6th Year Part Two: Chapter 30
"I can sense your love, why leave me in darkness? Beguile me for your amusement stealing your soul without kisses. You are the sun and I, the moon. Your beauty is reflected in my eyes. When we are apart, I am extinguished in the blackness of these skies."
~Kamand Kojouri
~.O.~
Severus did end up having to carry her throughout the Manor as her borrowed dress trailed before his feet on the ground, growling at her in false irritation as she continued to reach up and play with his beard, giggling tiredly all the way to Tom's study. Seeing as how she remained weak in the knees, she had bathed with the help of Severus, who did the gentlemanly thing of letting her wrap around him with her hands buried in his hair while he cleaned her own, dressing once more in another of the gowns Narcissa had given her as her skin continued to be as sensitive as the aftermath of receiving her scar. The scar which still marred her chest no matter how the magic flowing through her veins changed the rest of her appearance.
They find Tom sitting before his fireplace, carefully watching his familiar and Hermione's orange menace curl up together as if they had always been the best of friends. Brother and sister just as their Master and Mistress respectively were now. Crookshanks lay dozing in Nagini's bodily curls as the snake's head faced the fire, eyes closed in enjoying the heat even as they both came to attention with Tom's voice greeting their Mistress.
"Hermione!" Tom rose from his visibly anxious perch in the purple velvet armchair, causing Crookshanks to detangle himself from Nagini and pounce readily on Severus' legs to paw in the direction of Hermione who he still held within the air. "Welcome back to the living, my dear girl. You have kept us waiting long enough to see how your new features would settle."
Severus laid Hermione on the love seat, allowing Nagini to wind around her feet in welcome and Crookshanks to carefully curl himself up in her lap. Kissing her familiar's head, she tried her way through parseltongue for the first time.
"Hello, Nagini. I see you are as happy to see me as much as our Tom, aren't you, my love?" Hermione heard herself hiss to the snake who looked up to the happiest expression she had ever seen on such a reptile.
"You are my Hermione now, Mistress, too," The green and purple scaled snake who must be some distant descendant of the basilisk with her beautiful skin wound around the curly haired girl and the orange cat, her large head coming to rest on Hermione's pale shoulder, flicking her tongue out to taste the magic upon her skin. "Thank you for giving my Tom a family, he has been so very lonely these years with no familiar blood to confide in as he should, no matter how he denies it. We love you."
Hermione looked to Tom with smiling lips, her brother's face taking on an interesting yet unfamiliar expression at Nagini's words of loneliness and family. If he had previously thought the ritual simply as something of a reward to Hermione for her loyalty, he was much mistaken as his familiar's words suspiciously warmed him to the heart in a way he was very confused about. Never before having felt a connection such as he did now after gaining something that he had lacked since the very day he was born and his mother left this world, his last connection to a person who might have truly loved him, if she did not love his birth father even more than her unborn child.
A family to call his own… something he had always wanted yet dared not give thought to since the days he was picked over at Wool's Orphanage…
"I love you too as well, my sweet." Hermione said stroking the snake's head before turning back to a now composed Tom, switching back to her native tongue while reaching out to stroke the cheekbones not very dissimilar to her own. "And you, Tom."
He smiled at her, Severus silently watching them all the while from Tom's vacated chair, observing Hermione's happy face. Never before would he have thought he would be, within good spirits wasn't the right feeling, but more content in the fact that his love was now of the same blood of the master who had killed his first love. The red headed woman he believed to be in love at the time at any rate, but even so. He simply observed as he always did, analyzing his feelings and basking in the youthful glow Hermione put into the air that he had long lost. Or never had if he were to be honest with himself, never as carefree as she was at this point in her life.
"How do you feel with your new bloodline?" The Dark Lord asked her.
She smiled as bright as she could manage with the weariness still suffusing her bones would allow for, "I am very honored for what you have given me Tom, to be of your blood."
"It was the only reward I could have given you that would match the blood you spilled in order to give me life once more, to give back what I had borrowed. Besides, Salazar Slytherin's line has been too decrepit for too long, it could use the honor you bestow onto it. Only you could be worthy of the magic that now runs in both of our veins," he brushed a hand on her cheek as Nagini transfers herself to him, having felt the drooping of Hermione's shoulders from the weight of her body. "While it may not exactly give you more power than you have, the darkness saturated throughout our line allows for more of a limitlessness to our options. A sort of, affinity towards all types of magic we would choose to try our hands at I would say, some that have been unsuccessful for others." He smiles slightly, "Such as the making of Horcruxes, and the restoration of them without losing our control and going completely mad or succumbing to the pain." He stands suddenly, "Which brings us to the other reason I have brought you here so soon after your awakening, I would like to speak to you of the remainders of my Horcruxes and our movements concerning Dumbledore, as well as Harry Potter."
"Of course, Tom," she looks to him confusedly as she observes his jerky movements, his previous lightheartedness gone from his face and body.
The bloodline helping to stave and numb the madness within… not rectifying it entirely…
"You are agitated, I would like to know of why."
He rolls his shoulders back at her words, motioning to Severus to stand, "You may take my place, Severus. I can't imagine you would wish to stay your touching, especially at this point in her awakening and can finally touch you back. I have to admit, your short jittery minutes away from her side made even me anxious when giving me progress reports outside of three feet from her side."
Severus grabbed Hermione's hand as he sat beside her while Tom took his own seat once more, raising her eyebrows at Tom's sudden mood swing. Her dark man simply shrugs his shoulders in a rare moment of non- understanding, the tension of being even in a different chair as her so soon draining from his own body. His eyes turning indecipherable as Tom began outlining his plans having to do with two of their friends of the light.
"I have given Draco a task to complete," he continues, "To repair a Vanishing Cabinet currently residing within the Room of Hidden and Missing Things, unless Dumbledore has removed it since the days I was student at Hogwarts. The sister to this cabinet is being held within Borgin and Burkes, to which several Death Eaters will make their way into Hogwarts once the twin had been mended." He then turned to Severus as the couple listens attentively, "I know you have long since begin to despise Dumbledore, Severus, so I thought that your own long- overdue reward for aiding Hermione in my resurrection would be for you do do away with the meddling man yourself." Hermione's love's hand spasmed within her own smaller one, causing her to hold it in both of her's to hide the involuntary reaction to Tom's nonchalant words. Her brother continuing seemingly oblivious to his sister and servant's actions as well as the reasons behind them to his words of this gift, "When the time is right and we have every opportunity to do so, Dumbledore must be a non- issue when it comes to taking Harry Potter by force if you, Hermione, can not convince the boy to join us willingly. Which I find highly unlikely despite the clear words of prophecy, and as much as I abhor the need to interrupt your schooling, we must act as soon as the Vanishing Cabinets are linked once more. Dumbledore and Potter must be within the school, together, for optimal timing in putting our plans into motion." Tom glanced quickly between the two of them before turning back to Severus, "Now, what do you say, Severus? Will you take this gift? It is no consequence either way, he will die by one wand or another, but if it were to be done by your hand, he will not suspect any wrongdoing previous to you taking his wand for yourself."
Do you mean this punishment, Tom… do you mean to punish Severus by way of unconsciously gifting my love the means to kill the old man he had spent fifteen years serving… building ties to? Will you punish him for loving me… tormenting his soul to punish me as well? Is your sudden swing into erratic movement due to ordering the killing curse upon the man who introduced you to the magical world… do you care at all for all the lives you have taken?
I can not love you any less in any case…
Severus kept his face carefully blank, all the while keeping his hold on her delicate hand, "I would be honored to complete the task, my Lord."
Hermione stared up into the profile of his noble face, no doubt thinking the same as he was. That he will take on the task to spare the old man, who he both loved and hated, the pain of being killed and played with by some other Death Eater once he was disarmed and magic bound.
Tom now smiles brilliantly himself, traces of Hermione now in his face as he was in her's as if he had been gifted a much wanted book he had been searching for for ages, although it quickly was discarded for a frown. Turning to Hermione who sat thinking what was going on in that intelligent head of his where obviously many thoughts were roiling around in and continuing with the depiction of his neatly laid plans, "Good! Now, as to the subject of my horcruxes. As you both know, I have thus far restored three pieces of my soul. My diary, which you had found me inhabiting, Sister, the Gaunt Family ring which I have gifted you," He said leaning over to her, grabbing up the hand which boasted the piece of jewelry proudly, "And lastly, Helga Hufflepuff's golden chalice shortly before the debacle at the Ministry, which I am sure you saw the effects upon my mind then." He smiled ruefully at Hermione, knowing he had carried his mind away to a place he never would have entertained out loud in other circumstances, but as it is, he was as glad as could be to the response he had garnered.
Together forever… forever and ever ruling side by side… and happily ever after...
"In addition to these three, I currently have two not within my possession, the golden locket of our house, and Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. Although, I do have one living one," he held out a hand to Nagini who then wound herself around his arm with a hiss, "The one within Nagini, but as the ritual to restore the horcruxes to my own existing soul is becoming increasingly painful for me, I would like to leave her as more of a fail safe, as I am not very eager to put my girl nor myself through that pain just yet."
He continued stroking the snake's scales in imitation of Hermione's now freed hand currently running her fingers through Crookshanks' purring fur while Nagini hissed, "But I would freely offer myself to you, Tom. If you sought to restore the piece of your soul resting beside my own, I would endure the pain. Although, I very much would miss you whispering in my head."
The familiar's words niggled Hermione's brain for something long forgotten within the depths of her bag, but she could not grab the thought resting just on the tip of her tongue.
Whispers in your head, such a thing to sound insane, but what if you were not? Would that make you the sanest of them all?
"I would ask you to retrieve my diadem, Hermione." Tom told her, "This too being within the sister to the Room of Requirement, it rests on the head of a greek statue. You must search for it a while, as I hid it deep within the room, but it would be for nothing to hide it somewhere easily accessible as I am sure you agree." He frowned once again, exuding a melancholy yet angry aura once more as he fell into the deeper part of his mood, "In the mean time, I must search for my locket which had been stolen years ago by Regulus Black." He pulled a golden necklace boasting Hermione's new family crest in green from his trouser pocket, all the while Hermione's eyes widening and flinching backwards at the familiar piece of jewelry. "Loathe as I am to admit it, I have no clue as to where this piece of my soul has run off to once the boy disappeared with it."
Hermione suddenly released both her familiar, who gives her a disgruntled look and settles into Severus' lap, as well as her love's hand to begin searching in the beaded bag which she had somehow pulled from thin air. Both men watching her raising their eyebrows at the show of magic as she finally grasps the very thing that had whispered to her so long ago without fanfare, holding it before Tom's absolutely startled face that turned into a smile that could have shamed the sun.
Thank the gods she had been in that house when she was… imagine if someone had gotten ahold of this singular piece of Hogwarts Founder history that could control Tom… what horror…
…
Hermione lay upon her bed, and Severus who weaves his magic in and out of her own where it had become restless on the surface of her skin, soothing it back to dormancy like a cat needing attention satiated enough to simply be content in laying spread out against your body rather than constantly head- butting you. She couldn't help but think of Draco despite all the other thoughts swirling around her head, couldn't disregard the dark circles beneath the blonde boy's eyes clearly speaking to the reasoning behind Tom's orders. No doubt her brother had given him the full explanation as to why he must put his all into repairing the Vanishing Cabinet, which combined with this worry for her did nothing to soothe him into the leep he most needed.
Her and had Severus left Tom to stroke his locket, his request to Hermione asking her to watch as he restored this horcrux floating around in her brain as they found Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco each waiting in the foyer. The three Malfoys making a pretty picture all together the way they were. Severus having to still support her slightly, an arm about the waist, he was caught up in the hug Narcissa bestowed upon her as well as she told the younger girl how happy she was to see her finally awake. Lucius simply placing a kiss to her forehead and concurred with his wife's statement, but Hermione couldn't disregard the fact that they both had slightly dark under eyes not hidden behind glamours just as Draco did.
But Draco's were the worst of all the Malfoys she saw as he grabbed her up as tightly as he would dare, although she did let go of Severus to squeeze him all she could as well, allowing him to take her full weight before returning to her love.
The boy pulled back with a relieved smile, clear nervousness of his task etching itself onto his face warring with the relief he felt to see his friend awake. He tried his best to hide his worry though as he scanned her body, "Must I call you, my Lady now?"
She laughed lightly, arms still wrapped around his neck as he spoke into her hair, "Maybe every now and again. It would do wonders for my self- esteem, but then again, it probably would be best to not allow my ego to become as large as yours."
She and Severus then made their way back up to their room to the sound of Draco sputtering in a way totally unbecoming of a young Malfoy. Lucius giving him a disapproving look at the sounds issuing from his son's mouth.
Hermione began her never ending questions of Severus with the easier one, much easier to answer she was sure than the one she so desperately knew she needed to ask her love even if neither of them had no inclination to speak of it. The question of a certain bespeckled and long bearded wizard would have to wait for a time that would allow Hermione to ease into the question, with all the good that it will do she knew as it would hurt no less than if she came out with it bluntly.
"What do you think of Tom restoring his horcruxes, Severus?" She asked him while tracing the outline of his nipple through his thin shirt. Tucked into bed as they were in a rare moment of privacy and non- responsibility without either of them being called to work by any masters or friends, nor the pressures of a limited time together this time they had was a blessing. Tom having insisted they be left alone for Hermione to recoup from being called out of bed to early after waking, so Hermione and Severus took this time to relax in a way they had not been able to in a very long time. Or relax as much as they could while talking of matters they would rather not.
He was silent for a moment, staring up to the ceiling before answering, "If the Dark Lord intends on becoming the Master of Death by searching for the Deathly Hallows, it is perhaps the best course of action to restore his soul so that he will not have objects laying about that could be potentially used against him in the future. No matter that they are separated from his own body, the potential that their being destroyed in permanency instead of being bonded once again to his existing soul, could possibly drive him mad."
She raised her head to look him in the eyes, her eyebrow raising once he looked down to her, "He has been mad for a very long time, Severus, as I believe you are aware. Restoring his horcruxes has only caused more temporary insanity, yet I do believe you." She put her head back down while closing her eyes, "Even if he can not physically feel his remaining horcruxes laying about the world, I do think if they were somehow destroyed in permanency rather than restored to his remaining soul they would cause him more pain than that of bringing them back together. Pain that would drive him truly insane."
"He is madder than anything at this point if he believes we can truly win over Potter, achieve his loyalty to the man who murdered Lily and James." His deep voice began lolling her to sleep, to which she fought desperately as her heart squeezed suddenly, remembering the words of prophecy she once held right in her hands.
And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…
Hermione knew that Harry would never join the Dark Lord even if Tom had the power to bring back the parents he had once told her he never even had the chance of loving, but could only love the thought of what his life could have been if they had not died. Now, like such a familiar feeling that she knew would plague her mind throughout the year until Tom's plans came to fruition, she felt an overwhelming sense of utter helplessness. Severus stroked her magic once again soothingly with his own as it surged once more upon the surface of her skin.
She asks him quietly, "Would it have been easier? Simply trying to keep Harry alive if I had told Tom of the true prophecy, rather than what I am going to have to do after we have invaded Hogwarts? Easier than trying to gain his trust in something stupidly impossible?" Severus remained quiet, "Would Tom have risked losing my love if I had told him the truth?"
He put his chin back on top her head, "We will never know what he would have done, girl. All that I know though is that after all these years of trying to keep the boy from killing himself due to all the foolhardy things he has had to endure, I believe that you have done the right thing in everything so far. And since I know you have thought it before, I do think that you have done the right thing in joining the Dark Lord as you have. The boy would have been leading a truly dangerous life in an altogether different way than he is now if you had not stepped in as you did many years ago."
Hermione chuckles lightly, even as a question springs to the tip of her tongue. "It seems like a lifetime ago." Once again she closes her eyes from where they had been staring at the vase of flowers on the dresser across the room, laying her hand on Severus' chest to feel his inhales and exhales. For fear of her question being realized, she has stayed her hand in giving voice to it out loud, but now she lacks the strength to keep it bottled up inside her stomach for much longer. "I need an honest answer to my next question, Severus. I know you never lie to me about anything else anyway, but this question is especially important. Do you think that with Harry's ability to access Tom and Nagini's minds as easily as simply falling asleep, is it possible..."
If Tom should ever find out… that's always what we come back to, those words… if Tom should ever find out… not a What If, but If Tom… we could never give voice to these words… never ever… but we must… it will eat us up inside… from the inside out like a flame to tissue paper… ourselves gone in seconds up in a flame…
Severus allows himself to finish Hermione's question, such as he knows her completely from head to toe, "If Tom should ever find out, that Harry Potter holds a piece of his soul beside his own?" Hermione let out a harsh breath, covering her eyes with the hand no longer feeling him breathe. "Sometimes, it is better to not speak or think of such things, should our thoughts become someone else's. For the lot of good it does trying your best to control someone else's thoughts."
She continues to breathe deeply before quietly asking yet another question, "Is Dumbledore one topic we should not speak of?"
He is silent long enough to tell her that maybe it should continue to be unspoken of, before he speaks even quieter than before in a just audible whisper. "I don't know if I could do it, Hermione, when the time comes. I don't know if I will be able to mean it. Dumbledore took me in at my lowest point, at a time that I would have killed myself for the part I had in killing Lily, such is the failing point of members of the light. They still hold on to the hope that people can be redeemed in some way, and in ways I despise him for that sentiment, of believing that I could be good. But in another, I have loved him for it. Loved him in the same way that I loved my bastard of a father, but in a different way also." He looks down to her, stroking her cheek, "You are not inherently dark, my girl. The choices you have made to join the darkness have come from the need to protect those you love, even if some do not deserve it.'' Hermione suddenly grasps his hand, kissing the palm of it instead of interrupting him like she so wanted, yet stayed silent as she knew he utterly believed each of his words to be true. "My choice to serve once again may have been because I love you, because of the right reasons as Dumbledore would put it despite the fact that it is the dark I have given my true allegiance to this time around. But years ago it was out of my true desire to feel the intoxicating power the dark could give me, no matter how I wanted to tell myself it was simply a means to an end to be a powerful wizard that someone like Lily could love more than James Potter. That I would be enough for someone to love for once in my young life."
Hermione felt tears lining her eyes as she buried her face into his chest once again, the silver drops overflowing in her own feelings at the knowledge that it could simply possibly break some part of Severus to kill the headmaster she had never particularly liked. But Tom had given him a gift for his allegiance, and if that gift were to be given back, all Hermione had worked for to keep them safe would be for nought. No matter how she would like to believe in the goodness of her new brother, believe in the love he seemed to have for her, the thought she had once before of love simply not being enough cropped up in her head once again. And Severus knew that just as well as she did when he had given his answer. Once again, as one thought follows another, the familiarity of it all crossing her mind allowed another that came up all too easily since the first mention she had heard of Tom intending to be master of death, a recurring fear that had been instilled into her bones that caused a spasm whenever she thought of Tom's aims of immortality which everything eventually boiled down to…
Would Severus be one part of herself that would be included into Tom's aims of not simply becoming immortal for himself, but as a way to keep her at his side forever… ties of blood simply were not enough if it would only last for a hundred years out of a hundred thousand…