So a few tings you should know before we begin. I am no good at keeping characters in character, even my when I'm thinking up originals. If it ends up seeming a bit OOC, you have my sincerest apologies in advance. This story is rated R for heaving themes and scenes, including rape, torture, and maybe a little love scene later on you never know with me.
So let the story begin!
Chapter One: Where did Hermione go?
Curiosity filled Hermione Granger as she slowly crept through the dark dungeon. What are those nasty Slytherins doing? Keeping her snail-like pace, she moved deeper and deeper into Slytherins territory, ear pressed against the wall. She had to be moving in the right direction, as the noise was getting louder. What in Merlin's name is going on down here?! Finally, to her joy and dismay, she found herself at the 17th dead-end, which meant the end (to her knowledge) of the dungeons. She had searched every last corner, and still hadn't found the source of the horrid sound. No choice but to retrace her step and head back to Gryfinndor Tower.Her rounds had been over for hours anyways. Only one problem. As she stepped away from the wall in the direction that should lead out, she found herself colliding with a solid wall. She spun around, on the verge of panic, only to find herself surrounded by walls. Her heart began to race, and her breath became shallow. Back and forth she ran, banging on walls, un-aware that a mysterious and dark hooded figure stood on the other side cackling like a madman.
After hours of self-torture, in came the hooded figure, poised to finish the job. In the next 3 days, he would have his fill of everything she had to offer. Everything.
Severus Snape was not in a good mood. He had not been for days, since Hermione Granger disappeared from Hogwarts grounds. She had been snatched from under their noses, from the supposedly safest place in the magical world. Even Dumbledore was becoming excessively worried, for even he couldn't find her. Was it Death Eaters? How could they have penetrated Hogwarts walls? And how did he not know? That's right. Severus Snape is a Death Eater. But he had decided long ago to burry that part of him. There was no excuse, no reason, big or small, to commit those kinds of acts. Murder, raping, stealing, practicing the Dark Arts, kidnapping. And that brought him back to the beginning. What happened to Hermione Granger? It seemed to him that he almost missed her. There was just this empty presence in the front row center of his classroom. Those two buffoons Potter and Weasley looked depressed, their eyes hollow. He would never admit it, but he was worried about all three of them. He didn't realize until then that he had been wondering through the dungeons on autopilot, heading for the alternate entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Since The Golden Trio had rescued Ginny Weasley and the-boy-who-lived-just-to-be-a-thorn-in-Severus's-side and rid it of Voldemort and his giant pet snake, it had been turned into a Slytherins Spa, of sorts. Well, might as well have some brandy and- Oof! Why is there a wall there?! And with a simple swish of the wand the wall disappeared to reveal a secret passage way. It must have gone for miles underground, and Severus almost gave up. But finaly reached a trap door to reveal Hermione, shivering, naked, and very pale.
I don't know how long I was in there. Maybe a week. Maybe two. All I know is that after the first few days, I gave up hope of getting out unscathed, and began to pull myself into the past.
When I first found out I was locked in, I pounded on every wall, running to and fro, screaming bloody murder. Then, when I found myself unable to stand any longer, I fell to the ground and was calm. The Hermione Granger who thought things out, who found the logical solution before taking rash actions was back in control. I rummaged through my pockets. No wand. Damn it! No food either. Just a scrap of paper from Professor Snape saying I was to start my rounds an hour early. Oh why did I skip lunch and dinner? For the next few hours, I thought and thought and thought. My brain was getting foggy, and as my consciousness was starting to wane, I began realized the sheer intensity of my situation. I was trapped. I could run out of air. I shot up like a rocket. I have to get out...of...here...and I was gone.
When I next woke up there was blood on my head, and all my clothes were gone. It felt like I had been through hell and back. When I tried to move it felt like there were knifes through my ankles, wrists, and shoulders...and I realized there were knifes in me. I began to sob, small at first, then big, shuddering tears were rolling down my cheeks. I looked around. There was no way I was in the Slytherin dungeons anymore. It was so much colder, and the ground was dirt instead of the hard stone of Hogwarts. Suddenly someone was grabbing my chin, roughly, and turned my head to face forward again. What was I to do but struggle? It seemed to make no difference though, as whoever it was continued to violate me in every way possible. As he took himself to the very edge of pleasure, he took of his hood and I glimpsed a face. Eventually, I blacked out, whether from loss of blood or my mind just didn't want to take the abuse it was being dealt, I don't know.
It continued this way forever. I would wake up in incredible pain, be tortured until I shrieked in pain, all by a blurry face, and fall into unconsciousness again.
At least week had to have passed, maybe more, when finally I saw another face. But the face did not harm me. No, the face rushed to my side as if worried about me. It took of its cloak and gently wrapped me in it, gingerly lifting me as if I was made of glass. It whispered things to me, whispers of how I was safe now, how everything would be okay. It was the face of Professor Snape. He couldn't be real though, why would Professor Snape be kind to me, be so reassuring and warm.
"You're not real," I paused for a shaky breath, "are you?" Nothing happened. He didn't look at me, just looked down the hallway, as if deep in thought. So slowly, I open my cracked and painfully dry lips again and repeated my self.
"Hermione, my dear, I am real." His soft baritone was caring, not the harsh tones I was used to hearing.
"Oh, I thought so." I was feeling light headed now, as if the simple task of talking was draining all my energy. "The Snape I know," I took another shuddering breath, "would never be so gentle with me." And I fell into darkness again.
Was she being smart with me? Even so near to death, she couldn't just keep her know-it-all mouth shut. I sighed. Looking down on her now, she doesn't look all that bad. So angelic, her face in a state of peace. "Severus!" I admonished myself, "This is no time to be having thoughts like that about the girl! Take her to Poppy right now!" When I turned to leave I saw box on the ground. Small and round, it was plated in gold and had a red, broken heart on the top. When I picked it up it felt heaving, and it burned my skin. Dropping it into my pocket for safekeeping, I got to the task at hand. Saving Miss Granger.
After the long treck through the tunnel, I expected an even longer one of Hermione clutching my arms and moaning. Instead, to my great surprise, I was only just past my rooms and still a long way from the hospital wing before I found Poppy, along with the Headmaster and McGonagall.
"Severus, thank you goodness, you've found the girl." the Headmaster seemed over joyed to see Miss Granger alive and still intact.
"It's to long a journey to the hospital wing, she shouldn't be moved more than necessary. We'll have to put her up in your rooms Severus."
Oh joy. Hermione Granger is found.
"Merlin, what did I do to my head? It feels like I tried to melt it with a blow torch." Oh that hurt my throat. I tried to look at my surrounding but my vision was... less than 20/20. And damn it's cold... "Oh goddess in heaven, where are my clothes?!" Oppsie. As I pull the sheet up over my exposed chest, I continue to look around. "Where am I? And who in god's name-" I stopped. And into focus came Professor Snape.
"Professor Snape!" Okay now I'm really mortified. "Wh- What's going on?"
"Miss Granger, if you will put this on," he handed me a silk night gown, "and spare what eyes I have left, I will tell you."
"Who is Miss Granger?"
"Miss Granger! 50 points from Gryfinndor for your impertinence. And another 50 for your lack of decency."
"Huh what?" Rolling his eyes at me, he reached down and pulled the sheet up over my chest. Stuttering and gapping like a fish, I decided on a course of action. Stand up, making sure to pull the sheet with me, put my finger right in his face, roll my eyes in mock Snape, and...
Well I'm sure when she got up to insult me she didn't plan on being whisked into my arms. Nor did she plan on fainting.
The next time I woke up I was very aware of the fact that I was a) no longer naked b) in light of a, someone had to dress me. I just prayed it wasn't Proffessor Snape. I was sure he had already seen me (or at least parts of me) naked, but I couldn't hope helping that he hadn't seen everything. Ugh, my head aches. At least it's not as bad as before, it's more of a dull throbbing now. What has happened to me? Slowly, I went through each and every memory I had, but nothing seemed to be coming up. I was drawing up blanks. So how did I know who Professor Snape was? Well... I can see him. He is in front of a chalkboard, talking about something. He looks so nice, calm, gentle. There was another memory. Or at least that's what I think they are. He's leaning down over me offering his hand and saying something. I laugh. That's it. Now I'm here, and Professor Snape saw my boobs. Oh goddess. Shaking my head, I got out of bed to find a mirror and have a good look at myself.
I couldn't find my slippers on the floor, but there was a pair of fuzzy green ones beside my bed so I slipped those on. Looking around, I quickly came to the conclusion that I wasn't in the hospital wing. The room had no windows, so it was relatively dark, being lit by only 2 small candles on the table. The whole room was draped in grays, silvers, and greens, Slytherin colors. The bed I had been laying on was huge, made of a deep mahogany wood, carved with snakes and a monogram- two snakes curving to make two s's. The sheets seemed to be made of silk and the plush comforter was extremely soft and a forest green color. All of the furniture -a side table, desk, dresser, and a small table surrounded by three very comfy looking arm chairs- was made of the same mahogany wood, carved with snakes and the monogram. There was a fireplace as well, but there was no blazing fire as they're would be in Gryfinndor Tower. So, I am in an unknown room in the Slytherin Dungeons. And now I am, very unwilling mind you, being curiously drawn towards one of the three doors. It's huge, wood, with intricate carvings all over it. But it's locked. Boo hoo, I guess I'll have to go the other way.
Through the next door is a bathroom. Oh and what a bathroom it is. The room itself could easily have been a large guest room. The floor is tiled with fake marble cut into tiles, black and dark green swirled together. The walls are painted a lighter green, nothing to extravagant. On one side of the room is a giant bathtub. When I walk over to it I notice something amazing. Through the bottom of the slippers I can feel each of the tiles heat up as I step on it. Amazing. The bathtub is made of marble, real this time. It could easily fit two people. So maybe it's Malfoy's room... I shudder at that thought and move on. There's a shower, not as lavish as the rest of the bathroom so I'm assuming this person prefers to bathe rather than shower. There are other necessities- a toilet, towel closet, etc.- but they all disappear as I catch sight of myself in the full-length mirror.
I look like hell. My face is bruised and one of my eyes is swollen and purple. There's a huge cut on my left cheekbone, just below the corner of my eye. My nose looks slightly crooked and my upper lip is spilt. My lower lip looks like someone bit it, and bit it hard. There are bruises in the shape of hands aroundmy neck, I must have been gripped here multiple times, because it almost looks like I have layers of bruises, the bottom yellowing and old, the top bluish and fresh. To my horror, I now have a small tattoo on the very top part of my right boob. I can barely see it, but it pokes above the neckline of the nightgown I am wearing enough for me to see that it's a sleeping cobra. Just between the bones of my shoulders, the bottom of my collarbone, and the top of my rib cage are puncture wounds. They look like they were made by a small knife. My arms have circular bruises, also made by hands. I have more cuts than I can count up and down the inner part of each arm, starting at my wrist and ending just below my armpit, each the same distance from the other. Not much of a difference, maybe half an inch. Did I do this to myself? Was I so weak as to try and end whatever misery I was subjected to? There are puncture wounds on my palms, the same as the ones on my chest. When I lift the nightgown I find my stomach bruised as well, with several cuts, deep and shallow. My legs are in the same state as my arms, only the cuts are on the upward facing part. Only my kneecap still has its skin intact, though there are little indents in my skin, as if I was made to kneel on something. There same puncture marks are one the tops of my feet as well. Slowly, I turned around afraid to look.
My back, oh my beautiful, clean, smooth back. It looks virtually untouched. Just puncture wounds that look like they correspond with the ones on my front. Its also looks like there are ridges going at an angle from the top of my shoulder blades, down my back at a slight outward angle. I lift up the nightgown quickly and realize they go down to the tops of my butt. Slowly, I turn around and look at myself in the mirror once more. And I see Professor Snape in the doorway. For a while all I can do is stare. Finally, he speaks.
"Miss Granger, you are not supposed to be out of bed."
I don't know what's wrong with me, but I do just as he says. I brush right past him, not in that rude way where you bump shoulders, but as if I am a wisp of air. I don't mean to. I do realize, how ever, that he didn't even move. If there was room in the doorframe for both of us, who is the morbidly skinny one? But I don't have time to think about that. I just pad across the room, get in bed, and fall into an uneasy sleep before he can say anything.
Chapter 2: What happened to Hermione?
Harry and Ron have a little midnight chat over a steaming apple crumble and we jump back 2 weeks. Severus tells Hermione what he knows about the events of her week in hell, Hermione remembers the rest.
A/N: So what's the verdict? Am I good enough to survive in this dog eat dog world? Review and let me know!
Another thing I should apologize for, I don't have a beta. So I went through with spell check and read it over myself, and I think I caught all my errors, but if I didn't, at least know I did my best. Beta-ing would be appreciated, email me for details!
1 more thing. I know this chapter may be kind of confusing, as I said in my summary that Hermione can't remember anything but Professor Snape, not nasty Professor Snape, nice, kind, caring Professor Snape. That all in itself makes no sense. How could Professor Snape be nice? And for another thing, how come she knows what a chalkboard is if she can't remeber anything. Well, I researched this, and there are cases of amnesia where the victims memories get disoriented, and some become combined with others. Some memories remain, while others (random or selective) memories become lost in the depths of the victim's mind. So, I'm saving myself ridicule and extra space in the next chapter by saying this now.
I'll post ch2 sometime next week, if school allows!
Hugs and kisses,
Reessees
P.S. Again, reviews please! smooch Thanks, you're a doll .