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Shared Flame	By : TheLadyMiya Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 58981 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I do not make any money writing this.

Chapter List
- 47
- 48
- 49
Wow, I can’t believe I actually managed to find time to update. But here it is: the last chapter before the epilogue. And I finished the epilogue last night, so I hope it will up soon as well! Then it will be over. Done. Finito. No more Shared Flame for Miya.

I want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing, favourite-ing, and subscribing to this story, you always make my day!

I also want to thank Shan and Nerys for their hard work of betaing this! Cookies for you!

Review replies can be found here: http://tomioneconvention.forumotion.com/t144-shared-flame-review-response-ffnet

Chapter 47

To say that everything was back to normal in the Granger-Foster household was stretching it. But at least Hermione and Voldemort were having sex again and could thus effectively work out their issues with each other physically.

However, they both decided that it was best to get everything back to normal as soon as possible. Therefore, a week after their visit to the beach, they sent Alexandra back to school. She seemed quite happy to see her friends again. Hermione started working again, but only part time. Voldemort stayed at home with Althea until they decided what would the best action for her. Voldemort didn’t want to go back to work until he had fixed his body issues.

At noon, the day after Alexandra returned to school, Hermione came home to eat lunch with Voldemort and Althea. Hermione and Voldemort were talking about work when Althea finally broke in.

“Mum. I think I’m ready to go to Hogwarts now.”

Hermione was startled by her statement. “Are you sure? After everything that’s happened … no one will be surprised if you wait.”

Althea hesitated and looked at her father. “Dad and I talked about it earlier. I’m … I think I’m ready. I want to learn magic the normal way, like I’ve read about in the books. And Dad told me about Slytherin, and how I’m related to him. It would be cool to go to a school my ancestor built.”

Hermione looked at Voldemort with a frown. Had Voldemort convinced Althea to go just so he would be able to research on his own?

“I told her she could take her time as well,” Voldemort said sincerely. “But the decision is up to her.”

Althea nodded. “I’d like to try at least.”

Well, if Althea felt ready, then she probably was. Otherwise, Hogwarts was just an Apparition away. Hermione didn’t want to talk Althea out of it, no matter if Voldemort had put her up to this or not.

“I’ll owl Professor McGonagall right away and ask if we can visit,” Hermione said slowly. “If everything feels okay with being there, then I’m sure you can get started soon.”

Althea smiled, but Hermione could see she was nervous as well. That was to be expected, of course. Hermione had been nervous when she first went to Hogwarts. Still, it felt stranger to be the parent sending their child off to Hogwarts than it was being a child going to Hogwarts. Hermione had felt the heartache when she had left Althea at the Hogwarts Express, but now, it was even worse. What if something bad happened again?

“Do you think I’ll get sorted?” Althea asked eagerly.

Hermione smiled weakly. “We’ll see, love.”

Voldemort cleared his throat. “I’ll help you compose the letter, Hermione. Why don’t we go to the study? Althea, are you finished with your lunch?”

Althea nodded. “Thanks for lunch.”

Voldemort waved her off and then cleared the table with a quick spell. Silently, he led Hermione into the study.

“You have to let her go, Hermione,” he said once the door was closed.

“I know that,” Hermione said, annoyed. “But what if something happens again?”

“Well, I highly doubt two separate groups will want to kidnap her, but just in case, I’m putting a tracking spell on her. But, in the unlikely event that someone would kidnap her … well, we took care of them last time, didn’t we?”

“It’s not just kidnapping I’m afraid of,” Hermione growled. “Hogwarts can be dangerous. And what if she doesn’t make any friends? Most children will already have established their groups by now, what if there is no room for her? What if they bully her?”

Voldemort sighed and grasped her hands. “Althea is a strong girl, Hermione, just like us. All parents worry that their children won’t have any friends, but what can we do if she doesn’t? We can’t force children to like each other. And as to bullying… well, do you really think I’d let my daughter get bullied?”

Hermione frowned at him. “You aren’t going to torture children, are you?”

He chuckled. “No, that would be rather suspicious. But I’ve taught both our daughters personally. Not anything dark, you know that, but enough that they’ll be able to defend themselves, if needed. She is clever, Hermione, she’ll figure it out.”

She sighed. “It’s still dangerous at Hogwarts.”

He snorted again. “Not really. The only reason you were in danger at Hogwarts was because of Potter, and well, me. But it’s not like I’m going after anyone at Hogwarts right now, and I’ll make sure no other Dark Wizard gets interested in Althea, or her friends. And I know you’ll help me with that.”

He pulled her into an embrace. “If worse comes to worse, we’ll be there and save her. She is not alone. Not like you were.”

Hermione stood stiffly in his arms for a moment, then she exhaled and started to relax. “We better write that letter then.”

xxx

Althea was nervous as she and her mother made their way up to Hogwarts early in the morning. Headmistress McGonagall had agreed to meet with them and discuss Althea’s options.

Althea wasn’t sure what to think about the huge castle that lay in front of her. In one way, it was very cool, and she could hardly believe she was related to one of the people who had built it. On the other hand, coming here meant having no friends at all. Not even her sister or parents. Instead, just Potter and Lupin would be there.

It wasn’t that she was scared of them. No, they were too silly to scare her. But they were so annoying and always ruining everything that she simply didn’t want to have anything to do with them.

Still. She wanted to learn. She hadn’t told her parents about it, but she was eager to explore the magic the fairies had taught her more. Her father had told her she should forget everything they had tried to teach her, because it had all been bogus, but Althea didn’t think so. They had taught her things. At Hogwarts, she would be free to practise whatever she wished. She would be great in magic, she knew it.

“Professor McGonagall isn’t expecting us until nine, Althea. Why don’t I show you around a bit?” Hermione suggested as they entered the school.

The first thing Althea noticed was the students. Students in black robes were everywhere, walking in different directions. Some of them glanced curiously at them as they passed, but none said a word.

Althea stayed close to her mother as they walked up a big staircase. There was a lot to look at in the castle. The walls were filled with moving paintings in bright colours, and statues and ornaments seemed to be placed in no particular order. When one of the stairs began to move as they walked, Althea let out a gasp.

“Oh, I guess the castle wants us to look at the library first,” Hermione mused out loud. “It’s this way.”

Althea felt braver at the thought of the library. She had been looking forward to see the Hogwarts Library since she learned how to read.

The sight of it was better than she had thought.

Althea had been to libraries in the Muggle world lots of times. She knew what it looked like to have lots of book in one big room. But none of the libraries she had been to before had ever gave her the same feeling as this one. It wasn’t just that it was filled with more books than she would be able to read in her whole lifetime, but it was the feeling of the library. It was magical.

She inhaled the old, musty magic of the books, and her whole body trembled with excitement. It reminded her about how it had been where the fairies lived. So filled with magic and wisdom. She could make a home here.

“Dear Merlin, Hermione Granger!” An elderly witch with a very strict expression came up to them, her lips almost smiling.

“Madam Pince, how nice to see you again,” Hermione said, sounding quite surprised for some reason.

Althea didn’t care about the adults. She wanted to have a look at some of the books.

Certain that her mother would call her back when it was time, Althea made her way down the lines of bookshelves and chose one shelf at random. The books there seemed to be about something cool. She browsed a shelf and was just about to pick out a book when someone came into the same passage she was in. She looked up, expecting to see some unfamiliar student, but froze when she recognised Lupin.

They stared at each other for several seconds. Then Lupin’s face broke into a smile.

It wasn’t the same smug, mean smile he usually wore when she was around. No, this was a smile of relief and genuine happiness.

“Glad to see you’re alright, Granger, you had us all worried, getting kidnapped from the train like that,” he said, to her great surprise. “Starting Hogwarts now?”

“I guess,” she said, on her guard.

“Hope I’ll see you around then,” Lupin said. Then he turned around and left.

Althea stared after him. Had that really been Lupin? He hadn’t insulted her once. Why was he being nice? Well, it would be easier to ignore him if he didn’t try to hex her every time she walked past him. She was not about to let her guard down though, but maybe, just maybe, it was possible that the students at Hogwarts wouldn’t be as mean as she had thought.

“Althea?” her mother called.

Althea looked at the shelf again and sighed. Well, if she came to Hogwarts for real, she’d be able to read all these interesting-looking books whenever she wanted.

She walked towards her mother again, and they left the library. Her mother showed her some other locations she had liked when she was a student, but it was a bit too much for Althea to take in all at once. It didn’t take long until she had no idea where they were, or how they had come there.

“You’ll find your way around here in no time, if you start,” Hermione promised her when she saw her daughter’s confused look. “There are even some secret passages to discover, which will get you around even faster.”

Althea lit up at that. She loved secrets.

They came to the big stone bird at the end of a long corridor. To Althea’s surprise, Hermione stopped in front of it and said,

“Norwegian Forest Cat.”

Before Althea had a chance to ask what was going on, the bird started to go upwards, revealing a staircase. Althea gasped. Despite all the magic she had seen in her years, she still found it cool when things that weren’t supposed to happen, happened. Like stone birds revealing a staircase.

“How did that happen?” she asked her mother.

“Some rooms in Hogwarts have passwords. McGonagall told me hers in the letter she sent us,” Hermione explained.

Once they were up, they were allowed entrance into a circular room with big great windows. An elderly witch rose from behind a big oak desk, smiling at them.

“Hermione, I’m so glad to see you again, especially in the company of your daughter.” The witch came around the desk and hugged Hermione before turning to Althea. “We were all so happy to hear that you were found safe and sound, Miss Granger-Foster. Even happier when we heard they caught the perpetrators.”

Althea just twisted uncomfortably. Her parents had told her not to say anything to anyone about where she had really been, or whom she had been taken by. Yet, it felt strange every time someone looked at her like the way Professor McGonagall was looking at her now. Like she had been through something terrible. It hadn’t been terrible, not until the end at least when she found out who her father really was, and her friends were banished from the world.

Hermione cleared her throat. “Well, we told Althea that she could tell us when she felt ready to start Hogwarts, and now she asked. So we were just wondering if it will work for her to start now, even though the semester has already started?”

McGonagall made a gesture for them to take a seat on the two blue armchairs in front of the desk. “It is highly unusual for a student to start later, but during special circumstances, we do allow it. This is what we would call a special circumstance. However, Miss Granger-Foster would have to study harder than the rest to start with, so she can catch up with the other students.”

Hermione smiled and looked at Althea. “I doubt that will be much of a problem. Marcus and I have already taught her some of the basics of magic.”

McGonagall smiled as well. “I expected as much. Well, then, Miss Granger-Foster, do you want to join us at Hogwarts?”

Althea looked at the Headmistress and nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Then it’s decided,” McGonagall said. “However, there is some administration to take care of before you can begin officially. But I think I’ll be able to have it done by the end of the week.”

McGonagall paused, looking thoughtful. “Why don’t you return here on Sunday evening and we’ll get you Sorted. Please bring Mr Foster as well. Both of you will have to sign some papers. You can bring your other daughter as well, if she likes to. In the meantime, I think I’ll give you some homework, Miss Granger-Foster. Just so your teachers will be able to see how far along you are.”

“That sounds very reasonable, Professor,” Hermione said, looking relieved. “I’m sure Marcus will be happy coming here. He has never seen Hogwarts, after all.”

Puzzled, Althea glanced at her mother before she realised that she was lying. No one else knew who her father was. All of a sudden, Althea realised that she would have to lie as well, if someone asked her about her father. Her parents had just told her not to tell anything to anyone, but people would probably ask questions. Althea would have to lie.

That didn’t bother her so much. Secrets were fun, after all. This was just another one.

xxx

Hermione and Voldemort had agreed to meet the Potters in a place where no children would be present, and a place that was secluded. Thus, they met in a club cabin currently rented by Ginny’s Quidditch team. It was located near a Quidditch pitch and thus away from the cities and already protected from Muggles. Ginny had also promised that no one would bother to come by on a Thursday morning, so there would be no interruptions.

Voldemort spotted the other couple the moment he entered the cabin. The Potters were sitting on a wooden bench with a huge dinner table in front of them. He smirked at them, which Hermione happened to see, which led to her elbowing him in the side.

His fierce, little wife went up to the table and sat down at the opposite side of the Potters. Voldemort joined her.

For a moment, Voldemort and Harry stared at each other in silence. As always, the boy’s emotions were visible all over his face. Harry was very angry and unhappy about being there. However, he must have learned some self-control since he wasn’t attacking Voldemort right away. Good for him.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Hermione finally said.

Harry broke eye contact with Voldemort, and his expression turned pained as he looked at Hermione.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Hermione?” he asked. “If we work together, we can—”

“Don’t,” Hermione broke in coldly. “If you for even a moment think I’ll ruin my children’s lives like that, you don’t know me at all, Harry.”

“But what about your life?” Harry asked, sounding pathetic. “There must be some way—”

“I’ve come to terms with this, Harry, so must you,” Hermione interrupted him again. “I know you want to save everyone, but I don’t need saving. Accept that.”

“You deserve a happy life,” Harry whispered. “A happy ending.”

Hermione sighed. “There are no happy endings in real life. But for what it’s worth, I am happy.” She glanced at Voldemort. “Sometimes.”

“Yes, she is very happy every night when we have sex,” Voldemort added helpfully. “And in the mornings as well.”

Hermione elbowed him again. Both Harry and Ginny looked away, clearly not wanting to think about Voldemort’s sexuality. Hermione also wondered if Harry was perhaps thinking about the time where he had seen Voldemort in action with her. Had he told Ginny about that? The thought made Hermione feel uncomfortable as well.

“If that’s settled, then let’s move on,” Hermione said, sending a glare of warning to Voldemort. “We decided that an Unbreakable Vow would do. I’ll be the binder, and both of you will take it, promising not to reveal Marcus’s true identity or go after him in any way. Voldemort will promise not to go after you. However, we’ll word it so it leaves room for self-defence, even though it won’t be necessary since neither of you will be able to hurt each other.”

“So that’s it?” Ginny asked. “We will leave each other alone, and never see each other again?”

Hermione nodded. “That’s it.”

“But that means we’ll never see you either!” Harry exclaimed.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “You tried to murder my husband, Harry. I don’t want to see you again.”

Harry looked shocked. Then he turned to Voldemort, his face turning angry. “I bet this makes you happy?”

“A bit, yes,” Voldemort mused, looking very pleased.

“Enough,” Hermione said, rising from the table. “Let’s just do this and be on our way. I have a class to teach in an hour.”

They all rose, and oaths were taken without further arguing, much to Hermione’s relief. A part of her was sad to lose her oldest friends, but truth be told, they hadn’t been that great friends since the war ended, and especially not since Harry found out who Voldemort really was. And it wasn’t like she didn’t have other friends. She did have colleagues she saw outside of work, so it wasn’t like she only had Voldemort to talk to. True, they weren’t as close as real friends usually were, but it was still nice to have some other adult to talk to, beside Voldemort.

She wasn’t unhappy. She just wasn’t very happy either.

Once the oaths were taken, they left, going their separate ways without saying goodbye. When Hermione and Voldemort landed in the kitchen, Voldemort embraced her.

“I’ll do my utmost to make you happy again, kitten,” he mumbled.

Hermione sighed. She knew he was telling the truth. Even though he no doubt had selfish reasons for wanting her to be happy, he still worked to make her happy. Thanks to his excellent observation skills, he was even good at figuring out what would make her happy, even though she didn’t realise it herself.

“If I didn’t have to go to work, I think I’d actually want a drink,” Hermione muttered, moving out from his embrace.

Voldemort chuckled. “Tell you what, once Althea is at Hogwarts, why don’t we get a babysitter for Alexandra one night and go out and get you utterly pissed?”

She snorted. “I didn’t think you wanted me to get drunk again?”

“Under my supervision, you’ll be fine. I’ll make sure you don’t start snogging other men, or get pregnant again.”

She laughed, and smacked his arm. “It’s a deal. Now I have to get ready for work.”

He pulled her in and kissed her thoroughly. Hermione let him. It was nice to kiss him after all. At the end of the day, he did have his uses, Lord Voldemort.

xxx

Althea was nervous when she woke up on Sunday morning. Today was the day she was going to Hogwarts! The day had finally come!

All the homework she had got from Hogwarts was already done. There hadn’t been too much, just a handful of questions in every subject, which she had been able to answer without problem. Her parents had taught her the basics ages ago. She was looking forward to learn the real things.

Quickly, she got dressed and hurried downstairs. Her father was already sitting at the breakfast table, drinking coffee and reading the Daily Prophet. He smiled when she entered.

“Good morning. Looking forward to go to Hogwarts?” he asked.

“Yes, where’s Mum?” Even though she had stopped fighting her father and to some extent accepted who he was, she still felt a bit uncomfortable being around him. It would be a relief to get away from him for a while, so she could gather her thoughts in peace. It was just her mother and Alexandra she would actually miss.

“She was still asleep when I woke up,” Voldemort answered. “We were up researching late.”

“Okay,” Althea said, knowing he was probably lying. Oh, they had been in the library reading when she got to bed, but she doubted it was the only reason they were up late. She was eleven, not stupid.

“Do you want me to make you some breakfast?” he asked politely. “Since it’s your last day at home, I can make you something really special, if you’d like?”

It annoyed her when her father was trying too hard. She knew he wasn’t a nice man now, why did he try to act like it?

However, she was in the mood for chocolate pancakes. Her mother would never let her have it for breakfast since she thought it was too sweet, but maybe her father would now?

“Maybe,” Althea said slowly. “Could I have some chocolate pancakes?”

Voldemort chuckled and rose. “Well, it’s safe to say you’re my daughter at least. But fine, I’ll make you some chocolate pancakes.”

Althea wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but it didn’t matter. She would get her pancakes!

For the rest of the day, Althea was shifting from being excited and happy to nervous and homesick. She ran through the entire house, checking to see that she hadn’t forgotten anything several times. There were some things she didn’t know if she should bring. Would people laugh if she brought her old friend Koka, the flying snake teddy? It wasn’t that she still slept with Koka, but it didn’t feel right to leave him either.

In the end, she stuck him underneath all her clothes. If anyone asked, she could just say her mother hid him there.

At five o’clock, the whole family gathered to take a Portkey to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall had supplied it. It would take them straight to the Head’s office.

By that time, Althea was more nervous than anything, so Alexandra was the one standing for the excitement. She was almost bouncing up and down where they stood with their hands on the old brown hat.

“When will it happen?” Alexandra asked.

“Just a few more seconds, honey,” Hermione said, smiling.

“Can’t it happen faster?”

“It will happen—” Her mother’s voice was broken off by the Portkey activating, sending the whole family into something that felt like a storm of magic.

Althea gasped in surprise when she found herself landing on her stomach. She blinked and stared into a thick red curtain. A moment later, he father helped her up and she recognised the Head’s office.

“Welcome to Hogwarts.” The voice came from the painting hanging right next to the red curtain. Althea stared at it, not used to have portraits addressing her.

She could see other portraits on the wall; wizards and witches dressed in their finest robes, all sitting in high-backed chairs. They were all appearing to sleep, except the one right next to the painting that had addressed her. The greasy-haired wizard inside it had one eye open and muttered, “You should be asleep as well, Albus.”

“Nonsense, Severus, rules are to be diverted from, especially in special circumstances,” Dumbledore responded cheerfully. “You should welcome them, too.”

The other portrait, Severus, looked down his long hooked nose at Dumbledore, and then muttered something unrecognisable before crossing his arms and closing his eyes again.

“Oh well. Miss Granger-Foster, welcome to Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said.

“Thank you,” Voldemort answered in her place. “You must be Professor Dumbledore?”

The old, white-bearded wizard in the portrait smiled at them. “Indeed I am, Professor Foster. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”

“Not as much as I’ve heard about you,” Voldemort said with a smile. “I’m sorry our ways never crossed when you were alive. I think we would have had quite a bit to talk about.”

“Dad, who is that?” Alexandra—who had landed right next to Althea—got in between Althea and Voldemort and tugged at his sleeve.

“This is Professor Dumbledore, who was the Headmaster of Hogwarts before Professor McGonagall,” Voldemort explained.

Right then, Althea noticed that Professor McGonagall was also in the room, already welcoming Hermione. Althea had been too caught up with watching the talking painting. Even though she had seen them before, it felt strange to talk to one.

“Why is he inside a painting, Dad?” Alexandra asked in a whisper.

“It’s customary for Headmasters of Hogwarts to leave behind a painting of themselves when they retire from their post,” Dumbledore explained to Alexandra with a friendly twinkle in his eye.

“Althea? Marcus?” Hermione called them.

Althea saw Voldemort smile at the portrait before guiding his daughters to the other side of the room. McGonagall had put more armchairs by the fireplace, and a coffee table had been set for tea. Althea sat down next to her mother.

“There is usually a welcome feast for the new students,” McGonagall explained. “Therefore, I thought we could have a small celebration with your family, once we have you Sorted.”

“That’s very kind, Professor. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” Hermione said softly.

“Nonsense, I want all students to feel equally welcomed. Once we know which House Miss Granger-Foster will be in, I’ll call for the Head of House to join us as well.”

Althea didn’t know what to say. All she felt was excitement. She would finally get Sorted!

McGonagall took down a very old, worn, black wizard’s hat from a shelf next to her desk. “This is the Sorting Hat. It will decide which House you’ll be in. All you have to do is listen to it and relax.”

Althea knew what was to be expected. She had asked her mother for the details several times. But she could still feel her palms getting sweaty when McGonagall lowered the Hat onto her head. What if the Hat wouldn’t work?

“Interesting,” a soft voice whispered into her ear. “Your mind is guarded. Family secrets, I don’t doubt? Yes, children have them now and again. Your father must be of the paranoid sort. I remember your mother, she is well aware of my vow of silence.”

“How can you see my mind is guarded?” Althea thought to the Hat. She knew she didn’t have to talk.

“I’ve been around for hundreds of years, Miss Foster-Granger; I have seen every type of mind there is and felt every thought there is to think. But you have quite a few unique ones. You are very young to know so much, and very ambitious. You want to know everything, yes?”

“Yes,” Althea thought.

“It’s hard to decide. Your love of learning would put you in Ravenclaw, but you have other qualities that would make you fit into Slytherin.”

“Mum was a Gryffindor,” Althea remembered. “She wanted me to be one, too.”

“But you don’t want to be in Gryffindor,” the Hat noted. “I can see it here. You don’t like the people there.”

“No,” Althea agreed.

“But you do want to have friends. Slytherins make excellent friends. But Ravenclaw would provide a great environment for learning. Which do you think you crave the most, Miss Foster-Granger?”

Althea thought about it. She would like to have new friends, but there were no guarantees that the Slytherins would be any better than any other children she had met. And could she trust them? Lately, everyone she thought she could trust had turned out to be someone else. No, she would rather be in an environment where she could develop her own magic in peace.

The Hat sighed into her ear. “You have made up your mind. Very well, it will be RAVENCLAW!”

The last word was shouted out into the room. Someone pulled the hat from her head, and she discovered that her family and the portraits on the walls were all applauding her. They all looked genuinely happy for her. It made her happy as well.

A short wizard named Professor Flitwick came up to join their feast, and Althea got to hear a lot about Ravenclaw and its history.

“I’ve no doubt you’ll make us proud, Miss Granger-Foster,” Professor Flitwick said has he served himself some more tea with a swish of his wand. “If you are anything like your mother, you’ll be an excellent student.”

“Oh, Althea must take after both of us, because she is better than I was at her age,” Hermione said, taking her daughter’s hand. “She managed to finish all her homework in just three days.”

“Very good, very good,” Flitwick chuckled. “I’m sure she will have caught up to her classmates in no time.”

“How many first year students are there in Ravenclaw this year?” Hermione asked.

Althea became curious again. She knew she would have to share a room with the other Ravenclaw girls, and she’d rather that there weren’t too many of them.

“Seven, or eight now with Miss Granger-Foster,” Flitwick told them. “Four boys, four girls. Do you remember Alicia Spinnet? She married Roger Davies, and their son got Sorted into Ravenclaw this year.”

“Oh, how nice. I don’t think I’ve seen Alicia since she left Hogwarts.”

Althea was once again lost in her own thoughts as her mother talked with the Professor. Three girls to share a bedroom with. She hoped none of them snored. But her father had taught her a silencing spell if she needed it. He had also taught her a locking spell, so no one would be able to go through her things.

Before she knew it, it was time for her parents and sister to leave.

“You can write home any time you like,” Hermione said, hugging her tightly. “If you need anything, just let us know. We love you.”

Alexandra hugged her as well, and then it was time for her father. Althea tensed slightly as he embraced her, but she allowed it.

“Take care, love,” he said. “Learn a lot.”

“I will,” Althea mumbled.

There were a lot of mixed emotions running through her as her family took a Portkey and disappeared from the Office. She tried not to think about what she was feeling, instead she focused on the two Professors. Flitwick smiled at her.

“Why don’t I show you down to the Ravenclaw common room, and we’ll get you introduced for the other students,” he said, making a gesture for her to join him. “Thank you for the tea, Minerva.”

“Thank you,” Althea said, her voice coming out a lot weaker than she had intended.

She didn’t want to be scared at the prospect of meeting her new classmates, but for some reason, she just couldn’t get her heart to stop racing in her chest. She hardly saw where they went, and only answered when Flitwick asked her a question. She didn’t think she had ever missed her mother this much.

They came to a door with no handle or door knob. Instead, there was a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

“We don’t have a password to our common room like the other Houses,” Flitwick explained to her. “If you want to enter, the Eagle will ask you a question and you’ll have to answer it in an insightful way to gain entrance. We want our students to always challenge their minds, and this is the way to do it. Go ahead, why don’t you give it a try?”

He nodded at the Eagle who looked down at Althea. “How can a person stay awake for eight days?”

Althea frowned. “Don’t they sleep at night instead?”

“Indeed they do,” the Eagle answered.

The door swung open, and they stepped through. Althea gasped when she saw the common room. It was big and airy, decorated in dark-blue and bronze, with lots of bookcases and tables and armchairs to sit and study in. It was half filled with students who all looked up when they saw Professor Flitwick.

“Good evening, students, good evening,” Flitwick greeted them. “We have a new first year student joining us, Miss Althea Granger-Foster. I hope you’ll make her feel welcome.”

Althea stared at the other students. None of them looked particular excited, but if they were expressing any emotion at all, it was curiosity. Well, that was something at least.

“Miss Abram, would you be so kind and help Miss Granger-Foster to get settled?”

A girl who looked to be in her mid-teens got up from her group of friends, on Flitwick’s request. She smiled at them, and not a fake smile either. It made Althea feel more at ease.

“Miss Abrams is one of the Prefects of Ravenclaw. If you have any questions, you are free to ask her, or any of the other Prefects. And my door is always open as well, if you have anything you’d like to talk about,” Flitwick said. “I’ll see you in class.”

Althea nodded. “Thank you, Professor.”

Once he had left, Miss Abrams turned to her. “Althea, was it? I’m Henrietta. Is there anything you’d like to ask right away?”

Althea looked around in the room shyly. The other students were all looking at her curiously, and whispering to each other. It made her uncomfortable.

Henrietta saw it and turned around, placing her hands at her hips. “I doubt I need to tell you to leave Althea here alone. We are not a horde of blunt lions, or snooping snakes. Back to your homework!”

The students immediately turned back to what they had been doing. Henrietta smiled at Althea again.

“If anyone gives you any trouble, just let me know. But don’t worry, we usually don’t have that many problems within our House. Ravenclaws are more focused on learning than drama. However, if something does happen and I’m not around, you can always go to Professor Flitwick. Now, was there anything you wanted to ask about?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Well, if you think of anything, just ask. Why don’t I show you up to your dormitory?” Henrietta suggested and led Althea through the common room and up a flight of stairs. They passed five sets of doors before Henrietta stopped at a door marked “First Year Girls”. She opened it.

“This will be the room you share with the other girls in your year,” Henrietta explained. “Oh, and there is one of your classmates. Lillian, wasn’t it?”

There were four beds in the room, all with blue hangings and sheets. On the one at the far end of the room, a young blond girl was lying on her stomach with a book in front of her. She just nodded silently at Henrietta’s question.

“This is Althea, Lillian, she’ll be joining you in here. Do you know where the other two are?”

“Eating,” Lillian answered, her voice weak and her face red. Althea could see that she was clearly a very shy person. It made her feel more at relaxed. At least Lillian wouldn’t have the nerve to be mean.

“Why don’t I let you two get to know each other for a bit?” Henrietta suggested. “I’ll be down in the common room if you need anything, Althea.”

“Okay. Thanks,” Althea said and slowly made her way into the room as Henrietta left.

The bed next to Lillian’s had Althea’s trunk in front of it. Althea went over to it.

“So this is my bed?” she asked.

“Yes. It appeared just a little while ago,” Lillian said. She seemed a little less shy now when Henrietta had left.

“Who are the other two girls here then?” Althea asked.

“Connie Fresher and Pauline De Kalino,” Lillian said. On her tone, Althea got the impression that Lillian wasn’t very close to them. It made her hopeful. If Lillian didn’t have any friends either, then maybe they could become friends?

“What are you reading?” she asked, starting to get a feeling that Lillian could be very good company if she got her to loosen up.

“Hogwarts, A History,” Lillian said, showing her the cover.

Althea smiled. “I love that book!”

Lillian blushed, a small smile starting to form on her lips. “Me too. I’ve read it twice already.”

“I’ve read it more times than I can count!” Althea said, moving over to Lillian’s bed. “What part are you on?”

“About the Founders,” Lillian said. “It’s my favourite part.”

“Mine too,” Althea exclaimed.

For the rest of the evening, Lillian and Althea talked about Hogwarts, A History, and other books they liked. When she went to bed that night, Althea had a feeling Hogwarts wouldn’t be so bad at all.

xxx

It felt strange, having just one daughter at home. Even though Hermione knew Althea was safe at Hogwarts (it had only been a week, but they had already exchanged two letters), she couldn’t help but feel worried. She felt constantly nauseated, but tried to hide it. She knew she was just being overprotective and paranoid, and it annoyed her.

However, nothing got past Voldemort.

“Put your mind on something more useful,” he told her when they were sitting in the library. He was researching, but she was reading Althea’s latest letter again. “Althea is fine. I would know if something happened to her.”

“I know,” Hermione growled, feeling aggravated, both by herself and her husband. However, she knew it would be no use fretting, and thus, she forced herself to put the letter away and went around the table to see what he was doing.

“Have you finished adjusting the potion that will get your looks back?” she asked. She could really use the relief it would bring knowing that he couldn’t be revealed by something as silly as running out of Polyjuice Potion.

“Yes, I think so. But we’ll have to wait for the full moon tomorrow to start with it,” he said, showing her his notes on the potion. It was a variation of the potion the fairies had given him twelve years ago, but based on the unique knowledge on transfiguration that Merlin’s scrolls had given them.

Hermione looked it over to see if anything was amiss, but she wasn’t sure what she could do to improve it. Either it would work or it wouldn’t. Only experimenting would give them the answer, and they couldn’t do that until tomorrow.

“So what are you doing now, then?” she asked, noting that he was still scribbling on another parchment.

“Well, Merlin gave me an idea for another way to immortality. I want to test it as soon as possible. And if I remember correctly, you promised to help me with this.”

Hermione blinked and it took a moment for her to remember the promise she had given him before they broke into Gringotts. She would help him achieve immortality in exchange for torturing him brutally.

Up until that moment, she had completely forgotten about the torture. Too many other things had happened in between: She had killed someone to protect Voldemort. He had killed for her. Harry had tried to kill Voldemort. The fairies had tried to kill them both. Mizuro’s death. Both their children had found out the truth, and they had been forced to take care of that. Not once had she thought about Voldemort who must still have been in pain for days after her treatment. He hadn’t complained after she had promised to help him. Hadn’t held it over her.

“What’s wrong with us?” she suddenly exclaimed, falling into the armchair next to him.

Voldemort sighed and put the quill down. “You will have to be more specific than that.”

“We hurt each other all the time. Really hurt each other. Is this what our entire life will be like? Just pain and more pain until one of us dies?”

Voldemort groaned. “For Salazar’s sake, Hermione, why are you clinging onto everything bad that has happened lately? Let it go. You aren’t usually this much of a pessimist.”

“Well, maybe I’m just sick and tired of this life,” she growled.

“What life? The constant sex, the search for knowledge, our magical training, our stimulating arguments, raising our children, your successful career, your battle of making the world a better place for creatures you feel sorry for— actually, that I would understand,” he added thoughtfully.

Hermione didn’t know what to say. She realised that he was right. All those reasons were exactly why she accepted the downsides of their marriage. And yet… why couldn’t she shake the dark feeling inside of her?

Voldemort leaned forward and took her hand. He stroked her thumb with his. “I can see that you are unhappy, kitten. However, I don’t think you are just unhappy with me. Do you realise how much has happened in just a few weeks of our lives? You haven’t had time to process it all yet.”

She glared at him. “Since when are you an expert on human emotions?”

“Since I was around ten. But that doesn’t matter. I know you, Hermione, I know how scared you were when Althea disappeared, but how you forced yourself to forget it so we could find her. I know how angry you are with the fairies, even though they are gone. I know how angry you are with Harry for trying to destroy our family, but that you at the same time feel guilty because you feel he deserves his revenge. You had to choose what was best for the people you cared for the most. I know how worried you are about Althea. I know how angry you are with me for breaking your trust in me yet again. How much you wished you could hate me instead of love me.”

Voldemort paused and brought his other hand up to her face, stroking away her hair. “Few people would be able to go through all that and not have a nervous breakdown. You are not tired of this life, you are just tired. And now you finally have the time to realise that you are.”

Hermione was quiet. She wanted to call him portentous for thinking he knew her better than she knew herself. Alas, she couldn’t, because a small part of her admitted that he did. Just like she knew him better than he knew himself. He couldn’t do the self-reflection that was needed to see all of him. Perhaps she didn’t either. He was right, after all. She was tired. Very, very tired. But she still didn’t feel like she had time to rest. She was constantly on alert for something to happen.

“We still hurt each other a lot,” she finally muttered.

“But we have been able to deal with that before. We just couldn’t when so many other extraordinary things were going on at the same time. And name a couple who could? It’s only been a bit over a month since Althea was kidnapped. Give it some time; you just have to get things in perspective again, and you will once life becomes normal again.”

Hermione sighed. “How come you’re so calm and understanding all of a sudden?”

He smiled. “I’m not emotional like you are.”

She scowled. “You say that as if it were a good thing.”

“We will never see eye to eye on that one, so I won’t even bother to discuss it. Let’s just focus on translating for now. You’ll feel better in time.” He leaned in closer and kissed her before releasing her hand and then sitting back in his own armchair.

Hermione looked down at the books and scrolls in front of her. Time. Yes, she knew there were problems with no magical solution. The more she thought about it, the more she found it reasonable. Her life hadn’t really changed; there had just been a lot of bad things coming at once. She had been reminded about who Voldemort was again. She had learned to live with it before, and would be able to live with it again.

However, wasn’t it a bit strange that she reacted so forcefully to all of this? It wasn’t just her emotions, but her whole body seemed to be in uproar with angst, headaches and nausea. She had been stressed before without any physical symptoms.

Well, except for when she was pregnant with Alexandra, but that was …

Hold on.

Hermione started to count the weeks backwards.

xxx

Voldemort yawned as he turned another page of the book he was reading while waiting for Hermione to come out from the bathroom. Even though he pretended to be fine, truth was that the last month had worn him out as well. He found himself requiring more sleep than usual. However, as he had said to Hermione, all that was needed was time. He would be back to his peak in a few weeks. By then, he would also have his Marcus-body back. They had started on the potion this morning, and so far it worked. Since it was the first stage that was the most uncertain, he was sure the potion would work once it had finished brewing by the end of the week. Then they wouldn’t have to worry about getting exposed just because they ran out of potion.

He had to admit that it made him slightly paranoid to know how easy it would be. If they were thrown into prison again for whatever reason and placed inside the cell that disrupted all active magic, everyone would be able to see his old body. But the chances of that happening were slim. The Potters had taken the oath, and there was no one else who could turn him over. He had made sure no one Potter had told actually believed him. No one had. Not even his so called best friend, Ronald Weasley.

At least not now when Hermione seemed to warm up to him again. At least he hoped their talk yesterday had straightened her out. She had been a bit distant afterwards, and today as well. But she hadn’t done anything suspicious, and the only time he hadn’t been with her was when she had picked up Alexandra after school. But she had only been in the Muggle world then, and there was no one she could betray him to there.

No, she wouldn’t betray him. Not after everything she had gone through to make her family safe. Even if she were mad at him, she would always protect her children.

Besides, she thought she had control over him now. Well, they would see about that. When he wasn’t looking for immortality, he was searching for a way to stop her control over his magic. It shouldn’t be too hard. She had been able to do it after all.

He heard the toilet flush and looked up, expecting her to come out. When she didn’t, he turned back to the book. It was a very interesting book, so he didn’t mind that she had been in the bathroom for quite some time now. The book was about experimental potions, a subject he knew little about, but had started to appreciate more and more.

The door to the bathroom opened, but he was right in the middle of a complex explanation and wanted to finish it.

“Do you remember that contraceptive potion you made me?” Hermione asked.

“Mhm,” he said, not taking his eyes from the book.

“Do you remember when you said that it would be so much easier since I only had to take it once a year after you experimented with it and added an active magical component in it?”

“Yes,” something in her voice made him look up with a frown.

Hermione was standing with her arms crossed over her chest with something small and white sticking out from her fist.

“Remember how we were placed in cell which removed all active magic from us so we wouldn’t be able to keep up any glamour, or do any magic while in that cell?” The expression on her face was … peculiar. Like she wasn’t sure if she should laugh, cry or be angry.

Voldemort’s eyes fell on the stick in her hand. He didn’t recognise it per se, but he suddenly remembered that after Hermione had come home with Alexandra, she had been carrying a bag from the pharmacist. He hadn’t thought more about it. She often bought toothpaste and brushes from the Muggle pharmacist. Thus, it hadn’t worried him. Then.

“Remember how we had sex in that cell?” she finally asked, coming up to him and showing him the stick.

Voldemort looked at her, then at the stick. Then up at her, then at her stomach. Then up at her again. She nodded.

“Oh, fuck.”
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