Updated: 10/1/2004

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Title: A Strange Call: Prophecy and Deception

Chapter 10: Forgive

Chapter Four: Slimy Slytherin

Often viewed as the evil house with a great pedigree Slytherins are known for their cunning. However, what of the bumbling ones?

There have been bumbling Slytherins - evil and good. Marty P. Finkus, the ministry worker who almost exposed the entire ministry to a group of Muggles tourists, was a Slytherin. He was found dead, later, in his flat. Slytherins were also arrested for that piece of poetic justice.

Slytherins are not always quick and not always prepared when things they have done come back to haunt them...

====

Lucius' voice floated through the cell.

Hermione winced, but raised her head nonetheless. Her eyes she averted.

Lucius gave a little laugh and knelt down in front of her. he gently admonished, look at me. Hermione, with reluctance, obeyed. Now what did I tell you yesterday?

That I was smart?

Good, but I also told you something more important. Didn't I? Hermione nodded, eyes surveying the cuff of his sleeve. You are worthy of wizard. Hermione nodded again. Say it, Hermione.

Hermione winced again. I am worthy of wizard. She bowed her head.

Do you know what that means, Hermione? The girl, eyes shut, shook her head. Lucius continued. I will not kill you. You are under my protection and I want to take you to Malfoy Manor.

Hermione shook her head violently. Tears, once again, poured down her face. She clutched at Lucius' robes. she whispered, voice thick.

Lucius asked. Why? Draco and my wife will be there. Also, you'll be able to see a teacher of yours, Professor Snape. He did not mention Dulsiri Preto.

Draco doesn't like me. Or Professor Snape, Hermione protested between hiccups.

They'll both treat you well. And wouldn't you like to sleep in a real bed?

No. Please, no. Hermione's sobs grew louder in desperation.

Lucius frowned and stood up before backhanding the girl. Don't you want to come to Malfoy Manor, Hermione?

Hermione whispered.

Lucius dealt her another blow,

Hermione shut her eyes tightly. Tears, smaller now, still fell in a steady parade down her cheeks. She nodded slowly.

You will listen to me now. His voice dropped to a whisper. There are many who would like to kill you, Hermione. There are some even that the Manor who might like to bring harm to you. I will protect you, Hermione. I sometimes let my guests live. He stood silent for a moment before letting out a large laugh. Do you know what your potions professor does during his free time? Hermione did not say anything. He's a Death Eater, Hermione. He kills all his guests.

Hermione squeaked. She would not give up her potions professor - not even to Lucius, the volatile man who accepted her.

Let me tell you a story, Hermione. It started, as many stories do, in childhood. I was once a child - a child at Hogwarts, much like yourself. I was, at the time, untouched by politics. The only politics I knew were those of Slytherin and Gryffindor. You never got that, Hermione. They stole from you, but, once upon a time, children were children. In my sixth year I met a boy. That boy knew a man. That man was He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I learned much from him. I had always been suspect of muggles and mudbloods. The Dark Lord taught me to kill their ilk. I agreed. I obeyed.

Lucius smiled, placing a hand on the top of Hermione's head. Do I look like one to be ruled, Hermione?

Hermione replied slowly.

Lucius nodded. After a while I realized that he was ruling me. I do not like being ruled. Do you know how you fit into this, Hermione?

Hermione's voice was almost not audible.

Lucius, raising Hermione's hand to his lips, kicked her.

Hermione let out a grunt of pain, which nearly overpowered the large pop of Lucius disapperating.

====

Minerva, after much cajoling and a few threats, had left. Severus was no longer sure that that was such a good idea.

How much do you know about Death Eaters? Severus asked. Bob pulled a book from under the coffee table.

Death Eaters: Followers of You-Know-Who, dangerous, read Dr. Granger.

Severus sighed. Miss Granger really told you nothing about the oncoming war.

Dr. Granger, the female, paled. That was answer enough.

She's stupid. Stupid, but... Snape sighed. She was trying to protect you from protecting her.

Both Grangers looked very confused. Severus sighed.

I was, once, a Death Eater. I now work as a double agent of sorts. I left Hermione because if she had grown up with me as her father she would, too, have become a Death Eater. I could let that happen. I can't.

====

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek until she drew blood. She let the metallic taste was over her tongue. The pain felt good. The blood tasted nice. They were real.

Lucius had stolen everything form Hermione - her sanity, her insecurities, and her name. She was no longer sure that any of it was real. There were spells - spells to give a person hallucinations.

Hermione sighed. No, it was real. The Cruciatus was real. Lucius was real. Hermione's fate was real. Lucius had promised no kill her. That was the best offer she had gotten in a long time.

Harry, Ron. Forgive me.

Hermione gave into her fate.

====

Severus was quite pleased. The Grangers were too shocked to really argue with him about anything. The biological father of their daughter shows up and tells them that he is - was - in leagues with the devil and that they have to go into hiding and they go into shock. Severus thanked every deity he could remember for small miracles.

You're packed then? Severus asked, standing up.

Dr. Rebecca Granger nodded, reaching her hand out blindly to find her husband. He took her hand in his own and squeezed it, sending her a smile of comfort. They stood like that for a few moments in absolute silence. Severus staring and the Grangers gazing lovingly at each other.

Severus Snape, greasy git who never had a girlfriend, felt a pang in his heart. Gillian.

We really must go, Severus interrupted. Bob Granger nodded. He picked up both his and his wife's suitcase.

We'll take my car, he said, walking out to the driveway and loading the bags into the boot.

Severus and Bob Granger sat in the two front seats. Dr. Granger chose to sit in the middle seat of the back, a gift box tied nicely with a pink ribbon clutched in her hands.

Mrs. Granger? Severus asked.

The woman looked up, her fingers immediately stopped fiddling with the ribbon on the box. Dr. Granger, she corrected. Severus nodded. Dr. Granger looked down at the box for a moment and then back up at Severus Snape. It is a box of letters. Hermione's letters from school. She sends us one each week.

Turn left here, Professor? Bob asked.

Severus replied, more to Rebecca than Bob. Rebecca handed over the box.

Severus placed it in his lap and undid the ribbon with the utmost care. Lifting the first letter out of the box he read the first few lines.

Dear Mum and Dad,

You wouldn't believe this place! The staircases move and the portraits talk! (I'm actually glad our portraits don't do that. I couldn't bear listening to Aunt Gertrude everyday. I always thought her strange and think her even stranger for giving me a painting of her for my eleventh birthday. I really wanted a bicycle.)

Know that boy I was telling you about? Harry Potter? He's here! Isn't that amazing? I thought that he'd be stuck up and a snob, but he's actually quite nice. I don't like his friend, though. Ronald Weasley is his name. He wasn't very nice.

Classes are fantastic. Here we don't take literature and things. The only course remotely like the ones at home is a History of Magic course.

I like most of the teachers. My potions professor looks really tough and mean. I was kind of frightened of him. Then I remembered what you said Mum. Don't be afraid - be challenged. So that's what I'm going to do.

They divide us into houses here. There are four - Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I got into Gryffindor. I was very surprised. Ravenclaws are known for being smart and I was sure that's where I would be. The Sorting Hat, a talking hat that does what its name says, sorted me into Gryffindor. He said something funny about me, but I just shrugged it off. Strange, talking, magical hats and all...

I have to get to classes.


Love,
Hermione



Severus frowned. He had missed so much in her life. He had missed so much.

Bob Granger pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.

We're here, Rebecca said, tapping Severus' shoulder impatiently.

Severus looked at the relatively normal muggle home. Of course, he thought miserably, we're here.

Surrey - or in the vicinity of Surrey - was never one of his favorite places. Gillian loved it.



A/N: That's it for now... the big scene in the muggle house near Surrey is next on the list. Sorry that this was so late - vacation and exams and story planning got in the way. I hope to get the next chapter up fairly quickly, however.
Ravenclwst: There's going to be more the Grangers/Snape interaction - mostly through the form of letters. Snape better watch out for one Dr. Rebecca Granger... haha
Artemis MoonClaw: Thanks for that very short, albeit amusing review. I loved it. :-)

Hey - Check out my new story Under the Cover of Night... please? Thanks!!