So, it has been a very long time since I have properly had the chance to sit down and write. My original story An Unlikely Saviour has never made me truly happy, so I have deiced to take my original idea back to the drawing board. So here we have the first chapter of The Prophecy of the Lion and the Snake. Enjoy and review (please be kind)

I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this story, I am simply playing with someone else's toys.

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"Get your filthy hands off of me!" Hermione screamed, whilst struggling against the tight hold of her captors. Hanging her head, she could not stop her mind from racing. How had she let this happen?! From leaving Hogwarts in the July, she had been so careful. She had limited her use of magic, kept to muggle only areas and even took it upon herself to put her parents into hiding for Merlin's sake! Yet all it took for her to drop her guard was one stupid argument with Ronald bloody Weasley.

Groaning at her stupidity, she was swiftly brought back to reality by her captors sudden change in pace. Before Hermione had time to adjust to the lack of lighting, her small frame was slammed against the stone, cold wall. She recoiled as a grubby hand made its way through her dirty, long, brown locks. She tried not to react, but it was too late, he could sense her fear. Helpless under his enormous frame, Hermione closed her eyes.

"Such a pretty girl," he began maliciously, whilst moving his hand further down. Her body responded by tensing up, which unfortunately only encouraged her captor more. "Oh am I making you uncomfortable darlin', " he responded with a smirk.

Continuing to keep her eyes squeezed shut, she could feel his boney finger begin to trace the edges of her curves. Her captors breathing began to increase and she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. Shivers were sent down her spine by his sudden contact with the skin on her lower back. Tracing the edge of waist band, Hermione could feel her eyes begin to well up. All had seemed lost, that was, until they were interrupted by another voice.

"DARKMORE! What the bloody hell are you playing at?! Do you want to get us both punished?! What if he or one of his inner circle were to catch you!," the voice exclaimed. Darkmore snarled and dropped his hands almost instantly from her waist. Hermione allowed herself to breathe momentarily, but knew that the ordeal was by no means over.

"Always the goody-too shoes aren't you Gibbon," he retorted as he walked towards his partner, "She is a Mudblood and a traitor! Why shouldn't I have some fun with her?," he concluded.

"But you know what the rules are, we can not touch any of the prisoners without the say so of the Dark Lord," Gibbon responded.

Clearly infuriated by his partner's insolence, Darkmore shoved Hermione to ground. " Oh Gibbon! Get a grip! She is of an inferior race, nothing more than the dirt on my shoe!," he replied angrily.

In between their arguing, Hermione continued to receive several blows to her rib cage. Curling up into a ball, she resided to her fate. Not only had her wand been seized, she was physically too weak to fight back.

"Darkmore! Enough! It is not only the Dark Lord we must fear, if any of the inner circle catch you….." Gibbon's voice trailed off.

Hermione could feel a sudden change in the air. Someone else had joined them.

"Yes Darkmore, is it possible that you have finally lost so many brain cells that you are simply unable to recall the Dark Lord's simplest of commands," the new voice interrupted calmly.

Hermione held her breath, she would recognise that voice anywhere.

"I asked you a question Darkmore! I do not like to be kept waiting," he snarled impatiently.

Daring a glance, Hermione cautiously lifted her head. She could not believe her eyes, there in the flesh stood none other than Professor Severus Snape. Her mind began to race for the second time that day. All these years she had spent defending him, all that time giving him the benefit of the doubt. Could it be that he truly was a supporter of you-know-who?

Snape, who appeared for the moment unaware of her presence, continued his rampage on the lower ranking Death Eater.

"I will not ask you again Darkmore," he commanded.

"Th-th-the D-d-dark L-l-lord…," Darkmore began to stammer, clearly intimidated by his senior.

Irritated, Snape swiftly interrupted his stammers, "I do not recall the Dark Lord ever stammering when providing instructions. Now begin again."

Hermione could feel the tension rise and heard Darkmore's breathing quicken.

Nervously clearing his throat, he started again, "Th-the Dark Lord forbade us from fraternising with the prisoners."

Hermione heard Snape sigh impatiently. "I believe," he began, "that the Dark Lord explicitly stated that all prisoners, regardless of their status would be brought into the interrogation room….. untouched". His voice lingered on the final work, before taking a step closer to Darkmore. Risking another glance, Hermione could see the Death Eater who had been so keen to torture her had begun to quiver by the sheer sight of his superior.

"Now remind me, what else did the Dark Lord state?", he continued.

"Th-that we are not to do anything without the permission of either the Dark Lord himself or a member of his inner circle," Darkmore replied sheepishly.

"Now, if I catch you fraternising with the prisoners again Darkmore, the Dark Lord will not be the only wizard that you should fear!" Snape emphasised.

Silence once again consumed the corridor. Snape allowed it to settle for a moment longer, clearly enjoying tormenting the younger Death Eater.

"Do I make myself clear?" He finally added, breaking the silence.

"Y-yes," replied Darkmore timidly.

"Yes what?", Snape snarled.

"Yes, sir."

"Better. Now before I loose any of my remaining patience, place the prisoner in the interrogation room and you Gibbon," he stated before turning to the other Death Eater, "get out of my sight!"

As Gibbon scurried away down the corridor, Darkmore angrily grabbed Hermione's arm. "Up," he commanded, before dragging her through a door she had barely noticed was there. Hermione took one last look at her former professor. Although his face remained impassive, his eyes told a very different story. If she had not been mistaken, there had been a flicker of recognition within the depths of his eyes. Before Hermione could react, the metal door slammed shut.

"Stupid Mudblood," Darkmore mumbled under his breath. "He thinks he can lord himself over me, well I'll show him," he continued grumpily. After finally fixing her to the rusty, metal chair, Darkmore gave Hermione one final blow before leaving her alone in the darkened room.

The silence of the room was only broken by her soft sobs. After a few moments, Hermione decided it was time to collect herself, she knew crying wouldn't solve any of her problems. Struggling against her bonds, she tried to free herself. However, after several failed attempts she realised it was no use. Closing her eyes, she tried to process what had happened. 'Professor Snape is here' she began 'and he is a Death Eater'. She paused. Those were two facts she knew for certain, but there was one thing she could not comprehend. If he was a true supporter of You-Know-Who, how had she caused a flicker of emotion to appear. Unfortunately, she was unable to ponder on this anymore as the door before her flung open.