Chapter 16: Betrayal's face.

So far:

Hermione, Harry, Ron and Draco have moved into their new home: a fair sized comfortable flat in south London. Hermione went to see Severus the day after they were finished moving in and crossed McGonagall's path. She was stunned to find that Hermione had not been joking about being with Severus and blankly points her in the right direction. Hermione finds Severus in his study... making a pain preparatory potion (which prevents pain from affecting concentration or hurting too badly, by the way). He asks if the reason she came so early was a result of something being wrong, which confuses Hermione but she allows the matter to slip.

Severus stood outside of the large wooden door that he had countless times before. Dumbledore's office held many memories, some bad, some good. With a brief glance over his shoulder at the moving staircase melting into the stone floor he stood on repeatedly, he sighed with reluctance. He didn't exactly know what he was going to tell the old man. It wasn't as if he was bringing the most cheerful news to the table.

He lifted a hesitant hand and rapped sharply with his knuckle. The sound was hollow and loud and he lowered his hand to wait for a reply. In a comforting motion, he slipped his hand into his large black pocket for his wand. His fingers found the shaft of ebony immediately. He may insult all wands in his classroom but he could never dampen the importance they held.

"Come in." The cheerful words floated through the wood and Severus resisted the urge to sneer. There was nothing to be happy about. Not at the moment, but Albus could hardly know that yet.

For a moment he made no move to open the door, standing in the dimness with a reproachful look at the door. An instant later he pulled himself together. In a fast sweeping motion he moved forward and threw the door open wide before striding through it. It swung back on its hinges and threatened to slam the wall behind it as he passed through.

Dumbledore looked up from his desk in the center of the oval room with the twinkle that so irritated him. He watched the black clad figure of Severus rapidly approaching his desk at which he was writing. Severus did not stop to close the door behind him, leaving it dangling half open in his wake.

"Ah Severus, a delightful surprise," he said in his warm way, holding his hands out in a motion for him to sit. "Always the one for dramatic entrances." He beamed at his employee, pushing the corners of his beard up his cheeks. The gold pendulum ticked incessantly all the while and Severus eyed it coldly. He did not humour Dumbledore with a reply.

He was agitated with a lot on his mind, resulting in an annoyance for all things around him. Taking Dumbledore up on his offer he sat in one of the armchairs facing the desk. The room was considerably lacking something... he couldn't place it.

Then there was a loud squawk from that noisy infernal fowl Dumbledore was so dearly attached to. He no longer found anything to be missing and turned his gaze away from the screeching mustard colored bird squatting on its perch. His rash judgements on the bird made him blind to its beauty and soft sweet singing chirps. He automatically considered the sounds scratchy shrieks and the red and gold plumage the color of foul food.

Dumbledore raised a silver eyebrow at Severus to encourage him to speak. Severus shot a quick glare at the bird as it flew over him, its tail smartly striking the top of his head, and went to sit on its master's shoulder.

"I was called away again last night," he started unsurely. His choice of wording was very careful. Dumbledore's face lost its light and teasing smile and he leaned back in his chair, eyeing Severus seriously. The phoenix protested with a choked rasp (a short twitter in actual fact) and Severus glowered at the bird briefly once more. That thing was distracting.

"I see," said Dumbledore with absolute gravity. "I was under the impression it may have been about Miss Granger..." There was a moment were a small spark of something returned to his eyes but disappeared as fast as it had come. Severus straightened in his chair, refusing to rest against the back of it.

"It is," Severus said with a tiny trace of grief, about as much as Dumbledore thought possible for him. Dumbledore frowned behind his gold-rimmed, half-moon spectacles. He let his old shrivelled hands lay on the desk and his fingers curled loosely. Under his hands was a letter to whom Severus did not know but letters from Dumbledore were always of importance. He automatically assumed it was to his precious pet (and friend of Hermione), Harry Potter who had just left his watchful eye for good.

There was a stillness that filled the air as the two men stared at each other seriously and the older of the two did not know what to make of Severus' comment.

"Continue," he said quietly. He nodded a little to the teacher in front of him who, he observed, had a peculiar love of black.

"I was summoned to a meeting last night," he repeated and closed his eyes with a small sigh before proceeding, "and they have moved their interest away from young Malfoy at the present time, though I cannot say for how long." He almost hoped for Dumbledore to interrupt and ask the relevance so he would have a reason to lash out and snap at the only person who had stood by him in his worst time... other than Stella. But he did no such thing, sitting against the back of his chair with a hideous bird clinging to his old shoulder.

He nodded as a sign that he should go on. Severus' black eyes flickered uncertainly over the expectant features of the old man who loved to play children's games with people's minds.

"The new topic of high interest... was Hermione and I," it was getting hard for him to say each word because he had not fully come to terms with what had happened that night himself. "They seemed to take a great deal of time discussing and prying into exactly how it came to be. Hours of my life where lost to the never-ending questions of Lucius Malfoy. He seemed to take a deep fascination, stronger than anyone else's. The Dark Lord was more interested in Hermione's intelligence and skills that have never before been seen at Hogwarts..." he trailed off. He had much more to say waiting on the tip of his tongue but it was unlike him to ramble. He was usually brutally blunt and for some reason could not bring himself to be so now.

"Severus," said the quiet calming voice of Dumbledore, "I know I have never had to ask this from you before but can you please get to the point?" Severus looked up with a sneer that came purely from natural defensive reactions. Dumbledore was not fussed by the deadly look. His sharp black eyes showed his surprise at himself.

"Very well," he said coldly. He didn't ever want to disrespect Dumbledore but he knew his boundaries and he was permitted to talk icily when he wished. "They want her." Once he had said the words and they were out there for him to hear they sounded so much worse.

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore was looking more and more concerned. His silver-white beard twitched but there was no smile behind it.

"They want her to come to the next meeting," as he said it he sunk backwards into his chair in an uncharacteristic movement. Dumbledore's blue eyes looked him up and down and the sadness in them forced Severus to look to the window. The thin arched window with a criss-crossed frame had a view of the forest from above. The trees held more reassurance but then again reassurance was not helpful in situations like these where sense played the better part.

"Why?" said Dumbledore cautiously. It was a simple question with many grave possible answers.

"The dark circle is all about connections, as you know," he nodded Dumbledore's way then rested his head against the back of the chair. The aged man watched him closely, noting his despondency. "Hermione is very intelligent. Her knowledge is highly valued. They want her as a supporter because she can be called upon for many things."

"The friend of Harry is another thing you forgot to mention," added Dumbledore. Severus grudgingly nodded.

"And that," he agreed. "But what should I do? They wish for me to bring her to the next meeting, whenever that may be. I cannot warn her because she is not skilled in Occlumency and there is too little time to teach her. There is still room for doubt of my alliance, is there not?" his voice was as close to urgent as it could ever be.

"There is, I suppose," Dumbledore said thoughtfully with a frown. "I fail to see a satisfying way around this."

"If she is confused then the dark lord will probably find it normal and think it was intentional on my part. If not I can explain that she would not come if I told her-"

"Are you suggesting that you take her to the meeting?" he cut off Severus sharply with astonishment. His attachment to Hermione had appeared strong and even if it wasn't he did not think Severus would so willingly give up an innocent.

"If I don't they will hunt her down most likely. Unless she appears on their side they will consider her a hindrance and danger to my loyalty. All that need happen is for her to sit out one confusing meeting then they will consider her on their side. That will satisfy them and then all can be explained to her."

"You have a horribly reasonable point," he said sadly. The phoenix on his shoulder let out an untimely shrill screech of pleasure. Severus ignored it. "But you aren't considering how Hermione might find this traumatic..."

Severus glared at the words that stung worse than insults could ever. His black eyes formed slits. "Are you implying I do not hold her best interests at heart?" he hissed icily. It was all he could do to restrain himself. Dumbledore was on his side he had to remind himself. Dumbledore smiled softly in his wise superior way. He shook his head and Severus unclenched his fists.

"You're playing with fire, Severus," Dumbledore said seriously, eyeing him incredulously, "No, I'd say more like poison than fire."

"You forget, headmaster," Severus said with a falsely satisfied smirk, "Poisons happen to be my speciality."

Hermione had come up with an idea that night before she went to sleep and the very next morning, as soon as she was ready to drag herself out of bed, she went to see Severus.

Smiling the whole time she walked up to the castle through the stretch of grounds she had a plan for what she wanted to do that day. She hoped Severus wouldn't mind leaving the comfort of his dungeons but she knew that if she asked correctly he would not.

She trundled down the corridors and this time did not cross the paths of any other old teachers, of which she was impartial because she liked her professors very much but her desire to see Severus put off any idea of delay.

He had not been asleep, which was expected. She had a suspicion he hardly ever slept. He was writing a letter which Hermione remarked on immediately. He explained that it was to the only other surviving Snape – his elder brother he hardly ever spoke with. She did not go as far as to ask to read it (though she wished to) and he told her he would put it off till later.

She did not inform him of her plans entirely but she did tell him that she was going to buy him a present. He just arched his brows and let her lead him to Hogsmead.

"Am I to know the nature of my gift?" he asked, lightly sardonic. They were walking arm in arm, close to each other down the cobbled streets of Hogsmead that were so familiar. The town was much emptier than she remembered because it was free of students. She clung to his arm happily as he watched her actions for clues.

The sun beat down on them in its August way and after a while Hermione had offered to carry his cloak. He had gladly taken her up on the offer and now the folded black material hung over the arm that was not in his.

On either side of them the crooked houses tilted and rested against each other and on their level the shops were empty and waiting. Hermione leaned her curly haired head against his shoulder and he willingly allowed himself to become her support as they kept their pace down to a relaxed stroll in the narrow streets.

"It should be extra company for you," she said cryptically. Severus frowned at the hint. It didn't sound such a wonderful gift in his opinion. Hermione chuckled in amusement at the disappointed face he pulled. She squeezed his arm playfully. "Don't worry. I think you will like it."

"You're not sure?" he teased, feigning disapproval. Hermione ignored him gracefully. She looked around her and spied the shop they were to go into then smiled.

"We're here," she informed him. He looked around him expectantly, trying to judge which shop was the most likely choice of hers. She noticed how his eyes automatically jumped the pet shop. Her smile grew broad as he looked at her questioningly.

"Where?" he asked, looking back down at Hermione leaning on his shoulder.

"Right there," she said, grinning as she pointed to the right. Past her finger was the pet shop just to the right as they were approaching it. She tried to not to laugh when she saw the look of surprise and horror in his quick black eyes when he saw where she was pointing.

"You're not serious?" he said unsurely. Hermione nodded vigorously as Severus' face went uncomfortably blank. He didn't want to offend Hermione but he really did not want a... "pet". If he were to be gracious he would be lumbered with the thing for good. But he didn't want to upset Hermione.

She made him stop just in front of the display window in which you could see into the shop. He halted beside her, all the while giving her a baffled stare. Hermione ignored him. One of his problems was he didn't know what was good for him. She scanned the cages she had looked into before anxiously then frowned.

Severus noticed her frown and he copied her automatically. "Something wrong?" Hermione ignored him again as she kept searching for something unknown to him. He looked through the window in an attempt to see what she was trying to. All he could see were aisles piled high filled with noisy creatures.

The inside looked murky and unclean and he eyed it with distaste before Hermione pulled on his arm and led him in the direction of the entrance. He grudgingly allowed her to lead him away and wondered if she had had the correct amount of sleep or had taken some sort of drug that morning that made her loose some of her sensibility. It should be plain: he did not want to care for an irritating pet.

She lifted a hand and shoved the dirt-covered door open smartly. He followed her through it at her side and a bell tinkled as the door opened and closed behind them. As soon as they were in the dank shop a pungent smell reached his nose and filled his senses. He resisted the overwhelming instinct to gag. Hermione seemed totally oblivious to it, he noticed. It was the sour and acrid smell of animal droppings. Another thing he did not wish for in a pet.

Hermione began to tug on his arm and even more grudgingly than before and he allowed her to pull him through the fog of stench to the counter at the back of the shop. Behind said counter was a stout looking woman in a dusty floral dress and a mountain of bright orange hair piled on top of her head. Behind her round thick rimmed glasses were kind eyes and she was beaming at her only customers of the morning.

"May I help you?" she said cheerfully and Severus did all he could not to sneer at her over-sweetness.

Hermione just returned her smile brightly and tugged harder when Severus began to resist. "Actually yes," Hermione began. She gave up on Severus who was being childish and stubborn and let go of his arm. They stood in the center of the aisle across from the sitting woman grinning at them with filthy teeth. "I was looking in the window about a week and a half ago and I saw a black cat. Where is it now?"

Severus' intense gaze snapped on her sharply. A black cat? It wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. He had no problem with cats but neither did he particularly enjoy their company. But he couldn't judge as he had never owned one. Hermione smiled up at him but he was watching the woman's face behind the counter which had twisted in a superior smirk. He shot her a sneer simply because he did not like her.

"Ah... Decimus... feisty little creature I'll give you that..." Severus furrowed his brows at the woman with the red crows nest. Did she have false teeth? He couldn't be sure. "One moment." But the name of the cat he had to admit was a tasteful Latin name. Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis (Juvenal) – a well known man of his time. But what she meant by feisty... if it meant hyperactive he would have to tell Hermione, as nicely as possible, that he really could not handle such a thing.

The woman at the desk began to move and shuffled away from her counter leisurely. Her character frustrated and irritated him and he could not understand Hermione's ability to put up with this sickly sweet feigning old bat. Hermione next to him was still holding his cloak and waiting patiently with a good-natured smile as the woman disappeared into the next aisle.

Hermione then turned to him with a nervous smile lighting her soft features after she had gone. Severus found her smile to be dangerous because as he watched her he swore to accept as many pets as she would give him.

"I know you said you didn't have much love for creatures with more than two legs but I thought this cat was special..." she looked up at him guiltily as she trailed off. If she was going to say anymore it was cut off by the scuffling sounds of the floral old bat's return. Hermione was unaware of his dislike of the woman, luckily.

Eventually the short, stout woman came around into view in the dimness. The smell, Severus noticed, disappeared after time. In her podgy hands was the fine handle of a metal cage. Inside the crossed silver bars was the shadow of pitch black cat curled up with its fur prickled up. Its ears were squashed back against its head and it was glaring up at the towering figure of the woman carrying him. A low rumbling growl sounded from deep in its throat.

She hobbled over to the counter and put the cage on its dirty surface.

Hermione took his arm once more and hauled him up to the counter. Severus was reluctant because he did not want to approach the woman. The cat did not look too pleased to see him either, even though most of its scowls were directed at the woman. Severus heaved a sigh then wished he hadn't because he had caught a mouth full of stench.

They stopped in front of the desk and their attention was directed at the growling cat, despite the annoying stare from the woman who was trying to read their exact reaction to the "feisty" cat.

Severus raised a sharp brow as the cat looked up at them with slit eyes and immediately stopped growling and glaring. It lifted its pointed ears and stopped shaking its tail in uneven movements. Its shoulders un-hunched and it looked up at them with mild curiosity. Hermione had looked as the she would change her mind about the cat until it stopped its angry sounds.

"May I open the cage?" Hermione asked politely, looking to the woman standing behind the counter who was watching her customers faces avidly. She seemed unsure of the proposal.

"At your own risk," she replied nervously. Hermione's brows shot up and she glanced at Severus unsurely who did not know what to make of it all before moving closer.

She put out a hand and hesitated as her fingers touched the clasp as though she was waiting for the cat to suddenly growl at her. On the contrary the cat watched her hand with a light and unruffled interest. It had strong olive green eyes with its black pupils slicing across them hazardously. Hermione bit her bottom lip and Severus watched as she cautiously undid the catch on the top of the cage.

She had not completely finished opening it when the cat, in one smooth movement, leapt out onto the desk. Hermione jumped and withdrew her hand sharply as the cat landed gracefully on its soft silent paws on the counter. It looked up at the two new people with a striking air of superiority with its vivid eyes. Standing delicately poised with its black tail proudly high and its back arched perfectly it did not move for a long moment as the three humans watched it closely.

"Good Decimus," sung the woman with orange hair. She regained her courage and took a step closer. With a squashy forced smile she held out a tentative hand to stroke the elegant feline's head.

But as soon as her hand was too close for the cat's comfort he turned his eyes sharply on the woman it hated and its eyes once again formed deadly slits. Its fur began to ruffle up and it crouched down to escape her touch. Flattening its ears to his head he pulled back his lips viciously into a snarl as it let loose a long hiss.

She pulled her hand back hurriedly as if she valued its safety.

Severus could not help chortle. The cat obviously despised the woman and he found himself already attached to the creature ever so slightly. The woman looked up in disbelief at Severus' chuckle and Hermione shot him a disapproving look which he returned with a consoling smirk.

He found enough desire in him to hold out his hand in a similar manner as the woman to discover its reactions to him. Hermione watched nervously. This cat seemed a lot more vicious than she remembered but surprisingly Severus seemed to approve. His slender hand parted the murkiness as he paused within inches of the cat's head. His black eyes flickered over the poised shape of the proud creature to read its reactions. It was not looking irritated in the slightest as it kept its sharp eyes (sharp enough to challenge Severus himself) on his hand. In fact it looked as though it was waiting for Severus to stroke him.

Hermione seemed to relax beside him as he found it safe to touch the feline's head. As his fingers stroked the softness of the fur, for one long moment it appeared as if Decimus would just stare at him coldly but to the surprise of Hermione and the woman (but somehow not Severus) the cat took a bold step forward and nudged his hand in a friendly gesture.

Severus honoured the cat with a smirk and the cat in turn honoured him with a soft silky purr.

Hermione was looking relieved at the behaviour of the animal that she had seriously doubted. She thought about it before she held out her hand in a similar way to see if the choosy thing would take to her as well. It studied her slim fingers with an unreadable expression but when close enough reached itself forward delicately to sniff the tips of her fingers.

It continued to purr as Hermione scratched its ear shortly and she was comforted that it had taken to her. It seemed that maybe it only hated the woman who was standing aside looking gobsmacked. She had never imagined the refined creature capable of love before now.

"We'll take him," Hermione said, looking to the stunned woman with a broad grin.

"I never would have thought it but I actually am fond of this cat..." Severus said as he watched Decimus rising and falling with Hermione's breaths on her stomach. She was laying on the red couch with her head in his lap once again and a book in hand. Decimus had taken an immediate liking to his new surroundings and his new freedom.

Hermione lowered her book and laid it across her chest before looking up at him with a pleased smile. Her brown locks spilled over his knees and hung to the ground. Severus' thick green book lay to one side and he looked at Hermione and his new companion.

"I knew he was the right familiar for you," Hermione boasted with a sweet smile. "I saw him in Hogsmead last time and he caught my eye immediately." Severus did not question it. She was remarkable in so many ways that her snap judgement being so perfect was no surprise. Hermione sucked in a deep breath and the furry black weight on her belly let out a soft satisfied purr. It kept its eyes closed and its head on its paw with his tail wrapped around his body neatly as it created the gratified drone.

"Decimus said a few wise things in his time, did he not?" Severus commented as he looked at the two of them.

"Probitas laudatur et alget – honesty is praised and neglected," recited Hermione effortlessly. Severus, despite his awareness of Hermione's wide range of knowledge, was moderately surprised and impressed.

"You are familiar with Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis?" he asked. Hermione looked up at him from his warm lap cradling her head.

"By the name of Juvenal but I know little of him," she said and glanced at the cat curled up atop her. "I didn't take much interest in those Roman figures," she added with finality. The fire burned bright to her side and on her other side was the thick wall of black robes. She was to spend the rest of the day in his comforting presence and was in not rush to return to her new home to her friends.

"I can understand," he told her reassuringly. He did understand but he himself had taken a very strong interest in the famous roman characters and their opinions.

They both stopped talking for the moment as Hermione picked up her heavy book carefully off her chest and continued to read and Severus followed suit with his own discarded book. And for a long while the two (and a half) of them sat in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company.

Alone. In the cold of the dungeons Severus was not in his study, not in his classroom but in his office. He reflected that he wasn't actually alone. Decimus was perched on the corner of his desk with his tail hanging over the edge and he was watching his new master's every move intently with his black slits. Behind him were shelves with jars with objects of little interest to him but they successfully terrified students so he kept them there for display alone. Before him were work related papers and books which he could not bring himself to look at. So he rested his chin on his entwined fingers and stared at the door which was a sufficient way to block out the desktop.

Decimus let out one silent yawn and stretched its mouth wide, flashing its sharp teeth. Severus gave him a glance. A cat was not bad company at all. They did not follow you around and pester you but in fact did whatever they pleased, playing loyal for no one. They were silent most of the time and he realized just having another presence in the room was sometimes a comfort (as long as it wasn't an annoying presence such as a student).

But his mind was too full of serious matters and depressing worries to even ponder the ingenuity of cats. Hermione was no longer safe and it was his fault. No amount of reasoning that she was the friend of Potter and had always been in danger could convince him otherwise.

The cold light of several candles around the room on high stands did nothing for the mood. He didn't want to do what he had to do. Dumbledore agreed that there was no other way around it that would not have a worse overall effect. Hermione was the best thing that had happened to him and how would she repay him for what he was to do? She may go as far as not to speak with him at first but he was willing to pay that price for her safety. She would see that it was in her interests in good time if that were to happen but he assured himself it wouldn't.

Severus spent a good deal of time sitting at his desk with his head resting on his hands with his cat nearby waiting for the inevitable call to come. It was to come sometime today and he was allowed a fair amount of extra time to go and collect his Hermione.

When after while the burning sensation he was so used to rippled through him starting from the mark on his arm he at first ignored it and rubbed his temples with his fingers repeatedly. From the corner of the table Decimus stood and took his time in approaching Severus and rubbing his face against the sleeve of his burning arm before jumping off the desk.

Severus appeared calm... even cold in his actions as he strode away from Hogwarts grounds to be able to apparate. His facial expression was stiff and blank with a stern looked imprinted on it. Armed with the pain preparatory potion flowing through his veins he failed to see anything going wrong with his simple plan.

Once just beyond the winged boars he swirled around, cloak and robes flowing behind his movement and gave the castle a long withdrawn stare. The sun had just set over his shoulder and the sky was still relatively bright with oranges and purples in a hanging mist. He had no choice, he reasoned - no option.

He was wasting time but to him that could only be good. His limit on extra time was not solid and could be stretched. The longer he took in collecting Hermione, the shorter the ordeal.

Standing in the wide empty gravel road leading up to the gates in the freshness of the outside air, he regretted everything he had done and was about to do. Stella would most likely not have approved but would have agreed that if Hermione was to retain her freedom then this was the best solution.

A loud crack tore through the still air sharply as he closed his eyes and apparated.

When he opened them he was standing outside the door of Hermione's apartment which she had shown him the day she had spied him making the potion that he was now under the power of. The door was friendly – if it were possible for a door to appear friendly. It was a pale color with a light blue imprint of the number 11A. He studied the door with his aging eyes. Every second that passed made him feel a year older. His heart was growing cold from anticipation and the throbbing from the mark under his skin that stayed an inky black.

He raised a reluctant finger and pressed the doorbell lightly. A cheerful children's tune rang out of the Teddy Bear's Picnic. Whatever grown people were doing with a ring like that he had no idea and didn't want to know.

"What kind of doorbell is that!?!" called the laughing voice through the wood of who he recognised as young Miss Weasley. Her airy attitude just made his insides grow colder. Hermione was by no means prepared for what was about to happen and though he knew she shouldn't be for the safety of everyone he couldn't force back the feeling of evilness that he so resented.

A moment later there was the sounds of a chain being undone and a snap as an inside lock was undone. Then the door began to open and he hoped it would be Hermione there because if not then the other members of the flat were in for a nasty surprise. As luck would have it Hermione was the one to answer the door and he released the breath he had been holding when he saw her eye through the growing gap.

"Severus?" she asked quietly, looking baffled at the unexpected visit. "Is something wrong?" She frowned lightly with her eyes brimming with delight that he had come to see her. Severus did not know if it was prudent to nod so did not say anything. She was looking angelic and incredibly delicate (in his eyes at least) with her light chocolate eyes and matching soft curls. Looking at her made it harder.

She did not open the door wide so that the others could not see. His serious expression must have been more than readable because her small smile shrunk unsurely when her warmth was unrequited. She leaned her under arm in the edge of the door.

"You need to come with me," he stated blankly, trying to hide all emotions of regret and reluctance. Hermione furrowed her brows and glanced shortly over her shoulder into the room full of the comfort of friends.

"I'm going out, guys," she called and there were several cries of protest and questioning all at once that bombarded her. She ignored them and stepped forward, closing the door behind her with a snap.

She then looked up into his unrevealing eyes for any sign of what this cryptic meeting was about. With the door inches from her back and Severus inches in front of her she was surprisingly oblivious to feeling of being trapped. The soft scent of musk filled her senses and she wanted to lean closer to Severus but he was emitting a standoffish vibe.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously. Severus felt even worse, if possible. He shook his head and kept silent. Hermione couldn't understand his unusual behaviour but it was unnerving her – which it rightly should.

"Brace yourself," he said softly almost under his breath but Hermione heard it clearly. She shot him a bewildered glance and tried in vain to brace herself for whatever unknown thing it was that he was trying to inform her of.

Severus lifted his hands and reached for her wrists. She let him take them delicately and looked to his black eyes with multiple questions swimming in her own. The tender pressure was little comfort to her but she took all she could get. She had figured out that he was about to apparate her to some place she didn't know and braced herself for that alone.

She glanced up at him again just before they disappeared from view because he had sighed. That was a bad sign she concluded only she wasn't aware of exactly how bad.

In a pivotal moment, the bright warm surroundings of her new home's entrance were pulled away and new surroundings, less warm were brought into light.

Ok... short-ish chapter in comparison with the last and I'm really very sorry but the next part takes time to write to keep in line with my plan. I originally intended to have some important stuff at the end here but my fuzzed brain is screaming at me telling me to stop typing and take a nap and this just seems to me a too good a place to end the chapter. Besides, my little sister just gave me a headache with her whining so I really can't handle much right now.

But I decided to be nice and update this chapter really quickly because the last one took so long (not my fault - I was suspended from uploading because one chapter in my old story was an authors note and I didnt remember so... yea)

AND I have all my data back!!! Not just that but I have a brand new laptop for it! So now I am in a good mood.

Humour me if you wish and leave a small note as a review but I'm not going to nag.

Luv y'all, Snakecharmer.

PS: what would really help me imrpove my writing would be if you could tell me your favorite and worst scene so I get a general idea of what you guys want more of.