Contemplations of Birth

by Saavik13

Hermione is in trouble and goes to the one place she thinks will hold her salvation. Is the solution worse than the problem or is it in fact better? Complication, the sequal, is up! So is Convergance, the backstory.

11. Maestoso

Contemplations of Birth - REVISED
Author: Saavik

Disclaimer: I don't own it, I don't need to. I have more fun playing with it this way.
Summary: Hermione is in trouble and goes to the one place she thinks will hold her salvation. Is the solution worse than the problem or is it in fact better?

Author notes: The idea that if you touch your wand to your Dark Mark the silver mask and black robes will appear isn't mine. I can't remember where I read it, but I completely stole it. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? If you can tell me who I took this from I'll be more than happy to thank the author and give proper credit.

The description of the initiation of a new Deatheater is not meant to offend any practicing witches out there who use standard phrases like those I put down here. My point was for it to seem blasphemous and a backward kind of circle. They enter without perfect love and trust, they enter in total submission. I wanted it to seem WRONG. I do not mean to offend.

Severus expounds some good old-fashioned existentialist ideas in here. I borrowed from a dumbed down explanation of Albert Camus' theory. Not meant to be taken wholly as existentialist, just have a little of that feel.

And yes, for all you fellow Shakespeare nuts, I have Shakespeare puns and corrupted dialog in this one!

By the way, Gwendreath is a real town according to the computer. If I messed up on the climate forgive a poor Indiana born and raised girl. I haven't the money to do research abroad, but I would if I could.

There is a quote given by Remus to Severus in here that was said by Prof. Murray about Gandhi. One of my betas's emailed me a link to a wonderful picture that had the quote written on it. It was simply a great Sev/Herm. Fanart. Since wouldn't allow for links, you'll have to ask to get it.

Lastly, some of this may seem a little out of character for you. Remember we have only seen little glimpses of Severus in public from JKR. Who knows what he is like in private. And Hermione has been with him for months now; you can only keep the walls up for so long...and I've tried to show their relationship growing. They've moved into a friendship close enough that they understand each other and Severus has begun to behave like he has never had a chance to before. He's showing his inner self. Deal with it.

Chapter Eleven: Maestoso

"Dinner is always an adventure at the Malfoy estate." That phrase was now an almost constant mantra in the Snape Living Quarters. Severus was not nearly as relaxed about the little dinner party as he tried to make Hermione believe. He also had the sneaking suspicion she knew that. The party was Saturday; they only had five more days to get ready.

Severus paced his office. He knew what would happen at the 'dinner'. First there would be a long drawn out meal with far too many courses to actually be eaten and rounds of meaningless small talk and innuendo. Then a good number of the women would discretely retire to throw it all up. Next would come more small talk and brandy. Following far too much alcohol the men would leave the women and go to the Dark Revel. There they would torture, rape, maim, kill, brutalize, terrorize, and basically have a good Deatheater time of it. Severus paused his pacing and leaned against his desk.

The Dark Revel he could handle. It would be far from his first. He would just stick to the sidelines and not comment. He'd take a muggle or two for experiments after everyone was to out of it to realize that his 'test subjects' never made it back and their bodies would never be found. The Revel was not concerning Severus. The Revel was old habit - but the women. That was something he knew nothing of.

It was different when the wives attended the Inner-Circle Revels. They would participate, willingly or not, in the sex games. Then if they pleased everyone they got to help torture and terrorize the captives. Now things were different. The Inner-Wives were no longer forced to participate; in fact the Dark Lord discouraged their attendance at the Revels. Severus suspected it had to do with Lily Evans. Voldemort had always thought witches were less powerful than wizards. His defeat by a mudblood witch had been an unforeseen possibility to the Dark Lord. Since his resurrection, Voldemort had maintained the party line of wizard superiority but had kept his distance from witches effectively excluding several from their chief form of entertainment.

If rumor and the grumblings Severus himself had heard were true, some of the wives were not happy in their exclusion from the games. As he had told Hermione, some of the wives enjoyed the chance to bed their husbands' rivals in public without fear of retribution. And more enjoyed the perk of equal time to indulge their sadistic pleasures on helpless muggles. Severus had talked with Lucius about what Hermione could expect in detail via the flow the day before. According to the aristocrat many of the women had taken up bating one another into duels to pass the time during the Revels. Severus hoped he was joking, one could never quite tell with Lucius.

Hermione had really only begun Dark Arts training. Soren had thought her a bit, but nothing that could be considered truly Dark, just some mildly questionable hexes. Her adventures with Harry had added to that knowledge, but again the curses and hexes were light compared with what Severus knew the other wives would use. He had stepped up her and Harry's training in the hope that it would prove enough to keep her from harm. The other wives would not dare to kill her, but he did not want to see her spend days in the infirmary.

He resumed his pacing. The wandless training he had promised her had progressed nicely the past few months, as the plethora of objects that had been hurled at his head recently testified to. Not everyone could do wandless magic; he had recognized the ability in both Hermione and Harry during their first few years at the school. Harry had taken to it far quicker than Hermione, but Severus thought the girl now had a firm grasp on the basics. But would the wandless ability in combination with the few spells he had had time to teach her be enough for her to defend herself from the other wives?

A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. It was time for more of the extra-circular lessons. Severus picked up his plans for the evening's tutorial. He hoped the two Gryffindors could keep pace...

The next day brought even more stress to the potions master. An owl arrived from his parents during breakfast. Snape had sneered at the creature, gabbed the note and stormed off to his rooms. Hermione followed him at a distance. Severus unrolled the scroll and swore. The note attached simply read:

We expect you at Snape Hall for the Beltane Holidays. Bring the witch.

Mother.

Hermione looked over his shoulder. "It can't be that bad can it?" Severus simply looked at her. "Okay, what will be so bad?"

"We have a 'party' with the Malfoy's on Saturday, than next Thursday you have to be inspected by my mother. That is what is so bad." Severus looked wearily at his wife. "She had to pick Beltane. It's not like we DO anything for the holiday. As a matter of fact the village even ignores it. We have never been a religious family."

Hermione hugged him from behind. "It'll be okay. What's the worst she can do?"

"Hex you seven ways from a month of Sundays." His voice was dry. Hermione came around the front of his chair and looked him in the eye. It seemed the summons to his ancestral home bothered him more than he would let on and she wanted to know why.

"Severus, what is it? You have said yourself that your mother only wants the family continued. I doubt she'd harm your wife, at least not until an heir had been produced. What is really bothering you about this?"

Severus gave a rather humorless chuckle. "Did you ever wonder why I joined the Deatheaters?"

Hermione nodded solemnly. "Yes, but I assumed you'd tell me when you were ready. It wasn't because of your family was it? As I understood it your parents were close to disowning you after your arrest."

Severus nodded. "Yes, mother was. Father, well father has trouble remembering what decade it is. Mother was the one who raised me. She was the one who took me to Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾. Mother was always there. Mother and her expectations. Mother and her demands. Mother and her 'you can do better than that's'. Mother and her 'you know you're not really trying, how could you with a muggle born witch ahead of you in class standing'. Mother and her disappointment." Severus' eyes had grown dark with the remembered pain. "Nothing was ever good enough for that woman.

"My OWLS for instance were incredibly high, very close to yours, only the distribution was a bit different. But that didn't satisfy my mother. My end of terms grades were one point behind Lily Evans. I did not hear the end of it all summer. Than sixth year I stopped trying. I couldn't handle it anymore, not with Lucius gone and the incident at the Shrieking Shack. I didn't have any friends left at Hogwarts and my own parents were useless when it came to listening to teenage problems. I slipped to third in class standing, behind Remus Lupin and Evans.

"Mother told me if I didn't get first in seventh year I would not have my university costs covered and I would no longer be welcome in Snape Hall. She'd throw me out and take my first born male child and raise it to be worthy of the Snape name, much like Soren planed to do to you. She had the connections to do it, Hermione. So when Lucius told me he took the Mark and that he'd finally freed himself of his father, who was quite like my mother, I considered where my loyalties should lay for the first time.

"Then in December of my seventh year, it happened. I got an owl from the Dark Lord inviting me to join him. Once the invitation comes it is join or die. So I joined. Lucius' father had mysteriously disappeared a year after he took the Mark. I made sure Mother and Father would not go the same way, but I also made sure they knew that if any action was taken to make good on mother's threat they would face the wrath of the Deatheaters."

Hermione didn't say anything for a few moments. Then she slowly asked her question, "So you had considered joining before the invitation came?" Snape nodded. "But you hadn't approached the Dark Lord." Snape once more nodded. "Once the invitation came you didn't have a choice. Even if you hadn't contemplated taking the Mark before, your options would not have changed once that owl delivered its message. You had no choice, Severus."

Snape stood up quickly and Hermione fell back on her heels and tried not to fall all the way backward. "That is not the point. I threatened my mother's life all those years ago! I joined a band of killers to avoid her! How do I walk back in to the Hall and say 'ello mum. Nice to see you. Oh this is my wife, and yes I have my MASTER'S permission!"

"Severus calm down. It won't be that bad."

"Hermione, you are far too optimistic." Severus sat back down heavily. "Tell me something to cheer me up, anything."

Hermione sat down in the chair opposite him and grinned. The two had developed a little game over the last two months. When one of them was upset the other would start telling amusing stories to cheer the other up. Snape regaled Hermione with the inner workings of the Staff Room and told her all about McGonagall's obsession with collecting hairnets of all things. Hermione had revealed the truth of the Golden Trio's adventures in previous years, with the agreement that no points could be taken after the fact. She had also been keeping him apprised of the student scandals and great love affairs. Lately she seemed to be doing much more story telling than her husband. The stress of the school year combined with his duties as a spy made his life hell.

"Harry was so distracted in Care of Magical Creatures Hagrid actually took five points."

"I know that. It was all over the staff room." Severus snipped and glared.

"Yes, but do you know WHY Harry wasn't listening?" Hermione grinned from ear to ear.

Severus perked up. "Do tell. Hagrid said the boy was simply starring off into space. He thought for a minute he was having a vision."

"Oh I'm sure he was. A vision of Malfoy's arse. And you're becoming a gossip."

Severus blinked. "Potter was...at Draco's...Merlin. And I am not gossiping. This is useful blackmail material."

She snorted. "As if you'd use it. You KNOW what I'd have to do if you did." Hermione smiled and went to gather her books. "We had best be getting to class."

Severus grunted and stood as well. "Are you sure Potter was looking at Malfoy?"

"Positive. Ron had a fit. Harry won't talk about it, but I think he's finally realized he might not be entirely straight."

"About time. I think the rest of Hogwarts figured that out weeks ago when he blushed as Lupin hugged him after the Slytherin/Gryffindor quidditch match."

"Yeah, poor Prof. Lupin thought he'd done something wrong until I talked to him. Harry had just bolted after the hug. Lupin thought Harry didn't like him. You should have seen his expression when I explained it was the exact opposite. Seems he knows what Harry's going through, though. I've been hinting to Harry that he should talk to the professor."

"Remus was the only openly homosexual student from our year. If anyone can understand what is going on in Potter's head it's the werewolf. Do you think Draco knows about his admirer?"

Hermione chuckled. "Yes he knows. I think he's flattered, but not interested. He's been a little off lately, the last couple of weeks. Not as many snappy comebacks and very few insults. He seems to be..I don't know..."

Severus snorted. "Draco not interested in shagging something? The world must have stopped moving. I swear there isn't a student over the age of thirteen in Slytherin or Ravenclaw that hasn't been in his bed."

"He was half way through Hufflepuff at the end of March."

Severus shook his head. "Lucius was never like that. Oh the man indulged himself, but not to the point where he became a whore."

"Malfoy isn't a whore. He pays instead of being paid."

"That is terrible, Hermione." Severus tried to hide his amusement but Hermione knew him to well.

"Thank you." The girl grinned, half curtsied, and headed for the door.

"Insufferable know-it-all."

"Greasy git."

"I love it when you talk dirty." Severus moved to block her exit.

"We have class." Hermione glanced longingly at the bedroom then brushed past her husband on her way to Transfiguration.

"Damn." Severus slammed his chamber door and swept off to his potions classroom for another day of teaching potentially life saving information to a bunch of dunderheads and morons.

Later that day Lupin corned him to ask about the DADA/DA lessons. Severus promised to bring his lesson plans by later on in the week.

-

As promised, Severus walked towards Lupin's office with the stack of parchments requested for Hermione and Harry's extra defense training later that week. As he neared the room he heard voices speaking quietly. He paused just outside and quickly cast an invisibility spell when he heard Draco Malfoy's normally confidant drawl coming from inside. Instead of the usual silky tones and haughty superiority the boy's voice sounded tired and more than a little resigned. Severus cautiously moved so he could peer inside the partially opened door.

The werewolf was sitting on his desk and Draco was occupying a cushioned chair in front of it. The blond child seemed to be at ease in the room and it looked as if he had spent more than a little time in the small cluttered office.

"I don't know what to do, Professor."

"What is it Draco? You've been here for an hour and I still don't know what is wrong."

Draco sighed and looked at a spot above and to the left of the DADA instructor's shoulder. "I can't..."

Remus moved off the desk and crouched next to the chair. "You can't what? Draco, I promise whatever it is I won't judge you. What has happened? Can I help?"

"If I tell you, you'll go to Dumbledore or Snape. I can't risk it, I'm sorry." The boy moved his gaze from the wall to the floor opposite the werewolf. He almost looked ashamed.

"Draco Malfoy when we started this I swore I wouldn't reveal anything we discussed. You needed someone to talk to, that you could trust. I have never gone back on that oath and I am not about to start. What is it?"

The boy paused. Snape was intrigued. This was not normal Malfoy behavior. Draco raised his head and looked his professor in the eye. "Saturday I am expected home."

Remus looked confused. "That is rather unusual for the middle of the school year. Do you need help getting permission?"

"No, and that is the problem. Father already got the Headmaster and Professor Snape to agree." Once more his eyes broke contact and studied an invisible flaw on the stone wall.

"Than what is the problem?" Remus put his hand on the boy's shoulder and tried to get him to look up.

"I don't want to do it." Draco's voice was small, Severus had trouble hearing it. The gray eyes looked lost and the child's shoulders slumped a bit in his seat.

"Go home; you don't want to go home? Why not, I thought you missed your father?" Remus carefully schooled his voice to hide his confusion and growing curiosity.

"I do...but...I don't want to do it Professor!" The blond almost shouted the last part.

Remus looked at the shivering boy. He was clutching his left arm and holding it as close to him as possible. "Oh my god. He's making you take the Mark at the party isn't he." It wasn't a question.

Draco nodded and blinked back a few tears. Severus could do nothing but gape. If he revealed his presence the boy would run. And there was nothing he could do to stop it. He should have guessed that was the reason for Draco's summons home. Neither Albus nor himself had considered the possibility when they received Lucius' request for Draco to come with Severus for the party. They had assumed it was simply so the family could see one another and Draco could put in an appearance at his fiancée's first gala event - Pansy was working with Narcissa on organizing the dinner before the Revel. In reality Pansy was receiving all her training on running the house from Lucius, but that was strictly to be kept inside the family. Narcissa's 'condition' was a private affair. Severus could not believe how upset the boy was getting, he had assumed the child was truly eager for the Mark, he always appeared to be. The gray eyes were darting around and his posture was purely defensive. If the child tried to get his left arm closer to his body it would meld itself into his chest.

Remus sat down on the floor. "Well you just won't go home. If you don't go home you can't get Marked."

Snape cursed Gryffindors. It was never that easy.

"If only it was that easy, Professor Lupin. If I don't go not only will I be on You-Know-Who's to kill list, but Father will be punished. Severely punished and not by just the Dark Lord. If a child of the Inner Circle refuses the Mark the parents are held accountable. If He can't get to me, He'll kill my mother at least if not my father. Examples must be set. I can't do that to them."

"What kind of a parent would offer their child the Mark, Draco? Are they worth it? Not to mention you're two years younger than the standard age for such a thing."

"It's not like father got up one morning, apparated to his master's feet and asked for me to be Marked! Father may be many things, but he is not cruel to me. He doesn't want me to go through what he has. Do you know that I haven't had a single lesson in the Dark Arts? Not one. I've never seen the dungeons under the house, even though father spends enormous amounts of time in them. I know what goes on under my feet, Professor. I can FEEL the despair wafting up those steps, but I've never walked down them. Father would not allow it.

"Father doesn't want to see me come home bloody from a Revel, half my blood, half my victims. He doesn't want to see me turn into a cruel and sadistic monster lacking in human decency and care. He certainly doesn't want to see me hit with the Cruciatus for not managing the impossible for that insane git of a Dark Wizard. He knows what he has become and he would spare me that. But he doesn't have a choice. I join or I die. What the Dark Lord wants he will have." Draco sounded defeated, his eyes hallow and his posture limp.

"There must be something we can do. Maybe if you talk to Prof. Snape he can figure something out."

Draco snorted. "I don't fancy marrying him, besides he already has a spouse. His marriage to the Lady Penwrath is the only time he has ever, EVER, been able to get someone around the Dark Lord's wishes. And that was not really against His wishes. Snape was GIVEN Granger. Besides, I know you have to realize that he's not exactly a safe person to talk to about not wanting to join this particular organization."

Remus looked positively ill. "I don't know what to tell you, Draco. There has to be a way out of this."

"There isn't Professor, not one I am willing to take at any rate."

"Than why did you come tonight?"

Draco turned to again stare at the wall. "I needed to talk about it. You are the only one who listens to me, the only one I can trust with this, the only one who can understand." He looked back at his only confidant and the grey eyes seemed to bore into the werewolf. "My classmates have all picked sides, but you are neutral as far as I am concerned. I know that one day we may meet on a battlefield and than this unconditional support will be sadly absent, for both of us. But now I am still a student and you will not do anything to harm me until you have lost hope.

"Perhaps I can be of some use even after the Mark. If I manage to hear anything, and I tell you, will you pass it on to Dumbledore for me? I don't want him to know whom it is from..."

Remus nodded sadly. "That is the least I can do, Draco. But don't take any chances to find out information. Being a new recruit, even with the automatic Inner Circle status your father gives you, you will be under suspicion. And I still don't see why I should understand this...insanity."

Draco smiled sadly. "You had no choice but to become what you are. I have no choice in what I will become. There is only one way to escape our fates, and neither of us has the courage to take it."

There was a pause of several minutes as Remus digested the analogy. Lycanthropy being equivalent to forced Markcation; it was a rather apt comparison. Both forced one to become a monster, but Remus at least knew that it wasn't his fault and that it could only happen once a month during the three-day transformation cycle. Then the second meaning of the words hit him. "Suicide is never the answer, Draco." Remus' voice was almost too quiet to hear.

Draco gave another sad smile, "That is what you ask of me when you tell me not to go. My Father would most likely be spared death for my infraction, but mother would not. She is of little value to anyone. And I would be hunted until I am found and tortured to insanity and beyond by every Deatheater, including my father, until the Dark Lord would see fit to grant me the reprieve of the Avada. That is always the fate of those who chose to deceive the Dark Lord. I do not fear the pain for myself, nor my own death -it is inevitable should I take either path-, but father could not curse me, and it would mean his execution for disobedience. So I must go."

"Draco.."

"It is alright Professor. Just please, when the war is over, tell everyone I didn't want to join Him. Tell them that I didn't have a choice. I doubt I'll survive spying on the bastard for long, if He doesn't kill me an auror will. I just want it known that the Malfoy family was not, is not, and will not be entirely Dark." Draco was once again blinking back tears.

Remus grabbed the boy into a hug, literally pulling him from the chair half onto the floor, half onto his lap. "You can cry, Draco. You don't have to hide the tears."

"I can't cry. Slytherin's don't cry. I can't...I can't...I..."

Remus grabbed his wand and with a murmured word turned Draco's student robes from Slytherin to Ravenclaw. "Just pretend Dragon, just pretend."

Draco gave a sob and his whole frame shook as the tears fell. Remus rocked him and held him close, one hand around his back, the other holding the blond head to his shoulder. "It's all right to cry, Draco, let it out. I know... it's all right. It's okay to be scared."

"I don't want to die Remus, and I don't want to what they do...I don't think I can do it. I can't kill people..."

"You'll make it Draco. You are strong, and I'll help you. I'll be here, all you have to do is hold on. We'll take Him out Draco, and when it ends I'll make sure they don't hurt you, either side."

"You can't promise that."

"No, but I swear I will do everything I can."

The boy cried till Severus doubted there was a drop of moisture left in his small frame. Remus held him until he quieted and long after. It seemed like hours later that the Malfoy heir pulled himself together and transfigured his robes back to normal. With a sad, bitter smile the sixth year left the office. Severus was reminded of his talk with Hermione, but this time there was no miracle solution, no way out.

Remus was left sitting on the floor staring into the flames of his fireplace. "You can come in now, Severus. I suppose you heard."

Severus banished his invisibility spell and stepped inside. He closed the door fully and placed the parchments on the rather unorganized desk.

"How did you know I was there, Lupin? And why didn't you use a Silencing Charm? If the wrong person heard that..."

Remus shook his head and kept staring into the dancing flames. "I can smell and hear anyone approaching. I let you stay and listen because I promised Draco I wouldn't reveal his true feelings to anyone. But someone besides me needs to know the boy isn't Dark. If something were to happen to me he would have no one to help him or protect him." Remus turned and looked at Severus with hope, "Can you do anything..." He didn't need to ask the rest. The answer was plain in the sadness Severus couldn't keep off his face.

"No Remus, I can't. They boy is right. He has no choice unless he is willing to sacrifice his family and his future." Severus spoke as he set up silencing wards. He trusted the werewolf's senses like he trusted Crookshanks alone in the kitchens, two equal heathen furballs when it came to things like espionage and cleaning up after themselves, as the cluttered office testified to.

"It's like Hermione all over again!" The despair in the werewolf's voice made Snape turn around sharply.

"Yes, but Hermione was never faced with the Mark personally, just a marriage to it. This is one of the rare occasions where a female has more options than the male."

"You can't just give up on him!"

Severus let his voice convey the frustration and anger that had building inside him for weeks. "Give up on him! The Slytherin's are my children werewolf. I would NEVER give up on them. Not a day goes by where I don't agonize over how to keep them from the Dark, what comments I can say that will help them to withstand the pressures from home or classmates but won't betray me. It kills me a little each day to know that I am holding back on teaching them things so that IF they go Dark it will be easier to 'handle' them. THAT is why I cuddle them Lupin, that is why I baby them and protect them. If they are not ready for the real world, they will be less of a threat. Just like the Gryffindors will be MORE prepared because they KNOW they can face me. I am fattening my own children up for slaughter and there is precious little I can do to change that. And then I have to hope that some will realize that the Dark Lord is not the way. And I have so little time to education them properly after their true loyalty is revealed. They need the skills I keep them from acquiring to survive and prosper, and I am years behind by that time. To top it all off, most of those who come to that conclusion I still lose. Like Draco, they have no choice."

"There are always choices."

"Life or Death, Lupin. To be or not to be. God is dead and these children have no hope."

"How can you say that? How can you believe that? If there is no hope what are we fighting for?"

Severus shook his head and knotted his fingers in his hair. "I don't think I know Lupin, I'm so use to the battle I have forgotten the reason." Snape sat wearily down in the chair Draco had sat in. "Or maybe the point of the fight is to exist, exist and rebel against the absurdity of it all."

Lupin looked at him, "You really do care about them don't you?"

"With every fiber of my being, werewolf. They are...more important than anything else. If I could give my life to spare Draco I would."

Remus' face took on a look of concentration as he thought for a moment. "That is why you were so willing to marry Hermione. You saw a chance to save one."

Snape nodded. "I explained it to Albus. I couldn't save the others, but her I could. At least I pray I have. There is still danger."

"But at least she has you to help her face it." Remus paused and almost fainted when he made the realization. "You've grow to love her haven't you?" The surprise on the man's face was startling and the weary DADA professor looked half appalled and half relieved by the situation.

Severus however did not agree with the assessment and gave a snort. "I've only been married to her for three months."

"Don't avoid the question. You love her don't you? Student or not, Gryffindor know-it-all or not, you love her -perhaps because she represents the hope that some can be saved- but regardless, you love her."

"I don't deserve to love her." The dark haired man imitated his student and refused to meet his colleague's eye.

"No one deserves to love Severus, you just do." Remus moved to comfort his guest and put a steadying hand on the black clad shoulder.

"I can't love." The potion master shrugged off the offending offer of friendship and compassion.

"No more than Draco can cry?" Lupin wasn't about to give up on this. Once he came to the conclusion that his almost friend was in love with Hermione, he had to make him admit it. If Severus never let himself believe the truth, than Hermione would never hear the words she needed to from him. The girl was far too young to go her entire life without hearing those important three words from her lover and husband.

"Remus." The dark voice held more than a hint of warning.

"Severus, there is no shame in it. I would hope you could love her, she needs to be loved. And you need to give that love and receive it back."

"She can't feel that for me." The velvet soft tone was resigned instead of angry this time and Remus mentally gave himself a pat on the back for undermining the walls the slytherin seemed to love to build around himself so quickly.

"I think she does, after all we've all seen the evidence that she'd doesn't find you repulsive." Lupin grinned and tried to poke the love bit barely visible on his friend's neck.

"Sex is not love." Snape growled out and shrugged his collar back into place, hiding the mark.

"It is a start."

"She is a sixteen year old. She'd fuck anything that moves if she was married to it and told it was okay."

"Not all teenagers are like Draco. Most have the ability to control their libido. And even if you don't believe she's come to love you, you can admit she's adapted well."

"We've grown accustomed to each other, nothing more."

"Love isn't always about harps and bells. You have done more than anyone could have wished to protect her, prepare her, and make her happy. That is love, Severus. Not candy and flowers or red arrows. And she does the same for you. Sometimes being 'accustomed' to a person is better than a wild romance. It certainly lasts longer." Severus grunted. "Answer me this, could you imagine life without her now?"

"I'd be free of that damn cat."

"But what about her? Could you stand to go back to an empty bed and silent rooms?"

Severus thought for a moment and his eyes appeared to being seeing something miles away instead of a werewolf barely three feet from him. When he spoke his voice was almost a whisper. "I'd miss her scent, her voice, and her damn humming. She's always humming when she studies."

Remus grinned. "There you have it. If you can't imagine life without her than you love her."

"I can't imagine life without the threat of the Dark Lord either, but I don't love him."

"Fine, live in denial about your marriage. Now go home, I'm sure the girl misses you to."

"Remus?" Severus wasn't about to fall for the change of subject or the prompt dismissal. The werewolf had been taking lessons from Albus, but he still lacked the Headmasters talent of making the deflection so subtle it was missed.

"Yes, Severus?"

"How did you become such a close confidant of Draco?"

Remus shuffled nervously. "He came to me at the start of term. He said he wanted to talk. At first he just asked me about class lessons, then about my lycanthropy. I remember he asked me if it hurt. When I told him it did he said he was sorry for it. From then on he opened up little by little. I think he just wanted someone to talk to besides his housemates and you. He doesn't know you're a spy, he can't trust you with things. But for some reason he trusts me. I can't tell you why, frankly I don't care so long as he does trust me. He needs to have a shoulder to cry on and mine can handle it. One day he asked if I would promise not to tell anyone what he was about to say. I promised and he told me all about his father being a Deatheater, as if I didn't know. I told him I already knew but that I'd keep silent on it, for his sake. He told me about his mother being out of it, and his father using Imperius to get her around in public. He told me about the good things and bad things of being the Malfoy Heir. He ranted about his arranged marriage to Parkinson...and tonight you saw what happened. I wish I could do something for him." There was a long pause as both wizards gathered their thoughts.

"You have, Remus. You made it possible for him to cry." Now it was Severus' turn to offer comfort with a hand on a shoulder. Just as had been done to him, Remus backed away from the touch.

"Why can't a Slytherin cry?" Lupin gave a pointed look and waited for an answer.

"Snakes don't have tear ducts." Severus turned to the door and tried to get out. An arm held in front of him stopped his exit.

"You're not all snakes."

"But to the public we have to appear to be. There are rules for life in Slytherin. Number One, Slytherins never turn their back on their housemates, at least from their own year. Solidarity in public is critical to the survival of the house. Number Two, never show weakness, and if one of the others can't help it, hide it from outsiders. Shield the weaker of the house with the strong so that to all appearances there IS no weakness. Crying is showing emotion, emotion can be exploited, so emotion is a weakness, thus crying is not allowed. And Number Three, remember that no matter what anyone says about you, retain your self worth and follow what YOU believe."

"Good rules, for the most part. But Severus, you need to work on the last one yourself. You are worth more than you give yourself credit for."

"No Lupin, the third rule has made my life hell. For the third rule I became I spy, for the third rule..."

"For the third rule you fight." Severus looked skeptical but Remus only smiled reassuringly. "Be careful in dealing with a man who cares nothing for sensual pleasures, nothing for comfort or praise or promotion, but is simply determined to do what he believes to be right. He is a dangerous and uncomfortable enemy because his body, which you can always conquer, gives so little purchase over his soul."

"You didn't write that."

"No, Prof. Murray did."

"Well it doesn't fit exactly. I do crave promotion."

"And praise, Severus. Whether you will admit it or not it hurts you that no one can know of your sacrifice. But yet you do it, without the belief that you will ever get credit for the LARGE part you will play in the downfall of Voldemort. That is what matters, you are willing to die in the darkness where no one can see or hear you, and no one will ever know what you did, simply for you ideals. That makes you strong, dangerous, but strong."

Severus simply stood there for a moment then nodded and headed for the door. He paused with his hand on the knob. Something about all this was making him worried. He couldn't quite figure it out until it hit him. " Remus, he is a student."

"I know that."

"I don't doubt your knowledge of it, I am reminding you. Don't go where this is headed. As I have said, my Slytherins are my children. I don't take kindly to having them entangled with my colleagues."

"Severus Snape I have no intention of molesting Draco Malfoy!"

"I know you would never do anything he did not wish, Remus. But he is a child, remember that."

"You married his classmate."

"I had no choice in that. And Hermione is special."

"So is Draco."

The two glared at each other for a moment then Lupin sat back down behind his desk and Severus retook his seat.

"I can't go there, Severus, even if I wanted to, which I don't. The Ministry..."

-

After Severus left the werewolf he bolted to the Headmaster's office. He found Albus calmly sipping tea, as usual.

"Now Severus, before you start yelling about whatever it is that is bothering you, congratulations."

"What for?"

"For managing to scare 5 students to the point of tears on the way here without even noticing that you passed any." The old man smiled and passed Snape a cup of tea.

"This is not the time for jokes, Albus. We have a problem."

"Oh dear, I do not like it when you say that my boy. It usually means trouble is brewing." The elderly wizard giggled at his pun and Severus rolled his eyes. It was just his luck he caught the old man on a particularly jovial day.

"That would be because I only say it when there IS trouble." Severus grimaced as the chair he was sitting in got bumpy in response to its occupant upsetting the owner of the office. Severus hated enchanted furniture.

Albus sat back and wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose knocking his glasses askew. "What is it this time?" His voice sounded far more tired then Snape cared to contemplate. Snape hated doing this to his old friend. Albus had such few moments of true happiness; to ruin one was never a kind thing.

"We are delivering Draco to the Dark Lord on Saturday. His father's request to have me take him along to the party extends to the Revel where the Dark Lord intends to initiate him."

The older wizard's face became more pained. "If we had known..."

"We could have come up with a reason to turn down Lucius' request. As is, we can not go back on our word without raising suspension. The Revel is little more than 24 hours away; there is not time to plan an event large enough to warrant keeping the boy. Most injuries that it would be safe to inflict on him can be cured in moments by Pomfrey, even if she does like to keep students around the infirmary for a while, Draco would be able to go home. Anything bad enough to require an extended stay in the hospital wing is likely to turn the boy against us, he doesn't like pain much."

"How did you learn he was to take the Mark? Did he tell you?"

"No." Severus related his eavesdropping and subsequent conversation with Lupin.

"So the boy and his father are both against this and it is Voldemort who is insisting."

Severus nodded, "But there is little they can do about it. If both want to live, the boy will take the Mark."

Albus slumped in his chair, "I hate feeling this powerless."

"I know, but we can be there for the child. Help him find reasons to go on, and help make excuses to be unavailable to the Dark Lord. Perhaps if I involve him with the Potter Plot the Dark Lord would think he was suitably occupied and leave him alone. Regardless of that, Draco will have to remain distant from the majority of the Deatheater Activities to remain here at school and out of suspicion. He can't leave the grounds without you knowing and if he starts sneaking out whenever there is a Deatheater Raid it would be obvious what was happening. Not to mention the MOM will be able to tell if he uses magic during the summer, Malfoy Manor may have wards deflecting the underage wizard charms but any attacks will take place in the outside world were the charms will reactivate. He'll be under the same restrictions as I am during school, he'll only be able to attend sporadic summonings and the summer will be open only for educational and research duties not muggle hunting. What I can't figure out is why the Dark Lord is doing this so soon? Draco can't really be of any use."

Albus frowned. "We'll figure it out eventually, hopefully not to late. All of this might work until graduation, but what do we do after that? If Draco doesn't want the Mark we can't let him become something he doesn't want to be."

"We'll have to come up with a reason to keep him here." Severus sighed. "Perhaps I can take him on as an apprentice. But that would place him in danger should my cover ever be blown."

"I'll think about our options, we have over a year till we need worry. You should talk with the boy before Saturday night. Tell him the truth about what you are. If he's willing to spy he needs to know what it entails. Also let Hermione know what is going on. She will realize something different is happening and it is best tell her before she tries to find out herself. She might draw attention to you."

Snape shook his head. "I don't like so many people knowing about my role, Albus. And the less people who know about Draco the better. I can't tell him you know, or how I found out either if I want Remus to keep the boy's trust."

"You'll think of a way, Severus. You have my complete confidence."

"Thank you." Severus spoke with dry sacarasm and turned to leave.

"One last thing, how is he planning on having Draco hide the Dark Mark? With the boy living in a dorm and taking communal showers it will be obvious."

"Since the Mark resists glamour charms I assume Draco will have to be careful to shower late at night or early in the morning. A good strong visual blocking charm might work to cut off view of him entirely while he changes cloths for quidditch. As for daily activity, he can always resort to muggle make-up, after it heals enough of course." The headmaster nodded and Severus left to find his wife.

He ran into Draco first and made a snap decision.

"Draco, come with me." Severus grabbed the boy's robes and forced him into his chambers. Hermione was sitting on the couch reading with her back to the door when they came in.

"Severus, could you help me with..." Hermione turned and saw they had company. "Malfoy."

Snape snarled. "Hermione, Draco, stop this feud for a moment. I only want to have this conversation one time."

Severus checked his wards while Draco and Hermione settled into the couch as far apart as possible. When he finished the wards, Snape then scanned the two students to make sure they were who they appeared to be. Satisfied with his precautions, Severus started in.

"I don't want a word from either of you till I finish. Understood." Both nodded, looking apprehensive. "Draco, I know why you are coming with us Saturday. The Dark Lord intends to give you the Mark." He ignored his wife's gasp. "I also know you don't want to take it. No, I did not hear this from Lupin, but you really should consider casting silencing charms. This time it was only me listening in the corridor, thank Merlin."

Draco paled and Hermione looked at her 'cousin'. Draco ignored her and kept his eye on his head of house. "So are you turning me in?" His voice may have lacked its customary confident drawl but the set of his chin indicated he wouldn't go down without a fight should Snape chose to inform a certain dark wizard of his less then complete allegiance.

Severus gave a small smile. "No boy, I am not." Severus caught Hermione's eye. She looked skeptical but nodded for him to go on. "You see Draco; I am not loyal to the Dark Lord either. I spy for Dumbledore. Hermione and I aren't trying to turn Harry Potter; we are simply giving a cover story to keep the Dark Lord from trying to kill Harry for a while."

Draco looked at the two for a moment, "So...so, is there anything you can do to help me?"

Severus looked at the floor before meeting his student's eyes. "Nothing you haven't thought of I'm sure. The hospital wing is out, to predictable and the Dark Lord would simply reschedule. We can't take our consent for a visit back, besides it would just happen on vacation instead of now."

"I understand, sir. Thank you for telling me the truth." Draco got up to leave, his face a stone mask.

"Draco?"

Hermione's voice pulled him back into the room. "Yes, Penwrath?"

"Draco, if you need to talk...well I'm sure Severus here will be willing to listen, and so will I. Not that I have much of an idea about what you're going through...but sometimes an ear helps."

Severus nodded his agreement and the Slytherin 6th year looked at them for a moment and left. He was still missing his normal arrogant confidence, but knowing his Head of house was not against him and was in fact willing to help him, elevated much of the child's worries. The door opened and then closed behind the blond.

"Tell me the full story, Severus." Hermione's tone was demanding as she started questioning him. After he related the full encounter with Lupin, again, he waited for the girl's response. "Merlin, that poor boy. You will help him won't you?"

"Of course. My Slytherins are my children Hermione, and like I told Lupin, I do what I can for them. I will look out for Draco. I am in good standing in the Inner Circle. If I make my allegiance with Draco clear, that in addition to his father's position should keep him safe from the others. What worries me is why this is happening now and not in two years."

"I don't know, husband. I don't know." Hermione picked up a piece of parchment and a quill and set to work on a large equation. "But I promise I'll find out."

-

Saturday was windy and cold, typical for mid-April in Gwendreath where Malfoy Manner resided. Hermione pulled her cloak tighter against herself and leaned into Severus as they walked from the apparation point up to the large doors. Unlike Ravenshire, which had quaintness under riding the richness, Malfoy Manner was like walking into a different world. The doors opened up to show a grand entryway to rival Hagia Sophia in its full glory. Gilded morals ran the length of the arched ceiling and the floors were of the purest white marble. The grand staircase reminded Hermione of the muggle movie Gone With the Wind, except Twelve Oaks would have looked like a shack in comparison.

Hermione refused to let her eye wander. Severus glanced down and nodded with satisfaction. He had tried to instill in her the necessity of NOT appearing impressed with the décor; that was its purpose, to make people ill at ease. Lucius swept out from a side parlor and greeted his friend.

"Severus! You made it! Is Draco..."

Draco came out from behind his professor and grimly embraced his father. Hermione almost missed the whispered exchange.

"I'm sorry Draco. I didn't..." Lucius looked almost sick.

"I know, father." The boy tried to instill confidence into his voice, for which Lucius was grateful.

"You shouldn't have come." The father held his son's gaze.

"I couldn't leave you to face the consequences. I will...survive, that is what we do best isn't it, survive?" Lucius nodded but didn't comment. The two blondes quickly separated as Narcissa came out from a side room. It was rather clear that she was already under the Imperius, she merely nodded to her son and barely acknowledged the two guests.

"I do wish you would let mother out once in a while, father. I'm sure she can't cause too much trouble tonight." Draco sneered.

"I know you like to converse with her, Draco, but tonight is to important to have her running around drunk and insulting people. Leave her be." Lucius glanced at his wife and a clear look of disgust and loathing crossed his face so fast Hermione almost missed it. Then she realized it wasn't directed at the elder women, but at Pansy Parkinson who was silently trailing behind. She surmised that was also the cause of Draco's sneer. "I would love to leave her unsupervised. It takes a considerable amount of concentration to keep her in line. But I'm afraid I have no choice this evening."

Severus snorted. That meant the Dark Lord had ordered Lucius to make sure his wife didn't interfere with Draco taking the Mark. Narcissa was not only a raving lunatic -from to many years of Dark Revels-, but she was also devoted to her son, in her moments, however brief, of lucidity. It seemed the only time she was capable of coherent speech or action was when Draco was with her. She was VERY protective of her only offspring and had screamed from the roof of the manner that her son would never bare the Dark Mark, quite literally screamed it last September as he left for Hogwarts.

Lucius summed a house-elf to take their cloaks and lead them into the side parlor he had exited. A number of Deatheaters and their families were already there. Severus left Hermione with a group of the younger wives and moved to engage Avery in a conversation about the new binding spells the man had been working on. While annoying, Dark Revels usually meant Dumbledore would get a better report on individual Deatheaters' progress on their assignments then from a summoning.

Severus almost sighed in relief when he heard Hermione's amused chuckle mingled with several other feminine giggles from the across the room. He could tell the laugh was fake, but no more so than the other women. He even doubted anyone else could tell, with perhaps the exception of Draco. They were the only ones in the room to have ever heard her real laugh and Draco only from a distance.

The blond heir was himself keeping to the sidelines. He was avoiding the other children present, all too young for Hogwarts. He also made no move to join the adult discussions of either the women, men, or the smaller mixed groups. His eyes scanned the room as if looking for an exit. Severus caught Lucius' eye and they shared a pained look. No matter what Lupin thought about Lucius Malfoy the werewolf would never have been able to mistake the dread in the man's face. Lucius was normally the life of a Revel; tonight he barely managed to be an expectable host.

The group moved to the dinning room when a small timid house-elf entered and told them dinner was served. It was a testimony to the mood of the Malfoys that no one bothered to hex the creature when it tripped on its ripped pillowcase on the way out the door.

Severus took his seat next to Hermione and was pleased to see her using the proper utensils in the correct order. The absurd number of forks had always been a bane of his dinner experiences and he was glad to see she didn't seem to have such a problem. As predicted, dinner involved even more small talk and several veiled insults at his young wife. Mrs. Nott went so far as to call her a 'genetic abnormality'. Severus managed to keep a straight face as his wife's hand disappeared under the table. A few moments later Mrs. Nott leapt up with her robes on fire with a strange blue flame. Worse yet the water her husband hastily conjured to put the flames out had no effect. Severus curbed his laughter but almost lost it when he saw the look that passed between Lucius and Hermione. His friend smiled and raised his glass to the girl as everyone else's attention was on the now rolling Mrs. Nott. Hermione returned the grin and saluted her host in similar fashion. Severus' hopes that perhaps one day he might make the two amiable associates if not friends increased.

The rest of the meal passed without further incident. The other wives held their tongues and only glared at the new member of their social circle. Hermione took it all in stride and returned the dark looks with confident smirks and an easy wit. Draco remained silent once more and only picked at his food. Lucius patted his son's arm as the last of the dessert dishes disappeared. It was time.

Severus tried to send encouragement to Hermione as she made her way upstairs to join the women in Narcissa's private parlor. They would not be joining the Revel tonight; the Dark Lord had made his wishes clear. They would have to pass the evening in some other fashion. Severus hoped it would prove to be a less bloody matter than he suspected.

The men went back into the parlor and steeled themselves with more than a few drinks. No one let themselves drink until inebriated, but even the seasoned Inner Circle found Revels where Voldemort attended to be a little rough on the nerves. Severus slipped Draco a calming potion. The boy took it and nodded gratefully. Lucius grimaced as the clock struck the midnight hour. Severus had never understood the Dark Lord's pension for melodrama.

The group of men quickly made their way out to the outskirts of the Malfoy lands to a sheltered clearing. Voldemort never attended the dinners, and rarely showed up for Revels. He preferred to keep his Deatheaters distance except when called. Tonight was an exception. Severus still didn't know why Draco was being Marked early, but it was obviously important to draw the Dark Lord to a Revel instead of summoning them at his convenience. A Dark Revel always ran the chance of being raided by the MOM because of the advanced chance for discovery or of one the attendees having a slip of the tongue. The Dark Lord did not relish being captured by the Ministry.

As a cold wind blew there was a pop and Voldemort stood in the center of their lose circle. Severus had a suspicion Wormtail had been hiding in the bushes to insure the proper theatrical effects for his master's entrance.

Voldemort scanned the group before him. "Ah my loyal servants, so good to see you all here and in good health. We have two things to rejoice for this evening. First off Severus has successfully begun my newest plan, to convert Harry Potter to our side. Congratulations Severus, by all reports the boy is taking to your 'defense' lessons well."

There was a chorus of muffled snickers as the Dark Lord paused. "I do hate to make you share the spot light tonight Severus, but I felt it was time to bring in a little new blood, so to speak. The second cause for celebration is the initiation of a child of one of our own. The first in a new generation to bare my Mark. Lucius, please bring Draco inside our circle."

Lucius bowed and went to gather his son from where he waited just outside the clearing. Lucius lead a calm and rather too collected Draco into the circle. Severus recognized the irony in the traditional words Voldemort spoke next. "How do you enter the circle, Draco Malfoy."

"I enter with perfect respect and perfect obedience." The blond responded easily, but Severus could see the near panic in the gray eyes. He hoped the Dark Lord was not able to read the child as easily.

"Give me your arm young Malfoy."

Draco extended his left arm and Lucius retook his position next to Severus in the circle. The older Malfoy was holding himself stiffly and Severus wanted nothing more than to help his friend. But there was nothing he could do. Voldemort drew his wand and pressed the tip to the child's inner left forearm. Draco bit his lip, but managed not to scream as the Dark Mark was sired into his flesh. The smell of burning human skin drifted to Severus and Lucius had to stop himself from leaping into the circle to try and end the madness. After what seemed like an eternity Voldemort removed his wand.

Wormtail came out from hiding with the familiar silver mask and dark robes. After some fumbling the rat managed to dress Draco in the robes and handed him the mask. Voldemort motioned for Draco to pay his proper respect.

This was the point where the true value of Draco as a servant would reveal itself to the Dark Lord. Severus was more popular with the mad wizard than Lucius because he was able to completely subject himself. Severus' deferential statements SOUNDED heartfelt. They were more than customary phrases added to avoid punishment. And his bows were always just a hair deeper than the minimum but not so much as to appear a cowering fool like Wormtail.

Lucius on the other hand only made the bare minimum of 'yes master's' and 'of course my lord's', his bows were also only just barely expectable

Both Severus and Lucius held their breaths as Draco gracefully lowered himself to one knee and effortless preformed a court bow to the Dark Lord. Draco lowered his head to expose his neck to his new master but kept his hands at his sides, ready to reach for a wand. It was almost an exact duplicate of the kneeling position muggles took before knighthood. Severus watched as the Dark Lord ran his hand through the child's hair.

"You will serve me well young Draco. Rise and take your place at your father's side."

Draco stood and walked backwards to his place. Severus breathed a sigh of relief. The son had managed to do what the father could not bring himself to do, he had mixed the humility with pride and come out looking like a true Deatheater. Severus wasn't sure whether to be proud or sad.

Voldemort soon left and McNair brought out the entertainment. There were murmurs of wonder when Draco joined Severus on the outskirts. The speculation grew as Lucius joined them.

"Don't feel like playing tonight, Lucius?"

The wizard just shook his head at his friend. "No Severus, I don't. My dungeons are so full I seem to have grown tried of 'playing'. Over exposure I presume. I hope that if I refrain from indulging myself for a time the old flare will re-surface."

Lucius stopped talking as Mulciber walked up. "Wouldn't the young one like to participate?" The man had a child, no more than five following him. The grin on the young boy's face was silent testimony that Mulciber was up to his old tricks with the Imperius.

Draco sneered at the boy and then turned his attention to the wizard. "No." His voice didn't waver and Severus DID feel a wave of pride.

"Why not?" Mulciber yanked the boy to stand in front of him and ran a hand suggestively down the child's side. All three of the others cringed, the boy couldn't be more than five, it was low even for a Deatheater.

"I do not sink to the level of mindless pointless self indulgement, Mulciber. It is a waste of time and energy better spent in service." The last part, service to who, was left unsaid. Severus applauded the thought behind the statement. Not only had Draco called the other wizard spoiled and wasteful but insinuated he was being negligent to the Dark Lord by using his time to indulge himself.

The older wizard looked surprised for a moment than shrugged. He turned to Lucius, "I told you not to send him to Hogwarts. Severus here has been a bad influence. I had hoped your son would have inherited your party instincts, Lucius."

Lucius glared. "I have NEVER taken a child, Mulciber. Now kill it or let it go but I will not have you rape a mere twig of a thing like that on my property. There are some lines that do not need to be crossed. The Pureblood cause is meant to be a refined one, not an excuse to forget one's honor."

Mulciber paled as Lucius raised his wand. He quickly backed away. A moment later the Imperius was lifted and the three watched as the boy wreathed in agony before giving a small gurgling sound and was still.

Draco slowly closed and opened his eyes. Severus could tell his potion was wearing off. He didn't know how much more the boy could take before he lost his composure. Severus lightly touched Lucius' arm and signaled it might be time to leave. The others were all occupied with the muggle captives. In fact several of the Deatheater's who had brought their younger children had already left.

Severus knew Draco needed him and the muggles were to far gone already to be saved. He would not leave his charge simply to collect mindless bodies.

The trio bade their good-byes and headed back for the safety of the manner. The silver masks and robes dissolved as each touched their wands to the Dark Mark. They would reappear when the action was repeated.

The whole process of Marking Draco and 'putting in an appearance' at the Revel had taken several hours. Severus was nervous to see how Hermione had fared with the wives. The first thing he did after entering the Manor was to bolt up the stairs leaving Draco in Lucius' hands. He was vaguely aware of the two following him, somewhat more calmly.

The site that greeted Severus upon entering Narcissa's chambers was comical. Severus was at first relieved. He had been picturing a full duel with possible blood and most certainly injuries. What he found was even more disturbing once he processed the information. Several of the women were having a heated argument on torture methods. A few others were actively sketching their favorite lay outs for the chamber to carry them out in while more were brainstorming possible plans to get them back into the 'festivities'. A small minority were crouched in the corner looking sick. Severus was surprised that Hermione was not among them.

Hermione was actually in the first group of women. She was silent, absorbing the information, but her presence there was a little too much for Severus. The women his wife was sitting with were actually embroidering while discussing disembowelment. Pansy was sitting next to her one time classmate and looking more than a little pale. Mrs. Nott seemed to have forgotten the event at dinner and appeared to have taken the younger girls under her wing. Hermione nodded at something the elder witch said as she rethreaded her needle. Severus hadn't even known she knew how to embroider.

Narcissa was staring at the wall but was the first to see the males enter. Her eyes lost a little of their glazed look as she saw her son. Her face fell when she caught his expression. Her head turned so she was staring at his left arm, a single tear wound its way down her check before she went back to impassively staring.

"Lucius, Severus, Draco, back so soon?" Mrs. Mulciber asked in an overly sweet voice. Severus took the time to wonder if she knew about her husband's tastes.

Lucius was the first to answer. "I'm afraid Severus must be getting back to Hogwarts with Hermione and Draco. The old fool will think something is up if they are missing for to much longer."

Just then Avery came in behind them. "So that's why you left? I thought you might be planning something Severus, old boy."

Severus snorted. "Avery, you have an overactive imagination. Me plan something?" The whole room laughed. Snape turned to Hermione. "Are you ready my wife?"

Hermione nodded and gathered her things together. She handed the embroidery she had been working on to Narcissa. "Thank you for allowing me to work on this, Lady Malfoy. I was glad of something to do with my hands during the wait."

Snape saw a barley perceivable look pass between the women. It looked something like understanding, or would have been had Narcissa Malfoy had enough of her mind left to grasp much of anything. Lucius sighed next to him. In her day Narcissa had been a wonderful student and an even better companion for the wizard. With time her sanity had bleed away, both from a hereditary disposition to madness and the effects the Dark Revels. Narcissa had never enjoyed them. The way she fought every time would have made one think she was a Gryffindor instead of a Ravenclaw.

Avery ordered his wife to get ready but she simply glared. "I am busy Julius. Go back to your friends for a while."

"I have to be at the ministry early tomorrow, woman. Get your things." Wormtail had stayed for the festivities but upon seeing so many heading out early had come to investigate. He walked in just in time to see Mrs. Avery throw a hex at her husband and go back to her conversation. Lucius and Severus stepped back and watched as Avery fought off the spell and growled at his wife. "Get. Yourself. Ready. To. Go."

She ignored him and kept up her conversation. Mrs. Nott also seemed to be ignoring the exchange, that is until Hermione called a house-elf to bring her cloak.

"You shouldn't leave yet, dear. We have so much left to discuss! We really must arrange a date for your first Ball."

"I am sorry, Mrs. Nott, but my husband has expressed his wish that I refrain from having any social functions, at least for the foreseeable future. And I must be going, the Professor does not like to wait."

The women snorted as one, but Mrs. Avery spoke first. "Oh just send him back out to play, child. What makes you think you need to cater to his wishes? You seem to be able to take care off yourself." She gave a pointed look to the still slightly charred robes of her friend.

Hermione looked Severus in the eye. He silently willed her to be differential. With Wormtail here a report of this encounter was going to be relayed to Voldemort. The more beaten down she seemed the easier it would be for him to retain his image and role as a spy and make it believable that she was helping turn Harry.

Hermione gave a small wink and Lucius looked over at him curiously. Wormtail looked like he wanted to take notes on the women. Part of the reason for the forced participation all those years ago was to break the witches to their husbands will. It seemed that the plan may not have worked as well as thought. Luckily the rat missed the veiled exchange between Hermione and Severus entirely.

"I obey my husband, Mrs. Avery, because he is my lord, my life, the one that caress for me. He craves nothing for this but my love and true obedience, far too little payment for so great a debt." She sung her cloak over her shoulders and left the room without another word. Lucius, Draco and Severus left Wormtail and the others blinking behind them and headed outside so the three could apparate back to Hogwarts.

"Merlin girl, where did that come from?" Lucius was almost giggling.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Really Gran...Penwrath. Quoting Shakespeare."

Hermione laughed and looked him in the eye. "It seemed appropriate." She took in his halfhearted smirk. "Draco, are you alright?"

"No. But I will be, I hope." Draco tried to smile but didn't quite make it. Lucius stopped his giggling and put his hands on his son's shoulders.

"Remember Draco, you must not let anyone at Hogwarts, including those two idiots that follow you around, know what happened here tonight."

"Yes father." Draco and Lucius held eye contact for a moment. Severus thought for a second they were going to hug, but the moment was lost and the three apparated away.

When they reached Hogwarts they went straight to the dungeons with the intention of finding sleep as quickly as possible. As they neared the Slytherin dormitories Hermione halted the group. She looked at Draco for a moment than pulled him into a tight hug. For a moment the blond did not respond but then he hugged her back.

"What is this for, Penwrath? Change your mind about my offer?"

Hermione pulled back from the hug and grinned at him. "No. I'm more than satisfied where I am thank you very much." She then leaned in and gave him another quick embrace. "You just looked like you needed a hug." With that she headed further down the hall.

Draco called after her. "Penwrath! Thanks."

Hermione stopped but did not turn around. "Call me Hermione." She then went back to walking down the hall.

Snape watched the exchange with something close to astonishment before growling, "Mr. Malfoy, kindly remember that is my wife. Hands off."

Draco simply gave a cheeky grin and a mock bow before he sauntered into the Common Room. He was still depressed, but his mood looked significantly better.

Severus starred at the closed door for a moment. He wished he knew the words to pray for Draco, for them all. He couldn't find them, there didn't seem to be enough in any language to cover what he wished for. He hoped whatever deity was out there could read his heart and find the truth there. The boy was too young, his wife was too young, Potter was too young, they were all too young for this, even Dumbledore.

-

When Severus caught to up to Hermione she was already dressed for bed and gazing at his side of the four poster. Severus slipped out of his robes and neglected to put anything else on. Knowing his wife, it wouldn't stay on long anyway. Hermione slid up next to him as he climbed into bed.

"My god, Severus. Those women..." She shivered.

Severus gathered the girl into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "You were wonderful, child. You played their game and came out of it none the worse; perhaps you even fared better than they did. When the Dark Lord hears about how disobedient they truly are from Wormtail he'll order the Deatheaters to 'punish' them."

Hermione simply tried to crawl closer to the potions master. "They just went on and on about ...and the women who didn't talk, they cursed them, Severus. Not long after you left for the ...Revel. They hit them with Cruciatus. I had to pretend to LIKE hearing about past Revels and the activities. I think Pansy almost lost her supper and she's been to these before. The poor women who couldn't pretend...they used them to 'practice' on until shortly before you came in. They healed them so there was no physical evidence, but still... Mrs. Nott and Mrs. Avery blame them for not being allowed into the Revels. They think Voldemort was displeased by their resisting and not participating in the muggle torture afterwards."

Severus hugged her tighter. "No, the Dark Lord fears them now, that is why he has banned the Inner Circle wives. He knows they possess power equal to their husbands, but he doesn't command their loyalty. Very few women bare the Mark, and without the Mark the Dark Lord has no control. The women are an uncalculated element. The lesser wives are still young and more easily controlled. He is making sure they are completely broken by their experiences. There is not even a remote chance that the new wives will enjoy the Revels as their predecessors did. I've been talking with Lucius about it since your predicament came to light. I had been ignorant of the majority of the changes in the handling of the Deatheater women. Not having any daughters or a wife the others didn't talk to me about it. And since I don't attend many Revels, outside of the Inner Circle ones like tonight's, and am rarely summoned for anything short of a private audience, I was not aware of how bad it had gotten. If you had married Flint I doubt you'd be sane by now. I should have checked up on this sooner. I need to figure out how to help prepare the girls for what they will endure"

Hermione shivered. "Nothing can prepare you for something like that. But what about Draco? How did it go?"

"He behaved like a true Deatheater would, the perfect blend of pride and humility. I think Lucius was startled actually; the man has yet to figure that out himself. To see his son bow to the Dark Lord was a bit much for my friend." Severus then paused and tried to figure out exactly how much to tell the girl. "Draco refused to play with the muggles. He sat out with me on the sidelines, and surprisingly Lucius joined us. When Mulciber showed up with a child, Lucius put the poor thing out of its misery." Severus paused again as his wife stiffened and then relaxed. "I would have tried to help him, Hermione. But there really wasn't anything I could do. Mulciber wasn't about to let him go, and Lucius knew it. So he took away Mulciber's toy as punishment for breaking what Lucius sees as the 'grand morals' of the purebloods. Rather ironic and hypocritical..."

Hermione raised her head. "Did any of the muggles get away?"

Severus' eyes darkened in sorrow. "No child. They were too far gone by the time I left for my taking them away to have done any good. They had all either been cursed with far too many dark hexes to recover or their minds were already gone. It is not often that I can get one out intact. I wish I had been able to."

"I know, Severus. I know." It was Hermione's turn to hold her husband. Severus didn't let the tears fall. He was Slytherin, he couldn't cry. He was also a grown wizard, and a greasy bastard. Greasy bastards don't cry. But he wanted to, and he was sure Hermione knew that. He decided to distract her.

"Kiss me, Hermione." He smiled at her and arched an eyebrow. She ignored his request and licked his nose. "And to think, you had the whole room thinking I'd tamed the shrew."

"Why I do believe I have tamed the potions master instead." She giggled and kissed him. "The old Professor Snape, greasy git extraordinaire, would have hexed into the next century anyone who dared lick his nose."

Suddenly Severus knew.. "Lupin was right." He sounded both confused and awed.

"What about?"

"That I fell in love with you and didn't notice it."

There was silence, and then Severus realized he had answered her out loud.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I can understand that you don't..."

He was cut off by another kiss, this one tasting of salt. As they broke apart he could see a trail of tears running down her cheeks. "Oh Severus, I had...I thought I was being silly, that you were doing this just to help me and that after it was all over you'd wouldn't want me. I..." She sobbed.

"Hermione, how could I not want you? You're the only person in this school who is both sane and intelligent enough to engage in conversation. Other than the werewolf. And I don't fancy turning to bestiality."

Hermione smiled and got a far off look in her eyes. "I think I fell in love with you when you made that conditioning potion for my hair. I know it's silly, but nobody has ever done anything like that for me. Uncle Soren use to yell at me for it always being out of control, but he never tried to help me with it. He only criticized. Merlin this is unexpected. I thought you could never feel the same...or would never admit it."

"If I was in my right mind I wouldn't." Hermione looked at him expectantly. "What?"

She lightly slapped him. "So when did you fall in love with me?"

"I only just realized I had. I'm not sure of the moment it happened, only that I just figured it out. I'm a little slow with this kind of thing, not much experience." Severus blamed his run away tongue on his excessive weariness and depressed mood. But he wasn't so far gone as to admit to the truth.

Hermione glared, "The proper thing to do would have been to lie and say something sweet and endearing."

"I do not do sweet and endearing."

Hermione softened her look. "I know, and for that reason I started to like you. That and you married me despite the enormous personal inconvenience."

"I don't find you inconvenient. I find you're cat inconvenient."

"Severus why can't you and Cro..." Severus kissed her to shut her up. It wasn't a passionate kiss like normal. It was slow and warm, and so much DEEPER somehow. Hermione reluctantly ended the moment and licked her lips reluctently. "Severus, I'm too sleepy to tonight."

Severus snorted. "That is a first. But then again I think it would take a highly dangerous potion to give me enough energy to carry through anyway." Severus petted her hair as his wife closed her eyes to sleep. He waited till he was sure she was no longer awake, and he quietly answered her question. "I fell in love with you when you had the gall to sing that damn song at me until I unfroze the demon cat."

A weak half-heard voice answered him. "Now that is very sweet, Severus. This is the song that doesn't end..."

Severus swore and shoved his head under the pillow. Hermione gave a sleepy chuckle and snuggled closer.

-

Severus and Hermione's spontaneous admissions did not change their relationship in the slightest, as far as they could tell. They still fought, shagged, and kept each other company. Dumbledore, Remus, Harry, and even Draco could tell there was a difference however. The main change being the way neither one seemed to try and hide their smiles from the other anymore. The little touches on Severus' arm became more frequent, and Severus took to walking closer to his wife in the halls. He wasn't up to hand holding yet, there was a bet on how long that would take in the staff room. Minerva claimed he'd do it by the end of the year, Lupin thought it would take till Hermione's graduation.

With the stress from the 'Dinner Party' over with Severus tried to relax. But the impending confrontation with his mother played heavily on his mind. He knew the woman was up to something, inviting him home after all these years. He just KNEW he shouldn't go. He should find an excuse, make an excuse, anything. Dumbledore refused to help his potion master and ordered him to go. "You should cherish family, Severus; at times they are all you have."

With that sentiment it should have came as no surprise that the Potter boy had ended up spending 10 years in a cupboard.

Thursday morning Snape sulked out of bed and glared at the world in general. Albus had agreed to teach potions so Severus was free. Free to go to hell, and he was taking his wife with him, so help him Merlin. Hermione had still been acting unconcerned about the meeting the night before.

"She can't do anything, Severus. She wouldn't risk it, for all she knows I'm already pregnant. Which I'm not. And I won't be for some time." Hermione had glared at him during the last part.

"I don't want children, Hermione, don't glare at me!"

"It's not the children. You've been brewing Lupin's potion again. Go take a shower while I start on the next step for the carrier solution for this damn thing." Hermione turned her rather frightening look at the cauldron containing the carrier solution for the Voldemort Potion. "Go already. My nose can't take much more of this." And she had waved him out the door. That was yesterday, today she was sleeping like a baby.

Snape scowled at his wife and took a shower. By the time he came out and found the perfect black silk robes, Hermione was just waking up.

"Hurry up girl, mother won't be impressed if we're late."

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to go back to sleep. "We have HOURS! And I don't have to impress your mother. I'm married to you already, there is little she could do about it."

Severus hexed her out of bed. She landed with a meep on the stone floor and growled at him. "Severus Snape if you ever do that again I swear you'll wake up bald with 'Gryffindors Rule' tattooed on the top of your head."

He waved off the threat and shoved her toward the shower.

"Alright, alright. Bloody nervous wreck you are. Insane potion master, at 6 a.m. We aren't expected till noon!" The sound of running water cut off the commentary. Snape laid out a set of plain but elegant soft brown robes for Hermione. They were his favorite, the color was a perfect match to her eyes and it set off the golden highlights in her hair. Hermione exited the bathroom in her customary towel and looked at the laid out selection.

"I had planned on wearing my school robes." Severus looked up from his manicure set in utter disbelief. "I was kidding, Severus, really. Calm down love or you'll never make it to dinner." She chuckled.

Once they were both dressed Severus took to pacing the rooms while Hermione tried to read. When it came time to leave Hermione had to almost pull him out the door. He had decided he wasn't going, nothing would make him. Hermione with her wand out and a decidedly evil twinkle in her eye changed his mind.

Snape Hall looked much as it had the last time he set foot in it close to twenty years ago. His father was actually the first to greet them.

The man had married VERY late in life. He was actually the same age as Dumbledore and had helped defeat two Dark Wizards in his day. His marriage had come as a direct command from his own dieing father. His hair was still black without a single gray stand. His eyes were a bright green that had an odd quality much like Harry Potter's and Lily Evans. To top it off, the old wizard walked like a man of 30 instead of his 150 years. It was enough to drive his son to desperate curses.

"Ah Severus, where have you been? I've been wanting to show you the new bush I got in last week..." The old man took his son's arm and pulled him out into the gardens behind the Hall. Hermione trailed silently behind them. The soft and indulgent expression on Snape's face was a rare sight. He listened silently as his father took him from rose bush to rose bush and explained in detail why he pruned them this way or that. Severus hadn't seen his father since he left Snape Hall, and the man had not changed at all. When he finally caught sight of Hermione the old man literally beamed.

"Severus, is this your girl friend? I thought you'd never find one."

Severus looked apologetically at Hermione. "Did you not get my owl, father? This is my wife, Lady Hermione Penwrath."

The smile on the elder wizard's face increased ten fold. He strongly reminded Hermione of Dumbledore. She no longer doubted why Snape had taken such a strong liking to the headmaster in spite of his eccentricities.

"Your wife? My, my son, didn't you just graduate?" Severus looked sadly at his father and ignored the comment.

"Hello, Sir." Hermione extended her hand to her father-in-law. The man gently took her arm and began to show her the same flowers. As they walked away from Severus, he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Don't let my son know, but I'm not as crazy as I seem. If you live with that old bat of a woman I'm married to for long, you come to realize the safest route is to pretend you've lost your marbles. That way she leaves you alone." The wizard winked and Hermione giggled.

Severus watched the two and wondered what all the laughter was about. Roses did not normally inspire giggles out of his wife.

"Severus, what are you doing out here?" A rather dour woman in dark blue robes swept out of the Hall not minding where she stepped and trampled one of the new rose bushes. Her husband paled and ran to his plant and started trying to fix its broken stalks. Hermione knelt by his side and used a charm from Herbology to patch it up. The old man smiled at her and thanked her, tears in his eyes.

"Oh I see. The old fool drug you out here. Well bring the girl in. Lets have a look at her." The phenomena that was Lady Snape turned on her heal and drove the three back into the house like dog herding sheep. They stopped when they found themselves in a sitting room just off the main corridor of the first floor. The woman leading them was taller than her husband, but a hair shorter than her son. Her piercing black eyes and nose large enough for an owl to land on left no question as to which parent Severus had received most of his physical features from. Unlike her husband her hair was already entirely gray and she looked every one of her 60 some odd years.

Lady Snape didn't wait for introductions and did not offer anyone a seat; -Hermione being too mindful of edicit, did not sit without it. Snape sat down next to his father and tried to will his mother to drop dead. The woman simply refused to instantaneously combust and instead launched straight into her interrogation, ignoring her husband and son.

"What house were you in Hogwarts? Oh that is right, my son is now a child molester, you're still a student aren't you?" She didn't wait long enough for Severus to refute that but fired back at the startled girl in front of her. "Well, what house?"

"Gryffindor."

The woman sniffed. "It would figure. What is you area of expertise?"

"Arithmancy."

"Useless subject. The paper said you're OWLS were high."

"Yes, Lady. I was the top..."

She was cut short by a wave. "Never mind. Severus here had high ones too, look at all the good it did him. What kind of things can you do besides play with numbers?"

"I am reasonably proficient with Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and DADA."

"Reasonably proficient means average. I detest average. Hobbies?"

"I read."

Lady Snape snorted. "Real hobbies. Do you play quidditch?"

"No."

"Well at least that is a plus, no woman should fly around like that. It is undignified; not to mention it most likely damages them for child bearing. Speaking of children when are you do?"

Hermione blinked. "I'm not pregnant."

"But you married in January!" Lady Snape looked scandalized. "You've had plenty of time to conceive the Snape heir."

Severus tried to cut in and explain but his mother silenced him with another wave of her hand. No magic was needed by the woman to stop someone from talking. Once simple gesture and chatter stopped without the aid of any charms.

Hermione straightened her back. "I am not planning on having children till I finish my schooling."

"So I can expect a grandchild in around two and half years." The witch sounded bitter and was glaring. Severus realized that this was the reason for his call home. His mother wanted to make sure he propagated the family. Her main concern resurfacing, how predictable. Severus scowled.

"No, I finish Hogwarts in a little over a year. I plan on attending University after that."

The female Snape looked aghast. "Why in Merlin's name do that?"

Hermione shrugged. "I want to."

"You have a responsibility to bare heirs for two Houses!"

"I don't see how waiting an extra four years should be a problem."

"But why go, there is no point."

"The point is to learn."

"You are the Lady Penwrath and will be the Lady Snape when I die, I don't see the point in going to University. You should be concentrating on learning how to run a Pureblood House. After all those years with," the woman cringed, "muggles, you need to devote yourself to catching up. I doubt you even know the make up of the bloodlines for the current Minister of Magic."

Hermione looked murderous. "I will not jeopardize my learning to memorize the bloodlines for a thousand families so I can rattle them off the top of my head. They make genealogy charts for a reason." The elder male Snape snickered. "Furthermore I would think you'd be happy to have the mother of your grandchildren educated. An educated mother means better schooled sons."

Hermione smirked as her point scored home with the Lady of Snape Hall.

The witch quickly regained her bearings, "Be that as it may, I expect you to carry out you're duties."

Severus sat still and watched the exchange for several hours. Hermione held her own. Severus had been curious how she had managed to survive at the Revel after his departure, but after seeing her handle his mother, the woman that drove him to take the Mark, Severus realized his wife was a far scarier individual then his nightmarish maternal unit. He thanked the gods he had somehow managed to get on her good side.

By the time dinner came Severus just wanted it to end. Finally it was time to leave. His father pulled him away from the women and looked him in the eye. It was the first time the man had ever had an opportunity to converse with his son without the witch listening in on every word.

"Severus, my son, I don't often have a chance to say this, and since the banshee is busy," He pointed to his wife, "Let me say this now. I will always be proud of you. I don't believe for a second you work for Voldemort. I don't care what bad choices you've made or the mistakes in your past. You are my son and I love you."

"Father..."

"I can say that you know. I was almost a Hufflepuff. That would have killed your grandfather." The old man chuckled at his son's pallor. "Don't worry, I ended up in Ravenclaw as you know."

Snape frowned sadly. "Father, you were a Slytherin."

The old man blinked. "Oh, so I was. Oh well, so the mind plays a trick on me now and again. Severus, my point is, she's not like your mother. Keep her close to your heart." The old man patted his son's arm, hugged his daughter-in-law, and went to play with his roses. Lady Snape again glared at her family and stormed off. Hermione wondered if the swooping wasn't genetic, and if she should get Dumbledore to give Snape a rose garden of his own. She was starting to take a liking to the plant.

Hermione and Severus once again returned to Hogwarts with the idea of collapsing into sleep firmly implanted in their minds. They were stopped in their tracks when they found Soren Wales waiting in the corridor outside their rooms.

"Do you have a moment, Hermione?" The wizard looked rather shaken and somewhat disheveled. Worried about the cause behind her Uncle's less then pristine continuance, Hermione let him in. Severus simply trailed in silently and cast his usual silencing charms. He had the suspicion he had used those spells more since that night in January than the rest of his life combined.

"What is it, Soren? What happened to you?" Hermione handed him a glass of brandy and the wizard collapsed onto the sofa.

"What did you two do with the chronicles? I need them back."

"That is quite impossible, Mr. Wales. They are no longer in my possession." Severus watched as words caused the other man to pale.

"WHAT! I have to have those parchments! He'll kill me if I don't have them to him by morning."

Severus and Hermione exchanged a glance. Finally the girl decided to ask, although she was sure of the answer. "Who?"

Soren took a gulp of the brandy. "The Dark Lord. He came to Ravenshire wanting to see the rest of the chronicles. I told them Snape had them. He said I was lying and if his favorite servant was in possession of the chronicles they would have already been in his possession." Soren glared at Snape. "He punished me for trying to hide the truth. He didn't believe me. So Snape, what did you do with the damn things if you didn't take them to the Dark Lord? And why would He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named believe you incapable hiding them?"

Severus knew this was bad. Very bad. Voldemort may have told Soren he didn't believe that Severus had the documents but Voldemort was not stupid. If Soren was unable to find the chronicles by morning, and stuck with his story, Snape was in danger. Worse yet, chances were that Soren had been followed to Hogwarts. The only reason for the man to come to the school would be if he had been telling the truth.

"I could not read them and enlisted the Potter boy as part of another plan. Potter in turn let it slip to Dumbledore on accident that I had the chronicles. I had to turn them over before Harry even started translating them."

"Why didn't you just give them to You-Know-Who? He can read Parseltongue."

"I have been having trouble finding the proper balance of ingredients for a potion based on the sheet you supplied to the cause earlier. I was hoping the parchments might prove to be lab notes. I did not want to bother Him with something so mundane as the interaction of coriander to monkshood when in the presence of unicorn hoof shavings."

"Well you're going to have to explain this to Him yourself."

Snape sneered. "No. I can not just take off without a proper reason. Tomorrow is Friday and I have classes. You'll have to figure it out yourself."

"You just got back from somewhere! I was told you'd been absent all day."

"Our trip was prearranged, and it also means I can not take another personal day for some time. The headmaster does not like to have Professors absent."

"Snape, you will help me or so help you Merlin you will regret it."

"Threats do not phase me, halfblood. Remember you're place." Severus glared at Soren. Hermione stood and pointed to the door.

"Out Soren. I think it's time you leave."

"Hermione, you have to make him help! I can't go back there empty handed."

"I can not make Severus do anything. Besides, you dug your own hole Uncle."

Seeing his plea for sympathy wasn't working, Soren changed tactics. "If He kills me who will run you're House?"

"He won't kill you, Wales. Cause you massive pain yes, but He won't kill you. After all, you don't bare the Mark and you are willing to do his bidding. Because you lack the symbol you can move freely where others can not. Yet you are bound to him through Hermione and your debt to her. You are the perfect little lackey. He won't risk that."

Soren did not look comforted. He turned to Hermione. "I have done everything for our family, and this is what I get in return? I killed my brother to protect you and your mother and you won't help me now!"

"You killed my grandparents! Why?" Hermione's eyes flashed amber and Soren looked startled at his unplanned confession then laughed.

"Poor squibs the both of them. Not a drop of magic. Yet they didn't want to give up on our world. You-Know-Who would have been after them in a second if He had gotten wind of our plan. So I, along with Marius, forced them to keep away until after their daughter, your mother, was born. Then the fools wouldn't play along. Arern and Salze were never all that bright. When I convinced Elliania to go along with my plan of drugging a wizard to get you, they fought me. They had been noticed by some Deatheaters earlier in the year and when I told them to stay away from their daughter and grandchild to keep you safe and unknown they refused. They simply had to go."

Severus shivered. "You didn't just kill them, Wales. You tortured your own brother for hours. I remember the newspaper articles and I've read the ministry report."

"Well I had to make it look like a Deatheater attack. Had to keep the suspicion down. Didn't want anyone poking around and finding Hermione."

"You utterly heartless bastard." Hermione was shivering in rage.

"Now, now niece. Haven't we been over this? Calling me that doesn't wound me. Now be a nice girl and come with me to explain what your idiot of a husband did to the Dark Lord and I'll be nice and not kill him."

The glare Hermione turned on her uncle was enough to melt stone. "Go to hell, Soren Wales."

Soren let his eyes harden and looked back and forth between the two. "Alright Lady Penwrath. I'll go. But I will convince the Dark Lord of the truth somehow. And you both will pay for this." Soren shoved his way past Severus and out the door.

Hermione turned fearful eyes to her husband. "What are we going to do? If Voldemort believes him about you having the chronicles he'll kill you."

"I don't know Hermione." Severus glanced at his wife. He placed stronger wards on the room and picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. He helped her undress and they laid down. Neither slept.

In the morning Severus talked to Dumbledore. They decided they would wait and see. Severus was sure he could make Voldemort believe his version of events, almost certain he could. Mostly certain...