Proposal
There's always a choice. And that choice always has consequences. Those consequences can last long past one's lifetime. Some will last from the beginning of time to end of eternity. Some wrong choices have damned humanity and can never be repaid. They just need to be waited out, while everyone prays for the best.
"I can't do that," Hermione said, after digesting the thought of her trying to kidnap Severus. She tried to imagine how she would get Severus. Hermione pictured herself hiding behind a door with a cub, waiting for him to walk by. The idea was so ludicrous that it made Hermione giggle. She felt her giggling trickle into chuckles, which streamed into laughter. The laughter cleared her head, giving way to a horrifying thought.
"I would have to take his soul in order to gain my soul back, wouldn't I?"
"Not his soul, just make him…" Roxanne paused, trying to figure out the best wording, "make him easier to handle."
"I won't."
"Fine, if you don't want me to change you back, I won't."
Hermione paused as soon as Roxanne whispered that statement. She remembered what was on the line bye refusing Roxanne's offer. Hermione bite her lip and let her mind ponder on the offer and reward. A thought wandered in and Hermione asked, "How could you change me back? I've already, already-" Hermione couldn't bear to maker herself finish the sentence.
"I am able to because I was able to turn you," Roxanne answered.
"You aren't making any sense. Even if you could change me back, I won't get Severus Snape for you."
Roxanne sighed and slowly glided up to Hermione, saying, "Severus Snape is going to be found out. The Dark Lord and his fledging will find out he's a double agent. If you help me or not, Severus Snape will be dead by the end of the school year."
Hermione felt her spirit sink. Severus had helped Dumbledore and the ministry by being a spy for them. That was a difficult feat to do. Voldemort knew if someone was lying to them by reading their memories, and he would then probably kill the person lying to him. But Severus was… Hermione glared at Roxanne and yelled, "You're lying, Severus couldn't be found out! You're just telling this so I will help you. Well, I'm not failing for it!"
Roxanne shook her head gravely. "Fine, I can wait till Severus dies after a long period of tremendous torture inflected by some scrupulous pawns, whose sole purpose in life is to serve a heartless man."
"I don't care, I won't," Hermione yelled, her face getting redder by the second and tears were forming at the corner of her eyes.
Roxanne gracefully flicked her wrist and the door opened. She gently placed her hand on Hermione's arm and suggested, "Why don't you sleep on it? You can give me your answer after class tomorrow."
Hermione looked down at Roxanne's hand. It was smooth, tan, and her nails were painted a deep, even, purple. The nails came to sharp point that could clearly cut a person deeply. Hermione gulped and looked back at Roxanne. "Why do I get the feeling you're not giving me a choice?"
Roxanne smiled and started to stroke Hermione's hair lightly. Then she said softly, "Dear girl, you always have a choice. That's why I want you to consider both options. It's a life changing choice, so think it over very carefully."
Roxanne took a step away from Hermione, who ran out the door. Hermione sprinted a silent corridor, not paying any attention to where she was going, or bothered to wonder why no one was around. She only stopped when she heard Dumbledore's voice near the Astronomy Tower.
"Is something wrong, Severus?"
"Headmaster, I think Lucius is starting to suspect something," Severus told Dumbledore.
"Do you know what he suspects?" Dumbledore asked.
Hermione quietly slinked up to the door and peered through. Dumbledore was staring at the night sky, while Severus was glancing around apprehensively. He stared at the half open door, right into Hermione's eyes. To Hermione it felt as though Severus was looking through her, instead of at her, which confused her to no end. Severus quickly got up and shut the door, but not before Hermione slide inside and hide in the shadows.
"I don't think he knows that I'm a double agent, but I think he knows I'm hiding something. If he convinces the Dark Lord I'm hiding something, then I may be done for."
Dumbledore nodded. "What do you propose we do?"
"Headmaster, I think until I know for sure if Lucius has figured me out, he wouldn't dare go to the Dark Lord," Severus said.
"Are you sure you still want to continue being a double agent?"
"Yes, I gave you and the Ministry my word that I would help defeat the Dark Lord, and that's what I'm going to do," Severus answered him.
Dumbledore nodded, and he walked out of the tower. Severus took a long glance towards the sky, and then also left the tower. Hermione stepped out of the shadows and also glanced at the night sky. Something kept tugging at Hermione's mind, why didn't Severus see her? He could usually sense if someone was around, so why didn't he sense her?
There was something else; does Lucius really suspect Severus? That means Roxanne might not have been pulling Hermione's leg. Hermione shuddered at that thought, and started walking back to the Gryffindor Tower.
She stopped by the trophy room though. She smelt something strange, some familiar scent, entwining with a foul stench. As she peeked through the crack, Hermione gasped.
A/N: so sorry for the rather long wait. I had a bit of writer's block, but I am pleased to say it is gone now. Thus, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and there will be more to come relatively soon.