ONE
The fact that they were gathered in Malfoy Manor instead of Riddle Manor was enough to alert Severus Snape that something was wrong. He also noticed an extra among the ranks.
"Step forward." The Dark Lord hissed.
The extra did just that and knelt, forehead very nearly touching the floor.
"What information have you brought me on the Target?"
Severus watched the extra wince and deepen the bow currently set.
"None, my Lord. The Target has been restless as of late and refuses to talk to anyone about it. I have tried everything I can think of to loosen his tongue." Another wince followed the words.
Surprise took over Severus as he noticed the extra was a woman. And a young one, too. He'd be willing to bet she was not even twenty years of age.
"Crucio!"
The girl screamed out, seizing up. After ten seconds, the Dark Lord released her and stood over her.
"Have you tried seduction?"
"N-no, m-my Lord. It would only cause suspicion of me." She was careful not to look at him.
The Dark Lord turned away and his eyes swept over his ranks. "Show this filth what happens when she defies her Master."
She was hit with no less than thirty Cruciatuses at once. While her body thrashed around. Her eyes searched for and locked with Severus's. Immediately he realized he was her focal point and froze. Without a focal point, he wasn't sure she would survive, much less stay awake.
No one cast a Silencer on her. The more vicious Death Eaters like Dolohov and Bellatrix loved the sound of a person screaming in pain.
Unfortunately for the girl, the Dark Lord dismissed Severus early to finish any potions needed for the Final Battle.
Her screams echoed in his head as he put the potions under a stasis charm ten minutes later. The last time he had received a beating like that was when he failed to give adequate information on Potter.
If she's spying on Potter, she's a student. But where would she return? The Gates!
Severus grabbed his cloak and started running. He heard the pop of Apparation just as he got outside the doors.
He could see her fall and he slowly walked forward, wand out. Her mask was still on.
"P-professor?"
Her voice was weak and she still had the stutter from the Cruciatus. He wasn't surprised in the slightest at this, but he still didn't move. "You're mask is still on. I can't assist you if I don't know who you are."
"R-right. S-sorry." She waved her wand over her mask and it disappeared.
Severus crossed his arms and leaned on the tree next to him. "Well, this is unexpected. Isn't it, Miss Granger?"
Hermione went to nod, but her body was racked with convulsions. Another after-effect of the Cruciatus. She bit her lip to keep from yelling out, drawing blood. This propelled Severus forward.
He gathered her in his arms and instinctively went towards the Hospital Wing.
"A-are you mad? W-we can't go there!" Hermione whispered.
"Right. I forgot you aren't a normal student after all." He couldn't keep the bite out of his words even if he tried. Even so, he changed directions, this time heading to the dungeons.
"N-no need t-to be so r-rude, you know. Ten minutes of the C-Cruciatus is quite enough pain for me, thanks." There was enough sarcasm to be detected through her stutter, which was getting progressively worse.
"Why the hell did you join the Death Eaters, then? Surely you know it will only get worse?"
"To protect Harry. I was sick of not being included in the Order's meetings and not being told vital information."
"So you decided to go straight to the source?"
"Exactly."
"How did you manage to get in anyway? No offense intended, but you're a Muggle-born, Miss Granger."
"No shit, Sherlock." She said under her breath. Louder, she continued, "A few false memories did the trick for dear old Tom."
By that time, they reached his classroom door. He kicked it open and did the same with his office and chamber doors.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Did you honestly think I slept in a coffin, Miss Granger? I'm taking you to the only comfortable place in this part of the dungeons so I can heal you." He set her down on his bed and looked at her. "Unless you want to stay bruised and beaten until the next meeting?"
"I'm not a masochist, Professor. And I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I very much appreciate you healing me, so by all means proceed."
He left the room and came back with several potions, making her drink all but one of them. The Veritaserum. When he was satisfied with his healing spells, he went over to the fireplace and threw a pinch of Floo Powder in it. He stuck his head in.
"What is it, Severus? It is very late, you know."
Hermione's eyes doubled when she heard the voice.
"I require your immediate assistance, Albus. It is of highest importance."
"I'll be through in a second. Back up."
Severus did so and looked back at Hermione.
"NO! You can't go to him!"
"Technically, he's coming here, Miss Granger. And how long did you honestly think you could keep this a secret with a spy in the castle?"
The fire burned green and Headmaster Dumbledore stepped through. Hermione hid behind the couch and almost stopped breathing all together.
"Severus, what is so important that you have to interrupt me on a Friday night? You know what I had planned."
"Forgive me, Albus, but I don't need the details. We have a major problem." He turned toward the couch that Hermione was hiding behind. "You can come out. He's not going to hurt you, you know."
"Easy for you to say, Mr. Spy-for-the-Order. I, on the other hand, don't really want to risk it." Hermione hissed.
"Is that Miss Granger, Severus?"
"I'm not sure. I've come to the conclusion that she's, for lack of a better phrase, lost her marbles."
Hermione shot up from her hiding spot. "I have not! This wouldn't have happened if someone told me what the hell was going on!"
Severus took advantage of her vulnerable position and grabbed her arm, flinging her on the couch. "No, this was you being stupid! Do realize just how much you're risking for this? You aren't even supposed to be doing this!"
"Severus, what is going on?" Albus shouted.
Hermione froze and looked at Severus. He glared at her.
"You show him or I will, Miss Granger."
She shook her head and put her arms behind her back. She was biting her lip again.
"Don't make me put that Veritaserum to use and force you." His voice didn't rise, but got even lower.
Hermione's eyes widened. She knew she was in serious shit when his voice got that low. She did the only thing she could think of: run.
He beat her to the door and forced her back on the couch face down. His body covered hers and he pinned her right arm behind her and shoved the sleeve on her left arm up.
Albus gasped. The Dark Mark was clear as day on her arm in the firelight. "Oh, child. What have you done?"
Hermione growled at Severus. "Get off me. You're hurting me."
He snapped back. "You got hit with at least thirty Cruciatus's for ten minutes and you call this pain? Maybe you have lost your mind!"
"I didn't feel the first half of it, you twit! You were my focal point!"
"I also saved your ass when you came back! Don't forget that, Miss Granger."
"Gods, Snape! I have a name; you can call me by it for once!"
"I'd rather remind you that I'm older than you and know what a stupid mistake you've made!"
"You fucking told on me!"
"What the hell else was I supposed to do? Let you get yourself killed?"
"NO! You were supposed to let me DO MY JOB! Now GET OFF ME!"
With strength Severus didn't know she possessed, she twisted around him and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into the wall opposite them. She scrambled off the couch and breathed deep breaths.
Severus groaned as he got up. He couldn't move his left arm. Little chit dislocated my shoulder!
You should have gotten off of me the first time I asked, then.
Can you hear my thoughts, Miss Granger? He looked at her face. Her eyes were still narrowed, but she was trying to read his face, as well.
So it would seem. Can I go now?
He growled. "NO! You fucking dislocated my shoulder!"
"For someone who's under the Cruciatus more often than I am, you should have no trouble with it!" She straightened out her robes and went over to him. Slowly, she examined his shoulder. "You need to go to Madam Pomfrey. She could fix this better than I can."
"Why would I allow you anywhere near me, anyway?"
"Cut the shit, Snape. I am less than a foot away from you now and you're not even moving away."
"That's because you have a death grip on my robes. Let go."
"Only if you promise to leave me to my job and not blow my cover at the next meeting. I can't afford any mistakes."
"You honestly plan on going back? You truly have lost your mind!"
"I can't very well walk away, now can I? If he calls, I must be there!"
"We can get you out of this, Miss Granger." Albus said quietly.
Hermione turned on him and put her hands on her hips. "Did you ever think that I wanted to be in this? Nobody in this hellhole tells me anything! For once, I know what's going on and can prevent things from happening!"
"And what if you get caught? Did you think about the punishments the Dark Lord can come up with?"
"Of course I did." Hermione spat. "I've been on the receiving end of several wands already as you witnessed tonight, Snape." She let go of his robes and walked over to the fire. "If there's more than one spy in his ranks, then there's less of a chance of either of us getting caught."
Severus didn't like it, but he knew she was right. "Hermione, please. Get yourself out before you get killed."
Her eyes softened for a split second. Just as quickly she set her mask back up. "I can't. You know better than anyone that I can't just walk away. But maybe I can be of some use to the Order."
Severus looked to Albus, who was looking over Hermione slowly. He knew this could only end one way…