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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.

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The Bittersweet Taste of Victory

Don't believe the devil

I don't believe his book

But the truth is not the same

Without the lies he made up

I feel like I'm falling

Like I'm spinning on a wheel

It always stops beside a name

A presence I can feel

I...I believe in love

Stop

U2, God (part 2)

Chapter eight

It has been two days now, since Lord Voldemort left my room furiously and he hasn't returned, yet. Not that I mind the latter. Let's face it, the longer he stays away the better for my health. And currently, I feel quite fine. So I am kind of busy trying to stage a prison break from this room by getting this locked door to buckle. I have given up on actually picking the lock, since that has proven useless. I really should have let one of the twins teach me how to do that. Well, I suppose it is too late for regretting opportunities missed in the past.

So now I am focusing on making this blasted door fall of its hinges, because I know I have to be far, far away from this place when he decides to return. He didn't look too pleased when I inadvertently blocked his Leglimency. I was certain at first I was going to get Crucio-ed. I even noticed how his wand-hand twitched slightly, but he, apparently, changed his mind and merely looked at me with that shrewd expression on his face. He must have realised. I know he did. Lord Voldemort knows where I gained my knowledge and he has probably gone over there to verify his assumptions.

I groan at the thought. The Knights of Silence are just too talkative when it comes down to telling him stories, if Jareth was any indication. And I wish for once they would stick to their believe system that states talking is a waste of magical energy. But I know they are probably just handing him cookies and telling him all about me. I hit my head with the palm of my hand. Why did I not prevent this? Yoda is going to be right. I will fall into darkness without backup. I can't do this on my own. Man, I wish those bloody monks wouldn't be so accommodating for once.

I hear footsteps approaching on the other side of the door and I run back to the bed and jump in, because faking to be weak and feeble seems like a prudent idea. It may just hand me an opportunity of escape. The door opens and Narcissa Malfoy enters. She tosses some robes on the bed without saying anything and turns back to face the now closed door, raising her wand at it. What can she possibly want? And I stare at her when she says over her shoulder: 'Quickly, we don't have much time to get you out of here. You need to get dressed as soon as possible. He is expected back within half an hour and it will take you that long to reach the boundary of the Hogwarts' Anti-Apparating Wards.'

I shake my head in disbelieve. My ears must have deceived me. For a moment there, I thought a Malfoy was going to help me escape this facility. I snort, but she faces me again and hands me a polished stick of vine wood that I know has a dragon heart string as its core. I recognise the wand in my hand; my own wand. I have never thought I'd ever see it again. I lost it that day when the three of us were taken to Malfoy Manor and I was certain it would have been snapped to pieces by now, but, here I am, holding it. It feels wonderful to be able to hold on to it again and I feel the power of my wand flowing through me. I have never before realised how much those other wands were holding me back. I stare at it mesmerised and I stroke the vine wood with my hand. This is too weird.

'I held on to it, when you and your friends escaped from my house. Thought it might come in handy someday. I guess I was right,' Narcissa explains, 'hurry.'

And she nods to the clothes on the bed when she sees I'm still not moving. This has to be a trap of some kind. It just has to be. And my utter surprise must be written all over my face, because my jaw has dropped and I just know my eyes have never, ever before been this widened. Narcissa looks at me and says that she will explain everything on the way out of here. And I move to get the clothes, still not believing what is happening. She is writing her own death sentence.

'Why?' I ask.

'He killed Draco,' she says harshly, her face contorted with hatred, 'he tortured and killed Draco.'

Nothing else needs to be said. I quickly get dressed and we leave the room silently. Narcissa is walking behind me and is pretending to hold me prisoner as we walk past several people. But nobody dares to question her and we make it to the Statue of the Humpbacked Witch and the secret underground passageway to Honeydukes unscathed.

'Dissendium,' Narcissa casts when the corridor is empty.

She steps in the secret tunnel with me, and starts explaining that Hogsmeade is warded as well these days.

'You need to get to the very edge of the town. Do not go to the Apparation Portals. They are heavily guarded. Go left to the Shrieking Shack. There, you can Apparate again if you are close enough to the Shack itself. No one knows this, since he keeps it a secret, but the Shrieking Shack seems to emit some kind of magical blockade that prevents the Wards from function to their full potential around it. Make sure you are near enough to the house, before you try to Apparate. I've seen the effects the Wards around this place have on people who try Apparating through them. It didn't look to me like something you would like experiencing,' she says warningly.

I have no doubt about that and I nod to indicate that I understand what she has told me.

'I can't thank you enough,' I say and I look at her with worry. She is going to be Crucio-ed to insanity. 'Why don't you come with me?'

'No!' she says forceful.

And I take a step back in surprise. No need to bite my head off, Malfoy. I am only concerned for your safety, but Narcissa talks before I can say anything in response to her snappish answer.

'I want to see the look on his face when he realises you are gone. I want to see the defeat in his eyes,' Narcissa says vengeful and through gritted teeth. 'He can't hurt me anymore, Miss Granger. He has destroyed my life long ago when he took my son. And I've been waiting years and years for this day. Ever since I realised how much he was obsessing about getting his hands on you. And I knew that if he would ever hold you as his prisoner it would be the day I could avenge what he did to Draco. So now, the time for revenge has finally come. And I am going to cherish every last second of the Dark Lord's despair.'

'Lucius?' I ask merely to be polite.

'Lucius,' Narcissa spats, 'I hope the Dark Lord will torment him severely for this. He did nothing, you know. When Draco was screaming …' she falls silent and stares at the wall, obviously reliving some of the worst memories of her life, before she looks back at me. 'Make sure you're not caught again, Miss Granger. Live. It will drive him mad.'

'He already is,' I state cocky.

She snorts and nods. 'True.'

I start to walk, when something comes to memory and I turn around to face Narcissa again. 'Do you have access to his snake?' I ask.

Narcissa shrugs, uncaring. 'Sure, I need to feed it when he's gone.'

And I feel the smile creep up my face. 'Do you really want to get even with him?' I deviously state.

Now, I have her full and undivided attention, and a vengeful hunger is constantly present in her eyes. The answer to my question is written all over her face.

'Then, kill the snake, Nagini,' I add.

Narcissa looks confused at me. 'Kill his pet? Surely, he will just get a new snake. I doubt that will bother…'

'It's a Horcrux,' I tell her, 'his last one.'

And she looks at me like it is Christmas in June. 'Thank you,' Narcissa says and she swirls around to go back into the Hogwarts' corridor.

I will always remember the blissful expression on Narcissa Malfoy's face when she thanked me for informing her of another manner in which to target Lord Voldemort. I start running down the underground passageway. I need to be far away from this place if Voldemort returns and finds out his Horcrux is destroyed. From the look in Malfoy's eyes I have no doubt she will succeed. Things are developing rather strangely. I came here to destroy the Horcrux with little hope of actually being able to achieve that feat, and now, Narcissa Malfoy of all people is going to do that for me.

I run and run, until I reach the trapdoor to the cellar of Honeydukes. Lots of chatters are heard in the distance. I pull up my hood from the cloak I am wearing. And I make certain to keep my wand hidden, but at the ready, when I make my way into the shop. It is a busy day, which makes it easy to mingle undetected into the crowd.

Outside, however, is a different story. The weather is horrific. It has started raining cats and dogs and the wind is howling through the streets of Hogsmeade village. The few people that are walking through this weather are hurrying to get back indoors and I notice that the guards are conveniently gathering around the few Portals for cover. After a few steps I am already completely soaked from the pouring rain and I go left as Narcissa said. In a sturdy pace I walk towards the Shrieking Shack, when I hear a familiar voice. It's that brown-suit-fellow from the shop. I have nowhere to hide and as he walks around the corner he stares straight at me, along with his companion, Rodolphus Lestrange. Shit.

I see the looks of recognition and I am grateful I kept my wand ready. 'Impedimenta!'

And I start running to pass them quickly, when the high pitched shrieking sounds of the Caterwauling Charm become activated. They must have added some kind of Spell Detection Charm to it. Unfortunately, this means that the guards will no longer be hiding away for cover from the rain and I will run into more resistance on my way to the Shrieking Shack. I blast several trees toward three idiots that are trying to halt me, when I hear Lestrange's voice behind me. He must have thrown off the Impediment Charm already.

'Crucio!' I hear him shout.

I dive to the side, roll around, and aim again. 'Duro!'

My curse hits the Death Eater dead on and he makes for one very ugly statue. Where is the other one? I swivel my head around. After all, if Lestrange has gotten rid of the effects of my curse, so will he, but I don't see him anywhere. I don't like this at all. Sloan may look ordinary, but he is way too keen for my taste.

'Homenum Revelio,' I cast, but there appears to be nobody in the vicinity at the moment.

This is not good. I can't possibly think of a motive as to why the man is not chasing me. However, I don't have time to reminiscence on the strange behaviour of one of Voldemort's followers, because I need to get out of this alley, before I am trapped inside of it.

'BANG!'

A loud explosion roars dead ahead and I hear loud screams come from its direction as I run across the corner and notice the entire road toward the Shrieking Shack is completely obliterated by some curse. In the distance I see Sloan standing in front of the alleged haunted house. He anticipated where I was heading and he must have used one of the Apparation Portals to get there before me. Apparently, he also knows enough about me to realise I won't be flying over there. I shiver at the thought or because of the cold, wet weather or maybe it's a bit of both.

'Fine, a Portal it is,' I murmur through gritted teeth as I wave goodbye to the Shrieking Shack option, and I swirl around. 'Expulso!' I cast out of reflex.

The wall of the house beside the guards that are about to apprehend me explodes and they are blasted across the street. I run back into the alley, from which I came, toward the nearest Portal, determined to take down anyone who dares to stand in my way. Alas, there appear to be quite a lot of them who dare. Narcissa wasn't kidding when she mentioned those Portals are heavily guarded. I can see the Portal at the end of the main street, but there are at least twenty morons blocking my path to it. And I kind of lost track of time also. How much longer until Voldemort gets back here? I know I have to hurry.

Several curses fly in my direction. I am able to counter them all and as I dive behind the water fountain for cover I re-evaluate my plan. This is never going to work. I am being way too kind. I need to leave so why am I playing around with these idiots? Voldemort isn't around, after all. It may be safe to use the Force of Nature to get rid of them all in one single blow. If I can make it work.

So I concentrate and let the magic build up inside of me… I can feel it move to my right hand and I am able to hold it there. It's working. It's going to work. It has to work. I roll away from the cover that the stone basin of the fountain is providing me. And I release the magic upon the idiots in the street from my lying position on the ground. But when it leaves my wand-hand I know I overdid it. People are screaming and running to get out of the way and my left hand flies to my mouth when I see the shock wave of raw magic fly through the air, destroying everything in its path.

'Oops.'

The shock wave leaves nothing standing in its wake, so there goes my Portal out of here. I know I have just blasted it to pieces myself. I scramble to my feet and turn around to find another exit, when the bellowing sounds of the shock wave behind me suddenly cease their roaring and it becomes eerily quiet. Even the rain seems reluctant to disturb the silence with its clattering noises and has stopped falling out of the sky.

Apprehensively, I turn around and the most disturbing visual meets my eyes. The completely, all consuming, everything-obliterating shock wave has come to an immediate halt and seems frozen in midair. What the hell? How? Ooh, shit… And I curse my luck or rather lack thereof, because I can only think of one person capable of halting the forward motion of something that destructive.

Slowly, I begin to move backwards. I cling to my wand with so much force I may leave a permanent imprint of it in the palm of my hand. Would Narcissa have killed the snake already? He will be mortal if she did… But all wonderful concepts and ideas, involving nicely aimed Killing Curses, vanish from my mind when the roaring sound returns and the clouds of dust and debris that make up the shock wave starts moving in the opposite direction, meaning towards me.

'Yikes!'

I start running despite knowing I won't outrun the damn thing anyway, but I have to do something. I halt and swirl around, searching for some form of cover. It's when it hits me. I point my wand to the ground beneath me.

'Deprimo! Sealio!' I cast consecutively and I hear the magic howl above me as it passes.

'Lumos,' I whisper.

It is kind of creepy, lying here, underneath the ground with nothing to see but earth everywhere. Images of being buried alive come to mind, but I know I was just in time, because the soil roofing almost collapsed due to the passing shock wave. I shiver. And I quickly cast a drying charm on my clothes. I must look unbecomingly filthy right now, but there is no time to consider proper appearances, when one is trying to avoid getting whacked.

I hope Voldemort won't realise what I did though, because it is not like I have a lot of room to manoeuvre in this pit if a duel becomes eminent. And the longer I think about this, the more I begin to realise this wasn't such a good choice of action. It may have seemed like the only way out at the time, but now I am stuck in this personally dug grave and I have no way of knowing what is going on at the surface, which means, I have no way to know whether it is safe to blast my way out of here.

Fortunately, I am only afraid of heights. Claustrophobia isn't a problem of mine. Impatiently, I tap with my wand on my leg. What will Voldemort be doing up there? I can't hear a thing in this hideout either. Maybe I shall try to magically dig a very tiny, little, minuscule hole to the surface? Then, I may be able to hear what is happening. What are the changes of him noticing that anyway? A hundred to one? And I can't just lie here. I have to do something, don't I? Before he has the time to consider all his options and make his move.

And just how much oxygen will a small place like this hold? Though, I believe the theory on matters such as these states that carbon dioxide will definitely kill me a lot sooner. I read somewhere that it will make your brain go numb and dizzy. Apparently, a headache is one of the signs. And I do feel slightly light-headed.

How long have I been down here anyway? It feels like forever, though I know it can't be more than minutes if not seconds, can it? I really need to know what is happening. And I do feel a headache coming up, now … And a tiny hole will help ventilate this place.

Besides, he is going to find me if I don't do anything. It's not like I am scared lying here. I am definitely not scared. This isn't scary at all. What's out there, that is scary. This is quite comfortable. Why is there dirt falling down on top of me? The roof isn't collapsing, is it? It's a good thing I am not claustrophobic at all. Otherwise I may have panicked and done something rash. No, I am quite calm and collected. This is an informed decision. I really can't breathe in here. I need some fresh air, NOW!

'Confringo!'

And I blast the earth above me out of the way. I crawl out of the tiny hole, panting. Thank Merlin, I am out of that hellhole. Immediately, I feel a curse soar past my head, because my hair stands up straight from the sheer force of it. I look sideways and to my surprise I notice the buildings are still standing. Everything seems very intact. How is that possible? But I don't have time to relish on that, because I see him and my bones turn cold, because, what is a lot worse, he has definitely located me as well.

Lord Voldemort is standing at the end of the street. His wand is raised and his crimson eyes are very fixed on my position. I see the smirk on his snakelike features as he slashes his wand and something purple hurtles towards me. I am unable to move and I stare in terror at the approaching curse when it misses and dissects the potted plant next to me into pieces. The blast throws me out of my frightened stupor and I remember I also have a wand and am quite capable of casting a spell or two with it. But as I cast a reply he is no longer there. Damn it. Where has he gone to? I better not stay here. And I run to the building at the other side of the street to find some kind of cover somewhere.

'Crack.'

I hear the sound behind me and I swirl around, but the curse is already cast and impacts mere inches from my head on the wall of the house behind me. I watch the bricks fly by and I am quite confused. Did he just miss again? From that short distance? I see Voldemort tilt his head and narrow his eyes at me. Yeah, I believe so. He definitely missed. A snort escapes my mouth and for a moment we merely stare at each other, when: 'Avada Kedavra!'

I don't look back, but grab the doorknob, fling the door open and run inside as I hear the impact of the Killing Curse, I cast, behind me. Really, Narcissa did have all the time in the world to finish off that snake by now. So if she hasn't done it already she never will.

There better be an exit in the back of this establishment. There isn't. 'Defodio!' Now, there is.

And I start running, when … a large bang makes me jump around and the building I just vacated starts hurtling towards me. 'Protego!' I yell.

But I get blasted of my feet and thrown through the air, until I crash into some wooden boards that crack on impact, enabling a large splinter to enter my leg. I smash to the ground and I feel how my left arm breaks beneath my weight when I fall on top of it.

'Ouch,' I say groaning.

'Crack.'

Voldemort Apparates right in front of me. I can't believe my Killing Curse missed him. Surely, my aim isn't that bad. He was only a few feet away. Panicking, I just cast whatever comes to mind first, while I am still lying on the ground.

'Expelliarmus.'

'Protego.'

The two spells collide and then … nothing … They merely seem to extinguish each other. What on earth is happening here!

Voldemort scowls and paces towards me. It's when I realise he Apparated! The Wards must be down! Why did I not realise this sooner? I could have been out of here ages ago.

Too blazes with Destination, Determination, and Deliberation! With a loud crack I Dissapparate away from the wretched town without so much as a single idea as to where I am heading. I hope it's some place safe.

I Apparate into an empty house. All I see is concrete, everywhere. I check myself, but my unadvised way of Apparation has not gotten me Splinched. Thank Merlin for that. I pull the large splinter from my leg and it starts haemorrhaging severely.

'Episkey!'

My leg goes from feeling extremely hot to very cold and I have to repeat the Healing Spell a few times, before the bleeding stops. I sigh out of relieve and glance around. I am about to fix my broken arm when I realise where I am, because I am looking through a large window into a very familiar street. And even though at one time in my life I may have considered this the safest place in the whole wide world, it most certainly is not a safe haven right now. I am at my parents' house! My old home! Any idiot can figure…

The world starts spinning uncontrollably when I jump to my feet. Too fast I realise. I reach around for something to hold on too, but there is nothing there and everything turns black before my eyes as I plummet to the ground again, passing out due to too much blood loss.
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The Bittersweet Taste of Victory