Disclaimers: Please refer to chapter one for full disclaimer write-up.
When Living is No Longer EnoughChapter Twenty-Seven
Hermione looked up from her book as she felt the familiar slowing down of the Hogwart's Express indicating that they had finally reached their destination. Exiting the train, she looked around platform 9 ¾ in the hopes of quickly finding Emily's parents and departing the station. There were far too many people milling about for her liking and being out in the open could give way to potential dangers and problems. No, it was far better that she arrive at Emily's home where she only had to deal with a limited number of people in a defined setting.
"Has it been so long since the Christmas holidays that you don't even recognize your own mum?" a stern looking woman asked.
Hermione turned quickly to see Christina Saunton staring down at her from her rather lofty 5'11" vantage point. The woman had silvery blond hair, blue eyes and an expression that could have cracked cement. A tight-lipped look had settled on her face and she had raised one eyebrow in expectation of a response to her caustic question. All in all, she reminded Hermione of a cross between Snape and McGonagall. 'Now there's a combination I would never have imagined,' she thought holding back a nervous giggle.
"Hello mum," she offered. "How have you been?"
The woman looked startled for a moment causing Hermione to wonder if she had made an error in greeting but instead of saying anything, the woman's face softened as she gave her 'daughter' a loving smile and directed her toward the baggage compartment to collect her trunk.
"We can apparate directly to the manor," Christina said eyeing her daughter up and down, "where we can have some dinner. You're nothing but skin and bones! Haven't they been feeding you at that school of yours?"
"Of course they have mum," Hermione assured her while trying to find a plausible excuse to explain Emily's sudden drop in weight. 'I can't exactly say something like, well mum, attempted suicide does tend to cause one to shed a few pounds,' she thought cynically.
"I'm fine mum, really I am, and the house-elves create wonderful meals but I've been so busy with studying for my NEWT's that I guess I've sort of been skipping meals from time to time."
"A practice which no young woman should allow herself to begin," Mrs. Saunton said with an air of disapproval. "I'm sure that your upcoming meeting hasn't helped to calm your nerves either?"
Hermione looked up to study the woman before answering that double-edged question. Did Christina Saunton suspect her of being someone other than her daughter or was she just speaking in general with regards to her upcoming meeting with Voldemort? Seeing no signs of malice in the older woman's countenance, she opted to simply nod her head in agreement and prayed that the woman would drop that particular line of questioning.
Reaching the apparition point, Mrs. Saunton took hold of her daughter's hand and apparated them directly to the front gates of Saunton Manor.
Hermione had to bite back a gasp at the sight presented before her eyes. The grounds of the manor were immaculate with colorful gardens and oversized water fountains strategically placed throughout the property. Well-manicured shrubbery surrounded stone benches creating one of the most tranquil settings she had ever seen. Life-sized statues were intermingled throughout the landscape and seemed to silently watch over the gardens, like elegant soldiers protecting their home. It was truly breathtaking and Hermione was already planning a visit to the gardens under the pretense of studying.
The Manor itself was another study in taste and seemed to coexist with the grounds in perfect symbiosis. Emily had told her that the house boasted of old money and the Slytherin had even taken the time to show her some photographs of her ancestral home. However mere words and pictures could not even begin to do justice to the actual sight itself. Built more than two hundred years prior, the manor was constructed primarily of gray colored stone supporting a dark, heavily thatched roof. Custom made windows of every shape and size could be seen even from this distance and Hermione thought she had even glimpsed stained glass glinting in the sunlight from a far corner of the stately home. The structure boasted of three, possibly four levels and there were at least a dozen chimneys protruding from various positions on the roof. All in all, the aging home was enormous and it seemed such a shame that something so large and beautiful was inhabited and enjoyed by no one other than Emily and her parents.
"Emily, you act as if you've never seen all of this before," her mum said with a calculated glint in her eye.
"What?" Hermione asked dragging herself out of her thoughts, "Um well no it's not that, it's just that I've missed it. Things have been so hectic at Hogwarts lately with classes and all of the extra studying."
"Your last letter said that you have a potions essay to complete before classes resume?" Mrs. Saunton asked.
"Yes, Professor Snape is adamant that it will be completed on time. I was sort of hoping that I might be allowed to return early, after my…meeting, to work on it," she told the older woman.
"And what is so special about this particular potions essay that you cannot work on it here?" Mrs. Saunton inquired.
"Well, it's not that it's special so much as I need to review a couple of books in the restricted section and then brew a practical potion to make certain that my research is valid," she answered and was pleased when she noticed the other woman's posture relax ever so slightly. "Professor Snape said that he would give me a pass to the restricted section and that I could use one of the labs since the other students wouldn't be around to expect 'special privileges'."
"Yes, that sounds like something Severus would say," the older woman agreed. "Emily, your father said that there were some…complications with Professor Snape and the Dark Lord. Has he been alright?"
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked confused as to why Severus' health would be of importance to Christina Saunton. "Well, he took ill a few months ago and missed several days worth of classes but he's been fine since."
"I see," her mum said thoughtfully. "Yes, that would have been about the right timeframe although I am glad to hear that he is alright. Emily, I think it would be better if you do not mention your potions professor or your essay around your father. He was very upset a while back and every time he hears Severus Snape's name he starts carrying on about traitors and whatnot."
"Yes mum," the young Slytherin agreed as they stepped into the entryway of the old stately home.
As Hermione expected, the inside of the manor was every bit as spectacular as the outside and reflected an air of opulence that somehow managed to be both breathtaking and comforting. Hardwood floors covered in richly woven carpets could be seen throughout the home while elegant tapestries and heavy curtains draped the walls and windows. The furnishings were large and ornate but not so much as to be audacious and overwhelm the home itself. It was obvious that the Saunton's had both money and taste and as Hermione looked around at the artwork smiling at her from the surrounding walls, she was pleased to note that she was enveloped by a sense of warmth rather than fear. "Of course that will change in the next few days,' she reminded herself knowing that no matter how beautiful her surroundings, they would do little to comfort her when it came time to meet with Voldemort.
Christina Saunton called for "Mitty" an elderly house-elf that had been in service to Emily's family for many years, and ordered Emily's trunk to be taken to her room. She then escorted her daughter to a small veranda that boasted of a small, elegantly laid table and a peaceful view of the grounds.
"Your father is away on business this evening so I thought you might enjoy having dinner outside rather than the formality of the dining room," Mrs. Saunton said as Mitty brought in several dishes crafted of solid silver that housed an array of wonderfully aromatic foods.
"Yes, I think that would be fine," Hermione assured the older woman and took her place at the table. After several minutes of silence while Mitty served dinner, Hermione gathered her courage and began a conversation with the woman sitting across from her. "Mum, you mentioned that father is away on business. When should we expect him back?"
"Your father should be back by tomorrow evening," she replied taking a bite of salad. "He mentioned something about needing enough time to prepare you for your meeting with the Dark Lord."
Hermione shifted a little uncomfortably upon hearing that Edgar Saunton had plans to tutor her in the proper way to behave around Voldemort. Little did they know that Hermione had already undergone such training, courtesy of Hogwart's potions master, and didn't feel so inclined to do so again with one of the Dark Lord's most ardent followers. "Is the meeting still scheduled for Tuesday evening?"
"Yes," Mrs. Saunton replied quietly, a shadow of sadness momentarily crossing her facial features. "Emily, you must know that if there were any other way than I would find it but your father is insistent that we will all support the Dark Lord."
"But why does lending my support mean that I have to take on the Dark Mark?" the young girl asked sensing Christina Saunton's reluctance to hand her daughter over to such a selfish cause.
"Your father said that the Dark Lord is looking for followers, especially from the younger generation. By having you 'officially' accept the Dark Mark, your father gains another mark of favoritism and moves even further up the ranks of the Death Eaters."
"So this is more for father than anyone else," Hermione muttered as she bit into her salad.
"Emily Saunton!" her mum scolded, "I had better not hear you say anything of the sort around your father or anyone else young lady. Do you have any idea what your father would do to you if he heard you saying such things?" she asked with a bit of a fearful look as Hermione simply shook her head by way of an apology. "Well never mind. Are you certain that nothing else is wrong dear? You seem a little… different."
"I'm fine mum and I'm sorry it's just that I'm a little nervous about all of this. I mean think about it, what if I decide that I'm not Death Eater material mum?" Hermione asked trying to determine exactly where Emily's mum stood on such an important topic. "Worse yet, what if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named decides that I'm not Death Eater material?"
"You mustn't say such things Emily," her mum scolded as a look of panic momentarily crossed her pale face. "You must convince them that you are willing to follow in your father's footsteps or they will kill you. Your father truly believes his future lies with the Dark Lord and he will not support anything that goes against that belief. If you were to reject his opinions then it would cast him in an unfavorable light amongst the Death Eaters and that is something he will not tolerate, from any of us."
"I just don't think I like being used as a bargaining chip," Hermione grumbled.
"None of us do darling but we just accept it and make the best of it," her mum said quietly, laying her hand over her daughter's trembling one in a gesture of understanding and support.
"I think I'm finished now," the young woman announced pushing her plate aside. "I think that I'll just go unpack and study a little before turning in for the evening if you don't mind?"
"Of course not darling," Mrs. Saunton agreed eyeing her daughter strangely. "But the house-elves should have already finished unpacking your things by now."
Hermione nearly panicked at the thought of the house-elves or anyone for that matter, unpacking her bags. First, she didn't want anyone discovering the polyjuice potion and second, she didn't want anyone discovering the 'reptilian cocktail.' Saying a swift goodnight to her 'mum' she quickly exited the veranda and made her way upstairs to her bedroom.
She didn't notice the thoughtful look on Mrs. Saunton's face as she made her hasty departure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luckily, Hermione had transfigured the large bottle of polyjuice into a shampoo container, which the house-elves had placed in her bathroom. The 'reptilian cocktail' had already been placed in the perfume atomizer, still under the suspension spell, and was waiting for her along with her other accessories on her dressing table. Fingering the small bottle, she made a promise to herself to carry her 'perfume' with her at all times. It would not do for something to happen to the potion before her meeting with Voldemort actually took place. She sighed wishing they had had time to make another batch of the potion but they had just been too pressed for time. It had been nothing short of a miracle that they had made the amount of progress that they had.
She looked at her watch and noticed that it was just about time for another dose of the polyjuice potion. Downing the foul tasting liquid, she placed the lid back on the bottle and charmed her timepiece to wake her just before she was due to imbibe the next dose. The last thing she needed was for the house-elves to enter her room in the morning only to find Hermione Granger sleeping soundly in Emily Saunton's bed.
Brushing her teeth and donning her nightclothes, she slipped between the cool sheets and pulled the comforter over her body. She glanced at the nightstand to make certain that her watch and portkey were within reach and then fingered the tiny crystal container at the base of her throat. It had been a trying day but she felt that she had managed as well as could be expected and she had found out some potentially useful information as well. Mrs. Saunton was obviously not too keen on the idea of her daughter becoming a Death Eater and that just might work in Emily's favor in the future. After all, it would be helpful if the girl had someone close to her to confide in if she had to go into hiding. The only problem was that Mrs. Saunton, although seemingly a determined woman, didn't appear to have the backbone to stand up to her husband on her daughter's behalf. Hermione sighed and decided that she would save that problem for further contemplation at another time.
Closing her eyes, she stretched her limbs across the bed missing the contact she had recently become accustomed to. She had never minded sleeping on her own but somehow during the past couple of weeks, she had come to depend on Severus' presence and his absence filled her with an aching hollow feeling. How had she come to depend on him so much in such a short time? Sighing, she blew out the flickering candle and laid quietly waiting for sleep to claim her.
Many miles away in the safety of Hogwart's dungeons, Severus Snape was having similar thoughts about a chestnut haired charms professor. However, sleep would not befriend the dark haired wizard this night and he had to once again content himself with the knowledge that worry would be his steadfast companion as it had been so many times throughout the years. And yet, as he lay awake staring silently at the ceiling, he couldn't help but pray that the young witch whom he had come to care so much about remained safe and unharmed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The following day passed quietly for Hermione. During breakfast, Christina Saunton had announced that she had been invited to spend the day with an old friend and that she should be back sometime after supper.
"Will you be alright on your own today dear?" the woman asked. "You could come with me to visit Helene. After all, it's been quite some time since she's seen you and I know that she wouldn't mind your company in the least."
"Thanks mum but I think I'll stay here and use the time to study for the NEWT's if that's okay with you?" Hermione asked respectively hoping that Mrs. Saunton wouldn't insist on making a mother-daughter ordeal out of the day.
"No that's fine dear. I expected it so don't worry," she said smiling at her daughter. "By the way, your father flooed last night and said he wouldn't be back until very late so don't wait up for him."
"Yes mum, have a good day," the young Slytherin called as she watched her 'mum' exit the dining room.
Seeing that no one else was around, aside from the house-elves of course, Hermione decided that she would use her free time to take a tour of the stately manor. Room after room was explored as the charms professor lost herself in the understated beauty of bedchambers and sitting rooms decorated in fabrics and furnishings of eras gone by. She had just made her way into the library when Mitty popped in to tell her that it was lunchtime. Giving the room one final, longing glance she followed the house-elf to the dining room and sat down at the massive table to have a solitary lunch before returning to the library where she spent the remainder of the afternoon exploring the unfamiliar tomes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning proved to be a study in tongue biting for outspoken witch as she finally had the dubious honor of meeting Edgar Saunton for the first time. He was a loud, obnoxious, arrogant little man who, in the Gryffindor's opinion, would be doing the wizarding world the greatest of favors by just keeping quiet. Unfortunately, for both her and Mrs. Saunton, such a reprieve didn't seem to be in his plans as he regaled the women with tales of his weekend exploits with several of the newer Death Eaters. At one point during a particularly horrifying rendition of the previous nights' dark revel, Hermione laid her spoon down and pushed her plate aside certain that she would not be able to stomach anything else. Risking a quick glance at Christina Saunton, she was surprised to see a similar expression on the older woman's face as well. 'How do they put up with this?' she thought to herself in disgust. 'No wonder Emily is so quiet. She never has a chance to get a word in edge-wise with that pompous, hypocritical excuse for a parent always running off at the mouth.'
"Emily… Girl answer me when I am speaking to you!" boomed Edgar Saunton's voice from across the table, abruptly pulling Hermione out of her thoughts. "Merlin, you would think the girl has been brought up like some muggle piece of trash rather than given the benefit of a pureblooded upbringing."
"I'm sorry father, you were saying?" Hermione mumbled trying to look apologetic while inside she was seething and thinking of every possible silencing hex she could throw at the pudgy little man.
"I said that you had better show more respect tomorrow evening when you meet with the Dark Lord. We will be hosting the party for this particular gathering as he mentioned that he was looking forward to meeting with you in particular. Most of the inner circle will be present along with some of the newer recruits. You had better be on your best behavior as I will not tolerate any misconduct. Do you understand me girl?"
"Yes of course father. I understand," the young woman managed to mumble and quickly turned her attentions back toward her plate to avoid the cruel gaze of the Death Eater sitting across from her.
"I have things to attend to this morning," he announced standing up and tossing his napkin on the table. "Christina, I am sure that you have preparations to finalize for tomorrow evening's gala?"
"Yes dear, just a few" the older woman confirmed quietly.
"Good. See that everything is perfect or you will find my mood less than pleasant" he told the woman with a calculated stare. "Emily, you will meet me in my study after lunch where we will discuss the proper manner in which you are to conduct yourself as well as the correct method of addressing the Dark Lord."
"Yes father," she replied but the overbearing man had already made his way to the door obviously not expecting her to do anything other than comply with his orders.
The women sat in silence for several minutes, neither knowing quite what to say after such a display by their head of house. Finally, Hermione stood to make her exit claiming that she needed to study for her NEWT's before her training session that afternoon. With a final nod she exited the room and went to retrieve her textbooks with the thought of escaping outside to spend a few hours alone before her ordeal with Edgar Saunton began.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione finished her lunch and hurried to the study so as not to anger Emily's father more than she already had. The last thing she needed was to attract any more attention than was absolutely necessary from such a person. 'And I thought Voldemort was going to be the difficult one,' she mused with a small grimace as she stepped into the room and noticed that she was not alone.
Seated behind the mahogany desk was Edgar Saunton himself, fingers tented, leaning back with his feet firmly crossed and planted on the massive desk. He looked, for want of a better description, like a man who thought he was supreme. Even worse, he looked like a man who was looking forward to showing her that such was the case.
"Good you're here. Now we can begin your training," he said pulling himself to an upright position. "Come daughter, let us begin."
Hermione gave an involuntary shiver and risked a quick look at her surroundings. The room was decorated in dark navy blue and forest green colors and should have projected a feeling of warmth. The massive mahogany furnishings should have only enhanced such a feeling but for some reason her petite body remained cold all the same. She looked up to see the calculating face of Edgar Saunton watching her as a hunter watches his prey, a dead lifeless look in his eyes. 'This is definitely going to be bad,' she thought as she walked over to stand in front of the Death Eater.
"Yes," he murmured walking slowly around her motionless body, appraising her demeanor and appearance. "We can work with this."
Hermione wasn't certain if she should be relieved by his words or not when all of a sudden she let out a cry of pain as she felt the man's wand strike her across the back.
"Stand up straight girl," he barked. "The Dark Lord expects nothing less than perfection and I guarantee that you will give nothing less than perfection unless you want to know what true pain really feels like."
The lesson continued with the pudgy man barking orders and instructing her in the ways of proper presentation and appropriate conversation in the Dark Lord's presence. Edgar Saunton taught her everything from how to sit to how to bow and kiss the hand of Voldemort himself. She was rewarded with sparse praise for that which she did correctly and physical abuse for that which she did not. The most difficult part of the entire session, in Hermione's opinion, was learning to kneel and kiss the Dark Lord's hand. While Severus had already taught her the proper procedure, she still had to maintain a charade of naivety around Edgar Saunton. The man, in her opinion, took teaching to an all new low when he donned his oversized cloak and stood in front of her, arm raised and directed her to greet him as she would the Dark Lord.
It was at this point in the lesson that she became fearful that the repulsion she currently felt might actually show in her eyes and thus give her away. Biting down on the bile that threatened to flow forth from her mouth, she dipped her head in what she hoped was a gesture of respect and bowed before him on one knee while gently taking his hand and placing a light kiss on the cool clammy skin. Only when she heard his murmur of approval did she dare to place his hand back at his side and stand to face him, head bowed. It was by far one of the worst and most humiliating things she had ever had to do. To actually have to prostrate herself before this worthless excuse of a wizard that did nothing but belittle people and harbor illusions of grandeur was just unacceptable for a witch as independent as herself. Even Severus had found a better way to instruct her in this particular ritual and it hadn't involved humiliation and degradation. She momentarily closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to center on the man awaiting her return to Hogwarts. 'Just a few more days…'
"That was…acceptable," the voice of Edgar Saunton said icily. "You may go now but do not forget to practice what you have learned here today."
"Yes father," she answered and quickly made her way to the door.
"And Emily…" the Death Eater called out in a conversational like tone of voice.
"Yes?" she answered turning back to look at the man whose face had taken on a sadistic expression.
"Just one more thing…. Crucio!" he said calmly as if he were merely ordering a house-elf to bring him a cup of tea rather than casting an unforgiveable on his only offspring.
"Remember this pain child for if you fail me in even so much as the smallest of ways tomorrow evening, I promise you that this will be mild in comparison to the vengeance I enact upon you. Do you understand girl?" He took the young girl's gasps and writhing as affirmation of his question. Giving her a light kick in the middle of her back, he chuckled evilly, uttered a quick 'Finite Incantatem' and exited the room.
Hermione lay twitching on the carpet, her body tucked into a fetal position as she allowed the last vestiges of pain to complete its journey through her body. She felt as if thousands of pins and needles had been pushed into her spinal column and as if someone had placed her hand in an electrical outlet. Every nerve ending in her body cried for release from the torture that she had been subjected to and there was nothing that could be done but to ride the tidal wave of pain and pray it finished its ghastly romp through her system quickly. 'Why in the hell did I ever suggest this?' she wondered as her body jerked and spasmed uncontrollably. 'And how am I going to make it through tomorrow evening?'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The young witch had just finished taking another hot shower in the hopes of washing away some of the residual aches and pains brought on by the Cruciatus. She had managed to drag herself up to her room earlier that afternoon and cast several healing charms that would counter the bruising and some of the pain from Edgar Saunton's more physical methods of teaching but the aftereffects of the Cruciatus still lingered. She could only hope such effects would be gone by the following afternoon. Taking her scheduled dose of polyjuice, she changed into her nightclothes and had just managed to carefully slide her aching body between the sheets of her bed when she heard a soft knock at her door. Looking towards the door in an apprehensive manner, Hermione quietly acknowledged the knock and was surprised to see Christina Saunton enter the room.
Giving her daughter a small smile she quickly pulled out her wand and cast both locking and silencing charms on the room and then turned to stare at the younger woman as if she were trying to solve an incredibly difficult puzzle.
"Are you feeling better now Emily?" the woman asked in a voice that wasn't unkind.
"Yes mum although I think I could go awhile without have the Cruciatus cast on me again," she joked.
"Yes it is a rather nasty curse," the older woman agreed with a sympathetic smile leaving Hermione with no doubts that she had not been the only person to ever suffer at Edgar Saunton's hands. "In that case then, I was hoping that I might ask you a question before you turn in for the evening?"
"Of course, what did you want to know?" the Gryffindor replied wondering what could be so important that Christina Saunton felt the need to place wards on the room.
"I was simply wondering: Who are you?" the woman asked in a deceptively calm tone of voice.
"Ex..excuse me?" Hermione stuttered, feeling the blood drain from her face.
"It's a simple question really," the woman answered taking her wand out of her sleeve and pointing it directly at the young witch. "I know that you aren't my daughter so I'll ask you one last time... WHO ARE YOU?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
Author's Notes: Okay, that's two chapters in 3 days folks and it is my hope to have the next chapter out be the end of the week. Thank you for your reviews on the previous chapter and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Luna Writer: I don't think I've ever been threatened in such a way and I'm sorry that you are frustrated by the pace of this story but the last chapter did have information in it that is relevant to the remainder of the story. Hopefully, this chapter has helped and you won't feel the need to come charging at me with the bloodied, double bladed battle-axe! (*smile*)
~Jules