"Thank… you," Hermione exhaled, collapsing in exhausted relief at Snape's feet. "Thank you professor!"
He kicked her away, and she curled up coughing. " You disgust me. The very thought of you and this situation makes me want to vomit." Then he snarled, low and drawn, "You filthy Mudblood."
Hermione pushed herself back to the wall like a crab, shaken and confused.
"And you call me professor again and you'll know what pain really is." He turned back toward her pointing, "Do not even think about saying my first name. You will call me master or sir," he threatened.
"I can't hear you Mudblood," Snape mocked.
She looked at him, baffled.
He kicked her, "Answer me, you chit!"
"Yes … sir," she stammered.
"That didn't seem to suit. Does the know-it-all need more syllables?" He pointed his wand at her throat, "Master will do for the next 2 days. … Oh, spare me your tears, go wash yourself with something useful."
Hermione sat there wide eyed, too shocked to be angry. Then in a voice smaller than intended, she said, "Please don't … "; but before she could get the words out, he slapped her face so hard it shot her chin practically over her shoulder.
"MOVE, and take your filthy Mudblood self upstairs and bathe, then put on a shirt from the wardrobe."
She was moving now, holding her face; there was blood coming from somewhere.
His words stopped her cold at the stair door," No under-things."
She ran up the stairs wide eyed in panic. Starting to turn he mumbled under his breath, "It will make things much easier."
Then he moved to the stairs and called up, " When you're dressed lay on the bed."
Hermione made it to the bathroom, threw-up and cried until both her stomach and eyes were dry.
Snape was mad, he was still playing a careful game, and now this girl had to get in the way. He should have declined and let Malfoy have her, but he couldn't. He knew his bets were padded better with her than without her. If he had to, he thought, he could alter her memories and she could testify on his behalf. He had to keep her alive for all avenues to remain open. He continued to mull as he went down to his lab.
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She was cold and shaking with that strange chill, you get after vomiting. Her eyes were puffy and she could tell her face was starting to swell where he had hit her.
He entered the room. She had been obedient. She was clean and in his shirt. For a split second, he thought of doing this the conventional way, and then he was plagued with a bout of nausea and snarled.
Hermione saw him come in; she was terrified. Frozen, she felt tears spilling down into the hollows of her ears. She had held onto the fact that he was still on their side. She had thought, that when he intervened and took her as a gift from Voldemort, that it confirmed all her suspicions of his innocents. Clearly, she had been so very wrong.
Now this man was about to rape her, and take one of the deepest things she had ever called her own.
Shoving a bottle in her face, Snape said clinically, "Drink this potion and place the basin under you. You will feel your hymen break and eventually the blood will stop flowing; then take the basin contents and put it in this vial."
"Your not…"
"No you stupid girl, I would never … " He cut himself off with a disgusted guttural sound and redirected. " The spell the Dark Lord used today is old and only tests to see if you remain intact." Saying this, he slammed the basin down and left.
A million emotions swirled in Hermione's brain; relief being the one rising to the top, but anger was gaining quick clarity as well as a deep sense of loss and disappointment. No longer would this be a gift from her body, but rather a substance in a test tube.
With professional precision, she placed the basin flat beneath her and drank the potion.
She felt an odd sensation - a trickle; it slowed then stopped, then she took the basin and poured it into the vial. She turned back to the bed; there was blood on the sheets, her blood. She was about to do wandless magic to clean it, but decided not advertise her ability.
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After about an hour Hermione fell asleep, only to wake up in the morning to clean sheets and the vial gone along with her clothes. She washed up putting back on the large shirt, its points falling mid calf.
Hermione came down the stairs with care. She peeked out into the sitting room, Snape was nowhere in sight. Although she knew he was not careless, an escape was attempted. There had been a quick check of the bedroom windows last night, there was a ward on each; now she checked the front door and found it the same.
The kitchen still smelled of breakfast. A muggle toaster and bread sat on the counter. She was very hungry. She was watching the toaster, reviewing the last 48 hours.
She did not blame herself or anyone else for being here. Everyone had followed procedure, but who could plan for random acts like a dropped package, a loose brick, and a quick thinker.
At the end of June, after graduation, Hermione had convinced Remus and Tonks to take her to Flourish and Blotts. Ever since her sixth year, she had been extremely conscientious of the Order's rules. One of these was that any of 'the three' were not to go 'out' with less than two other order members.
They had been inconspicuously making there way down the "Alley," when, Remus bumped a woman making her drop her packages, which he quickly began to rescue from the ground. At the same time, Tonks turned towards him and tripped on a loose brick, falling face first on to the walkway. Finally, Hermione hearing the commotion also turned to look at the spectacle; unfortunately, the next thing she saw was Voldemort.
The young death eater had seen, recognized, and apparated her within a few seconds, a few seconds bought by a series of unplanned circumstances. She decided, there in the middle of the Snake's pit, that she was not going to waste energy and thought time with 'what ifs', instead she was going to stay in the moment and keep her wits about her.
Deep in thought Hermione jumped at the pop of the toast, then again when she heard a voice behind her, "What are you doing?"
Hermione answered with aggravation in her voice, not remembering the lessons of the night before, "Making toast!"
"Making toast what?"
"Making toast MASTER!"
He looked at her, and at once, her legs turned to jelly and she was on the floor. 'Ugh … Jelly Leg Jinx' she thought.
"Do not test me, no breakfast or lunch, go to the room."
She shot up, trying to make a quick exit, but again fell this time opening her lip from the night before. She looked up at him seething.
"What do you say for this discipline reminder? I warn you it better be right!"
Hermione clenched her teeth and ground out, " Thank you master."
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Hermione lay on the bed and thought; she would have to learn to play the game better without loosing herself in the process. It was dinnertime, and her hunger had turned to gnawing pain. Making a decision, she moved quietly down the stairs.
Seeing Snape reading in a ratty armchair near the fire, she came and knelt in front of him, bowing her head. "Sir, may I have something to eat." Snape did not even acknowledge her presence.
'Oh!' she forgot.
"My apologies, master, may I have something to eat please."
He put down the book in his lap. Hermione had bowed her head. 'She learns fast', he thought.
"Yes, make us supper, but it better be good, or I will be displeased."
She got up and moved towards the kitchen, inwardly disgusted at her display and the fact that she had given in after two skipped meals, well five really, including the day before.
She found eggs, flour, butter, milk, and not much else except for some dark corn syrup and brown sugar. 'If I just had some cinnamon', she thought. She hesitated, and then remembering his threat said, " Excuse me master," (she inwardly cringed at the sound of her own submissiveness) " do you have any cinnamon or vanilla?" Snape looked at her levelly, got up and went downstairs. A few minutes later, she heard his ascension and stuck her head out from the kitchen, but promptly ducked as a bean and a stick hurled towards her.
In his absence, she had further scrounged around and found a small piece of ham, an onion, and a chunk of cheese.
A half-hour later she called to him, "Master the meal is ready."
Snape had smelled something good, but was still surprised when he walked in and saw the table set for one, with a large omelet, pancakes, and syrup. He sat down face stoic, but he had not eaten properly in days due to his lack of cooking prowess, and his stomach growled loudly.
Hermione cleared her throat, and Snape jumped forgetting he wasn't alone. His cheeks pinked.
" Si…. Master, where would you like me to eat?"
"Away from me," he growled turning his head towards his food.
This was fine with Hermione; she took her food and went into the sitting room.
Snape begrudgingly thought she was an excellent cook; maybe this situation would have its benefits.
He emerged from the kitchen sometime later. Hermione lowered her head; she was trying to play the game. "Granger you will cook all the meals."
"Yes Master," she smiled inwardly at her first silent victory, "umm …Master I will need more ingredients."
"Make a list then," pointing to the paper and quill on the desk, " and I'll order it when you're through." Hermione looked at him questioningly, "The grocer delivers?"
Hermione, blessed her mother and aunt for teaching her how to cook, and thought of something that might help later.
"Master are you allergic to anything, or find anything particularly distasteful?" There was silence.
"Shell Fish, I'm dea " Snape stopped himself, then tried to go on redirecting, "I ALSO detest that salad dressing that they make like mayonnaise."
"Miracle whip?"
"Yes."
Hermione thought through a menu for the week, and made her list. She also included feminine products and some toiletries. She gave the list to Snape, who looked at her. She was standing still eyes on the floor.
While he read the list, questions and frowns flipped back and forth across his face, this dance ended when he reached the personal items and simply shrugged. "I will order these tomorrow. Toast and coffee will be fine in the morning."
"Thank you Master."
"Since you have seemed to learn how to address me, I will give you the choice between sir and master. Mind you, I want it to vary, I do not want to hear you call me sir as you would in school; you are a mudblood in my home." He suddenly held his arm, wincing. Instinctively Hermione moved towards him. He moved away quickly and snarled, "The Dark Lord wants you as well."
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Hermione, still in his shirt, was immediately lying flat on her face, pushed into the position by Snape.
Severus was kneeling as the Dark Lord spoke, "Have you enjoyed or a least partaken of this mudblood?" Hermione could feel magic sweep over her. "You have taken her, let me see, legilimens" There was a pause, " Oh Severus" Voldemort said like someone who had tasted a fine piece of desert, "I didn't know you still had it in you, … no mercy! Excellent!"
Hermione was shocked, but kept her mind clamped down as best she could.
"And I see she has already submitted to you as master. Slapping them always brings them 'round." Voldemort chuckled at his play on words. Snape said with a cold smile in his voice, "Yes indeed master, you are right."
"Very good work, you are truly impressive Severus, continue, you deserve some … fun after such loyal service, but … do not fail me, I need the potion in a fort night."
"I will not fail you my lord," Snape bowed deeply, grabbed Hermione by the hair and apparated.
When they arrived, he threw her down. "Accio blanket and pillow. You're sleeping on the couch, I want my bed back."
"Yes sir," Hermione climbed up on the couch, and closed her eyes. She heard the bookcase close. 'What just happened', she thought. 'He obviously showed the Dark Lord something rough, and untrue, but what if the Snake had looked in my mind? Well, there would be some memories, like Snape hitting me. Is that why Snape did it?' She was very confused.
Hermione was up now, and began to look at the books on the shelves that literally surrounded the room. After about 15 minutes, she found, The Basics of Occlumency and Legilimency. She sat down and began to read, but she was unfocused because questions tapped unrelenting inside her brain, 'what game is Snape playing. Is the whole "master" thing for Voldemort's benefit, or real?' She was sure of one thing though; Snape's hateful words had been sincere. She continued to read, trying to stay focused.
Severus lay in bed, thinking that things had gone better than expected on both ends. Voldemort was pleased with his cruelty, which he had taken from his youth and reconfigured adding the highlights from the last few day's events. Granger was probably wondering if he had just been acting for the Dark Lord's benefit or in fact had been sincere in his actions towards her. Even now, if the Order would question her, there would be plausible deniability; this was the best way to walk the fine line he thought. Granger could be his ticket either way. Keep her on edge … keep her unsure.
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Hermione woke up with the loud thump of her butt on the floor. "Who gave you permission to read my books?" She tried to get herself together, "No one Master."
"Yet here you are with, … what is this a beginning occlumency book. The punishment…"
Hermione had quickly changed her position on the floor to kneeling, "Please Master, may I speak, and then if it does not satisfy you I will take whatever punishment you see fit?"
"Speak"
"Master, … sir, I was concerned that if Vold, ...(Snape made a noise) the Dark Lord had tried to confirm the events in your mind with mine, you would have been discredited and punished or killed, as would I, or worse be passed to another Death Eater."
There was silence. "We will begin lessons this afternoon."
"Thank you sir. May I ask something Master?"
Snape gave a quick nod.
"Why did you protect me last night?"
Severus was pleased; she had given him confirmation of his plans. "I assure you it was not you I was protecting, but myself, now fix breakfast."
"Sir may I go to the bathroom."
"Yes, be quick"
Hermione fled upstairs.
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That afternoon occlumency lessons began. Within 5 days, Hermione was able to keep Snape out of her mind about 60 of the time. By the 7th day, it was 80, including the ability to put forward pseudo-memories. Unfortunately, emotional status was the variable to her success. Because of this, Snape would put extra stress on her and then try legilimens. One time he even used Crucio on her; she was able to keep him out for a second then failed. He gave her a pain-relieving potion almost immediately, which confused Hermione more.
"Master, may I have my clothes back?" She had been wearing all of the long shirts she found, but had been afraid to push her luck until now, besides he must have noticed. Maybe he was seeing how long it took her to ask. "I have started my … I need underwear."
Snape looked at her face unaffected.
He quickly transformed a dishcloth into a pair of underwear, "Here" He threw them at her. Then he said, not looking up, "I will take you out today, to get clothes. There is a large store around here that seems to have everything."
"Do they have groceries sir?"
"I believe so."
"Well sir I was going to make something tonight that needs fresher ingredients."
"Fine." Looking at her appraisingly Snape said, "Bring me a pair of my pant, and I will fit them to you."
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When she saw the store, Hermione almost laughed, it was a Wal-Mart.
Hermione was so happy to get out; that she didn't even mind that it was literally on a tether, a magical one.
They picked up underwear, bras, socks, sneakers, and two pairs of jeans, three tops, and a day dress. The latter Snape picked himself, giving no comment.
"Sir, there is another bedroom, is there not? … Uh the couch is uncomfortable."
"Yes," Snape said disgustedly, "it was Pettigrew's and is literally a rat's nest and I have been unwilling to clean it."
"I will clean it. Can we buy paint and so forth?"
"Yes," but Severus thought she might feel differently once she had been in there.
When they got to the grocery area, Hermione was picking up some tuna, and saw it. She looked around quickly; the aisle was clear except for Snape, who was across the way looking at the different instant 'helper meals'. In a second, she had palmed a can of shrimp and pocketed it in her jacket. She then went about her business and got some pistachios (shelled), raisins, chicken breasts, about 6 Italian tomatoes, white wine, pasta, bag salad, and fresh baked bread. Snape looked on with curiosity.
They checked out, Hermione panicked, "Do you have muggle money?"
Snape looked shocked, "You need muggle money? All I have is" … and he pulled out a Visa card and handed it to the cashier.
"How did you?"
"Oh ye of little faith" Hermione thought, 'he's teasing me, what's with that?'
"By the way it's ' do you have muggle money' sir" Snape whispered this close to her ear. Hermione got a funny uncomfortable chill, but dismissed it.
There was a small UPS store in the front of the super center. Snape steered her towards it.
Snape handed the woman behind the counter an envelope, "If this were to be mailed from Paris to outer London, approximately how much would it be."
The woman weighed it, " About two stamps, three to be safe"
"Then three, " Snape ordered.
The clerk gave it back. Then Severus took a piece of paper out of the envelope and looking at Hermione, pointed to the counter. "Write your parents, and tell them to tell McGonagall you're with one who still fights for us."
Hermione was deeply surprised and suspicious, but did as he asked; then handed the letter back. Snape examined it, nodded, put it back in the envelope, and attached the stamps he had purchased.
Once outside Wal-Mart they found an appropriate area and apparated to Paris and mailed the letter.
When they got back to Spinner's End, Hermione quickly excused herself to go to the bathroom. Flushing the toilet, she took the can of shrimp out of her pocket, lifted the lid of the tank, and whispered "Adhere" as she placed the can on the side of the tank wall. She had heard when he had almost said, 'Deathly', and the silent 'allergic.' She looked at the can again and closed the lid.
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