Disclaimer: ::Picking flower petals:: I own it. I own it not. I own it.
I own it not. I own it. I. ::pulls off last petal:: .I own it not.
::looks sad:: .stupid flower.
Things That go Bump in the Night
@~%%~&!DreaM!&~%%~@
Hermione was walking along barefoot in the grass; it was a lovely day and the shining sun made her feel all warm inside. Suddenly she heard a familiar giggle.
"Elizabeth! What are you doing out here?"
The baby continued to smile as Hermione reached down and scooped her up. Hermione was playing with the baby when all of a sudden a large thunderclap shook the air.
The frightened girl looked up and saw that the sky was a charcoal shade of gray, the trees that had before been green were now barren and dry, and the air had become so hot it burned the lungs like acid.
Hermione stared at mock terror at the change in her environment when the bundle in her arms began to cry. She turned her attention back to the small babe.
But even as Hermione looked on at the child, she also began to change. Her skin became dark and scaly, her face seemed to melt into the bone as her features hardened and long sharp teeth filled the once smiling mouth, and all of her limbs grew long and skinny slinking like snakes in every direction.
Fear took over Hermione and she practically shoved the creature from her lap, but no sooner had the abomination hit the floor than it sprang back up. Its long limbs grasped the unfortunate girl and it took a moment to hiss at her before plunging face first into her lower abdomen. Hermione screamed in pain as the creature did not stop, but proceeded into her body piercing her flesh.
@~%%~&!EnD!^!DreaM!&~%%~@
Hermione sat bolt up right in her bed breathing hard and massaging her rather painful abs. What a strange and weird dream.
Many miles away, a blond man was taking his hand off of a glowing orb. This ball was more commonly known as a dream orb; it allowed the user to enter and control another's dreams. These were quite hard to come by, incredibly dangerous to use, and outlawed my most wizarding governments. How Lucius Malfoy ever got his hands on one might never be known, but what was important was that he had one.
He had one, and he had just used it to ensure that his son would not be the father of a mudblood's child. Grinning to himself, he took a large black piece of velvet and covered the orb. Few knew of his treasure, and most who did were alive no longer.
Hermione was running, or limping quickly rather, to Charms. Being late was one of those things that Hermione Granger simply did not do, but when she woke up, she was still in pain. She must have eaten something unsettling; it was probably what caused her to have that strange dream.
As if she wasn't already late enough, Hermione rounded a corner and ran smack into something sending her flailing to the floor.
"Ms. Granger," droned a dull and un-amused voice. Hermione looked up at her potions professor. "I sugguest you watch where you are walking in the future. A woman in your condition would not do to be running into floors frequently."
A couple children stopped walking or had at least slowed their pace. It was the first time an adult had mentioned Hermione's problem and, of course, it was Snape. They watched as he watched the girl climb to her feet with an amused glint in his eyes. He did not even offer her a hand to help her up.
Hermione opened her mouth, a witty comment obviously on the tip of her tongue.
"Ms. Granger, why don't you save us all from the headache of your impertinent babble and just come to my class room after today's lessons are done to collect your punishment." With that the dark old man walked down the hall.
Hermione starred at his retreating back. And he had the nerve to call her insufferable?
By the time classes were over that day, Hermione was starting to believe the rumors about her being pregnant; what else could cause so much discomfort.
Panting she pulled open the door to her destination. "You wanted to see me?"
"Ah, Ms. Granger. Close the door." The Professor droned.
There was the noise of the door sliding and shutting. The lock clicked into place.
"I have a feeling that I am going to have to go on a trip tonight. I was wondering if you could..Hermione? Hermione? Are you listening?"
Hermione had been listening, it was just that she had began to feel the pulsating of her lower abdomen again. When she could no longer bear it, she fell to the floor screaming.
"Hermione!"
Strong arms surrounded her and helped her to sit. "What's wrong?"
"I.I.." A thin layer of sweat was beginning to trickle down her forehead and Severus noted the blank star in her eyes as they looked at him and saw nothing. He felt the convulsions that shook her body and knew she was in pain.
"Hermione," he whispered, "I need you to tell me what's wrong."
"Sev.?"
"Yes Hermione, it's me." He shifted her so that she was facing away from him with her head resting on his chest just below his left shoulder. "Come on Hermione, I need you to help me, so I can help you."
Hermione mustered up as much strength as she could and began to speak. "Ate.something rotten.I s'ppose.hurts here." she placed her hand on her lower abdominals. ".Gave me.funny.dreams." Hermione's voice trailed off and her eyes drooped close.
Severus almost panicked, but remembered that losing his nerve would not help the girl's situation. Retaining his head, he realized that a bad case of indigestion or food poisoning would probably hurt her higher, in her digestive track. She had placed her hand lower. Funny dreams?
Something clicked inside Severus's mind although, he was not quite sure how; it was probably from all his years as a dark agent, learning the trade and knowing the proper way to think that made him suspect foul play.
Placing his own hand over the girl's abdomen; he felt the walls of her organs shifting and bulging, as if a hyperactive child was growing inside of her. Severus laid her upon the ground and moved around so that he was facing her. A soft shifting told him that she was awake. "Seve."
"Shh." he did not want her wasting her strength. He looked directly into her eyes and maybe, Hermione suspected, a bit further. "Do you trust me?"
Hermione was taken aback. What need did he have to ask her such a question? She nodded, preparing herself for what was to come.
She heard Severus sigh. "This may hurt, but it is the only way." After a moment's hesitation, he said, I am going to need to bear the skin.
Hermione nodded, surprised to find that she was not afraid.
Severus undid the bottom few buttons of her shirt as well as the button and zipper on her pants. Carefully he uncovered the area, the area right above her womb.
Wand in hand, Severus touched the skin below her belly button gently, almost as if he were afraid to soil the delicate skin.
Hermione leaned back resting against the floor fighting to retain consciousness despite the pain that ravished her.
All of a sudden a red light filled the room, and Hermione heard Severus speak words that she did not understand. Just then, her pain amplified multiple times as she felt her flesh and insides tear.
Looking up, Hermione noted that it was not simply a figment of her weary imagination. A hole had formed in her abdomen. Shock took her as a hissing sound began emanating from inside her.
Brown slimy limbs reached out of the hole in Hermione's flesh, and the poor girl screamed in fright. Soon enough, a grotesque head and body followed. Her dream! This was the misshapen creature from last night's horror. But that meant.
Fear took full hold of Hermione and she could hardly believe the scene before her.
The creature that had sprung from her womb had grown to nearly twice the size of Severus and was circling the man. Severus stood ready for his opponent to strike, sizing him up, finding all of the weak points.
Darkness began to surround Hermione as she saw the creature lunge at Severus. Warm, inviting darkness.
It was over an hour later before Severus crawled to Hermione's side, cut and bleeding. His enemy had proven himself formidable as any. It might have been the thought of Hermione's salvation that pushed him through allowing him to decapitate his opponent even while he was cornered and bleeding on the floor; he knew that Hermione would never heal unless the beast was killed.
He had finally fallen, his body writhing and turning to ash that would leave a black stain that no amount of charms or paint could ever hide.
"Hermione?"
He was answered by a low moan. She would be all right; already the skin of her abdomen had closed leaving not even a trace of its former condition. In the morning, he would check and make sure nothing internal was still injured. Being that he caught this foe in its early state, a nights rest would do wonders against what was done.
If that thing had been allowed to remain inside of Hermione, for even a few hours more, she would have probably been injured for the rest of her life. More than that, and she could have died. In the morning, he would look at the damage.in the morning.
The sound of a baby crying broke Hermione's sleep. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on the floor next to her professor. Yesterday haunted her mind like some sort of surreal dream. What had happened after she passed out?
Hermione walked to the crib and picked up the crying child, cradling the baby to her breast. With one arm on the baby, and the other grasping her wand, she managed to levitate the professor to his bed.
Elizabeth, now content in Hermione's arms, began to snuggle into the warm breast and make a small cooing sound as Hermione sat down on the edge of the bed and examined her professor.
As Hermione's hand ran over his face appraising all his cuts and bruises, Severus's eyes popped open. "Hermione!" He said her name as if he believed her not much more than a ghost as he reached up to cup her face. Hermione touched his hand with her own to let him know she was here. Severus struggled to sit up.
"Are you okay? Where do you hurt? Does any thing feel different and unusual? Are you."
But he stopped at the sound of Hermione's rich and full laugh. "Professor, I am fine, a little bit sore, but on the whole, normal. I daresay it is you who will need some treatment."
After much arguing, Hermione finally conceded to letting Severus almost sit up entirely provided he was resting on pillows. She had decided to spend the morning tending to him, as it was Saturday, and she was not expected anywhere.
Elizabeth, who apparently was upset about not being the topic of conversation, cooed quite loudly.
Severus took one look at the child before squeezing her to his chest. It was the first time he had risked his life when he actually had so much to live for. He had Elizabeth and. Severus watched the girl that was busy rummaging through his cabinets.well he had Elizabeth.
By lunch, only Severus's larger cuts were still visible. It was apparent that Hermione was healed quite nicely. They did have to worry now though, about whose plans they had soiled. Once that person found out, he would be quite angry; and Severus had a good idea of who that person was.
To his knowledge, the Dark Lord himself did not even possess what Lucius Malfoy had in the shadowy depths of his cold house. Such a thing that would allow one to enter and control another's subconscious. Through this, loads of damage could be done to the innocent sleeper.
Severus had only seen it used once. When the victim had woken then next morning, he had not even been able to recall his own name. He was currently residing in St. Mungo's with no hope of a cure.
There was little doubt in Severus's mind that he had foiled Lucius Malfoy's plans, and one does not simply thwart the plans of Lucius Malfoy. They were in for a long bumpy ride. He knew that he was going to have to keep an extra close watch on Hermione.
"Knut for your thoughts?"
"Trust me Hermione, my thoughts are not even worth that."
She laughed her warm enchanting laugh once more. And Severus began to speak.
"Actually, I was thinking about what I wished to ask you last night." A slight blush crept up Hermione's cheeks and she prayed that the dim lighting of the room hid her well. "I can feel a tension in the air and in my bones, something is stirring, and before long, I will be called to go to my Dark Master; I will be called more and more frequently. He is planning something."
Hermione watched as Severus began to lighten shade by shade, so she took hold of his hand and squeezed it smiling slightly in comfort. He covered her hand with his other one and took a deep breath before he went on.
"A couple of different situations have been thrown at us as of late causing a companionship that I have not had since the times of my boyhood. I did not welcome it, but now that it is here I am glad for it."
Hermione took that to most nearly mean that he thought of her as a friend and needed one greatly right now. She squeezed his hand for him to continue.
Severus looked down at the child who was asleep on his bed. "I have never had anything to live for before, my own wretched existence never meaning much. But now, there is someone who needs me." Hermione also looked down at the sleeping Elizabeth. "I am worried about her, when I will be called to the Dark Lord. She will need someone to come and care for her and keep he safe."
"Oh, I would gladly."
"Yes I know, but I will not have the time to collect you before I must leave."
"Then I will come here to check every day. I always enjoy coming to see Elizabeth. Besides with me here every day, you will be able to get you work done while I play with her."
"You don't mind?"
Hermione stroked Elizabeth's small head. "It is funny Professor, but I feel that Elizabeth needs me too." She looked up embarrassed slightly. "I mean, I know that I am not a mother, or even rightly old enough to act as one, and yet I feel her always. As if she really were mine. I did not mean to care for her so, but. I do." She looked up at Severus to see what he thought.
Holding her gaze he said, "If you love her, then she is lucky, very lucky."
Hermione smiled, never once dropping their connecting stare. She felt comfortable, like everything around her made complete sense, yet no sense at all. But what did make sense often was not plausible as it followed far too much logic. Logic was something hard to come by in the world.
It was a long time before Hermione got up to leave the small cozy room in which Severus and Elizabeth resided. Before she went, Sever caught her arm.
Turning back to the man on the bed, she looked at him with her large innocent eyes.
"Take this, and wear it always."
Hermione looked down at her hand; resting on her palm was a beautiful charm on a gold chain, yet words could not express the shear beauty of the thing. It was a simple pendant, yet one got the feeling upon peering into its depths that it contained more, much more. She wasn't sure how long she spent looking at the captivating object in her hand, but she was aware that time passed around her, although she felt not within her herself.
When she was finally able to break her gaze, she looked to her professor. "I. couldn't.. it's far too." But she trailed off; there was no word to describe what it was. Dangerous? Beautiful? Innocent? Passionate? It was everything, yet it was nothing. It held beauty, but it held fear.
"Wear it Hermione, around your neck and above your heart. Put it on now, and never take it off." He watched as she tied the thing around her neck, "Promise me, promise me you will never take it off."
After a long pause in which Hermione stared at the thing in her hand, she looked up into the dark pools of the professor's eyes. "I do."
The solemnity of the moment touched Hermione and she felt that maybe she shouldn't remover the necklace ever.
Severus watched Hermione's receding back quite content now that she would be safe for the meanwhile. The charm that protected her now was powerful; nothing would touch her. No harm would come to the child, even if it meant giving himself up.
In a dark manor, far away, yet not far enough away to consider anything safe, a sinister man walked into his dark lair. He walked to the table in the center and removed the dark velvety cloth that covered a very wicked object. But much to his display the light that should be coming from the depths of the orb was covered only by shadow. Nothing! There was nothing!
The light in his orb would only have gone out when his spell was complete. Hermione was to suffer first, and then die. It would have taken weeks; yet here, barely a week later, the light was extinguished and his spell broken. Someone, he was sure who but someone was meddling in his affairs.
"Aww, now that's not very nice, playing with my toys. I'm not one for sharing. You will wish you hadn't, oh yes, you will regret it."
Lucius trailed a seductive finger over his Dream Orb. Someone would pay.
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Do u like it? I have great plans for this one.terrible.but great! This is going to be fun!
Love you guys!!!!
~Atiannala
Things That go Bump in the Night
@~%%~&!DreaM!&~%%~@
Hermione was walking along barefoot in the grass; it was a lovely day and the shining sun made her feel all warm inside. Suddenly she heard a familiar giggle.
"Elizabeth! What are you doing out here?"
The baby continued to smile as Hermione reached down and scooped her up. Hermione was playing with the baby when all of a sudden a large thunderclap shook the air.
The frightened girl looked up and saw that the sky was a charcoal shade of gray, the trees that had before been green were now barren and dry, and the air had become so hot it burned the lungs like acid.
Hermione stared at mock terror at the change in her environment when the bundle in her arms began to cry. She turned her attention back to the small babe.
But even as Hermione looked on at the child, she also began to change. Her skin became dark and scaly, her face seemed to melt into the bone as her features hardened and long sharp teeth filled the once smiling mouth, and all of her limbs grew long and skinny slinking like snakes in every direction.
Fear took over Hermione and she practically shoved the creature from her lap, but no sooner had the abomination hit the floor than it sprang back up. Its long limbs grasped the unfortunate girl and it took a moment to hiss at her before plunging face first into her lower abdomen. Hermione screamed in pain as the creature did not stop, but proceeded into her body piercing her flesh.
@~%%~&!EnD!^!DreaM!&~%%~@
Hermione sat bolt up right in her bed breathing hard and massaging her rather painful abs. What a strange and weird dream.
Many miles away, a blond man was taking his hand off of a glowing orb. This ball was more commonly known as a dream orb; it allowed the user to enter and control another's dreams. These were quite hard to come by, incredibly dangerous to use, and outlawed my most wizarding governments. How Lucius Malfoy ever got his hands on one might never be known, but what was important was that he had one.
He had one, and he had just used it to ensure that his son would not be the father of a mudblood's child. Grinning to himself, he took a large black piece of velvet and covered the orb. Few knew of his treasure, and most who did were alive no longer.
Hermione was running, or limping quickly rather, to Charms. Being late was one of those things that Hermione Granger simply did not do, but when she woke up, she was still in pain. She must have eaten something unsettling; it was probably what caused her to have that strange dream.
As if she wasn't already late enough, Hermione rounded a corner and ran smack into something sending her flailing to the floor.
"Ms. Granger," droned a dull and un-amused voice. Hermione looked up at her potions professor. "I sugguest you watch where you are walking in the future. A woman in your condition would not do to be running into floors frequently."
A couple children stopped walking or had at least slowed their pace. It was the first time an adult had mentioned Hermione's problem and, of course, it was Snape. They watched as he watched the girl climb to her feet with an amused glint in his eyes. He did not even offer her a hand to help her up.
Hermione opened her mouth, a witty comment obviously on the tip of her tongue.
"Ms. Granger, why don't you save us all from the headache of your impertinent babble and just come to my class room after today's lessons are done to collect your punishment." With that the dark old man walked down the hall.
Hermione starred at his retreating back. And he had the nerve to call her insufferable?
By the time classes were over that day, Hermione was starting to believe the rumors about her being pregnant; what else could cause so much discomfort.
Panting she pulled open the door to her destination. "You wanted to see me?"
"Ah, Ms. Granger. Close the door." The Professor droned.
There was the noise of the door sliding and shutting. The lock clicked into place.
"I have a feeling that I am going to have to go on a trip tonight. I was wondering if you could..Hermione? Hermione? Are you listening?"
Hermione had been listening, it was just that she had began to feel the pulsating of her lower abdomen again. When she could no longer bear it, she fell to the floor screaming.
"Hermione!"
Strong arms surrounded her and helped her to sit. "What's wrong?"
"I.I.." A thin layer of sweat was beginning to trickle down her forehead and Severus noted the blank star in her eyes as they looked at him and saw nothing. He felt the convulsions that shook her body and knew she was in pain.
"Hermione," he whispered, "I need you to tell me what's wrong."
"Sev.?"
"Yes Hermione, it's me." He shifted her so that she was facing away from him with her head resting on his chest just below his left shoulder. "Come on Hermione, I need you to help me, so I can help you."
Hermione mustered up as much strength as she could and began to speak. "Ate.something rotten.I s'ppose.hurts here." she placed her hand on her lower abdominals. ".Gave me.funny.dreams." Hermione's voice trailed off and her eyes drooped close.
Severus almost panicked, but remembered that losing his nerve would not help the girl's situation. Retaining his head, he realized that a bad case of indigestion or food poisoning would probably hurt her higher, in her digestive track. She had placed her hand lower. Funny dreams?
Something clicked inside Severus's mind although, he was not quite sure how; it was probably from all his years as a dark agent, learning the trade and knowing the proper way to think that made him suspect foul play.
Placing his own hand over the girl's abdomen; he felt the walls of her organs shifting and bulging, as if a hyperactive child was growing inside of her. Severus laid her upon the ground and moved around so that he was facing her. A soft shifting told him that she was awake. "Seve."
"Shh." he did not want her wasting her strength. He looked directly into her eyes and maybe, Hermione suspected, a bit further. "Do you trust me?"
Hermione was taken aback. What need did he have to ask her such a question? She nodded, preparing herself for what was to come.
She heard Severus sigh. "This may hurt, but it is the only way." After a moment's hesitation, he said, I am going to need to bear the skin.
Hermione nodded, surprised to find that she was not afraid.
Severus undid the bottom few buttons of her shirt as well as the button and zipper on her pants. Carefully he uncovered the area, the area right above her womb.
Wand in hand, Severus touched the skin below her belly button gently, almost as if he were afraid to soil the delicate skin.
Hermione leaned back resting against the floor fighting to retain consciousness despite the pain that ravished her.
All of a sudden a red light filled the room, and Hermione heard Severus speak words that she did not understand. Just then, her pain amplified multiple times as she felt her flesh and insides tear.
Looking up, Hermione noted that it was not simply a figment of her weary imagination. A hole had formed in her abdomen. Shock took her as a hissing sound began emanating from inside her.
Brown slimy limbs reached out of the hole in Hermione's flesh, and the poor girl screamed in fright. Soon enough, a grotesque head and body followed. Her dream! This was the misshapen creature from last night's horror. But that meant.
Fear took full hold of Hermione and she could hardly believe the scene before her.
The creature that had sprung from her womb had grown to nearly twice the size of Severus and was circling the man. Severus stood ready for his opponent to strike, sizing him up, finding all of the weak points.
Darkness began to surround Hermione as she saw the creature lunge at Severus. Warm, inviting darkness.
It was over an hour later before Severus crawled to Hermione's side, cut and bleeding. His enemy had proven himself formidable as any. It might have been the thought of Hermione's salvation that pushed him through allowing him to decapitate his opponent even while he was cornered and bleeding on the floor; he knew that Hermione would never heal unless the beast was killed.
He had finally fallen, his body writhing and turning to ash that would leave a black stain that no amount of charms or paint could ever hide.
"Hermione?"
He was answered by a low moan. She would be all right; already the skin of her abdomen had closed leaving not even a trace of its former condition. In the morning, he would check and make sure nothing internal was still injured. Being that he caught this foe in its early state, a nights rest would do wonders against what was done.
If that thing had been allowed to remain inside of Hermione, for even a few hours more, she would have probably been injured for the rest of her life. More than that, and she could have died. In the morning, he would look at the damage.in the morning.
The sound of a baby crying broke Hermione's sleep. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on the floor next to her professor. Yesterday haunted her mind like some sort of surreal dream. What had happened after she passed out?
Hermione walked to the crib and picked up the crying child, cradling the baby to her breast. With one arm on the baby, and the other grasping her wand, she managed to levitate the professor to his bed.
Elizabeth, now content in Hermione's arms, began to snuggle into the warm breast and make a small cooing sound as Hermione sat down on the edge of the bed and examined her professor.
As Hermione's hand ran over his face appraising all his cuts and bruises, Severus's eyes popped open. "Hermione!" He said her name as if he believed her not much more than a ghost as he reached up to cup her face. Hermione touched his hand with her own to let him know she was here. Severus struggled to sit up.
"Are you okay? Where do you hurt? Does any thing feel different and unusual? Are you."
But he stopped at the sound of Hermione's rich and full laugh. "Professor, I am fine, a little bit sore, but on the whole, normal. I daresay it is you who will need some treatment."
After much arguing, Hermione finally conceded to letting Severus almost sit up entirely provided he was resting on pillows. She had decided to spend the morning tending to him, as it was Saturday, and she was not expected anywhere.
Elizabeth, who apparently was upset about not being the topic of conversation, cooed quite loudly.
Severus took one look at the child before squeezing her to his chest. It was the first time he had risked his life when he actually had so much to live for. He had Elizabeth and. Severus watched the girl that was busy rummaging through his cabinets.well he had Elizabeth.
By lunch, only Severus's larger cuts were still visible. It was apparent that Hermione was healed quite nicely. They did have to worry now though, about whose plans they had soiled. Once that person found out, he would be quite angry; and Severus had a good idea of who that person was.
To his knowledge, the Dark Lord himself did not even possess what Lucius Malfoy had in the shadowy depths of his cold house. Such a thing that would allow one to enter and control another's subconscious. Through this, loads of damage could be done to the innocent sleeper.
Severus had only seen it used once. When the victim had woken then next morning, he had not even been able to recall his own name. He was currently residing in St. Mungo's with no hope of a cure.
There was little doubt in Severus's mind that he had foiled Lucius Malfoy's plans, and one does not simply thwart the plans of Lucius Malfoy. They were in for a long bumpy ride. He knew that he was going to have to keep an extra close watch on Hermione.
"Knut for your thoughts?"
"Trust me Hermione, my thoughts are not even worth that."
She laughed her warm enchanting laugh once more. And Severus began to speak.
"Actually, I was thinking about what I wished to ask you last night." A slight blush crept up Hermione's cheeks and she prayed that the dim lighting of the room hid her well. "I can feel a tension in the air and in my bones, something is stirring, and before long, I will be called to go to my Dark Master; I will be called more and more frequently. He is planning something."
Hermione watched as Severus began to lighten shade by shade, so she took hold of his hand and squeezed it smiling slightly in comfort. He covered her hand with his other one and took a deep breath before he went on.
"A couple of different situations have been thrown at us as of late causing a companionship that I have not had since the times of my boyhood. I did not welcome it, but now that it is here I am glad for it."
Hermione took that to most nearly mean that he thought of her as a friend and needed one greatly right now. She squeezed his hand for him to continue.
Severus looked down at the child who was asleep on his bed. "I have never had anything to live for before, my own wretched existence never meaning much. But now, there is someone who needs me." Hermione also looked down at the sleeping Elizabeth. "I am worried about her, when I will be called to the Dark Lord. She will need someone to come and care for her and keep he safe."
"Oh, I would gladly."
"Yes I know, but I will not have the time to collect you before I must leave."
"Then I will come here to check every day. I always enjoy coming to see Elizabeth. Besides with me here every day, you will be able to get you work done while I play with her."
"You don't mind?"
Hermione stroked Elizabeth's small head. "It is funny Professor, but I feel that Elizabeth needs me too." She looked up embarrassed slightly. "I mean, I know that I am not a mother, or even rightly old enough to act as one, and yet I feel her always. As if she really were mine. I did not mean to care for her so, but. I do." She looked up at Severus to see what he thought.
Holding her gaze he said, "If you love her, then she is lucky, very lucky."
Hermione smiled, never once dropping their connecting stare. She felt comfortable, like everything around her made complete sense, yet no sense at all. But what did make sense often was not plausible as it followed far too much logic. Logic was something hard to come by in the world.
It was a long time before Hermione got up to leave the small cozy room in which Severus and Elizabeth resided. Before she went, Sever caught her arm.
Turning back to the man on the bed, she looked at him with her large innocent eyes.
"Take this, and wear it always."
Hermione looked down at her hand; resting on her palm was a beautiful charm on a gold chain, yet words could not express the shear beauty of the thing. It was a simple pendant, yet one got the feeling upon peering into its depths that it contained more, much more. She wasn't sure how long she spent looking at the captivating object in her hand, but she was aware that time passed around her, although she felt not within her herself.
When she was finally able to break her gaze, she looked to her professor. "I. couldn't.. it's far too." But she trailed off; there was no word to describe what it was. Dangerous? Beautiful? Innocent? Passionate? It was everything, yet it was nothing. It held beauty, but it held fear.
"Wear it Hermione, around your neck and above your heart. Put it on now, and never take it off." He watched as she tied the thing around her neck, "Promise me, promise me you will never take it off."
After a long pause in which Hermione stared at the thing in her hand, she looked up into the dark pools of the professor's eyes. "I do."
The solemnity of the moment touched Hermione and she felt that maybe she shouldn't remover the necklace ever.
Severus watched Hermione's receding back quite content now that she would be safe for the meanwhile. The charm that protected her now was powerful; nothing would touch her. No harm would come to the child, even if it meant giving himself up.
In a dark manor, far away, yet not far enough away to consider anything safe, a sinister man walked into his dark lair. He walked to the table in the center and removed the dark velvety cloth that covered a very wicked object. But much to his display the light that should be coming from the depths of the orb was covered only by shadow. Nothing! There was nothing!
The light in his orb would only have gone out when his spell was complete. Hermione was to suffer first, and then die. It would have taken weeks; yet here, barely a week later, the light was extinguished and his spell broken. Someone, he was sure who but someone was meddling in his affairs.
"Aww, now that's not very nice, playing with my toys. I'm not one for sharing. You will wish you hadn't, oh yes, you will regret it."
Lucius trailed a seductive finger over his Dream Orb. Someone would pay.
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Do u like it? I have great plans for this one.terrible.but great! This is going to be fun!
Love you guys!!!!
~Atiannala