Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Blasted plot bunnies. Just a note - although this centers around Hermione and Tom, they're not going to become a couple. At least in this story, anyway. Much thanks to Jennifer who worked her beta magic on this and for giving me her input. (And sorry about the cliffhangers - not. ;P )
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Chapter Three: Lost Forever
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"You really have no idea what I plan to do, do you?" he chuckled at her blank face. "My dear, you may think I've told you everything that you want to know so you can go off and tell your friend exactly what I have planned for him, don't you?" His face was serious now. "Well, that's not going to happen, I'm afraid."
Some day, Hermione, you'll get the opportunity to know who I truly am - but sadly that time is not now, he thought, gently stroking her hair, weaving his fingers through the bushy brownness. With a slight chuckle, in a lightning flash, he was gone.
- - -
She woke up feeling dazed. A slight beam of sunlight shone through the small window above her cell, directly at her feet. Her brain felt as if it had been made out of lead; she was unable to think, let alone get up. She wasn't sick . . and oddly enough, she couldn't remember anything. She knew who she was and why she was there, but . . there was this strange emptiness inside her. An emptiness that told her something was off, something wasn't right. But she didn't know, couldn't figure out what was wrong, what that something was.
Whatever it was, she couldn't be bothered about it now. She had to tend to Tom. With that thought, she robotically got out of her cot and went over in her mind what she had to do for Tom that day, what orders he was giving her now. Her head pounded now; a fierce headache was plaguing her. Great, she thought, just what I need. Little did she notice the stunned green eyes watching her right then.
-Two days before -
"She's gone!" Harry exclaimed, his shining eyes wild with shock and an unwilling acceptance. "Hermione's . . gone." He breathed slowly, feeling his world collapse all around him. Gone gone gone. The word itself taunted him. "I - I couldn't find her anywhere . . . she's not on the grounds, she's not in the library, she's not in the common room . . ." He let his voice trail off, a frozen shock showing clearly in his eyes. He felt paralyzed; he couldn't breathe. It was as if she had died . . god forbid the thought. He felt everything start to spin madly around him, never stopping, and tried not to howl and cry from the pain of it all.
She can't be gone. He felt defeated. A part of him was missing; only an unbearable gap remained where she had been. Harry just couldn't believe it - he refused to believe it. Even with Dumbledore's solemn blue eyes gazing at him and - no, he refused to believe she was gone. She wouldn't leave him like that, would she? She wouldn't leave him alone there to feud for himself?
He knew Hermione . . she wasn't the type to desert him. No, actually, she was the exact opposite of that. So where was she? His mind reeled with numerous thoughts on where she could be. What bothered him the most however was the tightly twisted feeling in his stomach; the one he got whenever he was sick and about to vomit. This feeling was a lot stronger, though; he had never felt like this in his life. This told him, confirmed his thoughts that something was indeed wrong. He just hoped with all his heart that she was safe and away from harm.
But he knew that was too hopeful and blind a wish. Still he hoped with all he had that Hermione was safe. If anything happened to her, he honestly didn't know what he would do . . without her, he would go insane. She was his world, the only steadfast person he had in his life. And he didn't want her to go away from his life. Not ever, and not in the future. Harry knew for sure that he would rather die with her than without her, since without her his world fell apart. He fell apart. It was as if he wasn't alive anymore. A part of him felt dead and broken beyond repair and healing. And only Hermione could cause that to happen.
He shook his head. Now he just wasn't thinking clearly. Hermione wouldn't cause that; it would just happen. Maybe it was because of just how close they were. She was a part of him as he was a part of her; they were two souls entwined. It wasn't as if they could help it; it had just happened.
And why would they do anything to stop it? Harry was thankful that she was in his life; he had been really too lucky to have her as his best friend. Sure, she could be stubborn beyond belief, but he knew it was a part of who she was, it was what made her Hermione. That never ceasing stubbornness had saved him in the riskiest of situations and knocked some sense into his own stubborn brain.
Now, without that lifesaving logic, he didn't know what to do. If he went and searched for her . . his eyes narrowed at that thought. Maybe, just maybe . . his mind raced with thoughts, thoughts which he couldn't speak of but couldn't help pondering over. He would do anything - even the most drastic thing anyone could think of, let alone do. Harry would do anything to bring Hermione back - even if his life would be lost when he did it. A determined glint shone in his eyes, making them seem greener and brighter than ever, if that was even possible.
An inner strength kept him going now, followed by ever plaguing thoughts of Hermione and where she could be. She was the only one who could keep him going this far - and he vowed right then that if it was the last thing he did before he died, he would find her. The cost and his death didn't matter, just as long as she was found. And with that thought Harry ran from Dumbledore's office and headed straight back to Gryffindor Tower, his thoughts in a rush of planning and executing his `reckless' plan. It was now or never, he decided, and there was no better time than now.
So what if he was acting spontaneous? He thought. The school would send out a search party for him, and there would be tons of unneeded publicity . . but he was willing to risk all of that, just to find her. Right now, he could have cared less about everything else - everything else except her. And whenever he had set his mind to something, there was no use stopping himself - even if he had to be the one to do it.
Night had fallen, leaving Hogwarts a looming shadow in the landscape. A perfect cover to hide him, Harry thought. His only guide was the moon shining high in the sky, the stars up above, and what little light he could see shining in Hogwarts' many windows. Harry took a deep breath, straightened his black cape so it would camouflage him in the darkness easily without rousing suspicion, got on his Firebolt and took off in the sky.
Even if he had no clear sense where she was, he only hoped that he could - no, would - find her in time, before something else happened. What that something else was he didn't know - he had an ominous feeling about it that told him everything. And this time he wished that his instincts were wrong. For once.
- Present -
Harry snapped out of his reverie when he heard the sound of a door opening and then closing shut. He was acutely aware of everything around him at that moment; the dank, cold cell, the soft footsteps of Hermione's on the stone floor, the stillness in the air. He couldn't stand any of it; it was beyond unbearable.
When Tom - he scowled, correcting himself - no, Lord Voldemort - had been talking to Hermione - oh, he couldn't even go into it. The wait, the numb, shocked feeling his entire body had . . he just couldn't believe it. Everything that had happened so far had happened in a flash, so quick that his mind couldn't process and take it in all at once. That and he honestly couldn't believe that right before his eyes, Hermione had been turned into a puppet. And nothing more than that.
She was the one who did his bidding, automatically and as if she had been programmed to do it. A wide glazed look in her eyes told Harry everything, more than he needed and wanted to know. A crazy impulse and his instincts had led him here, and he knew they would never lead him astray. But this . . this was incredible. Way beyond incredible. He couldn't even believe and trust that what he was seeing was truly real.
Then he heard a scuffle near him and stiffened. It was Hermione, only . . it wasn't Hermione. At the same time. It was the same person and an entirely different person, all in one. Same name, different personality. A twisted side to her, he thought. Especially now, with her being controlled by - he had to grimace at the thought - that good for nothing, the so called Lord Voldemort, and she had been reduced to nothing more than a mere robot resembling a human who did all of Tom's - he had to resist the urge to gag - bidding. Every whim and wish of his, she had to obey and follow. It was honestly agonizing to watch; the Hermione he knew would never do such a thing.
But now that she was being controlled . . He frowned. That changed and messed up everything. A major complication this was, to be sure. And whether he would overcome this obstacle . . right now Harry wasn't so sure about that. He could face and fight dragons, he could battle with basilisks . . but that doesn't mean I can do them again, can I? He mused. He could do everything a hero could and more, but somehow, his "hero" persona wasn't needed anymore.
Especially this time. It was something of an entirely unique shade, a whole new outlook and situation. Except, maybe . . if he followed his instincts like he had done lots of times before, he would know what to do. And get Hermione out of this mess and off Voldemort's control. He shuddered at the thought of what would happen if the evil lord of darkness's control over her went on any longer. With her as his puppet, she'll be very useful for him, Harry thought with disgust. It took everything in him to not curse His so called Lordship to a place worse than hell. Actually, a place worse than hell wouldn't be right for him, he breathed quietly.
Right now, from his dark corner near her cell, he could only watch and wait in silence. Wait in agony for the right time, wait for . . he didn't know what else to do. But he didn't want to wait anymore. What else could he do besides wait? If he let it go on any longer, it would get worse. And then she would be lost forever to him. At that moment, he had a perfect chance right in front of him. He chose to seize it, came out of the shadows, crept silently to where Hermione was, and clasped one hand over her mouth. She didn't scream, much to his relief.
"Hermione, it's me," His voice was trembling. "You know who I am, don't you?"
Her answer was not what he expected it to be. "Yes, Harry." She turned around to face him and a small gasp escaped his throat.
There wasn't a glazed over look in her eyes. Clear brown irises met his own green eyes, and it was then that Harry found out everything he needed to know.
- - -
Tom smiled to himself in satisfaction. He had gotten Potter's little minx to obey his every wish and command, and without a single complaint.
His eyebrows furrowed. Now for the next step . . having her under his control was quite nice, but he needed - and wanted - something more. He wanted her to submit completely to him. He winced inwardly at the innuendo that thought contained. All he wanted now was for her to wholly, completely submit to him. Nothing else.
And to do that, he smirked, would be easy. Having her under his control was proving to be quite advantageous; he could use that control to his own liking. And what better use than her submission?
He smirked widely. Let the games begin.
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