Chapter 7 – Involved in the War

She decided to go to the library, like so many other situations when she was faced with a problem. Hogwarts library probably had the most extensive and broad combinations of magical books and she had read most of them. Well, most of the allowed books anyway.

And to her horror, she felt another tingly feeling. Instinctively, Hermione knew that something wasn't very right. It was in fact very wrong as she braced herself for whatever it was that made her disapparate and reappear, only to find herself at the side of the self-proclaimed most powerful wizard in the whole wide world, but a madman nonetheless.

She didn't know how she knew. Perhaps it was the spell which made the connection clear that Voldemort was her uncle. Intuitively, she glanced around and immediately, her eyes landed on Snape. She let out a breath she didn't even knew she was holding. At least there is someone on my side, she thought. And it made her feel safe, which brings her to another problem. She felt that she just had to say something and it wasn't unexpected but no one really expected her to say what she said then. Of course, with the exception of Snape, nobody really knew her so they really did not know what to expect.

That was how she blurted the first thing that came to her mind. Somehow, that remark made Voldemort laugh his cruel maniacal laughter. Hermione took that opportunity to survey her surroundings. This must be the Riddle house, she mused. It would have been a nice warm place to live in had it been renovated and redecorated, with a nicer set of people of course.

Voldemort stopped laughing, which made her pull up her barrier and steel herself for whatever that was coming.

"So, let's make this clear once and for all. You shall submit to me. I expect loyalty from you like your grandmother did. You shall attend all meetings and at my command. You will not associate yourself with anyone lesser than a pureblood. Do you understand me?"

"Crystal clear." She replied meekly. Clearly, she was to be another death eater in his service. She tried very hard to suppress her loathing towards this pathetic excuse of a wizard and forced herself to concentrate.

"Good. And Severus here will see to everything you need. You are given certain privileges that I hope you will make make use of. Now Snape, Crucio!"

Hermione's heart wrenched as she saw him writhe around. Even though she thought she detected some sort of subterfuge and a lot of exaggerations of pain, she nonetheless pitied him. Being hit with Cruciatus before, she could sympathize with him. A huge amount of self-restraint stopped her from shouting at Voldemort to stop since she knew it would only make matters worse.

"Remember that Severus and co-operate. Meeting dismissed." Voldemort announced and people began to disapparate.

Hermione wondered how she would leave but it turned out that she wasn't dismissed yet.

"Your efforts in enduring this meeting are acceptable. You'll be branded soon. Meanwhile you can help me spy. You know what I am talking about. And don't forget that Potter is my enemy. Blood is not really thicker than water and if I have to kill you to prove that, so be it. Now go!"

How polite, I wasn't even given a chance to say goodbye, she thought as she got up from the floor to find herself still on the way to the library, with Snape at her side, looking very disgruntled.

"Follow me." He didn't even give her a chance to reply or argue before he swept down the long dark corridor heading towards the dungeon. Well really, she thought, I seem to be surrounded by nasty old men trying to make me obey commands lately.

She had to jog a bit to catch up and keep up with Snape and by the time they had reached his office, she was panting. It was lucky that no one saw them for it might raise some awkward questions as to why the Head Girl who was reputed to hate the Potions Master be seen running after him at night in a lone corridor. To one with too much imagination, it might seem suspicious.

As soon as she reached into his office with a nice fire burning merrily in the fireplace, she reached into the chair nearest to the warmth of the crackling fire and slumped into it.

"The first rule is never to let your guard down, no matter where you are or who you are facing. For all you know Miss Granger, I could be working for Voldemort and showing your enemy your sign of weakness is the one thing you must never do." Snape told her in a quiet tone that he used when he was lecturing the class.

She immediately straightened and forced herself to pay attention to her bearings. Even then, she couldn't help feeling annoyed at his amount of self-control and stamina. How could a man suffering from more than one time of Cruciatus still be so unrelenting and unbreakable?

"That brings us to the second rule. Never let your enemies realize your strengths either. You played a very dangerous game just now, Miss Granger. From now onwards, you are to prepare your meetings and revise what you are allowed to say in Death Eater or any other meetings with me and report any findings or meeting outcomes with either myself or Professor Dumbledore. You will not wander around the school alone and any more foolish nighttime wanderings will cause detention or much worse. Do I make myself clear?" It may be soft but it was layered with steel. She had labeled it as his "dangerous" voice.

"Yes sir." She promptly replied.

"Good. Now we'll see what Dumbledore has to say." With another imperious sweep, he was out of the dungeon.

For a moment, she was numb. Then, she let go. Emotions that had been dammed up inside was released. She saw truly what she was and how perilous her situation was for Harry and Ron and other friends she had known since her first year. And she saw how she would endanger Snape even more and cause unnecessary hurt to him. For seventeen years, she had always been someone cheery with an optimistic outlook. She was never melancholy or despair – she had no reason to before. Now, she did. It was perhaps over rated but she wished just then that she had never been born. That led even more questions to her family. How was her parents related to all this? Were they really her biological parents or was she an adopted kid? If everyone knew what she was, would they still be friends with her? And more questions and doubts surfaced even though she tried hard not to think of it anymore.

She wanted to get up but realized that she was too tired. The day's events had taken a toll on her and her legs gave way when she was somewhere in between sitting and standing, landing her on the cold, hard floor. That was the breaking point. For the second time that month, she broke down and cried. At that point, she didn't even know what she was crying for. She just wanted to get rid of that burden, really to heavy to be placed on her shoulders at such a young age.

She didn't know how long it was she sat there, crying silently, as if appealing to some greater power to lend her strength and see through her ordeal. Suddenly, a huge figure loomed over her. It bent down and she could see a hanky on its hand. She took it gratefully, not even looking up and hurled herself at the figure, crying into his black robe.

He held her awkwardly and tried to pat her, trying to reassure her that everything was all right even though it wasn't. He wished he could offer more comfort to the crying girl in front of him but all his years of facing the Dark Lord and dangerous missions never included the experience of consoling someone. All he could do was hold her in his arms, offering her his silent support.

At the door, unseen stood Dumbledore. He looked on approvingly, at Hermione with her trust for someone she had been led to dislike by her friends' prejudices, an ally nonetheless, and at Snape. Both of them would make a good team. Deciding that he was not needed, he quietly left.

I have to apologise for not doing my homework. Its just been a horribly busy time. Thanks for the teaching me science offer though, I really appreciate it. Exams' just round the corner and I haven't start revising. Oh dear!