Disclaimer: Not mine.

The Chasm

Chapter 12

The Day After

Hermione and Ronald found their way downstairs and following the smell of sausage with scrambled eggs were able to find the dinning room. Seeing breakfast set up on the sideboard, they picked up their plates and began to scoop piles of food onto them.

"How do they get eggs?" Ronald frowned, pausing before letting the yellow fluff fall onto his plate.

Hermione tasted them and grinned up at Ronald. "Powdered. Not bad though. Better then mine and I use real."

"That's not saying much." He leaned down and kissed her quickly, glancing back over his shoulder. "You make me feel like a school kid again. Let's get out of here. Bet we can make it back to our room before they get here. We can go for three…"

"Shut up and eat." She grinned before turning back to the buffet, seeing the obvious look of desire on his face and feeling her own breath quicken. "Constance said Snape is gracing us with his presence his morning and we should be here."

"He's an odd one," Ronald said, spearing a couple of fresh tomato slices and smelling them before dropping the on his plate. "He came in and helped with you and we've talked a couple of times but other than that he disappears of hours at a time."

"Seems your little talks are always behind closed doors and take a bit longer then you admit. I was talking to Constance, she's worried about it. What are you two doing in there besides discussing this …this fort?"

"I'll tell you later," he muttered.

They put their plates on the table as Snape and Constance entered the room, Snape going directly to the table, leaving Constance to fix his plate. She slid it in front of him before turning to take a seat at the opposite end of the table, avoiding Hermione's eyes.

"I take it that you have regained your appetite, Miss Granger."

"Yes," she said. "Everything tastes…"

"Mr. Weasley, since you can now concentrate on more than your lover's medical condition…"

"Wife's. " Ronald looked up under his brow. "On my wife's medical condition."

"Forgive me, Mr. Weasley." Snape leisurely leaned back in his chair. "I assumed by the recent absence of a wedding ring, and hearing no objection to being shown into separate rooms, that she had recently left her husband and decided to revisit an old attraction."

"I did," Hermione admitted. "I was…or rather we were…or are…"

"We are separated," Ronald explained shortly. "Not that it is any of your business."

"But it is, Mr. Weasley. Before I allow you to head off again I have to make sure that you fully understand the term of our agreement and will not allow one element to put another in jeopardy. This does complicate the matter."

"Agreement?" Constance asked.

"We have questions of our own."Hermione interrupted, not seeing Ronald's glare. "First…why can you use magic but ours…and Constance's is gone."

"Not gone, Miss Granger, or should I say, Mrs. Weasley? Your wands are useless here. I have used wandless for years so it is not effected and Mrs. Mulciber has been able to learn some wandless as I am sure you remember."

"Why? I don't understand…"

"What core do you have? Dragon heart? Phoenix? Perhaps, the ever-popular Unicorn hair? Tell me, Mrs. Weasley, how many of these creatures have you seen in this world?"

"I see," she said, sighing deeply. "Let me guess that elder, ebony, and most of the woods used do not grow here either."

"Correct. One cannot expect a substance to channel magic when that very substance is alien to the world in which you find yourself. The elements of all wands are closely linked to the magical creatures that surround the wizard with their magic. I am sure at one time, when things actually lived here, it was different. However, dead and rotted Inferi heartstring, whereas plentiful, will hardly work. It is much the same as the dragon hide we wear as the dead skin of an animal has no effect on the world around us."

"You said you had to be sure of me," Ronald said calmly. "I think you need to explain that."

"I explain nothing," Snape sneered.

"Stop it!" Constance spat. "Or should I send in the next applicant for your fucking position? I am sure there is a long queue at the front door."

"Did you have time to memorize the instructions I gave you yesterday?" Snape changed the topic, ignoring Constance as he began to poke his fork at his plate, finally pushing it away with a look of disgust.

"Most of it, I need to go over it once more. If I could have some time alone it may go faster."

"What's going on?" Hermione looked between Snape and Ron.

"Not now, Mione," he said, turning back to Snape.

"I suggest you do so at once. It is time you left," Snape said, watching Hermione carefully. "Her infection is only being held at bay. Tell me, Mrs. Weasley, do you have difficulty breathing?"

"Some."

"There is a bacteria infection we are unable to treat here. I am afraid it is now in your lungs. You need St. Mungo's if you hope to improve. I would suggest, Mr. Weasley, that you finish your studies while the ladies get ready."

"I'll get on it now then." Ronald stood and took his plate with him, heading for Snape's office.

"Mrs. Weasley," Snape said politely as he stood, keeping his eyes on Constance. "You will excuse us. We have things to discuss. I suggest you use this time to dress in something more appropriate to travel. You will find clothing in your room."

He waited for Constance to take his arm then led her to his library, leaving the study for Ronald and Hermione on her own. He closed the door behind her and calmly informed her that she would be leaving with their guests, and of his finding that he could remove her mark and put it on his own arm. He did so quickly, giving her no chance to argue and when done, stood and looked at her coldly.

"You will need to pack. Since you will be with other who are also without magic consider your choices well. I would suggest you take no more than what you need as anything you carry will only add to your discomfort on the journey." Snape walked calmly to the liquor cabinet and took out a glass and a full bottle. "What a shame the Dark Lord did not keep a bigger stock. I am afraid his private stash will soon be gone."

"When did you plan on telling me I could leave?"

"When I no longer wanted your favours or it became unsafe for you to stay," he said, not recognising his own voice as he turned away from her. "You cannot make the trip yourself and only one of us may leave. As it was not a possibility before and as such, I saw no reason to tell you. I thought it would make it harder for you and by extension influence our life here. "

"What will you do when I am gone?" Constance asked carefully, hearing the catch in his voice and steadying her own. "You don't mean to…to stay in this forsaken place alone?"

"I plan to retire," he chuckled, sounding hollow even to his own ears. "You have accomplished your mission my dear. You…saved my life. However, I would have rather died in that shack."

"We could try…maybe one of the monoliths in that place they say Black is in…"she started, ignoring his comment.

"Stop," he said harshly.

"Severus," she crossed to him, taking his hands in hers, "don't do this. You have to try. Perhaps they saw something they didn't realize was important. You said yourself that they had no business coming here and that they don't understand what is in front of their noses. Look into their minds and…"

"Constance," he sighed wearily, the sound of her first name still alien to his tongue. "I will not allow you to stay. If I must, I will use the Impervious. Would you rather I do that or leave you with some dignity?"

"I can't, not without you…it isn't really so bad here," she whispered. "I have grown accustom to it. We want for nothing…"

"They will be here shortly. Knowing Miss Granger she is already packed what she does not need and is rechecking her lists." He yanked his hands away from her, picked up his drink and sat in a high backed chair, draping one leg elegantly over the other.

"Did you ever feel anything for me?" She asked flatly.

"You have satisfied my needs. I thank you for that. I will admit you have been most…delightful at times."

"Fuck you, Snape…fuck you to hell!" she said angrily to hide what she felt, schooling her face back into its customary cold mask.

"You have done that already. A memory I will revisit from time to time with great…longing," he smirked, nodding to the door. "Ah, your transportation waits."

"Snape," Ronald nodded to him before turning to Constance. "Hermione's spitting up blood, we need to get her a potion and then we have to get her out of here."

"Already a side effect to the potion I am afraid. There is nothing here for her. Once you are at the pinnacle you should continue at once. If you take the time to visit with Mr. Black, do so knowing she will die. Although she should have a couple of days it is never a certainty how these things progress. " Snape stood up and watched Constance drape her cape over her shoulders, studying her face and the way she refused t look at him. She strode to the door and left without looking back, her eyes welling with tears that she refused to let Snape see.

"If that is all we should be leaving," Ronald said uncomfortably. "If there was anyway you…."

"Mr. Weasley," Snape said softly, still watching the now empty door. "I am entrusting the only thing of any value I have to you. My inheritance and fortune mean nothing to me. I trust you can put aside our past difficulties and take care of her."

"I will do what I can. She loves you, you do know that."

"I only borrow people while I have use of them, much like you," Snape laughed, sipping his drink. "Whatever her misplaced feelings are, she needs to get over them."

"She needs to hear you say it," Ron grumbled. "I am not the brightest when it comes to witches but if I've learned anything it's ...damned you Snape…what will it hurt you to be decent for once in your miserable life?"

Snape shifted uncomfortably in his chair, downed his drink and stood. "I take it you have finished studying the maps since you have time to meddle in my affairs?"

"Hermione isn't sure Constance can leave with us. Since she never actually came in through a gate…like Mara can't leave."

"I take it you have already discussed our conversation with her."

"Some," he admitted. "Is she right? About Constance? I don't want to drag her three worlds away from here and leave her on her own. Because, I will, Snape. I have to get Hermione to a Healer and if Constance can't pass through, I'll leave her. So, if you aren't sure…absolutely sure she can leave…you tell me now."

"My research shows as soon as her Mark is transferred she is free. It is the Mark that holds us, unlike your Mara." He walked t the bookshelf and plucked out a thin journal, handing it to Ronald. "I, however, will be allowed to die."

"She…she…can't die? Sirius said something like that. Blimey, I thought he was nutters."

"No, Mr. Weasley, you did notice her failure to age did you not? She is trapped, trapped until this miserable place falls in on its self, the same as I, or until others manage to take my life. However, whereas I will have the luxury of death, she shall not." He turned back to the bookshelf and removed several books, opened a secret door, and pulled out a small vial. "This is the Dark Lord's final masterpiece. He had it created but never used it. His opportunity was thankfully missed, for which we should all be grateful. I kept it for Mrs. Mulciber's comfort if things ever reached the point I deemed she would find it beneficial.

Not unlike the potion that St. Mungo's uses to remove residual magic on the curse ward, this removes all magic. However, that is just a precaution. A precaution that the drinker's magic will not save them. You see, Mr. Weasley, it is a most potent poison. The only failing with the Dark Lord's plan was finding a way to distribute it.

If you are unable to find a way out, since this and Mara's world will be closed to any return, you may have use of this. I will further caution you to use it on your… wife… if she is too weak to carry on. You must trust me when I say the two she encountered in the forest are not the only two that would take their pleasure in her pain. I think you would rather see her dead than be raped by something long dead, shared by many like them and then eaten."

Ronald took the vial and watched the swirling contents moving through the glass. "What does it do?"

"In washing away the magic, it would also, to one such as Mara, allow death. In one such as you, or the witches I am entrusting to you, death will be almost instantaneous as your own natural magic will not be able to help save you nor give you enough time for someone else to intercede."

"I…I couldn't do that."

"You will find you could do no less, if the right situation occurs. It would also be a choice I believe one such as Mara would take over life in eternity. It is a choice you will make for your wife rather than see her fall into the hands of rapists and cannibals." Snape turned back to the bookshelves and began to pick out several tomes he set on the table. "These are the only copies in existence, if indeed anything here exists. Miss Granger may find a use for them if your flight from here is successful. I will however need her to oath to me that they will not be open to others."

"I will send her in," Ronald muttered, shoving the vial in his pocket. "I don't want you mentioning this to her."

Ronald found Hermione sitting in the dining room, her arms around Constance who sobbed into her shoulder. He walked up behind them and laid in hand on Constance's shoulder, getting her attention before squatting down next to her.

"He wants to see Hermione and you need to get ready. We will be leaving soon."

"He's a bastard," Constance choked, sitting up and swiping at her tears.

"If you thought that you wouldn't be sitting here crying," he said, trying to grin.

"Yes I would. He is a bastard. That son-of-a-bitch… not once in all this time…would it kill him to be nice? Just once? Would it kill him to tell me he at least cared about me? Even a little? No…not him…he hasn't said it once. Not once!"

"You talk to her," Hermione said, standing up and giving Ronald her chair. "Maybe you can make her understand."

"Why me?"

"Because," Hermione hissed, "if any man knows about not talking about feelings it is you. Maybe you can explain testosterone driven idiocy, I still don't understand it."

"Oh." He tried to smile.

Hermione hurried to see Snape, anxious to get home and knowing that until they played to Snape's timetable they were stuck.

"Come in, please." Snape sat behind his desk, a dozen odd books stacked in front of him. "These I will shrink down. I did, however, want to make certain that you fully understood what they contain."

"I can read nine languages now. I am sure I am able to decipher these."

"I am not questioning your intellect. I am questioning your common sense. These books are all dark. Very dark. They are not on how to combat the Dark Arts, nor are they mere examples of them. These are from Voldemort's personal library. As such, I will take an oath that you will protect the knowledge they contain. Am I understood?"

"Yes," she looked at the books with obvious envy.

"The oath you will take will be to Mrs. Mulciber. As I will be dead soon, I do not want the oath to die with me."

"Knock it off, Snape. Mrs. Mulciber? Don't you think it has been long enough that you could be on a first name basis?"

"How I conduct myself is not your concern." He turned on his heel to collect Constance for the oath, instructing her to join hands with Hermione and kneel in front of him. As he finished the oath, he gasped in pain, going down one knee and clawing at his arm, frantic to expose his forearm.

Hermione leaned back, catching Constance as she fell forward, crying out as she squeezed her eyes shut. "Find him…" Constance gasped, pushing Hermione away from her. "It's Ron, find him…go."

"Constance? Is it the oath?" Hermione was confused until she saw Snape in pain as well and heard Constance again tell her to find Ron.

Hermione thundered down the hallway, one hand fisted and held to her chest, as if by her sheer will she could stop her heart from jumping out of her skin and manage her ragged breath. The door to the library stood closed, locked against her. She pounded with both fists, screaming for Ronald to open the damned thing and to have the bullocks to face her.

A soft metallic click signalled the unlocking of the door and she spun to see Severus coming up behind her, his face furious, his hand raised palm out, radiating magic in front of him. As he pushed the door open, she rushed in, searching for Ronald, seeing him sitting on the edge of chair, forearms on his knees, his eyes lowered.

"Ron?" she choked.

He lifted his eyes, looking at her from under his brows, only to lower them back to the floor as he saw Snape stride in after her. She saw him wince in pain and tug on his sleeve, avoiding their eyes as his shoulders slumped.

"She's yours now," he said softly. "Get her the fuck out."

Hermione ran to him, falling on her knees, yanking his arms up and turning them over. Even in the half- dark room, she could clearly see the shape of two snakes withering together on his left forearm. Spinning her head to the desk, she saw a tablet and the empty vial of Snape's potion.

"Why? Ron…why?" she cried out, her breath ragged and tearful.

"I can't get you out of here. He can. Mione, you don't have six days, that's the fastest I could get you out, even with no problems it would take six bloody days. I've figured out every route and it won't work. He's never done it without magic, it's not three days…it's six." He looked up at Snape and then back at Hermione, raising his hand to cup her cheek. "He can apparate…he can do it in one…one. Who knows, maybe I will have enough time to read some of these books."

"Mr. Weasley you are sadly…"

"It's done," he cut off the dark wizard, keeping his eyes locked on Hermione. "You should leave at once."

"There are arrangements to make." Snape glowered.

"Shut up!" Hermione screamed. "Ron! What is happening? Why? Why did you do this? Talk to me."

"Too late," Ron lifted his head and studied Snape's face, ignoring Hermione's plea. "They breeched the west wing an hour ago. Even with your safeguards, it is only a matter of time now. You said yourself once they were beyond the water purification system it was over. That's what? A day? Maybe two?"

Constance laid a hand on Severus arm and stilled his reply, then walked to the window, looking out at the grounds. Turning back to Severus, she watched his face for some sign of emotion, surprised when he strode up to her and gathered her in his arms.

"Severus?" she pushed him back far enough to look into his face. "Will it work? Truly?"

"Yes," he breathed, pulling her against his chest and burying his face in her hair. "I had planned to take your mark as my own. I…I cannot undo this."

"I know you did, I…I told Hermione." She disentangled herself and turned back to Ronald. "Why did you do this for us?"

"Because he's stupid," Hermione screamed, swatting at Ronald's head, tears streaming down her face. "Take it back! There has to be a way to undo it! Make him take it back!"

"Mione," Ronald flinched each time her hand connected with him until he could grab her hands and trap them in his. "I can't get you up to the summit and even if Snape got us that far without magic it would take day for him to make three trips. Merlin only knows what we would find. I can't use magic. I don't have time to memorize all the possibilities and combinations that may come up if anything that we have learned fails. I can't even fight the fucking Inferi without magic. Even if we all fight, it's three against…what? Hundreds? Plus Red Caps? Without magic we are done in this world and I won't see you die."

"We can take fire, we can…"

"Not enough. He can apparate and have you out of here in hours," he stroked her face sadly, trying to grin. "Now, go get your books. I want you out of here."

"No," she sobbed, raising up on her knees and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I won't leave you, I won't. We can go together. We can walk there and then all he has to do is take us to the summit…he can."

"Walk? Merlin, have you forgotten the walk in here? And one at a time? For all three of us? Who stays back? Who waits at the bottom with the Inferi and Red Caps?"

"We can fight them, together we can fight them."

"I won't risk you. Snape?" Ronald grabbed her arms from around his neck and held them up to Severus. "Take her."

"Mrs Weasley," Severus took her gently and turned her away from Ronald, indicating that Constance should help her out of the room.

"No!" Hermione twisted back, fighting against him, rotating her arms against his thumbs until he was forced to let go, then flung herself against Ron.

"No, tell them Ron, tell him…tell him you want me to stay. We can find something…I know we can. Tell him I have to stay because I am your wife."

"Ah, Myown," Ron let his arms go around her as he felt his own eyes fill. "You've never been anything else to me, not since the first time I made love to you."

"You promised. You promised you would never leave me again. That we would be together again…you lied. You planned this. You son of a bitch…you knew…you knew this morning what you were going to do!"

Constance laid her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Come, we have to get ready. Let them talk. The more he knows about how this house works…the…the better chance he has."

Hermione shook her head and stomped her foot. "Damn you Ronald Weasley! Damn you to hell!"

"I think that already happened," he gave her a lop-sided grin. "Now, for once do what I ask. The quicker Snape shows me how what is left of this place works the longer I have."

Ron dug in his pocket and pulled out the vial that Snape had given him earlier, only now a letter was folded and wrapped around it. "If you leave this at the entry site they will find it. Sirius said Mara looks for …gifts…things like sheep and birds that fall in occasionally. After you destroy it, put this on the broken stone, they'll find it there."

"Mr. Weasley, I did not want you to do this. I must admit that I am surprised. That said your reasoning is correct. She would have died on the third day."

"You knew from the beginning I couldn't get Hermione out?"

"Yes. I also knew that if you did not try yourself and Constance would die with me. I thought it better to have two survive than none."

"Constance is it?" Ronald smirked.

"You have earned my…my respect, Mr. Weasley. If the respect of a once Death Eater and hated professor means anything, it is yours."

Ronald held out his hand and waited until Snape took it, then firmly shook the man's hand. "Take care of her. You know you'll have to keep an eye on her or she will try to get away and make her way back."

"With your permission, I will use a simple binding spell. Nothing…obvious. One that wizards often use in the training of…dogs."

Ronald couldn't help but grin, knowing Hermione's mortification at being on the end of an invisible leash. "Tell her it was my idea. It may make the trip easier. She's going to hate me for the next few days anyway."

Snape turned and reduced more books in size, shoving them in his pockets and turned slowly, looking at the room. "The Journal I gave you earlier, it contains the names of all of Voldemort's followers, marked and unmarked. It also contains the vault numbers where he hid the money that he has stolen from the Muggles families he eliminated."

"I put it in Hermione's robes."

"There is a list of names that takes up the majority of the journal. It contains what may be the only list of those he killed prior to the first war. These would be the souls he made into his…army."

"The Inferi?"

"Yes," Snape sighed. "I only know one wizard who may have the knowledge to release their souls and allow the poor creatures rest and he hangs in a portrait at Hogwarts."

"You can reverse the spell from there?"

"Perhaps, if it is a simple matter we will be able to stop the Inferi. That will still leave you with the Red Caps and other non-dead. It will however give me the peace of mind that you will not become as they."

"It's something," Ron said frowning. "I would appreciate if you didn't tell Hermione. She doesn't need to think she should try this a year from now just because the Inferi are gone. It won't help in the end, will it?"

"No, not in this life, only in the next." Snape laid his hand on Ronald's shoulder. "I oath to you, your wife will be home by nightfall."

Ronald watched Snape and Constance on the ground beneath his window as they prepared to leave. Constance looked up to where she knew he was and lifted her hand, only to drop it quickly and wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. He was surprised at how tenderly Snape pulled her into his side as he apparated, taking her to the monolith on the crumbling ledge.

Thinking of Hermione, he smirked, knowing Snape would have her tethered close to the front entry. He knew it would serve no purpose to seek her out for these last few minutes and would just make another goodbye all the harder. Waiting until he saw Snape return and almost run into the manor he stepped back from the glass, close enough to watch, but far enough that Hermione could not see him.

Hermione was yanked out of the house, literally dragging her feet, making Snape pull her weight to the apparation point. His face was a study in controlled patience and anger, hers that of a petulant child. Ronald closed the curtains, not able to watch and turned back into the darkened room, not able to watch any longer.

Snape all but threw Hermione to the ground at the top of the abyss. Clenching his jaw, he fought not to spit out what he wanted to say to her and pushed her into the monolith. Rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath, he followed her through.

"Severus." Constance stood up and ran to him. "I was concerned when it took so long. What happened to your face?"

He turned and glared at Hermione, without responding to Constance's question, and by doing so, made it obvious that he wore Hermione's handprint.

"I have something to do," he said tersely. "You two start down to the circle. And you, Mrs. Weasley, will shut your mouth and stop ranting about things that cannot be changed."

"This is where Sirius is," Hermione said. "Why can't we bring Ron this far? At least he…"

"Stop," Snape said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We were able to pass through because we are taking the place of Potter and Weasley. Once he took on the marks he became as limited as we had been. As this world was closed to me prior to his…foolishness…it is closed to him now."

"He is not foolish! He is…"

"If he had told me what he planned on doing I would have stopped him. He has no idea…"

"Severus," Constance interrupted. "It's too late. Let it go."

He nodded and turned back to the entry, blasting it with wave after wave of magic until it toppled onto the ground. He watched Constance hold Hermione back as she fought in her arms, screaming at him to stop. Stepping up to the stone, he continued until a crack ran down the length of the rune and then began layering ward upon ward to ensure the closure held. When he was done, he reached in his pocket and put a small stack of supplies on top of the damaged stone.

Hermione stopped fighting as she saw him enlarge a set of sheets, bath soap and several tins of real tea. Seeing him add a vial with a note tied around it she looked at him strangely.

"Something I saw upon visiting your memories."

"You…how dare you. If you ever…"

"You were unconscious at the time," he intoned. "We need to keep going."

Hermione felt a tug as they walked off without her. The tug became a yank and she yelled out a curse as she was dragged along, continuing to look over her shoulder at the odd assortment that sat upon the broken stone. They travelled quickly from entry point to exit gate, Snape tethering her as he transported Constance and destroyed what monoliths he knew would lead to a gate to either Voldemort's Lair or to Sirius safe haven.

Entering the third world Hermione had to sit down and rest while Constance feed her a potion and Snape paced impatiently.

"Sit down," Constance ordered. "We haven't seen anything. We are fine."

"Because we are moving."

"We didn't run into anything until we made it to your world," Hermione reminded him, slowly standing. "Well…a cursed place…but that's it."

"And a place you foolishly thought was the real world. Brazil, was it not?"

"Okay, I get it," she sighed, looking back at the way they had come. "How much farther?"

"One more entry and you will recognize the gate to the Ministry," Severus sighed. "It should be destroyed to keep things in this world, but in doing so we too would be trapped."

"It's been eons and nothing has come through yet," Constance said.

"As the worlds die those here will try to get out," Hermione said flatly. "Ron knew that when he decided to stay, didn't he? He knows he was going to be locked in there."

"Yes, he did."

"And he knew he couldn't …I mean …he understood…right?"

"I did not trick him, Hermione. If anything I underestimated the time it would take him to make the journey," he said softly, the use of her first named causing her to search his face. "I may be a bastard but I can assure you I would not have tricked him into staying behind."

"It's my fault he came. I wanted help…I wanted to make a great discovery. I should have researched more instead of just jumping in." He voice hitched as she turned to the last gate they would need before returning to the one that would take them home.

"You saved us," Constance said softly. "If you hadn't come…we would still be in there."

"Ronald did that!" Hermione swiped at her tears and started walking toward the gate. "He saved you…and I killed him."