Chapter 4

Hermione was seated in the kitchen when the boys arrived. She had already turned a spoon into a back-up Portkey. This was her safety precaution in case Malfoy and Snape really did mean to harm her.

"Good morning," she said as the boys sat down on either side of her. Their "plan" was to cast Disillusionment Charms on themselves and Portkey to Wiltshire. They had found a map in the attic that showed where Malfoy Manor was located. With that information, she could cast the Portus Charm and get them close to their destination.

In the entrance hall, Hermione felt as if they were being watched. Looking over her shoulder, she thought she saw someone duck behind a doorway. Harry and Ron turned to see what she was looking at.

"I thought I saw something," she whispered to them. She was fairly sure it was Malfoy, but for the boys' sake, she pretended to know nothing.

Harry nodded and tiptoed toward the door. He held up his hand, indicating for the others to stay put. Ron and Hermione moved their wands to a ready position and waited for a signal.

Harry spun toward the door very quickly, wand aimed to cast a spell. Hermione saw him take a step into the room. After a moment, he turned back to them and shrugged.

"There's no one," he said, walking back to where they were.

"Thanks for checking, Harry. It must have been Crookshanks or something."

"Well, let's go before someone finds us."

Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment. She held it out to the others, who each grabbed onto a corner. With a mutter and a tap of her wand, the world dissolved around them.

They landed hard in a copse of trees. Ron stepped back and landed on her foot, causing her to cry out.

"Sorry, Hermione," he mumbled.

Hermione noticed that Harry was the only one who hadn't stumbled.

"How do we know which way to go?" Ron asked once he was steady.

"Point Me." Harry's wand spun until it faced north.

"We go that way," Hermione said, pointing in the same direction.

The trees were incredibly dense. They had to change their course a couple of times due to the thick undergrowth. Hermione kept asking Harry if they were still going in the right direction. Miraculously, every time she asked, they were still headed north.

There was a sense of anxiety that was getting more intense the closer they got to Malfoy Manor. She hoped that she hadn't got in over her head.

Twenty minutes after they started walking, the trio finally emerged into an open field. Off to the left, they could see a large manor.

"We're here," Harry said quietly.

"Let's rest in the trees before we go off to the manor," Hermione suggested, heading back into the trees.

"We don't want to be gone long, Hermione. The others will get suspicious and come after us before too long."

She ignored them and sat on a tree stump. Harry and Ron looked at each other, but thought it better to appease her.

"I just want to take five minutes to regroup. Who knows what will be waiting in and around the manor?" she tried to explain.

"Yeah, I guess it's a good idea."

Harry and Ron sat on a log a few feet behind Hermione. She heard a rustling off to her right. Turning quickly, she saw her "kidnapper" approaching her. Just as she was alerting the others, a spell hit her, and her world went black.

Hermione woke slowly. She could hear voices, but couldn't distinguish what was being said. Trying to sit up, and feeling a soft surface under her, she realized her wrists were bound to the headboard. Panic flooded her mind before she could control it. Her heart was racing and her breathing was shallow. 'Get a grip!' she thought fiercely.

The change in her heart rate must have alerted her captors, for she heard people coming into the room.

"Ah, she's awake," said a voice to her far right.

Turning her head to the side, she was startled to see Malfoy talking to Severus Snape. The professor looked a little worse for wear, but healthy, considering he was on the run.

"Well, hello, Miss Granger," Snape said, advancing slowly.

"Severus, why not call her what she really is? A filthy Mudblood," said the boy.

"Now, Draco, where are your manners?"

"Hmph." Malfoy folded his arms in response.

"You weren't so rude yesterday, Malfoy," Hermione said, glaring in his direction. Although, she was starting to doubt her decision to come here.

"You didn't know it was me, yesterday."

"Please, spare me," Snape said, moving closer to her. "You will learn to like each other, or at least tolerate each other. I will not tolerate constant bickering."

"I don't like anything about him." Hermione turned away and looked at the wall.

"Oh, but you should. We have more stake on your life than even you can fathom, Miss Granger."

"Where am I?" she asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Patience. We are at my residence. You are to be taken to the Dark Lord shortly."

"So soon?" She turned back to face the two men in the room. Her panic was threatening to take over.

"The Dark Lord wants to meet his new pet," Draco sneered, moving closer.

"Draco, be quiet." Snape turned to Hermione and said, "Though he is essentially correct, there is more to it than that. I am going to warn you, Miss Granger. The Dark Lord wants information just as much as he wants a toy for his Death Eaters. You have been placed in my care as a show of faith in me." Hermione noticed that his face clouded over with some unidentifiable emotion.

"Why does he," she glanced at Draco, "look different?" she asked after Snape finished talking. She figured that since he was giving information freely, she would take advantage of it.

"A permanent glamour. Even Mad-Eye Moody can't see through it."

"I thought I had gone mad when I could see you but no one else noticed you."

"Yes, I was afraid you would blow my cover. You certainly did stare last night," drawled Malfoy.

"How come no one else could see you?" Hermione asked, clearly confused.

"It's part of the glamour. I can only be seen by the people I want to see me. I'm wanted by the Dark Lord. I'm not going to be parading around like an idiot."

"Miss Granger, it is time. The Dark Lord wishes to meet his new pet."

*****

"Miss Hermione Granger, a pleasure to finally come face to face." Voldemort gave a sarcastic bow as she was led into the room.

She held her head high. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how scared she was.

"Tales of your intellect have been reaching my ears for some time. It will do us well to have you on our side."

Hermione scoffed. "I will never be on your side."

Voldemort smiled. The gesture was one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. His smile told of pure malice and horrors to come. Hermione shivered.

Snape, who had been holding her wrists behind her back, squeezed her hand. She didn't know if it was an act of reassurance or a signal for her to control herself. Either way, it didn't work.

She turned her head to look at Snape.

"Look at me, girl! I am the only person on this earth you need to concern yourself with," Voldemort hissed with great arrogance.

Snape gave her a small shove, and she landed sprawled on the floor by Voldemort's feet.

His cruel laugh filled the room. "This is exactly how I want you: crawling at my feet. You are only alive because I want you that way. Your purpose here is two-fold. My Death Eaters are growing restless; you will provide excellent sport for them. I also require information about Harry Potter. My faithful have been dismal at bringing me information." He was sneering rather nastily by the end of his little speech.

"I have no information of any value," Hermione said boldly.

"I beg to differ. You are one of the people closest to young Harry. I know what he and Dumbledore were doing last year. I want to know how far they've gotten. You are perfect for that."

Hermione slowly stood up. Since she received no reprimand, she rose to her full height. Lifting her head, she looked directly at Voldemort.

Instantly, he was inside her mind, rifling through her memories and thoughts. The pain was nothing like Hermione had ever felt. She thought she would faint from the sudden onslaught. Just as soon as it started, the pain stopped. Voldemort stood there with a smug expression on his face.

"My Lord, what have you seen?" Snape asked from behind her.

"Nothing of any consequence to you, Snape."

"Yes, my Lord. I beg your forgiveness," he said while dropping to one knee, his head bowed.

"Rise and take this silly girl out of my sight."

Author's Notes: Thanks to GinnyW and Snarkyroxy for their wonderful work as betas.

Reviews and words of wisdom are always welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for reading!