This story is definitely AU, so I'm going to be playing with the timeline a bit. I've also left out most of the Godric's Hollow visit and went straight to the point.

Thank you Pamela RR for your wonderful help as always.

Hermione's feet moved faster than her brain as she ran up the narrow staircase in Bathilda Bagshot's home. She knew something was wrong with this witch! They had planned everything out. Stealing hair from two Muggles for the Polyjuice Potion and using the damn Invisibility Cloak did not fool the threat posing as the old woman. Hermione's eyes widened and her wand hand tightened as she made it through a bedroom door. A large snake's body was wrapped around Harry. He looked to be on the verge of unconsciousness before she threw out a curse, causing Nagini to let go of Harry's body, but strike at her. She managed to jump out of the way, but the chaotic movement of the snake's body prevented her from seeing Harry. Her large tail thrashing about the small room obstructed her sight. The sound of rustling feet around made her lift her head, but it wasn't until Harry spoke that she could see his outline and face in the dim light.

"Coming. Hermione! He's coming!" yelled Harry. His face visible with pain as he touched his scar. Harry's arms were then around her, she screamed as pain shot through her body, glass from the broken window pierced her cheek and gloved hands. Harry rolled them over the bed, then, suddenly, they were falling. Shrieks filled the space around them as Harry pushed them out the broken window. It only took a second, but Hermione managed to look up as a familiar set of scarlet eyes met hers before she and Harry disappeared into the cold night air.

A heavy thud echoed within the forest as Hermione and Harry hit the damp ground. She scrambled on her knees to assess the damage. The Polyjuice Potion just barely ended as she took hold of him. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing.

"Harry! Harry! Wake up!" shouted Hermoine as she held onto the shoulders of her best friend. "Fuck! Come on, Harry!" she continued to shake him. It's alright, just get him inside. Hermione tried to move him, but it was pointless. Sitting next to him to catch her breath, she couldn't stop her body from falling on the floor and moving around violently. If there was any time to throw a tantrum; this was it. After a moment, she rose to her feet and pointed her wand at Harry. Her Hover Charm lifted Harry's body and moved it into the tent on the lower bunk. Once settled, she looked at her friend. She quickly removed his jacket and shirt, blood had made its way through his sleeve. The sight of the snake bite caused Hermione to cringe. She hurriedly removed her vial of dittany from her bag, along with clean bandages and a sponge.

"Aguamenti," she whispered as her wand tip shot out water to wet the sponge. She gently cleaned the wound to remove the dry blood and to see how far the snake bite went into his flesh. As she cleaned his wound she could hear Harry moan. "The Horcrux?" She lifted Harry's shirt to see the locket burned into his chest. "Damn!" Hermione tried to move the metal, but it wouldn't release from his body. She raised her wand, casting a Severing Charm. The locket released from his neck and Hermione grabbed it and threw it down on the floor. The oval shape burned bright on his chest. Hermione managed to remove splinters of glass from his face, noticing the warmth of his skin through her palms. She wet a piece of cloth and placed it over his forehead, hoping the cold water would start to relieve the fever soon. Harry's response to the coldness were only moans and soft cries. After cleaning his face, Hermione went back to check on the bite on his forearm. She added more drops of dittany to the teeth marks of the wound, causing the holes to close only slightly. Two of the puncture wounds, a bit swollen, oozed a thick amber liquid. She once again dropped dittany on the holes, but nothing happened. Hermione touched the yellow liquid moving it between her thumb and index finger. "Venom" she concluded as she closed her eyes and shook her head. She glanced at her friend whose body was trembling, his clothes now wet from the sweat that was escaping his body.

An hour passed and Harry continued to fight his fever. His cries of "no" and "please don't" filled her head as she watched him. She didn't want to accept the only way to help him was to go to him. She knew he would want something in return, she was sure of that. The fact that she didn't meet with him that night he demanded it would only fuel his anger even more. She had been ignoring the locket, as his voice called to her on days it was her turn to wear it. She even made a habit of letting it sit in her pocket versus having the weight around her neck. Harry's moans took it out of her thoughts. She removed the cloth from his forehead and added more cool water to it. The bite on his arm stopped bleeding, but the amber liquid still settled liked puddles in the fang markings.

"Bastard!" Hermione screamed as she rushed for the locked she had tossed earlier on the floor, squeezing it tightly in her hand. "Now! Meet me now and you know where!" She tossed the locket in her bag, then placed her bag on the table. As she grabbed her coat, she let out a hiss. Hermione opened her hand to reveal a thick splinter of glass still lodged in her skin. She stared at the glass, mesmerized by the red tint of her blood. Carefully she plucked it out, then tossed it in the grass as she walked out of the tent. Her eyes closed and her hand tightened around her wand as the image of the old stone church appeared behind her eyelids.

Hermione opened her eyes to see the crumbing church in front of her. The dead leaves crushed under her boots as she made her way through the broken doors. Thoughts invaded her mind about what happened between these wall less than a fortnight ago. She walked towards the broken window, looking at the moon which caused the glow to fill the empty space. She shook her head in silence waiting for him to appear. But, of course, he was always a step ahead.

"Why. Were. You. There?" Each word coming out as a hiss behind her back. Hermione forced herself to turn around, pointing her wand straight in front of her. He sat there, completely still, unfazed by her weapon in hand. His body was half lit by the muted moonlight, his face stoic, as his eyes burned into hers. He looked the image of a dark wizard as he sat on a tall wooden chair with each arm resting upon an armrest. His robes were so black they blended him flawlessly into the shadows. If Hermione didn't have a reason to be there, she would have already ran. But this time, was for Harry. Only for Harry.

"You should know why I'm here," her voice coming out softer than she wanted.

"Answer me!" He shouted as he slammed his fist into the armrest. Hermione took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes at the wizard on his "throne".

"You knew he would go back. You knew! I don't think having your fucking snake there was damn coincidence!" Voldemort's hand was quickly around her throat as he pressed her body into the stone wall.

"The fundamental word, being he, Hermione!" His fingers weren't tight around her throat, but they weren't gentle either. Her brown eyes stayed away from his red as tears spilled from the corner of her eyes. "I could have had him." This comment made Hermione turn her head, her eyes now focused on his.

"You will never have him," she replied through clenched teeth.

"Is that so, dearest?" He lowered his face, placing his lips upon her own. The kiss was feather soft as his tongue reached out to taste her mouth. Hermione's mouth opened and accepted the intrusion. Their lips working frantically on each other. Voldermort's hand slid from her throat as he used his hands to lift her from the floor, her legs instantly wrapping around his waist. "I believe I have something you need, Hermione." His body pressed harder against her; she could feel his erection as he lowered her just enough as it pressed against her jeans. Hermione suppressed the moan trying to leave her mouth. She couldn't do this, she needed to get back to Harry. Hermione placed her hands on his chest and planted her feet back on the ground. She moved slowly away from the wall, away from. She kept her hands up, noting how his eyes lowered then returned her gaze.

"Please," she whispered. "The antidote." He stepped closer to her. She knew her voice sounded desperate, but she had to help Harry. Hermione swallowed, she knew what she was about to say will change everything. But to her, it was the only way. "I...I"ll come with you." Voldermort reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a vial filled with a light yellow liquid. A smirk crept across his face, displaying a toothy grin.

"Come here." Hermione made her way to the dark wizard her eyes lowered. He placed a finger under her chin, his eyes meeting hers again. "Do I have your word?" Hermione nodded her head.

"Yes, I swear."

"I believe an oath is in order," he replied as he grazed a finger across her jaw. Hermione kept her eyes on his. "A pact, perhaps?" Hermione nodded her head in agreement. Voldermort swiftly grabbed Hermione's hand causing her to yelp, his hand pressed firmly around her palm causing the thin scab on her hand to break releasing the ruby red drops from her skin. Voldermort raised his right hand to hers and with his wand cut his palm. His blood was as dark as his eyes as it dripped from his skin. He raised his hand and without any directions, Hermione knew what he wanted. She once again swallowed, trying to alleviate the dryness of her mouth. She pressed her hand against his and their fingers lowered to interlock with each other. His eyes met hers waiting for her to make her promise.

"I, Hermione Jean Granger, promise to leave with... shite what do I call him?, with." "Tom Marvolo Riddle," replied his voice in her head. "Get out of my head!" She felt the abrasive exit from her brain and had to close her eyes to calm the feeling in her head. As she opened her eyes, they landed on his.

"Say it, and never let it fall from your lips again."

"I, Hermione Jean Granger, promise to leave with Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. I leave with him of my own free will if he provides me with the antidote to cure his familiar's venom. Tom Riddle, will you accept this oath?"

"I will." After the agreement they pulled their hands away from each other and watched as a drop of each of their blood mixed together and enclosed itself into an elegant brass vial. Hermione plucked the vial from the air and watched as their blood simmered together enclosed in the beautiful casing. Hermione raised the vial and locked her eyes on Voldemort.

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours," she said with a scowl on her face. Voldermort smirked at her expression holding the vial of antidote in his hand.

"You have forty-five mintues to administer this and retrieve your belongings, which will more than likely be destroyed when you return with me." Hermione's forehead furrowed with confusion. "If you are a minute late, I will make sure to burn through every city and village Muggle and Wizarding until I find you. Is. That. Clear?"

"It is," she replied holding back any further remarks. Voldemort held out his hands. One empty and the other with the vial. Hermione moved closer and grabbed the vial at the same time she placed the blood casing in his hand. She watched as his long fingers clasped the casing and placed it in his robes.

"I shall see you soon, dearest." Hermione turned her heel and walked to the door. "One more thing." She turned her head over her shoulder. "Happy Christmas."