The Face of Evil

'Voldemort has been hitting very specific targets, concentrating his power at one or two places for maximum effect,' said Sirius, grimacing as he realized one of those places was Hermione's home.

Hermione did not show any emotion and Sirius relaxed.

'Dumbledore's worried that he may try a full-scale siege on 4 Privet Drive. We were sent in to keep a watch on you both,' said Lupin ruffling Harry's hair.

'Ah!' said Harry wondering why everyone was obsessed with his hair. As if it wasn't messy already.

Hermione looked slightly downcast and Remus sent an elbow neatly into Sirius's side.

'But I wouldn't worry about it you two. Harry dear, just don't wander off too far from Privet Drive,' said Ms Figg also glaring daggers at Sirius.

'Okay,' Harry said grudgingly, his newfound freedom suddenly curbed

'Come on, dinner is getting cold,' said Ms. Figg sternly.

The entire group led by an eager Sirius marched into the dinning room. Dinner conversation centered on Harry's tasks, Voldemort and more pleasantly Sirius's childhood.

'You know Harry, Sirius here had a huge crush on Prof. McGonagall,' said Ms. Figg dabbing her lips with a napkin.

Lupin snickered. Harry and Hermione looked at Prof Fig as if the world had shattered.

'I did not!' said Sirius 'Arabella! Why would you say such things?'

'Now, now, Padfoot, settle down. It was just a schoolboy crush,' said Lupin.

'Schoolboy crush!' laughed Ms. Fig. 'He practically followed her everywhere!'

'Please tell me Sirius, this isn't true is it?' asked Harry.

Sirius just blushed.

'It's true then. How could you?" said Harry horrified, a picture of McGonagall coming up in his mind.

'Well, I was young and impressionable in my first year and she was quite striking at that time,' said Sirius indignantly.

'Young and impressionable!' said Ms. Figg. 'As if.'

'I think it's sweet,' spoke up Hermione.

'Thank you, Hermione, you're my temporary new best friend,' said Sirius, shifting his chair away from Harry and closer to her.

'Oh! Come off it you,' said Lupin chuckling. 'Harry, you better make a move, it's almost 8'o clock.'

'We'll be late!' exclaimed Harry. He and Hermione quickly hugged their goodbyes and ran out of the house towards 4 Privet Drive. They made it a few minutes before eight.

They rang the doorbell and Dudley opened the door. As soon as he saw Hermione he was paralyzed. It was love at first sight. Astonished at what a beautiful girl like her was doing with Harry, he let them in without a word.

'You boy, take your ruddy friend and stay in your room,' shouted Vernon from the living room.

Harry and Hermione left a shaken Dudley downstairs and climbed up to their mutual room. The moment they entered, Harry fell on the floor laughing, while Hermione giggled.

'Did you see the look he gave you Hermione?" said Harry rolling on the floor laughing, 'I think he's got a crush on you!'

'Stop it Harry, he's repulsive!' said Hermione 'I've never seen someone so fat in my life; you weren't exaggerating when you said he was the size of a young killer whale.'

'Sorry Hermione, but you have to admit this has potential,' Harry said, his eyes gleaming.

'Forget it Harry, lets owl Ron,' said Hermione slightly annoyed. 'Hedwig is back.'

'Hedwig,' Harry said with a smile, 'I've missed you.' Hedwig hooted, and nipped his finger affectionately.

'No letter?' said Hermione looking at Hedwig's legs carefully.

'I think Sirius knew that he would meet me soon,' replied Harry. 'Anyway, we should write to Ron.' He shot a meaningful look at Hermione.

They both sat down and wrote Ron a long parchment giving the entire details of the attack, Hermione's arrival and what they did that day. Obviously they left out the part about their new undeclared feelings for each other. Harry tied the letter to Hedwig's leg and with a hoot she was off to the burrow.

'Right! Now that that is out of the way, what do you want to do now?' said Harry.

'Harry, I'm tired out. I think I better go to sleep,' said Hermione stretching her arms and stifling a yawn.

'Sorry, I should have realised it. You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the floor,' said Harry.

Hermione was about to protest, but Harry stopped her.

'Its fine Herm, you've got a lot to recover from,' Hermione sighed; she knew she could not win the battle.

They changed by taking turns to go out, and settled down for the night.

'Good Night Harry,' said Hermione with a yawn.

'Good Night Herm,' said Harry from the floor.

Hermione fell asleep almost immediately. Harry gazed up at the ceiling recounting the day's events. Even he was surprised at the number of people claiming Hermione was his girlfriend. 'It would be nice if she were....'

And with that thought, Harry went to sleep.

Far from Privet Drive, in a remote castle somewhere in Scotland, the dark wizard Lord Voldemort sat on his throne. His pet snake Nagini beside him on his right and a staff shaped like a snake in his left arm.

A man walked into his presence and kneeled.

'My Lord, you summoned me,' said Lucius Malfoy, the head of the pure blood Malfoy clan and a powerful follower of the Dark Lord.

'Malfoy, it is time. Tell me, where are my heirs? They should be old enough,' said Lord Voldemort, his voice snake like.

'My Lord, of the three heirs only one remains. The other two were never born. Their mothers were killed before they could give birth,' said a now quaking Malfoy.

There was a pregnant pause as Voldemort considered the new information. Malfoy's lip began to twitch in anticipation; pauses were never good in conversations with the dark lord.

'They died in my service then,' said Voldemort, his body betraying no sign of the anger that Malfoy felt sure he was feeling.

'Yes My Lord, with your name on their lips,' said Malfoy.

'It was your duty to protect them both, Malfoy,' said Voldemort.

'I am sorry My Lord, I failed,' said Malfoy, cringing with expectation.

Crucio...

Malfoy tried not to scream. I can take this he thought. A second later, his screams shattered the silence of the night. After ten seconds this seemed like hours to Malfoy. Voldemort stopped.

'Who is the remaining heir?' said Voldemort.

'My Lord, only the Lestranges knew,' replied Lucius.

'Then it is time we freed my greatest followers,' said Voldemort.

'Understood Sire. I will inform the dementors immediately,' said Malfoy.

'Leave me! I must plan,' said Voldemort.

'As you wish, My Lord,' he bowed himself out; one did not leave without being dismissed.

'Potter,' Voldemort hissed his eyes reddening further with anger, 'you will not last long now...'

Harry Potter awoke with a jump. His scar was burning. His hand clutched it in the dark. The pain was searing through his mind; the connection between him and Voldemort was back.

Ron Weasley had been bored. The entire summer vacations had passed in a blur. Fred and George were up in their make shift lab making new types of jokes for there upcoming 'Joke Shop'. It seemed some nutter had decided to invest in their venture. But currently, Ron was very worried about Hermione. Ever since the Yule Ball in the fourth year he had managed to confess to himself that he was jealous of Victor Krum and was madly in love with Hermione. Though why, he could not understand; he was still exploring these newfound emotions and feelings.

He was in the middle of a fantasy that involved Hermione and a bar of soap when Hedwig came flying through the window.

Finally! Ron thought as he jumped and took the letter from her leg. Hedwig perched up on Pig's owl perch. Mrs. Weasley had sent Pig out to deliver some mail. Ron quickly opened the letter and read through the details.

When he came upon the fact that Harry and Hermione were living together he felt a pang of jealousy. Well, much more than just a pang of jealousy, he admitted to himself. But the part about Hermione just being friends with Krum sent a smile to his face. He knew she would see reason. His face clouted again when he realized she was with Harry and not him.

'Why does everything good have to happen to him?' he thought aloud.

'Why does everything bad have to happen to him?' a small voice in his head replied.

Ron pondered over his thoughts. Harry Potter was rich; he was famous, and powerful. Yet he had led a miserable life so far and had to face horrors no one should ever have to face. That was what made it so hard to be envious of Harry.

Putting these thoughts aside, he finished reading the letter. Thank God she is safe, he thought. If something had happened-if she had been hurt... A rage of pure hatred rocked through his body. The ferocity of the emotion shocked him; he didn't realize he was capable of such deep feeling or anger for that matter.

'Must be because of love,' he muttered, scarcely believing himself. He took out a fresh parchment and began to write a reply. Being careful with what he revealed, as he knew Hermione and Harry would read his letter together.

Back at Privet Drive

Harry didn't know what to make of the new dream. His scar had left him alone so far. Harry looked over at the still sleeping figure of Hermione. Just by looking at her I feel better he thought. The throbbing in his head began to abate from a hard beat to a softer more continuous one.

Am I in love with her? He asked himself the question that had been nagging at him all day. He cared for her deeply, of that he was sure, but did he love her? He remembered how Cho Chang made his heart flutter. This was not like that; there was no fear of rejection, only a blanket of comfort.

He did admit that he was physically attracted to her but was that love or just lust. When did I get so mature? I'm talking like Hermione he chuckled to himself. The irony of his statement was not lost.

He opted not to wake her and sleep came easily back to him.

Several hours later...

'Harry! Wake up!' cried Hermione

Harry opened one eye and saw Hermione's face. In a flash he was up, shocked to see her there. Then he remembered that she was staying with him.

'Your scar Harry, it's bleeding!' she said in a voice that betrayed her excessive fear and concern.

Harry put his hand to his forehead. A drop of blood had emitted from the scar.

'It's nothing Herm,' he said trying to calm her down,'it's only a drop of blood.'

'But, but it's never bled before,' she exclaimed, 'or has it?'

Harry looked at Hermione's confused and distressed face. He hated to see her in that condition.

'I had a dream about Voldemort,' said Harry.

'One of those dreams?' Hermione questioned and for some strange reason she became calmer. It's the fear of the unknown that worries her, thought Harry.

Harry nodded his head as he put on his glasses: she looks beautiful in the morning.

Harry sighed. He didn't want to make her worry or frighten her but he did not want to hide anything from her either. It would be better if she knew; much better in the long run. He narrated the entire nightmare to Hermione, who sat down on the bed.

'Harry, this is not good,' she said, her forehead furrowed in concentration. 'If Voldemort has a grown-up heir, he can add the power of his heir to his; there are more than a few branches of the Dark Arts that deal solely with the use of heirs.'

Harry smiled at his portable encyclopedia and then the gravity of her words hit him.

'If his power is magnified, he would pose even a greater threat,' he stammered out.

'We have to tell Dumbledore immediately,' Hermione said.

'We will have to wait until Hedwig gets back from Ron's,' Harry said solemnly.

Suddenly Hermione broke down. She hugged him and refused to let go.

'I'm so scared Harry. I don't want anything to happen to any of us, and now with Voldemort rising so fast, the end might be near,' she started sobbing hysterically on his shoulders.

Harry inwardly groaned. I think I am in love with her. Just holding her in my arms makes my troubles disappear. Not to mention the rest of the world. He was snapped back to reality as Hermione was hysterically sobbing and rambling on about how they might die and Dumbledore was getting old and that they were just kids. He knew he had to do something desperate. Okay, he thought, how do you handle extreme hysterical cases? You either slap them or kiss them. I can't slap her, so...

He put her face to his and kissed her hard, forcing her to keep quite. When he withdrew from her, her hand came up and gave him a slap across the face.

Shit! What did I just do? He thought. I kissed Hermione on the lips. I took advantage of her situation and kissed her! The fact that she was hysterical didn't seem to occur to him at that point. He just got up, muttered a hasty 'Sorry,' and fled from the room, going down to make breakfast.

Hermione didn't know what was happening when Harry had

kissed her; she was still in shock when out of reflex she slapped him. He then suddenly apologized and ran out of the room. She wanted to stop him, and say it was all right, but the words never came out of her mouth.

Hermione, she said to her self. You are stupid, stupid, stupid. All your dreams and fantasies were just coming true and you threw them away. Will Harry ever forgive me? She thought bitterly. Oh! What do I do? She decided against going down after him. No need to embarrass herself and Harry in front of the Dursleys.

Downstairs, Harry was making breakfast under the watchful eye of his Aunt. She kept criticizing whatever he did.

Vernon and Dudley were sitting in the dining room.

'I'm hungry!' Dudley shouted.

'Petunia, tell the boy to hurry up! Dudley's hungry,' Vernon yelled into the kitchen.

'I'm making the waffles as fast as I can,' Harry retorted sending another spray of batter onto the frying pan.

Petunia went into the dinning room, leaving Harry alone in the kitchen. He quickly whipped up a batch of five thick dripping waffles and placed them on the table.

'That's not enough,' said Dudley the side of his mouth thickening with drool.

'Boy, you know Dudley eats at least ten waffles, lazy lout, go and finish the job,' Vernon roared.

Harry went grumbling back into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Hermione had bathed and was coming down for breakfast. She wore peddle-pusher pants, floaters and a t-shirt that draped down, highlighting her curves. When she entered the dining room, she saw Dudley shoveling in the pancakes like a hog. When he looked up and saw her she gave him the best you-are-disgusting look she could muster. Dudley suddenly lost his appetite.

Just then Harry came in and put the next batch of waffles on the table.

'Here are the rest of the waffles Dudley,' he said trying not to laugh at the expression on his face.

Dudley quickly said that he had had his fill and offered the waffles to Hermione and Harry.

'What happened my little dudders?' squeaked Aunt Petunia. 'Are you sick?' Aunt Petunia walked across the room and placed her hand on Dudley's forehead.

At that moment Dudley wanted to kill his mother. Hermione was trying to hold back the waves of laughter that threatened to engulf her. Dudley got up with as much dignity he could muster and left the table heading towards his room, Petunia running behind.

'Well you two eat up quickly, and boy, after you have finished the dishes you have chores to finish!' Vernon shouted, still bewildered from Dudley's sudden reaction.

Under the stare of Vernon Dursley, the two quietly ate their breakfast, Hermione trying to eye Harry and Harry trying to avoid her gaze. He felt horribly guilty. Would she ever talk to him again? He wondered as he finished his waffle and started on the dishes. Vernon Dursley had no intention of being left alone with the oddities; so muttering he left the table.

Harry finished with the dishes, lowering his eyes as not to make eye contact with Hermione as he went up the stairs to shower.

He got out of the shower, put a towel around himself and headed towards his room to change. As he turned the corner a hand grabbed out and pulled him into the room.

Hermione was upset; Harry refused to look at her at the table. She tried to look upset but the antics of Dudley kept her giggling inside. She had felt her stomach fall when Harry left her without a word. I've got to apologise to him somehow. She grinned as a plan developed in her mind.

Hermione grabbed him and kissed for all she was worth. After the initial shock Harry kissed back, placing his arms around her waist. Unfortunately for Harry, these were the same hands that were holding up his bath towel. The towel without any support fell neatly on the ground.

When they withdrew from their passionate kiss, they both realized the state of affairs.

One look, and Harry was hiding behind the bed and Hermione ran out the room giggling like mad.

This is so, so embarrassing Harry thought. Then the effect of the kiss sunk in. Wow! Hermione kissed me, she actually kissed me! Harry at that time was on cloud number nine. I loved her ever since we met. Year after year, we knew were meant to be. Who are you fooling? The train of thought continued. You only noticed her when the rest of the school did, at the Yule ball. Harry suddenly hated his subconscious very much.

Hermione rushed out of the house and into the yard. She lay back against the wall, trying to stop laughing. Poor Harry, I had no idea, bath towel and all. Then for the first time in days, she smiled; a truly happy smile that went from one end of her face to the other. I love him. The kiss was the final piece, I don't need anymore proof.

Meanwhile, Harry had gotten a list of chores to do. He groaned as he looked at the paper:

He was looking forward to having a talk with Hermione, especially after what happened this morning. He caught a glimpse of her in the garden. Well, he thought, no need to do the chores in the given order. He proceeded to the garden. In all this time, the letter to Dumbledore remained forgotten.

Meanwhile at a prison facility known as Azkaban

Two figures in black robes approached its rocky borders.

'Is this the way?' asked Malfoy peering ahead from their rowboat.

'Yes Sir, I am sure,' replied the other.

'You have done well, Marcus Flint,' Malfoy replied.

The ex-Slytherin Quidditch captain looked up with pride.

'Wait here, I will enter the cave,' Malfoy said, as he got of the boat and into the gaping hold in the rocks.

A sudden cold washed over him and his past quickly began to engulf him. Nightmares and deeds long suppressed came back in plagues. He took out an amulet and raised his hand; the world came back into focus.

As long as I have this amulet, the dementors will not harm me, he thought. I'm glad my master decided to keep a password system with these foul creatures.

He went forward and was greeted (not verbally) by three dementors.

'I am a humble servant of the Dark Lord. I have been sent to free his followers,' he told them, showing the amulet.

They nodded and started moving upward in the direction of the cells. Malfoy followed closely to the maximum-security area-no human guard dares venture into this place-he thought with some comfort. They arrived at the cellblocks.

Sonorous...

His voice was amplified.

'Listen to me; the Dark Lord has risen again. He wishes his most faithful followers to join him' Malfoy shouted.

A huge cheer went through the cells. One by one, the dementors opened the cells that Malfoy indicated. The followers one by one, came out. Dazed, unable to stand or speak. The dance of nightmares and dreams had damaged them too much. Once they all had been collected Malfoy led the able and magiced the disabled to the boat, which had been stealthily increased in size while maintaining its small body.

Marcus helped them one by one into the boat. He stared at them with reverence; these were the martyrs of his cause, the true believers. One day, he would be like them and prove his loyalty to the dark lord. Then he too would gain recognition beyond compare.

The boat loaded, they moved swiftly into the night. The prison loomed in the background, an obstacle that had been easily overcome.

Back to Privet Drive

'Hermione," Harry said approaching her.

'Sh! Harry don't speak,' she said as she drew him towards herself.

Hermione started kissing Harry, her tongue finding its way through his lips and into his mouth. Shocked at first, Harry began to enjoy the tingling sensations and brought his own tongue into play.

The kiss was perhaps their first and the hormone enraged teenagers found themselves in what they perceived as heaven. They felt as if they could battle against the world and win. After several minutes Hermione let go.

'All I can say Hermione is wow!' said Harry his face formed into a grin.

Hermione blushed a deep shade of pink.

'Where did you learn that?' asked Harry teasingly.

The deep shade of pink turned to red.

'Um, books,' she muttered.

'Books? Hermione what kind of books?' asked Harry with mirth in his eyes.

'The sappy romantic ones that girls love to read,' she snapped at him.

Harry stifled a laugh. Hermione being embarrassed about reading romance novels was an idea that had not occurred to him. But he did acknowledge that she would be the last person he knew to read those superficial books.

'It's alright Herm,' said Harry the stifled laughter turning into a lip-biting smile.

'Fine, It's just, that I...' said Hermione.

'Have a reputation to maintain?' said Harry.

'Something of that sort,' said Hermione.

'What do you find in them anyway?' asked Harry his curiosity being aroused; he never had a chance to read any of them.

'Extremely simple plots which are built on miscommunication, but amazingly romantic,' sighed Hermione.

Harry wondered at this ability to complement and insult something at the same time.

'For example, in such a moment, the Hero and Heroine would sing a song to each other,' said Hermione and promptly started of on one.

Hermione:

Words cannot express my love for you,

you are my dream my angel,

you are me,

and I am you,

Harry realised which song she was singing. It was a muggle song that he had often seen on the television.

Harry:

My life I lay in your hands,

my heart already yours,

what more can I give to you,

my love,

Hermione's face lit up, she grabbed him and they started dancing. Or, Hermione started dancing with Harry walking along in an awkward manner.

Hermione:

When darkness lays its eyes,

and should fall on you,

I will be there by your side,

I will see it through,

Harry:

When darkness falls,

I will protect you,

our love is pure,

trust is the true power,

Hermione:

No one can break us apart,

for we are one and the same,

not knowing when one ends,

and the other begins,

Harry:

Our past, present, future is one,

our live entwined together,

forming a unbreakable bond,

that shall hold us through the storm,

Hermione:

I care not for the storm,

when you are with me,

let the storm rage,

it shall be quelled by our love,

Harry:

You my heart, you are my soul,

I promise you my world,

Hermione:

And I promise you mine....

(Author's Note: Yes, I know there is no such song. But I wrote it to fit the occasion)

They kept on dancing without music, lost in their own world reflected with their eyes.

Then Harry tripped over a rake and fell on the ground.

'Ouch!' he exclaimed.

'Harry, you okay?' Hermione rushed to his side.

'Yeah, I think so,' he replied rubbing his head.

'Gosh, Hermione, time has flown! I better finish my chores,' he quickly said getting up.

'I'll help,' Hermione added.

'The letter to Dumbledore! Quick you write it and if Hedwig is back, send it off,' said Harry. 'I'll quickly finish these chores.'

With that, he raised his sleeves and attacked the garden for all he was worth. Hermione, rushed upstairs, and started to write the letter to Dumbledore. An owl flew in. Hermione looked up, puzzled at who would send them an owl.

The owl placed a copy of the Daily Prophet onto the table and held out for money. Hermione quickly took out some Knuts and gave it to the owl from her purse. The owl hooted and left.

She picked up the paper, 'I'm glad I keep some wizard money with me! I totally forgot about my subscription to the Daily Prophet.'

The headline stared at her.

"Prison Escape at Azkaban"

She sucked in some air and read on.

Just in! Azkaban-considered the most secure wizard prison- was broken into, five minutes ago. A number of convicts from the maximum-security part of the prison vanished into thin air. The Ministry will not declare the names of the prisoners who have escaped. All this midst rumors that the Dark Lord has risen again. Azkaban, the centre of the wizarding justice system, houses the most hardcore wizard criminals. Currently the Dark creatures, the Dementors, those foul beings who suck all life out of the air, guard the prison. The Minister of Magic was unavailable for comment. We will bring you more of this story as events unfurl. As the Prophet was going to the presses, the Ministry of Magic has announced a press conference later today. We hope the Ministry will not make a botch of this as they did in the Sirius Black affair.

Hermione looked at the paper again, only one thought ran through her mind. This could have been prevented...

A castle in Scotland.

Lord Voldemort was pleased. Only two out of the entire lot saved from Azkaban had any permanent damage done. The dementors knew he would be back and were light on his followers.

Malfoy walked into the chamber and kneeled.

'My Lord,' he said.

'Speak,' said Voldemort with a wave of his hand.

'I bring excellent news,' Malfoy dared to elongate the conversation, due to his recent success he could get away with it.

Crucio...

Then again maybe not, the thought flashed through his mind as the pain of all three realms engulfed him. Lord Voldemort stopped after five seconds.

'What news,' Voldemort asked, his voice on the edge of a whisper.

'My Lord, we know who your heir is,' Malfoy said.

'Excellent, tell me what is his name?" Voldemort asked jubilantly.

'His name is ...'