Chapter 14

"She tried to escape."

"She did?"

Ebony nodded. "After the ball I persuaded her that it would be in her best interest to leave. I gave her an old wand and she slipped out in the wee hours of the morning but, Bellatrix stopped her and Voldemort has her under close watch now."

Everyone was silent as they digested Ebony's words. Hermione had tried to escape but she was bound to Voldemort for life.

"Erm, why did Hermione, erm, you know?" Harry asked blushing profusely.

Ebony raised a brow at him. "You'll have to ask Hermione, I hardly know what goes on in her mind."

Ron opened and closed his mouth a few times before going silent. "He has become possessive," Severus finally spoke.

"Possessive?" Harry asked.

"You-Know-Who has always laid claim to what he believed what his own. I remember that from when I went to school to him. He was highly possessive and demanding and if he believed that you would take something that belonged to him, well you had better watch out," Professor McGonagall said.

"He thinks of Hermione as his property!" Ron roared in anger.

"Yes, Weasley he does," Severus sneered.

"She's a human being, not a piece of property, not an object. How dare he, how," Ron trailed off, his face red with rage.

Harry laid a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down Ron. I know this is upsetting but what do you expect from Voldemort?"

Ron returned to his seat, wondering when he had jumped out of it and tried to control his anger that was threatening to erupt at the words that Snape said. Poor Hermione.

"I would love to go and give You-Know-Who a piece of my mind. Hex him into the next century maybe," Ron said.

Harry raised a brow. "I'm sure Hermione can take care of herself, Ron."

"She doesn't need protection from Voldemort, she needs it from Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange," Ebony cut in.

Harry and Ron's heads whipped around to look at her. "What?"

"Voldemort would do anything for Hermione except letting her go. She has him wrapped around her finger even though she doesn't know that. Lucius hates me and he hates Hermione because she's a muggle born. He probably also hates her because she could get him to do anything and she is the Dark Queen. Bellatrix hates her because she always wanted to be the Dark Queen and Hermione is a muggle born."

"What about Voldemort though?"

"They'll strike when they think that they can. Never underestimate them."

"What do you mean?"

"We were wrong about who was controlling Ginny. The entire time and she never knew."

"What?"

Hermione was surprised when she saw that Voldemort was asleep, sprawled over the bed. She bit her lip, debating with herself if she should go inside or not. This was like the chance of a lifetime, who ever got to see the might Dark Lord asleep?

Hermione tiptoed across the plush carpet, careful not to make any noise. Hermione was surprised when she got a good look at Voldemort. He looked so peaceful and…innocent in his sleep. His hair had fallen over his forehead haphazardly and to Hermione it gave him an adorable boyish quality.

She pushed the unruly hair away from his forehead and then quickly withdrew her hand. What was she thinking? She started to slowly back away from the bed and was almost to the door when she heard him say, "Exactly where are you going?"

Hermione spun around and looked like a deer caught in headlights as she saw that Voldemort was leaning one elbow on the bed as he eyed her. Her eyes zeroed in on his shirt that was slightly unbuttoned and was exposing some of his chest.

"I-I-I, um I was going back to my rooms," Hermione stuttered, wondering what was wrong with her for the second time that day.

"Really?"

"Erm, yes."

Voldemort rose from the bed like a graceful tiger and strode towards her with a predatory gaze. Hermione gulped and backed towards the door, hoping to slip out and go back to her bedroom. However, she accidentally backed against the door, making it close.

Voldemort smirked at her. "It looks like you're trapped here with me."

He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her forcefully as he brought her closer to him. Hermione ran her fingers through his silky black hair. He pulled back and let his lips glide over her jaw then her neck sensuously. Hermione moaned against his hair and tried to pull him closer.

"My Lord?"

Voldemort groaned as he pulled away from Hermione. He opened the door to see Lucius standing there.

"My Lord, might I crave a word with you?"

"Yes," replied Voldemort tersely.

"My Lord, might I inquire why you are in such disarray?"

"I was with my wife."

Lucius looked disgusted but followed Voldemort as he led him into the library.

Hermione sighed against the door thankful that Lucius interrupted them. What had she been thinking?

"He is your husband?" one part of her brain whispered.

"Yes but he's the Dark Lord, you know Voldemort, that guy," the other part retorted.

"He's definitely yummy."

"Oh please."

"You know it's true and you want him."

"No I don't, that's just wrong."

"Uh huh, keep telling yourself that."

"I could give you a long list of things that he's done."

"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself more than me."

"Argh."

"I'm seriously deranged, I'm having an argument with myself," Hermione mumbled before she realized she was still in Voldemort's bedroom.

She peeked out through the crack in the door and noticed the door to the library was still closed. She opened the door wider to admit her then closed it before darting across the sitting room to the door that led to the hallway.

Hermione supposed that she should go see Ginny and get away from Voldemort. She opened the door and strolled down the hallway until she reached Ginny's door.

She could hear voices inside and she thought that there was a male baritone somewhere in the mix. What male would be in Ginny's room?

Hermione opened the door and looked inside. Only Ginny was in the sitting room, so where did the other voices come from.

"Hermione, why are you here? Is something wrong?" Ginny asked, rushing over to her.

"Oh no, just, I think I'm mad."

Ginny cocked her head to the side as she raised a brow. "Really, how?"

"I was having an argument with myself."

"Over what?"

"Well," Hermione blushed as the memory of what happened came unbidden to her mind.

Ginny raised a brow at Hermione's reaction but said nothing. "Well, I went to go talk to Voldemort after I made him angry. When I entered the room he was asleep and I brushed some hair off his forehead. By the time I was at the door, he had woken up and he advanced at me and we, well, we kissed and stuff. But then Malfoy intervened."

"Malfoy?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

Ginny nodded.

"So, when Voldemort and Malfoy went into the library I left to come see you."

Hermione was certain that she heard voices again in the next room. "What is that?"

"What is what?" Ginny asked innocently.

Hermione narrowed her eyes on her. "Erm Ebony," Ginny called.

The door opened and Ebony came out followed by a male. Hermione wondered who it was until she got a good look at him. It was Draco Malfoy.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Hermione demanded.

A/N: And that's the end of Chapter 14. I hoped that everyone liked it. Thanks to all my reviewers and I'm sorry for the lateness of the chapter. And look, it's not a cliffhanger!