Hidden Fears
by babyhalo19

Rating: PG13
Ship: Harry & Hermione
Canon: Books 1 - 5
Genre: Angst, Romance
Status: In progress
Length: 3,713 words in 3 chapters
Published: 28 May 2004
Last updated: 3 Jun 2004

Harry's life is changed forever in one fatal night. Things never thought possible are suddenly happening, and no one is
safe. He must now turn to his friends to help him battle his inner demons, and to keep the world as they know it from
turning into a hell that can only be caused by one person, himself.

From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/2241/

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1. Rebirth

A dark hooded figure walked down the corridor, its feet barely seeming to touch the floor. The air turned dry, and
stale, making you almost taste the evil. The night turned black, clouding everything from view; but you could still hear
the light steps on the ground, still feel the soft hiss of breath, still feel him closing in on you.

You tried to scream, but your lips were numb, tried to run, but your body was frozen. It felt like cold hard steel was
encased all around you, leaving you helpless and alone. Your very thoughts were being invaded by vicious laughter, and
voices whispering to accept defeat. You mouth was burning from trying to scream, and your hands raw from the endless
tugging. You used every ounce of strength you had in you, but it did no good. He was still coming.

The footsteps had gotten louder, and a chill had started down your spine, making you feel as if even your body pulsated
from the evil. It moved closer and closer, the breath getting louder, until you could almost feel the moistness on your
face. Your mind started reeling; you had to do something, but what? Suddenly everything stopped. The voices in your head
fell silent, the beating rhythm of the breathing died down, and the footsteps were no more.

It stayed like this for what seemed an eternity. You could feel the seconds clicking by, turning into minutes, turning
into hours. You’re body started to ache, and you knew that soon you wouldn’t be able to bear this anymore. Your eyes
started to glaze over, and your body started to sag, its weight resting on the invisible confines all around you. One
final thought fluttered through your head, this is the end.

Just as you were about to let the darkness take over, you heard a soft flick in the air. Your neck seared with pain, and
if felt as if it had caught on fire. The worst of pains couldn’t even compare to this. A flash of light glowed around
you, and then utter, complete darkness.

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Drip, Drip, Drip. Your eyes opened slowly to the dull aching echo in your head. Everything was fuzzy, and there was a
single shaft of light coming down. Focus started to come to you, and you expected the worst, a prison, a torture cell,
maybe even hell. But the last thing you expected was what you saw, a common room full of four poster beds, and clothes
strewn on the floor. You rubbed your eyes to make sure this wasn’t a hallucination, when your fingers brushed something
hard. You pulled your hand down to examine it, and let out a sigh of relief when you saw what it was.

Sandbags. You were just dreaming. It was all a dream, none of it was real. Just your mind conjuring up things to scare
you. News of Voldemorts attacks have been everywhere lately. In the papers, in the gossip columns, and in every common
household. Hogwarts had become a gloomy place as of late. There was no more laughter in the halls, no more jokes or
smart remarks to the teachers. Everyone was cautious, and every talk was hushed. It seemed as if Voldemorts greatest
power was not his ability to kill, but his ability to spread terror and fear among everything that breathed. Surely all
this was what caused him to dream like that. But it seemed so real......

Heavy footsteps could be heard coming up the steps towards the dorms. Panic once again rose in him, and his body turned
ridged, his hand reaching for his wand that with horror realized wasn’t there. The door swung open, and in Ron clambered
in, having to duck very low because of his height. He walked in, and looked up, his face forming a smile when he saw
Harry, but it froze as he saw the expression upon his friends face.

“Are you alright there mate? You look like you’ve died.”

Harry looked at him, trying to smile, but finding himself unable. “I’m fine, Ron. I’ve just had a dream, that’s all. And
lost my wand. You haven’t seen it have you?”

“You probably just left your wand downstairs when we were practicing some spells for our N. E. W. T. S. Don't you
remember? It was only five minutes ago.”

A fear started to creep into Harry. Five minutes? Why that couldn’t be right. It must have been longer, surely. A flash
of worry shot across his face before he covered it quickly with a false smile.

“Oh, I guess that’s where it is then. I’m going to go for a walk outside to get some air. I’ll meet you back here soon
okay?”

Ron looked at him questioningly, but then accepted defeat and just nodded. Harry turned to go, but Ron stopped him
before he could even take a step.

“Harry, what the bloody hell is on your neck?!”

Confused, Harry went over to the mirror and cocked his head to the side. All color drained from his face, and cold, grim
horror clenched at his heart. For on his neck in cold black ink, was a skull, with a green glittering snake climbing out
of it.

A/N: Okay guys, so what do you think? I wanted to try a dark fic this time, but I’m not sure if it’s living up to that.
I also want to try to put some other elements into this story, so it isn’t just angst upon angst. Well anyway, please
let me know what you think! Reviews really mean a lot to me, and I take them very seriously. And put what you mean. On a
lot of reviews I do, I put how great it is, and how much I like it, when really I think some parts are mediocre. So
please be honest with me. Tell me what parts suck, and what parts bore you. I want details! Well anyway, expect an
update soon! Thanks a bunch. -Erin

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2. Untold Schemes

Hey guys! Wow! A whole two reviews! I feel so honored! Seriously, I had 363 hits on this, so if you could really just
get your hands off the mouse and manage to write a review that’d be great. If you hate it, let me know! There’s no point
in writing a story that sucks! And to Facade and Anonymous, I thank you. I don’t think you guys know how much it meant
to me to get at least some feedback on the first chapter. Well anyway, this chappie doesn’t actually involve Harry or
Ron or Hermione, but it’s about them. This is taking place a little while after the first chapter, but in a different
place. I hope you like it, but even if you don’t, please review!

~Knockturn Alley~

An owl hooted overhead, as a tall, cloaked figure walked along the cobblestone, its clicking heels scaring away the
silence. It rounded the corner and stepped into an old abandoned shop. Inside, candles littered through the hallway,
some flickering slightly, others not even working at all. He slowed his pace, accentuating each step as he made his way
to the glowing light at the end of the hall. He muttered words under his breath, and with a firm, sure hand, pulled down
his cloak to reveal a man in his early youth with chestnut brown hair. His eyes glowed like coal embers, sizzling black
in the darkness. He reached the final score of the hallway, and with a breath, sped up his steps and strode in.

He was greeted by a pair of eyes, red, dark, malicious eyes. Eyes that he hoped would be what his looked like in later
life. The body slowly took form around the eyes, but they did not do them justice. The shoulders sagged, and the head
bowed, but those eyes....

He was interrupted from his thoughts by a throaty voice, soft and hoarse, as if it hadn’t been used for a while.

“Nathan, I’ve been waiting for you. It is not wise to keep me waiting.”

“I’m sorry you’re lordship, I was..... delayed momentarily.”

“Well you’ll be making sure not to be delayed again. I’ve got an important task for you now. Our plan has already been
set into motion, but there’s too many uncertainties. We need insider information, something that none of my other
subjects have been able to get,” he hissed, his eyes dancing with excitement. “If I get what I need it will not be
long....not be long at all.”

“What must I do master? Shall I bring him to you?”

“Oh no! Nothing like that. It would arouse too many suspicions. Your to be enrolled as a student in Hogwarts, as a
foreign transfer student. The paperwork is being drawn up now. Keep silent, keep quiet, and don’t make any trouble. Be a
role model to the younger students, build trust and loyalty with them. Be someone who always studies for tests, and is
never late for a class. Be someone Head Boy material.”

Nathan snorted loudly, “So you want me to be Harry Potter?”

“If that’s what I want, then yes,” Voldemort glared angrily. “But what I want right now is for you to just be another
student, be someone that blends in. I want you to stay away from Harry Potter. Don’t have any conversations with him, or
try and become friends. Carefully and quietly find out everything you can about him. Find out who he’s close with, what
his favorite subject is, even his favorite breakfast beverage. I need to know him down to number of hairs on his head,
and you’re going to be just the person to find out all this information for me. Don’t make him or any one of his friends
suspicious. It could ruin everything. He’s very confused with what just happened, and it’s going to take him a while to
sort things out. When the time comes, and after he’s just started thinking he’s in control of his life again, I’m going
to be able to move on to the last phase in my plan. And if you find out everything I need, then I will not fail.”

Nathan smiled a false smile, “Than it is my pleasure to carry out this job for you. When shall I start?”

“Next Monday, after the weekend,” Voldemort said with a smile. “You may leave now.”

The young man nodded, and turned to leave, pulling the cloak once again over his face. He had just reached the end of
the hallway, when Voldemort‘s voice floated over to him, “And I wouldn’t mess up if I were you.”

Nathan turned slightly, his lips creeping into a small smile, before muttering , “I won’t,” and whisking out the door. A
small pop was heard, and the door slammed shut, leaving an eerie glow in the hallway, with just a pair of bright red
eyes....

So what do you think? Good, bad, great, horrible? Too many spelling mistakes? Not enough action? Loved it? Hated it? I
DON’T CARE! Just please review! It Really Really Really means a lot! Thanks! Erin

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3. Realizations

Hey guys! Thanks for more reviews. It helped me to know that someone out there was actually reading it. Anyways, because
of that, I decided to work extra hard on studying for my finals, so then I could get a new chappie out for you. I’d like
to apologize for the font, I like to first rough-type it in big bold font, so if I make a mistake I can see it and
correct it more easily. I just forgot to change it back at the end. Anyways, I thank you for reading that, I looked at
the posted version, and it’s BIG! Well it’s back to normal now, so I hope you like it. This chapter has a bit of a
surprise...... Well anyway, for all you action lovers, that will be soon, but not yet. These few chapters are going to
be information. They’re trying to figure things out, and as a result, they’re just getting more questions. Well without
further ado , here is the third chapter, and I really want to know what you think of it. Reviews mean the world to me!
So plz, when you finish, be honest, and share those thoughts with me! I won’t get mad, I promise!

Back in the Boys Dorms

Harry rubbed harshly at his neck, hoping that it would go away. “That can’t be,” he muttered under his breath.

“Can’t be what?” Ron asked, his face still red with shock. “That looks like a hex to me, and a bloody strong one at
that. What happened? Was someone up here? I thought th-”

Harry cut him off in mid sentence. He wished this was just some horrible dream he would wake up from. “This isn’t a hex
Ron! It isn’t a curse or spell either. Don’t you remember at the Quidditch World Cup a few years back? Remember when the
Death Eaters sent that mark up in the air? THIS IS THAT MARK! It’s the sign that your a Death Eater, and that you’re
connected to Voldemort!”

Ron’s mouth gapped even lower, and he took a few moments to get his breath. “But you’re not a Death Eater!”

“Gee Ron, thanks for the info! I KNOW I’m not a Death Eater, but I had this dream, although it might not really be a
dream, and, OH, I don’t know! What the hell happened?” Harry stepped back from the mirror and slumped against the wall,
his head making a loud thump. He didn’t even flinch, he was numb inside. Everything was so messed up. He needed to tell
someone who could help him figure this out logically, not stare at him bugged eyed. He turned to Ron, his voice even and
distant, almost cold, “Get Hermione.”

“What?” Ron questioned, clearly puzzled.

“I said, GET HERMIONE! Do you need a bloody hearing aide?”

Ron’s eyes narrowed slightly but he turned and walked towards the staircase, muttering under his breath. “Keep your
knickers on will you?”

The door slammed downstairs, and Harry hit his head against the wall again, disgusted with himself. Great going genius.
You find out you might be a Death Eater, and what do you do? Blow up at your best friend who only wanted to help! He sat
for a few moments in silence, before the door opened and two sets of feet were heard quietly winding their way up the
stairs. A quick locking spell was muttered before Hermione rushed over to him with a concerned face. Ron just stood a
few feet away, still unsure about Harry’s temper.

“Harry what happened? You have to explain everything! Ron just told me something about a dark mark and Death Eaters. You
weren’t attacked were you?”

“In a way yes, I guess I was,” he said to both Hermione and Ron watching their eyes go wide. He then proceeded to tell
them everything he knew, even detailing for Hermione what had happened with Ron. She seemed entranced through the whole
thing, as if half listening. Ron by now had come to sit next to Hermione on the edge of the bed. When he finished,
Hermione stayed silent for a while without moving or blinking, or what from Harry could tell, breathing. When she
finally jerked her head up to meet his eyes, she only muttered one word, “Wow.”

Harry snorted despite himself. “That’d be a bit of an understatement.”

“No! No I didn’t mean it like that,” Hermione went on quickly. “It’s just that this all makes sense in a weird sort of
way.”

Ron cocked his head slightly, “I’m not following.”

“Well,” Hermione began matter-of-factly, “You know how when you have a very deep emotion, V- Voldemort can feel it
through your scar Harry, and vice versa? And how your thoughts can sometimes get mixed up, and you’ll feel like your in
his body and he’s in yours?”

“Well yeah...,”Harry said, not quite catching on.

“Death Eaters communicate through just a simple touch of the arm. When he touches his mark, he can instantly know what’s
going on in all his members minds, and communicate with them. Now he doesn’t need to wait for a strong emotion to know
what’s going on in your mind, he could be listening right now, and we’d have no way of knowing.”

“Well that’s very comforting! Now he not only know how I feel about everything, but all the thoughts that flicker
through my head, and all the words that come out of my mouth?!”

“Now wait Harry! You’re not fully understanding what I‘m getting at. While yes, it is bad that he can do that, it‘s not
going to be easy. You‘re lessons with Snape have been paying off. He‘s going to have a hard time finding very specific
details that your brain guards. Things like dreams and pondering thoughts are a lot less guarded, and more easy for him
to get to. It would still be better for him to find those out then, say, your number one fear, or the last conversation
you had with members of the Order of the Phoenix. You’re just going to have to be more careful with what kinds of things
you say and such. But what I’m really trying to get at, is that you could use this to your advantage! You could make it
a two way thing, and find out what he’s thinking! I’m sure it could be done after the proper preparation!”

“Oh yes Hermione, I’m just going to break into one of the most powerful wizard minds in history and see what he’s having
for dinner! Who could I even ask to teach me something like that?”

Ron who had been rather detached from the conversation, suddenly chimed in, “Dumbledore! Harry, you said it yourself,
V-, You Know Who is one of the most powerful wizards in history, but there’s still more powerful, and one of them is
Dumbledore! If anyone could teach you, it’d be him.”

Hermione nodded her head, proud that someone else was following where she was going with this. Her head froze for a
minute, and she opened her mouth slightly. “There’s only one problem; Dumbledore’s not going to be back in England for
another week. Remember how yesterday during breakfast he told us how he got called to that meeting in Spain? Something
about allowing the Dark Arts in schools.”

“Great, so now I’m a Death Eater, the one person who can kill Voldemort. The only person he’s afraid of is sitting in a
school board meeting thousands of miles away, and none of us have a single clue what to do. Voldemort could be getting
ready to attack Hogwarts as we speak!”

They all sank into a gloomy silence, none of them sure what to say. Harry replayed their whole conversation, searching
for anything that could lead him to an idea. He was just at the part about Voldemort communicating through simply
pressing his arm, when he stopped, and turned towards Hermione.

“Wait, Hermione, you said that when Voldemort communicates with his Death Eaters, everyone’s contacted through the mark
on their arm. Mine isn’t on my arm though, it’s on my neck.”

Hermione looked at him wide-eyed. Obviously realizing this for the first time. Her eyes scanned quickly back and forth
on the floor as if she was searching in her head for something. “I know I read something about this before, I know I
did.” It was silent for a few minutes as both Ron and Harry stared at Hermione questioningly. She finally got up and
started searching the room, before turning to Ron.

“You remember the book I gave you a few Christmas’s ago? The one on creatures of the night? You didn’t happen to read it
did you?”

Ron looked up slightly, and blushed. “I never really got around to it, although I will one day. It’s still in my trunk.”

Hermione rushed over to the trunk, and grabbed the things off the top. She opened it, and quickly shuffled through the
clothes and unused objects. At last she grasped the book, and turned to look at them. “It figures you wouldn’t read it,
but I did before I gave it to you. There’s a very useful chapter in here on Death Eaters and how to tell by their
sleeping habits whether or not their very powerful. That won’t help us, but I remember something else being in here, it
might just be what we’re looking for.” She ended briskly and flipped through the pages, them flying as they turned. She
suddenly found the chapter, and her eyes darted quickly from side to side, growing bigger by the moment. She looked up
at Harry, and as their eyes met he knew something was not right. She began to read in a shaky voice that didn’t belong
to her at all.

“Death Eaters, while all are powerful, vary in degrees. Some carry out little jobs here and there, while others go on
dangerous, and oftentimes, extreme missions. No matter what level of power they are at, they are all striving for one
thing. When Voldemort feels his time is slowly ending, he will choose to pass on not only his title, but his wealth and
greatest secrets to a select person. That person will then become like a family member, even having some of the same
genetic make-up. They will be rigorously trained and sculpted into an almost mirror like image of the real Voldemort
himself. Although it has not happened yet, many feel it may begin soon. When the time does arrive, that person will be
marked with the Death Eater symbol not on his arm, as customary, but on his neck to show, power, strength, and overall
domination.

Hermione slowly and quietly closed the book, before turning to Harry’s pale cold face and whispering, “Harry, your
Voldemort’s heir.”

Alright...what did you think of the ending? Good, bad? Was the plot pace too slow? Too fast? Did this chapter keep you
interested? Just please let me know, whatever your views are. They really shape the way I write! Thanks! Erin