A/N- In this chapter, Voldemort gets to play a bit of a hero for a change.

Voldemort didn't return for the next four days. It was the start of the weekend, and the day of a Quidditch game, that he appeared as she woke. "You're here?"

"I wanted you to know, I released her. I left the doors open so she could escape. I figured it'd be suspicious if I just returned her like I had you." Hermione sighed and he sat on the foot of her bed, running his hand over her blanket-covered leg, "How have you been?"

"Studying. I have an exam on Monday."

"So will you be too busy for…us?"

"I think I can find some time to spend with you," she smiled, reaching for him. He kissed her and she moaned into it. He tasted so good. She let him move on top of her and begin a makeout session. She'd missed him too.

When he finally pulled away for breath he whispered, "Let's shower together."

"I want a bath instead," she responded, "Tonight, you and me alone. I'll order up a large dinner and we can eat, then enjoy a nice hot bath and a long, passionate lovemaking session in bed."

"I like the sound of that," he admitted. "How about 8pm? I have to order my Death Eaters regarding a few things."

"Sounds okay to me," she nodded, smiling at him. "Be careful," she whispered.

He caressed her cheek and kissed her again, "I always am."

The game that day was Slytherin vs. Hufflepuff. Hermione was glad it didn't take too long for Slytherin to flatten them. She had alot of studying to do before her date tonight. Blaise had arranged the schedule so that Hermione would have less nighttime rounds and she was glad for that. She wanted uninterrupted time with Voldemort. She sensed Voldemort would want it too.

When Voldemort arrived she was more than ready for him. He smiled. She looked so sexy in anything she wore. But tonight she wore a slinky little dress she'd bought in Brazil and he could already feel an erection forming. "Hermione…."

"I take it you like this?" She grinned and leaned in to kiss him.

He groaned into her mouth and they kissed enthusiastically, Voldemort's hands moving over her body gently. "You feel so good," he whispered.

Hermione smiled and pulled away, "We need to eat. We'll need the energy later," she touched him gently, "I like this."

"You're so sexy in that dress," he mumbled.

"First food, then us," she promised. They ate together, Voldemort very eager to get her nude and underneath him.

Hermione watched him as they ate. He was very horny right now. She could see it in his eyes every time he looked at her. She rather liked that. Dessert was taunting her, but she wanted him much more. The chocolate covered strawberries had to wait, she decided. She'd missed him too much. Hermione placed the dishes near the fire and he grabbed her, pulling her flush against him as he kissed her hungrily. Hermione moaned into his mouth, her hands moving over his chest before wrapping around his neck as he picked her up to go to her bedroom. "I can't believe I held out this long," he mumbled, placing her down and feasting his eyes on her before mumbling the spell to remove their clothes. She pulled Voldemort down onto the bed with her, gasping as he pressed into her harder than she expected. What surprised her the most was that she actually liked it. As the pain eased she wanted more. She wondered if he had intended that. Knowing him, he probably had. They fucked, hard and fast, Hermione crying out her orgasm when she came. Voldemort held out a bit longer but she began tightening around him rhythmically, which made him cum sooner than he'd have liked. "Vixen," he gasped as he collapsed on top of her.

"Usually we cum together," she said, panting.

"We haven't fucked like that before though," he mumbled, rolling off of her. "Bath?"

"That sounds good," she nodded. She watched him get up before speaking, "Umm, do you prefer sex that way?"

"It's the way I've always had sex before you," he answered, not looking at her as he went to the bathroom to fill the bathtub.

Hermione frowned. He always did that. Expose himself a little, then flee the scene. She sighed and got up, entering the bathroom nude. She ran her hands over his back, "You didn't answer my question, Voldemort."

"Drop it."

She kissed the back of his neck, "I can't and you know it. I'm a know-it-all," she slid her arms around him and ran her hands up and over his chest, "Voldemort, do you prefer having sex roughly like that over the way we usually make love?"

"I don't know," he answered.

"I thought tonight would be gentle, tender…that was anything but. If you don't know if you prefer it hard or gentle, why be so rough with me?"

"You were too sexy in that dress," he mumbled. He knew it was a weak answer. But he really didn't have a better one. Hermione wanted him to think about things and Voldemort didn't want to. He just wanted to enjoy the time he got to spend with her.

"Voldemort…"

He turned to face her, "I don't want to think tonight. I want to just enjoy a relaxing evening full of sex and touching with my lover. Is that too much to ask you for, Hermione?"

She blinked before saying, "No, no it's not. But Voldemort…I've never felt you that roughly before."

"Did you like it?"

"It hurt," she whispered, "I…pain isn't a source of pleasure for me."

"Then you picked the wrong boyfriend," he muttered, beginning to feel worse as the conversation continued.

"If I recall correctly, I didn't have a choice. I still don't." Voldemort's face turned ashen and he left the bathroom, mumbling the spell to redress. "Voldemort!"

"You said all you needed to," he said, feeling a strange ache in his chest as he spoke, "goodbye Hermione." He Disapparated.

Immediately she touched her tattoo, trying to get him to come back. It was in vain. Voldemort didn't return that evening. Or the next. Or the next. For the next month he was gone. Christmas break approached quickly and Hermione hadn't even heard from him. Not an owl, not a pop-in. Nothing. Hermione didn't understand why he had suddenly decided to cut off all communication with her. She knew she'd upset him, probably hurt him. But to not talk to her at all? It wasn't as though they'd fought. They'd just been talking. He still communicated with Blaise, though it was strictly business-related.

Hermione packed up her trunk and sighed. She didn't have a clue as to where she was spending Christmas. If he was at the station she supposed she'd go with him. But when she arrived at King's Crossing, Voldemort was nowhere to be seen inside or outside. She sighed and hailed a cab, heading toward Diagon Alley. At least there she could get a room. She entered the Alley after putting her trunk in a room she'd rented in the Leaky Cauldron. She walked around the alley and suddenly found herself cornered by three strange men, "You shouldn't walk alone out here, girly. It's not safe."

The man in the middle chuckled, "All sorts wander the alley nowadays."

The last man reached out to touch her, "Lucky we're here to protect you."

Hermione backed into a corner and reached for her wand, which they snatched from her. Now shaking, she reached into her robes only to have them grab her hands and hold them above her head. She closed her eyes and thought of Voldemort. If only he were here. If only she hadn't upset him, knowing that he was so emotionally unstable. If only she'd just let him have that night of sex and romance, rather than questioning him. She'd give anything to be with him right now, have him at her side. Her eyes jolted open when one man's hand slid up her thigh. Suddenly a loud crack was heard followed by what sounded like hissing. Hermione was suddenly released and fell down onto the brick road, blinking through her tears to see what had happened. The three men were lying on the ground, grossly contorted and very, very dead. She lifted her head to see a large hooded figure move towards her, "Hermione," her name came off his lips in a gentle, smooth caress.

Hermione let him help her up and immediately wrapped her arms around him, crying into his oversized robes, "Y-you came."

"There will always be more than one way for you to contact me," Voldemort rubbed her back, "you'll catch cold. Let's go someplace warmer."

"Where?"

"I'm thinking Italy," he answered. "I will arrange for your things to join us," he held onto her tightly and they Disapparated.

They arrived in the entryway of the Italian mansion. He removed his robes and she saw that he hadn't had his glamour on. Voldemort ran his hands over her arms, "You're so cold, Hermione. You need a warm bath."

"J-join me?" She looked up at him, her eyes belying her fear of being alone right now.

"I suppose I should wash myself of the grime I no doubt have on me from killing your attackers."

Soon enough Hermione was in a warm bath, watching Voldemort strip down and join her. She moved to his embrace, nuzzling him. He felt so safe. So strong. So…so good. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered.

"It is my role in life, I've found."

"I'm sorry for…for what I said."

"Hermione, don't," he caressed her cheek, "I don't want to talk about it. I just want to enjoy having you in my arms again, right where you belong."

Hermione smiled weakly. That was nice to hear. She'd missed him, and had hoped that he would not be with another. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he whispered, closing his eyes.

"Voldemort…I just have to ask. Are you still mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," he ran his hand over her back, "I wasn't mad at you."

"You were upset."

"Well how would you feel if I told you that I didn't choose you and that I didn't have a choice?"

Hermione nodded and snuggled close, "I'm sorry. I…I understand how that sounded. I didn't mean it, Voldemort. Not like that."

"It hurt," he whispered, "I…I felt hurt. My chest literally ached when you said that."

Hermione leaned up and kissed his cheek, "You're experiencing more emotions than I would have expected."

"What was it?"

"Heartbreak," she whispered, leaning up to kiss him. Voldemort moaned into her mouth and his hands moved as she shifted herself, "Voldemort…"

"What?"

"I think we're overdue for some makeup sex," she stroked him, enjoying the feel of him getting hard courtesy of her ministrations. "Should we go to the bed?"

"I don't care," he growled as his mouth moved to her throat, "your call."

"Let's go to bed," she dug her hand into his hair, "you're so sexy my love."

"Mine," he growled as he stood, mumbling a spell to dry them once they were out of the tub. She pulled him into the bed with her and he entered her easily thrusting slowly, much to Hermione's satisfaction. She moaned and wrapped her legs around him, her hips lifting to change the position. He fell forward and they kissed deeply, Hermione moaning into his mouth as her hands explored his body.

Later as they lay in bed in a long overdue embrace Hermione spoke up, "Santa must have received my letter."

"Oh?"

"I asked for my boyfriend back," she whispered. He smirked and they kissed, which led to another round of lovemaking. He was glad she wanted him still. He'd worried about what to do if she no longer did. They then fell asleep, the both of them quite exhausted from their day.

The next morning Voldemort woke first. He was glad she hadn't dumped him. He'd worried about that. Relationships were so foreign to him, he didn't really understand the difference between rejection and disagreement. When it came to power he might have taken her virginity, but Hermione was the one who understood human emotions. She dictated their relationship because he didn't really know how to have one. He looked at her. She looked so peaceful. When he'd sensed she was in danger yesterday he'd acted without thinking. Now there were three dead bodies in Diagon Alley. He was certain he'd masked his magic by casting the spells he had; but he'd acted so hurriedly he felt uncomfortable about it. Yet looking at her, he didn't regret it. Hermione would always be safe so long as he was around. No one could ever hurt her. He suddenly realized he finally had a weakness. Hermione. He sat up in bed, his breath suddenly coming in short gasps.

Hermione woke, confused to hear him struggling to breathe, "Voldemort? What's wrong?"

He closed his eyes and forced himself to take a deep breath, "I…you're my Achilles' heel."

She ran her hand over his back, "It's okay, Voldemort. We'll find you immortality."

"That's not what I meant, Hermione." She frowned in confusion and he explained, "If my enemies took you, abducted you, placed you in harm's way…I would have to act. I have no choice in the matter, I must protect you. They could use that…they could use you against me."

"But no one knows about us but Blaise."

"Hermione…" he shook his head. She didn't understand. "If they found out, you would be more heavily guarded than anything else in this world. I would have to kill Potter and everyone else just to protect you. I can't trust that they wouldn't harm you, not if they know how long you've been my lover and helping me search for immortality. They wouldn't understand coercion, especially since that part of our relationship has long since come to an end." Hermione leaned up and kissed him, "I can't let anything happen to you."

"Well then we better find immortality while I'm still here with you. That way no one can use me against you," she kissed him again, "but first I want you."

"Yes ma'am," he smiled into the kiss. She was very good at assuaging him.

They spent the days leading up to Christmas finessing their search. Hermione looked at him, "It looks like the North is our best option."

He nodded. Translating the Atlantis book had been difficult, but he'd found enough other texts that referenced their language for Hermione and Zabini to translate it. Atlantis was long gone, but their secrets were not. They knew exactly where to look for the sacred immortality giving vessel. After Christmas Zabini would join them and they would head to the North. Hermione looked at the clock. It was Christmas Eve already. Tomorrow they would wake up to Christmas Day. "This will be my second Christmas without my parents."

"Do you want to spend Christmas with them?"

"Yes," she whispered, "I miss them. I keep staying away from them but…I miss them."

Voldemort caressed her cheek, "If you wish, you can go today to be with them."

Hermione grinned and hugged him, "Thank you," she whispered before pulling away and running upstairs to pack. Voldemort sighed. Caring about Hermione seemed to lead to an awful lot of pain and hurt. He put together the books they would need. At least he could have that ready.

Once she'd finished packing she returned to the library. Voldemort was looking outside. "Voldemort? What clothes do you want to wear while we're in England?"

"Huh?" he turned, confused.

"Well you're coming with me right? You said you didn't trust the Order not to try anything and that I was your weak spot. I figured that meant you'd come too. I'm sure my parents would love to meet Ezio, my hot Italian boyfriend."

He smiled and moved to her, "I suppose I should protect you. Especially since you feel so good against me," he kissed her and she moaned into his mouth, returning the kiss with pleasure. Merlin he was such a good kisser.

"Good," she finally whispered when she'd pulled away. "I love you."

"I know," he smiled. "I guess we should go pack for me, huh?"

"Yes," she nodded, pulling him upstairs with her.

A/N- Voldemort's starting to feel emotions!