A/N- There is most certainly a bit of smut and Tom in this chapter. Draco and Hermione are getting ever closer. Did I mention slooooow burn? You will see them very soon. I will try to update weekly. The world opened back up and I've been suddenly and jarringly employed once more. I will try to update weekly. Please review, let me know what you think. Love Lark.
Objects of Beauty Chapter 17
Spring 1951
Tom Riddle sat in a darkened room of Malfoy Manor. After months of careful planning and working within the ministry, he had taken his snake faced form and broken in to the Department of Mysteries in the dead of night. The Order had clearly been tipped off and were waiting for him. The prophecy had been destroyed in the ensuing battle.
He was overcome by rage and was gratified to know that he had taken several members of the Order out as a result. When he assumed his rightful place he would make sure they all paid. He now knew their faces and he wouldn't forget.
He pondered who among his loyal followers could have passed information to the Order. Snape was the most obvious culprit, Bellatrix had harped on it often enough. Despite this Tom did not believe it. For one, he had seen deep into the man's mind. There was not much there besides a burning hatred for the Potter boy and a miserable childhood. Both of these things Tom could relate to. Who then would have dared?
He tipped a tumbler of fire whiskey back. It all came down to that boy. What was so special about him? Indeed, the prophecy had his name written on the front of it. He closed his eyes and brought to mind the label on the glass orb, "Harry Potter, ? , and The Most Powerful Dark Wizard?". Tom huffed our a harsh laugh at the awkward labeling. Still he wondered at the question mark. It meant that yet another wizard was at play. Surely not the Weasley brat who followed in Potter's wake?
It was gratifying to know that he had been able to take the prophecy, making him the most powerful wizard. He had always known it. Grindlewald had begun to suspect it. It was why he had made Tom his heir. In fact, Tom had already been planning to disappear from Grindlewald's grasp. Gellert did not suffer competition lightly. Lucky for him Dumbledore had been there to take him out. And now Dumbledore was the problem. His full lips turned up into a smirk. The Malfoy brat was sure to fail, and then Snape could step in as planned and kill the old bastard. It was for this reason that Tom never truly questioned the wizard's loyalty.
The time afte Grindlewald's demise had been painful. Tom had not known how melded to the old wizard he had been, the thought still sickened him, He had spent some time not dead and not truly alive. It was fortunate that so many had turned on Peter Pettigrew for his questionable allegiance and half truths. The sniveling rat had sought him out when he felt the tide of power turning. Tom had always made it a point to help Peter in the past. It was a tactic of his to find the weak and gain their loyalty. He found they made excellent soldiers if not comfortable ones. Only the mercenary could survive the current political climate, he acknowleged.
He glanced around the well appointed room. Sadly his time here was coming to an end. The Malfoy's were too visible and far too disappointing. His own ancestral home was being refurbished and warded with the Malfoy's coffers. The plan was to move there next month. He wanted a place call his own. He thought of the Malfoy family. Born into extreme privilege and more powerful than even they realized. They had benefitted greatly by knowing him. Lucius' weakness was his vain, power hungry nature. It was a sickness. He needed people to see he had the upper hand. Tom understood that the true power lay behind the scenes. If public opinion turned against him, the Malfoy family made for excellent scapegoats.
A mad cackling in the hall outside interrupted his thoughts. Bellatrix was approaching, no doubt to gloat over the killing of her cousin. Tom shifted back into his snake disguise. To be honest he was tired of the witch but she did have her uses. As mad as she was, she remained his most loyal servant. He never had to hold back his darker desires with her. She was as sullied as he. She was beautiful and powerfully gifted magically. As an added bonus he was able to openly flaunt the affair to one of the most prestigious families. Rodolphus was constantly torn between embarrassment, pride and anger. Tom did so enjoy playing with his toys.
Of course, Bellatrix was absolutely mad. She was ten years his senior though she did not know it. Tom preferred to keep his dual identity as long as he possibly could. Only his original knights knew and all had taken a vow of secrecy.
Tom the brilliant yet impoverished head boy had moved seamlessly from lowly store clerk to undersecretary to the head of the Department of Mysteries, and a fat lot of good that had done him. His anger bubbled to the surface again just as Bella's knock sounded.
"Come in." He hissed, his cock already hard.
She bounced in with a head of riotous curls and dark inviting eyes. "My Lord." She sank into a low curtsy. "I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your prophecy. What can be done?"
"We move on. It is now known that there is a definite movement against us." Voldemort placed his long fingers in her hair and gripped hard. She breathed in and her pupils dilated. Impassively he observed her as he hauled her onto his lap and his long fingers expertly slid under her skirts and explored her wet core. She moaned in pleasure. Bellatrix responded to dark magic and power as others did to drugs or potions. He was her high and the more she got the more she craved. He withdrew his finger and stood. Whirling her around he bent her over his desk and pulled her skirts up. He sighed with pleasure and he plunged into the heat of her.
He took her brutally, thrusting without a thought to her pleasure. When he came at last she screamed his name. Fully spent he withdrew quickly and did up his pants. A wave of his hand removed all traces of his seed from her body.
Bellatrix pouted in what she thought was an alluring way. It sickened him. "Surely that is not necessary my lord. You know that I would be proud and honored to carry any heir for you."
His lip curled in disgust. Tom had not thought to have children, not yet, and if and when he did it would not be with the half crazed addict who groveled before him. His lust spent, he craved his own company once more. "Get out." He hissed. "And tell the others that we will meet tomorrow evening."
She bowed from the room thanking him profusely. He turned away from her. It was true that the quickest way to meet his goals was through this group. It was also true that they were spoiled, inbred and blind to the fact that theirs was not the most powerful magic. As far as Tom could see, to have strong magical abilities was left up to chance. Pureblood, half blood, muggleborn, it did not matter. The strength of the soul and magical core was gifted indifferently.
Very few knew he was but a half blood. As long as he mouthed their political agenda he could drive the ship of their ideals aand considerable wealth wherever he chose. His mind drifted to the delicious muggleborn Miss Smith. Her magical ability had excited him at Hepzibah's funeral. He had pleasured himself on several occasions, picturing her under him. Wouldn't it be lovely, having killed her protectress, to then take the lost little dove for himself?
He had made subtle inquires after the death and renewal ceremony. She was rather close with the wretched Potter Boy and he aimed to know why. She could be a useful tool to him indeed. In due time he would gain her trust. Yes, he had so many plans for Miss Smith.
...
Harry was in a storm if his own grief and rage. Hermione hid behind Fawke's perch as he destroyed Dumbledore's office. "It was my fault!" He cried. "I should've gone myself."
"And be killed for your efforts? I think not." Dumbledore said gently. "Sirius would not have wanted that. He would have died defending your life and tragically he did. Tom was not able to hear the prophecy. Hermione remains safe because of it. That must count for something."
"He has taken everything from me!" Harry was hyperventilating. Hermione ran to him and threw her arms about him.
"Harry! Harry please." She tightened her grip on him.
He hugged her back sobbing. "He was like a father to me! He was...he loved me. He loved us."
"Which is why he was there. He loved you so very much. Do not let his sacrifice be in vain." Dumbledore soothed.
Harry's head shot up. "And you Headmaster? When were you planning to tell us of your own departure?
Dumbledore appeared taken aback but then looked to Hermione and smiled sadly. "You are a bright light indeed Miss Smith. Yes, it is true. My time on this earth is coming to a close. We shall discuss this very soon. Tonight and tomorrow it is our duty to honor Sirius. His body has already gone through the veil so there is not a moment to lose. Are you able Harry? Have you calmed enough to perform the death and renewal?"
Harry gulped and then nodded. "I'll do it. Sirius would want me to." He squared his shoulders and looked at Hermione. "I'm so very tired." He told her.
"I am too." She squeezed his hand. Bending her forehead to his she whispered. "One day we will be free. I just know it. You will be there and I will be there and it will be beautiful. I have to believe this Harry and so do you. We've only one way to go and that is forward. Whether we go with our head's down or eyes to the horizon and beyond is our choice. It has always been our choice. I know which path I'll choose and so do you."
Harry nodded and heaved a great sigh. "I do. I'll make Sirius proud." He hugged her close again and did not let go for quite some time.
...
"Sir, I must ask one more time. Are you sure that you can trust Snape and now Draco Malfoy?" Harry was incredulous. Dumbledore has just outlined the plan for his own demise in which Draco must be seen to at least attempt to complete the task that Voldemort had set for him. They were again in Dumbledore's office. Sirius had been mourned and lessons had resumed.
"As I have said before, I do. Snape, for reasons of his own that I shall not divulge, has complete loyalty in taking Tom down. If you can each get over your shared animosity of the other you could be great allies in time. As for Mr. Malfoy, I do believe that he is on our side. There are measures we can take to ensure this. But we are wasting valuable time questioning these things. As you now realize I haven't much left of it to spare, time that is." Dumbledore's face sagged in exhaustion.
"Yes sir." Harry was chastised. "Of course. I apologize."
"So we are agreed then? Should either of you be with me at the crucial moment you will not try to intervene? Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy know their roles. They must be played to the last word. If you are there you must act accordingly. No one must suspect." He gave them a severe look worthy of McGonagall. They nodded.
"Excellent. Harry, I will see you next Friday. I believe I've located a horcrux. You will accompany me. Miss Smith? Please stay back, I've a bit more to discuss with you." He gave Harry a nod, dismissing him.
Harry shot them a suspicious look but stood to leave. "I'll wait outside, shall I?" At Hermione's puzzled half wave he exited the office.
Dumbledore sat at his desk and indicated that Hermione should do the same. The repaired instruments that Harry had destroyed only a week before ticked and hummed around them.
At last Dumbledore spoke. "Miss Smith, or should I say Miss Granger, it seems that there is a betrothal contract in your name. Set for you before you were ever born."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "I assume you bring this up because The Malfoy's are using it to bind us to one another as a pledge of good faith? To make sure that both sides of this arrangement remain loyal to the best interests of both?"
Dumbledore sat back, shocked. "I keep forgetting how very smart you are, though I don't know why. How did you know about this? I've only just found out myself."
"I've my ways." She told him, not wanting to involve her time with Viktor. "You understand that Malfoy and I cannot stand the sight of the other? He thinks me common and beneath him. I will not be bound to that monstrous family for my life." She seethed.
"Yes, Narcissa and I have discussed this. We are aware of your feelings and despite switching sides she is none too eager to tie her only son to a half blood." He leaned over his candy dish and selected a bright pink boiled sweet. Popping it in his mouth with great relish he began to speak again. "We think a hand fast with very carefully worded vows will do the trick. The union need only last a year and a day or if the war continues, you may choose to end it mutually at a later time."
"How will this benefit us?" Hermione demanded.
"Well, for one thing no one may take your...Ah...favors against your will. The magic of the union will be such that one will always know and be able to locate the other if they are in danger. And lastly, you will both be honor bound to protect the other from mortal peril. It was this last point that Narcissa was most interested in you see. That and the whole of the Order will both protect and trust them if you are willing to take this step."
"Send me a copy of the ceremony and the vows. I'll need to know exactly what I'm entering into." Hermione felt that Dumbledore was always holding something back and it disturbed her.
She suddenly very tired of all of it. Her father had raised her to be a warrior from birth without ever explaining the very real danger they had been in. The orphanage during wartime had been awful. Hepzibah and Harry had been her only haven in all these years. Even then, the old witch had molded her into the perfect object of desire to more powerful wizards.
Hermione has been extremely resistant to this at first but as Hepzibah had explained again and again she had everything to gain by knowing these skills and nothing to lose if she chose not to use them. It was a weapon as strong as any dark curse she'd been informed. She sighed. Hepzibah's absence was a stone in her chest.
And then there was the question of Tom Riddle. Hermione already knew his cruelty. Had Hepzibah not stepped in that day in the alley she would be dead and gone by his hand. It was this monstrous soul who might one day fall in love with her. Her skin crawled at the very thought. It occurred to her that Hepzibah was correct in training her as she did. At seventeen Hermione had found very few males who valued or loved her as herself. She was a very useful pawn to the Order, a potential mistress to the Pureblood heirs and threateningly smart for a girl in her classes. If and when she got to the other side of this impossible situation, Hermione vowed to change all of that. She sighed again, this whole situation did not leave any room for love. There was still a small part of her that yearned for a partner in all parts of life.
For now she assessed the wizard in front of her. In a few weeks he would be dead. Her father had placed his trust in Dumbledore she could only hope he had been right to do so. "Let me ask, does Malfoy know of this arrangement that you have planned? I doubt he'd agree to it."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. She had been studying him in silence for several long minutes. "Mr. Malfoy is aware and is willing to take on the duties so long as his mother is provided with protection. Both he and Narcissa will act as spies until it is no longer safe to do so.
"And will he be able to stand being in my proximity for extended periods, I wonder." Hermione said acidly.
Dumbledore looked at the stunning young witch in front on him. Her posture was perfect and her ankles crossed elegantly beneath her. Her intelligence was remarkable, her understanding of politics uncanny and her manners flawless. She could command a room, an army if she wanted to. Hepzibah had been an avid collector of beautiful and rare things. Her collections were surpassed only by the Malfoy's. A pity he could not be around to see how it would play out. "I think young Mr. Malfoy will be able to stomach it." He twinkled. Indeed, the witch in front of him could possibly be the making or undoing of the boy. "You will be kind to him, won't you?"
Hermione looked incredulously at the headmaster. "I will do what needs to be done. Kindness is for helping those less fortunate than I. It is for mutual friendship. Kindness belongs to the disenfranchised, the exploited and the needy. It belongs with loved ones and supporting them no matter what. Kindness has nothing to do with myself and Draco Malfoy. That, is asking too much." As if to make her point she touched her side where Draco had inadvertently sliced her open in anger. "Send me the vows to look over. I'll say goodnight now headmaster." He nodded and she left the room.
"What did he want then?" Harry was sitting on a plinth waiting for her in the hall.
"I've been sold to the highest bidder." She told him.
Harry's brow crinkled in confusion. "I'm sorry. What?"
Sighing Hermione began to explain but was interrupted by Peeves who proceeded to chase them all the way to their dorms singing loud bawdy songs and pelting them with candied pecans. As she ducked another round of sticky nuts, Hermione thought longingly of the muggle world. They had their problems, same as anyone else, but some days what she wouldn't give to have magic be a choice.