AUTHOR'S NOTE: Much as I wish it were so, I do not own Harry Potter. Thank J.K. Rowling, if you please.


9. Cave Inimicum

A noise at the far end of the bedroom, somewhere near her door, disrupted her surprisingly peaceful slumber. Hermione frowned as sleep threatened to drag her under again. She burrowed her face a little deeper into the pillow and stretched her arm out, searching for where she remembered he had sat. Soon her fingers would come in contact with the fabric of his trousers, she was sure of it. Certainly he would not have left her in the middle of the night. He promised…

"Why have you sought me out, Severus? Usually you are above such impudence."

Her eyes snapped open.

"My Lord, it would seem that we have a rather unexpected development and I am afraid that it cannot wait."

"Oh? What kind of development?"

"The Headmaster has taken an interest in your daughter."

It was silent for a moment but she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again, "Is that so? How fascinating. Tell me more about this… interest."

"The Order is weakening and there is dissension in the ranks as to what the next move should be. Dumbledore believes that your daughter could act as a morale booster of sorts, for her presence would signify dysfunction within your own walls. He wishes for me to sway her to his side."

He father laughed, "The old man never fails to surprise me. Does he really think my child, who you have trained and educated so well to our ways would simply give herself over to the Light at the drop of a hat?"

"He is quite ignorant, my Lord. He believes the Light can sway any and all."

"And tell me, Severus, is he correct? Would Hermione's presence in the Order bring them hope for victory?"

"No, My Lord. I have known the Order members a very long time… her presence would almost certainly tear them apart. There are a few that would inherently trust her, as she is young and impressionable, but others would be staunchly opposed and unafraid to say so. It would not take long for the Order to crumble."

"Excellent, Severus. Excellent. And what of Hermione? Have you spoken with her about this?"

"Yes, my Lord. The Headmaster requested a meeting with her directly after the Revel and I was by her side. We discussed it when we returned this evening."

"And?"

"She is most pleased with the opportunity to destroy the Order from the inside should you allow it."

Her father's voice was like poison, "Then help her pack her things. I believe it's time for Hermione to properly attend Hogwarts."

x-x-x

"I still cannot stay in the Slytherin dorms?"

Severus shook his head as he pulled all of her shrunken things from the pockets of his robes and enlarged them for her. He waved his wand around the small dungeon suite to clear the dust and spider webs. "Both the Headmaster and your father agree it would be best for you to retain the appearance of leaving the castle each day. Remember, your father believes you are infiltrating the Order and the Headmaster believes you under his protection. In either scenario, it would be wise to keep your peers ignorant. This suite is close enough to my office that it will still look as though you are Flooing back to your father's house without causing suspicion."

Hermione eyed the room skeptically. It obviously had not been used in a very long time and he was having to use quite a bit of spellwork to clean everything. "Going to all this trouble is hardly necessary. Your chambers are even closer to your office and according to the floorplans I have seen in some of the history books I have read, only minimum alterations would need to be made for me to stay there."

He stopped dead, spots of color blooming on his cheekbones. His voice was rough, "5 points from Slytherin, Miss Granger. For absurd, inappropriate suggestions."

She huffed and rolled her eyes, "Merlin Almighty, I am not suggesting sullying your delicate virginal honor, Severus. I simply think—"

His head whipped around to glare at her, "Watch it, girl."

He continued to make the room habitable with sharp, angry slashes of his wand for a few more seconds before stalking towards the door. Hermione lunged forward, grabbing his upper arm before he could escape. "Hey… I was just joking, Severus. I was not trying to upset you."

He shook her off roughly but did not even turn around as he snarled, "Within these walls, you will address me as Professor Snape. Fail to address me properly again and you will find yourself in a permanent, ongoing detention with Mr. Filch polishing every sconce in this castle until your fingers bleed. Am I understood?"

His words felt like a slap to the face considering the things they had been through together. Rage unfurled within her like the coils of a snake. "Why are you acting like such an arse? I was just messing with you since you seemed so wholly opposed to me being anywhere near your private chambers. You seemed like you were more worried about me having wicked, dishonorable intentions, rather than realizing I was just trying to save you from the hassle of having to clean up this ancient room. What, you can kiss me but not take a joke? What kind of bullshite is that?"

Severus rounded on her, his eyes flashing with fury, "I was coerced by the power of your raw magic."

She snorted, crossing her arms, "Right. It just forced you, one of the most powerful wizards I have ever met, to kiss me against your will. You had nothing to do with it at all."

Hermione had not realized, in her own fit of anger and sarcasm, that she was poking the bear. He stalked towards her slowly, his onyx eyes burning, voice low, "Before I leave this room and allow us to begin our little charade, let me make something perfectly clear."

She backed up a little, alarmed.

"I do not respond well being mocked, Miss Granger. I will not tolerate it; not from the snot-nosed little shites that inhabit this school and certainly not from you. You will act respectfully towards me because this little game we are playing with your father and the Headmaster is your doing. You shook hands with Albus. You came up with the bright idea to bargain your equation for your life. You ran away from your father. I am bound, if you must know, by an Unbreakable Vow to guard your life with mine and as such, was dragged along into your little scheme. I do not like it. I do not think it is necessary. I do not think it was the right choice. But here I am, doing what must be done to save your life. Do not mistake this for anything other than what it is, Miss Granger. Do not let your magic or any chemistry," he sneered the word, "your magic fools you into feeling lead you to think anything different. We are bound by a Vow. One day, we will not be. I warned you before not to waste your foolish, schoolgirl fantasies on me. I meant it. I do not love you. I will not. Therefore, the status of my 'virginal honor' in no way concerns you, nor will it ever. Speak to me that way again and I will make you regret it. Do you understand me?"

His expression was rage incarnate, but there was something else behind his eyes. Something softer, more vulnerable. Was he… embarrassed? If there was one thing she learned over the last few months with him, it was that he lashed out when he was embarrassed about something. He wore his snark and anger like a thick band of armor. When he was hurt, he wanted to hurt in return. Of course, such reactions probably weren't exactly healthy but after the things he had been through, it made sense for him to be that way. However, that made dealing with him and his mercurial emotions quite the challenge. Hermione knew all of this about him, but there was still a part of her brain that itched to lash out right back at him. Part of her wanted to slap him for his hurtful words. Part of her wanted to kiss him just to prove that he was lying. She was smart enough to know that none of those reactions would help her cause; they would only serve to piss him off further.

Hermione watched his face for what seemed like a very long time before she found her voice again. "Forgive me, Professor Snape. I meant no disrespect."

With his crooked teeth bared, Severus whipped around and stormed out, robes billowing behind him as he slammed the door shut so hard her wand rolled off the desk.

x-x-x

He did not apologize.

She did not expect him to. Not sober anyway.

Days passed and classes continued. Hermione still tried her best not to go anywhere alone, but sometimes it was impossible. One morning, she had stayed behind in Ancient Runes to ask Professor Babbling about a particularly tricky translation that she could not quite grasp. She had warmed up to her rather spectacularly over the weeks and no longer seemed hesitant to spend time in the younger girl's presence.

"I thought perhaps they were Ancient Norse, but I could not find any text that referenced anything that looked like this one," she gestured towards her notes.

Professor Babbling smiled, "That would be because these particular runes pre-date the Norse ones."

Hermione frowned as she added to her notes, "Interesting. I will have to look in a completely different section then. Thank you so much for your help, Professor. I greatly appreciate it."

"Then are you looking for an Apprenticeship in Ancient Runes, Miss Granger?"

She paused, her parchment halfway into her bag, "I… I had initially thought Arithmancy but I do enjoy both subjects immensely…"

Professor Babbling eyed her with a grin, "Double Apprenticeships are rare, but not unheard of."

Hermione nodded slowly.

"You are a natural at Ancient Runes, Miss Granger," the professor shuffled some things on her desk absently. "And Professor Vector tells me you have an aptitude for Arithmancy far above anything she has seen in a very long time. What career path are you considering?"

For as long as she could remember, from the time she entered Beuxbatons, Hermione wanted to be a professor. She wanted to help shape young minds and be allowed to continue learning forever. While her classmates had lamented in returning to school, she reveled in it, thrived on it. She never wanted to leave, which was perfect as professors tended to live at the boarding school where they taught.

Then Tom happened.

After being thrust into a life with the Dark Lord as her father and being forced to attend a Revel where a member of her family was murdered before her eyes, Hermione had changed her mind. Abruptly.

She wanted to help.

"I want to be a Curse Breaker, Professor."

The older woman raised her eyebrows almost into her hairline, but smiled warmly, "With your talent at both Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, I would say that is a very attainable goal."

Warmth bloomed in her chest.

"When you finish your N.E.W.T.s, come speak with Professor Vector and I so that we may discuss the possibility of a double Apprenticeship," she waved her hand towards the door, a small smile still on her lips. "Now, off to lunch with you before the Headmaster has my head for making you skip a meal."

"Thank you very much, Professor," Hermione slung her bag over her shoulder and made it all the way to the door before the older woman called out to her again. She turned.

"Do tell Miss Parkinson I feel bad for sending her away. I didn't know how long she would be waiting for you and I didn't want her to miss lunch as well."

Dread sat like a rock in the pit of her stomach- the Great Hall was many floors below the Ancient Runes classroom- but she nodded, "Of course, Professor."

x-x-x

Hermione made it to the third floor before she realized she was being followed.

Whoever followed her was either invisible or Disillusioned and they had cast a silencing spell on their steps, but she could feel them just a few feet behind. The skin on the back of her neck prickled and her muscles tensed but she did her best to retain the illusion of being unaware.

Severus was still angry with her. She did not want him to be dragged away from whatever he was doing just to save her again. She was a powerful and intelligent witch; she should be able to handle herself.

Everything happened at once then. A hand reached out to grip her shoulder, she cracked the invisible person behind her in the face with her elbow, unsheathed her wand, shoved the person into a dark alcove and pressed her wand to their throat. Before she could speak, the fabric that had rendered the person invisible slipped to the ground—an Invisibility Cloak?—and she was left staring into the bespectacled, bleeding face of Harry Potter.

His expression was angry but he was unarmed so she lowered her wand, "Why are you following me?" His emerald gaze flickered down to his obviously broken nose for a brief moment before returning to her face, expectant. She rolled her eyes, "Episky."

The bone cracked back into place and the bleeding stopped. He wriggled his nose a little before he looked satisfied that it was healed properly, "Was that really necessary?"

"Someone invisible grabbed me from behind in an empty corridor after following me for some time. Considering who my father is, would you take the chance?"

"I guess I see your point."

She lowered her wand again but did not put it away, "What do you want?"

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"Are you working for the Order now?"

Hermione hesitated, unsure how much she was supposed to divulge.

Now he rolled his eyes, "Neville, Ron, and me are all members. Inducted at the beginning of our 7th year. At our last meeting, Dumbledore said that you… switched sides and that we could trust you. Is it true?"

Severus would probably be furious with her, but she really was so tired of everyone thinking she was evil, that she was just like Tom. She wanted someone to know the truth. Just one person.

"Yes," she said quietly. "It is."

He eyed her skeptically, "And Voldemort, the Voldemort, just let you leave? He just let his only child join his enemies like that?"

"Well, it was not quite as simple as all that but—"

There was a flash of black and then they were both ripped rather violently by their arms from the alcove where they had been hidden.

Sandalwood. Rosemary. Honey.

Shite.

Severus's expression was murderous, bordering on unhinged. She wanted to step back from his frightening countenance but he held them both firmly in his vice-like grip. Potter struggled to break free, but Hermione knew better. She remained frozen in place.

"50 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter," he hissed. "For engaging in inappropriate behavior in the halls."

"There's blood on my face! How can you think—"

Severus shoved him away, towards the moving staircase, "I suggest you get down to the Great Hall before I assign you detention during every remaining Quidditch match of the season."

Without another word, he disappeared down the hall, tucking his Invisibility Cloak into his school robes.

They were alone.

"Sev... Professor Snape, I—"

"What the hell were you doing with him?" He snapped fiercely. "Why were you not in the Great Hall?"

"I stayed behind to talk to Professor Babbling," she placated. "I was on my way down when I felt someone following me. He grabbed me just as—"

His wand slid down from the sheath in his sleeve and he turned towards the staircase, "I will fucking kill him."

She stayed his hand, "Nothing was going on, Professor Snape. We were just talking."

He wrenched from her grip, "If you think for a fucking moment that I will allow another fucking Potter to take something that is fucking mine, then you are fucking mistaken."

"Yours?" She seethed, magic crackling in her fingertips as she flexed her hands. "First of all, I am not a possession, Professor."

He turned, seemingly surprised that he had spoken aloud.

"Second," Hermione advanced on his, her hair frizzing with blue sparks, "you do not own me. I can speak to whomever I please."

Severus sheathed his wand.

"Third," she cornered him in the alcove he had ripped her from, "we are bound by a Vow. One day, we will not be. You warned me before not to waste my foolish, schoolgirl fantasies on you. You meant it. You do not love me. You will not. Therefore, the status of my 'virginal honor' in no way concerns you, nor will it ever, sir. Do you understand me?"

For a long moment, the simply stared each other down, chests heaving with labored breaths as they struggled to get their respective tempers under control. Cobalt sparks sizzled between them, bounding eagerly back and forth between woven gray and obsidian wool.

His words were strangled and harsh, "I am undone."

His lips crashed into hers so hard, her spine nearly melded with the wall. She gripped his hair, helpless to stop the torrent of desire coursing through her. Long, slender fingers gripped her hips, pulling her flush against his lean body as he groaned low into her mouth. She was so angry with him; how dare he be so cruel to her, say such awful things, then turn around and try to lay claim on her? How dare he dismiss the explosive chemistry between them as some anomaly of her raw magic? How dare he minimize her feelings?

She bit down, none too gently, on his lower lip.

Severus moaned.

Hermione could feel her resolve melting away under his attentions. A few more swipes of his venomous tongue and she would no longer remember her own name, let alone why she was upset with him. She pushed on his chest and he stopped, resting his forehead on hers.

"How can you kiss me like that… after the things you said?"

He did not open his eyes, "Have you not heard? I am a veritable bastard."

She wanted to slap him. She wanted to laugh. Instead, she nudged him with her nose. It worked; his eyes opened. "You said this was nothing more than my magic coercing you."

He let out a barking laugh, "Absurd."

"You cannot keep hurting me and expect me to always forgive you, Severus."

His eyes softened and he cupped her cheek in his calloused palm, "I know."

Hermione closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his thumb swiping across her cheekbone.

"You are wrong," he said quietly, almost too low for her to hear.

"About what?"

"We may be bound by a Vow but…" Severus was quiet for a moment and she opened her eyes to see him gazing down at her with reverence. "…we will always be bound. And… I did not mean it. And someday… I… I may…. And it does concern me, Hermione. Very, very much."

She fisted her hands in the front of his teaching robes to stop them from trembling. He was confessing a great many things to her in very few words. He was using his own, spiteful words and twisting them to tell her the truth. The real truth.

Certain that anything she could possibly say would ruin the moment, Hermione gently pressed her lips to his. He wound his fingers into the hair at the back of skull, melding her to him. His tongue slipped past her lips to taste every inch of her mouth as she struggled to remember how to breathe properly. Her knees turned to jelly.

"How could you ever think…" His mouth slid down her neck to the juncture at her shoulder. "How can you not see…"

She gave a breathy chuckle, "I am not a Legilimens. All I have for certain are your words."

"Actions," he corrected, nipping the sensitive skin. "Words deceive, actions do not. You have my actions."

Hermione gripped his robes tighter.

x-x-x

It was close to midnight as Hermione pulled on her thick robes and fur-lined boots. She was supposed to meet Severus in exactly ten minutes so they could venture into the Forbidden Forest for the first of their ingredients- the ones that could only be harvested during a full moon. Better to get the more difficult ones out of the way first, he had said.

The incident with Harry Potter nearly a week ago has caused some subtle changes in her keeper. He was not nearly as acerbic when speaking to her and he really did try to keep his snark to a minimum. Not that those things would ever truly go away, they were simply a part of who he was after all, but he was… gentler. More considerate.

The lack of whiplash was refreshing.

After ensuring no one else was in the hall, Hermione slipped from her room and walked the ten feet to the Potions classroom. It was empty, of course, so she went and knocked on his office door.

Nothing.

She knocked again.

Still nothing.

Had the meeting gone over? She frowned, trying to remember what time he had left. Seven? Eight? Surely an Order meeting wouldn't last that long. Surely he wouldn't dawdle when he knew they had vital ingredients to collect tonight.

Unless he had returned and was already awaiting her in the courtyard? He typically was not one for mollycoddling and since it was well past curfew, there wouldn't be anyone in the halls to notice her. He might very well be expecting her to make it to the courtyard by herself.

Well, no use wasting any more precious time.

Hermione palmed her wand as she made her way through the darkened stone halls. There was something so peaceful about wandering the halls at night, the ability to observe the castle in complete silence without malicious stares and whispers. Oh, she would be lying if she said things at Hogwarts weren't getting better- they certainly were. But no matter how comfortable people seemed around her, they would flinch if she moved too fast or cringe if she spoke too loud or duck if she raised her wand too high. They were still very much afraid.

She sighed to herself. Her father had killed many of their family members; what did she expect from them? Open arms? Not likely.

As she approached the courtyard, her steps slowed. She could hear voices. Hushed, but there. Hermione cast a silent Muffliato around her feet and crept towards the wide stone arches adorning the courtyard. When she saw who it was, she froze.

Severus stood in front of the fountain, his skin luminous and hair rippling like waves under the pale moonlight. But he was not alone. In front of him was a woman; tall, slender, with fiery red hair that scorched even in the dark. Her skin was the color of poured cream and there was a lovely smattering of auburn freckles across the bridge of her perfectly proportioned nose. Flawless pearly teeth gleamed between her luscious pink lips. Her eyes were a radiant, sparkling jade.

Severus did not look annoyed at the woman's intrusion. He looked… he looked…

"I just don't get it, Sev. You're so much smarter than this!"

"I am certain I have no idea what you mean."

The woman threw her arms up in exasperation, "The girl is Voldemort's daughter. His only daughter. You can't possibly think he'd really let her turn to the Order so easily!"

He looked away.

"Sev," she reached up and turned his face back to her. He blushed, actually blushed.

Hermione felt nauseous.

He cleared his throat, "I assure you, Lily, I know what I am doing."

Lily. Lily. Fuck, not her. Anyone but her.

Merlin, Jesus, Buddah, Allah… the woman was even more stunning than Hermione had ever imagined.

Fuck.

"Do you? You're supposed to be her bodyguard- what do you think will happen to you if anyone in the Order hurts her? He'll kill you, Sev!"

"We all must take risks in this war."

She stamped her foot, "So you're just willing to throw your life away for this girl? What the hell, Sev? Do you have a thing for her or something?"

"That is enough," he growled. "She is a child."

"A very pretty one."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Lily…"

She pulled his hand down and grabbed his face with both hands, "Look I'm sorry, okay? I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. I know you better than that. You'd never stoop that low."

Hermione felt her heart clench. So being interested in her was stooping low, was it?

Then again, if you compared her to Lily, even she would be inclined to agree.

"You just have to trust me, Lily," he said. "I am doing what is in the best interest of everyone. I would not have burdened the Order with the girl if I did not think she could be useful."

She smiled, gripping his hand now, "Of course I trust you. You're the smartest one I know, Sev."

He cleared his throat again, lowering his head a little, "Yes… well…"

"Come by Godric's Hollow sometime?" She asked, cocking her head. "We can have dinner one weekend when Dumbledore doesn't have you on rounds. We haven't had a chance to properly talk in ages."

"I…"

"Great!" Lily bounded up and pressed her lips to his lightly before turning to leave. "I'll take the Floo home. Safer, you know? Owl me when you want to have dinner!"

As she came closer, Hermione cast a quick Disillusionment charm over her crouched form below the archway. She tried to be silent- she had not had a chance to cast a Silencio or Muffliato- but Lily stopped just in front of her, her head inclining only slightly.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Lily asked quietly.

Hermione remained silent, hands covering her mouth and nose to stifle the sounds of her breathing.

Under the pretense of tying her shoe, Lily bent down to where she was crouched, "Sev is like a mountain- constant, unyielding, unchanging."

She still did not respond.

Lily flicked her hand towards Hermione, casting a nonverbal Finite that dissolved her Disillusionment charm. Their eyes met, cinnamon to jade, as she spoke, "He's been in love with me since we were kids. Even after I married James. Even after I had Harry. Even now. Sev doesn't change. Not for you, not for anyone."

Hermione simply stared at her.

Lily stood, flipping her lush copper hair over her shoulder and adjusting her immaculate robes, "You can't change a mountain, Hermione. You'll only hurt yourself trying."

With that, she walked away.

Hermione sat there for a long time with her cloak pulled tightly around her as if it could protect her heart. Severus had told her that his words could not be trusted, that he often was forced to use them to deceive. He had told her that his actions were what mattered.

When she finally managed to pull herself up, determined not to let the older woman's words bother her, Hermione turned to see Severus standing stock-still in the courtyard, his fingers still pressed to his lips.

Her heart lurched painfully.

Actions, indeed.