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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
- 19
- 20
- 21
Harmony awakened to the sound of Bellatrix's strident voice somewhere above her head. She was still under the effects of the Stupefy and couldn't even open her eyes. She felt herself reclined on a couch. By the familiar old musty smell, she knew they were back at Riddle mansion. Unable to see who was all in the room, she listened intently.
"I still don't see why you needed to bring the girl back, my Lord," Bellatrix complained in a whiny tone. "What good is she to us if she can't even Apparate? And nearly gets herself caught by the Ministry on her very first mission?"
"Are you trying to say I made a wrong decision in saving her, the one endowed with the Serpentine charm," he asked hotly, and Harmony could tell his face was hovering near her own by the closeness of his voice. "Well, Lestrange? Was I wrong?"
Bellatrix gasped. "No, my dear Lord. I was only saying—"
"The next time I hear about you threatening her, it will be the last thing you do, Lestrange," he said. "Now go away while I'm still in a charitable mood."
"Yes, my Lord," she answered in a pinched voice; Harmony heard her sniffling as she hurried away.
"My Lord, the Aurors came out of nowhere," said a frantic Darius. "I swear to you they were not there when we searched."
Voldemort growled, followed by a bright light and a pathetic scream by Darius. "I don't care how the Aurors knew we would be there! I just want to know how we're going to get the cabinet back!"
"I wouldn't worry too much about the matter, my Lord," said another man. "It may be gone now, but you know we have insiders at the Ministry who can get us in."
"Not can," Voldemort hissed. "We will get in. We will get the cabinet back. I will not let the stupidity of my followers ruin my plans."
"Yes, my Lord," they all said in unison; there sounded to be about five others in the room.
"Fetch me Lucius Malfoy," he demanded. "His cooperation will be vital for us to infiltrate the Ministry."
"As you wish, my Lord," said Darius above the murmurs of the others. Harmony could hear their footsteps as everyone left.
It was so silent then that she wondered if she was all alone in the room, but then the floor creaked beside her and she knew Voldemort was still there. Despite not being able to see, she could feel his eyes on her. It was like she could physically feel the weight of his gaze looking over every inch of her body. She tried to speak, but like her eyelids, nothing worked when she willed it.
Voldemort sighed heavily, a defeated sound. She felt as he sat down on the farther end of the couch, and he sat back until he was rested against her legs.
Harmony could still feel his gaze on her, and willed her own eyes to open so she could see him, but still they wouldn't budge. She imagined him staying there, watching, until she could break herself free of the spell, no matter how long it took.
He leaned forward, part of his weight coming down on her side. He came so close—just enough for her to feel him exhale on her cheek and hear the whoosh of air as he breathed in again.
Then she felt the tips of his fingers graze her left cheekbone just beneath her eye—an action that surely would've made her jump if she'd been able. His fingers stroked the spot tenderly, almost curiously.
"That's new," he muttered.
He must be looking at the scar Bellatrix gave me this morning, she thought. But any other thought evaded her when he continued to rub the scar, back and forth, memorizing.
Then his fingers froze mid-stroke, as if a sudden idea had occurred to him. To her utter horror, he gently slid a couple of fingers under her scarf and pulled down to peel it away from her face.
"You wanted to see me, my L—" Lucius began, then stopped short somewhere nearby. Voldemort jumped as if he'd been hit by a spell.
"Lucius," he said, trying to hide his surprise. Harmony thought he sounded disappointed as well, but she didn't care. At least her face scarf was still securely in place.
"Surely you've heard what happened today?" Voldemort said.
"Y-yes, of course, my Lord," faltered Lucius, and Harmony could imagine him averting his gaze. "How unfortunate."
"Why did you not come to warn me about the Aurors?" Voldemort asked icily.
"I swear to you, my Lord, I knew nothing about the Aurors' awareness of your plans," Lucius told him with impassioned words.
Master paused, and Harmony knew he was using those piercing x-ray eyes of his to look Lucius over, probably pursing his lips as he always did whenever considering something grave.
"Very well," Master finally said. "I need you to do something more for me at the Ministry. You will find out where they're keeping the Vanishing cabinet, Malfoy. I will possess it."
In a smooth, placating tone Lucius replied, "Of course you will, my Lord, only—" he paused, "—it may be difficult to get it out. I am certain the Ministry would put the device under maximum security. That is, if they haven't destroyed it already."
"You'd best hope they have not."
"I will find out what I can, my Lord," Lucius said.
"Yes," said Master; the floor creaked and by the increase of volume in his voice, she knew he was facing Harmony again. "See to it that you do."
"My Lord," said Lucius. There a moment of silence. She could imagine Lucius watching while Voldemort gazed down at her. He coughed loudly, as though uncomfortable. "My son, Draco," he said nervously. "He is having some, er, difficulty completing the task you have given him. He has made an effort, with a little of my help, but so far—well, I fear he is too much like his mother."
"I know."
"What I mean to say, my Lord, is that he can be a very passionate young man," Lucius said. "But, he has my determination, and I know that because of this he is sure to succeed."
"Your son will not fail me," Master said. "After all, he's your son."
"Thank you, my Lord," said Lucius. "He truly is very proud to have been appointed by you."
The room fell silent for a time, and Harmony almost thought Lucius must've left until he asked in an uncertain but cold tone, "And the girl?"
"What about her?" Voldemort asked in a menacing tone.
Lucius said as if it was obvious, "Who is she?"
"What do you mean, Lucius?"
"I mean, where is she from? Who is her family?"
"Severus found her at Hogwarts," Voldemort answered as if he were talking to a child.
"As I have heard. Draco told me that she seems familiar from school, but that he can't recall her being in Slytherin House. And what about her clothes? Why does she always wear that scarf over her face? Is-is she," he paused, and then whispered disparagingly, "deformed?"
"I do not know, nor does it matter," Voldemort said defensively.
"And my Lord, the Serpentine charm, for gargoyle's sake? We all know what that means, but did you even bother to find out whether or not she's pureblood?"
"Enough!" Master's voice exploded through the room, and Harmony felt a sudden flood of anger rush through her. She mentally cursed Lucius for putting all those questions into her Master's head. Her identity had been in serious jeopardy even before he'd arrived.
Lucius backed away in a noisy clatter, but he did not go far.
"Do you think I haven't already asked myself those same questions, Lucius?" Master asked in a quieter tone, but no less lethal. Harmony could feel him looking down at her. "As far as I know, when I asked Snape to find me a young pupil he could've unknowingly brought me a Dumbledore spy." He paused. "But I knew that it could not be so. I began to realize something rather enticing about her."
"Enticing, my Lord?" Lucius repeated slowly, his voice sounding slightly perturbed.
"I see me in her, Lucius—so eager for knowledge, but so much more than that," Voldemort said. "It is her fearlessness, so much like my own."
"This is why you gave her the charm, my Lord?" Lucius asked skeptically.
"To speak honestly, I wasn't fully aware at the time why I made such a heavy decision," Voldemort admitted. "She needed my protection, and the charm suddenly appeared in my mind, almost of its own accord. But I trust myself, Lucius. I know I would've never done it if I thought she was the wrong choice. I am sure of it."
"The charm is irreplaceable, my Lord," Lucius reminded him.
"I know," Voldemort hissed. "Now that she has it, she will have to come to terms with it. I recognize she is not fully aware of the meaning behind the charm, but soon she will have to face the responsibility that lies ahead of her."
"My Lord, she must be told, for the sake of our future—your future," Lucius said urgently.
"Yes," said Master in quiet contemplation.
The floor creaked as Lucius stepped closer. "I will not lie to you, my Lord. It will be difficult for all of us when the time comes. But I trust your judgment, above all things."
Voldemort did not answer him, and after a period of silence Harmony heard Lucius finally leave.
- 19
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- 21
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Serpentine Series