By
Disclaimer: All items relating or pertaining to the Harry Potter Universe belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Inc., and the Warner Brothers Co. Please don't sue me, I have no money.
Author: Joy
Title: Black Cadillac
Rating: PG-13
Summary: In answer to the 'Snape's Wheels' plotbunny on WIKTT. The year is 1999, and the war rages on. But for two of wizarding kind's brightest minds, the time has come where survival is priority. Can they find escape together? Will they find it in one another? SS/HG.
AN: The title is inspired by Jordan Avenue's song 'Blue Cadillac'. A great song to listen to while reading this fic! Check out the artist at jordanave.com
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Hermione stared, dumbfounded, at her former Professor. Had he just said what she though he just said. Shaking her head, Hermione lifted her hands to rub her temples. Everthing was happening so fast, too fast for her liking.
"You what?" She finally whispered, looking up at Severus with tears in her eyes. His proclimation was heart felt, she could tell; his eyes belayed everything he was feeling. She was sure now that she wanted this; but didn't know if she could handle it so close after her parents deaths. It was all too much.
"I love you, Hermione Granger. I don't know how, and I don't know why." Severus paused, taking a step forward and resting his hand on her tear tracked cheek. "I just do."
"I'm afraid this conversation will have to be continued another time." A weary, old voice spoke softly from the doorway. Whiping their heads around, Hermione and Severus gazed with shock at Albus Dumbledore. He was holding thier note in his hand; Fawkes resting gently on his shoulder. His eyes held none of the trademark sparkle that made the man seem so much younger than his years; no, he looked every bit the 100+ he was.
"Albus!" Hermione finally caught her wits and ran over to the man, throwing her arms about him in a welcoming hug. He wrapped his thin arms about her and patted her back softly; but he did not smile. Sensing his hesitation, Hermione drew back, a concerned look in her eyes. "What's going on? Why are you here?"
"Yes Albus, why ARE you here?" Severus asked, somewhat agitated at having the moment ruined by his elder mentor. It had taken a lot out of him to bare his soul; to speak such words that he'd never thought he'd do. And the cold coot had ruined it.
"I recieved your letter and feared the worse. When I got here, I could feel their presence. It is strong." Albus strode forward, out of the doorway and into the living area. Tucking said letter in a pocket of his robes, I shook his head silently. "They are moving in quickly, we haven't much time."
"You haven't any time." A cold, harsh voice echoed through the apartment; a sinister laugh following briefly. Again, all heads turned towards the open doorway. All were very shocked at who they saw. Three figures, all in the ceremonial robes of the Death Eaters, two with thier hoods up and masks on. The one who spoke, the leader, had his hood thrown back and white mask in hand.
"RON!?" Hermione screeched, hand flying to her mouth to cover the gasp of surprise that suddenly emitted. Severus and Albus, too, were surprised and downtroden at this turn of events. So this was thier traitor.
"Yes, Hermione. It's me. Ron Weasley." He spread his arms, a manical glint in his eyes as he smirked; his entire expression remnisciant of Draco Malfoy. "In the flesh." He finished with graceful sweep of his arms.
"Mr. Weasley, you surprise me. I would never had expected to see you among the ranks." Severus drawled, taking the initiative. It didn't matter what happened to him, as long as Hermione and Albus got away safely. And hopefully, he took the red-headed pestulance down with him. "You, being so poor and all, really have nothing to offer the Dark Lord. Except for his personal entertainment, perhaps. Tell me..." He trailed off, a sadistic smile spreading across his ususal blank features. "Has he invited you to his personal chambers, yet?"
Severus could hear Hermione gasp once more, and could practically feel Albus' head drop down and shake in pity and disbelief. However, the former Gryffindor-turned-evil before him turned pale at the words.
"You're going to die for that, Snape." Ron shook with anger, his face turning beat red as he raised his wand arm and pointed it at Severus' chest. The figures behind him did the same, raising their heads to stare through the tiny eye slits. Severus was not surprised to see a glint of ice blue; definately a Malfoy. More than likely, Draco. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of remorse for his Godson. He could have been saved; if only Lucius had died in the first fight, almost 20 years ago.
"WAIT!" Hermione screamed, jumping in front of Severus. She gazed at Ron with fresh tears in her eyes. "Why?"
It was a simple question, but enough to still the movements of the youngest Weasley male. He sneered at her, baring two rows of clean, white teeth.
"You." He hissed, stepping forward. His counterparts made no move to follow; only kept thier wand arms raised and aimed at Severus and Albus respectively. "All because of you."
It wasn't much, but Hermione suddenly knew why. While they were still attending Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione had dated for a short period of time. Hermione had entered into the relationship hoping that it may still thier constant bickering; but also because she knew how desperately in love Ron was with her. However, the arguing only intensified; and one day, she found herself on the physical end of his anger. He had only slapped her once, very hard, but that was enough for her. She left him that day, and didn't speak to him for months. Finally, near the end of that school year, he pleaded with her to take him back as a friend; if not a boyfriend. She agreed; but now she knew it was all a farce. A ruse to get back on her good side; to regain her trust. All for this purpose.
"I gave you everything I had, but I still wasn't good enough for you. A muggle born. And if I wasn't good enough for a MUGGLE BORN, who would I ever be good enough for?" Ron ranted, pointing his wand at Hermione and stepping forward slowly. "No one. Or at least, that's how I felt until I saw the proverbial 'light'." He threw back his head and cackled, his red hair flying all about. Hermione was sobbing openly now, both for Ron and herself. "I realised it wasn't me who wasn't good enough. It was YOU. AND ALL YOUR KIND. You're nothing but a mudblood."
"No!" She screamed out, dropping to her knees. Ron only laughed harder, as he uttered the one curse that meant instant death. The one that Hermione had found a way to counter act. Only she didn't have her wand; and no wand meant no counter curse. A blood curdling scream emitted from her; and the last thing she could remember seeing was a blinding flash of green light.
---- That is how it COULD HAVE HAPPENED. ----
"Remus!" Hermione blinked rapidly, hand flying to her mouth to cover the gasp of surprise that suddenly emitted. Severus and Albus, too, were surprised and downtroden at this turn of events. So this was thier traitor.
"Yes, Hermione. It's me. Remus Lupin." He spread his arms, a manical glint in his eyes as he smirked; his entire expression remnisciant of Lucius Malfoy. "In the flesh." He finished with graceful sweep of his arms.
"Lupin, you surprise me. I would never had expected to see you among the ranks." Severus drawled, taking the initiative. It didn't matter what happened to him, as long as Hermione and Albus got away safely. And hopefully, he took the good for nothing werewolf down with him. "You, being so poor and all, really have nothing to offer the Dark Lord. Except for his personal entertainment, perhaps. Tell me..." He trailed off, a sadistic smile spreading across his ususal blank features. "Has he invited you to his personal chambers, yet?"
Severus could hear Hermione gasp once more, and could practically feel Albus' head drop down and shake in pity and disbelief. However, the former Marauder before him turned pale at the words.
"You're going to die for that, Snivellus." Remus shook with anger, his face turning beat red as he raised his wand arm and pointed it at Severus' chest. All the occupants in the room could literally feel the anger pulsating off the man; and for a moment, they saw the glint of yellow eyes. The wolf was in control, now. The figures behind him raised thier wands as well, staring through the tiny eye slits. Severus was not surprised to see a glint of ice blue; definately a Malfoy. More than likely, Lucius. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of remorse for his former friend. It quickly vanished, however.
"WAIT!" Hermione screamed, jumping in front of Severus. She gazed at Remus with fresh tears in her eyes. "Why?"
It was a simple question, but enough to still the movements of the only living Marauder. He sneered at her, baring two rows of clean, white teeth. A second look showed Hermione that his canines were slightly elongated; like that of his wolf counterpersonality. He was seething, shoulders rising and falling in a heavy pattern.
"I'm a werewolf, Miss Granger." He sneered, stepping forward with wand turned on her. "The Ministry has many restrictions against my kind."
"But you never cared about that before!" She countered, squeaking as he lunged forward; inches from her face.
"That's past tense, Hermione. I care about it now." He growled, eyes raking over her with hunger. Hermione shot Severus and Albus a pleading look; but they were both victims of strong binding charms; thier wands in the hands of the other two Death Eaters. "Voldemort has offered my kind the world. The freedom to live without persecution; to hunt freely. To never live in CHAINS AND SHACKLES AGAIN!" He roared the last part, his other hand flying out to capture her neck in a possessive and painful grip. "To do as we please, when we please, how we please. I couldn't exactly pass that up, now could I?"
"Remus, no..." Hermione whimpered, cringing as his tounge darted out to lick at the sensitive flesh of her neck. Before she knew it, her clothes were being torn off and strewn about the room; her helpless to fight. Another look at her companions showed cold, lifeless figures on the floor. They had been killed.
"Yes. And I'm going to do exactly what I please. Right now."
---- But this is what REALLY happened.----
"Tonks!" Hermione blinked rapidly, hand flying to her mouth to cover the gasp of surprise that suddenly emitted. Severus and Albus, too, were surprised and downtroden at this turn of events. So this was thier traitor.
"Yes, Hermione. It's me. Nymphadora Tonks." She spread his arms, a manical glint in her eyes as she smirked; her entire expression remnisciant of Narcissa Malfoy. "In the flesh." She finished with graceful sweep of his arms.
"Tonks, you surprise me. I would never had expected to see you among the ranks." Severus drawled, taking the initiative. It didn't matter what happened to him, as long as Hermione and Albus got away safely. And hopefully, he took the good for nothing metamorphmagi down with him. "You, being so horrible at almost everything you do and all, really have nothing to offer the Dark Lord. Except for his personal entertainment, perhaps. Tell me..." He trailed off, a sadistic smile spreading across his ususal blank features. "Has he invited you to his personal chambers, yet?"
Severus could hear Hermione gasp once more, and could practically feel Albus' head drop down and shake in pity and disbelief. However, the former Auror before him turned pale at the words.
"You're going to die for that, asshole." Tonks shook with anger, her face turning beat red as she raised her wand arm and pointed it at Severus' chest. The pure anger eminating off the young woman seemed to have an effect on her appearance. Gone was the long, black hair and violet eyes; both turning a violent shade of red. The figures behind him raised thier wands as well, staring through the tiny eye slits. Severus was not surprised to see a glint of ice blue; definately a Malfoy. More than likely, Lucius. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of remorse for his former friend. It quickly vanished, however.
"WAIT!" Hermione screamed, jumping in front of Severus. She gazed at Tonks with fresh tears in her eyes. "Why?"
It was a simple question, but enough to still the movements of her former friend and confidant. She sneered at her, baring two rows of clean, white teeth. Hermione winced as Tonks' wand was turned on her. She was suddeny grateful that she had thought to stow her wand up her sleeve when she went out that morning. She made no move to retrieve it yet; though. She didn't want any movement to alert the older woman. Thankfuly, Tonks noticed nothing.
"Let's just say I've had a few talks with dear, old Dear Aunt Black." Hermione knew that she was referring to the woman in the painting back at Order Headquarters; Sirius' mother. "And I've had a change of heart. She helped me to realize that family loyalty is EVERYTHING."
"You go ahead and think that, Tonks. But it's really not always everything." Hermione quirked an eyebrow, a challenging look in her eye. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Severus and Albus were in duelling stance with the other two Death Eaters. Looking forward, over Tonks head, she could see as small group of Order members suddenly appareted into the living room. That was when all hell broke loose.
Shortly after Harry and company arrived, a slew of Death Eaters appeared; accompanied by non other than Voldemort himself. Hermione whipped out her wand and shot down Tonks with a quick blow. She hated the thought of killing others; but war was war, and she had to do her part for the better of wizarding kind. Thankfully, the metamorphmagi hadn't seen it coming, and hadn't had time to construct the counter curse.
As the war raged on in thier tiny apartment; Hermione, Ron and Harry gathered together to face off against Voldemort. They knew the man would no doubt construct the perfect counter for the killing curse; so they had to get rid of him by other means.
"The Golden Trio." Voldemort hissed over the comotion in the room. He strode forward, hands resting at his side, though one held his wand in a tight grip. His eyes glinted red, serpent-like tounge flickering out to taste the air. He was obviously enjoying the smell of blood and chaos in the air.
"Voldemort." Harry sneered, stepping foward. Voldemort raised his wand quickly and constructed the counter curse shield; but what he didn't know was that Severus was behind him; Godric Gryffindor sword raised high above his unsuspecting target. With one swift move, the ancient sword was embedded deep into the heart of the evilest creatue the world had seen in over five decades.
Voldemort emitted a high-pitched scream as blood poured forth from his quickly desintigrating body. In a quick succession of charms and curses, Hermione, Ron and Harry banished Voldemort's soul to Hell; where it would burn for all eternity.
"Severus! We did it!" Hermione shouted, looking around thier destroyed appartment. The floor was littered with dead and captured Death Eaters; and unfortunately, some Order Members. The war was over.
"Yes. We did it; but there's still a matter of that weapon he was building getting into the wrong hands." Severus pointed out, welcoming Hermione graciously into his arms as she sobbed with relief. Ron and Harry looked on with bewilderment. They knew that the two had been living together for an extended period of time; but they never imagioned anything like this would have come from it. On the other hand, they also knew there was no one out there who could fulfill Hermione the way she needed to be fulfilled, except for Snape. So, instead of breaking out into angry histarics, they walked over to the other Order Members and began the cleanup process.
"That's right. There are no doubt, other Death Eaters who would be more than willing to set the machine on auto pilot and destroy the wizarding world in the name of vengence." She shook her head; very weary. She had just been through the most horrific battle of her life; in the smallest and most unlikely place. She didn't want to deal with any ultimate weapon of destruction.
"He was bluffing. There was no weapon. The documents had locating charms on them. He was hoping that Dumbledore would pass them on to you, and intern they would learn your whereabouts." Hermione and Severus looked up, surprised at first, but then large smiles breaking across thier face. There stood Draco Malfoy, clad in Death Eater garb, but with the obvious symbol of the Pheonix in his eyes. Only other order members could see the charm; so that they would regonize one of thier own, but also so that members wouldn't fall into the wrong hands.
"You're the other spy?" Hermione asked, but felt she already knew the answer. Draco nodded, with a sheepish smile on his face. Severus reached out and shook the man's hand; laughing heartily.
"Now, more than ever, am I glad that you are my Godson." Draco laughed at this before walking off to join the others. Again, Hermione and Snape were left alone.
"What do we do now?" She whispered, wrapping her arms about him tightly and burrying her face in his chest. "Where do we go from here?"
"I don't know." Severus answered, placing a gentle kiss on top of her head. "But whatever it is, I'll be right there beside you."
"I know. I love you, Severus." Hermione smiled as she finally spoke the words she'd been longing to say since Albus arrived. Bringing her face away from his chest, Hermione looked up and beamed at her former Potions Master-turned lover. "And I always will."
-FIN!-
I just wanted to give a HUGE shoutout of thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed. All your kind words, and encouragement (and even any flamers) were greatly appreciated. I'm considering writing an epilogue, but you have to make me do it.
REVIEW!