Vixen
By
SheriLovingLecter
Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot belongs to me.
Severus thinking to Hermione.
Hermione thinking to Severus.
Remember: Fanfiction- I'm entitled to use, discard and completely make up whatever I want.
Chapter 44 – So it begins.
She couldn't help but tremble as she lay, sprawled out at the feet of the darkest wizard alive. Severus had thrown her rather hard, but she supposed it was all part of his act, if he had gently placed her on the floor; the game would have been up immediately.
She could feel eyes moving over her, and the ones that made her most uncomfortable were Bellatrix Lestrange's, she was looking at her as though she were a new toy; the malicious smile made her fear for her life, and she could only hope Harry had the right timing.
"My loyal Death Eaters, the filth you see before you is Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter; and more recently, the Fox familiar of Severus Snape."
She could hear the noise of mumbling around the room before they suddenly hushed, making Hermione imagine that perhaps they had received a glare from Voldemort.
She calmed her breathing and shifted, frowning as she thought about how she must look. She was not weak, nor was she a Gryffindor for nothing; she would not cower before this maniac. So she stood, her eyes not wavering from his as she watched him, again hushed noise began around them, before her eyes flickered to Bellatrix; who looked deranged with fury.
"How DARE you, kneel before our Lord you disgusting mudblood!" She practically spat as she approached her, and Hermione smirked.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Hermione tilted her head as she watched Bellatrix's raised arm, as if she were about to strike her backhanded across the face.
"You aren't me, you are a filthy mudblood!"
Hermione watched as her arm flashed out, and even felt the wind as it breezed across her face; before there was a blinding flash of white, and a crash as Bellatrix Lestrange went flying into an opposite wall.
Suddenly every wand in the room was raised and pointed at her; Hermione did her best to look amused as she looked at them before she turned her eyes to Voldemort's.
"Interesting, tell me; what spell was that?"
Hermione rolled her shoulders and shook her head.
"Not a spell, I thought you were supposed to be an evil genius?"
There was a gasp, and she saw a flash of anger rise in Voldemort's blood red eyes, before he let out a hum of thought.
"Then pray, tell mudblood."
Hermione actually laughed, she couldn't help it.
"Well if you aren't intelligent enough to figure it out, I certainly am not helping you. I think I've been given the wrong information here… Are you sure you're Voldemort?"
She didn't know what had come over her, but talking was the only thing she could think of to stall the proceedings, where in Merlin's name was Harry?
She gulped as he stood, circling her before standing in front of her, his arms shooting out to hers and abruptly turning her to face their 'audience', she shivered in revulsion as she felt his breath upon her neck.
"I assure you, I am he. Look mudblood; I can touch you… Now, Harry Potter was 'gifted' love by his poor dead mother so he could not be harmed by me… I wonder Granger, who loves you?"
She could hear the contempt and disgust in his voice, especially upon the word 'love'. She flinched as he tilted his head, going silent for a moment before she felt an icy touch at the back of her neck, then over the silver chain.
"Hmm... Lucius, come back up here."
Hermione's heart rate went through the roof as nothing happened for a moment, before someone then moved in the crowd, the person who everyone else believed to be Malfoy stood before her.
"Touch her."
Hermione had a hard time not leaning into his touch as her body thrummed with warmth, biting her lip to control herself as the hand on her shoulder twitched in recognition.
"You are very quiet Lucius, no complaints at having to sully yourself? Touch the Emerald."
She watched as the hand she knew so well hesitated, before stroking the Emerald almost with fondness, the soft glow lighting around them completely different to the aggressive flash exhibited when Bellatrix and Malfoy had tried to harm her.
"Interesting." Voldemort stepped out from behind Hermione, leaving her to look into familiar black eyes, and take strength from the courage she saw there.
"Hermione Granger, mudblood, student, Harry Potter's best friend; has found a soul bond in… Lucius Malfoy."
Hermione choked where she stood, her eyes flicking to Voldemort as his amused voice rang out across the room. Narcissa Malfoy stormed up to them, her wand raised; that was until Voldemort flicked his wand and sent her flying back.
"I don't remember requesting you move Narcissa."
"My Lord! You cannot expect me to just stand by whilst-"
"I can, and I do. Move again and I will kill you myself."
Hermione gulped, her heart rate increasing as she searched the room for any clue that the order might be near.
"Or what we believe to be Lucius Malfoy, however…"
She raised her gaze again to Severus, who turned and pulled the Death Eater mask away; letting it dissolve into black shadow as he faced Voldemort.
"My, my; you ruined my big ending Snape, how disappointing."
She inched behind Severus as Voldemort leered at her.
"A child Severus? Was she willing in bed, or did you have to use Imperio?"
She watched as Severus said nothing, his gaze fixed firmly upon Voldemort.
"Why would you willingly wander back into this hmm? You could have run, gone… Never to be seen again. Tell me, where is Harry Potter?"
Hermione grabbed Severus' arm and returned the disgusted look she received from Voldemort.
"Wouldn't you like to know Riddle? Unfortunately for you; I am no longer required to give you that information."
"No? We shall see."
Hermione flinched as Voldemort flicked his wand, sending Severus flying in a much less gentle manner than he had Narcissa Malfoy. He approached her quickly, flicking his wand again this time at her; and her world shrunk.
Hermione felt confused and disorientated as she again looked at the bare, pale feet of Voldemort; before she was hoisted into the air by a hand wrapped around her throat. Hermione's vision swam as the hand squeezed, and she clawed for all she was worth.
"You see Severus, the problem with your soul bond is that it is one for Wizard's; not animals."
She let out a pathetic moue of pain as she struggled for air, her claws scratching but to no avail as she vaguely saw Severus pointing his wand at Voldemort.
"Let her go Riddle."
Her struggle's started to cease as oxygen fled her system, her tongue moving back into her throat as she tried to breathe.
"No."
She heard a familiar snarl as Severus shouted.
"ANYTIME NOW; YOU IDIOTS!"
"Sorry Professor!"
The grip on her throat loosened and Hermione gulped for air, registering that the twins were stood either side of the chair, identical grins of glee on their faces.
"He's uglier in person isn't he Fred?"
"You're telling me George, Witch Weekly will be flooing him any day now for their 'Toad to Teen Heartthrob' makeover."
"More like 'Snake' actually, look at his nose… Flat isn't it?"
Suddenly there was a loud bang as the far wall collapsed, dust flying as Hermione jumped from the loosened grip and transformed to run to Severus.
He pulled her out of the way as spells began flying, for as far as she could see there were members of the order pouring in, stunning shocked Death Eaters left and right. Hermione looked to Severus dazed as he handed her wand to her, his hand on her face making her meet his eyes.
"Malfoy had it, be careful Hermione; promise me."
She nodded and didn't have time to react as he pressed a kiss to her forehead and then dashed to the right; sending out his own stream of spells to a group of Death Eaters that had cornered Professor Flitwick. Her eyes darted around the room as she looked for any sign of Harry, then realised the order probably had a strategy; mostly involving keeping Harry out of harm's way before he met with Voldemort.
She managed to just duck in time as a spell crashed over head, the colour making her realise she had nearly been killed, she turned to see a furious Bellatrix Lestrange facing her, her hair flying as her half mad eyes looked at her.
"Run little mudblood, run!" She then cackled madly before waving her wand; practically spitting out dark magic as Hermione tried her best to remember her training from Severus. Training that now felt an age ago.
Hermione blocked, and moved; knowing exactly how to throw Bellatrix off if she could get close enough.
"He doesn't want you, you know!" Hermione shouted over the noise around them, she watched as Bellatrix faltered for a moment, before blocking a spell from Hermione.
"You really think he can care about you? He can't feel a thing Bellatrix; you are wasting love on a creature that can only hate!"
Hermione continued, watching as Bellatrix's aim worsened, until she slipped; tangling her own words together and Hermione took it as her chance and threw herself at her. Using all her bodily weight they went flying as Hermione knocked her shoulder against the woman's chest, hearing the grunt of pain from her as they landed. Hermione kicked her wand away as she stupefied, and then bound Lestrange before panting and moving on, standing back to back with the twins as they formed a triangle and cast at the circle of Death Eaters around them.
"Where's Harry?"
Hermione shouted as she blocked a spell and sent it flying back into the mass of Death Eaters.
"Trying to kill the giant snake last we heard Mione!"
"What?"
"Apparently it keeps Voldemort alive!"
Hermione frowned but continued to send stunners into the circle, her eyes searching for Severus across the large area. She found him amidst a horde of Death Eaters, obviously keen on killing the traitor. Hermione ducked from her position with the twins, and began making her way across the room, terrified she wouldn't be quick enough as she came into combat with another two Death Eaters.
She had lost focus whilst trying to get to Severus and was hit in the shoulder; the spell tore through the flesh on her arm as blood seeped through her clothing. She turned to find the casters wand in her face, Narcissa Malfoy.
Hermione didn't have time for games and she realised that at this proximity, Narcissa couldn't speak a spell quicker than Hermione could knock her down; and so she did, feeling grateful now for Severus' previous instruction.
Once she had stunned and bound the female Malfoy, Hermione transformed again, realising that being in animagus form was the quickest way for her to get to Severus.
She darted through the crowd, relying on her connection to bring her closer to him as she searched for his familiar boots. She found him still surrounded as more and more Death Eaters joined, throwing their own spells and she could tell he was struggling. She transformed behind them and did not care that she was about to play dirty. She sent a string of stunners out, bodies falling as she managed to maneuver her way to stand next to him, working with him against the force of those wanting to harm him.
It happened before she even had chance to blink, just in the gap between casting a spell and raising a new shield; Severus faltered and was sent flying backward, she couldn't even be sure what spell hit him as they all advanced on her; overwhelming her.
And then, nothing but darkness enveloped her.
Don't kill me, I had to end the chapter at some point and there seemed the best.
The next one should be up same time tomorrow, thank you for all the reviews and support, I think I might cry when I'm done; I will miss you all so much.
Please do continue to review my friends.
