A.N.: Hey guys, Here's another chapter for you. I know some of you do miss the Hermione/twin-interaction. I do too, but this second part is important for Hermione figuring out everything she has to about Voldemort. Because I intend to have a different solution for him and his Horcruxes… This story is growing and growing. I currently have 44 chapters finished and my current estimate is that there might be around 90 chapters in total. Thank you for every comment you're leaving for me to find. They mean the world to me in this time of social isolation.

Chapter 39: Think outside of the box

Hermione didn't know what to think. Her thoughts kept running in circles, mulling over the arguments Lord Voldemort had presented her with. She knew in her bones, that he was wrong, but some of the things he said did make sense, or at least she didn't find an argument against them right away. The Muggle's technology was slowly destroying the planet, there was enough proof of that. But that didn't mean they were lesser than wizards, just because they didn't have magic, right?

Hermione sighed. Locking herself in her room didn't make things better. She felt herself getting restless, while her head was working in overdrive. But it wouldn't find a solution, Hermione knew from experience, not tonight when Voldemort's words were fresh in her head. God, she needed out, needed some fresh air. But she was a prisoner in this house, no matter what her keeper called her, which only left her with one place to retreat to.

The library was quiet when she entered it, Voldemort's usual reading-spot empty to her big relief. She didn't want to continue this discussion with him, not as long as she didn't find the right arguments against his twisted view of the world. Still, there was a light, somewhere in the back of the room and when Hermione strode closer she saw that there was a lone candle burning on a desk, which she hadn't realized was there before tonight. Was that Voldemort's desk? Probably. Who else's would it be?

Hermione couldn't help her curiosity and strode closer. She knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to snoop, otherwise Voldemort had told her, that there were no forbidden rooms or places for her in that house. The desk was covered in parchments and books, while a quill waited in its inkwell to be used again. Whoever was working here, was probably just taking a break, Hermione realized, which meant, that she could probably only take a quick look. Still, her eyes were drawn to the biggest scroll in the middle, that was containing arithmantic equations and on the bottom something, that was looking like a warding scheme. Hermione edged closer. Unfortunately, she didn't know much about warding, as it wasn't taught in Hogwarts, but the books she had read in the last days taught her enough to realize, that the wards analysed here were far from simple.

"Get away from my stuff," a voice behind her commanded, making Hermione turn around with wide eyes. Behind her was that pale blonde wizard she had met in the library before, staring at her with a dark, distrustful expression. She hastily took a step back.

"Sorry, I didn't want to snoop," she said smiling apologetically. The man's expression remained unimpressed.

"And still you did." He was at his desk a moment later, hastily pulling his wand out of his robes to pack up the stuff he had left on the desk. "It's curiosity that killed the cat, you know?"

"Was that a threat?" Hermione asked, staring at the man in disbelief.

He shook his head. "No, it's a saying and in this house, it's proved to be true. So keep away from me and my stuff, you hear me?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I heard you. Sorry, I'll be going then."

The stranger waved her off. "No need. I'm already on my way out." With that, he summoned his stuff and turned around, without saying goodbye. Hermione stared at his retreating figure with furrowed brows. Who was that stranger? And more importantly: what was he hiding?

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It had been three days since their little talk in the library but his hope that his lioness would try to continue their conversation had been a futile one. He had enjoyed listening to her arguments and the passion in her voice, while she presented them to him. It had been ages ago that someone dared to disagree with him, to question his motives. And Lord Voldemort found, that he secretly enjoyed arguing with her. It made him feel more alive than he had in years.

Something in her eyes had changed and he found her regularly staring at him when she thought he wasn't looking. There was a contemplative look in them now like she was trying to solve some kind of complicated puzzle and considering that this puzzle was probably him, he found that he liked that look. He had gotten her thinking, maybe even questioning that old manipulator's lies. That was the first step but another one would have to follow soon. Luckily he had just the right idea.

"We're making a little trip tonight," he announced, looking at his prize with a smile. She didn't say anything in return, but he didn't expect her to, as she rarely spoke to him. "You and I will take a little stroll outside of the wards."

Her eyes snapped up and fixed him with a surprised look in them. "You're taking me on a walk? Really?" she asked her voice full of disbelief. And somehow he got the feeling, that the prospect pleased her. Interesting.

"Not only a walk, my Dear," he said, following the delicate curve of her neck. "But I'm sure we can make a little detour if that's what you wish. Just don't try running away. Those woods are endless and there're some werewolves in the area. I'm mostly on friendly terms with them, but some of them are known to have quite an appetite."

He saw her shiver with wide eyes and he was sure his subtle warning had been understood. Good. Greyback made an efficient guard dog, as the forest around his house was almost unpassable. Still, Voldemort didn't trust him when it came to women, especially not with his prize. He didn't even want to have him near her.

"Where are we going?" she asked an hour later. He had provided some ankle-high bootees for her and now his price was clad in a warm woollen coat with a big hood and warm mitts. While she strolled through the snow at his side, her breath left her mouth in small visible puffs. Stubborn as she was she had refused to accept a warming charm to be cast on her.

"Though the wards. They are a bit further from the house. When we go through, you'll have to accept my arm, as I am the only one able to let you pass them," he said, seeing with satisfaction that her eyes went wide as she contemplated that bit of information. He smiled, as he was quite proud of the design himself. "My Death Eaters bear my mark, which allows them to pass the wards. As you are still unmarked, you'll need some sort of physical contact to me to be able to get through."

"I'll never be marked," she answered back to him with steel in her voice.

He chuckled. "I don't expect you too. You're not kettle, you're my Queen."

She nodded even though a shiver ran down her spine. She didn't want him to make her his Queen either, because that would leave a mark on her too, not a visible one but equally chilling. "What happens to those who try anyway?" she asked, decidedly not looking into his direction.

He smirked. "What do you think? They are getting punished, painfully and have to realize that they simply cannot pass. Be assured that none of them tries a second time."

His prize nodded silently, still staring at the snow in front of her feet. He couldn't wait for her to talk to him again. Luckily they were almost there and the little surprise he had thought out would most likely get her talking.

"We're almost there," he warned, silently offering his arm. She looked at it in silence for a short moment, before blinking slowly and finally taking it. He could see her square her shoulders before she resumed walking at his side. She held herself like a queen, he realized and started musing how it would be to present her to all of his followers one day – when she was finally his.

No more than five minutes later they reached a little clearing in the forest, a spot he deemed perfect for what he had in mind. He stopped, stepping in the middle, while his prize waited some steps away staring at him cautiously.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, valiantly trying to keep the nervousness radiating from her voice.

He smirked. "We're setting a trap, my Dear," he said, casually pulling her wand out of his robes. And suddenly she understood, as her eyes went wide with fear.

"No," she breathed, staring at the piece of wood in his hands in panic. "Please no."

Lord Voldemort shook his head with a smile. "I'm sorry my Dear, but I do have a war to win. Apart from that I still do need to teach you a lesson." With that, he weighted her wand in his hands. He could already feel it pulsing in his palm, desperate to resist him. Winning a duel with it would be almost impossible, as this wand seemed to be as stubborn as the witch it belonged to, but luckily a little, harmless spell would be enough to set of any tracking charms, that might have been placed on it.

He could see her shiver on her spot, but it didn't matter. His prize needed to learn her lesson, no matter how little she liked it. And he would be teaching it to her today. "Lumos," he whispered and after a moment the tip of the wand slowly started to glow. He could feel the wand trying to resist him, refuse his orders, but it was too late. A moment later he could hear the first cracks of apparation to his right and he looked into that direction with a predatory smirk on his face. It was time to play.

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It had been days of waiting until the tracking of Hermione Granger's wand finally brought results. Dolores had to fight tooth and nail with those morons in the ministry to finally get the permission to request the wand's registration number from Olivander, but with the Minister's help, she had finally been successful. Casting* the tracking spell had been as easy as getting her own team of Aurors for the hunt of the Open Link. Luckily the Minister was desperate for results and so Dolores now had a team of four Aurors waiting to capture that annoying little chit with her. The girl had made her look stupid long enough, but not any longer. As soon as the girl cast her next spell, she would be hers.

It was four long days of waiting until the alarm finally went off. They knew they probably had to be fast and so it was only a few seconds until Dolores and her Aurors disapparated. They materialized on some kind of clearing, but it wasn't in the forbidden forest, this much could Dolores tell. In front of her wasn't Miss Granger though but… who was that supposed to be? Was that some kind of Halloween joke?

"Run!" she heard a voice from somewhere to her left and she knew away, that it was her, the Open Link. Dolores turned around with a smile and a dark glint in her eyes.

"Ah, there you are, girl. If this is again some of your stupid tricks then I must disappoint you. You're not going to scare me away with one of your transfigured boy-friends. So, come here or do you want those Aurors to get you for me?"

The girl stared at her with wide, scared eyes. Finally, she seemed to have understood, that the game was over, for her. "This is not…" she said but was cut off by the transfigured boy in front of her.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, High Inquisitor, but the Open Link is not going anywhere with you," he said, casually pulling out a wand from his black robes. She looked at the insolent brat with a raised eyebrow.

"That remains to be seen, Mr Weasley," she said pulling out her own wand. "Aurors, capture the girl. I'll take care of that annoying Gryffindor brat."

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It was like watching a horror movie. Those Aurors were directly walking into a trap and they weren't even realizing it. Two of them looked somewhat uncomfortable in Voldemort's direction, but only for a moment. Then, they pulled out their wands, moving into her direction. Idiots.

They didn't even manage to take two steps, before they were all on the floor, unconscious or moaning in pain. It had taken Voldemort all but one spell, to take them down, while he turned his back unconcernedly at Professor Umbridge, like she wasn't even worth the bother.

"What have you done, you stupid…" she shrieked, staring at the man in front of her with an enraged expression. Voldemort turned to her with an amused little smile on his face, which made him look even scarier.

"Careful, witch," he said, whipping his wand in her direction and Hermione could see Professor Umbridge's body freeze immediately, before it simply fell to the side like a felled tree. Hermione closed her eyes in despair. She knew what would happen to these people, what Voldemort would do to them.

"That was almost too easy," he said with a voice that sounded smug and disappointed at the same time. "Lucius was right, that this woman is nothing more than a menace in pink."

Hermione swallowed, before forcing herself to open her eyes. "What… what will you do to them?" she asked, looking at the defeated Aurors with wide eyes. Some of them seemed to be in pain but it didn't look like they were under torture, not yet.

"What do you think I'll do?" he returned the question, walking towards her in total ignorance of the people at his feet. It was like they were nothing more than bugs on the floor to him.

Hermione shuddered. "You'll kill them, probably torture them beforehand, won't you?" she said, feeling the tears rise behind her eyes. He stared at her with glinting eyes.

"Clever girl," he said, pulling out his wand. "We'll use them to send a message to those idiots in the Ministry, shall we? We don't want them to send more people after you, right?"

Hermione felt like she was going to be sick. "Please don't," she said looking at the men and women in front of her with wide eyes. Some of them must have finally realized the situation they were in, as they tried to get up to their feed or drag themselves away on the floor. "Please don't hurt them," she begged, stepping closer to Voldemort. "Please."

He turned around to her, with an amused smile on his lips. "The Avada spell it totally painless, I can assure you," he said, while his eyes studied her from head to toe. "I can make it quick if it pleases you."

She shuddered. "No…I…," she said, feeling her heart picking up speed. "I don't want you to kill them, please. They were just following orders…" she said her voice quivering. She could feel herself start to sway, as she was feeling more and more faint.

He shook his head with a disappointed smile. "Do you know why I decided to set up this little trap, my Dear? This is not about torturing and killing Aurors. I told you everything I do, has a purpose and the purpose of this is teaching you a lesson."

Hermione stared at the madman with wide eyes. "A lesson? What kind of lesson's that supposed to be?"

At that, his smile turned wolfish. "To think outside the box, of course. So tell me, Miss Granger, what is it that you want? And what do you need to do to make it happen?"

For a short moment, her mind refused to work and Hermione just stared at Voldemort with her mouth open. But then she caught herself, closed her mouth and swallowed. She could do that, Hermione told herself, taking a deep breath in the hope to steady herself. She could find a way to save them, to maybe even save herself. She was said to be the brightest witch of her age, after all, and all it took was nerves and strong Occlumency walls. "I want everything," she said, looking at the man in front of her with sudden fire in her eyes. "But not in the way you do. I want to make this world a better place for everybody, wizards and muggles. I want to find a way to combine technology and magic and a way to integrate magical creatures into society, not just as slaves or outsiders."

He saw him staring at her with red-glowing eyes, nodding with a pleased smile on his lips. She didn't flinch under his gaze, even though she would probably still see these eyes when she closed her eyes at night. "I know that those things are probably out of my reach, but I want them anyway. To achieve them I'd have to learn as much as I can, which will be difficult now that I can't even take my OWLs or use my wand." Hermione let her eyes flash at that, clearly showing her dissatisfaction.

Her keeper flashed her a generous smile. "Both are things that can be arranged, my Dear," he said opening his arms in her direction, like some kind of invitation. She didn't move.

"Can it? After you killed those Aurors and the High Inquisitor, to send a message or whatever it is that you're intending to do? I doubt it. One can only take the exams at Hogwarts or directly at the Ministry and both paths seem closed for me." With that she started pacing, staring at the men and women at the ground with unseeing eyes. The woman, that was in front of her stared at her with wide, pleading eyes. She forced herself to look at her but wiped every trace of sympathy from her face. It was important that Voldemort didn't sense her true feelings right now, because she could feel his gaze lingering on her face.

"There's always a way to get what you want, my Dear," he said and Hermione could feel him stepping closer to her. She didn't move but raised her eyes again to meet his red ones without flinching. "Those idiots mean nothing to me. We can obliviate them and send them back if that is what you want. We can make your dreams come true, my girl, we not one of us alone." With that he was next to her, his arm suddenly on her shoulder. A shudder ran down her spine and she wanted nothing more than to pull back from him. But she couldn't. Too much was at stake.

Hermione shook her head with a sad expression. "I know. But I am also aware that everything comes at a price, for all of us. So tell me, what will be the price for those Auror's lives, or for getting my wand back?"

Voldemort smiled, while lightly squeezing her shoulder. "You'll find, my Dear, that I can be a very generous man. I'll obliviate those idiots and sent them back."

She stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "You will? This is not some sort of trick?"

At that, his smile turned to one of amusement. "No trick my Dear. I'll obliviate and send back all of them, without expecting anything in return. Well, all of them but her," he corrected himself, suddenly staring at Professor Umbridge with a predatory smile. "because I think this one will be quite useful for your next lesson."

Even though the High Inquisitor was still motionless on the floor, Hermione could see her eyes move towards her. They were full of terror and fright. It was obvious that Dolores Umbridge had finally understood, that this was not Fred or George Weasley in disguise and now desperately wished to be somewhere else. Hermione couldn't help her, she realized, at least not right now.

"Alright," she said, staring at her keeper with determination in the eyes, even though her heart was heavy as a rock. "Keep her. But this lesson you intend better be a good one."

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