Author's Notes: My thanks to those of you who have reviewed. I hope you're enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Those of you who are awaiting updates on my previous stories, please go and read the note on my profile page if you haven't already.

Lellie - Thanks for complimenting my spelling and grammar, I pride myself on it. As to your complaint about not being able to Apparate to Hogwarts, I'm a bit chagrined. I tried to make it clear that Severus and Hermione didn't Apparate onto the grounds, but rather outside the gates. Terribly sorry.

Small warning: This chapter is where the rating is earned for a smattering of strong language, descriptions of torture by Cruciatus and Imperio induced rape.

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Dumbledore, Harry and Ron accompanied them to the main doors. The Gryffindors were uncharacteristically silent, but when they reached the doors, Harry pinned Snape with a glare, "You'd better bring her back safely, Snape." Severus simply returned his stare and said nothing.

Albus laid a fatherly hand on Hermione's shoulder and peered over the top of his half-moon spectacles at her, "I would be hard-pressed to put your safety in more capable hands, Miss Granger."

Severus could tell that Harry and Ron were dying to add their own opinions to that, and he cleared his throat impatiently. He opened the door and said, "It is time, Miss Granger."

Hermione quickly hugged Harry, Ron and Dumbledore before following Severus out into the cold. They walked in silence to the edge of the grounds and when they reached the end of the drive, Severus donned his Death Eater robes.

Hermione's eyes widened, and Severus thought that it was at the sight of him in Death Eater garb, but she drew her wand and said, "I almost forgot." She tapped her belly and murmured a simple charm. Severus stared at her incredulously as she put her wand away. 'I don't give you enough credit, Miss Granger.'

Noticing his look, she said self-consciously, "What? It was only a Contraceptus Charm." He shook his head, putting the silver mask on, "I'm surprised that you retained enough presence of mind to think of it."

A sudden thought seemed to occur to her as Severus rolled back his sleeve, baring his left forearm and the Dark Mark, and she paled, "Professor, will Voldemort . . . participate?"

"I doubt it. The Dark Lord is a natural voyeur and he much prefers to watch. It is very rare that he deigns to join." He paused and looked at her seriously. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you it will all turn out all right, Miss Granger," he said softly, "But I will tell you that I will do everything within my power to get you through this."

She nodded and he held out his arm, instructing, "Place your hand over the Mark." She hesitated only a moment before settling her trembling hand over the ugly snake and skull inscribed on the pale flesh of his inner arm.

Severus activated the Mark and felt the familiar sudden pull of Apparation. He heard Hermione gasp though he couldn't see her beyond the tornado of indistinct color that surrounded them. The swirl lasted only a moment before resolving into the lawn outside Malfoy Manor.

Hermione looked slightly nauseated and Severus cautioned her, "Try and compose yourself as much as you can." She nodded and squared her shoulders, taking a steadying breath. They approached the door and it swung open to admit them.

A cowering house elf dressed in a pillowcase toga greeted Severus, completely ignoring Hermione, "Master Severus, Master Lucius is having Poky show you to the dining hall."

Giving the little creature a curt nod, Severus followed it. They passed room after opulently appointed room and Severus allowed himself a sneer of distaste behind the mask. Lucius gloried in disgustingly decadent displays of wealth, and Severus had long since grown weary of it.

At last, they reached the dining hall and Poky bowed to them once more before vanishing with a pop. Severus glanced quickly at Hermione and opened the door. The stench of firewhiskey mingled with sweat immediately assailed him.

Most of the Death Eaters scattered around the hall were already either drunk or well on their way. Harsh laughter filled the room and huddled masses of cloaks dotted the floor, moving rhythmically. 'Apparently I'm not the only one to bring entertainment tonight.'

Severus shuddered, not wanting to think about what he knew was going on under those cloaks. Some of the more depraved Death Eaters loved to abduct Muggles and savage them in any manner of ways.

A shrill voice floated through the haze drifting across the opposite end of the hall and interrupted his thoughts, "Ah, Severus! You're early." Severus moved forward, pushing Hermione ahead of him. He stopped in front of Voldemort's throne-like chair and bowed, "My lord."

The Dark Lord's reptilian eyes glittered coldly, "I see you've done as directed. Excellent." He paused and drew his wand with a cold smile, "However, we must attend to first things first." Severus watched with a dull apathy as Voldemort pointed the wand at him.

"Crucio."

Sharp fire shot through Snape's body and he fell heavily to his knees. Through the haze of pain and the roaring in his ears, Severus heard Hermione's strangled cry of horror. He gritted his teeth, choking back a scream of pain as wave after wave of agony shot through him.

He heard the jeering taunts of the Death Eaters and prayed that Voldemort was in a good mood tonight and would end the curse quickly. When the Dark Lord was in a particularly ruthless mood, he would draw the torture out over extended periods, always stopping just short of the point when the curse would have destroyed Snape's mind.

Luck was with him tonight and as suddenly as it had come, the pain was gone and Severus lay huddled on the floor, fighting his spasming lungs for breath. He struggled to his feet and Voldemort smiled cruelly, "Now that that's out of the way." He addressed the crowd, "My Death Eaters, we have an interesting prize this evening. Albus Dumbledore's prize pupil."

Voldemort's slit-eyed gaze bored into each of them, "Some of you will have the pleasure of . . . playing with her tonight. There is, however, one stipulation. No visible marks must be left. It would not do for Dumbledore to suspect Severus of still being in my service." He rubbed scaly hands together with a sound like sandpaper, "Now, who would like to have her first?"

Drawing breath against the dull pain still burning through him, Severus said, "Allow me to have her first, my lord."

Voldemort leered at Hermione, "Did you fancy her in your classes, Snape?" He waved a hand negligently, "Go ahead."

Severus grabbed Hermione's arm as gently as he dared and dragged her to a secluded corner. Pushing her against the wall, he leaned down to whisper harshly in her ear, "We are now playing a deadly game, Miss Granger. Go along with it, or both our lives are likely forfeit."

He could feel her trembling, but she nodded once. Seizing her shirt, he gave a swift jerk and ripped it down the middle.

He froze as Voldemort's hissing voice interrupted, "Severus, why don't you bring her out here where we can all appreciate your talents?"

Keeping Hermione pressed against the wall, Severus said, "A quick grope in the corner is all mudbloods are good for, my lord. She's not worthy of my skills."

"Don't fancy a fuck with a mudblood, Severus?" Malfoy laughed drunkenly.

"You know perfectly well that I don't, Lucius," Severus said coolly, hoping they would simply leave him alone.

Voldemort laughed harshly, "Ah, but Severus, you don't have a choice in the matter. I've just thought of an even better entertainment and a valuable reinforcement lesson for you."

'No, God. Please!'

Voldemort twitched his wand at Severus again.

"Imperio!"

All conscious thought fled, leaving Severus feeling pleasantly empty. One small corner of his mind remained just aware enough to be horrified at what he knew was going to happen next. He started to fight before he realized that he couldn't even put up the barest resistance without giving himself away.

'Hermione, forgive me . . .'

"Takehertakehertakeher . . ." Voldemort's hissed commands filled his mind and Severus seized Hermione, pulling her back over in front of Voldemort's throne, helpless in the grip of the curse and the need to preserve his subterfuge.

He tore off his mask to kiss her roughly as he dragged her to the floor and the watching Death Eaters cheered and shouted lewd suggestions. Hermione struggled against him, terror plain on her face.

Severus tried to communicate to her with his eyes his unwillingness to do this to her, but he feared all that showed was the characteristic blankness of the Imperius. Voldemort shifted his litany to crude and lascivious suggestions and Severus was unable to do anything but obey. Shoving her skirt up to her waist, he tore her panties off in one quick motion.

His last hope had been that the horror of the situation would make him unable to respond to her and he bit down a groan of despair as his body betrayed him. Years of abstinence and Hermione's struggles ensured that within moments he was rocking instinctively against her, loathing himself for ever allowing her to put herself in danger.

Desperate to do anything to allow the inevitable to be easier for her, Severus tried to caress her, but Voldemort saw the movement. Through the curse, the Dark Lord wrenched his hand away and Severus nearly wept in frustration.

'Sadistic son of a bitch.'

His groan as he released himself from the confines of his trousers was taken by the onlookers to mean that his restraint had finally broken and the wolf-whistles and obscene suggestions increased tenfold.

"Make her scream, Snape!"

"If you can' do it, I got no problem fuckin' a mudblood!"

"Yer mine next, girl!"

Hermione had her eyes shut tight as if to block out what was happening, but her eyes flew open as she felt Severus push into her. He froze despite the driving grip of Imperius, appalled as the full extent of what he was doing became clear.

'Dear God, she's a virgin.'

The force of Voldemort's will reasserted itself and Severus gave a single, sharp thrust, squeezing his eyes shut in a vain attempt to block out Hermione's scream of pain. Tears fell from beneath her closed lids as Severus began to move, his one, all-consuming thought to end it as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, his long abstinence ensured that it took a pitifully short time before his back stiffened and he came with a stifled cry. The forceful imperative of the Imperio faded and Severus released her. He tucked himself back into his trousers and stood, leaving Hermione to gather what scraps of her dignity remained.

He faced Voldemort, doing his level best not to snarl at him. The Dark Lord's reptilian face was twisted into an ugly leer. "Well done, Severus," he said mockingly, "You couldn't even last five minutes." He raised his voice, "Anyone think they can last longer than Severus?"

Severus glanced quickly around the hall, noting that not a few of the others were blatantly touching themselves, staring at Hermione with undisguised lust. Thinking very quickly, he spoke, "My lord, I have a request."

Voldemort raised a bony eyebrow, "Indeed?"

"Allow me to take the mudblood back to the school. Imagine the potential if I could break her right under Dumbledore's nose."

Voldemort laughed, "Got the taste for mudblood now, do you? Very well, Snape, take the chit and go. You have a fortnight and I expect results."

Severus bowed, "Thank you, my lord." He pulled Hermione roughly to her feet, not daring to show her any gentleness now that they were so close to escape. With a final bow to Voldemort, he placed Hermione's unresisting hand over the Dark Mark and Apparated.