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Serpentine Series	By : HarmonyB Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 12060 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO THE HARRY POTTER FANDOM NOR DO I MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS STORY.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Harmony sat on the sofa near her Master's chair as she watched Barty set the table for their dinner. Voldemort had excused himself for a few minutes to wash up and thus left her alone with him.
But Barty must have assumed he was still within earshot of his Master because he kept his hands to himself and didn't try to talk to Harmony as he worked. He stole several glances in her direction, though, and Harmony was starting to get annoyed. While ignoring him, she stood up and went over to a small bookshelf beside his bed and read the titles. She noticed several of them were actually storybooks, and she wished she could take them to read herself. He even had a copy of The Beetle and the Bard, one she had never had the chance to finish.
When she heard the bathroom doorknob rattle she went back to her seat as Master came out. His jet-black hair was damp and tousled. He was wearing a green velvet bathrobe and his face was clean-shaven. He sat in his chair and said to her, "You left your towel on the floor again."
"Did I? I thought I hung it up. I swore I did."
"No, it was on the floor. I nearly slipped on it and broke my neck. Is that what you want? To have your Lord with a broken neck?"
"Of course not, my Lord. I'll be more careful next time. I promise."
Master took a sip of his tea and noticed Barty staring at the two of them, gaping. "What are you gawking at? Hurry up with our meal, Harmony must be famished."
Barty looked away and quickly set out two plates, two goblets, silverware, and the rest of the food. Finished with his chore, he bowed to them both and departed.
Harmony reached for the wine but was surprised when he took it first and poured into her goblet before pouring his own. She cast him an uncertain glance as she started to eat.
Although she was certain it annoyed him, Master did not comment when she ate with her face scarf still in place. It took her a bit longer that way—to move her fork beneath the fabric—but she couldn't risk exposing herself by removing it.
"Tomorrow I will show you another spell I suspect you will like," he announced as he wiped at his face with a green linen napkin and tossed it onto his empty plate.
Harmony nodded for him to continue.
"This one is called Glacius," he said.
"The freezing spell," she said with a nod.
"It is usually used to create ice or put out fires," he explained, "but when used on a wizard, it can be quite dangerous."
"I've never thought of using it defensively," she said thoughtfully.
"I have the book right here," he said and went over to the shelf she had examined earlier. "This book focuses solely on its dangerous attributes." He opened it to the correct page and motioned for her to join him by the fire. She sat down at his side, and he set the book in her lap.
She hadn't realized how long the two of them had been reading until Voldemort was unable to stifle a yawn. She looked over and saw him stretch his arms. Then he stood up in front of her and held out his hands. It took her a moment to realize he was asking for the book, and she gave it to him a bit reluctantly.
"I must tell you," he said as he walked her to the door, "that in addition to accompanying me to the festival, you must participate in a traditional piece of entertainment. All of my women followers—and all women who are relations of the Slytherin family—must perform something to the attendees."
Harmony pulled a face at this pronouncement. "What usually goes on at these celebrations?" she asked. Her voice was tinged with worry.
"Most everything," he answered. "Buffet tables loaded with food and drink from over the world. Staged performances. In years past, my women held a play, sometimes a dance. Often, duels are held. If you tire of the stage, there is music for dancing. They used to have long speeches in honor of Salazar Slytherin, but nowadays those have been excluded. The celebration is nothing more than a party of raucous witches and wizards."
"With more than a hundred people," she clarified nervously.
He must have sensed her uneasiness, because he said in an unusually soft voice, "It is a great honor to perform for them. You will be highly considered. It would also be the most effective way to introduce you to my followers and the rest." He gazed down at her, and she did not look away. "You will be especially honored among the others, Harmony. You are special compared to my other followers. You know this?"
Her heart crept up into her throat, but she nodded her understanding. "I'm starting to get a sense of that, yes."
"You are unique," he repeated.
She nodded again, unable to meet his blue eyes this time, then opened the door and left.
Harmony's days were now split in half. Early in the morning she had her intense lessons with Master, while around midday she met with a large group of women to practice their performance routine. They met in a large, empty hall similar to the lesson hall, but on the other side of the enormous mansion.
When she first met with the group, she was surprised to recognize so many of the women there. When she made eye-contact with Bellatrix Lestrange the dark-haired witch leered then looked away. Some of the girls there she thought she had seen around the halls of Hogwarts over the years, all of them from Slytherin house.
The last of the women she recognized had clearly been placed in charge of their performance. The twenty performers all gathered around her to hear her speak.
Narcissa Malfoy: tall, slender, beautiful, mother of Draco, and wife to Lucius Malfoy. Like her husband, Narcissa's hair was a platinum blond that fell halfway down her back, and she had lovely green eyes that scanned over everyone there as she wrote their names down on the parchment and quill she carried.
"And who is this?" she asked in a lyrical voice so unlike the harsh tone of her sister, Bellatrix. The other witches all stopped talking and moved to scrutinize Harmony as she came into the group.
"She's the witch I was telling you about, Cissy," Bellatrix snarled into her ear. Side-by-side, it was clear to see they were related. They shared the same shape of eyes and faces, but the color of Bellatrix's eyes was a grayish-blue.
"The one with the Serpentine charm?" Narcissa clarified as she looked Harmony over with interest. Upon hearing this, the other witches started to murmur with enthusiasm.
Harmony looked every woman right in the eye as they continued their perusal. Her heart beat fast at the unwanted attention, but she held her head high.
"Harmony Hangleton, you must be placed front and center for our performance," Narcissa pronounced in a docile voice edged with derision as she stepped up to her. "Surely everyone will wish to get a good look at our Dark Lord's pet as she dances at the celebration."
Several suggestive laughs rang out, and Harmony's face flushed crimson. Bellatrix looked like she could've strangled her sister for the comment.
"Thank you," Harmony said, deepening her voice slightly in case anyone should recognize it otherwise. "But I am not the greatest dancer. I would hate to ruin the whole spectacle."
Narcissa's eyes darkened as she drew near. She looked down her nose and said, "You may be the Dark Lord's new favorite, child, but I am the one in charge of this performance. So if I say that you will be front and center, then that is precisely where you will be."
Harmony hesitated, but then conceded, "Of course, ma'am."
Narcissa returned to the front of the room. Harmony felt sting of embarrassment at being called a child. She used to think Lucius had been the one to pass on his cruel dominance to Draco, but as she watched the mother she began to think otherwise.
"I have already picked the perfect song," Narcissa declared as she nodded to the pianist seated at a beautiful grand piano in the corner.
Harmony was pleased by the song, as she was sure many of the women were, and the song's catchy melody already made her envision swift and spritely moves. Narcissa placed Harmony first in position. The rest of the meeting was spent organizing the rest of the women around her. When finished, Narcissa had four rows with five women each. Only one woman stood between Harmony and Bellatrix. Every now and then the wicked witch sent Harmony a look of pure loathing, but Harmony did her best to ignore her. She wanted to concentrate on not screwing up at the celebration so she wouldn't have to die of embarrassment in the end.
She learned from the others that they would be dancing in a grand auditorium built by Salazar Slytherin's own family in the medieval era. It had been rebuilt recently to do well for the celebrations. One week before they were to perform, they began to meet there for practice so they would be used to the stage once the time came. While she danced there, Harmony tried to imagine the auditorium filled to capacity by hundreds of laughing, screaming, singing and dancing Slytherins, and was more nervous than ever as a result.
The evening before, Narcissa gave everyone their costumes. Harmony was appalled when she first saw the sleeveless satin dress and flowing hemline that would barely cover her knees, but she figured she would appreciate it under the hot stage lamps as they danced. Each woman's costume had its own color, but only Harmony was given the honor of wearing Slytherin green. The dress was covered with small silver beads and sequins that glinted prettily in the light. The costume was going to reveal more skin than she'd ever shown before, but thankfully she didn't have to worry about revealing her face as well; each woman was given a beautifully painted mask that corresponded with the color of her costume. The masks covered all of the face except the mouth and chin, so Harmony wasn't worried about being identified. The ensemble was completed with dainty dancing shoes and dazzling rings for their fingers.
Despite the fact that everyone would have their faces covered, Harmony knew there would be no mistaking who she was. None of the other dancers had a half-yard-long snake tattoo slithering all over their body. The Serpentine charm would be easily visible to all when she stepped out onto the stage.
Throughout rehearsals, Bellatrix Lestrange went out of her way to give Harmony a bad time. She hissed insults at her that often contained words along the line of "harlot." But ever since they'd started rehearsal at the auditorium, the woman had abruptly stopped. She had acted civil towards Harmony all week and once she even smiled at her. Harmony was worried the woman had something planned but had no idea what.
The next morning Harmony actually managed to block one of Voldemort's spells and countered it immediately with an Absorbeo, followed by a disarming spell. As they left the lesson hall Master gave her an encouraging shoulder squeeze, nearly scaring the wits out of her. But when she saw the unusual touch was innocent, she relaxed.
Harmony was becoming better at dueling. She could tell. Even though Voldemort still attacked her in dueling with lightning speed, her magic was starting to course through her almost without thinking. At moments, the words hardly pass her lips before the magic blasts from her wand. When I return to Hogwarts I'm certain to get an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts, she thought happily.
But this thought made her pause. Would she ever be able to return to her beloved school? To see her friends and family again? It almost seemed impossible now that she had been deemed 'the Dark Lord's pet.' She could see no end in sight, no escape from this lie of a life.
She was the so-called favorite of the most dangerous wizard in history.
She was special among all his followers.
She was the only one who had the Serpentine charm, whatever it represented.
There was no denying anymore that she truly was unique—in the Dark Lord's eyes and the eyes of everyone else.
How long would she be caught up in this charade? How many more days until Snape or Dumbledore or someone came to recuse her? Would she be able to escape when the time came without anyone knowing? She wasn't how long she could keep up the lies. If she never left, it was likely to drive her insane. Or worse.
Snow was falling lightly the evening of the celebration when Voldemort led a large group of Death Eaters from Riddle mansion. He was wearing a cloak with the hood up to hide his face. Harmony was right by his side. People by the hundreds were already swarming about the auditorium and its grounds when they arrived.
The sight of the vast expanse of people sent Harmony's stomach into another bout of nerves. All those Muggle-hating people. If they knew the truth about her, she didn't want to know what they'd do. Or worse, what Voldemort would do to her.
"Large turnout," Master said in her ear. "The largest I've ever seen for the celebration. Word must've spread about you." They were still about a hundred yards away from the milling throng of people. The sight of it made Harmony unconsciously move closer to him with their elbows bumping.
When Lord Voldemort stepped inside the building, his commanding presence grabbed the attention of every witch and wizard. Every one of them bowed deeply as he strode past to the private booth reserved for him and his followers. Every seat within the enclosure except for Voldemort's was already filled. Many of his followers left him there to go off and enjoy the festivities, but Harmony knew that she was to stay by his side unless he ordered otherwise.
She was too nervous to sit on the ground and opted to simply stand to one side of his chair instead with her hands held awkwardly behind her back.
"Stop fidgeting," he told her when she had taken up position. "Relax."
"They're staring at me as if I was the latest Quidditch match," she said in his ear.
"By the end of the night, they will all know," Voldemort said, then chuckled when she looked even more nervous than before. "News will spread: 'wherever the Dark Lord goes, Harmony Hangleton goes with him.'"
Harmony caught sight of Bellatrix in the crowd watching the exchange with venom in her eyes. As soon as she saw Harmony look in her direction the evil witch plastered on another fake smile and nodded at her, then disappeared. Harmony thought the witch looked apprehensive, but there also seemed to be a hunger that was difficult to mistake. The woman had to be planning something; most likely something that would either make her or Voldemort look bad.
A trio of platinum blond heads weaved through the mesmerizing movements of the dancers and made their way to the private area. The sight of Harmony's familiar classmate, Draco Malfoy, sent Harmony's heart racing, and she automatically checked to see if her face was well concealed. In their opulent clothes and regal affectations, the Malfoy's easily stood out from the crowd.
Lucius Malfoy looked prouder than ever as a gloved hand gripped his son's shoulder to propel him forward. Narcissa, while also proud of her son, looked quite apprehensive. Draco stood, tall and rigid, trying to appear brave. But Harmony knew him well enough that standing before the Dark Lord was the last place he wanted to be.
"My Lord," the family said in unison as they bowed. Draco's words came out in a whisper.
Lucius stepped forward and added, "It is an honor to be in your illuminating presence, as always, my Lord. Here is my son, as you requested."
Voldemort sat forward in his chair to address Draco directly and told the young man to come closer.
Draco answered in a voice higher than normal as he stepped up. At the last moment, while one of his feet was still in the air, Lucius gave his son an encouraging push that nearly landed him in the Dark Lord's lap. Then he took Narcissa's hand in his own and looked almost tearful as he watched.
"Do you know what it means to receive my mark, Draco Malfoy?" Voldemort asked him sternly. "It is the greatest honor you can be bestowed with. It means that from this day on you belong to me, and that you will do everything I ask without question, without hesitation, and with the utmost pride."
"Y—yes," Draco said, then straightened his shoulders and repeated in a firmer tone, "Yes, my Lord. I'm ready."
"Your wand arm," said the menacing wizard and Draco stuck it out obediently. A few of the others in the room noticed what was happening, and slowly the word spread around that Draco Malfoy was about to be marked. A sea of faces turned to watch.
Harmony's own charm slithered on her back as if it, too, was trying to see what was happening.
Draco's fingers trembled slightly as he rolled up the green sleeve on his right arm; when he'd uncovered it up to the elbow he stepped closer to the Dark Lord, offering it to him. Master flicked out his wand and waved it over Draco's arm as he muttered the spell just under his breath, and a wave of green light spilt out and covered the area with the skull and serpent worn by all the Death Eaters. She couldn't understand the words he'd used, but by the use of long vowels and S's, she guessed it was Parseltongue—the language of the snakes.
Draco found it more difficult to hide his fear in the last few moments as the light dimmed and the Dark Lord let go of his arm. He stared at his arm, which had once been unblemished. The serpent of his mark was confined to only the arm, and did not wriggle nearly as much as the charm Harmony wore. Harmony caught sight of Narcissa's eyes. The witch looked relieved to have the deed over with, and she cast Lucius a look tinged with disgust. Lucius looked back at her, his composure faltering only for an instant, but in that instant he apologized with his eyes.
Master looked back at Harmony, and she could only see a hint of his blue eyes within the shadow of his cloak hood. Her eyes focused on the shadowy slit where his lips should be as she tried to hear what he was saying.
"Take our new follower around and show him around to the others."
Both of Draco's parents turned and gave Harmony an unfriendly look. Draco glanced at her with despondency in his eyes.
Narcissa piped up, "My Lord, Harmony must ready herself for the performance soon."
"She will make it back in time," Voldemort replied for Harmony.
She nodded, relieved to have the chance to take time away from the Dark Lord. She quickly stepped forward, winding am arm around Draco's, and led him away. She never looked back to see his parents' disapproving eyes.
- 11
- 12
- 13
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Serpentine Series