Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, so please do not sue me. I'm poor, so I won't be able to afford anything anyways.
A/N: I AM SO, SO SORRY for not updating sooner! I really had a lot of tests (seems to be a habit nowadays) I really hope I haven't lost anybody! So here's a relatively long chapter to make up for it! :D Hope you'll all forgive me! Oh and by the way, the E/N you see down there is from my editor. She kindly asked (threatened) me to put it up at the beginning of this chapter (or else I will be quote: "mortified")
.:.E/N.:. wOw! this has been a crazy week, I spent about a week and a half constantly nagging this girl to write her chapter and put it up!!! I guess we can all say FINALLY!!!!!!! with relief!! Complain to her about the lateness, and maybe she'll put it up more often. -
Thank you so much to those that reviewed. If you put in your review that my story could be improved, please state where you think I could do better. Don't just say "it sucks" or "you could do better". I would like to know where I could improve since I am only a beginner. Oh and please write it in a nice way, I do not wish to have to (as one of my cute reviewers put it) stick my "virtual middle finger" at you. Oh and I remember one reviewer once asked me the order of Duke, Count and so on, so for those of you that are not aware, here it is!
(1) King
(2) Duke
(3) Marquis
(4) Earl/Count
(5) Viscount
(6) Baron
I'm not exactly sure this is accurate, so if you find any mistakes please tell me!
Anyways, on with the story!
Chapter Five
Duke?! That despicable, annoying, dirty, vile, self-centered man was a Duke?! And the Duke of KingValley no less! One of the most powerful and influential man alive! He was a renowned tactician and warlord. Plenty of women would gouge out their eyes for a chance to meet him, and from what she has heard, the spot for the Duchess of KingValley is still vacant.
That explains his obnoxiousness, acting like he's above all those around him! Hermione squared her shoulders slightly. She refused to throw herself at his feet like all the other walking makeup sticks! Raising her head high, she glowered at him.
"Yes, we have met." Her voice was cool and calm. But that man, Duke Snape, simply ignored her piercing gaze and continued talking to the countess, as if Hermione did not exist.
"I think it would be wise Minerva, to teach your servants respect," he said nonchalantly.
Hermione's fist tightened as she gritted her teeth. Counting backwards from ten under her breath, she tried hard to calm her angry.
"The last time I checked, servants were supposed to bow before their superiors," His eyes shifted towards her as his lips quirked into a sly smile.
"Only when they deserve such respect!" she hissed back venomously.
"AND SPEAK ONLY WHEN SPOKEN TO!" His voice boomed, making Susan, who was standing in the doorway, yelp with fright. The Countess, surprisingly, chuckled and shook her head. Hermione flinched, but her stubbornness prevented her from backing down.
"Why is it, SIR," she said mockingly, "that I always seem to be repeating myself in your presence? As I have said before, only when they deserve such a respect!"
He rose so quickly from his seat that the chair tilted and wobbled a few times before settling back down. Snape took slow and menacing steps towards her until he had her backed up against the wall beside the door. Their noses were just millimeters away from touching. Hermione could once again feel his warm and ragged breath on her face, as if daring her to make a move. He bared his teeth, growling like a leopard that just spotted its prey, seconds away from pouncing. Her knees suddenly went weak and her hands felt wet and clammy. Still refusing to give him the satisfaction of winning, she met his eyes defiantly, surprised at her own courage.
"I suggest, maid," his voice barely above a whisper, "that you shut your filthy mouth before I do it for you."
Hermione gave a quiet, curt laugh, "What? Is the great Duke reducing to threats now?" Her voice was taunting, masking her inner turmoil and dismay. Though she would never admit it to anyone, she was scared.
He gave a loud growl and slammed his hands on either side of her head, making her cringe. Hermione, as mad as she was, didn't dare try irritating him any further. The Duke was known for his volcanic temper that often erupted without even the least amount of compassion or sympathy.
The Countess McGonagall snorted in an unladylike fashion, "Now, now children, play nice." The duke quickly turned his head around and sent a killing glare at the elderly lady.
"We have important matters to discuss Minerva, please dismiss your maid."
Hermione took a deep breath as he backed away from her and regained his seat once more. Now that he wasn't breathing down her neck, she could feel her blood boiling inside her with renewed anger. Daggers shot from her eyes, each one directed at that cruel, evil man sitting before her.
McGonagall gave Hermione a small nod, "Go get some rest and food Hermione, we still have one more day of riding tomorrow before we reach the castle."
Hermione curtsied to the Countess and pointedly ignored the Duke's presence. Nobody was going to insult her like that and get away with it! She gave him a cold look to match his own before turning quickly and marching out with Susan at her heels.
I don't believe this! The nerve of that man! Hermione felt like charging back and beating him with a burning log until he screamed with mercy. Thoughts of creative torture and revenge filled her head as she tried to destroy everything blocking her path with her seemingly murderous glare. For some reason, the floor boards on the stairs looked extremely offensive to her as she stomped hard on them; making loud thumbing noises with each step she took.
"What did the stairs ever do to you?" She heard Susan murmur from behind her. Ignoring the other girl, she continued her rampage down the hall and back into the room that she previously woke up in. Throwing the door open in blind rage, she was surprised to see that there were two other presences in the room as she stomped in.
"Hannah!? Lady Ginny!?" The two women got up quickly and ran towards the confused girl standing in the doorway.
Hannah, the youngest of the group, was always extremely cheerful and often enjoyed teasing those around her. The slightly plump girl had dark blond hair with glimmering light blue eyes that could make even the sky darken with envy. Lady Ginny, on the other hand, was exactly the opposite of Hannah. It was often believed to be a miracle that they got along so well. Being extremely shy and well mannered, Ginny hardly ever let her temper get the better of her. But when she did, she could give out a lashing that one does not forget easily. Lady Ginny was not extremely beautiful, but the air of dignity and grace that surrounded her often made men bow before her feet.
The three girls had been friends ever since Hermione began as a servant for the Countess McGonagall at the age of ten. Lady Ginny of WatersPeak, due to her social status, couldn't always be there with them. But during her visits to her aunt McGonagall, they would often sit and talk for hours un-end, telling each other of their adventures. Ginny never regarded herself as someone of higher rank, and treated Hermione and Hannah like her sisters. She was also their source and connection to the outside world. Stories of romance between Nobles were like icing on a cake to Hannah; the slightly chubby girl could never get enough of them. Hermione, on the other hand, was more interested in the war between the two kingdoms. Gallamous, under the rule of King Dumbledore, has been at war with its neighboring kingdom, Serpentinis for just over a decade. Stories of the glorious battles that took place weeks or days ago excited her much more than the social lives of those that believed they 'mattered more'.
"Hermione! You're alright!" said Hannah in relief, pulling the bewildered maid into a tight firm hug, "We were so worried about you!"
They dragged Hermione towards the fireplace and pressed her into the nearest cushioned chair. Susan sat herself on the edge of the bed while Hannah and Lady Ginny took seats directly across, all of them facing Hermione.
"What happened?" inquired Hermione as she shifted into a more comfortable position.
"I'm not so sure myself," replied Hannah, tugging at a piece of loose hair. It was a habit of hers that she did when ever she got ready to tell a story of make up a lie. "After you blacked out, the Lady was so upset and angry she started attacking those men with her bare hands! You should have seen it Hermione! One second they were all big and tough, but one look from the Countess reduced them all into simpering wimps!" The four girls giggled from the mental images they managed to conjure up from Hannah's description.
"I still remember when M'lord managed to get on her bad side," Susan managed to choke out between laughs, "I have never seen him that scared in my life, and mind you, I practically served him ALL my life."
"Uncle Severus?" Lady Ginny asked in shock, "Since when was his name spoken like that with the word scared in the same sentence?!"
Hermione was surprised as well; he appeared to her as an imposing and dignified man. Rude, yes, but still, she had to admit, he did project an image of power. The thought of him being frightened, by an elderly lady nonetheless, seemed very out of place.
"What did he do?" Inquired Hannah.
"I believe this was about a year ago," Susan started, "Milord refused to attend the annual Bachelor Ball and got an earful from the Countess. It was very hard not to laugh; she was scolding him like a toddler! And well...he made the mistake of telling her to mind her own bloody business. You should have seen it! She went from pink to white, and from white to red. Her face was purple by the time she finished screaming at him!"
Hermione smiled, even if they have just met, she felt like Susan has been part of their group for years. The other girls too, seemed to have accepted her with opened arms.
"And then...?" Hannah urged, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"He apologized."
A loud gasping noise came from Lady Ginny as she covered her mouth with a white gloved hand. Hermione stared quizzically at Hannah and both girls shrugged with confusion.
"That's it?" asked Hannah.
"That's it?! What do you mean that's it?!" cried Lady Ginny in disbelief, "Uncle Severus NEVER apologizes, for anything! He broke Duke Lucius's nose two years ago and he still hasn't said a word of remorse about it, and trust me, he's not going to!"
"He must really care for the Countess then." Hermione stated, almost mocking at her own words. That man didn't look as if he cared much for anything at all.
Hannah nodded, "I think he does. When he came charging through the trees to rescue us, he took one look at the Lady and started blasting spells everywhere. "
"What about the Deatheaters?" Hermione asked, "What happened to them?"
Hannah shook her head, "They escaped. There were too many of them. Lord Snape was outnumbered."
Hermione nodded in understanding and winced slightly as she felt a blaze of pain shooting through the left side of her waist. Ignoring it, she quickly masked her face before the others noticed.
"But there's one thing I don't get." Hannah continued, turning towards Susan, "if he refused to attend the Bachelor's Ball last year, why is he here now?"
Lady Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her seat and blushed, "He's here for me."
The room went dead quiet. With eyes that were practically bulging from their sockets, Hannah stared in disbelief. Susan on the other hand, looked thoughtful as she gazed into the depths of the roaring fire.
"Since it's my first time going, I needed an escort." She hesitated, "Count Malfoy offered to take me, but Aunt Minerva threw a fit about him being Duke Lucius's son." She shrugged before continuing, "a week later, a messenger came from Uncle Severus, offering to take me. The letter sounded awfully forced, I guess auntie had something to do with it."
Susan nodded, "I do remember M'lord receiving a message from the Lady, he did seem really angry for a few days after."
Hermione snorted, "You make it sound like there was a time when he was normal."
Susan grinned, "When he starts throwing things and yelling at every object, alive or not, he's probably more disagreeable than normal."
"He sounds like a very nice man, I'm sure." Hannah giggled.
Hermione rolled her eyes, wishing someone would change the topic. She did not want to be reminded of that abominable man anymore. The pain in her waist was getting worse and worse, biting her bottom lip; she concentrated on the conversation and tried to ignore the constant pain.
"Are you nervous?" asked Hannah, smiling slyly at the Lady Ginny, "It is the first time you'll be attending the Bachelor's Ball...think you'll find someone special?"
Lady Ginny blushed, "I...I'm not s...sure"
"Awww...don't worry, you're such a nice, sweet and shy girl, I'm sure the men will be all over you by the end of the first night." said Susan kindly.
Hannah snickered, "Shy? SHY? She seems shy now, you really should see her once you've aroused her temper! If she got any worse, I'd say we'd have another Hermione at our hands!"
Lady Ginny sent a glare towards the jeering girl and sniffed indignantly, "At least I am not some hopeless romantic that loves cake so much she would sell her soul for just one piece of it."
Susan leaned back slightly on the bed, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire between the two girls. Hermione rolled her eyes, her friends bickering was like mourning tea to her, a day just isn't a day without it. They glowered at each other for what seemed like long minutes before bursting into laughter. Susan visibly relaxed, but decided to change to conversation before they start quarreling again.
"I heard your brother was coming to the ball as well, Lady Ginny." She said pleasantly, as if nothing had happened, "from what M'lord tells me, the battle at the western ridge wasn't a piece of cake."
Hermione tensed as she gripped her armchair tightly. All color drained from her face, both from the pain and from the unwanted mentioning of Sir Ronald Weasley, her drunken attacker.
Lady Ginny inclined her head in confirmation, "I hope he is looking for a bride this time," she shook her head slightly in disaprovement, "his reputation among the women isn't exactly clean. I hope that he would find a nice woman and just settle down. By now, he must have fathered at least a dozen bastards. If he wasn't so good on the battlefield, I doubt the king would have tolerated him up until now."
Drops of sweat formed on Hermione face as her view became slightly hazy. Leaning over, she bowed her head between her knees, trying to bring blood into her brain and cleanse the dizziness. Her hands gripped her sides tightly; it felt as if thousands of hot needles were being pushed slowly into her skin. She heaved strenuously, finding it extremely hard to bring oxygen into her lungs.
Hannah, noticing Hermione's strange behavior, got up form her seat and kneeled before the struggling girl. She placed a hand on Hermione's shoulders and inclined her head sideways. Deep frown lines began forming on her face as she felt Hermione tremble severely under her touch.
"Hermione! What's wrong?!" Lady Ginny and Susan rushed to her side and tried to help her sit up properly.
Hermione wished that they would stop touching her. Everywhere that they made contact, her skin burned, scorching her body like paper. Tears began running down her face, by now, the pain was so great she was seconds away from fainting. She opened her mouth to try and beg someone to kill her, but she was no longer in control. Her jaws were clamped shut and her legs stiffened, making it impossible to move. Raising her head slowly, she met the worried eyes of Hannah. The girl gasped and pulled back slightly. Hermione's once warm brown pupils were now flaming red. Her face was pure white, as if all the blood has be sucked out from her veins.
"I'll got fetch M'lord!" Susan's high panicking voice was the last thing she heard before the darkness devoured her into its folds.
A/N: I'M FINALLY DONE THIS CHAPTER!! YAY!! I'M SO PROUD OF ME! :D anyways...please leave a review to tell me what you think!