Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to the goddess, JKR. ::sighs::
Dedicated to Jesse, Michael, Marguerite and Holly. Congratulations!
Chapter 12: A Visit To Durmstrang
It was a chilly morning and the wind whipping its way from the east blew leaves off the ground and created miniature tornadoes of russet, gold and brown. Winter was not far off and Hermione felt that the wind hinted at the snow that was to come shortly. She was standing with Remus just inside the gates that separated Hogwarts from the outside world. Despite the warm woolen cloak and fuzzy scarf, she shivered.
"Cold?" Remus asked softly, embracing her.
"It's not just that," she muttered, holding him tightly.
"This is not going to be easy for you.going back there. I wish I could go with you," he whispered as she continued to shiver.
"I know," she replied softly, looking up at him. "I'll be all right. I am a Gryffindor and we are a strong bunch. Just, right now, I am indulging in a bit of weakness."
"Hermione, it isn't weakness. You do not have pleasant memories of Durmstrang and it is well known that it does not have the bright and cheery atmosphere of Hogwarts," Remus said, not letting her go.
"And there is no Dumbledore to put things to right," she sighed as she absently fingered the clasp on Remus' cloak.
Remus smiled but then his expression sobered. "Hermione," he said in an urgent tone, "please be careful."
"You know I will be," she tried to reassure him. "Besides, Severus will be with me."
"That is true but I know you well enough that you would think nothing of sneaking away from him in search of a book or a parchment or anything that might offer a clue in the puzzle you are trying to solve. You have to promise me you will not do that," Remus fixed her with a piercing stare.
"I can't believe that you are actually making me promise to stay by Severus' side," she joked, trying to relieve the tension in his face. She could tell that he was extremely worried.
"Hermione," he gazed at her intently, tracing her jawline with his index finger. "I want you to promise me that you will be careful."
She smiled at him and kissed his lips softly. "I will be. I promise."
"If anything were to happen to you."
"Nothing will happen to me. Nothing. I'll be back before you even realize that I am gone."
Remus shook his head. "I highly doubt that, Hermione."
They kissed again and held each other tightly as the leaves whipped around them mercilessly.
The sound of someone clearing his throat caused them to pull away from each other slightly. Sirius Black stepped forward, with an abashed expression on his face.
"You have an annoying habit of interrupting us, Sirius," Hermione grinned at Sirius' obvious embarrassment at having intruded on a private moment.
"He is simply annoying, Hermione," Remus grumbled.
"On that, I would quite agree, Remus," Severus came forward and approached the group with a smirk on his face.
Remus and Hermione chuckled while Sirius' expression could have sent a Dementor running for cover.
"It is time, Hermione," Severus commented, raising the hood of his cloak to cover his head. Hermione thought he looked rather intimidating with his cloak billowing around him like that.
She turned to Remus and smiled sadly. "I will be back as soon as I can."
He nodded wordlessly and kissed her forehead.
She walked over to the gate with Severus. Sirius approached them.
"Be careful, Hermione," he said in a grave tone. He then turned to Severus with a stern glare. "If anything happens to her, I will take it upon myself to disembowel you."
"No need to worry, Black," Severus replied, with no change in his enigmatic expression. "If anything happens to her, I will give you the knife myself."
Hermione turned to open the gates and walked out with Severus. They were gone in the blink of an eye.
Sirius turned to Remus. "She will be back soon, Moony."
"Not soon enough, Padfoot," Remus sighed as he followed Sirius back to the castle. "Not nearly soon enough."
The two men were so intent on getting inside that they failed to notice the two figures hiding in the shadows.
**************Durmstrang***************
When Hermione felt the world coalesce before her once again, the first thing she felt was the bitter cold.
"It's freezing," she huffed as she pulled the hood over her head.
"Welcome to Durmstrang," Severus announced grandly as he lowered his hood. "Well, welcome to its gates, to be precise."
Hermione gave Severus a rather frosty smirk and then turned to the massive gates with an apprehensive glance. The gates themselves were fashioned from wrought iron, intricate designs of a variety of magical beasts expertly crafted in the dark metal. The gates were hung on pillars of granite.solid, lunky things that looked capable of withstanding a blow from a Troll's club.
And they were closed. Shut tight. And there didn't appear to be a gatekeeper.
"Who is supposed to meet us here?"
Severus pulled his wand out from his sleeve and tapped on the right pillar three times. The gates opened silently, which surprised Hermione somewhat. She was half-expecting a low creaking sound.the sort of sound one would expect to hear in a Muggle horror cinema.
"Professor Margot DeKasaroff is the Potions Mistress and is one of the few professors at this institution that I can trust. She will be here shortly to take us in by a less visible entrance," Severus said quietly as they stepped through the gates and onto the grounds of Durmstrang. They did not notice the gates closing silently behind them.
Hermione looked around and what she saw brought back painful memories of her relationship with Viktor. What a fool she had been to think that he loved her. What a greater fool she was to think that she loved him. The landscape was bleak and she could make out the turrets at the top of Durmstrang. Like Hogwarts, it was a castle but, unlike Hogwarts, it was cold, dark and oppressive. It was not inviting and she had always felt as if she were an intruder.
"I hope she arrives soon or else I will freeze solid," Hermione muttered.
"It's not even winter yet, Hermione. What would you do then?" Severus asked, his breath misting in the air.
"I intend on never finding out. Winters at Hogwarts are pleasant. Winter at Durmstrang would be a nightmare," Hermione stamped her feet, trying to keep warm. She was getting irritated at Severus' calm demeanour.
"Then again," she thought irreverently, "Ron always said Severus had ice water running through his veins."
The sound of crunching snow turned her attention away from her freezing extremities. A hooded figure was quickly approaching them. For a moment, Hermione panicked.wondering if this were an enemy come to destroy them both. The figure stopped in front of Severus.
"Siete in ritardo, caro. Avevo paura che qualcosa era sucesso a voi," the soft contralto voice of a woman emanated from the hood.
Hermione could not believe her ears. It sounded like Italian? But here?
"Non ti preoccupare. Ci voleva tempo. Sai che la ragazza non poteva lasciarlo senza dire niente," Severus reached out a hand to lower the woman's hood.
"This is Hermione Granger?" The woman asked.
"Yes, Margot. My best student who is in desperate need of your help. Hermione, this is Professor DeKasaroff," Severus replied quietly.
Hermione reached out a hand in greeting and noticed that Margot had a firm, warm handshake. She was not very tall but had a strong presence. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun and, although originally brown, there were wisps of white in her tresses. Her large brown eyes sparkled and her lines had fallen in pleasant places. Altogether, Hermione thought she was an attractive woman.
"Per piacere, call me Margot. A pleasure to meet you. Severus has spoken a great deal of you and thinks very highly of you," Margot smiled while Severus turned a rather peculiar shade of pink.
"I hope that you can help us, Margot," Hermione pleaded. "I have to save Remus from this terrible fate."
Margot looked on Hermione kindly and touched her cheek.
"I will do everything I can to help you and protect you," the older woman assured her. "But for now you must eat and warm yourselves. Come with me and I will bring you to my chambers."
Margot walked between Hermione and Severus as they headed towards the castle.
"È chiaro che lei l'ama, Severus. Con tutto il suo cuore. Lui è molto fortunato di aver trovato una donna simile."
"Come sono stato fortunato io di averti trovato, Margot."
"Sciocco."
Hermione wondered what Margot was smiling about but she had a feeling that there was more than friendship between the Potions Master of Hogwarts and the Potions Mistress of Durmstrang.
***************Sometime later in Professor DeKasaroff's parlour***********
Hermione sank into the welcoming comfort of a well padded wing chair and gratefully accepted a hot cup of cocoa from Margot.
"I have added a little something to get the feeling back into your toes," the older witch said with a smile.
Hermione looked around the snug parlour with satisfaction. Dark paneling, elegantly simply furniture, a fieldstone fireplace that was blazing merrily and many, many bookcases full of books in many languages.
"You have an impressive collection of books, Margot," Hermione sighed, sipping her cocoa carefully.
Margot looked at the books with a gaze of loving pride. "Yes, it has taken several years to acquire them but they are among my most prized possessions."
"Margot, I have to ask. How is it that you speak Italian? I did not think that it was commonly spoken in this part of the world," Hermione asked, watching as Margot offered Severus a cup of cocoa.
"I was born in Genoa and lived there with my parents for ten years before we moved to Budapest. I find that it is helpful to speak a language no one else really understands," Margot replied, picking up a tray upon which was a tureen filled with noodles, meat and vegetables. "My cooking skills are not gourmet by any means but I think you will like this."
"Sei sempre così modesta," Severus murmured.
"I am sure it is delicious, Margot," Hermione said as Margot began ladling the fragrant food into bowls. Putting her mug down on an adjacent table, Hermione eagerly accepted the bowl and spoon. She had not been able to eat anything at breakfast and was quite famished.
Margot then served Severus and sat down next to him with her own bowl. Hermione tried not to smile too broadly and concentrated on eating.
"Despite the fact that I have such an excellent collection of books, Hermione," Margot said quietly, "the ones you seek are not here."
"I did not think so," Hermione replied, reaching for a piece of bread in a basket that Margot offered.
"Durmstrang has a Restricted Section in its library as well," Severus commented as he tore a piece of bread in two and dipped it into the stew. "Delizioso, cara."
Margot smiled and then turned back to Hermione. "I will take you to the Restricted Section at midnight. There will be no one else there and I will stay with you to ensure your safety."
Hermione stopped for a moment and looked at the older witch with gratitude. "Thank you, Margot.for helping me. For helping him."
"Per l'amore, si fa tutto il possibile," Margot murmured as she looked at Severus and smiled. He placed a hand on hers and held it tightly in silent affirmation.
"I don't know exactly what you said," Hermione thought." But I completely agree with you."
**********Midnight at Durmstrang*********
Hermione had felt so tired after her meal that she asked to lie down somewhere for a quick nap. Margot had immediately offered her own bed which Hermione gratefully accepted. She was awake now and, glancing at the antique cuckoo clock on the dresser, it was almost time to go.
"I can't believe I slept so long." She thought to herself as she straightened her robes. She stepped to the door, which was open just slightly but stopped suddenly. She heard voices.
"Severus, sono così preoccupato. Ho paura che Quello-Che-Non-Dev'essere Nominato ti troverà," Margot turned to him anxiously.
Severus embraced her and Margot closed her eyes, two tears streaming silently down her cheeks. "Non preoccuparti di me, cara. Non ti lascerò sola. Sei la mia mano destra.ed hai le chiavi del mio cuore. Per oggi e sempre."
Margot reached up to touch his cheek, the sleeve falling away from her left arm.revealing a Dark Mark!
Although Hermione was only catching a word here and there of the conversation, the revelation of the Dark Mark made something crystal clear to her. "So, she is a former Death Eater as well," Hermione thought. It was little wonder Severus trusted her. She was in as precarious a situation as he was.
Severus tilted her chin so that she was looking up at him. "Niente puo togliermi da te, cara. Niente.nemmeno la morte." He then leaned down to kiss her lips gently. Hermione felt guilty.a bit like an eavesdropper but there was something in this private display of affection that went so much beyond the words she could not fully understand.
When they finally parted, Margot nodded, a glint of determination appeared in her eyes.
"Ecco la mia strega forte e coraggiosa," Severus smiled. He pulled her sleeve down to hide the Dark Mark once again.
"Si, caro. Sono tua come tu sei mio. E non dimenticarlo."
"No, cara. Non lo dimenticherò mai."
Hermione thought she had best make her presence known and cleared her throat before walking in. Surprisingly, they did not move from their positions but merely looked at her kindly.
"Are you ready, my dear?" Margot asked.
"Yes," Hermione replied.
Margot pulled her wand out of her sleeve and recited an incantation in Hungarian, which Hermione could not understand in the least. She felt a slight tingling got through her body.
"What was that?" She asked.
Margot smiled. "We are invisible to all but each other. It is a more effective means of concealment than an Invisibility Cloak."
Severus smirked at Hermione who had the grace to blush slightly.
"Let us go," Severus walked to the door and opened it, inviting the two witches to precede him.
Walking silently through the corridors of Durmstrang, Hermione noticed immediately that there was a very cold atmosphere here. The portraits looked stern and authoritative. There was nary a smile to be seen. The suits of armor looked particularly murderous and the torches were set in sconces that resembled bunches of human bones tied together with twine.but which were actually carved stone. Doors of ebony wood, bound with black iron, periodically appeared and, although Hermione would have dearly loved to have seen a classroom, she barely gave them a second glance.
Turning this way and that, down circular staircases that suddenly reared up like snakes and through secret passages that seemingly appeared from nowhere, Hermione felt completely and totally lost.
"I would never be able to find my way back on my own," she thought to herself as she walked behind Margot and in front of Severus.
They reached the library and Margot quickly opened the door to let them all in. Hermione stepped in and gave an excellent impression of a codfish out of water.
"And I thought the Hogwarts library was massive," she thought, thoroughly impressed with the sheer size of the library and the volume of books it contained.
"Do try to close your mouth, Hermione," Severus smirked. "You cannot eat the books, you know."
Hermione closed her mouth and glared at Severus.
"Don't mind him, Hermione," Margot said quietly as she locked the door. "He couldn't speak for several minutes when he first came here.and that was before he discovered the Potions section."
Severus rolled his eyes as Margot walked past him with a triumphant smile. Hermione and Severus rushed to keep up with her billowing navy robes. The older witch stopped in front of a bookcase, pulled out a book, opened it and whispered something to an illustration of a basilisk. The bookcase began to slide along the wall, revealing an inner chamber which suddenly sprang to life with the light of many torches. Margot then replaced the book and entered the chamber, Hermione and Severus following her.
"This is the Restricted Section of the library," Margot charmed the fire to light, flooding the chamber with warmth. "The books we are looking for are over there."
The next few hours were spent looking over books and taking notes. Hermione felt very tired but pushed herself to keep going. Just one more book and the answer might be found. Just one more book.
"I am so tired," she thought to herself as she yawned quietly, dropping her quill to stretch her fingers. She looked over to Severus and Margot who were reading over one of the more promising books.
Except.they weren't moving.
Not at all.
Curious, and somewhat alarmed, Hermione stood up and walked over to them. She gasped and made to pull out her wand when a hand clapped itself over her mouth and second one grabbed her hand. Then there was the sound of laughter.
"My dear Miss Granger," A familiar voice came from the shadows. Madame Pince stepped out and looked at her former student disdainfully. "I see you decided to take my suggestion that you examine the books of Durmstrang. You Gryffindors and your misguided sense of bravery and nobility. See how easily you are manipulated?"
"Stupid Mudblood," a voice from behind her surprised her. She knew that voice as well.
"Roberts was very helpful in finding a way to get to you," Madame Pince walked over to Hermione, standing right in front of her. "And he expects to be well rewarded."
Hermione did not like the cruel smile on Madame Pince's face.
"Thank you Madame Pince," Roberts replied submissively. "Can I have her now?"
"Don't be ridiculous, boy," Madame Pince snapped irritably. "We will return to the inn and, once you are in your room, she is yours to do with as you will until we leave for the Dark Lord's headquarters tomorrow night.
"Perfect." Hermione's legs were sagging from fright and disgust. "Can we kill these two?"
"The Dark Lord has no use for them. The Frozen Hibernation spell will wear off and they will have to live with the knowledge that they delivered her into our hands and, consequently, that accursed werewolf. Besides, they have to deliver the message to that king of fools, Dumbledore," the librarian practically spat the name out in hatred. Turning, she pointed her wand at Hermione. "Silentium Legatum."
Hermione felt her hands suddenly bound behind her back and, when Roberts moved his hand, she found herself unable to talk. Chuckling, the young man walked in front of her, pushing her backwards until she was up against the cold stone wall.
"We are going to get to know one another much better, Professor Granger," he drawled as he pressed against her, his arousal impossible to ignore. "And I am very much looking forward to enjoying you." A maniacal grin gave his face a macabre expression as his hands fondled her unwilling body.
"Stop it, Roberts. I said to wait until we're back at the inn," Madame Pince turned to them.
"Just giving the Mudblood a taste of what's to come. After a werewolf, she'll find me surprisingly.gentle." He leaned down to bite her throat hard, causing tears to spring to her eyes.
Madame Pince pointed to a torch upon which was scrawled a rudimentary serpent. "Here is the portkey. Let's go."
Within moments, they were gone.
Chapter 12: A Visit To Durmstrang
It was a chilly morning and the wind whipping its way from the east blew leaves off the ground and created miniature tornadoes of russet, gold and brown. Winter was not far off and Hermione felt that the wind hinted at the snow that was to come shortly. She was standing with Remus just inside the gates that separated Hogwarts from the outside world. Despite the warm woolen cloak and fuzzy scarf, she shivered.
"Cold?" Remus asked softly, embracing her.
"It's not just that," she muttered, holding him tightly.
"This is not going to be easy for you.going back there. I wish I could go with you," he whispered as she continued to shiver.
"I know," she replied softly, looking up at him. "I'll be all right. I am a Gryffindor and we are a strong bunch. Just, right now, I am indulging in a bit of weakness."
"Hermione, it isn't weakness. You do not have pleasant memories of Durmstrang and it is well known that it does not have the bright and cheery atmosphere of Hogwarts," Remus said, not letting her go.
"And there is no Dumbledore to put things to right," she sighed as she absently fingered the clasp on Remus' cloak.
Remus smiled but then his expression sobered. "Hermione," he said in an urgent tone, "please be careful."
"You know I will be," she tried to reassure him. "Besides, Severus will be with me."
"That is true but I know you well enough that you would think nothing of sneaking away from him in search of a book or a parchment or anything that might offer a clue in the puzzle you are trying to solve. You have to promise me you will not do that," Remus fixed her with a piercing stare.
"I can't believe that you are actually making me promise to stay by Severus' side," she joked, trying to relieve the tension in his face. She could tell that he was extremely worried.
"Hermione," he gazed at her intently, tracing her jawline with his index finger. "I want you to promise me that you will be careful."
She smiled at him and kissed his lips softly. "I will be. I promise."
"If anything were to happen to you."
"Nothing will happen to me. Nothing. I'll be back before you even realize that I am gone."
Remus shook his head. "I highly doubt that, Hermione."
They kissed again and held each other tightly as the leaves whipped around them mercilessly.
The sound of someone clearing his throat caused them to pull away from each other slightly. Sirius Black stepped forward, with an abashed expression on his face.
"You have an annoying habit of interrupting us, Sirius," Hermione grinned at Sirius' obvious embarrassment at having intruded on a private moment.
"He is simply annoying, Hermione," Remus grumbled.
"On that, I would quite agree, Remus," Severus came forward and approached the group with a smirk on his face.
Remus and Hermione chuckled while Sirius' expression could have sent a Dementor running for cover.
"It is time, Hermione," Severus commented, raising the hood of his cloak to cover his head. Hermione thought he looked rather intimidating with his cloak billowing around him like that.
She turned to Remus and smiled sadly. "I will be back as soon as I can."
He nodded wordlessly and kissed her forehead.
She walked over to the gate with Severus. Sirius approached them.
"Be careful, Hermione," he said in a grave tone. He then turned to Severus with a stern glare. "If anything happens to her, I will take it upon myself to disembowel you."
"No need to worry, Black," Severus replied, with no change in his enigmatic expression. "If anything happens to her, I will give you the knife myself."
Hermione turned to open the gates and walked out with Severus. They were gone in the blink of an eye.
Sirius turned to Remus. "She will be back soon, Moony."
"Not soon enough, Padfoot," Remus sighed as he followed Sirius back to the castle. "Not nearly soon enough."
The two men were so intent on getting inside that they failed to notice the two figures hiding in the shadows.
**************Durmstrang***************
When Hermione felt the world coalesce before her once again, the first thing she felt was the bitter cold.
"It's freezing," she huffed as she pulled the hood over her head.
"Welcome to Durmstrang," Severus announced grandly as he lowered his hood. "Well, welcome to its gates, to be precise."
Hermione gave Severus a rather frosty smirk and then turned to the massive gates with an apprehensive glance. The gates themselves were fashioned from wrought iron, intricate designs of a variety of magical beasts expertly crafted in the dark metal. The gates were hung on pillars of granite.solid, lunky things that looked capable of withstanding a blow from a Troll's club.
And they were closed. Shut tight. And there didn't appear to be a gatekeeper.
"Who is supposed to meet us here?"
Severus pulled his wand out from his sleeve and tapped on the right pillar three times. The gates opened silently, which surprised Hermione somewhat. She was half-expecting a low creaking sound.the sort of sound one would expect to hear in a Muggle horror cinema.
"Professor Margot DeKasaroff is the Potions Mistress and is one of the few professors at this institution that I can trust. She will be here shortly to take us in by a less visible entrance," Severus said quietly as they stepped through the gates and onto the grounds of Durmstrang. They did not notice the gates closing silently behind them.
Hermione looked around and what she saw brought back painful memories of her relationship with Viktor. What a fool she had been to think that he loved her. What a greater fool she was to think that she loved him. The landscape was bleak and she could make out the turrets at the top of Durmstrang. Like Hogwarts, it was a castle but, unlike Hogwarts, it was cold, dark and oppressive. It was not inviting and she had always felt as if she were an intruder.
"I hope she arrives soon or else I will freeze solid," Hermione muttered.
"It's not even winter yet, Hermione. What would you do then?" Severus asked, his breath misting in the air.
"I intend on never finding out. Winters at Hogwarts are pleasant. Winter at Durmstrang would be a nightmare," Hermione stamped her feet, trying to keep warm. She was getting irritated at Severus' calm demeanour.
"Then again," she thought irreverently, "Ron always said Severus had ice water running through his veins."
The sound of crunching snow turned her attention away from her freezing extremities. A hooded figure was quickly approaching them. For a moment, Hermione panicked.wondering if this were an enemy come to destroy them both. The figure stopped in front of Severus.
"Siete in ritardo, caro. Avevo paura che qualcosa era sucesso a voi," the soft contralto voice of a woman emanated from the hood.
Hermione could not believe her ears. It sounded like Italian? But here?
"Non ti preoccupare. Ci voleva tempo. Sai che la ragazza non poteva lasciarlo senza dire niente," Severus reached out a hand to lower the woman's hood.
"This is Hermione Granger?" The woman asked.
"Yes, Margot. My best student who is in desperate need of your help. Hermione, this is Professor DeKasaroff," Severus replied quietly.
Hermione reached out a hand in greeting and noticed that Margot had a firm, warm handshake. She was not very tall but had a strong presence. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun and, although originally brown, there were wisps of white in her tresses. Her large brown eyes sparkled and her lines had fallen in pleasant places. Altogether, Hermione thought she was an attractive woman.
"Per piacere, call me Margot. A pleasure to meet you. Severus has spoken a great deal of you and thinks very highly of you," Margot smiled while Severus turned a rather peculiar shade of pink.
"I hope that you can help us, Margot," Hermione pleaded. "I have to save Remus from this terrible fate."
Margot looked on Hermione kindly and touched her cheek.
"I will do everything I can to help you and protect you," the older woman assured her. "But for now you must eat and warm yourselves. Come with me and I will bring you to my chambers."
Margot walked between Hermione and Severus as they headed towards the castle.
"È chiaro che lei l'ama, Severus. Con tutto il suo cuore. Lui è molto fortunato di aver trovato una donna simile."
"Come sono stato fortunato io di averti trovato, Margot."
"Sciocco."
Hermione wondered what Margot was smiling about but she had a feeling that there was more than friendship between the Potions Master of Hogwarts and the Potions Mistress of Durmstrang.
***************Sometime later in Professor DeKasaroff's parlour***********
Hermione sank into the welcoming comfort of a well padded wing chair and gratefully accepted a hot cup of cocoa from Margot.
"I have added a little something to get the feeling back into your toes," the older witch said with a smile.
Hermione looked around the snug parlour with satisfaction. Dark paneling, elegantly simply furniture, a fieldstone fireplace that was blazing merrily and many, many bookcases full of books in many languages.
"You have an impressive collection of books, Margot," Hermione sighed, sipping her cocoa carefully.
Margot looked at the books with a gaze of loving pride. "Yes, it has taken several years to acquire them but they are among my most prized possessions."
"Margot, I have to ask. How is it that you speak Italian? I did not think that it was commonly spoken in this part of the world," Hermione asked, watching as Margot offered Severus a cup of cocoa.
"I was born in Genoa and lived there with my parents for ten years before we moved to Budapest. I find that it is helpful to speak a language no one else really understands," Margot replied, picking up a tray upon which was a tureen filled with noodles, meat and vegetables. "My cooking skills are not gourmet by any means but I think you will like this."
"Sei sempre così modesta," Severus murmured.
"I am sure it is delicious, Margot," Hermione said as Margot began ladling the fragrant food into bowls. Putting her mug down on an adjacent table, Hermione eagerly accepted the bowl and spoon. She had not been able to eat anything at breakfast and was quite famished.
Margot then served Severus and sat down next to him with her own bowl. Hermione tried not to smile too broadly and concentrated on eating.
"Despite the fact that I have such an excellent collection of books, Hermione," Margot said quietly, "the ones you seek are not here."
"I did not think so," Hermione replied, reaching for a piece of bread in a basket that Margot offered.
"Durmstrang has a Restricted Section in its library as well," Severus commented as he tore a piece of bread in two and dipped it into the stew. "Delizioso, cara."
Margot smiled and then turned back to Hermione. "I will take you to the Restricted Section at midnight. There will be no one else there and I will stay with you to ensure your safety."
Hermione stopped for a moment and looked at the older witch with gratitude. "Thank you, Margot.for helping me. For helping him."
"Per l'amore, si fa tutto il possibile," Margot murmured as she looked at Severus and smiled. He placed a hand on hers and held it tightly in silent affirmation.
"I don't know exactly what you said," Hermione thought." But I completely agree with you."
**********Midnight at Durmstrang*********
Hermione had felt so tired after her meal that she asked to lie down somewhere for a quick nap. Margot had immediately offered her own bed which Hermione gratefully accepted. She was awake now and, glancing at the antique cuckoo clock on the dresser, it was almost time to go.
"I can't believe I slept so long." She thought to herself as she straightened her robes. She stepped to the door, which was open just slightly but stopped suddenly. She heard voices.
"Severus, sono così preoccupato. Ho paura che Quello-Che-Non-Dev'essere Nominato ti troverà," Margot turned to him anxiously.
Severus embraced her and Margot closed her eyes, two tears streaming silently down her cheeks. "Non preoccuparti di me, cara. Non ti lascerò sola. Sei la mia mano destra.ed hai le chiavi del mio cuore. Per oggi e sempre."
Margot reached up to touch his cheek, the sleeve falling away from her left arm.revealing a Dark Mark!
Although Hermione was only catching a word here and there of the conversation, the revelation of the Dark Mark made something crystal clear to her. "So, she is a former Death Eater as well," Hermione thought. It was little wonder Severus trusted her. She was in as precarious a situation as he was.
Severus tilted her chin so that she was looking up at him. "Niente puo togliermi da te, cara. Niente.nemmeno la morte." He then leaned down to kiss her lips gently. Hermione felt guilty.a bit like an eavesdropper but there was something in this private display of affection that went so much beyond the words she could not fully understand.
When they finally parted, Margot nodded, a glint of determination appeared in her eyes.
"Ecco la mia strega forte e coraggiosa," Severus smiled. He pulled her sleeve down to hide the Dark Mark once again.
"Si, caro. Sono tua come tu sei mio. E non dimenticarlo."
"No, cara. Non lo dimenticherò mai."
Hermione thought she had best make her presence known and cleared her throat before walking in. Surprisingly, they did not move from their positions but merely looked at her kindly.
"Are you ready, my dear?" Margot asked.
"Yes," Hermione replied.
Margot pulled her wand out of her sleeve and recited an incantation in Hungarian, which Hermione could not understand in the least. She felt a slight tingling got through her body.
"What was that?" She asked.
Margot smiled. "We are invisible to all but each other. It is a more effective means of concealment than an Invisibility Cloak."
Severus smirked at Hermione who had the grace to blush slightly.
"Let us go," Severus walked to the door and opened it, inviting the two witches to precede him.
Walking silently through the corridors of Durmstrang, Hermione noticed immediately that there was a very cold atmosphere here. The portraits looked stern and authoritative. There was nary a smile to be seen. The suits of armor looked particularly murderous and the torches were set in sconces that resembled bunches of human bones tied together with twine.but which were actually carved stone. Doors of ebony wood, bound with black iron, periodically appeared and, although Hermione would have dearly loved to have seen a classroom, she barely gave them a second glance.
Turning this way and that, down circular staircases that suddenly reared up like snakes and through secret passages that seemingly appeared from nowhere, Hermione felt completely and totally lost.
"I would never be able to find my way back on my own," she thought to herself as she walked behind Margot and in front of Severus.
They reached the library and Margot quickly opened the door to let them all in. Hermione stepped in and gave an excellent impression of a codfish out of water.
"And I thought the Hogwarts library was massive," she thought, thoroughly impressed with the sheer size of the library and the volume of books it contained.
"Do try to close your mouth, Hermione," Severus smirked. "You cannot eat the books, you know."
Hermione closed her mouth and glared at Severus.
"Don't mind him, Hermione," Margot said quietly as she locked the door. "He couldn't speak for several minutes when he first came here.and that was before he discovered the Potions section."
Severus rolled his eyes as Margot walked past him with a triumphant smile. Hermione and Severus rushed to keep up with her billowing navy robes. The older witch stopped in front of a bookcase, pulled out a book, opened it and whispered something to an illustration of a basilisk. The bookcase began to slide along the wall, revealing an inner chamber which suddenly sprang to life with the light of many torches. Margot then replaced the book and entered the chamber, Hermione and Severus following her.
"This is the Restricted Section of the library," Margot charmed the fire to light, flooding the chamber with warmth. "The books we are looking for are over there."
The next few hours were spent looking over books and taking notes. Hermione felt very tired but pushed herself to keep going. Just one more book and the answer might be found. Just one more book.
"I am so tired," she thought to herself as she yawned quietly, dropping her quill to stretch her fingers. She looked over to Severus and Margot who were reading over one of the more promising books.
Except.they weren't moving.
Not at all.
Curious, and somewhat alarmed, Hermione stood up and walked over to them. She gasped and made to pull out her wand when a hand clapped itself over her mouth and second one grabbed her hand. Then there was the sound of laughter.
"My dear Miss Granger," A familiar voice came from the shadows. Madame Pince stepped out and looked at her former student disdainfully. "I see you decided to take my suggestion that you examine the books of Durmstrang. You Gryffindors and your misguided sense of bravery and nobility. See how easily you are manipulated?"
"Stupid Mudblood," a voice from behind her surprised her. She knew that voice as well.
"Roberts was very helpful in finding a way to get to you," Madame Pince walked over to Hermione, standing right in front of her. "And he expects to be well rewarded."
Hermione did not like the cruel smile on Madame Pince's face.
"Thank you Madame Pince," Roberts replied submissively. "Can I have her now?"
"Don't be ridiculous, boy," Madame Pince snapped irritably. "We will return to the inn and, once you are in your room, she is yours to do with as you will until we leave for the Dark Lord's headquarters tomorrow night.
"Perfect." Hermione's legs were sagging from fright and disgust. "Can we kill these two?"
"The Dark Lord has no use for them. The Frozen Hibernation spell will wear off and they will have to live with the knowledge that they delivered her into our hands and, consequently, that accursed werewolf. Besides, they have to deliver the message to that king of fools, Dumbledore," the librarian practically spat the name out in hatred. Turning, she pointed her wand at Hermione. "Silentium Legatum."
Hermione felt her hands suddenly bound behind her back and, when Roberts moved his hand, she found herself unable to talk. Chuckling, the young man walked in front of her, pushing her backwards until she was up against the cold stone wall.
"We are going to get to know one another much better, Professor Granger," he drawled as he pressed against her, his arousal impossible to ignore. "And I am very much looking forward to enjoying you." A maniacal grin gave his face a macabre expression as his hands fondled her unwilling body.
"Stop it, Roberts. I said to wait until we're back at the inn," Madame Pince turned to them.
"Just giving the Mudblood a taste of what's to come. After a werewolf, she'll find me surprisingly.gentle." He leaned down to bite her throat hard, causing tears to spring to her eyes.
Madame Pince pointed to a torch upon which was scrawled a rudimentary serpent. "Here is the portkey. Let's go."
Within moments, they were gone.