Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!
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I Don't Believe In Love
Chapter Six: Voldemort's Confession
Severus hid himself in the darkest place he could find. He took out the flesh colored string and let it crawl slowly to the couple. He attached the other end to his ear.
His ears were sharp, listening to every little sound the night would produce. The waves, crashing to the shore. He waited patiently, then,
"Hermione. Such power. Do you desire more? Would you like to have more power?" Voldemort was speaking such seductive words to her. Words, designed to tempt strong-willed men. Words often used for gathering followers.
"Won't you be my queen? My woman? The Dark Lady? Everyone would bow down to you. They would glorify you. Respect you. Won't you be my queen?" Severus' breath hitched. Pain lanced through his heart. Destroying what tiny hope of his. Hermione would accept it of course. Her life was at stake.
"Together, we will rule all. We will wipe the muggle scum off this world. We will rule it. It will be mine, and you will sit beside me in my throne." Such powerful words. They truly were designed to sweep the bravest off their feet.
"You forget Tom; my parents are muggles as well. And I am considered scum in this world." The determination in her voice rivaled the power of his words.
"Your parents are safe. I guarantee you. They are safe with me. You are not scum. Anyone who calls you that will pay with their life." He drawled with a silky voice.
"I trust you Tom, you know that. I would not want them harmed." Hermione said it with such sincerity that Severus was almost convinced that she really was a death eater. His heart raced. What if she really was betraying them? 'Fool. How could you doubt her?' A vicious voice stabbed through his foolish doubts.
"I will be your queen after the war. After the war Tom. After you win, I will be your queen. But not today Tom, not yet. I am merely a distraction to you. And as much as I hate to say it, you will be a distraction to me too. So I will be yours if you win. After the war." Severus felt the tiny fragments of his tiny, shattered hope, piece back together.
"Severus has taken a liking to you, I observed. No matter, he cannot have you. You are mine. That potion you took? I cast a spell on it. He cannot touch you inappropriately. You are mine." Severus peeked at them. They were standing on the shore. The waves, occasionally crashing to their feet. Voldemort's hand was tilting Hermione's head. An arm wrapped around her waist. Her hands were locked behind the dark lord's waist.
"Severus was not and will never be a problem. After the war Tom. You will be able to savor your victory even more. After the war. You know I am telling the truth. I never lied to you. We will just be a distraction to each other." Hermione stared into those red eyes. "After you win. I promise."
"I know what you went through, remember? Why continue mingling with those fools? They hurt you. I know they did." 'Hurt? Who hurt her? And how did he know? She told him but she did not tell me.' Thoughts were racing through Severus' head. Competing. Each thought, trying to win.
"I can take away the hurt Hermione. I can take away the pain." She shot out of his arms and looked at him straight.
"You will do no such thing. Hurt helps me. The pain saves me. Anger lets me continue. If you take it away, I will be left with nothing. Nothing. I will keep my hurt and my pain. They make me strong. You know they do." Severus' chest tightened. She never said a word. All this time, her face was a mask. He never knew that the closest he was to the 'real' her was at night in the courtyard. She would tell him things. Her beliefs. How she seemed to float in a sea of black. Black sorrow. How she seemed really happy at those times. 'I will get my answers. I will, even if I have to force it out of her.'
"And another thing." Her voice changed from sincere to cold in the space of three seconds. "I do not need protection. I hate being treated like a damsel in distress. You have seen me perform wandless. What makes you think that I will not be able to protect myself?" Her eyes were narrowed and her lips were a thin line.
"It is only a precaution. I want someone warned immediately, even if you have everything under control in the face of danger. I do not want that pretty face mangled." His bony fingers caressed her cheek, traced her jawline, and stopped at the hollow of her neck. A predatory gleam in his eyes.
"I'll see you again Tom." Hermione clearly expressed her desire to return to the safety of Hogwarts.
Severus pulled the string away from his ear and it shrank back to it's original size. He tucked it in his inside pocket and waited. He had never felt so many emotions at one time. Fear, anger, curiosity, hopelessness, guilt, doubt, hatred, and a sense of protectiveness.
"Severus." He heard voldemort hiss his name, and quickly cleared his head of all thoughts. He firmly pushed all the emotions down, and put forth loyalty.
"My lord." He knelt before standing up again.
"You are one of my most trusted followers. Do not betray my trust." Voldemort's red eyes bore into his black ones, and he felt the mental intrusion drill into his mind. He immediately sent the mental images of Dumbledore, the staff meeting, their fights, but he did not show a hint of the extent of their camaraderie.
Voldemort seemed quite satisfied with the memories he presented. "I will cancel the protection potion and spell when the war is over. Dismissed."
Voldemort watched Hermione and Severus disapparate away. He was looking for the tiniest hint of closeness.
They finally disapparated with a pop, and he was left with his own company once more.
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Haha. Finally, Hermione's secret is revealed. Voldemort, the prince of persuation, the count of cunningness, and now the jester of jealousy. Hmm...The Lieutenant of Loneliness? Nevermind. I thank you all again for reading. I got reviews! Yay! I love you people so much. No, really I do.
Not mad mentally unstable: Thanks. I will.
deadlyabyss12: And thank you for reviewing.
adele rose: Now that I looked it over, you were right. Do you think I did better this chappie?
Transylvanian: True, someone does need to kick Voldemort. lol. Mental image there.
aniamifan1988: Yup. I was especially proud of the courtyard scene too.
Lexi Lupin: OMG! Thank you so much for pointing that out! I didn't know. Thanks again.
sexiprincess1228: Why thank you.
Happiness Fooled: Whew, i am glad you think so.
jekyllhyde: Hmmm...I could try. Right now, I'm trying 1000 words/day.
Lu Tonks: Wow. Thanks.
Ok. I'm really happy that you guys enjoy my story. ego boost. lol. anyway, the next chappie has a 'tender' moment somewhere. Oh and it has quite some angst too. Thanks for reading. Review. Please. - Darque
P.S. - By the way, I didn't know that the anonymous review was blocked. For those who tried, thanks. Its open now. lol.
