Author's note

I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe for they all belong to JK Rowling. All I have done was borrow from her, and had a little fun with my ideas.

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Chapter 9

Severus entered the Great Hall for lunch. Albus and Minerva, along with some other staff members had arrived back. Whenever Albus was present in the castle, he made it a point to let him and his staff have lunch together. This of course was something that Severus did not approve of or like at all. He deemed it was useless for it was either summer or the holidays, and there were no students to watch over. After lunch anyways, he thought that it was best to tell Albus and Minerva about the news regarding Hermione.

Hermione obviously did not feel like attending lunch at the Great Hall. She said that she would not feel comfortable with much people around. And Severus understood. To make sure that Hermione ate her lunch, he made her eat before he left his chambers. She asked if she could walk around the castle for a while, and Severus allowed her to. Hermione was able to walk for some time, on her own, and she promised not to push herself. Severus of course did not allow her to walk alone. He made Dobby accompany her.

"I trust that all is well Severus?" Albus smiled at him as he leaned forward to look at his Potions Master, sitting a chair away.

Severus jabbed his carrot with his fork, and scowled at the old wizard, "Define well Albus."

Nothing was well for Severus. Breaking the news about Hermione was going to be hard for him. he knew that he would not be able to control his emotions, and would probably be ending up throwing things in the Headmaster's office. Thinking about Hermione's step father did anger him very much, but he had kept his anger in tact for weeks. He couldn't break in front of Hermione for she needed him to lean on. Severus was also the type to drink his sorrows away and whatnot, but he hasn't drunk a single sip of his whiskey since Hermione was with him. He needed to keep himself focused on Hermione, just in case anything happened to her.

"I bet you didn't do anything more than brew potions all summer," Remus told him.

Severus then snapped at him. "Trust me; I did have better things to do."

"Whatever," Poppy snorted. "Now did you make me my potions for my infirmary?"

"Of course I did," Severus hissed.

"So that meant that you did brew potions," Hagrid chuckled. Severus ignored his comment, and leaned towards Minerva.

"After this, I must speak with you and Albus," he whispered to her ear. "It is of the utmost importance and involves a—Gryffindor cub of yours."

"Good or bad?" Minerva gasped. There was a glint of fear in her eyes that Severus saw.

"You could say—both," he replied.

Suddenly, there was an elf that popped in front of the table. It was Dobby, and he ran as fast as he could to Severus's side. Severus looked down at him immediately.

"Dobby tells Professor Snape the that bad man is here," Dobby informed him in a shaky voice. He then was starting to jump up and down in, and point towards the door. "The bad man, the bad man." Before Severus could say anything he was interrupted.

"The Dark Lord!" Albus gasped as he stood up, and pulled his wand out. Everyone did the same except for Severus.

"Dobby, who bad man?" Severus asked aloud.

"Dobby see the bad man at the entrance hall. Dobby see Miss Granger scared," he replied.

"Shit!" Severus stood up from his seat. He ran as fast as he could out the hall, with everyone following behind him. Severus had a bad feeling and knew exactly who Dobby was talking about.

"You bitch of a witch!" Severus heard a man shout just around the corner. He approached it quickly and stopped in his tracks. There in front of him, Hermione was curled up in a ball. Her step father a few meters away.

"Hermione?" Severus called her softly as he knelt next to her. She was clearly in shock. Her head and face were covered with her arms and hands. Severus snapped his head up to look at the man ahead.

"Did you hit her?!" he roared.

"And who the fuck are you?" he spat. "She knows her punishment."

Severus turned his head to see the others approaching. Poppy and Minerva then knelt next to him, and looked at Hermione's body.

"Levitate her to the infirmary. I will meet with you there," Severus told Poppy. "You too Minerva."

The medi-witch did as told, and pulled her wand out. Once Hermione's body had levitated, Mr. Fewer moved towards her. Severus quickly moved under Hermione's body, and made sure that he couldn't get any closer.

"Don't even try it," Severus hissed as he shoved the man with one hand, making him stumble back a few steps. The other three wizards moved to Severus's side, with their wands pulled out.

"You are just her professors," the man argued. "I am her rightful guardian, and she is coming home with me. You cannot stop-" He was then shoved to the wall hard by Severus, knocking the air out of him, a hand around his neck, lifting him up a bit.

"I can stop you," Severus hissed, his face inching towards the man, glaring at him with black angry eyes. "Now I shall punish you."

This was the moment that Severus had been dreaming of. Revenge for Hermione. Beating her asshole of a step father, like the way he beat her. The man didn't seem intimidating at all. Severus was much taller and more built. After all, he was a death eater, and dealing with this man was going to be easy.

"Enough!" Remus said as he placed a hand on Severus's shoulder, urging him to pull away. It was then shrugged off.

"You tell this bastard enough!" Severus spat in front of Mr. Fewer's face. "You will never get your hands on Hermione ever again!"

Mr. Fewer just smirked at Severus. He didn't care what the wizard was going to do. He was sure that he was going to have his ways with his step daughter one way or another. He suddenly felt a fist meet his nose and break it. He crumpled to the floor and squeezed it, trying to stop the bleeding.

"And this is for almost getting her killed!" Severus gritted as he started to kick him at the gut. Revenge was indeed starting to get sweet as he did it again and again, till he lost consciousness.

"Stop Severus! Stop in this instant!" Albus demanded as he, Remus and Hagrid pulled the enraged wizard back. Severus struggled for a bit against them, and finally raised his hands up.

"Get him out of here," Severus said in disgust, brushing a hand through his hair. "Call Amos Diggory. He's the one handling Hermione's case." With that, he spun on his heels and ran to the infirmary. Hermione needed him.


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