeping in the hall. It scared her, to think, that three hundred people were the only ones brave enough to battle Lord Voldermort. Then again, the death toll was in the thousand's and it was rising.
She walked in between the bags. It was her turn on guard duty. There were constantly four of them awake. It was a good idea she thought, in theory. Lupin stood in the entrance hall, and she would give anything to go and speak to him. But she was busy. Guarding the sleeping soldiers. She glanced towards the corner furthest from the door, where Harry, Neville and Ginny had pulled their sleeping bags together. Arthur and Molly were walking the halls together, for they had volunteered for that night. Fred and George were snoring quietly.
She walked towards them, her heels clicking on the floor. "What's up?" she whispered.
Flicking his wand Harry removed whatever spell they'd been using to prevent themselves from being overheard. Tonks reminded herself to ask him for it when this was all over. She had good plans on what to use it for. Harry looked up at her, his eyes were stained red. "Well.. you know.. war that we're probably going to lose. The fact that we're all going to die?"
Tonks grinned. "Glad to see you're feeling positive!"
Harry chuckled. "There was a freak earth quake in North Wales. South Wales has been tormented by hurricanes. And everywhere there have been massacres of muggles for sport. Dean heard news from two of the newest evacuees that there had been twenty of them origionally. The Death Eater's found them, and took their wands. Then, set them loose. Told them to run. They hunted them down and killed them one by one.." he trailed off.
Tonks nodded slowly. She remembered that party. Three of them had turned up at Hogwarts, if she remembered correctly it had been Severus who had gone to their aid, and he who had apparated them back to the castle. Carrying them past the magical boundries bodily. They had been injured, although one of them insisted he could fight. All three had been evacuated that morning. One had died before he made it. "It'll be ok." She promised. She knelt down beside Neville. "You all right?" she put a hand on his shoulder.
A deep blush appeared and spread over his face at her touch. Oh god.. she was looking at him. With those big eyes.. "Y-yeah." He stammered.
"And hell, if it isn't, we'll all be dead anyway!" She laughed silently. Sometimes, all you could do was laugh. Because if you didn't then you would cry. And if you cried, you'd never ever be able to stop.
"Who's on the rescue team at the moment?" Ginny asked her quietly, deep bags were forming under her eyes already.
"Snape." She growled as she said the name, because deep grudges always took a while to lose. She did feel a twisted respect for him now, for the man had gone three nights and days without sleep. With Dumbledore gone, Snape was doing everything he could to prove what side he was on. He had brought back almost thirty wizards and witches. Tonks didn't know it, but right now, he held the hand of a girl, who's stomach had been ripped open by some savage beast, because nothing he could do would change what had happened to Lily. "He's leading the group. There's around twenty others. I have a list somewhere.." She yawned trailing off. She blinked as if reawakening herself. "You should get sleep! You'll need all the strength you can get."
"Is the Ministry still acting as if nothing is happening?" Harry asked.
"Unsurprisngly yes. Now you need some sleep, we're training tomorrow-" she was cut across, as a blood curdling scream came from a sleeping bag near them. Harry was quicker to react than she was, and he leapt from his positon, towards the source of the noise. Within seconds the whole hall was filled with people stirring, people yawning and stretching. And sobbing and screaming.
Luna Lovegood shook and convulsed in her sleeping bag. Her eyelids flashed open, and revealed emptiness. Black holes that were her eyes let blood seep from them. All around in the hall wizards and witches, young and old, injured and perfectly healthy were standing. Wands raised, together, united. "What's wrong with her?" Harry demanded. Inky blood seeped from the holes and from her nostrils. "What's happening?" he shrieked.
McGonagall rushed into the hall seconds later, wand raised. Moody was already standing, hobbling along on his wooden leg, wand ready to curse any one who came near him. Remus abandoned his post in the entrance hall, and rushed into the room.
Screams of surprise and confusion echoed. "SILENCE!" McGonagall magnified her voice, and silence fell.
The soon found silence was broken just as quickly as it had been created. Ginny's eyes rolled back in her head disapearing into darkness. Neville caught her as she slumped backward. Tonks' eyes rolled back, turning into gaping holes as she let out a shrill scream. Remus was by her side within miliseconds, clutching her hand, stroking her face. Tonks shook, shivering in cold, as her body writhed and twisted away from him. From all around the hall tiny shrieks of fear came as one by one, the females in the hall's eyes rolled back and disapeared, leaving bloody holes in their place. Professor McGonagall fell back, her hand flew to her eyes as they disapeared. Then with one, sickening voice, the women spoke as one. Except, the voice wasn't alloud. It was in every man's head.
GIVE ME THE BOY AND YOU WILL BE SPARED. Hissed the voice. LORD VOLDERMORT UNDERSTANDS LOVE. DO YOU REALLY WISH TO SEE EACH WITCH DIE? FOR THEY WILL DIE FIRST. YOU CAN NOT WIN. AND ALL THOSE WHO REMAIN ALIVE WILL BE TORTURED AND KILLED, THEN FED TO THEIR FAMILY. There was a harsh loud chuckle. LORD VOLDERMORT ll ERSTANDS LOVE, IT IS YOUR WEAKNESS. HARRY POTTER DO YOU WANT TO SEE EACH ONE YOU LOVE TORTURED? The room shook. HUSBANDS, DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR WIVES, THE MOTHER'S OF YOUR CHILDREN, RAPED AND KILLED BY MY DEATH EATER'S? FOR THEY WILL BE. THAT WILL BE YOUR PUNISHMENT FOR DENYING LORD VOLDERMORT HIS WISHES. Pausing the voice rasped. JOIN ME, AND YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WILL BE SPARED. YOUR SISTERS, YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, WILL BE SPARED. OR DIE WITH THEIR BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.
And then the voice stopped. The women collapsed into heaps. Arthur Weasley hugged his daughter to him with one hand, with another comforted his sobbing wife. He kissed her lips softly, as their daughter was consoled by her brothers and friends. Remus pulled Tonks to him, scattering kisses on her unharmed body. So thankful that she was alive, unhurt, untouched. Cho Chang was comforted by those around her, as were they all.
And Harry stared down at Luna Lovegood, unsure of how to proceed. The thought of her dead, hurt, hurting scared him; he didn't want that. The thought of all of them dead, scared him. The Professor's had gained some kind of order, and where dealing out mugs of firewisky as they spoke. But Harry didn't move. Everyone in their own way was coping, hugging joyfully thankful for simply being alive. Finally, he leaned down, and slowly but gentley breathed a fresh breath of hope into the crying girl's body.
Lord Voldermort slammed a single fist into the wooden table, and the whole world shook. He was weakening, he knew it. The old man was picking off his chances at reaching immortality one by one. But how? And each time he grew more angry, and each time more worthless muggles were slaughtered. But he didn't want to spill muggle blood. Their filthy blood as common as mud was useless, he wanted to feel the blood of one of the greatest wizard's of all time seeping through his hands.
"I killed for you." He hissed into the darkness. "I took everything you had from you. And I will do it again and again and again!" He laughed, raising his arms as the darkness swirled around him, supporting him. Albus Dumbledore would die soon enough. He had destroyed all but one. All but one that Lord Voldermort knew of. "Where are you now Harry?" he whispered. "Crying like the little boy you are." Pausing he shook his head. "Hermione.." he sang. "Are you listening?" he whispered."By the time the sun sets tomorrow, all of your friends will be dead! And then, only then, we can be united. Harry Potter, stood in my way then, and now, he stands in my way again. Can you hear me Hermione?"
Soon all of his Death Eaters would be joining him, and the attack would begin. But not yet. First, he had to finish his conversation with her. The candle flickered as darkness threatened to consume it. Lord Voldermort laughed.
"Hermione?" he whispered, forked tongue flicking. "Tomorrow, Harry Potter will be dead. Tomorrow, each one of your little friends will be dead. I do so wished that they had been on my side.." he murmured silkily. "Sirius had such a great mind, but alas. And Severus. My little traitor Severus. He will suffer the most. Who do you think should die first? Luna Lovegood or the silly snivelling Weasley girl? Potter holds them both dear. Dearer than you my dear."
The death toll had almost doubled in the last hour. Mainly muggles of course. He had ordered them to leave at least twenty alive in each town. That way, the maximum suffering would be felt. Of course, there was still around a million alive in the annoying little Welsh country. That was enough to play with. Lord Voldermort liked playing with his food before he ate it. No more Welsh Muggles would die that day. By tomorrow nightfall they would all be slaves, as would the Muggles of France. The only wizarding kind alive would be Death Eaters, and the pets they kept. Lust was a great thing, and his minions did have needs after all. But surely, there were plenty of virgins for them to feast upon. And his werewolves would be happy with that, not that they cared whether they were virgins or not. They certainly wouldn't be once his Death Eaters had finished with them.
It would be a fun day. Like a trip to a sweet shop for a child. The only worry was that there would be too much choice. Of course, Harry Potter would die last. Begging for his life, in chains, he would watch each of his friends suffer. Voldermort had to admit, he was being quite kind to the women. Perhaps that was her influence on him. They were dying, after losing their dignity, and being stripped of all human rights. It was the men who had to live. Oh what fun.
"Hermione, I hope you're watching." He brought his finger to the dark mark. "Soon victory will be mine, and I wouldn't want you to miss a moment of it!" And then Lord Voldermort laughed. Did Tom Riddle laugh too? No, Tom Riddle didn't laugh. Tom cried, and cried, and cried.