Severus Snape was...uncomfortable sitting with the Dark Lord. He could tell that something, or rather, someone was on his mind, but he could also tell that Voldemort was having trouble bringing her up. So he just sat on the couch, across the coffee table from Voldemort, with a tumbler of firewhiskey in his hands, and Nagini wrapping around his shoulders, a sensation that Severus doubted he would ever get used to.
It wouldn't be so uncomfortable if Voldemort didn't keep opening and closing his mouth as if he wanted to say something, a tic that Severus had never before seen. "My Lord, I sense that you have something to ask me. It will be easier if you just...spit it out," he offered with a wave of his hand. The most powerful dark wizard was acting worse than a second year Slytherin girl.
"Severus, I am sure that you remember the prophecy?" Voldemort asked, finally.
The dark haired man nodded. How could he not remember the prophecy, when it was him who delivered the message that killed Lily Potter and her husband to the man sitting across from him?
"Do you know what the power I know not is?" Voldemort hedged, cautiously.
That certainly piqued Severus's interest. "I have to tell you, my Lord, I have thought about it frequently, but I do not have an solution. You, of course, have a lot of power," Snape responded. He was confused about where this line of questioning was headed. "It seems difficult to believe that there would be some magic that you couldn't perfect."
"Hermione seems to think that it is...love," Voldemort stated before taking a big swig of this firewhiskey, seeming to need it to fortify himself. He focused on the coffee table in front of him. "I always maintain that love is what makes Harry Potter weak. What can be used against him."
"Well, my Lord, love will make a man do crazy things," Snape replied simply, trying not to think about Lily too much. This time of year, he always had her in the back of his mind.
"Severus...do you think that love makes a man weak? You have experienced it," Voldemort spoke simply. It was somewhat comical to Severus that Voldemort seemed so perplexed by the idea of love, that he was studying it like a scientist.
"Embarrassingly, my lord, I must admit that my magic was...stronger during my period of friendship and love with Lily Evans, and I did experience a drop in...raw power, I suppose you could call it, after she would no longer speak to me," he admitted, knowing that weaknesses were only to be exploited by the man in front of him. Snape took a large gulp from the glass he was holding, finishing his firewhiskey. "I have also found that after the physical act of making love, my magic is always stronger."
The silence in the room was deafening, until Snape spoke again. He wanted to give Voldemort some time for that information to sink in. "So, yes, although I do think love is something that can be used against a wizard, I think that love makes magic more powerful. When you have something more than yourself worth fighting for, you are willing to go to great, extraordinary lengths to protect it."
Voldemort had an odd expression on his face, one Severus was completely unaccustomed to seeing. Snape was biting his lower lip in concentration, a trait Voldemort hadn't seen since Severus was a young man, fresh out of Hogwarts. Truthfully, it reminded him of Hermione. The two were really so alike. "Severus, now it is your turn to spit it out," Voldemort instructed, a look of amusement on his face.
"Do you want me to say no to Nott?" Severus decided that a blunt approach was the best option. He didn't want to approve something that would upset the delicate balance of his daughter-figure's relationship.
"And why should I desire that?" Voldemort replied quickly, almost automatically.
"Because you would be jealous. Because you have deeper feelings than you care to admit about Hermione?" Snape responded. "If I may speak candidly, my Lord?" he asked. He needed to say what was on his mind, but it wouldn't be worth the cruciatus curse that would undoubtedly follow, so asking was the best choice. Once Voldemort nodded, he continued. "You were the one who told Hermione that you didn't care who she saw or slept with, and that your marriage and soul-bonding had no meaning to you. I will not allow you to hurt her by keeping her a virginal hermit because you cannot own up to your feelings."
Snape snapped his mouth closed quickly, realizing he had raised his voice and said things more harshly than he wanted to. He only relaxed when he heard Voldemort let out a chuckle.
"Oh Severus! You are a true friend to Miss Granger. She should be glad she has you." Voldemort smile slowly faded from his white face until it melted back into his usual smirk. "I have no problem with young Mister Nott taking Hermione to Hogsmeade," he said, stumbling a bit on that sentence, as if he didn't really believe it.
"Yes, my Lord. I will make sure all the necessary glamors are in place, to ensure her safety," Severus said, before standing to leave He was in the middle of brewing an important potion that couldn't be kept under stasis for too long. He paused at the door to say one more thing. "I would be careful, my Lord. If any part of you does want Hermione, you will have to act soon. She will give her heart away to someone else. Theo is an excellent young man, very suited to Hermione's personality. They could be quite happy together."
The Dark Lord waited for Snape to close the door before running his hands over his face. As his fingers massaged his temples, he mused about the things his sage friend had told him. Talking with Severus was always very enlightening.
And Severus had certainly given him a lot to think about.
Voldemort didn't want to leave his study when he heard Nott enter the entrance hall, and Hermione run down the stairs with an enthusiasm he hadn't seen in quite a while. However, he wanted to be certain that the glamour was working properly. She had become a very valuable asset over the past months, and he wouldn't allow the Order to take her back from him.
When he walked out into the hall, he saw Hermione's delightfully wavy hair straightening and becoming blonder, blonder, and blonder until it was Malfoy blonde. Her eyes were no longer their usual amaretto brown, but instead and intense sea green. The splattering of freckles on her face disappeared, leaving her barely tanned skin behind. But the most disturbing change to Voldemort was watching her five months pregnant belly seem to melt away, leaving the flat stomach that she had before.
He was surprised to see how much the erasure of the child that they had created together affected him, as if their relationship could slip away into nothing, just as easily as it had come upon them. When he interacted with Hermione in the Diary, he'd only expected to corrupt one of Harry Potter's most valuable assets, not gain an heir in the process. But now, the thought of losing her from his life was abhorrent.
Hermione was wearing the latest fashion of dress robe, no doubt the work of Narcissa. "Now, what is your name if someone should ask you?" Snape asked the girl.
"That I am Chantal Rosier, daughter of Frederic Rosier, that I am from Paris, and that my family is negotiating a marriage contract with an English wizard," she said, sounding aggrieved, and Voldemort was certain that this was not the first or even the tenth time that Severus had gone over it with her. Her voice was the same, except it had a detectable French accent to it. Seeing her leave on the arm of Theo Nott was somewhat easier when she didn't actually look like herself, but still, Voldemort didn't like it.
Hermione didn't even stop to look at Voldemort when she and Theo finally took the portkey, trying to stop caring so much what he thought of her. The journey was short, and before long, they were in the tiny village next to the school once again.
She was filled with a true sense of happiness walking back into Hogsmeade. It had been such a long time since she had been there, but almost immediately, she felt like her life was normal once again.
Theo was taking her to Madame Puddifoot's. He apologized profusely about the locale, but being Head Boy he had to stay close to the center of Hogsmeade. Hermione was secretly enjoying it, though, since she had never been on a proper date in the little city before, even if she wouldn't admit it.
She was surprised by how much gossip there was floating around about her already, and she had barely been there half an hour. Theo was quick to tell her that it was because she looked so beautiful, which Hermione naturally scoffed at. Of course she did, with her Malfoy blonde, straight hair. With news traveling fast, Hermione wasn't surprised to have Pansy Parkinson show up ten minutes after they had been seated, flanked by Millicent Bulstrode and Crabbe and Goyle. "Who are you and why do you look like my Draco?" She demanded.
"I am Chantal Rosier." Hermione replied with a big smile. It was fabulous to get under Pansy's skin for once, as the girl had been a downright bully to her through the years. "Draco is like my cousine. Tante Narcissa is my father's cousine," Hermione explained. If she was going to have to learn this ridiculous backstory, she was at least going to mouth off about it.
Hermione watched as the wheels churned in Pansy's mind, trying to remember the pureblood family trees. "Rosier? I don't think I remember much about that family," Pansy replied snarkily.
"Yes, well, my uncle Evan was very close with Lucius Malfoy and other men who were supporters of the wizarding tradition while he was at school, but my father moved to Paris as a student and stayed there," Hermione said, breezing through the light suggestion that they were well connected with the Death Eaters without coming out and saying it. Raising an artificially blonde eyebrow, she stared at Pansy. "But now, I do not know who you are? I was unaware that my dear cousine Draco was involved," Hermione replied with a smirk.
"That's because he isn't, darling," Theo replied, reaching across the table to grab her hand. "Pansy is simply a wanting girl. She isn't involved with him at all, but desperately wants to be." Theo responded. "Now Pansy, do run along, you are ruining my date."
"Fuck you, Nott," Pansy growled, her cheeks turning bright red at being out maneuvered in front of her friends. Nostrils flaring, she seemed to understand that she would not win the fight, and turned away before anything else could be said.
Once the haughty girl left, Hermione burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh, I sincerely cannot wait to tell Draco! I don't know what anyone sees in her," she laughed. Theo just nodded, thinking about how annoying Pansy had become, especially since Draco was "missing."
The rest of their date went very well. They bounced from topic to topic, and Hermione actually felt as though she was on a real date. Her and Theo were so suited, not to mention his above average attractiveness. She really could see herself being with him. However, in the back of her head, she couldn't help but think of what Voldemort told her the last time that she almost chose a Nott. He was safe.
Still, Theo was lovely, and she knew that she could grow to love him. If she could prune the love she held for Tom Riddle of course.
After they finished their tea, the pair made their way to Honeydukes before Theo had to return Hermione to the safety of the Rosier home. Standing outside of the shop, happily nibbling on her favorite - a sugar quill - Hermione was completely taken aback when she was approached by none other than Harry Potter.
Her mind was racing, she hadn't prepared herself for this at all. Of course, she knew that she would likely see him, but never in her wildest dreams did she think that he would approach her.
He looked at her with those bright green eyes of his, his eyebrows furrowed as he searched her face for something more. "Hermione? Is that you?" Harry asked, looking at her intently.
Hermione felt as if her heart might stop, wondering what she should say. She should have known that he would see through her glamour! He was her best friend after all. Part of her wanted to jump into his arms and tell him everything - he was right there! But she couldn't. It would put Harry and herself in danger, not to mention the child that she carried. "I do not know who this 'Ermione is. I am Chantal Rosier," Hermione told him, obviously startled, praying that he took her at her word.
"Oh, sorry, you just look a lot like my very good friend. She's missing," Harry replied dejectedly, although he still looked suspicious. "Sorry to harass your date, Nott." Harry then proceeded to turn around and head away from the couple.
Theo squeezed her hand tightly, turning to face her once Harry was gone. "Are you okay?" he asked, looking at her seriously.
Hermione stilled for a moment, before nodding not trusting her words. Hogsmeade had felt so inviting, but now she just felt like she was growing out of her skin.
"Let's get you back," Theo said soothingly, before activating the portkey to return her home.
After the couple returned to the house, Theo gave Hermione a very sound kiss on the lips, in front of the watchful eyes of Bellatrix, Snape, and Voldemort. Theo and Hermione didn't seem the least bit bothered by their audience. Hermione's glamour had faded away, and the reality of the situation hit Voldemort like a ton of bricks.
Theo was then called into the study by Voldemort and Snape to discuss the events of the date. Snape seemed okay with it, as everything was above board. That was until Theo told them about Harry recognizing his old friend.
Ever since Hogsmeade, Harry had been feeling out of sorts. The girl, Chantal, Nott's date looked so much like Hermione that it made his heart ache. He worried that she had been right in front of him and he hadn't been able to tell for sure that it was her, but she'd slipped out of his fingers. He didn't know what he would have done had she confirmed that she even was Hermione.
He was walking aimlessly through the hallways when a hand shot out and pulled him into an empty classroom. Harry rounded on the person, only to see it was Seamus. Feeling perplexed, he looked at his housemate in confusion. "Seamus? What's going on?" he asked.
Seamus looked worried, his eyes darting towards the closed door again and again. "Harry, I have to tell you something. It's important, and well...sensitive," he started concerned. "You know, last weekend, how I went to go visit my gran in Ireland? Well, when I was leaving, I saw Hermione."
Harry suddenly felt as if he could kiss the Irish boy! "Where was she? Do you think I can find her?" Harry was desperate to see his friend again, and running into the girl in Hogsmeade had given him hope. Maybe he'd just been wanting to see her so badly that he imagined Nott's date looked like her.
"No Harry, she portkeyed away," Seamus said sadly. He still had another bombshell to drop on the boy who lived. "Harry, Hermione was with someone. I didn't recognize him, but he was fairly tall and had dark hair...maybe he was just a muggle," Seamus talked through what he remembered. He watched as Harry's sucked his breath in. Better tell him now so he could process it all together. "But she was pregnant."
Harry didn't know what to think. He sat down on the nearest desk, putting his head in his hands. "How-how pregnant would you say she was?" he asked, needing more details. He wasn't sure who Seamus had seen, but he had one glaring idea.
"What does it matter Harry?" Seamus questioned.
"She has been my best friend for the past six and a half years, and now she's out there all alone and pregnant! Harry groused, much angrier than he intended. He could only imagine what Hermione was going through at the moment. "Now, how pregnant was she?" He demanded.
"I don't know, Harry, four or five months? The earliest you can tell that a pregnant girl is pregnant from her looks?" Seamus offered.
"Thank you Seamus, for not doing this in front of anyone else," Harry responded, looking dejected. "Please don't tell anyone else?" he practically begged, knowing how much more insufferable Ron would be if he found out the truth.
Seamus nodded. He liked Hermione a lot and he liked Harry more. He would keep her secret for her, even if he didn't understand the circumstances. Deciding to leave the room at different times to avoid suspicion, Harry sat in the empty classroom for a while longer.
Sitting there alone, Harry knew that he needed to confront Dumbledore. He knew that Hermione wouldn't leave the Order unless there were extreme circumstances, and pregnancy certainly seemed serious. Had Hermione been threatened with the safety of her child, he wondered.
Harry needed to know if Dumbledore knew about the pregnancy, and if he would try to use it against Harry.
His feet carried him towards the Headmaster's office and up the spiral staircase. Before he knew it, Harry found himself seated across from Dumbledore in his office. "Professor, I was wondering if you were going to tell me that Hermione was having a baby."
Harry noticed the slight expression of surprise on Dumbledore's face. "Well, Harry, I didn't want you to be further hurt by your friend's betrayal. It went much deeper than we originally suspected," Dumbledore responded, delicately. "I am afraid the rumors about her and Mister Malfoy are true."
He wasn't sure how he was able to school his face in time. Of course, Harry had heard the rumors that people started up when Hermione and Malfoy hadn't returned to school, but he knew better than to believe them. Wanting to see how far Dumbledore would go, he played into the lie. "I just don't understand how she could do this to me. It's Malfoy!" Harry groaned, playing up his anger.
Dumbledore nodded comfortingly and offered Harry a lemon drop.
But Harry wasn't stupid. He could do math. Five months ago, Hermione wasn't anywhere near Malfoy. She was safely in Order Headquarters. Safely in the Diary.