Chapter 9
J. owns everything, I am just writing the story.
/
Snape leapt off the couch disturbing the sleeping Hermione whose head unceremoniously hit the arm rest. Snape clutched at his arm whilst hissing in pain, looking around frantically for some way to hide.
Hermione rubbed her eyes and looked up at Snapes grimacing face in bewilderment. Her eyes then travelled down to his forearm and realisation dawned upon her face.
"He is calling you", she said to no one in particular.
"Yes, he is so I am afraid I must depart. I apologise for waking you", he muttered as he left the room returning a few moments later with his Death Eater robes.
"We will discuss this when I return, I have no doubt you have many questions", he said leaning down and kissing Hermione on the head
"Try to come back in one piece, will you?", Hermione asked.
"Of course, I will", and with that he apparated to what he did not doubt would be an awful night.
/
Snape arrived at the Malfoy manner where he had been summoned and went in search of his master who had made himself comfortable in one of the many libraries of the house.
Snape knelt in front of Voldemort and kissed his robes not daring to look at the face of the deformed wizard.
"Severus, my most loyal follower, how are you?", hissed Voldemort
"Quite well my Lord", Snape recognised the tone Voldemort used when he spoke to him and knew he was not happy, so Snape pulled up his shields stronger than he ever had before.
"Well I don't doubt it as it has recently come to my attention that you have a mudblood staying with you in your chambers in Hogwarts!", and with that Voldemort struck Snape hard in the face making him stumble.
"Why did you not tell me of her Severus? And why is she staying in your chambers? Voldemort asked as he circled Snape like a vulture looking for a quick meal.
"My Lord, I apologise but the girl was quite injured a few weeks ago and would not tell anyone what had happened. Dumbledore had her stay with me against my will but I thought that if she came to trust me she might give up some information about the Potter boy that would help you my Lord", Snape stared into Voldemort's eyes as he looked through Snapes altered memories showing the past few weeks with Hermione.
"It does seem that she has grown to trust you somewhat. Has she shared any valuable information with you yet Severus?" Voldemort said finally breaking eye contact and letting Snapes mind rest.
"I'm afraid not my Lord but I feel it is only a matter of time before she confides in me and when she does I will tell you immediately", Snape answered in a cool steady tone that his is fear.
"You have done very well Severus but you did keep this a secret from me which will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and with that said…..CRUCIO!", bellowed Voldemort
Snape collapsed to the ground, feeling every bit of anger Voldemort felt within him from the betrayal of his most trusted servant. Snape convulsed on the floor but did not say a word, he never had before and he would not start now, he would not whimper for mercy from the psychopath who was responsible for his torture and so many horrible things in this unfair world. Snape knew all about unfair.
Snape tried his best to stay awake and after what felt like hours to Snape although it could not have been more than ten minutes, Voldemort finally stopped.
"You may go Severus but do not lie to me again or you will regret it" Voldemort hissed.
Snape rose shakily to his feet and bowed to Voldemort. He left the room as quickly as possible fighting to stay standing so that he could make it to the apparition point outside the Malfoy Manner.
Snape reached it but collapsed to the ground. He tried to focus on his chambers, but he was just too tired. He felt a sickening pull and knew he had apparated but was pained to see he was outside Hogwarts on the grounds.
He slowed his breathing to calm down but knew he only had one choice. He pulled his wand from his robes and sent his doe patronus to Hermione and hoped he was not waking her up to come to his aid.
Hermione was at his side in less than ten minutes, her arms full of potions from his private stores that he had shown her. Hermione not knowing the extent of his injuries brought everything she could carry, for she knew he must be truly desperate to ask for help especially from her.
She knelt beside Snape and gently lifted his head onto her lap so she could easily administer the potions. After ten minutes when Snapes body had finally stopped twitching and convulsing so harshly did he try to stand up on very weary legs. Hermione immediately threw his arm over his shoulder in the hope that she could provide some kind of support for him as they began their long trek back down to the dungeons, they called home.
/
When they finally arrived back, Snape looked like a dead man walking so Hermione brought him to his bedroom straight away. It was her first time in his bedroom, but she was so concerned with Snapes wellbeing that she did not even think about it. She lay him down on his bed, removed his shoes and outer robes. She then used a spell to change his clothes into pyjamas with the hopes of making him more comfortable. She ran off to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea and back to his stores to get him a sleeping draught which she poured into his tea.
When she returned and for, the first time took in his face since his return, she nearly burst into tears. He was so pale and his face so strained. She then thought back to all the times he looked similar in class and realised that this happened more often than she thought. She vowed to do everything in her power to help him, no matter the cost.
She gave him his tea which he sipped at slowly.
"I am very sorry you had to see me like this and come to my aid" Snape wheezed out.
"You have absolutely nothing to apologise for professor, I was glad to help" Hermione smiled at him hoping to give him some kind of feeling other than pain.
Snape finished his tea and set it down, he was already dozing at that stage and was only barely aware when Hermione reached out and held his had
"I am not going anywhere Severus I promise", was the last thing he heard before sleep took over.