I have absolutely no excuse for not updating this story in 4 and a half years. Part of it has been trying to write down how I saw this chapter. I will not make any promises on when the next update will be, expect them to be sporadic and unexpected. However I will try not to have too long of a hiatus this time.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 12: Entrapment

It had been several weeks since Harry had recruited the core Slytherins into his army. Despite promising to reveal his identity to the rest of the army at his first meeting he decided against it. Only his inner circle, his 4 lieutenants, knew who he truly was. For the time being he liked it that way. The fact that his identity was unknown to his own followers added to their fear and reverence for him, and he fed on that fear. He knew the time would come to reveal himself to the rank and file but the right opportunity had yet to present itself to him.

Nott had been true to his word and had succeeded in recruiting not only more Slytherins to the Dark Army but also members of the other three houses. It was easy for Harry to turn these new members to the Darkness and lead them down the path of the Dark Side. All he had to do was appeal to their deepest desires and show them how the Dark Side allowed them to realize these desires. For Slytherins it was ambition and power, Hufflepuffs it was a chance to gain notice, Ravenclaws it was knowledge, and Gryffindors it was courage. Most were Slytherins but Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were well represented. Only the Gryffindors were few but Harry expected that. The very nature of Gryffindors wasn't entirely in sync with the tenets of the Dark Side.

No new recruit was a mudblood, which didn't surprise Harry, but many weren't fully purebloods. Over time Harry could purify the bloodlines, if he still wanted too. He had plans for mudbloods, he didn't want to eradicate them like some of the more zealous purebloods did. Soon he would share his full plan with his lieutenants but for now even they needed training in the ways of the Dark Side and Harry needed to understand the ways of prior Masters in order to find his own path forward to victory and power.

Over the weeks since Harry began recruiting his army he had been religiously studied the ancient tomes of the Dark Lords of Magic, learning as much as he could about the Dark Arts through the true Masters of Dark Magic. He had used the lessons he had learned from the Masters of the past to try and rectify problems he could foresee in the future.

He had firstly made every member of his army perform a magical binding oath of loyalty to his, his army and his teachings. Breaking this oath would result in immediate and painful death. This was in order to prevent the masses of his army from uniting against him thus weakening the order. In addition he had all his lieutenants, including Ginny who had become his own secret apprentice, to swear to the oath. The Rule of Two, instigated 1000 years prior by Lord Slytherin would end with him. Harry would become the immortal Lord Rathmort, ruler of all, once he had all the secrets of his own master and how Voldemort had found a way to seemingly conquer death.

He was teaching his army some of what he had learned, not all for he had to withhold the truly powerful magic from them in order to maintain the upper hand. He did want what had happened to Dark Lord Jinntia who had been overthrown by a combined effort of his followers, lead by the strongest of them who would become the Dark Lord Diatius, thus changing that dynasty. This would weaken the order by replacing the Master with an inferior apprentice. Only a true apprentice could wrestle the mantle of Master of Dark Magic from the Master in one on one combat. He had learnt this through his studies and had respect Slytherin for it. However that would not be the case for him because Harry had taken steps to ensure loyalty. The order would continue with or end with Lord Rathmort.

Was his army ready yet? No they weren't. Harry expected it would take a full year minimum to gain the knowledge he needed to usurp his master, claim the deatheaters as his own and along with his League of Shadows launch his inevitable attack on the Ministry and Hogwarts to claim what was rightfully his, the Magical World.

The disappearances of Minister Fudge, Professor McGonagall, Percy Weasley and Dawlish had thrown the Magical World into disarray. Hogwarts had almost been shut down but Dumbledore managed to keep it open. Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head Auror, had been appointed interim Minister of Magic but that title was soon lifted. Voldemort had wanted to install one of his own puppets into the office but unfortunately the Wizengamot had chosen Scrimgeour over Pius Thickness who was under the imperious curse. Harry didn't particularly care about this, it was better to keep a light sider in the office for the time being in his mind it meant he could continue to fly under the radar. Dumbledore had named a temporary transfigurations teacher until McGonagall was found (which Harry knew wouldn't happen). Despite their alienation with Percy, the Weasleys (minus Fred, George and Ginny) assumed the worst for Percy and were grieving for his loss.

The chaos had died down now and Harry wasn't a suspect at all. He had resumed his private lessons on Voldemort's past with Dumbledore and while Harry hated being in the same room with the man who had kept him in the dark for so long he did enjoy the lessons because it gave him more information on his master that he may be able to use to defeat him. Also if it hadn't have been for Dumbledore's action Harry wouldn't have found his true path to his destiny. The most recent lesson had revealed to him that his master had been interested in something called Horcruxes however not what they were. Harry hadn't found much about them in his own studies of the tomes of the Dark Masters other than a few obscure references and he still did not know exactly what a Horcrux was. Soon Harry would have a full talk with his Lieutenants about his current strategy going forward.

While Harry didn't know exactly when it would happen he had a feeling it would be soon. His spies on his former friends had revealed that Ron, Hermione and Luna had been deep in discussions about Harry and his split from them. Harry expected a confrontation soon and he would have to leave a deliberate trail for them to follow so that he had the full backing of his army when they tried to confront him but instead fell into his entrapment. In his studies of Dark Magic Harry had begun to sense something off about Hermione but he couldn't quite pinpoint it. He had learned how to feel if someone had darkness inside them, or at least something that Dark Magic could help with, through the tomes of the Dark Lord Zianst. He knew he would never let that traitorous mudblood join his army but he was curios as to what she was hiding.

As a plan began forming in Harry's mind he realized one thing about his inevitable confrontation with Hermione, he could use it to reveal himself to his army. It would be the perfect moment to show himself to those who had sworn loyalty to him and force Hermione to tell him whatever she was hiding at the same time.

Hermione Granger was fuming. All her carefully laid plans had been unraveled and she was desperate to get them back on track. It had all begun during the summer when someone (she suspected the twins) had told Harry about her and Ron secretly joining the Order. It had been her idea that Harry be kept out for his own good. She felt that she and Ron could keep an eye on Harry and make sure he didn't fall to the Dark Side of Magic and keep Dumbledore and the Order informed of his actions. However all this had been part of her ultimate plan, along with her friendships with Harry and Ron and eventual relationship with the latter, which she had just started. She needed the fame of Harry Potter and the good name of the Weasley family to further her own intentions. Ever since her first year Hermione had been harboring certain feelings that had fueled her desire to learn as much Magic as possible and to ingratiate herself with the heroes of the Light in order to use them to propel herself to the top (at their expense).

These feelings were her sincere belief that Muggleborn witches and wizards deserved to rule the Magical world as the true elites, under her own rule, with the purebloods at the bottom. It was an inversion of the current system but her logic was infallible. She was also by far the smartest witch at Hogwarts and didn't come from the current culture of the wizarding world. Therefore her views had to be right, in her mind, and everyone else should agree with her because she knew what was best for them irregardless of the culture.

She was born with magic, she didn't inherit from one or both parents who had magic, the magic had chosen her. Because she was born with magic she must be more powerful and have a right to rule this world. She was one of the few chosen, as she referred to muggleborns in her mind, and as such they deserved to be in charge. Their magic was truly pure. She knew she would have to work the system, use the right people, to achieve this but she was sure that her friendship with Harry would help. Adding a relationship with Ron, who she did have feelings for (much to her own chagrin), and the role as the bookworm of Gryffindor and a teacher's pet she knew she would achieve her goals.

However that had all changed when Harry had found out she had joined the Order and had cut contact with her. Since then all she had was Ron and Luna who couldn't help her as much as she wanted. With McGonagall's disappearance she was at even more of a loss. Sure she could go to Dumbledore but he wasn't around that often compared to McGonagall so she usually confided in her hoping that she would relay Hermione's confidence to Dumbledore. Her only option, in her mind, was to find Harry and pledge herself to him in any way he saw fight in order to be forgiven and thus reestablish her position in his inner circle. This would put her plans back on track. The question on her mind however was how would she do this? She needed to find Harry first, he had been elusive as of late, but she was confident she would succeed. After all she was the smartest witch of her generation (in her own mind).

Despite the fact that she had started a relationship with Ron she wouldn't hesitate to leave him for Harry if she had the chance. Hermione needed to advance in the wizarding world and she doubted that Ron could help. Sure he was smart in his own right and a brilliant, albeit under appreciated, tactician but his ability in politics and academics were limited. She saw him as the strategist of the Order. Furthermore he was a pureblood therefore beneath her. His blood status would be useful until she was able to make the world how it should be with muggleborns on top.

Since the disappearances of McGonagall, Fudge, Dawlish and Percy Hermione, along with Ron and Luna had been trying to keep a track on Harry and Ginny. It had been hard because they didn't have the Marauders' Map and Harry could be elusive with that and his invisibility cloak. However over the last week or so she had been able to track Harry using a disillusionment charm and had seen him going into the Room of Requirement with Ginny and a Slytherin who she recognized as Theodore Nott. This was a surprise to her and she assumed that Harry may have fallen to the Dark Side if he was friendly with Nott, unless Nott was defecting but she highly doubted that. He was an inbred pureblood SLytherin to her therefore the scum of the Magical World.

It had been a month now since the disappearance and the school had quieted down, as much as it could given the state of the wizarding world. Hermione was going to put her plan in motion now to confront Harry and try to get him to forgive her. She would take Luna with her. The weird Ravenclaw girl had her uses and Hermione was willing to sacrifice her if needed. Ron would stay behind. Firstly because someone needed to know what she was doing so that they could let Dumbledore know who was responsible for her disappearance, should it happen, and secondly because she did have feelings for him and expected that things might go south. With Nott involved she didn't trust a Slytherin to avoid trouble. The time had come to tell Ron her plan to confront Harry. Little did she know that she would be walking right into a trap.

"Ron" Hermione said as she cuddled into him on the common room couch. It was well past midnight and the two of them were alone. "I think it's time to find out what Harry's up too."

"Are you sure Hermione." Ron replied. Since Harry had ditched them Ron had begun to suspected that Harry had changed and not in a good way. All his sneaking around, meeting with Slytherins, the strange disappearances. Ron felt like Harry may have fallen to the Dark Side of Magic. He had no proof and knew no one would believe him so he was going to wait and see if Harry ever revealed himself.

"We don't know what has really happened to him" he continued, "I don't think it's safe to confront him."

"I know you suspect that Harry may have given into the darkness" Hermione said. While she agreed with Ron she had her own darkness building so if Harry had fallen then it could work out even better for her. "I agree which is why he must be exposed. Luna and I will go and confront him tomorrow if we can."

"I want to come as well" Ron said quickly, not wanting to let his new girlfriend face a potentially dark wizard without him.

"No." Hermione replied firmly, "I need you to stay here. For one your tactical skills are too useful to the Order to lose. Furthermore someone needs to know of where I went should I disappear, that way we the world knows who was responsible."

"I just don't want anything to happen to you though." Ron said, "are you sure this is the best solution cos it doesn't make sense to me."

"Yes it is." Hermione said knowing that she couldn't reveal her true intentions, "trust me Ron it has to be done. If we wait much longer he may start to attract followers and gain too much power to be stopped."

"Fine but be safe" Ron said begrudgingly after a moment.

"I will" Hermione said as she kissed him. No more words needed to be said. They would enjoy themselves tonight just in case it was their last night together.

Unbeknownst to either was that they were being watched. After the couple had gone to bed a hooded figure moved from the shadows. Traveling in the shadows Nott left the Gryffindor common room and headed to the Room of Requirement where he knew his master was waiting for him. The shadow concealment had been placed upon their robes by Harry so that they could spy on the enemy at night. Harry had also provided Nott access to the Gryffindor common room so that he could keep an eye on Ron and Hermione. He knew that his master would be pleased with the results.

"My lord Hermione is planning on making her move tomorrow" Nott said as he knelt in front of Harry in the Room of Requirement.

"Rise my lieutenant" Harry said and Nott complied, "you have done well. Tell me everything."

Nott relayed the conversation between Ron and Hermione. Harry waited until Nott was done before saying anything, considering his next move carefully.

"It is time to lay the trap and ensnare the mudblood bitch" Harry said, "it's a shame we can't get the blood traitor as well but he will pay in time."

"What is the plan my lord?" Nott asked.

Harry pondered for a moment before answering.

"First we shall gather the whole army here." Harry said, "then you will go and make sure that Hermione and Luna are following you. I will set the room to let them in once you get here. You, me and Ginny will remain in the middle while the rest of the League of Shadows stays true to their name and hides in the shadows around the edges of what I will task the room to create. If they try to duel disarm them but do not kill them, yet. I want to know all of Hermione's secrets, I feel like she is hiding something. If I have to torture them out of her I will do it with the utmost pleasure. After that I'll decide on the fly what to do with her."

Nott thought about the plan. Looking into the yellow eyes of his master he said, "wont this plan reveal yourself to the army?"

"Yes the time has come" Harry said, "I have put my faith in magic and in the universe to reveal to me the right time to show my face to the army and that time is upon us. Let them know that their Lord is none other than Harry Potter, the so called golden boy of Gryffindor. Anyone who doubts my power or conviction will feel the wrath of Lord Rathmort."

Nott shuddered internally at this. He knew his master was powerful and dark but it was still hard to accept that he had once been Harry Potter. Still he would follow his master to the bitter end if he needed too. Soon, he hoped, Harry would reveal his plans for his army.

"What about the Lovegood girl my lord?" Nott asked.

"She will be given the choice to join us." Harry said, "she may be an odd girl but her usefulness as a spy and researcher would be great. If we have to break her we will. If she remains stubborn and true to the light then throw her to the men to do with as they please before they kill her."

"And Granger?" Nott asked, "what will become of the mudblood?"

"As much as I would love to see her destroyed by the men and filmed so that her blood traitor boyfriend can see what we did to his pet mudblood before she died I doubt we will be able to do that." Harry answered, "no the mudblood will die once she's told me everything I want to know and we will film it. As smart as she is I have no use for her not just for how she treated me but I also suspect that her secrets will reveal information that will make her ineligible to our cause. I will kill her personally and painfully."

"Mudbloods deserves no less" Nott said.

"Now Nott" Harry began, "mudbloods have their place but all in due time. For now leave and get some rest. I shall contact the army and get them here. In 12 hours make sure Granger is tailing you to here."

Nott bowed and left, leaving Harry alone in the Room of Requirement. It was time to show himself to his followers. With that in mind Harry awaited Ginny's arrival to tell her plans before they slept in the Room of Requirement. The next day was a Saturday so there was no class obligations for them.

It was lunchtime and Hermione had just bade Ron goodbye, kissing him for what she felt could be the last time. She knew she loved him and the sensible part of her was repulsed by it. This was part of her that knew for certain that muggleborns deserved to be top of the society and that purebloods were just a bunch of dumb, inbred, inferior wizards who didn't truly have magic bestowed upon them but rather just inherited a diluted version of it. She was born with pure magic. Still she couldn't control her heart. It was time to meet Luna and try and find out what Harry was up too.

Hermione had messaged Luna using the fake Galleons from the year before and planned to meet her in the entrance hall. From there it would be simply a matter of hiding and waiting for Nott to appear. She felt like he was the best bet, if Harry was consorting with at least one Slytherin, and the smartest one at that, then he was likely up to something he shouldn't be. Hermione would either join him or talk him out of it, whichever benefited her the most. She saw Luna approaching. Hermione still didn't particularly like the girl, she felt like she wasn't smart or wise because she could believe in something without proof or logic behind it. However she could be useful to sacrifice if she had too.

"Hello Hermione" Luna said airily, "you wanted me to meet you here."

"Yes Luna I need your help" Hermione said, "it is time to confront Harry."

Luna didn't seem to visibly react to this. "Where's Ron?"

"He's not coming with us" Hermione said, "if Harry is up to something dark then someone needs to stay back and report what we were doing if we disappear. Given all these mysterious disappearances its possible that this will occur."

Again Luna appeared to be unfazed by this. Hermione had grown to realize this about Luna.

"The plan is to follow Theodore Nott, if we can find him, and hope he leads us to Harry."

"What makes you think he will go to Harry at this time today?" Luna asked.

"Because based on our previous research Harry and Nott meet on the weekends after lunch." Hermione said bluntly, "now quick lunch is about to get out and we need to hide and wait for him."

Hermione practically dragged Luna into a small closest just off the entrance hall. A few minutes later students began to trickle out of the Great Hall. Using a spell that allowed her to turn the door into a one way mirror yet still look like a door Hermione was able to watch the students. After about 15 minutes Nott exited the Great Hall talking with Malfoy. After pausing to talk a little more in the entrance hall Hermione watched as the two Slytherin 6th years went their separate ways with Malfoy returning to the dungeons and Nott turning to head up the marble staircase. Making sure that the coast was clear Hermione and Luna left the closet and followed Nott up the stairs, as surreptitiously as possible.

Nott lead them on a winding path through the castle all the way up to the 7th floor. Hermione and Luna followed at a distance, making sure they weren't noticed despite the disillusionment charm she had cast on herself and Luna after they had left the closet, until they reached a corridor the girls knew very well. They watched as Nott paced by a stretch of blank stone wall three times before a door appeared in the middle of the wall. Hermione cursed herself, the Room of Requirement would only show if she knew what Nott was thinking and she was sure she didn't. She had expected this however, their previous trails had let here.

"The door isn't disappearing" Luna stated shocking Hermione out of her thought.

Hermione looked at the door. It was still there. Usually it vanished the moment it was closed. A sense of trepidation fell over Hermione.

"It could be a trap." Luna said, "Nott may have kept left the door assuming we would follow him in and is planning an ambush for us."

"Yes I think so too." Hermione agreed, "however we must confront him so wands out. It's time to find out what Harry's been up too."

Hermione took her wand out and removed the disillusionment charms on them. Noticing that Luna had taken her wand out as well, Hermione led the other girl to the door. Once they were there Hermione forced the door open and burst into the room. When there was no immediate attack and Hermione had heard the door slam behind her she looked around what the room had created.

It was very dark, lit only by an overhead light that cast a circle of illumination in the center of the room. Standing with his back to the two girls was a hooded figure. Just off to the figure's sides (one on each side) was Ginny and Nott, both dressed in black robes and their wands drawn pointing at Hermione and Luna. Hermione knew that Ginny was involved but it was still odd to see her with Nott. She had a cold look of pure hatred in her eyes as she stared at Hermione.

"Is there any need to have your wands out girls?" A cold voice from the hooded figure said to them. The figure turned Hermione gasped as she saw his face.

It was Harry but it also wasn't. As he raised his hands to remove his hood Hermione looked into a face she had known for years. His eyes were no longer that startling shade of emerald green but where a sickly, vibrant yellow. They were full of hate, rage and darkness. A twisted, sinister smile played on Harry's lips as the hood fell back. This was the face of a monster, Hermione thought, not that of her former best friend. She knew now with certainty that Harry had fallen to the Dark side of magic. With a flick of his wrist Harry's wand was in his hand.

"Welcome ladies" he said in that cold voice that was both familiar and yet alien to Hermione. "we've been expecting you."

I hadn't planned to end on a cliffhanger but as soon as I wrote it I knew I had to end the chapter there. I hope y'all enjoyed this after the very long break (still nothing I can say can excuse such a break). I know Hermione's attitude is very different from the books and quite sudden but it's how I feel she really is like in the books, minus the anti pureblood stuff. She strikes me as a social justice warrior and an elitist who believes she knows what is right for everyone without considering mitigating factors like culture and society (just look at SPEW) and I despise people like this. I'm all for charity and helping improve people and being appalled at the actions of other nations/groups however mitigating factors must be considered as well and Hermione doesn't seem to be able to do that. It's her way or the highway. Anyway I will try to update in the near future but y'all will have to wait to see how this will play out. Please review.

Stringdog