A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned. I also have this story listed on Whispers, Adult Fan Fiction
and Lord and Lady Snape websites.. In case it gets deleted here.
Chapter Eighteen
Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks with Layton following closely behind. She was so tired and badly needed to sit down, the journey from Hogwarts to Hogsmede having seemed twice as long due to the fact they had walked fairly slowly and she was carrying more weight than usual. Layton nudged her over to a quiet corner and they sat down in some seats ordering a butterbeer and a lemon and kiwi juice for Hermione. Layton was sitting a little too close for comfort but he said that it was alright and so Hermione, feeling too exhausted to argue let him stay where he was without fuss.
"What did Snape want?" Layton asked in a hushed voice; he had witnessed some of their conversation from the shadows of the entrance hall earlier and felt quite jealous that he had managed to monopolise some of her time.
"He just wanted to know how I was." Hermione replied with a slight yawn and placed her chin on her hand, which was supported by her elbow on the table, resting her head.
"And?" He encouraged her less than pleasantly and glared at her until she answered.
"Nothing more, Layton." She asserted herself shaking her head slightly and closing her eyes for a long and tired blink.
"I know there's something you aren't telling me, my sweet." He glowered at her. "You must tell me everything so that I can help you." He said placing his hand on her back and rubbing affectionately.
She sighed heavily before turning to face him slightly. "Well, I told him that the baby is going to be a boy."
"What did he say to that?" Layton asked with a sneer.
"He seemed a little surprised, especially that I knew the sex. I believe he may have secretly desired a girl but a boy is just as special to him, I believe. He never thought he would have children you see." She said a little dreamily and lost in thought for a moment. "And why am I telling a student this?" She asked more to herself but Layton had heard much to her detriment.
"I ask it of you and you tell me, that's why. I am not just a student to you, Mudblood." Hermione gulped as Layton's expression darkened and she nodded her head reluctantly.
"I understand," Hermione murmured.
"You must drive him away from you." Layton told her. "He is getting too close again. Make sure you tell him the baby's name, emphasise that you want him to have nothing to do with the baby."
"I will but." Hermione began only to be cut off immediately.
"But? But!" Layton said becoming angry and moving his face close to hers so he could admonish her in more privacy; so as not to draw unwanted attention to them both.
Just then Severus and Chris entered the pub and spotting Layton and Hermione they crept into the booth with them but remained flat against the wall. Severus was immediately raging with jealously; Mr. Frontera was touching his wife and sitting far too close for comfort. Hermione was looking even more tired and drawn, glazed over as Frontera spoke to her in hushed tones.
"You will never question me again!" Layton continued in a commanding whisper. "He is no good for you as I've had to tell you countless times now. I'd think you would get this through your thick head but I guess being a Mudblood interferes somehow." He hissed.
"I'm sorry." Hermione whispered close to tears now as she struggled to hold her emotions in so as not to draw more unwanted attention from Layton and make him even angrier.
"My sweet, I only want what is best for you." Layton said calming down very suddenly. Severus was furious but inclined to keep his cover and gain any further information he could, he was surprised Chris was managing to keep himself under control as well. Frontera was certainly showing himself to be an unstable character indeed. "Did the divorce papers arrive?" Layton asked suddenly and Severus was taken aback, so he had been the one to push things. the creep. Severus could cheerfully rip him limb from limb with his bear hands right now.
"Not yet." She replied sullenly, she really didn't want to divorce her husband. deep down anyway.
"You must write to the Ministry and ask them to hurry the process along."
"I will."
"For only then can you be mine completely, my sweet. And when his bastard child is born we shall raise him under the new Rule, Sekhmet's Rule." He whispered evilly in her ear. Hermione appeared to make no flinching movements at anything he said at all. It was as though she was under complete control.
"Now, the Easter Holidays begin in one week time and as you know all students have been asked to go home for the three weeks by the Headmaster." He started pulling back slightly from her.
"Yes. I will miss you, Layton." She said quite insincerely. In truth Hermione couldn't wait to get some space between them, he made her feel quite disconcerted of late and she was way too tired to be bothered with him.
"You should, I am always there for you." He reiterated again becoming something like a broken record.
"Yes, you are." Hermione said, glancing the other way and rolling her eyes slightly, she knew she was being controlled by him in someway but could only fight it on occasion and when she could she tried to cover this when in his presence. After all, she was out of the protection of Hogwarts right now and anything could happen to her.
"I will write to you with instructions on what to do."
"I will anticipate your correspondence." She said in a monotone voice.
"You will write to me with any concerns you have."
"I will." Hermione said beginning to close her eyes and yawn. "I feel so tired, so drained."
"Did you take the potion?" He frowned at her.
"Yes, but it didn't have much effect. Severus?" Hermione said catching a whiff of his scent in the air and looking up as if to spot him frowning as she glanced around. Little did she know she looked directly at him as he took a step forward from his shadows.
Potion? What was Frontera giving to his wife. his pregnant wife at that? Severus thought, enraged.
"What!" Layton demanded as she mentioned Snape's name. Just then they were interrupted by someone coming through the doors, and heading in their direction.
"'Mione?" Said a familiar voice as a tall and slim man came up to them and looked at the scene before him.
"Harry!" She exclaimed, a huge smile erupting on her face as he came around to her side of the table and hugged her tightly. He still had long dark hair and had started to grow a beard as well, now wearing contact lenses he did not look anything like he had in his school days and in fact, he looked quite ruggedly dashing.
"Wow, 'Mione you're massive." He grinned looking at her abdomen in awe.
"Who are you? We were having a private conversation here, which you have interrupted." Layton demanded.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry said straightening up again. "I'll leave you alone and we'll catch up later, 'Mione."
"No, I've not seen you since Christmas. I'm sure Layton wouldn't mind." Hermione said hoping beyond anything that Harry would stay with her.
"I will leave you in peace, Professor. Remember what I have said to you." With that he got up and made a hasty exit from Hermione and this unknown 'friend' of hers.
Severus took a deep and calming breath. He didn't know what Harry Potter was doing there but he was more than grateful that he was. He squeezed Chris' shoulder indicating that they should leave the pub; he needed to speak with Albus and at least attempt to supervise some of the student's visit to Hogsmede.
~~*~~
Hermione walked back to the castle with Harry at her side, her arm hooked in his for support as she waddled slightly. He had come back at the Headmaster's request but could not say why exactly as he had yet to visit with Dumbledore. Hermione had told him of her change in relationship with Severus and he was very concerned about the whole situation, of course he had already heard about their split through Ron. He wanted to rip Snape limb from limb but that could wait. he wouldn't go and actively seek him out until he knew more about what was going on.
Harry opened the doors to the main entrance and escorted Hermione to her quarters before leaving her at the door and heading off to the Headmaster's office for his meeting. Hermione stood at the door for a few moments until Harry was well out of the way and turned around and headed back to her old chambers. She had moved out of their marital chambers about a week ago- Layton had suggested it and of course living in their married quarters alone did bring back too many memories, why she had let Harry escort her to these ones was beyond her.
Hermione had had a field day before she left their marital chambers. it had been Layton's suggestion- she did remember that much. Everything that could be smashed was smashed and she had remembered ripping pictures off the walls and turning over their bookcases and desks. She had planned on burning the pile of furniture and ornaments but she couldn't quite cast Incendio and so she had simply left the mess and moved on out. Leaving behind everything that reminded her of her soon-to-be-ex-husband, she hadn't looked back since.
Moving down the dimly lit corridor Hermione was suddenly grabbed tightly around her right upper arm and dragged into a dark shadow before being pushed forcefully up against the wall. She thought she could just about make out Layton's face contorted in rage, and she was certain it was him when he snarled angrily in her ear. "Who was he?"
"Who was he?" She repeated, alarmed at his change in demeanour towards her. He had become increasingly antagonistic against her over the last week and she was becoming increasingly frightened and nervous each time she saw him. especially when they were alone and in a darkened corridor.
"The man, who interrupted us," he hissed in her ear his breath hot against the side of her face.
"Harry. Harry Potter. He's o-one of my b-best friends." She stuttered and cringed at him, the pain in her arm becoming unbearable as he still squeezed it hard.
"Is he now?" Layton growled in a clipped fashion. Having Harry Potter back here was definately not a good thing judging by how he had managed to kill one of the most powerful dark wizards already. "You will push him away from you. You do not need his friendship. He has not been here for you as I have." He told her succinctly.
"But." She started.
"No buts!" Layton whispered loudly in her ear, his breath still hot on the side of her head and suddenly his tongue darted out to lick her. "You are mine." He informed her and kissed her roughly on the cheek, grazing her earlobe with his teeth. She tried to pull away but he was far too strong for her. "I have decided to summon you in the holidays. I do not trust you here alone without me."
"I understand." She said; her voice breaking as he tightened his grip on her arm and she stifled a sob.
"I will write and inform you when to leave." She nodded and he roughly grabbed her chin with his other hand and forced her more up against the wall, pressing her hard against it and capturing her lips with his in a bruising kiss. She struggled hard and managed to break her lips away.
"The b-baby, Layton, you are h-hurting my baby." She cried and he slowly moved away from her watching as she sunk down the wall into a crouched position with her hands cradling her abdomen protectively. He tutted loudly at her, disgusted at what he was looking at.
"Pull yourself together, Mudblood. Go back to your chambers." Layton spat orders at her before turning on his heel and leaving her alone in the darkened corridor with tears running down her cheeks.
Hermione sat and cried, taking deep gulping breaths and trying to calm herself down before she struggled back to her feet and headed off to her quarters rubbing her arm to try and dissipate the pain that was shooting through it.
Hermione yanked her sleeve up and noticed a large hand shaped bruise, which was throbbing very badly indeed. She felt sick, tired and drained. She thought for a few seconds trying to clear her disordered mind before deciding to visit Poppy in the infirmary she was worried about the baby as she felt a spasm in her abdomen. She left her chambers again and after a short while she was in the hospital wing and approaching the school medi- witch.
"Hermione, my dear. What happened?" Poppy asked bustling over to her and immediately directing her to a bed.
"I-I. I'd rather not talk about it, Poppy." Hermione stuttered with tears brimming in her eyes again. "My arm hurts. A lot." Poppy pushed up her sleeve and gasped at the deep red hand mark around her upper arm and the swollen lump that was forming. Looking back at Hermione she noted how drained she looked and the huge black rings that were under her eyes and pale complexion emphasised this.
"Lie down." Poppy directed and Hermione did this, struggling to lift her feet, which Poppy helped her with. She started to examine her arm with her wand and tutted loudly. "You have a fractured humerus. How did this happen?"
"I told you." Hermione began meekly.
"Severus? Did he do this to you?" She demanded angrily. "Is he being abusive towards you?"
"No! He would never hurt me. physically anyway." Hermione said angrily at the suggestion the nurse had made.
"Then who?" She asked once more. "This is physical assault, Hermione. It is no accident," Poppy stated bluntly and looked sympathetically at her.
"It's nothing, Poppy. Just heal it and I'll be off." Hermione protested; the pain was doing nothing for her already short temper these days.
"No, you are staying here for tonight at least. You are in no state to be alone tonight. I can see you have been crying, my dear. You are exhausted and completely drained. I can tell from the observations I'm running on you right now. Are you eating and sleeping?" Poppy asked as she passed her wand over Hermione for a second time to check her physical wellbeing.
"I eat. I can't seem to sleep much though." Hermione responded quietly.
"Well, I'll have to see about that then." Poppy bustled off for some potions before heading back to Hermione's bed. "Here, take this skele-grow potion first." She said handing her the vial. Hermione gulped it and almost threw it back up; it tasted like dead putrefied fish and was quite nauseating. Of course it didn't help to have a good working knowledge of Potions and therefore know what went into making them in the first place.
"Urghh," she grimaced and handed Poppy the vial back as she shuddered involuntarily.
"Here." Poppy handed her another potion. "An analgesia potion for your pain." This one tasted no better and Hermione was on the verge of asking for an anti-emetic. "Now, that's your arm taken care of. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"The baby. could you make sure he is alright?" She asked worriedly Poppy withdrew her wand again and scanned her abdomen.
"He's fine, my dear." Hermione sighed in relief. "But you do have some bruising to your abdomen." She cast a healing spell over her abdomen and stood back up. "Now, I will get you something to eat and then you can take a sleeping potion and stay here tonight for observations."
"Poppy, I will be fine in my own chambers." Hermione protested.
"No, I absolutely insist that you stay here. If you do not comply I will have Albus relieve you of all duties until this baby is born." She threatened and Hermione yielded very quickly at the threat.
After a hot meal, which had been the most Hermione had eaten in quite a while Poppy gave her a dreamless sleeping draught and tucked her into bed for the night. Once Hermione was fast asleep Poppy summoned the Headmaster.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Albus asked stepping through the doors of the hospital wing looking quite concerned at why he had been summoned.
"Please come into my office, Albus." Poppy said and he complied immediately. "Albus, I have Professor Granger here. I believe she was assaulted but she refuses to say who it was. She flatly denied that it was Severus though but I don't know."
"It was not Severus." Albus told her pointedly. "He would not do such a thing. He has far too much respect for her." Poppy snorted loudly.
"Respect?" She asked incredulous. "He's shown her nothing of the sort, cavorting with the Head Girl in the way he did."
"He did not, Madam Pomfrey." Albus said and then explained everything that had happened to Hermione. ".Severus came to see me after he got back from Hogsmede. Hermione seems to be under the control of Layton Frontera. He is now believed one hundred percent to be in control of the Book of Shadows." He finished quietly.
"My word," Poppy said lost for words. "I had no idea, Albus." She said shaking her head at the thought.
"Neither do most people, and for very good reason, Poppy. We need to keep this book as much of a secret as possible."
"Oh, poor Severus," Poppy commented deep in thought. "So what do we do now then?"
"I think Hermione should remain in your care for tonight at least. I will inform Severus of her condition. he is after all her husband." Albus informed her.
"Very well," Poppy said and Albus headed off to find his Potions Master while Poppy checked on Hermione.
About thirty minutes later Severus bounded into the Infirmary and headed straight for Madam Pomfrey.
"Severus." Poppy acknowledged with a nod of her head.
"Poppy. How is my. Professor Granger?" He asked, correcting himself.
"Your wife is doing fine, Severus. Albus told me everything and I'm so sorry for you, you do not deserve any of this." Poppy explained with compassion.
"Thank you, Poppy. And my son? Is he alright?" Severus enquired.
"He is fine although Hermione did have some minor bruising to her abdomen so I can only imagine what someone was attempting to do." Poppy told him and he exhaled angrily.
"May I see her?" Severus asked while trying to keep his calm.
"Yes, but she is sleeping right now. I've given her a dreamless sleep potion."
"Very well. I will sit with her tonight." Severus informed her and Poppy nodded.
Severus entered the private room Hermione had been moved into and pulled up a comfortable chair. He took a deep breath and reached out to hold her hand. It felt so good to touch her after the three weeks they had been apart; he thought he would never have the chance to again. He sat back and watched her sleep before falling into a doze himself while still holding her hand lightly in his.
~~*~~
Severus woke up to something squeezing his hand firmly. He opened his eyes to find Hermione still asleep but holding his hand very tightly indeed, as though her life depended on it. He stroked the back of her hand with his other and she slackened her grip and started to wake up, her eyes fluttering open and locked with his gaze. For a few seconds her gaze was loving, and warm until something seemed to click and she pulled her hand back sharply, frowning at him.
"Snape," she spat. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you." He replied softly, not wanting to argue at such an early hour of the day.
"Well don't be, I do not need you to. I have Lay-Lay." She trailed off, what in Merlin's name was she saying?
"Layton Frontera?" He supplied calmly and she looked at him sharply, not saying anything for a moment.
"What's it to you? You have Sonia Flint." She growled accusingly at him and pinning him with a venomous glare.
"No. What makes you think that?" He retorted.
"What.? You don't remember the photograph? The looks, people talking about you two together, the letters, the meetings? Our arguments? None of it?" She demanded incredulously as she raised her voice.
"Do you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a deep voice.
"Vividly!" She spat loudly at him.
"Really? Have you seen the photograph recently, Hermione?"
"Twice was more than enough!" Severus shook his head as she struggled to sit up and having to roll slightly in order to do it. He stood up to help her but she hit his hands away and managed to sit up herself after the expenditure of much energy. Severus reached into his pocket and withdrew the photograph.
"Look. Tell me what you see." He said handing it over to her.
"I see. Miss. Flint completely naked with you and she's."
"Look closely at the man." He cut her off and forced the photograph forward for a closer inspection.
"It's you." she began again but faltered.
"No, look closely." He repeated curtly.
"It's.No, you've done something to this, trying to make me believe you." She threw the photo back to him in disgust.
"You truly believe that I am capable of Muggle-magic with such things?" Severus asked. "You think me capable of melding the two separate photographs together? There is no spell I know of that would do this. No potion would have this kind of effect."
"No." She replied after a while, it was a rather preposterous idea. "But I'm so mad at you!" She hissed through clenched teeth and making fists with her hands.
"Why? What have I done to you?" He asked completely lost as to why she would be still angry with him after being presented with this new information.
"I don't know. my mind is muddled right now. I need coffee." She said determined for him not to win this argument. Severus summoned some breakfast for both of them as well as copious amounts of coffee and tea. They ate in silence, casting glares at each other every now and then and neither willing to back down or utter the first words.
"What does your mind tell you now? I trust it is awake enough after four cups of coffee?" Severus asked her sarcastically as he supported his chin with his thumb and brushed his lips with his finger, looking at her intently.
"I'm mad at you but I don't know why. Something is telling me that I should hate you for what you did. but I know you did nothing wrong. though I still find that hard to believe." She replied quietly, her mind was still so confused and she just couldn't sort her own thoughts out from the voice that was constantly in the back of her head.
"Believe it," Severus told her. "I will be questioned under Veritaserum if you desire it, Hermione."
"No," she replied shaking her head at the offer. "I do believe you didn't do it."
"I'm so pleased to hear you say that you believe me, Hermione." Severus said softly.
"Severus." She shook her head and sighed deeply as she tried to fight her mind control. "What's happening to me?"
"You remember the spell Albus cast on you, to make you think it was me in that picture?" Severus asked.
"Vaguely." She said quietly with her mind going in circles as she tried to remember things clearly trough her fuzzy addled mind.
"He removed the spell that day but you had already somehow been put under the curse of the Book of Shadows. Do you remember me telling you about the book?" Severus asked sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs.
"Yes, I do." She said with her eyes wide in shock as she finally had her own mind back, but it would not be for long. "Severus. He hurt me. tried to hurt our baby." She sobbed and Severus moved over to sit on the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her in a loving and comforting embrace for both of them. Hermione took a few shaky breaths. "He. he kissed me. and I didn't. Didn't want. him. to. I tried to fight him so much."
"Sshh. We will discuss it when we have you back for good. Right now he still has control of you. You must try to fight him though." Severus whispered in her ear and rubbed her back soothingly.
"It's hard. getting harder as he gains in power. He. made me let him show the book. to my fourth year class. He has control of so many students. and I feel so weak. all. the time." Suddenly her eyes glazed over and she glared at her husband, tears ceasing to fall at once. "You are trying to coerce me somehow!" She accused pushing away violently and slapping him soundly across the face where a bright red hand print made itself known immediately.
"Hermione." He said standing up suddenly and realising that she was not able to fight the curse anymore. He was shocked that she had lashed out at him; she had never ever been violent towards him before. It was clear that she was starting to turn to the Dark; as Sekhmet's Book tended to make a person do.
"It's Professor Granger to you." She spat with a dark look on her face.
"Of course, forgive me." He conceded sitting back down in his chair and determined not to rub his face where she had slapped him although it was burning quite fiercely now.
"It seems that is all you ask of me these days. Leave me alone. I don't love you anymore or even want you near me!" Hermione hissed and pointed him to the door.
"Is that so. and what about this then?" He raised his right hand and muttered a finite incantatum waving his hand over his finger without a wand. The spells hiding his wedding band fizzled out and it came back into view. He had missed looking at it and was pleased to see it still shone as brightly as the day it had appeared on his finger.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "It only proves you love me. nothing to the same effect from me towards you."
"Finite incantatum," Severus whispered again and passed his hand over her right hand. Her rings re-appeared to her absolute dismay and Severus' great relief. "And now? What does that tell you?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times glaring at the rings that had appeared on her finger. "I'm so confused!" She cried angrily and rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. "My mind is telling me one thing and my heart something entirely different. I want to be alone. Leave me in peace, Sev. Snape." Hermione gulped and turned her head away from him, lying back down again. Severus stood up.
"I'm not giving up on us, Hermione. I've seen the real you today and I know you are salvageable." He left in a flurry of black robes. It would be hard but he could get her back and his best chance of this would be when the Easter holidays arrived and the students were well away from Hogwarts.
Chapter Eighteen
Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks with Layton following closely behind. She was so tired and badly needed to sit down, the journey from Hogwarts to Hogsmede having seemed twice as long due to the fact they had walked fairly slowly and she was carrying more weight than usual. Layton nudged her over to a quiet corner and they sat down in some seats ordering a butterbeer and a lemon and kiwi juice for Hermione. Layton was sitting a little too close for comfort but he said that it was alright and so Hermione, feeling too exhausted to argue let him stay where he was without fuss.
"What did Snape want?" Layton asked in a hushed voice; he had witnessed some of their conversation from the shadows of the entrance hall earlier and felt quite jealous that he had managed to monopolise some of her time.
"He just wanted to know how I was." Hermione replied with a slight yawn and placed her chin on her hand, which was supported by her elbow on the table, resting her head.
"And?" He encouraged her less than pleasantly and glared at her until she answered.
"Nothing more, Layton." She asserted herself shaking her head slightly and closing her eyes for a long and tired blink.
"I know there's something you aren't telling me, my sweet." He glowered at her. "You must tell me everything so that I can help you." He said placing his hand on her back and rubbing affectionately.
She sighed heavily before turning to face him slightly. "Well, I told him that the baby is going to be a boy."
"What did he say to that?" Layton asked with a sneer.
"He seemed a little surprised, especially that I knew the sex. I believe he may have secretly desired a girl but a boy is just as special to him, I believe. He never thought he would have children you see." She said a little dreamily and lost in thought for a moment. "And why am I telling a student this?" She asked more to herself but Layton had heard much to her detriment.
"I ask it of you and you tell me, that's why. I am not just a student to you, Mudblood." Hermione gulped as Layton's expression darkened and she nodded her head reluctantly.
"I understand," Hermione murmured.
"You must drive him away from you." Layton told her. "He is getting too close again. Make sure you tell him the baby's name, emphasise that you want him to have nothing to do with the baby."
"I will but." Hermione began only to be cut off immediately.
"But? But!" Layton said becoming angry and moving his face close to hers so he could admonish her in more privacy; so as not to draw unwanted attention to them both.
Just then Severus and Chris entered the pub and spotting Layton and Hermione they crept into the booth with them but remained flat against the wall. Severus was immediately raging with jealously; Mr. Frontera was touching his wife and sitting far too close for comfort. Hermione was looking even more tired and drawn, glazed over as Frontera spoke to her in hushed tones.
"You will never question me again!" Layton continued in a commanding whisper. "He is no good for you as I've had to tell you countless times now. I'd think you would get this through your thick head but I guess being a Mudblood interferes somehow." He hissed.
"I'm sorry." Hermione whispered close to tears now as she struggled to hold her emotions in so as not to draw more unwanted attention from Layton and make him even angrier.
"My sweet, I only want what is best for you." Layton said calming down very suddenly. Severus was furious but inclined to keep his cover and gain any further information he could, he was surprised Chris was managing to keep himself under control as well. Frontera was certainly showing himself to be an unstable character indeed. "Did the divorce papers arrive?" Layton asked suddenly and Severus was taken aback, so he had been the one to push things. the creep. Severus could cheerfully rip him limb from limb with his bear hands right now.
"Not yet." She replied sullenly, she really didn't want to divorce her husband. deep down anyway.
"You must write to the Ministry and ask them to hurry the process along."
"I will."
"For only then can you be mine completely, my sweet. And when his bastard child is born we shall raise him under the new Rule, Sekhmet's Rule." He whispered evilly in her ear. Hermione appeared to make no flinching movements at anything he said at all. It was as though she was under complete control.
"Now, the Easter Holidays begin in one week time and as you know all students have been asked to go home for the three weeks by the Headmaster." He started pulling back slightly from her.
"Yes. I will miss you, Layton." She said quite insincerely. In truth Hermione couldn't wait to get some space between them, he made her feel quite disconcerted of late and she was way too tired to be bothered with him.
"You should, I am always there for you." He reiterated again becoming something like a broken record.
"Yes, you are." Hermione said, glancing the other way and rolling her eyes slightly, she knew she was being controlled by him in someway but could only fight it on occasion and when she could she tried to cover this when in his presence. After all, she was out of the protection of Hogwarts right now and anything could happen to her.
"I will write to you with instructions on what to do."
"I will anticipate your correspondence." She said in a monotone voice.
"You will write to me with any concerns you have."
"I will." Hermione said beginning to close her eyes and yawn. "I feel so tired, so drained."
"Did you take the potion?" He frowned at her.
"Yes, but it didn't have much effect. Severus?" Hermione said catching a whiff of his scent in the air and looking up as if to spot him frowning as she glanced around. Little did she know she looked directly at him as he took a step forward from his shadows.
Potion? What was Frontera giving to his wife. his pregnant wife at that? Severus thought, enraged.
"What!" Layton demanded as she mentioned Snape's name. Just then they were interrupted by someone coming through the doors, and heading in their direction.
"'Mione?" Said a familiar voice as a tall and slim man came up to them and looked at the scene before him.
"Harry!" She exclaimed, a huge smile erupting on her face as he came around to her side of the table and hugged her tightly. He still had long dark hair and had started to grow a beard as well, now wearing contact lenses he did not look anything like he had in his school days and in fact, he looked quite ruggedly dashing.
"Wow, 'Mione you're massive." He grinned looking at her abdomen in awe.
"Who are you? We were having a private conversation here, which you have interrupted." Layton demanded.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Harry said straightening up again. "I'll leave you alone and we'll catch up later, 'Mione."
"No, I've not seen you since Christmas. I'm sure Layton wouldn't mind." Hermione said hoping beyond anything that Harry would stay with her.
"I will leave you in peace, Professor. Remember what I have said to you." With that he got up and made a hasty exit from Hermione and this unknown 'friend' of hers.
Severus took a deep and calming breath. He didn't know what Harry Potter was doing there but he was more than grateful that he was. He squeezed Chris' shoulder indicating that they should leave the pub; he needed to speak with Albus and at least attempt to supervise some of the student's visit to Hogsmede.
~~*~~
Hermione walked back to the castle with Harry at her side, her arm hooked in his for support as she waddled slightly. He had come back at the Headmaster's request but could not say why exactly as he had yet to visit with Dumbledore. Hermione had told him of her change in relationship with Severus and he was very concerned about the whole situation, of course he had already heard about their split through Ron. He wanted to rip Snape limb from limb but that could wait. he wouldn't go and actively seek him out until he knew more about what was going on.
Harry opened the doors to the main entrance and escorted Hermione to her quarters before leaving her at the door and heading off to the Headmaster's office for his meeting. Hermione stood at the door for a few moments until Harry was well out of the way and turned around and headed back to her old chambers. She had moved out of their marital chambers about a week ago- Layton had suggested it and of course living in their married quarters alone did bring back too many memories, why she had let Harry escort her to these ones was beyond her.
Hermione had had a field day before she left their marital chambers. it had been Layton's suggestion- she did remember that much. Everything that could be smashed was smashed and she had remembered ripping pictures off the walls and turning over their bookcases and desks. She had planned on burning the pile of furniture and ornaments but she couldn't quite cast Incendio and so she had simply left the mess and moved on out. Leaving behind everything that reminded her of her soon-to-be-ex-husband, she hadn't looked back since.
Moving down the dimly lit corridor Hermione was suddenly grabbed tightly around her right upper arm and dragged into a dark shadow before being pushed forcefully up against the wall. She thought she could just about make out Layton's face contorted in rage, and she was certain it was him when he snarled angrily in her ear. "Who was he?"
"Who was he?" She repeated, alarmed at his change in demeanour towards her. He had become increasingly antagonistic against her over the last week and she was becoming increasingly frightened and nervous each time she saw him. especially when they were alone and in a darkened corridor.
"The man, who interrupted us," he hissed in her ear his breath hot against the side of her face.
"Harry. Harry Potter. He's o-one of my b-best friends." She stuttered and cringed at him, the pain in her arm becoming unbearable as he still squeezed it hard.
"Is he now?" Layton growled in a clipped fashion. Having Harry Potter back here was definately not a good thing judging by how he had managed to kill one of the most powerful dark wizards already. "You will push him away from you. You do not need his friendship. He has not been here for you as I have." He told her succinctly.
"But." She started.
"No buts!" Layton whispered loudly in her ear, his breath still hot on the side of her head and suddenly his tongue darted out to lick her. "You are mine." He informed her and kissed her roughly on the cheek, grazing her earlobe with his teeth. She tried to pull away but he was far too strong for her. "I have decided to summon you in the holidays. I do not trust you here alone without me."
"I understand." She said; her voice breaking as he tightened his grip on her arm and she stifled a sob.
"I will write and inform you when to leave." She nodded and he roughly grabbed her chin with his other hand and forced her more up against the wall, pressing her hard against it and capturing her lips with his in a bruising kiss. She struggled hard and managed to break her lips away.
"The b-baby, Layton, you are h-hurting my baby." She cried and he slowly moved away from her watching as she sunk down the wall into a crouched position with her hands cradling her abdomen protectively. He tutted loudly at her, disgusted at what he was looking at.
"Pull yourself together, Mudblood. Go back to your chambers." Layton spat orders at her before turning on his heel and leaving her alone in the darkened corridor with tears running down her cheeks.
Hermione sat and cried, taking deep gulping breaths and trying to calm herself down before she struggled back to her feet and headed off to her quarters rubbing her arm to try and dissipate the pain that was shooting through it.
Hermione yanked her sleeve up and noticed a large hand shaped bruise, which was throbbing very badly indeed. She felt sick, tired and drained. She thought for a few seconds trying to clear her disordered mind before deciding to visit Poppy in the infirmary she was worried about the baby as she felt a spasm in her abdomen. She left her chambers again and after a short while she was in the hospital wing and approaching the school medi- witch.
"Hermione, my dear. What happened?" Poppy asked bustling over to her and immediately directing her to a bed.
"I-I. I'd rather not talk about it, Poppy." Hermione stuttered with tears brimming in her eyes again. "My arm hurts. A lot." Poppy pushed up her sleeve and gasped at the deep red hand mark around her upper arm and the swollen lump that was forming. Looking back at Hermione she noted how drained she looked and the huge black rings that were under her eyes and pale complexion emphasised this.
"Lie down." Poppy directed and Hermione did this, struggling to lift her feet, which Poppy helped her with. She started to examine her arm with her wand and tutted loudly. "You have a fractured humerus. How did this happen?"
"I told you." Hermione began meekly.
"Severus? Did he do this to you?" She demanded angrily. "Is he being abusive towards you?"
"No! He would never hurt me. physically anyway." Hermione said angrily at the suggestion the nurse had made.
"Then who?" She asked once more. "This is physical assault, Hermione. It is no accident," Poppy stated bluntly and looked sympathetically at her.
"It's nothing, Poppy. Just heal it and I'll be off." Hermione protested; the pain was doing nothing for her already short temper these days.
"No, you are staying here for tonight at least. You are in no state to be alone tonight. I can see you have been crying, my dear. You are exhausted and completely drained. I can tell from the observations I'm running on you right now. Are you eating and sleeping?" Poppy asked as she passed her wand over Hermione for a second time to check her physical wellbeing.
"I eat. I can't seem to sleep much though." Hermione responded quietly.
"Well, I'll have to see about that then." Poppy bustled off for some potions before heading back to Hermione's bed. "Here, take this skele-grow potion first." She said handing her the vial. Hermione gulped it and almost threw it back up; it tasted like dead putrefied fish and was quite nauseating. Of course it didn't help to have a good working knowledge of Potions and therefore know what went into making them in the first place.
"Urghh," she grimaced and handed Poppy the vial back as she shuddered involuntarily.
"Here." Poppy handed her another potion. "An analgesia potion for your pain." This one tasted no better and Hermione was on the verge of asking for an anti-emetic. "Now, that's your arm taken care of. Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"The baby. could you make sure he is alright?" She asked worriedly Poppy withdrew her wand again and scanned her abdomen.
"He's fine, my dear." Hermione sighed in relief. "But you do have some bruising to your abdomen." She cast a healing spell over her abdomen and stood back up. "Now, I will get you something to eat and then you can take a sleeping potion and stay here tonight for observations."
"Poppy, I will be fine in my own chambers." Hermione protested.
"No, I absolutely insist that you stay here. If you do not comply I will have Albus relieve you of all duties until this baby is born." She threatened and Hermione yielded very quickly at the threat.
After a hot meal, which had been the most Hermione had eaten in quite a while Poppy gave her a dreamless sleeping draught and tucked her into bed for the night. Once Hermione was fast asleep Poppy summoned the Headmaster.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Albus asked stepping through the doors of the hospital wing looking quite concerned at why he had been summoned.
"Please come into my office, Albus." Poppy said and he complied immediately. "Albus, I have Professor Granger here. I believe she was assaulted but she refuses to say who it was. She flatly denied that it was Severus though but I don't know."
"It was not Severus." Albus told her pointedly. "He would not do such a thing. He has far too much respect for her." Poppy snorted loudly.
"Respect?" She asked incredulous. "He's shown her nothing of the sort, cavorting with the Head Girl in the way he did."
"He did not, Madam Pomfrey." Albus said and then explained everything that had happened to Hermione. ".Severus came to see me after he got back from Hogsmede. Hermione seems to be under the control of Layton Frontera. He is now believed one hundred percent to be in control of the Book of Shadows." He finished quietly.
"My word," Poppy said lost for words. "I had no idea, Albus." She said shaking her head at the thought.
"Neither do most people, and for very good reason, Poppy. We need to keep this book as much of a secret as possible."
"Oh, poor Severus," Poppy commented deep in thought. "So what do we do now then?"
"I think Hermione should remain in your care for tonight at least. I will inform Severus of her condition. he is after all her husband." Albus informed her.
"Very well," Poppy said and Albus headed off to find his Potions Master while Poppy checked on Hermione.
About thirty minutes later Severus bounded into the Infirmary and headed straight for Madam Pomfrey.
"Severus." Poppy acknowledged with a nod of her head.
"Poppy. How is my. Professor Granger?" He asked, correcting himself.
"Your wife is doing fine, Severus. Albus told me everything and I'm so sorry for you, you do not deserve any of this." Poppy explained with compassion.
"Thank you, Poppy. And my son? Is he alright?" Severus enquired.
"He is fine although Hermione did have some minor bruising to her abdomen so I can only imagine what someone was attempting to do." Poppy told him and he exhaled angrily.
"May I see her?" Severus asked while trying to keep his calm.
"Yes, but she is sleeping right now. I've given her a dreamless sleep potion."
"Very well. I will sit with her tonight." Severus informed her and Poppy nodded.
Severus entered the private room Hermione had been moved into and pulled up a comfortable chair. He took a deep breath and reached out to hold her hand. It felt so good to touch her after the three weeks they had been apart; he thought he would never have the chance to again. He sat back and watched her sleep before falling into a doze himself while still holding her hand lightly in his.
~~*~~
Severus woke up to something squeezing his hand firmly. He opened his eyes to find Hermione still asleep but holding his hand very tightly indeed, as though her life depended on it. He stroked the back of her hand with his other and she slackened her grip and started to wake up, her eyes fluttering open and locked with his gaze. For a few seconds her gaze was loving, and warm until something seemed to click and she pulled her hand back sharply, frowning at him.
"Snape," she spat. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you." He replied softly, not wanting to argue at such an early hour of the day.
"Well don't be, I do not need you to. I have Lay-Lay." She trailed off, what in Merlin's name was she saying?
"Layton Frontera?" He supplied calmly and she looked at him sharply, not saying anything for a moment.
"What's it to you? You have Sonia Flint." She growled accusingly at him and pinning him with a venomous glare.
"No. What makes you think that?" He retorted.
"What.? You don't remember the photograph? The looks, people talking about you two together, the letters, the meetings? Our arguments? None of it?" She demanded incredulously as she raised her voice.
"Do you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a deep voice.
"Vividly!" She spat loudly at him.
"Really? Have you seen the photograph recently, Hermione?"
"Twice was more than enough!" Severus shook his head as she struggled to sit up and having to roll slightly in order to do it. He stood up to help her but she hit his hands away and managed to sit up herself after the expenditure of much energy. Severus reached into his pocket and withdrew the photograph.
"Look. Tell me what you see." He said handing it over to her.
"I see. Miss. Flint completely naked with you and she's."
"Look closely at the man." He cut her off and forced the photograph forward for a closer inspection.
"It's you." she began again but faltered.
"No, look closely." He repeated curtly.
"It's.No, you've done something to this, trying to make me believe you." She threw the photo back to him in disgust.
"You truly believe that I am capable of Muggle-magic with such things?" Severus asked. "You think me capable of melding the two separate photographs together? There is no spell I know of that would do this. No potion would have this kind of effect."
"No." She replied after a while, it was a rather preposterous idea. "But I'm so mad at you!" She hissed through clenched teeth and making fists with her hands.
"Why? What have I done to you?" He asked completely lost as to why she would be still angry with him after being presented with this new information.
"I don't know. my mind is muddled right now. I need coffee." She said determined for him not to win this argument. Severus summoned some breakfast for both of them as well as copious amounts of coffee and tea. They ate in silence, casting glares at each other every now and then and neither willing to back down or utter the first words.
"What does your mind tell you now? I trust it is awake enough after four cups of coffee?" Severus asked her sarcastically as he supported his chin with his thumb and brushed his lips with his finger, looking at her intently.
"I'm mad at you but I don't know why. Something is telling me that I should hate you for what you did. but I know you did nothing wrong. though I still find that hard to believe." She replied quietly, her mind was still so confused and she just couldn't sort her own thoughts out from the voice that was constantly in the back of her head.
"Believe it," Severus told her. "I will be questioned under Veritaserum if you desire it, Hermione."
"No," she replied shaking her head at the offer. "I do believe you didn't do it."
"I'm so pleased to hear you say that you believe me, Hermione." Severus said softly.
"Severus." She shook her head and sighed deeply as she tried to fight her mind control. "What's happening to me?"
"You remember the spell Albus cast on you, to make you think it was me in that picture?" Severus asked.
"Vaguely." She said quietly with her mind going in circles as she tried to remember things clearly trough her fuzzy addled mind.
"He removed the spell that day but you had already somehow been put under the curse of the Book of Shadows. Do you remember me telling you about the book?" Severus asked sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs.
"Yes, I do." She said with her eyes wide in shock as she finally had her own mind back, but it would not be for long. "Severus. He hurt me. tried to hurt our baby." She sobbed and Severus moved over to sit on the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her in a loving and comforting embrace for both of them. Hermione took a few shaky breaths. "He. he kissed me. and I didn't. Didn't want. him. to. I tried to fight him so much."
"Sshh. We will discuss it when we have you back for good. Right now he still has control of you. You must try to fight him though." Severus whispered in her ear and rubbed her back soothingly.
"It's hard. getting harder as he gains in power. He. made me let him show the book. to my fourth year class. He has control of so many students. and I feel so weak. all. the time." Suddenly her eyes glazed over and she glared at her husband, tears ceasing to fall at once. "You are trying to coerce me somehow!" She accused pushing away violently and slapping him soundly across the face where a bright red hand print made itself known immediately.
"Hermione." He said standing up suddenly and realising that she was not able to fight the curse anymore. He was shocked that she had lashed out at him; she had never ever been violent towards him before. It was clear that she was starting to turn to the Dark; as Sekhmet's Book tended to make a person do.
"It's Professor Granger to you." She spat with a dark look on her face.
"Of course, forgive me." He conceded sitting back down in his chair and determined not to rub his face where she had slapped him although it was burning quite fiercely now.
"It seems that is all you ask of me these days. Leave me alone. I don't love you anymore or even want you near me!" Hermione hissed and pointed him to the door.
"Is that so. and what about this then?" He raised his right hand and muttered a finite incantatum waving his hand over his finger without a wand. The spells hiding his wedding band fizzled out and it came back into view. He had missed looking at it and was pleased to see it still shone as brightly as the day it had appeared on his finger.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "It only proves you love me. nothing to the same effect from me towards you."
"Finite incantatum," Severus whispered again and passed his hand over her right hand. Her rings re-appeared to her absolute dismay and Severus' great relief. "And now? What does that tell you?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times glaring at the rings that had appeared on her finger. "I'm so confused!" She cried angrily and rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. "My mind is telling me one thing and my heart something entirely different. I want to be alone. Leave me in peace, Sev. Snape." Hermione gulped and turned her head away from him, lying back down again. Severus stood up.
"I'm not giving up on us, Hermione. I've seen the real you today and I know you are salvageable." He left in a flurry of black robes. It would be hard but he could get her back and his best chance of this would be when the Easter holidays arrived and the students were well away from Hogwarts.