I would like to say that I didn't skip writing a chapter yesterday on purpose. On hind sight, it was probably good to do so to build you all up from that cliffy. Some of you were pretty upset about it *cough cough*. Between the cliffies and the sexual tension I didn't even know what to do with myself. Oh Snape. My body is ready. Until then, I'll just entertain myself with this work of fiction.
*Disclaimer: JKR has millions of fans. I'm on the alert list of 9 people*
Chapter 14-
"If it isn't the little Mudblood, I think we should have some fun."
"What the hell are you doing?" Hermione's hands desperately searched for the wand that she had lost between the sheets. The rumbled covers twisted around her sweaty form, clinging to her body like a second skin.
Lucius Malfoy merely jeered, "So you do talk? I had forgotten that you could do more than scream."
Familiar alder brushed against her fingertips, and she gripped at her wand tightly, sliding out of the bed as gracefully as she could, making sure to not turn her back on the intruder.
"It would be in your best interests to l-l-leave," Hermione tried to sound powerful, but her voice caught as Malfoy's face contorted into a sickly smile, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"The cleverest witch of her age," He mocked, drawing his wand from his robes, "is barely able to articulate."
"Stupefy!" Lucius deflected the curse easily and sent one searing across her cheek, splitting the taut skin under her cheek bone. The metal taste of blood dripped into her mouth and she didn't have time to think before another curse nearly hit her in the chest. She felt her calf being ripped at, scarlet spilling out onto the wooden floors.
"To think," Lucius danced around her, skimming her flesh with nicks and slices, "that you worth any of his attention."
A well placed spell to his feet sent Malfoy toppling to the ground next to her as she fought for the strength to finish it.
"Filthy Mudblood," He grunted out before his features tightened and he froze mid-sentence.
"Miss!" Slinky's large eyes above the still body of the Death Eater, "Master says that Slinky does not let Miss die!"
"You left, Slinky," Hermione groaned, checking her wounds and healing them as she went.
"I called for the Master," Suddenly, the house elf sounded less sure of her actions and she procured a mug of tea and levitated it towards Hermione.
"And?" The tea warmed her body as she leaned over to expect the still frame lying in front of her. His deep grey eyes were fogged by a silvery mist.
"What do you see, Miss?" Slinky brushed her long nose against Malfoy's shoulder as she stared at whatever Hermione saw.
"Slinky?" Hermione stood up carefully, rubbing at the wounds at her side that had once again began to pain her, "Send Mr. Malfoy back to his home."
"Miss-" Slinky tried to question it, but Hermione cut her off of it before any speculations were made.
"Just do it. Please."
Blood. It was splattered onto everything and his bedroom reeked of it. Behind his eyelids he watched as a bushy haired girl screamed under the hands of a werewolf, her blood being absorbed greedily by the earth underneath her. He saw her screaming out to him, begging to be saved, to be released of the pain that wracked her body ever so viciously. The bed was still warm from Hermione's body and he found her chin deep in his bathtub, a mug of tea hovering in the air beside her, looking like the picture of health.
"What the hell happened?" Snape growled, thrusting the door wide open to reveal the crimson puddles throughout his bedroom. Hermione jumped slightly at the words, but didn't bother hiding her body from his.
"Wow Hermione," She gave a weak smile, but if faltered and fell away, "I'm glad to see that you're okay. That Lucius Malfoy didn't manage to kill you."
"Malfoy?" Snape immediately got up to look for him, but Hermione grabbed his wrist before he could pull away.
"I sent him home," She closed her eyes and attempted to relax into the warm, bubbly water.
"To hell you did!" Snape practically ripped her out of the water trying to get away from her grip.
"I did. He was under the Imperius."
"And what would put that through your pretty little head?" A robe flew of off a silver hook and encased itself around her body as she stepped out of the tub. He had however, noticed the puffy skin at her side and wondered for a moment if it would ever heal at all.
"I could see it in his eyes," Hermione plucked her tea from the air and downed the rest of it, flinching as it burned her mouth.
"Fuck!" Snape ripped the mug from her hands and sent it shattering to the ground. The small shards of porcelain speckled the tiled ground, like an explosion of confetti.
"Better?" A flick of her wand sent the pieces into the waste basket, "Who would do that, Professor?"
"Someone who wants Lucius Malfoy to take the fall for his actions," Snape's hair covered his dark expression as situations flew through his head.
You won't harm her Bella.
I don't make promises that I can't keep.
"He said something strange, Professor," Granger's face screwed up as she tried to remember the words, "Something about not being worth your attention. What does that mean?"
"I haven't the faintest inclination," He shook his head dismissively then gave her a hard look. There she stood, shivering in a robe in his bathroom, dripping wet with his collar around her neck.
"You've had quite the week, Granger," Snape watched as she raised her fingers to tentatively stroke the smooth surface of the collar, and the engraving in the middle of it, "It's been very trying for you."
"It always is," she sighed and stepped into his bedroom to get dressed, not bothering to elaborate any longer.
"Tell me something, Granger," The two of them had found themselves holed up in his private library, amidst a roaring fireplace and hundreds of whispering texts. Hermione was curled into the chair closest to the fire, a book on rare plants balanced on her knees. She looked up at him in shock when he started the conversation, but politely tucked the book into her side after marking her page.
"What would you like to know, Professor?"
"You're favorite subject at Hogwarts?"
"Transfigurations," She smiled at the thought of schoolwork, "Maybe charms. Or Arithmancy. Or Ancient Runes. Maybe even Potions."
"Are you intentionally teasing me, Miss Granger?" He cocked an eyebrow at her mischievous smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir," She couldn't contain an impish giggle though, "Obviously you preferred Potions."
"Obviously," Snape smirked sardonically, "The form of your Patronus?"
"An otter. Yours?"
"A doe," He watched the skepticism creep over her face, but he ignored it.
"Do you have any siblings?"
Hermione shifted uneasily at his prodding, and thought carefully before answering, "When I was eight, I came home from school one day to my mother and father beaming at me before I even walked in the front door. The next day I was telling everyone who listened that I was going to be a big sister. I remember showing my parents this picture that I drew of what I thought the baby would look like. I wanted a baby sister with dark curls and bright blue eyes, just like out of a fairy tale. When my mom found out she was having another girl, she was over the moon. She painted the guest room ballet slipper pink with lavender butterflies. My dad wanted to name her Deirdre after some Celtic legend. One day I was having a baby sister, the next day I wasn't. I walked into the guest room and it had been painted stark white and the baby furniture had been cleared out."
Snape remained silent, so Hermione continued, "It's this infertility thing I guess. Apparently it's genetic. It was a miracle that she had me at all."
"Indeed."
"And you, Professor? Did you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Hardly, my father couldn't even live around me."
Get the fuck away you stupid piece of shit. I don't want you breathin' the same air as me. You're worthless. Just like that bitch mom of yours. What were worse were the bruises that came along with the words.
"Professor?" Snape's head shot out of his memories at her timid voice, "I'm glad it was you."
Hermione's fingers brushed against the engraving on her collar.
Snape nodded slowly, "I agree."
Alright so somebody manipulated Lucius Malfoy, ruling him out. Who did it? Hermione's having a shitty week, if I do say so myself. Reviews motivate me to stop eating junk food and start writing. Until next time -ipl