Inside the Blackest Heart (Edit, Not Update)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 24 ~ The Deceptions Begin

Three days after his talk with Hermione, Snape was summoned before the Dark Lord. He was an impatient wizard and the idea of having a Primordial serving him had captured his imagination. Lucky for Snape he had excellent news to give him about Hermione’s request for protection for her parents.

“The witch has rebelled against Dumbledore and wishes to leave his service for a year to spend time with her family before taking up with the Order, my Lord,” Snape told the dark wizard.

Voldemort considered this.

“Dumbledore will never allow that. Especially since her powers are growing,” the Dark Lord said thoughtfully, “if it were me, I would take her family out of the equation so she would be dependent on me, and come to me for comfort and solace.”

“Exactly my Lord. And we know that Albus is a ruthless wizard when it comes to what he wants,” Snape said smoothly, “You and he have similarities in your methods of operation, though his deeds are not publicized as yours are.”

“If only they were,” Voldemort said wistfully, “then the wizarding world would see we are both two sides of the same galleon.”

His red eyes shifted to Snape.

“Is the witch aware of the danger to her family?” he asked.

“I have implied it sir, and she has asked me to make a request of you,” Snape said, his stomach tightening a little.

“A request? Of me? The Dark Lord?” Voldemort replied, sitting up in his throne with interest now. “Surely she knows I am of the darkness.”

Snape nodded. “Yes, my Lord. She has been taught of your evilness her entire tenure at Hogwarts. And she is close to Harry Potter sir,” Snape said.

“Close to Potter, yet would still make a request of me? Interesting, Severus. What is her request?” the Dark Lord asked, his red eyes glowing.

“That you will provide protection for her muggle parents. She is not fully convinced that Dumbledore would harm them, but she does not want to take the chance. She is not sure whom to trust now that she knows she is a Primordial. Her powers are still developing and she is unable to protect her family herself. This is a great opportunity to do her a service, my Lord…a service that she would be obligated to return,” Snape said persuasively

“Yessss,” hissed Voldemort

“When Dumbledore goes for her parents, and your deatheaters save them, it will result in two things,” Snape continued smoothly, knowing he had the Dark Lord eating out of his cauldron. “Her realizing Dumbledore’s treachery, and seeing you as her parents’ savior. He will no longer be able to influence her, and she will not join the Order.”

“And she will be quite grateful to me,” the Dark Lord added, smiling evilly.

“Yes, my Lord,” Snape agreed. This was going well.

The Dark Lord rose from his throne and descended the small steps to stand before the Potions Master. He placed one reptilian hand on his shoulder.

”It seems this witch has a bit of darkness in her after all, if she would use my services against her beloved Headmaster. Where do her parents’ live, Severus?” he asked the Potions Master, his red eyes locked to his face.

“Muggle London, my Lord,” Severus replied, repelled by the Dark Lord’s proximity. He smelled of death. The Potions Master’s nostrils were full of his sickening scent. He fought back the gag that threatened to rise.

“Tell her the Dark Lord will gladly provide her family protection. That no harm will come to them. They will be watched over night and day,” Voldemort lisped. “Tell her she has the Dark Lord’s respect and favor, and if she is ever in need, I will use all my powers to help her. Tell her thissss, Severussss,” the Dark Lord said, his excitement causing him to hiss intensely. His snake-like tongue flickered out, barely missing Snape’s lips.

“Yes, my Lord. I will give her your message,” he said as the Dark Lord returned to his throne.

“You have done well, Severus. Extremely well. Are you still fucking her?” the wizard asked, cocking his head.

“I have not touched her since her deflowerment, my Lord,” Snape replied, “she has not yet evidenced a need for me.”

“I want you to take her again soon. She appears to have a liking for you. I want it exploited,” the Dark Lord said, looking at the Potions Master levelly. “But remember who it is you are fucking, Severus. You are honored above all others to be able to pleasure a Primordial. I envy your position…”

The wizard raised his wand and Snape braced himself.

“Crucio!” the Dark Lord spat.

Once again Snape suffered the torment of the Cruciatus curse wracking his body, his limbs folding in on themselves painfully as he shuddered and buckled under the pain, losing all control of his bodily functions. Finally Voldemort let him go.

“Just don’t let it go to your head,” Voldemort lisped, gazing on Snape’s still shuddering body.

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For the following weeks, Hermione conducted herself as she always did, fulfilling her responsibilities, keeping up her grades, and making her rounds. After talking with Snape, she sought out Harry and secured a Wizard’s Oath from him, and when Ron was finally released from the infirmary, he too was clued in quickly, because the red-hair wizard was spoiling to take Hermione to task. He heartily believed she had transfigured her on purpose, but once he took the Oath and the enormity of what was happening to his friend became apparent, he forgave her immediately. Ron was an ass most of the time, but he loved and supported Hermione when the chips were down.

“A Primordial? Wow, Hermione. That’s bloody amazing! I always knew there was something strange…”

Here Harry glowered at the red-haired wizard

:…er…special about you.” Ron finished, correcting himself.

Hermione grinned at him, shaking her head.

Ron looked from Hermione to Harry and back again.

“You can help defeat Voldemort,” he said, his eyebrows raised at this revelation, “Harry won’t have to take him on alone now.”

Harry looked at Ron.

“I might not have to take him on at all, if Hermione comes to full power before the final battle,” he said, “She’ll be able to take him out with no problem. He won’t be able to touch her. No one will,” Harry said, looking at Hermione proudly.

Hermione shifted a bit guiltily. She hadn’t told either wizard about her arrangement with Voldemort. There was no way they would have understood it. They were close, but she was sure their friendship could not survive her association with the Dark Lord.

“Yes, but I think I’m still a long way from consciously controlling my powers. Things are still happening when I become emotional about something. The other day, Dean Thomas and Sean both got stuck in place when I told them not to run through the common room, and they didn’t listen to me. They were stuck like that for ten minutes,” she said, smirking a bit at the memory.

She didn’t deny doing it to them. The stricken wizards didn’t see how she did it however, and believed it had been wandlessly. She let them think what they wanted. Needless to say they made sure they didn’t exceed a quick walk through the common room after that.

And poor Professor Snape. Although they had established a rather uneasy association, the Potions Master received dose after dose of Hermione’s unrestrained powers, though nothing that harmed his actual person. Dried out quills and powdered ink abounded. He suffered through completely erased blackboard notes, blank pop quizzes, every button on his highly buttoned robes becoming unfastened, and his chair sliding out from under him when he went to sit down after unfairly deducting points from Gryffindor. He went down with a thud, but not one student dared to laugh until far from his classroom. Hermione gave him a little shrug as he scrambled to his feet and glowered at her.

One morning while chewing her out about helping another student, he lost his voice. It was several hours before it returned and he had to cancel his next two classes. And after giving Hermione an undeserved grade, he found all the homework parchments he laboriously graded the night before, clear and unmarked, as if he had never touched them. He was forced to mark them all again.

The Professor was extremely miffed about being the focus of Hermione’s uncontrolled powers, but realized that the magic she was performing was unconscious. He decided that it would be best to continue his snarky treatment of the witch in the hopes that one day she would be able to take his meanness without a magical rebuttal. Hermione, on the other hand, as badly as she wanted to subdue the magic she was emitting, was really enjoying making Snape pay for all his snarkiness, past and present.

A breakthrough finally came when he deducted fifty points from Hermione for arriving to class five minutes late, and nothing happened to him. Not a single dried quill or erased blackboard. At the end of class he called her to his desk.

“So Miss Granger, no little magical digs today? I am surprised,” he said. “I thought maybe a strong wind might rush through the classroom and sweep away all my parchments, or something equally vile,” he said, his eyes glittering at her. But he didn’t look as foul as usual.

Hermione shrugged. “I just accepted your unfairness,” she said shortly, though inwardly she was elated no magic had manifested. She really had accepted the point loss, but there was something else. Her dreams about the Potions Master were starting to return. Her amber eyes shifted away from him uneasily.

The Potions Master searched her face with his black eyes.

“Miss Granger, is there something you need to tell me?” he asked her silkily.

“No,” she said a bit too quickly.

The Potions Master sat back in his chair, letting his eyes sweep across her.

“Are you sure, Miss Granger?” he said in a low voice.

Her eyes met his, rather defiantly.

“I am positive sir. Now may I go?” she snapped.

“Certainly,” he said smoothly, watching her as she turned to leave.

“Five points from Gryffindor,” he added softly.

She spun on him, frowning.

“Why?” she demanded.

He considered her.

“I think you know why, Miss Granger,” he purred.

Hermione looked at him a moment, then hurried to her desk, grabbed her backpack, and quickly exited the class. Snape noticed there had been no magical reaction to the point loss. It seemed Miss Granger was beginning to bring her emotional reactions under control. He smirked. But what about her physical reactions? No, she was still a slave to them. The Professor was very aware her need was on her again, and she wanted him. This time, he wouldn’t pursue her or manipulate her to be in his presence. This time the Primordial would have to come to him herself.

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A/N: So Hermione is evidencing some control over her powers now, as well as a growing urge to indulge herself with Snape again. Voldemort has given her his assistance. He’s a cruel bastard though. Seems Snape can’t leave his presence without getting hit by the curse at least once. And think, the Dark Lord does this when he’s pleased with him. Imagine what he’s like when pissed. Brrrrr. Please review.