Anything recognizable is the property of J.K. Rowling. I do not make any claim to ownership, nor do I make any money from this.

Please do not read if you are not of legal age in your country. This is nowhere near being a happy go lucky romantic story.


A Snake In The Den

Severus wanted nothing more than to look at his arm, but he knew that Hermione would know he had done it. No matter what he did to distract himself, the itching got worse until two hours had passed and he began scratching at the skin around the bandage. It alleviated some of the sensation, but not quite enough. His will held out just long enough for Hermione to return.

"How are you getting through my wards?" He tried to resist rubbing his arm.

"I'm your apprentice. Wards automatically open between master and apprentice. Let me see your arm."

Gladly he held out the appendage and watched her unwrap the bandage. The potions master looked past the scared and cooked flesh relieved to see every speck of ink was gone. "You did it?" He breathed with relief.

"Can you feel any of the connection still?"

"None at all." He went to touch the burn with his other hand and she slapped his hand away.

"I meant it when I said don't touch." Hermione retrieved the healing salve and spread it generously over his skin before wrapping it once again.

"Two more days it should be healed fully."

"Just out of curiosity, how did you do it?"

She shuffled her feet slightly. "Well I was grading those essays and remembered when you assigned the same one to me. Got thinking about Professor Lupin, and all the stupid things I did at school." She sniffled. "Then thought about the war, and remembered the fiendfyre."

She snapped her fingers and a tiny flame sprouted from her finger. "I've always had an affinity for fire and I learned how to control the fiendfyre. It destroyed everything in the Room of Requirement and I wondered if it could destroy the tattoo." She smiled brightly. "Looks like it did."

"I appreciate it." Severus spoke slowly.

"Ooh a genuine thank you from Severus Snape." She giggled then became serious. "It's the least I could do after everything you did to keep us safe at school."

Before the older man could respond, she changed the subject. "You should probably put in an appearance at dinner so the students don't start thinking I've murdered you to usurp your teaching position." Hermione left him in his rooms and returned to her own.


When he went up to dinner there was more than one group of students that looked disappointed that he had not been murdered by his apprentice. Minerva smiled broadly upon seeing the potions master back on his feet and looking significantly healthier. Hermione joined them at dinner, chatting in her false Bulgarian accent about how the classes went and nodded when suggestions were made.

The pudding was just appearing on the table when the doors burst open and a figure entered throwing back their traveling hood. Students had stood and most backed away from the wild eyed visitor.

"Mr. Malfoy!" The headmistress exclaimed, standing quickly.

The blond man took a few steps forward and spoke. "Godfather, I need your help."

Severus stared down at his godson while quickly calculating. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Hermione quickly flee the Great Hall through the teachers entrance. The potions master jerked his head at the dungeons. Severus lead the younger man to his office and shut and locked the door.

"Why are you here Draco?"

"Are you well?" The blond looked the taller man up and down.

"Why are you here?" Severus repeated slowly.

The blond sighed and paced the small room. "Mother is furious. She has been spending a lot of time locked in Father's study. Last night I heard her scream and broke the lock. Her arm was withered, and her face burned. She kept saying that you had broken the Dark Mark, removed it."

"I have." Severus wasn't sure what the you her man was playing at.

"Then remove mine too! I never wanted any of this." Draco pleaded, holding out his arm.

"I was not the one that removed it." Snape crossed his arms.

"Why did you do it though?"

"Do you know what your mother was doing while locked in the study?"

Malfoy shook his head and Snape continued. "She was using the Dark Mark to torture me. She was trying to drive me mad from pain. She was going to destroy me from afar and I only just survived." The dark man had advanced steadily on his godson.

"But why?"

"Because I would not give her what she wanted." Severus hissed.

"What did my mother want?"

"She means to bring back the Dark Lord."

"And you can do that?"

"No. I cannot, and I would not allow her to either."

"How then? I don't understand."

"I am not going to be the one to explain it to you. Perhaps you should ask the viper you call a mother." Severus sneared down at the blond.

Malfoy's mouth twisted up and he plunged his hand into his pocket for his wand. The blond's hand hadn't even cleared his robe before he was hit with two stunners. Surprised, Severus looked up to see Hermione with her wand extended, standing in the store room.

"Well that was enlightening." She blew a strand of hair out of her face and rolled the stunned man over on his back.

"I had hoped that he would turn out better than his parents. I feel as if it is somehow my fault." Severus looked sadly down at his godson.

"He was not your responsibility." She tried to sooth.

"Perhaps not, but could I have done more?"

"I'm sure you did all you could."

"Don't presume to know me." The older man hissed angrily and she flinched

"Fine. Wallow in your self pity. It won't get you anywhere. All you can do is keep them from getting me and forcing me to give birth to that monster." Hermione stalked out of the office and slammed the door.