Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. Anything you recognize from JK Rowling's books is not mine. Anything you don't recognize is either mine or a typical fanfiction plot device. The Call of the Blood and the concepts associated with it – as a package, not as individual elements - are my creations, not the creations of JK Rowling – please email me if you wish to use them or a derivative of them in a story.

Partly inspired by the Marriage Law Challenge on WIKTT. See Chapter 1 for full disclaimer. Author's Notes at the end.
Warning:This fic is SS/HG and includes character death, descriptions of abuse, and adult situations.

Cloak of Courage

WendyNat

Chapter 23

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"Well, Ginny's leaving in the afternoon to go to the Burrow. So we thought we'd get together this morning before she left."

"And is Potter accompanying her to the Weasleys for the holidays?" Hermione nodded in response and Severus closed his eyes, apparently savoring the moment. "The best news I've heard all day."

"It's the only news you've heard all day, Severus," Hermione commented dryly, glancing across the table at her husband. He was still in his sleep trousers, chest bare, hair rumpled slightly and his eyes weary. Well, she acknowledged, it's not like either of us got much sleep last night. Unfortunately, their lack of sleep was attributed to normal end-of-term insanity rather than anything more enjoyable. For the most part, at least, she thought with a smile.

The fall term was over, finally. That afternoon, those students returning home for the holidays would leave on the Hogwarts Express. Aside from a notable few, of course. Some parents insisted on picking up their children personally, and with the current state of the war Hermione didn't blame them. Harry and Ginny would be returning to the Burrow with the Weasleys, and from what Severus had indicated Lucius would be coming for Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle that afternoon as well. It was an excellent subterfuge for the elder Malfoy - of course the Ministry's "spy" would be concerned for the safety of his son and his son's close friends.

Grinning as she took a ship of her tea, Hermione said offhandedly, "But he won't be staying the entire time. He'll be back the day after Christmas." As expected, Severus scowled. "It'll be easier that way, for the Order meetings." Severus just grunted noncommittally. He had been against taking even a week's break from their regular Order meetings, but he had been overruled. Their own research would continue, of course. They had already found a number of promising spells and rituals in the Book of the Blood – the real problem now was narrowing down the most likely suspects.

And deciding when, and what, to tell Harry.

The lake shimmered in the cold morning light, ripples raised by the wind and creatures swimming beneath the surface sparkling. Hermione stood, mesmerized, for long moments before the young woman beside her spoke.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? This was always his favorite time of the year."

Hermione nodded. She could remember… the excitement in blue eyes as the Christmas holidays drew near, the coaxing words he used to persuade herself and Harry to follow him outside for a snowball fight or some other silly activity. So full of life… they all had been. She felt like a different person now, older, wiser… darker. Something in her chest twisted and she blinked back tears as she recalled Harry's words in the Head Girl's rooms, when he had first heard of her impending marriage to Professor Snape.

When did it change? When did it all stop being a game? When did the thing I was most worried about change from having detention to having my friends get murdered? When did it become this?

She shook her head slightly. When did it become this, indeed. Summoning a small smile, she turned to Ginny. "I remember… he was always so excited when the holidays came. I guess all students are, though, really."

Ginny's eyes remained fixed on the lake's surface as she shook her head slowly. "No… not all students. Tom called it the empty days… he hated it. Hated when school was out."

Hermione frowned. "But… well, I know he hated the orphanage, from what you and Harry said… but he stayed here at Hogwarts during the breaks, didn't he? Except for the summer break, of course."

Ginny nodded. "He did… but none of his friends did. It just made him stand out even more – the other Slytherins were mostly purebloods, you know… they always went home. Came back with stories of all the gifts they'd gotten… he hated it."

"Oh. I guess he wasn't too fond of Easter, either, then."

Ginny snorted. "Hardly. He called the spring break the hollow days."

Hermione let out a breath and lowered herself to sit on the ground. It was hard and cold, but thankfully free of snow. "It's so strange… when I saw them all… to realize they're people, too. Just regular people in so many ways. Even the Dark Lord… he was a boy once, embarrassed to not be like the other students… it's so strange to think of him that way."

"I know." Ginny sat down beside Hermione, arranging her cloak carefully around her feet. "I'm glad… I'm glad you understand. Remus did, to a point… but not really, I think. Tom was… he was evil even then, yes. But also human – I could sense his emotions, feelings… images, like I said. And it's hard to just… to just write him off like that. Hard to think of what he became."

Hermione stared at the ripples. The Great Squid lifted one lazy tentacle out of the water; droplets falling from it glinted mischievously in the sunlight. She smiled as the tentacle disappeared once more. The smile faded as she said, "It's hard… it's hard because we see something in them that is the same as we are. And it's scary, to think that but for some choices here or there, we could do the same things. Follow the same path. Perform the same evils..." Hermione's voice trailed off and she swallowed heavily. Each step seems but a small one, until you have descended so far that that you can no longer see the light for the depth of the pit you are in. And then… only then… do you realize what you have done.

"Exactly," Ginny whispered. Suddenly the redhead shook her head and smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, Hermione… I've just had Tom on the mind lately."

"What do you mean, Ginny?"

The redhead averted her eyes. "Dreams. Memories. I can't seem to close my eyes without having them… maybe because it's the year, you know? Harry's final year… I just can't imagine Tom won't try to-" her lips twisted "-Voldemort, that is. Can't imagine he won't try to make some grand show this year, before Harry graduates."

"It makes sense… with Lavender's prophecy…"

"Right. And Harry... well, he's been having more dreams, too." Hermione shot the younger witch a curious look. Ginny shrugged. "He didn't want to worry you, said you had enough going on. Anyway, he says they're just anxiety dreams, not the… the other kind. Like mine, I'm sure… memories, stress dreams."

Hermione nodded. "I had them too – memory dreams. When Severus is there, though-" She stopped and shrugged wordlessly. Ginny nodded with a small smile.

"I know… when Dean's around I don't have mine, either."

Hermione raised her eyebrows theatrically. "Indeed, Miss Weasley? And is this something I should be hearing? Your sordid tales of after-hours canoodling?"

At that, Ginny leaned her head back and clear peals of laughter burst from her. "Oh… oh, Gods, Hermione… canoodling? You sound like Madam Pince!"

Hermione also laughed but sobered quickly when a thought occurred to her. "Ginny… Dean's a Muggleborn. What-"

Ginny averted her eyes. "I know. As soon as my birthday comes I'm going to put in a contract on him. So far, we've been lucky."

Hermione felt a pang. She had been so consumed with her own situation that she hadn't spared more than a passing thought for the other Muggleborn students in similar situations. Classmates. And former classmates. She had been aware, of course, that other Muggleborn students had taken their NEWTs early and married – most of them, luckily, to people they were already involved with.

The thought that Ginny may have something else taken from her as a result of this despicable law… it was almost more than Hermione could take. Her throat dry, she said, "What if a pureblood puts a contract on him before your birthday?"

Ginny sighed. "I'll ask my parents for permission to put a contract in on my behalf, I suppose. It's not likely to come to that, but you never know."

"What do they think about you putting in a contract on your birthday?"

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "I… well, I haven't told them. But I think Mum knows."

Hermione was about to respond when she heard the snap of a twig behind them. Before she could turn, a low voice – or was it two voices? – said, "Stupefy."

Everything went dark.

Hermione was floating, dreaming… The blond man told her things… Stand up… Don't say anything…Follow us…

Of course, why not, a voice in the back of her head thought agreeably as she followed the two young men into the school and to a deserted classroom. No need to remain lying on the floor, no need to speak, no reason not to follow these two…

It felt as though her mind was blank. A small nagging doubt appeared at regular intervals, trying to tell her that this wasn't normal - not normal and not good - but she paid it no heed. She couldn't focus on anything.

She could hear the two young men talking.

"Do you have it?"

"Of course I do, you idiot. It's right here."

"Oh. All right." A pause. "Just remember, don't go too far with this, the Dark Lord-"

"I'm well aware of what the Dark Lord said, Goyle. I'm not about to risk my position, and my father's position, over some Mudblood."

"I know you won't mean to, Draco, but sometimes… I've seen you. You go wild."

"Just worry about yourself, Goyle. All I need to do is show her what's in this, and everything will be fine."

Briefly she wondered what they were talking about, but the thought just skittered across the fog in her mind… it was so relaxing, just to float, not thinking, not feeling… no responsibility, the pressure off of her, no decisions to be made… so relaxing…

"Sit. Look in here, Granger."

Hermione sat. Then she stopped. Granger? She didn't know any Granger around… she used to be one of those, but not any more… she kept floating, waiting for her next order… a small voice in the back of her head was screaming, but she didn't know why. Why wouldn't it stop screaming? Why couldn't it just relax?

"It must be wearing off. Imperio!"

Ah, that was better… the voice was gone… she was floating again…

"Draco, she's not Granger anymore, maybe that's why she didn't-"

"Right." That sounded angry… "Now be quiet, Goyle. Hermione, look in the Pensieve. You need to see this. Then I'll take the Imperius off you and we'll have a little chat. We're your friends."

Hermione found herself nodding, but the small, irritating voice was back… Friends? You're not my friends! Oh, but what did that silly voice know? Of course they were her friends… she was relaxed, floating, it was so nice… they had to be her friends…

Tilting her head down, she looked into the Pensieve.

About ten minutes later, she sat, still floating, her mind unable or unwilling to think about the images she had seen in the milky bowl. Her husband, her dead friend… a knife… blood… a single stab wound in his chest… Something about that didn't seem right, but before she could capture the thought she was floating once more. A small voice told her she should think about what she saw, that she should resist this floating… but why? It was so nice, to float…

"You think Vincent took care of the Weasley girl all right?"

"Of course. I gave him specific instructions – by now she's Obliviated and back in her common room."

Hermione felt the corners of her mouth turn up as she reveled in the relaxation… and then the small voice in her head began growing louder and louder… demanding to be heard… and it pounded against her awareness… You think Vincent took care of the Weasley girl all right?

The Weasley girl… Obliviated…

The voice was no longer small, it was huge, pounding at her, driving it home… the danger, her friend… Oh, Gods!

Ginny!

"No!" Hermione flung herself from the chair, feeling as though cold water had been thrown over her. Instinctively, she reached for her wand and whirled to face Draco and Goyle, wand drawn. The images from the Pensieve invaded her now-clear mind and her hand began to tremble. Lucius, of course, was Severus… but who played Ron? Some unfortunate Muggle, maybe?

The look on Goyle's face was one of pure awe. "She broke it… she broke your Imperius, Draco…"

"So I see." Draco eyed her warily. "Now, calm down, Grang-"

"Snape!"

Draco's twisted angrily before he forced it into an expression of regret. "I'm so sorry, Hermione… I know you didn't realize that he had a part in it; you thought we were trying to trick you before. But now you know, don't you? You saw him in the Pensieve… you saw what he did."

Hermione's eyes narrowed dangerously. Goyle tensed in front of her and she froze, her mind working. While she could overpower one of them with little trouble, two would be a difficulty. Perhaps she should play along a bit… Forcing her face into confusion, she stammered, "I… I did. Why… why should I believe you, though? What if-"

"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to show it to you, but you didn't believe our first warnings… we didn't want to show you this until the very last, it's so painful to look at it, I didn't want you to have to see your boyfriend like that." Hermione carefully kept her expression steady. So, Draco didn't know that she had been with Harry when Ron was found… How idiotic. She knew the cuts were different. The lines of blood on his body, the razor-thing splitting of his skin… the patterns had been different from the single stab wound she saw in the Pensieve. Very different. "I know you trusted Snape, and there's no real reason to trust me, but this isn't a trick. He… Snape… he led the group that attacked Weasley. I know what Weasley meant to you-"

Hermione couldn't hear any more over the rush of blood in her ears. She barely held back a scream of rage… You know what he meant to me? You bastard! You fucking bloody bastard… murderer… you'll pay. You will pay.

She raised her wand, lightning quick, and with all the anger and rage in her heart, with all the anger and rage roiling in her blood, hissed, "Crucio!" She felt the wave of power course through her, feeding the raw core of energy, making her blood sing… she felt it flow into her wand…

…and then she felt her wand die somehow and…

…nothing happened.

The power was absorbed, or changed… Cursing inwardly, she recalled the conversations she had had with Minerva and Severus about using Dark spells with a unicorn hair core wand. How foolish could she have been, to forget that! How foolish-

"Expelliarmus!"

The air was knocked out of her and her wand flew from her grip. She landed hard against the stone wall and slid down a ways before her knees caught her. Her blood boiled… the red haze grew in the corners of her eyes and with a feral growl she launched herself at Draco before he could react. Goyle stood by, his mouth open in confusion… neither man had expected a physical attack.

She felt a deep satisfaction as her nails raked Draco's cheek, blood welling up from the wounds even as she grabbed his wrist with her other hand and twisted it hard… his grip loosened in his surprise and his wand clattered to the floor. She cursed savagely - she had planned to wrest the wand from him, not make him drop it! The weak fool must have been so surprised by her attack that his hand went limp. Growling, she kicked the wand to the far corner of the room and then, spying her own wand on the floor not ten paces from them, dove after it.

Draco's reflexes were quicker than hers by a hair. He tackled her from behind, wrapping his arms around her legs and causing her to topple to the floor heavily.

"Goyle!" Draco bit out even as he grabbed Hermione's ankle and dragged her back, farther away from the wand. She kicked out with both feet, catching his shoulder with one heel, causing him to grimace in pain. He grabbed both of her ankles then, his fingers crushing against the bones.

From the corner of her eyes, Hermione could see Goyle's face go pale. "Draco! What are you- stop! Hold it back – control it, man!"

"I… I can't…" His cold eyes had grown heated, wild… Hermione knew the Call was raging in him. "I don't want to control it. I deserve something for all of this…" Draco's eyes narrowed and Hermione felt the skin of her back scrape against uneven stone as he yanked her across the floor. Her robes dragged along the floor, pulled up by the friction, and as Draco swept his eyes across her she felt a wave of fear… she was outnumbered, unarmed, and perilously close to being at least partially unclothed.

Goyle reached out and grabbed Draco's shoulder, yanking him back. "Damn it, Draco – this is stupid! You're out of control; this wasn't the plan! I know your linkage is stronger than mine, but Gods – get a hold of yourself!" As he spoke, Hermione took the opportunity to kick the blond man in the face – it was a glancing blow due to the awkward angle but it served its purpose. He released her ankles and brought both hands to his face as she scrambled backwards and stumbled to her feet. She headed for her wand, escape the farthest thing from her mind… the red haze was too strong, obscuring her vision… revenge… blood… He will pay. I will make him pay…

Then she heard a shout behind her. "Sod the plan! What's one more Obliviate?" And then she was knocked to the ground, her head banging the stone sharply… she rolled over and kicked out, smiling when she heard the painful grunt. Before she could take advantage of the successful contact, two hands dug into her thighs, holding her legs down by force. A scorching heat… the blood mark… And then…

"Stop it, Draco! This isn't some Muggle raid-" Goyle grabbed Draco's arm, pulling him away once again. Glancing at her, Goyle's jaw dropped. "Oh, Merlin… oh, Merlin… get away, Draco – we gotta go… she's marked! Snape marked her!"

Hermione watched as stark fear overcame the rage and bloodlust on Draco's face, the sight helping to quell the rising Call in her own blood. He shoved himself backwards, away from her, and stumbled to his feet. As she staggered to her feet and retrieved her wand Draco kept his eyes on her at all times, even as he raced to the corner where his own wand lay. His breathing was heavy and ragged, loud in the unnaturally quiet room. She could hear him rambling in a low, fearful voice, "Oh, Gods… no… Snape… marked her… but she's a Mudblood!"

"Come on, Draco, I told you not to touch her! We got to get out of here!"

The door opened with a crash.

"Too late." The words were silk laden with ice.

Hermione had her wand gripped tightly in her hand. "Stupefy," she said coolly, at the exact same time as Severus cast a spell of his own. Goyle was covered in a familiar set of black cords, while Draco was slumped down on the floor, unconscious from her spell.

The adrenaline left her and she backed up until her shoulders hit stone. Her limbs shaking, Hermione slid down the wall to the floor, heedless of the way her robes caught against the rough stone. She stared at her bare knees blankly.

Severus was before her almost immediately, and when she raised her head she could see that he must have left their rooms in a hurry indeed – underneath his cloak his shirt wasn't even fully buttoned. Goyle's whimpering was the only sound in the room. Severus crouched down in front of her, the movement causing his shirt to gape open. She began to shiver when she saw the hilt of a blade sticking out from her husband's belt.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was now steel. Through the bond she could feel rage, anger… laced with a small amount of fear and something else she couldn't identify…

She shook her head quickly. "No… not really… he didn't… it wasn't their intent, at least. They wanted to fool me again – the Pensieve, the hair… trying to make me think you killed Ron… but then the Call took him… they Stunned Ginny and me… Goyle kept his wits, but I got Draco's wand away and-" She stopped at the confused expression on Severus' face. Realizing that she was babbling, and in a most incoherent manner, she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head. "I'm glad you came."

"It appears you had things well in hand when I arrived." Severus quickly unfastened his cloak and covered her with it, leaving him in just his partially buttoned shirt. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the scar over his breastbone. He tenderly ran a finger along her jaw and then stopped suddenly, his darkening alarmingly. "Blood. They did hurt you." She was confused for a moment until she remembered her head striking the floor when Draco tackled her.

"I thought… didn't you feel it through the mark?" She glanced down at her right thigh, where his hand – along with his gaze - had drifted. The mark still burned into her flesh with a vivid heat, and the heat was steadily growing more intense as Severus stared at her leg. "Severus? What are you…" Her voice trailed off when she realized he hadn't moved his eyes from her blood mark… she could sense the waves of fury, now red-hot, seeping from him. "What-" she looked down, following his gaze, and inspected the mark closely. Oh, Gods… Purple marks… in the shape of fingers… on her inner thigh. She had always bruised easily. She brought her eyes up to meet his and shuddered at the pure rage revealed in the black depths.

"Who did this? Which one of them touched you?" Which one of them touched you… she knew exactly what he meant by that and swallowed hard, unable to respond. But when her eyes flicked to Draco he knew the answer. Severus stood, and she recoiled slightly from the dangerous look in his eye. Turning to face Draco, who was still Stunned in the corner, he pulled his wand out and hissed, "Ennervate." Released from the spell, Draco blinked a couple of times before he seemed to remember where he was – and what his current situation was.

Draco scrabbled frantically backwards while Severus advanced on him with slow, measured steps.

"Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand, which she hadn't even noticed him holding, flew from the blond man's hand as he was flung against the wall. She could see the tension in the muscles of Severus' back, the rigid way he moved, and knew that retribution would be swift…

When emotions are high, it is difficult to control.

Like a striking snake, one hand reached out and gripped Draco around the neck, pulling him off the floor and slamming him onto one of the tables. The wood creaked under the weight, and Draco's eyes never left Severus'… until Severus reached into his belt and pulled out the dagger that was sheathed there. The long white blade glinted dangerously in the candlelight, and Draco's eyes widened. They widened even more when Severus brought the blade to his own pale chest and drew a thin line of blood across his breastbone, not removing his gaze from the young man pinned on the table. Oh, Gods… it was right underneath the scar that was already there… the scar from the blood ritual he had performed when he killed his father… and then he spoke, his voice hard and colder than she'd ever heard it before.

"Payment offered. Blood accepted."

"No, please! Please! No!" the young blond man began to shriek. A sick feeling twisted Hermione's gut… she recognized the beginning of the ritual, all too well… Payment offered. Blood accepted. The Call… the Blood Rites… Severus raised the knife slowly, Draco's screams becoming incoherent as he sobbed and pleaded for mercy. The scene was so surreal, it seemed as if she were watching a slow-motion movie.

The payment must be fulfilled, when the words are spoken.

A shout from Goyle brought the reality of the situation back to her. A scream tore from her own throat as the possible consequences of this act finally penetrated her awareness. "No! No, Severus! They'll put you in Azkaban! Don't!"

Severus paused when he heard her cry, not looking at her. He was breathing hard, and his eyes darkened even more as he contemplated the man beneath him. His body trembled with the attempt to control the Call, and Hermione's fists clenched in her lap, willing him to succeed, to control it... Draco's screams and shrieks still rang through the room, tears and mucous draining from eyes and nose. Oh, Gods… it was too late… he'd already begun the ritual… the Call was too strong… she could feel it raging in him… uncontrollable…

It is difficult, to resist it. Extremely difficult. It is possible to… simply draw the blood of the other, instead – without taking the man's life. But it takes a great deal of will.

"Please, Severus!!" Hermione sobbed desperately. Frantically trying to think of something to say that would get through to him, that would cut through the blood urge, she cried out, "Don't leave me! You can't leave me!" His muscles twitched at her words, and she felt a surge of hope.

"Which hand did you touch her with? Which hand touched my mark?" Severus asked in a cold hiss, his lips barely moving. Draco just continued pleading, and Severus gripped his neck harder. "Which hand?" he thundered.

"Th- the l-l-left…" Draco stammered, tears of fear and pain spilling from his eyes as he struggled to breathe through the mucous filling his nose.

"Blood calls to blood. Blood must be answered." Severus raised the knife high above the blond man before shifting his other hand from the man's neck to his left wrist.

Draco's scream and Hermione's scream mingled together as Severus brought the knife down in a powerful movement too quick for the eye. Hermione's eyes clenched shut at the sound of the knife biting through bone and tissue, and then the dull thunk as it drove into the wooden table beneath. Draco's screams changed in pitch, now shrieking terror-filled screams of pain as he stared at the hilt of the knife that pinned his hand to the table below.

Severus had driven the knife straight through the boy's palm with such force that the hilt was still trembling slightly and the end of the blade, its cold white surface now tarnished with blood, emerged from beneath the table at least two inches. Hermione shook, her stomach roiling as she tried desperately to keep from retching. Her mind frantically tried to calculate the power necessary to drive a dagger through bone and sinew and then through a two-inch layer of wood…Oh, Gods…

Flicking his wand in Goyle's direction, he released the young man from his bonds. Goyle seemed frozen in place as Severus turned his back on the screaming blond man, moving quickly back to her side with concern on his face. He touched her cheek tenderly and she stared, transfixed, at his neck… where a few drops of Draco's blood had spattered. Her eyes moved down to the long line of blood on his chest, almost perfectly parallel to the thin white scar across his breastbone. She began to tremble violently at the realization of what had almost happened… at the realization of what did happen… and he murmured gentle words to her, bringing his arms around her in a tight, comforting embrace. And, to her surprise, she did relax against him.

Her mind swirled from it all: the reality of what had almost happened, the screams from the boy still pinned to the table, and then the spinning of the room around her as she was lifted from the floor and carried to the doorway. Just before stepping into the corridor, he turned and spoke to Goyle. "Tend to your friend. Lucius will be here shortly." Goyle nodded mutely.

Severus cast quick Disillusionment charms over them both and strode through the corridors. He was holding her securely, tenderly… as he walked swiftly back to their rooms, he shifted her enough to press his lips against her hair.

Merlin… how is this the same man? How can the same man have two such opposing sides? He drove that knife straight through Draco's… Oh, Gods… Her mind tried to wrap itself around the enigmatic man's behavior… trying to reconcile the images of him gently holding her, comforting her… with the images of his face, cold and hard, full of fury, as he drove the ceremonial dagger into a young man's hand and through two inches of wood. The hand that he had touched her with…

The Dark never truly leaves you… it is always a part of you…the Call can be resisted, but not at all times…

A/N: Well – I hope you enjoyed the chapter! This was another tough one to write, so I hope it came out okay. Please read and review!!! I appreciate any and all feedback. I apologize once again for not having the time to answer reviews individually – I have a sick toddler at home and this chapter was barely finished in time as it was… and now I'm going to sleep!