Chapter 2

"Merry Christmas, Harry" Hermione smiled brilliantly at her dark haired friend. Harry stared at her slightly and replied with his own Christmas greeting.

Harry had become more of a recluse as the last month had passed. He spoke only when spoken to and even then his answers were mostly monosyllables or rare soft smiles. It broke Hermione's heart knowing that he did not love her enough to confide some of his pain and that there was nothing she could do to make him.

"Did you get anything interesting, Harry?" she questioned softly

"No" he replied shortly, looking through the window and staring at something Hermione couldn't see or didn't exist. She stared at him for a long time before giving him a quick hug and retreating to her room.

Her eyes quickly filled with silent tears as they did every time Harry spoke to her, or didn't speak to her. She was meant to be his best friend and yet she couldn't help him past his grief. She wiped away the invading tears with the back of her hand and focused on the presents.

"A book from Ron" she thought glumly "All the years of knowing me and his bright idea of a Christmas present is another book? Nothing from Harry, I wonder if he even knows its Christmas. Oh a Weasley Christmas package, how lovely! Oh brilliant! A year's subscription to "Muggle/Wizard Inventions" from mum and dad!"

Hermione gathered her gifts up and began to put them away neatly around her room. A large owl suddenly flew into the dormitory from an open window and landed gracefully on the edge of Hermione's bed.

"Oh hello" she gave the bird a quick pat "What have you got here?" The owl extended its leg and Hermione untied the piece of parchment attached. The large bird took flight, leaving Hermione staring bewilderedly at the parchment.

Hermione quickly removed the black ribbon from the curiously pale parchment and started when it changed from a parchment into a beautiful white rose.

Hermione smiled at sniffed the sweet aroma of the rose. She dropped it suddenly when it appeared to burst into, what appeared to be, black flames. Hermione stumbled to the floor of the dormitory, as if overcome by a force pushing her to the ground. Groaning, she reached for her wand "I've been cursed!" her mind screamed "I need to tell someone!"

Then everything was quiet as Hermione quickly lost consciousness.

"It is done" Voldemort sneered as a replica parchment burnt "She has been dosed heavily with the potion our friend Severus was ever so kind to produce"

"My Lord" murmured a quiet voice from the opposite side of the room "Why did you choose her?"

"Why did I choose her, Wormtail?" Voldemort hissed "She is a friend of Potters and a student of Severus'. The perfect choice for our weapon, don't you agree?"

"Yes master, of course" The servant, Wormtail, retreated to his corner

"Tonight our plan shall begin. Tonight I will travel into the heart of the girl and corrupt her against everything she would die for. Tomorrow, Hermione Granger will be mine and the fall of Hogwarts will be my legacy"

The Death Eaters known as the Inner Sanctum made an excited murmur at their Master's speech and left the room in a flurry of cloaks.

Voldemort watched their retreating backs with a scowl.

"What does he think he's doing?" Dolohov exclaimed once the silencing charms had been cast "This plan is doomed to failure!"

"But our Lord will not listen to us" Lucius replied quietly, pouring himself a fine brandy. A luxury that could only be fully savoured once you had been in Azkaban. And had narrowly escaped with the aid of some puppets.

"Why do you say the plan is doomed to failure, Antonin?" Bellatrix questioned dangerously "I see nothing wrong with it"

"Well maybe that is because you are crazy Bellatrix!" Dolohov screamed loudly at the woman "He's looking for another whore and is jeopardising our survival on his sex life!"

"That is a gross exaggeration" Lucius replied smoothly, arching his aristocratic eyebrows at the Russian man

"He does not want another whore" Bellatrix purred at the man "I'm whore enough for any man, Dark Lord or not"

Lucius turned to glance at his sister-in-law. She had been convinced that she had been Voldemort's concubine at one point. Voldemort had first been disgusted but now began to play along with her fantasies as she became more unhinged. Lucius had a suspicion that the Dark Lord was really flattered with the opinion and did not want to discourage one of his most ruthless weapons.

"And what does your husband think of all this?" Lucius smirked "Surely you haven't forgotten that you are a married woman?"

"But Lucius" she purred delightfully "I would rather have my husband be with me rather than another man"

"Enough arguing all ready!" Dolohov shouted in exasperation "Wormtail, what do you know of this girl?"

"She's very s-smart" he stuttered "S-She doesn't seem to follow the usual pattern for t-teenage girls. There might be a problem if our Lord is not c-clever enough to break through."

"Is she the one I hit in June?" Dolohov questioned "Tall, slim, bushy brown hair, brown eyes and throwing herself in front of anything she couldn't charm away?"

"That sounds like her A-Antonin"

"Excellent. I find I have more faith in our Master's plan"