"Hermione, I'm really scared." Lavender was almost back to normal after her first encounter with Lord Voldemort--physically, that was. Mentally, she was a wreck. "He's coming back tonight…" Hermione watched her friend try to get her shaking under control. Both girls were sitting across from each other with their feet pulled up in front of them on Lavender's bed.

"I know this sounds stupid and trite, Lavender, but try not to think about it." It was hard to think of something else she could say.

Lavender snorted a half laugh that was also a half sob. "It's all I think about. You have no idea what it feels like to have those awful clawed hands on you." Hermione couldn't fathom it even after all she'd endured over the past months and her mind recoiled at the images her imagination tried to form. Lavender continued, "He's not even human any more. The thought of how his mouth feels on my skin makes me want to vomit--and he's far more cruel and vicious than anyone else who has visited me in all the time I've been here, and you and I both know there have been some real winners. He lives and breathes evil, Hermione, pure evil." Hermione watched as Lavender turned her thoughts inwards, all the while fighting off the reaction of the Imperius Curse, which had risen up in response to her words.

"Do you want me to teach you that eastern technique I was talking about? The one that helps you remove yourself mentally from a situation?" Hermione asked after a moment of silence. She needed something to do. She was listless and had spent the day fighting down her own jitters as the hours passed. And if she was scared shitless, how was it that Lavender was even able to function? The girl had strength unknown to even herself. Every time she looked at her friend, she wanted to burst into tears.

Lunch today hadn't been great either, everyone had been so subdued and serious, with the gentle and emotional Claire tearing up and stifling a sob every time she looked across the table at Lavender. Hermione had wanted to shake them, to tell them to stop making things worse, but the words wouldn't come. She couldn't yell at them in front of Lavender. Things hadn't been that bad with Hannah but then again they hadn't known they'd lose her and how she'd die. They had had three months to let the circumstances of Hannah's death sink in and consequently had no hope in their hearts for Lavender. She was as good as dead as far as everyone round that table was concerned. And Hermione couldn't open her mouth to tell any one of them, even Lavender, of the strange hope that Professor Snape had restored in her own heart. She wasn't even sure what he was actually up to but prayed whatever it was would work. She had even dreamt about him last night and in the dream he'd shown her where she was being held captive. It had felt so very real, what with the smell of the sea and the sounds of the gulls crying over the crashing of the waves as they glided above them, riding on drafts of air. She shook her head a little to clear it of those images.

"For what it's worth…" Lavender muttered in a voice now devoid of the emotions she had just shown a moment before.

"Anything's worth a try, Lavender. Humour me?" she pleaded. The blonde girl nodded and Hermione smiled at her as she reached out to take her hand and squeeze it. "Thanks."

***

He'd just come back from his suite of rooms a few minutes earlier after checking on the newly risen Fawkes--he'd left the young bird staggering around on the floor of his sitting room like a dazed and drunken man. The process had been harder this time around, which might have had something to do with the phoenix's confusion. He didn't usually hatch to be reborn, but the majority of his hot ashes had solidified into an egg to keep from being blown off the top of the Astronomy tower and scattered by the strong November winds. Severus shook his head. Was nothing easy anymore? After pouring himself a strong cup of tea, he resumed the task he'd begun that morning of analysing the side effects he was experiencing from the Vestigium Teneo potion.

"Headmaster, are you there?" Professor Sprout's head appeared in the fireplace of Snape's office. Severus stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of the fire so she could see him. Right away he was wary, as she usually came to visit him in person when she wanted to talk.

"Yes, I'm here. What's the matter?" he asked.

"I thought you'd like to know that Lucius Malfoy is on his way up to see you."

"Where is he now?" he inquired, a deep frown creasing his brows. His little problem was something he didn't want Malfoy to know about.

"The main staircase."

"Thanks for the warning." Snape nodded in acknowledgement. Professor Sprout nodded back and smiled before disappearing from the fireplace. He had about four minutes before Malfoy would be here, time enough to put everything out of sight and be sitting behind the desk studying the school ledgers when he arrived. He instructed the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to his office to let Malfoy pass when he got there and quickly went about the business of cleaning things up.

"Ah, Lucius, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, looking up from his perusal of the exam schedules when Malfoy finally got there.

"Come now, Severus, we always fence like this... Does there have to be a reason?" Malfoy replied pleasantly as he sat down in one of the squashy armchairs on the other side of the desk, answering Snape's question with one of his own.

"No," Severus began, "but you're so busy these days with your Ministry duties it's a rare thing for you to visit Hogwarts at all, even though you head the Board of Governors. Can I get you something to drink?"

"No thanks." Lucius looked around the walls of Snape's office, his gaze met by the glares of many past Headmasters and Headmistresses--all the way back to the founders. He focussed in on Snape again. "You know, Severus, Narcissa mentioned the other night that it has been rather a long time since we've gotten together. That's why I'm here, really. She sent me over to invite you to dinner at Malfoy Manor tonight. It'll be a quite small and rather informal gathering, I can assure you."

"I'm flattered, Lucius, but I'm really very busy." Snape begged off, gesturing offhandedly at the exam schedule on the desk in front of him.

"Lord Voldemort will be there. He was pleased to hear we were inviting you as well, you know. He's still of the mind that you should get out more." Severus was well and truly backed against the wall. He couldn't refuse to go if the Dark Lord was expecting him to attend.

"What time would you like me to be there?" he finally asked after a moment of silence.

"How does seven sound?" Lucius asked, hiding his smile. He and Narcissa had lain in bed last night plotting into the small hours.

"It sounds fine." Severus replied, forcing a smile and hoping it didn't look too false.

"Wonderful!" Lucius proclaimed. "We'll see you then. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some business to attend to at the Ministry." Snape stood up and moved to accompany Malfoy downstairs. Lucius waved him away. "Don't bother, I know you're busy so I'll see myself out."

***

"We've got the whole network of wards mapped out and charmed so that it's visible to us. You'll need to use Patefacio to charm your eyes to pick it up though, as they show in a different range than the one we usually see." Bill seemed animated as he filled Remus and Cho in on the work he had done on his shift with Blaise. "There's a problem, though." he continued.

"Great," Cho shook her head as she turned and paced back and forth--five paces each way, "just what we need--another problem. Don't we have enough of them already?" She stopped and gazed at Bill, awaiting enlightenment.

"This one isn't that horrible as problems go. I'd say it's more of an inconvenience." he told her finally.

"How's that?" Remus interjected.

"The oldest and most intricate wards are embedded in the base of the cliffs. We'll have to work underwater for part of the job."

"Balls and bloody bludgers!" Cho muttered, uttering a favourite oath of any Hogwarts students who happened to play for the house teams. Ever since she'd been intimately involved in the second task of the Tri-Wizard tournament, she'd had a bit of a phobia about being underwater and everyone knew it.

"Are you all right with this?" Bill asked. Cho hesitated a moment before nodding.

"I can handle it." She told him steadfastly, grinning at him and chewing her lower lip at the same time. He really hoped so. Working underwater was no picnic. It made their jobs all the more challenging and being afraid was not an option.

"Good!" he flashed her his most winning smile and was pleased to see her relax. "We'll leave those wards until last, then. We'll strip them from the top down and when only the wards underwater are left, all four teams will work in rotation on shorter shifts until they're all gone."

"Sounds good. Those will be the ones that permeate the skeleton of the structure and the whole island, so they'll be the most important ones to disable." Remus agreed, impressed with what had been accomplished so far. "Now tell us, where did you leave off?"

***

Severus was on the doorstep of Malfoy Manor at precisely one minute to seven. He took a moment to calm and collect himself before raising a hand to knock on the door. He was happy to find that although the Manor was closer (geographically speaking) to the Isle of Man than the resistance base under Snape Castle, he could control his reactions to the potion. The pull was strong, but nothing a disciplined man like himself couldn't handle. He tamped down on the sensation. The only thing still worrying him, though, was the fact he might fall into another trance in the midst of this company of wolves.

The door was answered by the sour-faced Eiean Moriarty, Seneschal of the Malfoy household for the past fifty years. With a curt nod, he invited Snape inside and, after closing the door behind them, led the headmaster to the family dining room. Snape was reassured by the fact dinner was being served in the small room and not the larger room reserved for official functions. Moriarty held the door to the dining room open and motioned for Snape to enter, shutting the door behind him soundly, its echo hollow and flat.

"Severus, I'm so pleased you could join us." Narcissa Malfoy greeted, coming to the door to offer him one of her pale and slender hands. Snape lifted it to his lips and planted a kiss on the back of it, his eyes flicking to the table--hidden behind a screen of shoulder-length black hair as he did so--to see who was already seated there. Lord Voldemort was at the head of the table and Lucius sat next to him. Draco was seated across from his father, pointedly studying the tableware in front of him.

"The pleasure is mine, Narcissa." Severus replied as the cool blonde next to him led him to the table.

The games had begun. He pushed her chair in as she sat then moved to the head of the table.

"My Lord." Severus knelt in obeisance before Voldemort and was rewarded by the touch of the Dark Lord's hand on the crown of his head.

"Severus."

Just one sibilant word in greeting, but along with the touch it was like a benediction. Snape stood up when Voldemort removed his hand. He moved wordlessly to take the empty seat next to Draco. This evening was not going to be fun.

Snape had been more than happy to let Lucius and Narcissa lead the conversation with Lord Voldemort. He really hadn't much to say about anything they would find interesting and found it more profitable to listen, sifting the contents of the conversation for anything that might come in useful. When questions were directed his way, he'd answer them as economically as possible without coming across as rude and, when pressed, filled Voldemort in on the status of a number of different potions he had in varying stages of production for him and smiled and nodded in all the appropriate places. They'd bought it, for the most part. Except for Draco, it seemed.

Severus noticed that Draco hadn't really touched his food, but was drinking the vintage wine from his fathers cellar like it was going out of style. He noticed Narcissa watching Draco out of the corner of her eye as she listened to the conversation between her husband and the Dark Lord. Her smiling face never betrayed a thing. Of course, after all these years it wouldn't, but he could still tell she was worried. He could feel Malfoy Junior's eyes on him throughout the meal and wondered what was going through his mind. It wasn't like Draco to be this unguarded or careless in his behaviour. The boy had been adept at hiding his feelings for everything except Harry Potter since well before he started Hogwarts.

As the house-elves brought and served dessert to the diners, Lucius deftly steered the subject of the conversation round to Snape's visits to the brothel.

"Have you found your visits to our little 'spa' rejuvenating, Severus?" he asked the headmaster. It took Snape a moment to read through the euphemism.

"Indeed I have, Lucius." He answered politely, aware that everyone's gaze was upon him. "It's a perfect place to rid one's self of frustration." he continued, couching his response carefully and noting the slight smile curving at the corner of Malfoy's mouth. He wondered what that was all about.

"Speaking of the Brothel," Voldemort interjected in a soft hiss, a strange, almost hungry look in his red eyes, "I believe I have an appointment there tonight."

"Yes, my Lord," Lucius confirmed, "right after we finish here." Voldemort nodded, apparently satisfied, and returned his focus to the decadent pavlova on the plate in front of him. Lucius turned to Snape. "And what about you, Severus, care to join us?"

Snape was not expecting the offer. In fact he'd planned to beg off as soon as possible in order to catch a little sleep before he pulled his shift with Miss Patil later on. "Well, I'm really not…" he began to answer but was cut off by Lucius.

"You can have the same girl as before, Severus," Lucius interjected, "if that's what's worrying you… honestly, you look like you've been pole-axed. It's not that strange of an offer. You really are all work and no play!" Snape looked up to see a smile on Lord Voldemort's face at Malfoy's veiled diatribe.

Wonderful. Just bloody wonderful! He thought to himself. He didn't want to be that close to Miss Granger while in Lord Voldemort's presence, not only because of the unfortunate side effect of the potion (would he even be able to stand up straight once he stepped through the floo network and into the brothel?), but because of the added danger of him falling into a trance that could betray everything at that close range.

"When you put it that way, how can I refuse?" He finally replied, his hands stretched out in front of him, palms up, in a gesture of supplication. He caught the tail end of a muttered comment from Draco beside him and glanced over at him to see he was downing another goblet of wine like it was water. What was the boy thinking, behaving in such a way in the company of the Dark Lord? Did he have a death wish? He looked back down at his own plate and made a show of eating the delicate meringue concoction on it, noting the unspoken communication between Lucius and Narcissa and the frown on Lord Voldemort's face as he studied Draco.

***

The word had come half an hour ago that Lord Voldemort would be visiting Lavender at nine o'clock. Milly had brought a calming potion with her and administered it to the distraught blonde girl before beginning work on her make-up. She would be wearing a set of white silk robes trimmed with gold tonight, somewhat reminiscent, in a twisted way, of a vestal virgin or even a newlywed wearing her bridal trousseau. All the better to see the blood, Hermione had thought morbidly as she sat holding Lavender's hand while Milly worked, silently offering her strength to her friend.

It was funny how things had changed between the two girls since their captivity. In the beginning, Hermione had still been quite dismissive of Lavender and vice-versa. Back then, before they had truly walked on common ground, it had been easy. Lavender had been everything Hermione wasn't. She was blonde and extremely pretty, not to mention vivacious and graceful. And while Lavender hadn't been top of the class, she hadn't been failing either. Hermione had been a mousy yet brilliant brunette, opinionated and a little clumsy no matter what she knew. Lavender had been very popular with the girls of their year, getting along with almost everyone from every house, even those who came from Slytherin to a certain degree. Except for a handful of Ravenclaws from her revision group Hermione hadn't been. Enough said about that. And then there was divination. Lavender loved it while Hermione had held it in utter contempt, Sybil Trelawney notwithstanding. Factor Sybil into the equation and it was a place you didn't want to go--not with Hermione Granger, anyway. Even though they had been roommates, the pair had not gotten along the way Lavender and Parvati had, or any other normal female dynamic observed at school. Hermione thought Lavender was far too giggly and shallow and Lavender had thought Hermione was far too serious and judgmental and that had just been the tip of the iceberg where their problems with each other were concerned. Things had gotten a little better between them when Ron and Lavender had started dating, but not by much.

It's interesting what being stuck in a room with no one else for company can do for a relationship. Both girls had found out the hard way they had more in common than either of them thought. In the beginning there had been the sense of disbelief at their circumstances, as well as all the little grudges harboured against each other over the years. Eventually, though, they actually had to talk to each other, and really listen for the first time in years. The things they had learnt about each other when they finally had no choice but to listen were astounding. They actually had more things in common than either would have guessed--apart from the forced prostitution, that was. They both loved Ron Weasley for example, however odd that seemed to someone on the outside looking in. Whenever they talked about him, they both found themselves chewing their lips to stop the tears from flowing. Hermione loved him as a brother as much as Ginny did and Lavender loved him in a completely different way, even after everything they'd been through as a couple and the fact he frustrated the hell out of her. The girls would chase the shadows from their hearts and while away their captive days reminiscing about their school years, and telling stories of what it was like for each of them growing up--Lavender in a Wizarding household and Hermione in the Muggle world. They each knew the other's hopes, fears and desires as intimately as their own. And right now both of them wished they were anywhere else in the world but here in this godforsaken brothel.

***

Severus was sweating from the effort it took to keep himself standing upright. He'd been hit by a maelstrom of emotions and sensations the second he'd stepped out of the fireplace and into the brothel. It took every ounce of his strength to quell the trembling so it would go unnoticed by Lucius and the Dark Lord. He was glad they'd both stepped through the floo network before he did and their backs were still to him. It gave him a second to collect himself under the onslaught that was Miss Granger. All his concentration went into stepping one foot in front of the other across the room. He was definitely going to have to make research into this side effect a priority as this couldn't be allowed to go on indefinitely.

"Severus, would you mind waiting here while I see Lord Voldemort to his room?" Lucius asked, turning to address the Headmaster. Severus nodded and Lucius continued, "I'll make sure your girl is ready as well… help yourself to a drink if you'd like." He gestured towards the silver tray with cut crystal decanters that was floating in the ethereal beam of light in the corner of the room.

"Thank you, I will," Severus replied before turning to Voldemort and bowing. "My Lord, I will bring the potions to you when they are done." The Dark Lord nodded in response before following Lucius out of the room--his heavy, ornate velvet robes rustling softly as he walked.

The first thing Severus did when the door closed behind them was to stumble across the room and sink gratefully into the leather upholstered chair by the window. His skin was clammy and his heart hammered a tattoo in his chest. He dug in the pockets of his robes, produced a pristine white handkerchief and unfolded it with an economic yet practised snap of his wrist. He mopped his brow and then his face and neck, a little surprised at the sodden state of the handkerchief as he balled it up and stuffed it back into the same pocket he'd taken it from. This was not like him at all. Had his state been apparent to Lucius and Voldemort? He hoped not. He let out a sigh and sank back in the chair trying to gather his thoughts and get control of the situation. Miss Granger's emotions were very insistent. She was scared and angry and unhappy. He sank back in the chair and, using his wand, summoned a glass of fire whiskey from the silver tray. When he had the glass in hand he performed a simple spell to ensure the whiskey was safe and potable. In finding that it was, he raised the glass to his lips and drained it completely in a matter of seconds. He sat for a moment with his eyes closed, nursing the empty glass in his hand and feeling the liquor burn a path down his throat and into his stomach. Well, he had to admit it did help as somehow he felt more in control. He was impatient and full of nervous energy, especially because Miss Granger's insistent emotions were doing their worst in his head, but knew that Lucius would not return for him until everything was perfect for Lord Voldemort. He floated his glass back to the decanter for a refill. One more small one wouldn't hurt.

***

The girls were surprised by the sound of the key turning in the lock. It wasn't yet nine o'clock. They had come for Lavender early. Hermione watched her friend's face crumple as she fought a losing battle to hold herself together. When the door swung open to admit Lucius Malfoy, they were both shocked. Usually only the guards and house-elves bothered coming up to the sparse dormer rooms where they kept the prisoners. Hermione straightened up and looked directly at him. He threw her a creepy smile before turning to focus on Lavender.

"What's this?" he asked, taking in her emotional state and the look on her face. "This won't do at all," he shook his head, produced his wand and continued, "Desino Despero." Suddenly the fear and uncertainty seemed to vanish from Lavender. She stood straighter and stopped fidgeting. "That's better." He told her as he raked his gaze over her from head to toe, appraising her worthiness. After a moment Lucius finally nodded in approval, tucked a thumb under the girl's chin and raised her eyes to meet his own. "You will smile for the Dark Lord and obey his every command, do you understand?" Lavender nodded, and Malfoy Senior motioned for the guard lackey standing solidly in the doorway to escort her to where Lord Voldemort was waiting.

When Lavender and the guard had gone, Malfoy turned his attention to Hermione. She was wearing the plain brown robes that were standard issue to all the prisoners here at the brothel. It was what they wore when they weren't decked out in a 'work-related' costume. Their cut was anything but flattering—she looked positively mousy with her unkempt hair caught back in a careless pony tail and not a scrap of make up or an appearance charm to soften things up and banish the dark circles under her eyes. Lucius shook his head. She was hardly fit to scrub floors in his mind, the way she was dressed, never mind entertain a certain guest--but he supposed it would have to do. It would take too long to get her ready to his liking. "Listen to me," he commanded, "I want you to get into his blood. Do what you must to make him need you like a drug. He must want nothing but you. Do not settle for anything less. I will not tolerate anything less. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Hermione responded automatically. Three bags full, sir. she added irreverently in her mind, catching and tamping down on the Imperio tremors before they manifested in a way that Malfoy could see them. She wondered who he was talking about, but knew better than to ask. She liked her teeth in her mouth, thank you very much, not spat out and swimming in a bloodied mess in the palm of her hand. There was always someone Malfoy was trying to control. He loved nothing more than being the shark swimming with the minnows. She was sure he got off on it. As for herself, she was a pawn to him--a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less. Hanging on to the person she had been before Draco had captured her was hard—extremely hard--but she'd be damned if she'd ever give up like they expected her to.

***

"And you'll be where?" Severus asked Lucius as they made their way to the room where Hermione was waiting. His legs were like lead and he had to be careful not to give anything away. Lucius was studying him too closely as it was.

"Going over the Ministry books. You know how it is--there's always some stupid detail or other to take care of." Severus wondered if those details involved some of the recent resistance incursions--seemingly random attacks that didn't appear connected at all unless you knew what to look for. He wouldn't be surprised if Lucius had taken on that task himself. Malfoy Senior had styled himself as Voldemort's Minister of Defence, a position no one disputed. Not that you could blame them. Who wanted to end up on the receiving end of the killing curse or some other less than subtle punishment designed to make an example of you? A lot of good people could do no more than keep their heads down and hope to escape the notice of the new regime. The only ones who were standing against them in any way, shape or form darted out of fox-holes under cover of darkness to do so. And when you considered their numbers, it was amazing the resistance attacks did any damage at all.

"And my wand, where will I find it?"

"Goyle Jr. is on duty tonight. You can leave it in his care." Lucius saw the look of horror on Snape's face at his comment. "Don't worry, he won't touch it... he's merely a glorified sentinel. I know your wand is heavily warded, so what's the problem?"

"Recollection of years of incompetence on the part of Gregory Goyle, that's what." Severus shook his head. "Is that the calibre of our young men and women?"

"He knows what he can and cannot do--He's been trained that much, and I doubt he'd try to tamper with anything belonging to his old Head of House."

"That's reassuring." Snape commented sarcastically.

"Be assured he's not the type to attempt a coup d'etat. He a follower, he does what he's told. He won't touch your wand, or anyone else's."

"That's cold comfort, Lucius, I know what he's incapable of." Malfoy laughed deep and unrestrained at Snape's comment.

"You worry far too much, Severus."

"As Headmaster of Hogwarts, that's my job." Snape replied, shrugging a burdened shoulder.

***

Hermione sat naked, covered only by the thin silk sheet that belonged to the bed. Lucius Malfoy had stripped her, kicked the functional yet ugly robes she had been wearing under the bed and swung her by the arm onto the mattress. He then pulled the short dark ribbon from her hair so that the tangled mass tumbled around her shoulders like Medusa's serpents--coiled and wild. He touched his thumbs to the hollows beneath her eyes and banished the dark circles that skulked there with a muttered word, and left her wondering who was to join her in the green room tonight.

She found herself sitting forward as the door opened, awaiting fate's cruel hand yet again. The room was lit only by candlelight and the light through the doorway cast a very familiar silhouette across the threshold. She hadn't realised she'd been holding her breath and was surprised at how it fast it rushed out, threatening to overwhelm her. She stifled the sob before it became reality and set about composing herself before he got close enough to see her lack of control. She was glad he had turned to close the door behind himself before crossing the room to where she sat in the middle of the bed and collapsing on it next to her.

"Are you all right, Professor?" she asked, leaning forward over him, concern on her features. She was surprised at how calm she felt. Shouldn't she be more unsettled? He looked completely drained. She lifted a hand and touched it to his forehead, watching with fascination as his features relaxed and he let out a long sigh.

"I am now, Miss Granger." He replied, a slight smile quirking at the side of his mouth as he pulled her down to him so that her ear rested against his mouth. "It's just a little side effect of the Vestigium Teneo potion," he whispered softly, "apparently you're quite intoxicating - you've had me staggering like a drunk under the onslaught of your emotions." She was surprised at the humour in his voice and recalled the 'dream' from the night before.

"Last night I dreamt of you…" she began in a soft voice, her own mouth resting by his ear, "only it wasn't a dream, was it?"

"No it wasn't," came the soft confirmation, "we're connected, you and I, more deeply than I'd imagined we would be. It's an unexpected side-effect, but I promise I'll work on it. Inanimate objects don't have thoughts or emotions to channel through the link. And you said you were dreaming--that has to be a piece of the puzzle then…" he mused, more to himself than to her

"Is it very bad?"

"It gets progressively worse the closer I am to you but I'm fine now, surprisingly enough. Must be because you are here in the room with me because as soon as you touched me, it was as if you banished the effect."

"I've been so restless, myself, since you activated the potion." Hermione admitted. "I thought I'd go crazy from it at first but worrying about Lavender helped me work through it all. I'm fine now, though. As you said, it must be because you're in the room with me."

"How is Miss Brown?" Snape asked.

"A basket case." Hermione told him. "I'm so worried about her."

"As are all of us." Hermione wondered who he meant by the collective 'all of us' but was afraid to ask. Would he give her an answer? When she thought about it, the less she knew the better. It was harder to betray a person when you were ignorant to the facts.

"I'm so scared she won't come back tonight."

"She will." Severus reassured her. "The Dark Lord will want her fear to reach a sustained fever pitch, and I doubt she'll have reached the level he likes to feed on yet."

"Do you really think so?"

"How many visits did it take before he finally killed Miss Abbott?" His breath was warm and ticklish on her neck and his hand was wandering up and down the length of her spine in a casual caress.

"Seven, I think… yes, seven." she confirmed after a moment's pause.

"I can't see it taking less time than that for Miss Brown."

"I hope you're right, Professor, I really do." Her voice cracked and she drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second while she collected her thoughts.

"So do I." he answered, moving his hand from its place on her back to brush away the hair that had fallen across her face. She was surprised at the tenderness of his touch and studied him speculatively. He arched his brow in a silent question and she shook her head, almost imperceptibly.

"You realise I'm supposed to get into your blood," she informed him, "I'm supposed to make you crave me like you would a drug."

"Really? Instructions courtesy of Lucius I suppose?" She nodded and he continued, "Bit late for that, don't you think? …all things considered. I took care of that one myself quite nicely, even if it was not exactly the outcome I was anticipating." She felt the grip of Malfoy Senior's Imperius controlled directives loosening a bit at his admission. He was right--technically she was already in his blood thanks to the Vestigium Teneo potion and its unexpected side effect. "What else did he say?"

"That I'm to make you want nothing but me."

He didn't answer, instead taking her hand in his and guiding it down to rest on his crotch. He was already hard and she couldn't help but blush as her fingers came into contact with the length of him. She managed a faint "Oh," in response before realising he was smiling at her.

"You know, Sir, you should smile more. It suits you." She told him.

"And ruin my reputation?" He was amused by her observation. "I don't think so, Miss Granger--but if you promise not to tell anyone, I'll make an effort to smile more when I'm around you." Severus was surprised he was bantering so easily with her. It was hard for him be casually familiar and relaxed around anyone, especially a woman. Was that another side effect of the potion, or was it relief that he was here beside her and not sitting with Malfoy and Voldemort waiting to be caught out?

The fluttering in her stomach at his words caught Hermione by surprise. The way he was talking you'd think he enjoyed her company, however warped the capacity. She'd often wondered while in school what he was like away from the classroom. She'd never imagined him at ease or capable of joking with someone. He'd always been so stiff and imposing. The thought of him being stiff and imposing directed her attention back to the hard length of him under the hand that she hadn't pulled away. She caressed him lightly and was pleased that he trembled slightly. It was reassuring and flattering to think she didn't have to be laid out bruised, beaten and moaning for mercy under him to illicit a response.

"Shall we?" There was no need to elaborate--she was still compelled by the Imperius, no matter how much freedom his words had given her from it. He knew what she meant and answered by shifting from under her to lie next to her, face to face, one hand running through her hair for a moment before gripping the back of her head so her lips crushed against his own in a kiss that left her reeling from the intensity of it.

Severus, too, was taken aback at how the kiss had felt. While he had enjoyed the previous encounters with Hermione, he didn't recall the fireworks that exploded inside him the way they did now. He sat up and threw his cloak onto the back of the brocade chair next to the bed. Then, with swiftness borne of many years of practice, he undid the multitude of buttons on his frock coat and tossed it onto the chair on top of his cloak. A minute later he was completely undressed and standing in front of her. She raked her gaze boldly across his form and smiled seductively at him as he lay back down on the bed next to her and drew her into an embrace.

"Fancy participating in a little experiment, Miss Granger?" He spoke into the sensitive skin at the crook of her neck and shoulder, inducing a shiver from her. She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Good." She felt the smile curling at his lips and shivered again at the sensation. He broke away from her and propped up on one elbow for support, ran a slender hand down over one breast, stopping for a second to coax her nipple to a point between two fingers before trailing the hand down her stomach to her hip. He could feel her shudder beneath his touch.

"How did that feel?" he asked, looking up to see that she had her head thrown back on the pillow and her bottom lip caught in her teeth.

She let out the breath she had been holding. "Amazing… absolutely amazing." she answered softly.

"I see. How about this?" He lowered his head to capture the erect nipple in his mouth and was rewarded by the sound of her moaning with pleasure as he suckled there. Encouraged by the response, he lowered his hand to her thighs and found she was already soaked with desire. He spread her legs gently and plunged two fingers inside her.

"Oh sweet Merlin." she cried out, arching her back so that her hips thrust up against his hand, sending his fingers deeper inside her. Severus himself was so aroused at her reaction that he ached to be inside her. He pulled his fingers out of Hermione, eliciting a whimper of disappointment from her that made him smile. He rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him so that she was poised on top of his erection. He ran his hands up from her hips to cup her breasts just as she took him inside herself with such force that they both gasped with the intensity of the feeling. Hermione arched her back as he thrust deeper inside her, pushing herself closer to him so he could take her breasts in his mouth, one after another, each time circling the neglected nipple with a callused finger. He watched her catch her lower lip between her teeth again as she rode against him.

"How do you feel now, Miss Granger." he whispered, barely able to form the question.

"I feel like I'm home, Sir." she replied, crying out as she came--the ripples of her muscles around the length of him causing him to explode in his own orgasm.

***

An ashen faced Draco Malfoy stood in the darkened sitting room of Malfoy Manor staring into his father's enchanted mirror. He watched the scene playing out in the Green Room of the brothel, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, yet he was unable to tear his gaze away. He had never seen such a look of ecstasy on Hermione's face before and it choked him to think that it had been elicited by someone other than himself. His hatred for his former Head of House was overwhelming at that moment. Why was it that she responded to Snape in such a fashion when she behaved like an automaton with him? Even when he had been gentle with her, she was still remote and removed from the situation. He picked up the Ming vase from the stand in front of the mirror and threw it against the opposite wall with such force that it shattered into hundreds of pieces.

The sound of breaking china brought Narcissa Malfoy running into the room to see what was wrong. She stopped, alarmed by the look on her son's face. Her gaze flicked to the mirror he was standing in front of and she understood right away what had caused his fit of anger.

"Draco," she placated, "calm down. She's only a Mudblood whore."

"Shut up, Mother, just shut up!" he screamed vehemently at her before stalking from the room, slamming the door behind himself so hard that the wall shook. Narcissa stood stunned. He'd never in his life spoken to her in such a fashion. After a moment she ended the enchantment on the mirror and set about repairing the Ming vase, her wand hand trembling noticeably as she did so. Lucius was not going to be happy.

***

A/N

Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter out. Our computer crashed completely in December and I've been busy with the evil overtime season at work since the beginning of December too. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me wondering if I'd abandoned the story. I haven't, but until the overtime season (which lasts five months) is over, I won't have too much free time in which I can write.

There are only 2 pictures so far for this chapter, both done by myself.

The first one is how I see Cho Chang.

The second one is the scene Draco sees in the enchanted mirror. (R rated)

Apparently a new feature on FF.net is that it strips links out of uploaded chapters. Hmmm… if you still want to see the pictures you'll have to go to my group to do so. The link is in my profile and the group is called Den of Divinity.

Karen