Darkest of Wishes

The Darkest of Wishes

Chapter 3

The Dark Lord Calls

"Which wizard defeated the evil Grindelwald in... yes, Miss Granger?" Professor Binn's monotone drawled and echoed off the walls. He had just looked up from his notes to see if anyone actually knew the answer, he didn't expect much... not from this class, at least. For once, someone was raising their hand, but he did not think it would have been her.

"Albus Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in 1945, Professor, but Dumbledore prides his work on discovering the twelve uses for dragon's blood more so than the defeat of Grindelwald." Hermione nodded her head and saw as Professor Binns, who never did anything but lecture, actually blinked his transparent eyes and closed his book.

"Yes, of course, but what other thing is he famous for?" Binns clasped his transparent hands together.

Hermione looked around the room; everyone was staring at her.

"Dumbledore was also a friend of Nicholas Flamel, and helped with the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. Hermione was about to continue about how Dumbledore also helped in its destruction, but Professor Binns interrupted her.

"Very good; 20 points to Slytherin." Binns actually managed a smile. "Now, I hope that everyone will learn from Miss Granger's new attitude and be as prepared as she was for our next lesson on the Witches of Greenwich." And with that, he floated out of the room.

"Good going, Granger!" A few of the Slytherin students shouted. "Out of class early!"

Hermione gathered her books and cleared her throat. She smiled to herself and began to walk out of the classroom.

"Hermione?"

Hermione closed her eyes and slowly turned around. "What Malfoy?" she sighed.

Draco shook his head. "What has gotten into you? You're acting completely-"

"Does revenge sound vaguely familiar?" Hermione turned back around and began walking to her next class - Care of Magical Creatures. "Or are you so numb to intelligence-"

"Hermione." Draco pulled Hermione to face him, her books flying out of her hands from the force. "How many times do I have to apologize?"

Hermione was rendered speechless, by how close Malfoy was to her. She tried to pull away, but his grip held firm.

"I'm sorry." He got down on his knees and took her hands into his. "I am so sorry for kissing Pansy; we were trying out that new potion and ..."

Hermione thinned her lips, trying to hold back laughter. So this is why she was fighting with Malfoy? Because he had kissed Pansy Parkinson and Hermione had obviously gone into a fit of jealousy. Wow - Slytherin sure did have its problems - and horrid 'best' friends.

"Are you laughing at me?" Malfoy looked up at Hermione, his eyes hard with anger.

Hermione snorted, "Get up."

"What?"

"Please," Hermione giggled. "Get up, you're making a complete-"

"Fool of myself?" Malfoy stood up and cupped Hermione's face in his hands and leaned in.

Hermione pulled back from his advances and smacked him upside his big arrogant head.

"What the-" Malfoy repelled quickly and his hand flew to his ear. "That hurt."

"Good, maybe I knocked some sense into that head of yours." Hermione bent down to pick up her books that were now scattered everywhere. She sighed as she grabbed her Transfiguration book. "Don't you ever try that again. Ever."

"Fine, you will come running back to me, before you know it, Hermione." Malfoy straightened up and took in a deep breath. "I'll see you tonight."

Hermione brushed some of her hair out of her face, "What makes you think I will make it a point to see you?"

Malfoy looked around incredulously at her. He placed a finger over his mouth, and then touched Hermione's left shoulder. "It burns tonight."

"It?" Hermione stood up and watched as Malfoy looked around then pulled up his sleeve. The Dark Mark was there on his skin; and Hermione touched her left shoulder, and felt the raised skin where her Mark had been placed.

"You wouldn't dare not show, I know." His eyes were serious, and he looked down at the floor. "Not now, anyway."

Hermione watched as he walked off, carefully buttoning his shirt sleeve as he walked.

x x x x x

All day long Hermione waited for the Mark to burn in agony.

In Care of Magical Creatures, it stayed dormant, and she noticed that Hagrid was not very happy, nor did he even look at her once. She highly doubted that she had been nice to him at all during her seven years of being in Slytherin. Hermione decided that she would go and talk to him later on.

In Potions, however, the Mark did start to tingle. She looked up at Professor Snape as soon as the tingling started, and he locked eyes with her. He nodded and Hermione nodded back.

As Hermione walked to the Great Hall for dinner; the Mark had become almost unbearable at times. It would flare up and she would have to close her eyes for a few moments before the pain died down. She noticed that Draco was also doing the same. Nobody even asked if they were okay; but Hermione thought that all the Slytherins already knew that they were ...

Death Eaters.

Hermione couldn't even begin to fathom how she had become like so. She was a Death Eater. How she was a Death Eater at this age, she didn't know, but it certainly didn't surprise her that they had resorted to bringing in young help. Hermione could barely eat, but a few nudges from Pansy and Draco did make her get some food down.

Malfoy found Hermione after dinner and took her hand. She didn't object, for the sheer fact that he knew what he was doing, and if she didn't show up to the Death Eater meeting, then she might as well just kill her own self.

"As soon as we get to Hogsmeade, we need to apparate to Knockturn Alley." Malfoy whispered as Hermione found herself in front of a large statue of Salazar Slytherin. As she followed, everything that she had ever been taught went through her mind.

Don't lie to him, don't speak unless spoken to, don't even give him an idea that you are thinking of something vaguely different from the situation at hand. Just don't think.

"Here we go," Draco said as he helped Hermione up first. "Let's go."

Hermione spun her wand around her body and thought of Knockturn Alley. She'd only seen pictures in books, but she figured that she had a good idea of exactly where she needed to be. When she opened her eyes, she noticed a large sign creaking on its hinges. The sign read: The Bastion. There was no other place close by, so Hermione figured that this was the meeting place. Hermione walked forward towards the door, but a hand came out of nowhere and pulled her back.

"Have you gone completely mental, Hermione!" Malfoy had pulled her back. "Never the front door. Even those in Knockturn Alley are wary of the Dark Lord."

"How silly of me," Hermione followed Malfoy down a dank alleyway.

"Through here," Malfoy hissed into her ear. "And for my sake, please act normal."

"Ah, here they are..."

Hermione wished that she could run. She wished she would just fall over and die. She wished a lot of things, but none of them came true.

"Forgive our lateness-"

"No need for formalitiesss, Draco." Hermione looked up at the snake-like figure of Voldemort. "You two may take your placesss." She remembered Harry telling her that he had a face like a snake (Hermione couldn't help but stare at the two slits of a nose, the pale white face, and the crimson eyes.), but she had never thought of how much like a snake he looked. It was unnerving.

Hermione automatically looked around and saw two empty spaces in the circle. She figured her spot was the one that Draco was not heading towards. She slipped to her spot in the circle and covered her head with a hood like everyone around her.

Hermione could not, for the love of Merlin, concentrate and realized that after ten minutes, she had not heard a word that Voldemort had said. All she knew was that her head had snapped up, the second that everyone else's head had snapped up.

"I've given you your dutiesss, and I trussst that you will not fail me." His voice ached in her ear, as the hissing seemed almost unbearable.

The Death Eaters began to leave; but before Hermione could leave, she heard her name.

"Hermione, dear..."

She turned around and took in a deep breath.

"Come here."

Hermione cleared her throat and stepped forward. His long finger curled, beckoning her closer, until she was right at his feet.

"I have thisss feeling," Hermione noticed that he was not looking at her, he was staring at Nagini, his pet snake, "that you were not all here while I wasss giving out my ordersss."

Hermione didn't know what to say, "I apologize."

His gaze fell on her and she instantly knew what he was waiting for.

"My Lord." Hermione swallowed. "I have been feeling quite ill, for the past day or so."

"Ah," He stood up and took one of Hermione's hands into his. His hands were like ice and felt like snakeskin. Hermione hoped that she hadn't flinched. "Mussst I remind you that the only reason I keep you here isss because of your undying loyalty and your power. If it weren't for thossse two thingsss, where would you be?"

"Dead," Hermione answered truthfully.

"Yesss." He pulled her closer to him, and Hermione took in a deep breath. "Lisssten; we both know your mudblood statusss-"

Hermione's mind went on automatic. She did have muggle parents, why in the world was she a Death Eater? She didn't look up, since she figured Voldemort would want to drill it into her head that he knew everything about her... which he obviously did.

"But, when the Black family adopted you, they thought you were of pureblood like themselvesss. I would hate to tell them the newsss that their beloved daughter isss actually a filthy and dirty mudblood witch." Voldemort laughed and Hermione squirmed slightly. "Yesss, I know you don't like that."

"But, aren't you half-blooded?" Hermione narrowed her eyes.

His head snapped towards her instantly and he pushed her to the ground. He floated over her, his eyes glowing a deep blood red.

"How dare you ssspeak to me in that insssolent tone!" He lowered himself closer to her body, his snake-eyes only inches from her own.

Hermione tried to keep herself calm. She didn't want him to see fear or anger in her eyes.

His lips curled and Hermione could see his fangs. Fangs like a snake; and if she didn't know any better, she figured they were full of poison. He moved even closer to her and hissed in her ear.

"Clever little witch," he slowly floated away from Hermione. He held out his hand and helped her up. Hermione eyed him closely. "You are disssmisssed."

Hermione took him up on his request. She turned quickly and was nearly out of the door, but his voice echoed off the walls.

"Wait," he called to her. "I forgot to give you something."

"Yes, my lord?" Hermione turned around, her eyes to the ground.

"Crucio!"

Hermione slowly convulsed to the ground. A blinding light made her shut her eyes tight, but the light was still shining, burning her eyes. Every limb in her body felt like it was being yanked violently away. If Hermione had not known better, then she would have thought that every bone in her body was breaking into tiny pieces. Her insides felt like they were on fire. When she finally could catch her breath, she heard Voldemort again.

"Do not ever ssspeak to me ssso again." Hermione's eyes stayed shut. "Now, go. And Hermione?"

Hermione struggled to breathe, and hoped that he didn't want her to answer.

"Next time - pay attention during the ceremoniesss." There was about a minute's pause, and Hermione still couldn't find the strength to move. "Remove her from my sssight."

Hermione felt two strong arms lift her up and carry her away. She closed her eyes and fell into a disturbing sleep.

The dream she had was normal at first. She was swinging on a swing back at her old house, with her muggle parents. Then she saw a metal fire poker with the image of the Dark Mark being placed in a fire. The searing pain as it was placed on her shoulder blade. Then everything went dark.

x x x x x

Hermione opened her eyes and groaned. She could still feel the effects of the curse, but she knew she was mostly just tired now. It had definitely taken a lot from her during that short amount of time.

"You're awake."

Hermione blinked and slowly turned her head. She was amazed at who she saw. Not only that, but exactly how well he looked.

"Professor?"

"Hermione," Lupin placed a hand on her head. "There isn't a soul around."

Hermione, quite perplexed at his statement, just nodded her head. "Okay."

"Why did you say it?"

"What?" Hermione lifted her head, but Lupin placed his hand on her head again and pushed it back onto the pillow.

"How dare you call the Dark Lord a half-blood." Lupin shook his head, but gave a very handsome smile to Hermione. "You and your mouth."

"I only stated..." Hermione had to take in a deep breath, "... a fact. Wait -"

Hermione looked up at Lupin, her eyes with fear. "You... you were... there."

"Yes, but just because you're a mudblood doesn't change our relationship, Hermione." Lupin took her hand into his. "You're still the best shag I've ever had."

Hermione instantly sat up, "WHAT?!" She wished she hadn't sat up so fast; her head throbbed and she slowly slinked back down.

"What?" He looked slightly taken aback.

Hermione closed her eyes. Not only had she dated Malfoy, but she was ... with a teacher. Remus Lupin, of all teachers. Not that anything surprised her anymore, but this was still a bit of a shock.

Oh, no...

she thought to herself.

"Hermione, I told you," he took her hand, "If the Dark Lord allows you into his circle, then why am I to be the one to reject you?" He leaned forward and kissed her.

Hermione, not knowing what to do, did not move a muscle. She felt absolutely broken. She was an absolutely horrid person in this new world that had somehow been created.

"You little minx," he whispered into her ear.

Hermione shook her head and slowly pushed herself up. "Er, uh, listen." She pushed him back and noticed that he had no gray hair, no shabby clothes, and instead of having a rather pushover type of personality, he was demanding and looked slightly arrogant in his rather flashy robes. Of course, Hermione couldn't deny how good he looked, but that was beside the point. There was a line between the student and the professor.

Obviously, they had broken it.

"Remus," Hermione tried it out, since she figured she called him that all the time, anyway, "I'm really not in the mood."

"Really?" Hermione watched as he took off his shirt, the Dark Mark on the upper left arm. "You always were after the meetings," he whispered as he crawled onto the bed.

Hermione then knew how everything was possible. She was insane. She had gone completely insane. Why would Professor Remus J. Lupin be not only a Death Eater, but half-naked in front of her, asking her to... yep. Insane. Where was a St. Mungo's mediwitch when you needed one? Hermione prayed that she wouldn't have to have Gilderoy Lockhart as a hospital roommate.

"Stop," Hermione pleaded as she pushed him away. "I said... not... in... the... mood."

He looked at her and shrugged. "Fine."

Hermione sighed in relief as he pulled the shirt back over his head and clasped his rather nice blue cloak around his shoulders.

"If you need me," he didn't even look at her. "I'll be in my office."

Hermione sighed. She pinched herself and knew that she wasn't dreaming. However, the insane bit kept rising into her brain.

x x x x x

Oh, that looks soooo nice.

Twilight had returned to her home. She had created a small bubble for her to see the new wish world she had created. She shuddered with delight at the thought of the girl not enjoying her wish.

Too bad, she hasn't even learned the half of it.

x x x chapter end x x x