Vixen
By
SheriLovingLecter
Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot belongs to me; blah blah, the usual, you know that HP isn't mine..
Severus thinking to Hermione.
Hermione thinking to Severus.
Chapter 35- Silence The Dead.
She was absolutely terrified, that was quite possibly the only way for her to describe the emotion she was feeling in that moment, or as Ron would so elegantly put it; she was 'bricking it'. Her instincts were all on alert, her eyes darting across the gloom that surrounded her; it was rather ridiculous in that moment that the first thing she thought was 'Someone should really talk to Voldemort about mood lighting'.
It was her minds way of trying to make a terrifying moment less so she imagined, but Severus definitely did not approve of her mental humour.
'I will be sure to slip that into this conversation, Yes my lord; my familiar thinks that perhaps you could increase the lighting so she can better snoop around your house.'
'You are hilarious Severus, truly.'
She rolled her eyes and padded over the dark expanse of room she was currently in. Whose bright idea this was she had no idea, but she would be sure to thank them for the dirt wedged between her paws. She froze as a noise caught her ears, the soft dragging of a large body across the stone floor. Her ears shot back as she started running, she knew that sound and she most definitely did not want Nagini reporting back to her Master that a familiar was snooping around the dungeon entrance. She of course had no idea where she was running to, at the moment the farther away she was from the snake, the better. When she stopped running she could no longer hear the snake's movement, that sound was replaced by one far more horrific. Her fur stood on end as she tilted her head, tortured screams drifting to her ears; she flinched and swallowed.
Hermione looked around, not sure what to do as the screams worsened; she hesitated before looking down the steps to see a long dark decent to what at that moment; sounded like hell. She was about to step forward when the screaming suddenly halted and an eerie silence took its place. She strained to hear something, some sign of life; but couldn't. Her throat worked as she realised that whoever had been screaming, had been silenced forever.
She turned away from the steps heading in a different direction as she took deep breaths, fighting to keep the contents of her stomach down. She shook herself out and continued until she could hear voices, loud and boisterous as they laughed; quite clearly finding something amusing.
Hermione crept up quietly, her tail flicking as she turned her head around the corner; her gazing falling on two men in Death Eater's robes. She didn't recognize them as she watched, her keen ears listening for any information they might let slip.
She sat there for over 10 minutes just listening, had she not been in Lord Voldemort's domain she would have forgotten that the two men before her were Death Eaters. The way they spoke was no different from any group of men she had come across. Of course there were a few slurs on muggle-borns and on Dumbledore; but in all honesty all Hermione felt she was doing was listening in on two men's conversation about Quidditch. One had even began talking about his daughter, pride practically shining from him as he spoke of her beauty, elegance and intelligence; of how she would make a fine wife for a pure bred wizard. In that moment Hermione Granger, muggle-born; wondered, if these men were not lead by a dictator; could they have not just lived civilly as muggles do? With different classes and ideals, but together all the same.
These men were fighting for what they believed to be right, to them the Order and Dumbledore were wrong. Yes they were ruled by selfishness and idealistic power complexes, but they were just men all the same, with wives and families; just like everyone else. They themselves weren't evil; they were just ruled by it.
In that moment she realised that this war was brutal, ruthless and would rip families, friends and lovers apart on both sides; people would die for the cause they believed in and would fight to the bitter end. It would be kin murdering kin because of one man and his weakness; his desperate want for fulfillment. He had not found it in his youth as a result became angrier and bitter with the world and all who resided in it. Finding one fault and blaming it for all of the problems he felt. Hermione knew something then that made the fear she felt of 'Lord Voldemort' wither and die within her; she knew that Tom Riddle was just a lonely little boy who had let hatred and anger overcome him, and she was no longer afraid.
Hermione took a breath and turned, her tail flicked behind her as she moved away from the talking men; taking her thoughts with her. She looked around and felt completely lost, she had tried using her sense of smell to find her way back to Severus, but all she was doing was getting the horrid smell of decay and damp stuck in her nose. She tried retracing her steps, not sure what turns she may have taken whilst running from Nagini. As she moved along the many corridors feeling as though she were getting nowhere, Severus' voice sounded in her mind.
'Where are you?'
She jumped slightly, having not been expecting to hear his voice echo throughout her head at that moment.
'In a dark, gloomy corridor... To be frank Severus I have no idea where I am.'
Hermione continued walking as she awaited his reply, knowing he had to be careful of opening their connection around Voldemort; who would be able to hear their exchanges should he look closely enough. Hermione let out a growl of annoyance, shaking herself out as she continued walking; nothing looked familiar and she was sure she had taken a wrong turn somewhere. She stopped momentarily when she heard movement from the many shadows that surrounded her, her fur rising as her claws extended to dig into the dirty stone beneath her paws. She tilted her head as footsteps reached her ears and realised someone was ascending nearby steps. She darted over to the shadows, letting them swallow her as shiny shoes appeared, a maroon cloak brushing over the heels as the man walked.
Hermione made sure the male had gone, listening to his footsteps recede down the corridor and she turned looking to the stairs he had come from; then she realised she had reached the dungeon entrance again. A lump formed in her throat as she hesitated momentarily before turning and making her way into the darkness, feeling for each step as she walked down the stairs; the sound of whimpering reached her ears as she descended. When she reached the bottom a large door greeted her, the handle too high for her to reach and she was most definitely not transforming here, no matter for how short a time.
Hermione looked around seeking for another way in as her keen eyes adjusted to the darkness, and then she saw it; a tiny amount of light pouring through a large chip in the lower corner of the door. She crouched down onto her stomach and looked, seeing it was just large enough for her to squeeze through.
The sight and smell that met Hermione upon her entrance was one she would remember for the rest of her life; one that would most likely haunt her nightmares. The smell of decaying flesh made her want to vomit as her cinnamon eyes darted around the expanse of the large dungeon. Chains and other devices hung from the walls, one cell seemed to be piled full with bodies, some alive; and some not.
Her fur stood on end as she swallowed, not able to move from her spot as she looked over to the place the whimpering was coming from; all that was visible to her was a head of matted blonde hair smeared with dirt and blood. Hermione shuffled closer, her whole body tensed on alert should the worst happen.
Once she reached the front of the cell containing the whimpering blonde Hermione could see that it was a child, a small boy whose face was smeared with dry tears, blood, and dirt. She felt a tug in her heart as she looked at the child as he cradled his knees to him, curled into a ball on the floor. Hermione stepped forward and butted her head against the cold steel of the bars, letting out a low whimpering noise so as to attract the boy's attention.
Brown eyes snapped open to rest on her form, terror in his expression before confusion won out. She butted her head against the bars for a second time and laid down, letting her tail drape through the bars and near his hand. She did not jump when the boy ran his fingers over it, nor did she cry out when he extended his hand through the bars and gripped her fur tightly; sobs overcoming his small form.
She did not know how long she had lain with the scared child, but she could tell he had fallen asleep, his fingers woven around her bushy tail as his breathing evened out; though he was wheezing. Hermione shifted against the cold stone, having blocked the smell out a long time ago her only problem now was the sounds. The low moans of pain, or occasional screams of prisoners having nightmares; she had no idea where Severus was but could not bring herself to leave the boy, asleep or not.
She did not hear the footsteps until it was too late, until she came face to face with another set of maroon robes; when her gaze travelled upward though she was thankful to see Severus' face rather than a Death Eater. She watched as his gaze immediately landed upon her, a frown pursing his lips as he approached; his own gaze falling on the boy and the hand that was wrapped around her tail.
"Oh Vixen…"
She looked up to him and swallowed; her gaze sad. 'I couldn't leave him on his own Severus…'
She watched as he nodded and turned, beckoning her to follow him.
'You must now I am afraid; we have to get back…'
Hermione looked at the boy again, feeling sadness settle in the pit of her stomach before she nodded and gently extracted her tail from the boy's fingers; to follow Severus out. She remained silent over their connection as they walked to the apparation point, her gaze on the floor as she followed the heels of his shoes; not wanting to be carried.
When they returned home and she was in the safety and warmth of Severus' chambers, a cup of tea in her hands; she let the silent tears fall. Occasionally one dripped into her teacup creating small ripples as she stared blankly into the fire, thinking about the small child and how he had as much right to be sat; warm before a fire as she did.
Severus seemed to know that she needed time after having witnessed what she did, and was merely offering silent companionship; if any at all. He had barely touched her since he had kissed her and that had been over a week ago, Hermione at the moment needed to feel safe and comforted… After a while silent companionship wasn't enough, so she stood and placed her teacup down onto the table, moving over to his desk to stand before him; her tearstained face and red rimmed eyes looking directly at him. When he looked up from his work, she smiled weakly and held out her hand; taking a breath before speaking.
"Hold me?"
She saw surprise pass over his features before he took her hand in his and stood, pulling her to his chest as he wrapped his strong arms about her, resting his head upon her own.
"I am sorry you had to see that Hermione…"
She shook her head, motioning that she did not wish to speak about it; only to be held and understood. He obliged and they stood like that for some time until Hermione felt herself begin drifting off, swaying on her feet before Severus lifted her in his arms and walked over to her bedroom.
Hermione blinked her eyes open when he lifted her and made a noise of complaint when she saw their destination, wriggling in his grasp.
"No Severus…"
He stopped and glanced down at her, frowning.
"Hermione you are falling asleep, you need rest."
His frown deepened when she nodded.
"I know, but I don't want to be on my own… Not when I can still see that place, still hear the screaming."
She watched as a surprised look passed over his face and felt his grip tighten on her for a moment.
"Hermione, I don't think-"
"Please Severus, just for tonight; I don't want to sleep alone."
At the look in her eyes, one of such sadness and solitude; he nodded and turned on his heel, heading to his own chambers. He laid her in the bed gently and pulled the covers over her form; she was practically asleep as soon as he put her down. Yet still he changed into baggy jogging bottoms and pulled an extra blanket from beneath the bed anyway, laying atop the covers before he pulled the old blanket over him; glancing to the side at Hermione as he did so.
She huddled closer to his warmth and smiled softly when she felt her hair be brushed away from her face and a soft kiss placed upon her forehead.
"Goodnight Vixen."
Review to let me know your thoughts, I love hearing them. :]