Hermione's finals went well. She went to bed that night alone but once the lights were out in their room he was there. "Mine," he whispered into her ear.

Hermione removed his clothes for him and he moved under the covers. He held her and she fell asleep, for the first time in several months feeling content. When she woke up the next morning one hand had pushed up her shirt and was holding her breast. His other hand covered the tattoo. She stretched and he squeezed her. She smiled and turned so that she could snuggle against him."Mine," he whispered. She smiled and nodded.

He hadn't expected their separation to make her bond to him like this. Good. "The potion works but not all at once. That would be disastrous. It takes its time."

"Do you feel joy?"

"I haven't yet. I just took it yesterday."

"You came back here immediately?"

"I wanted to see you."

Hermione sighed against him. He felt good. They lay still for a bit. Hermione relaxed against him and didn't object when his hand moved from the tattoo to her pussy. He gently touched her and she closed her eyes. He smirked and leaned over her ear, "When we're alone we can do whatever we want," he whispered, "I'll enjoy this summer. So will you."

Hermione realized what he meant and opened her eyes. She didn't mind the intimate touches; she'd enjoyed it when they'd performed oral through one another's underwear, but the realization that he expected intercourse scared her. "D-do we have to?"

"I'll make sure you enjoy it," he promised.

After the last of her finals Hermione was summoned up to Dumbledore's office. She entered to find she wasn't the only guest. "Miss Granger, please come in," Dumbledore smiled at her and she sat down next to the boy. "I'm sure you know Mr. Zabini."

Hermione nodded. Why was Blaise Zabini staring at her? He had never even looked at her before, "Having looked at your academic and extra-curricular prowess, the teachers and myself have decided that the two of you are the best candidates for head boy and head girl for the next year." Hermione was surprised, but gratified. She liked being rewarded for her work these past six years.

"Thank you sir," she smiled.

"Thank you," Zabini nodded.

"If that's all, sir, I have to pack," she said.

"It is. Congratulations to you both. Enjoy your summer break and we'll see you two days before the start of term."

They exited together and the stairs slowly took them downstairs, "Looks like my Lord was right."

That's why he was staring. "I guess so."

"I don't get why he's got a Mudblood but whatever." Hermione turned and slapped him. "Ow!"

"Don't you dare call me that word!" Her voice dropped, "Don't you ever call me that again Zabini."

Stepping off the train, her bags packed, her parents weren't there. She'd written the letter Voldemort had asked her to. She'd made it clear to her friends that she wasn't going to spend the summer with them because she was afraid Voldemort would be able to find her. She told them she'd be out of the country. They'd understood, though Ron seemed to be disappointed. It was the first time she wondered if he was attracted to her. Not that it mattered. She knew who she belonged to now. He did not share. She knew if another man touched her or she touched them their life would be at an end.

She exited the station slowly with her trolley. She found him waiting, a glamour on to disguise him. She smiled and hugged him, knowing she had to act like he was someone else. He took her trunk away and they left the station. Once out of sight they Disapparated.

He didn't take her to his place. They ended up somewhere else Hermione didn't recognize. "Where are we?"

"Northern Italy, a town called Siena," he said, placing her trunk down. "This was Malfoy's place. It already has everything we'll need."

"Can I have my own room?'

"No."

House elves appeared and took her trunk. Voldemort sat down in an armchair and beckoned her to him. She obeyed, sitting on his lap. "I'm head girl."

"Knew it."

"And Zabini is head boy."

"I knew that too."

"He called me a Mudblood."

"So?"

She looked up at him, "So it's offensive!"

Voldemort frowned. If she was this upset now had she…"What did you do?"

"I…"

He turned her head and looked into her eyes, casting the spell to see into her mind. When he pulled out he looked furious. "You don't get to punish them for calling you names."

"You wouldn't stand up for me," she mumbled.

"I would if you told me about it. Now Zabini will be out to get you."

"But I have you to protect me."

He rolled his eyes, "Now you think about that?"

Hermione flushed, "Well you're confusing to be around! One minute you're flirting with me the next you're ordering me around like I'm a servant, the next you're plotting dastardly things and then you're suddenly hinting at sexual things after being angry at me for something that isn't even my fault!" He raised an eyebrow when she finished her tirade. Voldemort had to admit, he liked that she was headstrong. It was a very attractive feature on a woman. So his interactions with her were random and she wanted something more focused? He could do that. If she was going to give herself to him willingly that meant wooing her; he could manage that.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to…focus around you."

"Thank you. And…I'll behave myself. You promise to punish them for calling me a Mudblood?"

"Yes," he nodded, "would you like to see what we have around here?"

"Will others be here?"

"No. This place is ours, privately."

Well that was something. "What are we doing here?"

"You're helping me with research."

"Research for what?"

"Immortality." Hermione swallowed. She wasn't surprised, but hearing him say it and that he wanted her to help him…this was what he wanted her for. "This summer is about research. Hopefully we find leads."

He then gave her a tour around the house, "Why aren't the Malfoys here," she asked as they walked up the stairs.

"Lucius was begging for his life, gave me this house in exchange for me not killing him. Of course I killed him anyway but not before he transferred the house over to my name."

"It's very luxurious and spacious."

"It came that way," he opened the master bedroom and she entered. The bed was huge. At least he wouldn't be on top of her. She looked around the room. The closet was full of black robes. She then was led to the kitchens, "Can you cook?"

"Sort of. Not very well. I've never been on my own and my mom dominates in the kitchen. She's not a great cook but she does okay."

"I suppose I'll be cooking then. Fine. I enjoy it." He leaned against the counter, "Tomorrow we will begin the research."

Hermione nodded, hopping up onto the counter next to him. He smiled and turned, making her spread her legs for him to be against her, "What do you want now?"

"You," he answered, caressing her cheek, "you want to know what I'm feeling right now?"

"Lust?" He shook his head and kissed her. Hermione was surprised. While they had other kisses before, they weren't like this. Before they had been of possession or joy. This…this was a real kiss. Her hand moved to his cheek as the kiss continued, enjoying it. When they pulled apart to breathe he smiled. Hermione rested her head against his, "I…I don't know what that was, but I enjoyed it."

"Good," he responded. "Expect more of that."

"Oh?"

"You're right. You are mine and you deserve to be wined and dined and worshipped like a young woman expects to be treated by a suitor. Obviously I must do this for you."

"Really?"

He nodded and she grinned before pulling him in for another kiss, "But you're still sharing my bed," he mumbled. Hermione rolled her eyes and kissed him again, enjoying the kisses.

Researching with Voldemort was easy. Neither was big on talking when reading, which Hermione was glad for. It made it easier. They read and he would only leave to make dinner or lunch. At night they slept together and Hermione was surprised at how she craved the closeness. She would write letters to her parents every week, telling them lies about what she'd seen and then saying how the work was fun but intense. Their research was certainly intense. But after five weeks they found a break. "Voldemort?"

"Hmm?" He lifted his head to look at her, "Did you find something?"

"I think so," she showed him a passage in the book she'd been reading. He sat down next to her and read, intrigued by her interest. It was one of the strange books he'd found in his travels. He'd never learned to read it; it didn't make sense. "I can't actually read it, but I've seen this marking before," she pointed at the marking on the cover.

"Where?" It had seemed familiar to him too. That was why he'd stolen it from a wizard in Argentina.

"A book," she got up and looked at the walls of the library. All of his books were here. Hermione looked through them until she found it, "here," she flipped to the page, "It belongs to Atlantis."

Voldemort's eyes grew wide and he moved toward her, taking the book from her. She was right. He lifted his head to look at her. She looked giddy with having put two and two together. He suddenly leaned down and kissed her hungrily. She squeaked in surprise but enjoyed it, even letting him pick her up and place her on the table and deepen the kiss. She held his head in her hands, moaning against him as they enjoyed the kiss. When he pulled away for breath he couldn't believe how fuckable she looked, her lips looking full and kissable after the snogging. He smiled, "You're bloody brilliant you know that?"

"You'd be the first to say it."

He frowned. He didn't like that, "The Order never acknowledged your intellect?"

"No," she shook her head. "It was always all about Harry."

"My poor little kitten." He'd started that little affectionate nickname two weeks into living together. She enjoyed it. "It's time we ate. How about you look more into the books to see what is known about Atlantis and I'll make dinner?"

She nodded, "What about the potion?"

The potion had been finished the day before and Voldemort had left to pick it up. It was the only time he had left her alone. Hermione had chosen instead of research to go to the local market. She'd enjoyed doing that and asked him to let her buy groceries from now on. He'd said yes. "I'll take it after dinner," he answered.

"What does it do?"

"Fix this," he indicated his body.

"So it will change your body?"

"No it'll fix my soul." Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. A potion that powerful? "The potion master is a world renowned expert," he added at her surprised look.

"He must be."

He smirked as he replied, "She is," he nodded. "The potion is comparable to making a philosopher's stone."

"A female?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Not a looker but then my tastes are different."

"Your tastes?"

"I like spunky, spirited, headstrong, brilliant, charming, breathtaking women. Petite, beautiful, and yet pliable."

"Headstrong and pliable. That's quite the combination," she smirked.

"Yet you're all those things," he caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her again. "Okay let's separate." She nodded and pulled away, moving back to the bookcase to find what she needed. He watched her for a bit before walking to the kitchen to make dinner. She'd bought bread and fish at the market yesterday and he wanted to make a good pasta dish to fill them both. They'd managed to skip lunch somehow.

Hermione read for another hour before he summoned her to the dining room. They ate together, Hermione explaining to him some of what she'd found. He nodded. He knew most of it anyway, but she'd picked up on a few things he'd missed, "You're very sexy when you're smart."

Hermione flushed. He was always flirting with her now. If he did get upset it wasn't released toward her. He'd changed alot, which shocked her initially. The potion had done better than could be imagined. But he was still difficult sometimes. She guessed that was just his personality. "Thank you."

Voldemort smirked. She always felt awkward when he flirted with her, but it was the only way he knew of to empower her. He wanted her more than he'd thought he did, and a subservient Hermione was fun but a powerless Hermione was dull. He had a line to straddle, and it was difficult but feasible in his mind. She needed to understand he would always have the power.

After dinner Hermione read, trying to determine the history of Atlantis and determine where it could be. Voldemort, as promised, went upstairs to take the potion. It had to be added to a bath. By bedtime she realized her efforts were pointless. They needed to search for signs of Atlantis' magic. When Hermione went upstairs she was surprised to find he was still in the bathroom, "Voldemort?"

"Almost done," he called out. The noise that followed sounded like he was either submerging or exiting. She stripped down and put on her pajamas. When he exited finally it was long past midnight. The potion maker did warn him it would take a long time. He felt different when he got out. His skin didn't look so pale. He moved to the mirror and gasped, "Her-Hermione!"

Fearing something had happened, and confused about why she cared, she ran to the bathroom. Inside was a very naked Voldemort. Who didn't look like Voldemort. "Y-you changed. Your whole body…you're different."

"The potion was supposed to simply restore my soul back into one piece. Not…not do this…" Looking in the mirror he touched his nose. It looked normal again. He had hair, short, black, and with just a hint of a curl to it. His eyes were brown instead of red, his lips were full and no longer thin…Hermione stared. "How…how is this…"

"This is amazing," she whispered, walking over to him and touching his back, "you are taller and broader than you were."

He turned to face her and Hermione gazed up into his eyes. He looked bewildered and happy. She liked that. She held his head in her hands and leaned up to kiss him. Voldemort held her against him as he deepened the kiss. She reluctantly pulled away, "Not so fast," she whispered, catching her breath. "I want you too, but not like this. You need to get dressed so we can go to bed."

"Do you like me like this?"

His brow furrowed as he looked at her, Hermione stepped back and looked at him. He did look good. He was just under 6 feet tall, his shoulders were broader than they had been in his more snakelike form, but he was not overly broad. His body was very slender, and it looked rather bony, "I think you need to eat more."

He rolled his eyes, "Sure. But other than that," he ran his hand through his hair, "what do you think?"

She smiled, "You look pretty good," she admitted. "I like your hair." He smiled and she leaned in to kiss him again, "put some clothes on so we can go to bed. Then that kiss can continue." In bed they kissed lazily before falling asleep. They'd made a huge leap forward today in their research. Tomorrow they could continue.

Voldemort woke and was surprised to feel her thigh over his groin. It was nice, feeling that. Was she finally warming up to him? Usually she was curled against him but this…her head was on his chest and her thigh was directly against his penis. Her arms were wrapped around him. He enjoyed her position for a moment before caressing her cheek, "Hermione? It's morning. We have alot of work to do."

"I know," she sighed, "I'm just really content right now. I don't want to get up."

He grinned. That was good. Their intimacy had grown. This was great. He ran his hand over her back, "I want to eat though."

"Well I guess I can let you get up. I'll shower alone."

He raised his eyebrows, "Not without me." He extracted himself from her grip and pulled her out of the bed and into the bathroom with him.

"Just promise me you'll eat more?"

"Yes," he sighed.

She smiled and kissed him, "Good because you're rather bony."

Voldemort rolled his eyes and turned on the shower. He stripped and entered, Hermione joining him immediately. He smiled, good. He hoped his new appearance pleased her. He rather liked having hair again. And actually being hungry. Typically he only ate to keep her happy but now he really was hungry. "I want a big breakfast," he said, watching as Hermione washed his body.

"Well I can help cook. I'll make pancakes."

"With chocolate chips?

She grinned and leaned up to kiss him, "Sure, with chocolate chips."

He grinned and nodded eagerly. "I like the sound of that."

As he washed her body Hermione wondered about his sudden desire for chocolate chip pancakes. As a kid he obviously hadn't had such requests met but…why did he look so thrilled that she'd let him put chocolate chips in their pancakes? She decided to let it go. He was super confusing to her sometimes; whatever their relationship was, it had certainly been strange ever since it started. Once the shower was done she exited, telling him he needed to shave. He now had stubble. He nodded and pulled her to him, kissing her, "Mine," he whispered.

Hermione nodded and he pulled away, letting her dry off and leave to get dressed. "I'll start breakfast, hurry down soon. You know my skills in the kitchen are limited," she joked.

He smirked and shaved. He hadn't had to do this in so long. Fortunately razors and shaving cream were under the sink. He finished that and got dressed. The clothes didn't fit so he cast a spell to alter them. All black didn't seem to work for him anymore. Maybe he and Hermione should go shopping for clothes for him.

Finished with all of that he walked downstairs to help her make breakfast, "Hermione I need new clothes."

"We can go shopping after breakfast," she smiled, leaning up to kiss him, "I've got pancakes going, you work on eggs and bacon."

"Yes ma'am," he teased, saluting her as he went to work getting out a skillet to make the eggs and another for the bacon. Hermione enjoyed cooking with him. It was a fun process. Ever since she'd given in to being 'his' their relationship had become more equal, which surprised her. He didn't expect her to serve him, just listen to him and if he asked her to do something, she had to do it. She found that more reasonable than she'd expected.

A/N- Oh Voldemort. Is that potion to fix his emotions doing so at a faster rate than can be expected? Is Hermione falling for the Dark Despot? What does he mean when he calls her 'Mine'? Stay tuned!