18.
The things some do in the dark.
" I am so very proud of you, love." He mentally sent her praise as she sat down for her last meal at Hogwarts. His throat closed tightly when her head snapped up and she smiled at him from her seat at the table.
" That means more to me than any ceremony." She spoke to him as she speared a potato.
She was going to her labs after dinner, and told him there was no point in waiting since she wasn't going to take the train, she might as well leave as early as possible. He agreed with her telling her he'd be along later that night to stay with her. He had just needed to finish up a few things with Dumbledore. She seemed so happy, like her world was finally clicking in place, and he felt ill at the idea of his betrayal. He slowly made his way to his chambers as the students rumbled out of the great hall.
Hermione was thrilled, she was minutes away from stepping into her new lab; her new flat; her new life. She smiled. Severus was coming later tonight and she wanted to unpack and relax before she met him. She stepped out of the fireplace and into the flats sitting room. The walls were lined with beautiful paintings and art, the furniture was sparse but, elegant. She walked into the kitchen running her hands along the marble countertops. She sighed content with the beauty of rooms. She walked downstairs into the lab circling around the room admiring all the bottles and jars that lined the shelf. She strolled to the desk a stack of clean parchment sat in the middle along with new quills and jars of ink. She sat behind the wooden table running her hands over the texture.
" This is amazing." She suppressed the urge to giggle as she laid her head down on the desk arms flayed out in front of her. She was just about to close her eyes when a slip of parchment caught her eye. It was a small torn piece lying on the floor. She stood and scooped in up into her hands. Her eyes flashed as she read part of her name on the sheet. Curious, she pulled out her wand and tapped the paper.
" Reparo" She spoke as the parchment mended back together forming the whole letter. She inhaled as she read, her heart plummeted like her body as she sank to the ground.
Professor Snape,
We've received the sample vile along with Miss. Grangers notes on the Invincibility potion . I will assume that the Headmaster has informed you of our intent to counter-act this assault. The Ministry will be meeting on Monday to review the file on Miss. Granger, please be prompt in attendance.
Sincerely,
Chief Aurora Rents
She felt ill, betrayed, utterly beside herself.
" He lied; lied to me." She wailed her hand crumbling around the letter.
Her body sobbed with dry heaves as she emptied her stomach onto the stone floor. " His wife…" her thoughts flickered through her head. " I am his wife and he turned on me. I gave him every chance to confess to me. Every-bloody-chance and in the end I wasn't worth a dam. Wasn't worth his- trust…his l-love." Her voice stumbled over the word. She swallowed slowly as she pulled herself upright. Checking her watch she had about an hour before he'd be there; an hour to sift through her hurt.
~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~
Severus sighed as he stepped out of the fireplace into Hermione's flat. The school term was over, he had the whole summer with her. He smiled at the thought. The meeting with Dumbledore was horrendous. Potter; he was informed was staying on as Dumbledore's apprentice. Would he ever rid of that boy. He thought. His mind was so tired. Dumbledore had informed him that the meeting on Monday would be a formality and that Hermione would be cleared of all the charges. His heart sighed in relief at that news. The thought of Hermione being questioned or god-forbid apprehended was too much for him. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Tonight was just the two of them. No worries. He walked swiftly into the flat seeking her out.
" Hermione?" He called to her mind.
" In the bedroom." She called sweetly through his thoughts.
He smiled playfully as he walked into the dark room.
" You're wasting no time are you, love?" He called into the room as he stepped through the threshold the door shut quickly behind him. He chuckled a low growl. He was so lucky to have her, despite everything.
" Her-." He stopped abruptly as he felt a wand tip push into his neck, he swallowed as he desperately tried to free his wand from his sleeve.
" I wouldn't do that." Her voice was so cold as her hands snaked up his arm and wrenched his wand free of his sleeve.
" Hermione?" He asked his voice a deadly purr.
" I'll ask you again, and try not to lie this time." Her voice hardened as she leaned into his body shoving a paper into his hand.
" Did you betray me and go to Dumbledore?" The question came through his mind and he briefly closed his eyes. " Bugger all." He whispered under his breath.
" Hermione listen."
" I did listen, Severus. I listened to everything, because I believed your words to be priceless. I respected you, I – I love- " Her voice trembled as Severus battled the urge to retch. " Why, Severus? Why didn't you tell me the truth? " She cried, pushing the wand deeper into his skin.
" Hermione, I couldn't loose you to him. I went to Dumbledore for his help." He yelled, clenching his fist.
She snorted. " His help, hmm. Interesting. Does his help require an inquiry at the Ministry? Does his help include a trip to Azkaban." " A broken heart?" He heard as it fluttered through his thoughts. His eyes closed tightly as he weakly responded "I'm sorry."
" Yes,' she laughed a bitter sound. She lowered her wand lighting the room with a flick of her wrist.
" Hermione, it's not worth it. You can fight-."
" Bugger off." She spat raising her wand again. " You're right it's not worth it. I should have taken you straight to him as soon as you walked in the bloody room." Her eyes flashed in fury as she spoke.
" Why didn't you?" He asked carefully.
She sobbed in sad laugh as she spoke. " Because, you're my fucking husband. Because, I trusted you, because I wanted nothing but your praise, because I didn't want to believe the ruddy note!" She screamed.
" God, Hermion-."
" Don't… I want you to leave. I won't take you to him, but I won't leave him either. You're wrong it is worth it. He hasn't hurt me… he hasn't betrayed me…"
" Everyone else has…" Her voice boomed through his mind. She threw his wand on the bed and moved to the fireplace picking up a bag as she went.
Severus wasted no time as he ran to the bed grabbing his wand and cursing her; ropes shot from his wand wrapping around Hermione's tiny figure. He caught her as she fell to the ground.
" I won't let you do this. I'm sorry I lied, but I believe it to be the best." He felt sick as he heard her whimpering.
He picked her up gracefully as he walked into the fireplace.
" Albus Dumbledore." He spoke as the flames engulfed him.
~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~
A/n: Oh poor dysfunctional marriage.. tsk tsk tsk… look at this mess.. :0)
Don't worry the next chapter is coming soon. I wouldn't leave everyone dangling from a cliff like that.
Hope everyone likes the story.
If not I'm sorry… please remember this is my first attempt and I get discouraged very easily.
Adieu-
