AN: There is a small lemonish part, but this chapter turns dark - get to see a bit more of what happens when Hermione is tortured. Won't offend me if you want to skip parts.


"Would you like some tea Sir umm I mean Severus?"

"That would be lovely. Thank you."

Hermione just started at him for a few moments before heading off to her small kitchen muttering to herself 'did he just say lovely?' Moving about her kitchen she put her kettle on to heat up. 'What was I thinking agreeing to allow him to watch me sleep. Now he'll see how weak I really am.' Sighing to herself she grabbed the tea and poured them each a cup and brought it out to her sitting room.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I ummm usually have a cup and read a bit before I go to bed. Or sometimes I just look out into the ocean. Someday I hope Professor Flitwick will teach me this charm."

"I'm sure he would be happy to show you."

She watched him look over at her bookshelves feeling a little embarrassed about how empty they were, "I know there isn't much there to choose from, but you're welcome to any of the books there. I doubt watching me sleep will prove to be very entertaining."

Severus stood up and browsed her small collection noticing most of her books consisted of her seventh year books, but he found a collection of poems by Chaucer that he thought would keep his attention.

"I used to own a lot more, but there was nothing left of my house after the war. Someday I hope to replace them..."

He imagined her childhood bedroom was full of books. When he looked over at her and noticed her eyes filling with tears. He hated how much was taken from her, but at least books was something he knew he could help with.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't cry over a few lost books. You must think I'm absolutely ridiculous."

"No, not ridiculous. Look at how many books I have here just at school. Trust me I have even more at my house. I would also cry if I lost my collection. Which books do you miss the most."

"Muggle books from my childhood mostly. Chronicles of Narnia were among some of my favorites, and my Dad used to read The Wind in the Willows to me at bedtime. I miss my school books and other magic books too. Harry and Ginny bought me the book your holding now."

"Chronicles of Narnia? Really?"

"I was intrigued by them. I used to love finding the coorilations betweethw hat was written in the books and what I was taught at church school."

"That does sound like you."

"I really thought I was the first person to put it all together. I was pretty disappointed when my Dad told me this wasn't the case."

Severus chuckled, "so was there ever a time in your life that you weren't a know-it-all?"

Hermione grinned at him realizing that he was teasing her a bit, "well I figured out how to read when I was about four, so I guess from the ages of zero to three."

The two of them stood in silence for awhile before Hermione collected their cups and took them to her kitchen. She washed them and placed them on her small drying rack. Summoning up a bit of her Gryffindor courage she decided it was probably best to just go get ready for bed.

He watched as she turned towards her bedroom and knowing she would need her privacy he took the time to walk around her small sitting room. He picked up a small framed picture of a man and woman. Noticing the close resemblance Hermione had to the woman in the picture he guessed that this was a picture of her parents. Putting down the muggle picture he picked up the another small framed photo at first he thought that this also muggle photo, but then he saw the slight movement of the two people in the picture. He studied the picture carefully it was such an intimate picture he almost felt embarrassed by looking at it, but then he remembered something Minerva had told him 'it was the type of hug you give when you're saying goodbye.' He swallowed and put the picture back down.

He knew Harry and Hermione were courageous, but seeing this picture brought him to tears. He wondered who had had the presence of mind to take this picture in the midst of everything that was happening. He decided to ask Harry about it and if it would be possible for him to get a copy.

Turning around his breath hitched as he saw Hermione standing by her bedroom door. Her hair was in two long braids, and she wore a simple long sleeved white nightgown, but she looked like an angel to him.

Hermione watched him as he stared at her, but lowered her head when his gaze became to uncomfortable. Realizing his mistake he cleared his throat and asked if she was ready for bed watching her slight nod he followed her into her bedroom. He noticed she had become a little skittish, but he stayed a respectable distance in hopes of putting her more at ease.

"Hermione I know this isn't easy."

"It's okay Sir, I trust you, but I'm just nervous I guess."

"Understandable."

He watched as she climbed into bed he tried to divert his eyes as her nightgown rode up her legs, but it was to late, though he was grateful she hadn't noticed. Turning around he found a chair by her window and sat down opening the book of poetry he tried to ignore the fact that he was only few feet away from the bed that held the woman he was in love with. He heard her whisper a quiet 'nox' and watched as the light nearest her bed went out, but smiled at the small light she left him so he could read.

He opened the book and started to read, but when he heard her steady breathing signaling she was asleep he allowed his mind to wander. The brief glimpse of her legs earlier made it impossible for him to really concentrate on his book.

Closing his eyes he imagined what it would feel like to have those legs wrapped around him as he entered her. He could almost hear her moans as he imagined himself leaving a trail of kisses from her mouth down her neck. He felt himself growing hard and knew he shouldn't be thinking any of these thoughts, but the images in his head of her naked beneath him whispering his name in pleasure begging him not to stop were stronger then his will to stop them.

Opening his eyes and looking over at her he felt his hand reach down towards his aching member. He heard his brain screaming at him to stop, but his lust for her was stronger. He opened his pants and reached inside and began to stroke himself slowly wanting the feeling to last as long as possible. He allowed his head to fall back and his imagination took over again. He kissed her forehead and continued downwards until he reached her chest he blew on her one nipple before taking it into his mouth and then moving onto her other one.

He was so lost in his fantasy that it took a few moment to realize the screams he heard weren't ones of passion, but instead were ones of pain. With a jolt he remembered where he was. He stood up so quickly he knocked his chair over. Embarrassed by his lack of control he wondered how long she had laid there screaming. Quickly buttoning his pants back up he headed to her bed.

"Hermione? Can you hear me? Please sweetheart come back. Fight this, listen to your ocean."

He watched in despair as her whole body shook. Realizing she couldn't bring herself back he sat down on her bed and pulled her into his lap and whispered words of encouragement into her ear.


Hermione felt herself being pulled into her personal hell and before she even had a chance to adjust she felt her body being put under the cruciatus curse. Her body felt like a thousand knives were carving into her. She couldn't tell who had cast it, but when she felt someone hovering over her and ripping her clothes off she knew it was Lucius.

"Ah my pet you know how much I love to hear you scream."

She felt the curse end, but there was no relief for her as Lucius shoved himself into her. She could hear the laughter of the other Deatheaters and could feel the tears running down her face.

"Scream for me again pet. He wants to hear you scream too."

Bellatrix glided towards her with her knife and straddled Hermione's waist. Lucius reached around and groped Bellatrix's breast while still forcing himself into Hermione.

"Ah, Bellatrix my dear sister in law so willing to help."

Bellatrix let out a deranged laugh as she started to carve into Hermione's chest. The other Deatheaters started cheering and laughing louder as each new letter was carved. Lucius pace quickened and let out a groan. Hermione felt someone else take his place, but she was past caring her whole body ached and Bellatrix kept carving into her as she the other Deatheaters took their turns raping and torturing her.


Severus was beyond desperate he had been trying for over two hours to bring Hermione back. He watched in horror as her chest began to bleed trying desperately to heal her, but nothing he tried worked. He could tell something else was happening to her, but he wasn't sure what. He blamed himself for being selfish and for once again letting her down.

"Please Hermione. I didn't mean to, I promise I'll never do it again, but please you have to come back."

Hermione could hear someone begging her to come back, but her world went black before she could figure out who was calling to her.

Severus felt her whole body go limp in his arms he wasn't sure if that meant she was back or if she had been tortured so much that she had finally blackout. He felt tears running down his face as he rocked her back and forth.

He felt as though hours had passed, but finally he felt her begin to move looking down at her face he watched as she struggled to open her eyes.

"Hermione?"

Hermione opened her eyes and realized she was back in her room. She looked up into Severus's eyes and she panicked and tried to pull herself free.

"It's okay Hermione you're back. Please let me try and heal you."

She continued to look at him feeling confused and a little lost. She was used to coming out of this alone, and she couldn't figure out why he was there.

"Sir?" Her voice was came out as a whisper, but he could tell she was confused. He could only imagine what she had just gone through and knew she must feel hazy about everything.

"I tried Hermione. I really thought I would be able to pull you out. I thought if I was here..."

She closed her eyes and tried to make sense of everything. Opening her eyes up again she looked at him remembering why he was there, "how long?"

Severus knitted his brow together trying to figure out what she was asking. When it dawned on him that she asking how long she had been gone he swallowed and looked at her, "a little over two hours."

"Oh" her voice was so quiet, but he noticed she didn't seem to shocked about the length of time.

She pulled away from him and grabbed her wand. He watched as she shakily headed towards her bathroom. He grabbed her as she started to fall. "What are you trying to do?"

"I want to heal myself and clean myself up. It's okay I can..."

"You can't even walk a few feet without falling Hermione. Let me help you."

"No, please," she yelled as she struggled away from him and stumbled her way to her bathroom. She collapsed in heap just as she reached her sink. Severus tried to understand why she was pushing him away. He wondered if she knew what he did earlier and he was hit with a fresh sense of guilt. Walking over to her he watched her whole body shake as she sobbed.

"Hermione, I..."

"Please Sir, I already know you must think I'm weak. I... I'm sorry... I just need a moment. Please."

"Weak?"

"Please"

Deciding it might be best to allow her some time to compose herself he turned around and shut the bathroom door so she could have a few moment of privacy.

Hermione pulled herself up and pulled her nightgown off. Without even looking she healed herself and then cast a scourgify charm over herself. She pulled a new nightgown down from the shelf and tried to gather her courage back up before facing the man on the other side of the door.

Severus paced back and forth wondering how she could possibly believe he would think she was weak. If anyone in this room was weak it was him. He'd allowed himself to feel pleasure even though he knew the reason he was there was to help her, and he'd failed miserably. He berated himself for being no better then the monster doing this to her.

He stopped pacing when he heard the door open and she entered her bedroom. He looked her over looking for any signs of her needing additional healing.

"I'm sorry Sir."

"Sorry?"

"For pushing you away. It's just no one has ever been here and I was embarrassed I guess. Afraid you would think I was weak."

"You have no reason to be embarrassed. I don't know exactly what was happening, but it seemed quite horrid from my perspective. I don't think you're weak."

"It was only two hours..."

"What do you mean only two hours?! Hermione how long does it usually last?"

Hermione looked down at the floor afraid to tell him, "it's better then before, but usually it lasts about three hours. Sometimes longer if there has been a few days in between."

Severus stared at her, "three hours?" He stumbled back a bit until his legs hit her bed and he collapsed on to it, "Hermione you said it was better?"

"It is."

Running his hand through his hair he looked at her and could feel tears running down his face again his voice choked, "how long did it used to be?"

Walking over to the bed she sat next to him, "it's better."

Closing his eyes and shaking his head he knew she wouldn't tell him, but it didn't matter she was still being tortured on a regular basis, and he needed to find a way to stop it before she ended up insane or dead.

"Will you be able to sleep now?"

"Yes, it never happens twice in one night."

He nodded his head and stood up and began to leave, but she grabbed his hand, "I know I have no right to ask after how I treated you, but will you stay. I just want someone to hold me. Please?"

He watched as she climbed under her blankets her eyes pleading with him, letting out a sigh he nodded and laid down on her bed above her blankets. He shook his head at the irony of her feeling as though she treated him badly.

"Thank you."

"Sleep"