A/N- Still don't own anything related to Harry Potter. In case you can't tell, the common theme of this story is Voldemort calling Hermione 'his'. What does it mean? Well I wrote the story and I'm not even sure. Speculate away ;-)

Sleep took a long time to come for Hermione but it eventually did. The next morning she woke and his arm was around her. She was nestled against him. She immediately tried to pull away but his grip was too strong. He opened his eyes, "Going somewhere?"

"I just don't want to be against you."

"I say you stay here," he rolled on top of her and she struggled against him. He quickly overpowered her, "You belong to me, witch. You do as I say."

Hermione felt the fear in her stomach get tighter. "What do you want with me?"

"You'll see."

"I want to know."

"When the time is right you'll know."

"Why won't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want to," he got up and went to the bathroom. Hermione had never felt so confused. She was frightened of him, nervous about what was going to happen to her…but she had slept through the night feeling comfortable and safe. In fact, ever since he'd dropped her off yesterday she had felt scared but his embrace, even just lying under him…she had felt safe. "Are you going to shower?"

"I have to join you?"

"Yes. I want to see your tattoo." He watched as she got up and entered the bathroom with him, "Undress me," he commanded. Hermione realized his intentions toward her could be sexual. Was that why he'd asked if she was a virgin? Whether she had a boyfriend? Her eyes widened- was this why he'd told her no one else had ever had this tattoo placed on their skin? "I said undress me, Hermione." She blinked and saw he was looking angry again.

"Sorry, I was thinking."

"Well I can't punish that." His short tone just confused her even more. She removed his boxers, getting down on her knees to do so. She was soon looking at his penis. "I don't expect anything Hermione. You can stand again." Relieved, she stood and undressed herself slowly. His hand caressed the tattoo once her underwear were removed. "I like this," he said. Hermione pulled away and entered the shower, turning it on. Voldemort raised an eyebrow as he entered behind her. The shower was roomy, letting Hermione move away from him. Voldemort didn't like this and pulled her close to him, "You're washing me." She just nodded. Hermione had learned that if she did what he wanted he'd be kinder. He was a mystery but she was, as he had said, stuck with him. She soaped up a washcloth and washed his arms and torso. His eyes glanced down and she sighed. She'd never touched a man's penis before. It was flaccid at present, but Hermione thought it seemed large. Certainly out of proportion to his frame. "I was taller before."

"What?"

"You think my body is weird. I was taller, and my frame was broader."

"But if your body isn't the same as before, why is your penis the same size?"

"I used a spell to fix it," he answered, "I can only alter my body so much, but I was able to fix it, at least."

Hermione nodded. Men and their penises. She washed his legs and then gently washed off his penis and balls. Her touches were light and he gave a soft moan. Hermione watched as it became slightly erect. "Sorry."

"It's to be expected."

She stood and he washed her body. This turn of events surprised her, "What is my role here? I don't understand this."

"You're mine."

"What does that mean though? You keep saying it but I don't understand this at all."

"You belong to me."

"I don't understand what that means. What is my purpose with you?"

"To do whatever I want."

Hermione sighed. This conversation was going nowhere as usual. "I give up. This is too confusing."

He finished washing her and turned the shower off, drying himself off. Hermione took care of herself, exiting to get dressed. Voldemort watched her put her underwear and bra on. "Stop." She obeyed. Voldemort, still naked, walked over to her bed and sat down on it. "Come to me." She did as ordered, not enjoying it at all. He looked her body over. She was petite but there was strength in her frame. And in her eyes. He liked that. His hands reached out and touched her body, pulling her closer to him. Hermione just kept her head turned. She didn't want to look at him or the erection he was sporting. He got up and slid on his boxers, then pulled her down onto the bed. "I want you to spread your legs."

Now she looked scared. He rolled on top of her and caressed her cheek, "We won't have sex. Think of this as dry humping. We both will keep our underwear on."

She relaxed. That sounded much better than him penetrating her. He spread her legs and moved between them to rub himself against her. Hermione was surprised that it actually felt kind of good. She relaxed and let him hump her with short, purposeful thrusts that rubbed against her. It took her a few thrusts to realize he was trying to hit her clitoris without moving his hands since he would fall on her. He wanted her to enjoy it? She reached down and, keeping her hand over her underwear, made sure he could hit it. The first time he did she gasped and closed her eyes. That had felt too good. "Enjoy yourself, Hermione," he whispered as he continued the thrusting, slow and purposeful. "Let yourself go."

For the first time Hermione turned her mind off and enjoyed the feelings of pleasure coursing through her body. He thrust for several minutes before he stopped and moved down her body. Confused she opened her eyes to see him gently lick her through her underwear. Hermione moaned and he smiled. She was enjoying herself. Good. In time, she would give herself to him. He just had to convince her he was not just her only option but her best option. He wouldn't take her without her permission, and she would give it. Once he'd made her climax he leaned up and kissed her gently, "Did you like that?"

She nodded and he rolled off of her. He hadn't climaxed…why would he roll off of her? She turned, determined to return the favor. She leaned down and licked the head through his boxers, making Voldemort groan. She smiled and did it again. It didn't take long to make him cum, some of it seeping through his boxers. She leaned up and laid her head on his chest. He smirked. She had just made him cum and was now snuggling against him. Just as he'd guessed she would. Finally, after several moments of silence, Hermione asked, "How long will you be gone?"

"Two to three months."

"Where are you going?"

"I need two potions made. One is the one that corrects what my parents did. The second…well that's a surprise. I have to find the more difficult ingredients and then take them to the potions master."

"Why are they helping you?"

"They too are the product of a love potion."

"And you want feelings? You want to experience happiness, love, and others?"

"I don't like being incomplete." Again, she wasn't surprised by his sharp, short tone. She sighed and let herself fall asleep.

When she woke she was alone. He must have cast the spell to clean them, because the wetness that had been in her underwear was gone. Hermione sighed. Now what? Hermione showered again, ridding herself of his smell on her body. Then she went down to the kitchens and ate breakfast. After that she walked to the library to look through the books for the book on love potions. Unfortunately it was in the Restricted Section. She sighed and went up to Dumbledore's office, "Ahh Miss Granger. How can I help you?"

"Professor, could you permit me to look at some books in the Restricted Section?"

"Which ones?"

"Any that mention love potions."

"I'm guessing you don't want to make one."

"Voldemort said something that I'd never heard of before. I want to learn more about it."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. The girl was being sincere. Could Voldemort be using her? No of course not. He couldn't break into Hogwarts. The wards prevented it. If he could Hermione would have been abducted from her bed here, not her home with her parents. "About his conception, I presume. Yes he was born out of a love potion his mother made to woo her lover."

"He said something else but I don't know if I can talk about it." Immediately upon thinking about it she coughed and realized she couldn't. Well at least his curse prevented her from dying by warning her and preventing her from saying it. How oddly thoughtful of him.

Dumbledore frowned. The poor girl. "I will go down with you to the library. You can access them with me there."

"Thank you."

"Are you sure he didn't hurt you, Hermione?"

"Yes. He didn't hurt me at all. He barely touched me and when he did he removed my bindings and wrapped blankets around me to warm me up. He showed me violent things but…he kept me fed and safe and didn't rape me. If he hurt me why wouldn't I say so?"

He had to admit that was true. Hermione had no reason to protect the Dark Lord. She was too headstrong for that. Once in the library Dumbledore took the books Hermione indicated, studying up on the love potion himself while she read through them quickly, committing as much as she could to memory. None of these books mentioned any side effects. She frowned. How could he have known? "Are there other books on love potions?"

"Certainly but these are the ones Hogwarts has. We have few since it's a forbidden potion."

"Are there side effects to it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't answer that."

Dumbledore nodded. So Voldemort was interested in side effects to love potions? Was he going to use one on Hermione? That didn't make any sense. "A potion so potent, so powerful is bound to have side effects. But since it's rarely used it's safe to say no one has ever documented them."

"What happened to Tom Riddle after Voldemort's mother gave it to him? And why did she give it to him?"

"Merope gave it to him in the hopes that he would fall in love with her. She hoped to stop giving it to him and still have him in love with her. A foolish notion. When he was under the love potion he ran off with her, married her, was passionate with her…once she stopped giving it to him that love ceased and he dumped her."

Suddenly it hit Hermione. Merope had never known love before. Her father had shown her none, her brother despised her for being a squib…the only 'love' she knew of was her obsession with Riddle. What if Voldemort's parents weren't at fault? What if…it was his bloodline? Then the potion wouldn't help. Had he thought of this? "Thanks Professor. I need to go get some lunch. He fed me only sparingly."

"Of course dear," he watched her leave with sad eyes. The poor girl. Perhaps she was trying to adjust to what happened to her by trying to understand Voldemort. That seemed like something she would do.

Hermione went to the kitchens and ordered plenty of food, then ran upstairs to her dorm. Inside she warded the door to keep anyone from coming up without her first being warned and slid her hand into her pants to the tattoo, thinking about him. He arrived within three minutes, "What's wrong?" He was looking around for enemies.

"N-nothing I…I just needed to talk to you." His eyebrows rose but he calmed down after warding her room. "The books here don't mention side effects."

"Of course not."

"But Dumbledore said your mom was hoping your dad would fall in love with her once she stopped giving him the potion."

"So?"

"Well, it has to be administered rather frequently doesn't it? If she was smart enough to brew it how could she think Riddle would just fall for her? She had to know without the love potion it would be like nothing had changed."

He rolled his eyes and sat down on her bed, "You are suggesting what?"

"Maybe she gave it to him but stopped once she was pregnant with you. Maybe she thought a pregnancy would make Riddle stay. And you were simply the means to the end. The end being a happy life with the only man she'd ever loved."

"What is your point?"

"Well if your mom didn't know love, and your grandfather and uncle never showed any…maybe they couldn't feel it either. And then this potion you're on a big excursion for might not work."

He closed his eyes. He'd thought of this too. "And why not let me fail?"

"Huh?"

He took her hand and pulled her down onto the bed with him. "Why are you telling me this?"

Hermione opened her mouth but realized she didn't know the answer to that question. She quickly changed the subject, "I have food for you."

Voldemort let her avoid the question. After all, he couldn't answer many of her own questions about why he did things. He felt it was best not to push it. The girl liked knowledge. Maybe it was just a quest for knowledge and wanting to understand him. He didn't know. Hermione moved to the small table and removed the stasis charm on the food. Voldemort joined her and ate, "Thanks," he said as he took a drink of the pumpkin juice. "I appreciate it."

Hermione and Voldemort ate quietly before he leaned back in his chair, "I have thought about that. But Salazar Slytherin could love. And he did. She was French and a pureblood. They had five children. Each of them found love. It goes down like that through the ages. Some married Muggleborns, which helped to further the line. My mother and uncle were the last of the purebloods. The others were diluted beyond all memory."

"You've tracked it that far?"

"My grandfather loved his wife. She died when she gave birth to my mother. He…blamed her. I've learned that's a normal reaction. I certainly blame her for being weak and not living for her child."

"You mean for you."

"Whatever," he shrugged. "I discovered my family's history to be sure that it was the potion."

"And all this time you'll leave me alone?"

"No one is allowed to have you while I'm gone. You're mine," he ordered.

"When you come back what will happen?"

"My concern is my Death Eaters. But I have given them basic orders to carry out. They will handle them well."

"Are you going to kill Harry?"

He tilted his head in thought. "I don't think I will." She was surprised. "Once my plans fall into place he won't matter anymore." Hermione couldn't hide the shock on her face. "I don't kill unless I have to, Hermione." Voldemort slid his hand over his cheek, "Promise me you won't be with another man."

"Wh-"

"Promise me."

"I promise," she whispered.

"You can't kiss another man, you can't…"

"Voldemort," she ran her hand over his arm, "I understand. And I won't."

That proved to be easy. The next four months her life almost returned to normal. Harry, Ron, and the Order were watching her like a hawk. But after the second month away from Voldemort she began to wonder if they cared about her wellbeing or if they saw her as bait. They never told her anything and seemed only interested in what had happened in her time with him. She never said a word about anything, though. The one thing she knew she could tell them about, that he'd marked her, she didn't want to. Then she knew they wouldn't trust her at all.

With her relationships feeling strained she focused on her schoolwork which was still excellent. When she was in the shower she'd see the mark and she'd stare at it for a long moment. It was odd, being marked by him. But then she rather liked it sometimes. When she went to Hogsmeade or the time she went to Diagon Alley he was like a silent guardian, even though he wasn't there with her. It was reassuring to know she could have him with her immediately to protect her, no matter that she didn't know where he was.

As finals began she woke one morning to someone in her bed. She turned her head and pushed him away from her, which meant off her small bed. Voldemort appeared on the floor, glaring at her. Though furious, his voice was a whisper, "Watch it witch," he climbed back into the bed and cast a spell to prevent noise from escaping her curtain covered bed.

Hermione's eyes grew wide before she pulled him to her in a hug, "You're back!"

"Miss me?"

"A little," she admitted.

"Why?"

"My friends don't treat me like they did before you…before I was given to you. I have no one to talk to anymore."

Voldemort lay down with her and ran his hands over her body. He slid his hand into her pajama pants to touch the tattoo, "You haven't needed me these past four months."

"I've been working on my studies, focusing on them. And studying you."

"Learn anything?"

"Nothing useful," she admitted, her breath hitching when his hand slid up her shirt to touch her breast. "How did your quest go?"

"I found everything, and the master made the first potion. The second one will take a few more weeks. By summer it will be ready."

"Do I get to know what the second one is?"

He shook his head and she sighed, "Did you take the potion?"

"Yes."

"So you can feel? What do you feel right now?"

"Yes I can feel. As for what I'm feeling," he leaned against her, their lips very close, "you tell me."

Hermione looked at him. Was he daring her to kiss him? She pulled away, "I don't know. You're hard to read."

"I'm hungry," he rolled onto his back and beckoned her to him. She obeyed. He held her in his arms.

"I could smuggle some food out of the kitchens for you. But we're not exactly alone in this room anymore."

"I lament that fact," he ran his hand over her back, "I could stick around for after breakfast. Do you have finals today?"

"One not too long after breakfast and one after lunch," she nodded.

"You're staying with me this summer."

"What about my parents?"

"You'll tell them you've been specially chosen to join a magical archaeological dig."

"What about my friends?"

"You're staying with relatives."

Sounds outside of her bed alerted them that others were now awake, "I'll be back tonight," he said, and vanished.

A/N- One of my favorite parts of this chapter is where she reciprocates out of a sense of...politeness (for lack of a better term) and he thinks she's doing it because she is submitting to him. That is what makes this fun to write.