Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Hermione came to, unable to move or speak. Extremely focused she tried turning to disapparate.
"Yes, I figured it wouldn't be long before you woke." Snape held her invisible harness for her lever locking stiletto. "I've searched you thoroughly. You are completely unarmed." Swinging the harness gently the stiletto swayed as though it hung unsupported. "Old habits die hard?"
Something dark flashed in the warm brown pools. Much too late; Severus was concerned that his decision had been miscalculated. The first time he saw that animal intent was the first evening at the beginning of Winter Break so many years ago. With startling clarity he remembered how accomplished she had been at wandless magic. "Listen, I did what I had to do. Just like you, I did what was right for me. You can't hold that against me. Hermione please understand, I have no intention of hurting you or any such thing."
Legilimens. Hermione penetrated Snape's mind. Running on raw energy she hunted, plucked and discarded memories until she found the one where Snape threatened her life. His words rocked her, I swear you'll be picking bits of the Warden off the walls. "You meant it, the spell was on your lips." Hermione screamed inside his head. "You meant it!"
Evacuating from his mind. Hermione focused all her kinetic and latent energy, releasing herself from the body bind. "Forgot I could do wandless magic?" Snape trained the wand on her. "You're good honey, but out of practice." She summoned her wand, which jerked from Severus' grasp returning to her. "Where are we?" She had her wand pointed back at him. Severus sat down hard on a moth-eaten couch, defeated. For good measure she summoned the stiletto.
Snape's face bloomed red as he addressed Hermione. "Why are you doing this? What ever happened to your vows of love, protection? Tell me what happened to them. You don't even wear your ring. Keep me prisoner, while you're free to get on with things. Be honest Hermione...did you find someone?"
"You would have killed me without a second thought if Benton hadn't surrendered. Love, protection? Can't say that I can get choked up with emotion right now." Not acknowledging his questions, "Severus, you need to come back with me to Azkaban." Hermione walked to the window hoping to find some clue as to where she was. The distance would determine whether she could take Severus directly to Azkaban or not. "I only fought to get the job as Warden so that I could keep you safe. It was never my ambition to head the penile system. I gave up my ambition to protect you, and now you've taken that from me. But I can't be Warden any longer. You've made it clear that you will use the bond to regain your magic, to escape."
"I will use the bond between us, someone should. From what I've seen, you've abandoned it. Turned your back on me. Did you ever tell anyone of the promises we made to one another?" Snape stood, arms limply at his sides. Walking over to stand a little ways behind Hermione, "Tell me." Hermione pressed her forehead to the cool glass. "It hasn't felt real to me for a while, just like some strange dream." She turned slightly to look over her shoulder at Snape, leaving a skin print on the glass. "One where I'm not sure whether I'm sleeping or awake."
Uncertain in these unfamiliar circumstances, Snape closed the distance between them. "You are my wife, and I'm invoking the bond. You will help me clear my name, Mrs. Snape." Taking hold of her, he whispered into the curve of her neck. "I have missed you, don't shun me." Boldly he unfastened her robes, and removed one sleeve at a time. Her robes puffed out as they floated to the rough wood floor. Her scent was different, more astringent. No scent of sweat, sex or lingering death. Snape's long slender fingers traced the curves and plains of her body. She had kept in shape. He had known Hermione was deadly, he would have to keep in mind who he was dealing with. "I want you." Snape hadn't seen Hermione move, she had stripped him of his prison uniform.
Severus hadn't been eating very well, he had always looked a little underfed, but he was very nearly emaciated. It gave her a little thump of her heart to think how much weight Severus had lost. Turning to face him, she took him in, carefully seeing the changes. It had been years. "You were willing to kill me back there." She sounded like she wished he had. "Do what you want."
"How many times have I been under threat of death from you, maybe you need some perspective. Pulling your knife on me at every turn." It couldn't qualify as hope for Severus- it was desperation. "We can fix this. As soon as we can track the Deatheater down who Imperiused me, the sooner this will be over." Snape's words hung in the air like a malevolent spectre.
She knew the Wizengamot would never acquit Severus. Hermione walked away from the window. She had been overly tired when she had started the day. Now she was ready to fall down. Maybe she'd be able to focus after sleep. Laying on the sofa, Hermione conjured a blanket.
Severus came over to Hermione and slid in behind her holding tight. Severus couldn't keep from touching her, whatever her feelings may be for him at this moment. If things could only be different.