Unforeseen Duty
Summary:
After the war, Hermione decides to return to a repaired Hogwarts to complete her studies whilst Harry and Ron do auror training. Unknown to everyone, Lucius Malfoy rounds up remaining Death Eaters and puts revenge on Snape, binding his soul to Hermione's.
A/N – This won't be accurate (as Snape, Remus and Tonks are alive etc…) but it's an idea I have wanted to do to put my own spin on the effects it could have on different characters. The school will also have staffing changes, with McGonagall as Headmistress, and Remus and Tonks sharing the DADA teaching role.
Chapter 1:
Hermione sighed a little as she packed the last remaining item of clothing into her small suitcase (which she had charmed to make bigger on the inside) and lifted the case up onto the bed which she had called her own in 12 Grimmauld place that summer.
She was excited to return to school to complete her rather interrupted seventh year, especially with McGonagall as head and her favourite werewolf and his kickass wife teaching DADA, but couldn't help but feel a little sad at the prospect of a year divided from the rest of the golden trio, as the Daily Prophet had subtly called them. Harry and Ron had always been at school with her, and although she had Ginny she couldn't help but fear the loneliness she would feel without them by her side. Although, she thought to herself with a smirk, she would get more work done without the trouble they seemed to attract – like a bee to honey they always got into a wide variety of sticky situations, and Hermione had had little experience of a normal Hogwarts life…
"Mione! Lunch is ready!" she heard Ron's dulcet tones holler up the stairs, and she descended the dusty, worn staircase of the safe house. She and everyone (especially Harry) had been delighted to see Sirius miraculously return from the veil, and although they knew it had been one of Dumbledore's last gifts from beyond the grave, no-one had the faintest clue how he'd managed it. Nevertheless, no one was bothered, they were too glad to have another marauder safe and well.
"Hi guys, sorry I was just packing for school." She said as she sat down beside Tonks, who was opposite Remus, at the crowded table. On her other side was Sirius, who smiled warmly at her as she looked around the room, greeting everyone. There was Sirius, Remus and Tonks, with a sleeping teddy on Tonks' knee, and also Ron, Harry, Ginny, Arthur, George (noticeably and sadly paler and skinnier after the loss of his twin), Bill, Charlie and fleur. The Weasleys had been staying at Grimmauld place since the war, grateful not to have to return to the memories of Fred at the semi-repaired burrow. Percy was absent, as he'd been working hard at the ministry, trying to resolve the chaos the country was in.
"No worries Hermione," Sirius smiled, "you'll have a great time getting back to school, I'm sure."
"Yes, and it'll be great to have two wonderful DADA teacher's this year" she motioned to a grinning Tonks and Remus," our past education has been a little, lacking…" Remus chortled and Tonks' hair brightened more, turning to a hot pink.
"I'm sure you could come and do auror training with us if you wanted 'Mione, we'll miss you terribly whilst you're at school." Ron said from across the table, and Harry nodded enthusiastically.
"I know, I just don't know what I want to do in the future, besides it'll be good to have a peaceful year without all the trouble your presence seems to bring." She said with a smile and the room chuckled happily as Molly brought out a vat of soup, plates and boards of bread and butter levitating to rest upon the table.
"Let's all dig in now shall we, thanks Molly it looks fab." Sirius said, and the room began to eat, conversing amongst themselves, as happy as they were before the war.
A few hours later, and Hermione sat by the fire next to Remus and Sirius as the two men chatted about their school lives. Tonks had gone to tuck Teddy into bed, and Harry and Ron had left for their flat in London, closer to the ministry. The Weasleys were in a different sitting room, spending family time together, and Hermione knew not to impose as they needed all the time they could get before term started tomorrow and everyone started to dissipate.
Although Hermione could have gotten the Hogwarts express, she and Ginny had decided to floo together to Hogwarts, along with Remus and Tonks – and little Teddy of course. It would be easier, and faster, and the novelty of the train journey had worn off on Hermione a long time ago. No one was bothered about safety either, so it would be a normal floo journey, not like the high security transfers they had done in the past, because why would they need to worry about security now everything was safe?
"Ahh, the joys of motherhood." A sarcastic Tonks spoke as she came into the room and flopped onto the chair. "If he cries again Remus, you can see to him because when I'm there he just morphs into a million-different people instead of sleeping." Her hair was an irritated orange, and Remus chucked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she sighed, exhausted. They had been delighted when Teddy had shown signs of being a metamorphagus instead of a werewolf, although the novelty soon wore off as the toddler struggled to control his emotions, and therefore also hadn't got a handle on his physical form.
"I said I'd tuck him in tonight Dora, of course I'll go up." Hermione smiled to herself at the couple. Dora was good for Remus, who was by far the most caring man she knew, and the two were inseparable. That was the reason for their joint position as teachers at Hogwarts. They both wanted to spend time with teddy, and both knew they couldn't stay away from each other for long. Plus, there was little work as an auror, and Tonks had wanted a more relaxed environment to raise Teddy.
"I wanted to tonight, it's his last night here before we move in properly at Hogwarts."
"I know, but- "
"No buts." She spoke firmly, stopping what could become a common depressive train of thought in Remus' mind. "he's my responsibility too, and the full moon was only a few nights ago. You need your strength we have a busy day tomorrow." Remus tightened his grip around her at that, and held her hand gently, smiling lovingly at his beloved wife.
"You okay Hermione? You seem a little quiet." Sirius asked from his armchair by the fire.
"Yeah, just a bit of first day nerves I guess. It'll be weird going back alone."
"You've got Ginny though, and me and Remus." Tonks spoke up.
"Yeah I know. It's good to go back, I miss Hogwarts."
"You'll have to have dinner with me and Tonks whilst you're there, maybe like once a week. Sirius, you should come too. That way we all stay close. I doubt Minerva will have a problem with that, given you're old enough to have left school 'Mione."
"That sounds great thanks Remus. There'll be a funny mix of ages in seventh year, with pupils repeating a year."
"I know." He spoke softly," plus the school has much lower numbers. People are still reluctant of the safety after everything that happened. It's sad really, Hogwarts was the safest place in the country."
"Yeah I know. So much has changed in so little time."
"It'll get better though." Remus grinned at his wife, "as Dora seems to insist on reminding me whenever I stop smiling."
Tonks poked his ribs playfully chuckled. "It's because," she said between pokes "you have a resting sad face that looks like you've been slapped by a soggy haddock."
Sirius and Hermione shared a grin at the couple, before the two decided to leave Remus and Tonks to their poking fight and head to bed, saying farewell along the way.
Hermione entered her room, breathing a last farewell to the place as she got changed and into bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.
The sun woke Hermione up early, soft dawn light creasing onto her duvet as she stretched her legs out comfortably. The time was seven am, and she rose, seeing an owl tap softly at her window. She let it in, and gave the owl a knut before getting the letter from its claw. It was not a Hogwarts owl, she noticed, which was odd given the familiar crest on the envelope, and the owl was missing the Hogwarts ankle tag that marked the school owls. It was a tawny owl, and one she had never seen before, with a black tag marking its ankle that she also didn't recognise.
Although it was curious, she had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the letter, which was from Professor McGonagall, and it read,
Dear Miss Granger,
I hope this letter finds you well. Upon your return to Hogwarts, please meet me in my office, to discuss some important matters. I am also delighted to inform you that you have been selected as Head Girl, along with Neville Longbottom as head boy. Congratulations, you both deserve it so much. I know you wish to floo to Hogwarts, but because of your headgirlship, I would rather you take the train with Mr Longbottom.
Kind Regards, Professor Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
She grinned widely at being made head girl, she had hope it might be her, and it made her heart flutter with joy. The train journey would be pleasant too, and if it was her last opportunity, she supposed it would be nice to have a final train journey.
Skipping into the kitchen, a bemused Tonks and Molly smiled at her happiness, whilst Teddy morphed his her brown and curly, just like hers.
"Have a good sleep 'Mione?" Tonks enquired grinning,
"Better. I've been made head girl!" Tonks grinned and Molly squealed, hugging her tightly.
"Well done dear, you really deserve it. Now, have some pancakes, we need to fatten you up for the journey." A mountainous stack of chocolate chip pancakes appeared in front of the three (or four if you count Teddy) and they tucked in to the meal happily.
A little later, and the others also came down, congratulating Hermione on her news and wishing her luck for the train trip, for which she would have to leave early. With a broad smile, she said her goodbyes and flooed to the station with her case, ready for the long journey.
She arrived, a little disoriented from the floo, and stepped from the concealed fireplace in the station, which was hidden from muggles.
Before she was in plain sight however, a crack behind her made her jump with fear, as a hand covered her mouth and a spell was muttered softly from sly lips, knocking her unconscious.
When Hermione woke, all she was sat in a dark cell with no natural light and a thin bulb hanging from the ceiling. Afraid and confused, she searched her person for her wand, but couldn't find it, and her breathing quickened as she tried to work out what had happened.
Why would someone do this? How would anyone even know that she was getting the train? She wondered, before remembering the unfamiliar owl that had delivered her letter, informing her of the changed transport plans. Had it been intercepted? Forged? The happiness of being head girl quickly faded with the realisation that she may not make it back to Hogwarts alive or sane.
Questions swirled in her head when the door suddenly opened, and a masked figure wearing death eater clothes grabbed her chained hands and dragged her stumbling out of the room and down a corridor.
There can't be death eaters. Hermione thought to herself fearfully. Who would they serve? Why? She continued silently long the dimly lit corridor when she was taken into another room, with a cold metal table in the centre.
She was forced to sit, and magical bounds pinned her to the location as she was gagged with a cloth. She was left alone, before shortly after another man was brought through. Her eyes widened at the sight as she recognised him.
It was Snape.
With a bruised eye, he looked a little worse for wear, and his eyes widened as he saw her, before he too was gagged and bound, a few feet next to her.
Before she had time to analyse the situation, a face she recognised well entered the room, with more masked death eaters following. It was Lucius Malfoy.
"Good day, Miss Granger, professor Snape." He greeted icily, and the death eaters stood behind him in a line, watching behind their masks. The room was chilled, but this wasn't what sent a shiver down Hermione's spine.
As he saw they were unable to reply, he continued. "Now, I have spent the last few months trying to formulate some sort of revenge for you, Severus." He said the name as if it were poison, the syllables rolling off his tongue with utter contempt.
"First, you betray my master, and play an important part in his downfall. This would be bad enough, but you also turn my son into an ally of the wrong side, causing his and my wife's betrayal."
Severus paled, knowing Malfoy was out for revenge. Cold, hard, merciless revenge.
"How, I wonder, can we get payment for your crimes?" he paced in front of them, mock thinking on his face. Hermione knew he had an answer.
Without explanation, he began to murmur incantations. Hermione had no idea what they meant, only that she felt cold daggers slicing the surface of her skin. Dark magic? She wondered, but what she didn't know.
She glanced towards Snape, and wished she hadn't. He knew, that much was obvious from his struggling and the horror in his eyes. The physical pain they both felt hardly seeming to affect him, she could tell this magic couldn't mean good things.
After a moment of insufferable silence, Lucius stopped, a pleased look on his evil face.
"Severus, kindly inform Miss Granger of the spell I just performed." He removed their gags, and the death eaters left the room. Only Lucius, her and Snape remained.
"I-I don't know what it was." He said, but Lucius smacked him across the face, leaving angry mark on his cheek.
"Don't lie to me, or it'll be the cruciatus curse."
"Well. Miss Granger, erm…" She looked at him as he trailed off, trying to control her breathing.
"What was it Professor?"
"A soul bond. A very old, very dark type of magic. You won't have found books on it, it's too ancient."
She paled slightly. Looking at Lucius with fear in her brown eyes, she asked him, "What does it mean?"
"Well Miss Granger," Lucius replied smugly, "you and Severus here have been bonded. Your souls are now connected, so you feel each other's pain, and hear their thoughts. These thoughts take effect a week after the bond."
"Why would you do that though? What's the point?"
"Well I haven't reached the best part yet. I wish to hurt Severus as much as possible: in a way that requires him to have to hurt someone else. True revenge will be eternal. The full bonding requires a physical aspect." The pit of Hermione's stomach dropped and she glanced at Severus who was looking down at his hands, even paler than usual.
"To consummate your bond, like in a marriage if you wish, you must bond physically after the verbal bond. Then, this physical bond must be repeated every week, or more often, forever. If you don't, you will both die. If you bond with another person or intimately touch them, you will also both die." Hermione felt like her stomach had dropped and she was falling off a very high skyscraper.
Then, with a flick of his wand, Lucius threw her across the room, removed her clothes and bound her magically to the cold table. She screamed, but no one was there to hear her.
"I am aware, that you may require some, encouragement to fulfil this act. I will kindly assist. Imperius." He spoke, pointing his wand at Snape, who fell into the trance. Under Lucius' orders, he approached Hermione, a blank expression on his face.
Lucius' eyes glinted evilly as Snape dropped his trousers, climbing onto the table. She closed her eyes, ignoring the pain of him thrusting into her roughly, ignoring the laughs of Lucius. She ignored the tears rolling down her cheeks as her virginity was take, ignored the pain of him entering her again and again, ignored the bruises forming on her wrists and thighs and waist where his hands gripped her too tightly.
She ignored everything, painfully numb as she was overwhelmed, everything was too much. She was unaware of the sobs wracking her body as he finished inside of her with a groan before he slid off her shaking, naked body. Lucius dragged Severus from the room, and she was alone once more, passing out through sheer vulnerability when everything became too much to handle.
She woke with a start, opening her eyes to the feeling of her clothes being put on magically and Lucius removing the bounds, moving her against her will to stand in front of him and keeping her there.
She couldn't speak, but looked fearfully into his cold eyes, trembling a little as she tried to steel her fractured nerves.
"Well now revenge has been done, filthy mud blood. Severus has returned to the castle, and is eating at the feast as we speak." She shuddered at the mention of his name and then panic rose as she realised she was missing from the feast. How could she explain her absence? What would she do? No one could find out, it would be too painful.
"You too shall be returned to the castle, and I shall let you make your explanations to your friends and teachers explaining your missing presence. Your case is here, and I have dressed you in your school uniform, discarding your horrible muggle attire. Do not try to find us, this has been the death eater's last mission, and we will not be traceable. You know how to apparate, so I suggest you do so and get out of my sight, your dirty blood disgusts me." He pulled a face, handing her her wand as she stood, completely perplexed. "Enjoy the revenge, Severus has earned it…" he said, disapparating into a black cloud as she was left alone with her thoughts.
Once she had calmed slightly – enough to apparate - she apparated just outside the school grounds, hurrying inside and unsure where to go. She's somehow gathered enough strength not to splinch herself, but her resolve was fading fast. Everything was so overwhelming, she had no idea where to go or what time it was or if the feast was done. She walked briskly down the corridor, heading in the direction of the common room – she couldn't go to the feast now, it would be too obvious if she made an entrance.
She couldn't talk to anyone either, it had to be secret she was too ashamed of what had happened. Where would she go? She had no idea.
Then a door she recognised only too well appeared, it was the room of requirement.
Remus Lupin and Tonks sat at the table in the great hall, growing incredibly anxious as to the whereabouts of Hermione Granger. She hadn't arrived by train, Neville had said when he reported to McGonagall, and the headmistress had put out a search party for the aurors to try to track her down, but it was unsuccessful. They had no leads, no one knew where she could be or how she could have disappeared.
Trembling fingers gripped their cutlery as they tried to eat, they had given a wave after brief introductions to the pupils, whose warm response had been ignored for the worry in the pits of their stomach. They had fed Teddy, who was in his high chair asleep, and after not too long the feast was over.
All the students exited excitedly, and so did the professors after not too long, leaving Tonks and Remus with McGonagall. Snape lingered for a moment, and Lupin asked him if everything was okay before he grunted and left. Remus caught a strange scent from Snape, but was unable to pinpoint it as the pale, deathly looking man quickly exited the great hall. He couldn't recall what the scent reminded him of, but shook it from his mind, focusing on Hermione.
"Remus, Tonks, hello." McGonagall smiled, nerves showing through on her face. Hermione was a dear student to her, and she couldn't bear it if something had happened.
"Still no news?" asked Tonks dejectedly, the young woman was growing worried for Hermione's wellbeing, there had to be a reason for her absence.
"No, unfortunately not Tonks, Remus?" the older woman questioned the man, who was staring at the windows that led to the outskirts of the grounds.
"I think I can smell her. Sorry that sounds so horrible, but she's in the castle."
"But where, the castle is huge!" Tonks cried, a little less worried, but still anxious.
"Minerva, do you still have the marauders map confiscated?"
Umbridge had taken the map after her year at the school, leaving it in the head's office. The three of them retrieved the map, and sure enough there was Hermione, in the room of requirement.
"Why would she go there? Shall we go and find her?" Tonks asked, glad the girl was now on the grounds.
"I think perhaps you should go, Tonks. She is quite close to you and might find you the easiest to talk to."
Nymphadora nodded. "Remus, can you put Teddy to bed please? I'll go and see her."
"Of course, good luck, call us if you need." He gave her a brief kiss before she left.
After a minute of conversation between Minerva and Remus, there was a knock at the door, before a rather pained Severus walked in.
"Severus, what is wrong? Are you okay?" the older woman asked, worried at the expression on his face.
"I'll go put Teddy to bed. Ask Dora to let me know if she manages to find Hermione." Remus said, sensing his presence was unwanted for the conversation, and he left, Teddy on his hip.
"Why do I get the feeling that this has something to do with Hermione?" Minerva asked softly, gesturing for Severus to sit opposite her in the armchair. Instead, he stood facing the opposite direction looking out of the window to the black lake, and explained everything that had happened to the older woman.
"Oh Severus…" she responded once he had finished. Snape was – despite what everyone thought – a good man, and the fact that they both would have to do this against their will for the rest of their lives was something that troubled Minerva immensely.
"Please, do not inform the others of the exact, arrangements. I have a plan for the weekly meetings we must make."
"I won't, don't worry. And, go on."
"Well, due to the unexplained absence of Miss Granger, I think if you say she was tortured by the death eaters, that would be wise, after all, it's accurate." He ignored her disagreements and carried on. "Tell the staff that, and that I am teaching her occlumency to help her to block out thoughts caused from the event. You could say I… found her at the Malfoy manor, if you wish."
"I must say, that is a good plan Severus. Now, I must find Miss Granger and Tonks, to help make sure matters are well informed. "
"Very well. Goodnight, and thank you, Minerva."
"No problem, and I'm sorry Severus, none of this is your fault, remember that."
He disappeared without a word, and Minerva headed to the room of requirement's supposed location, finding Tonks outside. No door was there, but sobbing could be heard from inside.
"Hello, Minerva. Is everything okay?"
"I had a word with Severus, he informed me of what happened to Hermione. It's well… I think you should get Remus and I'll let you both know. He wasn't there, but arrived afterwards as he thought she may have been taken by the death eaters. They had indeed taken her."
Around an hour later, and Remus and Minerva sat on the sofa in their living quarters, next to a pacing Tonks with angry crimson hair.
"The poor girl. To be tortured at such a young age, and with the cruciatus too! I thought the death eaters were gone! Why would they do that! I'm going to kill them when I get my hands on them… that Malfoy won't be the same…" she rattled on until Remus stood, stopping her.
"Sweetheart, please try to stay calm. We can help Hermione, but only if we are strong enough to be there for her."
These words soothed Tonks, who sat once more in a chair, checking the marauders map. Hermione had been in the same spot for some time, and it was decided again that Tonks would go and get her, bringing her back to the hospital wing where she would stay tonight so she could be watched over.
Unbeknownst to the couple, whilst Tonks got Hermione Minerva had informed Madam Pomfrey of the real truth, knowing the woman with such a great medical experience would likely work it out on her own. The Healer had been horrified at the truth, and immediately prepared a bed for the female student who would arrive shortly. She – much to the headmistress' relief – had not blame Severus, after all, what could be done? There was no way out and being angry would only worsen things.
"'Mione?" Tonks knocked on the door which had appeared from the room, and heard a muffled cry of pain before she gave up waiting for a response and entered. The room of requirement was changed into a bedroom, not unlike the staff quarters, and Hermione was curled into a little ball against the wall, sobbing quietly.
Tonks approached the younger woman cautiously, not wanting to alarm her. "Hermione, it's Tonks. Don't worry, I won't hurt you, I just want to know you're okay."
Hermione lifted up her head and looked at Tonks fearfully. She nodded once, wiping her tears and sniffing before speaking, "I'm alright, it's okay."
"It's not okay, but it's going to be now, you're safe, the death eaters can't get you now."
"What do you mean? Wait, how do you know what happened?" she stood, backing away from Tonks, scared.
"McGonagall told me that Snape brought you back here after the death eaters tortured you. 'Mione it's okay, I won't hurt you, I promise I wouldn't do that."
Hermione mentally steeled herself at that moment. Snape hasn't told everyone, it's okay, she thought, relieved. She neared Tonks, smiling lightly.
"Sorry, I've been a bit upset. I know you wouldn't hurt me, you and Remus are both so kind."
"It's nothing, and we're only as kind as you are." Tonks was relieved to see the girl calm a little and stop backing away. "Now, Remus gave me a present to give to you." She said with a small grin and pulled out a chocolate bar for the girl. They sat next to each other on the bed as she ate it, and Hermione felt blessed for how kind the older woman was; what a great mother she was to Teddy and what a great professor she would make.
Maybe, she thought to herself hopefully, it would all be okay in the end.
