Disclaimer: The characters and the universe of Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling. No disrespect is intended. This story is written for sheer enjoyment. No profit is being made from it. The story itself is mine.

The Puppet's Master

Chapter 2

Upon reaching the dungeons, Severus shifted Hermione in his arms and unwarded the door to his private rooms. He opened the door with a quirk of his eyebrow and proceeded into his bedroom. Once there, he placed the still-unconscious witch on his bed, and then sat down in a nearby chair to contemplate what to do from there.

So long he had waited for this time. His beloved was now here, but how to bring her over? From his dreams and observations, he knew he couldn't just bluntly tell her of her destiny. At the same time, to be anything less than truthful would not bode well either. It truly was a quandary.

As he sat thinking, the mark on his arm began to burn. Glancing down at his left forearm, Severus felt a slow, wide smirk transforming his lips. Yes, my Puppet. I will be dealing with you tonight, but on my time, not yours. With a muttered "Repurcutio," he turned his attention back to more pressing matters.

Snape stood and made his way to his trunk and removed a goblet and decanter, both platinum and heavily encrusted with emeralds. From the decanter, he poured a generous amount of red liquid into the goblet and resumed his vigil over the Gryffindor Head Girl.

Now, if I completely bind her to me now, I will lose her trust. But if I proceed slowly, just maybe…

Voldemort was livid. He had Summoned his followers two hours ago. All of them had immediately apparated to him and had properly shown deference. All of them, except Severus Snape.

How DARE he disobey my Summons?! No one disobeys the Dark Lord without punishment. I have been much too lenient with my erstwhile spy. I do believe dear Severus has outlived his usefulness.

Working himself into quite a rage, Voldemort began taking out his frustrations upon the gathered Death Eaters. However, the faithful were small compensation when it was the guilty he longed to have screaming at the end of his wand.

He gathered his dark magic around him and sent his fury through the link that connected him to Snape. Instead of causing torment to his traitorous Death Eater, though, the Dark Mark bounced his anger-induced curse back to him.

Screaming in impotent rage and pain, Voldemort fell to his knees while his Death Eaters looked on in great terror.

In the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry Potter echoed Voldemort's scream as the pain and fury of one was felt by the other. Just as Voldemort was simultaneously doing miles away, Harry collapsed to his knees.

Ron and Ginny Weasley were at his side in the blink of an eye, questioning him and helping him in his attempt to sit up.

"Harry?" cried Ginny. "Harry, talk to me! Don't close your eyes. We need to get you to Madam Pomphrey. We need you alert."

Harry shook his head and tried to respond to her, but the pain was too great and he felt his tenuous hold on consciousness fading as nausea flowed up his gullet. He tried to grasp onto Ron's arm as he saw him moving to stand and run to the portrait entry.

"Don't worry, Harry." Ron yelled as he raced towards the doorway. "I'll be right back with Dumbledore. He'll know what to do!"

Harry attempted a weak call to him to tell him not to notify Dumbledore about this episode, but oblivion successfully claimed him before he could get the first word out of his mouth.

In the Headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore gazed intensely into the scrying glass he had charmed to keep tabs on the Boy-Who-Lived. What he saw was most disturbing. Of course, he knew about Potter's 'episodes,' in fact, he counted on them. They were the best way he could keep track of Voldemort, and his best weapon in his fight for rule of the Wizarding world.

The troubling thing about this episode was its intensity. Never before had Mr. Potter lost consciousness because of the pain. Voldemort must be in agony for the link to affect Harry in this way.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Dumbledore couldn't help but wonder if this somehow tied into the power he had felt in the Great Hall earlier that morning. Something wasn't fitting together right. What have I overlooked? My plans have been laid out most carefully. What have I missed?

Turning his thoughts away from their current musings, he schooled his features into the omniscient mask that had become his trademark as he awaited the pounding footsteps of the youngest Weasley boy. There would be plenty of time for introspection later. For now, absolute loyalty and trust must be cultivated once again.

She was standing on her balcony again. The crimson tinged new moon shown upon her upturned face once more as she awaited Him. Her Lover. She had Called Him, and He had Answered.

A feeling of security washed over her and she knew He had joined her on the balcony. She leaned back just a bit and felt His hard chest behind her as His strong arms enveloped her. With a contented sigh, she rested her head on His shoulder.

"Beloved." He breathed into her ear. "I am here. We are together. You are Mine."

"Yes, Lover." She answered without question. After all, this was merely truth.. "I am yours."

The night grew still around them as she felt her heartbeat slow to match His tempo. She felt his lips on the top of her head, at her temple, her ear, and finally at her neck. She sighed and tilted her head slightly to provide him with better access to her sensitive flesh.

"Beloved." He whispered again. "Hermione, Beloved. I must bind you to me. There are those that would seek to take you from me. Beloved, Invite me."

He stood silently, awaiting her Invitation, all the while doing marvelous things to the skin of her neck. She gasped and wriggled closer to him.

He chuckled low in his throat and repeated his entreaty. "Beloved, Invite me."

"Yes, Lover." She gasped. "I Invite Thee!"

His lips began to move firmly over the column of her neck, followed by His tongue. His fingers stroked down her arms, grasping her left wrist firmly in His hand. His mouth left her neck and she made a noise of dismay, only to shiver moments later as His tongue continued it's sweet torture down her left arm.

When He had brought her left wrist up to His mouth, He stopped. He glanced at her questioningly. Her face was brilliant, glowing with suppressed desire at the new feelings He was eliciting with just this innocent touch.

"Lover, I Invite Thee!" She begged of Him to continue.

Smirking at her reaction to the sensations He caused her, He bent His lips back to her wrist. "Beloved, open your eyes. Beloved, look at me!" He commanded her.

Her eyes flew open and sought His. Just as her cinnamon gaze met His obsidian one, His fangs slid effortlessly into her wrist and she was well and truly caught.

Severus withdrew from Hermione's dreamscape and muttered a sleeping charm upon her. It wouldn't do to have her wake up before he returned. In fact, it pleased him greatly to have her in his bed waiting for his return. My Beloved is where she belongs.

He stood up from his position beside the bed and gazed down at her sleeping form. His hand trailed after his eyes, touching first her face, then her neck, her wrist where two need puncture marks now resided, and her stomach. At her wrist and stomach, heat flared to his touch.

He closed his eyes and sought her mind once more.

"Sleep, Beloved. I shall return presently."

He then strode from the bedside to gather his cloak and mask. There was yet another task to complete before he could rest.

He smirked as he felt the call of his 'Master' once again. Yes, that problem shall be rectified immediately.

Despite the anti-appartation wards placed on the castle, Severus pulled his magic around him and disappeared from sight.

AN: "Repurcutio" translates to: to strike back, make rebound

I apologise for the Italics placement in the previous chapter. Italics in this story are meant to indicate a dream sequence and the thoughts of the individual. Bold Italics are meant to indicate mind-speak (psychic-speak). I will be fixing the italicised problems as time permits and once again wish to extend my apologies for the confusion.

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