Chapter 4 – Connection with the enemy

"Granger! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING??? RUNNING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL LIKE THAT??? DO YOU WANT ME MURDERED BY MADAM POMFREY!!! COME DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!!!" Snape bellowed from the staircase.

Hermione looked amused as she watched her potions professor looking so worried and angry at once. She had a dull headache and finally decided that going back to the hospital wing wasn't a bad idea at all. She wasn't prepared to go to classes, less to meet Malfoy.

She walked down a flight of stairs and took a short cut to the Hospital Wing, while half-dreading what Snape would say to her. As her thoughts sorted itself, she began thinking of her dream. Had it happened? She had often heard Harry sharing dreams with Voldemort, but her? She and Voldemort were practically strangers.

Hermione walked through the series of hallways, thinking about the events. It was slipping away. She remembered that Voldemort was planning something. What it was, she didn't know. Harry was involved. And another girl called Lyanna, whoever she was. There was also someone who shared blood with Voldemort. It might be Harry, she thought as Voldemort's blood is obtained from Harry.

She finally reached the hospital wing, only to find a livid Snape and a disapproving Madam Pomfrey.

"Well Miss Granger, what were you thinking of running away? Next time I shall have to put you in chains. Merlin knows how many times you've escaped the hospital wing. Get into your bed. I need to check you up." Madam Pomfrey ushered her into her bed while Professor Snape left and went into the direction of the dungeons.

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Lyanna. Who exactly is she and where is she? Hogwarts? There was no one in Hogwarts with the name of Lyanna. Could it be Durmstrang? It was unlikely. Voldemort was concentrating his search in England. He seemed almost positive that Lyanna is a student and probably from Hogwarts as well.

Severus had missed the last meeting of the Dark Lord, and thus was not aware of the latest activities. What could they be up to? The last time he was there, the Dark Lord announced that he wanted to find someone. He did not know much about her. After all, it wasn't his assignment and the he wasn't informed very much of it. Yet he should be. Hogwarts was his area.

He tried to put it out of his minds. He had to concentrate on how to convince the Dark Lord of his loyalty now. It wasn't easy. He could not apparate out of Hogwarts freely, which made Voldemort suspicious of him. There was going to be a meeting soon. He could feel it.

He also needed to teach Granger what she needed to know soon. It was vital that she know how to protect herself soon. She was in danger. The Dark Lord had noticed her.

It was just wrong to sort her into Slytherin. She might have all the qualities that Salazar Slytherin prized in his students. Except that she's a mudblood, he thought. Things might have been different if she hadn't been one. Wait. It was possible that she wasn't a mudblood. Was it?

He reached the dungeons and took a shower. He had classes soon. To the students, he was just cold and menacing Potions Master. Someone they feared and hated. They don't know me and hate me already. If they knew...

It always came to that. No matter what he said, he was still a Death Eater. Seventeen, he joined. In hope of winning James Potter and his idiotic gang. The desire of learning new things. Voldemort had used it to bait him into joining. Lucius Malfoy preached endlessly on the glory and power of being a Death Eater. His mother would have been proud of him. After all, she shared Voldemort's views. Thinking back, his mother might have been a Death Eater and he wouldn't know. All in all, he hated himself. Hated himself for giving in to the temptation and weakness of accepting the Death Eaters' bait.

They were nothing. They were just ruthless people. They killed for the sake of killing. Severus knew he was a cold man. Not that cold, he thought. Yet he could not forgive himself. He was wrong and even though he was trying to make amends, it was not enough. It was never enough. He hated himself for it.

Sometimes, he hated Dumbledore for giving him a second chance. He knew he led a pathetic life. He should be rotting away in Azkaban now. Dumbledore forgave him when he couldn't forgive himself. He gave a bitter laugh at that.

Even though he disliked Potter, if he could help him in any way and keep Granger out of the war, he would, at whatever cost. It was his price to pay.

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Hermione was forced to drink cups after cups, vials after vials, drop after drops of potions, none of them nice at all. She endures it all patiently even though she wished she could be anywhere but here.

Crookshanks was with Wormtail. She wasn't delusional. She would not get him back soon. It gave her some comfort that he was still alive. She had business with Voldemort, even though she did know what it was about.

She was confused. There was only one word for it. She wished that all of it had just been a nightmare. But I am a Slytherin now, I have to stand up to him, she thought. She would not give up nor give in. She had a part in this war, and no matter what, she had to play to her best ability.

Finally the tests were finished and Madam Pomfrey gave her a goblet full of Sleeping Draught, which she took gratefully, as sleep took over her.

Faintly, she could hear Dumbledore enter and briefly confer with Madam Pomfrey though her brains refused to register it properly.

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Albus Dumbledore paced his study. Voldemort had been gaining power for over two years. He had killed, certainly, plotted to destroy Harry Potter, but did not see fit to declare open war yet. He wondered what Voldemort was waiting for. For once, he was at a dead end to what Voldemort next step was.

Forces wise, Voldemort is winning. He had managed to summon the dementors and giants and others. Yet he knew that the only sure way to defeat his enemy was by killing Harry Potter.

He wondered whether it would be wise to teach Harry other forms of magic. Harry was a powerful wizard, and had demonstrated it in more ways than one. Would it really help? He couldn't teach him Dark Arts. It would be way too dangerous.

And Hermione Granger. Where did she fit in the picture?

He heard a knock on his door only to revealed Severus. He looked more haggard than ever. Sometimes, he wondered whether it was wise for Severus to continue playing his double-agent role. Oh, he was a stubborn man alright. He refused to give up no matter what. However, Albus was no fool. He knew that Snape had been regularly subjected to the Cruciatus and other form of torture.

"Albus, do you remember the conversation we had after the last meeting I attended?" Severus asked.

"Yes. Voldemort was looking for someone." Dumbledore wondered where this was leading to, dreading the answer.

"I think I know who that is. Even though I cannot be positively sure, that person is Hermione Granger."

His worst suspicions were confirmed. She was involved and committed. There was nothing he could do.

"Lyanna is Hermione Granger. Though I do not know how, she is somehow related or connected to Voldemort. Sooner or later, he will get her and then, we'll find out."

"Then we mustn't let him get her." Dumbledore said.

"You know very well that he gets whatever he wants in the end, Albus. He did not seem to want to kill her. I think its better to leave her be. The best you can do is arm her. There is still time."

It might be the best course, Albus thought, even if he didn't want it to be that way. He knew he was taking a gamble if he agreed to Severus. He bowed his head and considered his options. He could only hope that Hermione would not succumb to the Dark Side.

"I suppose you want to be responsible Severus?" Dumbledore phrased his question carefully, knowing that it wasn't a good idea to force Severus to do anything, like he did two years ago, delegating him with the task of teaching Harry Occlumency.

"Yes, yes of course. I suspect that Granger's connection with Voldemort allowed her to know what he was doing. No, it's not like Potter's. She sees as a third person. She saw him discuss Lyanna. There wasn't another explanation for it. I suspect that her connection with Voldemort will continue to strengthen as he continue to make contact with her. Her mind is weak. Malfoy must have used some Dark Spell to break it. We have to try and prepare her at least."

Severus was concerned. He was really worried. He don't usually show emotions, Dumbledore thought.

"Alright. Have it your way. You will be responsible I trust." Severus looked highly affronted by this remark.

"I know I was wrong that time. I already pointed out that Potter and I will never reach an agreement. But Granger is different. At least I don't need to explain every single thing to her. I don't know how good she is but she is certainly not stupid."

"Well, in that case, its something off my mind. Try to look into this matter won't you?"

"Good day, headmaster."

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Hermione's sleep was dreamless. When she woke up, she felt rather refreshed. After another check-up, she was free to go. She needed to see Snape. There were some answers she wanted and maybe he would know.

It was late afternoon, fifteen minutes to Potions Class. Great, she thought. Now I get to see Snape. She rushed straight to the Potions classroom, only to find that she was early. Snape was already there, something she never saw him do before –early for class. He was always punctual. Strange, she thought. Why am I paying so much attention to him?

He wasn't as ruthless and mean as she thought. He was capable of human actions, as he had demonstrated when he carried her. Yet why was he always so cold towards everything? Why did he try to push everyone away out of his life?

He had built a wall upon himself for protection, she thought.

She had extra classes with him now, for being sorted into Slytherin, she thought wryly. She knew she had to put everything aside for this. Even her little experiment and researches during the holidays.

She wondered how she would approach him. She was saved by Snape himself.

"How are you feeling, Miss Granger?" Hermione was taken aback. This coming from him?

"I am fine. Thank you sir."

"Oh, for what?"

"For everything. For.... carrying me to the Hospital Wing."

"Not my choice either. I don't want your brain addled by knocking walls. After all, you do contribute a certain amount of points to Slytherin."

This, coming from him?

"Oh...err...I...that is to say..."

"Speechless? Well, come to my office at eight tonight. We still need to see to your training."

"Training, sir?"

"You'll need it. Now go back to your seat. We'll be learning about Polyjuice Potion today."

Hermione nearly stifled a laugh. At least she needn't brew it this time.

"What is so amusing, may I share the joke?" Snape eyes her suspiciously.

"Nothing at all, sir."

They had to stop their casual conversation as students began piling into the class.

Blaise spotted her and questioned her the reason she was missing.

She wasn't prepared to tell her anything, so she made up a wild story of how she was attacked by a book from the restricted section and had to be treated in the hospital wing. She didn't know if it sounded convincing but Blaise did not question her as Snape started his lessons.

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He was talking about the finer aspects of Polyjuice Potions when his Dark Mark began to burn. He winced slightly, trying hard not to let it show. The bell was going to ring in fifteen minutes time. He thought of dismissing his class early but decided against it. He wasn't going to ruin his reputation of being ruthless. It was simply against his principle. After all, he, Severus Snape, the Potions Master, did not want to lose the fear he inspired on those dunderheads.

His eyes swept the class. And landed on...

"GRANGER! Pay attention."

He tried to pick up on his lesson but it was almost impossible. Quickly, he assigned the class homework just as the bell rang and dismissed them.

Everybody left, except Granger. What did that girl want now? He wasn't in the mood to deal with just now.

"It hurts, didn't it?"

"How...did you know?" He was taken aback

"I felt it too."

This was not good. Voldemort had gotten this far. It was his last class. He had to go soon lest face a bout of Cruciatus.

"If I am not in my office at eight, you may go back. Now I have to go."

She merely nodded.

He swept out of the classroom. He had to excuse himself. He shouldn't have been surprised yet this meeting was too sudden.

He always dreaded meetings. Nothing good came out of them. Today would be no exception, he thought, as he prepared himself for the worst.

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How come Hermione could feel it? What does her connection with Voldemort mean? Where does Harry fit in? Curious? Read on.