Twisting Around
Chapter 10: The Price For Betrayal
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I've been busy with work and relatives visiting for my birthday. There will be another delay in the near future, but I'll let you know when that comes. Now without further ado, the next chapter (cue applause)
The day after beginning their new relationship, Harry and Hermione were summoned to appear before Lord Voldemort. Upon entering Voldemort's dark meeting chamber, they noticed that Voldemort had taken a liking to sitting upon a large and ornately gilded throne, with several snakes engraved upon the surface. From his seat of power, Lord Voldemort addressed the pair.
"It is time to get back to work, Potter." Voldemort commanded with a sneer. We want Dumbledore dead soon."
"When I am ready, he will die. I intend for nothing to go wrong."
"Until such time as Dumbledore is dead, and your obligation to us fulfilled, both you and the mudblood will participate in our ongoing raids."
Harry's eyes flashed at the word mudblood, but Hermione's quick warning glare prevented any response.
"Now depart from us." Voldemort ostentatiously ordered with a flick of his hand.
Harry and Hermione returned to their quarters, where they discussed the interesting meeting.
"He's growing certain of victory. Sitting on that throne and using the royal "we," it's quite amusing actually." Hermione commented.
"He won't be so high and mighty once he's begging for his life. He'll pay for all those insults he threw at you"
Hermione grabbed his hand forcefully. "No, Harry. Don't try anything. We'll deal with him when the time comes, when we are both able to battle while keeping our emotions in check. If we let ourselves be consumed by our anger for him, he will destroy us. We must be careful, we must have a plan. Until then we can only follow his orders while we devise our plan."
"You're right, as usual." Harry sighed. "I just hope we can be out from under his thumb soon"
"So do I, Harry. So do I" Hermione agreed. She then gave Harry a sweet and tender kiss full of love. Afterwards, the two just stood in the middle of the room, holding each other. The two lovers began to rock gently on their feet, causing Hermione to break out into a wide grin.
"Dance with me Harry" Hermione commanded with an imperious glare that even the most self-righteous noblewoman would be hard pressed to match.
Harry could do nothing but obey, and the lovers began to dance around the room to music that only they could hear, laughing all the while. Together, they forgot all of their worries and their fears. They knew that together they were safe. Together, they couldn't be harmed.
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The pages on the calendar turned, and as the months passed, the pages written about the fallen Harry and Hermione grew larger. Ron was disgusted every time he saw the Daily Prophet with his old friends glaring out at him. The rest of Gryffindor had mixed reactions. Some were sorrowful, others angry, with a few even being scornful in their attitudes.
Ginny seemed to handle the news fine for someone so close to the pair, but if anyone looked closely, they could see a hint of sadness on her face. The burden she bore was that of understanding. She recognized the emotions that had led Harry and Hermione astray, and she accepted that they had to follow them. With Harry's thirst for vengeance against all who had wronged him, and Hermione's endless love for him, it seemed almost inevitable to Ginny that they would take the evil path.
Today's news on the front page of the Daily Prophet was the announcement of the death of a family of muggles, the Dursleys, at the hands of Potter and Granger.
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Summer had arrived, and Hogwarts students had just returned home for the holidays. Voldemort ordered Harry and Hermione to strike at as many of the students' homes as prudently possible. He also ordered that the first home to be attacked in this new campaign be the Burrow.
The night before the attack on the Burrow, Harry and Hermione were relaxing in their quarters, enjoying each other's presence. Suddenly, Hermione slammed her book shut and looked at Harry with an astounded look in her eye.
"I figured it out, Harry. It's so simple I can't believe I didn't see it before."
Harry laughed in amusement. He enjoyed seeing Hermione in know-it-all mode. "What do you mean?"
"Defeating Voldemort. He knows that you know that he plans to kill you once Dumbledore is dead. He also knows that you won't kill Dumbledore until you're sure you can kill him afterwards. He's now stopped thinking about the upcoming battle between the two of you, thinking he already knows everything there is to know. All we have to do Harry is switch it up. When we're ready to kill Dumbledore, we kill Voldemort beforehand. He won't be expecting us to make our move until after Dumbledore's death. He'll be caught unprepared and unaware."
Harry looked at Hermione with an expression of both love and awe. "Of course! Great thinking, Hermione! It's absolutely brilliant!"
Hermione was beaming with pride when Harry said, "I knew I kept you around for some reason"
Harry and his devious grin were forced to duck the pillow that came flying across the room.
After Harry pretended to look repentant, Hermione continued explaining her plan. "And after Voldemort is dead, we take control of the Death Eaters. Most will be thoroughly opposed to us of course, so they'll have to die. We'll then have to bolster our ranks with new recruits, and we can start with this new campaign of attacks. Some of our old classmates will join with us, either for pride and glory, or out of fear, and maybe even a few for the friendship we once shared. And, Voldemort won't be able to do anything about this. He can't object to us bringing new recruits to him. Our army will be loyal to us and us alone, but will go through the motions of serving him, just like we are."
"My Lady, this is without doubt, the best idea you've ever come up with, and you've come up with quite a few." Harry praised.
"Why thank you, My Lord. I thought you'd be pleased. "Hermione replied, mocking Harry's use of `My Lady.'
Harry decided to take offense at the mocking tone in her voice. He stood up, and under Hermione's watchful gaze, walked over to her. Hermione let out a squeal as she was picked up and tossed onto the bed.
Harry climbed onto the bed and leaned his body over hers. Capturing her eyes with his sinful greens, he asked, "Are you quite done having fun?"
Hermione grinned wickedly. "I think the fun has only started." She pulled Harry down and kissed him lustfully. Harry and Hermione lost themselves in their world of love.
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A storm was ripping through the area when a cloaked Harry and Hermione approached the Burrow. The Weasleys had just sat down to dinner, not knowing that this would be the last dinner for many of them.
The wards that surrounded the Burrow proved to be impotent, as they were easily nullified by Harry and Hermione. The front door creaked loudly as it was opened, and the two invaders froze. Nobody came to investigate the noise, and they continued on, following the sound coming from the Weasleys.
Time seemed to stand still as Harry and Hermione entered the room. All of the Weasley eyes had turned upon the cloaked figures who had their wands pointed in their direction. No one spoke. The silence continued until Mr. Weasley regained his composure and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Harry pulled back his hood, and Hermione followed his lead, eliciting gasps from the Weasleys who hadn't deduced their identities. It was Harry who answered the question, "We have come to ask all of you to join us"
Ron's face was flushed as he yelled at his former friends. "How dare you come here? How dare you show your faces to us? And to ask us to join You-Know-Who? We'd never do such a thing! You'll have to…"
Mr. Weasley pushed Ron back into his chair before he could say any more. "Stay quiet, Ron. You will only make things worse for yourself."
The Weasleys were surprised to see grins spreading across the faces of Harry and Hermione. "We never said anything about joining Voldemort" Hermione said wickedly. "We were asking you to join us"
"And how is joining you different from joining You-Know-Who?" Mr. Weasley asked, striding around the edge of the table to step between his family and them.
"We are on our own side. Voldemort is plotting to kill Harry, and he knows that Harry knows this. Therefore we are changing the rules." Hermione replied. "We are going to recruit people to our cause and we will kill Voldemort before Harry kills Dumbledore, thereby taking Voldemort by surprise."
Harry thought it was rather amusing to see all of the red heads bob up and down with each utterance of Voldemort's name. He saw a movement then, out of the corner of his eye.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" Harry advised menacingly, pointing his wand at Bill, whose hand had moved inside his robes.
With a sullen look, Bill withdrew his empty hand. "So, who will join us?" Harry asked.
"None of us will join you." Ron snarled.
"Everyone has the right to make their own decision on this matter" Hermione said. "We already have yours and Bill's answers though. What about you Mr. Weasley?"
"No. I have my duty to perform." In the background Mrs. Weasley was also shaking her head.
"Admirable sentiments. What about you, Fred and George?"
They seemed to think it over, spurring a comment from Bill. "You can't seriously be contemplating joining them. They've betrayed the entire wizarding world."
"They have betrayed it, but they never really had any choice. Also, neither of them is truly evil. I'd rather stay alive and join them, since they are not evil. If they were evil I'd refuse, but they aren't evil." Fred said, surprisingly serious."
George nodded his head in agreement. "We're with you."
"NO!" Mr. Weasley shouted.
Ignoring him, the twins stood up and walked over to Harry and Hermione. Hermione gave them a portkey and their orders. "Take this portkey now, we'll meet up with you later." Fred and George did as they were told and disappeared.
All eyes were on Ginny now, the only one who hadn't given an answer. "Ginny?" Hermione asked, her voice full of emotion. "You understand better than anyone what we've been going through. Surely you can…" Hermione's voice died.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, Ginny nodded. "I do understand, and I think I do have to help you. I don't like how much harm you have caused, but I know why you did it. I'll help you out."
Ginny rose and gave Hermione a hug before taking the portkey out of the Burrow.
"Now," Harry sinisterly spoke, "The rest of you must die for your betrayal."
Harry's and Hermione's wands were already moving, giving them the edge as the Weasleys sprang into action. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Two rays of green shot out, and Arthur and Bill Weasley were dead, the most dangerous opponents taken out first.
Hermione lashed out with her foot at Ron, who was charging at them, neglecting his wand. Ron's stomach received the blow, and he fell to the ground when Hermione followed up with a low swipe.
Meanwhile, Harry had killed Molly, who had been like a mother to him, before she betrayed Harry like most of her family.
Ron began scurrying backwards, still on the floor, reaching for his wand. Hermione kicked the wand out of his hand as Harry joined her at her side. Their two wands raised in one motion. Harry and Hermione looked into each other's eyes, nodded, and incanted together. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The one who Harry and Hermione had once called their best friend was now dead, paying the price for his betrayal, the betrayal that had hurt Harry and Hermione the most. They turned their backs on the traitor and apparated after setting the house afire.
A/N: There it is, death and destruction in all its glory. Hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are key.
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