It was a cool summer evening when I returned home to Black Manor from a week-long search for the Dark Lord's new wand. Only his chosen few would search for this wand, so of course

I would go. I fumbled with the keys for a second, cursing the wretched wind for my billowing cloak. With a flick of my wand, I had a roaring fire going in the living room. I looked around

and sighed. In the ten years Rodolphus and I had lived here, the décor had never changed. The room was filled with overstuffed red furniture, and black paint covered the walls. I strolled

over to the pouf, the closest furniture Rodolphus would allow near the fire, and picked up a silver i-Pod nano. For every song I have on it, I have a victims face as the album cover, to

match the emotion I had for the song with the victim. I scrolled through names until I finally found the one I was looking for. Hermione Granger. I smiled fondly as I remember the day she

was given to me as a reward for capturing Harry Potter. I remember the horror on Hermione's face as she saw her best friend fall at the Dark Lord's hand. I smiled as I pressed play on

Hermione's song. Forgiven by Within Temptation. I can just imagine her now, singing this in her private cell, located directly below my rooms.

You see, she is addicted to a certain person, yet she is repulsed by this person's presence. She calls it a guilty conscience. I say it is bittersweet. For you can not have one without the

other. Defiance turned inward, leaving all outward appearances resigned. This is how I describe my Hermione. A lioness with a serpent's disguise, just waiting to be broken. I felt my

patience grow thin, and I turned off the i-Pod with eager fingers. I tucked the i-Pod into my waist pocket, once I remembered to remove my cloak. I was wearing a custom made corset

dress. It was black and cinched at the waist, with various pockets filled with various items. I hurried to my rooms and descended the stairwell slowly, my cool façade slipping into place. I

had chosen Forgiven for Hermione during the battle of the Ministry. She and I had dueled. After one curse from each wand had been thrown, we both turned away. My curse had left her

almost unconscious, while hers broke my wrist. I tapped Hermione on the shoulder and inserted the earpiece into her ear.

I accio-ed some chairs from my rooms. We sat down and listened to Hermione's song. She smiled as I stroked her hair, and she asked the question she always asked.

"Why did you pick this song for me, Bella?" Hermione asked with a knowing grin. I smiled and jokingly hit her on the back of the head. "OW!" she winced theatrically. I just shook my head

at the never aging routine.

"At the battle of the Ministry, my dear Hermione, we dueled. As I watched my curse knock you almost unconscious, I had an odd feeling inside my heart." At this, I placed her hand over my

heart. "I saw pain in your eyes as your curse hit me, breaking my wrist, and I realized it was my expression mirrored back at me from your face. Forgiven, both the title and the lyrics, fit

perfectly. It was sheer luck that the Dark Lord gave you to me. I knew then that if you had been given to Lucius Malfoy or even the Dark Lord himself, I would have gone crazy." I smiled

as I saw the chocolate eyes disappear and reappear as Hermione escaped to the sweet bliss of slumber. I carried her to her bed and tucked her in. I climbed the stairwell to my rooms. As

I sealed the door shut, I whispered the four words that could kill me. "Hermione, I love you."