Two days after the Death Eater meeting incident, when Voldemort decided it was time Sirius had some entertainment (after all, sitting alone in a cell can get boring after awhile...). And as such, he waited until he knew his wife was pouring through the extensive library before summoning Severus and Wormtail...no doubt they'd have fun with their old school buddy, Sirius...

Wormtail appeared almost immediately; as an unemployed poor excuse for a wizard, he was probably either in the sewer with other rats, or getting himself drunk in a shabby pub with money he stole from a child on the way there...

With a loud pop Wormtail apparated just outside the fence and wandered in, meeting his master standing in the living room, leering at him. Shaking with fear and a heartbeat twice as fast as normal, Wormtail gulped and bent down, kissing his master's robes, stuttering 'master,' as was the custom when a servant saw Lord Voldemort.

About ten minutes later, Snape apparated and glided into the house. Glaring at Wormtail's sniveling form cowering in the corner, and his master who had so rudely interrupted him from his precious potions-makings without prior warning, Snape clenched his teeth, bending down irritably and reluctantly barely touching his lips to the robe before quickly standing up, sneering in disgust.

"Angry are you, my faithful Severus?" Voldemort hissed. Snape's icy obsidian eyes looked into his master's cold hateful garnet orbs...it would be impossible to tell whose eyes were colder, more hatred-bearing...or who looked more forbidding and diabolical...the bald scaly pale Voldemort, or the greasy long black-haired professor...both equal in tall height to the centimeter...

Wormtail, who stood by far contrast, as a yellow-bellied coward, sniffing and having spasms of fear in the corner, with wide watery eyes eyeing the two other men in fear, Wormtail who even looked somewhat like a rat with his huge buckteeth, the short, fat, balding man, grubby-looking, unclean to the eye, with virtually no magical talent...just a near-Squib blind follower, who had betrayed his friends once out of fear...Wormtail, far different from the two other men in the room, yet working toward a common goal, poisoned like them by the same force resident in the darkest parts of nature...

Snape didn't answer his master's question, unless having his lip curl in a sneer around his yellowing teeth was considered a response. Voldemort smirked unpleasantly, allowing his two pointed eye-teeth to show...

"Good. I have an outlet for your anger...for both of you...as you both know, the dog did not die with Bella's curse...and he has reawakened from his coma. I am granting both of you the job of taking care of your old schoolmate – until that foolish Potter comes to rescue him, as I know he will. You may do /anything/ short of kill your prisoner. Now go."

A rarely-seen grin spread across Snape's features, before he regained his composure. This is why he stuck with the Dark Lord after all these years...being a Death Eater did not come without its rewards.

Wormtail wet himself from fear at seeing his ex-school friend...Snape wrinkled his nose in disgust and pointed a simple charm at the rat's crotch before heading toward the dungeons.

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Hermione was in the library, searching through the novel section of Voldemort's collection...it was mostly gothic novels and tragedies, Stephen King and horror novels, but towards the end, she found a small selection hidden in a far corner of romance novels. They appeared barely used, if at all...although the fact that the Dark Lord himself read romance novels was highly amusing, possibly suitable blackmail...

A damper was put on her mood when she recalled this was his mother's house...they probably belonged to his mother, and haven't been touched since his mother left.

She paused. She heard hushed voices downstairs, and strained her ears...

She couldn't make out who it was, but it couldn't be good, whatever it was. It was never good, living with the heir of Slytherin 24/7...

She waited until the voices died down, and then cast a temporary silencing charm on her feet, and soundlessly crept out of the library and followed the sound of footsteps into the dungeons.

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Sirius was locked up in the dungeon, moodily watching the barred light slowly spread across the floor...this was all too like Azkaban...and thinking of Azkaban brought back horrible memories...of fights with Kreacher, of being disowned and running away from home, of being thought a dark wizard, of James' and Lily's deaths, of Peter framing him, of being thrown in Azkaban in the first place, of encounters at Hogwarts when Snape got the best of him...

At least no one was here to torture him or anything...although the fact that there wasn't, gave him a false sense of security...and uncertainty....

Minutes later, he heard footsteps at the North end to his dungeon, and he went still...it was probably Voldemort, but hell, maybe Harry found out and came to rescue him...

It was worse.

Two men, whom he knew so well he could recognize their silhouettes, their shadows, even at a distance...Sirius groaned, and threw his head back against the wooden pillar in exasperation.

Probably the two people he hated most in the world now stood in front of him...Snivellus and Wormtail, filthy betrayers and traitors of the side of Light...

Hard to imagine he had once gone to school with them, pulling pranks on Snape with Wormtail at his side....

And now Snape and Wormtail were glaring down at him – in the case of Snape, looking anywhere but at him, in Wormtail's case.

"Well, Black...you've gone from being imprisoned in Azkaban due to the Ministry of Magic, to imprisoned in your own home due to the Order, and now imprisoned in a dungeon due to the Dark Lord..." Snape sneered. He bent down, so his face was nearly level with Sirius'. "I guess some dogs are just meant to be chained up..." Snape sneered.

Sirius bared his teeth and lashed out to punch his enemy since schooldays...but the chains stopped his fist inches short of Snape's face. Snape smirked and straightened to his full height.

Wormtail was cowering a meter behind Snape, looking like he wanted to be anyplace but here.

Sirius glared at his old friend, which was difficult as Wormtail refused to make eye contact.

"I'm disappointed in you, Wormtail." Sirius said softly. "You used to accompany me and James on pranks and such – we were such great friends...and then you join Voldemort and sell two of your friends to him...and now you sink even lower, standing by Snivellus' side, doing nothing to help an old friend...or were we friends at all?"

Wormtail looked confused...he narrowed his eyes in frustration and shook his head slightly, shifting his eyes from side to side, as if trying to decipher something said in a different language.

"That doesn't say much of you, Black, if you rely on this tainted rat's help," Snape sneered.

"Shut up, Snape – I swear, when I get out of here..." Sirius growled.

Snape bent down close enough to whisper in his adversary's ear, "That is, /if/ you get out of here," before straightening out of Sirius' punching range.

"You son-of-a-bitch!" Sirius yelled.

"I beg your pardon? /I/ am not the dog here." Bending down to Sirius' ear, Snape muttered, "Our master gave us orders to do /anything/ we wanted to you, short of kill you. Potter's on his way to rescue you, but the Dark Lord stands between him and his trusted /godfather/."

Sirius lowered his voice and sneered, mocking Snape. And in a perfect imitation of Snape, Sirius said, "James had a lovely wife, a child, a home, a respected place in society, friends...everything you don't. Notice how Lily chose the dog's friend, instead of you..."

Snape swung his leg back and kicked Sirius in the groin, digging his heel into the sensitive flesh, feeling cells crush beneath his dragon hide boot.

Wormtail flinched, but did nothing to stop Snape.

Sirius bit his tongue to escape any sound leaking out, but he was on the floor...writhing and hold his crotch, muttering obscenities towards Snape...twitching at the feet of his enemy, chained, and at his mercy, was /not/ how he envisioned life...

A voice cut across the dungeon.

"ENOUGH!!"

A shrill woman's voice shattering the tense silence; and the men's heads jerked in the direction of the sound.

Hermione strode over to them, bouncy curls flying about her face. She stopped so she was three feet from each of the men...Her hair was frazzled as if inserted in an electrical outlet, her eyes glinting with anger, her cheeks tinged pinkish red with blood rising to her head, and she was breathing as if she had run a marathon. In short, she looked beyond anger.

Snape and Wormtail glanced at each other worriedly and bowed; Wormtail was shaking at the prospect of having another master, and Snape looked irritable that he had been interrupted in pissing off an old school fiend, and was now reduced to bowing to the Gryffindor know-it-all.

Hermione's expression of fury didn't change, but she nodded her head and turned toward Sirius.

"Sirius, Bella /did/ put Avada Kedavara on you, I presume?" Hermione asked, as if trying to get to the root of this problem; she was always one to solve things logically. Sirius nodded his head dumbly, letting his elbow- length matted brown hair fall into his face.

She raised her voice, "And obviously it didn't work because you're not dead...which could only mean that she said the curse wrong, or her motive wasn't fully there...so you didn't fully die...just...?"

"He was in a coma, Miss Grang—er..." Snape started silkily, as if in a Potions lesson like a year ago, before faltering.

Hermione's head snapped in his direction.

She approached her former Professor, stroking his chin slowly, turning his head toward hers, leaving trailing reddening nail imprints on his cheek.

"I am not a Miss anymore, Severus. Nor am I a Granger...I presume after my hubbie announced our marriage, you would cease to call me that."

Snape scowled and jerked away from her.

Sirius stared at Hermione, the smart witch he had first met in the Shrieking Shack many years ago, who had yelled at Lupin when the two Marauders embraced each other after many long years...the witch who was a dear friend to his godson, and a prefect...the smart one, the Remus in Harry's trio...what had happened to her?

Hermione started pacing to work out her violent energy, and to help her get back on track.

"A coma...so, I am deducing, Voldemort was the one to bring you here as bait for his enemy...and of course, my lover /also/ drafted the two people you hate most to watch over you..."

Wormtail flinched horribly at mention of his master's name, nearly falling over. Hermione closed her eyes and opened them slowly, looking at Wormtail apologetically.

Hermione snapped, "Peter, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. You're free to go."

Wormtail swayed on his feet, overbalancing, before going up the stairs. Hermione watched him go before wheeling on her heels toward the other two remaining.

Sirius' eyebrows were shot up into his hair, and he took on a shocked expression – his mouth was a perfect 'o' and his eyes wide as coins...

"Lover?" he mouthed. His silent question went unanswered.

Snape rolled his eyes and jerked his head toward Hermione.

"And?" Snape said icily, gesturing pointedly at Sirius' chains.

"And so you decide you can taunt Sirius as usual and stoop to a level low even among muggles, kicking him in the bloody groin?" Hermione shrieked, upturning her chin defiantly. "You. Are. Part. Of. The. Order." Hermione said, poking the double agent in the chest at every word for emphasis.

Sirius smirked at Snape for being told off, but Hermione gave him her best warning look.

"Do you have a point – Miss—us...er...Riddle?" Snape said lowly.

"YES I DO HAVE A POINT!! YOU TWO HAVE BEEN AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS SINCE YOU WERE ELEVEN – FOR THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS! YOU CAN'T EVEN BE IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER!" Hermione yelled. Snape and breathed heavily... "Look. You're both driving each other insane. Honestly – so you weren't the best of friends in the past. Give it a rest! Forget about the goddamn grudge and forgive each other!" Her voice steadily rose during the past few sentences...

There was a long awkward silence...Sirius and Snape were looking uncertainly at Hermione, as if afraid she would start yelling again if they said anything. Hermione was breathing deeply to calm herself, and looked thoughtful for a second.

"Severus – release him," she said quietly, but with authority in her voice equal to what Snape, Dumbledore, or Voldemort could easily achieve without raising their voices.

Snape looked doubtful at her, and refused to move, as if he considered being tortured the lesser of two evils compared to releasing his old school fiend.

"Severus! RELEASE HIM!" Hermione shouted.

For the first time in his life, Snape backed away from someone. Obeyed a student, or anyone, without question. To the benefit of Black, of all people. He bent down reluctantly to Sirius' side. He pulled out his wand, pointed it at the left wrist band, and muttered "Alohomora" but nothing happened. He pocketed his wand and held out a hand behind him, palm facing the ceiling. Hermione dropped a small rusty iron key into his hand, and Snape withdrew his hand and fit the key into the lock. Sirius was leaning as far back from Snape as possible, and Snape had forcefully clamped his hand on Sirius', and the other hand was violently jiggling the key until Sirius' left hand came free. One hand done, Snape stood after thrusting the key into Sirius' hand to let him work himself free. Sirius grabbed the key from him and twisted it in the other locks until he was free, and stood up, handing the key to Hermione.

The trio froze, hearing footsteps approaching. Hermione walked toward the noise, letting her hair bounce behind her every time she took a step that echoed through the stone floor – the spell had worn off.

Sirius and Snape stood frozen to the spot, hidden in the shadows. Sirius was dragging a chain from his thin neck...he transformed into a huge black dog in an effort to loosen the iron band on his neck attacked to the chain, as the key went to a padlock fastening the chain to the pillar. It didn't work; rather, Snape smirked and picked up the chain in his hand like a leash; Sirius growled low in his throat and Snape dropped the chain on his furry head, and Sirius tried to bite Snape's leg off...Sirius changed back into a man, but their fight was short-lived when voices carried through the dungeon, acoustics greatly improved by the rock it was hewed out of. The dungeon curved slightly so they couldn't see, but Sirius and Snape stood transfixed to the spot in horror as two voices echoed throughout the dungeon – first what was obviously Hermione, and then a high-pitched cold hiss...Voldemort...they couldn't help overhearing, and didn't trust Voldemort not to torture or kill them on sight.

"What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? I believe this is /my/ dungeon with /my/ prisoners...Why, I could ask you the same question."

"I only came down here because I heard voices..."

"As did I – and a woman's voice, not likely to come from Black or Severus..."

"Shut up!"

"Did you just tell me to shut up?"

"YES!"

"Now, would you mind explaining to me, WHY Black happens to be freed?"

"WHY WAS HE LOCKED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE? YOU JUST LOCK HIM UP IN THE DUNGEON AND LEAVE HIM IN SNAPE AND PETTIGREW'S CARE? THAT'S AS GOOD AS KILLING HIM!" It was hard for Sirius or Snape to hear this bit, as it was followed by a high pitched echo, but they got the gist of it...

"I put him there, yes, and so what? Honestly, woman – he'll die anyway..."

"Only a lot sooner...and WHY did you lock him up?"

"To lure your best friend in the hopes of killing him, squashing the Light Side, taking over as Minister of Magic, and leading this world into a pit of doom and death under my supreme rule. Now why did you /have/ to /free/ him?"

"Why shouldn't I free a goddamn innocent man, Tom?"

"I'm starting to think making you Dark Lady was a bad idea, if you decide you're going to go back and undo everything I do."

"And I'm starting to think marrying you was a bad idea if you decide you're going to go back and hurt everyone I'm friends with."

"Your poor choice in friends is your problem."

"Your poor choice in hobbies is yours."

"SHUT UP BITCH!"

A loud slap was heard against flesh, and a low growl. Snape and Sirius glanced at each other in the following silence.

Then, they had to strain their ears to hear the final end to the argument, it was so quiet.

"There's a reason why Harry is so much more popular with the majority of the magical public."

"Then go shag /him/, if you feel so inclined!"

And then, footsteps were heard retreating, which stopped quickly, as if the other had put a hand on the one retreating.

"Hermione...please..."

"What?" she shrieked. "Get away from me! I don't want anything to do with you! Just leave me ALONE!"

Sirius slowly crept closer, soundlessly, just around the bend – he had long ago opened his heart not only to Harry but to his friends as well...Snape scowled, but glided into Sirius' shadow, just enough to see around the bend.

Hermione had turned away from him in distress, bowing her head toward the floor, hiding her face behind her thick hair, shivering and hugging herself as if she was in a bitter cold wind.

Voldemort was staring at her with an odd look in his eyes – for once, the hatred was gone from his eyes, and his eyes were open to his soul...he looked almost compassionate, concerned, as if he cared about her...it quickly left his cold red snake-slit eyes, but there was no question that it was there. Sirius raised an eyebrow, and turned toward Snape; Snape was as shocked as he was. The monster had feelings?

They turned back toward the scene eight meters in front of them, helpless to escape unnoticed, fearing their presence known.

He took off his outer black cloak and draped it around her shoulders, leaving him in only a thin black robe.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, close enough so his hot breath fell against her ear.

"Apology accepted," Hermione said dryly. He looked at her quizzically, as if knowing she didn't really forgive him, so she elaborated on her thoughts. "Since when does the evil Lord Voldemort hand out apologies anyway?"

He chuckled. "When 'the evil Lord Voldemort' found someone worth handing out his apologies to."

She felt unsettled by his caring for her...he was the Dark Lord, of all people, and he suddenly had feelings toward another person...? But she changed the subject.

"I don't know what happened to – ugh – those two! I feel kind of guilty – I took my anger toward you out on them..."

"Guilty?"

"Yes. A feeling you don't have – remorse over killing someone – something like that...?" He looked thoughtful for a second, and then shook his head; the bar-like light streaming from the windows danced on his bald head. Hermione snorted. "Anyway, I made dinner ahead of time and put a warming charm on it...do you eat, or should I get you a pint of blood?"

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Yes, I eat – I am human, contrary to popular opinion."

Snape's eyebrows went into his hair. Did the Dark Lord just crack a joke? What was happening to him? Is this what happens when you get a woman in your life? Thank Merlin I'm single, he thought...

Sirius took this as his cue to leave; he nodded at Snape and left; Snape strode by Sirius' side, or rather, a stride ahead. He was about to cut behind Hermione toward the exit on his way to apparate as soon as he left the wards, but Hermione stopped him.

"Severus? Sirius?" she asked timidly, as if fearing the answer was no, "Would you – like to stay for dinner?"

Sirius and Snape glared daggers at each other – either daring each other to answer, or recognizing the absurdity of the question, or possibly considering it...or possible excuses.

"Er...much as I would love to eat dinner with Black, the Dark Lord, and Gryffindor's know-it-all..."

"Oh – of course – I never knew you loved us so much, Severus!" Hermione said in a false tone of happiness.

Snape growled. "No really. I must be going."

Sirius had resorted to humming to himself, and Voldemort looked like he was struggling to keep a straight face at the craziness of it all.

Hermione grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Severus – honestly, my cooking isn't all that bad...and well, look at you – you three are so tall, but thin! You need food!"

"You sound like Molly, Hermione. And I refuse to eat my dinner anywhere near Black; I don't want dog hairs in my food."

"I take that as a yes. And you Sirius?

"Let's see, do I want to sit next to a greasy lump during dinner? It'd ruin my appetite! NO!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and snorted. "Men. Honestly."

She smiled and left.

Sirius frowned. "Women. Honestly," he muttered in the same tone as Hermione had before. Only to hear an "I heard that!" coming from upstairs.

Flicking her wand, plates, napkins, utensils, and cups for four immediately appeared on the table, which magically shrunk to fit the number of settings. Using an Accio charm, Hermione summoned the food she had been keeping warm with a charm, on the table.

Voldemort shook his head slightly, and went up into the dining room, flanked by Sirius and Snape. They looked in horror at the table.

"Hermione," Voldemort said. "This is – "

"Retarded?" Sirius offered.

"We are not eating dinner together!" Snape seethed.

"And why not? What could Sirius and Voldemort have possibly done to you?" Hermione said innocently, just to get on Snape's nerves.

"Everything." Snape said darkly.

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