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Atlantis - An Adventure	By : TheLadyMiya Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 20208 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not make any money of this.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
Hello there. Last chapter coming up! There will be an epilogue, but I’ll be going away until Wednesday so unless I manage to edit it tonight and post it, you won’t see it until then, sorry!

QueenRuby: Haha, well, I didn’t write out how Lucius’ punishment turned out because I think that would be a bit to gore and it has no value for the plot, so you’ll just have to make it up yourself! But it wouldn’t surprise me if Greyback was one of the men just dying to… eh… help Lucius!

Magentasouth: Sorry, I didn’t write out their duel, but you’ll see some duelling in this chapter! But yeah, it’s fun to read about those two in a fight! And your other wish will probably come true! Enjoy!

Chapter 26

After a month together with Voldemort, Hermione felt happy again, even if she still wouldn't sleep with him. It was just hard to be bored when you were with Voldemort. They had come up with a silent agreement; she helped him with the research of the Atlantis books and he helped her study for her NEWT's. It was only two weeks until they were due. Hermione felt both excited and scared about taking her tests. There had been nothing in the newspaper about her and Voldemort, so she guessed McGonagall had made sure to keep it a secret within the Order. The only Death Eaters who knew she was there were Malfoy and Snape. Malfoy had apparently learned his lesson and he kept as far away from her as possible. Snape could keep anything a secret.

It was a sunny afternoon at the end of May and Hermione lay resting on a balcony Voldemort had conjured up some time ago, adjuring his room. They had just finished a duel and Hermione had been knocked out three times in different ways. The only thing she could comfort herself with was that she had managed to hit Voldemort with two spells. One had made him fly into the ceiling and the other one had made his legs shake uncontrollably. At least she was getting better. The first couple of times she hadn't been able to hit him at all.

"Here, drink." A glass was placed under her nose.

She looked up from her sunchair and saw Voldemort standing next to her. She took the glass he was holding out for her and peered at him as she drank the juice spiked with pepper-up potion. The afternoon sun forced him to squint his eyes and made his pale skin almost glow white. Other than that, he looked much healthier. His face was no longer hallow and he had got a little fat on his bones as well as muscles. His hair had grown longer these past months, since he hadn't bothered to cut it at all. She was the only one who saw him like this anyway.

"You are getting better," he remarked and sank down on the chair next to hers. "I have no doubt you'll have the best grades for your year. Maybe even for your decade."

She grinned. "I was aiming at the best grades for the century."

He chuckled. "I will not tell you what my grades were."

Hermione had tried in vain to make him tell her what grades he had got on his NEWT's. All she knew so far was that he had taken the same subjects she did. He had promised to show her his grades once she had got her results. No doubt was he certain his would be better.

"Have you finished the book on Atlantis biology?" he asked, probably feeling it was best to change the subject.

"Yes, last night. And I can see why you were so excited. The healing plants in section three seem too good to be true, but I assumed they had to have something amazing at hand if they had found a cure for lycanthropy." Hermione stopped herself. It still hurt to think about Remus.

Voldemort didn't notice her distress. "No, not that. Section thirty-six and thirty-seven; normal wizards contra the royal family. The curse is in the blood! It appears it heals the body of everything that is wrong as well as altering the abilities of the brain. And if you look at the book written by Hinul he thinks that it's this altering that makes it possible the royal family always remember what they have gone through. Of course, he thinks it's because they have to remember as part of the curse, but..." Voldemort trailed off when he saw her grimace. "What?"

"You promised I could use our findings for people's benefit," she reminded him. They had had a big fight about it three weeks ago. There was so much information in those books that Hermione didn't think it was fair only Voldemort got to benefit from it. "If I could find a way to cure a werewolf..."

"Yes, and there is nothing stopping you from being a good girl. After we have discovered a way to make me immortal the same way they are," he said, reminding her, as he had three weeks ago, that his interest was still in priority.

Hermione sighed. She knew Voldemort would never change, but still... he did seem to care more now than he had when they first met. At least about her. She knew he could just order her to do something and she would probably do it. But he seldom did anymore. He treated her as an equal. Almost. Also, if you trusted the Daily Prophet (which she wasn't sure she did) there had been far fewer attacks from Death Eaters lately. Of course, Voldemort had been working with her every waking hour. Just twice had he left for meeting with his Death Eaters.

"I wonder if there is a way to exchange blood with another human," Voldemort thought out loud.

"Muggles do blood-transfusions," Hermione said hesitatingly. "But they have discovered that humans have different blood types and if you get the wrong blood, your body will reject it and you'll die."

Voldemort closed his eyes for a moment. "How Muggles can know such things and yet be so stupid is beyond me."

"Perhaps Muggles just aren't stupid," Hermione muttered, but she knew she was speaking to deaf ears. Voldemort had already risen.

"That isn't even our first problem," he mumbled. "We have to get a hold of someone from the royal family. But we don't even know their current names! All the names in the diary are their first. They have changed alias so many times that there is no way of telling which one is of the royal family. I guess we can figure out which ones are foreigners, but they are able to have children... didn't you say there was around two hundred natives?"

"That's what the Highnesses said."

Voldemort sighed. "We need some way to identify them..."

Hermione frowned. "Perhaps we can ask whoever it is that has come for you? Shouldn't it be someone trusted? I mean, with their law that no one can leave?"

Voldemort sighed. "Yes, I guess that is our best choice. But we don't know who it is or where she is."

"Well, if the person wants to hurt you, she will probably try to contact you," Hermione remarked.

Voldemort made a grimace. "Yes, I know. That means we just have to wait." Silence fell. Then Voldemort looked at her in a whole other way. "What could we do while we wait, I wonder."

Hermione felt a pleasant shiver run through her. Even if she had made it clear she wouldn't sleep with him because of his inability to feel regret for killing Calvin, he didn't stop making suggestion. And she couldn't stop herself from being tempted. She was attracted to him and also painfully aware how much she loved him. However, she didn't want him to think that she loved his killing side and before he showed any regrets for his actions, she would not tell him she loved him. If she had sex with him, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep her mouth shut.

"You could question me on Transfiguration," she said, as always ignoring his hint.

Voldemort sighed. "Fine. Get your book."

She smiled and jumped up. As long as they both had a lot of things to do, it was easy to stop herself from sleeping with him. She tried not to think about what would happen after her NEWT's were over.

xxx

Aluga asked herself once again why she didn't just break free from the Order's so called security spells and went to find Voldemort herself. Then she remembered that she still had no idea where he was and this Order was the only ones she knew could help her. Unfortunately they were quite reluctant to help her. She had been questioned by several different members of the Order, including Sirius Black. It hadn't been so surprising to see him. What was surprising was that he had no memory what so ever of Atlantis. It appeared Voldemort had done a very good job completely erasing his memory of the last two years. That was very helpful for Aluga. One person less to worry about spreading the secrets of Atlantis.

She wasn't sure how long she had been locked inside the Order's headquarters. At first they had kept her bound, but when they had become certain she wouldn't harm any of them, they just locked her inside a small bedroom and gave her everything she needed to be comfortable. The problem was that they were sure she could tell them more and that's why they wouldn't let her go. They were correct, of course. She could tell them a lot more that would probably help them win their petty little fight against the Death Eaters in a matter of days. However, Aluga didn't feel helpful. She just wanted to find and punish Voldemort, not get involved in some outside world activity.

Then, on a warm sunny afternoon, the door to her prison opened and three persons entered. She recognised all three of them. Minerva McGonagall had been to talk to her many times now. The young man to her left she recognised from Sirius's memories as Harry Potter. The third person was Severus Snape. His eyes widened for a moment and Aluga knew he had recognised her as well. This could be dangerous. What was he even doing here? Apparently he hadn't known she was here. Would he tell them about Atlantis?

"Good afternoon, Aluga," Minerva said. "This is Harry Potter and Severus Snape."

Aluga nodded at them. She was interested in finally seeing Harry. The chosen boy. She had heard whispers about him since she came here. He was a powerful magical being, but she doubted he would be much of a match against Voldemort.

They sat down at a square table and Minerva conjured up a drink for them all. Aluga took a small sip of the orange drink. The fruit juice made the water somewhat more tolerable to drink at least.

"Professor McGonagall says that you want to punish Voldemort," Harry said. "Do you have a plan?"

"I plan to find him and start a duel with him," Aluga said confidently. "I only need to know where he is."

Harry frowned. "Do you think it will be that easy?"

Aluga sighed. "As I've said before, I don't see why you won't just tell me where he is and let me have a chance. I know spells you don't, no, I don't wish to deluge them, and yes, I know he is a very powerful wizard. What harm can it do? Either I take care of him and you are probably rid of him or he kills me and you get rid of me."

Minerva sighed. They had been at this conversation many times now. "He will be heavily guarded, Aluga. We are not even sure where he is..."

"I just want to hear your guesses," Aluga interrupted before she had to listen to the whole speech. "You can't keep me locked in here all the time."

Minerva seemed to be about to say something else but Severus stepped in. "How do you plan to punish the Dark Lord?"

Aluga noticed that he used the other title for Voldemort. Did that mean these people knew he was a Death Eater? He had seemed so devoted to Voldemort at Atlantis.

"Can't we speak in privet?" she asked the other two, nodding at Severus.

Minerva hesitated.

"Of course," Severus said quickly.

Minerva looked at Severus questioningly, but he just shrugged. She stood with Harry and the two of them left. Once the door was closed Aluga cast a silencing charm around the room.

"I thought you were Voldemort's ally," she remarked.

"And I thought he killed you," he remarked with an arched eyebrow.

"He just managed to really annoy me," Aluga hissed and rose from the chair. "Officially I'm here to make sure none of you will spill Atlantis secrets. Sirius is already clear. You, apparently, is not. I'll take care of that in a moment, but first you'll tell me where I can find Voldemort and Hermione."

"Will you kill me?" he asked in an almost bored tone.

She tilted her head. "Do you wish to die?"

Severus sighed. "As a matter of fact, I don't care anymore. The world considers me a traitor. The only reason the Order allows me here is because I returned Black to them. But they don't trust me, they never really did."

"Do you wish to return to Atlantis?" Aluga asked. Severus had struck her as a very reasonable man. Why would anyone reasonable want to stay here?

"My work here is not done," Severus stated.

Aluga sighed. "I'm sorry you feel that way." A second later, she attacked him. With no mercy at all, she began tearing down his mental defences. He was very talented at keeping his mind blocked, but Aluga had ages of practise on how to infiltrate another persons mind. Once his defence was gone, she went straight to his information about Voldemort. It would appear Hermione was with him in a great mansion. She got the location out of his brain before she withdrew from his mind.

Severus lay on the floor, unconscious. Aluga looked down at him. For a moment, she had seen something familiar in his mind. Then she shook it off. It was probably nothing. Now when she knew where Voldemort was, she didn't need the Order anymore. Severus would be in no position to reveal any of Atlantis secret. That is, if he lived. Aluga didn't care anymore. All she wanted was to punish that cursed man called Voldemort.

xxx

Hermione yawned as she stretched, trying to ease up her tense muscles after sitting down for so long.

"Perhaps we should leave the reviewing for tonight?" Voldemort suggested, yawning as well.

Hermione hesitated. She wanted to have the highest mark on all her NEWT's. Perhaps one more hour?

"Hermione," Voldemort groaned when he saw her face. "I didn't even review this much for my NEWT's and you are not that much stupider than I am."

"Thanks for the reassurance," she snorted, but then she yawned again. "Very well, I guess sleep could help." She moved her neck, trying to work out the small ache.

Voldemort stood and placed his hands on her neck, starting to massage. She let out a sigh of pleasure as he started to work out her small nicks.

"You really should do something to relax more, Hermione," he mumbled, his hands working their way under her shirt.

Hermione just sighed, not really wanting to stop him just yet. She liked being touched by him and she had denied herself any contact with him for so long now. Perhaps it was the fullmoon coming closer, but she had felt a little... needy all day. Alas, Voldemort managed to remove her shirt and start to kiss her neck before she stopped him.

"Just kiss me, Hermione," he asked in a low voice when she stood. His eyes were burning lustfully and he hadn't let go of her body. "I promise not to force you into anything else."

Against her better judgement, Hermione leaned toward him and let him capture her lips in a soft kiss. It made her knees weak and she felt his arms tighten around her. She felt as if their very souls stroked against each other as she deepened their kiss. How she had missed this. For a moment she didn't even remember why she had allowed herself to miss it, but then she did and she sighed, withdrawing from him. Voldemort sighed too and opened his eyes and looked down at her with an almost longingly look.

He opened his mouth to say something.

"Cute." Another voice said.

They both spun around and saw a figure emerge from the shadows by the door. "Your defence system surprised me, Voldemort. Awfully powerful. I almost burned to death."

Hermione gasped when the figure stepped out in the light. Her face and body was covered in big burn marks, and the clothes were still smoking. But as she walked, her body healed itself, restoring the skin. Just seconds later, Aluga was fully healed and with a snap of her fingers, so were her clothes.

"You think that being burned alive is harder to heal than being pushed off a cliff," she said with an arrogant smirk to their shocked faces. "But then I had to heal every bone in my body as well as some broken internal organs. Now it was just the skin and that doesn't take so much time."

Voldemort snapped out from the shock first. He pushed Hermione down and attacked Aluga. She answered by putting up a shield around her but was still able to attack him back. None of them spoke a word. Voldemort moved his hands, but Aluga didn't even acquire that. Hermione crawled away to the wall, knowing she didn't want to come in Voldemort's way. However, the room was small and she wasn't sure if she would be able to avoid being hit. She scowled at herself when she realised she could just put up a shield around herself. After doing that, she turned her attention back to the fight.

The bed was already gone, only a pile of black ash remained. The desk seemed to have exploded and pieces of paper and parchment lay everywhere. Hermione felt a small ache in her heart when she saw all the destroyed books. The ache changed into anger as she turned to look at Aluga. The woman showed a stone cold determination as she attacked. As far as Hermione could tell Aluga's shield was impenetrable while Voldemort's has began to flicker. Hermione thought quickly. Aluga was indeed powerful, but surely she still required air? A plan formed in Hermione's mind. She didn't know if it was a real spell, but Aluga had showed her that she was able to do anything she wanted with magic.

Hermione let her magic out, forming a second shield around Aluga, one that made sure she kept oxygen away from her. Neither Aluga nor Voldemort noticed. They continued with the fight, but Hermione could see how Aluga became more and more tired. The shield around her started to disappear. A moment later it was gone and Voldemort cast one final spell. The green light filled the room and when Hermione could see again, Aluga lay on the ground, her eyes open in shock. Hermione turned to give Voldemort a smile only to see him sway and fall down on the ground as well.

"Voldemort!" she gasped and flew up and to her lover.

"I'm okay," he gasped. "Just tired. What happened?"

"I cut the air off," she said, smiling relived.

He sat up, giving her a weak smile. "My clever Hermione." He groaned and made an attempt to rise. Hermione supported him. "But I think we better bind her and make sure she can't use her magic. I have a feeling she won't stay dead."

Hermione's eyes were wide. "Wha...? Oh! You think she is of the Royal Family?"

He nodded. "I threw her off a cliff and she survived. She managed to go through my wards even if they can kill you ten times over."

"And she is a native," Hermione said slowly.

Voldemort took a deep breath and with some fast movements he had Aluga bound and with a magic-absorbing shield around her. Hermione conjured up a sofa for them and asked a House-Elf to send up something to eat. They didn't know how long it would take for Aluga to come back after being hit by the Avada. Nevertheless, they could use some new energy. The elf soon returned with coffee, fruit and bread. Voldemort sat down on the new couch and ate hungrily. Hermione went over to the destroyed desk and tried to restore the books. The Atlantis books came back together in one piece, but her school books didn't appear to have had the same protection and most of them seemed to have burned. She sighed.

"We can buy you knew one," Voldemort comforted her when he saw her distressed look.

"I know, but I like my books," Hermione mumbled and sank down next to him on the sofa.

He handed her a mango which she ate in silence. Half an hour went past with no movements from Aluga.

"Are you sure she is immortal?" Hermione finally asked.

"Quite. However, she doesn't know that we know so maybe she is just waiting for us to leave. They are very protective about their secrets," Voldemort mused and walked over to their prisoner. "Perhaps I should torture her and see if she reacts?"

Hermione made a grimace. "Can't we try talking with her first?"

Voldemort arched an eyebrow in her direction. "How can we talk to someone who is pretending to be dead?"

Hermione stood and walked over to them. Kneeling next to Aluga she eyed her closely. The other woman hadn't closed her eyes since her "dead" and Hermione couldn't detect any breathing. However, if Aluga was indeed one of the Royal Family, they had managed to fake their own deaths for ten thousand years.

"Uhm, Aluga?" Hermione tried. "We know about the Royal Family and how they can't die, ever. If you don't talk to us, we will have no choice but to..." She looked up at Voldemort. What would they do if Aluga was indeed dead?

"To put you in a completely magic-absorbing casket and bury you at a place where no one can find you," Voldemort ended helpfully. "Now, if you are dead, that won't bother you at all, I'm sure. But if you aren't dead, I imagine it will be quite boring lying inside a casket for all eternity."

Hermione scowled at him. Did he really plan to do that?

However, his threat must have worked because Aluga took a deep breath and finally closed her eyes. Hermione couldn't help but to jump back. It wasn't every day you saw someone come back from the dead. Voldemort took a step back as well, but he didn't look frightened.

"So you managed to read the books you stole," Aluga commented, her throat sounding rather dry.

"I did. Now, you'll tell me how to put me under this immortal spell," Voldemort said softly.

Aluga moved her bound legs so she could sit. "Now, even if I knew the spell, why would I tell you?"

Hermione frowned. "You don't know the spell?"

"Nope. Don't have a clue. I was two years old when the King cursed my family. Some of my siblings may be able to tell you what it felt like or what happened, but I only know that I'm cursed. And before you start threatening me with all kind of torture, I want you to know that I've endured every death possible. Neither will you be able to use me as a way to get to my immortal siblings. I'm not in their good grace. Also, they never leave Atlantis and if you would try to go back there, you'll be taken into custody and stripped by your magical abilities. Oh, yes, we can do that too." Aluga laugh reminded Hermione of Bellatrix Lestrange.

Voldemort's face was unreadable. "You didn't seem too keen to be buried alive with no means to even come out?"

Aluga shrugged. "I'm not. But if you bury me alive, I will not be able to tell you anything anyway. Besides, if you were to bury me, I would just place myself in such a deep sleep that when someone eventually finds me, it will only have felt like minutes for me."

"You are taking this awfully calmly," Voldemort remarked, a hint of irritation in his voice.

She sighed. "I'm tired of this outside world. My official mission was to make sure the secrets of Atlantis wasn't spilled. Sirius has already had his memory removed. I've taken care of Severus and if you two just give me a wizard oath never to tell anyone of what you know about Atlantis, I'm okay with that," she said with a shrug.

"But I heard you had come here to punish me?" Voldemort asked with a frown.

A flicker of something Hermione didn't recognised flew across her face. "I've come to realise that living in this world is punishment enough for you."

At ones, Hermione's mind started to wander. "What did you do with Severus?"

"I broke into his mind, getting the location of you two," Aluga answered with a shrug.

Voldemort looked at Hermione, questioningly. She ignored him and went over to the ruined desk, picking up the first book which had started this whole mission.

"Do you recognise this?" she asked Aluga.

Aluga stared at the book. "Where did you find that?"

"Hermione?" Voldemort asked. "What are you doing?"

"I just remembered," Hermione said with her eyes on Aluga. "Zemuni told me the name of Aluga's son. It was Migu."

Both Aluga and Voldemort looked at Hermione with wide eyes.

"About three hundred years ago, a daughter of the Prince family here in Britain met a foreigner. She became pregnant with his child, but when her father found out, he killed the foreigner. The only reason the woman was allowed to keep her child was because she could prove the father was a wizard. He had given her this book, which was clearly magical. This book was later passed on through the generation and to a girl named Eileen. Voldemort and Eileen knew each other when they were in school and he made her give him this book! Because of that, Eileen was thrown out from her family. She married a Muggle named Tobias Snape. They are both dead now, only their son, Severus remains."

Aluga's normally pale skin had become completely white and she was gaping in horror.

Voldemort was also staring at Hermione. "And the other Prince-children all died in the war. Severus is the only one left."

"No," Aluga whispered. Hermione could actually see the moment Aluga's heart broke. Her whole body seemed to tense, tears started forming in her eyes, then she opened her mouth and let out a heartbreaking cry. In a way Hermione could understand her. She must have done something rather painful to break through Severus' Occlumency shields. To then discover that he was her only living descendent... Zemuni had said that she never got over Migu's death.

She looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Voldemort was standing next to her, making a gesture for them to leave. Once out in the hallway, he placed a ward as well as a silencing spell around the room.

"I think it will be best to give her some time to think," Voldemort said in a low voice.

"What about Snape?" Hermione asked.

Voldemort sighed. "He is with the Order. I don't know what I can do. If Aluga has caused him brain-damage it already too late to help him. If she hasn't... well, then he will heal on his own."

Hermione nodded with a sigh.

"Why do you care?" he asked as they walked into the room they usually used when they were duelling.

"I just... I have come to respect him again. I know that he killed Dumbledore..."

"He didn't," Voldemort interrupted her.

Hermione looked at him in surprise. "What?"

Voldemort shrugged. "Or well, technically I suppose he did, but Dumbledore was already dying from my curse. Severus said Dumbledore had asked him to kill him so he at least would die fighting."

Hermione gaped. "How do you know that?"

"Severus told me. Of course, he waited until after Dumbledore was dead so I wouldn't be able to stop him. I know that you know that I can't kill him because of the oath." He conjured up a bed in one end of the room.

"But who is Snape loyal too?" Hermione couldn't help but to ask.

"Severus is a special case," Voldemort admitted and yawned. "We should try to sleep a little before we question Aluga further."

Deep in thought, Hermione started removing her clothes. "You don't care that Snape isn't loyal to you?"

"Severus can never be loyal to the Order because of how so many of their members have treated him. I know he will always come to me in the end because he knows I'll give him the challenges he require. Alas, he is a little like you, my dear. You and Severus don't need force to come to me. You are too curious of what I have to offer to stay away." He sat down in the bed and moved to give her room and then he added. "Although, in Severus' case, that's what makes him so entertaining, because he hates me more than anyone. Yet, I'll always know that I can count on him. As I can with you."

Hermione lay down next to him with a frown. "So you trust us?"

Voldemort chuckled. "Perhaps you can call it that."

Not until after he had wrapped his arms around her body and she was almost asleep did she realise that she was in fact sleeping with him. For a moment she considered leaving, but then realised she had no wish at all to move. Instead she let out a sigh, snuggled closer to him and fell asleep, feeling completely safe.

xxx

Voldemort woke up after four or five hours, feeling refreshed enough to do whatever he needed to get the information to become immoral. Although, he was very comfortable in the bed as well. It had been far too long since he had Hermione in his arms and certain parts of his body were more eager than others. Unfortunately Hermione was still reluctant to have sex with him. He knew it had something to do with her friend's death, but he just couldn't figure out what. So instead of waking her up like he had done many times before when they slept together, he kissed her neck and rose. There was another door leading to the bathroom from the hall. After he had taken care of himself he returned to their improvised bedroom. Hermione was still sound asleep and he decided to question Aluga himself. Perhaps it was better for Hermione not to see what he was willing to do to become immortal. It had always been his life ambition. He wouldn't let anything or anyone stop him now when the goal was finally within reach.

Entering his real bedroom, he discovered Aluga lying in the exact same position as they had left her in. When he closed the door, she moved her legs.

He sat down on the couch and removed the bindings around her hands and feet. The magic absorbing shield was still up and Voldemort knew from a lot of experience that she wouldn't try to attack him physically at this moment. Better to show some mercy. It often made them talk.

"You don't know what it is you are asking for," Aluga finally said with a hollow voice. "You have read my diary. I hated being immortal. Especially when the ones I loved and cared about started to die. I tried to end my life so many times but it never worked."

"But then you went to the outside world," he said in a low voice.

"Yes," Aluga sighed, her eyes focused on something in the distance. "I fell in love again. Got new friends. But they died just the same." She blinked and looked at him instead. "If you manage to become immortal, what will you do when Hermione dies?"

The question took him off guard. "Why would I care about her?"

Aluga smiled unhappily. "The healing you endured didn't just heal your appearance, Voldemort. It healed your soul and mind as well. You didn't even know your mind was lacking something? No, of course not. How can you miss something you never had? But you must have seen it."

The impulse to torture her rose, but he pushed it down. He could stand hearing things he didn't like for a while. Aluga was already broken by the news that she was related to the man she had tortured, she didn't need more encouragement. Talking was what he wanted her to do after all.

"Seen what?" he asked instead.

"The love. People caring about each other. The sorrow when they are parted. Guilt. It appears that part of your brain which usually deals with these sorts of things have been inactive. The water changed that too. But it takes time. Especially when you cut yourself off the water. However, the healing continues. It will take months, perhaps years, but then you'll be able to feel like a normal person." Aluga suddenly stopped herself, frowning.

He waited.

"How had you planed to get the curse?" she asked.

"That is what I want you to tell me."

"I already told you, I have no idea. You must have some idea."

Voldemort rose and went to bring the books he had stolen from Atlantis. The notes seemed to have been destroyed, but it didn't matter much now.

"This books states that the reason the water of Atlantis is healing is because it has been inflicted by the same curse that makes you and your siblings immortal. It also states that your long-term lovers seem to live about a hundred years longer then the rest of the non-cursed inhabitants," Voldemort summarised. "This makes me think the spell is contagious. Most likely through bodily fluids. The only thing I could come up with was that I had to really become infected by the curse. But as we have noticed and several of the authors in these books points out, the curse isn't permanent on anyone but you."

Aluga gazed into the distance again. Voldemort sank back in the sofa, waiting.

"I had an older sister," she finally said. "She was only two years older than me. I can barely remember her. When I was four, our father's brother came and took her. After the King's curse, everything was chaotic. Somehow my father's brother found out that we couldn't be killed. Just like you, he was jealous. We never found out what happened to my sister, but one day, hundred of year afterwards, some of my siblings travelled to Egypt. Because of the Kings's curse on our land, the climate all over the world had started to change. Some of them saw it as their duty to help the defenceless magicless beings. I wasn't with them, but one of my older brothers told me that they had found our uncle in Egypt... playing God."

She let out a humourless laugh. "He had become immortal the same way we are. But he wouldn't tell us what he had done to our sister. My siblings were furious. I believe they chopped him into pieces and placed him in boxes like the one you threatened to place me inside. As far as I know, he is still there. Hopefully suffering."

Voldemort felt a shiver run down his spine. "How did he do that?"

"We never found out. We don't speak about it, and my mother, wanting to make sure it will never happen again, pretends like my sister never existed." Aluga's face twisted into a grimace that all too clearly said what she thought about her mother.

Voldemort rose. "I believe I have something that could interest you. One moment." He left the room and went to wake up Hermione. She became a bit sour when she heard he had questioned Aluga without her, but quickly forgot it when he told her Aluga's story.

A moment later they both walked into the room Aluga was in, but now he was also carrying the corpse they had found in Egypt, months ago.

Aluga's eyes widened when she saw it. Hermione explained their trip to Egypt for her and how they had found the girl's body buried in the sand.

"Can you tell if this is your sister?" Voldemort wanted to know.

Aluga nodded. "But you have to allow me to use magic."

Voldemort hesitated only for a moment, then he lowed the shield around her. They would be able to stop her if it became necessary.

Luckily for Aluga, she didn't make any attempt to flee. She crawled closer to the remains, closed her eyes and held out her hand. Voldemort could sense the magic she was sending out, searching the body. Several minutes later, she removed the hand and looked up with sad eyes.

"He drained all her blood from her body," she whispered. "Of course."

"Of course?" Voldemort asked eagerly.

"There have been theories that the curse is in the blood. It's the blood that keeps us alive. It never leaves us body, not really. It always comes back... he must have switched their blood. But how did he manage to make sure the blood didn't come back to her?" Aluga pressed her lips together.

"Well, perhaps the blood only goes to where the rest of the blood is?" Hermione suggested. "Like magnetism. If he managed to switch all their blood at the same time..."

Voldemort gasped. "The text around the pillar!"

"The one that led us to Mexico?" Hermione wondered.

"Yes! Aluga, have a group of people ever been banned from Atlantis?"

Aluga shock her head slowly. "No... but there was a group which escaped. It happened almost a hundred years after they killed my father's brother. It was the reason we started to reborn ourselves. They knew we where of the royal family and they wanted to know our secrets. Of course, we pretended that there was nothing different with us, but... some people are too curious for their own good."

Hermione and Voldemort exchanged a smirk.

"We started to alter the memories of some of them. The rest became scared and ran off. We don't know what they knew, but they never returned," Aluga said.

Voldemort picked up the glowing glob from a box. "Do you know what this is?"

Aluga's eyes became wide again. "I-I'm not sure... where did you find this?"

"In an ancient tomb in Mexico. A banded people had used it. All we know is that it can glow and makes people calm. We have also discovered that the magic in this is similar to the magic we found on the corpse, while the magic on your diary is completely different," Voldemort explained.

"Yes, I developed my own spells back in the days," Aluga mumbled and reach out for the globe. Voldemort let her have it.

She was silence for many minutes, her eyes closed. It almost seemed like she was listing to something. Voldemort could feel magic vibrating from the globe, but something told him he shouldn't interrupt her. Finally she opened her eyes with a sigh.

"This is the Source's magic," Aluga said in a low voice. "My father's brother must have manipulated it somehow to do his bidding."

"What is the Source?" Voldemort couldn't stop himself from asking.

Aluga shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it in your words. It's not something with a mind of its own. It's not something to be worshipped. It just... is. Everywhere if you know where to look. Wizards and witches have learned to control it to some extent. This object is somehow taken directly from the Source. It was created for just the thing you want to do." Aluga let out a small laugh. "Somehow, you managed to get everything you needed to do just what you wanted."

"How can he do that?" Hermione asked, frowning. "I mean... after everything he has done, how can he get everything he wants?"

Voldemort arched an eyebrow at her.

"Well, it's not fair," Hermione muttered.

"It hasn't to do with fairness," Aluga said. "Like I tried to teach both of you, your magic is able to do whatever you wish it to do. It's not about what you have earned or anything like that. If you are completely certain something is possible and works hard enough to achieve it, you'll get it. I guess your own magic lead your straight to the Source so you would be able to do what was necessary to become immortal. You have never doubted what it is you want and you are arrogant enough to believe you can do it."

Voldemort couldn't help but to smile. "Yes. I have never questioned my wish to become immortal and I've always known there was a way."

"And now you have managed to capture the only one of the royal family which actually hates you enough to do the change with you," Aluga said.

Both Voldemort and Hermione stared at her. However, while it bothered Hermione, Voldemort didn't seem to mind one bit.

"So you'd give up your own immortality to me?" he asked.

"I'll tell you why I don't mind. After we do the change," Aluga said.

Voldemort frowned. Whatever she didn't want to tell him before they had already done the change had to be something bad. Perhaps he had to take her place in some Royal Family-business and stay in Atlantis all the time. Or what if the curse was really painful to carry around? Whatever it was, he was sure he could find some way to either deal with it or change it. He would be immortal. It was everything he had ever wanted. His life ambition.

"What do I have to do?" he asked.

xxx

Hermione was shocked when she realised Voldemort would do it, just like that. "Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes," Voldemort said in a final tone, looking at Aluga.

Aluga held up the globe. "All you need to do is to place you hands on this globe while I hold it and know what it is you want to do."

"Change our blood?"

"And take over the curse from me," she confirmed. "Hermione, you should put protection around yourself. I don't know what will happen."

Hermione felt like she should tell Voldemort something. To be careful or to reconsider. It wasn't so bad to be mortal and the fact that Aluga wanted to die should tell him something. However, his face looked so determined and his eyes were burning with greed. She made a small grimace, took a couple of steps back and put up a shield. Biting her lip, she followed Voldemort's moments as he stepped forward and placed his hands on the globe Aluga was holding up. Hermione closed her eyes, sure that something she didn't want to see would happen. When she didn't hear anything, she opened them again.

Voldemort was looking down at the globe and Aluga with a confidence Hermione found herself envious off. She realised that Aluga was right. Voldemort had always managed to get everything he wanted with a remarkable confidence and loads off hard work. Hadn't he managed to get her to do whatever he wanted and more? Sure, sometimes things happened that made him angry, but in the end, he managed to sort it out. Hermione knew she could be very insecure in her own ability. Even if people told her how good she was, a little part inside of her always doubted herself.

Right then, the globe began to glow. It was a soft pulsing glow. Friendly, if you could call it that. Hermione was about to lower her shield, thinking it was unnecessary, then the glow increased. It blinded her and she could hear Aluga let out a cry before two thuds came. Hermione blinked furiously, trying to get her sight back.

Annoyingly slowly it came back. She saw Voldemort and Aluga lying on the floor next to each other. When she stepped closer, Voldemort groaned and slowly sat up. Aluga opened her eyes.

"It worked," she said, sounding a bit groggy. "I'll be dead soon. Finally. Hermione, leave."

For some reason, Hermione didn't even think about disobeying. She left the room. For ten nerve-wreaking minutes, she paced the corridor, wondering what was going on. Her pacing stopped when she started hearing sounds from the staircase. Explosions and sounds of fighting. She was about to go down and check when the door opened and Voldemort stepped out. He did not look happy.

"Voldemort?" she asked nervously.

He pulled her into the room. "There was a big catch," Voldemort said grimly. "Aluga has left me several tasks I need to do. Apparently, I also have to pledge for the Highnesses so they won't come after me and do what they did to her uncle."

Hermione frowned. "But how are you feeling?"

"Excellent," he said with a shrug. "But if I don't do this..." Voldemort started coughing. "Ah, apparently I can't even talk about it." He sighed. "We don't have much time. The spell that changed our blood destroyed all wards around this place. Aurors as well as Order-members have come."

"Then we have to go!" Hermione said with a gasp.

Voldemort took her chin in his hand. "No. I have to go alone. You'll take the credit for killing the Dark Lord."

Hermione gaped, not sure what shocked her most, that he was leaving her or that he wanted to stage his own death.

As always he seemed to know what she was thinking. He stroked her cheek. "Listen to me, Hermione. The Dark Lord is gone and if anyone is to take the credit, it should be you. I can't be the Dark Lord anymore, and frankly I don't want to be. You'll tell Potter and the others that we found a place where my soul was restored, that's why there are no horcruxes anymore. Then you'll make them believe as if this was your plan from the beginning. Here." He turned her around.

Aluga was lying on the ground, looking more peaceful and happy than Hermione had ever seen her before. Although, when Voldemort raised his hand, the body was transformed into his former, snake-like appearance. Hermione just stared.

"Something is missing," Voldemort mumbled. "Oh, of course. Do you think you can summon Gryffindor's sword?"

Hermione frowned. Just an hour before, she would have doubted. Now she had seen what Voldemort's determinedness could do and she was sure there would be no problem summoning the sword. Nevertheless, that didn't explain why he wanted her to.

"No one will doubt you if you make them believe you killed the Dark Lord with Gryffindor's sword. It's rather fitting, isn't it?" he remarked with a smirk.

"Oh." Hermione closed her eyes and pictured the sword in her hand. The next moment she felt something heavy.

"Good. I should be going then."

Hermione opened her eyes, feeling a bit panicking. "How long will you be gone?"

Voldemort seemed pained. "I don't know. Years, possibly." He raised his hand again and stroked her hair. "Believe me when I say I don't wish to leave you. But I have to do this alone."

"I don't doubt that," she whispered. "It's just that... I love you."

There, she had told him. Her heart was beating painfully. What would he say?

If anything, he looked even more pained. However, when he leaned in and kissed her hard, she felt herself relaxing. His arms went around her, he held her so tightly she hardly managed to breathe.

An explosion was heard uncomfortably close. It made Voldemort let go of her.

"Give me your arm," he whispered.

She knew which arm he meant. The mark was blackish red against her skin. He pressed it and Hermione felt a small burn run through her arm.

"I've destroyed everyone else's mark now," he said in a low voice. "Everyone except yours. I want you to remember that you will always belong to me. You may do whatever you want now when I'm gone, but remember that one day I will come back and you'll still belong to me."

His words were more comforting than she though was possible. Just last year she would probably have run away from a man who told her that.

"Stick the sword through the heart," he advised her. Then he captured her lips again. Hermione closed her eyes. When she opened them again, he was gone.

Like under the Imperio curse, she walked over to the transformed body. She pushed the sword through the chest and more blood than should be possible emerged from the body. She hardly noticed. Instead, she sank down on the floor, clutching the sword handle.

Running footsteps was heard from the stair. A door opened and then closed. Hermione could feel the wind at her back when the door to the room she was sitting in opened. She didn't have the energy to turn around, but from the collective gasp, she guessed there was more than one person behind her. Slowly, the footsteps came closer. When they were right next to her, she looked up, recognising Harry, McGonagall, Kingsley and Bill. They were all staring at her with surprised and frightened looks.

"The Dark Lord is gone," she said.
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Atlantis - An Adventure