Hey!
I'm so very sorry I haven't updated in awhile...I know it's been about a month-and-a-half – so much for my trying to update once a week – it was just I went on vacation for a week and then school started a week later and I had all this work...
...not to mention that this chapter was so hard for me to write...worse than the others – read and you'll see what I mean – it's so hard to write Voldemort and Hermione outside of their roles in the books...it's especially hard trying to write Voldemort and keep him in character...tell me what you think of this chapter though...
And I'll try and update sooner next time...
For now I guess an extra-long chapter will have to do...
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Jenni – Heh, I can't spell either, and not to worry- I finally wrote more! Go me!
Sailor Moon Rose – ya, me neither... oh well – I guess Hermione found a way to kiss a lipless man...
SnapesMistress005 – Ah yes, and not to worry, the Harry/Hermione tiff will be back, in full...I don't know – she might found out about his mischief while she was gone – haven't decided yet...and here's more mushiness for you...you're not the only one to say I should return him to his "Tom Riddle" form...I'll probably give him muscle or something, but I'm sorry – it would just go against the point of my story to have him suddenly turn into the Sexy God of Hotness he once was...ï The Fred to George thing sounds interesting, but well – what is it rated? (I don't read anything above R...) Oh, and glad you liked the dinner scene – I could just see them sitting down and glaring at each other over the silverware....
Juanita Snape – Thanks for the two storys – I read yours – great plot and everything – I've seen lots of annoying Snape fics after asking the question, but many of them were dares and stuff – nice to see someone who's original! And I just added some Tom/Hermione to this chapter so ya...oh and about Lucius, I have plans for him in later chapters...heh heh heh...ya, glad to see you were reading behind the lines as far as Dumbledore – so many reviews from people asking things like "Wouldn't Dumbledore kill Voldemort if he walked into the castle?"...ah yes, Ron is a stubborn, thick-headed one isn't he? Hard to say which would be more upset – Ron likes her and is a stubborn git, but then Harry may be accepting and more forgiving, but he's kind of had more issues with Voldemort and his henchmen than Ron...And no, I don't see your review as a flamer at all – if you want to see a true "Wall of Shame" flamer, check out one of the reviewers for chapters 1, 2, and 3 ... No – I like how you tell me that my story's really good and why, and then how I can improve it .
Dama-de-tinieblas – Ya, the police deleted my story – I was wondering how many people were wondering about what happened to the old one that just mysteriously disappeared one day...And it's been two months, but yes, I updated! Go me!
Kawaii-Kanna – Thank you. And so far, I think you win the prize for best profile name – in case this is your first time reading my story, every chapter I pick someone who has a great, original profile name...
Flora – Ya, I'm really sorry – school and end of summer and everything...-sigh-...I'll try and update more though.
LyssaTucci – Wow! Thanks a lot! That means a lot to me...
Stse-28 – Thanks – and sorry about the update delay...guess I should post this one pretty soon then – sorry I made people wait...
IceQueen28 – Thanks – ya I know, a month, two months....I'm name, by the way.
Romm – Thanks!
Lady Karou – Ahh – same here – I haven't updated in such a long time because of so much stuff – school, boyfriends, end of summer...etc, etc...and sorry, but what's UM? Anyway, I'm sure it's great – my email's . And I'm lazy not just during the summer, but 24/7, actually....
Zeldarose –Fun, unique, /and/ interesting – thank you! And ya, I'll keep writing, not to worry...
Shelly – Haha ya – I thought someone would like the thought of Lucius flipping off the stairs...Thanks! And good to know Voldemort seems human...I had a feeling reading the books there was more to him than the half-snake murderer....
Crazy-Physco – you said it all in one word...
Lissa james – Ya after reading your review, I looked back over the story, and noticed that as well, so I tried to add some sort of reasoning behind it...tell me if it works. And by the way, the cute Tom as a dream...I never thought of that...that's brilliant...it wouldn't be like he switches permamently, or even consciously, just a dream of Hermione's....wow – thanks! But in real life – yes, he'll be his ugly self (although personally I think he's sorta – I dunno, not hot, but not cute – sorta seductive, desirable...I dunno. I have the same feelings about Snape. And some other villians in other moo-vs...I know. It's weird.) And after you mentioned that Harry in a coma thingie – I read that after getting your review – it's very funny...poor Remus though – getting a lap dance from a possessed transvestite Snape....Snape fics – ya, I used to avoid those at all costs, and then I realized the beauty of a Hermione/Snape fic – until I noticed there's about 1,500 of them approximately on ...and they all have highly similar plots. Oh – um, I read a Snape/Lily one that had a link to another site that had the same story with illustrations – it was so cool, but I can't find it...eh, if I do, I'll tell you. And dare I ask why a Hermione/Voldemort ship tastes like cherry citrus soBe...? ;-) And thanks for leaving such a long review...I like getting reviews that are longer than four words....:-D
Livethroughtheatre – Cool name, by the way. And don't worry, I'll update soon – I know, I'm a slacker, haven't updated for so long...I'll get it out before October though, I promise you.
Ashley48506 – A big difference from the beginning to now? Meaning like content/plot wise, or as far as writing...? Good idea with Lucius...if he just tweaked the details, added a few things of his own creation, a few eyebrow-raising remarks here and there...And I added some mushiness this chapter – I tried not to make it too mushy though – I dunno. Tell me what you think. It's hard writing something like this trying to keep both Hermione and Voldemort in character, but showing how people Voldemort can change.... And yes, read on about the Order – I tried to put it like they had mixed feelings on Hermione...ah, and don't we all wish we could be the "Dark Lady" ?? That'd be so cool, although I know many would find issues with the domestic issues that comes out of being married – and then if you're married to someone like Voldie...but ah, the power...oh and thanks for the recommendation – Miss Mina Murry...I checked on that after getting your review – I think she had one where Hermione was Tom's love reincarnate? Eh, something like that...nice original plot that is....odd...I sound like Yoda. Anyway, thanks for the names...and yes, I fully agree with you on Potter – a tragic hero he is – as Ron would say, "mental, that one"...
Goddess1 – Thanks! I feel warm and fuzzy inside now! And as far as writing – I dunno – but when I first started on , it was some Harry Potter parody – horribly written, one of those with more chapters than reviews. And then I came out with several more, only to get about 2-4 reviews a chapter...(by the way, I deleted those horrible early fics I wrote – don't bother looking for them...-)...and then there was my Hermione/Snape switch bodies one...that was a lot better – about 15 reviews on it for 2 chapters...and now this one – I honestly didn't think it'd do well, but whoa – reviews and reviews! If only didn't delete this story the first time – I had to put it up again. Anyway, I know I'm rambling on and on and you probably don't give a darn, but I guess I'm trying to say, stick with it – I know everyone says that and it sounds cliché, but well, I've noticed from personal experience...it's true...
GryffindorBabex13 – Thanks! And yes, I actually updated!
Fallen-panda-21 – Ah yes, as Ron would say: "Bloody brilliant." Great comic relief character, that one. Thank you!
EbonyPatriot – Ya, I usually limit myself to PG-13 and below – many R-ratings are either depressing or graphic. Anyway, no – I think those nutty police deleted my story solely because I added one too many of those words that rhyme with 'duck' and start with 'f' for a PG-13 rating. And they'll probably nail me for calling them 'nutty,' but whatever. At least the story is saved on my harddrive now...last time I had to email my friend. Anyway, I've never really seen Hunchback, but from what I've heard...anyway, yes, I think Disney is cool, especially now that they have Pirates of the Caribbean – nice change from having white princesses who lust after white common men, or in the case of Cinderella, a white commoner lusting after a white prince – Stupid sexist fairytale-writing people. Which is probably why my Disney favorites other than 'Pirates of the Caribbean' are 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Pochantus,' and 'Aladdin.' I think Disney is great, it just gets on my nerves sometimes. I'm in a feminist mood today. Anyway, no, I missed Brother Bear...oh, and I guess yes, you're pretty much the only one who likes Dumbledore and Harry...kinda sad how much bad rap the main protagonist characters are getting...and no, I don't hate Lucius, but I don't love him like I love Voldemort and Snape. He's sort of a Dark-Lord-wannabe – and has his head far too stuck up his own butt for it to be healthy. He has long hair though – I like long hair on guys for some reason. Currently I haven't decided what Hermione will do to Lucius...whether she'll come up with something creative like lock him in the cell he made for Harry, or try an 'alternate approach' to someone who's done wrong – a "You're still cool, but don't do it again" type of thing. I dunno. Not enough mushiness? Well keep reading...I added a little to this chapter...ya Dumbledore's ok with it, but well, I'm trying to get her to gradually change – I can still be Moody being suspicious or something though. Sounds like fun with the Brother Bear thing – let me know when you post it...interesting story on the snake Damien...I wonder what that means....anyway, I never really thought about it, but I guess you're right about Voldemort trying to be better than his father...interesting...very interesting...alright, yes, I'll quit writing now so you can actually get to the story. Thanks for reviewing!
Kellalor – Haha – that'd be an odd chapter: "Hermione enters Hogwarts looking for Snape. She finds him in the dungeons. 'Hi Snape!' 'Oh hi just teaching class – did you need anything?' 'Yes – a potion to make Voldemort young, attractive and sexy – you got anything like that?' 'Yes – a youth potion – hold on, got it in my stores – a custom-made one for Voldemort, always been waiting for an excuse to use it...' 'Thanks! Bye!' Later that day...Hermione slips the potion into Voldemort's evening coffee. 'Honey, this tastes funny. What's in it?' 'Huh? Oh, uh, um, I, er, got those new Safeway select vanilla hazelnut beans...ya...don't you like them?' 'No.' Ten minutes later...Voldemort transforms, and they make mad love on the kitchen table." Haha...I dunno, it's not exactly my type of thing... Although I can see that being a great plot bunny...heh heh heh...
OceanBleu89 – Um, you love me a lot, or did, but not so much any more because I haven't updated in about a month and a half? Um happy early birthday, if I forget. Ya and Harry does have anger management problems - but –sigh- who can blame him? He has so many people after his blood even though he's just a kid, never mind that he's a guy, and like all men, has high testosterone. I learned this in bio class – everyone starts out female, and then the 'Y' chromosome has a gene that produces testosterone and turns the kid male (girls are XX, guys are XY) – this hormone affects the brain – causing aggressiveness (and to a lesser extent, sex drive). Which come to think of it, explains a lot. A LOT. Anyway, send my sympathies to your health teacher's wife...cut open twice...-winces- that must suck...And yes, I realize the kid can't be born on the 31st or whatever cauz he raped her around Oct. 20th...Unless of course, she was already pregnant when she married him...or maybe if they did a spell to hold it off 3 months...I dunno. And congrats on the ants...haha, donut crumbs...hey, I'd go after donuts! And they'll have sex again (Hermione and Voldemort will, not the donuts – just wanted to make that clear...-), just not yet....Oh and – that 'DO IT! DO IT!' thing – there was something like that on the moo-v Starsky and Hutch – you ever watch that? Oh, and ya, it'd be so funny if the police said the rating was too high, I must bring it back down...something like that....ugh, crazy people they are...And don't worry, said 'damned next chapter' is posted...so over and out!
Autumn – Thank you! So, so far, do you think you like LV/HG ?? And ya, I thought she'd be naturally have mixed feelings about something like marrying the Dark Lord...And ya, I'm planning on something coming out of when he raped her...that'd be pretty funny though – I could just see Ron staring at her gut or something...Oh, and good point with the talking – looking over this chapter, I noticed there's action, but no real dialogue...eh, maybe for next chapter or something. And yes, they'll have their rows – it just wouldn't be Voldemort if he succumbed to her every whim and agreed with everything she said...And ya, read on – the Order I kind of put as having mixed feelings...and yes, she did let Sirius go – it was back when Hermione, Voldemort, Sirius, and Snape ate dinner together... The chapter before that, Sirius was locked up and Snape was taunting him and then Hermione came over – and demanded Snape free Sirius. Something like that. Anyway, yes, he's free now...It means a lot to me, that you're putting me on the favorites list! Tell me what you think of this chapter – oh, and thanks a lot – you really helped.
Juli Black Potter – Thanks! And this chapter has some action. As far as the Order goes, well, I tried to put them as suspicious, but reluctant – sort of like they don't know what she's gonna do...I dunno. Anyway, read on, and tell me what you think! :-D
ArthurTwoSheds – Yay, you helped! And winked knowingly, but sent a very very short review (shakes head in Kelli's direction)...say, you free to watch the entire Star Wars this weekend? And tell your mom I want my $2 back...Your swivel chair broke! Whoa – I was just thinking, any readers besides you reading this would be sorta confused...eh.
JulyFlame – Ah yes, it disappeared, but it came back – no amount of police can destroy it permanently! Thanks, glad you liked it. And great idea as far as Lucius. And don't worry, there will be plenty of action before the baby is born...And I guess Dumbledore knows, but Moody is suspicious of everything...meh. Naked Quidditch Match was very....interesting...very naked....-
DarkDragon – cool name by the way. Glad you liked my story and the chapter....(smiles)...and ya Lucius strikes me as a manipulative man too...I could see him trying to turn Voldie against Hermione or something...although that's still in the planning stages, as JK Rowling would put it. And this chapter sort of has some mushiness – it's not really mushy, more like action, but whatever. Oh and um, Hermione and Voldemort already consummated their marriage – it was on their wedding night, when he shows her the new house and they go to sleep in their new bed...I'm sorry if it wasn't clear, I just didn't want to describe the act in graphic details...Adios!
SunSarah – A boy and a girl...hmmm...so it'd be like the thing with having an heir, and Daddy's little girl, all in one...hmmm...and after you recommended those stories I checked them out – those are so funny! Numairs-Magelet is a genius! Oh and Dumbly's inbox was interesting too...hehe...
Wretched Beauty – Yay – its back! I agree fully...and ah yes, haven't we all pressed the enter key too soon? I remember a time after spending an hour on a really really long email to a friend I haven't seen in awhile – and the power went out before I finished...not the same thing, but whateva...-....and thanks for the help....
Alright, I'll shut up now so anyone who's reading this can actually get to the story.
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Meanwhile, back in the Order...
Another meeting was being held – out of growing suspicion, they didn't tell Hermione, although that probably would've been a good idea, seeing as the meeting was centered around her –
But she probably wouldn't have wanted to hear the arguments, either.
"I don't know about you, but I don't trust her," Moody was saying. Heads turned in his direction, nodding in approval, or shaking their heads at his paranoia.
"How can you not trust her?" Molly said frantically, rising to her feet. "She's been with us for years, she's a friend of the family, she's a friend of Harry's, she's gone on the 'missions' with him – look at her reputation! She's a clever witch - she's got brains!"
"Please sit down, Molly," Dumbledore said cheerfully from next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Molly glared at his aged, bearded face, but sat down.
"See, that's just it," Snape said irritably. "She has been a know-it-all in all my classes, and the brains behind each of Potter's annual half-baked escapades."
He scowled as he received several raised eyebrows and slack-jawed expressions at this – the last one being from Ron. Snape had always taunted Hermione, but now he was suddenly praising her intelligence?
"I don't get you, Snape," Ron said indignantly. "In school you – "
"Let me finish," Snape interrupted, silkily. "Now, before Weasley so rudely interrupted me..."
"I didn't interrupt you!" Ron said indignantly, pounding the table with a fist. Molly pulled out her wand and silencio-ed him – he glared daggers at her, mouthing 'mum,' but no sound came out.
"As I was saying," Snape said. "I have a feeling she didn't just up and join souls with the bastard – I'm sure she had valid, logical reasoning behind this."
"Are you /that/ sure that she knows what she's doing?" Shacklebolt cut in, crossing his arms. "Teens can be pretty reckless – and I speak from experience."
"I agree," Figg cut in. "I live in a neighborhood with teenagers – particularly that nasty Dudley boy. Spray-painting the parks, smoking cigarettes, loud obnoxious parties, coming home far too late at night, beating up the younger children..."
"Oh – that reminds me – " Tonks began. "I went to the grocery store a few weeks ago – my hair was Caribbean blue that day – go blue! – anywho, I saw a TIME magazine on the teenage brain – apparently things like judgment and decision-making aren't developed until the person is 25..."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sirius cut in. Tonks glared at her cousin, silently willing him to see her point, but of course it didn't do anything, men being as thick-headed as they are.
"Might I finish?" Snape asked irritably. Sometimes he still wondered why he bothered joining the Order at all...at least in the Death Eater meetings there weren't constant interruptions when you tried to say something, people actually listened to you...if only there wasn't the constant Crucio's and killing hundreds of innocent people on raids and being demanded to worship a bigotist half-snake madman...anyway, back to the present.
Dumbledore nodded, and Snape was allowed to finish his train of thought. "However, I'm still not sure..." He paused, scowling. ".../Hermione/ is entirely /aware/ of what she is doing...she may be bright, but the Dark Lord's intelligence easily equals her own. I have no idea as to what she's trying to accomplish, but if he finds out, he could very well kill her."
Ron glared at Snape in outrage – it wasn't so much what he said – he knew all that, it was more the Potion Master's unfeeling indifference in predicting Hermione's possible death – Snape's matter-of-fact tone, as if he was talking about the weather... However, as it was, the youngest Weasley son couldn't say anything. And Snape didn't look moved in the least by his glaring – if anything, superior, or amused.
"I guess that's the big question then, isn't it?" Remus said. "What was she thinking? The way I understand it, she also received proposals from young Malfoy and Severus here curious looks at Snape – he merely sneered at everyone who looked his way...so why would she pick Voldemort? the majority flinched at mention of his name I doubt that the threat he would come and kill her would be an issue, as she's always been at risk – ever since she befriended Harry."
Ron started mouthing something, but being as no one was a ventriloquist, no one understood him, so he gave up. Thick as he is, the thought to write down what he wanted to say never crossed his mind.
"That poor dear," Figg said. "And the sad thing is, which would have been the lesser of the two evils?"
"Malfoy, of course," Tonks said. "He's her age, has a future ahead of him, and he's cute-looking too."
Sirius nodded his head. "Anyone but Snivellus," he said.
Remus frowned, looking thoughtful. He chose his words carefully – he remembered the Marauder times in school all too well, and he didn't want to offend the only one left besides himself. "I'm not quite sure I agree with you there, Sirius," Moony said cautiously. Sirius growled low in his throat – it wasn't what Remus said, it was more the context surrounding his fellow Marauder's statement. Determinedly looking anywhere but at Sirius, Remus continued. "... Getting married is a life-long commitment – I'm sorry, but I'd have to say she'd ultimately be better off with Severus here than young Malfoy."
Snape lifted his face to stare calculatingly at Remus...was he trying to be sarcastic, or his usual nice, overly-polite self? But going against his best friend, fellow Marauder, in favor of their enemy, was just unheard of...even for Remus.
Sirius stood up, pounding the table, much like Ron had. "Moony – what – what happened to you? You used to be one of us, and now you're siding with the enemy, suggesting my godson's friend marry an old ugly bat like Snape? Snape rolled his eyes – he was far too used to Sirius' petty insults to care He's a lowly Slytherin, death-eater, about her father's age, the ugliest man I've ever seen, he has anger management issues, he's treated her like dirt for the past eight years, and now you're suggesting that 'Mione marry the bastard – bed with him? Have his children?"
Ron looked sick – his face was paled, marbled with a tinge of green, topped with freckles. Molly was casting Sirius her best 'hold-your-tongue-you-insensible-man' glare. Tonks was humming "Under the Sea" from Disney's The Little Mermaid absently – she was like Luna Lovegood in a way. God forbid they ever meet. Mundungus was grinning from ear-to-ear at tonight's entertainment – coming to these Order meetings was almost as good as watching Quidditch, in his opinion. Almost.
This was going too far. Snape stood up, all the little color he had drained from his face – his face was ashen gray...he put his hand into his pocket, and pulled out his wand. "One more word, Black..." he said in a low, dangerous whisper.
Remus knew this rivalry all too well back at school, but they were all grown now – he knew better, he had put aside the grudge, why couldn't Sirius or Severus? And to think he had started all this.... Remus put his head in his hands.
Sirius stood, standing opposite Snape, holding his wand out as well. "Jealous are you, Snape?" Sirius said softly. "Angry that she picked the half-snake creep over you?"
"What makes you think I'd be angry with her? An insufferable know-it-all /girl/ for a wife – if anyone's going to suffer, it'll be him..."
"You take that back!" Ron shouted, standing up, having his voice at last. Molly gave her son a warning look, but Ron didn't catch it, dense as he is.
"Going to duel against me as well, Weasley?" Snape said, raising a dark eyebrow. "Sad how I have to be outnumbered before anyone has the guts to fight me...but then it's always been that way – even at school – four against one, pity how easily I could hold my own..."
Dumbledore stood up. "Ronald, Sirius, Severus, sit down! Amusing as this quarrel is, we came here to discuss the former Miss Hermione Granger."
Ron gave his former headmaster a sheepish look and sat down. Sirius and Snape stared at each other across the table, wands pointed at one another, even as they slowly sank into their seats.
"I believe we should get back on track," Dumbledore said, making a steeple with his fingers. "Now, Moody – you were saying you didn't trust her?"
"Of course I don't," Moody growled, looking at Dumbledore with his beady eye, his magical blue one pointing out the back of his head. "She suddenly switches sides without telling anyone – she could have easily picked someone she knew, someone on our side, someone who would protect her, and in time, love her, even." His blue eye swiveled around to focus on Snape. Snape frowned, and opened his mouth to speak, but Moody held out a hand. "I know it sounds next to impossible, Snape, but I'm sure even Sirius knows Hermione would've been far better off with you than You-Know-Who. She knows who the self-styled 'Lord' is – as I understand it, she's smart, the brains behind Potter's operations – so she's undoubtedly read up on their enemy, and heard about Potter's visions. She knows how bigotist he is toward muggleborns like herself...so why she would willingly place herself in that position is a major question."
"And so you're saying that he probably gave her a reason to join the Dark side?" Tonks said, a tone of warning in her voice. Honestly. Moody was far too paranoid sometimes...
"Of course he did!" Moody said, trying to convince a doubtful Tonks. "Money, power – authority over those who have constantly belittled her...fulfilling her dreams, knowledge...he could've controlled her mind for all we know – just like he enticed young Ginny Weasley into opening the Chamber of Secrets."
Molly held a hand over her mouth – whether it was from reminder of Ginny's first year, or what could be happening to Hermione, was unclear. Ron was staring at Moody as if he suddenly caught fire and spontaneously combusted.
"This is madness!" Arthur shouted. "I know Hermione, and I'm confident that she has the sense not to switch sides that easily...although I still have no idea why her loyalties shifted so completely."
"It can't be undone /now/ though, so why bother with it?" Figg said impatiently. "It's over now. Their souls are now bound permanently...how does that work, exactly?" She ended with a question, looking up at Dumbledore; and Molly and Arthur, the only married pair in the Order.
"It's simple really," Dumbledore said softly, conjuring a cup of tea and drinking deeply before speaking. "In the wizarding world, once a couple kisses at the altar, it is believed that the souls meet for the first time. Once they finalize their marriage that night, the souls are believed to entwine, or become one. It is said that in time, this bond strengthens with love – you can't hate someone if their soul is a part of you. If one dies, the other may die as well, unless they have enough strength to withstand the other's soul pulling them into the afterlife."
There was long silence, until Mundungus broke it. "That can't possibly be true," he said. "Even if souls do exist, however would someone prove a thing like that?"
"Obviously you wouldn't know, Fletcher," Molly said coldly. "Being a bachelor. I happen to be married – and I happen to agree with what Dumbledore's talking about. It's almost as if being married gives you a sixth sense – I've felt an absence when Arthur's not there, I feel like I can sense what he's thinking or feeling, or where he is..."
Arthur nodded dumbly. Ron looked between his parents, wearing the same disgusted look he might wear if his parents were kissing or calling each other pet names.
"And just what are you implying?" Tonks said. "You can read Arthur's thoughts; see what he's seeing...?"
"Not at all," Molly said. "It's not like when Harry has visions – its just like an instinct, or that intuitive feeling in the back of your head...and it's interesting...I remember back when my parents planned my marriage to Arthur – I remember hating his guts because we used to constantly argue in childhood, and then he'd go on boasting about some latest muggle thing he acquired and how he was so much better than the rest of us because he knew what electricity was...Arthur muttered something incoherent...of course after we got married, within a day or two I felt the beginnings of love – it's kind of hard to hate someone when you're constantly with them, getting to know their inner self, and you share a spiritual bind..."
Long silence. Molly's face reddened, clashing horribly with her orange hair – she felt as if she said too much, but she was trying to make a point.
"Well, I guess that explains a lot," Sirius said, finally. "Mainly Hermione standing up for him, proclaiming her love of the monster after just a few days, and everything..."
"Black, you do realize how much they argued last time we were on their premises?" Snape growled. "I think Hermione may have been trying to persuade herself that she didn't latch herself to the bloody Dark Lord; that there was someone more – human – underneath his scaly hide that she married instead."
"But I gave him my advice on wooing women!" Sirius protested, nearing a whiny tone. Remus grinned behind his hand, Snape sneered. They knew Sirius as being the lady's man back during their schooldays – although now that he was branded an escaped convict, he led quite a single life.
"Sirius," Shacklebolt said. "You're crazy."
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Meanwhile, a secret meeting was being held in the Malfoy Manor. Narcissa, Draco, and Lucius were hosting to some of the Death Eaters; Wormtail, the Lestranges, Umbridge, Avery, Nott, Macnair, Goyle, and Crabbe were all there, as well as some others. They were all sitting in the Malfoy parlor; it would have been a space problem in many other houses, except this one – the entire Order could've been in the parlor too and there'd still be space left-over.
"I don't trust her," the older Malfoy was saying. "She's turned our Lord into some sort of he shuddered human."
Almost everyone there, being weak-minded idiots as they are, nodded. Malfoy could've said anything and they'd agreed with him; even if they weren't afraid that Malfoy would curse and hex their families, it was just so much easier to follow authority instead of pave one's own path and be forced to make one's own decisions, which could lead to failure. It was this that made them targets as Death Eaters – Voldemort prized those who would be loyal to him, and not go against his decisions.
"Wait just a minute," Bella said shrilly. "He was human to start with – heir of the Slytherin family – I don't know what happened to him, but he's still human."
This news surprised everyone there – people turned heads to look in her direction. It was just Voldemort seemed so – beyond human. He held no emotion, killed without mercy, killed many, was their master, looked so much different, was never seen eating, sleeping, or partaking in usual human-like behaviors, he just seemed like a cold heartless man somehow above human that they blindly followed out of fear...
Bella even looked somewhat surprised with herself, but she had always disliked Malfoy – it was better for her ego not to go along with what the blonde nut had said, and come up with some argument against him - to go against with what he said, to argue her opinion, show that he wasn't the only one present possessing a mind of their own.
"What are you saying?" Lucius responded. "Ah, but of course...the female mind – always optimistic, seeking out the beauty in everything, and possibly telling lies when it can find nothing there...all for nothing, of course. I mean, its common knowledge that men are far more civilized and intelligent – highly superior to women."
Needless to say, Lucius' sexist remarks didn't go well with the rest of the group. Umbridge puffed out her chest indignantly, pissed off with what Lucius was saying. Bella slapped his face – hard enough to leave a red handprint, dripping blood from where the tips of Bella's fingernails were. Lucius barely felt it, as his nerves were shot from years of being on the receiving end of a Cruciatrius...damned if Voldemort would find out though.
Narcissa stayed quiet, however; she had a double-sided personality. Her upbringing expected her to be meek, and follow along behind her husband, submit to his will...and so she of course presented that view in public, knowing that in Dark pureblood society, it would give her a bad reputation if she stood up to her husband. It was a medieval lifestyle she presented to people. However, at home, it was the complete opposite...at home, where her image didn't matter, she was no longer dressed up like the trophy wife, nor acting like one. Rather, she looked a lot more relaxed – even in her many fights with Lucius. Many fights over the years – arguments and quarrels over everything from whether or not she should join the Dark Lord as well, and whether Draco should (Lucius supported both issues), to petty every-day things like how much money they would bribe Fudge with to keep their outer image.
Lucius had crucio-ed her several times in their marriage in the heat of an argument, only to rape her later when anger gave way to lust. Despicable man, he was. And all because of an arranged marriage – somehow the Blacks thought the Malfoys to be a good match, despite what she saw at school – Sirius and her bethrothed paired off against each other. The only, the one and only good thing she got out of the marriage was Draco. Who had also been crucio-ed by his father, starting at an early age – they had never been close, in fact, she suspected Draco hated the man...
Unfortunately, the only way out of this marriage was death. She wasn't willing to die. To do so would be leaving the only light of her life, Draco – with her husband...no one deserved that. If Voldemort ever wanted an apprentice, Lucius would probably top the list by far...sometimes she even wondered if Voldemort was really, the worse of the two evils...at least people feared Voldemort and saw him as a psycho killer. Lucius was similar, but held his power in the ministry – people looked up to him, respected him, went out of their way for him – just a few galleons here and there – no one would suspect such an insider in the ministry, such a seemingly trustworthy man to be basically, Voldemort Junior.
"I think this mudblood is good for our Lord," Bella said. "He can acquire so much information about the other side, it's breaking Harry even more, being that he took the woman ickle Harry loved, and being that I believe our Lord is human, I believe it's good that he has this mudblood girl – she can do his cooking, cleaning, provide him pleasure whenever he so desires, and what's more, she can someday provide him with an heir."
"Haven't you noticed him growing softer?" Lucius asked softly. "He lets her makes decisions, goes along with what she says, lets him undo some of his work..."
"And just how would you know?" Bella said. "We only see him at Death-Eater meetings."
"Surely even you remember our little encounter with Potter?" Lucius said, raising a blonde eyebrow.
"Of course I do," Bella said. "And as I recall, you told me she went along with him – caging Harry. She argued, but he wouldn't have it any other way. The Dark Lord getting softer – Lucius, you're priceless," Bella said, giggling.
Lucius frowned. He had gathered them to go along with what he was doing, and he was quickly losing them to Bella. Stupid Death Eaters. Whoever came up with that name anyway? Then again, maybe he didn't want to know...
"I've got to go," Umbridge said. "I found a delightful sale on blood-pens back in Knock-turn Alley – mine got all worn out during student's detentions three years ago – and I never replaced them."
"Ya so do I," Bella said. "Have to go, I mean. I don't care for your nasty vampire pens...unless you used them on Harry that is...Umbridge nodded...Oh, well in that case, never mind what I said about them being nasty..."
Wormtail was the first to notice it; no surprise, being how much he had been with the Dark Lord – before he even rose from the cauldron at the end of Harry's fourth year – he grabbed his left forearm, shaking all over... he didn't scream, which was surprising, considering it was Wormtail, but he squeaked, and was covered in beads of sweat.
Crabbe and Goyle felt it next – Goyle let out an 'eep,' Crabbe jumped, and stared in confusion at his forearm for a few seconds.
Last to feel it was Bella and Lucius – they had been too used to it, too used to pain, to feel it much. After awhile, you just got used to the mark burning on your arm...
So in unison the group dissapparated, appearing outside the shabby, run-down manor-mini castle belonging to their Lord and Lady.
Hermione and Voldemort were outside, awaiting their Death Eater's arrival. One by one, the Death Eaters filed into the gates, gathering in a semi-circle around their master and mistress. Hermione and Voldemort had come from completely different walks of life, yet were united...they stood in stark contrast to one another, Hermione, a young witch with the glowing beauty that lasts through the years, and Voldemort, a horrid creature, cross between dirty serpent and man. Even their outfits set them apart – he in his usual black robes, preferably trailing to the ground, with maybe black embroidered skulls or snakes, or the like. She on the other, hand, preferred to express her youth and innocence; she wore a simple everyday white robe made from heavy cotton. Once everyone was gathered, as was custom, it was like a wave as one by one they came forward, bowing to Hermione, and kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes, murmuring 'master.'
Voldemort was too used to this to care, but Hermione looked surprised – she had requested they bow to her instead, but it was still highly disconcerting to have someone like Draco, Lucius or Snape irritably dip their head, barely bending their spines towards her, yet unmistakably a bow...as far as the others, she expected it, but it was just – after all these years, she knew the Malfoys and her Potions professor so well, knew them to have huge egos, sort of an "I take orders from no one" attitude, yet here they were, bowing to her, as if she was a queen and them but lowly peasants. She could get used to this power thing, she thought briefly, before thinking back to history class – how many times muggles and wizards with power had abused it...
...Speaking of which, Voldemort rested a hand on her shoulder – the weight on her shoulder was reassuring, and he felt her tense muscles relax beneath his hand.
"You will be detailing the manor and lawn today," Voldemort hissed. At this order, several Death Eaters looked confused that they were not plotting more evil plans, or going out raiding; some nodded dully – Lucius opened his mouth to protest, but Voldemort whipped out his wand and silencio-ed him. The Heir of Slytherin continued, "It is your headquarters, as well as your masters' home. Hermione shall assign jobs to you, and overlook everything afterwards. I want this place spotless before anyone leaves."
He motioned at Hermione. She looked around, surveying the Death Eaters, as if sizing them up for the chores...making very broad generalizations, the women probably knew more of fashion, the men more on yards and basics...still, this public speaking took getting used to. She didn't mind raising her hand in class – then no one was really listening, she was only speaking a sentence or two, and she knew that what she was saying was right – in lessons it was just cold fact she knew off the top of her head.
But speaking in public – persuading a group of people, voicing an idea or opinion, or a call to action – that she wouldn't be able to do – when someone could have a different way of thought, when it was her own voice speaking, her own words, not from a textbook.
But there was a difference between making a speech and telling someone what to do. This power thing was nice though – getting things done, having people bend to her will...it was hard not to like, even for someone like her. And people couldn't insult her or tell her to shut up that way, either...if only her nagging conscience didn't tell her it was wrong somehow...
"Lucius, Severus, Draco, MacNair, Karkaroff – each of you pick a floor and she counted the male Death Eaters, came up with forty aside from the five she named eight males to help you. Anything you see necessary – dusting, fixing water damage, conjuring furniture, whatever. Use the mirror in the living room to get to the rest of the house. Then go out in the yard, and just make it look nice. You're dismissed."
The two blonde Malfoys, her ex-Potions professor, Buckbeak's executor, and Headmaster of Durmstrang stared at her for a few seconds, unused to and most unwilling to take orders from her, before reluctantly turning and muttering to the other Death Eaters (MacNair was kind enough to take the silencio charm off of his old friend Lucius), gathering a group to go with, discussing who takes what floor...Hermione waited until they all left, leaving only the select few female Death-Eaters – six.
"I want you six going through the rooms after they're cleaned, doing the final touches – just make it look like home – rugs, lights, paintings, trim, alignment, mirrors, windows - black, green, silver, gold, burgundy, royal blue – whatever - we can always change it later. Bella's in charge. Just anything you see necessary that the men missed. Oh and out in the yard, flowers, a garden, fish pond – the pretty details men tend to forget. You're dismissed."
The Death Eater women looked at each other, and back at Hermione. Hermione smiled, and motioned for them to go, before turning to her husband beside her.
Judging by her expectant look, she was asking for his approval. "Very well," he said. "As long as afterward we can change it as we see fit."
Hermione noticed how one, he actually complimented her, and two, he said 'we,' not 'I.' Maybe there was a way to change a man..."So you think I did ok?" Hermione asked. She hadn't really given orders before – only to dismiss the Death Eaters, or instruct Snape and Malfoy Sr. on the cage specifications for her friend.
"For your first time, yes," Voldemort said stiffly. "Nice move with the appointing leaders to floors...Although I would've been more specific – give a list of things I want done to the appointed leaders, and threaten a well-placed Crucio if I'm not entirely satisfied with the finished product."
"Yes, well, I'm trying to avoid that," Hermione said crossly. "I'd rather not go to Azkaban for life, let alone cause anyone that much pain." She softened her voice so much that even with serpent-hearing, he had to strain to hear the last part. "No one deserves that. No one."
There was an awkward silence between them, so Voldemort changed the subject off of its dangerous territory. "I'm curious as to why you delegated my witches to the décor?" he asked.
Hermione looked grateful at the subject-change. "Well, I thought, usually women have a far better eye and taste for that type of thing than men. And I highly doubt someone like Wormtail would be capable of designing a room, knowing the right spells, with the complimentary colors and a right look..."
Voldemort snorted, picturing Wormtail struggling to conjure curtains or something...he could kill thirteen people with one curse, but he didn't even know the simple Scourgify charm.
Hermione smiled faintly and looked past the house at the woods, thoughtfully. "What's down there?" she asked.
"As I last recall, a stream of sorts," he said. "Although I haven't been here in years."
"We have time for a walk, don't we?" Hermione asked. "Away from the Fab Five?" He stared, not having a clue what the hell she was talking about. "Oh," Hermione said quickly, seeing this was yet another muggle thing above most wizards' heads. "Muggles have a TV show where this group of gay men, called the Fab Five, go in and spend two days making a guy's house look nice."
"Muggles have far too much time on their hands," Voldemort said shortly. "But yes, let's get away for a bit – I'd give them about two and a half hours..."
"Three hours," Hermione said.
"You're on," he said. "I'd bet galleons, but we share the money..."
"I win, Harry goes free immediately. You win, he's stuck in the cage until you two have the final mêlée," Hermione said, confident she'd win, and her friend would soon be back with the Order.
"What?" Voldemort sputtered. A smile crept across face though, at the thought of Harry stuck in the cage for eternity, only to come out and die at his hand... "Deal," he said, and they shook hands on the bet. He knew his Death-Eaters – he was confident it would only take them two-and-a-half hours – after all, they had magic on their side, and it doesn't take long to do one floor – aside from sheer size, that is.
Hermione started down the woods by the house, but her lover reached out, grabbing her arm.
"Just a minute," he said. "I want to show you something...if you don't mind..."
He brought his black silk handkerchief (with a silver embroidered "L.V." monogram in the corner) out of an inside robe pocket, to blind-fold Hermione with. He raised a thin dark eyebrow, in question.
Hermione looked into his pale reptilian face, his red eyes – normally so cold and heartless, now she saw a glint of mischief in his cat-like orbs, similar to Fred and George when they came up with an idea to annoy Filch...she peered penetratingly into his eyes, as if searching for something – his face was scary, eerie at first, but it was almost as if she had got used to his unusual visage – she found his once creepy-looking eyes, attractive, almost... in a way. It was just... different. And she knew he wasn't just Lord Voldemort ... there was someone underneath – Tom Marvolo Riddle – Voldemort was just the cold exterior, and Riddle had been dormant for so many years, finally awakened. Because of her.
"I trust you," she said finally. That meant as much to him as "I love you" did ...mainly because after his dark, violent, manipulative, and shady past, so many people, even his own Death Eaters, feared him, hated him, distrusted him...that she trusted him in spite of all this really meant something to him. He wasn't trying to pry into her mind... he respected her too much to invade her thoughts... but still he sense the guard she had put up to prevent entry into her mind. It completely cancelled what she said, unless of course, she was the type to automatically put a guard up in her mind, no matter if she was making eye-contact with a Legilimens or not. Not knowing whether to pass off the guard as nothing, or as her saying "I trust you" being a lie, he gave her the benefit of the doubt.
Folding his handkerchief in half twice, he wrapped it around Hermione's head and tied a knot in the back, not caring when he caught her bushy hair in the knot...she had so much of it anyway, it's not like a few strands would go missing...
"I can't see," Hermione protested. Even if she couldn't see, she still sensed his satisfied, lipless smirk.
"Exactly," he said, and snaked an arm around her slender waist, not thinking to slow their pace, but he guided her nonetheless.
He had forgotten how much he liked this place, even though he had only been here once before...it was just the serenity of it, just being outdoors, away from everything; disparate to the Forbidden Forest, which was possessed with the feared wildlife...
He didn't bother to tell her about any obstacles in the way, namely a log they climbed over not too long ago, but Hermione was grateful when after tripping on a rock and nearly falling flat on her face, he was kind enough to steady her and catch her fall. Which would have been unremarkable, save for the fact that the most feared Dark Wizard in a century showed her this common courtesy.
At last, when Hermione was beginning to wonder if this was some kind of trick to lead her into some kind of danger... monster, awaiting group of Death Eaters, etc...and just leave her, she felt him lean in closer to her, and heard his cold hiss brush against her ear, whispering "just a little further."
A few minutes later, she felt him tug the blindfold off her, and he took a few steps back, pocketing the black handkerchief.
She blinked in the sunlight, and gasped in surprise.
It was beautiful.
They were at the edge of a clearing in the woods – a sparkling bluish-green waterfall forty feet high surged into bubbly to a still, gently moving stream with mini-islands of grass or rock in the middle. The light shone on the water splashing up against rocks at the bottom of the waterfall, leaving a hint of a rainbow, so faint she could barely see them.
Rocky, grassy banks on the other side gave way to the forest, and by her feet, specks of light shone on the fallen leaves on the ground.
Birds chirped to Hermione's right in the treetops – she looked up, and the flock squawked and flew away – a fish-hawk was soaring over the stream, hunting its prey in the waters below.
Movement caught her eye; she almost missed it – it was just on the edge of her peripheral vision. Two feet long, a black snake in the brush to her right darted out. Hermione saw it dart out, and bare its fangs at her, ready to strike at any moment. She hardly dared breathe, lest the snake feel it a threat and bite her; she didn't know much about snakes, other than that it looked venomous.
The common deeply-ingrained response to snakes, a biological adaptation for early humans living in caves, fear, settled in Hermione as she heard it hissing at her. She thought of the Slytherins hissing at Quidditch matches, or of what she read of the dark arts...but it also reminded her of Harry, hissing to open the Chamber of Secrets, how his talent was revealed in the dueling match...the talent he got from Voldemort. Who happened to be standing right next to her. She slowly reached out and tugged the long sleeve on his robe. But she needn't have bothered – his sharp, snake-like hearing picked up the hissing too.
He tilted his head, to see past her, at the snake raised to strike, mere inches from her heel. He started hissing and spitting at the snake, which hissed at him in return – he hissed something back at it, and the snake shut its mouth. Hermione regretted all the negative comments she had said about parselmouths in the past, as the snake slumped down to the ground, and backed away, going behind them, cutting a wide berth around Voldemort.
Her breathing and heart rate were higher than normal; panting, she looked at where the snake went, down at her ankle where its fangs had been moments ago, ready to strike, and slowly turned her head to face Voldemort. Suddenly she saw him in a new light...he was her savior...the nagging thought in the back of her head said Harry could've done the same thing, but she pushed it away.
"A common adder," he said. "A viper with hemotoxic venom – I'm surprised it didn't strike you instantly. Had it bitten you, it would've destroyed blood cells."
"But why did it attack me?" Hermione asked.
"She," Voldemort corrected her. "/She/ says you were between her and her eggs – she saw you as a threat."
Hermione inhaled sharply, trying to get her breathing under control. "Thank you," she said finally, when she felt she could talk again. It wasn't often that people said thank you to him – all he did was tell the snake to leave if it valued its life – the snake said she didn't care, as long as her eggs were protected – he said congratulations on the soon-to-be family, but that she had no right to attack Hermione – she had done nothing to the snake, or interfered with her eggs. Clearly, he was much nicer and understanding towards reptiles than fellow humans.
"It was nothing," he said, brushing away her thanks.
"No really," Hermione said. "For saving my life, for – " she gestured wildly at the beautiful clearing. Thankful her body tissues weren't invaded by snake venom and being melted into protein soup at the moment, she didn't know what she was doing, but on impulse, she wrapped her arms around him, one arm over his shoulder, the other on his back. His neck stiffened, but other than that, didn't move at all as she pressed an open kiss to his lipless mouth. His cheeks were as snow-white as ever, but watching his scarlet cat-eyes, she saw the coldness in them melt into want and lust. He slowly raised his hand into her hair, winding a strand around his finger and releasing it, the other hand on her lower back.
Their bodies pressed against each other, as she felt his tall thin body against her, felt his body warmth mingle with her own, felt his heartbeat...her logical side kept telling her this was so wrong, she shouldn't be doing this – it was betrayal, she was playing with fire and would get burned, he was so much her senior and a man wanted for too many murders to count, she was a traitor, turn-coat, whore...She tried pulling away, yet found herself unable to... he had an iron grip on her. But it felt right, even if logically it wasn't ... she didn't know if it was hormones or their bonded souls, or if she had finally snapped, but ...it just felt so, so natural. They were out in the middle of nature, no one else around for miles, with the wildlife... a doe and stag running together, nuzzling each other's necks would be seen as a pretty part of nature ... humans were animals too, how could loving one another be wrong?
Voldemort was shaken when she kissed him, and he recalled their first kiss on wedding night, how nervous he felt (although he would never admit it) about being married and everything it might mean, and their second kiss, when she came back and he gave her chocolate... sad how he could count all their intimate moments on one hand. The only thing was, a voice in the back of his head, the shreds of what barely resembled conscience, and often went asleep for years at a time...was awakened, and starting an internal argument with his self... /She's only a girl/... But he knew she wasn't a girl anymore – he could tell that from their conversations, her age, her maturity, and her womanly curves pressed against him now... /She's just out of school/... She's been out of school for four months now.... /You're more than fifty years her senior/... She's used the time-turner and is a bit older.../This is sick/...She chose him instead of the two other candidates...
There was no point in arguing with himself though...even he had to admit, what was done, was done; there was no going back in the wizarding world after marriage. That was it; the only way out was if one died. He had no intention of dying, he never had. And lately, he would never admit this to anyone ... not even her ... but he was starting to feel a strange lightening feeling in his heart ... he couldn't name what it was, because there was no word for it.
It was alien to him all his life ... he didn't know the difference between short-lasted lust, or lifelong love, or simply liking someone, or the differences even in something like love...loving family or friends or country or a lover or a soulmate or a favorite thing...He could write volumes on the definition of hate, or the psychology behind loathing, grudges, criminal activity, power over someone, killing someone...but the exact opposite of that was the unknown to him ... he had witnessed signs of love before, but few and infrequent ... all he had was the vaguest of thoughts about the lighter side of life...
His tongue had somehow in the midst of this found its way into her mouth ... opposite to what people said, he did /not/ have a forked tongue; while it would help him be even more intimidating, it would make speaking English almost impossible. He heard her sigh as he found the sensitive spot on the roof of her mouth, felt the heat emanating from under her tongue; where one would stick a thermometer if they were sick, as it was the core body temperature...A stranger to warmth or love, he had no idea what he was doing ...just acting on impulse... testosterone masculinizes the mind from before birth; the two major effects being aggressiveness and sex drive ... and he was just a man, nothing more, nothing less.
Hermione felt her breathing and heart rate raise again, but for a very different reason. She glanced at the calm-moving stream behind them...where was a bathing suit when you needed one? It was midday, but there was no one around ...their house and the Death Eaters were two, three miles away...it was just her and him, who cared?
He unintentionally stuck her lip with a fang...a drop of blood stemmed from the cut. She withdrew her lips from his mouth, pulling away, and breathing heavier than normal.
She wanted to go swimming, but was afraid of the snakes, after nearly being bitten. And as always with someone of such intelligence as her own, logical reasoning took over. The worst that could happen was one bit her, and he had to apparate her back and give her an antidote or say a spell ... he could talk to snakes and was an expert on them ... surely he would know...of course, he'd always be able to tell the snake to leave her be, like last time. And there was the chance she wouldn't even meet one. Confidence restored by her logic, Hermione took off her shoes and socks and ran down the shore, keeping alert for snakes in the grass or hiding under the rocks. She only saw one, and it was sunning itself on a boulder worn smooth by past years of flowing water.
Voldemort frowned, and whatever warmth he felt only moments before froze over. She was running away from him? She started the kiss... "Hermione!" he called out. She turned and grinned, winking at him, before running on, picking her robe up so she wouldn't trip.
He watched curiously as she climbed over the rocks on the side of the waterfall and carefully watched for signs of snakes, zigzagging a few times to avoid any. Well, she certainly was Gryffindor, in being brave enough to go wherever in the midst of snakes after almost being bitten. Of course, it had never bothered him; he taught snakes to obey him through offering food; and if one bit him, he had its head severed from its body immediately.
She picked up her plain robes and crawled over the rocks, panting with the effort. Eventually, beyond where she could see him, it got to the point where it was just a shallow lake at the top of the precipice ...shallow enough for her to wade in, it was only up to her knees.
A few minutes later, she came back into sight. He had an unreadable expression on his face...She was standing barefoot at the crest of the waterfall, face lifted in the air, hair blowing out behind her. Water flowed from behind her heels around her, only to fall down the gushing waterfall just a foot in front of her. Gushing white water falling from rocks into the calm bluish-green river...waterfall rushing at her feet, she was on top of the world...his Hermione... somehow, this moment was something he wouldn't forget.
Hermione looked down; she knew it to be only about forty feet, about twelve meters, but it looked much higher from here. And too late she realized her fear of heights; the reason why she despised flying a broomstick so much... if only she had realized that before climbing up here...she just saw the crest of the waterfall over Voldemort's shoulder, and wondered what it'd be like to stand up there, Queen of the World, feeling the water beneath her toes, seeing the view...and of course, there was only one way down. It was fine climbing up, but going back down wasn't her idea of fun. In her head, she saw the swimming lessons from long ago, back before Hogwarts...she remembered her teachers showing her how to dive.
Voldemort watched from below as she stepped closer to the waterfall, crouched down as if to pick up something, and jumped... jumped up and out, arching her back, propelling herself three feet in front of the waterfall. Inwardly, his jaw dropped. She was soaring down through the air, stomach facing the ground...and in a single fluid motion, she put her arms in front of her, hands pressed together, and put her head down ... switching in mid-air so her hands and head were to enter the water first...legs stretched out behind her...a swan dive. And she entered the water as gracefully as a swan, barely making a splash.
Hermione felt pleased with herself ... the swan dive had always been the hardest to her ... switching into a proper diving position before entering the water; in the beginning, it was beautiful being up there, wind rushing in her ears, water jetting down a waterfall behind her...but at a certain point she knew she had to switch positions or she'd make a belly flop from forty feet...which not only would hurt, but would make herself out as an idiot. As it was, she entered the water gracefully, her white robe flapping like wings beside her, exposing her jeans and white longsleeve...
It occurred to her that Voldemort was still standing on the "beach," watching her...and of course, he needed to get wet as well. Just under the water's surface, she held a hand over her mouth and nose with one hand, and kicked her feet towards shore, where she saw him standing right before she entered the water.
He was staring at where she entered, perplexed. Shouldn't she have surfaced by now? Only half a minute had gone by, but where was she...he didn't think she'd have the lungs to hold her breath that long; he must have been mistaken. Unless, of course, she was in trouble. He edged towards the water. Any minute now...he watched the surface nervously...
It was a steep bank, but too shallow anymore to avoid discovery. Hermione darted forward.... she saw a surprised expression on his face, the beginnings of recognition... and she grabbed his ankle, before swimming back out to the middle, as fast as she could.
Lord Voldemort was swept on his back, being dragged on top of the water by a mudblood.
Once they reached the middle of the stream, Hermione let go. He righted himself so he was standing on the bottom, wiped water off his face with the back of his hand, and glared at her. Hermione grinned. She took one look at him, and saw how flustered he looked ... and she laughed. A sound Voldemort had often heard when one of his followers or himself found the irony in something, were about to finish someone off ... but that was usually a cackle, a harsh laugh, an unpleasant grin...a twisted sort of humor.
This was different; she was laughing ... grinning and happy, laughing...her face glowed when she laughed, sparkles lit in her eyes...she looked so ... so, alive...
He smirked and dunked her underwater, giving her a few moments before letting her surface.
"How did you manage to hold your breath so long?" he asked, trying to make conversation... after jumping off the waterfall, she had held her breath for a full minute...about twice as long as he could.
"What?" Hermione asked. "Oh ... I sing," she said. As if that explained anything. At his disbelieving expression, she splashed water at him playfully, but he wasn't paying attention ... he was watching the water carefully just to her right...and the smile faded from her face. "What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Watersnake," Voldemort hissed.
Hermione stared at the water, frowning, eyes darting everywhere as she looked for the snake... "No there isn't," she said, finally. "Very funny."
"No, I assure you, there was a watersnake under that rock," Voldemort said, pointing at said rock. Hermione looked at his extended finger and followed it to the rock – sure enough, there was something darting back and forth under the rock. Snakes weren't Hermione's strongpoint; it was one thing where the snake was out in the open where she could see it, but out in the water, it could be anywhere...Hermione jumped and slowly backed away, not letting her eyes leave the rock.
A strange sound caught her attention, and she turned her head quickly...it was a laugh issuing from Voldemort's pale lipless mouth. Not an evil cackle, but something that years and years ago may have been a full laugh from the chest, but was now raspy with lack of use.
It was only a few seconds before he sobered, the rest of his breath leaving in a hiss...his eyebrows knitted together ...no doubt this was the first time he had actually laughed in years, if not decades...and possibly the last time he had actually laughed at something, he was Tom Riddle, before the transformation.
It was such a strange sound to his ears, it took him awhile to figure out that was coming from his own vocal chords...she turned around sharply at the sound, and it was then that he realized he was the one laughing...and he didn't know why, either. Perhaps he had finally gone mad, after all these years? Then again, many would consider him mad to start with.
"Tell anyone," he said dangerously, gripping his wand in his robes with one hand, "and I swear I'll use you for curse practice."
However, her reaction wasn't what he was expecting. Instead of looking frightened or offended, rather, she grinned. "I advise you don't, as I won't hesitate to put the Curse of the Bogies on you," Hermione said, remembering Ginny's famous spell all too well.
"You wouldn't be able to once I'm through with you," Voldemort said smirking, not even batting an eye at her warning. She pursed her lips together, much like McGonagall. He knew he had won, at least for now, and shrugged.
She swam off towards the middle, far away from the snake-ridden banks. And flipped over on her back, floating on the water's surface. Looking up in the sky, Hermione saw whitish-gray clouds, flat on the bottom, fluffy on top ... sun shone through them, looking like Heaven was just around the corner...rain clouds...but it looked as if it wouldn't rain until tonight...
She was so...so trusting of him ... she had laid down all her defences before him, lying vulnerable in the water, unable to see anything besides the sky, not able to hear much of anything, as her ears were in the water, and she'd be unable to grab her wand in time if needed.
Few, if any, trusted him enough not to attack as soon as they relaxed their guards. She looked so peaceful lying there...damn. Where did that thought come from? It had only been about two weeks, she couldn't have broken through his cold exterior, could she? Until recently, he had thought himself heartless, as did most of the world...a small stone heart made of onyx, hard and cool to touch, unbending, not knowing love, nor showing mercy, respect, or friendship. His allies were as likely to be tortured as his enemies. A true monster...
But lately, it seemed as if, well, a spark had alighted within the chunk of black stone beating within his chest. As if there were once glowing red coals, dying out into nothingness, and somehow a tiny flame emerged from beneath a coal, strong enough to ignite the other coals into flame, fragile enough to be blown out like a candle.
A tiny flame emitting heat and light surrounded by dying coals, encased in the smooth, cool onyx thought of as his heart. What was happening to him? This was all so strange, so unfamiliar...so unsettling. He needed a distraction from his thoughts. Hermione was still lying on top the water. Ah. Perfect.
Hermione didn't know why she trusted him, or even felt love for him ... she knew him to be the Dark Lord, Heir of Slytherin, the monster that everyone talks about in hushed, fearful tones. But it was as if she couldn't connect the man she married with the man who orphaned her friend. She couldn't explain her feelings ... it was all so very complicated...she had wondered if he had put an enchantment on her, an Imperius perhaps...but then, after Moody putting it on them, she knew exactly what it felt like ...this was nothing like it. She had her own sense of free will. But it was strange... he was changed somehow. In their short time together, she had already seen some of his strengths and faults...his internal conflict, the many different sides to him, the many different layers of his mind. He wasn't the one-sided self-styled Lord Voldemort, but someone else...
Just as she finished that thought, she felt pressure on her stomach. Water filled her mouth. She had flipped so her hands were facing the ground...she dove down to the bottom, turned, and kicked off the rocks resting at the bottom, shooting up towards the surface. She broke the surface, spat out the water, and gulped air.
As soon as she caught sight of Voldemort's pale face marked by a satisfied smirk, she knew he was going to pay. And soon Voldemort found himself immersed in the watery depths, thanks to Hermione. When he surfaced, he had something of the look of a drenched cat etched on his face...a sort of "you dare submerge /me/?" sort of expression.
Hermione smiled and took his hands in hers. Her smile fell as a muscle in her face twitched, as if she was holding back a wince. ...The backs of his pale long-fingered hands with raised blue blood vessels ... it didn't feel pliable or warm like flesh; rather she felt small round armored plates, like tiny scales beneath her fingers...not quite reptilian skin, not quite human hide. His nails were long and rounded, ending in points ... like claws – but had the pale pink luster and white tips of human fingernails. That wasn't what bothered her though ... his palms felt normal ... fleshy, unlike the backs of his hands...but it felt like the cold hands of a comatose, a comatose with metabolism slow enough that the body heat was dangerously low.
At his raised eyebrow, she searched for words to describe what she was feeling. "Your hands are so cold," she said finally.
"Ah yes," he hissed. "One of the drawbacks of my experiment being that I would be partially cold-blooded."
Hermione carefully schooled her face, wisely saying nothing. She knew he didn't naturally look like a snake; Ginny and Harry had described his sixteen-year-old features in detail at the end of second year. Of course how he ended up looking half-snake was a mystery; not many knew of his previous identity and appearance to start with. Many just assumed he was born like that....from stories gathered from Dumbledore, Snape, and Harry, all who have come in contact with the man far too often, obviously he wasn't born that way ... he was originally 'human' ... although how he ended up looking like that was a question ... glamour charm, snake bite, transfiguration, potion, curse, possession gone wrong...obviously Voldemort didn't like talking about it...from that she gathered that he probably regretted doing the experiment...otherwise she'd probably have heard someone mentioning that he'd been boasting about becoming "superhuman" or something of the like.
His hands were so cold... "Perhaps we should get out of the water?" Hermione suggested...she was soaked through and it was mid-October; nice afternoon or not, she was feeling a bit cool herself; goosebumps had ridden up on her skin. He nodded and they trudged through the water, Hermione stumbling once on a submerged rock, as she was barefoot.
Once they reached shore, she cast a drying charm on herself and a warming charm, and he did likewise. He stood against a tree before sliding down to the ground, sitting with his legs out, in the shade, but with spots of sunlight dancing on his bald head, sun shining down on his face. Hermione smiled at the sight of the feared Lord Voldemort out in nature like this...apparently she (and everyone else) didn't know him as well as they thought. Seeing as the heavy cotton was getting to her, she unbuttoned her robe, leaving it open in front to her longsleeve shirt; and sat down next to him, leaning against his shoulder, gazing at the calming waterfall.
Somehow she ended up sitting between his legs, her head cradled underneath his chin. He snaked an arm around her...
He had never foreseen this; out in the middle of nowhere, just taking in the beauty of nature, hearing the birds singing, the waterfall splashing into the stream, snakes and critters scuttling on the ground floor...with his wife in his arms...it was relaxing in a way... he had never really just come out to enjoy the peace of nature, the sunlight...he felt something in his chest, in his abdomen...sort of like a warmth that came from within. He didn't understand it, confusing and unfamiliar to him... so peculiar.
Soon he found himself stroking her bicep, her shoulder...surprising, but he smirked as a playful thought crossed his mind...She could almost feel his smirk against her hair as his fingers reached the triangle between her collarbone and where her arm joined her body, fingertips just brushing the swell of her left breast. And he didn't wait for an answer, either; he dropped his hand still further, cupping her breast in his hand. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. And she breathed out slowly; it was unsettling to suddenly feel his hands on her, but she had to admit, it felt good....a few days ago she might have slapped him, a few weeks ago may have hexed him, but now she let her breath out slowly; she had never experienced anything like this at Hogwarts, seeing as boys (other than that jerk Krum) ignored her, unless they wanted to copy her homework or ask a question. Hearing Lavendar and Parvati talk about their boyfriends over the past seven years, she was – well curious, and relaxed into his touch.
She was indeed a woman ...the Voldemort side to the man had gone dormant when the charming Tom Riddle showed Hermione the stream...then as they exited the water ... she was shivering, nipples rigid from cold, and poking out through the damp shirt... the Voldemort side felt something like déjà vu, but couldn't remember what. It wasn't until she was in his lap and he stroking her shoulder that the memory arose. He had raped a woman as young as her, cold and wet, just blonder and heavier. This flashback returned the Voldemort side in full.
He was just a man – eyeing her young rounded breasts, he realized he didn't want to feel the cold fabric, but her warm flesh...He shot his hand up her shirt and cut her bra in half with a nail, causing it to slip down to her stomach, useless. The last bit of protection she had against his hands. His cold hand prodded her flesh ... Hermione's breath hitched in her throat. His hands were like a corpse's....and slowly soaking up her heat, the heat emitting from her aorta artery and her heart, just inches below his prying fingertips. Several times his fingernails dug into her skin...she really didn't like this....
He was unable to rape anyone now because of the martial bond, but he had a witch sitting in his lap right now; dipping his head over her shoulder he could see her rounded breasts, though as she had performed the warming charm, no longer dotted with erect nipples....Not thinking of how she'd feel, he slipped his hand up her blouse, accidentally slicing her bra in half, but no matter ... just a useless waste of fabric. His hands swiftly found their place over her chest ... his hands were naturally cold, but like a reptile he soaked up heat. Feeling her pliant soft flesh beneath his fingers, the thought 'mine, all mine' echoed his mind.
His fingertips circled around her right breast, feeling blood filling the tissue beneath her flesh as her vessels dilated... stroking her abdomen, capturing her mouth his own... his cold red eyes shining with lust, he felt his manhood fill with blood, poke her in the lower back... he wanted to take her that moment...then he heard a sound emit from the back of her throat, the sound he least expected.
His crimson eyes once alive with lust, died down to cold uncertainty and a hint of fear. She didn't moan or whimper...it was more of a low, feral growl from deep within her throat ...the sound he'd expect a threatened rabid dog to make, just before tearing its foe into pieces with its teeth, leaving but a bloody foul mess for the dirty crows to pick at. Most disconcerting to hear such a sound from his life-partner and the one he was going to make love to.
Deftly he removed his hands from her shirt, and stood a few steps to the right. He watched as she took out her wand and repaired her bra, and he watched as she adjusted it in place. They locked eyes for a moment; he looked to all appearances, cool and indifferent. And of course, a Slytherin with no real sense of right or wrong (such as himself) would never feel guilt or shame...rather he was enjoying the proceedings, but questioning her response... out of all the women he raped, some beat his chest, or yelled. Some whimpered and cried. A few actually moaned in pleasure. Strange how he was about to rape her just then ... and she growled at him like that...
Judging by her expression, she had enjoyed it ... up until a certain point, although when that was, he couldn't tell. But, a more dominant expression on her face was a livid expression ... anger, thirst for revenge, "you'll be sorry when I'm done with you" type of threat, or what, he couldn't tell. But both expressions cleared in a few moments; it looked as if she was thinking of forgetting the whole thing ... no, storing it in the back of her mind, as they had Death Eaters remodeling their house, currently. Damn.
She grabbed his shoulder with one hand, with the other, she cupped the bulge poking through his robes ... it wasn't sexual, or meant to do harm, just neutral.
"I suggest you get rid of /that/ before we reach the Death Eaters," she said coldly. "It would not do well for your reputation if they found out what effect a mere /mudblood/ could have on you."
She dropped her hand and walked down the patch back to the house.
"Hermione!" he called out.
Not once did she look back.
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Alright, finally, I've done a chapter – tell me what you think! I know it's been awhile- this was so hard to write – tell me if you think Hermione and Voldemort are in character – it's been bugging me...ah yes, and how should their house look once the Death Eaters finish?
