Chapter 43: Pain and comfort

Hermione didn't make it downstairs for the hot chocolate. She had barely closed the door of her room behind her when the first cramps hit her and she clutched her belly in pain. Mortification ran through her as well as irritation. She did not want to go through this as well now. She had too much stressing her out as it was so she didn't need anything else. There was no question what that was, as she had expected her period for some time now, but that didn't make her feel any less uncomfortable about it. At Hogwarts, she would have gone to Madame Pomphrey to ask for some potions to make her feel better, but here… There was no way she was going to ask Voldemort for a pain potion because of that.

She made it to the bathroom with slow steps, before sinking to the toilet with a pained moan. First, she'd take care of the bleeding and then she'd crawl into bed right away. At least that was the plan. But no matter how thoroughly she searched the cupboards, she couldn't find the necessary supplies to take care of herself. There was nothing of that sort. Why?

But of course, she knew why. Voldemort was a man and he had probably not lived with another woman before, or at least not for a very long time. It was likely that he had forgotten or not thought about those kinds of needs.

She sighed. It couldn't be helped.

"Hurry," she called and it as only a moment before the little house-elf appeared right in front of her in the bathroom.

He looked at her with huge, attentive eyes. "Mistress called Hurry. How can Hurry be of service?"

Hermione looked at him with a relieved smile on her lips. "I need you to get me some things, Hurry. Can you do that for me?"

Hurry nodded with a happy smile. "Hurry is happy to serve."

sssssssss

"Where's your mistress?" Voldemort asked the little elf that was standing in front of him, wringing its little hands. "She was supposed to have hot chocolate with me, but that was almost an hour ago."

The creature nodded. "Mistress is not well, Master," it said, looking at him with wide, frightened eyes. "She has retreated to bed, as she is obviously in pain."

In pain? She seemed alright when he had last seen her. Had she hurt herself during the duelling session? Had he maybe even hurt her and she had not dared telling him? It couldn't be, he had been very careful not to, after all. But it was the only explanation.

He left the house-elf standing in the room and hurried up the stairs and into her room. His lioness really was in bed, he realized after he stepped into her room without bothering to even knock. Her face looked pale and tired when she blinked up at him with pain clouded eyes. What was wrong with her?

"You're in pain," he stated, stepping closer to her bed. "Why didn't you tell me you got hurt during the duel?"

She looked at him with a confused expression on her face. "I'm not hurt," she hissed, before avoiding his gaze.

"Don't lie to me. I can see you're in pain. Let me heal you." It wasn't a question, even though he had phrased it as one. He was about to bend down to her when she pressed herself deeper into her pillow with a mortified look on her face.

"No, there's nothing for you to heal. Just go, please!" she said, her voice sounding desperate. Only a moment later she groaned in pain, rolled away from him and coiled up sideways.

"I'm not leaving you like this," he said, staring at her with a dark expression. He heard her groan at his words.

"Merlin, I'm on my period. I'm in pain and I really don't want you sitting next to my bed. I'll be better in a few days, I swear," she replied with her back turned towards him. "And now go!"

For a moment he stared at her with a blank expression on his face, unsure how to react. Never before anybody had demanded of him to leave and if someone had dared to do so, he'd probably have punished them for the impudence. But this girl wasn't anybody, she would be his queen one day. This was also a situation he had never been in before.

"Alright, I'll leave you alone then. Tell me if there's something you need," he said, retreating backwards from her bed.

She shifted, before looking at him with an almost moody expression. "If you really want to do something, then get me enough pain potions to last me the next few days. The ones we have in Hogwarts usually help enough to not have me miss my lessons."

He nodded with a smile. Pain potions - that was something he could do. He did have his very own potions master after all.

ssssssss

The call came at the middle of the day, right during his afternoon classes. That had never happened before. The Dark Lord usually knew his teaching hours and respected them, which could only mean that something had happened that made him forget or not care about the implications of Severus leaving school in the middle of classes. He cursed internally.

"You'll finish this potion without my assistance," he told his class of fifth-graders without daring to touch his arm. Some of them knew that he was a Death Eater after all and he didn't want to draw their attention to the fact, where to he might be leaving to. "I expect you to leave a phial of your potion on my desk and clean this classroom impeccably after you did that. If there is only one table not cleaned properly, I will know and let you clean it with a toothbrush for detention, did I make myself clear?"

The students stared at him with wide eyes. "Yes, Sir," some of them answered, while others just stared mutely at him. But he didn't have time waiting for all of them to answer, as the burning on his arm continually increased. Someone was desperate for his assistance. He only hoped it wasn't because of Hermione, but he did have a bad feeling in his gut. What else but the Open Link would make the Dark Lord this impatient?

Merlin, he hoped Hermione was alright. But soon he'd know. He just had to send a quick Patronus to the Headmaster to tell him he'd leave the castle, with his class being unsupervised for now. Then he'd port to where ever the Dark Lord was and hopefully learn what this was all about.

He was in the throne room again, the one with the black marble floor. Severus could only assume that this was the place, where his Master also kept Hermione imprisoned, even though his friend was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah, Severus my faithful servant," the Dark Lord greeted him jovially, even though there was a hint of impatience in his voice. But even if it hadn't been there, the level of pain the Dark caused him said something about the urgency his presence was demanded. "I apologize if my call caused you any inconvenience. But I do require your assistance in a very delicate matter."

Severus bowed his head while sinking down to one knee. "I am always zealous to be of assistance to you, my Lord. How can I serve you today?"

The Dark Lord looked at him for a long moment, before the motioned for him to rise to his feet. "I need you to brew some potions for me, same paint potions assisting women with their monthly…pains," the man explained calmly and Severus stared at him with a neutral expression. Merlin, this was why had been called here? - To brew some simple pain potions to assist Hermione with her monthly cycle? He didn't know if he wanted to laugh about the ridiculousness of the situation or because out of relief that his friend wasn't seriously harmed or impregnated.

"Of course, my Lord," he answered without letting his face betray his emotions. "Shall I return to Hogwarts for this task and deliver the potions tomorrow, or is there an equipped lab in this house I could use to make them right away?" he asked, hoping that he would get the chance to stay at the house just that on the off chance he could see her. He wasn't disappointed.

"There's a lab down here that should have anything you need, my friend. I will show it to you." The Dark Lord rose from his throne, looking at him with an inviting smile. Severus looked back at him, before bowing his head.

"I'll start brewing right away then, my Lord. The first potions should be ready in about two hours," he replied and followed the man out of the room. A simple pain potion would in fact not require such an amount of time, but Severus had an idea of how to help his friend, really help her. He could only hope that the Dark Lord would leave him unattended while he was brewing.

ssssssss

Hermione sighed in relief as soon as her warden closed the door to her room behind him. Finally, he was gone. She felt bad enough without him standing next to her bed, staring at her with those red, snake-like eyes and wanting to heal her. That thought alone made her shudder in disgust.

Still, she couldn't ignore that she craved affection right now. She always did during that time of the month. Usually, Crooks was there for her, cuddling with her or lying on her tummy to let his warmth sink into her and help with the cramps. But Crooks was god knows where - probably with Ginny or Harry. Ron never had a soft spot for him and the twins didn't have a good stand with him after Fred had taken him on his first apparation. Her cat could be a bit resentful at times. But god, she missed him, missed holding him in her bed with his body purring against her chest.

"Is there anything Hurry can do for young mistress? Hurry is always happy to serve," the little house-elf's voice suddenly squeaked next to her bed. Hermione blinked her eyes open at him. He looked nervous, staring at her with wide eyes while wringing his hands. She sighed.

"There's not much you can do for me right now," she said, her voice laced with pain. "Apart from giving me a back rub, but I guess that is not what you meant."

"Hurry would be happy to rub mistress' back," the eager servant replied, bouncing up and down on his toes.

She couldn't help but look at him with a small smile. "You would?" she asked in a hopeful voice, causing the elf to no eagerly. "Hurry would be happy to."

Hermione turned onto her belly with a happy sigh, lifting her undershirt enough for Hurry to touch the skin of her back. The house-elf climbed eagerly onto her bed, before he positioned himself next to her and started rubbing her back. His hands were tiny and felt somewhat strange. The skin was rougher than she had expected it to be. But his hands were warm and gentle and Hermione could feel herself relax bit by bit.

"Feels wonderful," she moaned and closed her eyes which caused the house-elf to release a happy squeak. Hermione smiled. She was so thankful for that little faithful servant. He was the only one she trusted in this snake pit.

Hermione felt her body drift more and more into sleep and suddenly her mind was with a pair of redheaded friends that had comforted her through touch only a few weeks ago. Their nightly cuddles after Christmas now felt to her, like they were months away, even though it had been only a couple of weeks. Merlin, she missed them, missed to be held by them. Would they have given her a back-rub if she had asked them to? How would it have been, if she had accepted their request to be their girlfriend? Would they have cuddled on the sofas in the Gryffindor common room? And what else would they have done? Hermione didn't know but suddenly she wished she would have found out. Now she wasn't even sure if she would ever see them again. But even if she did, the situation would be still the same, as it was before. They could only be friends, couldn't they? There would be no cuddling on the sofa or kissing them again…

What do you want?

Voldemort's words suddenly echoed in her head, reminding her that she still hadn't found a clear answer to the question. Hermione wanted a lot of things: escaping from this house, a peaceful coexistence of magicals and muggles, finding her parents and… Fred and George Weasley. God help her, she still wanted them. Considering her shitty situation she even wanted them more than ever.

Who said I can't have them? Just because the concept of the Open Link says I can't? What if anyone hasn't ever tried?

Hermione blinked into her pillow, her mind suddenly awake again.

What did Voldemort say? I'm the one making the rules. Maybe I really need to start thinking outside of the box?

She smiled into her pillow.

I'll start with admitting that Fred and George are the ones I want then.

ssssssss

It was more than two hours later that his servant finally informed him, that the potions were ready. Lord Voldemort had waited in his throne room, pacing the room while being deep in thought. The weakened state of his prize was probably a good chance for him to take care of her. Maybe this would help to finally gain her trust. He would start by bringing her those potions, before contacting Lucius. His wife would probably know how he could aid the girl during that monthly time. Sooner or later his lioness would accept his help, because who else but him was there to help her?

"Here're the potions you asked for, my Lord," his Servant said, presenting him with a couple of vials. Six of them had a thick, red potion inside them that strongly reminded of blood. One of them was smaller though, the potion in it colourless, which made it seem like water.

"Thank you Severus," he said, inviting the man to stand up.

"Hogwarts usually only offers the cramp and pain reliever to the students. Therefore the Open Link should be familiar with the use of those red potions. The other one is a potion I don't usually make for the hospital wing. The ingredients are very costly and those dunderheads are usually not worth my time," the potions master said with a sneer in his voice. It was no secret that the man was not very fond of his position at the castle or the students he had to teach. Lord Voldemort would have to reward him, once he had taken over the wizarding world and no longer needed his spy there. "The potion is a much stronger, but non-addictive pain reliever," the man went on looking at him with a serious expression. "Advice the girl only to use it, before she intends to sleep, as it will make her tired but also help her sleep through the night. She should be feeling much better by tomorrow."

Lord Voldemort nodded benevolently. "Thank you, Severus. You may go now."

The man nodded. "As you wish, my Lord. It was a pleasure being at your service." With that, he bowed deeply, before leaving the house without expecting to be praised or rewarded. The man was truly an asset for his Death Eaters. Pity, that he didn't have more useful servants like him.

The girl's room was dark when he entered it a few minutes later. She was still in bed, but she wasn't alone. On the covers was sitting one of the house-elves, her house-elf, rubbing the naked skin of her back while his prize dosed with a content smile on her soft red lips.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked the obtrusive creature with small eyes and instantly the little pest turned around looking at him with wide eyes.

"Mistress asked Hurry to rub her back," it explained wringing its hand with quivering ears. Just when he wanted to punish the elf, he saw his lioness open her eyes, blinking at the two of them in confusion.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice slurring tiredly, before she turned to her side, covering the naked patch of skin with her blanket.

He forced himself to calm the beast raging in his chest and instead looked at her with a friendly smile. "I had my potions master prepare some potions for you, my dear," he explained, stepping next to her nightstand to position the potions on it. "The clear one is to be used before you plan going to sleep, as it will make you tired as a side effect."

She studied the phials wearily. "Which potions master?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

Lord Voldemort smiled. "My best one, your former Professor Snape. As far as I know, he's also the one brewing the potions for the Hogwarts infirmary."

His lioness wrinkled her nose like she didn't like that bit of information. Her answer confirmed it. "Are you sure he didn't spit into them? He was never very fond of me due to my blood status and the fact that I am obviously an insufferable know-it-all."

He couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry my Dear. Your Professor has always been a faithful servant for me. He wouldn't dare to compromise any of your potions. I have trained my Death Eaters well."

She looked at him with wide eyes, before eying the potions on her nightstand. "Alright, then I will take them then. Thank you for getting me something for the pain."

He nodded and said: "Anything for my lioness. I'll leave you to yourself now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to send the elf to get me."

He waited for her nodding her confirmation, before turning around and leaving the room. As soon as he was back downstairs he'd call that damned house-elf. There would be no more back-rubs from him or any of the other elves. He was ruthlessly crushing the thoughts of being jealous of a house elf. He wouldn't acknowledge those thoughts under threat of death.