Disclaimer - I only own the plot, nothing else.

Chapter 6 – Meeting the Dark Lord

The next day, Hermione woke up and started getting ready for class. She got dressed in her school uniform and went to down to the common room to meet Draco.

"Morning Draco," she said.

"Morning."

"Ready to go?"

"Yea, let's go."

They left the common room and made their way to the Great Hall. Today, Hermione decided to sit at the Gryffindor table with her friends.

"Hey guys," greeted Hermione as she sat down next to Ginny and across from Harry and Ron.

"Hey," all three of them greeted.

She looked around the Gryffindor table and noticed all the dirty looks they were giving her.

"Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"Since they found out that you're a Simmons, they think you're a Death Eater."

"I can't believe they would think that."

Hermione couldn't think that her old house mates excluding Harry, Ron, and Ginny would assume she was a Death Eater. It was true that she was one, but it wasn't her decision to become a Death Eater.

"Don't worry 'Mione, we'll talk some sense into them." Ginny gave her friend a reassuring smile.

After breakfast, the trio said goodbye to Ginny and made their way to potions. She was waiting outside the classroom with the rest of the class when Draco pulled her aside.

"What do you want Draco?" asked Hermione.

"You can't go hanging around Potter and Weasley anymore," Draco stated.

"Why? They're my best friends."

"Many Slytherins have parents who are Death Eaters and if the Dark Lord finds out he will punish you."

"Oh," was all Hermione could say.

"Also, you're sitting with me and Blaise today."

"Fine."

Since she had Potions with the Slytherins, she didn't want to risk Voldemort to finding out she was still friends with Harry and Ron.

When Severus opened the door, Draco dragged Hermione to the Slytherin side of the room and told her to sit between him and Blaise.

Severus stood in front of the class. He scanned the room and glared at the Gryffindors when he saw them. His eyes landed on Hermione and was not surprised at all to see her sitting with the Slytherins. In fact, he was expecting to see her sit with her housemates.

Class went by quickly for Severus, surprisingly. He awarded Slytherin points and took points away from Gryffindor. After class, Hermione was being pulled away again, but this time it was by Harry and Ron.

"Why were you sitting with Malfoy and Zabini during potions?" asked Ron.

"I know you guys are mad at me for not sitting with you two, but I have to sit with the Slytherins. After all, you know what I am," she whispered.

"But how will Voldemort find out? It's not like he can enter Hogwarts," said Ron.

"The Slytherins have parents who are Death Eaters Ron."

"Oh." Ron looked down at the floor to hide his blushing face.

"It's okay 'Mione," said Harry, "we understand."

Then Harry and Ron walked away leaving Hermione alone in the hallway.

One Saturday night, Hermione felt pain searing through her left forearm. She was sitting on the couch in the head common room reading while Draco was finishing his Transfiguration essay when the mark started to burn.

They both clutched their left forearm where the mark was and looked at each other.

"Do you think we should look for Professor Snape first?" asked Hermione.

"No, we should go now. Severus will probably be there too."

"Okay," replied Hermione. "Let's go."

The two young Death Eaters snuck out of Hogwarts and walked to the apparation point. Both of them cleared their minds, and then touched their mark which allowed them to apparate to Voldemort.

They appeared to be in a dimly lit room. The only source of light was the torches along the wall. Hermione looked around and saw that only Voldemort and Draco were in the room. The two Death Eaters bowed in front of Voldemort.

"Hermione, I have received some disturbing news from a…..reliable source." Every word that came out of Voldemort's mouth sent chills down her spine. Seeing that Hermione was not going to speak, Voldemort continued. "I know that you are still friends with Potter," he spat the name with much venom.

Hermione tried to think of an excuse and she said the first thing that came to her mind. "My lord, I am only still friends with them so they can tell me information about the Order."

"You will not align yourself with Potter unless I tell you to!" He pointed his wand at Hermione and yelled 'Crucio!'

Hermione was not prepared to be cursed, but she still managed to suppress the urge to scream. As time went on, the pain was becoming unbearable. She started to scream out loud, but Voldemort still didn't lift the curse.

Only when Hermione's screams died out did Voldemort lift the curse. Voldemort looked at Draco and said, "Watch her closely Draco. Make sure she isn't near Potter."

Draco gave a nod and Voldemort apparated away. Draco walked over to Hermione's unconscious body and carried her in his arms before apparating back to Hogwarts.

They arrived back at Hogwarts and Draco started to run to the front gates with Hermione in his arms. Her ran towards the dungeons in search of Severus and was relieved when no one saw him. He kicked the door open without knocking to see Severus sitting at his desk grading papers.

Severus looked up to see who the intruder was and was more then shocked to see Hermione in Draco's arms.

"What the hell happened!" he asked.

Draco was now out of breath from all the running. "Dark Lord…not pleased….Hermione."

Severus led him to his private quarters and told Draco to set Hermione down on his bed. He used a couple of spells to diagnose her. He told Draco to alert Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey while he was gathering potions from his cupboard that would help her.

In a few minutes, Draco reappeared with Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, Harry, and Ron.

Severus looked at Draco and said, "I never mentioned alerting Potter and Weasley."

"Severus," Dumbledore spoke gently, "Mr. Potter and Weasley deserve to know what happened to Miss Simmons."

Severus led Harry, Ron, Draco, and Dumbledore to the living room, letting Madam Pomfrey tend to Hermione.

"What happened Draco?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco gave a loud sigh. "A while ago, Hermione and I were summoned by the Dark Lord."

"Why didn't you alert me or Albus?" interjected Severus.

"I thought you were going to be there too so we didn't look for you."

"Well you could've at least sent us an owl just in case."

"Severus," Dumbledore warned, "let the boy finish."

"As I was saying," started Draco, "we were summoned by the Dark Lord. When we apparated to him, we realized that no one else was summoned. Then he said that someone told him about Hermione still hanging out with Potter. He used the Cruciatus Curse on her until she was left unconscious."

"Why would Voldemort punish Hermione for being friends with me. I thought he would want someone to tell him about the Order."

"I think Voldemort doesn't want Hermione to be friends with you because he's afraid she'll betray him."

Harry let out a snort.

Just then, Madam Pomfrey came back out.

"She'll be okay, but it will take awhile for her to recover."

"Thank you Poppy," said Dumbledore. "Severus, I want you to take care of Miss Simmons until she is fully recovered."

Severus missed the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, but he knew something was up.

"I am not taking care of that little know-it-all."

"My decision is final and you are taking care of her." As he said this his eyes were twinkling madly which Severus noticed.

"Why don't you just put her in the hospital wing and let Poppy take care of her?"

"Severus, she is in your house. Therefore you should be the one to take care of her."

"You sill didn't answer my question," Severus said impatiently.

"It's best if she stays out of the hospital wing to prevent rumors of what happened."

Severus knew he had no choice so he just nodded.

"Alright, I thin it's time to go now. Draco, if you want to stay here for a while, you may." Draco gave a nod. "Harry and Ron, I want to talk to both of you about Hermione," said Dumbledore before he left the room with Harry and Ron behind him.

A few days have passed and Hermione still hasn't woken up. Everyday, Draco would come and visit her and tell Harry and Ron about her condition since Dumbledore told them to distance themselves from her.

One day while Severus was tending to Hermione, he felt her stir. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Severus staring intently at her.

"Where am I?" she asked bringing Severus back to reality.

"You are in my private quarters. How are you feeling?" he asked kindly which shocked Hermione.

"I'm fine, my whole body is just sore," she replied.

"Do you want anything?" Severus asked after a moment of silence.

"Yea, can I have some water?"

He waved his wand and a glass of water appeared on the nightstand. Hermione slowly reached for the glass with a shaky hand. Severus, seeing that her hand was shaking, took the glass and helped her.

"Thanks," said Hermione.

As days went by, Hermione slowly recovered. When Dumbledore came and visited her, he told her to stay away from Harry and Ron for the time being. Hermione didn't want to, but she understood Dumbledore for making that decision.

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