The temptation of power
(Chapter Five)
Hermione didn't have to think twice. "I'd rather die!" She shouted.
Voldemort smiled wickedly and stepped closer to her causing her to flinch slightly with fear.
"You don't have to make that decision yet Ms. Granger. I wish you to hear me out first before you plead for death."
Hermione frowned. "Are you saying my options are to join you or die? That's a little cliché don't you think?"
Hermione surprised her self once again. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined herself talking to the dark lord like this.
"I can see it is true that you are the smartest witch in your year, but no one mentioned your great sense of humor," He paused and smiled at her. A smile that hauntingly reminded her of one that Fred and George would use when teasing her. She shook the thought as Voldemort continued. "I suppose you have been spending too much time with Mr. Weasley."
If Hermione hadn't been so frightened she would have blushed. She wanted to change the subject.
"Your offer?" She reminded him.
"Oh yes," he said, coming back to his cold chilling voice. He looked her in the eye once again sending icy jolts through her body. He looked pleased with the effect he was having on her. Then he stepped away and began pacing the room.
"It's best that I explain my goals first before I inform you as to where you fit into them."
Hermione stayed silent, focusing her attention on him, even though she had absolutely no intention of joining him, maybe she could obtain some information of his plans and she could tell the Order if she escaped. Which she doubted.
"I know you have heard many things about me. My lust for power, my cruel tactics…but I assure you I am not evil, my intentions are good."
Hermione found it hard to contain her anger when the man who killed her best friends' parents had dared say he is not evil.
"All evil people think there intentions are good, that's their flaw."
"As brilliant as you are Ms. Granger, I highly suggest that you bite your tongue, or else you'll lose it," He stated calmly
Hermione pursed her lips tightly, forcing her self not to speak.
"Years ago my goal had been to purify the wizarding race…unfortunately, I now realize that if I had succeeded with that, there would not be many wizards left at all. In these days a true pure blooded wizard is very rare…in time I came to see that it is not the pure bloods I should be recruiting and the mudbloods exterminating, but simply seeking out any who possessed great power."
He looked at her.
"You and I are perfect examples of individuals who are not pure yet hold extraordinary power."
Hermione remained silent.
"With all the powerful witches and wizards joined together we can finally go after what my dream has always been."
He was silent and appeared to be reveling in that dream.
"Which is?" Hermione pressed.
"To claim a world that is rightfully ours…"
Hermione didn't understand.
"Tell me Ms. Granger, why are the most powerful beings on this planet forced to live in secrecy? To hide their abilities from the rest of the world as if it were something to be ashamed of?"
Hermione appeared to be searching for an answer. Her mouth opened and closed trying to say something, but before she could say anything Voldemort continued.
"Those are the exact questions that I asked myself. It's the muggles that rule this world. Not because they should, but simply because we let them have it."
His cool icy manner started to melt, the more he spoke the more passionate he grew.
"This world belongs to us! Belongs to those with power! We shouldn't hide! Fools like Dumbledore are convinced that life is better for us this way living in secrecy with rules and regulations on what we can and cannot do! Rules set down by a ministry that has maybe two brain cells between all of its officials! Ms. Granger, what is your opinion of the Minister of Magic, Mr. Cornelius Fudge?"
Hermione swallowed, she thought a lot of things about him. "He's a stupid git," she admitted shyly.
"Precisely! Both the magic world and the Muggle world belongs to the individuals who are smart enough and strong enough to take it!"
Hermione didn't speak, they were both silent for a few seconds.
"And where do I fit into all this?"
Voldemort paused. Clearly calming himself down, bringing his voice back to its manipulating chill.
"I want to give you the chance to be on my side when all of this takes place."
Hermione furrowed her brows and opened her mouth to speak, yet was cut off.
"I know what you're thinking; none of this will take place." He paused, "You rest too much faith in saint Dumbledore and the order of the Phoenix."
He began pacing the room slowly once more.
"Dumbledore is growing too old, soon he will cease to exist…How long do you think the order will last without him?"
Hermione knew that the Order contained many formidable wizards, but it was true that no decisions were made and nothing was done with out Dumbledore's approval, he is the heart of the Order. Voldemort appeared to be pleased to see that she was contemplating his words.
"I will succeed…and you would do well in my service."
Hermione new he was wrong. She would never join him. Still, she was curious to hear why he wanted her.
"Why do you want me to join you?"
He smiled at her.
"I thought I had made that obvious."
"Make it more obvious," she said quietly.
"As I stated earlier, I have heard much about you."
Hermione soon remembered what Lupin had told her. Voldemort's target was her and Ron because they helped Harry defeat Voldemort. She was under the impression that that had made him want her dead, not to want her on his side.
"All the mysteries you've solved over the years, your extensive knowledge of spells, you brought the downfall of Dolores Umbridge, I even heard you got a nice kick in on the infamous Sirius Black!" he chuckled. "And of course my favorite one is when you black mailed Rita Skeeter," He explained smoothly.
Even Hermione let a miniscule smile grace her lips at the memory.
"You are a very talented witch Hermione. Capable of great things."
"Even though I'm a mudlood?" she questioned.
"My father was a muggle and I'm the greatest wizard who ever lived."
Hermione wanted to argue. Dumbledore was the greatest. However, for some reason she didn't say it out loud. She wanted him to continue talking.
"You are one of the powerful individuals I spoke about. You have the potential to accomplish great things with the power you hold. All you need to do is unlock that power…I can do that for you."
"Never," She said quickly, yet for some odd reason it didn't come out confidently. Voldemort sensed this.
"Think of the things you could do if you had the power to make change, to control how the world works. I can give you that."
Hermione was silent. She showed no emotion, not even fear anymore. She was listening carefully.
"You have begun an organization for elfish welfare am I correct?"
Hermione perked up with shock, how could he possibly know about that? He smiled at her as if he knew what she was thinking and it occurred to her that he probably did know, why not? If Snape could read minds, Voldemort surly could.
"I have spies every where Ms. Granger."
She quickly tried to stop thinking about anything important so he couldn't read her mind.
"I could give you the power to make S.P.E.W successful in ways you thought not possible."
Voldemort could sense her doubt, but he knew that he was close to convincing her.
"I do not wish to murder every single muggle on this planet, I have no quarrel with them, only that I believe wizards should be free to use the abilities they were given in the open. That we should control the world…that is not evil…yes many will die to accomplish this end, but that it is how it must be…think about it," he stated quietly.
His voice had been so calm so persuasive, it was as if Hermione had fallen into a trance as he spoke, but it broke as soon as his cold voice returned.
"I'll leave you in the company of some of my death eaters, they'll offer a more…forceful way of convincing you," He said with an air of foreboding and left through a door into a dark hallway. He left the door wide open and soon, two short, thin hooded figures entered the room and closed the door.
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