Hermione took over the supervising on her professor while the boys were finding other things to bring on their hunting trip. Yet, the bright Gryffindor was smart enough to provide a silence charm between her professor and her. The man was able to be comfortable slightly with her, even if she's a know-it-all insufferable prat to him. He couldn't move around much other than his head, eyes, and mouth. Anywhere else, he's restricted from doing any sorts of movement until Harry changes the bond into a new form.
The girl was organizing her things and she prepared to put the most important things in first. The tent, the portrait, clothes, food, and among of other things were the high priority to her. She was mentally making a list and managed to expand some room inside of her purse.
"So, Professor Dumbledore was already dying, was he not?" She asked.
Severus stared at her for a brief moment and he knew one thing for sure. Voldemort had no interests in focusing on Potter's friends. He noticed the girl has her mind shielded, so it was safe to discuss this topic for her.
"Yes."
The brown eyes nodded, "Then, you're a spy. The headmaster seems to trust certain people like you and I knew there had to be a major reason with you, sir. It was a set up to gain his' trust?"
The black iris rolled his eyes, "Yes, but you better keep your mouth shut, you insufferable prat."
She chuckled, "The boys are a bit clueless. It's a good thing I'm a know-it-all woman, they never know what I am thinking. Besides," Her eyes checked around the living room, "I'm one of the spies as well. Professor Dumbledore wanted me to look out for Harry and help guide him during the hunt. That's why I have Phineas' portrait and we should be expecting something from his Will. I do not know what, but it should help us out on our mission."
Severus was rather impressed with the girl's spy ability. He hadn't realized that the man was making successful allies. Of course, he would not have admitted it to the girl or this would encourage the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw egos a bit too much.
"So, what of this hunt? I do not understand this order by the man's order." The brow rose.
The girl huffed, "I hate this topic, but it's…quite disturbing as you put it." Her head shook, "Are you familiar with the Horcrux?"
Severus stared at her with his lips lined straightly, barely blinked at all, and the thoughts echoing the name she had spoken of. His mind was deeply in thoughts, yet, it had sounded familiar to him. He hasn't come across to such topic and assumed that it had to do some sort of connection to the hunt.
"I am afraid not. Care to elaborate on this Horcrux?" His brow rose.
She nodded, "The Horcrux is where you can split your soul," The man would have had been in shock, but he was too calm and listening into this, "And your other piece of the soul would be placed in anything after you kill in order for a spell to work. From the headmaster's theory, there are seven of them. The two are destroyed already and we're supposed to hunt down the rest of the five Horcruxes."
Severus heard her thoroughly and adapted the details into his mind. He sunk in the details to wrap around his mind of the Voldemort's purposes.
"What is the purpose of splitting his soul? I can take it that destroys the man's humanity by breaking the soul into pieces is destroying once you were. However, I do not understand why it is valuable to be a part of the Horcrux."
The bushy hair agreed, "That's one of the consequences. When you do this, you become immortal."
Severus had taken back and understood this now. He recognized the fear of death or dying within the dark lord's eyes or in battle. He could clearly see right through this whole mission. If anyone had known how the Horcrux worked, the world would be in a blood bath. He could see the reason why it was kept silence about the subject or unknown of its purpose.
"Is there a reverse to this?" Severus had wondered.
She smirked, "That's what the hunt is all about. We're going to destroy all of it before Harry kills him."
Severus was about to speak, but in the corner of his eyes picked up an incoming shadow. His mouth immediately closed and turned expressionless. Hermione noticed his silence and played along this time. She was still packing things until a hand rested on her shoulder. She jumped and sighed when she turned to see Harry was the one getting her attention. She picked up her wand and waved it to remove the silence charm.
"We have been calling for you, Mione. Why did you have the charm up?" The Gryffindor frowned.
Her head shook, "Sorry, I was bothered with the noises and I needed to concentrate organizing. Is there something you need?"
"Well, there's someone that wishes to deal with Dumbledore's will. He's in the kitchen. I'll take care of Snape."
Hermione nodded and checked over the man once more. She wanted to smile at him, yet she couldn't. She had to trust Harry to treat him well, even if it's to deal with the war without too much death. She had faith in the headmaster that his plan will go as it plans.
Once she was gone out of the room, Harry turned over to the professor and sighed. His head shook and took out his wand.
"Since we cannot have the ministry knows you are here. A cage will keep you in place, so consider your moving around privilege for a couple of hours." The boy told him.
Severus was rather pleased to hear that the ministry was a given chance to allow him move. However, he knew if the ministry finds him here…it would be a one way trip to the Kiss. Harry flickered his wand to form a four feet cage in the corner and focused on Severus next. He altered the trap bond into a bracelet form and levitated the man into the cage without hurting him.
Potter locked up the cage and secured protection over it. He double-checked and felt satisfied. He left the man alone.
The potion master sighed and groaned as he tried to move his arms and legs. Despite of the fact he couldn't stand in the cage and simple sit down. He had felt like those magical creatures or some pets. He hated it, but it was better than wrapped up in body length. However, he missed making those movements for the past five hours.
The dark eyes stared at the bar…triggering the past. He struggled to block them out and failed otherwise. He whispered to himself, "No." His eyelids snapped shut to draw in darkness. His head shook and felt sick. His body almost fell forward and managed to catch himself with his hands to support himself up.
The wind is heavily freezing among the night and the man shivering, with nothing to find to wear, and nothing to keep him warm. The ground is muddy due to the harsh storm and chained to the tree. There was one person to witness it all.
This person held the crimson red eyes, lusting for blood, and darkly grinning. He watched his favorite loyal follower suffer willingly, to mold him into a perfect deatheater, and a protector of his own.
"You have done an excellent job. To get rid of it is the best option when you are my follower. I will not allow it, my dear Severus." The man hissed.
The potion master shivered, struggled to get onto his knees, and bowed his head in gaining respect.
"Yes, my lord. You are correct." The feelings were too fresh, too soon to be this strong.
He was too weak.
The flashback triggered Severus' eyes to open and he gasped. He shook his head and refused to live in the past. He could have none of it. The past is in the past. There was nothing he could have had done.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered to himself.
His large hands gripped the bars of the cage, to hold himself strong, and couldn't bear the idea to repeat. He couldn't. Severus would rather die than going through another cycle into Voldemort's training and he hated him.
There were footsteps coming nearby the living room and Severus quickly hidden his emotions. He sat down on his knees with his hands resting on his lap. He refused to show anything out of the ordinary of himself.
"Harry!" The girl screeched, "Honestly! I told you to not abuse him!" The girl complained.
The brow rose at the bushy hair girl. He had no issue towards the cage and saw no reasons with his position. He heard a huffed of annoyance from the other Gryffindor.
"Seriously, Hermione, he isn't electrocuted by a cage or anything. Stop making excuses and you know I won't leave him alone, even with that trap bond on him." Harry pointed out, "So, what is the problem?"
Hermione groaned miserably about it and shook her head at her friend's treatment towards the man.
"He was bonded up for five hours nearly and he needs more room to stretch. There is no doubt that he's still feeling muscle ache since you kept his body frozen." She easily pointed out.
"He can do that when he can sleep. Besides, don't push me or I will put it back to restrictive bond." The raven shook his head as he left the room to go get ready for incoming mission.
Hermione sighed miserably and decided to drop it. She flickered her wand out to charm silence for her private conversation.
"Sorry, I had to act that out. Both of them know I'm against slavery, mistreating, and inequality among all intellect beings." She explained, headed over to the couches and coffee table to continue storing her things away.
Severus nodded. However, he felt it was too unnecessary and understood because the role is to be oneself as a spy in order to gain the right point of views of others. Being a spy is more than taking down a criminal. It has to be…someone you must deeply disguise and blend in naturally, without exposing unwanted expressions and actions, and survive at all cost. An act; that must have to lead others through thick and thin to become a king of the game. In a way, the chess game to play in order to succeed of a checkmate. A spy leads people on to win the war, not to fight others' battle.
Severus knew its purpose and he could tell Hermione knew what she was doing. She played well, but he hadn't known how long she has been doing this for.
"It is best to lead them off not to suspect something between us." The potion master commented, "Besides, I prefer cage over chained."
The girl's brow rose, "Why? You already know this bond will not let you escape or your power overcome it is impossible. Harry shouldn't need to worry about that."
"Perhaps he is limiting my privileges?" The man sighed, "He will continue to think I murdered Albus. It is must kept quiet until he wins the war or I die. However, if I die long before the war is won. You mustn't tell him until afterward."
She sighed, "But what if we're caught and they learned?"
The man closed his eyes, refused to believe it otherwise, "Then, we must oblivate them, just so they do not recall and return them afterward."
The bright witch was shocked to see how…willingly prepared for the consequences and knowing the risk. She had never thought to have such bravery and guilt at the same time. She bitten her lips and looked at the man.
"Have you…done this before?" She had to be a bit curious, yet, her voice almost whispered her express of fear.
The black iris revealed and checked over to the girl, "Yes. However, that is all I am speaking of. It is too much to speak of."
Hermione understood. She accepted her position to help and win the war when the rest of the generations can live in peace, have education without fear, and no hatred towards lesser than pureblood. She gulped, knowing both side of the war can win because two powerful wizards against each other's strength. After her fourth year, Professor Dumbledore has drawn the girl into the plan and given her the spy role to keep Harry safe, alive, strong, and happy before the time comes.
"What…would happen," Her head shook, "If he wins?" She had to admit…she needed to know the outcome on both sides of winning and losing for the light side of the war.
The potion master hated to be asking that question. A question that among deatheaters knew too well. A disturbing thought and he could not fit himself to see it.
"Some things are better left unsaid, Miss Granger. With what he speaks and plans on, it is not simply an easy stomach to bear such…perspective from him alone." The long dark hair shook his head, "Something he sees is not a world we all desire to live in and it is ten times worse than your typical hell on Earth." He almost felt shaky, but withdrew the feeling away from the past.
Hermione tried to think of it, but all she knew this man would have made her extreme chalky and egg white pale to the point she would have made the way her view of evil seems childish. Or, as if her fears were impossible to compare the level with the Dark Lord's domination plan.
"Then, it is best we win." She determined.
"Yes, I very much agreed." Severus rather live a life without that dark man in fear and suffer.
Suddenly, the elder noticed something in the corner of his eyes and realized the bitter Gryffindor was shocked. He was glancing back and forth between Hermione and Severus. So, he knows they were having conversation and the potion master was glad the boy couldn't read lips. He was still safe. Hermione noticed the sudden silence and turned around. She wore off the charm.
"Harry, is there something you need?" She smiled, pretending nothing had happened.
The green eyes looked over to her, "What did he tell you? His confession to his murderous act?" He frowned.
Hermione knew Harry wouldn't be able to let this go so easily. She didn't blame him, but they needed to keep Voldemort in the losing zone.
"Not really," She focused on packing, "I was asking him questions on some theories I came up for potions."
The boy sighed, "At least I know he still has his voice." His head shook, "Anyway, I was wondering if you had blankets prepared."
She nodded, "I got the tent already. I was grateful when Mr. Weasely gave me another set last summer."
"Good. I'll bring my stuff down soon." He checked over to the cage, "Let me know if you got his confession."
"Harry, we already know what he has done because you witnessed it. Why does he need to confess?" She frowned.
Harry shook his head and muttered something under his breath. He left the room and headed upstairs for now. Hermione redid the spell once more and sighed away. She was rather glad to get away with it this time. With being a bright witch, no one could suspect much from her or let alone understand her.
"He's quite gullible there for a moment." Severus commented.
She laughed quickly, "Yes, but he isn't always. Harry isn't fooled twice and I would advise not to repeat the same thing. But," She looked at the man, "You're not going to be giving the silent treatment this long, are you?"
The potion master knew what she had meant. All in his life, he was only being cautious and deal with what is coming for them.
"Until he stops his anger problem. I will regain to myself once more. Although, I doubt Mr. Weasely would talk to me."
She sighed, "Ron is a bit blinded by rumors, and how others perceive each other. I believe he will move on from his childish behavior soon enough when he gets used to you." She sheepishly smiled.
Severus understood, but he was too aware of the risk he's in as of right now. They were both in this together to survive the war without tipping off the plan Albus has sorted out to make it successful without Voldemort's alert of this. For now, this is a test of their lives.