Hello readers! So here's the deal: I've been trying to write my own story, but this one keeps popping up and won't let me alone until I write what I've got down. Since I had to write it down, if it's any good I figure I'll post it. So, if you're reading this, I felt it might be worth posting. I've had some comments from people who don't realize this is fanfiction, so I'll say it right here: I may not own the characters, surroundings, or Harry Potter universe, but the plot does not follow a lot of the books. The plot is original, so far as I know. If you've got a problem with that, don't read it. I did borrow a few pieces of plot from the original works.
For the rest of you lovely people, here is my SS/HG story. I hope you enjoy. :)
- Prologue
Black blood spilled from two puncture wounds onto the black cloth below. It made the cloth even darker, if possible. Three teenagers stood around the man on the floor with the puncture wounds in his neck, and the man on the floor said something to one of the teenagers, a boy with black hair.
"A bottle Hermione, hurry!" The boy with black hair urged. The only girl there, Hermione Jane Granger summoned up a bottle and handed it to the boy with black hair.
"Be careful, Harry." Hermione cautioned. Ignoring her, he held the bottle to the place where the silver liquid dripped out. When no more memories flowed from the man on the floor, and he started to shudder, the two teenage boys stood up. Hermione looked quickly at the man. He wouldn't last long. The three left the shack, hurrying towards the castle. Hermione paused, patting her pockets.
"Harry, Ron, go on without me. I left my wand in the shack." She called to them. Their long legs had already carried them ahead of her, making the shout necessary. They didn't slow, but Harry waved a hand over his head in acknowledgement.
"Be careful, Hermione." Her other best friend, Ronald Weasely called back over his shoulder.
"I will." She promised. Then she turned and dashed back inside. Kneeling down in front of the dying man once more, she took a small vial out of her pocket.
"You'll have to ignore that this is only an acceptable potion for now, Professor. I haven't time to brew on to your exact specifications. Besides, I'm out of bezoars. Used the last one yesterday." She whispered, holding the vial under the puncture wounds. A drop of the black blood rolled down the inside of the vial. When it hit the potion, the potion hissed and fizzed, turning an angry blood red. Next Hermione took a small pocket knife from her sneaker and poked her ring finger carefully. Three drops of blood fell from her finger and into the vial. The potion turned a bright spring green when the blood mixed in, and Hermione quickly put the vial next to the man's mouth. Long fangs had already extended downward in his mouth, starting the instant she'd poked her finger. Quickly she put the tube under one and allowed the fang to soak up the potion. The puncture wounds on the side of the man's neck started to close over, and the black blood stopped flowing. Quickly she made a slash across her wrist and held it under his nose. Without waking, the man was attached to her wrist faster than she could blink. The sensation was almost painful, the blood being pulled from her body in need instead of absorbed as her heart pumped it.
The man's eyes slowly drifted open as the potion and her blood did their work. His eyes widened in horror as he realized he was feeding on her, and he jerked backwards. He stared at her in horror, and then looked down at her wrist. It was obviously cut, and not just bitten, because the bloody line extended between and beyond both punctures in her wrist. Watching her carefully, he leaned forward and licked the cut and punctures. After the careful brushing of tongue, the wound sealed over as thought it'd never been there.
"Why?" He whispered softly, eyes full of sorrow.
"You were dying." She answered simply, standing. "I can't do more for you now, but I advise you hide until after this is over. Dumbledore's plan didn't involve everyone seeing you come back from the dead. Don't tell anyone I helped you, the boys would never forgive me. Even after what you gave him, I'm sure." Hermione ordered. The man's eyes hardened slightly.
"Why would I willingly tell anyone that you saved me? It would only put your life in danger, and I now owe you a life debt." The man grumbled.
"Because, Professor Snape, you don't owe me anything. It's war, and you've certainly saved enough people's lives to more than make up for it. Besides, you saved my life before. With Professor Lupin, remember? Consider it even." Hermione scolded, still in a hushed voice.
"I didn't save you, Black did. I owe you a life debt. I won't forget, Miss Granger." Severus Snape vowed.
"You don't owe me anything. I have to go, Harry needs me." Hermione replied, standing and striding from the shack once more. Severus Snape leaned back against the wall with a groan. His body hurt like a thousand fiery suns were trying to consume him.
"It doesn't work that way, Miss Granger. You'll see." He grumbled. But Miss Granger was gone to help with the fighting.
"Does anyone stand for the accused?" A bored judge asked.
"No one, your honor. As I was saying to the wizengamot, Mr. Severus Snape is being charged with the murder of Albus Dumbledore, as well as being a Death Eater under Tom Riddle's direction. Time and again he did ruthlessly and without mercy torture and kill hundreds of innocent Muggles, Witches, and Wizards." A lawyer intoned from a scroll.
"Objection!" Called a feminine voice from the doors. Everyone looked up in shock to see Hermione Granger, one of the golden trio who defeated Voldemort, striding through the doors.
"Are you the accused's council?" The judge demanded. Before Hermione could answer, the accused did himself, from the chair he was chained in.
"No. She does not speak for me." He growled, throwing her a glare.
"Then I fail to see your right to object, Miss Granger. Besides, an underage Witch hardly has a place at a trial such as this." The lawyer laughed.
"You will find my law credentials to be quite satisfactory, I believe, your honor. If the bailiff would...?" Hermione replied calmly, holding up a stack of scrolls. The bailiff came forward and took the scrolls over to a small desk next to the judge's chair. An elderly witch seated there performed numerous counterfeit and anti-curse charms on the documents. When the documents shone with the light of true legal documents, they were handed to the judge.
"Very well, Miss Granger. So you are a qualified lawyer. Just who, in this case, are you representing?" The judge asked with a sigh. It was well known that Hermione Granger was not a person you took lightly, and hadn't been ever since the wizengamot had tried to sentence Harry Potter with illegal magic several years ago.
"I represent Mr. Albus Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts, leader of the Order of the Phoenix, leader of Dumbledore's Army, A Magus of the highest order, a graduate of ..."Hermione began, listing off the full titles as was necessary in a legal case.
"Indeed, and where is the paper work signed by the deceased which allows you to handle his affairs, even after he has passed on?" The judge asked.
"It is the last paper in the pile you have been given." Hermione responded, coming forward to stand level with the other lawyer, except on the opposite side of Severus Snape. The judge flipped the stack over, wondering if he'd missed the paper in his previous reading of the papers. Finding the indicated document, he went over it.
"Very well. And how is it that you are involved in this case, Ms. Granger?" The judge demanded, impatience getting the better of him. At the news that Hermione did, indeed, speak for Albus Dumbledore, conversations had spread like wildfire across the room. At his question, however, there was total silence. Everyone wanted this answer. Everyone wanted to know what Albus Dumbledore could possibly have had to say to or about his murderer.
"Knowing that this judgment day was coming, if Tom Riddle was defeated, Mr. Albus Dumbledore wished to present his side of the case, as well as his witness. The witness sheet is in that stack as well as two lawful signatures to the authenticity. It has also been notarized. He also wished to have his will presented. His true will. The short version was given the council shortly after his death, as the full version of his will indicated should be done. Now that the trial is here, the full version is to be presented, as indicated in the will. If your honor will allow me to bring forth the witness's presentation, please." Hermione stated calmly. The judge made a gesture which clearly said : Go ahead. Hermione took from her robes a small globe, much like one of the ones that could be found in the room of prophecies. She brought the globe forward and smashed it to the ground in front of the judge's box. A small puff of smoke flowed up from the shattered remains of the globe, and twisted around to form a circle about six feet off the ground. In the center of the picture floated a vision of the man himself, Albus Dumbledore.
"Hello all," he said calmly. "My name is Albus Dumbledore, as you already know. I am here to tell the truth of the matter concerning Severus Snape's roll in both my death and in his involvement with Tom Riddle. As has already been established in a previous case, Severus Snape was a spy for my order against Tom Riddle. The evidence that he was still a spy until the end of the war is in the stack of documents my lawyer, Ms. Hermione Granger as she is called now, has given to the judge. As for the matter of my death..." Here Dumbledore paused, and everyone seemed to hold his breath. He rolled his sleeve back and presented his withered and deformed black arm.
"I have been cursed by a magical object which Tom Riddle himself created. It will eventually be the death of me, and I have sworn Severus Snape to end my life swiftly before I can ever feel the entirety of pain which this curse will inflict upon me. It will be, or was in your time, a mercy killing. Also, I forced Severus to kill me by means of blackmail which I hold, or held, over his head. I also told him that if he did not kill me, I would Imperio him into doing it, as I cannot cast magic on myself. Therefor, Severus Snape is not to blame for my death. Instead, it should be looked upon as what it truly is: a suicide. I thank you all for listening to my testimony, and hope that should you have further questions they will be addressed to my lawyer, who is a witness to the blackmailing of Severus Snape, and will have further details." Dumbledore concluded. The smoke drifted back into the little glass ball. All the little glass shards came back together and it rose back into Hermione's hands. She retreated to her spot across from the accusing lawyer.
"Bailiff, if you would take the evidence from Miss Granger and bring it here, please." The judge ordered. The bailiff did as requested, and the judge eyed the ball. "The council will now retreat to discuss the new evidence provided and possible sentencing. In the meantime, I suggest the Prosecutor go over whatever else he may have to bring forth for consideration." The judge added. All the members of the Wizengamot stood and filed out of two doors on the side of the room. Then murmurs and excited babble broke out on the stands. Severus Snape turned to the girl, barely seventeen, and sighed.
"Just how did you end up getting involved in all of this, Miss Granger? Why would Albus make you his legal council?" He asked, his eyes training upon a small beetle pin on Miss Granger's robes with surprise. He did not recall Miss Granger ever being the type for jewelry.
"Because he knew any suspected lawyer or legal council of his would be killed, as many of them have been. If you think I was the only Lawyer he originally hired, think again. I'm simply the only one who knows all the details and who yet survives." Hermione replied grimly.
They waited in silence grimly while the audience chattered and the prosecutor shuffled through his notes. All of his evidence had already been given, Hermione knew. He'd been wrapping up when she entered. Just as she had intended.
Finally, after what must have been several hours, the Wizengamot trotted back in. Several looked disgruntled, and Hermione hid her smile. She had read over each and every one of those documents of evidence, and knew several family members of the Wizengamot had been saved by Severus Snape. She suspected the reason it took so long for them to come to a decision involved flu calls to said family members. Once they were all seated, the judge raised his wand for silence. When he had it, he held his wand to his throat to make his voice loud and clear.
"Has the prosecutor any more evidence?" The judge asked.
"No, Your Honor." The lawyer sighed.
"Has the Council any more evidence?" The judge addressed Hermione.
"No, Your Honor." She replied.
"Has the accused anything to add?" The judge demanded, almost as though daring Snape to say anything.
"I plead guilty, Your Honor." Severus replied without emotion. Several gasps echoed through the chamber.
"Very well. Based upon all the evidence provided, and the plea of the witness, the council has come to a decision. Everything was still and silent, many leaned forward in their seats. Hands gripped rails tightly, and even those next in line to be judged looked upset.
"In the case of Severus Snape Versus England, the charges being that he attempted to help Tom Riddle, known as Voldemort, to over throw the government...He is found Not Guilty." The room was still silent, but it was a rather stunned silence.
"In the case of Severus Snape versus Dumbledore for the murder of Albus Dumbledore, he is found GUILTY WITH EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES," a roar rose from the audience as this was proclaimed, almost drowning out even the judge's magically loudened voice. The judge continued regardless. "...and is sentenced to ten years labor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts was Dumbledore's lifelong achievement and goal, as well as being the known place to be Severus Snape's least favorite place on earth. Therefore the council finds it appropriate that he be sentenced to work there for ten more years as potions master or defense against the dark arts teacher, or Nurse, depending on what the school currently needs and the judgment of it's current Headmistress, Mistress McGonagall." The judge proclaimed.
"Should Severus Snape fail to meet the terms of his sentence, he will serve eleven years in Azkaban." The judge added, meeting Severus's eyes, and then Hermione's. When his eyes met Hermione's, he bowed his head slightly. Hermione smiled and tipped her own head in acknowledgement. The bailiff waved his wand and the chains holding Severus Snape disappeared. The bailiff and two aurors led Snape from the room. He looked back over his shoulder at Miss Granger, who was watching him go. He knew she wouldn't be able to hear him over the noise, but he said the words anyways. He had no doubt she would mistake what he'd said.
"That's twice, Miss Granger. I won't forget." He promised. She just shook her head and left the court by a different door.
One Year Later.
"Very well, you may scrub out your cauldrons and replace any ingredients you have used. My congratulations on making it to your graduation, especially to those of you who had to return to finish up a year due to the war." Severus Snape said to his year seven class. Everyone began to put away their things, hurrying in their excitement to reach the graduation feast that night.
"Miss Granger, you will remain behind." Professor Severus Snape called out. With a sigh, the girl turned back from the door and trudged to the front. Snape said nothing to her until everyone else departed and the door was shut.
"Miss Granger, I will no longer be able to see you all the time, as you are Graduating tomorrow. We have yet to resolve the matter of my life debts to you. I should like to know what I can do to repay you. Pay for your college tuition, perhaps? A apprenticeship? Or do you prefer something more long-term? I can certainly set up a trust-fund for you, or return your parent's memories with a draught I know..." He began. Hermione sighed.
"Professor, I've already told you, if you owe me anything, it's only for that time in the shack. As to what I want...I already know the answer. You will not provide me with what I need." She sighed. Snape growled at her.
"Miss Granger, I owe you two life debts, as you have saved my life twice. Whether or not Dumbledore gave you the opportunity for one of those two times. And as such, I can hardly deny you anything you wish." He sighed. Wisely, Hermione chose to ignore the first part of his argument.
"Then...I want you to mark me." She said quickly, holding tightly to the strap of her book bag. For a moment, there was silence, and then Severus's eyes narrowed.
"Are you aware what you are asking for, foolish child?" He demanded in a hiss. Hermione held her ground, even though his black eyes were burning with a fire that she was sure would incinerate her in seconds.
"Yes. Traditionally, it would mean among your kind that I was yours. That I was your...servant. But I only need the mark." She said softly. She didn't allow her voice to quaver.
"Out of the question. My debt to you demands I save your life, not end it. One marked is little better than a slave. Actually, they are worse than a slave. Come back when you are ready to be serious." Severus growled.
"Let me explain, and you'll understand..." Hermione began, and Severus rose to his feet in fury.
"No! I have heard enough. GET OUT!" He cried, and the door flew open. A small tear traced its way down her cheek.
"Okay." She whispered meekly, turning and heading out the door. Severus put his head in his hands as she closed the door quietly behind her.
"She doesn't realize what she's asking for." He whispered to himself, and a small red tear fell down his own face. "I could never do that, even to my worst enemy. I will never, ever, do to them what happened to my mother. She cannot possibly understand..."He moaned. But there was no one to hear, and what he didn't realize was that he was the one who did not understand. How could he have known what awaited her? He began to get an inkling the next day, when Hermione Granger did not show up for graduation. When the valedictorian of the class went missing and could not be found, and remained missing for the next three years.
Chapter One
Severus Snape was on the hunt again. Not a literal hunt, not like any of his kind would define it. Okay, so admittedly he was trying to stalk a human. Also, he would willingly admit that he was intending to capture said human and take her back to his chambers. That was where the similarities ended. For three days ago Severus Snape had spotted Miss Granger in the bookshop in Diagon Alley. He'd watched her surreptitiously from behind his book, and been surprised. She would pick up a book, look at it, and then flip the pages. But her eyes never moved. It was as though she were pretending to read. Then she would place the book back on the shelves and choose another. For half an hour this continued, and then a small watch on her wrist beeped annoyingly. She glanced down, and pushed a button on the watch. Then she turned and left the shop. Snape followed. The girl continued to further frustrate him. It was as though she went through the motions of being Hermione Granger, without actually being her. As though the body itself was doing something it'd been programmed to do since the girls' first year of Hogwarts.
Unfortunately, he'd lost her that day. Instead of leaving by broom or car, she'd left by floo. He did not hear where she went. This morning he'd created a potion that should have told him where she was, but when he poured the potion on a map of London, it illuminated a small graveyard in Worcestershire, as it always had. When he'd seen her, she had not felt like one of the undead. So he gave up on that option. He'd been to the graveyard, and knew that there was indeed a grave stone there for her. So who was this person that acted like Hermione Granger? He'd pulled her old records from Hogwart's expansive files, and taken the Night Bus to her home. To his relief and surprise, Hermione Granger still lived there. He couldn't understand why the shifts of Aurors sent to find her had not found her in her own home. Then, when she left, he tailed her.
So far that day, she'd done seemingly normal Muggle things. She'd taken a run in a local park, gone grocery shopping, and to the library. Now a Muggle stopped her. Obviously a local youth, he seemed to be about Miss Granger's own age. With the excellent hearing of all Vampires, Severus didn't even bother to spell their words louder.
"Aren't you going to college, Hermione? I always pegged you as the sort who was up and coming in the world. Your parents were always bragging how you were the smartest girl your age and you'd go to the most expensive school money could buy." the boy laughed. Miss Granger shook her head and smiled.
"No, I'm living my life exactly as I have. I won't change." She assured the youth, who shook his head in wonder. Severus ignored the rest of the conversation, it didn't seem to pertain to him. Still, he noticed again that the girl said words Hermione Granger would have, but did not follow through. In a way that he couldn't put his finger on, she lacked the essence of Hermione Granger.
The grocery shopping, for example. He thought. She went to the store, picked up items and filled her cart...then left it by the register. Again he shook his head, he just couldn't make sense of it all. He followed her back to her home that evening, and sat outside waiting. He just couldn't shake the sense that he needed to wait.
As the sky darkened, Severus felt a presence approaching. He quickly blended himself in with the shadows, using his powers to hide his own aura. A deeper darkness appeared on the porch of the house, and it kept getting deeper and darker until a man stood there. The man raised his fist and knocked once on the door. Miss Granger answered within seconds.
"Welcome, Master." She said, with a deep curtsy. Severus noted she'd changed into a white nightgown, and rolled his eyes. The man did not say anything, but strode forward and embraced the girl. Severus's fangs slid down in his mouth as the scent of strawberries filled the air. A faint frown marred his features. His fangs extended just a little further, and his tongue darted out to lick his lips automatically. He remembered that taste and the smell of strawberries from the night Granger slit her wrist to save his life. That was not a human man standing on her porch. As he'd guessed, a vampire had indeed marked Miss Hermione Granger. She'd gotten her wish of all those months ago. Severus would bet all he owned and his own life that this Vampire was responsible for the change in her, as well as the grave. She was not one of the undead. It was worse than that. She was a slave of the undead, one who did not exist.
When Miss Granger collapsed, the Vampire caught her and held her up. With anger, Severus noted how rail thin the girl was. He could see how much pain her body was in, as the Vampire dragged the lifes-blood from her. Long after Severus would have thought the girl could have taken such abuse, the vampire lifted his head. He pushed the girl from him, and she struggled to stand upright.
"Now..." He hissed, and his luminescent gold eyes shone with a cruel light. "Who is the man you have been seeing?" He demanded.
"I met a boy on the street who inquired if I would go to college, Master. But I have not met with a man." She answered. The Vampire glared at Granger, and she screamed loudly. The sound bounced against a barrier around the house that Severus had not noticed, and echoed inside that bubble.
"Do not lie to me, slave. I can smell him." The Vampire hissed.
"I ….have not...seen...a man...Master." The girl repeated. After what seemed like hours but was probably only half of one, the Vampire released his hold on the girl.
"I will find this man of yours, slave. And I will rip his beating heart out of his chest. Be he alive or dead, you can be sure I will kill him. Continue doing what you have been doing." The man snarled, then turned and disappeared the opposite of the way he'd come. He stood on the porch and evaporated into the dark.
"Yes, Master." Miss Granger replied. Severus's lip curled. He despised those of his kind like that man. It was for that very reason that he and others of like mind had established the protection laws. It was time to pay a visit to the Elders, he thought. Or rather, the other Elders.
"Gentian Apollo Marris, do you know why you have been called before the Elders?" A man in flowing black robes and leather pants demanded. His pale, bare chest gleamed in the light of the full moon above.
"I do not, Elder Raythorn." The Vampire before the man replied flatly. The man smiled grimly, and his long fangs exposed themselves. Many of the Vampires sitting on either side of him wore similar expressions.
"You stand accused of breaking the laws protecting Slaves from extinction and cruelty." The vampire in leather pants intoned clearly from his position at the top of the dais in the room.
"With all due respect, Elder Raythorn, I have never broken any of the Elders' laws. I wish to know my accuser, that I may defy these false accusations." Gentian replied calmly. Elder Raythorn looked to his comrades on the dais. They all nodded.
"Very well, Elder Severus Snape, you are called to witness." Elder Raythorn commanded in a strong voice. The circle of Vampires behind Gentian moved aside wordlessly. Forward walked Severus Snape, in his arms the limp body of Hermione Granger. He moved to the side and stood the girl on her feet, holding onto her just under her arms. He held her away from his body, so that the rail-thinness of her was apparent. He also knew that every Vampire in that room could feel the struggling heartbeats of one who has had too much drained off them too often and is close to death.
"I am here, Elder Raythorn. And I present my evidence thus. As we are all aware The Marked, or Blood Slaves, are a precious commodity. We cannot mark many because the chance that the humans would notice us, and the Wizards and Witches would take action. Therefore those we do have must be carefully guarded. Hence the law against the misuse of The Marked. This Marked has obviously been misused in every way possible. I move that Gentian Apollo Marris be removed of the slave and renounced of his right to have one." Severus said clearly, and loudly. Most in the audience were looking grim as well. Everyone there remembered what had happened the last time too many blood slaves were taken. Most of them bore the scars from that indecent. Most of them had lost family to it. They all knew the price of a convenient blood slave.
Elder Raythorn closed his eyes, as did the other Elders. It was the first time Severus had not joined the mental link to add his piece to the conversation. This time he did so in order that the verdict delivered could not be construed as his words. When the Elders opened their eyes, Gentian spoke up.
"I demand the trial by combat. Severus Snape has grown weak towards Humans in the time he's spent among them. This one is not so frail as he seems to think she is." Gentian growled.
"You let her starve, Gentian. Don't mistake me for a fool." Severus hissed back. Again the Elders closed their eyes. This time, they spoke.
"Trial by Combat granted. We will allow combat to determine the sentence. Death or freedom." Elder Raythorn announced. All of the watching Vampires melted back, none of them wanted to be caught in the fight. It was unlikely either of the combatants would notice or care. Both obviously felt strongly about their stance. Severus set the girl on the ground. Before Gentian knew what was happening, Severus ripped out his throat. Gentian tried to grab onto Severus, but Severus Snape dodged him nimbly. Severus was far older than Gentian, who although physically older had been turned three decades ago. Severus was a born Vampire, and therefore more powerful. When such things had existed, he'd been considered a member of royalty. Now the Elders ruled, but he was still the most powerful person in the room after Raythorn.
Soon all that remained of Gentian Marris was a pile of scraps on the floor. Someone came forward with a torch and a can of gasoline and finished off the remains. The entire trial was accomplished in utter silence, except for the screams of Marris.
"Now that The Marked no longer has a Master, we reassign the Marked to you, Severus Snape. As is the law in these cases. I would suggest you take better care of her then your predecessor, but I know that will not be necessary. Still, someone will be checking up now and again to make sure." Elder Raythorn announced. And just like that, the trial was over. Gravely Severus bowed to the Elders. Three of them came forward and intoned a chant over Miss Granger, holding one hand out palm down towards the girl. The girls' body rose into the air, and a smooth wind surrounded her form. When they finished, the girls' eyes were open. Severus was disappointed to see that her eyes were as empty as they had been before, as though her true being were gone. He could see that the mark on her collarbone was gone, and he felt like torturing her old master. The collarbone was one of the most painful, visible places to mark someone.
"Now, Snape, replace his mark with your own." Ordered another Elder, this one a woman. Severus stepped forward and gently drew the girl to him. Repulsion filled him at what he was about to do, but he could not leave the girls' care to another. He had basically helped raise her, and he owed her two life debts. Gently he allowed his fangs to sink into the soft tissue on the side of her neck. First he willed the numbing agent on the outside of his fangs to secrete. Once he was certain it had taken effect, he allowed the toxin which would scar her flesh to leak slowly from his fangs. He hated every second, knowing he was damaging her beyond repair. The Mark could only be exchanged once, for the body could only tolerate two doses of the marking toxin. The girl shuddered gently in his arms, the body recognizing the new Master. As required, he took a small amount of blood from her, allowing his fangs to absorb for a tenth of a second. Then he withdrew, and swept the girl up into both arms. He bowed low to Raythorn again.
"You are all dismissed." Raythorn said, his deep baritone voice firm. They all melted into the darkness, except for Snape. He had the girl to think of. He apparated to just outside Hogwarts gates. He grimaced as he realized he hadn't forewarned Minerva of his soon to be roommate. Sighing, he made his way to the Headmistress' office. He kept a spell of invisibility over the girl as he walked, making it appear as though his arms hung by his side. When he got to the suit of armor guarding the stairs he murmured "Tartan dungbombs," while rolling his eyes. The Weasely twin's latest prank, in honor of Hogwarts Headmistress, had obviously not escaped the Headmistress' sense of humor. He stood on the top step of the staircase as it revolved around to the top. He carefully tapped the door three times with his foot, then nudged the door open.
"Severus," McGonagall said, looking up from her paperwork. "What brings you to my office at three in the morning?" She asked.
"I have found Hermione Granger, Minerva." He announced, allowing the illusion to fall away. Minerva gasped and dashed around the desk to his side. It wasn't very fast by his standards, but by Human standards she had almost apparated.
"Severus, is it really...?" She demanded, looking down at the girl in his arms. Trembling, her hand reached out towards Hermione, and then stopped. She looked up at him in consternation.
"Severus...you bit her?" She demanded. Severus winced. Minerva knew how he felt about feeding. It was why she'd agreed to let him become a teacher again in the first place, despite her better judgment.
"I had to, Minerva. It was the only way to save her. When I found her yesterday...she was...someone had turned her into a Blood Slave, Minerva. And they were not treating her well. As you can tell from how emaciated Miss Granger is. Luckily our newer laws allow for...an exchange, of sorts. She has been freed from her cruel Master, but in turn I was ordered to take her in as my own Marked. It was not an order I could refuse." He explained quietly.
"And you will ….take good care of her?" Minerva demanded. Severus nodded once, sharply. Minerva's shoulders seemed to sink, and she looked all of her 90 years old. "Then I suppose there is no help for it. I want her to see Poppy often, of course. We have to build Miss Granger back up...and I suppose her wand should be returned to her..." Minerva murmured.
"Her wand?
"Yes, it was the only thing they found when searching for her. How did you find her, Severus?" Minerva sighed.
"Sheer, dumb luck. Seems it didn't belong to Potter after all." He replied, and Minerva rolled her eyes. Quickly she summoned Poppy, the school nurse, and then sat down in a comfy arm chair to wait. When Madame Pomfry did appear, she took one look at Miss Granger and took the girl from Severus. He followed, frowning, as Madame Pomfry levitated the girl to the sick wing. Luckily it was now four in the morning, and Filch was as vigilant as ever about keeping students in bed after hours. No one saw Hermine Granger being levitated down hallways. Of course, it couldn't stay like that forever.
Okay, so I posted the prologue and chapter one together because they're both somewhat short and choppy. Sorry, but I really wanted to get to the part where Severus begins trying to turn Hermione into who she used to be. That's really what the story focuses on. So, hopefully you stick around for next chapter. See you there!
~ Wingzrooke.