10. The Dark Lord's world.

Even though their research was high priority, and Voldemort wanted him to get back to work as soon as possible, there were many disruptions for the next few days. Rudolphus Lestrange recovered quickly, and he woke the second day after the attack on Hogwarts. His wife, Bellatrix, was instated as Headmistress of Hogwarts. It came as a surprise to many that Voldemort didn't take Hogwarts as his headquarters, but the Dark Lord announced his intentions to keep the school open, instructing young students with some small, but important changes in the curriculum when it came to the Dark Arts.

The Dark Lord called Severus to ask his opinion about the trustworthiness of those staff members who had, with more or less reluctance, surrendered. Severus was hesitant to offer his advice, he was hardly close to any of them, no matter how long he had been at Hogwarts. In the end, Christy Sinistra, Reena Lennarts, Irma Pince, Madam Hooch, Vector and even Filch, returned to the school.

Christy was the only Slytherin. She had been loyal to Albus but she would not go against her promises now that Hogwarts had fallen. Severus did not know Reena Lennarts, who had taken over Potions only after he himself was captured, but the Dark Lord seemed satisfied when she offered her services. Severus wasn't as sure about either Irma or Madam Hooch, both had been at Hogwarts for many years. But they weren't fighters, they wouldn't be likely to cause trouble. Vector had rarely got herself involved in anything, it was unlikely she would start now. And Filch, Severus wasn't sure why the Dark Lord would even allow a squib to remain in the school, but he certainly wasn't a threat. Sybill Trelawney submitted to the Dark Lord as well, but there would be no more Divination on the new curriculum. Voldemort shared Severus' opinion the subject was quite useless, the few people who had the gift could get their training elsewhere.

Then Voldemort had asked him to talk to Pomona Sprout. The Dark Lord valued her abilities and while he had not trusted Minerva or Filius, no matter how highly qualified they might have been, he believed he could convince Pomona to work for him. Severus agreed; while she was more feisty than Irma, Madam Hooch, or even Poppy, she was not really a fighter either. With all the leaders from the Order of the Phoenix gone, he hoped he could make her see reason.

The Death Eaters held a number of wild parties in the main ballroom, celebrating their victory, but as usual Severus avoided those. The Dark Lord did require his and Hermione's presence at the services for the Death Eaters who had been killed. Hugh Bole, Carlos Warrington and Kaylin Quint had been killed in the attack, and while usually the funerals of fallen Death Eaters were a sober affair –those who failed were not highly praised, and of course for the longest time the Death Eaters could not openly acknowledge their relationship with those who had been killed- the Dark Lord let everyone know that those who had fallen in this attack would be looked upon with great honour.

Severus had never allowed himself to get close to any of the Hogwarts staff, except for Albus, rarely allowing himself any emotional involvement with anyone at all, but the fall of Hogwarts still hit him hard. It was worse for Hermione, who had known the staff members for far less time but had considered many of them her friends. Not to mention Potter, who had been her close friend all through school. Even now, she was strong enough to show little during the day, but at night, in the privacy of their quarters, she broke down several times.

So it came as a great surprise when, almost a week after the attack, she came into the lab from a trip to the library grinning widely, then bursting out in laughter as soon as the door closed behind her.

It had been a long time since he'd heard her laugh. Sure, there'd been smiles and short laughs about a hundred little things, in the evenings when they could almost forget where they were, and how they'd gotten there. But real laughter, he hadn't heard that from her, here.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"They aren't really gone, Severus," she said, beaming. "They aren't really gone. Albus, Minerva and Harry, they've come back to Hogwarts as ghosts!"

For a moment, Severus wasn't sure he had heard her right. "All three of them?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded happily. "I don't know how they did it, but they did."

Then Severus, too, found himself smiling broadly. Of course, on a larger scale, it would change nothing. Ghosts couldn't interfere with the world of the living directly, that was a law of nature even Albus couldn't, and wouldn't, go around. The dead would always greatly outnumber the living and some, from the grey past when the entire world was a harder one, would make the Dark Lord seem like a saint in comparison. But Hogwarts would be a better place for their presence, and also Severus realised he was glad for pure selfish reasons. Albus was the only one in twenty years he'd called a friend.

"Bellatrix Lestrange is livid, but she can't do nothing about it," Hermione continued. "Poppy told me –she will be returning to Hogwarts now that Rudolphus Lestrange could be moved, but his wife came to see him yesterday."

Severus grinned at the mental image. The good news made things easier for both of them.

It also helped convince Pomona to return to the school. The small woman had been more stubborn than Severus had hoped, and had refused to return when he had suggested it, but when she heard about Albus, Minerva and Harry, she relented.

Before the Wizarding world could really recover from the news Hogwarts had fallen, Voldemort made his final strike at the Ministry. The Dark Lord had a lot of influence there already, and the coup went off without a hitch. Fudge, who for whatever reason had managed to save his ass even when he had to admit he'd been wrong denying the Dark Lord's resurrection, was killed, but he was the only casualty. No great loss, if you asked Severus.

Voldemort himself remained behind the scenes, and Lucius Malfoy became the new Minister of Magic. With all the reins firmly in hand, a relative peace returned to the Wizarding world as those who had resisted were now only scattered individuals, lacking organisation. The Death Eaters rounded those up quickly, and a great number chose to switch sides. Others left the country, but few if any remained behind to fight.

Life settled into routine again. Severus was glad to see many of the newly joined Death Eaters were both more capable and more pleasant than most of the old crowd had been. Muggle-borns who pledged to Voldemort were all accepted, and some of the old Death Eaters who couldn't deal with that were delegated to other positions. The Goyles, Flint and the Notts were now on the continent, attempting to locate a number of Aurors and others who had relocated before and after the attack on Hogwarts. It appeared the Weasleys had gathered a small group of refuges and retreated to Romania, but no other news reached them.

The Crabbes were, against Severus' expectations, able to accept the changes. Macnair was the only one left at the Manor who made no secret of his hatred of the new recruits, even those who were Purebloods but hadn't come to the Dark Lord until they had no other options left. But Macnair had been the one to kill Albus and thus his position was safe no matter what.

Voldemort finally returned their wands, late the next winter. He'd come to watch them work again, when Severus had lifted a cauldron a little higher off the flame to temper the heat. Something he did automatically, after all this time. But the Dark Lord had frowned, and later, Pettigrew had come and handed them their wands. It was almost strange to do magic again, and sometimes Severus still got up to collect a book or ingredient from across the room, forgetting he could summon it.

From that day on, he also instructed Hermione in the Dark Arts, the spells and charms that had not been taught at Hogwarts but she would need now. The Dark Lord still didn't require them to actively participate in any of his campaigns, but it would never do to be caught unawares.

Hermione was as good a student in the Dark Arts as she was in anything else she undertook. She would often frown in distaste at the curses he taught her, but he was certain she retained them all.

Severus was used to having few friends, and truth to tell, he felt better than he had been in many years. He still regretted the Wizarding world had fallen to the Dark Lord, for even thought it was better than it could've been, it was a hard world, and it had cost the life of several people he greatly respected. But on a personal level, he was happy, happier than he could ever remember being. If it was a selfish happiness, then so be it.

Hermione was having a more difficult time. She missed her friends. She loved Severus, but only in stories was the love of one person enough to be truly happy. And she still felt guilty. Even if they hadn't taken an active part in any of Voldemort's raids, even if Voldemort had launched a large enough force at Hogwarts he would've taken the castle regardless of the rumors about her Mark, even if she knew many of those who had come to the Dark Lord would have been killed if they had not. Somewhere deep inside she could not accept the new and harder world, and her feelings of guilt and regret caused her to withdraw in herself. Even though they had a little more freedom and frequently met with the Death Eaters, old and new, she kept her distance to everyone outside their own quarters.

Spring came, followed by summer. Almost all of the recently graduated students joined the Dark Lord. Of course that was from among those who had returned to the school, and didn't include those who'd left the country or decided not to return to the school under the Lestranges, but the news still bothered Hermione. Had it been her fault the attack on Hogwarts had succeeded so easily? She knew the number of Death Eaters Voldemort had long before she took the Mark, and she didn't voice her feelings of doubt because she didn't want to be silly, but she couldn't shake them.

One afternoon in early August found her sitting in the window sill. The window wide open, allowing the sun and a soft summer breeze to enter the room. It had been a good day. Their project was going well, and she thought the bezoar that lay simmering in a mixture of unicorn blood, dragon's scales, mandrake root and more than a dozen other ingredients looked very promising. In spite of her discomfort with the project, she was proud of their results.

Severus had told her just that morning he was proud of her, too. Although he still taught her some things –even she couldn't catch up on everything he knew in just two years- she had worked hard to learn as much as she could, and he treated her as an equal now. She knew he wouldn't do that if she hadn't been good enough; he had cared for her just as much when they'd just got here, but straight out of Hogwarts she had only been able to assist him while she learned. While he'd listened to her suggestions from the start, back then it had been clear she was his assistant as long as they were in the lab.

She had been reading, but the sun was warm and, rare for her, she found she could not concentrate on the book. The manor grounds were beautiful, the grass green even in the middle of summer, the small lake under the ancient trees blinking in the sun. If it weren't for the Dementors, who still patrolled the grounds even now there was little resistance against Voldemort, it would be inviting to go outside for a stroll. Instead, she'd have to be satisfied with her seat on the window sill, and it was quite nice, too. She'd always enjoyed summer, when the sun could cheer her up in ways the winter never could.

Severus entered, his heavy robes discarded in the warm weather, wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black slacks. He walked over and gave her a light kiss.

"Afternoon, love," he said as he sat down across from her.

She smiled at him as she cherished his touch and his company. But she also remembered all the things she'd been thinking about, and it was a weak smile.

He reached out, lightly touching her cheek. "You're still feeling sad."

She looked at him. They were sitting in the warm summer sun, it was a beautiful day and he looked at her with concern and love in his dark eyes. She smiled. She did not want to feel sad. Yet the doubts kept nagging.

"Severus, is it wrong to be happy? After all that's happened," she asked softly. Without realising it, she put her right hand on her left arm, on the Mark.

He pushed the hair that had fallen forward out of her face, his touch soft and gentle. "No. You deserve happiness, as much as anyone. More than most. You have nothing to feel guilty of."

"The school, Dumbledore, Harry, all those who came after me...," she said, trailing off.

"It is highly doubtful any of that would've turned out much different in the end. Quite possibly, worse. There is far less hostility against Muggles and Muggle-borns." His dark eyes bore into hers and he spoke with authority, as he had done in the classroom. Then his expression softened, and so did his tone. "If it is wrong to be happy, then at least know you are not the only one. I'm happy here, with you, no matter what."

"Thank you, Severus," she said softly. She leaned forward to kiss him, wrapping her arms around her, and he pulled her into his embrace.

Later that evening, they sat close together on the couch, the sun long gone down and the breeze now slightly cool through the open window. Savouring the quiet evening, Hermione was glad she had finally expressed her feelings of guilt. She didn't hold the illusion that all her doubts would be gone forever, but she knew she could at least start to let go.

Finally, at the end of September, the Stone was ready. The bezoar, which used to be a dark brownish color, had turned blood-red, and the mixture it had been laying in for almost three months was completely clear.

Hermione held the small box lined with white cloth while Severus fished it out of the cauldron. Neither spoke as Severus carefully placed the Stone in the box, then turned and placed the small cauldron of healing potion on the lab table, while Hermione dried the Stone and made sure there was not a trace of the liquid left.

Satisfied, Hermione returned the Stone to Severus. It looked fine, but they would know if it worked only by testing it. Severus took the Stone from her, carefully held it in a set of tongs, then dipped it into the healing potion. Hermione held her breath.

As soon as the Stone touched the potion, the light yellowish liquid turned a shimmering red.

"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed.

Severus was smiling broadly. He carefully lifted the Stone out of the Elixir, replacing it in its box.

"It worked." Satisfaction was clear in his voice.

Hermione once again dried the Stone, it was important to not let the potion dry on the Stone where it could leave a residue, then handed it to Severus. She picked up a small cauldron with fresh healing potion, the tongs and the cloth, and followed Severus out of the lab.

The door to the Dark Lord's rooms opened as they approached. Of course the Dark Lord knew their project was almost finished, and how good it had looked this time.

Little had changed in the room over the time she had been at the manor. Voldemort usually sat in his large chair, although occasionally he would be working at the ornate desk on the right wall. Nagini was curled up near the fireplace. The snake was long used to them and rarely even lifted her head when they came in. Pettigrew was there, of course, though Hermione didn't know what he was doing all day. He ran errands but he seemed to do little but hang around in between.

Hermione followed Severus as he walked up to the Dark Lord and knelt down.

"Rise," Voldemort commanded. They stood.

"Lord, we were successful," Severus said, handing the Stone over with a bow.

Voldemort's red eyes gleamed as he held the Stone and slowly turned it over in his long, pale hands. "Excellent. The potion?"

Hermione handed him the tongs and held the cauldron with the healing potion up. The Dark Lord repeated the process with which they had tested the Stone earlier, turning the potion into the red Elixir. Handing the Stone to Severus to clean it, the Dark Lord then dipped a ladle into the cauldron and took a dose.

The result was immediate and astonishing. As they watched silently, Hermione held her breath. The Dark Lord's snake-like face got more color and the hollow cheeks filled out. Slowly, a regular, straight nose grew in place of the slits, and his red eyes turned an intense green. His entire body fleshed out, and the unnaturally long fingers shrunk just a little to more normal proportions.

Pettigrew gasped and the sound startled Hermione. All the changes had taken place in complete silence. She herself gasped for breath, suddenly unsure how long she'd held it. She caught Severus' concerned glance but he, too, had most of his eye on their Lord. She reassured him with a minute nod.

Shaken out of her breathless stare, she looked in awe at the young man she knew was Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord now appeared somewhere in his late twenties or early thirties, as strong as ever, or more so. He smiled as Severus handed him the Stone, cleaned and dried, again.  Severus, of course, looked composed but Hermione was certain he was awed by the results of the Elixer as well.

"Ah, excellent. It may have been difficult to convince you to work for me again, but it was definitely worth it," the Dark Lord said.

"Thank you, Lord," Severus said carefully.

"No, thank you," the Dark Lord replied. "I would like you –both of you- to join my staff. You will have a say in the staff meetings, those who still have a problem with how you came here will answer to me. No raids, there are plenty on hand who like those. I will have some other potions work, but no more projects of this magnitude, there will be plenty of time for your own research or anything else you'd like to do."

"Thank you, Lord," Severus answered, and Hermione echoed him.

Voldemort dismissed them, and Hermione felt strange as they went back to their quarters and lab. After working on the project for so long, it felt weird that it was finished.

Back in their lab, Severus turned toward her.

"There is one more thing," he told her seriously. "Your work on the Stone was your Master's project, and since we just successfully finished the project. You are now Hermione Granger, Potions Mistress. I am proud of you, Hermione."

Hermione could see the pride in his dark eyes, and she smiled broadly.

"Thank you!" she said sincerely, then reached out to hug and kiss him. That it was hardly the traditional reaction to receiving a Master's degree was none of her concern, and neither did Severus care, for he kissed her back as passionately as she.

That evening, they called the house-elves to set a table and they had a private dinner to celebrate. As always in the manor, the food was wonderful and the house-elves had outdone themselves. Hermione savoured dinner and the company. For much of the time she'd spent here, she'd been afraid they would succeed, afraid of helping Voldemort become younger and stronger. Now she no longer worried. The Dark Lord had conquered with very little help from either of them, and she had accepted the inevitable. And regardless of what happened in the world at large, she had Severus.

He looked happy as well, satisfaction and pride at their success obvious in his demeanour of the day. It was ironic he'd always been so unhappy and abrasive, and had found happiness in such a place as this. Hermione promised herself to make sure he would have reasons to remain happy.

They finished dinner with coffee and a small glass of liquor. Neither one of them drank a lot of alcohol, but they would occasionally imbibe.

She watched Severus sip his drink They hadn't spoken since dessert, simply drinking their coffee and liquor in a comfortable, easy silence. Neither one of them was much of a talker. Finally, Severus put his glass down. He looked at her and she could see him take a breath before he spoke.

"Hermione," he started. "Now that we are truly equals, in work as well as in private… would you marry me?"

She felt her heart catch as she looked into his eyes. "Severus, I would like nothing more. Yes, absolutely yes."

Once again, they embraced in a passionate kiss, the last bit of liquor forgotten on the table. They'd never needed alcohol to enhance their lovemaking experience, and they didn't now. They had each other and that was all they needed.