A/N: RachaelLA26 beta'd this chapte as usual! If you liked this (or hated it) please let me know about it in a review! I make a new mood board for each chapter of this story, find them on my Tumblr crochetawayhpff, my facebook Shan Crochetaway, or on the AO3 or Wattpad versions.

Also, I'm not sure I've said, but this story is 18 chapters long and complete! So six more chapters to go after this one!

Chapter 12: Backlash

February 2003

Hermione's Flat

Diagon Alley, London, England

Tom knew that he would enjoy the intrigue of the Wizengamot and he wasn't disappointed. He'd only been on the legislature for a few weeks, but he took to it like a Kappa to water. He couldn't wait until he could really begin laying the groundwork for his eventual overhaul of the entire government. He had already started feeling people out and deciding who could be useful and who had to go. It was thrilling and Tom enjoyed every bit of it.

He was surprised when he returned home to a dark flat. He'd thought Hermione would be home already, as she often was home earlier than him these days.

"Hello? Hermione?" Tom called out as he stepped out of the Floo.

"I'm here," Hermione murmured from the couch.

Tom waved his hand, lighting the candles and was shocked at Hermione's appearance. She had blood in her hair, and her cloak was soaked in places. She hadn't even taken it off. She was shivering and Tom rushed to her side, his wand in his hand to cast a diagnostic over her.

"What happened?" Tom asked when he was sure the diagnostic was showing nothing more than a few bumps and bruises. The cut on the back of her head had scabbed over already, but Tom cleaned it the best he could through her bushy hair. Hermione was silent through his ministrations.

"Hermione?" Tom said, holding her hands in his. She was still shivering, so Tom Vanished her cloak and cast a warming spell on the robes beneath. "Hey, Hermione?" he cupped her cheek, bringing her face to look at his. Her eyes were glassy with either shock or tears or both. "What happened, love?"

Hermione blinked her eyes and seemed to rouse for a moment, finally looking him in the eyes and Tom swore then and there that whoever had done this to her would pay.

"I was attacked," she whispered.

"Oh, love," Tom pulled her to him and hugged her close for a moment. Then he pulled back to look her in the eyes again. "Can you tell me what happened?" A sudden, sickening thought occurred to him and he recast his diagnostic charm, this time on her entire body. He breathed a sigh when he realized she hadn't been raped.

"I was going to the grocer on the corner," Hermione said, her voice still a low whisper. "They were Disillusioned. I couldn't see them. At first, I thought… I thought it was just a prank. A stray spell. But then they came on fast and I tried…" she trailed off and the first tear spilled out from her eyes and traced down her cheeks.

Tom had never seen Hermione cry in all the months they'd been together and to see her brought so low now made his blood boil. He wanted to fucking murder someone. Tear them limb from limb. His vision went almost completely red before he was able to get a hold on his emotions.

"Shh, it's alright Hermione. You're safe now," he murmured as she cried into his chest. "You're safe and I'll fucking decimate anyone who dares come for you again."

"That's just it, Tom," Hermione said, pushing back from his chest. "I'm a grown fucking witch! I should be able to take care of myself! But they were casting so quickly, I-I couldn't keep up and—"

"Do you think there was more than one?" Tom asked seriously. "Disillusionment charm? Could you see the—"

"No," Hermione shook her head. "I thought Disillusionment charm, but I couldn't tell. I should have been able to tell when they moved to cast, but I couldn't." She shook her head and Tom wondered if perhaps she had just been too stressed, too anxious, to notice something as subtle as the shimmer of a Disillusionment charm.

"That's… that's actually not the only reason I'm upset," Hermione said after a few moments. She seemed to pull herself together, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I overheard something today."

"What was it?" Tom asked, knitting his brows.

"I overheard my boss and the Minister—"

"Shacklebolt was in your department?" Tom asked. Why would Shacklebolt ever even bother with the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures? Yes, it was a large part of the Ministry, but not something the Minister himself usually bothered with.

"He was talking to my boss about me," Hermione said. Suddenly she stood from the sofa and began pacing the room. "He called me an activist bitch, Tom. And said that they had to keep me busy to keep me away from what was happening in the Wizengamot."

"What?" Tom suddenly felt like some things about this post-war world were clicking into place. He knew that Hermione considered Shacklebolt a friend, something to do with the Order of the Phoenix and their role in the war.

"What could he mean by that? I mean, he said something about my celebrity too, although if I'm getting attacked in the street, I can't be too famous," Hermione laughed bitterly.

"I don't think Shacklebolt has your best interests at heart, Hermione," Tom began. "I think it's probably time to start thinking about leaving the DRCMC."

"I—"

"Hang on, let me finish," Tom said. "I think the Minister is holding you back on purpose. What about your friends Potter and Weasley, their Aurors right?"

"Yes."

Tom nodded. "Did they want you to be an Auror too?" Hermione nodded. "Aurors are trained like a military force. Obey their commander. There's very little thinking outside the chain of command. You would never settle for that sort of life. So they put you somewhere they can keep you down. Somewhere you can't ever advance in."

"Well, maybe I haven't yet, but—"

"Hermione, it's been what three, four years? They aren't going to give you a promotion. You still have to get tea for your boss for Merlin's sake!"

"I know," Hermione said. "It's just hard to wrap my mind around."

"I don't understand why though?" Tom muttered. "Why bother giving you a job at all? Unless it's to keep you under their thumb?"

Hermione flushed and looked away, and Tom realized there was more.

"What are you keeping from me?" Tom asked.

"I may not have been officially pardoned for my war crimes," Hermione admitted.

"War crimes? You were a teenager for crying out loud!" Tom shouted. "What war crimes?"

"Breaking into the Ministry, Gringotts, and Hogwarts," Hermione whispered, looking at the empty fireplace instead of him.

"Were Potter and Weasley?" Tom asked.

"Had to be in order to be Aurors. Can't have a record as an Auror."

"Fuck's sake, Hermione," Tom growled. "Why do you let them do this to you? You have power! You have celebrity! Why don't you use it?"

"I just never thought it was that important," Hermione shrugged. "I knew I was going to spend my career at the Ministry, I assumed they'd take care of me."

"I didn't realize you were so naive," Tom muttered.

"That's not fair," Hermione said. She turned and threw him a hurt look before storming from the room and slamming their bedroom door.

"Fuck," Tom growled, running his hands through his hair. Another problem he was going to have to fix as soon as possible; both getting her pardoned and getting her out of the DRCMC. If he could get her into the DMLE, she'd at least be better positioned. Perhaps he could get her training as a solicitor. She needed to know what her rights were and he couldn't believe it wasn't something she hadn't looked up already.

Tom was suddenly grateful for the crushed Time-Turner that brought him here. He couldn't imagine Hermione living the life she had and not having him around to protect her.

February 2003

Dover Coast

Kent, England

"It's freezing," Hermione complained as Tom led her along the rocky coast.

"We'll cast a warming charm inside," Tom insisted.

"And the Inferi?" Hermione asked.

"I've already taken care of them," Tom assured her. "Don't worry. I cleansed the water too. I promise, I think you'll really like this one."

Hermione grumbled under her breath. It wasn't that she didn't think she'd like it, she always liked sex with Tom. It was more the location he'd chosen. And the time of year. Why they had to go to this cave with a lake in the middle of it, in particular, she still didn't understand. Although, Tom insisted it was perfect for the next ritual.

At least, Hermione had only heard about the cave from Harry. She was sure she wouldn't be able to do this if she'd ever had to be in the cave. Especially with the thought of Inferi infecting the waters. She shuddered as she thought about getting into the water with Inferi. It would be a death sentence. But she knew that Tom was exceedingly careful, he wouldn't put her in harm's way.

Finally, they made it to the entrance of the cave and Tom ushered her inside. He cast a warding charm on the opening to keep the wind and sea spray out, then began casting further charms on the cave and the lake. Hermione flicked her wand, sending out blue-bell lights all along the walls and hovering above the lake at regular intervals. If she was going to have to have sex with Tom in a lake, then she was at least going to be able to see while it happened.

Tom brought out the sacrifice bowl and a copy of the ritual they were going to be performing. After the last ritual, Tom had realized they had effectively done a fire ritual and an air ritual. If they did a water ritual and an earth ritual, they would have done one for each of the four elements. Even Hermione liked the symmetry of that. Tom thought that if they did the earth ritual last, they might be a way to tie the four of them together and increase their powers permanently once more. Hermione liked the aspect of the rituals that tied Tom to her, versus giving her more power. The power was a side benefit, but she was far more concerned with Tom being in the world without her there to temper his worst impulses.

"I think we're ready," Tom said. Hermione took a deep breath and approached where he was standing on the lake shore.

"How do we breathe again?" Hermione asked. She knew, she'd studied the ritual as much as Tom had, but she wanted to be sure he knew.

He snorted, "Gillyweed." He held up a clump of the plant and Hermione smiled at him.

Tom held the knife to her, hilt first, and Hermione took it, cutting a deep line into her left palm and let the blood splatter into the bowl at their feet. Then she handed the knife to Tom and took off her robe. She shivered as Tom handed her a clump of Gillyweed and he bent to cut his own hand. Once they were both naked, they each chewed up the Gillyweed and Tom stepped into the water first. Hermione froze, waiting for the telltale hand of an Inferi, but none came. Tom arched his neck as gills began to break out and dove beneath the water. Hermione followed suit and found that not only did she have gills, but her feet and hands also became webbed and her eyes were much better suited for seeing underwater than they had been. Tom was swimming toward the center part of the lake where it was deepest. The water didn't feel nearly as cold as she expected and she followed after Tom.

It was rather eerie to be in the underground lake. She waved her hand and a few of her blue-bell lights broke the surface of the water and sank downward, helping both her and Tom see better.

"Come here," Tom mouthed. She couldn't hear if he said anything, but she knew his intentions and she swam closer. When she was within reach, Tom reached his hands out and dragged her to him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and was shocked to feel him hard already.

"Did you take something?" she tried to ask, but no sound came out. Tom cocked his head and looked confused. Hermione shook her head and pressed her lips to his. Tom returned the kiss but pulled away before they got too carried away. There was still the spell to say. Tom nodded to her and she began mouthing the words to Belisama while Tom did the same to Nodens. It was strange; Hermione hadn't thought much of the old gods that populated the wizarding world before she met Tom and now she was making blood sacrifices to them.

When they were both finished a bright white light lit the lake from all angles and Hermione found herself crushed to Tom's chest. He kissed her again and Hermione found the ability to kiss and breathe through her gills at the same time to be both efficient and very strange. She wondered what it would be like to suck Tom's cock like this. She broke the kiss and grinned at him as she slowly made her way down his body. The water provided a gentle pressure, but Hermione found if she moved too far from Tom, they tended to drift apart.

She scraped her nails down his chest and cupped his balls in one hand, before pumping his cock with the other. Tom's head tossed back and he buried his hand in her hair, gripping the roots tightly as Hermione slowly took him in her mouth. Oh, this was good, she thought to herself as she successfully deepthroated him in one go. Tom convulsed against her and it was everything Hermione could do to not smirk as she slowly pulled off his cock before his hands pushed her head back onto him. She fucking loved it. They would have to incorporate Gillyweed into their regular sexual adventures. She bet it would work just as well in a bathtub as it would in a lake.

Suddenly, Tom was pulling her off and Hermione made her way back to him, looping her arms around his neck to keep him close. He pressed his forehead to hers as he fought for control. Hermione found herself trailing her fingers across his cool skin. This whole thing felt so strange, and yet, there was something erotic about it. The water cooled her heated flesh almost before it really had time to become heated.

Finally, Tom seemed to come around and he pressed a fierce kiss to her mouth, before situating himself between her legs and making them one. Hermione arched her back and quickly found the downsides to water sex. It was exceedingly difficult to find enough traction to thrust against one another. Tom was getting frustrated, so Hermione pushed on his shoulders so he was lying back. She straddled him and rocked gently against him like she would if she were riding him in bed. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. Before long, Tom's hands were tightening around her hips and Hermione began circling her clit, ready to reach the end with him.

Her eyes fluttered as her orgasm washed over her. Tom twitched and stilled and soon they were grinning at each other. Hermione tipped forward to plant a kiss against his lips and they got too much momentum and spun in a circle in the middle of the water. She laughed silently and pointed up. Tom nodded and they swam for the surface.

"That was fun," Tom said once their gills began receding.

"Eh, it was alright," Hermione said. "Although, I'd like to try sucking your cock in the tub with the help of some Gillyweed sometime."

"Oh, I think we can absolutely make that happen," Tom growled as he pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely. Hermione responded to the kiss feeling intensely happy. Everything about this man should have terrified her, and yet, he never had. And now, he made her indescribably happy. Something she hadn't thought was possible just a few short months ago.

"Let's go home," Tom breathed against her mouth once they broke apart.

February 2003

Hermione's Flat

Diagon Alley, London, England

Hermione sat up in bed as the dream drifted away in wisps. She tried to cling to it but found she couldn't. The dream was gone, but the idea it had given her was not. Perhaps the reason she couldn't see the tell-tale shimmer of a Disillusionment charm from her attackers was because they weren't Disillusioned, but were wearing an Invisibility Cloak.

Her heart sank at the realization. Gooseflesh broke out across her limbs as she considered what that meant. Harry or Ron or both of them had attacked her. Why? It didn't make any sense.

"Hermione?" Tom mumbled behind her.

Hermione flicked her fingers, casting a Tempus charm and saw it was half past four in the morning. It was unlikely she was getting any more sleep that night.

"Bad dream," Hermione whispered to Tom. "Go back to sleep." She leaned over, kissing his forehead, before slipping from bed and making her way to the kitchen for some tea.

Tea helped calm her nerves and settle her stomach, but it did nothing for the absolute nausea she felt at the fact that her two oldest friends had attacked her. Her resolve in confronting them hardened as the sun rose above the horizon and she knew she would be storming through the DMLE at some point that day to discuss this with them.

She shook her head, she couldn't confront them at work. She shouldn't. No, she would be going to Grimmauld Place directly after work to talk to them. They had to see reason about this whole situation. Tom wasn't Voldemort. And with her guidance, he wasn't going to become Voldemort. Why couldn't they see that?

February 2003

Grimmauld Place

London, England

Hermione spent the day a jittery mess. She could hardly focus on her work and went over again and again and again in her mind every argument she planned to use against Harry and Ron. Not against, her mind supplied. She nodded. Right, she wasn't against them. They were against her, but she could get them round to her side. She just needed to explain things to them. Explain all the good that Tom and his cohorts were doing.

She didn't tell Tom anything. If anything were to happen, she could tell him that night when she got home. First, she needed to deal with Harry and Ron.

Knocking briskly on the door to Grimmauld Place, Hermione found that the wards still allowed her inside, and pushed the door open.

"Harry? Ron?" she called out, shutting the door behind her.

"In here, 'Mione!" Ron called and Hermione climbed the stairs to the first-floor sitting room.

"This is a surprise," Harry said. He didn't sound all that happy about it.

"Is it?" Hermione asked. It had only been a few days since her attack, surely they would know she would figure it out.

"Of course," Harry bit out. "Especially, since the last time you and I spoke, things were decidedly… chilly between us."

"Because you chose to make them that way," Hermione leveled.

"No, Hermione, it's you who made all the choices here that led to our present situation," Harry said. "You know what you have to do to remedy that."

"And you know that I'm not going to do that," Hermione snapped. "Harry, you've never been someone who would murder in cold-blood. What has come over you?"

"Voldemort has killed hundreds of people," Ron began.

"Ron, he's not Voldemort! He's twenty-four! He's not the madman who created Horcruxes and murdered people on whims! That's not who he is. And that's not who he's going to be! You should give him a chance, hear what he has to say. Hear what his plans are for our society."

"You sound like a Death Eater," Harry said.

"Really? I do? At least I don't act like one." Hermione glared at her friends.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked. His eyes narrowed, but Hermione caught the guilty look that flashed on Ron's face.

"It was you two, wasn't it? Hiding under the Invisibility Cloak."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry said, although his eyes shifted away from her, a classic Harry-tell that he was lying. "The Cloak has been in my vault at Gringotts."

"Convenient, since until a few months ago I was barely allowed into Gringotts," Hermione commented.

"What changed?" Ron asked.

"Tom helped the goblins see the error of their ways. It's more than either of you have done for me," Hermione said bitterly.

"Like the goblins would have listened to us!" Ron protested. "We broke into the bank too."

"And yet, suffered none of the consequences I've had to," Hermione said.

Suddenly, someone in a dark maroon cloak Apparated into the room, right next to the fireplace. Hermione jumped at the loud crack, although neither Harry or Ron looked surprised or even alarmed. The figure didn't lower their hood and turned their back to Hermione upon spotting her. She didn't get a good look at them. Couldn't even tell if it was a man or woman.

"The adder has arrived," the figure whispered. Hermione could just barely make it out. She waved her hand, casting an amplification charm so she could hear the conversation they were clearly trying to keep from her.

"Keep it busy," Harry hissed. "The viper isn't in position."

"The viper—" the figure started, but Ron cut them off.

"Don't worry about the viper. Just handle the adder."

Clearly, it was a code, snakes as code-names. Not that original, but who were they talking about? The figure left as quickly as they had arrived.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked sharply.

"None of your business." Harry glared at her. Hermione knew then. Adder and Viper were code names for her and Tom. If Adder had been seen, that meant they were talking about Tom. She was Viper. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but suddenly, it was deadly serious. This fight between her and Harry and Ron she had thought they could resolve.

"Who did you lend the Invisibility Cloak to?" Hermione asked. "Whoever it was, didn't do a good enough job, just knocked me out for a moment."

"Maybe it was a warning," Ron menaced.

Harry hissed and Hermione smirked. "So it was you. Well, good to know where I stand, I guess."

"You should stand at our side, Hermione," Harry said. "It's not too late, you know. We only want to protect the wizarding world from the second coming of Voldemort. I can't believe you don't want that too. He killed my parents." Harry's pleas probably would have affected her a few months ago, but not anymore.

"Tom did not kill your parents. That was a different iteration of him. One that is dead and gone and isn't coming back. I'm sorry you're too short-sighted to see the difference, Harry."

And she was sorry, she felt bad for Harry and Ron because they were starting a war they had no hope of winning.

"I hope the next time I see you it isn't on the other end of my wand," Hermione said sadly and she turned and left Harry and Ron and Grimmauld Place for what she hoped would be the last time.