A.N.: Life has gotten crazy and really busy. Work is starting to bury me and that doesn't really help with my motivation to write. I hope I'll somehow be able to still update this story regularly, but I don't know what will happen in the next day and weeks. We'll just have to wait and see, I guess. I hope you are all well and healthy. This whole situation is getting to me, I must confess.
Chapter 35: Taxing your patience
There was a knock on his door. He didn't expect any visitors, as he lately avoided giving real detentions and his colleagues usually used the floo if they needed to talk to him. Severus was tired and he couldn't be bothered with those morons any longer, than his position as a teacher required him to.
He opened the door with a sour expression, only to find Potter staring at him with wide eyes. That boy was the last person, he currently wanted to see. It was his fault, that Hermione had been captured, that she had left Hogwarts in the first place.
"What do you want?" he asked the Gryffindor with a sneer.
"I need your help," the boy exclaimed desperately and stared at him with wide pupils. "Please, Sir. Can I come in?"
Staring at him for a long while, Severus eventually moved aside and motioning his head towards his office. Potter followed his invitation with hasty steps, freezing in the middle of his office as soon as he closed the door. There the boy stood looking at Severus with an almost desperate expression on his face. He stared back at him with his brow raised questioningly.
"Well, spit it out then," he said and waited.
"I had another vision last night. I saw her, saw Hermione, and…" the boy started but Severus interrupted him with a gesture of his hand.
"You mean a vision like the one leading you to the Ministry a few days ago?" Severus couldn't help but sneer.
The boy looked at him with wide eyes. "I… I don't know," he said shaking his head. "I mean it all feels so real. It's always like I'm the one doing it. He's watching her sleeping at night," the boy finally choked out and Severus felt a shudder run down his back because he could thoroughly believe the Dark Lord doing more than just that. The man was a sick bastard and he was obsessed with the Open Link.
But he couldn't let his emotions show on his face, couldn't let Potter know how worried he was about his friend. Potter had a direct link to the Dark Lord in his head which meant, that his master could be watching his actions at any time. Severus couldn't let his master know how worried he was if he ever wanted a chance to rescue Hermione from that hell-hole.
"Maybe he is," Severus said in a cold voice, "but maybe the Dark Lord just wants you to think he is. You'll never know the difference as long as you don't learn to close your mind."
"I'm trying, but it's not working," the boy whined, making Severus roll his eyes in irritation.
"Because you're not trying, Potter," Severus said, shaking his head. "I'm tried* to teach you Occlumency for months now but I could as well try to teach a dog and it would most likely be equally successful."
"That's because you've been teaching it wrong," the boy pouted at first and looked at him with a scowl. "Even Hermione did better than you with teaching me and she's taught herself by reading books."
"Well Mr Potter, as your friend is no longer with us, thanks to your little stunt, you'll have to start reading more books then," Severus sneered back at him while sending him a dirty look. "Because obviously, I can't help you." It was the truth. Severus couldn't help him, not directly. His master would know.
"Please Sir, I don't know how many more nights like that I can endure. It's like Voldemort is torturing me or something," the boy whined but his words were enough, to drive him up the wall. This arrogant little shit. Everything was just about him, wasn't it?
"You can't endure it, YOU?" he asked and looked at the brat with dark eyes heavy from Occluding. He wanted to grab the boy's shoulders and shake him or give him a good spank so that he would finally realize how arrogant and egoistic he was. He couldn't because he would have given himself away, but Salazar he wanted to. "Don't like being confronted with the consequences of your stupidity then? What about Miss Granger? She has no choice but enduring it, doesn't she? Think she enjoys the attention the Dark Lord is giving her, maybe even likes it? No? Well, pity for her that she'll have to learn to live with it because I tell you what: It will be like that for her until the Dark Lord decides to let her go. When do you think that will happen?"
Potter stared at him with wide eyes. "He won't let her go," he whispered*, his voice thick with horror. "Not ever." Severus nodded, plastering an unsettling grin on his lips.
"No, he won't. So you better get used to seeing her like that, boy. Because going by your success learning Occlumency this will go on the rest of your life. Maybe this will finally teach you a lesson or two, as nothing else seems to be able to."
With that, Severus turned around and went back to his desk. There he sat down, pulling a stack of essays towards him. "Was there anything else you wanted?" he asked, putting on a bored tone.
"No Sir, but…"
"Good, then get out of my sight. I'm busy," he said waving him away with his hand. Then he focussed on the essay in front of him, faking to read it even though he did not take in a single line. But it had the desired effect as he heard the door open and close some moments later. The boy had left, Severus realized staring at the parchment in front of him with unseeing eyes. He'd have to find a way to help him, no matter how little the arrogant little fool deserved it. Because if he didn't, the Dark Lord would find a way to milk Potter for every tiny little detail about Hermione, to use it against her mercilessly and he couldn't let this happen.
He took a deep breath as he came to the realization that even with his words the boy had probably still not learned his lesson. Damn all Potter men.
sssssssss
"We need to find a way to teach Potter Occlumeny properly," Severus said sitting in the Headmaster's uncomfortably soft cushioned chair with a disgustingly sweet cup of tea in front of him. One should think that the man by now knew his dislike for everything sweet, but Severus knew that Albus Dumbledore simply ignored that fact and forced his taste on him like he did on everybody else by offering those disgusting Lemon Drops. Severus got offered them every time he visited the old man, and every time he refused them with a dark scowl that the Headmaster gaily ignored. "He visited me in the afternoon, claiming to have visions of Miss Granger."
Albus Dumbledore studied him with the grandfatherly expression he often used when talking to his students and it unnerved him more than he would ever admit. "And does that bother you, Severus?"
For a long moment the potions master just stared at him, contemplating what it was, the man was implying. Finally, he answered: "This is not about me, or even Potter, Albus. If the Dark Lord continues having access to the boy's head, he'll make use of it mercilessly. And I'm not talking about torturing Lily's son with probably fictional pictures, but about gathering every little bit of knowledge on Miss Granger."
His conversation partner stared at him with a contemplative gaze. "I'm afraid you're right, my boy. Harry is very close to the Open Link, after all, and we can't have her compromised any more than she already is."
"Exactly," Severus replied, even though he would have liked nothing more than to choke that calculating, unfeeling bastard with his bare hands and see that grandfatherly grin bleed from his wrinkled face. "We won't have more than a few months, even if the boy manages to get a hold on his feelings. I can't teach him properly without being discovered."
The old man flashed him another grandfatherly smile. "You'll have to, my boy, as I can't teach him either. My secrets are too valuable for this upcoming conflict and there's nobody else skilled enough to help Lily's son, Severus. Remember that the boy needs you."
It was another attempt to manipulate him, Severus realized with growing anger. Not that it would work on him ever again, not with Hermione's' life on the line now. "I know he does, but so does the Open Link," he replied deliberately using Albus' preferred name for Hermione. "You can't have it both ways, Headmaster."
The old manipulator stared at him for a long moment, stroking his white beard as he did. "Don't worry about that, my boy. We can have Alastor watching your lessons. With an Auror inspecting your tutelage of the Chosen One there will be no doubt that you'll have to finally teach him properly."
"It appears that way, doesn't it?" Severus said, rising from his chair. "Make sure to let the boy know that it was you giving hat kind of order to Moody. This will hopefully save me another round of Crucio."
"It's all for the greater good, my boy, never forget about that. We all do have to make our sacrifices," Albus Dumbledore replied with an understanding smile. Severus would have loved to curse it from his face, but instead, he turned around slowly walking into the direction of the floo. The bastard never confirmed that he would tell the Potter brat anything. Because my suffering doesn't matter.
"Is that what you're going to tell Miss Granger, once we've gotten her out?" he said, grabbing a pinch of Floo Powder and tossing it into the flames. If the old goat ever gave an answer, he did not stay to hear it.
ssssssssssss
"We're going out today," her keeper's raspy voice announced once she had settled herself down for breakfast. It had been three long days she had spent in this house but to Hermione, it felt like weeks. She stayed in her room as much as possible, because it was the only room where he would not come in to find her, she hoped it stayed that way. But she could slowly feel her mind going numb with boredom. Still, she would not give the man the satisfaction of asking for details. If there was something he'd want her to know, he'd tell her – he always did. She didn't have to wait long. "Lucius and his wife are giving a small family dinner to welcome you to our circle," he continued and she could feel his red eyes focussing on her. She didn't react, even though she could feel the hairs on her neck erecting in alarm. Instead, she kept eating her toast and sipping her tea with forced calmness. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her panic.
They sat in silence like that for a while with him motionlessly staring at her, like he was expecting some sort of reaction and she, slowly chewing each bite for exactly twenty times before swallowing it down. It must have been several minutes until he continued: "I expect you to be clean and presentable. Hurry will assist you with everything you need. Come to the parlour at seven. I'll apparate us to the Manor from there."
Apparating would imply being touched by that man again, Hermione realized, swallowing the last bite down, that suddenly tasted like sawdust. She sighed inwardly. It wasn't like she could refuse to go with him, because he'd probably just take her along against her will. "Is there anything else?" Hermione finally asked in a detached voice, finally forcing herself to look at him. Their eyes met for a second, causing a shudder to run down her spine. She would never get used to looking at those red but cold eyes and that pale snake-like face, she refused getting used to them as that would mean somewhat accepting her current situation, a situation that was totally unacceptable, to begin with.
"No, this would be all," Voldemort announced with a crooked smile, staring at her with a predatory glint in his eyes. It took her all her willpower and Occlumency training to not bolt from the table straight away. Instead, she nodded before slowly folding the napkin and placing it on the table next to her plate. Only then did she get up and left the room without another word. She could feel his eyes following her out and tracing her movements up the stairs, as she slowly climbed them on the way to her room. Only when she shut the door behind her, she allowed herself to take a deep shaking breath and sink down to the floor with her back leaning against the cold wood. She didn't know how much longer she could do that before she would break down at some point. She could only hope that it would not happen right in front of him.
sssssssss
"Miss Hermione must get ready," the little house-elf squeaked, staring at her with wide eyes. "Hurry prepared a bath for young mistress. Mistress must finally clean herself properly, before getting ready for the evening with the master."
Hermione stared at the little female elf with a dispassionate expression. Hurry was right, of course. In the last days, she had only used cleaning charms on herself, as undressing in the bathroom felt wrong. It wasn't so much the feeling of being watched, but the feeling of having nothing on herself, if she was finally in need of defending herself or running away. Because even though Hermione hadn't left that house for days, she felt like she was constantly on the run. She was always prepared to defend herself or to suddenly find a way to leave this place and she wanted to be prepared whenever such a chance occurred. But now she finally had to put her armour down, as she stripped out of her clothes in the large, luxurious bathroom that was accessible through a door in her chambers. She did however ensure to cover every reflective surface with a thick conjured piece of cloth. She would be damned if the sick bastard watched her naked in the bath.
It was almost like the prefect's bathroom at Hogwarts, tempting her with its voluminous tub that was made out of pure marble. As long as it had been lying empty in front of her, Hermione had been able to resist soaking her body in there, but now it was filled with steaming, hot water, covered by well-scented foam and suddenly Hermione realized how dirty she was. Cleaning spells could only do so much after she got herself grimy and dirty during her fight at the Ministry.
The water was perfect, Hermione realized, climbing down the flat stairs into the huge tub. Hurry had scented it with some sort of lemon soap that immediately relaxed her, as soon as she inhaled the hot steam tickling her nose. And after a moment she didn't even remember any longer, why she had been so reluctant taking a bath in the first place.
Hermione scrubbed her skin until it was soft and rosy and after Hurry had brought her a bottle of expensive-looking shampoo she carefully washed her long curls. It would be a nightmare to get them dry and presentable afterwards, but maybe that was something she could ask the eager house-elf to do for her. Hurry was always eager to help and seemed especially sour-tempered when Hermione did not let her do so.
When the girl finally walked out of the bathroom, a huge towel wrapped around her body, she could see an expensive looking gown lying on her bed. It was made of an emerald and silky material, that was embroidered with several golden patterns at the hems. It looked stunning but also totally out of her league. She would look ridiculous wearing something like that.
"Isn't there anything more simple I could wear?" Hermione asked, eyes wide.
Hurry shook her head with a serious expression. "Master asked Mistress to wear that specific gown for the evening. Its fabric is interwoven with special runes, that are meant to protect young mistress from any harm. The Dark Lord designed them himself for young Miss."
Hermione felt a shudder run down her back. She didn't want to wear anything that had his runes on it, was maybe even infused with his magic. That gown was clearly meant to prevent somebody else from taking her away, probably from even touching her. Maybe it would even link her to that man, by putting some sort of leash on her. Of course, Voldemort would protect what he regarded as his, only that she would never belong to him, not ever.
Hermione sighed heavily. "Somebody should tell him that I am not a doll to dress, let alone his." she mumbled, lifting the gown from the bed. The fabric felt smooth and cool under her skin. For a moment she just stared at it, wondering if she would be able to feel the enchantments placed on it. Well, considering that time currently seemed to slip through her fingers, she'd find out soon. "Alright," she said looking at her elf with a resigned expression. "Could you help me put that on? I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to manage on my own."
Hurry gave her an eager nod and a wide smile. "Hurry is happy to serve, Miss."
She sighed. "I know."
ssssssssssss
The Dark Lord's call came as a total surprise to him. Severus was just about to freshen himself up for dinner when suddenly his Dark Mark started to burn. He stared at it with wide eyes. There hadn't been enough time for him to come up with some sort of plan for Hermione's rescue and as he knew he would only have one shot, he wouldn't budge the whole thing up by rushing in like a fucking Gryffindor. He wasn't Potter after all, which meant he'd need to have his emotions tightly in check. He couldn't show even a remote interest in Hermione, if she would even be there, because the Dark Lord was a jealous and possessive bastard. If he only as much as suspected his new plaything to be threatened, Severus had no doubt he would simply whisk her away and never let her meet another soul again. That, he had to prevent at any price.
This time he knew where he was, as soon as his feet touched the ground after having finished his apparation. He knew Lucius' home inside out as he had spent many hours in these halls visiting his godson or his friend. Why had the Dark Lord suddenly decided to change the place for his audiences back to Malfoy Manor?
"Ah, there you are, my friend," Lucius' voice greeted him, causing him to turn into the man's direction. His friend was dressed in luxurious black robes, not the usual Death Eater attire and also his black and silver Death Eater mask was nowhere to be found.
"This is not a regular audience, then?" Severus replied with a sigh, which bought him a knowing grin from his Slytherin-friend.
"No. Narcissa and I are giving a little dinner for the Dark Lord and his… guest. Only family and close friends, don't worry," Lucius said soothingly, but he could only roll his eyes. Close family meant that Bellatrix would be here, as she had been able to escape the Ministry fiasco before the Order could get a hold of her. And Severus absolutely resented having her in the same room that Hermione was trapped in. But no, he couldn't think about his friend now. His mask had to be firmly in place.
"Ah yes, the Dark Lord's guest," he sneered taking off his Death Eater mask, shrinking it and storing it inside of his robe. "I wonder how that is going. That girl is as stubborn as they come."
"Don't worry Severus. You know our Lord has his ways," Lucius said cryptically, before motioning Severus to follow him. "He won't let this prize slip through his fingers, not even if it's a stubborn mudblood."
Luckily Severus' mask was tightly in place and so an amused twitch of his mouth was the only reaction his face showed. "You better not use that word in front of our Lord and the girl. I don't see him reacting kindly to offending his new plaything. You know how he can get about those."
Lucius snorted. "You don't have to tell me, my friend. You should see Bellatrix trying to not snap at the girl. She looks like she's about to have a stroke."
Severus didn't have time to answer his friend, as Lucius opened the doors to the dining room a moment later. His friend had his house-elves laden the long table with a variety of different food and wine, ten times more than they would be able to eat. None of the guests was seated at it though, as they were all standing to his right, obviously doing some sort of conversation. And going by the faces of the three women standing in a half-circle close to the huge windows, it wasn't going very well. Narcissa looked like she had bitten into a lemon and Bellatrix really looked like she was about to have a stroke, with the vein on her forehead pulsing in agitation. Hermione, who was standing to his master's right, was almost unrecognizable to him. Gone was her bushy hair and her wide school robes. Instead, her brown hair was tamed into an elegant chignon, while her petite body was framed by an expensive gown in mostly Slytherin colours. It had the Dark Lords handwriting all over it, marking her as his possession without the man needing to say a single word. But the most unsettling was Hermione's face. Like him her mask was firmly in place, completely swallowing her temperament and only leaving a dispassionate expression where there should have been fire and intelligence. It was all gone, leaving nothing more than a dressed-up manikin. He didn't know if he should be relieved or terrified.
"Well, look who had the grace to finally join us," Bellatrix sneered, looking at him with fire in her eyes. The witch had never liked him and after spending the last years in Askaban while he was comfortably seated at Hogwarts, she did so even less.
Severus studied her with a bored expression before he trained his eyes on the Dark Lord and sunk onto a knee in front of him and Hermione. "My Lord," he greeted devotedly, looking down at the expensive, ornated carpet to his feet. "It was very generous of my master to invite me to the celebration of your victory."
He could feel the man's bony fingers on his shoulder. It was the first time his master touched him since his resurrection and it took Severus every inch of willpower not to flinch away from it. It felt like being touched by death himself. "Nothing of that today, my faithful servant," the Dark Lord replied. "We're here in honour of my beautiful new guest here."
Severus raised his eyes to Hermione and their eyes met for a split second. She really was beautiful today, if one ignored the lifelessness of her face and the fact that she didn't even marginally look like herself any longer. Instead, she really looked like his Lord's plaything, as she would have never chosen those pompous clothes for herself. Because even if Hermione had dressed up for the Jule Ball last year, it had been in an innocent and girlish way, that made her look her age and not like an adult. "Miss Granger," he greeted her dispassionately before turning to the other guests. "Narcissa, you look stunning today."
The woman answered his compliment with a pleased smile and a nod. "Thank you, Severus. How is Draco doing? He has rarely written home in the last months, which is totally unlike him. He's well, isn't he?"
That was interesting, Severus thought, schooling his impression into a smooth smile. "He's as well as he can be, given the current situation at Hogwarts. With all of the Ministry's interventions and the Headmaster being even more of a menace than he usually is, it hasn't been an easy year."
It was the Dark Lord's raspy voice answering him while looking at him with an amused glint in his eyes. "Sadly it an indisputable fact that Hogwarts is degenerating, since that old fool has taken over. A fact I intend to rectify once I control the British Isles. That old coot has encouraged stupid, brash behaviour long enough, don't you think Miss Granger?"
Severus avoided looking at the girl, even though the eyes of everyone else seemed to focus on her reaction. But he could almost envision a flicker of fire returning to her eyes. "Oh, I don't know Sir." Severus heard Hermione reply, her words followed by a shocked gasp from several people in the room at her lack of proper address. "Considering the history of Hogwarts the different houses have distinguished themselves through their character traits and strengths countless times. Jasper Greenhill, a well-known Gryffindor, played a major role in ending the Goblin war of 1675. It wasn't due to his cunning but his bravery in the fight, that pushed the goblins back and finally made them lay down their swords. Milicent McGonagall on the other hand, who is one of Professor Gonagall's ancestors I believe, earned herself an order of Merlin first class by slaying one of the biggest basilisks known in wizarding history with Gryffindor's sword and it was only a few years ago until that feat was repeated by another Gryffindor."
The room had fallen silent and he could have sworn that neither of the Malfoys even dared to breathe. He couldn't blame them as he too was left totally speechless.
"You girl, are to call the Master 'My Lord', you hear me?" Bellatrix instructed her in an arrogant, disgusted tone. "Even though you're his special trophy, it is still necessary for you to show our master respect."
For a moment Hermione didn't reply and finally, Severus could no longer resist and his eyes snapped back to her. Her expressionless mask was still in place as she stared back at the black-haired witch with her chin raised proudly.
"No," she replied and suddenly her voice was full of steel. "Calling him that would imply accepting his claim on being somewhat my superior, which I do not. I am not a pureblood and his ideals do not apply to me in the least."
Severus closed his eyes in despair. He knew that the Dark Lord could and would not leave such an affront unpunished. His master would have to show strength in front of his most loyal followers, but knowing him he would also want to teach the girl a lesson. Because no matter if Hermione was the Open Link, she had just overstepped a boundary and his master would let her pay for that. And Severus would stand witness to her punishment.