A/N: Finally, an update. Sorry you guys!

Chapter 16

Hermione sighed, laying down her brush. She stared into her vanity mirror, her mind lost in thought as to her dilemma with the wand. She knew that she should get a wand at least to protect herself but she knew also that it wouldn't be easy. Voldemort hadn't exactly been pleased after he caught her which could be evidenced from her new room in his apartments. If she took it from his point of view, it was unlikely he would actually give her the wand if only to keep her from escaping.

However, Hermione wasn't about to give up. At least not without a fight. She had to try. Ebony was counting her and so was Ginny and Draco. Hermione summoned all of that courage that had initially put her into Gryffindor and swept from the room. Hermione stopped short though when she realized that Voldemort's bedroom door was still firmly closed and that only a flickering bit of light shone from beneath his doorway.

She bit her lip as she weighed her options. She could go into the room, even after what happened the other day or…she could turn and sprint back to her room like a coward. Hermione certainly was no coward therefore she chose the first option. She rushed into Voldemort's room and shut the door behind her with a snap. She looked around the room, noticing that the flickering light she had seen beneath the door had been the few candles spread over the room.

With only the small bit of light being thrown around, it cast the room into half light of shadows and strange shapes. Hermione crept forward, her head swinging from side to side, hoping that Voldemort wasn't in the shadows, ready to pounce upon her at any second. Hermione stopped by the bed and nearly shrieked when warm arms snaked around her waist.

"Hello my dear."

Hermione turned her head to see Voldemort behind her, his eyes the only visible part of his body in the near darkness. They glittered with amusement and something that Hermione couldn't place. She never could read his eyes and in some ways it really bothered her. She supposed that what people said was true. Your eyes could be the windows into your soul, if you actually let people see what was there.

Voldemort's wand floated from nowhere but then a few more candles lit up the room and Hermione shrieked, turning around in embarrassment. "Are you quite alright dear?"

Hermione took a few careful, calming breaths before turning to face him again. With the added light in the room she could clearly see his dark wet hair hanging limply against his head and the water that coursed down his bare chest to disappear beneath the artfully slung towel about his waist. Hermione's eyes strayed to one of the water droplets, watching it carve down his skin and disappear beneath the towel.

Her cheeks lighted with embarrassment when she realized with a start that she been staring at his private area. She brought her eyes up to Voldemort's eyes and noticed that he was watching her with bemusement, his arms crossed over his chest. "I find your modesty most endearing especially when you've seen everything."

The embarrassment in Hermione's cheeks suffused, replaced with righteous anger. "How dare you throw that in my face!"

"I wasn't my dearest, I was merely pointing out a fact."

Hermione continued glaring at him, knowing somewhere deep inside of her that her anger was undeserved. There should have been no shame in a simple act but yet for some reason she found it to be so. Everything about Voldemort made her temper rise to the surface or made her change moods like the wind. It was annoying but she had no control over her own being for taking offense at simple words.

Voldemort still stood in the same spot when Hermione had successfully composed herself. She was a little annoyed at how unaffected he always seemed but tried to brush it off. It would do no good to start an argument. "Now, would you care to explain why you came? I hardly would believe that you came to see me as your husband," Voldemort said.

"I was wondering if I might ask a favor of you."

Voldemort raised a brow and stepped closer to her, his towel swinging dangerously. Hermione watched it, afraid it would suddenly drop. "Focused on that again are we?"

"Are you going to dress?"

"Is this bothering you?" he asked, gesturing to the towel.

"No," Hermione lied.

Voldemort quirked a brow as if he didn't quite believe her and turned abruptly. He disappeared back into the bathroom and Hermione looked around the room, with the new candles allowing her to see more of it. It looked to be in a state of disarray. Things had been pulled out and smashed against the wall and a chair was hanging haphazardly upon its side. Hermione had crossed towards it when Voldemort's voice stopped her.

"So exactly what was that favor that you wanted to ask about?"

Hermione spun on her heel and her eyes widened at the sight of his partially unbuttoned shirt which showed his fair chest off to advantage. Hermione forced her eyes upward, refusing for an instant to be caught staring. Voldemort didn't seem to have noticed, thankfully but he was patiently waiting for her answer to his question.

"I wanted to ask if I might have a wand."

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Ebony tapped her foot impatiently, her stomach growling painfully. There were murmurs amongst the death eaters and looks exchanged. Voldemort was never late for breakfast. Ebony wondered for a moment if Hermione had perhaps cornered him and asked for the wand. Hermione knew the reasons why it was necessary but Ebony had conveniently left out the last reason for the wand. It was true that she suspected Bellatrix and Lucius of hoping to get rid of Hermione but Ebony really wanted Hermione to have the wand so that she could get out of here.

The Death Eaters began to part like the Red Sea and Draco caught Ebony's eye across the room. He jerked his head to where the crowd was parting and Ebony stood on her toes to catch a glimpse at the seemingly amazing sight that was making everyone murmur. Voldemort had swept into the room, flanked on his side by Hermione. She was dressed different. That was the only word that Ebony could find to describe Hermione's attire. The brilliant blood dress robes that Hermione wore really complimented her fair skin tone and dark hair. Her hair had been coifed, most likely by Voldemort and she looked the picture of a powerful and beautiful woman.

Ebony was awed at the transformation even if she realized that she had to get Hermione out more than ever. She refused to allow her to become tainted by everything around them. "Would you look at the mudblood, she's trying to be one of us Lucius," the venomous voice of Bellatrix said.

"I can very well see that Bella. However, she will always be touched by the impurity of her blood. I cannot yet fathom why the Dark Lord would pick someone like her to be his Dark Queen."

"Perhaps it is nothing but an illusion. She is highly intelligent and powerful. The Dark Lord has told me that she carries his child at this very moment."

"Then why would he go through with a wedding ceremony that would bind them together for life?" Bellatrix retorted, her displeasure clearly showed.

"You expect me to know the subtle intricacies of the Dark Lord's mind? He reveals his mind to none."

Ebony turned away from the bickering pair, knowing that that Voldemort married Hermione because he loved her. Of course that venomous pair would never think of such an absurd solution. The Dark Lord could never be in love for that was a trivial human affliction and he was supposed to be immortal, superhuman. However, he was still human and not any of those seemingly powerful qualities and he had picked a muggleborn girl as his love.

In a way Ebony had to find it ironic. He loathed muggles, muggleborns and half-bloods but now, now he loved a muggleborn. It was comical that he could make an exception to his rule for love. Ebony was startled from her thoughts when Ginny gently touched her arm, leading her to the table. Ebony and Ginny took their seat farther down the table from Hermione than they might have liked and watched the lesser death eaters file from the room. Ebony stared at Hermione for several minutes, willing her to look so that she would know if Hermione had gotten the wand.

Finally, Hermione, as if sensing the probing gaze, turned her eyes to Ebony. She didn't meet her eyes but nodded her nodded her head momentarily. Ebony smiled to herself and returned her eyes to her plate. The first step in her plan was complete and she was going to begin to move onto the second step. Perhaps Hermione really would escape after all.

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Hermione forced another polite smile as Lucius leaned into whisper to her. "Don't believe for one moment that the Dark Lord will ever love you, mudblood. You are but dirt beneath his feet. I'd wager a guess that he will dispose of you once you have given birth to his heir."

Hermione swallowed hard at the harsh impact of the words but tried valiantly to keep her composure. She could feel Voldemort's eyes upon her and she didn't wish for him to know that anything was amiss. "You're wrong," she whispered venomously back to Lucius once Voldemort looked away. "You'll be the one to be disposed of long before I am. Your arrogant belief that others are beneath you and that you are so superior might just be your downfall with my husband."

Lucius's face whitened at the intended threat met its mark. He turned from her and met the eyes of Bella, not far from himself. His eyes strayed to the large entrance foyer outside the dining hall and Bellatrix seemed to understand. Bellatrix rose abruptly from the table and begged leave of Voldemort. He complied immediately and Bellatrix swept from the room. Draco's eyes had followed the interaction and he locked eyes with Ginny. "Something is wrong," she whispered to Ebony.

Ebony pulled herself from her musing about her second step of her plan and looked suspiciously at Lucius as he looked to be biding his time for something or another. She signaled to Draco who suddenly stood and offered his arm to his mother. "Mother, would you do me the honor of walking in the gardens?"

"Of course Draco. Might we take our leave My Lord?"

"Yes, yes, and others may leave if you desire to go," Voldemort replied with an edge of impatience.

"I wish to take my leave also. I'm not feeling very well," Ginny declared, standing.

Others followed after her, including Lucius who got lost in the little crowd. Ebony stayed seated, refusing to allow Lucius and Bellatrix to become suspicious of her as they were wont to do. Hermione watched her friend stare off into space and get a glazed look. She wondered what it was that Ebony was thinking of but decided to save it for later when they had Occulmency lessons.

"Lucius was bothering you."

"Yes," Hermione replied.

"Hmm, I thought as much. You see he often gets an almost rabid look about him when he is angry and he was angry, I could tell. What did he say?"

The hurtful words Lucius had said rose to the surface but Hermione valiantly tried to take her mind away from them. She knew almost instinctively that Voldemort would be in a spitting rage if he discovered what it was that Lucius said and for some unknown reason, Hermione didn't wish for Lucius to be punished for this trivial reason. She supposed that it probably because she was so kind hearted. He had done terrible things and he deserved punishment but she was certain he would get it in some other form, one way or another.

"What did he say?" Voldemort repeated.

"Don't worry about it," Hermione laid her hand over his. "The words were not important and are best left in the past."

Voldemort regarded her suspiciously but only because he had noted her reaction to the words. Lucius was often noted for his venom and Voldemort refused to allow one of his servants to degrade his wife in any manner. He wanted respect to be acknowledged for his Dark Queen, even if she was a muggleborn.

Voldemort rose from his seat and offered his hand. Hermione took it and they left the dining hall. The entrance foyer was surprisingly deserted and the couple returned to their chambers without incident. Hermione collapsed upon one of the settees in the sitting room and pulled the pins from her hair without hesitation. Her curly hair tumbled down in freedom while Voldemort watched in fascination. He walked as if in a trance to the settee and sat next to her, drawing Hermione against his body. She went willingly and smiled as she was holding up her part of the bargain rather well.

Voldemort tangled his long graceful fingers into Hermione's large maze of curls. The hair was thin and delicate but unbelievably soft. He thought back to when he had heard her hair was a bushy mess. He couldn't exactly picture her that way anymore. Her hair was tamed if somewhat still frizzy. It suited her though. "Are you going to retrieve the Pensieve?"

Voldemort sighed and relinquished his hold upon Hermione's hair before disappearing into his bedroom. He reappeared moments later with a large stone bowl with swirling depths, much like Dumbledore's. He handed it to Hermione a bit reluctantly but knowing that he had to. "You do it" she whispered.

He pulled his wand out and pointed it at her forehead, whispering a few words. A small silvery thread emerged from her skull and Voldemort dropped it into the Pensieve. It swirled for a moment before showing the image it contained. Both stared at the familiar scene before Voldemort laid his cloak over it, shielding it from view. Hermione looked away, the images of the morning starting to come back to her.

"Hermione! Are you in there? I need to speak with you," Ginny called from the hall.

Hermione jumped from the settee in panic and Voldemort understood. He whisked the pensieve away to his room and Hermione went to open the door. Ginny stood outside, everything about her in disarray and her eyes over bright with tears. "What is it Ginny? What's wrong? Has something happened?"

"Come with me, please Hermione. Ebony needs to speak with you."

Hermione raced out the door after Ginny, and she couldn't even begin to discern exactly what could be wrong. No one would actually do anything right under the nose of Voldemort, would they? It seemed completely impossible to her.

When Hermione entered Ginny's chambers, she was surprised to find that no one was injured but sitting calmly on the settees. Ebony rose when Hermione entered and ushered her to sit. "I suspected after your "talk" with Lucius that he was angry. He signaled to Bellatrix to wait for him out in the hall and I had Draco and Ginny follow them out. It isn't good Hermione. I had suspected something grave and I was right to but it seems to me that it's going to be a large thing. They hate you Hermione, passionately. You have to get out of here."

Hermione regarded her coolly. "I'm not letting them drive me away, even if I could escape, which I cannot. I'm not a coward Ebony and I refuse to run. I'll just fight fire with fire."

"You have a wand now, which is good and will help in the Occulmency but," Ebony paused, trying to come up with a way to ask how Hermione got the wand without really coming out and doing just that.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I asked for it. I made a bargain to actually act like his wife and I got the wand," Hermione said, avoiding Ebony's eyes.

Ebony smiled at the explanation but Ginny frowned. Something was wrong and she knew it but obviously Ebony didn't. Hermione forced a smile and withdrew her wand. The one that had been taken from her those several months before. At least she believed it was months. Every day melted into the other in quick succession. She was fairly certain that Christmas would soon be upon them meaning that she had spent a good three or fourth months in the stronghold.

"Well, if this was all you had to inform me of, I must be off. I promised Voldemort that I would be in my rooms today."

Ebony nodded, thinking that this had to do with Hermione's end of the bargain but Ginny wasn't buying it. She had known Hermione for far too long to be snared by her lies. However, Ginny couldn't exactly fathom why Hermione was lying. It made absolutely no sense unless there was something that Hermione was concealing. Ginny nearly laughed at such a notion. Why would Hermione need to conceal anything? "I'll walk her back to the rooms," Ginny offered.

Draco came along too in the end and the walk was short and rather silent. Ginny couldn't get the idea of Hermione hiding something out of her mind while Hermione fretted about lying to her friends. It was necessary of course but that was completely beside the point. She had never been one to lie before and it hurt that she had to do it now.

Hermione hugged Ginny goodbye at the door to her chambers and Draco nodded his head. Hermione walked in to find Voldemort seated upon the settee reading a rather large tome of spells. She had known that he had been known for his intelligence in his Hogwarts days but the image of seeing him with a book startled her. Hermione supposed that that was because hearing and seeing were two completely different things.

"Are you ready?"

Hermione pulled her wand from her robes and a determined look came across her features. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Voldemort whipped out his own wand and they faced one another. Suddenly images of years past floated across Hermione's mind.

"Hermione, dear what are you reading?"…"Hogwarts?"…"A magical school, I'm a witch!"

Hermione pulled out her mirror, clutching the paper tightly in her hand. "Penelope, look around corners with mirrors, it's a basilisk, that's what is petrifying everyone."…"AHHHH!"

"Vould you like to come to Bulgaria zhis summer? I have never felt zhis vay about anyvone before, Herm-own-ninny."… "I don't know Viktor, Bulgaria is a bit far."

"Of course you passed the N.E.W.Ts Hermione, and with perfect grades. It was expected," Ron said dramatically… "How can you say such a thing Ronald Weasley!"… "You're a dolt, mate."

Hermione was breathing harshly, on all fours. Harry had told her of his experience but she hadn't really been ready for it. "Not bad Hermione."

Hermione smiled weakly because to her that was a very weak attempt. "Try again."

Voldemort obliged and Hermione cleared her mind, if somewhat briefly before memories surfaced like old waves of sorrow. Cedric's death. The death of her close cousin. Bill and Fleur's engagement party.

Hermione pushed him out of her mind and Voldemort fell backwards. He hit the wall with a thud and she cried out, running over to him. Voldemort cracked open an eye and rubbed his head. "Did you mean to push that hard?"

Hermione grinned sheepishly. "I didn't actually know that I could do that. I once took meditation because of stress. It helped quite a bit and I used that same sort of technique except I wasn't expecting what happened."

"It's fine. We'll have to practice more tomorrow. Remember tomorrow to make sure that they don't suspect these lessons. I would take these memories out too. Just to be on the safe side."

"I don't understand though why you want me to know Occulmency."

"It's quite simple really, Hermione. I know nearly everything, even what my servants might wish to conceal from me. I will adequately prepare you to deal with any obstacles in your way. I set books into your room, why don't you go read, I have some business that needs attention."

Hermione nodded and slipped into her room and the awaiting books about Ancient Runes and Potions. The books were very advanced, something that Hermione loved.

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Meanwhile out in the hall:

Ginny stopped Draco before they reached her chambers. "Did you notice something strange with Hermione?"

"She avoided Ebony's eyes. She's hiding something or she's lying."

"I know but neither make sense! What does she have to hide?"

"I dunno but there's something more to that bargain than acting like Voldemort's wife. She might have been telling the truth but maybe there's more to it Ginny."

"I don't think we should mention it to Ebony."

"Why not?"

Ginny took a deep breath. "She wants to get in contact with Dumbledore and arrange a way to get Hermione to the Order."

"Is she mad?"

" I dunno but there's so much going on. I feel like I'm suddenly being propelled towards this destination at lightning speed but I don't even know what it is."

"I feel the same way, Gin. The Final Battle is probably coming."

"I'm worried about Hermione."

"You're worried she'll fall under Voldemort."

"No, I dunno. I get this dread in my heart sometimes. Like something horrible is going to happen to her."

Draco put an arm around her and held her close to him. "Don't worry Gin, everything will be fine."

How wrong he was.