New Colors of Life

Who are we?

Her husband. Dear Merlin, how she got used to calling Tom that.

After they found the book, it took just a couple of weeks to proceed with the ritual. Stoned and even happy, Hermione let Tom into her mind; letting him extract all the information he needed and wanted to see.

She had a feeling that something went terribly wrong, but she could not point out what it was. It was this itching inside your soul that you could not get rid of. Hermione really hoped it would pass with time, blaming it on her anxiety. However, she was not blind yether.

He changed, that she knew very well.

He had always been rather cruel and merciless, however not to her, or at least not always. She had seen some good signs in him; she believed that they could make it work, even though understanding that this was no simple man, but a Dark Lord on the rise.

She saw all the signs, but refused to actually see them. She loved him, loved with all her heart; however, she could not say the same about Tom.

They moved to back to Scotland, to a small village with a funny name- Blueberry, as Tom insisted that it was the best place to settle in. He became withdrawn, sometimes disappearing for days without letting her know.

He was becoming darker and darker as each day passed by.

Xxx

Hermione Riddle was believed to be a very happy young woman- she had a wonderful, doting husband who always made sure she had everything she needed. In the eyes of the neighbors, who lived nearby their huge manor, she had everything a woman could dream of.

That was partially true, except she was missing the most crucial part- him.

She knew he still cared about her, he maybe even loved her, but he was different now. Hermione did not know what had changed him so much, or maybe it was her who changed, who became more demanding of his attention.

She knew she was playing with fire, as very often she could see how her husband looked at her with anger and maybe even hate in his beautiful eyes. His wonderful eyes she became to love so much. She was being silly, she knew it; she was dealing with the Dark Lord with whom she made a deal almost a year ago.

Then, she had been more than happy to let him leave her alone and live her life. Now, she couldn't imagine her life without him- his touch, his voice, his intoxicating presence.

Almost a year after their marriage has passed and Hermione felt trapped. She was happy when he was around and she was sad when he disappeared without saying a word.

She tried talking to him, but his now usual responses were either everything was all right, or to mind her own business.

She saw owls flow in and out of the Manor; they were getting more and more frequent with each passing day. Hermione's mind registered the signs and it did not take her long enough to put it all together- he was gathering his army.

A little too soon, she thought, as she remembered that it took Voldemort years to gather knowledge and strength to become The Dark Lord. Everything changed and she was to blame for that. It was her knowledge of the future, her killing, even though accidently, the future grandmother of Harry. It was all her fault, but somehow, she accepted her responsibility and if to be honest with herself, she did not want to give up Tom.

She had killed Harry, creating a time paradox in which she also may not be born which meant she could disappear from the past into the nonexistence. Into a Limbo of sort, however, she believed she already had a nice room booked in the depths of hell.

Before, her husband needed her, now Tom had all the knowledge he needed, and her usefulness had come to an end.

xxxxxxx

A gently crack of apparition let Hermione know that Tom was finally home after being away for more than four days.

She wanted to give him a piece of mind, bashing and screaming at him, but as soon as he entered their bedroom where Hermione sat reading to a book, all thoughts disappeared.

Happily jumping into his arms, Hermione felt peace; she felt whole again, like she always did when he was around.

A hungry kiss made her forget everything she worried about; those gentle but demanding hands freed her of cloth and soon she was lying naked in their bed, kissing him as if her life depended on it.

"Missed me, darling?" his cool voice and warm lips were her world and she did not know how to live without him. When he entered her, Hermione cried out in ultimate pleasure, trying to remember every kiss, touch and smell.

Xxxxx

Lord Voldemort, as he was already known to his many followers, kissed his sleeping wife gently on the temple. He had been away, yet again, trying to deal with the mess Dumbledore and Grindelwald were creating. He did not need another Dark Lord nowhere near England; he himself was more than those stupid commoners could chew.

Hermione, Hermione, Hermione, what to do with you, Tom thought looking at the smiling face of his beautiful wife. Almost a year has already passed and Tom remembered their agreement very well.

They had agreed upon divorce and that he would let her go, however, he knew very well she did not want to be freed anymore.

With a grimace he pushed away a small whisper in his head "Neither do you".

It was all too complicated, he thought. After the damn ritual it was like he had two dimensions in his head- one that was the true one, the present. The other- oh yes, now he understood why Hermione had been so weird sometimes, shouting out random things or even hitting him with a chair- it was His voice, his other self that somehow was inside her head. It was an older version of himself that he could connect to after the ritual.

One ritual let his mid drift to another; how many times had he already tried to use the Potion they had made in their last year of Hogwarts and how many times he stopped himself from using it. He wanted but at the same time, he did not want to know. What if it was Hermione? What if it wasn't?

xxxxxx

"Why aren't you sleeping," a sleepy soft voice asked him while a small hand with a beautiful wedding band and an even more beautiful engagement ring started crawling under the blankets.

"Thinking," he answered and looked down at those beautiful brown eyes that held so much love and so much passion.

"You have been away," her voice changed a bit a now it had an underlying annoyed sting to it. "Again. And without letting me know".

Now she was annoyed, he noted pleased and displeased at the same time. Pleased- because he really loved her feisty temper and displeased because he just did not want to explain himself to anybody. Even her.

"Hermione, you know better than to ask questions to which you won't receive an answer you wan to hear". Tom couldn't really remember how many times he had said it before. And still, she demanded explanations. Gryffindor, he sneered.

It still was a sore point for him when he thought about her memories that he had received in full version. Potter and Weasley. It amused him to no end that he had called The Savior of the Magical World a hamster when the accident happened. At that time he did not understand her sobbing and despair, but after he got her memories…He felt like dancing some rumba on the place where the grandmother of the forever-gone-and-never-to-be-born-Potter had died. Lord Voldemort used to think of it as of an accident, but now he was sure it was the fate herself, cleaning the path towards his greatness.

Xxxx

He was so annoying, thought Hermione getting up after another failed attempt to gather information on the whereabouts of her husband. Dammit, she had right to know!

"What would you say, or do, Tom, where I to disappear for several days without letting you know?" Hermione asked her husband who was still lying on their bed, calmly twisting and twirling his wand.

"I would find you. Then I'll let you know what exactly I think about it," he drawled and looked at her now covered form.

Their passion towards one another was still so powerful that there were days when they wouldn't get out of bed, making love, having wild passionate sex, or even playing. The last part he loved the most, Tom decided. Seeing Hermione tied to a metal post with a gag in her sweet mouth and his yew wand pointed to her clitoris while he took her anally; or when he let her tie him up and ride until they were both near death. Well, her, to be precise. He already had enough horcruxes to ensure he did not die from being fucked to death by his dear wife.

Hermione really wanted to smack him, but the last time she did, it was not as fun as before. His violent temper got the better of him and he actually smacked her back. She did not want to repeat it, as it still hurt her to think he could do it.

'Of course he could, he's the Dark Lord and not some Easter Bunny,' she mentally reprimanded herself.

"Why don't you take Dumbles or Butterfly with you? Why only Nagini?" Hermione really wanted to know why he was spoiling that damn snake and neglecting their other pets.

"Are you out of your mind, darling?" Tom asked incredulous. Did she really think he would take those two morons with him? No way in hell.

"No, it is you who is totally 'not here'", Hermione made a circle with her finger around her temple. "When were you planning on telling me that you were already gathering an army, huh? In ten years?"

Tom could see she was pissed now but this was not a topic he wanted to discuss right now. He was running out of time and he needed to act quickly.

So, instead of continuing their conversation, or argument as they simply could not talk normally, he thought, Tom Riddle dressed and with a loud 'pop' apparated away.

P.S Why do men always, well, not apparate, but drive away when some serious things need to be discussed? Ughrrrr..