AN: Hello everyone. Here's another chapter, I hope you like it. Please read and review. And thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the previous one. Each review makes me so happy. Thank you. Do let me know of your suggestions and thoughts.

Ellesemera

Chapter 10

I am afraid of the day. When the rays of sun bring you hope, I cannot help but shudder. My heart is cold and I am afraid. The warmth that I once felt can never be mine again. My childhood dreams have fled the realm of my existence and so have I.

The day dawned too soon for her liking. Hermione still lay in the same position as last night. She hadn't been able to sleep. Whether it was the grim anticipation of what lay ahead or the sheer hopelessness of her life that kept her in numb despair, she could not say. The mild and reluctant sun rays seeping through the window pricked her unseeing gaze. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. Turning her eyes toward the window she looked out and glanced at the vast expanse of the Hogwarts Grounds. The game keeper seemed to be dragging something from his hut towards the forest. The sky looked grey and ominous, even with the innocent sun making efforts to break through the tumultous clouds. It succeeded at times. At times.

Her head felt dizzy and ached from lack of sleep. It wouldn't do to go back to sleep even if she wished to. She couldn't miss another day of classes. Even if mortal peril lay along the way. I am awfully cheerful today, aren't I? She sighed softly and turned her head away from the window. She got up from bed and slowly went to the bathroom. The pounding in her head grew worse with every step she took but she could not help it. She would have to bear it. Taking a quick shower, she went back to her dormitory without looking at anyone in the common room and settled herself in the bed. Drawing her time-table, she scanned it for Thursday and let out a breath. Transfiguration would be the last class that day.

But she was worried. Worried about what would happen to her the moment she stepped out of the Gryffindor Tower. The snake would lie in wait to ambush her, she was sure, but when and how? She was worried that she had to be on her guard every second of the day. No, she was terrified of venturing outdoors. But she could not stay in. She might be a lot of things but she was not a coward. She would not crawl into a hole and lie in wait for danger and death to catch up on her. No, she was better than that. She shook her head at this thought. You still seem to have some pride left, Hermione, she thought wryly. Tucking her wand to a sheath encircling her arm, she got up and smoothening her skirt she marched out of the room.

When she entered the Great Hall, she had her haywire nerves almost under control. She had been on a look out for any surprise attacks and had crept carefully through the corridors. She had been a bit relieved when she reached the doors to the Great Hall. Donning a stoic countenance, she moved towards the Gryffindor Table and seated herself in a corner. She kept her eyes downcast and refused to look at anybody but the food in front of her. At the same time, she was quite aware of all that went around her. Nibbling on a piece of toast, she listened as her neighbouring girls chattered in glee.

"… So did you hear? There is to be a masquerade ball…." A blonde girl with freckles announced animatedly.

"….. Really? Oh my….!" Her neighbour squealed excitedly. "Last year was such a fiasco…."

"Yes well, I hope this Halloween would be better than the last time…" A girl with flaming red hair commented.

Hermione thought she looked like she could be a Weasley. Yes, it was possible. She scanned the girl for a few second before returning to her toast. None of them paid her any attention. She wasn't complaining. She was in the middle of her second toast when she felt the heated gaze of someone on her face. She looked up and blanched to see Tom Riddle staring at her from across the hall. He looked straight into her eyes with a blank expression on her face. No visible gesture or expression gave away the disgust and hatred that she saw in his eyes. The wrath that lay in check behind his grey orbs was one that left Hermione shaken and she gulped. Her fork shook in her hand as she lowered her eyes to get herself calmed.

"Hmm…. Tom seems to be interested in you….He has been staring at you for a long while now" The redheaded girl near her spoke. Hermione did not respond to this.

"Well, you are lucky then, aren't you? He is rather elegant and handsome…." The blonde looked at her wistfully as she spoke. Hermione still stared resolutely at the table before her, not responding to any of these comments.

"It's Hermione, isn't it?" The blonde spoke again, this time extending a hand towards Hermione. "I am Rosanelle." She smiled.

This time Hermione looked at her and eyes travelled twice from her face to her hand before she nodded and spoke quietly. "Yes, it is nice to meet you."

"I saw you in class yesterday. You… um were taken ill?" Rosanelle spoke hesitantly.

Hermione nodded slightly at this and fumbled with the napkin in her lap. She could still fell Riddle's gaze upon her and she internally shuddered at the thought of what lay in wait for her. She needed to get out. Replacing the fork in her plate, she smile faintly at Rosanelle who was eyeing her with interest and spoke:

"Excuse me, but I have to get to the Defence class." And hoping that the girl wouldn't be offended by her abrupt departure, she got up and quickly left the hall. Once outside, she rested against the wall. Why was it so difficult for her? It seemed as if she couldn't bear normal conversation anymore. The girl had tried to be friendly to her. Offered her friendship… Friends. No. She shook her head. It hurts too much to lose them. She would not do this again. No friends. No one.

She traversed the way to the Defence classroom with wary steps. She had been on her guard and so far nothing had occurred. But she was waiting. Because she knew he would strike. He, too, was waiting.

Defence was taught by an attractive witch who went by the name of Isadora Donovan. So far, and it was only her third day, she hadn't heard much about her. To be honest, Hermione's first impression of her was far from pleasant. She looked nice enough but there was a coldness in her eyes that cut through you like ice. When Hermione entered the class, it was empty save for one or two students. The Professor, too, seemed absent. Hermione sat in a corner seat and opened her text book. She felt tired and ill. She wondered what the teacher would lecture upon and if her class would be too strenuous. She waited for a while before the class began to fill in. A soft plop beside her alarmed her to the fact that she had a partner now.

"Hello, again… You were rather abrupt with Rosanelle, weren't you?" The redheaded girl spoke to her with a smile. Hermione felt conflicted regarding her answer. Should she nod and accept her mistake or should she feign ignorance. In the end, she settled for a shrug and turned back towards her book. Riddle, too, had arrived by this time and was seated at the back with his cronies. She shivered in discomfort as she felt his gaze upon her. She was truly afraid now. She could not even begin imagine how he would exact his revenge upon her. Are you kidding, Hermione? This is Lord Voldemort. He will kill you. She closed her eyes to soothe herself and focused back upon her book. By this time, the Professor had entered the classroom and was calling out students' names.

If Hermione had thought the Professor beautiful before, she changed her opinion now. She was breath-taking in appearance and graceful in her charms. The entire male population of the class seemed to hang on to her words and her luscious form. Everyone except Tom Riddle, that is. Hermione snorted at this observation. Of course he wouldn't. He would need a heart to feel emotions. Something he did not have.

"Ah… a new student, I see… Miss Hermione Lafayette…" The Professor's silvery voice roused her from her musings. She looked at her questioningly, as if expecting her to say something, but seeing no comment forthcoming, she turned back to the attendance sheet. Hermione simply looked at her. What had she expected her to say? She frowned as the Professor announced that they would be doing a revision of Patronus charms. Those were quite easy. Well, not for everyone, but for her they were. Although… she hadn't cast a Patronus for quite some time now. She ran a hand over the smooth surface of her wand as the Professor continued with her lecture.

"I believe that we all had a chance to learn, at least in theory, about these charms. Now, we all know they are useful. But how does one cast them? With what intent? And why are they so intriguing as far as the caster's personal magical signature is considered." She gave another silvery laugh, it sounded like wind chimes to Hermione's ears. Professor Donovan quirked an amused eyebrow at her class as if to say that nothing she mentioned was of any consequence before continuing. "Of course, the form of a Patronus is rather wonderful. I expect detailed answers to all these questions in an essay in my next class…. Unless you have better things to do…" At this, she winked at a black haired boy who sat staring open mouthed at the Professor. He blushed and gave her a cheeky grin. Hermione felt scandalised. What the hell.

During the rest of the class, Donovan, for Hermione had lost any shred of respect she may have had for the woman, went around the room lecturing in a flippant, inconsequential manner about the most potent light charm. Sometimes she would stop at desks and lean over in an innocent way and laugh. Hermione bristled in her chair at the Professor's lack of decorum and decency. Never had she seen such behaviour from a teacher. She was outraged enough to forget for a moment that Tom Riddle was still in the same class room as her and was watching her with interest as she gave disgusted looks to the Professor.

"Ah, Tom…. My dear…. If you would be so kind as to demonstrate for those who fall short…." She was standing behind Riddle's chair now, eyeing him interest. "After all, a charming man such as yourself has greater obligations than most…" She smiled coyly at him while Tom looked politely embarrassed by this praise. Hermione gagged in her chair. Why was it that no one noticed Donovan's suggestive behaviour? She looked around and comprehension dawned on her. The boys were too busy staring at the woman to notice what she was doing… The girls, on the other hand, were too busy avoiding her to pay attention to her. Huh. She sighed as Riddle failed in his attempt and looked back at her parchment. Riddle could not have produced a Patronus in a million lifetimes. Donovan simply smiled more widely and placed a sympathetic hand on Riddle's arm.

"We all have our bad days…." She said and simply moved to the head of the classroom before continuing. "Well, since Tom failed, I doubt any of you could….. But nevertheless, we may try…. Ah, how about you Miss Lafayette?" She smiled disdainfully at her. She expected her to fail. Hermione smirked to herself. This was too easy. She would show the woman. She nodded and waved her wand in a well-rehearsed movement before softly whispering:

"Expecto Patronum"

A silvery otter whooshed out of the tip of her wand and ran about the room, snapping playfully at the students' feet. The Professor looked dumbstruck but managed to compose herself. There was an odd expression in her eye.

Severus was sitting at his desk in the empty classroom, shooting random flies with his wand. His last class for the day would begin in half an hour. He felt drained, more so than he had when he was juggling his job at Hogwarts alongside the spy duties. He had more than that on his hands now. What with researching the inexplicable time travel, keeping checks on Grindelwald's progress, following the teenage Dark Lord's every move and teaching fifteen classes a week, Severus felt utterly and completely exhausted. He could not seek Lily's sights for a few moments of comfort either. The Sand Glass was broken beyond repair and he would not be able to catch glimpses of her life. Not now. Perhaps never. He had made peace with her death after the war. But he had not forgotten her. He could not. The Sand Glass had been his place of solitude. He would use it to visit her, invisible of course, and simply gaze at her busy in whatever chores she had. She was lovely beyond comparison. He would never forget her. But now, the last tangible access he had to her was lost. All he had now were bitter memories. Just those and nothing else.

A quiet knock sounded on the door. He roused himself from his morose thoughts and growled a harsh 'Come in' before settling his face into an irritated scowl. His look did not change as Isadora Donovan entered but he was mildly surprised. He wondered why she had come to plague his loathsome existence. Keeping his face set into an annoyed look, he raised his eyebrows at her in inquiry. She simply grinned and her perfect teeth shone like pearls. He was truly irritated now.

"Oh, hello Severus…" She spoke in a smooth voice. "I simply came by to ask if you have a book that I require in transfiguration. I hope you don't mind…" She smiled radiantly and looked at him in expectation.

"Would the library not suffice?" He snapped at her. She stood unaffected with the same charming smile on her face.

"Of course it would… But the book, you see, is not available therein…." She moved close to his desk and leaned over. "And I was hoping you could help…"

He understood her meaning. Oh, quite well actually. He was an ex-death eater after all. Nothing was unknown to him. But this woman…. She unnerved him. She wanted something. But it was not the book. And contrary to what she seemed to suggest, it was not him either. What did she want? He looked into her eyes and gently prodded the outer consciousness. She seemed to be projecting her desire for him. What the hell? He could not risk a deeper foray into her psyche, not without her becoming suspicious. But something was definitely wrong with her. Nobody wanted him. Not for his own sake at least. He looked over her form as she leaned over his desk before coming to a decision.

"Of course…. How about you stop by my office at around 9 tonight?" He smiled at her but it didn't quite reach his eyes. She nodded and with another suggestive inclination of her head, she straightened herself and moved out of the classroom. Severus covered his face with his hands. All I ever wished for was a simple life with Lily's love…

The class filed in slowly. They had not forgotten yesterday's lesson and were quite wary of his moves. Good, he thought. He noticed that Hermione had settled into a corner seat and was keeping her head down. There were dark circles under her eyes and she looked tired. The boy, Tom Riddle that is, had seated himself in the second row, neither too far from her nor too close. A strategic location. He was scrutinising Hermione stealthily. Severus was slightly alarmed at this. It seemed that his suspicions had been correct after all. Something had gone wrong with the two of them and it seemed that she had caught Riddle's attention this time. He sighed internally. So much for not drawing attention to herself. He would give her a good talking to and keep an eye out for her. It was time for the class to begin now.

"Ah… I see that today most of you have managed to locate seats to dump your ungrateful selves in. An improvement, wouldn't you say…" He chuckled derisively and continued… "Today's lesson would be devoted to Soporificus transfiguration. I assume that your addled brains are capable of inferring from the name about what that entails…." He sneered at the students. They cowered in their seats as he moved towards them with his robes trailing in his wake. "But on the other hand, it would be safer to assume that you do not. Can anyone tell me what the aforementioned charm involves?"

Only one raised hand followed his pronouncement. Tom Riddle. He was surprised that Granger did not raise her hand. Something was definitely bothering her then. Severus nodded to Riddle.

"It is the act of conferring a sleeping charm onto an object, Sir." Riddle spoke, in his charmingly polite manner. "The incantation would cause the object to transfigure its form in accordance with the intent. The merest brush with that object thereafter would cause an individual to fall into a deep enchanted sleep." Severus simply raised his eyebrow at the boy's impeccable answer and turned away.

"A simple explanation which would have to suffice for now. I do not expect you to grasp anymore, anyway." He sneered. "Now, the incantation is Sopero. The wand movement is pentagonal relapse. Simple, yes? What are you waiting for then? Get to it!" He barked as a few everyday objects appeared on everyone's tables. Turning away, he stalked to his desk and sat in his chair, observing the class like a hawk. Wands were being waved foolishly without regard for the correctness of the pattern or pronunciation. He did not bother correcting them. He wasn't concerned. His eyes travelled to Granger… Hermione's desk. She had turned her hairbrush and pin into perfect Soporificus devices and was working on the third of the five items. He would wait for her to finish before handing out the detention. So he waited.

As soon as she was finished, he strode over to a few students sitting at the front and examined their work with disdain. He made a few biting comments here and there, vanished a few items after declaring them completely useless and handed out three detentions before reaching her desk. He stood at her desk, his back to the class as he stealthily cast the counter charm and deliberately wrecked her work. She drew back in surprise as she felt a sudden rush of magical energy pass by her. Severus drew to his full height and towered over her seated form for an intimidating effect. She looked at him in confusion.

"You have failed, I see. Of course, it is to be expected of a girl…." He mocked her scandalised expression. Someone nearby sniggered. "Detention, Miss Lafayette. This evening at eight-thirty. I would expect you to read before you come for class next week." Her incensed expression did nothing to assuage the irritation that he felt in her presence. He continued moving around until he had almost everyone cowering before him. Almost everyone except Riddle that is. The boy seemed unfazed by his presence and seemed to be watching him curiously. Severus felt his grey eyes on him for a long while. He was worried.

Hermione dragged her steps as she made her way to the transfiguration classroom later that evening. The nerve of that man. He had given her a detention after sabotaging her work himself. She knew that it was a surreptitious way of speaking to her outside class but it need not have been so humiliating. She had been on the edge all day, expecting retaliation from Riddle. But so far, nothing had happened. She had noticed him watching her during the classes they shared but his expression had been one of indifference. She knew he would come. Lord Voldemort never forgave or forgot. But she also knew he was cunning. He was biding his time and that kept her on edge. She had eaten her dinner as quickly as she could and moved to her tower. Now she silently trudged down towards the classroom all the while looking over her shoulder and around. Every movement in the shadows made her flinch. She was relieved as she sighted the classroom door.

The door was slightly ajar. She hesitated before knocking. There were voices coming from beyond the door. She heard a woman's silvery laughter. Something tightened in her chest as she forgot to knock and opened the door silently. Her first view was of a woman leaning over the desk as she kissed the dark haired man on his cheek. It was Isadora Donovan. Hermione silently entered and stood by the doorway, all thoughts of propriety forgotten. She heard the same laughter as the woman straightened, a book tightly clutched in her hands.

"Thank you so much Severus… I really appreciate this." Donovan said and turned. She stopped as she noticed Hermione standing by the doorway. She surveyed her disdainfully from head to foot. Hermione felt uncomfortable under her gaze. She was thin and her bones showed too much. There wasn't much flesh in her body and her face was gaunt with dark circles.

"I believe it is customary to knock before entering, Miss Lafayette" Snape's hard voice sounded from behind the woman. "Pardon me, Isadora. The pupils at this school are rather lacking in manners. She is here to serve a detention for something similar."

Donovan looked at him with a graceful smile and nodded before giving Hermione a cursory glance and walked out. As soon as her footsteps faded, the door beside Hermione closed and she stared down at her feet. She felt ridiculed and humiliated. Of course, it was mostly because she had seen her husband being kissed by another woman and she was helpless. She couldn't confront him about it. It was how their marriage was. A fake name. A burden. A tie that bound and gagged. She did not feel for him but it still hurt that he would be so faithless. They did not have a conventional marriage and hence each of them was entitled to their freedom. But she honoured the vows. She honoured the institution, no matter how much of a sham it was. No matter how she reasoned, it still hurt. She had not forgotten that night when he had brought some woman to their bed. It always hurt. The worst part of it all was that she could not say anything. She had no right to. Neither had he. She blinked away the tears that threatened to escape eyes. No, she would not cry. She steeled herself and swallowed her tears as he spoke.

"I have called you to talk. You know, of course, that the detention was a mere pretext for a chance to speak with you." She nodded mutely, her eyes scanning her feet as he continued. "You did not attend your classes yesterday. Might I inquire as to the reason why?"

At this, she looked up at him wondering what to say to him. Should she tell him about her altercation with Riddle the day before? Would he really be able to do anything about it? No, she shook her head inwardly. I will not ask for help on something I can handle myself. I have to preserve my pride… If nothing else, I haven't anything else left anyway…

"I was taken ill, Sir. Nothing more" She said. He fixed her with a piercing gaze.

"I see. But that does not explain why Riddle was staring at you the entire lesson? What have you done? Your safety is my burden, after all. Speak the truth, girl. I do not have time for these childish antics!" He snapped at her. Nothing more than a burden then. The tie gagged him as well. Nothing but a burden. A burden he did not have to bear willingly. Not anymore. She clenched her fists before drawing a deep breath and looked back at her feet.

"I assure you, Sir, I do not know." She spoke in a small voice, willing herself to be strong. Snape sighed and closed his eyes.

"I hope you will be careful, then." He spoke in an even voice. "It is important to stay unnoticed, for as long as you can. Now, since this is a detention, you will stay here for the hour and sort out these records for the infirmary. " She nodded silently. She needed to ask him the question. She bit her lip and gathered her courage before coughing to draw his attention to her as he had turned away from her.

"Sir, may I ask you a question?" Snape raised an eyebrow, his face unnervingly devoid of any expression before giving her a curt nod in permission.

"When I made my decision a few days ago, of choosing to stay…" She spoke slowly, "Did you give yourself a choice? Of leaving, that is…" He seemed surprised by her question and frowned for a while before answering in an expressionless tone of voice.

"No."

Hermione looked up at him, awaiting him to elaborate upon his response. But when he did not speak, she spoke again, choosing her words carefully.

"I do not wish to be a burden, then…" Her voice faltered as she spoke willing herself to hold on to the remaining shred of strength she had. "I will leave after this year. I… You do not need to bother yourself about my safety anymore...Or anything else…" With that, she turned to the stack of papers lying beside his desk and sat down to her assigned task. She felt his gaze on her for a minute as he stood by the door. Then, without a word he turned on his heel and left.

When Hermione closed the door behind her after an hour, the corridor was deserted and torch lights cast eerie shadows on the floor. There were no sounds that she could hear. She walked silently, her footsteps echoing. Her shoulders hung limp and her head was lowered. Her mind was still numb and her heart felt the ache that she could not reason in her mind. She had made the right choice, she knew. Her decision to apprise him of the same had been a bit hasty but she could not be blamed for it. The sight of that woman and hearing herself termed as burden by him had struck her pride. No, there was no reason to delay what she had once decided. Then why did tears stream down her face? The marriage did not mean anything. Neither did he. No, those tears were for another loss. One more loss. Loss seemed to permeate the entirety of her existence. One more fucking superficial thing gone eh, Hermione, She thought as she wiped her cheek. But the tears wouldn't stop. He vision was blurred, her echoing footsteps were the only sounds that graced the dark corridor. In this state, she mistook one turn for another and ended up in another darker corridor. She was still unaware of her error as she walked with slow footsteps, the world around her a watery haze that inundated her tiny existence with despair and sorrow.

"Ah, if it isn't the lovely lady herself…" She heard a cold voice speak from behind her and turned. She froze as she turned her tearful haze towards the tall boy standing in the middle of the corridor. He leaned lazily against the wall and smirked at her, the malicious glint in his eyes the most prominent feature that she noticed. She stared at him, her mind still numb as her hands hung limply by her side. Her wand lay tucked inside her robes, forgotten for a while.

He scanned he form from from head to toe and gave her a disdainful glare. He stood staring at her for a while. unconcerned and at ease. Suddenly, he straightened himself and his wand landed in his hands as he flicked his wrist. She eyed the pale wand with apprehension and made to reach for her own as her senses came back to her. But she was too late. With a casual wave of his wand, Riddle summoned her wand to him. It left Hermione's robes with a jerk and landed smoothly in his hand. He tilted his head in mockery and curled his lips in a malevolent grin before pointing his wand straight at her chest. She stared wide-eyed at him, her expression one of a deer caught in the headlights.

"I have nothing to say to you. Yet." He spoke quietly as a jet of blue light shot out of his wand and hit her squarely in the middle. She whirled on the spot and collapsed to the ground.