The Dark Prince

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Run...hide

All that was sacred to us

Sacred to us

See the signs

The covenant has been broken

By mankind

Leaving us with no shoulder...with no shoulder

To rest our head on

Creed - Who's Got My Back?

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Chapter 11

...see the signs...

"Severus?"

"Albus," said Snape solemnly as he entered the office, nodding his head. Dumbledore however saw the grim look on the Potions Master's face and sighed.

"You showed them the entrance."

"Miss Bennett was quite adamant."

Dumbledore sighed again as Snape lowered himself elegantly into a chair, his eyes as blank and empty as a Dementor's soul. If Dementor's had souls that is.

"I presume Mr. Weasley went with her?"

"He was quite adamant about that as well."

"And they were...?"

Dumbledore trailed off and looked questioningly at Snape, who stared coolly back.

"Captured. Weasley brazenly struck the Dark Prince. I must applaud him on that."

"And you returned...?"

"For reinforcements, as I advised Bennett and Weasley not to go without," replied Snape. "Unfortunately for them, they did not listen. Very few ever do listen to my advice."

"I have," stated Dumbledore.

"You, Albus, are wiser than most."

"As are you."

Snape shrugged and silence fell in the office. The only sound was the faint rustle of Fawkes' tail feathers.

"The Prince?"

"He knows I am there."

"And?"

Snape arched an eyebrow.

"And what, Albus?"

"You know."

Jet eyes met blue then the dark haired head nodded.

"It is as we feared."

Dumbledore's shoulders slumped.

"He joined him."

"Yes. Potter is this age's Dark Prince. But I believe the last age's Prince may reemerge."

Dumbledore looked up sharply at that.

"Severus..."

"Do not fear, Albus. I tread on rocky ground. And I see the holes." Snape smirked as he added, "And I shall not step in them."

Dumbledore looked at his Potions Master and said, "I don't fear you stepping in a hole, Severus. I fear you falling in one and not being able to get back up."

Snape nodded slowly and rose from his chair.

"Do not fear, Albus," stated the dark man again before he turned and left the office.

Dumbledore sighed and muttered, "A much easier thing said than done," before rising and walking over to his fireplace to contact Arthur Weasley.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

To what do I owe this gift my friend?

My life, my love, my soul?

I've been dancing with the devil way too long

And it's making me grow old

Making me grow old

Creed - Hide

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Chapter 12

...dancing with the devil...

"Fifty-six bottles of butter beer on the wall, fifty-six bottles of beer. Take one down and pass it around - fifty-five bottles of butter beer on the wall."

Natasha leaned her head back against the cold stone of her cell. Ron had been singing the wizard variation of A Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall for the past hour and a half and she was ready to rip her cell door down, followed by his, and strangle him. Unfortunately, that was not about to happen.

Down the cell block she heard the sound of Hermione banging something against the door of her cell and yelling, "SHUT UP, RON!"

Ron faltered for a moment and yelled back, "THIS IS BETTER THAN SITTING IN SILENCE, MIONE!" Right before he continued singing with fifty-two bottles of butter beer on the wall.

Natasha groaned and contemplated bashing her head against the wall.

"My, my. Are we having a party? Why wasn't I invited?"

Natasha and Ron sprang to their feet to see the Dark Prince standing in the cell block, the gold lines on his mask glittering softly. Down the row, Hermione snarled, "Because you're a bloody bastard, maybe?"

The Prince smirked behind his mask and tutted, shaking his head.

"Now, now, Hermione. Is that any way for a lady to talk?"

"I'll show you how a lady can talk!"

Natasha nodded and snapped, "So will I! I'll show you how bloody well a lady can talk."

The Prince turned towards her and walked forward until he was almost within reach of her arm should she reach towards him.

"Ah, Miss Bennett. I do not doubt you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an appointment with Miss Granger. Ta ta."

Waving a hand, he walked down to Hermione's cell and opened it, muttering a spell as he went. A few moments later he returned, Hermione walking behind him. Or being forced to walk as her face was twisted into a grimace.

"LET HER GO!" bellowed Ron from his cell.

"Oh, now, I couldn't do that," said the Prince. "My lord wouldn't be very pleased if I did that. You see, he has great plans for Miss Granger."

"Great plans, indeed," snorted Natasha.

The Dark Prince waved a hand at her and Natasha's hands flew to her throat, mouth opening but no sound coming out. He had silenced her voice.

"Now. That's much better, isn't it?"

Natasha yelled curses at him, shaking violently with rage. The Prince only laughed and waved at her and Ron, walking out with Hermione tailing him. Ron threw himself against the door of his cell and roared in anger.

"BASTARD! HERMIONE!!"

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

The Prince led Hermione through the dark halls of the fortress to Voldemort's throne room once more. Voldemort sat on his throne, red eyes glinting with a malicious light. At his feet Draco Malfoy writhed in the pain of the Cruciatus curse, screaming.

Hermione winced and the Prince smiled at her.

"Enjoying this?"

Hermione bared her teeth at him and spat, "No."

"A pity. Its actually quite enjoyable."

"Bastard. You bastard. You poor bastard."

"Now," said the Prince, "I assure you that I am not poor."

"In my eyes you are."

"But I am not taking your opinion, am I?"

"No, I don't believe you are," replied Hermione stonily.

"And it shall stay that way. My lord!"

Voldemort looked up and smiled, causing Hermione to shiver. It just wasn't right when he smiled. It sent cold shivers up her spine and it looked like it did the same to some of the Death Eaters if their reactions said anything.

"Finite Incantatem," said Voldemort, waving a hand casually at Malfoy. The blond man panted on the ground for a moment before crawling away into the Death Eaters. Voldemort watched him until he disappeared amid the throng then beckoned with a pale hand.

"Come forward, my heir."

The Dark Prince strode forward and bowed. Hermione stood behind him, glaring balefully at him and Voldemort. The two men weren't in the slightest bit perturbed and she hadn't expected them to be.

"The lady, my lord."

Voldemort turned his red eyes to Hermione and beckoned her forward. She walked forward (still not of her own volition) and stood in front of him. He reached up and stroked her chin, smiling. Hermione's skin crawled at his touch and he smiled even more, eyes twinkling with a mad sort of glee.

"The lady. Yes, indeed. She is quite a lady, is she not, my prince?"

"Yes, my lord," said the Prince solemnly.

"Quite a lady," repeated Voldemort, stroking Hermione's cheek. "A Mudblood, yes, but so smart. Brilliance is a thing to be reveled in. Such as to be looked for in a heir."

Hermione blinked. Heir?

Voldemort smirked at her then turned to his Death Eaters.

"You all see before you a Mudblood, a wretched specimen of wizardry that should be destroyed."

Mutters erupted in the crowd.

"SILENCE!"

The Death Eaters fell still at the command and Hermione could almost taste their fear.

"But this...this Mudblood shall not be harmed. For she - of all those that live - will be the one to carry my heir."

Oh, mother of God.

Hermione stared in fear at Voldemort, who only smiled wider.

"My prince. She is yours."

Merlin's beard. He's...he's giving me to Harry! TO RAPE!

Voldemort gave Hermione a shove forward and the Prince caught her, holding her a few inches away from him. Hermione looked up into those green eyes and swore that she had seen a flicker of fear in them. A moment later it was gone. Only the cool expression she had seen in those eyes for days before remained.

The Prince bowed his head and said, "Thank you, my lord. It is a wondrous gift, you give me."

"Go," said Voldemort.

The Prince went, pushing Hermione in front of him.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

"Try and escape from this room and you will die. The wards answer only to me and me alone. Escape and they will kill you as surely as I could. Are we understood?"

Hermione nodded numbly and the Prince left, leaving her alone in the magnificent room. A large canopy bed covered with dark green sheets trimmed in silver sat in the center of the large room. Ancient, expensive tapestries and paintings of wizard-make adorned the walls along with the serpent-shaped torches. The carpet was thick and as green as the blankets on the bed. It was all Slytherin colored.

Hermione sank to the floor, not wanting to touch the bed. She ran her hands through her hair then wrapped her arms about her knees, drawing them up to her chest. Resting her chin on them, she closed her eyes as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Merlin help me.