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

Chapter List
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- 78
With lessons over, Harmony was at a loss for what to do next. She had expected some of her students to approach her afterwards—to ask questions or receive pointers—but none did. Some had eyed her timidly before bowing out of the tent. She suspected her anger over Barty's antics frightened them a little. After all, they didn't know yet whether she possessed the same short temperament as their Dark Lord. But she'd show them. She'd teach them with the kindness and patience he hardly showed his Death Eaters. The only question was whether her failure to punish Barty would lead her students to take advantage of her, like Voldemort had warned.
She had wanted to curse Barty. But in front of all those people? If she had cursed him, maybe even killed him, she would have lost their compassion; they would fear her and she would be no more merciful than the Dark Lord—at least in their eyes. The more she thought about it, the more relieved she was that she hadn't harmed Barty. Her students needed to see that under emotional stress she could keep under control and not give in to her dangerous urges.
However, if they did try to take advantage of her kindness, she would have no choice but to deploy some form of punishment. She hoped beyond hope that that moment never came. She wanted her lessons to be a safe place where these kids could come and learn. Outside, they were surrounded by dangerous followers who eagerly anticipated the Dark Lord's destructive plans, while at least inside her recreational tent she had the only thing she had any real control over.
Harmony promised herself she would let nothing take that sense of control away from her. Especially not Barty.
She left the tent and looked around at the flurry of activity while wondering what to do next. She thought of looking for Voldemort and keeping him company while he worked. He was no doubt plotting away on how to best infiltrate the Ministry—information she exceedingly found appealing. But he was in another one of his sour moods; she could sense it even at that moment. Agitation, annoyance. She couldn't tell if it had anything to do with planning his impending attack, but she knew it was a bad mood that would only worsen at the news of how she'd handled Barty. By the end of the day, he'll have heard it down the grapevine. She wasn't looking forward to being at the focus of his anger, but it was unavoidable.
Harmony sauntered around the campsite, letting her thoughts drift, and she found herself back at the children's tent she had visited the other day. Their laughter rang out from the open tent flap where she could see the little ones running around while the witches chased them. She smiled a little to herself and something deep within her began to ache with yearning.
There was a small tug on her dress and she looked down, meeting a pair of wide blue eyes. The little black-haired girl she'd met earlier, Aislin, was standing there smiling up at her.
"Hello there," Harmony said, bending to a knee so they saw eye-to-eye.
"Hi," the girl chirped. "Are you busy?"
Harmony gave a small laugh. "I'm a little bored, actually."
"Good. I've wanted to talk to you, but Mother said I shouldn't because you're busy."
"Well, you've caught me on a free moment. I'm glad; I've wanted to talk to you, too."
Aislin took Harmony's hand and she let the girl guide her. They left the clamor of the campsite and traded it for the rush of the small river on the far north side. Aislin plopped down on a patch of grass, crossing her legs, and beckoned her to do the same. Harmony folded her legs beneath her, careful to find a dry patch so she wouldn't dirty her dress.
The girl's pretty eyes watched the water drifting by as it glinted in the sunlight, and Harmony got the feeling she was waiting for her to have the first word. It was then Harmony sensed that there was something special about this girl, something wise and knowing that other children her age lacked. She had wanted to start out delicately, as she regularly would have when speaking to a child, but now she decided to jump straight to the point.
"In my school days, I never really put much faith in Divination. Staring at tea leaves, opening one's mind to their Inner Eye," she said, recalling Mrs. Trelawney's flighty voice. "It all seemed like a load of rubbish. I believed that, purely, magic was logic. That is was simply a science that the muggle world had failed to acknowledge, and I took great comfort in that. But now," she hesitated, and then laughed a little, "it seems Divination is the only subject that can answer most of my questions."
Harmony looked at the girl and noticed she was watching her carefully, large eyes staring. "I've been plagued with dream after dream that have put my mind in a constant state of unrest. And I have noticed that they've only started after I've met the Dark Lord. If ever I had a dream before, they were nothing worth noting, but now…there is meaning to them. It's like they're trying to warn me or…" she stopped then laughed sheepishly. "Oh dear, I probably sound strange to you, talking like dreams are visions of the future."
Aislin merely smiled and beckoned her to continue.
"Well," Harmony added, straightening up, "in one of my most recent dreams—more like a nightmare, really—there was a little girl in it. A little girl who," she waved a hand over Aislin, "looked exactly like you."
She had expected the girl to give a surprised look, maybe even laugh a little, anything but what she actually did.
Aislin turned her head away, staring off into the distance and sighed, "It happens."
Harmony blinked. "Um, I'm sorry?"
Aislin looked back at her with her little black eyebrows raised. "Oh, you know, my showing up in people's dreams. It happens."
"What, you mean it has happened before?"
Her thick head of black curls bounced once when she nodded. "For as long as I could remember, I've had dreams of people I've never met before. And if I'm lucky, I meet them, and they remember me from their own dream. Mother says they're drawn to me like insects to light. The first time she dreamed of me was when I was still in her belly. She said that from that moment she knew exactly what was going on. She knew what I was."
"And what is that?" Harmony asked, her voice breathy with anticipation.
Aislin's rose-petal lips spread into a large, gleeful smile. "A Seer."
Harmony reeled back in shock. "But how could—Seers are very rare! And you're a child! If ever there was one, such as in Greek history, they had to work hard to become the powerful Seers that they were."
Aislin quickly sat up on her knees and gazed up at Harmony imploringly. "I am a Seer! How else could I show up in other's dreams?"
"A Seer can peek into the future—"
"And I have seen it," Aislin said. "I've seen you. And him. And…" she leaned forward hesitantly, lifting a little hand and placing it delicately on Harmony's stomach.
Harmony took a sharp intake of breath and involuntarily flinched away from the girl's touch. Aislin plucked her fingers away from the soft green fabric of her dress. Harmony quickly glanced around their spot by the river to see if anyone happened to be standing nearby. Thankfully, they were still alone.
"Please don't be mad at me," Aislin gasped, looking as though she were on the verge of tears. "I can't help it. I see things whether I want to or not."
"My goodness," Harmony whispered in awe. "A child Seer. I've never read of such a thing." Immediately she had the urge to go find the nearest library and delve into research on the subject. She took a deep breath and scooted closer to let the girl know it was alright. "With what you can do now, with practice and good learning, there's no limit to how powerful you could be."
Aislin nodded solemnly. "Mother says I'm not allowed to tell others about it freely. She says that people will take me away from her if I do, and they'll force me to See for them."
"I'd listen to your mother," Harmony said, thinking about Voldemort and how he would desire nothing more than to get his hands on this talented little girl. "If someone ever approaches you again about having seen you in their dreams, I'd be careful in telling them the truth. Make sure you can trust them. And I won't tell anyone either," she added. "I promise."
"Thank you," she said, smiling in gratitude. She tilted her head, regarding the older witch with curiosity. "You look sad."
"Do I?" Harmony tucked her bangs behind her ear and shrugged. "I suppose I am. It's just—when I saw you in my dream, I thought you were…well…mine." She looked up at the girl and smiled at her sadly. "You have his eyes. So blue."
"I got them from my mother's side. She's a pureblood." Aislin sighed and rolled back onto the grass. Her eyelids closed against the sunshine and long lashes brushed the tops of her pink cheeks.
Harmony reared her face up to the sun, enjoying the warmth it gave. It was still cold out, but the sun had burned away the morning cloud cover and a misty haze came off the grass as it evaporated the dew. It was the exact kind of weather where people served their best fruity treats with cold cream and still kept their campfires blazing. It would be holiday season eventually. That fact brought bittersweet emotions. The holidays always had a way of cheering her up, but they wouldn't be the same without her friends or family. Just the thought of them brought back the familiar pang of yearning. She wondered if she'd ever see them again. Her future felt so uncertain. It frightened her a little.
"Hey Aislin," Harmony began slowly, opening her eyes a sliver and looking down at the girl lying on the grass. "Is it difficult for you to use your ability?"
Aislin sat up and gave her a knowing smile. "I know what you're going to ask."
Harmony cast her eyes down in shame. "I would never want to force you to See-"
"It's alright!" Aislin quickly chirped, crossing her legs and scooting closer to the older witch. "I don't know if I can do it right this second, but I wanna try. I like you." She held her soft hands out to Harmony, palms up, and waited.
When Harmony slipped her hands in hers, Aislin rested them in her lap and closed her pretty blue eyes. She was quiet for a long time and her dark eyebrows knit together in concentration.
"You've been on a long journey," Aislin began, her usually light-hearted voice now deep and droning, "full of heavy decisions and danger. You have endured a lot."
"You can see it?" Harmony asked in uncertainty. Aislin didn't appear to be in a trance state.
"I can feel it. Everything you felt. So much desperation and love. That's why you've been able to endure for so long; it's because of love."
"And what of the future?" Harmony asked, her heart racing with anticipation. She was caught between wanting to know but feeling too frightened to find out. What if it was a dreadful future? What if she had nothing to look forward to?
The girl was quiet for a while and then, "Oh my," she whispered.
"What?"
"I feel—pain and doubt. You'll question yourself and decisions you've made."
"Well," Harmony grunted, "I suppose that's not very surprising."
Aislin's eyes popped open and focused on Harmony. She gave her hands a comforting squeeze. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Her voice had its usual lightness back. "But you must continue to endure, for there is much more to come."
Harmony stared, beseeching her to continue her explanation. But the child spoke no more. Aislin playfully tugged her hands away. She jumped up, skipping to the river's edge, and left Harmony to gape at the flattened grass where she once sat.
A chill ravaged her body and she shivered. I should have expected that, Harmony thought. Being the lover of the most dangerous wizard in the world was bound to have its travesties, but she was just starting to have some hope that it was easy sailing from there on. She and Voldemort had already been through so much, simply just to be together. How could there still be more to come?
Harmony swallowed her emotions while she watched Aislin giggle and play in the water, and she thought to herself, Will he and I ever find peace together?
Cold water splashed onto her face and she flinched, jolting out of her thoughts. A peal of laughter followed as Harmony wiped her face dry with the hem of her dress. Despite her previous dark thoughts, she couldn't keep the smile from her face. Aislin egged her on by sticking her cute little pink tongue out at her, and Harmony languidly got to her feet.
"Oh, you're going to regret that," Harmony said before she hitched up the hem of her dress and jumped into the river, sending a small tidal wave over the gleeful little girl. Together they entered into a lively water fight, full of splashing and soaking and laughter. Harmony quickly gave up on the intention of keeping her pretty green dress dry; it plastered to her like a second skin and she threw all care to the wind, focusing only on her little bit of play. She felt like a child again. It had been so long since she'd put aside all responsibilities for amusement, to frolic and joke around. It did her heart good. It helped her forget the little girl's foreboding premonitions. At least for a little while.
When they were both tired out—and soaking wet!—Harmony suggested they go find a market stand selling treacle tart. Hand-in-hand, they returned to the campsite, squashing with each step they took in their sodden shoes. People gawked at their Mistress when she walked passed, aghast that she would let herself be seen in such a state. Her hair framed her face in stringy waves—once dry, they would return to their usual curl. Her dress hugged her every curve, and she almost wished she had kept her cloak on to retain her modesty. But it didn't matter really; no one dared to stare at her too long knowing Voldemort would punish them if they were caught looking at her with anything akin to lust.
Harmony was sitting on a bench licking sweet jam from her fingertips when a familiar-looking woman approached. Aislin beamed with crumbs still sprinkling her lips and she ran to the woman who scooped her up in her arms.
"My Lady," the woman said, bowing as much as she could under the load she carried. "I hope my daughter wasn't a nuisance. She's spirited is all and has taken quite a liking to you."
"It's alright," Harmony replied, dusting crumbs off her dress. "She was actually keeping me company."
"I wouldn't have thought a young woman such as yourself ever lacked company," the woman added out of politeness.
"I like Aislin," Harmony said, smiling at the girl in her arms. "She has…quite a gift."
The mother was startled and gave Aislin a scolding look. "I hope she hadn't revealed anything too alarming, my Lady."
"She was insightful," Harmony said simply, adjusting herself in her seat. "She also told me of your fears if the truth about her were to become too well-known, and I agree."
The woman sagged with relief. She gazed down shyly and the corners of her lips quirked upward. "So I was right about you."
"What do you mean?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "People here talk. They say you're a kind and merciful woman; that you're nothing like our Dark Lord."
"It's true."
"Yes," the woman smiled, "I can tell by the way you treat my Aislin. And…" she hesitated.
"What is it?"
Aislin's mother glanced around the bustling marketplace and stepped closer so that when she spoke only Harmony could hear. "There are many of us, my Dear Lady, who pledge their loyalty to you. And I mean," her eyes darted around them again and she dropped her voice to a whisper, "only to you. If it ever came to it, we'd defend you over the Dark Lord."
Harmony leaned away and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Your Lord would be very displeased by that."
The woman's eyes popped open with fear. "Oh, I hope you don't mean to tell the Dark Lord—I am so sorry, my Merciful Lady, if I should have held my tongue."
Harmony held up a hand to her. "I won't tell him. He's in a bad enough mood as it is." She sighed heavily and cocked her head to the side as she regarded the woman. "You seem like a good person. Why drag your daughter into a dangerous place such as this?"
"There are lots of good people at this camp, my Lady" Aislin's mother replied. "As for why they joined, well, everyone is different. Some had no choice. When the Dark Lord comes to you in person and orders you to follow, it's not wise to decline. For others, this camp offers a better life: a place to live, eat, sleep, learn. A place of community in exchange for service to the Dark Lord. But there are some who share our Lord's vision to overthrow the Ministry. Some people are unhappy, my Lady. Myself included. We desire to see someone else take leadership over the Wizarding World."
"I see," Harmony said quietly.
The woman opened her mouth to add something but hesitated. She looked down at Aislin who was now asleep with her little face snuggled into the crook of her mother's neck. Looking back up at Harmony warily, she finally spoke, "There are whispers, my Lady. In secret around the campfire people share my view about you. They—we believe that you, my Lady, would make an excellent leader."
Harmony sputtered, "W-what? You mean to the Wizarding World?"
The woman quickly explained with enthusiasm, jolting Aislin awake in her arms. "You're powerful. Perhaps as powerful as the Dark Lord! And you're intelligent, or so I've been told. You have more experience than most witches and wizards get in their lifetime. But most importantly you are kind. The way you treat my daughter with sweetness and compassion, that's what our world needs right now. The Dark Lord is firm, but he is the kind of man to put his needs before others—if I might be so bold."
"I-I," Harmony stammered, waving her hands about for the woman stop. "I've heard enough. You must think of your Lord and me as equals, for your own sake. It's hard enough that you've put your faith in me over his, but to think I could take over as the Minster of Magic? It's madness! If he catches wind that some of his own followers want to remove him then it wouldn't end well for any of you."
"I understand the dangers of our beliefs, my Lady," she said as she bowed deeply. "I only wanted you to know the truth."
"And I thank you. But please speak no more about it. You must put those ideas out of your mind."
The woman said nothing for a minute, only stared at the front of Harmony's dress with her lips pressed in a thin line. Then she bowed deeply again until her spine was nearly parallel to the ground. "Of course, my Lady." She took a few steps backward before unbending herself and walking away.
Harmony watched the woman leave with a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was glad her kindness had made some sort of impression upon a few of the people there, but she never imagined they'd use that as a reason to idolize her more than Voldemort. It was dangerous thinking. The symbolism of her Serpentine charm was that she was to take Voldemort's place if ever he died or could no longer lead. If he found out that followers intended to make her a leader before such, then Harmony greatly feared the wrath that would ensue.
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Serpentine Series