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 Eleven: Halloween's Eve
October thirty-first was a busy day for Hogwart's staff. They spent most of their free time decorating the great Hall. Floating Candles, placing pumpkin heads all around, live bats swooping every now and then, and skeletons singing Halloween songs (Think 'Nightmare before Christmas' songs here.)
By the time the Great Hall was completely decorated--Tastefully if I may add, it was growing dark. Hermione and Severus each went to their quarters to collect their death eater clothes, before proceeding to the Headmaster's office.
They spent the walk viciously berating the students--Well, Severus did anyway, Hermione just argued with him. The gargoyle was looking at them impatiently. The password was changed to 'pop tarts'. Hermione waited impatiently for the stairs to reach the top. Severus however, was busy admiring her backside.
They told Dumbledore that they would just take the portkey so that they would not be in a hurry when they were summoned. They took the portkey, Dumbledore wished them luck, and they went to their usual place at night. The courtyard.
It was the only place and time of the day where Severus would relax around Hermione. They spent the few minutes together, naming the constellations they could see. The dark mark started to burn and they stood up calmly, moving the thoughts of the other to the farthest part of their brains and pushing forth half-truths and false informations. They both grasped the paperweight portkey, and were transported to Hogsmeade. They donned the death eater robes and masks.
Severus took Hermione's hand, turned it over and placed a kiss on her palm. It would be the first time they would come to a meeting as a couple--without anyone knowing of course.
They looked at each other's eyes before clearing their thoughts and apparating.
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It was Voldemort's backyard. "Tom must have removed the wards. He would never let anyone apparate within a hundred-mile radius from his house." Hermione thought aloud.
Severus grunted his agreement.
"Five hundred actually." A cold voice greeted them from behind. "Yes, I remove the wards. They are easy to replace."
They both spun around. Hermione felt her jaw hit the ground. Severus' eyes went as huge as galleons.
"Tom," Hermione began after she reassembled her thoughts. "You look...different." Now 'that' was probably the understatement of the millenium.
It was true. Voldemort did look different. He lost the skull-like face of his. In its place, was a twenty-something old face, short, black hair, a well-formed nose, thin lips, and his eyes, though the pupuls still remained red were now human eyes. His body was lean, forming the classic v-shape, young, yet exuded power with every move. In short, he was handsome.
"It is an illusion Hermione, designed to recapture youth, yet stay the same age." He smirked. Yes, smirked. "I see from your reaction that you approve. I shall keep it." He caressed her cheek. His fingers lost its bony look. His touch was chilling. Hermione felt a shiver trying to come out, but she squashed it ruthlessly.
"Oh yes, I definitely approve." One by one, the death eaters began appearing. Severus took his place on Voldemort's left. Voldemort did not see the discreet wink that Hermione sent to Severus while he was approaching, for she was behind him.
She took her place at Voldemort's right, when a shocked voice slipped. "Mudblood?"
Voldemort quickly turned his icy, degrading gaze upon the pale-blond man.
"Ferret! It's been quite some time since I last saw you." Hermione said as if he was a long lost friend.
"Ferret?" Voldemort inquired.
"The whole name is actually 'The Amazing Bouncing Ferret'. But it was too long, so it was shortened."
"Show me." Voldemort ordered.
"My pleasure." Hermione's smirk was so evil, that Draco actually paled even more.
She took out her wand and in the place where Draco stood, now a pure white ferret was floating in mid-air. She proceeded on bouncing the ferret on the ground.
Lucius finally appeared and he asked a death eater if his son had arrived yet.
"Oh Hermione is just playing with him Lucius." Voldemort said wryly. Lucius did not know whether he should be shocked at Voldemort's appearance first or the fact that his son was the bouncing ferret.
Hermione transformed the ferret back to Draco, who wobbled his way beside his father in the circle.
The meeting officially began, and Voldemort extracted all the information he could get from his minions. He was about to officially dismiss them, when Hermione spoke. "Wait. What about that wandless duel you promised Severus?"
"Is losing a staff duel not enough for you?" He asked, inwardly smirking.
"You lost to a staff duel?" Voldemort inquired curiously.
"It was my first staff duel." She said defensively. The dark lord used legillimens on her, and she quickly showed the duel to him, and blocked their conversation.
"Very well, this should be entertaining." They took that as permission.
They both gave their wands to the dark lord, and took their masks off.
(No one notices the two snakes hiding. "Well, thisss ssshould be interesssting." Hissed the black one with beige stripes. "Ssshut up and let me enjoy the ssshow." The pure black one hissed back.)
The death eaters formed a circle around them. Most of them were recalling the last duel with Lucius Malfoy.
Without warning, Hermione shot the first wandless, wordless spell at Severus. He easily conjured a wall, and the wall took the hit, then he banished it.
"Do not hold back." Severus said.
"Just testing." She produced another spell, designed to rip his skin to shreds. He blocked it too, and then another one came. This time, he was not caught off balance. He blocked it as well. But just then, another one was heading after him. He did not have time to block it, and it caught his hand. He hissed.
He saw his chance when Hermione stopped her attack for that moment. He blasted her and she skidded on the ground, arms crossed defensively in front of her, but she was still standing.
Before the smoke cleared up, she sent him a curse. He sidestepped and another death eater almost was hit.
"Brilliant little witch. What will you think of next?" Severus said when the smoke cleared up to show Hermione.
"Great minds tend to think alike. If you have one, you should be able to figure it out." She challenged.
They started circling again before Severus shot a stunning spell and Hermione jumped back. She sent the disarming spell at him, and he flew back, knocked out.
"Payback for knocking me out." She whispered, panting. She walked to him and revived him.
"I do believe this is enough for tonight, Tom." Hermione stood up. Severus helped himself, his mangled hand still dripping blood.
Voldemort dismissed the death eaters at once. Hermione and Severus stayed for a while.
"It is wonderful to see two powerful allies." He kissed Hermione's hand before sending them away. Voldemort was inwardly assured that Severus and Hermione would be great assets to him.
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Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Hermione immediately tore a portion of her inner robes to cover Severus' bloody hand. He kissed her forehead. "That was a great duel, treasure." He never expected anything less from her. They both went up to the infirmary, hands clasping the others.
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Yay Chappie 11 is done. Thank you to those wo reviewed. I would just like to remind you guys that I might finish this story by sept 7. School starts at th 8th. Yay they dueled again. I'M RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS! HELP!
Varcolaci: Thanks. The snakes are basically Author's Notes.
chibimecools: lol. Well, here you are.
aniamifan1988: Thank you! (grins like an idiot)
Mish Michelle: Yup. I liked it when they were teasing too.
JTBJAB: Thank you for that idea. I used it in this chappie.
Angelbabe385: Well, Sape got his butt kicked on this chappie. lol
lydia: Nooo! Not my snakes! lol. they're mine. They're names are Smirks and Snarks.
Obi-wan's lover: Thanks. You got it.
sexiprincess1228: Thanks. Here's another one.
Danielle: Thank you.
Suggestions please. Eek. 12 chapters left I think.I need something to occupy at least oh about 4 chappies I think. Thanks for reading the story. Review. Please (smirks(black w/ beige stripes)and snarks(pure black)waves tails)
