Chapter 6
Disclaimer: Oh oh not mine, but thanks to JKR who gives us so much fun.
A/N: Thanks to Thegraylady. Thanks to Lis and Shabopo who beta read this chapter and to Lynn and Nat.
"Why now?" she whispered, closing her eyes willing her tears to stop flowing.
Voldemort sighed. He backed away from her, looking at the desk that was now covered with spilled tea.
The room was greeted by a heat silence as the two stood still fighting their inner wars.
Hermione clutched her wand very so tightly that her knuckles became white. 'Do you believe him?' A voice in her head asked.
'I don't know.' She answered to herself, 'I really don't know'
'No, you know,' Responded the same voice but this time the voice seem to come from her heart instead of her head, "You just don't want to admit it, Hermione."
'Admit what?' Thought Hermione angrily.
'That you are his daughter, his true child; not your current father's. You always know this, don't you? You always know that there is a difference between you and your 'father'.' Finished the voice, satisfied.
Her shoulder shocked slightly, closing her eyes even more tightly, memory floated in her mind.
Hermione and her mother, Cerisa Granger, were cooking at their kitchen. Hermione was 11 years old, dressing in red jacket and jeans, smiling to herself as she help her mother chopped a carrot into small pieces.
Cerisa Granger, a small woman with two big brown eyes shining delightfully. She was humming while cooking dinner for her family, her hair as frizzy as Hermione's was tied with a handkerchief.
Then a tall, black hair man appeared at the doorframe, smiling, he advanced on Cerisa and huge her at the waist from behind. She swirled around gave him a peck on his check. Then the man, Anson Granger, turned to Hermione, he hugged her and kissed her forehead lovingly.
The image went blur as tear well up in her eyes threatening to fall. Another memory appeared.
Hermione was at her cousin's birthday. She was dressing in white rob, her hair falling loosely on her back with a sunflower bow in her hair. She was 12 year old.
She stood looked at her cousin made a wish and blew the candles. When she did everyone applauded and her mother and father hugged her and kissed her, suddenly Hermione was hit by a realization. How her cousin looked similar to her parents. Then she looked at her parents; she had her mother's hair and eyes but for her father she can't think of anything that could remind her of him. How different they are.
She then remembered a conversation she once overheard her parents talked late at night.
'What did he say?' Cerisa asked her husband enthusiastically.
'He's unsure about the result,' Anson replied, his voice showed he was uncertain too. 'The result shows I am unable, but we have our Hermione as a proof and that make thing complicated.' He trailed off; they were quiet for a second. Then Anson spoke again, softly comforting his wife, 'Love, it is not a big problem, we have Hermione, our angel, brave and clever, we shouldn't need another one in fact.'
After that all she heard was her mother's soft cry and her father soothing words.
At that time Hermione didn't understand what her parents were saying about, but now she was sure she knew the meaning of those words 'I am unable'. Too much, Hermione sank to her knees, sobbing into her hands.
Hearing her sob, Voldemort turned around to her and said, "I know it was hard to accept and I won't force you to but you must learn to take it."
"Why should I?" Said Hermione fiercely, brushing her tear with the back of her hand angrily. She stood up facing the most evil wizard in centauries, her father. She knew that it was true, the fact that she hated most but why should she acknowledge it? Can't she just ignore it and let it pass? Of cause not, Hermione Granger or was it now Voldemort or Riddle would never ignore a fact, her conscience, her logic wouldn't let her.
However, she wanted to know why Voldemort wanted her to be his daughter. Why was he insisting that she had to accept it? Was it because of she was friends with Harry? Or that she was affiliated with the Order? But he had said that those were not the points and he didn't seem to lie to her. 'Start trusting him now, eh?' The voice said mockingly in her head but Hermione just tell it to shut up. She asked again, "Why should I?"
Voldemort sighed heavily, turning his back to Hermione he said, "I won't say it is of any fatherly urges but you are my child, my only heir, you must live as what you are."
"My mother is a Muggle, is she not?" She inquired solemnly.
"Yes, I believe she is." Voldemort responded thoughtfully, "Though it won't change the fact you being my daughter."
"You don't suppose I will start acting like a pure blood witch or get me resorted into Slytherin, do you?" Said Hermione, sarcastically resembling to Professor Snape. "Because if you do; you can get ready for your failure." She finished, folding her hands on her chest with her head held high.
Voldemort raised his eyes brow, he found her amazing and casually announced, "That won't be necessary."
The tension seemed to loosen a bit. She stared incredulously at him as he brushed past her, which gave her goosebumps, to the sofa; waving his wand at the mess, he muttered "Scourgify!" all were cleaned; moving his wand again, a new teapot along with two white teacups appeared on the desk.
Hermione was still staring at him lost in thought when he asked her to join him. She dazedly followed him, setting herself across from him, still looking dazed. It wasn't until a hot object was thrust into her hand that reality came back to her. Startled, she looked down to see the white teacup steaming in her hand.
She heard Voldemort said, "Please drink, it should help you think clearer." Raising her face she saw two eyes gazing at her with – concern? She shocked her head then took a sip from the cup, the tea tasted different from the previous one yet familiar to Hermione. She frowned then the liquid flowed down her throat sending a warmth sensation up her body feeling calm she quickly dismissed the thought.
Voldemort turned his attention to his tea. Hermione watched him sat cross-legged, sipping his tea slowly, he seem relax. His face looked less vicious in this state. For a full minute they just sat there quietly.
Unexpectedly Voldemort roused from his tea catching Hermione staring at him. She blushed, taking her eyes off him.
"Have you something you want to know, child?" Voldemort offered.
She pulled herself together, cleared her throat and said slowly yet clearly, "You still didn't answer my question, why you want me here." She fixed her eyes on his and went on, "But I want to know the full story first. How am I become your child? What is between you and my mother? Did you know it from the start?"
Voldemort looked hesitated at Hermione's questions, but he didn't evade. He took another sip before answered.
"First, I didn't know that you are my child from the start, in fact I never desired any children," He pushed, looked up seeing a slight hurt on Hermione's face. He continued, "Though I'm proud to have one with intellect and bravery like you."
Hermione blushed at his comment. She stared at her feet feeling a pang of guilt in her heart.
Voldemort coughed, turning her attention back to him.
"Between your mother and I, I can't even say we have any relationship. I was not good to your mother, I hurt her – I did..." He trailed off, looking far away at the sky.
Hermione sat still sipping her tea waiting for him to continue but he just sat there lost in thought.
xxxOxxx
A/N: Thanks to all of you who read and review!