The Dark Prince

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Truth is a whisper and only a choice

Nobody hears above this noise

It's always a risk when you try and believe

I know there's so much more than me

Yeah I got caught in the ruse of the world

It's just a promise no one ever keeps

And now it's changing while we sleep

And no one can see

Goo Goo Dolls - Truth is a Whisper

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Chapter 5

...the ruse of the world...

A half-hour later Ron and Natasha made their way past the stone gargoyle and entered Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster of Hogwarts stood by the window, Fawkes perched on his shoulder.

"Professor?"

Dumbledore turned and Ron and Natasha blinked, looking at each other. Neither of them had seen Dumbledore look so old, so...world-weary.

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Bennett. Have a seat."

Ron and Natasha sat. Dumbledore moved behind his desk and sat watching them. He said, "I suppose you know Miss Granger is missing." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know who took her?"

There was a moment of silence then Ron said, "I have a fair idea."

Dumbledore was about to say something when the door was flung open and Severus Snape charged in.

"Albus..." He froze at the sight of Ron and Natasha and looked back at the Headmaster, black eyes smoldering. He said, "I'll come back later."

"No, Severus, stay," said Dumbledore, lifting a hand. "What I am speaking to Miss Bennett, and Mr. Weasley about also applies to you."

Snape arched an eyebrow at him then sneered at Ron and Natasha but closed the door and sat in a chair. Dumbledore watched him for a moment then turned back to Ron.

"Now, Mr. Weasley, as you were saying."

"Sir...I..."

"We," snarled Natasha.

"We believe that the Dark Prince took Hermione."

Snape's face turned a pasty color at that. He muttered, "That's not possible."

Natasha turned and frowned at him. She snapped, "I saw the Dark Prince twice approach my friend and promise he would see her again. Apparently he decided to do so a third time by taking her."

Snape shook his head, regaining some of his composure. He silkily said, "That is not what I meant, Miss Bennett. I meant that the person you saw could not possibly be the Dark Prince."

"And why, may I ask, is that, professor?"

"Because he's dead."

Natasha sputtered. "Wh-what?"

Dumbledore lifted a hand and said, "Allow me to explain, Miss Bennett. Mr. Weasley was not born during the Dark Times and you probably only have vague memories of it."

Natasha nodded and Dumbledore began to speak again.

"Voldemort had many followers in those times, all of them feared. But of all of them, one was feared the most. No one knew his true face because he always kept it hidden. Not even the other Death Eaters knew who he was. Only Voldemort knew who the Death Eater know as the Dark Prince was."

"He was Voldemort's apparent heir - his right hand man. They called him the Angel of Death because he showed no mercy to his victims, sometimes returning them days after they had vanished. Some were never found. His name, and his mark, were feared throughout the wizarding world. There are some who say that he was more feared than Voldemort."

"What was his mark?" asked Natasha."

"There were three horizontal lines over the left eye of his mask. Three lines of purest gold. Those were his mark. His victims were found with it cut into their skin."

Natasha shivered then looked at Snape. But the chair was empty. While Dumbledore had spoke, Snape had moved to the window, leaning on the windowsill and looking out. She asked softly, "How do you know he's dead, professor?"

Snape turned, looking at her with a dull look in his black eyes. He sighed then looked back at the window.

"I was a Death Eater, Miss Bennett. A foolish young boy just out of Hogwarts looking for power." He looked back at her and said, "I was a spy for Albus for a year before Voldemort fell and returned for a brief period when he rose again."

Ron nodded and said, "Harry told us. He found out after the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

Snape shot a mild glare at him then Dumbledore broke in.

"Severus had to give up his spy duties among the Death Eater's during that year. He was revealed as a traitor and barely escaped with his life."

Natasha was looking fearfully at Snape now, who smiled rather...gently at her. He said softly, "Don't worry, Miss Bennett. Those days are done. I am nothing but a Potions Master now."

"One on the run from Voldemort, you mean," said Natasha.

"Which is exactly the reason why I have not set foot outside this castle or the grounds since that year. I am a marked man." Snape smiled bitterly then turned back to the window.

Ron asked, "What does this have to do with Hermione?"

Dumbledore sighed. He replied, "We can do nothing for Miss Granger, I am afraid. Only hope the Prince will return her safely."

Natasha slumped in her chair while Ron looked furiously beyond Dumbledore at a book. A moment later he rose and said, "Thank you, professor. We'll be going now. C'mon, Natasha." He pulled her to her feet and they left, his arm wrapped about her waist as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

As soon as the door closed behind them silence filled the room. Then, Snape spoke.

"You know he cannot be the Prince."

"I know, Severus."

"He died twenty-three years ago."

Dumbledore nodded. "I know."

Snape sighed and watched Ron and Natasha as they crossed the grounds to the gate.

"You didn't tell them what we suspect."

"How could I, Severus?"

Snape turned to look at Dumbledore for a moment then looked back to Ron and Natasha. They had reached the gate and were opening it, closing it behind them. A moment later they were gone, Apparated away.

"True. How can you tell someone their best friend is a murderer?"

Dumbledore looked at Snape in surprise.

"Severus..."

"I will be in my chambers, Albus."

With that the dark Potions Master left, leaving Dumbledore alone in his office. He looked after the man that had been the rather shy, gentle boy he had taught many years ago that had become the young man who had ran to him for help, wanting to get out of the dark hole he had dug himself into, and sighed heavily. Turning to Fawkes, he said, "Some scars heal less easy than others, aye Fawkes?" The phoenix uttered only a soft note in reply.

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Sometimes you choke on the smell

Just to breathe

I need to question what I need

Rhythm of silence

That beats through your mind

Still you forget what you deny

Goo Goo Dolls - Truth is a Whisper

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Chapter 6

...rhythm of silence...

"Good morning, Miss Granger. How did you sleep?"

Hermione uncurled from her position in the corner of her dank cell and looked up at her captor.

"Perfectly peachy. The floor is so nice to sleep on and the smell...well, its just lovely."

The Dark Prince smirked and sat in the chair he had occupied the day before. He said, a laugh in his voice, "I see you have not yet lost your sarcasm."

"Nor my wits," replied Hermione hotly.

"Ah, true."

"So, what's on the agenda today?"

The Prince arched an eyebrow behind his mask and asked silkily, "Are you certain you want to know?"

Hermione growled out a yes.

"Well then, you shall. My Lord wishes to see you. Tonight."

Hermione shivered and he laughed.

"Yes! Shiver, Miss Granger. Shiver all you like. You will be shaking when you face my Lord tonight."

Hermione looked up at him and asked, "Do you shiver? Under that mask, do you shiver when you face him? When you stand at his right hand? I don't see how you wouldn't."

The Prince leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He asked, "And why is that, Miss Granger? Why would I fear my own master?"

"Because of who you are. Who you were."

"The man I was is dead, Miss Granger. Get that through your head. Surely a woman with your mind could figure that out."

Hermione looked at his eyes behind the mask and said, "I believe he's still in there somewhere."

"Dreams! Dreams, Miss Granger, dreams!"

Hermione shook at his voice then reached up and ripped off his mask, looking into his face. Rage flashed across his eyes and his lips curled in a snarl as he looked at his mask, which was spinning gently on the other side of the cell. He turned back to her, eyes dark.

"That was a foolish mistake, Miss Granger."

Hermione hissed, "Why don't you call me by my real name, you bastard?"

The Prince leaned forward until their faces were inches apart and said coldly, "Why don't you call me by mine?"

Hermione lifted her chin and spat in his face. As the spittle dribbled down his left cheek she said with as much calm as she could muster, "I will gladly call you by your name. Harry."

Harry Potter brushed her spittle from his cheek then rose and retrieved his mask. He said, "Until tonight, Hermione." She had one last look at his cold green eyes before the mask covered them again. But she could still see them, blazing down at her from behind the eyes of the mask. They locked gazes for a moment then he turned in a flurry of dark robes and left the cell. Hermione heard the lock click behind him then the sound of his boot heels clicking on the stones of the corridor outside. She sat numbly until they vanished then slowly curled up onto her side in the corner, hugging her knees up to her chest. Tears began to fall from her brown eyes as she cried for the man she had loved.