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The Bittersweet Taste of Victory	By : Nerys Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 37648 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 28
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A/N: I've decided to split Hermione's chapter up in two because the chapter is becoming so huge.

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The Bittersweet Taste of Victory

Who needs the sun, when the rain's so full of life

Who needs the sky, when the ground's open wide

It's here in your arms I want to be buried

You are my sanctuary

Who needs a smile, when a tear's so full of love

Who needs a home, with the stars up above

It's here in your heart I want to be carried

You are my sanctuary

Who needs the light, with the darkness in your eyes

Who needs to sleep, with the stars in the sky

It's here in your soul I want to be married

You are my sanctuary

And the earth was void and empty

And darkness was upon the face of the earth

Is all of this pain so necessary

You are my sanctuary

Madonna; sanctuary

Chapter twenty-nine: part one

Something strange has happened. I am walking the path toward the main building of the monastery. I am seeing the white building, the monk I am following, the familiar mountains and their white peaks in the distance, the trees and the green grass beside the grit path. However, I am also looking at a beautiful clear blue sea, while a white sandy beach stretches on all around me. Did I just Splinch myself?

My hand moves to scratch my head, but I halt halfway through when I notice the furry paw instead of my hand. My head turns to examine my incredibly hairy body. Okay, why do I suddenly have a tail? I waggle it and shake my head in disbelief. I have a tail! It's when I look up from my distraught examination of myself that I see a rather bland office from the beach I am sitting on. However, in that office stands Lord Voldemort and he is the very opposite of bland. I just stare at him as my heart skips a beat and butterflies are violating my stomach. At least now I know how come I am partly here. He had something to do with it. Although I don't think he is aware of what happened and that I am right here yet. He is standing against the desk with his eyes focused on the door, obviously waiting for something or someone.

I look around my environment again. It's not difficult to deduce I am in some kind of painting on a wall. It's very familiar, this scenery I am in. I have used it a thousand times to meditate and it always brought me a lot of peace and calmness. But why would Voldemort conjure a painting like it? There are many psychological theories behind subconscious conjuring. But they all agree on one basic factor: you conjure what you are in dire need of. I bite my lip. A part of me desperately wants those theories to be right, but another part of me warns me not to delude myself. I know he is incapable of love. He was born under Amortentia use. It is not his fault, but…

I scratch myself behind the ear with my rear paw and shake my fur loose to relief some of the tension I am suddenly feeling. I press my eyes closed. Everything is gone when I open them again, and I am walking the path to the monastery. My hand is in front of my face and I examine it thoroughly. Human skin: check. No fur: check. Clothes: check. No tail: check. Yeah, I am still me. I scratch my head. What was that? I am definitely losing it. For a second I thought I was a dog; a very, hairy dog. I shake my head, but somewhere in the back of my mind something nags at me about a certain someone's Patronus. It was a lot like how I looked a few seconds ago. We do need to have a conversation about this new dog obsession of him. Would it be a representation of me, like the snake is of him? Is that why I just turn into that animal on his painting? I couldn't have, could I? It would mean that… No way.

But he was there too. I saw Lord Voldemort in an office, while I was sitting as a dog on a beach. This is just too weird. The monk opens the central door to what used to be Yoda's chambers and I focus my attention back on the issue at hand. After all, I need some bloody answers. I nod courteously to the Knight, who escorted me, and walk inside. A tall man with long blond hair sits in a rather comfy armchair and he looks up from his book as I enter.

'Oh, you've got to be kidding me,' Lord Voldemort grumbles inside of me. 'Someone kill me now.'

I arch an eyebrow in amusement. 'Well, that can always be arranged,' I mentally mutter back.

But Voldemort doesn't reply, because Jareth speaks up. 'Hermione, it's good to see you. Yoda said you would be coming.'

'Well, it is always nice to be expected.' I can't help but sneer. 'So, you are the new Lead Knight of this joint?'

The dulcet tones of Liam Sloan sound through in the back of my mind, and distracted, I look around the Knight's environment condescendingly. Well, at least, he decided to get some furniture and I sit down in the leather couch, crossing my leg over the other and leaning with my left arm on the back of the couch. This is going to be fun. I watch Jareth expectantly for his response. But he remains silently, while his eyes are darting up and down my body. I arch an eyebrow, because really, aren't these monks supposed to be…

'Do you think you will fool me, Tom?'

Clapping my hands in faux amazement, I mock: 'How very perceptive of you to be able to recognise someone you … 'taught' for a decade. Do you want a cookie as a reward now?' And a loud, cold laugh leaves my lips. 'Yes, Hamlet, it duly pains me to disappoint you, but Hermione seems to be unavailable at the moment.'

'I am sure her attention is needed elsewhere,' Jareth responds calmly. 'I'll just wait till she gets back.'

'It's not up to her. I've taken over this body for now, and I'll think I'll be staying in charge of it, until the little witch learns to listen.'

Jareth merely looks at me with a pitying glance and it is duly aggravating. Perhaps I'll shall wait, until my other self arrives here as well, and see how much damage two of us can do to this despicable, happy place. Yes, that sounds like a lot of fun.

I hear the conversation in Tibet in my mind, while I watch the waves of the sea, but somehow it feels unimportant. I am not needed there. Jareth can handle himself. I swirl around and stare back into the same room or office as I looked into before. Lord Voldemort is still standing against the desk, but he has folded his arms over each other haughtily, while Sloan is looking at a little girl who is standing beside him.

'Now, Kate, this is Lord Voldemort. He wants to have a word with you, like I said.'

The Dark Lord is not particularly fond of children, so what the hell is going on here? And, oh Lordy, I am a dog again.

'What happened to your face?' the girl asks.

I snort amused. Little children, they tend to say the most blunt things. Still, something fishy is going on here. I better remain and check it out. In the back of my mind I hear Jareth responding, and I hear myself speak. But I force myself to focus on what is happening here, and at last, I am able to shut down the interference from Tibet to an acceptable form of background noise. It's like reading in a room when someone else is watching the tele. You hear it, but you just zone out of it. Only picking up those sounds your mind is interested in and filing it for later use. And so I get more suspicious by the minute as I watch Lord Voldemort pulling out all the stops with a little girl. Manipulative bastard.

'Tell you what, Kate,' Voldemort smoothly states and he pats the girl on the head. 'There is nothing wrong with wanting some candy and taking what you want.'

Oh yeah, sure … tell the kid that. The world according to evil, self-absorbed, Dark Lords. Such a great example to follow. I shake my head as my eyes follow Lord Voldemort, who moves to Liam Sloan, and Kate, who walks toward me. I smile at the little girl, who waves at me. So I decide to wave back with my hairy paw and she giggles softly. Cute girl. But my blood freezes up when I hear Lord Voldemort's next words to Sloan and I look at the girl with different eyes. Oh no, it can't be. Oh fucking hell. I swear if he so much as hurts…

'I love dogs,' Kate says smiling to me.

Circe, I have to find a way to get there. I can't let him… Kate plants a hand against the painting and I place my paw against her hand. Oh Merlin, I always wanted a little sister; being an only child can be so lonesome at times. Ron never understood how Harry and I liked to be a part of his big family. He felt lost for attention at times, but you can get so smothered when you receive all of it. I truly wish I was there.

'I always wanted to have one,' Kate says simultaneously with my wish.

A spur of magic swirls between my paw and Kate's hand, and next thing I know I am standing in the office in front of her on all fours. Well, it's an improvement to being a flattened dog in a painting. I push my wet nose against her hand caringly and she starts patting me, while I focus my attention on the stunned Unspeakable and the rather oblivious to my existence Dark Lord. I push my hairy dog head against the little hand that is patting me excitedly. Don't you worry, sis, I'll protect you. I have some pretty cool teeth at the moment, which, I am sure, can do a world of damage to certain parts of the human anatomy.

A mental snicker goes through me when I hear the Dark Lord speak irritated: 'What dog?'

That would be me. So, I let out a bark in amusement. It has the utmost wonderful reaction. His head swivels up abruptly, he swirls around, and his eyes blink in clear astonishment. I can barely contain my laughter, especially when I feel his somewhat suspicious and guarded emotions inside of me, despite his outward seemingly blank expression. The man is such a great actor. He should get a BAFTA award. He starts to question Sloan, and then, I hear his mind work. He too recognises the picture he has created, and he is trying hard to convince himself he doesn't know what the dog is representing, namely me. He is good in fooling himself, pretty darn good.

Kate, suddenly, stands in front of me. 'Sit,' she says.

Oh, what the hell, she is just a little girl. I'll make her happy. She is my sister after all. I put on quite an extensive show, and it is delightful to see her proud and pleased expression before she hugs me extensively. It's when another debate about me arises and Voldemort's thoughts shock me thoroughly. He, actually, acknowledges I am the dog and that he subconsciously created some representation of me, because he thinks of me. Oh dear Godric, that shouldn't turn me on as much as it does. It's when he snaps at Kate and whips out his wand that I remember who I am dealing with. No fucking way are you hurting my sister! And I step between him and Kate and growl, while glaring at him.

'Leave her alone,' I mentally growl, keeping my eyes locked firmly in his.

I have no idea if I can use magic in this dog form, but I will sure try if need be. Kate's voice breaks the tense eye contact between us, and I hear Voldemort's thoughts again. It must be a side-effect from the Horcrux he turned me into, because I don't recall this has ever happened before. He seems to be back in his little denial mode. Sure, I am not Hermione. Sure, it was all Kate's doing that I am here. Sure, darling, you had absolutely nothing to do with it. The painting appeared here all by itself. I have an eye-rolling urge when he nags about Grangers driving him nuts. Really, like he needs help in that department. But he pockets his wand just the same. I feel incredibly victorious about it and stop growling at him.

'Such a good little boy,' I think mockingly.

'Fine, take the damn dog with you,' Voldemort says to Kate.

'And so nice and obedient,' I add grinning, while Kate cheers and hugs me around the neck. 'Ouch, careful sis, you're pulling on my hair!'

Sloan shows Kate the way out; and I walk beside her with my tail held high, while keeping a close, triumphant eye on Lord Voldemort. We walk along the corridors of what I now recognise as the Department of Mysteries. I have some very nasty memories of being cursed here by Dolohov of all people. Kate chats effortlessly with Sloan, who holds open a door for all of us.

But as Kate moves into the room an overwhelming feeling of remorse, that isn't mine, fills me up; and a harsh pain strikes directly into my heart, making me squeal in agony. A powerful surge of magic strikes my body and I stare at the unconscious body of the Dark Lord. I blink in surprise, but that doesn't make the body go away. I am still back in the room I vacated only minutes ago. I patter toward him and push his body with my paw. He really is out cold; again. He'll be pissed when he wakes. I know that for sure.

However, I do know now what lies at the origin of these episodes of him. He feels a twinge of remorse, if only for a moment, and the Amortentia use by his parents made sure his body is not equipped to handle such a strong Light emotion. I think if he ever fully felt remorse for everything he did, it would kill him. The thought horrifies me. I scratch myself behind my ear. When has the concept of Lord Voldemort's death become something else to me beside hooray? I know I love the man. I am not stupid enough to deny my feelings. He is incredibly intelligent, powerful, passionate, charming, determined, dominant, controlling, obsessive, possessive, and completely bonkers. But there has always been a thin line between being perceived as a natural born genius or totally insane; and the latter is not all his fault.

However, despite my realisation that there are extenuating circumstances to his actions, I am still very much aware of the fact that he is the epiphany of evil; that he made the choice to be and stay dark over and over again; that he never once fought against his urges; that he deliberately denied all help that was handed to him in the past; and that his reign of terror needs to end, somehow. And yet, I feel like I can't live without him anymore. Oh Merlin, why are these things never easy? Why can't it just be a simple black and white choice?

I stare at the man in sorrow, when I realise it is rather strange he had another one of those fainting episodes. The Amulet of Aine has done its job. It was because of the Amulet's powers he passed out in the past. So why did he pass out now? He shouldn't be troubled with what he, undoubtedly, sees as despicable emotions. I check the papers on the floor to find clues to what he was doing when it happened and my eyes fall on the genealogy of my family immediately. My grandmother's name is what draws my attention. He knew her and … he cared for her?

I can sense his emotions about her inside of me. My God, if she had been a witch… I look back at the man on the floor. He passed out when he saw her name. I need to take a look at that Amulet. With a shock I am back in my human body in Tibet and I feel my mouth move.

'… Founder of SPEW before she was even born; it clearly indicates whoever made the prophecy was not a fraud,' I speak.

'Prophecies are made numerous times. It is how we act upon them that grants their worth, Tom,' Jareth responds evasively.

I look down and check out the Amulet. It's not glowing as it was the other times when Lord Voldemort passed out. So, I am right. It isn't the Amulet that causes it. It's me. My head snaps up when the realisation strikes.

'Hi Hermione, glad to see you again; is everything alright?' Jareth asks mildly.

'No, it bloody well isn't,' I snarl. 'These little episodes of remorse Voldemort is feeling; it's because of me, isn't it?'

Jareth nods smiling. 'It's your magical connection that triggers it with him; anything he does that is a harmful act to his counterpart – which is you – will cause one, now that the connection between you two has become so strong,' Jareth answers softly.

'What is this nonsense?' an irritated voice inside of me asks.

But I ignore his soul-piece and continue my questions. 'Was it ever the Amulet's doing?'

'The Amulet merely amplified it. But he would never have been affected by it had he not had genuine feelings towards you. It's the actions and emotions between you two that is the primary cause of it.'

I bite my lip.

'What happened?' Jareth asks.

'He saw my grandmother's name and…'

'That would definitely do it. The combination of his first chance and you…,' Jareth halts contemplatively. 'He would have been furious to see Sally's name, no doubt. Tom never liked the idea of being influenced by someone else.'

'You are related to Sally Woodburn?' Voldemort hisses inside of me.

'Yes,' I hiss back, 'she was my grandmother alright.'

It turns eerily silent inside of me.

'What? Nothing to say to that?' I sneer, and I snort when there is no response.

'It's quite amazing, actually, that you are able to penetrate the walls he built around himself. I believe you are the first to succeed in that. Do not underestimate what that means, Hermione,' Jareth says and he looks at me in all earnestly. 'It would be a grave mistake to do so.'

I stare at Jareth, while his words sink in. 'I have to get back,' I say with a sense of urgency.

'Until later then,' Jareth says smiling.

I concentrate and I am back in the room of the Department of Mysteries. I race to Voldemort. Okay, wake up, you bastard, don't you dare die on me. I start pushing him with my paw, but he hardly moves an inch. This won't do. Of course! Eh, I am a dog, ain't I? I snicker when I start lapping all over his face and leave drool everywhere. Vengeance is mine. When he stirs, I nudge him with my nose. Come on, move, damn it.

It's when his eyes open and he stares straight at me. Thank Merlin. I see his confusion and the questions that obviously are flying through his mind, while he moves to a seated position and glares at me. 'How did you get in here?'

Talk about your stupid question. So I sit down and merely cock my head condescendingly. I mean surely he must realise he summoned me here. It was his magic that brought me to this chamber when I was about to move along with Kate elsewhere.

I hear his thoughts and his delusional denial about feeling remorse with regards to Obliviating my grandmother, but it triggers another more serious episode than before. I can feel the pain like it is inside of me and it is unbearable. Flashes of a most haunting memory pass by before my eyes. It's Harry's mum standing in front of a crib, pleading for her son's life. This memory is killing him; I can sense it. So, I place my paw softly on his arm in an attempt to comfort him somewhat. But to my surprise he grabs a hold of me desperately and buries his head inside of my fur. Ouch, watch the hair! Oh for crying out loud, you're crushing me, maniac.

Jets of green show me murder after murder after murder. It's dreadful to witness; but I stay there just the same, remembering some of Yoda's words about compassion. It's when I hear Kate call out in the distance. She is genuinely upset, because I am not there. I have to be there for her. It tears me apart. I am torn between the two, but when Kate's voice turns higher in angst; I move away from the Dark Lord. She is my sister; she acknowledges she needs me; and she is just a little girl. I can't…

'Don't … don't go,' Lord Voldemort pleads in despair.

It shocks me beyond the very core of my being. He – He asks for help? I turn my head and look at him, lying sprawled on the floor. It breaks my heart to see him like that. I can't let him lie there, dying helpless and alone. I move back and lie down beside him, placing my head on his chest. I am here. You are going to be fine. You have to be fine. His arm wraps around me. I have no idea where he draws the strength to do so, because I can hear the utter silence inside his chest. His heart is not beating. I close my eyes and focus my magic on this undesirable situation. Beat, damn it, beat! A white light flies around us and a breath of relief escapes me when I feel the thump of a heartbeat. He gasps for air; he is alive. I have to find Kate now. She needs me too. I swirl away to the door when…

'Hermione?'

You've got to be kidding me. I halt abruptly and turn my head expectantly. Is he really going to acknowledge it is me? A powerful thankful emotion comes from his mind, and I zone into his thoughts. He really is grateful? I can't believe it. But then he starts scolding himself for having ridiculous urges to thank a dog, followed by the usual self-glorifying comments and the blaming of third parties. And I smile. He is going to be just fine.

'Glad you are feeling better,' I say mockingly inside his head. 'I think I would have had a heart attack myself had you thanked me. I mean what would the world be coming to?'

And I smirk at him when I notice the absolute shocked expression on his face. 'Yeah, you weren't expecting this when you were in such a hurry to turn me into a Horcrux, were you?' I think triumphantly to myself.

But I need to get to Kate, so I move away before Voldemort even has a chance to respond to the comment I made in his mind. I patter cheerfully to Kate, who scolds me for running away before rubbing my head with a relieved expression. She really deserves a dog. I focus to split my mind from the creature and move back to my body in Tibet, while the dog remains with Kate as a normal dog. I know I don't need to come back here. The memory of Harry's mum made me realise Voldemort can't touch my parents. He made the same mistake again by killing Yoda, who sacrificed himself to protect them. Yoda put himself into my parents' place and by doing so they are protected in the same manner as Harry was. I can stay in Tibet fully now. I am no longer needed here.

'You, the coot, the House-elf impersonator, you all lost her,' I sneer triumphantly.

Jareth smiles solemnly. 'So, you are telling me it wasn't you who performed the Killing Curse on Mulciber?'

I fold my arms over each other, and a strange feeling of incredible smugness overwhelms me. 'You and I both know it doesn't matter who cast it, the physical effects remain,' I say pleased. 'One more and she is hooked.'

Okay, that is quite a bit of too much information. Out; move; off you go!

'Hermione, I trust everything is fine?' Jareth says smiling at me.

'It is now,' I say calmly, stretching my arms, because I am happy to be back in my normal body. 'How are you able to tell so quickly it is me?'

'Well, I am still waiting for my cookie,' he says chuckling, 'but I did spend ten years with Tom. He has very distinct mannerisms.'

'Pfftt…, I'll show him some of my distinct mannerisms. Just wait till my other self gets here,' someone grumbles inside of me.

'I suppose he has,' I respond to Jareth, while I shake my head tiresomely in response to the other one.

This Horcrux business is giving me a headache. There definitely is one too many of us here in this body, and I know for a fact the redundant one is not me. I look down at the Amulet and cast the charm to remove it off my neck. So, there are a few advantages to being a Horcrux as well. It still doesn't balance out to the disadvantages; definitely not.

'How old is this thing, and what exactly does it do?' I ask contemplatively, tossing Aine's Amulet on the table between us.

'So, you guessed?'

'That the stupid fairytale is a figment of your overly wild imagination? Yes, that wasn't a difficult deduction at all after what you just told me. Tell me, Jareth, knowing Tom's distinctive mannerisms,' I rebut, using his words against him, 'did you consider the full implications of your story when you made up the tale of the evil emperor, who killed the parents of the elf, who loved him?'

'Uhm…,' he mumbles shifting uncomfortably, 'I may have screwed up there a bit.'

I raise my eyebrows. 'A bit?'

'Alright, I made an error of gigantic proportions, but I tried everything to make sure your parents remained out of his reach when I realised what I did.'

'Well, that worked out fine too, then.'

'They are safe now, Hermi…'

'Not thanks to you,' I interrupt sharply.

'I wanted to go myself, but Yoda – as you call him – wouldn't let me; said it was his mess to begin with.'

Jareth watches sideways out the window, and I wait silently for him to continue. Thank Merlin someone else is pretty curious right about now as well, so I don't have to hear a sneering comment.

'The Amulet of Aine is ten years old,' Jareth replies to my earlier question, having regained his composure.

'Ten years,' I repeat quietly.

'Yoda asked Maglor to make it after you arrived at the monastery,' Jareth responds calmly. 'As far as I understand it, it enhances the magical connection between the both of you and it grants immortality to its wearer.'

'What?' Voldemort and I snap simultaneously, while my eyes fall back on the stone I wore continuously ever since Voldemort obtained it.

'Its powers are partly based on Flamel's research, which Yoda took with him to Everon, so Maglor had detailed information on how to create the Amulet of Aine.'

'Now, hold on,' I say baffled. 'I don't get this. I don't get this at all. Why on earth would anyone want to create another Philosopher Stone?' And I pick up the Amulet and swing it around by its cord angrily. 'Especially while knowing about the moron's stupid immortality fetish!'

'Eh, Granger, I am right here, you know,' Voldemort's soul dryly reminds me.

'You just stated my objections word for word, Hermione,' Jareth answers. 'But Yoda said it was imperative and he also said you could handle the responsibility.'

'I don't want to be immortal!' I shout, while I jump to my feet aggravated. 'Don't you Knights ever think of asking someone what they want before you make decisions about their lives?'

'You have to ask?' Voldemort replies snorting.

'Oh, shut up, you aren't any better,' I retort annoyed, and I continue my rant at Jareth, pacing to and fro in the room all the while gesturing exuberantly. 'I mean, really, Flamel and his wife died so he couldn't obtain their stone. But you lot just blatantly ignore their sacrifice and create a new one. Who cares, right? We just go to Maglo…' I halt abruptly and stare at Jareth as the realisation hits me. 'Why did Yoda need an elf to create the stone? Surely, he could have done so himself if he had Flamel's research.'

'I honestly have no idea, Hermione.'

I scowl.

'No, truly,' he says, gesturing at me to sit down again, 'I asked Yoda about this too and he simply said the Stone required Elfin magic to work correctly. It's not merely a Philosopher's Stone in its nature, and Yoda stated only an elf could make the properties to enhance the magical connection that exists between Tom and you.'

I make a face.

'I don't understand it fully myself either,' Jareth continues. 'I think he needed Maglor more for that bit, instead of the immortality aspects of the stone, but I am not certain.'

I throw my arms in the air in irritation. If Yoda didn't tell Jareth, how the hell am I going to figure out what this Amulet is truly about? Fragments of an old conversation make their way back to my memory.

'I see you fumbled around with the Amulet's powers.'

'Is that going to be a problem?'

'Not to me.'

Maglor may know the answers. If Yoda asked him to make the Amulet, then Yoda had to confide in him what powers it needed to behold. Knowing Maglor as I have got to know him during my time in Everon, he would not have created something like this on a mere whim of another. Yoda would have had some solid arguments before Maglor would have gone along with creating this.

But then, there is the ominous prophecy. I can't just go to Everon without knowing more first.

'The Elders wanted me to let you know that you will always be welcomed back in Everon with the highest regards, Miss Granger.'

It's what Maglor stated just before he left, and it didn't make sense to me at the time, considering he was the only one who ever made me feel welcome in Everon. The other elves, especially the Elders, avoided me like the plague. But now that I've heard the bit about Everon rising and me being some sort of referee to ultimate victory for one, I am beginning to see why I would be welcome to return.

'What do you know for sure about this Amulet?' I ask thoughtfully, having calmed down a bit.

'That it gives immortality to its wearer. That it causes the magical connection between you two to become more powerful than it would have been on its merit alone. That Yoda felt adamant these things would assist you.'

'What about its soul-healing aspects and making someone feel remorse and so on?'

Jareth shakes his head slowly. 'There isn't a trinket in the world that could accomplish such a feat.'

'He is clearly lying,' Voldemort states quietly. 'I've split up the magic in the stone that contained those powers. I am not blind. They were there alright.'

'Voldemort split the magic of those powers in the stone,' I repeat suspiciously.

'Oh, I am sure he split the magic of those powers. But he saw those powers in the Amulet, because they are a part of the magic that flows between you two. So he split those powers thinking they were inside the Amulet, while they in fact exist between you.'

I frown. 'So, he saw those powers in the Amulet, because it channels and builds upon the already existing force between us, making it more visible to the naked eye?' I recap slowly.

'Exactly.'

'And he split the powers so the soul-healing aspects would go to him and the yucky feelings would go to me…' I halt there for a moment. 'But that doesn't make sense. Secrets of the Darkest Art states that only remorse can make a person heal his soul. If the Amulet didn't heal it for him and he felt no true remorse…'

'I most certainly did not feel such a despicable thing,' Voldemort adds, putting his two Knuts in.

'…but only brief bursts of it,' I continue, ignoring him. 'Then, how did he heal his soul?'

'He didn't,' Jareth says softly, and before I am able to rebut that ridiculous statement furiously, because – lets face it – the Horcrux I've become is a firm and undeniable evidence of the opposite, he adds: 'you did it for him.'

I look at him silently.

'But I think you already know that, Hermione,' Jareth says softly. 'You've got a big heart that is capable of love and forgiveness to such an extreme it heals.'

No. I shake my head in disagreement. 'I am not a forgiving person; I am actually quite vengeful,' I retort with certainty.

Jareth nods. 'I know you can be. But you know both sides of the spectrum. You are able to forgive those you love. It's love, the greatest magical force, which enabled you to forgive Ron for his behaviour.'

'I sent a flock of birds to pick at his head,' I grumble, still disagreeing.

Jareth laughs. 'And you forgave Harry for making Ron the one he would miss most during your fourth year.'

'They were both boys and Ron was a lot more fun to be around with than me. I always wanted to study. Besides, they had much more in common, so it was only natural.' I excuse Harry quickly, even though I still remember how much it stung at the time. I mean, Viktor Krum, a complete stranger, valued me more than my best friend.

'I think Potter's choice had more to do with the fact that he never had to be afraid to lose you as a friend,' Voldemort says quietly. 'You always were the reliable one; Weasley wasn't.'

I've never thought of it that way.

'Trust me; I've seen enough inside that boy's mind to know you were the one person he never doubted, and the one he relied on the most. The concept of having to miss you was so completely foreign to him; it wouldn't have entered his mind as an option,' Voldemort adds.

A small smile forms on my face and I feel so much better all of the sudden. 'Thanks.'

But Jareth speaks up again, stopping our internal conversation. 'So, I think I've established you are able to forgive just as much as you are able to avenge, and love is the force which causes the distinction between the actions you choose to exhibit. You love him and because you understand where his true darkness originates you were capable to absolve Tom of his crimes.'

'I never forgave him for what he did.'

No, you didn't forgive the actions; you forgave the man.'

It becomes utterly silent; for a very, long time.

Until I let out a short laugh. 'Oh Godric, this is so ironically cruel. It's not even funny.'

Jareth gives me a knowing look. 'This is not a bad thing, Hermione.'

'It isn't?' And I start laughing again. 'I went out of my way to hide that silly Amulet of yours, so he wouldn't become immortal again, and now you're telling me I am the one who healed his soul.' Another burst of laughter. 'Oh my, people beware; Hermione Jean Granger to the rescue. She will save the day and stop darkness from ascending!' A fit of uncontrollable laughter hits me, and I grab on to my belly to ease the cramps.

'You are doing just that,' Jareth says calmly.

A soft cling makes me look at the table and I roar with laughter when I see Jareth has placed a cup of tea in front of me. 'Turning into Yoda?' I hiccough.

'The Force sent you on his path and you healed him. Your love caused you to be able to absorb a huge amount of his darkness inside of you through your connection, and...'

'Oh, so that is why my eyes are turning dark. Well, at least I solved that mystery,' I mockingly interrupt.

'And due to your forgiveness and true understanding of where his darkness originates his soul was mended. It was his decision to rip it apart again,' Jareth adds.

'Yeah, because The Force could never have seen that one coming,' I blurt out sarcastically. 'Aren't we all doing great?'

'Yes, you are; you are. Yoda was right in his assessment about you. When you left the monastery, I was certain Yoda was making a similar error as before with Sally, but now…'

'Hold on,' I say sharply, 'did you say Sally? As in my grandmother? What kind of error are we talking about here?'

'You know you grandmother was an orphan and that she went to the same orphanage as Tom, right?'

'Yes,' I say slowly, dreading where this may be going.

'But what you may not be aware of is that she was orphaned at birth and grew up here first.'

'NO!' Voldemort and I speak up shocked and simultaneously again. This must not become a habit. It's giving me goose bumps whenever I agree with him.

'Yes,' Jareth nods. 'The Knights adopted her and her fourteen year older brother, Simon. It took some doing, but magic helps a lot under these circumstances. Simon was already going to a boarding school at the time, so he only was here during the summer holidays. But Sally basically spent the first ten years of her life in this very place.' And he waves his hand around, smiling fondly at the memory. 'She was a very bright and happy child; totally blunt and unabashed at times and always full of questions about everything.'

I am trying to the best of my abilities to wrap my mind around this new bit of information, but I can't separate the forest from the trees anymore. And I think it must have shown on my face, because Jareth says: 'Why don't I start from the beginning?'

'Sounds like a plan,' I mutter.

'Oh great, another magnificent story,' Voldemort mocks.

'It all started a long time ago when Merope Gaunt forced Tom Riddle to elope with her.'

'Amortentia,' I say knowingly. 'Or the creation of evil.'

'Yes, Amortentia is the most dangerous potion known to mankind. It's called a Love Potion, but the better name for it would be Obsession, since there never is true love involved in its use. Anyway, on the 31st of March 1926, a child was conceived under its influence.'

'Voldemort.'

'Yes,' Jareth says gravely. 'I still remember it like it happened only yesterday. I was admiring the snow on the mountain when I felt the disturbance in the Force. A darkness unlike I ever felt before rushed through it, making the foundations of everything we believe in tremble and stir, because this darkness had no counterpart. Nothing the Force had to offer on the light side was powerful enough to contain it. So Yoda went to see what the origin of this darkness was. He located it in London in the belly of an emotionally broken woman. When he came back to Tibet with a heavy heart, we all knew that the Force had nothing to contain this evil.

But then… two months later a baby girl was conceived, Sally Woodburn. And I was relieved, because I knew the Force had given us an answer to this darkness when I felt the Force shiver with her light.'

'But my grandmother was not magical, was she?' I ask dumbfounded, and I can sense I am not the only one who is now wondering about that.

'Hermione, you have seen and drawn magic from the trees, the plants, the animals and more. Surely, you realise by now that magic is in all of us. Not everyone can use or control it in the manner in which witches and wizards can, but magic is a Force of Nature. In essence it is in everything and everyone, but only those with a gift can use it. How else do you think a witch could be born from two Muggles?'

'You mean everyone is magical, but only a few can use those powers?'

Jareth nods. 'Using magic is a skill, like some are better in mathematics, or sports, or languages, or whatever…'

'But if my grandmother was such a powerful light source, how come she was not a witch?'

'The amount of darkness or light inside someone doesn't depend on them being able to use it magically. And the Force always searches for the absolute opposite in cases as these. Tom would be a wizard, so naturally your grandmother would be a Muggle.'

'Oh,' I say, not really seeing the logic in that reasoning, but eh… who am I to argue with the Force?

'Anyway, on December the 31st 1926 close to midnight, the Force nearly burst from darkness when Tom was born. His mother died soon after that, leaving her son in an environment that would keep him alive but nothing more. For a long time…'

'Why didn't you do anything?' I interrupt. 'You could have done something. I don't know… kill him, take him elsewhere, allow him to grow up with loving parents,…'

Jareth shakes his head. 'It would not have saved him from his destiny. Darkness that pervasive cannot be destroyed so easily. If I had been able to kill the baby, and that is a big if, the darkness would have found its home in me or another origin.'

'Okay, but you could have…'

'Given him to a loving couple?' Jareth finishes smiling. 'Believe me, Hermione, the Knights have considered it, but it would have been useless. The couple in question would have succumbed to him, not the other way around.'

I am not completely agreeing on this with him, but I decide to let him finish his story, since it's too late to change their choice anyway.

'Besides, we had placed our hopes in the unborn girl that would arrive two months later. The Force wants to balance dark with light, so we had every hope this would be our answer.'

Of course they would think that. Let everything balance in the hand of others, so they won't have to do anything themselves. This is so typical.

'But when your grandmother was born, her mother died in a similar manner as Merope. She left two children alone in the world, since her husband perished a couple of months before. Yoda found out that the Muggles were planning to bring both the children to an orphanage in London.'

'Let me guess, the same one Tom was staying in,' I interrupt.

Jareth nods slowly. 'Yes, and I think here is where we made our largest blunder. Yoda felt, since the baby girl was obviously not magical, that she needed some form of magical teachings before she could face the darkness that was and is Voldemort. So, we prevented the transfer of both children to the orphanage, made sure Simon could stay at his school and brought Sally here.'

'But wouldn't it make more sense to have both opposite forces meet as earl…,' I start, but when I see Jareth's sad expression I halt. Oh yeah, he mentioned the word blunder. There really is no need to rub it in.

'We can't undo what we did back then,' Jareth continues, 'we shouldn't have interfered with the will of the Force, but we did and because we did…' He stares out the window silently for a while and I can't help but wonder whether he agreed with Yoda's decision at the time. Somehow, I don't think he would have.

'Anyway, your grandmother grew up here and she learned everything there is to know about magic, the Force of Nature, and the task she was destined to fulfil from an early age on.'

I frown, because really, that is a bit much responsibility to lay down on a child's shoulders.

'When she turned ten, Yoda felt she was ready and Sally went to the orphanage, crying, because she didn't want to leave the only home she ever had. I had a bad feeling about the entire situation, but Yoda was adamant about Sally's capabilities. And I had to admit that for a Muggle girl she understood the Force quiet exceptionally. However, there was one factor that we – in all our arrogance – forgot about.'

'Hogwarts,' I say.

'Morons,' Voldemort snorts and his laugh resonates inside my head.

Jareth nods. 'Yes, in all our haste to teach Sally the ways of the Knights of Silence, we forgot that by the time she would be able to leave us, Tom would be heading for Hogwarts and their time together would be extremely minimal. However, she still came close in succeeding, despite the disadvantage of her not being magical and their lack of contact. However, we know that during the times she was with him she had an impact… And she almost prevented a triple murder, almost,' Jareth says sadly. 'Had she been a witch, she might have pulled him out. Such a remarkable woman, you're a lot like her, Hermione.'

Yeah, add on the creep factor.

'Wait a second…,' Voldemort mutters angrily inside of me, and before I am able to do anything about it, he has taken over my body. 'How do you know about Sally's presence at Little Hangleton?'

'We have a Pensieve, Tom. Sally showed us what happened right after she announced she would be marrying Siegfried and Yoda wasn't particularly pleased about it.'

My eyes narrow considerably. 'Impossible,' I hear my lips move, 'she met Siegfried during my seventh year at Hogwarts. She couldn't have shown you.'

'You botched up your Obliviate,' Jareth says calmly.

'Rubbish,' I speak, and I make a dismissive hand wave.

'No, not rubbish. Sally had been practising our ways of meditation since she was a very, little girl and she was extremely gifted in it. Besides, you basically warned her you were going to do it, before you cast the spell. She had plenty of time to raise a layer in her memory. I don't know what you Obliviated that day, but it wasn't what you assumed it was. And from what I remember of Sally's skills, you would have had to erase her entire mind to get rid of the memory. Something I think you would not have been capable of doing to her.'

Voldemort is now shaking my head in denial.

'There were factors in play you were unaware of at the time, Tom. It's not a lack in skill.'

I feel someone bristle inside of me, and he is definitely planning to cast something vile now. 'Out!' I yell furiously, and I regain control over my body just in a nick of time, because I can feel the first syllable of Avada was already beginning to form in my mind. I breathe in deeply a couple of times before asking Jareth to continue where he left off.

'Anyway, as I was saying Yoda wasn't too pleased to hear Sally decided to get married and give up – as he called it. They had a huge falling out, which the entire monastery was able to bear witness to, since Sally never was one for quiet arguments. And when she left I believe she was still pretty pissed with him.'

I shrug my shoulders.

'I couldn't blame her either,' Jareth says understandingly. 'Especially after Tom came here and I was making absolutely no progress whatsoever with him.'

'How could you have?' I state bemused.

'Well, I was chosen to guide him. Yoda said that I had the best chance of all the Knights to reach Tom, because of my past involvement with darkness. He thought I would be able to understand and pull him out, but I failed. His darkness was too pervasive for me to breach.'

I frown thoughtfully. That makes no sense whatsoever. 'Maybe you succeeded,' I respond quietly. 'Maybe Yoda wasn't waiting to see if you could pull Tom out from his darkness, but if you could resist the temptation he would provide for you.'

Jareth's jaw drops in astonishment, making me smile. It's not often I rendered a Knight speechless. Where is Colin Creevey when you need him?

'Had I known this, I would have made an actual effort to sway him,' Voldemort mutters somewhat disappointed at the missed opportunity inside of me.

'Where was I?' Jareth mutters a little distraught. 'Oh yeah; after your grandmother's influence on Tom Riddle disappeared his darkness grew tremendously. When the Force realised they severed their involvement in each other permanently, it searched desperately for a new light solution. She was born on January 30td 1960 and her name was Lily Evans.'

'Harry's mum,' I say calmly.

Somehow, the news doesn't come as a shock to me. It's beginning to add up now. However, someone else is not taking it very admirably and his anger is beginning to overwhelm me. I need all my concentration not to fall into his dark emotions and let them take me over.

'Yes, and this time the person in question was a witch,' Jareth continues.

'A Muggle-born witch,' I add.

'Naturally,' Jareth states. 'Now, considering how things went with Sally, we decided not to intervene this time around. However, it turned out that Lily had even less contact with Tom than Sally had. And correct me if I am wrong, Tom, but I would guess your interactions didn't start, until after Lily became an Unspeakable who specialised in matters of life and death?'

It remains utterly silent inside of me. And I can feel the wheels of his mind turning rapidly. I nod "yes" in his place. I can sense Jareth is right.

'I thought so. It would explain why the Force started searching for another Light Force before Lily Evans even had a chance to interact with Lord Voldemort.'

'How do you mean?' I ask confused.

'You were born on September 19th 1979, Hermione, which means you were conceived somewhere in January 1979. Lily Evans left Hogwarts in June 1978 and married James Potter almost immediately afterward. They took an extensive honeymoon for more than six months before returning back to the UK. Lily accepted her job as an Unspeakable at the beginning of February, which would place her in Tom's path. But by then, the Force had already considered her not to be a viable option either. And it went back to the family of the one person who had had a small influence and might have succeeded had she been a witch.'

'My grandmother.'

'Yes, however, now things are getting messy.'

'Now?' Voldemort mocks.

And I raise my eyebrows, because I happen to agree with him on this little detail.

'Because you would have been number three, you were the Light side's final shot. So, the Force pulled out all the stops on you. Not only did it choose to go back to the family it started with and made sure this time it would be a magical child, but it also matched your magical powers to be the opposite of Tom's; thereby making your magic compatible to his. However, Lily Potter-Evans was a very gifted Unspeakable, whose subject of investigation revolved around the veil and all matters concerning life and death.'

'Something that would definitely attract Voldemort's attention.'

'Indeed, but it also created something, we assume, the Force had not been counting on or maybe it had, but couldn't officially. You see it is not allowed to have more than one opposite in play simultaneously. But when Voldemort attacked the Potters on that fateful Halloween night, Lily used her ancient knowledge of life and death to protect her son. And because she died out of love for Harry; her love provided him with a shield that made it unable for Tom to harm him.'

'I know; Dumbledore told Harry this.'

'But there was also something else he didn't tell Harry. Because love was the source Lily used to protect Harry, all her Light powers transferred to him.'

'All? But wouldn't that mean that Harry was also…?'

'Oh yes, and then, there were two; you and Harry. Two sources of light against one of darkness, highly irregular I'll tell you. I'm sure the fates up above disapproved severely,' Jareth says grinning. 'It really is no wonder you became friends. We actually thought for a long time that it would be your combined efforts that would pull Tom out of the darkness he exists in, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.'

'I am not going to succeed either,' I say, and I despise how weak it sounds, but I know I am right. He is dragging me into his realm. It's not the other way around. 'Why didn't you approach me sooner about all this? So I could have studied the ways of the Force earlier in life. I understand why you didn't with Lily, but seeing that method didn't work out either…'

'We couldn't contact you anymore. We tried, and perhaps another Knight as Yoda should have went and maybe then we would have been successful? Anyway, your grandmother wasn't particularly pleased to see us again. She used Tom's wards to kick Yoda out, and by doing so, she inadvertently activated an ancient law that made sure you had to approach us; you became shielded from us by darkness before you were even born.'

'Oh.'

Jareth rubs his chin, while gazing at me. 'I don't think you will lose, Hermione. You've resisted his darkness for so long now. You know every bit of it. You've even absorbed huge parts of it and still you have not fallen. It takes someone exceptionally strong to hold all that darkness inside and not succumb to it. I believe you will succeed. You've been able to reach him, Hermione; something that shouldn't be possible due to the Amortentia use by his parents. Don't give up now, please.'

'I am not giving up; I am being realistic. If I had a chance of making a difference, it would have been after healing his soul. But he ripped it apart again. We both know he will never, ever change and I am not even sure I want him too,' I add honestly. 'I know it will sound crazy, but I … I love him.'

Jareth smiles. 'I don't find that crazy. I've seen Tom in action for about a decade up close and personal. He is an exceptional wizard, despite his darkness.'

'And there is the difference between you and me,' I add. 'You say he is an exceptional wizard despite his darkness, while I love the entire package. I am so doomed.'

'Darkness does have certain addictive qualities,' Jareth admits. 'And you already carry so much of it inside of you, yet, you're still able to love and feel. Doomed are those who lose that capability.'

'Or who never had it,' I add thoughtfully.

'Exactly.'

I pick up the Amulet again and gaze at it suspiciously. 'Maglor will know what this thing does.'

'I am sure he will,' Jareth replies softly.

'But I can't go to Everon.'

'Why not?'

'There are still missing links. I am overlooking something. This prophecy…' I tap with my fingers on the couch. 'It's ominous.'

'What makes you say that?' Jareth asks thoughtfully.

'For a decade Darkness will rule and Everon will rise. A choice must be made by the Founder of SPEW. She alone beholds the key to ultimate victory for one. Everon will rise,' I repeat absentmindedly. I look back up at Jareth seriously. 'Ultimate victory for one … that is not a good thing.'

'It is if I win,' Voldemort states.

And I merely groan in exasperation.

'I see what you mean,' Jareth responds, 'but prophecies are …'

'Darkness has ruled for a decade,' I interrupt, 'the prophecy was made by one of your Knights to Dumbledore long before I founded SPEW or before I was even born. Despite my doubts about the value of the subject of Divination, I think I am entitled to take this one seriously. I feel I have to take this one seriously.'

There is no reply.

'Everon will rise,' I mutter. 'What for Merlin's sake does that mean? Everon and SPEW … Elves and House-elves? Elves…?' I stare at the blind wall. 'Morgan Le Fay!' I yell, and I jump to my feet excited. 'There are rumours she was an Elf; she may have the answers we need. We should check her place to see if there is any information about Everon there that will explain this.'

'Oh, should we now?' Voldemort taunts.

'Hermione?' Jareth asks.

'He knows where Le Fay's knowledge is stashed,' I explain to Jareth absentminded, because I am focusing on the one person I need to get me where I need to go. 'Come on, you are the Divination dweller of the both of us; you know you wanna check it out to see if there is anything there that can assure your victory,' I smoothly say.

'How very slippery of you, Granger,' Voldemort responds.

'Must be the company I keep.'

'Must be.'

'Or we can always gamble and go to Everon unprepared, while the other side knows everything,' I add innocently. 'I know you just loooove surprises… Surprises like the one when you attacked Harry and found out your wand malfunctions against him.'

'Are you sure you wore the real Sorting Hat?'

'Hermione!' Jareth yells, and I wince in shock.

'Sorry,' he adds apologetically, 'but you didn't seem to hear me before. I was saying that most Potions Researchers believe Morgan Le Fay is the person who created Amortentia.'

I can't believe I forgot about Culthrop's writings. 'Okay, this is just too much. Any Arithmancer will tell you the odds to all this being coincidental are so minimal it's negligible. We have to go there,' I order bossily. 'So, where is it?'

'We can go there in a minute or so,' Voldemort says smugly.

'No, we need to go there now; we lost enough time…,' I halt my internal dialogue and look at Jareth shocked. 'Lord Voldemort is here!'

'Yeah, I noticed his arrival,' Jareth says lazily.

'Where is Le Fay's knowledge hidden?' I hiss furiously, but there is no answer. 'Fine, we'll do it your way. Legilimency,' I cast with the addition of the power of three.

'…I am walking through a green field…'

'…A large stone is standing upright in front of me and I feel incredibly excited…'

'…I cast a Cleansing Charm to clear the dust and debris out of the way as…'

'…I am outside again and smirk as I take in the large stones in my surroundings. Le Fay surely had a great sense of humour hiding her knowledge in the design of her archenemy…'

It's when Voldemort tosses me out of his memory, and I grab a hold of the couch to catch my breath.

'Are you alright?' Jareth asks concerned.

'Stonehenge; it's inside Merlin's Stonehenge,' I say panting.

'Go, we'll keep him busy,' Jareth says, and he waves his hand to create an Apparation Portal inside the monastery.

'But…'

'Just go, Hermione, trust me.'

'Thanks,' I say and I step into the portal.

'Hermione!' Jareth says, and in my turn around, I catch the item he has tossed toward me. It's the Amulet of Aine.

'I am not interested in immortality,' I say.

He holds up his hand, halting me in my motion to throw it back. 'He is,' Jareth says; nodding with his head in the direction Lord Voldemort must be in. 'He made you a Horcrux, and I don't believe he will take the risk of losing you and becoming mortal again. You know what the only other way is he can use to prevent you from dying; keep the Amulet, Hermione. You don't want to split your soul.'

I glare at the horrible device in my hand and shake my head, before I pull the cord over my neck again in irritation. As I spin on the spot and Disapparate, I see a door fly of its hinges violently.
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The Bittersweet Taste of Victory