Through the Looking Glass ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 29 ~ Dangling the Bait

The next day at the end of Advanced Charms class, Hermione received a folded parchment with her class assignment from professor Flitwick. She opened it and read the contents.

Miss Granger, because of your absence, your marks have dropped significantly. It is suggested you make an appointment for extra credit. You will need to earn at least seventy-five points. Please see me at your earliest opportunity.

Professor F. Flitwick

Hermione sighed.

She wasn’t in the mood to do any extra credit work. It didn’t help that she received similar messages for almost every class, the exception being Advanced Transfiguration. She’d never been behind before, so this was the first time she had to deal with several teachers wanting her to “attend” to her marks at one time.

It was also the first time she felt pressured to do it. The witch thought about the system at the alternate Hogwarts, and for the first time, felt some appreciation for it. In that world, she could simply do a few extra written assignments and catch up her marks without engaging anyone sexually.

In fact, Miss Granger was experiencing quite a few “firsts” since returning from the mirror world. And they weren’t pleasant “firsts” either. Having a slew of teachers expecting sexual favors was a new and rather unwelcome experience for her and she didn’t like how it made her feel. As if Snape were right in his assessment of her getting by spreading her legs.

The Slytherin had a chance to see Hermione’s marks while at the alternate Hogwarts, and they were all very high, the product of dedicated study and application. Her mind was what made those grades, not her sexual abilities behind closed doors.

This Hermione was quite bright as well, but there was no pressure or real appreciation for intelligence. The dullest student at this Hogwarts could have excellent marks if willing to do what was physically necessary to gain them.

She sighed as she sat in her bedroom and looked over all the extra credit requests and began to half-heartedly sort them out. She had to get her marks up no matter how she felt about it.

Damn. Her life had been fine before she’d experienced the other universe. She wished she had never passed through that bloody mirror.

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Severus Snape walked across the grounds of Hogwarts. It was late evening, a Friday night. He had no classes to teach because it was the weekend. Still, he had an assignment. He let himself out of the gates and walked up the road a way. He stepped off of the road and into the trees, looking around cautiously before pulling on a skeletal half-mask, then rolling up the left sleeve of his robe and placing the tip of his wand against his Dark Mark.

He concentrated . . . and then disappeared, his request for an audience heard by his master.

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Voldemort sat on his throne of bones on a dais set in the middle of his circular stone throne room. It was barren except for the torches on the wall and small bonfires burning here and there. The wizard’s nature was reptilian and he couldn’t produce his own body heat, so the throne room was kept very warm.

There were several doors cut into the walls that led to other areas of his throne room. A number of Death Eaters lounged about, standing in small groups, some leaning against the walls. The despot provided nothing for their comfort unless there was a revel. Then seats, sofas and mattresses abounded.

Severus Snape appeared before his throne, dropping immediately to one knee and bowing his head. The scaly wizard studied him through narrowed red eyes for a moment, displeasure stretching his lipless mouth as he looked down on his inept spy. Severus hadn’t provided any pertinent information in months.

He’d better have something worthwhile today or he could count on the lash for certain. Maybe that would give him more incentive.

”Arise, Severus and remove your mask,” Voldemort lisped at him.

Snape stood up, lowered his hood and removed his hood.

”Greetings, my Lord,” he said with a bow.

”You had better come to me with more than greetings, Severus,” the Dark Lord hissed, “you’ve been less than useful these past few months. I’ve made no headway with either Dumbledore or that damned Potter boy and I blame you. I’m tired of this damned war and want it over one way or another. What news have you?”

”Well, my Lord, I’m sorry to say I have no news concerning either Harry Potter or Albus Dumbledore,” Snape replied, but quickly added, “but I do have some information that you might find very interesting concerning a recent incident at Hogwarts of some portent.”

Voldemort snarled at him, his wand hand twitching.

”What do I care about what happens at that blasted school if it doesn’t bring me closer to taking it over?” he asked the wizard, bringing his wand around.

”Ah, but this information is about just that, my Lord. You having control of Hogwarts,” Snape said, dangling the bait.

Voldemort looked interested but hissed, “What nonsense are you spouting, Severus? I am in no mood for jokes.”

”This is no joke, my Lord. Recently, a student named Hermione Granger passed through the Mirror of Erised into an alternate universe where you were the Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In that world you are a respected hero and lead the fight against the despot Albus Dumbledore, who is also called Lord Bedaub Mules. Of course, this world is slightly different than our own, with you supporting the rights of Muggle-Borns and Albus pushing the Pureblood cause. I’ve found out quite a bit of information about this world and how it is accessed. I thought you might find it interesting.”

Voldemort sat up straight in his throne, his red eyes flashing with curiosity.

”I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts?” he asked excitedly.

”Yes, my Lord. And you rule with an iron wand. The rules are . . . slightly different under your guidance. For example, there is torture . . . caning, imprisonment and sex with teachers for extra credit.”

Voldemort took this in with a lascivious smile, showing his small pointed teeth.

”Indeed, and what else?” the wizard asked the Potions master.

”Harry Potter is there as well. He adores you and hates Albus Dumbledore with a passion, my Lord. He is under your protection, and my sources imply that you have an intimate relationship with him at times as well.”

Voldemort laughed at this.

”I bugger Potter?” he asked Severus delightedly.

”According to my sources, yes. In fact, everyone you know here, is there, although in differing roles. For example, students in Slytherin in this world are in Gryffindor in the other. Professor McGonagall is the Potions mistress, and a Slytherin. And I . . .”

Here Snape’s face contorted with distaste.

”I am the Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor house.”

Voldemort folded over in his throne in full conniptions at this bit of information, laughing until tears rolled down his face. Snape a Gryffindor!

Presently, the wizard straightened, wiping at his eyes with an elegant hand and flicking his wand, making a comfortable armchair appear. This was a great honor, to be seated in front of him.

”Sit, Severus and tell me more about this world. It amuses me, and I haven’t been amused in a long time,” he said.

Severus bowed and took a seat, mentally wiping his brow. Voldemort was interested. That was good.

Now . . . all he needed to do was make him obsessed.

He had a week.

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Voldemort listened with delight and awe as Severus described this alternate universe. Imagine, a world where he was Head of Hogwarts, and a renowned and respected member of society, considered on the side of Good. And the society itself was a free society, with few of the conventions of this one. Open marriages, bi-sexuality, lynching of council members and more. It sounded wonderful.

The more he heard, the more he desired to see this world for himself, possibly even experience it. True, Muggle-Borns were given the upper hand . . . but . . . such situations could be changed, particularly if the Albus Dumbledore was pro-Pureblood. He could be . . . an ally. After all, according to Snape, they were very much alike.

He had Snape stay overnight, regaling him with stories about this alternate world, and when the despot fell asleep, his dreams were full of scenarios with himself behind the Headmaster’s desk, beloved and respected by all, enjoying the fame and adoration that eluded him here.

The next morning, he summoned Snape and questioned him tirelessly about how the world was accessed.

”Apparently, the counterparts must look into the mirrors at the same time, and be in sync. Contact with the mirror at that time causes a switch in positions. Miss Granger was able to return home in this manner as well. Currently, the Mirror of Noisreva is in Tom Riddle’s office. If you had the Mirror of Erised here in your throne room, no doubt you could see him for yourself. Of course, the conditions would have to be perfect. For example, if you had other people here with you, it is doubtful that you would see your counterpart unless he had precisely the same people surrounding him.”

”Yes,” Voldemort said thoughtfully, “but more than likely, he would be alone in his office most of the time. It would be an easy matter to keep my throne room clear.”

Snape feigned surprise at his statement.

”My Lord, you sound as if you’re planning to see this world for yourself,” the Potions master said.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes at him.

”I do plan to, Severus, and you are going to help me . . . or else. I need you to get that mirror here. I don’t care how you do it, but you are to do it as soon as possible. You’ve been failing at everything else I’ve asked of you. Fail at this, and you’ll wish you were never born, I promise you thissssssss,” the wizard said, his excitement causing him to hiss.

”That will take some doing, my Lord,” Snape said in a low voice.

”I don’t care. Reduce it or something, but get it to me, Severus. I wish to see this Tom Riddle for myself. Now, go back to Hogwarts and come up with a plan. I’ll give you a week. No more. Now, go!”

”Yes, my Lord,” Snape said with a low bow, backing away from the Dark Lord. Then, he Disapparated.

Voldemort returned to his throne, sitting down and getting a faraway look in his red eyes. He was tired of being on the outside trying to get in. He planned to do much more than look at Tom Riddle’s world.

He planned to enter it . . . and if possible, take it over.

He was tired of reigning in hell. It was time to rule in heaven. If he were Headmaster of Hogwarts, he would be in a better position than he was here. Oh, he was sure there would be some consternation at the changes he’d put into effect, but he was Tom Riddle after all and Hogwarts was Slytherin run. He was sure he could replace his counterpart. His looks might be an issue, but he could apply a glamour or maybe even use Polyjuice for a time. There were bound to be hairs in his counterpart’s private quarters.

Where there was a will, there was a way. His Death Eaters could fend for themselves as far as he was concerned. They weren’t giving him the service he desired anyway.

And if that world was the mirror of this one, he was almost sure that the Potions mistress Minerva McGonagall had a secret she was hiding just as Severus did. She might be serving Lord Bedaub Mules. He’d find out, even if he had to torture the truth from her. Then he could contact the wizard, perhaps . . . work together with him in secret to promote the Pureblood cause.

The possibilities were astounding.

Voldemort scowled.

Severus had better manage to pull this off and get that mirror to him. If he didn’t, this time the Potions master might not walk away.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.