DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property. Glorioux.
A/n So here we are, ready to see a different Voldemort. As for Hermione, she is angry, hurt and in mourning, not ready to forgive snd forget. After all, he is the monster she was fighting, the same one who has caused so much pain to many of her friends. She is not in a good place.
Voldemort the Rejected.
It seemed hopeless, Voldemort was hurting. A few days went by, but neither of the Granger witches wanted to see the Dark Lord. They stayed huddled all day long, the survivors of a great tragedy. Dobby who was ordered back and given a hero's welcome, was one of the only ones allowed in.
The healer was the other exception, along with the dogs, who often came by to visit.
"My Lord, Miss Granger—" Lucius approached Voldemort.
"There is no Miss Granger, Miss Riddle." Voldemort barked.
Lucius repeated, "Miss Riddle has asked me to request permission to let her and her mother leave. They want to go back home, or to stay with her grandparents."
"No, they cannot leave, and her grandparents were murdered as you know." He looked sullen.
Lucius couldn't make heads or tails of this new Dark Lord persona, sullen and sad. He could swear Voldemort was pouting, if such thing was possible.
"Go and tell them, better tell my daughter to come and ask me in person."
"My Lord, do you mean Miss Riddle?" For the second time he noticed that Nagini was put away, but where?
"Who else, my daughter, of course. The next question you made; the answer is, it is none of your business. Ah, if my daughter should ask, tell her you haven't seen Nagini for days." He smirked.
At seeing the Dark Lord's grimace, which he guessed must be a conspiratorial smile, cold sweat ran down his back. He tried to keep his mind blank since Voldemort was obviously reading his mind.
Lucius knocked, "Mrs. Granger please open up."
Right away, Hermione was at the door, "Go away. I was told that you issued the order to have my father killed, hope that it made you happy. Maybe one day, someone will order your precious son killed." At that moment, she looked like the Dark Lord, cold and unforgiving.
Lucius could see her issuing such order and worried. He lowered his voice. "Miss Granger, I mean Miss Riddle, ask your mother who helped her escape. Ask her, I am not at liberty to divulge the name of the other wizards, there were three of us."
"Wait there," Hermione slammed the door on his face. He felt someone coming around the corner and stop. It was Voldemort, behaving like a lovesick rejected suitor trying to catch a glimpse of his beloved.
Five long minutes passed. He had just noticed several wizards posted everywhere and was glad that he had whispered, he had to be more careful. He figured that Voldemort was just making sure nothing happen to the witches.
Voldemort moved close to Lucius, and finally settled at the sofa placed by the door for his use. He sat there most day and night, hoping that one of his loves would come out. It had everyone unnerved and scared.
"Come in," the door suddenly opened. Hermione made a face when she saw Voldemort stand up with alacrity.
"Is this a trick, go aw..."
They heard Jean Granger's voice. "Hermione, let Tom come in."
Meanwhile Voldemort was at the door blocking the entrance, not allowing the door to close on him. He had zero pride at that moment.
"My child, my beautiful daughter, my treasure," he stretched his hand, trying to touch Hermione. Voldemort's voice was one never heard before by Lucius or by any of the guards. Never mind the words of endearment pouring out his lips.
"Dear, please allow me to tell you—" He was cut in mid sentence.
"Go away, you are a monster. I am not your child, my father was the good man you had killed; you and your goons." Her eyes filled with tears, but her face was one of righteous indignation, cold and merciless. She was a chip off the old block, standing with her body rigid, and her hair moving with the angry magic pouring out of her.
Rabastan who stood on guard, looked at her wondering what was going on.
Jean's voice was loud and clear, "Let him come, let both in and leave the door open. If he is going to kill us let others see and hear who he is. He is the monster who abandons his child and sends killers to rape her mother and to kill the only good father that she knew."
Everyone froze. They wished to be elsewhere; each one of them feared for their lives. Lucius, who was also afraid, stepped back.
Jean came to the door. She wore Muggle trousers, same as her daughter, which displayed her lithe body. She hadn't want the healer to heal the bruises, nor the external damage left from the brutal rape. It matter not, she was a beautiful woman. At 36, she looked like Hermione's older sister. The long hair was braided, allowing the deep bruising visible for anyone to see. More than one of those who saw her, wanted either her or the daughter.
Voldemort angered at seeing her face and neck, but it lasted for a second. Next second, he walked towards the two witches as in a trance, as both walked backwards at the same time.
Hermione hissed, "Come but stay away from us," she bared her teeth and stood in front of her mother.
Voldemort didn't heed her warning and had a taste of his daughter's angry contempt. She raised her hand creating an energy wall around her mother and herself; hence, when he stretched his hand to reach them, his hand received a strong, painful shock.
They all saw the sparks and readied to run, no need, they also heard Voldemort's laugh, or something that resembled one.
"Of course, I should have known, you are my child, powerful, coming of age. Point well taken, just allow us to enter."
Lucius was stuck to the floor, this was unreal. Others were learning, mother and daughter could get away with much, and this was only the beginning.
Mother and daughter sat on a small couch, stuck to each other, holding hands. Not for the first time Lucius wished for what he couldn't have. He had fancied Hermione since the night at the MOM, another futile dream.
"Speak," Jean asked, no longer subdued. Lucius could see her inner strength; without a doubt, he thought, mother and daughter are priceless.
"My darling, why won't you allow me to talk." He looked at Hermione and moved his hand to cast a charm to block those outside of the room.
A rat stood sat by a corner, listening. Hermione heard the scurrying and knew at once. She looked at the rat, it was Pettigrew.
"So, must you bring your spies with you?" Hermione sneered.
"What spies my dear?" Voldemort followed her eyes and saw Pettigrew. The insolence, nobody spied on his child.
Jean quickly guessed what came next, "No more killing." She had heard of the rat Animagi.
Both father and daughter whined while agreeing with Jean, both wanting the rat gone for different reasons.
Lucius who despised Pettigrew, sent a mental command to Pepita. She was his favorite Kneazle who followed him like a dog. But it was Brutus his wolfhound, who didn't like rats, and who was always by his master, or as of lately by Hermione, who finished the life of a miserable traitor.
He pounced right before Pepita and, to Jean's horror and Hermione's delight, grabbed the rat by his neck, and shook it once breaking his neck. Yup, Pettigrew was no more.
Hermione applauded and exclaimed "Good boy!" Voldemort snickered softly.
Lucius anticipating the dead Animagi changing back to human upon his death, pointed his wand to send the body outside the room, and it burned on the spot.
"Mr. Malfoy, please feed your dog a nice juicy steak on mine and Harry's behalf." Hermione grinned. Her father looked at her with humor on his eyes, but didn't make any other sounds, he knew better.
Jean looked from one to the other, from father to daughter, wondering if she didn't know her daughter. It wasn't over, her child was static over a death.
Moreover, Hermione now seemed very happy, looking well and chuckling, and to Jean's distress, Hermione stood to jump up high while raising her fist. Then she went and shook Lucius' hand, twirled around, and finally sat on the floor to hug and smooch Brutus, who was banging his tail, basking in Hermione's love.
"Who is the best of good boys? You must give this boy whatever he wishes," she looked at Lucius while Brutus licked her face, and she giggled.
Finally, Voldemort could no longer hold it and guffawed, to Lucius' continued amazement. The monster was being human. Lucius joined the laughter; the rat deserved that and more.
"My pleasure, will do so. Brutus was doing his job, he gets rid of vermin." Lucius grinned, stood and bowed in an old courtly gesture to which Hermione answered with a graceful courtesy. All while Voldemort looked at her with unquestionable pride, and Jean pursed her lips.
Hermione went back to Jean's side, hugged her and sat back holding her mother's hand. Jean accepted the hug, she liked seeing her daughter laugh. This marked the moment when Lucius became Hermione's ally, her right hand of sorts; she would have a couple if them.
Her mother knowing what Pettigrew had done, was quiet. Everyone decided that it was best not to say anything and let dead rats lie. Voldemort seized the moment.
"My dears I cannot let you leave. It is dangerous. I have too many enemies, and the word is out that you are my daughter. You are, even if your mother denies it. Look at your wrist."
She had seen it, the two half moons, green and black. "Two half moons, green and black. Even if you glamoured it, we both know it is there. I am sure you also hide a particular aspect of your hair."
Both Grangers blushed, they knew exactly what he meant.
"Before I turned into this, my hair also had the jet black and green strands. You also must be marked as an special being, your mother has the same symbols on her skin. I am still not sure what it means, but I remember they hold a type of power. Besides that, Jean tell her, please my love about you know what, there. " He didn't say what or where, but both witches blushed more.
Jean attacked, "Tell her how you sent your killer, your lover, that nasty witch to kill me. How you later came to kill my uncle and aunt? Others saw you, one was an old wizard, friend of my uncle. If not for my saviors I would be dead, and your daughter would have been no more. Hermione is right, you are a cold blooded killer. I was just a little older than your child, and you abandoned us."
"Saviors, which saviors? My dear, what are you saying?" Voldemort asked. Stupid, I am stupid. Of course, she had been saved by one or more of his wizards. Those must be identified.
Jean looked aghast, maybe she had caused the rescuers demise. Jean neither believe nor trusted Tom. She believed that he had sent Bellatrix, but had changed his mind once he saw his child. She turned pale and started to shake.
"Mommy, what is wrong?" Hermione held her mother, whose body was trembling and had turned ice cold.
Tom Riddle, A.K.A. Voldemort, felt terrible, his Jean still believed that he had sent Bellatrix to kill her. Once again, he wished that he had killed Bella slowly.
Not thinking and with supernatural speed, he was by 'his Jean.' He longed to have her close to him, to be the one comforting her.
He held her cold hand, and Hermione looked at him with reprehension.
Jean didn't pull her hand away. She missed his touch, regardless of the monster that he had become.
Slowly he pulled Jean into his arms. To Hermione's horror her mother let him, and worse, let him sit her on his lap and relaxed against him.
At once, Lucius blocked the room's view. The guards could no longer see.
Bile ran up Hermione's throat. "Mom get away from him." She urged.
Voldemort looked at Hermione, "I am not 'him,' I am your father." With this, he caressed the back of his beloved Jean.
"My sweet angel don't fear for your saviors, do not." He kissed Jean's head.
Lucius noticed that Voldemort looked more human, he was certain. It downed on him, Voldemort wasn't hissing his speech, curious.
"You are not my father, let go of my mother."
Voldemort ignored her while the happiness not felt for over eighteen years, ran thru him. "My dear princess, shh, my Jean," he talked to Jean, "whoever did it deserves my reward. Only two people knew about my feelings, Abraxas, now dead, and one of my trusted wizards. Everyone else probably believed Bella, but I guess not. I want to reward those who saved my precious loves."
"Do you?" Jean quit shaking and looked at him. Lucius saw the love Jean had for Tom, unreal but there was no denying it. Lucius braced himself because he didn't trust Tom. Lucius hoped against hope that Jean wouldn't know, that he was spared.
"There were two maybe three. I think that Mr. Malfoy warned my uncle and took them into hiding, I didn't see him, but they described him to me. It had to be him." She looked at Lucius, whose sphincter had stopped working. Jean smiled gratefully.
Lucius felt sick, plus his trousers were wet. He dried them with a subtle wandless, and he waited for... he didn't know for what was coming, but he felt cold, rather freezing. That was when he saw Voldemort's eyes fixed on him.
A/N. Oh, oh, what a bad situation. Poor Lucius, what would you do in his place? Evil laughter escapes Glorioux' lips.