Chapter Text
" Hermione ?" From the tone of Draco's voice, she was sure it wasn't the first time he had called her name, but her mind was still ringing with the sound of her bond to Voldemort falling away. Hermione blinked at her friend and tried to clear away the strangely mixed emotions clouding her head.
"It's gone." She whispered as if it wasn't real if no one else knew the truth. Voldemort would know the truth, and it wouldn't matter where he was; he would be returning to find out what had gone wrong.
Suddenly, without consciously deciding, Hermione pushed herself to her feet and headed back toward her bedroom.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to wear all the armor I can muster to meet this, Mr. Lake." As soon as she said the words, she knew they were true. It was imperative she spoke with the mysterious man before her ma- Voldemort returned.
"Give me a few days to set up a meeting."
"We don't have a few days." Hermione threw open her wardrobe and searched for anything remotely suitable for meeting someone like Mr. Lake. She needed to look put together and in control. She needed to dress like she was going to face the Dark Lord himself. "What do you think my…" It hurt every time she thought of the missing bond, but if she were going to rejoin with Voldemort, it would have to be on her terms. "...will do as soon as he feels the bond brake?"
"Right. I'll get you the exact address." It was always pleasant when she didn't need to overexplain things to her new friend.
Less than an hour later, Hermione was wearing a gray tweed muggle-style suit with a black blouse. Her hair was pulled back into the neatest bun she could manage, and she was standing at the bronze gates of Fagaceae Castle.
Her heart was racing as she mentally prepared to pull the chain that would ring the main building. Draco had been right about the wards on the land. They were both ancient and powerful; the castle was much smaller but almost as impressive as Hogwarts. She couldn't help but feel surprised that she had never heard of the estate before. But maybe the owner liked it that way.
"Are you coming in, or do you plan to stand at my front gate all afternoon?"
Hermione blinked, sure the tall redhead hadn't been standing on the other side a moment before. He was a handsome fellow with auburn hair, only a bit too dark to fit in with the Weasley clan. His eyes were a stormy gray and seemed much older than the rest of him.
"Mr. Lake?" She straightened her back to show herself in the strongest light before the unknown wizard. "I'm-"
"Miss Hermione Granger, I know. My elves have just started to serve lunch. Would you care to join me?"
"I'm not here for pleasantries, Mr. Lake. I'm here because of your message and…" Her fingers traced over her now bare wrists.
The man gave her a knowing smirk and nodded. "I thought as much, but please, indulge me while I submit to your questions." He opened the gate and motioned for her to enter.
Hermione hesitated, the man was basically a stranger, and he would have a considerable advantage within the walls of his ancestral home.
"People know I'm here; they will come looking for me."
"You told your ex you were coming to meet the man who set you free?" He sounded amused.
"If my mate-" She bit her lip again, knowing it was wrong, but it had become habit to think of Voldemort as such. "If he knew I was here, he would be here as well, or I wouldn't be. No. Other friends know. And no one said he was my ex."
The man in front of her looked delighted. "I must apologize; I had assumed the bond was the only thing keeping you with him. But if your tastes stray towards the dark and powerful, I think we have even more to talk about than I thought. I swear by the ancient oak, you will come to no harm within my domain."
Hermione watched the man for a long moment before nodding and following him toward the dwelling. He slowed his stride so they could walk next to each other. His posture resembled that of a man on a stroll.
"I was hoping to catch you before he took you to the Americas."
"You can tell?"
"The magic is familiar."
"You've experienced the same?" The conversation felt awkward; she knew so little about the man.
"Not that fountain , but a similar spring here in Wales."
"Am I really…"
"You can still die but won't age, and you'll be more resilient to certain kinds of harm for a while."
"It wears off?"
"Not completely, but for its full benefits, you would need to be drowned every ten years or so."
"So you do need to drown?"
"For immortality, yes, it is a part of the magic to give your life to it."
"And what other prices are there for such a gift ?" She couldn't keep the growl from her voice.
The man chuckled at her annoyance. "You will find that immortality is its own price."
"I didn't need to be immortal to know that."
"Then you are at least as smart as everyone says."
When they got to the door, he opened it for her and motioned her in. The entryway wasn't grand but had an open feeling with plenty of light. "I usually dine in my study at this time of year; much too chilly for the garden." He explained as he motioned down a wide hall.
"You obviously have some idea about who I am and what my partner has been up to, but I know nothing about you or why you contacted me."
"I am ashamed to admit you did not come to my attention sooner, Miss. Granger." He walked with his hands grasped behind his back. "I've been keeping an eye on Mr. Riddle for far longer. He has a habit of disrupting the peace."
"To state it mildly. If you've been following his career, then you know he doesn't take kindly to having his plans thwarted. Why risk it when you've obviously put so much into living a private life?"
She saw the corner of his mouth turn up in a smirk, but he did not look at her. "It has been a long time since a woman of your caliber has walked the earth. It was worth drawing his attention for the chance to get to know you and see if we are well suited."
"Well suited?" Hermione frowned as he opened the door to his study for her. "Woman of my caliber? So tell me, what did draw your attention? Why go to such lengths for someone you've never met?"
"Did you bring the cuffs with you?"
"No. I'm not allowing them near another man I'm not completely sure of."
"Smart." He agreed before entering the room when she showed no sign of going before him.
"You saw of picture of me wearing them, I assume? Where did you get the key?" Her blood started to thrumb as she could feel she was getting close to critical answers. She waited in the doorway; she would not sit at a meal with the man until he told her the truth.
"You tell me where I got the key, Miss Granger." He leaned back against a large wooden desk, the detailed carvings of a great oak tree. "You're brilliant; I'm sure you'll get there."
"You're implying that you made the key." Her eyes traveled around the room, showing the personal space of a scholar and powerful wizard.
"Am I? But what would that mean?"
"Why won't you just make your claim, Mr. Lake?" Hermione turned back to him, her wand itching to fall into her hand.
"I would be quite interested to see how we would compare in a duel, Miss. Granger, but some other time when so many of my loved possessions aren't within reach. I've found if I don't let people come to the answer themselves, they accept the truth."
"It isn't possible; you can't be…"
"Says the immortal witch. It is possible; you know the magic exists, and you felt it for yourself."
"But someone would know." She shook her head as she couldn't help comparing the man in front of her to the one depicted in so many books.
" Some do. A very select few. I find my life is easier if I'm not so famous."
"I'm not a Storm Maiden!" She blurted, then couldn't help but blush.
"You absolutely are, and you were waisted on the impetuous little Slytherin."
"You wouldn't know this, but I find the defining of adults by which Hogwarts house they attended absolutely ridiculous." She stepped into his study, trying to make herself feel confident as she considered the fact she was talking to a historical figure more famous than any other in their world.
"Pardon the confusion; I was speaking of his bloodline, not his Hogwarts House. I was a Slytherin in school, but that is well documented."
"How do I know you're not just some con artist trying to trick me? There are plenty of people who specialize in the study of a famous person's life. My ex-fiancé made most of his career out of studying…"
"Please, say my name. You don't know how long it's been since I've spoken to a beautiful woman as myself."
Hermione refused to allow herself to blush at the compliment, he was far too good at manipulation, and Mer- someone help her; it seemed she had a type.
"Do you have any proof?"
"I was informed you got a chance to read some of my more personal notes. I assume in search of a way out of your bond." He pushed off his desk and turned towards his bookshelf as if searching for something.
"Other people have access to those notes."
"I was also informed that some parts of Binding a Storm Maiden have been magically damaged, but it is unwise only to have one copy of such an important work." He pulled a slim volume off his shelf and turned back to her to hold it out.
Hermione moved just close enough to take the book from him; it was handwritten in a way that matched her memory of the copied pages exactly. She itched to devour the knowledge and understand the cuffs she had worn for so long, but the book she held was priceless, and he was only showing it to her to prove himself.
"Merlin." She said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, I like that very much ." He agreed, and when she looked into his eyes, she saw something thrillingly predatory. She definitely had a type. "May I call you Hermione? It is quite a beautiful name."
"I'm not available." Hermione held the book out begrudgingly, but he just raised his hand.
"Consider it a courtship gift. I no longer require it; I have moved beyond that field of study."
"I'm still with Voldemort." She explained as she continued to hold the book out.
"Then you can use it all the more in case he tries to bind you again; understanding is the key to conquering such things."
Hermione finally lowered the book and let it rest at her side. "Thank you. You may call me Hermione, with the understanding that this is not the start of a courtship. As you obviously know, I have a full plate as it is."
Merlin smirked at her and motioned to a small table set for two.
"Then I shall continue to call you Miss Granger as I do not feel I can agree to such an understanding."
"You don't even know me."
"And yet, the longer you're here, the more I want to know you."
"My current partner is a very dangerous man."
"And so am I."
"I'm not taking the money."
"Money?"
"The donation. I won't be taking it; I can now see it would have plenty of strings not plain in the contract. I should go. Thank you for the book." She nodded and tried not to look like she was running. There was a lot about her encounter she needed to digest before she could face the famous wizard again, and there was no way she was ready to face Voldemort either.
"I'll see you again soon, Miss Granger; you'll find I am not a man easily deterred."
His words chased her from the castle, but she was glad he didn't try to follow her. He must feel he had left enough of an impression to make his intentions clear. But he didn't understand Hermione was not a woman of fluid loyalty. She had grown attached to Voldemort, and even though she was utterly furious with his most recent stunt, she couldn't just walk right into another man's arms.