Winter's Shadow

Chapter 21

Let's Make a Deal

The moment Hermione's feet hit the marble flooring she felt another Death Eater grab her by the arm. With the two Death Eaters holding her they pushed her forward to walk. Through the corner of her eye she saw Snape flanked by two Death Eaters.

"What do you think you are doing?" She hissed in his direction. The only response Snape dare to give was his trademark glare.

Hermione was growing very irate being pushed forward and away from the man she was trying to talk to. Finally, she stiffened her body and refused to move any further.

"BLOODY HELL!" Hermione jerked her arms out of the Death Eaters' grip. She turned facing them. No one was quite sure where she pulled her wand from, but she had it. Hermione pointed her wand at the Death Eaters. "Grab me like that again and by the time I am through with you, you will wish it was Lord Voldemort on the other end of this wand." Her tone was a deadly hiss--one familiar to Ron and Harry. The two Death Eaters unconsciously took a step back. Snape lowered his head. If only they did not already know he was a spy--he would be able to help her.

"Miss Granger," the man behind Hermione hissed. "You strike fear in the eyes of men almost as well as myself."

Hermione knew why Snape was looking down now. Lord Voldemort was standing behind her watching everything. Hermione slowly turned and found herself facing the evil man. Hate filled Hermione like she never knew. Hate for this man taking her best friend's parents from him, for causing him to live in fear, for causing Snape to be in danger now...she turned to look at Snape. He would probably die and it would be her fault.

Snape looked up at Hermione. She was looking at him with worry dancing across her brow. Her lip quivered for a moment. Taking a deep breath she turned back to face Voldemort with determination and hate in her eyes. Voldemort smiled at the look that normally would send Harry and Ron running for cover.

Voldemort's eyes shifted from Hermione to Snape.

"Yes, Severus, I see why you wished to keep her to yourself." Hermione glanced back at Snape who now looked down again. Voldemort smiled. "Yes, child. I wanted to rid the wizarding world of this mudblood filth I kept hearing mention of--you. Severus though suggested on numerous occasion that we should bide our time--your power may be useful to us."

"My power?"

Voldemort barely raised his wand. "Expelliarmus!" Hermione's wand flew from her hand and landed in Voldemort's. She felt like someone just threw her in the lake in the middle of December. No wand. That was the one thing making her feel safe and at least partially in control.

"Avery! Jugson!" The two Death Eaters that had pushed her forward stepped closer. Hermione looked from them back to the Dark Lord. Voldemort smiled. He stepped up to Hermione and took the hand that had been forced onto the rose. It was still bleeding. Voldemort watched the blood dripping from the wound and looked at Hermione again.

"Mudblood. I can change that. All it would take is two drops of this vile fluid of yours, two drops of mine and a few other ingredients. We have a skilled potions master here already. One hour and you could be pure and perfect."

Hermione jerked her hand from Voldemort. "Don't. Touch. Me."

Voldemort's laughter turned into a cackle. He looked to the Death Eaters he summoned forward. "Go ahead, gentlemen. But don't kill her. I would like to witness this 'power' before I do anything...rash."

Hermione backed up a little as Voldemort moved off to the side to watch and the gentlemen stepped forward.

"Give me my wand!" She looked at Voldemort as if she was scolding a toddler.

"Child, you do not need it."

Panicked she looked at the men. Both raised their wands. As they cast their hex Hermione threw herself onto the marble flooring. The hexes missed her. She continued to dive and avoid hex after hex.

Snape watched. His heart pounded so hard and loud he was sure the Dark Lord could hear it. He could do nothing...nothing. He was already a dead man and what Voldemort was doing with Hermione he did not want to see. It was torture to himself. And a part of him grew angry at the thought of Voldemort's implying that Hermione was not perfect the way she is--she was perfect just the way she was.

"Enough!" Voldemort walked closer and looked down at Hermione who had thrown herself on the floor again. "Get up you pathetic girl." Hermione stood up. "You are not showing me what I KNOW exists in you." He looked to Snape and then back at the girl in front of him. An evil grin formed before he backed away. "Gentlemen, kill Severus."

Hermione's eyes grew wide and tears immediately swelled up in them. All she could think about was stopping this somehow. Her wand was forgotten. Her only thought was getting Snape out of the way and getting the wands from the two Death Eaters. Snape looked at Hermione for what would be the last time and tried with all his might to communicate what he couldn't through his eyes. The Death Eaters raised their wands. Even with Snape looking into Hermione's eyes her only thoughts were getting him out of the way and getting the wands.

"Avada Kedav..."

"NO!"

Hermione didn't know what really happened. All she remembered was thinking about moving Snape and getting the wands...it was like a sudden obsession. She HAD to. As she screamed she felt like something were bursting inside of her--she thought it was her heart breaking. Snape went flying backwards and to the right out of shot of the unforgivable and at the same time two wands flew from the Death Eaters and landed at Hermione's feet.

Voldemort stood up. "THAT is what I was waiting to see. I offer you one more time a chance to live..."

"Live? As what? A Death Eater?"

"No, my dear, as much more than that. There is much we could accomplish together--once you are cleansed that is."

Hermione snorted. "I would rather die."

"That can be arranged."

She snorted again. "Good luck. I don't need my wand to kick your arse."

Voldemort was so fast she didn't see him move. Before she knew what was happening Voldemort seized Hermione by the throat and pinned her to the wall. Three Death Eaters held Snape as he struggled for freedom.

"Miss Granger," he hissed. "Your power is rooted in darkness. I can offer you more than that old fool Dumbledore ever will!" He let go of her and turned back to the Death Eaters holding Snape. "Take him down to the dungeons and finish him off there. Drop his body off at the gates of Hogwarts."

Panicked rushed through Hermione once again. Her soul concern was keeping Snape alive. "NO!" She stepped forward and looked at Snape one last time before turning back to Voldemort. Somehow Snape knew what she was about to do. He felt ice run through him from the spot his serpent pendent rested on his chest. She wore her onyx in her hair and he knew as long as she had it on he would feel the warmth, but something changed. What was it?

"I'll stay." She watched Voldemort smile like he just won the best poker hand. "But you will NOT kill Severus or hurt him--if you do I won't need my wand to leave."

"Hermione! No!"

She wouldn't turn to look at him--she didn't want to see the disappointment on his face.

"A life without passion, remember?" He was trying to justify letting him die. She could not accept that under any circumstances. The words were spoken out of anger and hurt, but right now it was about caring enough about someone to want them to have the chance to find that passion.

"So, now you'll have the chance to find that passion. Don't waste the gift I'm giving you." She didn't turn around, but kept her eyes on Voldemort. "I get my wand back also."

"Do not think you can use your wand on me, silly girl."

"I will not use my wand on you. I'm just fond of it."

He handed her wand over to her and she slipped it up her sleeve. She refused to turn to see Snape. Voldemort looked over at the ex Death Eater and spoke to those holding him captive.

"Gentlemen, make sure Severus returns to Hogwarts."

Snape felt in shock as they drug him from the room. No, he could not leave Hermione there. He watched like it was a dream as Wormtail approached Voldemort upon command.

"Show the Lady her chambers."

The last thing Snape saw before the Death Eater's apparated with him was Hermione, her dress flowing behind her, walking determinedly up the large staircase following Wormtail.

She didn't look back.