It was with purpose that Severus Snape strode to the Dark Lord's bedchamber. Other passing Death Eaters thought him mad, as someone would have to be so to enter such a damned room.
But in truth, Severus cared not for the place she was kept, but only for the maiden who was imprisoned within.
To someone who did not know the Dark Lord, they would think the man kept Hermione Granger there for pleasure. But the truth was that Voldemort detested muggleborns, and would never sleep with one. No, he kept the girl like a snake might a mouse. Constricting tighter every day, but never enough to kill.
Playing with it.
Severus reached the door and threw it open with a wild bang. The fact that the casually placed wards that were usually there had now been removed made his heart pound with fear, though not surprise, thanks to a passing conversation between two Death Eaters who had seen one of their own enter Voldemort's bedroom.
His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Lucius Malfoy kneeling on the ground inside, his harsh fingers wrapped around Hermione's neck and his mask discarded on the floor beside him.
Severus drew his wand slowly, his hand trembling. Hermione had tears dribbling down her pale cheeks and falling from her chin, staining the hand that held her.
Lucius twitched a little at the sight of Severus, but remained where he was.
"Hermione..." The blonde whispered her name like a prayer, desperate and pleading.
It was then that Severus noticed the knife she held in her hand. A quick flick of his wand had it impaled in the wall beside her head.
Hermione gasped, and the pain in it made Severus choke.
"I want to die!" She screeched, turning her head away when Lucius buried his face in the side of her neck. Severus bared his teeth at the sight, a savage display of jealousy. "Please, I beg you!"
There was moment when time seemed to stand still, and then-
Lucius, between sobs, muttered something, and from the wand that had been concealed in his sleeve shot a spell. It hit Hermione in the chest and she slumped in his arms, her eyes open yet unseeing.
Severus screamed that very same curse at Lucius, and it claimed another life.
He dropped to his knees by Hermione's side, pushing Lucius Malfoy's body unceremoniously aside, not grieving the death at all. Lucius had been a rival for Hermione's affections, and his death, in Severus's opinion, was no great loss.
None of it mattered anymore, of course.
Now the only one left alive in the room, Severus put his hands on either side of Hermione's face, whispering her name again and again, trying to coax her back to life.
Soon realizing that it was useless, he pulled her close and raised his wand. Pressing the point into his throat so hard it bled, he whispered two words, his voice muffled by Hermione's hair.
"Avada Kedavra."
It seemed Lord Voldemort's furious roar shook the very world when he found their bodies. But compared to the sound he made when he found he could not bring them back, it sounded like a lullaby.
A Note from the Author: This love triangle intrigues me, so I thought I should try my hand at writing it. I was also partially inspired by the lovely fic Rosemary for Remembrance, written by Lady Cailin, and I recommend you all give it a read.
Anyway, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.