Disclaimer: I own nothing (except Septima).
It had been a terrible day for Hermione, and in her opinion, that was the understatement of the year. She had been captured by Lucius Malfoy, and brought to Voldemort. He had given her to Severus, who got first crack at the Death Eaters' newest whore. It was bad enough, being made a whore against your own will, but your ex being the first to...and first meant first ever. Chaste little Hermione Granger was a virgin, for now at least.
She and Severus had been transported to a small chamber, with only a bed, covered in a velvety throw, and a few candles. They really want the ambience of a cheap motel, she thought to herself. She sat on the bed, folding her knees in front of her and wrapping her arms around herself. She still had the dignity of a robe, thank Merlin, had she been wearing anything less...she did not want to imagine what could have happened. Also, it covered the bruises that had formed from when Malfoy had grabbed her and carried her off.
Severus began to speak. His voice was shaking nervously, and he wastrembling slightly. "Listen, I am not going to do what they all think I am going to do. I am going to use a spell, a dangerous one, to clone you so that they believe you are here. It will be like a...robot I believe you Muggles call them. No feelings or anything. You, on the other hand, will be escorted to Hogwarts by me. Any questions?" He would not look her in the eye.
"No," Hermione whispered, in shock that after how horribly she had treated him he would still try to save her. Before she let her resent slip, however, she reminded herself that there was a reason she treated him horribly, no matter how she felt now.
"Good, Albus will be happy that I followed his orders explicitly." Ah, that was it. He did not want to save her, he was doing it for Dumbledore. How stupid of her to get her hopes up like that, thinking he still might care about her...like she did for him.
Severus explained what would happen when he cast the spell: she had to lay very still, and he would say the incantation, it would take a few minutes for the spell to take effect. When the spell was completed, there would be a Hermione the Second that looked like her, and had the same mannerisms, yet it would simply be a physical existence, it would not have emotions or thoughts. The clone would only last for about three days, but by then Dumbledore would (hopefully) come up with a plan of some sort.
The spell was performed, and sure enough, five minutes later there was an exact replica of Hermione lying on the bed. Wearing the same robes as Hermione even. Now came the tricky part. Severus cast an invisibility charm on Hermione, and instructed her to stick very close to him, if someone bumped into thin air, they would most definitely realize something was wrong. Despite how awkward they felt, Hermione was clutching Severus's arm, just below his elbow, with her fingers clenched tight and she pressed herself sideways against his side. He could feel her pressing against him and he could not say the feeling was not great.
Walking out into the cave, Severus was greeted by cheers. The first taking of a new whore was always a big event, especially if she was a virgin. "So...?" Goyle asked. "How was she?"
"I don't tell. Find out for yourself," Severus smirked. This roused even more yells of support from the Death Eaters. "One would think they're teenaged boys..." he muttered to himself, looking down his long nose at the foolish crowd of 'wizards' (he could barely believe that most of them were skilled enough to be trusted with a wand) snorting and smirking at the idea of having sex with a complete stranger against her will. Somehow, he failed to see the humour.
He realized Hermione was still gripping his arm very tightly, and she kicked him in the leg to tell him to move and now. She did not want to spend a second longer in this terrible place. In the blink of an eye, they had Apparated to Hogwarts, right in Dumbledore's office.
"Where is she?" two young males demanded. Hermione smiled and walked over behind them, still invisible, and yanked their shirt collars up. Severus chose then to make her visible.
"Boo" she whispered. Ron and Harry jumped and turned around. As soon as they realized that it was Hermione, they grinned and engulfed her with their group embrace. A few seconds later, she struggled out of the boys' arms and asked "Where's the Headmaster?" Ron told her that he had retired to bed for the night – it was eleven o'clock by now – but he wished to speak with both her and Severus in the morning. They were also under strict orders not to question her about the day's events, as Dumbledore wanted to hear everything first. The boys said that they were also heading to bed, as they were staying on campus for the next few days. They would be occupying both of Hogwarts' guest chambers...so where was Hermione going to sleep? She voiced her concern.
Ron blushed, going red from forehead to chin. "Well Mione...You could always stay with Harry or me, but that would be inappropriate..." he trailed off, looking at the floor. Harry also averted her gaze. She sighed...perhaps there was room in one of the house dorms?
"I...have space..." Severus muttered crossly. It would be indescribably awkward, but the poor girl could not be left out in the cold, now could she? Despite his outwardly cruel exterior, he could do all but admit he still had very strong feelings for the young woman standing in front of him. Perhaps tonight they could talk, like they used to...anything at all to make her stop hating him.
Hermione knew all too well that Severus had a second bedroom in his chambers, though why she could not say, he certainly did not seem like the guest-having type. She knew there was no other alternative, despite the ridiculously awkward circumstances. Attempting to show no emotion on her face, she nodded. "Okay, after all, someone needs to put your second bedroom to use." With that, they parted ways with the boys.
Back in the dungeons for the first time since 'the incident', Hermione was not surprised that they looked the same as they had two months ago. Same black leather sofa in the sitting room, same dark green paint and dark oak floors. She felt millions of kisses and chats, embraces and tea-filled memories coming back to her. But naturally, only one memory burned in front of her eyes – seeing that black-haired woman...Sep-something attached to his lips, just across the room. Hermione blinked and shook her head, trying to get it out of her mind. She was awfully tired, this day had been so stressing, and she needed to sleep soon.
Severus watched as Hermione scanned the sitting room, and he could practically see the memory flash in her eyes. His fears that she was remembering were confirmed when her eyes screwed shut and she shook her head violently. He put his hand on her shoulder and said quietly, hopefully trying to help her out, just a little "Come, I'll take you to the room. You'll need something to sleep in too I would imagine..." He stopped speaking as she mechanically let herself be led into the guest bedroom, decorated in a neutral pale green, in contrast to the rest of the living space. There was a large four-
poster bed, with a white duvet. Severus sat Hermione down on the bed, since she seemed so tired suddenly that she could not think straight. He quickly entered his adjacent bedroom, and grabbed a pair of black silk pyjama pants. He prayed she was wearing a suitable sleeping shirt under her robes.
"Here," he muttered, tossing the pants on the bed next to her. Hermione's glassy eyes turned to the garment.
"Privacy please," she stated and, blushing, he left the room. A few seconds later, she called. "Come in!" She had decided that if she was to be sleeping in the man's chambers, she could do him the courtesy of a chat.
Severus could barely peel his eyes from her body. She was in a tight white T-shirt (Merlin bless those Muggle inventions) and she had shrunk his pants to fit her, the silk curving over her small, curvy frame perfectly, hugging and loosening just where it should. Breathe, Severus, breathe, he thought to himself, struggling to look at something, anything, else.
Is he staring at me? Hermione gasped inwardly. Men who don't like you certainly don't stare at you..."Ahem," she cleared her throat to draw his attention to her face. "Umm...we should probably talk a little. Clear the air?"
Severus's croaked and cleared his throat. "Y-yes that would not be a bad idea."
She motioned for him to sit on the bed next to her. Their proximity abled her to smell his shaving soap and cologne (the kind she had bought him, ironically) and he could smell her lavender and rose perfume. The sight and smell of her had his sense on over-drive. "So..." she began unsteadily, wondering where their conversation was going to go. "I've forced myself to hate you for the last few months, no matter how hard it was for me. I would not listen to you and I realize that you deserve a chance to explain. If nothing, I do wish that we could be friends in the end."
Severus seized this chance like a drowning man grabbing a life-preserver. He recounted that terrible morning in full detail, as it was still etched into his memory. Hermione listened intently, face set in stone, her eyes being the only part of her that showed emotion – sorrow. Sorrow that she had not listened to him, sorrow that she had lost him forever, the sorrow of a broken heart. He saw the look in her eyes, and his heart that had lain cold for months began to slowly warm. There was only one thing he wanted to do right then...
Hermione was overcome with emotion – she believed Severus, and she was so stupid to think that he would cheat on her with the very woman who had betrayed him. She knew it was too late but there was only one thought in her mind, one action planned...
Their lips met at the same time, both leaning in for the same reason. The kiss let out all pent up emotions of hatred, bitterness and sadness. With all the negativity expelled between them, there was only love.
A/N: NOT THE END! Well, I suppose it could be...but it could not also. I would like to continue!
