"Quod Me Nutruit, Me Destruit – Chapter 9"
By the Crystalline Temptress
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, the brilliant writer J.K. Rowling does. So don't sue me.
A/N: It's been quite a while since I last wrote something. I apologize for the length of time; I was preoccupied with a million things to do.
I suppose this is the "rising action." I'm surprised that I've gotten this far already. Anyway, this chapter contains some answers to a few questions posed in the previous chapters. Yes, it is finally revealed! Sirius Black was accused of being a Death Eater because . . .
Much thanks to all the reviews (most especially to Ithacus)! The input's helped immensely.
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Hermione was beginning to feel that she was not ready for the tasks that lay before her. She tossed and turned in bed, falling in and out of a fitful slumber. She had gruesome and grotesque dreams of Death Eaters and horrible carnages. She dreamt of force-fed potions and altars and all sorts of twisted scenarios. She dreamt a number of dreams that had the either the deaths of her family, her friends, or her own. In these nightmares, she almost always came across Professor Snape, acting as either the evil that kills her or the savior that rescues her from peril.
I'm only fifteen, she told herself one waking moment, wiping her sweat-soaked brow with the back of her hand. What am I doing? she thought dimly as she shifted to one side, seeing the golden moon in all its fullness, a beacon of serenity and peace as opposed to her horror-laden slumber. She sighed and rubbed her eyes wearily. They were itchy and heavy from lack of sleep.
She remembered seeing Professor Snape that evening, haggard and inebriated, smelling of sweat and sex and terror.
I'm too young for these kind of things, Hermione whispered to herself internally. Why did I even bother?
Stop this nonsense! another voice rebuked, sharper than the first that spoke. You chose to get into this mess. You'll get yourself out after you've done your part. Remmeber Harry, Ron, and Sirius. Remember S.P.E.W.. And most of all, remember Niobe Tatius-Hathaway.
Hermione sniffled and pushed her teenaged feelings of indecision and fear to one side, trying with all her might to conjure up her Gryffindor daring and bravery.
I don't have the time to feel this way.
Hermione sniffed again and closed her curtains, doing her best to feel resolute and failing miserably.
"Are you alright?" Ron questioned as Hermione poked her eggs tiredly. She had been silent and listless the entire time they had been at the breakfast table. Ron and Harry were almost finished with their food, while she was still halfway through.
Hermione nodded slowly, blinking as if to clear her sight. "Sorry," she apologized earnestly, flashing Ron a tiny smile. "I just didn't get to sleep last night. I had nightmares."
Ron patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry about it, Hermione. Why don't you get some sleep after eating? It would do you some good."
"It's alright," she said, more confidently than she really felt. "I'm sure that it'll wear off later. Besides, the Aevum's done today. I'll just add a few things, cast a few charms, and it's all finished."
Harry nodded. "Good," he said. He glanced around surreptitiously, then leaned forward and cushioned his chin on his knuckles. "If you don't mind me asking, what were the dreams about?"
"It would be good to tell us," Ron said. "It's a burden off of your shoulders. Only if you want to, though," he added.
"I dreamed about the Death Eaters," Hermione whispered after a pregnant pause. "I dreamed about potions. I dreamed about the deaths of my family and my friends. It was horrible. I'd wake up, then when I'd fall asleep again, I'd dream a new dream; this new dream would have a different scenario, but the same characters, and the same pain." Hermione's voice broke with exhaustion and fatigue. Harry looked sympathetic as he patted her left arm soothingly, while from underneath the table, Ron reached out and took her right hand in his. He clasped it tightly in his palm, and Hermione immediately felt better.
"Thanks," she said gratefully, smiling at them both.
"No problem," Harry said with a small grin. "That's what we're here for. Right, Ron?"
Ron's grip tightened. He did not verbalize his agreement, but he nodded.
"Anyway," Hermione said, "as I had said earlier, the Aevum's done today. Right now, I'm going to the library to do a bit of last minute reviewing about On-Contact potions. Could you two come with me to the dungeons after lunch? We could sort out a plan later, once I've given Ron his pendant."
They acceded with nods.
"By the way, did you read the latest article about Snuffles on the Daily Prophet?" Harry queried as he finished off his breakfast.
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I was too distraught to look at the paper."
"There was something there about 'Black's notorious school record,' and how he fought with everyone." Harry rolled his eyes. "They most especially highlighted his squabbles with Lucius Malfoy, though."
Hermione made a thoughtful sound. Then she sighed and took her fork in her left hand. Ron released her other so that she could continue with her breakfast. Harry, sensing that Hermione was deep in thought, did not bring up the subject again. They spent the rest of the time in thoughtful silence, Hermione finishing her morning meal and thinking things over while Harry and Ron watched her and thought about things themselves.
Severus Snape awoke from a heavy slumber, wincing as beams of sunlight shone down on his face.
He immediately remembered his dream about McGonagall and Hermione. He felt his stomach heave violently.
He could only recall fragments of the previous night. He could still call to mind what had happened with Malfoy in the Moonshine Tavern. But after that, things were rather hazy and blurred. He could vaguely remember stumbling across Hermione and talking for a while, but he couldn't remember what they had discussed. He remembered getting into the bath and scrubbing his skin raw. He glanced at his arms; they were most definitely red and peeling. He sighed and rubbed his temples, which were throbbing with a dull sort of pain, and proceeded to the bathroom in order to prepare for the day.
Hermione pushed the dungeons door open, Harry and Ron flanking her from behind. She almost expected to see Professor Snape there, an omen of death and darkness. She exhaled in relief when the light threw the room into high relief; it was empty, except for the cauldron simmering atop one of the tables, as it had been for the past few days. She strode over to it and peered at the crimson liquid as it swirled and spiraled in whorls of lurid intricacy. The Aevum.
"That is the Aevum?" Ron breathed in disgust.
Hermione nodded once. Taking a deep breath, she took two pouches from her bag and simultaneously emptied their contents into the cauldron. There was a soundless explosion that rattled the walls; Hermione covered her ears, anticipating the result. Beside her, Harry grabbed a tabletop for support, while Ron's arms (accidentally or intentionally, she knew not) found their way around her.
"I was hoping that wouldn't happen," Hermione muttered as she gently pried Ron's arms away from her. "It still did, anyway." She glanced at the pot. There was only a little of the potion left. It was just enough to create two pendants. Quickly, she performed the Crystallizing Charm; the entire substance solidified into a rough crystal the color of dried blood. She broke it apart with the small poker used to fix the flames under their cauldrons. When it separated into two, she spelled two holders onto both pieces and hung them on chains.
"There," she said, handing one to Ron. "That should do it."
"That's it?" he asked apprehensively, holding up the eerie-looking necklace. It radiated power; all three of them could feel the magic undulating in thick waves.
"I suppose so," Hermione said with a deep intake of breath. Slowly, she placed the chain round her neck and shut her eyes, anticipating a fantastic display of earth-shaking magic. Nothing happened.
Ron let out a nervous laugh. Harry joined in, and Hermione also stifled a slightly hysterical giggle.
"After that explosion, I was expecting something overly dramatic myself," Harry confessed with a sheepish grin.
"Who wouldn't?" Hermione shrugged. "Do I look any different? I don't feel anything."
"Actually, you do," Ron admitted. "A little more mature." He slipped his own necklace over his head. Hermione saw the subtle change take place, more in Ron's expression than in physical looks. Ron took the chain off again, tucking it into his pocket for future use, and he returned to his normal self.
"Alright, now that we've finished with the Aevum, we'll now be able to get into Moonshine Tavern," Hermione said briskly, feeling her uncertainties fade away with the strength of her resolve. "When night sets in, Ron and I will sneak into Honeydukes using your Invisibility Cloak," she told Harry, who nodded his assent. "We'll proceed to the Moonshine Tavern, and we'll have a bit of a look around. Listen to conversations, look for evidences, find secret passageways. . . ." She quieted for a moment as she thought. "If need be, I'll step out of the cloak in order to converse with the people. Inebriated ones only; they're less likely to remember. I'm confident that we'll be able to dig up some gossip; a tavern's one of the best places to find out about anything."
"We could discover some opinions and rumors too; maybe a clue leading to something extra," Ron agreed.
"I just hope you two aren't going on a wild goose chase," Harry said quietly.
Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. "For Snuffles' sake and ours, I hope not," Ron grimaced.
Hermione braced her hands on her hips resolutely. "You two go on upstairs. I'll clean up here," she said as she disassembled the cauldron setup. "Oh, and Harry, maybe you ought to plan the route and the timeframe with Ron. I'll catch up on the plans later."
"We'll wait for you at 5:00," Harry said. "It's 2:07 right now. Three hours should be enough, unless you want more time?"
"No, that's fine," Hermione said dismissively. "I'll see you then."
The two boys then left, and Hermione was left to her musings as she tidied up.
Soon after she was done cleaning, Hermione checked her wristwatch to check the time. It was exactly 2:30. She had just scrubbed the last of the potion off of the cauldron bottom and was just packing it away when a door creaked open from behind the shelves. Professor Snape emerged from the niche, looking just as startled as she was, though his expression was infinitely more vindictive, although weary and worn.
"Miss Granger," he spoke up.
"Professor Snape," she returned, unwittingly calling to mind their last meeting. She pushed the recollections aside. "I was just winding up."
"I see," he said quietly. "Are you finished with the Aevum?"
"Yes sir," she replied. She lifted the chain off of her head and showed him the pendant. Hermione observed that while Snape inspected it closely, he did not touch it.
"Good enough," came the silken praise. "For a Gryffindor." Her first sparks of pride turned into mild resentment. "When do you plan to use this?"
"Tonight," she answered, frank almost against her will.
Snape crossed his arms and sat behind his desk, scrutinizing her unnervingly. "Explain."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Ron and I are going to go to the Moonshine Tavern. We'll find out a few things. That's all."
He was silent for a long while. "Do as you will," he said sharply.
I plan to, she thought, both bristling and intimidated because of his holier-than-thou Slytherin attitude.
Just as she was about to leave, she recalled a question she needed to ask. "Professor Snape?" she ventured.
His head snapped up. "What?"
"I just wanted to know. . . ." She faced him again. "Did the Death Eaters ever shift blame before? Like a scapegoat, or a red herring?"
Snape narrowed his eyes at her ever so slightly. "Why?"
"I was just wondering," Hermione replied, a tad defensively, "about their reasons for accusing Sirius Black."
"No, I don't think they ever did," he said in response, although his tone was speculative.
"And, uh, sir," Hermione put in, a little more quietly now, "could it be possible that your headache is magically induced?"
There was a long moment of quiet. "I've been thinking about it now," he told her. "Ever since you gave me the Sanatio, I've been wondering about it myself." He suddenly sighed and looked much older than he already seemed. Hermione was shaken once more to see such a change in his expression.
"Go," he snapped without preamble. Hermione immediately did so, rushing back to the Gryffindor common room, where she felt she was on familiar and less terrorizing grounds.
"She plans to go to the Moonshine Tavern tonight," Snape said irritably as he paced back and forth. Fawkes watched him serenely, head swaying back and forth to follow his movement.
"Then you must accompany her, Severus," Dumbledore said as he scribbled away on a piece of parchment. "Jellybean?" He offered Snape a pack of Muggle jellybeans. "These are perfectly safe; no odd flavors, except maybe for root beer."
"You don't seem to be disturbed by this, headmaster," Snape snarled, glaring with pure venom that would have made the basilisk's stare seem like the product of mere annoyance.
"I am worried, of course," Dumbledore admonished mildly, taking a blue jellybean and inspecting it thoughtfully. "But then, she has you for a guardian, and that lessens my anxieties immensely."
Snape clenched his fists. "I don't want to go to the Moonshine Tavern!" he hissed. "After that encounter I had last night, I am in no mood to hurry back into the seventh circle of hell!"
"Dear old Severus," Dumbledore sighed theatrically, cushioning his chin on a knuckle. "Take my word for it; Hermione's visit won't be trouble-free, of that I am certain. But I would most certainly feel less jittery if you were to act as her chaperone." Snape's nostrils flared at the mention of the word "chaperone."
"I most certainly—"
"—Will do so? Good; it's settled, then," the headmaster said cheerily, leaning back into his chair and finally popping the blue jellybean into his mouth. "Not bad," he said. "Do have one before you depart."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had prepared themselves mentally before plunging into their plan (which, by this time, had seemed less valiant and more foolhardy). Harry felt as if he were abusing his friendships by asking them (although unintentionally) to help his godfather. Hermione was beginning to regain her qualms. Ron felt that they should have left the matter with the Ministry. Neither of them felt like abandoning their posts, though, and each one kept his or her reasons undisclosed.
Ron and Hermione were scheduled to go to Hogsmeade at exactly 6:30 in the evening, and their estimated time of return would be at around 8:00, give or take a few minutes. They would proceed through the secret passageway to Honeydukes, taking care to remain unseen, and then they would take a shortcut to Moonshine Tavern. Ron's job would be to listen to the conversations, while Hermione would look around for clues, secret hallways, and relevant data. They agreed to remain in the Invisibility Cloak as long as possible. Harry would then cover their return, armed with all the healing spells and components he could get hold of (Just in case, Hermione had said).
"Good luck," Harry called after them as they hid behind the statue of the one-eyed old crone.
"Thanks," Hermione whispered as she disappeared behind the hunchbacked statue, Ron right behind her.
Ron and Hermione crept along the passageway, their hearts thumping like sledgehammers in their chests, until they reached Honeydukes' cellar. Mercifully, there was no one in sight as they entered the shop itself, except for one woman who was talking to her boyfriend in one corner. Ron and Hermione tiptoed past them underneath the Invisibility Cloak, but the two lovers were so entangled in their snogging that they wouldn't have noticed a stampede of centaurs pass them by.
Ron and Hermione hurried across Hogsmeade, careful not to tread on anyone as they wove their way along the sea of people. Finally, they reached the tavern, breathless with the effort it took to get their and their own nervousness.
"You go on ahead." Ron nudged Hermione to the wall.
Hermione glared at him. Facing the wall, she took a deep breath, made sure that her necklace was there, and hesitantly pressed her palm to the wall. It glowed a bright, glittering red before receding to form an arch. Hermione stepped through, and Ron had to repeat the process.
"The Aevum worked," Hermione said, an air of accomplishment coloring her words.
"You're bloody brilliant, Hermione," Ron replied, giving her arm a squeeze.
Neither of them noticed that the wall opened up behind them to admit nothing, just as it seemed to admit nothing when the two of them stepped in.
The tavern was smoky and dull, and the hubbub assailed their ears. Ron had to strain his ears just to listen to what people were saying, while Hermione had to squint in order to look at the comings and goings and activity around her.
"Listen here," Ron hissed, tugging at Hermione's sleeve and directing her to a few men who sat at one corner of the pub. They fitted themselves into the corner of the room, eavesdropping on the highly informative conversation happening at the table.
"I think it's ridiculous, James," one man said, drumming his fingers on the table impatiently. "Why would the accusations make a difference?"
"Don't you see it?" the man called "James" said, banging his mug on the wood. "He's a distraction. Since everyone's thinking that he's a Death Eater, all of the blame will go to him! Remember the incident in Knockturn Alley? No one will suspect that the real Death Eaters are doing the crimes, since the spotlight's on him! Besides, anyone who's important knows that Black and Malfoy were rivals in school, and it's highly impossible that the two of them would be on the same side."
"As if this distraction will last forever," the first of them said. "Before long, the Ministry will clear this up, and the blame will again be on Lucius Malfoy and the rest of his cronies."
"Shh!" the second man exclaimed, looking scandalized. "Do you want us to be discovered?"
"Look, let me say my part," his companion said, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's brilliant enough, using Black as a red herring. Yes, I know, anyone who's relevant knows that Black despised Malfoy in their younger days. But do you really think that their petty arguments in school would set them on different sides? There are many facets to one story, whether it be light or dark. Just because Black's on the Dark side it doesn't mean that Malfoy's not!"
Hermione gasped. "So, that's their plan!" she exclaimed quietly. "Since they're making it appear that Sirius is on Voldemort's side, it would make the people wonder if Malfoy's on the Dark Lord's side too! It is more believable that Sirius would be a Death Eater, since Malfoy's wealthy and quite the philanthropist, while Sirius's an Azkaban escapee."
"This won't last very long, though, as that guy said," Ron put in. "What's their point?"
"Lucas, don't act like such an antagonist," the first man said. "Besides, when the Ministry gets wind of all this, the Death Eaters will long be on their way to victory. . . ."
"Okay, I think we've gathered enough information," Ron whispered. "Let's go!"
"Wait a second," Hermione insisted, creeping forward.
To their surprise, the wall beside them slid open, and two men stepped through.
"Hermione!" Ron yelped as Hermione stumbled into the passageway as the wall caved in. She crashed into one man's legs, thrown out of the Invisibility Cloak by her fall.
"What do we have here?" the man said, roughly pulling Hermione up by her hair. She grunted in pain as he yanked her up to her full height. "A ripe young lady hiding in corners! You don't look older than eighteen; we could use you. . . ."
"Go to hell!" Hermione barked, whipping her wand out with a flick of her wrist and Stunning the man.
"Get her!" his companion yelled.
Bedlam ensued all throughout the tavern. People rushed to the door, while others clamored to help James and Lucas. Ron, forgetting all about the Invisibility Cloak, just tied it around his neck like a cape, took Hermione's hand, and rushed to the exit.
"Oh no you don't!" Lucas snarled. He raised his own wand, and spidery cords flew out of the tip. They rapidly spun around Hermione and held her fast. She fell to the ground with a loud thud. A prism of colors flashed before her eyes, searing her with pain as she felt the bonds tighten around her agonizingly.
"Herm—" Ron was unable to finish as James hit him with the Stunning Spell.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Hermione felt the ropes around her dissolve into nothingness. The pain receded into a bearable sting. She fumbled for her own wand and rushed to Ron, thinking that he had freed her from the ties. "Ennervate!" she cried. Ron blinked as he came to life.
"What—what happened?" Ron stammered, immediately rising to his knees.
"Who saved me?" Hermione demanded hysterically as she helped Ron to his feet.
"Get out of here," a voice rasped into her ear. Hermione whirled around frantically. She saw no one in sight. Deciding not to dwell on it further, she sprinted to the door. The noise of the crowd surrounding them was deafening.
"Accio Invisibility Cloak!" she vaguely heard James command.
She glanced back and nearly stopped in her tracks, surprised to see none other than Severus Snape.
Snape looked around wildly, cursing under his breath as the throng of people swarmed around him, either fighting to get away or trying to join the fray. He was expecting that something of the sort would happen; his stomach lurched uncomfortably at the thought of what could happen to Ron and Hermione. Hermione, most of all, with her cunning and agile mind, with her impeccable Gryffindor courage and bravado. He surprised himself with his own train of thought.
"Accio Invisibility Cloak!"
In horror and dread, he felt his cloak soar above his head, landing into the hands of none other than Lucas Nott, fellow Death Eater and Dark supporter.
"Severus Snape," he drawled. "How surprising to see you here. Defending your girlfriend? You are such a pedophile."
"Lucas Nott," Snape returned, allowing his voice to take on a sarcastic curl. "How surprising to see you here. I thought you'd be hiding in the mountains, too cowardly to face the fate you chose."
Lucas' face reddened with anger. "Crucio!"
Snape felt the white-hot pain explode through his skull, burning his insides into molten lava. He fell to his knees, writhing in agony. His insides were bursting with the pressure, and the world shivered around him, tilting wildly on its axis. . . .
Hermione did the first thing she could think of. She grabbed a glass from a nearby table and threw it at Lucas, disrupting his concentration. "Obliviate!" she screamed. A jet of green light shot from her wand, hitting him squarely in between his eyes. He flew backwards with the intensity of the spell and hit the bar, which sent a shower of shattered snifters at him.
"Professor Snape!" She sprinted to his side. He was already struggling to get back on his feet. Ron ran to his other side and aided him in standing.
"Go!" He shoved the two students towards the exit. "Tell Potter. . . ." Ron looked at him uncertainly before following suit. Hermione stubbornly remained beside him, clutching his arm for both his support and hers.
Snape maneuvered his way to the door, pushing aside anyone who got in his way. They made their way out of the tavern with much difficulty.
"Thank you," Hermione panted, breathing in the crisp evening air as soon as they had escaped the stifling pub.
"You're not safe here," Snape told her darkly. "We'd best head back to Hogwarts; Albus should be expecting us." He paused slightly before taking off his overcoat and handing it to Hermione. "You must be cold. I know how those ropes feel; they leave a numb, freezing sensation."
Hermione realized that he was correct, and that she was indeed shivering, both with the cold and the fright. She accepted his coat gratefully and wrapped it around her, pleased to see that it enveloped her snugly.
They walked back towards Hogwarts together, silhouetted in the light of the full moon.
Neither of them saw Lucius Malfoy blend into the shadows, his platinum-azure eyes narrowed in sardonic amusement.
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A/N: I felt that I had to make Hermione act a little frightened and hesitant in this chapter because she is only fifteen in this fic, after all. A normal fifteen-year-old might be brave enough to handle these kinds of problems, but of course, it would be natural for him/her to feel uncertain. In Hermione's case, she had been keeping her resolve firm for the past few chapters, but coming across Professor Snape in all his macabre glory rattled her immensely. In a way, she felt that he (or what had happened to him) was a symbol of the dangers that she was about to face. (But that opinion changed later on in this chapter, if you noticed.)
I don't know if it's apparent, but Ron's feelings for Hermione are more obvious in this chapter. :)
Yay, just one more chapter, and Hermione and Snape are together. . . . :)