AN: Sorry that it tok me so long to get this up, and I hope you all are still reading. Again I apologize if anyone was offended by the torture scene in the last chapter… I will try and lighten the story a bit, but this is not meant to be a fluffy story. Also, I promise grapes coming soon. Please Review!!

Chapter 4: Invisible Scars

Hermione had stood, scared witless, as Lucius spoke to her in front of the silenced deatheaters. But she had passed the test, apparently, with flying colors. She had received the improved Dark Mark and was accepted by all into the highest circle of Deatheaters. She had managed to keep her appearances up through the rest of them meeting as she and Severus gained valuable information. There was to be another mass raid, and there was to be another meeting where they would pick the target.

Hermione glanced at Severus from across the room, as Draco and his father both moved toward her as the meeting ended. "Lucius, Draco…" She smiled at Draco and touched his arm gently as he stopped in front of her. She let her fingers linger longer than necessary as she looked toward Lucius. "I'm very pleased to be accepted into your circle."

Lucius didn't miss the flirtatious touch she had given his son, and smiled to himself. "Lady Devonshire, I am truly delighted that you share our sentiments…I believe your knowledge of torture can be—useful to our purpose." Hermione noticed the raking look he was giving her as if he were mentally undressing her in the crowded room. She let her eyes hood a bit in pleasure as he continued. "Might I inquire as to where you are staying? We have plenty of rooms here at the manor, should you require lodging."

She let her voice drop, "I thank you, but I am staying with Severus, until my family estate is properly prepared."

"Such a pity…Draco, and I would both love to get to know you a bit better." The look in his eyes left no room for doubt in her mind that he meant they would love to 'know' her carnally.

She chuckled and practically purred as she saw Severus draw near, "Master Malfoy, I am a Lady." She paused and let her eyes size up the father and son pair noticeably, "However… If I feel that I am imposing on my host, I may just have to accept that offer." She made sure that the Malfoy pair knew exactly what she was implying as Severus joined the group.

Severus overheard the exchange, and couldn't help the same gnawing ache in his stomach as he thought, as no doubt Malfoy squared were thinking, of the implications in her voice. He didn't like it. Both the feeling itself or having it; and the thought of her sleeping with either of them made him want to hex the pair of silver snakes. He cleared his throat before he spoke, "My lady…"

Hermione looked at Severus then smiled again at Draco then Lucius, "Thank you for inviting me, but I'm afraid, my host is ready to depart."

Hermione and Severus managed to extricate themselves from the lingering Deatheaters and apparate back to Spinner's End. Once inside, Severus warded the home and closed all of the curtains. Hermione had changed into her normal form, and walked silently over to the mantel of the fireplace. Severus was about to re-ignite the smoldering logs, but she spoke in such a small voice that he stopped.

"How do you do this? How have you survived…this?"

Severus watched her silhouette against the dying embers of the fire. Part of him wanted to snarl at her to buck up; she had no business getting her feelings involved. But the other part of him, the part that had been living what she was living now, moved him. He knew what she was feeling, the only difference he could see, is that she had him to help her deal with it. He'd had no one. "Hermione…" He noticed her shoulders start to shake, and he reached a tentative hand out to touch her shoulder. He felt her turn, and when she faced him and looked up, he saw tears coursing down her face. As he looked into her troubled eyes, he saw his own emotions mirrored in the twin pools of warm hazel. He felt a lump rise in his throat, and without thinking of the repercussions he gently pulled her to him. She latched on to his robes, and buried her head in the fabric covering his chest. His arms went around her automatically, and he was surprised at how small she was, now that she was against him. He could feel each tremble as she sobbed for what she had done. He rested his cheek against her head as she continued to cry.

Hermione released the bottled feelings that she had managed to harness since she had tortured and killed three innocents. She was vaguely aware of her knees giving out, and Severus lowering them to the floor. She was managing to quiet her sobs as she listened to his deep voice, his chest vibrating beneath her cheek as he spoke in a soothing tone. She focused on his voice, and managed to calm her breathing.

Severus had maneuvered them to the floor, and as a result, she was sitting on one of his legs, and had curled into him as if she were trying to hide from the world. He had been telling her that what she had done had saved both of their lives; and that for the moment they were safe. They needed to remain that way to end this—permanently. But he wasn't entirely sure she was the only one he was reassuring. He had been stroking her long hair as he rocked and soothed her, and now he realized she had stopped crying and sounded as if she might be asleep. He began to pull himself gently from her and was surprised when her hands captured his upper arms.

"Please…" Her voice no longer quavered, but it was still thick with the tears she had cried. "Severus, just hold me."

Severus felt a jolt as he realized that she was quite aware of exactly whose arms she was seeking comfort in. "Hermione…"

"Please." Here in his arms, she felt safe for the first time in years. She turned her face, resting her head on his shoulder so that she could look into his eyes. She noticed for the first time as she looked at him, that he was actually very handsome. His eyes were intriguing; they were black as the most moonless night, but, like the sky, they were endless. His face, when not contorted into a sneer or anger, was distinguished and angular. Sure it was not a face that poets would write about, but it was handsome none-the-less. Her eyes wandered to his lips, and just as she was thinking how they would feel on her own, she looked back to his eyes and blushed. He was still watching her.

The same animal in his gut that snarled when she flirted with Malfoy, purred as she studied him. His chest seemed to expand and constrict at the same time as her eyes lingered on his lips. He didn't know what this strange and uncomfortable feeling was, but he knew that right now, neither of them could afford to find out. He swallowed as her eyes rose back to meet his, and as she blushed, he shook his head sadly, as if telling her 'no, this is as far as it goes.' Before he was tempted to break the unwritten rule of survival, he gently kissed her forehead letting his lips stay there. "Sometimes we do what is necessary, even if it kills us, Hermione."

Hermione's skin tingled where his lips rested. She knew he was telling her 'no.' And he was right. It was too dangerous, to even casually become more than what they were; a pair of spies working together. But he was also telling her to remain strong. She breathed deep as if to steel herself against the days to come. They didn't know how long it would take to beat this, but she had a feeling that the longer the Deatheaters existed, the shorter their existence became. She knew it was only a matter of time before she and Severus destroyed the group, or the group destroyed them. It was not only their lives at stake, but their humanity. Hermione felt him shift beneath her, and she gingerly removed herself from his embrace, and she was surprised at how cold she was after leaving his warmth. As she looked at him evenly from their positions on the floor, she knew exactly what kind of weight he had borne since before her birth. And the weight of the world was indeed heavy. She resolved to help him bear it to victory or death.

Severus and Hermione stood in Minerva's office to make their report. Hermione wondered what mechanism he had found to remain so calm as he outlined the meeting which they had just attended.

"Are there any more raids planned as of this moment?" Minerva tapped a quill anxiously on her desk.

Severus, having skipped over completely detailing or even mentioning what Hermione had done to gain the Deatheaters trust, studied his fingernails as he responded. "They are being plotted, probably as we speak. But I don't think it is wise to completely foil any plans so close to 'Lady Devonshire' joining the high circle."

Hermione nodded in concurrence as she joined the report. "The object is for us to not get caught. Severus and I have agreed that a few raids may have to be successful for the Deatheaters before we start dismembering the group."

Minerva nearly balked at the idea of just letting this evil continue when they had the foresight to stop the needless destruction. "You would allow this to happen again?" Her voice shook as she heaved a copy of the Prophet across the desk. The picture on the front was the smoldering remains of Diagon Alley. Even after nearly a fortnight had passed, the prophet was replaying the devastation on the front page.

"If it is the difference between victory and defeat; yes." Severus glanced at the paper with little interest. The pictures and the articles didn't do justice to the atrocities that the deatheaters preformed.

Hermione watched her former mentor swell as if ready to demand information, and she found herself contemptuous of the blunt and dangerous attitude the other witch was taking toward their project. "You should be familiar with the concept of 'the greater good' Minerva, after all that is the policy that Dumbledore lived by." She found herself glaring at the headmistress. "So would you prefer us to save ten people or the entire society? Because I can guarantee you that if we stop these minor raids, that Severus and I will both be killed, and the murders will continue."

Minerva looked incredulously at the woman in front of her. She would have expected Hermione, at least because of her Gryffindor sensibilities, to be just as disgusted by any needless slaughters. "I hope…" Her voice was weak with disbelief and disgust. "That you two are correct."

"If we are wrong, then we will die." Severus spoke quietly from his seated position. "So it would be prudent for you to trust us, because I, for one intend to live past this."

Hermione and Severus had managed to secure a stately manor in the country for the estate of Lady Devonshire, and they had worked many hours to ensure that the home had every comfort that benefited a Lady of status. It had taken them a few weeks to acquire the property and in that time 'Lady Devonshire' had proven herself over and over again in the minor raids that the Deatheaters were performing every few days.

The name 'Lady Rebecca Devonshire' was being spoken throughout wizarding Britain with fear and disgust. The community was hearing reports of what horrors were being committed by the witch, and thus far, that was what was keeping Hermione alive. She hated herself for that.

Hermione was sure that if she and Severus didn't make their first move soon, that she would be lost. So far she had been able to find a way to cope with what she was doing, but she felt that it was slowly ripping her soul in two. She could almost see it now as she looked in the mirror. She could almost see the two halves of herself, the honorable and noble Gryffindor know-it-all and the cruel deceptive Lady Devonshire, battling within for dominance, and ultimately, survival. It was there in her eyes. Ice and fire mingling within the depths of her pupils, the sharp in the moment focus as well as the 'hundred yard stare' that muggles tell of once a person has seen or committed acts of cruelty that haunts and tortures their souls.

Hermione barely flinched as she was drawn out of her reverie by another pair of eyes joining her in the mirror. Severus' onyx eyes met her troubled honey colored eyes through the refraction in the glass as he moved to stand behind her. "Tonight." Hermione barely recognized her own voice anymore as she spoke to Severus. It was tainted by the slight lilt that she adopted as Lady Devonshire.

"You're sure we are ready?" Severus couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the near command that Hermione had given him even as he moved to stand behind her.

She supposed his touch was to be comforting, but as his hands rested on her shoulders all she felt was fire. No, that wasn't entirely correct. Fire, she thought, would burn. This, this was not painful. His lightest touch warned her skin through the fabric of her robes that had nothing to do with heat transfer. Her skin tingled, as if it were only coming alive under his elegant hands and even though they were inside, and despite the sunlight streaming through the window, she heard thunder rushing in her ears. She felt herself relax against him as she answered, "We have to be."

Severus felt his pulse pick up as she leaned against him. He quelled the sudden urge to take her and disappear, to protect her forever. The beast in his chest that he had been ignoring seemed to rise up and purr longing for more. Even though he knew it was wrong Severus felt his traitorous hands seek a better purchase on the body of his partner and one-time student, grasping her shoulders gently but firmly. How he longed to allow his hands to stroke her face, wondering if her skin was as soft as it appeared, but knowing that to touch her the way he wanted would be deadly for them both. He nearly smiled at the irony; his situation leant new meaning to the phrase 'fatal attraction.' "Then it starts." Was all he said as he removed his hands and produced a piece of parchment and quill from his robes, regretting the lost of contact they had shared.

Hermione once again puzzled at how cold she felt after leaving his embrace, minimal as it was. She took the parchment and quill, preparing to write the letter that would, Merlin willing, change the wizarding world forever.

oOoOoOoOo

At precisely nine o'clock Lucius Malfoy was let into Devonshire Estates by a loyal house elf. The platinum man glanced around as he awaited the Lady of the house trying not to congratulate himself on securing an invitation to accompany the lovely woman for the evening. Without his wife's or son's knowledge, of course.

Hermione glanced at Severus one last time as Lady Devonshire before she descended to meet her guest. She had no qualms about what this night would entail except that she felt that she would somehow be betraying the man beside her. Severus had become a friend and…much more if she were to be truthful with herself. Even though nothing intimate more than the passing touch or the barely concealed glances at one another had transpired, she knew that she had feelings for the man that she worked with. She didn't know exactly what she felt for him, attraction certainly, but going out with another man didn't feel right. Never mind the fact that not only did he know, but help her orchestrate the meeting. She still felt as if she were, dare she say, cheating on him. "Severus…" She reached toward him placing a hand on his arm.

"You'll be late." Severus heard himself answering and tried once again to ignore the feelings welling up in protest inside as well as the tingling sensation where her hand now rested. Severus met the blue eyes that now belonged to his partner as much as the rich topaz ones that he thought suited her better and added "Be Careful."

"You'd hate to break in a new partner wouldn't you?" She tried to joke.

"There's that."

Hermione shook her head slightly at the closed expression on his face and raised an eyebrow, "really Severus, you are too kind." She winked as his mouth twitched at her joke. "I will be. I'll see you in a bit, then." She regarded herself in the mirror one more time before she fully slipped into the role of seductive and cruel Lady Rebecca once again. She descended the stairs to meet her guest graciously, "Lucius, I haven't kept you long I hope?"

Lucius turned and smiled his most dashing smile, "Of course not my Lady. Why, you look…" his eyes swept her body hungrily "positively edible, if I may say so."

Hermione shivered at his voice in repulsion, but her exterior self smiled knowingly as she stood too close to him to be appropriate, "you may."

"Shall we?" Lucius trailed a pale finger along her jaw line relishing in the fact that this seductress seemed to shiver in anticipation at nothing more than his feather light touch.

oOoOoOo

Hermione reflected briefly as she walked with Lucius down the streets of the near deserted London. She realized amusedly that Lucius had taken her on one of the best dates that she had ever been on, as long as she excluded his company. He had been he perfect gentleman intending to wine and dine her properly. As proper as a married man can wine and dine his mistress anyway. They had apparated into London and had an exquisite dinner at what was obviously a very expensive restaurant before heading to the theatre. She also found it amusing that this High ranked Deatheater had taken her on a muggle date, but it was all the better for her. Now that the official entertainment was over for the evening, it was almost time to execute her plan. "Oh, Lucius, this evening has been wonderful. You are certainly better company than poor Severus." She hated talking about him with this monster.

Lucius stopped walking to face his lovely date. "I hope our friend hasn't given you too much trouble. Severus never was a social creature."

"Oh, no, he has been very accommodating, but he lacks your obvious charm." She steeled herself inwardly for his touch as he lifted his hand to frame her face.

"I apologize for Severus; he never has had any luck communicating with the opposite sex." Lucius stepped closer to her as he stroked her cheek with one hand and gently took her waist with his other. "But let us not speak so ill of our friend. We wouldn't want to ruin the evening, would we?"

"No" Hermione tilted her chin upward slightly as her hands slid up Lucius' chest as she willed herself to remain in character. Before she could comprehend that he had moved closer his lips were on hers and his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth. She allowed him to continue his ministrations as she pretended to respond to him. They were locked in that passionate embrace for what seemed like ages before she felt him tense and groan into her mouth in pain. Hermione immediately stepped away from her date, breaking his hold on her and glanced past him to meet Severus' eyes as the knife flashed in his hands.

Severus turned his one-time friend to face him. "I want you to see my face as you die Lucius." The knife flashed again as Severus struck. "I want you ton know that you died for a cause." The knife thudded into Lucius' chest cavity again as Hermione moved to stand where Lucius could see her looking on and she morphed back to her own form. "I want you to know that your death is the first of many." Again the knife caught the glow of the street lamps, its silver color tainted red. "You and the rest of the high circle will die by the hands of the light, Lucius." Severus struck once more coolly as ever his countenance never changing, showing neither joy nor anger.

The light in Lucius' eyes was ebbing with his life as he looked at Hermione who smirked, "Thought I was dead, Lucius? May the gods have mercy on you, even though you don't deserve it." Hermione took the knife from Severus as Lucius fell to his knees dying slowly before she took mercy on him and slit his throat. The once proud man lay in a large puddle of his own blood on the sidewalk the yellow tinted light from the street lamps cast eerie shadows and turning the silver-blond hair mousy. Hermione tore her eyes from the body of the ex-deatheater to meet Severus' as she spoke, "Let's leave now, before any unlucky muggle finds us here."

Severus nodded, "keep the knife." He strode forward stepping over the body of his one time friend to place a hand on the small of her back as if to guide away from the grisly scene. He turned on the spot apparating back to Devonshire Estates. He glanced sidelong to Hermione as they walked from the apparation point and couldn't help being angry with himself for replaying the searing hatred that he had felt for Lucius as the man kissed his Hermione. Severus stopped walking. His Hermione?

Hermione turned to look at the darkened countenance of her partner. "Severus?" She stepped toward him with her hand outstretched and placed it gently on his forearm.

"I'll be along shortly. I'm going to check the progress of the plants in the gardens." He referred to the small garden that they had begun growing potions ingredients in. He needed to get away from her. He wanted to be closer. His head and heart were wrestling for dominance, and he needed some space to sort his thoughts before he did something that could get them both killed. Before he allowed himself to feel for her, to hunger after her and to want to make her his.