Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Hogsmeade was so thick with fog that Hermione could not see five yards in front of her. She was alone from what she could tell, which was extremely odd in such a popular Wizarding village. She didn't recognize any of the shops she passed, and when she glanced in one of the shop windows the entire place was covered in cobwebs, long since abandoned.
The long dirt road stretched on in the distance when suddenly she made out two shapes walking in the distance through the thick white smog that covered the land. She ran up to the people and recognized them instantly. Her own parents. Months had passed since she'd seen them—not since before she had returned to Hogwarts for the new school year. She greeted them cheerfully, and when they turned to face her she expected their faces to alight with joy at the sight of their daughter. But they glared at her as if she were a stranger.
"Mum? Dad?" she asked with a baffled frown. She tried to step closer, but they quickly turned and ran away, glowering at her behind their backs as they went. They soon dissolved into the fog as if they had never been there.
Though Hermione tried to race after them, she never found them again. A painful loneliness overwhelmed her and she fell to her knees in the middle of the dirt road. A pitiful whimper passed her lips, downturned in bewilderment. When she brought up a hand to wipe at her face, however, it was surprisingly dry.
An ice cold hand suddenly rested on her shoulder. She could feel the coldness of it even through the thick fabric of the shirt she wore.
When she looked at it she saw that the hand had long, pale fingers. Her eyes trailed up a black sleeve to the cloaked figure standing behind her. She turned on her knees to look up at him. Her mind told her the person was male. He was much taller than her, and although she tried desperately to make out his face, the hood cast it into shadow.
In one fluid movement, he spread his arms out and stepped near, as if to embrace her.
Hermione woke with a start and sat up in bed. Her right shoulder ached and she found Snape standing beside her. He must have shaken her awake, and none too gently, either, she realized as she rubbed the sore shoulder. She froze when she saw the worried expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Her eyes still felt sticky from the salt of her dried tears, and she rubbed them.
"Miss Gr—Miss Hangleton," he stammered in an unsteady voice. She had never seen him act this way before, and it sent needle pricks through her stomach as she turned to face him fully. "I—there's been a slight change of plan."
Hermione glared, looking directly into his dark eyes. All traces of exhaustion left her body as she sat up straighter in alertness, imploring him to continue.
Her potions professor took a deep breath as he continued, "It appears you will be spending more time with the Dark Lord than I anticipated," he explained. "I was unaware that when he asked me to find someone he meant for this someone to be his—well—"
"His what?"
He paused. "Simply put, his companion. A very close follower, not like the rest of us. What he has planned for you exactly I can only guess at. But he will be teaching you. Of that I'm certain."
"Teaching me?" she gasped. Her chest swelled with alarm. Then like a switch, her worry turned to a flash of outrage. "But you said I would barely even see him."
"I made no promises," he reminded her.
"Do you still think I can do this?" she asked, trying to keep the whine out of her voice. She secretly hoped that he would decline.
Snape rubbed his temples with frustration. "It doesn't matter what I think, we have no choice now. There could be no excuse that would allow me to take you away again when you have only just arrived. The Dark Lord specifically wished to have a new follower tonight. I cannot possibly back out on his plan."
"What happens now?" she asked. Her voice came out in a breathless whisper.
Snape averted his eyes. When he finally answered, his eyes were far away. "When he is ready, I am to take you to meet him."
Hermione took shallows breaths beneath her face scarf as Snape guided her through the labyrinth of corridors and hallways. The only way she knew she wasn't about to run into a wall were the small candles that burst into green flames every meter or so as they passed. Her feet seemed disconnected from her brain. Her mind screamed for her to run in the opposite direction, but still she moved forward as she considered what she was about to face.
What will the Dark Lord be like? she wondered. She knew only of him what Snape had told her, that she must stay firm in his presence, that he did not respect cowards. She steeled herself to remain steadfast, and to avoid shedding any tears at all costs. If she so much as cried in front of Voldemort himself, all of this would be over in an instant.
Secretly, she couldn't help but wonder one thing: what does he look like? She had been in the battle at the Ministry last year, in the Hall of Prophecy, along with Harry and the rest of Dumbledore's army, but she had been far too preoccupied with fighting the Death Eaters to get a good look of him. She had, however, witnessed the frightfully remarkable magical display he and Dumbledore had put on while dueling. She had never seen such powerful spells before.
But what about his face? His eyes? She had heard gross rumors that his eyes were a malevolent shade of red, like the blood of his countless victims. Hermione swallowed and shook the image from her mind.
She had expected Snape to lead her back to their Master's bedchamber, but instead he brought her to a pair of large double doors on what she guessed was the far west side of the mansion. One of Snape's hands grasped a brass handle while the other was hidden at his side, probably gripping his wand. His eyes were far away as he faced the door, and Hermione almost touched his shoulder to bring him back from wherever he was.
"Professor?" she prodded.
With a shaky breath, Snape seemed to remember what he was doing and looked over his shoulder through the black hair that fell into his eyes. "Miss Hangleton," he said tersely, then opened the doors with a flourish. His eyes never left her face as he waved her inside.
Hermione walked forward in small, hesitant steps. She entered what looked like a massive cathedral with a high ceiling, black-tiled floor, and four large stained-glass windows. In front of her she saw an enormous fireplace, akin to the kind in Hogwarts' Great Hall. In front of it was a long rosewood table that could serve twenty people. And lastly, as if he was a part of the shadows, the Dark Lord himself stood off to the side.
He was wearing long dark robes and hovering near the fire. The doors slammed shut behind her just as she spotted him, and Hermione suddenly felt cold. Snape had left her completely alone with the most dangerous dark wizard in the world.
Her heart thudded uncontrollably as she turned her full attention on the man who had sent for her. Her stomach was so tied up in knots that she could barely take a proper breath. Was he facing her, or the fire? The fire made shadows dance on the walls and floor, but it didn't offer enough light to discover which. He was simply a looming silhouette that sucked all sense of safety from the room.
"Harmony Hangleton," said the same powerful voice she had heard earlier. It reverberated throughout the massive room so that it sounded as if it came from every direction at once. Her new Master raised one of his cloaked arms and beckoned her to him as he ordered, "Come closer."
Harmony's legs turned to lead, but she still managed to pull herself forward. The tip-tap of her boot heels on the black tiles echoed with each step. He dropped his arm when she was about a meter away from him, and she thankfully stopped.
She could see him more clearly now. He towered over her in height, and the long black cloak was surprisingly plain, void of any pattern or design. His hood completely hid his face when he turned toward her, so she could barely see the tip of his nose in the firelight. Where the rest of the face should have been was a black hole of shadow. She could actually feel him watching her, and it felt as though he could discover her every thought and feeling if he wanted. She tore her gaze away from his hood, staring at his feet instead.
Stay firm, she reminded herself. No tears.
"Severus has told you why you are here, surely?" he inquired.
Harmony nodded curtly. "To teach me." Her voice came out breathy, but thankfully she didn't need to speak loudly to be heard. The formation of the room amplified every sound.
"Yes," he said with the "s" drawn out like the hissing of a snake. "I do intend to teach you, among other things. But before we can begin you must first have a good grasp of the basics. Without them you cannot learn." He retrieved a book on the edge of the long table with pale hands and brought it over to Harmony.
It was like his presence sucked up all the air, making it difficult to breathe. She took the book, but found she could not look up into his face. She was worried she might scream at the sight of it if she did. He returned to his stance beside the fire, and Harmony inhaled deeply.
After a moment he spoke again. "Leave me, and go through that book. I have better things to do than teach you the simple basics. Do not return until you have mastered every spell. Then we can start the real work."
Harmony thumbed through the first few pages as she turned to go, seeking the book's Table of Contents. With a start of surprise she double checked just to be certain. She came to an abrupt halt, and turned back to her new Master. Though she was afraid to speak, she could not contain herself. She firmly cleared her throat and swallowed hard. "I already know all of these spells, my Lord." The words "My Lord" came out tasting bitter on her tongue.
Voldemort spun back around to face her, his cloak billowing around him like a dark cloud. Harmony could sense that he was frowning as he demanded, "Are you certain? Check again." As if anticipating the answer she would give, the Dark Lord took several steps towards her.
Harmony looked again, and when she was completely certain that she knew all the spells in the book she confirmed, "Yes, my Lord, I am sure."
"The Patronus charm? Surely you cannot know that one. Few young wizards do."
"Yes, I know how to produce one," Harmony answered with a nod. She remembered how Harry had taught Dumbledore's Army secret lessons in the time of Dolores Jane Umbridge.
Master tilted his head slightly as he demanded, "Prove it. Show me."
Harmony froze for a second. It had been a while since she had made a Patronus and she feared she might have forgotten how. But she set the book down on the black floor with a thud and pulled her wand out of her left boot, determined to do her best.
It was an uncomfortable sensation closing her eyes in front of the most dangerous wizard of all time, but she did it anyway. With her eyes closed, she was able to call forth the happy memory of spending holidays roaming Hogsmeade with her two best friends.
"Expecto Patronum!" she shouted, and swished her wand enthusiastically. A brilliant blue light emerged from the tip, and a playful sea otter formed. She watched with a satisfied smile as her Patronus swam about the air and filled the shadows with light. But when her eyes fell on Voldemort, the light dispersed, and she was once again surrounded by darkness.
She realized with sudden horror just how silly and childish she must have appeared as she watched her charm. Her cheeks grew red in humiliation, and for the first time she was thankful for the concealment her face scarf provided.
Voldemort stood considering her for quite some time. Harmony waited, the tension in her belly growing with each passing moment, for him to do something—anything—that would give a clue to what he was thinking.
"Very few young wizards are able to successfully produce a Patronus," he said, more to himself than to her. He turned and walked off into the shadows, and then his velvet voice called back to her, "Follow me."
Harmony grabbed the book on the floor with her trembling hands and ran after him. She was instantly in total darkness, and had to wait for her eyes to adjust to see where she was going. Large shapes towered over her, starting at the black-tiled floor and reaching up to the arched ceiling. She almost fainted when she realized what they were—bookshelves!
Thousands upon thousands of books, big, small, fat and thin, occupied countless shelves that lined the length of the wall. She passed row after row of books in silent wonder. There had to be more books than at the Hogwarts library, if that was even possible. Harmony brought up one gloved hand and lovingly stroked the ancient spines.
A small cough brought her out of her daze. She spun around to find that Voldemort stood at the end of a shelf just two rows away. She surged forward to join him but stopped after advancing only one row, unwilling to move any closer.
He held a couple large books in his pale hands. Harmony couldn't see his face, but she could tell he wore a smirk when he asked, "What do you think of my little library?"
Harmony stared, tongue-tied, into the black hole of his hood. I must answer him, she told herself firmly. He doesn't like cowards. She spoke the truth when she said, "I-I am in awe, my Lord."
"Yes, I was told you were a bookworm," he replied. She wasn't sure if he sounded pleased or annoyed by this. Before she could decide, however, the Dark Lord glided over to her and tossed the books he held into her arms.
Harmony grunted under the unexpected weight, and a spark of irritation flared up in the pit of her stomach. But when he did not move away from her, that annoyance abruptly turned to alarm. What was he going to do? Panic gripped her and she took a step or two back.
"But remember this, Harmony Hangleton," Master said in a quiet but firm voice. "What is written in books is never enough. It is through personal experience that we truly learn."
He doesn't like cowards, she reminded herself as she forced her feet to remain in place. Her body felt as though it was about to break out in nervous convulsions, but she looked straight up into the hood where she knew his face hid beneath the shadows. She thought she could almost make out the whites of his eyes, but the rest was in eerie darkness.
"Yes, sir—my Lord," she answered with a curt nod. "I understand."
The shadows of his eyebrows raised a fraction as he said, "You have my permission to remain here and research for however long you desire, but when you leave you must go straight back to your chambers. No detours." His voice became much sharper at the last two words, and Harmony held back a shudder of fear.
Her voice failed her this time. She simply nodded again.
Then he was gone, striding further into the darkness. She realized she had been holding her breath when she let it slowly out. Her thudding heart began to calm the further back her Master was, until he reached a single door at the back of the room. It opened as he approached and shut behind him with a click.
The books slipped through Harmony's fingers and hit the floor as she collapsed into a dead faint.
- 3
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- 5
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Serpentine Series