CHAPTER 3

By nine, it was perfectly clear the Ron had no intentions of turning up. Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with worry.

'I do hope he's okay!' she said, flustered. 'He can be so careless sometimes!'

'He'll be fine, Molly,' Mr. Weasley said, soothingly. 'He's old enough to take care of himself...'

Hermione felt a pang of guilt at their worry. But she quickly pushed it aside.

They are weak fools! They know nothing of...life! The Dark Lord was always right!

As she thought of this, warm satisfaction flooded her.

The Dark Lord...

She was going back tonight, disappearing forever from the world. Perhaps they would think that she dead, along with Ron...perhaps they would guess the truth...she would never know. In all probability, she would never see Harry and the Weasleys again. Earlier on, in might have saddened her, that she was never to see her best friends again. Now It was just another thought to add to her mind. The Dark Lord had opened her eyes to everything...and she saw them for what they were...weak fools, with silly ideals that would ultimately lead to their demise.

She despised them.

And yet, even as she thought this, she was sympathizing and reassuring them.

'I'm sure Ron will turn up soon, Mrs. Weasley,' she heard herself saying. 'He knows when to be careful...perhaps he's gone for a stroll...'

It hurt her pride, that she was lying low, slinking like a black cat in a filthy alley, lying and betraying. How she longed to rise up before them, and spit out all the loathing she felt. To tell them how she hated them, and how she was going to kill them in a matter of minutes. She was tired of lying low.

That is no more. You will leave tonight for the Black Castle. They will never see you again. You will be with the Dark Lord, hiding in secret until the world is purged of weak fools such as these. That is his plan, is it not?

The thought comforted her.

Yes, it was the Dark Lord's plan. His calculating mind was almost never wrong. It would work well. She remembered how he had gently touched her jaw, with icy fingers, and spoken solemnly to her.

'You must leave them, Hermione. I fear for your life. Harry Potter is not stupid...much as I wish it be. Sooner or later they will realize...you will leave them at night, and come and live in the Black Castle until they are all gone...you no longer remain undercover.

Hermione smiled, thinking of it. He was concerned...he wanted her to stay alive. The fact filled her with cold satisfaction

He cares.

No, he doesn't, she reminded herself. He never cares. But he wants. He wants you alive.

Wants.

Once more she smiled.

'Hermione?"

She looked up. Harry was surveying her with mild concern.

'Yeah?'

'Is something wrong? You were smiling in...a weird way.'

Hermione sighed.

'No Harry. Nothing's wrong.'