Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Thank you for the reviews! This time, FF.Net sent them to me!
Ezmerelda: I didn't remember about the line in Charlie's Angels, but then, maybe my subconcious was playing tricks :) Well, there's a reason why Hermione fell for Severus's lies. And the answer is in this very chapter! As for Pansy, Vincent, Gregory and Nagini, the answer will come a bit later.
Alexial: yes, Ivy Parkinson (Pansy's mother) is a spy also, but she can't put her position in danger for saving her daughter.
Tracey: cliffhanger? Oh, hardly... wince You're going to kill me for this chapter then...
Voldemort released Severus from the Cruciatus Curse.
"You don't trust Lucius?"
Painfully, Severus got on his knees, then slowly stood up, his face impassive.
"No, master," he croaked, frowning inwardly, furious with himself for this lapse of self-control.
"May I know why you don't trust your fellow Death Eater?"
"Draco tried to seduce Miss Granger, when he already knew that she was yours. Lucius himself expressed the wish that she would be handed to one of us after she had borne you a child. Then he ordered Draco to stab her with the narwhal tusk, putting her life in danger."
"Because you didn't have the same wish of having her for yourself, Severus? After the images I saw in your mind? Maybe you did… this as your duty, but it seems to me you were quite enjoying it."
Severus didn't answer but he would have sworn that Hermione's cheeks had a faint pink tinge. Voldemort laughed softly, the sound grating on Severus's nerves.
"But why am I interrogating you when I have someone much more willing to answer me?"
Severus winced internally. I should have taught her Occlumency, fool that I am. I have a hard time resisting his power, how can I hope she can do it without any training? Stupid, stupid… Voldemort was still speaking and he reported his attention to him. Ignoring the Dark Lord was rarely a good move.
"I should maybe have tried with Pansy first, but I am sure that you trained her magnificently, Severus. Anyway, I know that Gregory and Vincent will try their Legilimency skills on her. They are quite good, actually; I'm very proud of them, but then, you know I only choose the best."
Draco sniggered while looking at Hermione. She raised an eyebrow and Severus thought fleetingly that it reminded him of his own habits.
"Something funny, Malfoy?"
"The Dark Lord chooses the best, Granger, but you don't belong to them."
"Indeed, Malfoy. Because he can't afford me; that's why he couldn't buy me the same way he bought your father and yourself," she replied testily.
"You're insulting your lover," said Draco, suddenly pale.
Severus wondered what was the price Voldemort had paid for Draco to join the Death Eaters. Hermione didn't even look at him when she answered:
"I know exactly what he gained when he joined the Death Eaters, Malfoy. You have nothing to teach me on this subject."
"Enough of your quarrels, children. Beloved, come near."
Hermione stood her ground and crossed her arms on her chest defiantly. Voldemort chuckled.
"Quite the brave Gryffindor, I see. You are Rowena Ravenclaw's Heir, my dear, and Rowena was betrayed by Godric Gryffindor."
Silence.
"Do not try my patience, beloved."
"You don't know the meaning of this word," she said finally, her voice raw. "You know nothing of love and passion. Salazar knew, but you are nothing like him. You are not his Heir, you are just a pathetic fool believing to be a great wizard."
Would he have worn his silver mask, Severus would have closed his eyes with a groan of despair. Obviously Rowena had taken the reins and she was in full belligerent mode. Voldemort's red eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Pathetic, am I? Who are you to talk, Mudblood?"
"Oh, we are speaking blood purity now, Voldie? Well, let's look at it: I have three of the precious bloods in my veins, both my parents are Squibs and not Muggles. You, on the other hand, are the descendant of a murderess and your father was a Muggle. You're just a half-blood wizard, Voldie!"
"Legilimens!" hissed Voldemort, his voice more sibilant than ever because of his anger.
Despite himself, Severus closed his eyes for a very short time. This was it; they were going to die, Hermione, Pansy, him. Or maybe Viktor would call the others in time. But honestly, he didn't think it probable. Then, to his utter surprise, Hermione laughed.
"How stupid do you think I am, Voldemort?" she said, taunting him. "Do you really think I wouldn't know you would use Legilimency on me?"
Somehow, Severus got the impression that Hermione was back in control and her recklessness made him fear the worst.
"What did you do? There is nothing in your mind but studies!"
"I have a friend," she said in a singsong voice. "Who is very good with Charms. I had a little tryst with him yesterday evening and then today and we created something very nice. It blocked all my memories. Isn't it ingenious? Better than Obliviate and I don't need to be trained in Occlumency for ridiculing you!"
Severus felt like gaping and he was sure that Voldemort wasn't far from feeling the same.
"And you thought I would be defeated by two children? You underestimated me, beloved."
"Well, two children and two Founders. Rowena was very cooperative and helpful and so was Helga."
"Rowena? You saw Rowena?"
"She lives in me."
"You obviously know the spell. I could very well torture you until you tell me and then I could break in your mind," he said casually, calming down and his voice taking silken tones.
She replied with a sweet smile.
"But you wouldn't, Tom. Because it would hurt the baby."
She walked to him and slowly took his hand, pressing it against her belly. Severus was bewildered.
"What is she doing?" he muttered.
"Saving your life," mused Viktor's voice in his ear.
"And the reinforcements?"
"On their way. There are anti-Apparition barriers on this place and they are working on them."
"What do you mean, saving my life?" asked Severus, having just processed the information.
"Did I tell you about a young Ravenclaw named Terry Boot? Good student, you know. Especially in Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts. An evening, he met with a young Gryffindor named Hermione Granger and they talked about things. Mostly about a spell called Obliviate and the discipline known as Occlumency."
"Go to the point, Krum," hissed Severus.
"Terry and Hermione devised the spell currently blocking Hermione's thoughts to Voldemort. Hermione got some help from Rowena, for all I know, especially on how to make it resist to Voldemort. If I remember the details correctly, the more spells are cast on it to make it break, the stronger it will grow. Until the two original casters take it down."
"So if Hermione tells the Dark Lord–"
"Young Terry would be a very good Obliviator for the Ministry, Severus. His identity is just a fleeting thought in Hermione's mind; she knows she did this spell with a friend, but his name escapes her. Nothing will make her remember until Terry speaks certain words. Clever plan, don't you think?"
"Let's hope it will be enough for saving her life."
Voldemort still had his hand on Hermione's belly and slowly moved it up, to her neck, which he caressed with his fingertips. His voice became smooth and velvety.
"I saw in your mind that you like power, beloved. I can give you power."
She had a small pout.
"I am your betrothed, am I not, Tom?" she purred, her hand running along his cheek as she said his name.
"Of course you are; Rowena and Salazar's lines are destined to unite and we are the pawns of the prophecy."
"But you love me, don't you? It's not just for the prophecy?"
"You are my beloved," he stated, his thin lips attempting a seductive smile.
"Then may I ask for a proof of your love for me?" she asked softly, her hand against his cheek, her thumb caressing his lips.
"What is it?"
"Him. He betrayed the trust I had in him, he belittled me for six years, he said it was for protecting me, he, he–"
"And what do you want me to do with him, sweet?"
"Can you kill him for me, please?" she said with the sweetest smile ever.
"So that's how she intends to save my life?" murmured Severus to Viktor, shocked to the core.
To his surprise, Viktor chuckled.
"Well, if you listened carefully to what she said, she more or less presented you as perfectly loyal to him. I can't believe how she pulls the act!"
"So he lied to you, delivering you to me, and you ask me to avenge you?" asked Voldemort, quite surprised.
She had a feral smile.
"Never underestimate a betrayed woman, Tom…"
She leaned forward and gently nibbled his earlobe, drawing a sharp hiss from his lips.
"How can she do that?" whispered Severus, feeling sick.
"Odd. This is exactly the question I asked myself as soon as I heard about you and her," replied Viktor offhandedly.
"Spare me the insults, Krum!"
"He made me think he cared for me, Tom," continued Hermione, nuzzling his neck. "I trusted him and I gave him everything. He had even saved me from Malfoy – I hate this one too…"
Severus's lips twisted as he saw Voldemort's eyes half-closed in pleasure. The dark wizard probably hadn't had a woman coming near him for a long time and he liked having Hermione seduce him to get revenge on her lover, the man who had taken what the Dark Lord himself had laid claim on. Severus felt a cold sweat run along his spine.
"May I, Tom?" she pleaded gently, kissing the white skin of his throat in front of the full circle of the Death Eaters. "Both of them?"
"They may be useful later, sweet," he purred, burying his long fingers in her hair. "How about a bit of torture now and once it's over, I'll give them to you?"
"Is this a promise, Tom?"
"Hmm," he replied noncommittally, enjoying the attentions.
"Fine then," she pouted.
"Come here then, love."
He pulled her to him, his arm wrapped around her waist, and closed her fingers under his around his wand, aiming it at Severus.
"Wonderful plan indeed," murmured Severus scathingly. "Here we go for another round of Cruciatus…"
"May I, Tom, may I? Isn't he mine?"
Voldemort seemed quite taken aback.
"Are you sure, beloved?"
"He wronged me, didn't he? Shouldn't I take my own revenge? You wouldn't want a weak bride…" she added in a breath, her lips suddenly inches from his.
Reluctantly, he released his grip on his wand, but his eyes remained fixed on her, his embrace a bit tighter. He didn't trust her. She weighted his wand a moment and smiled. Then she looked at Severus.
"Professor Snape, this time, it's my turn to hand the punishments… Crucio!"
For the second time that evening, Severus fell on his knees, the wind knocked out of his chest. As usual, he didn't utter a single sound. It hurt, but not as much as usually. He managed to look up at Hermione; everybody probably only saw the concentration on her face, but he had learnt to read her every expression in the past two months and in the depths of her eyes, he could see she was begging him to forgive her.
"Ah, love, you're still a beginner at Unforgivable Curses!" exclaimed Voldemort as Hermione gave him his wand back, kissing his fingers at the same time. "It will take you some practice but soon, you will be able to cast them properly. Severus, I am content with you. You were faithful to me and I was wrong to doubt you."
Severus's eyebrows almost shot to his hairline. He had never heard the Dark Lord apologise before. Immediately, he crawled to him and kissed the hem of his robes.
"Thank you, master, thank you…"
Hermione took advantage of the situation to step back, disgust written all over her face. Severus smirked inwardly. She was now out of Voldemort's arms.
"Now that this matter is settled, we can move on more important things. The key to the spell blocking your thoughts, beloved?"
She shook her head.
"No, Tom. Contrary to your beliefs, I didn't block my thoughts to protect Snape, but for the simple reason that in my veins runs the blood of Godric Gryffindor, thanks to my friend Harry Potter. The same way it runs in your veins."
"You seduce me to get back at Severus, but you refuse to give me information on Potter? You lack logic, sweet."
"No, Tom. I am still loyal to Harry, no matter what. Even if I just cast an Unforgivable, I still came here against my will and nothing will change this fact. And if any of your minions make a move toward me, this blade will take the life of the child growing in me. The child with the four precious bloods, the virgin blood and the immortal blood. The child you need for your new dawn," she said, calmly pulling a blade from under her robes.
"The child your side also needs," remarked Voldemort without losing his calm.
"We still have Harry. And well, the prophecy…"
She smiled, taunting him. He shook his head, chuckling indulgently.
"Do not play with fire, beloved. I am not known to be very patient. You heard the prophecy, then?"
"No. But Harry did."
"If Potter knows the prophecy, how is it he didn't tell you?"
"I have nothing that interests him."
"Really? And what would he want?"
"Hmm… Five minutes alone with Bellatrix Lestrange would be a good start."
"She's a faithful follower of mine," he objected, laughing at Hermione's cheek.
"I know. But she killed her cousin, Sirius Black. Sirius was Harry's godfather. Thinking of it, he would rather have Sirius back."
"He fell behind the Veil, didn't he? Well, beloved, if you give me the prophecy, I might pull Black from there," he said enticingly.
"You could?" she asked, surprised.
"If you channel to me the power of the child in you, then yes, I could."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"But I couldn't, because I'm not powerful enough."
"You're still young though. Let it come in time."
He looked at her curiously.
"How is it you are not afraid of me?"
She shrugged carelessly while hiding the blade in her robes and Severus marvelled at her ability to make every move seem sensual. Voldemort could hardly take his eyes off her.
"I spent six years fearing a name and the wizard it belongs to. Now I face the wizard and he's just like any other… except for the power."
She stepped back, stretching against a pillar, her hands above her head, her robes falling conveniently open to reveal her Hogwarts uniform. Severus heard Viktor's breath catch and he noticed that several Death Eaters were reacting the same way. Even Voldemort's scarlet eyes were a lot brighter than usually.
"Do you know my name, Tom?" she asked softly.
"Of course, beloved."
"Then say it."
"Hermione," he said, obviously quite puzzled, but determined to play her game for the moment.
Severus thought with gritted teeth that it probably meant Cruciatus for everyone before the end of the meeting, just to prove that the Dark Lord hadn't gone soft.
"Louder!"
"Hermione!"
"Louder!" she insisted again.
"HERMIONE!" he yelled.
He was immediately rewarded by a seductive smile that made half the Death Eaters pant and Voldemort seemed perfectly aware of the fact. He seemed to enjoy it a great deal too.
"Oh no," whispered Viktor. "Oh no, no, no. It's much too early!"
"What?"
"They broke the barriers. That's why Hermione made him scream like that."
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you really think Hermione is seducing him for the fun of it? She spent her weekend working on it, bringing Terry on his knees in a record time and I wasn't that far behind. The reason was that the signal for the reinforcements to break the barriers was when they would hear Hermione's name three times."
"You gave her the signal? Are you crazy? What if she had betrayed us to the Dark Lord?"
"She couldn't."
"Why?"
"You, her, Rowena… soul mates. Bound to you forever. Couldn't betray you even if she wanted. Even if you cheated on her, she would still stay with you. But I would advise you against it. Rowena was jealous. It was forbidden to pronounce the name of Salazar's wife in her house."
"How do you know?"
"You're not the only one to have a book as heirloom."
"How is it she told you that?"
He could almost see Viktor roll his eyes.
"Good grief, Severus, do you ever talk to the girl or do you always content yourself with insulting her?"
"We are generally engaged in… other activities," he replied, unable to resist taunting him.
Viktor made a gagging sound.
"I didn't need this image in my mind, thank you very much!"
Voldemort stood up suddenly.
"Did you bring some company, beloved?" he asked softly.
She shrugged with a smile, but her eyes widened when she saw his wand aimed at her. She knew there was nothing she could do if he cast the Killing Curse at her so she made a desperate last try.
"But, Tom, you said you love me…"
"Oh I do, angel, sweet beloved. I love you so much that I won't share you with anyone! I had fully intended to wait until it grew more powerful, but it will have to do!"
He shouted a word that nobody understood and the curse fired from his wand. Hermione never had the time to dodge it. People began to pop around in a haze and the Death Eaters shouted warnings and orders to get into fighting positions. The curse hit Hermione in the stomach and a voice boomed above the noises of the battlefield:
"Rowena!"
She looked up toward the wizard in dark robes running to her.
"Severus…" she called weakly, tears steaming down her cheeks.
And she collapsed on the ground.