Albus Dumbledore watched in abject horror despite keeping as much of his visage as calm as possible behind his occlumency barriers as the Death Eaters and their leader entered the Great Hall; he was able to keep his emotions much better than the students, who were cowering and whimpering, especially the muggle-borns, who were terrified, and for good reason.
But all the time his mind was racing.
Why hadn't Severus warned him of this impending invasion of Hogwarts?
The Potions Master, while an arrogant idiot, and always so desperate to save his worthless hide, was bound under so many oaths and enchantments cast on the Death Eater himself - stupid man, Severus was a genius, but he always liked to view himself as higher on the intellectual ladder than Dumbledore was himself, and Dumbledore had instantly known the slimy man would try to betray him, so he'd taken precautions, and he had cast his enchantments after overpowering the former Slytherin.
Why was Voldemort attacking now? Had he learnt that he, Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter were seeking out his Horcruxes, and had come in person to put a stop to it?
Speaking of which, where was that dratted boy? The Potter brat had been missing for the last few days, after splitting up with Ginny Weasley, the girl Dumbledore had chosen for him to marry, get pregnant so he could gain control over the Potter seats and he'd gone off with Hermione Granger, a girl whom Dumbledore did not want him with; the girl was a mudblood, and the last thing Dumbledore wanted was Potter getting involved with one of those since it would cause so many problems with his plans, seeing as the Potters were descended from the Peverell bloodline.
Lord Voldemort strode into the Great Hall, flanked by Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, and several of his Inner Circle. A few Junior Death Eaters were flanking their so-called Lord and Master.
Dumbledore glowered at them, wishing he had used much stronger methods of gaining a foothold within the Death Eater ranks, perhaps using potions that would ensnare their minds, and twist them to spy and even betray their parents and Voldemort, maybe even marry them to muggle-borns, out of spite against their families, and bring them into the 20th century instead of keeping them in the dark ages.
Ah, alas, the things you thought of in hindsight.
"Hello, Dumbledore," Voldemort smirked at him, his eye eyes glinting in his snake-like visage, even as he spoke in his usual calm manner. "It's agreeable to see you again, but as we both know that would be an utter lie?"
"Likewise, Tom," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Don't call me by that name," Voldemort's manner darkened, and he hissed mercilessly like a snake. "I would advise you to be extremely careful; you are not going to live beyond today."
Dumbledore glared at him, losing some of his control. "How did you get into Hogwarts?" He demanded, his tone making it clear he expected an answer.
"You mean how did I get in without your spy knowing? Ah yes, I knew about Severus spying on you," Voldemort shook his head with an expression, even on a face now twisted like his, that looked regretful. "I have known the whole time; the enchantments on him were impressive, I'll give you that, but really, I would have expected something more poetic, subtle."
Dumbledore was staring at him in disbelief. "You knew?"
He was so stunned that he couldn't even deny what he'd done. How had Voldemort known?
Voldemort nodded, "Did you really believe I wouldn't keep watch on my followers, Dumbledore? I know when somebody is interfering with my followers; the Dark Mark was designed to be unique, with enchantments of its own. I allowed you to believe you had a spy in my Inner Circle and I used him to feed you information that proved to be on the whole worthless. I sacrificed several of my raids because of him, just to keep my main operations a secret. I never reveal what I am doing in case one of my followers decides to betray me."
Dumbledore had been kicking himself for his stupidity and lack of subtlety. In truth, he had found several enchantments laced into the spell that went into the Dark Mark when he'd examined it, but on the face of it it was just no different from the tattoos he had read Dark Lords and Dark Wizards and witches use on their victims, to twist them to their side.
He had made the cardinal sin by not studying them properly.
"Where is Severus now?"
Voldemort quirked a non-existent eyebrow. "Why do you ask?" He asked genuinely curious. "You're never going to see him again, and he is not coming back to Hogwarts again. He is going to become my permanent live-in Potions Master. I have long since desired to punish him for his lack of integrity. Besides, by not punishing him, I am giving him a punishment I have never used before."
"I only want to know."
"He's back at my Manor," Voldemort got tired of the little game involving Snape and looked around the hall, "And where is dear, clever Harry Potter? I heard he'd gone missing."
Dumbledore went cold. "What do you know about that?"
"Oh, I know a lot more than that, Dumbledore," Voldemort smirked. "After all, my daughter took care of him."
"Your…daughter?" Dumbledore repeated, glancing instantly to look at Bellatrix, knowing the insane witch had an obsession with Voldemort. But he had never imagined or guessed Voldemort even had a daughter.
"Yes," Voldemort smirked harder, looking as if he were about to rub his hands furiously with glee before he lifted his hand, and made a waved it. From behind Voldemort and the Death Eaters, a cloaked figure, clearly female, walked forward. Dumbledore stared at the figure curiously, wondering who it was, and then he realised it could only be one person.
"No," he whispered.
The figure took off their hood, exposing bushy brunette hair, a clear complexion and brown eyes, but there was an ugly sneer on her face. Everyone gasped, recognising her as the third member of the so-called Golden Trio.
It was Hermione Granger.
"Hermione?" Ron Weasley whispered, but the girl only had eyes for Dumbledore.
"Granger is not my name, Headmaster," the way she mocked the old wizard told everyone this was no playacting. This was really happening. "My real name is Hermione Riddle."
With a flourish, she took off her cloak, exposing the Death Eater robes, and she even rolled her sleeves up, exposing the Dark Mark for all to see, except this Dark Mark was different; instead of the slightly faded red or black, this one was mounted on a silver triangle, with the jaw of the skull sculpted to show four snake fangs, with the serpent a poisonous green in colour.
But as she moved, everyone took notice of her engorged belly.
Hermione was pregnant.
Voldemort stepped closer until he had his hand on her shoulder, gazing at her proudly. "Hermione never expected to become Harry's friend here at Hogwarts, but when she did, she found out he was a fountain of information. This year, I wanted to cement my reign of power, as my daughter and her betrothed prepared to become parents, while we ensured the Boy Who Lived was no longer a threat."
Hermione smirked. "It was so easy for me to make Harry and the blood traitor break up," she turned and grinned mockingly at Ginny, who was glaring at her, "Oh, don't worry Ginny, my father and I will make sure you are paired with a proper husband."
Ginny shrieked in rage, but Hermione tuned her out while Voldemort took out a small mirror, and with a quick flick of his wand, he enlarged it and showed everyone what was happening to Harry Potter. Hermione smirked and breathed in slowly as she looked around the hall, gazing triumphantly as she ran a hand over her growing belly.
Her father had been keeping Harry in a cell, without any food or water for the last few days. He was running out of strength, and soon he would be joining his blood-traitor father and mudblood mother, and soon with the death of Dumbledore and the destruction of the Order of the Phoenix, all resistance would be destroyed; already, the Death Eaters were heading towards the addresses of the Order members and their families; she had spoken to her father at length, to have the families, especially children spared, as they could be brainwashed to follow the doctrine of her father.
Hermione paused, and stopped smirking when she fixed her gaze on Luna Lovegood; all of the other kids and teachers in the school were looking at the mirror, and at her, with sadness and anger.
But Luna was the exception. She seemed to be looking back at her with a thoughtful smile on her face as if she knew something Hermione did not.
Hermione ignored her and turned to watch as Harry Potter died before her father and herself hit Dumbledore with two killing curses to the chest.
It was the end of the Light.