Chapter 4
That night Severus went to bed with Venus curled up next to him. She had gone back with him to their room as a snake. He had got into bed and laid her on the pillow next to him. He knew she had to be a snake for a while to get used to it so it wouldn't seem such a new sensation when she had to do it for real. At about 2am Severus woke with a start and a burning pain on his left forearm. After he caught his breath and realised he was in his own bed he looked around. Venus had untransformed and was now lying asleep next to him, naked. She makes a sort of endearing snuggling noise as she turned over. Severus lay back down and stared at the ceiling of his room. How had he let her do this, how had he just stood there and let Dumbledore permit her to go? She was far too young to cope with the trials that would be imposed upon her. She was barely an adult and she was not ready. Severus listened to her breathing next to him. He longed to hold her in his arms in case all too she was gone and he couldn't do it. But he didn't feel that way for long as Venus turned over and lay with her head on his shoulder. He moved his arm so he could wrap it around her and so she wouldn't stop the blood flow to it. He sighed heavily. How long had it been since he had held a woman like this, this close and feel affection for her. He wanted to hold so that she was safe from anything. The next morning Severus awoke to the glorious feeling of her still safe in his arms. She was snuggled into his body and was just like a child looking for safety. She began to stir as he unclasped his arms to give her some room. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Good morning" she smiled sleepily. "Morning" he replied tensely. She knew why he was tense, who wouldn't be when they had to face the enemy? Especially as if he was caught then the plan would fail and the good side would have no chance of defending themselves and more than one life would be lost. Venus reluctantly pulled away from his warmth and got up and walked into his shower room. She switched on the water and summoned her shampoo and shower gel from her own room. "That nearly hit me!" Severus called as she caught the bottle that came zooming through the door. Venus climbed into the hot shower and revelled in the feeling of the hot water on her body. Soon the bathroom was full of the hot steam. "My god it's steamy in here," Severus exclaimed as he walked into the room. Venus laughed and looked round the shower curtain at him. "Yes?" she teased, "did you want something Mr Snape?" Severus seemed slightly less than jovial. "Well I have just received this and it would seem that you are not to go with me as a snake after all." He said waving a piece of parchment at her. "Why what's wrong?" she asked her face dropping. "Its and invitation to a ball, a death eater ball. It would be better if you were to attend as my partner, a date." He said looking less than pleased at his. "Ok," she said trying to sound as if she did this all the time, "dress robes?" "Not for the women. Ball gowns for you, dinner robes for the men. A very formal ball. Not that it matters as the death eaters lower the tone of every occasion." He said resentfully. "Its tonight at 10pm, I have to go and tell Dumbledore." "Hang on Severus I want to come, he said he would see us both in the morning," she said getting out of the shower and using a drying spell all over. She grabbed a towel and walked into her room, grabbing the first thing that she could she put them on and emerged again. Severus was waiting at the door. She followed him out and down to the head masters room. "Enter," Dumbledore said as they knocked on the door. "Good morning Albus," Severus said and closed the door after Venus had entered the room. "Albus I have." "Yes I know Severus they have invited you to the annual autumn ball. And I think Venus should attend as your date." Dumbledore said looking strained. "You know I can look after myself I'm not a child," she said hotly, fed up of the tense and worried looks they shot at her when they talked about the plans. "Yes my dear I know," Dumbledore soothed, "but you have never actually been amongst these people, we only want to protect you." Severus sat down in a chair as the head master sat down behind his desk. "I think you should both carry on with your classes for today. I shall see you tonight to prepare for the ball." Dumbledore said, "Severus I think you should brew the antidote potion, you never know what they will put in the food and drink." Severus nodded and looked at his watch, 8 o'clock. "I think we should go to breakfast," Severus suggested and got up to leave.
Venus followed him.
The day passed without any great difficulty. All the classes were fairly easy to handle. Severus had the 7th year Gryffindors and for once Neville didn't melt his cauldron so Severus had a good feeling that the boy could actually pass this class. In fact the reason for Neville's success that day was that Severus was too preoccupied thinking about tonight, not only his own safety but Venus' as well, so he didn't bother Neville.
That night Venus arrived at her room at about 5pm and collapsed on her bed. The task she thought would be a walk in the park this morning had been on her mind all day and the more she thought about it the more she what dangers lay there and why Severus and Dumbledore were so worried. So she had to be extremely careful about how she behaved tonight, she had to be believable.
Severus came in that night and walked straight to Venus' door. "Venus, I have the potion you need to take. You should take it now before you have something to eat, it works better that way," he said as he knocked on the door. "Ok leave it on the table I'm just changing." She called. They weren't going to leave until about 9.30 as then that gave them time to get out of Hogwarts and apparate to the house were the ball was being held.
Venus emerged from her room and went over to the bottle on the table. She picked it up and uncorked it. The fumes of it hit her immediately. It smelt of menthol and rosemary. "How much do I drink?" Venus asked into the empty room. "The whole bottle." Came a reply from behind Severus's door. Venus drank the bottle in one. It tasted of strong mint; it burnt her tongue and throat as she swallowed it. 'At least I'll have fresh breath all night' Venus thought to herself.
They both went to the staff dinner that night. Held in a large room, but not the great hall. As usual this served to free them of their troubles as the staff were jovial at dinner. It was a rest from the day and a break before the work they had tonight. Thought neither of them ate a lot they enjoyed the conversion immensely. "So Venus, I hear you are managing to live with Severus in such a small space! God knows how you're doing it! Every year Albus tries to get someone to share rooms with him and they leave within the first month, usually the first week." Minerva joked in her Scottish accent. The whole table burst out laughing. "Better not let the kids know or they will think he has gone soft and then there will be rumours or wedding bells," laughed Chloe. "Maybe there will be wedding bells," Filious added. All the staff looked at Severus. "You know as well as I do you would be the last person I would tell that to." He said seriously. "Oh Severus we know you don't completely hate us or you would have quit this job years ago." Minerva said and joked. "In fact I think you're rather fond of us." "Oh you do and what makes you think that Ms McGonagall?" he asked. "Well if you didn't you wouldn't be risking your life for us tonight would you?" she said. Everyone hushed. "And we are thankful you do it Severus," Minerva, and she raised her glass. "Good luck tonight Severus, and to you too Venus, you barely know and yet you want to help." Every member of staff raised their glass. "To the safety of this world," Severus said. "No, to you Severus," Minerva said. They all mumbled 'to Severus' and then they clinked glasses and rank the remains of the wine in them. "Well Minerva now you have well and truly killed the jovial mood and now that its 8.30 I suggest Venus and I leave you and prepare for tonight." Severus said and got up. Venus followed suite and smiled at them all. "We'll see you in the morning," she said and they all nodded but they didn't return the sentiment.
Venus knew exactly what she would tonight. A red ball gown that she had ordered from glad rags that morning. Its was scarlet and had spaghetti straps and a slit up the leg from the hem to the middle of her thigh. It was a full length gown and she had red heels to match. When she had groomed and primped herself until she felt safely concealed behind this costume, she emerged from her room to hear the "Ride of the Valkyries" being played. It was ironic she thought, but then Severus would have chosen it for a reason and yes it did suit the mood of them going into battle. Moments later Severus emerged looking incredibly smart in his dinner robes. They were black, as usual, and they were plain and well cut. The robe suit underneath was the same as his Armani suit. He had his Death Eater member silver snake pinned to the front of his suit. "You look great," Venus said surveying him from the fireplace. "Thanks, and you don't look that bad yourself." He said. The expression on his face and the way he was staring at her told her that she looked better than he had declared. "Oh I have something for you." Severus said, and handed her a velvet covered box. "A thank you for doing this." Venus opened the box to find a silver necklace with a snake pendant on it. The snake had emeralds for eyes and it was beautiful. "Oh it's gorgeous," she exclaimed as she put it on. Severus smiled and took hold of her hand. "I'm going to be incredibly cheesy and say, not as gorgeous as you." He smiled and kissed her hand. "Ready to go?" "yes." she said resolutely and summoned her cloak, again bought for tonight. A black velvet cloak with a red silk lining and an ornate silver clasp at the neck. Severus put on his robes jacket and opened the door.
When they arrived outside the manor that the ball was held at they could see it was not a regular ball room hall. It was a modern equivalent of the Moulin Rouge. It was a dance hall but also a bordello. "Tasteful," Severus muttered sarcastically. He linked Venus's arm and led her inside. The door man inside checked their names on the list and directed them to the cloakroom. They left there cloaks and went into the ball room. The place was heaving with people. All the men were in black or dark green and the women were all wearing revealing ball gowns in varying colours. "Ah Severus! You made it; we weren't sure whether you would. I know these large gatherings are not your favourite activity." Said blonde haired man, he looked like Draco Malfoy. "Oh I see you brought a date." He held his hand out to Venus, she took it delicately. He kissed it and smiled at her greasily. "Lucius Malfoy, and your name?" he asked. "Leria Nomen," Venus lied faultlessly. "Pleased to meet you, this is my wife Narcissia" Lucius said and beckoned to a woman behind him. "Pleased to meet you Miss Nomen. I hope you will enjoy our little gathering and that the show will be enjoyable." Said Narcissia and tuned to Lucius, "the Falsus's have arrived dear." And they walked off. "Leria?" Severus queried. "She was the goddess of deception for some culture, and Nomen is name in Latin." Venus said off-handedly looking around the room. The dance floor was full and the music was just ballroom music, things like waltz's and tangos. "Do you dance?" Venus asked as she sipped a glass of wine. "Not if I can help it. Why?" Severus asked surveying the room. "I would just like to dance that's all." She said and carried on looking round the room. "What are we here to do anyway?" she asked. "Nothing it's just if I don't show up they will get suspicious." Severus said and nodded to someone on the far side of the room. The music changed from the slow waltz that was playing to a tarantella. Venus felt someone take hold of her hand and pull her to the floor. It was Severus. He winked to her and led her to the floor. He winked at her. "I don't know this one," she said worriedly. "Just let me lead then," he said and they began dancing. She felt so safe in the midst of this vipers den. His arms were warm and protective and his hand in hers felt so right. The dance seemed to come to her naturally as she had known all along how to do it. Soon they were the centre of attention. People had stopped dancing to watch them. They were putting on a fantastic show, spinning and moving fantastically. When the dance was done the stopped and stood looking at each other for a moment before someone addressed them. "Didn't know you were the type to dance Severus." It was Lucius. "Well what else do you do at a ball?" Severus said sarcastically. Later on that evening the music stopped and a man got up onto the stage. "Well now it's the event of the night." He said and gestured to someone at the door. A man ushered a group of about 20 frightened sobbing girls. Venus assumed they were mixed witches. "Yes you can buy these girls." Said the man grinning. "Well let's start this auction then." A girl of about 16 was pulled up, she was blonde and wearing very little she had what looked like a whip mark across her legs and her face was tear stained. Venus felt tears pricking in her eyes as she looked at the girl. "If you start crying I'm going to slap you." Severus whispered in her ear. "What?" she asked shocked. "If they think you're crying because of the girls they will know you're not used to this and it would look suspicious. So don't cry or I will slap you so I will give you a reason to cry. Its either that or they sell you along with those girls." Severus said calmly. She knew he was right but still it seemed a cruel thing to do. She calmed herself down and kept watching. The girl was sold and one after the other so were the other girls. About the 7th girl to be brought stood before them calmly. "You can take this body but it won't be me! I would rather be dead than have you degrade me!" she shouted and pulled out a knife and stabbed herself in the stomach. Venus turned away quickly and walked to the refreshments table, pretending she needed a drink. She returned to Severus's side when she had calmed down. The last girl to be pulled up was about 18 and had lots of brown hair. When Venus saw her she almost gasped and she shot a look at Severus. He kept staring at the girl but his hand silently moved and took hold of Venus's. The girl was Hermione. The man on the stage and Lucius both stared at Severus. Hermione was being her usual brave self. She was standing with her chin raised and not showing any emotion. "Now I'm sure that Severus would like this one, I mean it would look weird if Hogwarts finest mind went missing and Severus didn't help if he could. Dumbledore would think his teacher had betrayed him. Wouldn't it be nice to be the one to save this girl from a fate worse than death Severus? Save her from the same fate your sister met?" the man on the stage leered. "She is remarkably like your sister you know. Smart, proud, pretty, won't show fear or pain." Still Severus just stared. The whole room was looking at him and Venus. "Come one Severus you want to save her don't you?" the man asked as he slapped Hermione across the face sending her flying to the floor. "Because if you don't want her then I'll gladly take her." "If you want me to buy her then I will, but what was the point in taking her in the first place?" Severus asked calmly. "Well we thought we would test your loyalty to Dumbledore, you see we don't want you going good on us Severus." The man leered. "in doing this you have only served to heighten your profile, I told you all to keep low until you all had the power to arise again, this way Dumbledore will seek you out to save the girl. And he will not be alone. To save you from this I shall buy the girl as you intended me to do all along." Severus said, "How much do you want?" "10,000 galleons," the man said grinning. "Done," Severus agreed and pulled out his cheque book. He wrote the cheque and walked up to the stage and handed it straight to the man. The man looked dumbstruck. He had exactly what he asked. "Take your whore," he said. Severus looked at Hermione. With effort she got up and got down from the stage and followed him to Venus. He took hold of Venus's hand and walked out of the room. "Severus!" shouted someone behind them. "Severus!" it was Lucius Malfoy. "I didn't know they would take her, it was a stupid thing to do. You were right but you can't just take her back. She knows what we look like." "She will not remember I have the very memory potion, much stronger than any charm, she won't speak Lucius." Severus said to him. Lucius still looked wary but a little assured, after all Severus had never failed to do as they asked or do what he said he would do. When they had their cloaks they walked out into the early morning. They stepped out into the road and Severus stuck out his wand arm, suddenly the knight bus appeared. "Evenin' Professor," said Stan, his acne slightly better, "do you all want to go back to Hogwarts?" "Yes erm hot chocolate for the girl and coffee for me and the lady." Severus said and handed Stan 3 galleons, "keep the change." He said too annoyed to be bothered with money right now. Stan's face lit up when he saw how much change he would be able to keep. "Yes sir, do you want the top deck, no one else there?" he asked. "Yes," Venus said. They climbed up to the top deck and Hermione sat down on a bed and started crying. Venus walked over to her and hugged her closely. "Shush now, its ok, your safe now." Venus soothed as she stroked Hermione's head. Stan arrived with the tray of drinks and put them on the table next to Severus and left. Severus picked up his coffee and handed Hermione the mug of hot chocolate. "Thank you professor," she said taking it gladly. "I'm ok now honestly" she said as a large tear dropped off the end of her nose and her body shook with a heaving intake of breathe. "Miss Granger try to sleep you will feel better for it." Severus said and Venus nodded. "We'll be right here if you need us," Venus said as Hermione put her cup down and got into bed. Within minutes of her finishing her chocolate she was asleep. Venus had kicked her shoes off and curled up next to Severus on another bed. "I'm sorry about saying I would slap you, but I wake that part of my job seriously and I need to or I will be killed." Severus said. "Its ok and I'm sorry about what they said about your sister. What was she like?" Venus asked. "She was." Severus started, he stopped and looked deep in thought," she was my sister. That's all I can say I never knew her she wasn't the person I saw. She was one of them, not the carefree girl she was at home." Venus accepted this and just lay there next to him.
That night Severus went to bed with Venus curled up next to him. She had gone back with him to their room as a snake. He had got into bed and laid her on the pillow next to him. He knew she had to be a snake for a while to get used to it so it wouldn't seem such a new sensation when she had to do it for real. At about 2am Severus woke with a start and a burning pain on his left forearm. After he caught his breath and realised he was in his own bed he looked around. Venus had untransformed and was now lying asleep next to him, naked. She makes a sort of endearing snuggling noise as she turned over. Severus lay back down and stared at the ceiling of his room. How had he let her do this, how had he just stood there and let Dumbledore permit her to go? She was far too young to cope with the trials that would be imposed upon her. She was barely an adult and she was not ready. Severus listened to her breathing next to him. He longed to hold her in his arms in case all too she was gone and he couldn't do it. But he didn't feel that way for long as Venus turned over and lay with her head on his shoulder. He moved his arm so he could wrap it around her and so she wouldn't stop the blood flow to it. He sighed heavily. How long had it been since he had held a woman like this, this close and feel affection for her. He wanted to hold so that she was safe from anything. The next morning Severus awoke to the glorious feeling of her still safe in his arms. She was snuggled into his body and was just like a child looking for safety. She began to stir as he unclasped his arms to give her some room. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Good morning" she smiled sleepily. "Morning" he replied tensely. She knew why he was tense, who wouldn't be when they had to face the enemy? Especially as if he was caught then the plan would fail and the good side would have no chance of defending themselves and more than one life would be lost. Venus reluctantly pulled away from his warmth and got up and walked into his shower room. She switched on the water and summoned her shampoo and shower gel from her own room. "That nearly hit me!" Severus called as she caught the bottle that came zooming through the door. Venus climbed into the hot shower and revelled in the feeling of the hot water on her body. Soon the bathroom was full of the hot steam. "My god it's steamy in here," Severus exclaimed as he walked into the room. Venus laughed and looked round the shower curtain at him. "Yes?" she teased, "did you want something Mr Snape?" Severus seemed slightly less than jovial. "Well I have just received this and it would seem that you are not to go with me as a snake after all." He said waving a piece of parchment at her. "Why what's wrong?" she asked her face dropping. "Its and invitation to a ball, a death eater ball. It would be better if you were to attend as my partner, a date." He said looking less than pleased at his. "Ok," she said trying to sound as if she did this all the time, "dress robes?" "Not for the women. Ball gowns for you, dinner robes for the men. A very formal ball. Not that it matters as the death eaters lower the tone of every occasion." He said resentfully. "Its tonight at 10pm, I have to go and tell Dumbledore." "Hang on Severus I want to come, he said he would see us both in the morning," she said getting out of the shower and using a drying spell all over. She grabbed a towel and walked into her room, grabbing the first thing that she could she put them on and emerged again. Severus was waiting at the door. She followed him out and down to the head masters room. "Enter," Dumbledore said as they knocked on the door. "Good morning Albus," Severus said and closed the door after Venus had entered the room. "Albus I have." "Yes I know Severus they have invited you to the annual autumn ball. And I think Venus should attend as your date." Dumbledore said looking strained. "You know I can look after myself I'm not a child," she said hotly, fed up of the tense and worried looks they shot at her when they talked about the plans. "Yes my dear I know," Dumbledore soothed, "but you have never actually been amongst these people, we only want to protect you." Severus sat down in a chair as the head master sat down behind his desk. "I think you should both carry on with your classes for today. I shall see you tonight to prepare for the ball." Dumbledore said, "Severus I think you should brew the antidote potion, you never know what they will put in the food and drink." Severus nodded and looked at his watch, 8 o'clock. "I think we should go to breakfast," Severus suggested and got up to leave.
Venus followed him.
The day passed without any great difficulty. All the classes were fairly easy to handle. Severus had the 7th year Gryffindors and for once Neville didn't melt his cauldron so Severus had a good feeling that the boy could actually pass this class. In fact the reason for Neville's success that day was that Severus was too preoccupied thinking about tonight, not only his own safety but Venus' as well, so he didn't bother Neville.
That night Venus arrived at her room at about 5pm and collapsed on her bed. The task she thought would be a walk in the park this morning had been on her mind all day and the more she thought about it the more she what dangers lay there and why Severus and Dumbledore were so worried. So she had to be extremely careful about how she behaved tonight, she had to be believable.
Severus came in that night and walked straight to Venus' door. "Venus, I have the potion you need to take. You should take it now before you have something to eat, it works better that way," he said as he knocked on the door. "Ok leave it on the table I'm just changing." She called. They weren't going to leave until about 9.30 as then that gave them time to get out of Hogwarts and apparate to the house were the ball was being held.
Venus emerged from her room and went over to the bottle on the table. She picked it up and uncorked it. The fumes of it hit her immediately. It smelt of menthol and rosemary. "How much do I drink?" Venus asked into the empty room. "The whole bottle." Came a reply from behind Severus's door. Venus drank the bottle in one. It tasted of strong mint; it burnt her tongue and throat as she swallowed it. 'At least I'll have fresh breath all night' Venus thought to herself.
They both went to the staff dinner that night. Held in a large room, but not the great hall. As usual this served to free them of their troubles as the staff were jovial at dinner. It was a rest from the day and a break before the work they had tonight. Thought neither of them ate a lot they enjoyed the conversion immensely. "So Venus, I hear you are managing to live with Severus in such a small space! God knows how you're doing it! Every year Albus tries to get someone to share rooms with him and they leave within the first month, usually the first week." Minerva joked in her Scottish accent. The whole table burst out laughing. "Better not let the kids know or they will think he has gone soft and then there will be rumours or wedding bells," laughed Chloe. "Maybe there will be wedding bells," Filious added. All the staff looked at Severus. "You know as well as I do you would be the last person I would tell that to." He said seriously. "Oh Severus we know you don't completely hate us or you would have quit this job years ago." Minerva said and joked. "In fact I think you're rather fond of us." "Oh you do and what makes you think that Ms McGonagall?" he asked. "Well if you didn't you wouldn't be risking your life for us tonight would you?" she said. Everyone hushed. "And we are thankful you do it Severus," Minerva, and she raised her glass. "Good luck tonight Severus, and to you too Venus, you barely know and yet you want to help." Every member of staff raised their glass. "To the safety of this world," Severus said. "No, to you Severus," Minerva said. They all mumbled 'to Severus' and then they clinked glasses and rank the remains of the wine in them. "Well Minerva now you have well and truly killed the jovial mood and now that its 8.30 I suggest Venus and I leave you and prepare for tonight." Severus said and got up. Venus followed suite and smiled at them all. "We'll see you in the morning," she said and they all nodded but they didn't return the sentiment.
Venus knew exactly what she would tonight. A red ball gown that she had ordered from glad rags that morning. Its was scarlet and had spaghetti straps and a slit up the leg from the hem to the middle of her thigh. It was a full length gown and she had red heels to match. When she had groomed and primped herself until she felt safely concealed behind this costume, she emerged from her room to hear the "Ride of the Valkyries" being played. It was ironic she thought, but then Severus would have chosen it for a reason and yes it did suit the mood of them going into battle. Moments later Severus emerged looking incredibly smart in his dinner robes. They were black, as usual, and they were plain and well cut. The robe suit underneath was the same as his Armani suit. He had his Death Eater member silver snake pinned to the front of his suit. "You look great," Venus said surveying him from the fireplace. "Thanks, and you don't look that bad yourself." He said. The expression on his face and the way he was staring at her told her that she looked better than he had declared. "Oh I have something for you." Severus said, and handed her a velvet covered box. "A thank you for doing this." Venus opened the box to find a silver necklace with a snake pendant on it. The snake had emeralds for eyes and it was beautiful. "Oh it's gorgeous," she exclaimed as she put it on. Severus smiled and took hold of her hand. "I'm going to be incredibly cheesy and say, not as gorgeous as you." He smiled and kissed her hand. "Ready to go?" "yes." she said resolutely and summoned her cloak, again bought for tonight. A black velvet cloak with a red silk lining and an ornate silver clasp at the neck. Severus put on his robes jacket and opened the door.
When they arrived outside the manor that the ball was held at they could see it was not a regular ball room hall. It was a modern equivalent of the Moulin Rouge. It was a dance hall but also a bordello. "Tasteful," Severus muttered sarcastically. He linked Venus's arm and led her inside. The door man inside checked their names on the list and directed them to the cloakroom. They left there cloaks and went into the ball room. The place was heaving with people. All the men were in black or dark green and the women were all wearing revealing ball gowns in varying colours. "Ah Severus! You made it; we weren't sure whether you would. I know these large gatherings are not your favourite activity." Said blonde haired man, he looked like Draco Malfoy. "Oh I see you brought a date." He held his hand out to Venus, she took it delicately. He kissed it and smiled at her greasily. "Lucius Malfoy, and your name?" he asked. "Leria Nomen," Venus lied faultlessly. "Pleased to meet you, this is my wife Narcissia" Lucius said and beckoned to a woman behind him. "Pleased to meet you Miss Nomen. I hope you will enjoy our little gathering and that the show will be enjoyable." Said Narcissia and tuned to Lucius, "the Falsus's have arrived dear." And they walked off. "Leria?" Severus queried. "She was the goddess of deception for some culture, and Nomen is name in Latin." Venus said off-handedly looking around the room. The dance floor was full and the music was just ballroom music, things like waltz's and tangos. "Do you dance?" Venus asked as she sipped a glass of wine. "Not if I can help it. Why?" Severus asked surveying the room. "I would just like to dance that's all." She said and carried on looking round the room. "What are we here to do anyway?" she asked. "Nothing it's just if I don't show up they will get suspicious." Severus said and nodded to someone on the far side of the room. The music changed from the slow waltz that was playing to a tarantella. Venus felt someone take hold of her hand and pull her to the floor. It was Severus. He winked to her and led her to the floor. He winked at her. "I don't know this one," she said worriedly. "Just let me lead then," he said and they began dancing. She felt so safe in the midst of this vipers den. His arms were warm and protective and his hand in hers felt so right. The dance seemed to come to her naturally as she had known all along how to do it. Soon they were the centre of attention. People had stopped dancing to watch them. They were putting on a fantastic show, spinning and moving fantastically. When the dance was done the stopped and stood looking at each other for a moment before someone addressed them. "Didn't know you were the type to dance Severus." It was Lucius. "Well what else do you do at a ball?" Severus said sarcastically. Later on that evening the music stopped and a man got up onto the stage. "Well now it's the event of the night." He said and gestured to someone at the door. A man ushered a group of about 20 frightened sobbing girls. Venus assumed they were mixed witches. "Yes you can buy these girls." Said the man grinning. "Well let's start this auction then." A girl of about 16 was pulled up, she was blonde and wearing very little she had what looked like a whip mark across her legs and her face was tear stained. Venus felt tears pricking in her eyes as she looked at the girl. "If you start crying I'm going to slap you." Severus whispered in her ear. "What?" she asked shocked. "If they think you're crying because of the girls they will know you're not used to this and it would look suspicious. So don't cry or I will slap you so I will give you a reason to cry. Its either that or they sell you along with those girls." Severus said calmly. She knew he was right but still it seemed a cruel thing to do. She calmed herself down and kept watching. The girl was sold and one after the other so were the other girls. About the 7th girl to be brought stood before them calmly. "You can take this body but it won't be me! I would rather be dead than have you degrade me!" she shouted and pulled out a knife and stabbed herself in the stomach. Venus turned away quickly and walked to the refreshments table, pretending she needed a drink. She returned to Severus's side when she had calmed down. The last girl to be pulled up was about 18 and had lots of brown hair. When Venus saw her she almost gasped and she shot a look at Severus. He kept staring at the girl but his hand silently moved and took hold of Venus's. The girl was Hermione. The man on the stage and Lucius both stared at Severus. Hermione was being her usual brave self. She was standing with her chin raised and not showing any emotion. "Now I'm sure that Severus would like this one, I mean it would look weird if Hogwarts finest mind went missing and Severus didn't help if he could. Dumbledore would think his teacher had betrayed him. Wouldn't it be nice to be the one to save this girl from a fate worse than death Severus? Save her from the same fate your sister met?" the man on the stage leered. "She is remarkably like your sister you know. Smart, proud, pretty, won't show fear or pain." Still Severus just stared. The whole room was looking at him and Venus. "Come one Severus you want to save her don't you?" the man asked as he slapped Hermione across the face sending her flying to the floor. "Because if you don't want her then I'll gladly take her." "If you want me to buy her then I will, but what was the point in taking her in the first place?" Severus asked calmly. "Well we thought we would test your loyalty to Dumbledore, you see we don't want you going good on us Severus." The man leered. "in doing this you have only served to heighten your profile, I told you all to keep low until you all had the power to arise again, this way Dumbledore will seek you out to save the girl. And he will not be alone. To save you from this I shall buy the girl as you intended me to do all along." Severus said, "How much do you want?" "10,000 galleons," the man said grinning. "Done," Severus agreed and pulled out his cheque book. He wrote the cheque and walked up to the stage and handed it straight to the man. The man looked dumbstruck. He had exactly what he asked. "Take your whore," he said. Severus looked at Hermione. With effort she got up and got down from the stage and followed him to Venus. He took hold of Venus's hand and walked out of the room. "Severus!" shouted someone behind them. "Severus!" it was Lucius Malfoy. "I didn't know they would take her, it was a stupid thing to do. You were right but you can't just take her back. She knows what we look like." "She will not remember I have the very memory potion, much stronger than any charm, she won't speak Lucius." Severus said to him. Lucius still looked wary but a little assured, after all Severus had never failed to do as they asked or do what he said he would do. When they had their cloaks they walked out into the early morning. They stepped out into the road and Severus stuck out his wand arm, suddenly the knight bus appeared. "Evenin' Professor," said Stan, his acne slightly better, "do you all want to go back to Hogwarts?" "Yes erm hot chocolate for the girl and coffee for me and the lady." Severus said and handed Stan 3 galleons, "keep the change." He said too annoyed to be bothered with money right now. Stan's face lit up when he saw how much change he would be able to keep. "Yes sir, do you want the top deck, no one else there?" he asked. "Yes," Venus said. They climbed up to the top deck and Hermione sat down on a bed and started crying. Venus walked over to her and hugged her closely. "Shush now, its ok, your safe now." Venus soothed as she stroked Hermione's head. Stan arrived with the tray of drinks and put them on the table next to Severus and left. Severus picked up his coffee and handed Hermione the mug of hot chocolate. "Thank you professor," she said taking it gladly. "I'm ok now honestly" she said as a large tear dropped off the end of her nose and her body shook with a heaving intake of breathe. "Miss Granger try to sleep you will feel better for it." Severus said and Venus nodded. "We'll be right here if you need us," Venus said as Hermione put her cup down and got into bed. Within minutes of her finishing her chocolate she was asleep. Venus had kicked her shoes off and curled up next to Severus on another bed. "I'm sorry about saying I would slap you, but I wake that part of my job seriously and I need to or I will be killed." Severus said. "Its ok and I'm sorry about what they said about your sister. What was she like?" Venus asked. "She was." Severus started, he stopped and looked deep in thought," she was my sister. That's all I can say I never knew her she wasn't the person I saw. She was one of them, not the carefree girl she was at home." Venus accepted this and just lay there next to him.