Disclaimer: JK Rowling created and owns the rights to Harry Potter. I do not profit from writing this piece of fanfiction.

The Bond Servant

Chapter Twenty-five

Hermione walked through her front door with the shopping bags on her arms. She was still furious over her interaction with Tobias Snape, and her interest in getting Severus far, far away from the man was growing by the minute.

A dark part of her suggested that she could get rid of him and make it appear like an accident. It could even be made to seem that he just left them. The thought came to her that she could obliviate him like she had done to her parents. Set him up to just leave and never even have a reason to come back cross his mind. While killing him was definitely not something she truly wanted to do (mostly), she would have to seriously consider the latter idea.

She walked into the kitchen to see Lucius and Severus sitting at the table playing a game of chess. "Severus? You are here early!"

Both men stood, taking the bags off of her and putting them on the nearby counter. She hugged Severus tightly in greeting. "It is so good to see you!"

Severus nodded, "Yes. My mother came home and said that I should come over here early and probably stay the night. Dad is apparently in a bad mood, though he hadn't gotten back before I left. I hope you don't mind?"

His stays at Princeton Place had become routine at this point, and they barely talked about the reason for the majority of them. Hermione couldn't do anything to convince Eileen to leave, and she didn't want to alienate her friend by bringing it up all of the time. Or dampen his spirits, which had gotten better with time. She worried that if she pressured Eileen too much that the woman would stop allowing Severus to come to her. She knew Severus was partially ignoring what was going on at home because he felt as if he couldn't do anything about it.

Hermione did her best to look as if she didn't know what kind of mood Tobias Snape was in. "Of course not. Although, with you being here, you have to help me cook. Can you start chopping an onion for me? And then mince some garlic."

Lucius cleared his throat, "Anything I can do?"

Hermione kissed her husband on the lips before shaking her head. "Stay away from the kitchen? I trust you for toast, and that is about it."

Lucius chuckled before nodding as he walked toward the living room. "Okay, then. I'll be upstairs looking over some research for work."

Hermione and Severus nodded as they got to work on the meal.

Several hours later, after eating their dinner, Hermione and her two boys sat in the living room. She had told Severus about the new house in Turkey, and he seemed very excited to go visit it with them the next summer. He had even asked if there was a way that they could go before the school year started, and Hermione had been happy he felt comfortable asking. At the same time, she had to disappoint him by saying that it was being renovated, she had to prepare for the school year, and Lucius needed to return to work.

Lucius was telling Hermione about a new case he would be starting on during the coming week, and she was sitting next to Severus as he read a book. Hearing a light snore, she looked down to see that at some point in the last few minutes, the boy had fallen asleep against her side.

She smiled before lightly shaking him. He awakened quickly, jerking slightly. "I'm sorry. I think my Ancient Runes text is cursed to make me sleepy," he joked before yawning widely.

Lucius nodded as Hermione hugged the boy that had become her brother. "Go on up to bed, Severus. Hera and I will be needing to go to sleep soon, anyway. I have an early morning at Gringotts."

Severus stood up, saying his goodnights before stumbling up the stairs toward his bedroom.

Lucius and Hermione did stay up a little while longer. After she was sure Severus was asleep, she filled her husband in on her unfortunate meeting with Tobias Snape. Lucius was very angry that the abusive muggle would dare to threaten her and stated that Snape would be stupid to do it if he were around. Hermione then changed the subject back to Lucius's work. Lucius was being entrusted to work on a cursed grimoire belonging to an extinct German wizarding family, the Schaefflers. It had been challenging to even open the book, but other curse breakers had finally succeeded. Unfortunately, many of the pages were hidden under dark spells, and the person who had inherited the book was desperate to read the contents.

Hermione was trying to suppress her yawn, not wanting Lucius to believe her to be uninterested. The subject was fascinating, but it had been a long day.

"You look ready for bed," Lucius observed, standing and pulling her to her feet.

She sighed in response before nodding. "I am; I'm sorry. I need to put the leftovers up, though. Could you go upstairs and change the sheets on the bed? I'll be up in just a minute."

Lucius nodded and kissed her before walking up the stairs. Hermione went into the kitchen and quickly set the dishes to wash and dry themselves before putting the leftover lasagna into the refrigerator.

She was walking back through the living room and by the large front window toward the stairs when she heard it. Sirens. Curiously, she opened the front door and watched as several police cars and an ambulance drove by her house and down the street.

A sick feeling came over her as she summoned her shoes. She shoved them on her feet, not even thinking to call for Lucius as she ran out the door in the direction the cars were going. She rounded the next corner and gasped as her worst thoughts came true. The cars were parked in front of Severus's house and police were milling about in the small front yard. She ran to the house, passing by several nosey neighbors as she did so, and went straight for the door.

A hand reached out and caught her arm. "Miss! You can't go in there!"

Hermione stared at the police officer dumbly for a few seconds. "I… their… their son is at my house!" she said. "What happened?!"

The police officer's face crumpled with grief. "They… they had a son. Hold on a minute, ma'am. I need to get the ranking officer here to talk to you."

Hermione nodded frantically as the man walked off. The past tense that the man had used had not escaped her, and Hermione could feel herself starting to panic even more.

The officer returned seconds later with an older officer at his side. "I'm Detective Floyd. Your name, ma'am?" Hermione noted that the younger of the two had taken out a notebook and pen.

"Hera Elias… Malfoy now. I am a friend of Eileen's, and I teach at Severus's school."

"Severus?" the man asked, quietly.

"Yes. Their son. He is fourteen and sleeping at my house tonight. What is going on? Where is Eileen?"

The man looked at her sadly. "Were you aware of domestic violence taking place here?"

Hermione nodded, slowly. "Yes. I've been trying to talk Eileen into leaving for years, but she refuses. I think the whole neighborhood knows… The best I could do is get her to send Severus to stay at my house if she sees it as being a bad night. I take care of him when it is needed."

"Does…" the man glanced over at his fellow officer's notepad for reference, "Severus have any family we can contact that you know of?"

"No," she replied. "His mother named me to be his guardian… Please, sir. What has happened here?"

"We were called because the neighbor next door heard screaming and what he described as loud banging noises. When the first police officers arrived, they heard a gunshot and went inside. The woman, Eileen, was standing over the body of a man. Tobias Snape, from what I have gathered. Her back was to them and when she turned around she started to charge at them, waving a stick. She collapsed a few feet away, and when the officers checked her, they found that in addition to numerous injuries, she had been shot in the stomach. She was pronounced dead just a few minutes ago by the medics."

Hermione felt her knees go weak, and the man reached out, grasping her arms to keep her upright.

"Miss… can you take us to your home so that we can speak with their son, please?"

Hermione felt the tears flowing as she nodded. "I… I need to sit for a moment," she whispered. The man lowered her to the stoop as she continued to cry.

She was staring at the pavement when she heard Lucius's voice. "That's my wife over there! I'm not trying to go inside!"

She looked up to see her husband walking briskly to her before kneeling down in front of her and pulling her into a hug.

"What has happened?" he asked, quietly. She noticed that the two police officers walked off to give them a moment.

"They… I think they killed each other," she said back. "We… we need to contact the aurors, and I need to get to Severus. Lucius… what will happen to Severus?"

Lucius shushed her. "He will come live with us, of course. He will be okay, Hera. He's a strong boy, and he'll be okay in time."

Hermione shook her head even as she pressed it to his neck, feeling his shirt going wet underneath her face.

Hermione heard another voice call her name and looked up to see Roland Shacklebolt walking toward them in a dark blue suit. Another man, not dressed quite as convincingly muggle, walked next to him. Lucius pulled Hermione up as Roland approached.

"Hera! What is going on here?"

"Severus Snape, one of my students… his parents are dead. His mother is a witch," she said.

Roland nodded to the other auror, and they all watched as the second man walked up to the policemen that had been speaking to Hermione and started to speak.

"Good thinking to call, Lucius. Thank you. What do I need to know here?" Roland asked, looking at her seriously.

Hermione cried again, and Lucius answered for her. "Severus's father, Tobias, is an abusive drunk. Hera convinced Eileen to send Severus over whenever she needed to get Severus away from his father. He's at our house right now, asleep. I silenced the house and put an alarm up for if he wakes... Eileen also made Hera to be Severus's magical guardian, and you can find the paperwork at the ministry. Hera said she thinks that his parents killed each other."

Hermione cleared her throat before forcing herself to speak. "The… the police officer in charge said that there were gunshots. When they busted in, Eileen ran at them waving her wand, and then she collapsed. She'd been shot."

Roland nodded, sadly. "Poor boy. How old is the son? Wait… was he at the wedding? Friends with the Black brothers?"

"He's going into fourth year," Hermione said, quietly, nodding.

"Seemed like a nice lad… Well, it is up to you who speak to him. We can allow the muggles to do it, or I can."

Hermione shook her head. "No… no, I'll do it."

They were then joined by the second auror. "The woman put up a fight. They are trying to figure out how the man died, but from what they say I am guessing the killing curse. They said they can't find any marks on him."

Hermione cried out again as Lucius pulled her into his chest, tightly.

The second auror then groaned. "Damn. Cuffe is here. Standing over by that azalea bush."

"Damnit," Roland said. "Hera, this is going to be all over the Prophet tomorrow."

Lucius squeezed his wife tighter as he responded. "Auror Shacklebolt, Auror Kimmons, thank you for coming to help. I am going to get Hera home and calmed down so that we can talk to Severus. Is there anything we need to do for you?"

Kimmons shook his head. "No. We will get the obliviators out to handle the wand sighting and make it clear that it was self-defense on Mrs. Snape's part. Family services will probably contact you tomorrow to formalize the guardianship being transferred to Mrs. Malfoy. Did I get that right from the police, Mrs. Malfoy? You are his guardian?"

She nodded, sniffling, "Yes. But only in the magical world."

"That's fine. The ministry can falsify the muggle guardianship papers easily enough. I'm very sorry for your loss," he said, gently before walking toward Barnabas Cuffe.

Roland nodded as well, reaching a hand out to squeeze Hera's arm, "I'm so sorry, Hera. I'll be in contact with Dumbledore to let him know, okay? And… about the Prophet… I'm sorry, but Kimmons officially got the call. Cuffe always shows up on his crime scenes… I think they have a deal going, but I can't prove it."

Lucius waved it off. "Not your fault, Mr. Shacklebolt, and thank you for your sympathy. I'm going to get Hera home now."

Hermione was led into the house by the elbow, head spinning. Lucius left her standing at the foot of the stairs as he disappeared into the kitchen for a calming draught. He had learned that it was best to be prepared for the pain his wife and he would likely go through during the course of the war. As a result, he made sure that an entire cabinet was dedicated to potions that would help in the event of disaster. He palmed one of the blue potions as he put an additional bottle in his pocket.

He walked back to Hermione and put the bottle in her hand. It shook horribly as she lifted it to her mouth.

After swallowing, they waited several moments for her to calm down as Lucius ran a hand over one of her arms.

"I… this is my fault. This didn't happen originally. I… I think I would have known if he had lost his mother this way."

"How is it your fault, though?" Lucius returned, gently.

"If I hadn't… I threatened Tobias. I probably made him feel so… weak and defenseless. Then, he went home and killed Eileen!" Hermione's tears picked up again, and Lucius pulled her gently into him.

"Was Eileen alive when you went to Hogwarts?

Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Well, love… she died sooner than you expected perhaps, but… think of Severus's life. You are likely saving his anyway. Severus will have the next few years in peace without his father hurting him. Without having abuse poison him against muggles."

Hermione looked at him angrily, and he shook his head.

"No, no, love. I mean that though this is horrible, good can come out of every situation. Surely more are saved by in the long run if Severus does not become a Death Eater, including Severus himself. Don't you think Eileen would want that, given the chance?"

Hermione nodded her head. "How do I explain that it was my fault, though? That Tobias… this probably wouldn't have happened if I didn't meet him at the market?"

Lucius sighed, "I think you should ask yourself if you should tell him. His anger shouldn't be with you now, and… ultimately, the information only causes harm. No good can come from it. His father still murdered his mother tonight, and that was not your fault. You were the catalyst for his anger, perhaps, but the outcome is still on him."

Hermione was quiet.

"Just give him time. Let him process this as it is at the moment. If you feel you need to tell him later… do it then. Not now, though. He needs you to be his friend and… a mother right now. At least an older sister. He needs you not to tell him right now."

After several more moments, Hermione nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"Do you want me to talk to him for you?" Lucius asked, quietly.

She looked at him with gratefulness, all the while knowing that it would be best if she did it herself.

"No, but will you be there while I tell him? I'll nod at you if I think you should leave, but… I want him to see he has the support of us both."

Lucius nodded and together they walked up the stairs to the guest bedroom. Absently, Lucius removed the spells he had put in place should Severus wake up, and they entered the room to see Severus sleeping.

He was sprawled on his stomach, hugging the pillow his head was resting on and wearing only a pair of cotton pajama bottoms. Once more, Hermione was struck with the difference between her Severus and the guarded Professor Snape she had known. She, of course, had never seen Professor Snape asleep, but she imagined it was not comfortably. She would have been willing to bet that going from one circumstantial prison to another without a break had left him permanently a light sleeper, and likely an insomniac.

Severus, though, was still young. While he might not sleep comfortably at his own home, he seemed to feel safe enough to sleep soundly at hers. She hated to take that away from him. Lucius walked to the desk chair and took a seat as Hermione approached the bed.

She sat down next to him, and gently rubbed his back. "Severus… Severus, can you wake up, please?"

He inhaled slowly, yawning as he rubbed his head against the pillow. "Hera?" he asked as his dark eyes blinked open.

Hermione nodded. "Severus, something has happened, and I need you to wake up and talk to me."

Severus sat up, looking at her apprehensively. "What's wrong?" he whispered. The pain in his eyes made Hermione briefly wonder if he already suspected what she was about to tell him.

"Severus, love… your parents fought tonight," she said, quietly.

He looked to the door as his eyes widened. "My mum… is she okay? Is she at the hospital? Can you take me to her?" His eyes moved back across the room, and he saw Lucius sitting in the chair. For some reason, seeing Lucius there seemed to solidify a thought in his head as tears came to his eyes. "Mum?!"

Hermione felt tears falling down her cheeks as she reached out, pulling Severus into her arms. "Oh, Severus… I'm so, so sorry…"

"Take me to her! Where is she?!" he asked, becoming hysterical.

Hermione pulled back, holding him by the arms. "She's gone, Severus… she's gone."

Severus wailed at that, and Hermione pulled him back into her arms, even as he protested.

She held him tightly until the fight seemed to leave him. "Where is my father? Did they arrest him?"

Hermione shook her head, "He's gone, too, Severus…"

Severus pulled back, looking surprised at that. "How did he… did you kill him?"

Hermione winced, thinking back on how she had briefly considered it earlier in the evening. If she had known what was to happen, chances were that she would have. "No, love… it looks like…"

Lucius cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Your mother stood up to him, Severus. She fought back this time, and she killed him. She was very brave, but he shot her before she struck him down."

Severus had watched Lucius as he spoke, and his words seemed to resonate in the young man. After a moment, a look of approval passed through his eyes. "Good. I'm glad she killed him," he said, voice quiet.

Then, apparently being struck again by what happened after Eileen killed Tobias, he started to cry again, leaning into Hermione. They stayed there for what felt like a long time, clinging to each other in shared grief. Eventually, his tears stopped, and Hermione felt his breathing even out. Gently, she went to lay him back on his pillow again, but he grasped at her shirt.

She sighed sadly, looking at Lucius. "I'll sleep in here with him," she whispered, laying back with Severus on the bed. Lucius nodded and stood up, coming to cover them with the blanket. He gently leaned over and kissed Hermione on the lips.

"Goodnight, love," he said in a whisper as he walked out.

Hermione wasn't sure when exactly it was she fell asleep, but when she woke up she could see the beginnings of light making its way into the room. She could feel Severus stirring lightly, and she sat up a bit to look at him.

His eyes opened, and he looked at her in confusion at finding her in his bed with him for a split second before he remembered. His eyes welled up with tears, and Hermione hugged him to her again.

"Eventually, Severus… eventually, you'll feel okay again," she said, quietly, feeling her heart break for the boy that had somehow become her brother.

After a few moments, he pulled away and sat up. "I want to know what you know," he said, looking at her seriously. She could see he was fighting not to cry, and she knew she couldn't deny him the truth. In just a few hours, the Daily Prophet would arrive with all the available details. She'd rather he learn from her what had happened.

She nodded, sitting up as well. "Okay, but we are going to go downstairs and eat something."

"I'm not hungry," he said, standing from the bed and going toward the door.

She followed him from the room and down the stairs into the kitchen. He flopped down in one of the kitchen chairs, rubbing his eyes.

Quietly, Hermione prepared a pot of tea and some toast. She put some in front of Severus, and he started to protest. Hermione shook her head, though, pointing at the food.

With a slight growl, he picked up the toast and took a mocking bite.

Hermione sighed, sitting down across from him and preparing his cup of tea before her own.

"I don't know all of the details, Severus. I left the house before they had finished investigating. I do expect it will be in the Prophet today, though… a journalist arrived just after the aurors did."

His hands were shaking, and Hermione quickly stood and crossed the kitchen to grab him a calming draught. As she walked back to the table, Lucius came in. He put a hand on Severus's shoulder for a moment before taking one of the seats next to him.

Hermione returned to her seat, handing Severus the potion. She was thankful that he didn't protest it, as she knew that the conversation to be had would be hard but necessary. Severus was not one to attempt to protect himself from the truth, and she knew that he would find out what happened one way or another.

"How did you know something was wrong? I didn't hear anything," he asked first.

Hermione nodded. "I was walking by the front window to go upstairs to bed when I saw the lights and heard the sirens. I'm not sure why it didn't wake you, but I think it is best that it didn't. I grabbed some shoes and ran to your house, trying to help. It was too late, though…"

"What do you think happened?"

Hermione swallowed heavily. "From what I was told by the policeman in charge, they responded to neighbors calling in the argument. When the first policemen arrived, they heard a gunshot and went on in. According to them, your mother was standing over your father. They called out to her, and she turned around with her wand in hand. Then, she collapsed. Your father apparently shot her before she cursed him."

"She used her wand against him?" he asked, sounding surprised.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. When the aurors arrived, one of them spoke to the police officer some more. There were no marks on your father's body that they could see. They think your mum used a killing curse on him."

Severus looked down, "And the Prophet knows? That she… murdered him?"

Lucius spoke up then. "Yes. The Prophet knows. The aurors made it clear that they believed it to be self-defense, and they were planning to obliviate the police to confirm that and forget about the use of magic."

"Where are the bodies now?"

"Most likely at the morgue at St. Mungo's," Lucius said, quietly.

Severus nodded slowly. "I want to see her. I… I don't want to see him, but I want to see my mother."

Hermione grabbed his hand as she nodded. "Of course, Severus. If you are okay with it, Lucius and I can see to the funeral arrangements."

Severus nodded again. "I… I don't want them buried together. I don't want to go to his funeral."

"I'll ask my father if he wouldn't mind having Eileen laid to rest at the Malfoy graveyard, if you would like that," Lucius offered. "I have already been to see them, and they pass on their condolences." Hermione smiled at her husband, thankfully.

Severus nodded once more. "Thank you," he said, slowly. "My father… can we just have him cremated? I don't really care what happens to him, but I don't want to visit his grave. Ever."

"That can be done," Lucius said. "I will also have the house elves go to your home and get everything that belongs to you and your mother. Then, you won't have to go back there."

Severus sighed. "Where will I go? An orphanage?"

Hermione felt tears falling down her cheeks. She squeezed his hands. "Severus, love, you will be staying with us. Your mother… she made me your magical guardian years ago. I insisted on it, just in case something ever happened to her. Even if your father had lived, you wouldn't have stayed with him. Severus, your mother did her very best to make sure you'd be taken care of."

Severus's started to cry silently as he looked at her, relief clear on his features. Then, he looked at Lucius, warily.

Lucius shook his head at the expression, "Of course you will stay with us. As if we would accept anything else..."

"But not here," Hermione said, quietly.

Severus and Lucius both looked at her, and Hermione nodded. "There is no good reason to be here, and it has more bad memories than good, perhaps. Once you had graduated, Lucius and I intended to move somewhere else anyway. We will sell this place and move somewhere that can be ours."

"Somewhere fresh," Severus whispered.

Hermione nodded. "Yes."

Lucius smiled gently. "I'll start looking for places immediately."

Author's Note: So, since my husband has been back he has been taking a lot of time off of work. As a result, I have gotten barely any writing done since his return. I still have another chapter or two prepared, but anticipate being back to writing regularly this time next week when he starts back at work. Sorry to take away the light heartedness, but… this is not fluff.

To those wondering: no, this will not be abandoned. I think it will actually be finished within 10 to 15 more chapters. Then, the next project will hopefully begin.

Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews as, as always, for sticking with my flight of fancy. Please let me know your thoughts!