Penance

Hermione held her arms across her chest as she watched in horror at the scene around her. She had lived through this a million times in her dreams but none could compare to being back with all the sounds, the movements, the feel. The snake was already dead by Neville’s hand, lying beheaded in the grass. Mass chaos had broken out after the death of the snake and everyone was now fighting for their lives.

She found herself among the fray quickly. She was dueling that short fat Death Eater which had taken her no time to dispose of. He soon hit the ground, unmoving and ropes sprang around his plump form. A Death Eater passed through her invisible body and shot a Killing Curse at Emeline Vance who ducked and threw one back. Hermione turned away and hurried to her figure, dueling next to Anthony Goldstein, shoving him out of the way of a curse. Hermione felt so helpless as she saw, further away, Charlie Weasley hitting the ground screaming. She glanced around and found Harry who was running toward the forest. She ran after him, not able to keep up. She knew what was coming, she knew she couldn’t stop it but she had to be there, had to know how it all happened.

Harry skid to a halt, clutching his scar. He fell to his knees, screaming in agony. She reached out to help him but her hand passed right through. She looked up at the dark shadow overcoming Harry’s form. It was Voldemort. He towered over Harry whose fingers were digging in the soft grass, his knuckles white.

“At last, Harry. Do not worry, your end is near,” he said in a cold voice which made Hermione shiver.

“Not if I can help it, Tom,” Harry ground out and Hermione wanted to hug him for his bravery.

“Harry!” a voice screamed from behind them and Hermione turned, the blood draining from her face. No, no, it couldn’t happen again, she couldn’t be forced to endure this again.

Ron pelted up the field, wand in hand, towards his friend. Hermione could see herself, further back running, running to them. She was so far away; she remembered the fear that had lodged itself in her throat as her feet carried her through the crowd of people. She had known, even then, that she would never make it in time, she would never get to them. Hermione jumped at Voldemort, knowing it was no use but not being able to stop herself as he pulled back his wand. Harry had just turned to see who had yelled his name when Voldemort screamed.

“Avada Kedavra!”

Ron stilled, his blue eyes wide. Hermione let out a sob as Harry yelled and leapt to his feet, being brought back down by the Dark Lord. She could see her own frantic self, hear the screams that had ripped themselves out of her throat. Harry dueled with Voldemort, something she did not recall in her own memory. In the background of the fight she could see herself collapsing over Ron’s body and for the first time, saw Draco darting out from the trees towards their separate battle. Harry finally Stunned Voldemort and fell to his knees next to the memory Hermione who was sobbing hysterically over the man she had thought she would marry. Harry held her, his swimming eyes trained on Voldemort who was now rising. She knew this part, knew what would happen.

She watched as her crying form was dragged from Harry’s grasp until she was laying flat on the grass in front of Voldemort. Harry yelled at him to let her go but Voldemort just smiled. He performed the Cruciatus Curse on her and her screams were terrible. She could see Draco nearing the fight, Voldemort saw him too.

“Ah, nice of you to join us, Draco,” he sneered. Harry’s head whipped to the direction Voldemort was looking and glared at him with hate. Draco held his wand at the ready, Hermione was still screaming on the ground. She remembered how painful it had been and was glad that she did not feel in memories. This part she did not remember. Draco turned suddenly and shouted Impedimenta! at Voldemort. He flew back and Draco ran to Hermione who was now moaning in pain. He flipped her over and turned to Harry.

“Potter, move! Now’s your chance!” he bellowed.

Harry scrambled to his feet as Draco pulled Hermione to a sitting position. She watched as she struggled against his hands, as she screamed and tried to get to Harry who was now running at Voldemort who got to his feet and, literally, flew at Harry.

“Avada Kedavra!” they screamed at each other. She could hear the utter terror in the screams of her memory behind her and could feel her heart stop even now. The spells hit each other in midair and exploded, knocking both men off their feet. Hermione realized that she was gripping her face very hard with her nails as she watched their still bodies and heard her shrill cries break through the air. Then everything went black. This was where Harry’s memory ended.

She expected to be lifted from the Pensieve but the memory went on. It was dark, nothing in sight as if she were in the underside of Harry’s eyelids. Then she heard the voice, the cold, cruel voice.


“You’re mine now, Potter. You belong to me.”

“No,” she heard Harry’s voice answer. “You will never control me! Never!”

Voldemort’s icy laugh broke through. “You do not have a choice.”

From far away she could hear her own crying, heard Draco’s voice urging her to leave, it wasn’t safe. She knew she was draped over Harry’s body, know Draco was trying to pull her off. Any minute now Hagrid would come and take Harry from her, Kingsley would levitate Voldemort’s body. What was going on? Harry hadn’t died, but she had seen his boy being taken, had seen him being buried…

Hermione sat in the darkness, listening to the voices around her. She could piece together what was happening having never left Harry’s side. She had been near hysteria and Draco had been there, holding her upright through most of it. She had never thought about it until after, long after. Why would he have done that?

She knew now that they were in the empty hospital wing. There was crying, people talking, utter disbelief in their faces. She knew Harry was being looked over by Madam Pomfrey. If he had heard all this, why couldn’t he move? Why hadn’t he called out to them?

“They mourn you, Harry Potter. But they do not know the man you will become,” Voldemort said. Then Harry was screaming. Wait, he hadn’t screamed…he hadn’t moved at all. He’d had no heart beat. Madam Pomfrey announced him dead and she heard her own keening wails, heard them being muffled by Draco’s chest, knew Arthur would be there to hold her up until they were ushered out of the room. That was when Draco had drawn her aside into a secluded niche, had kissed her, pressed her against the wall and took her mouth while the tears had cascaded down her face. Someone had called his name and he had pulled away.

“Wait for me,” he had breathed before taking her lips again in one last searing kiss and pushing away from the wall. He had been taken then, locked up until they could question him.

But now Hermione was stuck in this darkness listening to Harry’s cries of pain, to Voldemort’s taunts, to his occasional screams of agony while Harry talked of his friends and his love for Ginny.

It seemed she was here forever, but it was probably only an hour. The room outside was quiet and Voldemort spoke.

“Now, boy. If you want to live-,”

“I don’t care if I live or not,” Harry said dully.

She could hear footsteps. “My Lord,” a dark voice whispered. No, it couldn’t be…

Suddenly Harry was screaming, screaming. The hospital wing came into view, dark and empty and there stood Lucius Malfoy. She saw Harry standing, she stood next to him. How could this be? Harry spoke, but it was with the same cold voice which had spoken to her and cursed her.

“Lucius, my humble servant. Let us find my body so we can kill the boy.”

Lucius smiled. “I think not.”

Suddenly everything went black again. Why did this keep happening? Had he been knocked out? When her eyes opened they were in the cell she had taken Harry from and she sat next to him. He was crying, most likely from the pain. Her heart ached for him and when Lucius came in he struggled against his confines only to holler in pain and it looked as if he were electrocuted. Lucius laughed.

“Who knew you would be of such use, Potter? I thank you for providing the perfect encasement in which to hold our Lord hostage. Now, just sit tight while I work or your little friend will suffer.”

“You can’t blackmail me anymore, Malfoy. I have nothing left.”

“I can think of a few ways. What do the words ‘Hermione Granger’ mean to you?”

Harry struggled again and was again zapped. Hermione blanched, looking from man to man.

“You won’t fucking touch her! I’ll fucking kill you! When I get out of here-,”

“But you won’t be. Now, sit still, or she will endure even more pain than what is coming already. Do you understand me?”

“If you touch one fucking hair on her head-,” Harry grated out. Lucius laughed evilly.

“Oh I intend to touch much, much more.”

Lucius stepped forward and knelt by Harry. “Now, bring me our Master or she will pay. Do I make myself clear?”

Harry looked at him for a long moment, his face tear streaked, spittle dangling off his bottom lip, his eyes dark and dead. He closed his eyes and screamed in pain. When they opened again they were red.

“Lucius, you vile traitor! You forget who you are dealing with!”

“No, My Lord, I don’t think I do. Now, sit still.”

With a flick of Lucius’ wand a slit appeared on Harry’s skin, blood pouring out. Lucius conjured a flask and collected the blood.

“Thank you My Lord, you have provided me with my leverage,” Lucius sneered. “And I believe our little Mudblood will be the perfect candidate.”

Harry let out a bellow and Hermione was being ripped out of the memory. She landed on the floor of the office on her stomach, her face pressed to the Persian rug.

“Miss Granger! Are you alright?” Professor McGonagall’s worried expression crossed her vision as she was rolled over.

“Professor, they didn’t die, they didn’t die…”

“Who? Who didn’t die?”

“Voldemort and Harry. He is Voldemort, Voldemort is Harry!”

“What are you talking about?” McGonagall snapped, pulling Hermione up to a sitting position. Hermione looked into her mentor’s eyes and told her the horrible truth.

“Voldemort is trapped inside Harry’s body.”

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A/N: Sorry a little short but it does its job. This story will be unraveling fast now so hold on!

XOXO

RynStar15