The Plague

A/N: I do not have a beta read at your own risk. Also any names for House elves would be helpful as I am drawing a blank.


Chapter three:

1. Are only purebloods getting sick?

2. Is it bacterial or Viral?

3. Why is Marcus Flint getting better?

4. Dose he have antibodies?

5. Dose DNA play any part of this?

6. Is it effecting only magical or are muggles getting it too?*

7. What are the symptoms?*

8. Why are there more women effected then men?

9. What is the common thread with the males effected?*

10. How far spread is the disease?*

* indicates questions asked by snake face.

“Ow!” Hermione exclaimed as the back of Voldemort’s hand met with her head. Well now she knew how he could stand Lucius they both shared mirrors together. Though why didn’t he just take some sort of potion to fix his face then.

“Do not insult me for I have a long memory and will make you pay for everything you say.” Voldemort hissed in her ear.

“Yes Sir,” Hermione responded forcing a smile to her lips.

“I guess that is as close to respect one could hope for from a filthy animal like you.” Voldemort looked at her as if she was a slug.

“I would comment about which one of us is closest to a animal but I don’t feel like putting down snakes right now as they really are wonderful creatures.” Hermione whimpered as Voldemort dug his finger nails into her scalp and yanked her out of her chair by her hair.

“Do not believe that because I have no magic that I will not punish you.” Another yank punctuated his point, “this is nothing compared to what I can do. Now grab the list and we will go find the library.”

“Great now I’m his personal secretary.” Hermione mumbled as she rubbed her head. She didn’t argue though as she grabbed the scroll and followed him.

“Yes and you should feel honored that I’m allowing you in my presence.” He shot back as he exited the room. As she followed him she found another reason to hate him, no one should be that graceful, it wasn’t right.

****

“Do you think the list is long enough?” Severus asked as he read over Hermione’s shoulder. This list was of stuff they needed, muggle medical books, lab equipment and information on those who were sick.

“It would be much shorter if we had our magic as half this equipment could be done with spells. Though at the same time I am thankful we can’t use magic as I’m sure I would be curico several times by now.” Hermione flinched when Severus placed his hand on her shoulder causing him to sigh.

“Miss Granger, when was the last time you were touched?” There was a slight note of in his voice that she could not place.

“Two hours ago when I was dragged from my chair by my hair?” There was a silence as every male in the room focused on her again.

“When was the last time you were touched by a friend, patted on the back or even given a hug?” It was Rabastan who asked causing Hermione to press her lips together.

“A week after graduation, I was getting ready for the entrance exam to Le Fay University. I rented a hotel room for the weekend so I could study with out people bothering me. I hugged my Mother and Father good bye. The next day I received an owl from Dumbledore informing my they were killed by Death Eaters.” She couldn’t stop her eyes from focusing on Voldemort for a second. “That night I finely gave into twinkles and Harry and went into hiding. Frankly it’s been a month since I talked to anyone and I think I’ve said more in the last 24 hours then I have in a year.”

The room was silent as everyone seemed to be absorbing this news in their own way. Hermione was trying to ignore the slight hurt she felt at realizing that even though she had watched Molly hug everyone else in the house two or three times in a row she could not remember the last time the woman hugged her. Even the night of drinking she had with Ginny they had stayed on opposite ends of the couch. Maybe there was something wrong with her.

Refocusing on the list of stuff they needed she added one other thing and then underlined it before standing up and making her way over to where Voldemort was sitting. There was no way she was kneeling or bowing to him but even Ronald would be able to understand that he was in charge here. So it was to him she handed the list to. “I believe that is everything we need and Merlin said the house elves would get it for us. If there is nothing else I believe I will retire for the night.”

Voldemort nodded to show she was dismissed, he watched her leave before he pulled out his reading glasses and slipped them on. The ear peaces actually wrapped around his head and a sticking charm held them in place. Maybe he would use this down time to get his nose back as he really did miss it, and hair.

“So we have another mystery beside the plague to solve.” Rabastan said getting questioning looks from Lucius and Antonin. “Isolation on that level can drive people mad and even if they manage to keep from losing it Mind Healers still take years fixing it. So why would oh holy and lily white Albus Dumbledore do that to the only intelligent and truly helpful person he has?”

“Why would saint Potter who thinks of the girl like a sister allow it as well?” Severus added.

“She is a Mudblood who cares?” Lucius snipped.

“Lucius for the rest of our time here you are to treat Miss Granger as if she was a pureblooded young lady.” Voldemort said quietly as he read over the list Hermione had given him.

“Because of the other reason for this little house of ‘protection’? Oh do not look at me like that I am not a stupid as you like to believe.” Lucius sighed at Severus look of disbelief, “Five wizards all either the smartest out there or at lest the top of their field. All have been tested with high magic levels. One Witch who is the same as them and a plague that is suppose to whip out the wizarding world. Were a breeding pool. Something at which I’m appalled.”

“Why because she is a Mudblood, because we all know you have no problem sharing Lu.” Severus purred causing the blond to actually blush while Antonin and Rabastan chuckled.

“There will be no sharing of our young companion.” Voldemort stated looking up from the page and giving each a pointed stare. “I want to find the cure for this plague and that is our number one priority. Now having said that we might as well use this opportunity to research some of the things we have discussed but have not had the time for. I also would like to know what exactly Albus was doing to the girl and why. For now you are to view her as a daughter or an apprentice, teach her and make sure she isn’t doing anything stupid. Besides in order for her to join in any of the things any of us like we need her trust.” Around the room his four most trusted Death Eaters nodded with understanding.

****

Severus didn’t want the muggle equipment in his potion lap so Hermione had found an unused room to set it up in. The building they were being forced to live in was large but not large enough that she could ignore the existence of the others who occupied it. Not that she wasn’t doing her hardest to try. Right now she was unpacking the large boxes that the elves had gotten.

She had gotten up this morning and got dressed and went to work. Unpacking was not the hardest thing she had to do, no it was reading the manuals and setting up everything correctly that seemed to be the hard part until she hit the snag that had not even crossed her mind. Power.

Merlin in his infinite wisdom had taken away there magic and had not even considered the fact that muggles relied on electricity. Or the fact that Magic seemed to fry computer chips. Now instead of working on answering the question on her list she was trying to figure out how to get everything up and running so she could get some answers.

It was Rabastan who finely decided to track her down. He was a healer at heart and he knew she hadn’t eaten since she was here. With a tray of food he walked purposely into the chaos that was the room she was in. “You need to take a break and eat.”

“Are you kidding me?” Hermione grumbled not even looking up from a book she was reading through. “That old Pervert probably laced all the food with lust potions.”

“He might have but are you going to solve anything if you pass out from lack of eating.” He countered as he sat the tray on the floor in front of her. This young woman had first thing in the morning ticked off the portrait of the father of magic. It would seem he believed a woman should only be clothed in pretty dresses. So she had stormed out of her room in nothing but a towel and right into a very shocked Lucius’s room kicking him out in the process. She had exited several minutes later in black slacks rolled at the hips and legs to make them fit and a button down white shirt.

“Fine but I don’t want to hear any complaints if I throw you down and have my way with you.” She grumbled setting the book down and pulling the food closer so she could eat.

“I’ll take my chances,” he smirked as he watched her. “What are you working on?”

“Electricity, how to supply it to the equipment and keep them from blowing up from the innate magic in the area.” Hermione told him between bites of food.

“What is this electricity?” He asked and waited for her to explain.

“Lightening,” she said before taking a sip of her drink. “In it’s basic form it’s lightening that the muggles have learned to generate on their own to power things.”

“So it’s raw magic?” He asked and knew he had something right when her face lit up.

“You are a bloody genius!” She said before jumping up and kissing him on the cheek. She was off calling for a house elf and him and the food was forgotten. He couldn’t help put smirk as she reminded him of someone, he gathered the tray and headed out as no one was going to be able to stop her until she had everything done, especially for something as trivial as food.