Title – Different Life
Author – Brittany McLean
Disclaimer – I don't own the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling does.
Mandy of the Death Eaters have returned. Snape arrived back quickly. Went around and set house on fire, but did no killing. And the houses he set fire too were either empty currently or the people were outside. He may have been a murderer to …. Well only the greatest wizard that ever lived, but he wouldn't kill any more. He watched as all of them arrived one by one. Laughing and celebrating about how many people they tortured. Or worse murdered tonight.
Lucious Malfoy was working extra hard to prove himself worthy to Voldemort. He had failed him miserably for the past years. Severus was afraid to think of the things he's done to redeem himself for it.
A group of wizards and a witch arrived suddenly. They seemed to feel accomplished tonight. Bellatrix was leading the few wizards. He had a person wrapped up in a cloak propped up on his shoulder. He felt a sickening feeling arriving in his stomach.
Bellatrix came up to Voldemort and kneeled before him. The other wizards did so also but the one holding the person came forward and dropped the person in front of him. Severus winced as he heard the sickening thump. The person must be lifeless. He hoped that they weren't.
Voldemort looked at the kneeling people in front of him and smirked. He kicked the person wrapped in the cloak revealing who they were to everyone.
Snape gasped and felt his breath catch in his throat. He tried to calm himself but his heart deceived him. It was beating faster and louder as each second goes by.
The girl was Hermione dirty and very pale. She had scratches on her face and arms. Her foot stuck out from underneath the cloak it looked bruised from the top of her shoe. It must be sprained. He winced as Voldemort kicked her once again to remove more of the cloak.
"My brothers and sisters…. What you see here is the mudblood who hangs around Harry Potter. Now, you all may think I'm insane for keeping a filthy mudblood alive in my presence but you will receive some interesting stories about this filth." Everyone waited for Voldemort to continue.
"The reason I wanted her alive brought here" Snape let out his breath knowing the ex student was alive; "This girl is not a mudblood."
Everyone gasped in shock. Bellatrix looked up looking puzzled. Voldemort came up to her and held her chin in his hand, "That's right. She doesn't even know she's a pureblood. She thinks her 'parents' are her real parents." He rounded on Snape, "Our dear old Severus does not know that this girl is a pureblood either!"
"No my Lord, I did not." He kneeled in front of Voldemort.
"You see, my brothers and sisters, I killed these girls parents myself. Before I became as famous as I am now, her father was a follower of mine. You probably all do not know him. He was a death eater for a short while. One of my first. Very loyal. But he was also young and naïve."
Severus' face was contorted in confusion. How could he have not known this? He knew the man Edward, he was his friend. A much greater friend then Lucious Malfoy. Edward had told Severus of his wife and daughter being born. They both realized that Voldemort was something they did not want to be tied down with. When Edward told Severus of his wife and how she was close friends with Dumbledore they both came to him. But he did not know that his best friend was the father of the annoying Know-it-all brat that was Potter's best friend. How could Dumbledore keep this from him? He was so hurt when he found out that Edward and his family had been murdered by Voldemort. But he had to do something; he knew he had to get away. Little did he know that you can never abandon Voldemort and not expect a horrible price to pay.
"The fool fell in love with a witch who was one Dumbledore's side. The two would sneak off almost every night. I did not know of this until later."
"My Lord, what happened?" Bellatrix asked when he took awhile to answer.
"Edward found out that his precious Annabel was to have his child. He then sought out to marry her in secret. I found out quite soon after this. When the child was born," He quickly strode over to Hermione's form on the ground and lifted her torso up mocking her, "I came to collect this child to be a new death eater, and not just a death eater, but a prized possession that she would become. Trained fully in the dark arts. Most trusted death eater. She would have been my heir if not for that fool! I was going to kill them both, and keep the girl. I didn't want them to tell Dumbledore. I knew that Edward was falling more and more out of my grasps. I had to act fast."
He laid Hermione down once more and stood up, "When I arrived Edward tried to reason with me, begged me to let his wife and child live, but to kill him. He said that his family wants to join the death eaters. I knew this was a lie, for Annabel was close friends with Dumbledore. I was furious that he would lie to me and prevent me this child that I wanted to train. He was loyal and trustworthy until he met this witch! I immediately killed Edward. But just as I killed Annabelle also Dumbledore's men showed up. I had to retreat and leave the child." He was walking around causing curious looks from everyone.
"I find now that the child is Hermione Granger, daughter to muggles! It was a disgrace! Such a brilliant witch has muggle parents. Dumbledore placed her in their care for a reason. So I would not go looking for her. How perfect that she is friends with famous Harry Potter. How well this could fit in to finally defeat Harry Potter.
"This girl will be treated with respect and much care. She must not leave. She will not leave. Severus!" He shouted rounding on him.
"My Lord?" He bowed.
"Get my pensive. I want to wake the girl. She will see exactly what her parents are."
He did not like this idea at all. He was thankful his mask would stay on for this. Severus retrieved the pensive and brought it in front of his Master bowing.
Voldemort pointed his wand at Hermione and whispered an incantation causing her eyelids to flutter.
"Wha…. Where?" She muttered confused.
Everyone watched and waited for her to see them and react. They loved to see fear in eyes. Terror and pain. It was a common affair with them. Snape had seen it all too often to like it. When he was young he thought that he was tough and mighty by joining Voldemort. He wanted to prove to James and Sirius that he could be mightier then them. When Voldemort killed Lily and James it was the worse thing that ever happened. Sure he hated James, but death? He never wanted that. And definitely not Lily. Not the sweet and innocent red head that did nothing but care for others and try and defend him when her boyfriend would tease and pick on him. His best friend Edward had joined along with him. They were both in Slytherin and were always messed with. But it caught up with them both, the dark power did. Severus lost his best friend.
He tried to redeem himself and was no where near it. He'll never be fully cured from what he's done. But it didn't hurt to try and help others.
Hermione stood up with fear in her eyes. She was limping slightly and looking around widely.
"Wh….. why am I hear?" She croaked out. Tears were starting to form.
"You were brought here by my loyal servants." Voldemort said pointing to Bellatrix who was kneeling down.
"Why! Is it enough that you murder my parents? Why can't you just kill me and be over with it!" She was terrified.
Snape wanted to rush over to her and tell her it'll be all right but he knew he'd be lying and putting them both in danger if he'd do that. But the poor girl was shaking from head to toe.
"You will not be harmed. Come here." He commanded.
"What do you mean?" she quivered.
"I want to show you something. Something that should have been brought to your attentions a long time ago." He held out his hand for Hermione to take it. But she did not.
Bellatrix stood up and grabbed Hermione shoving her towards Voldemort. He took her hand. She looked at him curiously. Harry used to tell her what he looked like and right now, he looked nothing at all like the monster he described. He looked like the Tom Riddle from when he was in school except older and his eyes were blood red. It was a lot better then to have to stare face to face with an evil snake creature.
He brought her over to a Pensive that was shinning brightly. She pulled away from it slightly but was pulled over roughly.
"Stick your head in it." Voldemort commanded.
"No." She breathed.
Voldemort shoved her head inside of the bowl anyways. She disappeared from sight into the shinning pensive.
Snape sighed painfully. He knew what she was going to see. She was going to witness her real parents be murdered. She was going to find out who she really was. Everyone knew what this young girl was capable of, and Voldemort knew this. That's what he was afraid of.
Hermione screamed as she fell, she looked down to see that she was falling into a room. She tried her best to catch her fall. As soon as she reached the ground she fell lightly into a rocking chair.
A woman with brown curly long hair and cinnamon eyes stood next to a crib cradling a baby. She was wearing a long velvet cloak and singing softly to her baby. Her voice was sweet and kind.
Hermione wondered why they could not see her for a moment until she realized that this was somebody else's memories. She was visiting their past. Hermione guessed that the baby is Voldemort and these are his parents.
"Darling Annabelle, how is she?" A man with dark hair and bright blue eyes came into the room. He was wearing a black cloak. He came up to his wife and kissed her softly. So the baby was a girl…. Maybe the man is Voldemort.
"Edward, how are you going to have a family and still be under his power? You can't do this! He's evil. I told you that I'm afraid and now that I have a child with you… I… I don't know what to do… What if he kills us?" the woman named Annabelle said fretfully.
Hermione was very confused at this whole thing. Was she talking about Voldemort?
"I've made mistakes in my life. Severus and I both know this. But we are trying to get away my love."
"I know I know, but I just keep thinking that this is too good to be true. You can't just walk away from the Dark Lord. Dumbledore has told you this time after time. This is something dangerous!" Annabelle set the baby down inside of her crib and turned to her husband.
She came to him and thrust his sleeve up, "This is your life!" She cried shrilly, "You are bound to him!" The area where she lifted his sleeve up was the dark mark tattoo. The same one Snape has. So this man is a Death Eater for Voldemort and he's trying to get away for his family.
"I told you Annabelle, We've made mistakes. But I found you, I love you. And I love our daughter! I did love the Dark Lord, until I realized how powerful he really was. I was obsessed with his powers; I wanted to be his top Death Eater. But that all changed. I was young and stupid. So was Severus. We both bit off too much then we can swallow. I promise you Annabelle I am going to change. I have, I just have this deathly mark on my arm!"
"Hermione is just a child, but when she grows up what will happen? You can't keep this from her! What if The Dark Lord comes after her!" Tears streamed down her face.
Hermione's eyes grew as big as saucers. Hermione? This child's name was the same as her's….. which would be fine, if it weren't for her name being really rare and this was a pensive of somebody's memories. Was it possible that the child was her? It couldn't be. Her parents are just dentists…. They can't be witches and wizards. She's a muggle born!
"I will do my best for you both" He was cut off by a blast at the front door. "No!" He whispered.
"Oh god! No!" The woman clutched her now screaming baby and cried.
Voldemort stood at the door surrounded by several Death Eaters.
"You thought that I wouldn't find out Edward?" He hissed.
Edward kneeled down, "My Lord, I'm sorry. But I didn't think you'd approve of my affair!"
"It doesn't matter, as long as you are still my loyal servant. I will take the child with me. It will be raised to be one of the best Death Eaters." Voldemort walked past Edward and into the room with his wife and crying daughter.
He stood up and ran, "No! Master please! My wife will care for her right now. She is too young to be taken!"
"Do you defy me! You will be punished for this act of mutiny and more punishment will come for disobeying me!" Several Death eaters came next to Edward and grabbed him holding him tight as he watched horrified as Voldemort grabbed the baby from his now screaming wife.
"HUCKS!" Voldemort yelled holding the screaming baby.
The man named Hucks came running out of the crowd and drew his wand out. "Avada Kedavra!" He cried holding it at the woman's heart. She immediately stopped screaming and crying and fell to the floor dead. A sickening thump was heard.
Hermione screamed and fell backwards on the ground. The poor woman was staring at her with blank eyes. She looked so much like her it was scary. It was almost like looking at herself in death. It couldn't be…. Maybe this is …. Her real mother? But that would mean…. no…. it was too much to take it.
"NOOOOOO! I'LL KILL YOU! I HATE YOU! ANNABELLE!" Edward screamed. His face was red and contorted in rage. "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Voldemort set the child down and rounded on him. "WHAT! YOU DARE THREATEN ME!"
The death eater's holding him smacked him hard across his face. Edward looked up and gave Voldemort the death stare.
"Leave my child alone you bastard!" Another hard smack was heard.
Hermione was wincing every time they hit him. The baby was screaming widely and out of control. A blast was heard down stairs. All of the death eater's apparated out of sight and were gone, leaving Edward to fall on the ground.
Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs.
Voldemort grabbed Edward by his collar, "Good bye loyal Death Eater, see you in Hell. Avada Kedavra!"
Hermione screamed once more as Dumbledore and several people came up the stairs to find Edward falling to the floor dead. And Annabelle dead laying on the floor also. Everyone was gone, Voldemort apparated already and the screaming baby was still crying madly.
Hermione felt as if she was being pulled back into reality. It was as if she were reading a book and now she was returning.
Her feet met the solid ground. She breathed a sigh of relief and crumbled to the floor crying breathlessly.
"Tend to her." Voldemort said to Snape, "Answer any questions and make sure she doesn't get anywhere." With that Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters started to dissapperate.
Snape walked up the Hermione's crying form. She winced when Snape touched her shoulder.
"Hermione, come on, let's get somewhere warmer." Snape said to her. It was starting to sprinkle outside and was freezing.
"How… h… how do you know my name?" She cried.
Snape picked her up much to her displeasure and apparated.
Well here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it! Man this took a lot of thinking to do… yeesh!
