Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing except my own character, Muirgeann le Fay (Merissa Lovey), and all else belongs to the esteemed Ms. Rowling, who I thank most heartily for creating such a universe for all of us to enjoy and explore.

...

"How could you?" Lovey shrieked, coming toward me in a flurry of silver robes. Contrary to my expectations, she didn't stop a foot away and stay carefully dignified in her anger. Instead, she struck me hard across the chest once, twice, before taking a staggering step back as she realised she had no way to protect herself and it would be unwise to anger me. "Not only did you kill the Headmaster—who you no doubt gave the poison he was clearly suffering from in the first place—you had the audacity to claim me as a prize!"

"If you don't stop blubbering, I will immobilise you again." I warned her. Eyes as sharp and grey as steel met mine as her face screwed up into an expression of incredible disdain.

"Go ahead. I'm at your mercy, aren't I?" she spat. "How many Cruciatus Curses will I be subjected to? Or are you more of a Muggle torture lover? What sort of gracious treatment does the Half-blood Prince give out?"

"I suggest you close your mouth before it gets you into more trouble." I told her. She rolled her eyes, but kept quiet as she let her anger retire back under the surface of her emotions to simmer. She glanced around the room with a bored look, jumping slightly when her eyes settled on the bed she had been resting on. I could see her processing the information slowly, white-knuckled hands trembling slightly at her sides. She turned back toward me, her fear invisible but for the slight trembling and the whiteness of her lips.

"Where am I?" she asked carefully, her eyes still haughty and unafraid. "Why am I here and why wasn't I just killed along with Dumbledore?"

"You are in a bedroom at Malfoy Manor that is always kept ready for me when the Dark Lord requires my presence for long periods of time. In short, your new home. You weren't killed because I requested you as my reward for loyal service to the Dark Lord and he agreed quite happily. You have made yourself a nuisance to him, but you have annoyed me far more." I told her, watching her closely as I approached her. Her fists grew smaller and her shoulders squarer as she did her best to hide the fact that she was frightened.

"Good. I hope to always be a thorn in his side and yours." she said. I stopped hardly an inch from her and saw the first sign of doubt and fear begin to appear in her eyes as they lost their steely grey quality. "What happens to the gifts you receive from the Dark Lord?"

"They tend to be…broken." I said with a sadistic smile, watching her closely to see how she would react. She stood motionless, her jaw hardening and her eyes becoming a strange mixture of determination, resignation, and fear.

"I see. You may find that I'm a bit harder to break." she informed me, giving me a weak smile she no doubt tried to make careless. She flinched as I moved my hand, incapable of trying to hide her fear. I wrapped my hand under her jaw and made her look at me, her eyes suddenly as wide and innocent as the blue summer sky. She blinked, her eyes closed tightly for half a second, and swallowed hard. When her eyes opened again, the determination had returned to them, promising me she couldn't be broken. I chuckled once and let go of her jaw, taking a seat in the small den area of the room.

"Be seated, Ms. Lovey." I instructed, gesturing toward another chair lazily. She sat down quietly, watching me with distrusting eyes. Something in my appearance seemed to comfort her suddenly and she sighed with relief.

"I understand." she said quietly, her eyes bright with the knowledge that she'd solved the riddle. "I know what's going on."

"Oh?" I asked, smirking at her apparent idiocy. She nodded, unaffected by my doubt, and leaned toward me like she was worried the room was bugged.

"Dumbledore put you up to it. The poison wasn't from you and he knew he'd take it. I already know he knew Draco was trying to kill him, so clearly he asked you to keep Draco from murder and to put him out of his misery. Since I jumped into the middle of the mess, you took me so I wouldn't be killed. I've got it all sorted out, you see." she whispered, smiling slightly.

"Are you really so daft as to believe all that?" I scoffed. "I would be very careful, were I you. You irked me enough on a daily basis that I asked Lord Voldemort to put your torture and demise solely in my hands. That shouldn't be an encouraging thought, Ms. Lovey. Even you can't possibly so much of a fool as to believe that I would kidnap you under some goal as altruistic as saving your life. No, you are here for my pleasure and no reason else."

"I see." she replied, rolling her eyes with a smile as she folded her braids up and somehow managed to get them to stay without her wand, unaffected by the glare I was giving her.

"As you seem to be more of an imbecile than I expected, it would be best if I informed you of what your life will be like from this moment forward. You will not leave this room. The door is locked and enchanted to prevent your escape. House-elves will ensure you are kept alive, but will not be permitted to communicate with you in any way. As I will not always be present, I have given them express orders not to accept any command or request you give so that you cannot attempt to use them as a means of escape. Be careful not to believe yourself safe if I am not present for any length of time. I will return when I desire and you will find that your situation will not be improved when I am here." I informed her. She turned sideways in her chair as she pulled her legs into it, leaning them against one arm as she relaxed against the other.

"Of course. And will my Prince be staying tonight?" she asked, her eyes angrily alight as she gave me a coquettish smile, trusting in my reserve and control despite my threats. Restraining a sigh, I stood.

"You will refer to me as Snape, Ms. Lovey, but, yes, I will be staying." I informed her before heading toward the door.

"I will eagerly await your return!" she called out before I shut the door as a barrier between my sanity and her snickers. I've made a grave mistake this time.

...

"I'm glad you decided to stay here before we leave, Hermione." Harry said as I watched him unpack his things from where I sat crisscross on Ron's bed. "Why did you change your mind so suddenly about it?"

"It just didn't feel like home anymore." I replied with a smile plastered to my face. Harry didn't pick up on my grief, thankfully. I'll have to tell him eventually that I erased myself from their memory and history for their safety, but I can't yet. It hurts too much, I thought, hugging a pillow to my chest. "Besides, what would I do without you and Ron bothering me?"

"Read another library's entire stock of books." he replied instantly, grinning at me.

"You mean to say there's a library I haven't already gone through?" I asked with faux surprise, making us both laugh.

"Are you ready to go downstairs, Hermione? I'd say it's about time for dinner." he asked after he finished unpacking.

"Probably." I replied, following him down the stairs. Molly was scolding Fred and George violently as everyone else held in their snickers and I knew that I had picked the perfect place to distract myself from the emotional whirlwind the recent past had held. I sat beside Ginny and smiled as she told me about the twins' prank. At least I'll always have this family, even if I can't keep Mum and Dad. They'll adopt me here.

...