The Dark's Mistress
~
By Alicia Jennings
~
"Would you please refrain from running in the corridors? It's ten minutes 'till lessons, there is no rush!" Hermione Granger, the Head Girl, admonished two second years who'd been running like Hell was on their heels. "Thank you so much," she said, somwhat sarcastically.
It was no wonder they were a bit excited, she reminded herself gently. It was three weeks to the Christmas holidays, and Hogwarts was already covered in a deep snow. Fresh evergreen garlands with gold bows had been spotted around the castle, above doorways and on staircase railings. Indeed, the Christmas spirit had already begun to spark almost everyone's spirit. She would be staying at the castle this year. Her parents had divorced in September, and she thought it simpler to stay at school and avoid the question of "Are you going to your mom's?" or "Will you be spending the holidays with your dad?" Ron would be going to the Burrow. Harry would be staying at the castle, but would probably be with his girlfriend - a fifth year Hufflepuff named Lizzy Daniels - in the secluded parts of the school. "Doing God-doesn't-even-want-to-know what," she thought.
Hermione headed up to Gryffindor Tower for a nap, thanking Dumbledore for implementing "free hours" for seventh year students. They'd been a great help for her mental state. Yes, it would be awfully nice to lay down on a fluffy couch by the fire, maybe with a good book to doze off by....hmm. Jane Eyre, maybe? Or, hmm....maybe Little Women....or maybe she'd go completely crazy and snitch a romance off of Ginny. Oh, the possibilities....
Gods, it was great being a seventh year.
SPLASH.
Icy cold water had been flung in Hermione's face, drenching not only her head but also her front as well. A metal bucket hung in midair in front of her. That could only mean one thing....
"PEEVES!"
There was an evil cackle as he dropped the bucket on her head and materialized, zooming off.
"THAT DOES IT!" she yelled, oblivious to the stares of those around her (maybe that had something to do with her being assaulted upside the head with a metal bucket). "Peeves, you're going to get it!"
Ron and Harry entered the corridor just in time to see a soaked Hermione go running after Peeves.
"Harry?"
"What?"
"We really need to find Hermione a boyfriend. She's starting to get a bit scary."
~
Hermione finally gave up chasing Peeves when she realized there wasn't much she could do to him. So, still soaking wet and not remembering the drying charm, she began the journey up to Gryffindor Tower for that long-awaited nap.
"Miss Granger!"
Hermione turned. Professor McGonagall was hurrying up beside her. "Miss Granger, you need to go see Dumbledore...It's urgent." She paused. "What happened to you?"
"Peeves," Hermione grumbled. "What's happened?"
"I'll let Dumbledore and Snape explain that....here -" She murmurred a drying charm. "Go to Dumbledore's office - you know what the password is. Hurry, now." Hermione complied, and began running in the direction of Dumbledore's office.
"And Miss Granger -"
Hermione turned. Her professor looked at her motherly, with - what was it? Pity?
"Remember this - everything that may seem troublesome at the moment usually works out for the greater good in the end." With that, Professor McGonagall swept out of the corridor, and Hermione, somwhat confused, began to hurry toward Dumbledore's office.
So much for that nap.
~
"Albus....please, we can't put her through this! She's but a child! It will ruin her! It will turn her....into...into me, for God's sake!"
Dumbledore sat, serene, in his chair, trying in vain to calm the man seated before him. "Severus, I assure you -"
"She's only seventeen years old!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore's voice was sharp. "Do calm yourself. Do you have any other way of getting out of this?" Dumbledore waited a moment as the man seethed - silently - in front of him. "That's what I thought. If you do not carry out this....decree of Voldemort's, not only would you be slain but Miss Granger as well." Dumbledore paused, rising from the chair behind his oak desk. "You do not deserve death, Severus, nor does she."
"I do," said Snape bitterly. "Albus....the things I've done...."
"Have been forgiven, and you've more than made up for your bad actions." said Dumbledore swiftly. There was a knock at the office door. "And that would be Miss Granger. Do come in, child."
Snape watched as Hermione Granger entered Dumbledore's circular office. Everything about her screamed Gryffindor, he sneered to himself. From the robes she wore (obviously, since they had her house emblem emblazoned on them) to the confident poise of her chin. The only student possibly more Gryffindor than she was Harry Potter himself. He sighed aloud, running his hands through his hair. Utterly hopeless, this charade....
"You wanted to see me, Professor Dumbledore, sir?" she asked, bobbing a slight curtsy. "Professor Snape," she greeted him with a slight nod of her head.
"Ah, yes, Miss Granger. Won't you please have a seat?"
"Oh," she said softly. "That bad?" She sunk down into the deep plush of one of the chairs sitting in front of his desk.
"Miss Granger, do try to not be so dramatic," snapped Snape, rising from his chair to stand by a window.
Hermione recoiled. "I apologize," she snapped.
Dumbledore quickly interrupted, as to avoid the start of World War III occuring in his own office. "Miss Granger, I am afraid that we have some bad news....no, it's not your parents, dear." Here Hermione breathed a sweet sigh of relief. Dumbledore sat down in his chair. "Sit down, Severus, you're making me nervous with all your pacing."
Snape glared at the Headmaster, but dutifully slunk into the chair beside Hermione.
"Right," the Headmaster continued. "Hermione, you are aware that Professor Snape was formerly a Death Eater." She nodded, and he continued. "He still operates as one to Voldemort. However, he is truly a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, the resistance group that you and Harry belong to, of course. But, you knew this," said Dumbledore with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Voldemort likes to recruit - and extinguish - any threatening witches or wizards while they are still young." Dumbledore paused. "Oh, excuse my manners. Tea, anyone?"
"Albus," Snape growled, "Please get to the point."
"Ah, yes, right." Dumbledore took a sip of his own cup of tea. "Voldemort knows that you, Hermione, are one of the most powerful witches Hogwarts has ever seen. Therefore, you can either help - or hurt - his cause. As one of his own Death Eaters is the Potions professor here at Hogwarts...Voldemort has given Snape the task of...well, Professor Snape, perhaps you could explain."
"Very well, Albus," said Snape wearily. "Miss Granger, I will not sugarcoat this, I will simply tell you like it is. Voldemort wants as much information about you as possible. He wants me to persuade you to become my mistress, so that I could find out every detail about your past, and your future."
"And if you cannot persuade me?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"Then I will die at the hands of Lord Voldemort as a traitor to his circle." said Snape, his eyes downcast.
"And we will lose our only hope at winning the war," said Dumbledore softly.
Hermione's eyes grew very, very wide. She slowly put her head in her hands, murmurring, "All I wanted was one damn nap....all I wanted....one damn nap..." How could this be happening? She was just seventeen....not old enough to do that much damage to the dark side.....She was in deep -
"Miss Granger?" asked Dumbledore gently. "I think perhaps you should drink some tea, after all."
Hermione accepted the cup and saucer after Snape had poured a liberal amount of sugar (and a drop or two of brandy) into the brown liquid. She sipped it slowly. After half of the contents were gone, she looked up at the two men whose eyes were fixed on her. "What am I to do?"
"As Head Girl, you had the right to stay in your own private room. You refused that at the beginning of the year, but you have...changed your mind, let us say. You will not have your own room, however, you will move in with Professor Snape instead. You will spend as much time together as possible. Although your relationship is meant to be private, it will be as public as possible. The rumors that will spread will only make this look more real. No one except for the Order of the Phoenix can know that this relationship is nothing but a charade."
"Not even Ron?" asked Hermione softly.
Dumbledore patted her hand gently. "I am truly sorry, my dear, but no. Not even Ron."
Hermione sat back in her chair, trying to process it all. This simply couldn't be happening...it was madness. To play mistress to her most disliked teacher who was probably nearly twice her age....and to not be able to tell Ron, one of her best friends...
Dumbledore continued. "This...."relationship", if you will, begins as soon as the two of you step outside of this office. You will be moved into Professor Snape's quarters the day the holidays begin." He looked at his watch. "Oh, look at the time...I must go see Minerva about something...please stay here and talk it over. Inform me tonight of your decision." Rising from his chair, he tipped his hat to Hermione and exited his office.
"Gods help us," murmurred Hermione, letting her head drop into her hands again.
"Miss Granger," said Snape, his voice somewhat touched by emotion, "You don't have to do this. I do not ask it of you. I would never ask someone to live a life touched by the darkness."
A few tears coursed down Hermione's cheeks. "And if I don't do this, Professor, you will die! And so will the hundreds of others whom you protect with your intelligence from Voldemort's circle." She wiped at her tears stubbornly. "If I can protect you, I will do it. I know it won't be the easiest thing, but..." Hermione hurriedly scrubbed at her face with the cuff of her robe. "I - I'll adjust. We better go....I have to go to my dormitory to get a book for my next class."
"Miss Granger, you don't -"
"I know," she interrupted. "But I am anway. Now, let's go, Professor."
They walked out of Dumbledore's office together....it was only the beginning.
~
A/N - Well, what do you think? Should I continue? PLEASE review!!!!!! I know this isn't like any of my other fanfics, but....well, go on, review!
-Alicia
~
By Alicia Jennings
~
"Would you please refrain from running in the corridors? It's ten minutes 'till lessons, there is no rush!" Hermione Granger, the Head Girl, admonished two second years who'd been running like Hell was on their heels. "Thank you so much," she said, somwhat sarcastically.
It was no wonder they were a bit excited, she reminded herself gently. It was three weeks to the Christmas holidays, and Hogwarts was already covered in a deep snow. Fresh evergreen garlands with gold bows had been spotted around the castle, above doorways and on staircase railings. Indeed, the Christmas spirit had already begun to spark almost everyone's spirit. She would be staying at the castle this year. Her parents had divorced in September, and she thought it simpler to stay at school and avoid the question of "Are you going to your mom's?" or "Will you be spending the holidays with your dad?" Ron would be going to the Burrow. Harry would be staying at the castle, but would probably be with his girlfriend - a fifth year Hufflepuff named Lizzy Daniels - in the secluded parts of the school. "Doing God-doesn't-even-want-to-know what," she thought.
Hermione headed up to Gryffindor Tower for a nap, thanking Dumbledore for implementing "free hours" for seventh year students. They'd been a great help for her mental state. Yes, it would be awfully nice to lay down on a fluffy couch by the fire, maybe with a good book to doze off by....hmm. Jane Eyre, maybe? Or, hmm....maybe Little Women....or maybe she'd go completely crazy and snitch a romance off of Ginny. Oh, the possibilities....
Gods, it was great being a seventh year.
SPLASH.
Icy cold water had been flung in Hermione's face, drenching not only her head but also her front as well. A metal bucket hung in midair in front of her. That could only mean one thing....
"PEEVES!"
There was an evil cackle as he dropped the bucket on her head and materialized, zooming off.
"THAT DOES IT!" she yelled, oblivious to the stares of those around her (maybe that had something to do with her being assaulted upside the head with a metal bucket). "Peeves, you're going to get it!"
Ron and Harry entered the corridor just in time to see a soaked Hermione go running after Peeves.
"Harry?"
"What?"
"We really need to find Hermione a boyfriend. She's starting to get a bit scary."
~
Hermione finally gave up chasing Peeves when she realized there wasn't much she could do to him. So, still soaking wet and not remembering the drying charm, she began the journey up to Gryffindor Tower for that long-awaited nap.
"Miss Granger!"
Hermione turned. Professor McGonagall was hurrying up beside her. "Miss Granger, you need to go see Dumbledore...It's urgent." She paused. "What happened to you?"
"Peeves," Hermione grumbled. "What's happened?"
"I'll let Dumbledore and Snape explain that....here -" She murmurred a drying charm. "Go to Dumbledore's office - you know what the password is. Hurry, now." Hermione complied, and began running in the direction of Dumbledore's office.
"And Miss Granger -"
Hermione turned. Her professor looked at her motherly, with - what was it? Pity?
"Remember this - everything that may seem troublesome at the moment usually works out for the greater good in the end." With that, Professor McGonagall swept out of the corridor, and Hermione, somwhat confused, began to hurry toward Dumbledore's office.
So much for that nap.
~
"Albus....please, we can't put her through this! She's but a child! It will ruin her! It will turn her....into...into me, for God's sake!"
Dumbledore sat, serene, in his chair, trying in vain to calm the man seated before him. "Severus, I assure you -"
"She's only seventeen years old!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore's voice was sharp. "Do calm yourself. Do you have any other way of getting out of this?" Dumbledore waited a moment as the man seethed - silently - in front of him. "That's what I thought. If you do not carry out this....decree of Voldemort's, not only would you be slain but Miss Granger as well." Dumbledore paused, rising from the chair behind his oak desk. "You do not deserve death, Severus, nor does she."
"I do," said Snape bitterly. "Albus....the things I've done...."
"Have been forgiven, and you've more than made up for your bad actions." said Dumbledore swiftly. There was a knock at the office door. "And that would be Miss Granger. Do come in, child."
Snape watched as Hermione Granger entered Dumbledore's circular office. Everything about her screamed Gryffindor, he sneered to himself. From the robes she wore (obviously, since they had her house emblem emblazoned on them) to the confident poise of her chin. The only student possibly more Gryffindor than she was Harry Potter himself. He sighed aloud, running his hands through his hair. Utterly hopeless, this charade....
"You wanted to see me, Professor Dumbledore, sir?" she asked, bobbing a slight curtsy. "Professor Snape," she greeted him with a slight nod of her head.
"Ah, yes, Miss Granger. Won't you please have a seat?"
"Oh," she said softly. "That bad?" She sunk down into the deep plush of one of the chairs sitting in front of his desk.
"Miss Granger, do try to not be so dramatic," snapped Snape, rising from his chair to stand by a window.
Hermione recoiled. "I apologize," she snapped.
Dumbledore quickly interrupted, as to avoid the start of World War III occuring in his own office. "Miss Granger, I am afraid that we have some bad news....no, it's not your parents, dear." Here Hermione breathed a sweet sigh of relief. Dumbledore sat down in his chair. "Sit down, Severus, you're making me nervous with all your pacing."
Snape glared at the Headmaster, but dutifully slunk into the chair beside Hermione.
"Right," the Headmaster continued. "Hermione, you are aware that Professor Snape was formerly a Death Eater." She nodded, and he continued. "He still operates as one to Voldemort. However, he is truly a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, the resistance group that you and Harry belong to, of course. But, you knew this," said Dumbledore with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Voldemort likes to recruit - and extinguish - any threatening witches or wizards while they are still young." Dumbledore paused. "Oh, excuse my manners. Tea, anyone?"
"Albus," Snape growled, "Please get to the point."
"Ah, yes, right." Dumbledore took a sip of his own cup of tea. "Voldemort knows that you, Hermione, are one of the most powerful witches Hogwarts has ever seen. Therefore, you can either help - or hurt - his cause. As one of his own Death Eaters is the Potions professor here at Hogwarts...Voldemort has given Snape the task of...well, Professor Snape, perhaps you could explain."
"Very well, Albus," said Snape wearily. "Miss Granger, I will not sugarcoat this, I will simply tell you like it is. Voldemort wants as much information about you as possible. He wants me to persuade you to become my mistress, so that I could find out every detail about your past, and your future."
"And if you cannot persuade me?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"Then I will die at the hands of Lord Voldemort as a traitor to his circle." said Snape, his eyes downcast.
"And we will lose our only hope at winning the war," said Dumbledore softly.
Hermione's eyes grew very, very wide. She slowly put her head in her hands, murmurring, "All I wanted was one damn nap....all I wanted....one damn nap..." How could this be happening? She was just seventeen....not old enough to do that much damage to the dark side.....She was in deep -
"Miss Granger?" asked Dumbledore gently. "I think perhaps you should drink some tea, after all."
Hermione accepted the cup and saucer after Snape had poured a liberal amount of sugar (and a drop or two of brandy) into the brown liquid. She sipped it slowly. After half of the contents were gone, she looked up at the two men whose eyes were fixed on her. "What am I to do?"
"As Head Girl, you had the right to stay in your own private room. You refused that at the beginning of the year, but you have...changed your mind, let us say. You will not have your own room, however, you will move in with Professor Snape instead. You will spend as much time together as possible. Although your relationship is meant to be private, it will be as public as possible. The rumors that will spread will only make this look more real. No one except for the Order of the Phoenix can know that this relationship is nothing but a charade."
"Not even Ron?" asked Hermione softly.
Dumbledore patted her hand gently. "I am truly sorry, my dear, but no. Not even Ron."
Hermione sat back in her chair, trying to process it all. This simply couldn't be happening...it was madness. To play mistress to her most disliked teacher who was probably nearly twice her age....and to not be able to tell Ron, one of her best friends...
Dumbledore continued. "This...."relationship", if you will, begins as soon as the two of you step outside of this office. You will be moved into Professor Snape's quarters the day the holidays begin." He looked at his watch. "Oh, look at the time...I must go see Minerva about something...please stay here and talk it over. Inform me tonight of your decision." Rising from his chair, he tipped his hat to Hermione and exited his office.
"Gods help us," murmurred Hermione, letting her head drop into her hands again.
"Miss Granger," said Snape, his voice somewhat touched by emotion, "You don't have to do this. I do not ask it of you. I would never ask someone to live a life touched by the darkness."
A few tears coursed down Hermione's cheeks. "And if I don't do this, Professor, you will die! And so will the hundreds of others whom you protect with your intelligence from Voldemort's circle." She wiped at her tears stubbornly. "If I can protect you, I will do it. I know it won't be the easiest thing, but..." Hermione hurriedly scrubbed at her face with the cuff of her robe. "I - I'll adjust. We better go....I have to go to my dormitory to get a book for my next class."
"Miss Granger, you don't -"
"I know," she interrupted. "But I am anway. Now, let's go, Professor."
They walked out of Dumbledore's office together....it was only the beginning.
~
A/N - Well, what do you think? Should I continue? PLEASE review!!!!!! I know this isn't like any of my other fanfics, but....well, go on, review!
-Alicia