A/N: I appreciate everyone's reviews, but also understand that the sequel obviously (not kidding myself) is not as good as the original. I think its because already-married fics have a hard time keeping the spark alive, but I'm trying!
I really don't know where to go with this. I am somewhat restless, and have a brainstorm of another HGSS fic swirling in my brain, and I want to pursue it, but I don't want to leave this fic in the dust.
If, and when, you review, if you could let me know if you'd like this to progress to be the same length as the prequel, or shorter. Tad be great! ;)
One more thing: if you think I'm going to be cliché, (shudders violently) and have Hermione get pregnant, then you're wrong. At least for now, that is. It won't be connected with her run-in with the Death Eaters. Anyway, R&R!
Chapter 4: At the End of the Line--Hermione woke up a week later at St. Mungo's Hospital. Her eyes fluttered open to be met by a painfully bright white ceiling and an annoying nurse that was hovering over her. She tried to sit up, but was confronted with a painful spasm in her ribs; apparently one was broken. Her head felt like one big bump. The nurse hurriedly shoved a disgusting concoction down her throat before she drifted off into a dreamless sleep, no doubt brought on by the potion.
"Can I see her now?" The nurse looked impudently down her nose at Severus Snape, although it was difficult because he towered over her.
"She is sleeping now, she just came out of her unconsciousness long enough for me to get a potion down her throat, and she'll sleep peacefully without nightmares, and will recover faster if not disturbed in any way." She nodded crisply to indicate she was done talking and headed down the hallway. Severus walked quickly, overtook her, and swept in front of the shorter portly nurse, blocking her path.
"I haven't seen my wife ever since she came here a week ago," he growled dangerously, "and would appreciate it if I was allowed to see her. Now would be the best time." The nurse visibly quailed under his tall and foreboding figure, but regained her snippiness quickly.
"Very well, Mr. Snape, although I see no point in seeing her until she's awake." And the woman turned and let him in, and sulkily left them be.
Severus descended on her hospital bed and pulled up a chair. In sleep, he realized, was when Hermione looked very young and innocent, her scant 19 years of life shining through. It made his stomach twist to think of what had happened to her, but he had a very good idea of what that was. He had been apart of it, many years ago.
His thoughts drifted back to the memories and painful images of the Death Eater gatherings when he was still green and inexperienced in Lord Voldemort's cohorts. Many such parties were hosted, and a few women were brought in, Wizard and Muggle alike, and were sexually abused to certain degrees, then disposed of. They also used this on female Aurors as well to get information, and Severus remembered very clearly watching these events, but he did not participate in them until Lucius Malfoy forced him to. He twitched, recalling the woman; he hadn't raped her, just played with her, and he hoped he could get her out alive, but the ass Avery had decided he needed to get involved, and that was the end of many women he'd tried to save. Someone else would finish them off if he didn't himself. A twinge of guilt brought a sour taste to his tongue; he hated and regretted every minute of those days.
And he had thought Lucius was over those days, but he apparently wasn't. The bastard. Draco too, and just about every other fucking male in the group. Voldemort had been there, which was surprising; there must have been something else going on. He subconsciously gripped his left arm, where his Dark Mark remained forever burned into his skin. He did not know how long he sat there watching Hermione, at least two hours. Trepidation filled his senses and he suddenly became aware of Hermione's hasty breathing. Her eyes fluttered slightly and a soft moan of pain escaped her lips.
"Hermione?" His eyes traveled across her face, searching. With her eyes still closed, her hand crept across the blanket and settled on his hand, clasping it gently. Suddenly her eyes snapped open. They looked at each other for several moments. He relished the mutual silence.
"Sev…" she said weakly. She cringed as she tried to sit up, and Severus immediately helped prop her up with pillows.
"How are you feeling?" Stupid question.
"Now why would you ask that?" she said bitterly, startling him.
"Do you remember anything?" he asked quietly, noticing that her hand was now in a bone-crushing hold of surprising strength over his.
"I remember every fucking detail," she snapped, and then put her bandaged hands over her face. Her tartness was shocking.
"Hermione, I would do anything to redo what has been done to you," he whispered, tilting her chin towards him, she flinched and he immediately withdrew and sat back.
"Sorry, I will probably will be really jumpy for a while. No shit," she said, apology mixed with apprehension etched in her features.
"I'll respect that," Severus replied, but was slightly put off, and he wished their first wedding anniversary hadn't been, like, this.
"Thank you, Sev. You're always a gentleman to me," she answered, her lips twitched slightly. A smile of gratitude? He wasn't sure.
"But, Severus, did they find out if, I, um…" Hermione trailed off miserably, embarrassment and shame showing its bright red sheen on her cheeks. At first Severus did not realize what she was talking about, and then it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. Oh.
"Even though I didn't get to see you until now, I've been bombarding your nurses about your condition, and they said no." Hermione stared.
"But, how? I mean, I was, raped, by so, many, how could it have not happened?"
"Apparently I performed every cleansing charm I knew just in time," he said, coughing. This conversation was a bit touchy for Severus Snape, especially since it would have been so disastrous if any such thing had happened.
"Severus, I'm so glad. I mean, what would we have done if…" she couldn't finish her sentence, and Severus didn't want her to.
"It didn't. The only thing you need to worry about is recovering and getting home," he said, gently kissing her lips reassuringly, and she flinched violently and Severus drew back immediately, instantly regretting it. She calmed down after a moment.
"I suppose so." And nothing else was said about the matter. After another week of hospital stay, Hermione was allowed to leave, provided she took it easy until her whole body was completely healed and to watch herself, in other words, avoid being alone in public places. Which made sense to Hermione; she was scared to be alone. She did not know what the next days would bring.
Severus thought it would be wise if she took a "vacation" from the "university" and stayed at their mansion, where she could relax and compose herself. She had protested quite loudly, but Severus was a stubborn man. Just like her.
June Thirty-first found Hermione sitting on a leather couch in the study, reading. She was quite impressed with her husband's collection, and now found the excuse to pour over the hundreds of titles surrounding her on sweet-smelling mahogany shelves. It was about 9:00pm, and Hermione was wondering when Severus was coming home. He never really said exactly when, but Hermione always wondered if one day he'd never come home again. She shuddered, and suddenly tears began to spill from her eyes and she curled up in a ball sobbing.
It was too much. Everything that had happened, she hadn't really cried or thought about it at all since being at the hospital, shoving into the back of her mind to be forgotten, (or so she hoped). But how could you forget being kidnapped, abused, beaten, and raped by almost fifteen different men. Fifteen different Death Eater bastards. Yes. She didn't want to believe it herself, but she remembered every single face of every Death Eater that night, their snarling and lust-filled eyes burning into her mind's eye, almost unbearable. She could hardly close her eyes for a second without images and memories immediately jumping up into her field of vision. If she didn't have the sleeping potions the nurses gave her to use to help her sleep, she'd have nightmares every single night. Even then she had a hard time sleeping, and seemed to be suffering a delayed brain lapse from that night. Her coordination had become horrible; she dropped at least five things, forgot at least ten things, misplaced about half, and was very clumsy at least twice each day. Her vision blurred sometimes, and she felt nauseated every morning. But she didn't dare tell Severus.
She didn't dare talk to him about anything anymore. She was so frightened of what he'd do or say. Usually she could talk to him about things, but she quickly realized that that whole thing made him very uncomfortable, so she never brought it up. I'll have to deal with it on my own, she thought sadly. But how could she do that? Sometimes at night, even with the potion, she woke to noises. A branch from the tree next to their bedroom window would sound like a hand scratching to open the window. Next she'd hear the floors creek right outside their door, as if someone was walking down the hall. Usually she'd never be bothered by such background noises, but now her hearing had tripled to what it was before that night and she heard almost every little sound.
She felt useless hanging around their home when she knew she should be helping at the Order, but because of her run-in with the Death Eaters, they, (meaning Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and Remus) wanted her to stay out of it for a while. This made her even more angry than she already was. Why didn't they question her about the Death Eaters? She had seen almost all of them; that she was sure of. But apparently her information wasn't important. She hated to not be doing anything and being shut out from everything. Hated it.
Suddenly she heard a pop, followed by a knock from the front door. She apprehensively made her way toward the door and stood in front of it, unsure whom it was and if she should open it. Silence. Then the person knocked again.
"HERMIONE! ITS ME, HARRY!" Harry bellowed from the other side of the door, probably assuming she was upstairs. With her eardrums ringing and her heart relaxing in relief, she opened the door.
"Harry, I was right on the other side of the door," she said, humor bubbling from her voice. She surprised herself how normal she could make herself sound, fooling everyone.
"Oh, er, sorry," Harry said sheepishly, and stepped in. "I thought I'd stop by and visit; thought you'd be bored."
"Bored? Of course I am bored! I've been doing nothing and its bugging me shitless!" she laughed and gave Harry a big hug, glad to see her best friend.
"Oof, Hermione, you're squeezing me to death."
"Oh, sorry." She released him. "We can sit in the study, if you like, and we can catch up," she said, happy for the first time in days. Finally she would be able to learn what was going on at the Order from someone who'd tell her the complete story. They seated themselves comfortably on the leather couch. "So, what's happening at the Order? Severus doesn't tell me very much, and I'm dying to know what's going on."
"Hermione." She looked at him; he had a strange expression on his face.
"What is it, Harry?"
"We need to talk."
A/N: And the best thing to do right now is…Review! Also tell me if you want for this fic. I'm gonna let you make some suggestions, ok? :)
