Disclaimer: Not mine.

Finding Home

Chapter 10

Hermione slipped the silver gown over her head and felt it adjust to her body. She gasped in surprise and looked up to the mirror. She turned, trying to look over her shoulder at the back. Seeing the fabric fall from her shoulders and stop just below her waist in a draping fold, then hug her hips before falling to the floor, she wondered at the perfect fit.

Turning to face her image, she studied the person looking back at her. She wore short hair, swept up and pulled over her head to one side, where it was allowed to fall to a gentle wave hugging her cheek. She had on a dusting of make-up, just enough to hide the freckles that sprinkled her nose. She trailed her fingers over the bodice of the gown and frowned at the low cut. Looking back up and looking at her wrinkled brow then thinking that Severus had chosen this for her she smiled.

Tonight she would be fine. He was taking her to a holiday party, she was not sure where, but it was obviously somewhere grand as he had sent this special gown to her.

She was still preening, and putting the last touches to her make-up when she heard him knock and ran to open the door. She pulled back the door and smiled at him, blushing as she felt his eyes wash over her and settle on her bodice.

"Miss… Hermione." He bowed with a flourish and took up her hand, kissing the palm and smirking. "Tonight you will not be mistaken for a child. You are quite lovely, Madame Snape."

"I feel naked." She grinned and turned to collect her cloak only to feel Severus pull her back by the arm.

"I assure you, if you were we would not need a party for a diversion." He pulled her into his chest.

"Severus," she hissed. "Let me go. You smell of whiskey. You don't want to do this."

"We will be visiting some of my oldest friends tonight my dear." He smirked, released her, and pushed into her apartment. "I need you to play a part, perhaps the hardest part you have yet to play."

"What part?" She pressed her back against the door as he paced across her sitting room.

"First of all I have not been drinking." He raised an eyebrow at her look of disgust. "I assure you, Madam Snape, one does not have to drink to smell of whiskey. However, I will be giving that impression tonight."

"Where do you intend to take me?" She swallowed, knowing she would not like the answer.

"Before I tell you, I want you to understand you will be perfectly safe. You will not be out of my sight for a second and you will wear no less than three port keys."

"I know I will be sorry to ask this, but if it is safe why would I need a port key?"

"Good question, Miss Granger."

"Do you plan on answering it?"

"No, I do not believe I will."

"Severus? I asked you a question."

"Fine, come here my dear." He pulled her to his chest and ran his hands over her naked back. "Do not flinch to my touch, do not pull away. Tonight we keep up a ruse in the hopes that we find out who at the Ministry is the spy. It may lead us to Lucius and give us some idea of what he plans. It has taken me almost a year to get in this position. Do not ruin it."

He pushed her away and ran his hand through his hair. "Miss… Hermione, we do this, we must. I have spoken to what is left of the order and they agree, it is time to move in."

"I don't…. I don't know if I can. You make me feel… when you did that … you ..."

"I will be caustic to you, perhaps cruel. I will treat you like a child, a child that happens to be my wife."

"So, nothing out of the ordinary," she said with a smirk.

"Do not mistake what I tell you now for how I have treated you in the past. Tonight Miss Granger you will be going to dinner with a consummate Death Eater."

"Where?" she hissed.

"We are invited to the Malfoy Manor, it seems Narcissa is back in residence and has requested my appearance."

"No, absolutely not. You cannot ask me to do this." She shook her head and hugged her arms around herself. "I want a divorce, or an annulment, or whatever I can get. I will turn in my wand. No, you are crazy. Do you know that? Has anyone ever told you that whenever you look in the mirror you see the mad hatter? I must say this is even more than I would…"

"My godson is still missing Miss Granger. I have taken a year to get in a position to find him. It has been a long hard road, one I do not want to go down again. If I miss this chance, I will not be able to start over. I will lose her trust and will not be invited again."

"Draco? You think you can help him?"

"Yes."

"So, Draco is the only reason to go?"

"No, as I told you, Narcissa will have people there that may prove useful. Lucius is not hiding from you, Hermione, there is much more to this."

"I am scared, don't you understand? I won't be able…"

"I will be there with you. No one will dare touch you with me at your elbow."

"What do I do?"

"Nothing. You hang on my arm and look like you belong there."

"And what do you do?"

"I treat you like a Mudblood whore, one I own only for my amusement."

"That is rather frank."

"You will not carry a wand." He took out a bracelet from his pocket and grabbed her arm. "This port key will be automatically activated in the event I am incapacitated. I do not expect such as event, however I think we should be prepared."

She nodded and allowed him to fasten the clasp, securing it to her wrist. "Severus? Do you have one?"

"No, I left my bracelets at home."

He looked up from her wrist and saw her eyes filling with tears. He sighed and reached into his pocket again and fastened a matching necklace around her throat. Turning her around, he secured the clasp and leaned down, kissing her neck.

"This is how I will treat you. You must not flinch, or move away from me." He put his arm around her waist and pulled her back into him. "Can you do this, Miss Granger? Can you stand to have me touch you?"

She gasped at the tingling of her neck, and the feel of his lips against her skin, forgetting in that moment what he wanted her to do. Forgetting that he only touched her to show his cruelty. She closed her eyes and quickly nodded. Pulling away, she turned back to him and lifted her chin.

"You said three," she said with her voice cracking.

"You are wearing it," he smirked. "If your dress comes undone you disappear."

She turned red and swallowed hard, nodding her head. "You didn't tell me how to activate the necklace."

"No, I did not." He looked at her evenly. "Shall we go, Madam Snape?"

"I don't want to do this, you do know that."

"Yes, Madam, I do." He grabbed her roughly and spun to the Malfoy Manor's gates laughing at the look of surprise on her face. "You really do not think I would lease an apartment that I could not leave from?"

Hermione stood frozen, looking up at the Manor. She had seen it before, and each time it seemed more menacing than the last. Now she looked up at the sprawling building and thought that Azkaban would be more welcoming.

"Take my arm and look up at me, not the house. We are being watched." He put two fingers under her chin and brought her face to his. "Smile, my gods woman, need you look so sour? You are going to a dinner party."

"Sorry." She painted a false smile on her face and tried to make light of it. "I am not used to putting on a smile for the biggest arse I know."

"The gate keeper is coming, no, do not turn. Remember, you are the wife of a Death Eater you do as I tell you, no matter how distasteful. You are part of the trio and therefore despised here. They may delight in baiting you, or wishing to see you humiliated. You can do this, of that I have no doubt, Hermione, or I would not have brought you."

"Right." She spoke through the smile she had kept on her face. "Then why are my knees shaking?"

He put his arm around her waist and pulled her into him, leaning down and crushing his lips to hers. She brought her hands up to his chest, to push him away only to relax as his tongue teased at her lips and gently sought entry. Forgetting it was a role; she opened her mouth for him, and leaned closer.

"Well done Miss Granger," he whispered as he straightened, his eyes searching hers. "I am sure Narcissa is watching and not enjoying what she sees in the least. She needs to be on edge, it helps loosen her tongue."

Hermione nodded and took up his arm, unable to talk. She kept her eyes straight ahead, as the gate opened and they walked up the pavement and steps, wondering how he knew Narcissa was watching. She looked at him from the corner of her eye unable to read what he felt. She was terrified once they reached the door, holding onto his arm so tightly that he used his free hand to loosen her grip.

"Courage, Hermione. Find that Gryffindor backbone you were once so proud of." He leaned close to her ear as if whispering endearments. "We will leave as soon as we are able. As far as you are concerned, you are bored with all this and would rather be home in my bed."

She blushed and looked at him, seeing him smirk she felt like slapping him.

"Severus, my dear, dear Severus." Narcissa seemed to float across the marble floor of the entry hall holding out her hands to him. "I am so glad you came. I have missed you."

"You are beautiful as always my dear." He tossed his robe to the house elf and kissed Narcissa on both cheeks. "I believe you have met my wife."

"Severus, I nearly fainted when I heard. I simply could not believe that old woman would force you into this. We had plans to protect you, several witches were more than happy to help you."

"She has not only taken over the blood traitors position at Hogwarts, but now vies to run the new order that she is planning. I found it prudent to stay on her good side." Severus shrugged and turned to Hermione. "I am sure you are familiar with this piece I was given, you may call her by her first name."

Narcissa gave Hermione a cold look. "Rather common looking isn't she? Even low class if you look closely."

"No one matches you Narcissa," he purred. "She is rather, let us say, useful. And, as a Mudblood she does not care what I do to her, she rather enjoys it, or at least knows better than to complain."

"Oh really Severus, you could have done so much better," Narcissa said as she wrapped herself around his free arm and pulled them forward to the sitting room. "Just a small gathering. In these unsure times I thought it prudent not to trust too many too quickly."

"Will Draco join us?" Hermione asked innocently, looking at the splendour of the sitting room.

"I forget how young your wife is Severus." Narcissa sniffed. "Do manage to keep her quiet and teach her to keep her tongue."

Severus turned to Hermione and raised his eyebrow. "If I may have a moment alone Narcissa I will take care of this problem."

Narcissa laughed as she sauntered away, leaving them alone. Severus held Hermione's arm tightly as he spun her around to face him. Leaning toward her, he lowered his mouth to her ear.

"I am sorry for this. I thought you would know better than to mention him. Forgive me." He stood up and brought his hand across her face hard enough to stagger her back. She would have fallen if he had not been holding her with his free hand.

He reached out and took her other arm pulling her back to him, again leaning down to her ear. "Hermione, do not cry, do not show your anger. Gods Hermione, do this, they are watching."

She ran her tongue through her mouth tasting blood, too shocked to talk. She swallowed hard and looked up at him through a blur of tears opening her mouth, and then clapped it shut.

"Why?" she whispered. She tried to pull her arms free of his vice like grip.

Leaning down again, as he looked up through his lashes to the room behind her, he hissed in her ear.

"He may still be here, I feel it. Now smile and kiss me."

"What? After that you expect me …"

She saw his face grow dark and the pressure on her arms increase as she lifted her head and sobbed into his mouth.

"Say nothing unless I tell you it is safe to speak."

"You could have said something before. You could have mentioned that I am not allowed to talk." She winced as he brought one finger to her swollen cheek. She saw the concern that laced his eyes, and knew at this moment that she was in more danger than he had alluded to.

He spun her back to the sitting room and pulled her along with him. Hermione left her arm wrapped around Severus', as she kept her eyes to the floor and pressed her lips together to keep still. She was afraid. Afraid that at any moment a sound would escape her, or that she would be unable to stop her knees from giving up their fight to hold her.

Severus guided her to the dining table and held out a seat for her. She looked at him, scared to even for a moment release his arm until she saw him nod at her. Stepping forward she sat down and finally was able to forget her knees long enough to look around the table at the small grouping.

Narcissa sat to the left of the one she had introduced as Douglas, Douglas Nott she had said. Hermione looked at him and saw the Nott features but could not place the name. She thought it strange that he sat in the position of host but was unable to ask Severus what this meant. She felt Severus as he slid into the seat next to her, glancing up at the other two couples, cursing herself for not listening closer to their names. Her mind raced and memories flooded in on her, making the simple chore of listening difficult. The witch with the blond hair she remembered as Christina, and she thought the other was called Emily, or Emma.

She felt Severus reach his arm over to her and looked up to see him offer her a glass of wine. She saw it was his glass as hers still sat in front of her, and took it with trembling fingers.

"How sweet Severus. Tasting her food now?" Narcissa chided him.

"Not at all Cissy, she is allowed only half a glass." He calmly picked up Hermione's drink and set it front of himself.

Narcissa pulled out a wand and flicked it at his glass, changing the dark wine that had sat in front of Hermione to amber whiskey.

"I know you would much prefer this," she laughed. "I do think you are overprotective of the witch."

"I protect what is mine, until I am done with it." He raised his glass to Narcissa and threw it back in one swallow as the dinner began to appear.

"You will have to excuse the poor service. It seems several of our elves are currently in service at our other properties. With the holidays it is difficult to know where I will be from day to day."

"I am sorry Cissy. I should have said something before now." Severus reached over and removed Hermione's plate. "She eats once a day. If I indulge her she tends to become a little… shall I say hippy."

"Rather like that, what was her name? Rachel? Was it not?" Narcissa frowned at him. "Yes, I believe that one you fancied was rather hippy. What became of her Severus?"

"I do believe Lucius was not happy with her." Hermione heard the change in his voice, and watched him from the corner of her eye. "She was buried up at the cemetery near Little Hangleton I do believe."

"Yes, I do believe you are right. Now, please eat. Enjoy."

Hermione sucked air into her lungs and fought not to reach out and grab his arm. She raked her memory and could find nothing attached to a Rachel but thought of the tall willowy witch she had seen on Christmas Eve years before. She looked to her lap, listening to the rest of the rather mundane conversation and the sound of silver on china glad when the final course came.

"Now, you men may have your bandy while we women retire to the sitting room." Narcissa stood as did the other witches.

Hermione blanched, and turned to Severus.

"You may keep the Mudblood with you Severus. I really do not want her in the rest of the house. You know, you really must do something about her, get rid of her." She turned and swept out of the room.

"If I remember correctly the bar is well-stocked." Severus rose and walked to the liquor cabinet, opening it and surveying the contents.

"Brandy is fine," Douglas walked up behind him, followed by the two that had dinner with them.

"Frank, whiskey?" Severus held up a glass to the tall thin wizard.

"Of course, a much better brew than I stock myself I might add."

"Jonathon?" He handed the third a glass as well.

They held their glasses and slowly made their way back to the table, discussing Quidditch scores and the upcoming games. Sitting at the table Severus leaned back, tipping his chair on two legs and rubbing circles on Hermione's back.

Leaning forward he reached over and lowed her gown on her shoulder, revealing the side swell of her breast, the bent forward and ran his mouth over her skin. "Please, gentlemen, relax. We have no ladies present, feel free to light up."

Douglas laughed as he reached in his pocket and brought out his cigar, as did the other two.

"You know Cissy will have our hides," Jonathon laughed heartedly.

"Nothing a little cleaning spell will not take care of." Severus' hand languidly stroked Hermione's neck and shoulder, pushing the strap lower, until the gown threatened to fall and expose her completely.

He watched her closely as she squeezed her eyes closed and waited until her head snapped up and she lost all colour.

"I am bored with this," Severus stood, "come gentlemen a trip to Knockturn is in order."

He turned to Hermione and with two loud claps of his hands, her port key activated and she was gone.