Meanwhile, in a undisclosed location, the two missing Gryffindors were not having a very good day. On the contrary, they were having a horrible day. The day started out normal enough until several men in cloaks began to follow them. They lost the men easily only to run into something far worse, death eaters. They didn't manage to get away from them and ended up being bound, gagged and escorted into a large brick building. They arrived just in time for a meeting.
Voldemort eyed the two youngsters with a evil gleam in his red eyes. "Well well well. It appears that the reports are correct. Potter has indeed left Hogwarts." He smirks and motions for the two closest death eaters to take the gags out of their mouths. "The game of cat and mouse is finally over" He announces to the assembled group of death eaters. "Our time has come." He whispers as he eyes the two teenagers in front of him.
As soon as the gag is out of Harry's mouth he is yelling. "Just let us go. You'll get nothing from us!"
Voldemort shakes his head. "I'm afraid I can not do that. As soon as I received word of your sudden departure from Hogwarts I called off all planned attacks on you and your little girlfriend. Now it's time that you repaid the debt." He says menacingly.
Hermione frowns. "We have no debt to you, Voldemort. We do not fear you nor will we help you in anyway." She says through clenched teeth.
Voldemort makes a series of noise which could only be his laugh. "Ah. But you will help me. You have no choice. You're my prisoners." He states simply. "I know why you two left. Several of my more obedient servants have reported that you left after a rather heated argument with Severus. An argument about your parents being alive and living a new life. Pity. They didn't think you were worth their time." He says with mock sadness.
Harry struggles around his bound but stops once the ropes begin to dig into his skin. "You have no right prying into my business."
"But I have every right, Potter. I can give you what you have so desired. Revenge. And all I ask in return is that you join me as a loyal servant." Voldemort eyes Hermione. "Both of you."
Hermione feels Harry's outburst of anger. "We are both tired but we are not stupid. You can't say anything that will make us join you." She says defiantly.
Several of the death eaters chuckle at her boldness but Voldemort doesn't find it very amusing. He casts a silencing spell over her. "I beg to differ. There used to be three of you if I'm not mistaken. A Weasley used to accompany you two. The golden trio is what you were referred to as. But you do not know the truth about your friends death. That old fool Dumbledore refuses to tell you the details. The details that leaves out the fact that he was killed not by my men but by Dumbledore's men. Young Weasley had found some interesting facts that he was going to tell you two about. But sadly Dumbledore found out and had him killed so you two would remain his puppets. Obedient as a muggle pet." He says with a sneer. "You two have been blinded by that old fool. He only wishes to hide the truth from you. Coddle you so much that you will be defenseless when he strikes. I offer you a chance to strike first. I offer you freedom."
Harry swallows hard. What he was saying made sense. No one would even let them see Ron's body when it was sent back. "Dumbledore has lied to me before. So what your saying is not impossible. But how would joining you solve our problems?"
Voldemort can't help but smirk. "Joining me would make you two incredibly powerful. You could easily find out the truth for yourselves then. But if you choose not to join me..that would only result in your untimely deaths." He states simply.
Harry turns his head slightly to look at Hermione. She was looking rather distant and sad. She only nods her head slightly in defeat. They had no choice. Dying was not an option. Harry looks directly at Voldemort and raises his chin confidently. "How do we join?"
The meeting bursts into whispers. The death eaters couldn't believe what they were hearing. Harry Potter was joining them. This was a turning point in the impending war.
Voldemort raises his hand to silence the loud whispers. "Clean them up and bring them back once your finished." He points to a death eater off to the side who scurries up and unties the two. He then herds them into a side room.
Harry and Hermione both sigh sadly. They were joining the very man that had made their lives miserable for the better part of their young lives. But they didn't want to die. They are both stripped of their clothing right in front of each other. Both blushing from the exposure. Clothing is then thrust into their hands and they are left alone to change.
Harry's face is beet red as he hurries to pull the clothing on which consisted of a pair of black slacks and a black turtle neck with matching black shoes. He glances at Hermione out of the corner of his eye.
Hermione quickly dresses then frowns. Her clothing was a bit revealing. She now had on a pair of hip hugging black pants and a black shirt that had a slit up the front. She also had a pair of black shoes to match Harry's.
The man returns and herds them back out into the large area where the death eaters are gathered. He pushes them to the floor in front of Voldemort and retakes his position off to the side.
Voldemort eyes the two in front of him with a evil smirk. "Hold out your right arms." He commands. And watches as both of them do it, shakily. He raises his wand and points it at Harry's arm first and mutters something under his breath. A mist shoots out of the end of his wand and encircles Harry's arm. It then begins to carve the dark mark into his skin making the boy scream. Once he is finished he repeats the process on Hermione. Both of the teenagers pass out and neither of them see that they are now alone.