A/N: Thank You to Fightstar for the beta job!

June 7

Dear Miss Granger,

I must confess that I am not surprised by your failure to respond to my last letter; disappointed, but not surprised. Still, you are thinking about the spell I outlined, I know that you are. Just as I know how a part of you desires nothing so much as to share the answer you have devised with someone, anyone. Tell me. What use is your intelligence, your destiny, if you keep all your brilliance to yourself, telling only a spoiled cat? Dazzle me. You can't sit in your hideout playing with dirt and water forever. Eventually it will tear you apart.

I await your reply.

Regards,

Lord Voldemort

June 12

Dear Sir,

If I were attempting the spell I would try modifying the pronunciation to an archaic form of Etruscan instead of the more typical Latin ending. I would consult Unveiling Enchantment but I do not have a copy here to check so that may be the wrong text referral. If all still failed me, I would try combining Portus with Incendio and Imperio, since you have no fear in using it. I believe a melding of those three spells should give you a result that, with minor modification, should mimic your desired outcome.

But you, I am sure, know this already. Why do you ask me?

Respectfully,

Hermione

June 18

Dear Miss Granger,

Truly your stubborn loyalty to your fallen cause is a testament to your house. Even in submission you are a true Gryffindor. But there is no more Hogwarts as you knew it, is there? The old house rivalries have finally been put to rest. Dumbledore would be pleased after all.

There is no shame in accepting the change that has already occurred. Indeed it often seems to take more courage to accept one's losses and move on, to protect one's self and one's interest and rise above the situation. But these are Slytherin virtues I am extolling and they may sound repugnant to you.

You ask why I wrote to you; yes I knew of the Etruscan pronouncing and have consulted several books, Unveiling Enchantment being one, although not as helpful as The Distant Mystique. I did not, however, think to combine those three spells you mentioned. My compliments on devising such a remedy. You have great fame as being a person of unique mind... and you are wasting it.

Let us play a game. We will determine what the stakes are later; it is more fun that way. I will move first.

You avoid mirrors at all cost. When you happen to catch your reflection, you cringe because you are forever holding yourself up against who you thought you would be. You have not become who you wanted to be, who you still could be, thus you have been waiting these past four years for the chance to prove to the world and yourself that you still are a person of unique disposition. But no one sees you, child, and you are alone.

Now you tell me something.

Regards,

Voldemort

June 21

Dear Sir,

You evaded my true question nicely, but then I am witnessing a master am I not? I would not have thought of you as one who stooped to games with simple artists, artists of non-magical birth at that. That is what your analysis failed to see. Oh you saw much, I will not deny it, but you failed to see that I have found sanctuary. My "dirt and water" does not accuse me and my days pass quite nicely. I need for no one.

You ask me to tell you something and I will. You are still a mortal man, I wonder if on some level you will not always be. Still, you have not achieved immortality yet; that is why you write to me and that is why we are playing these games. You wish for me to help you unlock the mystery of the magic you can't seem to find. You temporarily stepped down from power allowing your lackeys to run everything so that you can single-mindedly pursue your goal. But I wonder what you will do with out the goal. All the driving forces of your life are leaving you. No Harry to be you archenemy and then no immortality to chase. What will you do when you are faced with an empty eternity? I was able to find solace in the mundane, but I do not think you will be.

Sincerely,

Hermione

June 25

Dear Hermione,

Do not hide behind the title of artist with me, I know you and I know your true name. Trust me. Yes, I have an ulterior motive, and if you had not figured that out by now, I would have grossly overestimated your intelligence. False modesty is overrated, my dear.

Your days pass nicely do they, but what of your nights? Do you sleep well Hermione? Do you rest easy with your ghosts?

As to your claims that I am merely waiting until I assume power, well it is easy to see that you would not have lasted long in Slytherin tower. I do not want the Minister job. Really child, can you see me sitting in that office listening to every minor complaint? It is better to be the power behind the thrown, as it were. Better to be the shadowy presence in the back of the council chambers, whose word is unquestioned law. I exercise a power unlike the sham ministry mortals set up. It's better to be the one pulling the strings than to be bogged down by the paper work of day to day life. And there will always be a lackey, as you so aptly put it, to do my paper work for me.

How will I fill my eternity? I am surprised by you, surely you know that there will always be something more to learn. I will fill my eternity quite nicely, thank you for your concern though. But maybe it was not me you were truly referring to? Worried about an empty future, Hermione? Come to me. We could learn much and I would give you meaning again. Nothing will be expected or required of you beyond doing what comes most naturally to you. You could learn to trust me. It is disheartening to picture you alone with a book in your studio, no one to argue with but the wind. But I should know better than to tempt such an exemplarily Gryffindor with such things. It is a pity though.

Ever,

Voldemort

June 27

Dear Sir,

True, my life did not take the course I set out in my girlhood, but then whose life really does that? Not even yours turned out exactly as you planned, I would imagine. You speak of my wasting talents and learning but are you not referring to yourself as well. What are you playing at with your Death Eaters and Dark Revels? Yes, I can see the need for them when you were fighting against order and light, but why keep it up now? You waste your talents with your petty torments as surely as I do mine with my escapism.

Do you ever regret the path you chose? I know you will never tell me if you do. And here it is my turn to speak of trust, for neither your pride, nor your justified lack of trust in me, will allow that answer to be set in ink. Still, regret, I have come to believe, is part of the human condition so I must think that you do. Regret and also being bound to our roles. I can not hold the memories I have inside me and give a passing thought to such selfish temptations as you describe.

Take care,

Hermione

June 29

My dear Hermione,

You already have given it more than a passing thought, or I would not have asked.

Yes, sometimes even I regret the choices I have made, but I do not regret the path I walk. There was never a choice. Mine is the path of destiny and we all finally bow to her wishes. And that is what I am working against. To win immortality is to also break free of man's wretched destiny of death. That is why I sought such power, to break out of fate. Can you not understand this?

You are surprised I answered your question. I have nothing to hide; I am beyond such things. And I could raise you to be as well. No more hiding in the shadows; no more dinners eaten by yourself as an afterthought; no more ideas scribbled on scraps of paper only to be thrown away, for the sole reason that you know they would consume you if you did not get them out. You could act on any idea which came into your head. I would put all you would need in your service. I would give it all to you if you could only ask.

I am afraid I might miss your next letter, or at least be delayed in my reply. Duties of state call. Dolohov is something of a disappointment as Minister of Magic. You remember Dolohov don't you? I believe he almost killed you once. Ah but why live in the past? Lucius should be Minister. He would have made a quite nice one I believe, but then living with Lucius and his love of ceremony and pomp would grow tiring. For Friday he has orchestrated a review of the troops, of all things, which he would like me to attend.

Lackeys!

Reply quickly if you will.

Ever,

Voldemort

July 1

To Pierre Le Bon,

Sir. I am writing you with most fortuitous news. I have heard from a friend, known to you by reputation only, that there is to be a military parade on July 5. However, I am a little unsure as to the reliability of this bit on news. The friend seemed over eager to tell, but I believe there may be a reason for you to want to attend and bring several of your friends. This may prove the type of day we were hoping for. One not to be missed.

Hope all is well.

J. James

July 1

Dear Voldemort,

I did not expect such a frank response to my more rhetorical question. Trust is a strange thing. We speak of it as if it is an either or deal, I trust you or I don't, but really there are levels to how much we trust. I wonder where I stand with you?

A military parade? I am afraid that your news took me by surprise. What ever are you doing allowing yourself to be drug into a common muggle military review? I am assuming you will be an honored spectator and no more. Indeed, the thought of you strolling down the street, being followed by a brass band is farther than I can stretch my imagination! If you do go, be careful with yourself.

Take care,

Hermione

July 3

Dearest Hermione,

This will be the last time we correspond, I fear, as I assume I will be seeing you on the battlefield tomorrow. Surely you are not surprised, I have a very good network of spies and so I know all about "Pierre's" plans and your little, expected, betrayal. I must say I was taken aback by your concern for my safety though. Did you think to subtly warn me away? Touching.

Ah, but then it seems you may have formed a bond. Notice how easily, by your second letter no less, you were comparing yourself to me. And why should that not be, we were both the brightest and the best of our generation. If only you had been in Hogwarts with me, what a pair we would have made. Ours was a rapidly forming relationship, was it not, almost destiny, and we did have more than our share of digs, but I hope you do not feel ill used now that it has come to the end.

And besides, who knows what the morrow may bring. I will wish you the same care you wished me.

Till then,

Voldemort

After it was all over, when the ragged band, if you could call so few a band, of remaining resistance fighters struggled into Hermione's cottage looking for sanctuary, they found Voldemort's last letter lying where it had been dropped, next to a puddle of wax and an icy-cold mug of Darjeeling tea.