DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Just as a reminder, here are the current Snapes:

The vengeful and sadistic ones (bonded to Hermione)

The smart-insecure one

The teacher one

The self-righteous one

The self-preserving one

Chapter Eleven

Similar Anguish

Granger . . .

Granger . . .

Gran— 'Stop it!' Snape protested silently against the unbidden thoughts. Granger . . . Hermione . . . Perfection in a swotty, skinny, gratingly self-righteous Gryffindor package …

"Avada Kedavra me now," he groaned.

"Only if you do me first," his companion replied miserably.

The first Snape tore at his hair and rolled his eyes until the whites showed. The other one banged his head repeatedly against the floor. He was lying face-down on it already, so it wasn't a great stretch.

"If I can't have her in the next five seconds, my head is going to explode," he mumbled into the stone.

"I get her first," the other one growled, now digging his nails into his scalp. "I hate her. Hate, hate, hate!"

"Not as much as I do." The first one groaned and rolled onto his back. "Only she could have screwed things up this royally. I simply … must … have her!" He jumped up and ran to the door, pulling frantically at the handle.

The other Snape sprang up as well and joined him, both banging on the door and cursing Dumbledore, McGonagall, and all the other Snapes for having locked them in, and Hermione for having got them into the mess in the first place (the fact that they had caused both of their splits in the first place conveniently escaping their notice).

Momentarily, the door was pulled open, causing them both to land in a Snapeheap, nose-to-toe with a pair of polished witch's boots.

"Really, Severus," Professor McGonagall said disdainfully. "Do show some decorum."

The first Snape tried to scrabble past her, but she deftly stopped him with a flick of her wand. "Granger—" he gasped, fighting against the paralysis that was gripping him.

"Yes, yes," she replied testily, meanwhile blocking the second Snape from likewise escaping, "we're going to see her now. Although how Albus means to set this mess aright, I cannot begin to fathom," she added.

--/--/-/-/--/--

When the door to the Headmaster's office opened and Hermione set eye on her Bond-mates, it was as if nothing else existed. She ran to them, ducking under the outstretched arms of Professor McGonagall, who was attempting to catch her before she reached them.

"Oh, Professor," she sighed, practically in tears at the flood of endorphins now coursing through her body.

Two sets of arms encircled her, pressing her between two firm chests. She barely heard the mixed insults and expressions of satisfaction emanating from the twin wizards, so enthralled was she by the mere sound of his voices.

"Albus! Do something!" cried Professor McGonagall sharply.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled from his seat behind his desk. "I think it quite charming, to tell you the truth."

"Charming!" McGonagall protested. "They are both – all three – under the influence of a powerful Dark magic. There is nothing 'charming' about it."

"It's appalling, is what it is," one of the other Snapes (they were all present) drawled haughtily. "We would never sink to such behaviour."

"Stick it in your ear," one of Hermione's Snapes shot back, tucking her head under his chin. "Do you think I want this? I would like nothing better than to rid the world of this little upstart for what she has visited on us… if it weren't for the fact that I can't seem to function without her!"

Hermione whimpered as she was squeezed a bit too firmly. "You're hurting me."

"Good," the other Snape holding her purred, now pulling her more toward his side. "Pain is good."

"Bah!" the vengeful Snape exclaimed, relinquishing his hold on Hermione. "This is giving me no relief. I still feel an unbearable emptiness!"

"As do I," conceded the sadistic one.

"Me, too," Hermione agreed unhappily. "I guess it's something other than a Bond after all."

One of the other Snapes snickered.

Hermione looked over at him and stamped her foot crossly. "What's so funny? If we don't know what it is that's making us feel this way, it'll be that much harder to fix it, and that much harder to fix you." She looked around at the others. Insecure-Snape (she couldn't help thinking of him that way, although she knew he was just as much the smart personality) was looking rather sickly. The one who had remonstrated them for their public display of – well, not affection, exactly, but perhaps acknowledgment – glared quailingly.

The snickering Snape smirked. "That is the Bond, you silly girl."

Hermione looked at Dumbledore, obviously confused. "But… Then we should feel complete when we're together, shouldn't we?"

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Yes, Miss Granger. And you will. As soon as the Bond is completed."

Professor McGonagall drew in her breath sharply. "Albus, you can't—"

Understanding, accompanied by a feeling of impending horror, began to dawn on Hermione. Of course. The Bond had not been consummated yet. A space had been opened in each of their souls, which could only be filled by the other. Until the round peg went into the square hole, so to speak, they would continue to feel incomplete.

Vengeful- and Sadistic-Snape had clearly cottoned on as well. "Right, let's go, then," Sadistic-Snape said grimly and grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her toward the door through which the various Bond-pairs had previously disappeared to complete the ritual.

"No!" Hermione cried, trying to escape from his grip.

"Yes!" Sadistic-Snape insisted, joined by Vengeful-Snape.

"Please, Professor," Hermione appealed over her shoulder to Professor Dumbledore. "Didn't you say there was a way to unBond us?"

"Mm-hm." Dumbledore nodded.

Hermione managed to wrench herself free.

"Then by all means, do it," the self-righteous Snape urged. "We can certainly do without an extraneous Bond to a half-wit like her."

"It's too dangerous," Insecure-Snape said, who then looked distinctly uncomfortable at having called attention to himself.

"Nonsense!" the previously snickering Snape retorted. "What could be dangerous about extricating them from an unwanted ball and chain like her?"

Insecure-Snape looked at Dumbledore, apparently hoping that he would answer, but the Headmaster deferred.

Insecure-Snape cleared his throat and stared at a point on the desk as he responded. "They have already been split, Bonded, and re-split. They are now in the midst of a partial Bond. The fractions of our soul which they possess are in a precarious state, like an open wound, if you will. To attempt to sever the bond now in the hopes of closing the wound would likely have the opposite result and tear it further apart. As to what we would be left with, I hesitate to venture."

"And me?" Hermione asked tremulously.

Insecure-Snape raised his eyes to look at her. "Unknown. However, as your soul is whole and intact, the outcome would probably be less traumatic for you."

"Probably…" Hermione echoed softly, her eyes never leaving his. She might be all right. But then again, she might not. What would that mean? And could she in good conscience agree to a course of action that might irreparably damage, in effect kill, two parts of Snape's soul?

"I'm sorry I can't be more helpful." He seemed to genuinely regret it. Hermione nodded in dumb agreement.

"And that is why I recommend continuing with the Bond," Professor Dumbledore said. "—for the time being," he hastened to add, seeing Minerva's incensed look. "It will be the safest way to get Severus back together. Once he is his old self again, we can contemplate an unBonding."

"But…" Hermione began fearfully. "That would mean that I have to… With him … No, with both of them …" All the air seemed to have been sucked out of the room and she groped blindly for a chair.

McGonagall quickly reached over and steadied her, then guided her into a seat. "Albus!" she scolded after Conjuring a glass of water for the young woman. "See what a state she's in. You can't possibly expect her to … you know … with the two of them! Just think what they'd do to her!"

Professor Dumbledore looked at the two professors in question and registered their gleeful and lecherous smirks. "Hmmm…" he mused. "Yes, I do see your point. Well. Suggestions, anyone?" He looked around expectantly at the other Snapes.

"It is her duty. She must comply," droned Teaching-Snape. "Put her under Imperius if necessary."

"I say we should attempt the unBonding anyway," put in Self-Righteous-Snape. "It will be no great tragedy if she or the other two are somehow lost in the process. Better to put as many of us back together as possible without her."

"Bite your tongue!" exclaimed Self-Preserving-Snape. "We can't afford to lose a single one of us. I agree with the Imperius."

Hermione looked to McGonagall for hope, any hope, of escaping the fate that seemed to be closing in on her: Imperius'ed to have relations with two copies of Professor Snape, and the two most cruel ones, at that. But her Head of House was standing beside her, white-lipped, and Hermione thought she was hearing things when the next words out of Professor McGonagall's mouth were: "As much as I hate to say it, I agree. The Imperius will alleviate her fear and allow her to remain emotionally distanced from the proceedings. She will barely realize what is happening. But they must be Imperius'ed as well!" she added. "They must be charged to perform what must be done, but not to harm her in any way!"

"The deal's off!" said Sadistic-Snape. "If I can't even have a bit of fun—"

"Count me out as well," said Vengeful-Snape. "We'll do it the old-fashioned way or not at all."

"They aren't the ones that need coercion. She is," pointed out Teaching-Snape.

"This has nothing to do with coercion!" Professor McGonagall said, and was on the verge of saying a good deal more of what was on her mind when Professor Dumbledore held up his hands for silence.

"Now, now. No one will be forced into anything. If Miss Granger and the others do not wish to proceed, I understand completely. We will just have to leave them as they are. In time, I feel certain they will learn to deal with their situations."

This pronouncement was met with protests from all sides, including Hermione. She most certainly did not want to learn to deal with a constant and incessant longing for Snape; she would rather just get it over with quickly, if some relief were promised at the end, and if there were some way to guarantee her safety throughout. She just needed a bit of time to get used to the idea. She was about to say so, when Insecure-Snape spoke up again.

"I think I have a suggestion," he said in a small voice, still staring at a spot on the desk before him.

The Headmaster called for silence once again and asked Insecure-Snape to go on.

"I could go with them." He looked up quickly to ascertain reactions, but as no one had objected so far, he continued. "If the others agreed, and Miss Granger, too, I could help her through it and make sure that she didn't get hurt, and that everything happens as it's supposed to happen." As silence greeted this, he looked back down and mumbled, "Never mind, it's a stupid idea."

"But not at all, Severus, not at all!" Dumbledore looked positively astounded. "I simply never would have expected it. You would act as a sort of midwife, shall we say, to the process, ensuring that all parties are satisfied with the result. Excellent. What say you?" He looked around expectantly to the others.

It seemed that no one much knew what to say, but after a bit, there were grudging nods and shrugs of acceptance.

Hermione considered. Not one, not two, but three Snapes would be present with her while she lay there, exposed… She needed Snape. There were no two ways about it. She wasn't even sure how the mechanics of it would work. Would she have to do it twice? And all the while, the others would be looking on. But it would be Snape, her other half. She had nothing to hide from him, after all. It was… disgusting in a prurient sort of way. Insecure-Snape would make sure they didn't hurt her. Maybe she wouldn't even have to look at them. If she just kept her eyes firmly shut the entire time and imagined that she was undergoing a medical procedure. In, out, finished. That's all it would take. Just a few seconds. And then she would be rid of this astoundingly resilient fixation. She still didn't know what exactly it was about him that she found so fascinating, but she'd noticed that it had dripped over onto her perception of the other Snapes as well. Not that they were half as good as her Snapes, but still, there was a certain something… She continued to talk herself into it mentally even as she nodded shyly.

Vengeful-Snape and Sadistic-Snape exchanged another one of those dangerous looks that the others really should have learned to recognize by now, then slyly smiled and agreed as well.

"Fine." Professor Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction. "We will await you with baited breath. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to call."

"What, now?" Hermione squeaked, shrinking down into her chair.

"No time like the present," Sadistic-Snape said greasily and started toward the door.

"I'll need the wand," Insecure-Snape mentioned to Teaching-Snape, who grumbled but dug it out of his pocket.

"What, now?" Hermione squeaked again, even higher.

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, but did not manage to sound entirely reassuring.

"You'll need to get out of the chair." Vengeful-Snape yanked on Hermione's hand.

Hermione cringed and appealed to no one in particular, "As in, right now?"

"Oh, for God's sake!" Sadistic-Snape took Hermione's other hand and, together with Vengeful-Snape, pulled her to her feet.

"Professor!" she cried over her shoulder and sought out Insecure-Snape, a look of panic on her face.

"This is never going to work," Teacher-Snape predicted. "You see, he has no authority to enforce his will over those two. Maybe I should go." He held out his hand to have the wand returned.

Insecure-Snape, deflated, was about to hand it over when Hermione said, "No!"

All eyes turned to her. "I mean… I want him to come with me," she said, indicating Insecure-Snape. "I don't think the rest of you like me much, and if I have to go in there, I'd like to at least have someone with me who I feel some sort of connection to. Not the Bond. I mean an understanding. Strange as it may sound, I think he's the only one who understands me." She removed her hands from the Snapes' grips and straightened her back. "I can do this," she said under her breath. "I can. I can do this."

She steeled herself and made to walk toward the door when Insecure-Snape said, "Wait." He said it softly, gently almost.

She stopped, not trusting herself to turn around. If she didn't keep focused on the door she might just run away.

"Let us have a moment alone first," Insecure-Snape said.

"Oh, no you don't!" Vengeful-Snape said. "You just want to do her first. She belongs to us."

"I do not want to 'do her first'," Insecure-Snape contradicted. "I merely want to prepare her, mentally, for what will happen. It wouldn't do anyone much good for her to bolt at the sight of your 'equipment'."

"It is rather impressive," Vengeful-Snape concurred.

"Don't flatter yourself, it's no better than ours," Self-Righteous-Snape sneered.

"Oh, all right, very well, you go ahead and give her the talk about the birds and the bees," Vengeful-Snape relented with a wave of his hand.

"And while you're at it," Sadistic-Snape leered, "get her naked and tie her up a bit."

Ignoring their jibes, Insecure-Snape got up and stood before Hermione. "Shall we?" he asked.

Feeling all jittery in her stomach and weak in her knees, Hermione gulped and nodded, then followed Professor Snape through the green door.

--/--/-/-/--/--

Author's Note: Ack! What to do now! This is currently rated T (PG-13), so I would really appreciate it if you told me if you would prefer it to continue with that rating, or if you would prefer that the next chapter be rated M (R). For sex, obviously. I'm not great at writing smut, but I'll give it a shot in the name of art. I can also do the scene with them together with a T rating, so it's not like that scene will be cut. Just not as detailed. Any other comments are welcome as well, of course. Thanks!