A/N: Chapter Warnings – Sexual situations, bad language, discussions of rape, suicide and cutting
A/N: Thank you for all your continued support, I'm glad you're all enjoying this story! :)
Chapter 16: Dumbledore vs. McGonagall and a Night in Severus' Rooms
Severus watched as the older woman got three more strikes on the headmaster and narrated what each one was for.
SMACK!
"That's for letting the filth get away with it"
SMACK!
"That is for forcing her to keep quiet and punishing her for trying to get help"
SMACK!
"That is for not informing me you monster"
"What the hell is wrong with you Albus?" She screeched like a banshee at him.
Dumbledore and Severus stood before the deputy head, not really sure what was going on. Minerva cut Dumbledore a scathing glare before whirling around on, and approaching, Severus who for the first time in a long time, began to sweat out of nervousness.
"And you! Why did you not tell me Severus?" McGonagall asked sternly as she stalked towards him.
McGonagall may have been short, but she was scary as hell and could raise an eyebrow in challenge like no other and Severus began to stutter.
"I-I don't q-quite understand M-Madame" he said nervously but telling the truth. Dumbledore was still stood behind his desk stunned and in disbelief at the events that were currently taking place in his office.
As Minerva approached him, Severus closed his eyes in anticipation of paying the same price that Dumbledore had just moments ago, for whatever it was that they had done wrong. Minerva would never act in such a way unless the person on the receiving end truly deserved it. He braced himself for the onslaught of slaps and winced in preparation.
He startled when he felt a feminine hand being delicately placed on his left cheek, and lips giving him a motherly kiss on the right cheek.
He relaxed and opened his eyes and stared at the older witch in front of him.
"I'm proud of you Severus. You're a good man, thank you" she said gently to him before patting his shoulder twice.
Severus was uncertain as to what was going on. He had never seen the witch so pissed off at the headmaster before and it worried him that there was something seriously wrong. Something he had missed.
Minerva turned back to Dumbledore.
"Albus, let's talk about Hermione Granger and her questionable summer holiday at Grimmauld Place" Minerva growled challengingly.
Severus' eyebrows shot up to his hairline for a moment. How on earth could Minerva have known about that? His guess was the Hermione had finally cracked and told her head of house.
'Good' he thought to himself.
The girl needed support and she knew that the student and her head of house idolised each other and shared a relationship akin to mother and daughter. If Hermione had told McGonagall about the summer, and had also informed the older witch that Dumbledore had tried to keep it all hushed up and stop her from ruining his plans, then Albus Dumbledore was royally fucked. Minerva was probably seconds away from hexing off Dumbledore's balls and wearing them as earrings.
Then Severus let a Cheshire cat grin appear on his face, he turned to the headmaster looking triumphant with a nasty smirk on his lips and Severus had to stop himself from laughing at Dumbledore's nervous expression. Minerva had found out about what Dumbledore had tried to cover up.
'This ought to be good' he thought gleefully to himself.
Although, he was slightly miffed that he didn't get at the headmaster first but he had promised Hermione he wouldn't do anything, and his promise to her was more important to him than satisfying his own emotions and dealing with Albus and Black.
"DAMN THAT GIRL!" Albus snapped furiously, breaking the quill he was holding and sending ink spraying everywhere. His two colleagues stared at him in stunned silence as he threw an almost childish temper tantrum in his office, pouting at the turn of events. It was also very clear that the composed headmaster of Hogwarts was mightily pissed off.
"I TOLD HER TO KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT, HAS SHE NO SELF-CONTROL? I TOOK HOUSE POINTS, HER PREFECT BADGE AND I ISSUED HER DETENTIONS BECAUSE SHE PEACHED TO OTHERS. WHAT MUST IT TAKE TO SHUT HER UP?" he yelled out.
Minerva stared at him shocked and appalled, this was Dumbledore showing his true colours and it was an awful thing to see really. He wanted to do things for 'the greater good' but it often meant a huge sacrifice in return.
Whilst Minerva was lost in her thoughts, Severus had stepped forward, a scowl gracing his face and it was taking every ounce of control to not hex the headmaster.
"Albus, what you have done to the girl is entirely unfair. She hates herself, and her body, she's suicidal, she doesn't know who she can and can't trust, she's isolated, and there are whispers about her all day, albeit they are not as bad now as they were when she came back to school. You had stripped her of a position that she deserves because she had refused to be your pawn, and then you reinstated it when she was bending to your command again. Not to mention the fact that she had worked her arse off for that position since she arrived in this world, and you take it away from her because she needs help and you won't give it to her because it will interfere with your plans. You once said that 'help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it'. Where was her help Albus? She came to you first, asking for your help, your assistance, your guidance and you turned her away, and told her that she wasn't allowed to speak of it to anyone or there would be consequences. The young woman just wanted guidance, a friend, someone to believe her, and you turned her away like a dog, like she meant nothing but shit on your shoe. Why did you do it Albus?" Severus delivered what he had bottled up and wanted to say for weeks now.
"Severus, you knew about this situation?" Albus said quietly, realising the position that he was now in, facing the wraths of two powerful wizards. He looked at Minerva, she had tears in her eyes and was pale and looked like she had aged in mere minutes. He looked back to Severus; he was staring at the old man in disgust.
Severus nodded.
"She had no choice but to tell me. The night after it happened, she had the most horrific nightmare I have ever seen. She was screaming, I don't think I've heard someone under the Cruciatus Curse scream out in as much pain as she did. I thought we were under attack, once I managed to wake her up, she vomited and pissed the bed out of sheer fear. It was after she told you, and you turned her away, when she told me what had happened, I was close to killing Black. The only thing that held me back was that I knew I was the only person who would help her at that point, and I would be of no use to her in a cell in Azkaban. I took her to a muggle hospital to get her injuries healed. The damage he had done to her was horrific, she was in agony and I hated myself for allowing such a thing to happen when she was in my care. I supported her in her nightmares, and I tried to protect her when her friends turned against her, and the rumours started spreading. As a child in your care Albus, it should have been you offering help, and now she hates you. Congratulations you twisted old man! I think your actions have hurt her more than her sexual assault ever did" Severus spat at the old and withering man.
Albus looked shamed and he was overcome with self-hatred. He didn't know the extent of damage that had been inflicted upon her, he hadn't even thought about it. His main concern then had been keeping Sirius Black out of trouble and focused on helping Harry.
"You don't give a damn about anybody except your precious Potter" Severus snapped viciously at him.
"It's all true? What Severus just said?" Minerva asked.
Albus nodded hesitantly.
"I couldn't risk Sirius being taken out of Harry's life and that absence then becoming Harry's focus instead of the real tasks at hand" Albus tried to justify.
"So without Miss Granger, do you think Potter would have even made it to his fifth year?" Severus asked.
Albus hesitated and that was all Severus needed.
"So who is the more important one then, the girl or Black?" Severus asked rhetorically.
"We're done here, be careful about the games you try to play in the future Albus, Miss Granger might just surprise you with her counterattack and let me tell you, after spending time with me and befriending Draco Malfoy, she has started to pick up quite a few Slytherin tendencies" Severus warned him with a proud smirk as he left the headmasters office.
Minerva sighed.
"Where's the wizard I have admired my whole life Albus?" She said mournfully with unshed tears pooling in her eyes.
"How could you have let this happen? How could you have done this to a girl who wanted nothing more than for someone to just tell her that things were going to be alright?" She questioned him whilst shaking her head.
Albus gave her a heartbroken look; he knew he had done wrong. For being one of the most intelligent wizards alive, he had acted very childishly and stupidly. Minerva gave him one last disapproving stare she turned her back on him and also left the office.
Albus sat down in his chair, his cheek smarting from the slaps dealt by Minerva and he sighed. He was getting too old for this. Sacrifices had to be made in war, he knew that but he had gone back on his main oath as a headmaster; to protect his students. A student had been assaulted whilst under his care and he had practically punished her for it. It reminded him of his aims as a young, foolish and naïve boy, making muggles subservient.
He had threatened a girl who needed his help and frightened her into not breathing a word and the cost was her own suffering and insanity, to the point where she had become suicidal and was suffering bouts of uncontrollable magic.
"I've destroyed Miss Granger as I did Ariana" he stated miserably to himself, and he sat for the rest of the day wallowing in self-pity.
.
.
.
Hermione jumped when Minerva came back into her chambers, and was instantly relieved to see that her head of house was no longer angry but was concerned when she noticed how miserable the old witch looked.
'Where had she disappeared to?' Hermione wondered.
Hermione quickly dismissed the thought when Minerva smiled at her and took a seat next to her.
"Tell me everything dear. From the day you arrived at Grimmauld Place to today" Minerva said as she held her young student in a comforting motherly embrace.
Hermione told her everything in detail, including the suicide attempts and her newfound friendship with Draco. Hermione told her about the assault and what Sirius had said and done to her. She told her about her embarrassing night terrors and how her friends had treated her whilst at the safe house and what had taken place. She told her about the outing to London and afternoon teas she had with her potions professor. She smiled at those rare memories; they were the ones that gave her comfort. Hermione decided to leave out the kiss and the whole argument she had with Severus and how he had healed her as it would gain attention that she neither wanted nor needed, and would land both her and her love interest in heaps of trouble.
Minerva was happy that the girl had some people to help her, and the old witch found that she had new respect for Draco Malfoy and vowed to commend him in private at a later date. Minerva was also extremely proud for Severus, and could tell that Hermione thought very highly of him, maybe even had a little crush on the potions master. Minerva grinned at the thought. They would be perfect for each other and it was obvious to her that there was something more meaningful and deeper going on there, but she didn't press the subject as she didn't want to make the girl nervous and distant again.
Minerva had become saddened after hearing about Hermione's attempts at ending her own life, and promised to keep a closer eye on her student should her mood or emotions take a sudden change for the worse. Hermione Granger would not be dying under the watch of Minerva McGonagall, she would not allow it.
.
.
.
A short time later, after the heart to heart with her favourite professor, Hermione felt a lot better now that she knew her head of house was on her side.
What was most unfortunate was that neither witch noticed that Harry had come back to collect a forgotten schoolbook that he had left in the office at their earlier meeting. He had hidden under his magic cloak in order to retrieve his book without being caught sneaking around. Harry stopped and listened to the entire conversation with wide eyes, a hand over his mouth and his head shaking from side to side in disbelief.
Harry felt sick; he didn't believe what he was hearing. He just didn't want to believe it. Hermione was practically his sister but Sirius was his godfather and his dad's best friend, he had to find out if it was true, if it wasn't then he and Hermione were going to have serious problems, and he refused to be held responsible for his actions.
.
.
.
Severus was sat in his rooms, on his sofa marking some first year papers. He had a glass of fire whiskey to help him through the ordeal, and then he would be heading off to bed. He had been too focused on what had taken place that day to really focus on marking the papers, and had all but given up.
Instead he had found his thoughts drifting to a certain young witch who he had passionately kissed earlier. He relished in the memory of it, and could remember the way that her body felt as it was intimately pressed against his. He could feel the heat that ignited between them and how he had to fight for control over his cock.
Whilst he had been lost in his thoughts, he hadn't realised that his hand had reached down to put pressure on his now aching cock. He was also unaware that he had started rubbing up and down over his trousers to relieve some of the tension that had been there for the whole day. He didn't notice that he had started bucking his hips to meet his moving hand, to create the most delicious friction.
However, he did notice when his balls tightened and he realised what he was doing. He immediately stopped, but it was too late, his cock was pulsing and his balls had forced semen to the head of his most vital organ, and he groaned in relief and satisfaction as his dick twitched in the confines of his trousers as he came hard, leaving a massive wet patch and white stain on the front of his black trousers.
Severus' body had become boneless and he looked down shamefully at the mess he had made in his pants and trousers, something that he hadn't done since he was a boy, and had accidentally brushed the wrong way against his mattress and soaked his sheets. With pink cheeks of embarrassment and exertion, he waved his wand and cleaned up his mess as he composed himself and went back to marking the papers.
He sat like that for a few more minutes until he froze, when a light rapping could be heard on the door to his private rooms. He quickly looked around as if expecting to find some evidence of what had just occurred and then shook his head at his stupidity, he was a wizard after all for goodness sake. He stood up and quickly moved to answer the knock, there were not many who knew about this door and those who did knew about it only knew because he had told them.
He opened the door and was met with a pale face, very ill, looking Hermione Granger.
He stared at her.
"You said I could come here if I needed to" she whispered.
Snape immediately let her in and then locked and warded his door. He offered Hermione a seat on his sofa, and he waited for the next move and for her to speak.
Suddenly, without any warning at all, she jumped in his lap and placed her arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder and she began to sob.
Endless tears poured from her eyes, and she couldn't control it, she didn't want to control it.
Severus, on the other hand, was confused and startled at the young woman's shift in emotions. He tried to understand what she was trying to say through her cries, but could barely understand her. He heard a few words but it didn't make any sense. So he just held her and waited until she had calmed before speaking to her.
After a while the sobs ceased and her breathing became even again. He repositioned the girl so that he could talk to her but noticed that she had fallen asleep, emotionally exhausted.
He didn't want to wake her and send her back to her rooms in such a fragile state, he didn't know what she would do to herself and he wasn't willing to take a risk, not with her. So, he did the only thing he could think of, he waved his wand and extended the sofa and cast some cushioning charms before placing a pillow at one end of the sofa and laying her down. He removed her cloak and shoes before covering her with a thick blanket to keep her warm in the cold dungeons. Once he was satisfied that she was settled and comfortable, he placed charms around her that would alert him if she were to wake or need him in the night.
He collected his work and put it in his bedroom. He made his way back into the main room where she was sleeping and took one last worried look at her. He bent down and placed a light kiss on her forehead before turning down the lights and making his way to his bedroom.
He quickly showered and washed his hair and dressed himself for bed. He lay there for hours troubled and unable to sleep. His favourite student, his favourite woman and best friend was upset, and asleep on his sofa, and he wasn't sure what to do or say that would help.
He thought back to what she was trying to say when she was crying, and grimaced at the words he had been able to clearly pick out. If what he had heard had been correct, there might be some serious problems coming up for the young witch.
As he closed his eyes and fell into a restless sleep, he thought back on her words.
"Harry knows" she had said.
