Remus woke to the soft feel of cotton against his cheek and the cold hardness of concrete against his body. "Morning," said a soft voice. He lifted his head to see Hermione's concerned face.
"How long have I been out?" he asked groggily.
"I'm not sure," she replied. "A few hours." She stroked his head, which had been resting on her thigh. He tried to sit up. "No, don't get up," she said, pushing him gently down. "Rest, you need it."
"I can't," he said, resisting her. "We have to plan our escape."
"Darling," said Hermione, doing her best not to sound too condescending. "Just how do you propose we do that?"
"We'll figure something out," he said stubbornly, struggling to sit up.
She let him rise and watched as he winced in pain. "You have no idea what kind of injuries you have," she said through gritted teeth. "Will you please lie still?" Seeing Remus bruised and in pain was just a bit more than she could stand. She hated that he was in danger because of her. Remus stumbled and Hermione quickly jumped to her feet to steady him. "See," she said accusingly. "Now sit down," she ordered.
Remus had no choice but to do as she said. He certainly was in no shape to fight her. No sooner had she gotten him to sit than they were joined by a third person. Remus tightened his grip on Hermione's arm, almost painfully, when Peter Pettigrew approached their cell.
"My old friend," said Peter, without a trace of warmth in his voice.
"Go to hell, Wormtail," snarled Remus."Tsk tsk," said Peter. "Is that anyway to treat an old school chum?" he asked. "It seems to me that someone in your position would want to be a little nicer to the person who controls your fate."
Hermione laughed out loud. "Keep trying to convince yourself that you're someone important," she mocked.
"Shut up, mudblood," he shouted, losing his temper.
Remus stood, pulling Hermione up with him. "You wouldn't dare say that if we weren't separated by these bars," he said through his teeth.
"Does it make you feel powerful, Peter?" asked Hermione. "Are you feeling brave standing all the way over there?"
"Shut up," he shouted again. "I have more power than either of you will ever know. And when the Dark Lord gets through with you, we'll see who the brave one is."
"You're boring us, Pettigrew," said Remus. "And if you think James and Sirius will ever stop hunting you if anything happens to us then you're even thicker than I thought you were."
For the first time Peter paled.
Remus saw the fear flicker across his face. "You better pray Voldemort wins this," he said icily. "Because if he doesn't we'll kill you."
A shiver ran through Hermione's body and suddenly she was thirteen all over again and standing in the Shrieking Shack watching Sirius and Remus point wands at a sickly looking Peter. "Just get out of here, Peter," she said.
Surprisingly, Peter did back away towards the door, but he wasn't done tormenting Remus and Hermione. "I don't think you'll ever get to follow through on that threat, Moony," he said in a high pitched voice. "At least she won't." He smiled. "Have you forgotten the date?" he asked. "By my calculations we're nearing the end of the month. You know what happens at the end of the month, don't you? How could you forget?"
Both Hermione and Remus felt the breath leave their bodies simultaneously.
"Won't it be comfy for the two of you to finally be together for Remus's special time of the month?"
Remus paled. "You can't be serious."
Peter shrugged. "You've been so inseparable since she came, I'm sure it won't be so bad."
"You're inhuman," whispered Hermione.
"He's the only one who's inhuman," replied Peter.
Remus launched himself against the bars, causing Peter to jump backwards in fright. "I swear I'll kill you if you hurt her."
"But I won't touch her, Moony," said Peter, reaching for the door knob. "It'll be all you." He turned the handle and exited with a smile.
Remus turned slowly to face Hermione. Her face was pale and she was biting her lower lip. She swallowed. "How many days?"
Remus locked his eyes on hers. "Three," he said quietly.
She nodded and slowly moved toward him, tucking herself inside his embrace. He had a lump in his throat as he tightened his grip on her.
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Voldemort's followers were scrambling to meet their master's needs. He had emerged from his interrogation of the prisoner weak and with a bloody nose. He had refused to say anything to the Death Eaters and merely ordered them to return the girl to her cell. They had found Hermione unconscious but seemingly unhurt. Once they had taken care of her, they returned to Voldemort.
"Can we get you anything, my Lord," simpered Rosier.
Voldemort waved him away with one hand. "Send Malfoy and Snape to me immediately."
"Yes, my Lord," said Rosier, moving quickly to do as Voldemort bid. In minutes, Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape hurried into the room.
"You sent for us, my Lord?" asked Malfoy.
"Yes," said Voldemort. "It goes without saying that everything said in this room remains between the three of us."
"Of course, my Lord," said Snape quickly.
"You are my most trusted and loyal Death Eaters," began Voldemort, "which is why I am sharing this with you." Voldemort took a deep breath. "I am unable to extract the information I need from the girl. She is somehow able to block me."
"What about Veritus Serum, my Lord," asked Malfoy, throwing a sideways glance at Snape.
Snape looked down at his feet, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "We've run out of the potion and the next batch won't be ready for another week."
Voldemort waved his hand again. "I already knew. No, our usual methods of persuasion don't seem to be an option. Fortunately, Lupin has given us a third option. In less than three days, the moon will cycle and Mr. Lupin will transform. I imagine as time progresses and the gravity of her silence becomes more apparent, Miss Granger's tongue will loosen."
"And if it doesn't," Snape dared to ask.
"That's why I called you in here," said Voldemort. "You're to make sure she talks."
"Understood sir," said Malfoy. "We have other options. The Death Eaters worked on Lupin for a while. We might be able to persuade him to reveal what she knows."
I want the information she has and I'll accept no excuses."
"Yes sir," said Snape.
"Go," dismissed Voldemort and Malfoy and Snape hurried out of the room.
"Shall we get to it then?" asked Malfoy, though it really wasn't a question. He led the way through a long maze of halls. The Death Eaters current headquarters was really Malfoy Mansion, though it had only been that for less than a week. Voldemort refused to remain in any one place too long.
Malfoy Mansion had the benefit of many dark wards, not to mention a hidden dungeon where they were currently holding their two prisoners. Malfoy swept through the house, his confident presence sending the other Death Eaters scrambling to keep out of his way.
If Snape hadn't been so tormented, he might have found the sight amusing. As it was, he found himself much too preoccupied to find anything in his current situation amusing.
Snape's meeting with Dumbledore had gone almost exactly like he expected. Dumbledore had been open, but guarded and had made no commitments to him. He knew he would have to give proof and soon that he truly wanted to escape the Death Eater's.
Snape didn't know how he had been so blind. Joining the Death Eaters had seemed so natural. He was a pure blood and he believed in the purity of that. He also had to admit that he couldn't see himself being on the same side as James Potter and his little band of followers. They had tormented him in school and done their best to make him feel like he was beneath them. But he knew better, it was James Potter and Sirius Black who were beneath him. The Death Eaters had shown him that.
But then things began to get out of control. His fellow Death Eaters were cruel beyond his imagination. One evening, when he had reluctantly allowed Malfoy, Rosier, Avery, and the Lestrange brothers to drag him out for a night of drinking, they had encountered a muggle teenage girl. In all honesty, she had escaped Snape's notice. She was a muggle and should have been below their notice, but Malfoy and the Lestrange's had wanted to have some fun and Rosier and Avery were always willing to be dragged along anywhere. They had cornered the poor girl and raped her. Then to cover their crime, they'd performed the Killing Curse and dumped her body in an empty alley before resuming their way to the Hog's Head for drinks.
Snape hadn't participated in the rape or murder, but he had done nothing to stop it either. He kept telling himself that the girl was a muggle and therefore hardly worth thinking about, but he couldn't seem to get her face out of his head. He had ended the night vomiting in the shrubbery outside the Hog's Head and blaming his sickness on too much drink. One week later, he had made his way back to Hogwarts to see Professor Dumbledore.
Now he had the unenviable task of forcing information out of Hermione Granger. Oddly enough, while they were at Hogwarts together, he hadn't had strong feelings about her. She had been nothing but a nuisance, taken under Potter and Black's wing. He couldn't see what was so special about her, except for what Pettigrew said about her. It was Pettigrew who had convinced the Dark Lord that she was some kind of spy. Snape had trouble believing it, despite the odd circumstances of her arrival.
But that had all changed the day before when he had brought the food to her. She had called out to him and asked him to help her. She had said that he wasn't one of them, that she knew he wasn't. She had looked at him with such hope and belief in her eyes. He was haunted by those eyes. What did she know, he wondered? He had felt like she was seeing right through him. The thought was terrifying.
Snape followed Malfoy to the dungeons with a knot in his stomach. Malfoy always appeared to be a man in complete control of himself, it was one of the reasons he was one of Voldemort's right hand men, but Snape had seem him lose control and every time it happened the consequences were severe.
If she indeed had anything to tell, Snape knew Hermione would never give up information that might hurt her side. She was after all a Gryffindor and therefore stubborn and unflinchingly loyal. Snape had a feeling she was definitely going to test Malfoy's control.
When they arrived in the dungeons, Granger and Lupin were sitting in one corner of the cell. She was resting her head wearily on his shoulder and he was holding her to him. Their hands were entwined and he could see Lupin's fingers lovingly massaging Granger's. An odd ache fluttered in his heart when he saw them in the intimate embrace. He had never had what they had with someone. And after everything he had done, he doubted he ever would.
When Hermione and Remus realized they had company, they became more alert, but didn't rise.
"Look at how sweet they look, Snape," mocked Malfoy. "They must be so in love."
Snape regarded Malfoy carefully, but didn't respond. He was going to have to play this very carefully.
"So Sirius was right about you, Snivellus," said Remus coldly.
"Remus," said Hermione quietly. "Not now."
Malfoy turned to Snape. "I'd forgotten they called you that," he said in an amused voice.
"I hadn't," said Snape through gritted teeth.
Malfoy casually leaned against the bars of their cell. "I suppose you're really going to enjoy this, Snape. Why don't you take Lupin and I'll stay and have a little chat with Granger."
"No," said Snape carefully. "I think you should talk to Lupin. I'll take care of Granger."
Malfoy raised one eyebrow. "I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you."
Snape turned sharply on Malfoy. "What precisely is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh nothing," said Malfoy coolly. "Take her. Have fun," he said lewdly.
Remus was standing in a flash. "You take one step toward her and I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life regretting it."
Malfoy laughed boisterously, then lifted his wand. "Crucio," he cried, hitting Remus square in the chest.
Remus doubled over, hitting his knees loudly against the concrete. The sickening crack made Hermione sure he had broken something. She bent over Remus, who was twitching but not crying out, and wrapped her arms around him wishing she could absorb the pain herself. "Stop," she shouted. "Leave him alone."
Malfoy lifted the curse and opened the door of the cell. He approached them and went to pull Hermione to her feet, but Remus lashed out. He was still reeling from the pain, but there was just enough power and adrenaline in him to make Malfoy stumble backwards, away from them. Instead of approaching again, he merely raised his wand and sent another Cruciatus Curse at Remus. This time Remus couldn't suppress the cry of agony that issued from his mouth.
Hermione jumped up intent on killing Malfoy where he stood, but she was intercepted by Snape. He didn't use his wand or say a word. He only grabbed her and twisted her arm at a painful angle. Then he wrapped his free arm around her waist and dragged her from the room. Hermione struggled in vain. Snape, as skinny as he was, was still stronger than she was after having had very little food and virtually no water or sleep in nearly forty-eight hours. Vaguely, she wondered why he didn't simply incapacitate her with a spell. He had even let up a bit on her arm as he pulled her up a flight of stairs, down a long hallway, and into an empty bedroom.
When they were inside he pushed her away from him and she fell to the floor. He turned to the door and muttered, "Colloportus," effectively sealing them both into the room.
Hermione scrambled to her feet and moved as far away from him as she could. She surveyed the room, looking for anything she could use as a weapon, though she highly doubted anyone had been kind enough to leave a wand lying around.
"Now what?" muttered Snape under his breath.
Hermione stilled and looked at him curiously. Snape was muttering and cursing under his breath. She couldn't make out most of what he said, but she did catch a few words that sounded like damn her, arrogant bastards, and Dumbledore.
At the sound of Dumbledore's name, Hermione's heart soared. She had never known the whole story of why Dumbledore trusted Snape in her time, but she did know that he had eventually turned spy for Dumbledore and the Order. She hadn't been sure before whether he had betrayed Voldemort yet or not, but considering the position she was in, she knew she might have to risk finding out.
"Severus," she began tentatively.
Snape looked up sharply at her.
Hermione bit her bottom lip, praying she wasn't making a huge mistake. "You know you're better than this," she began softly. "You're not one of them. I know you're not."
Snape looked aghast. "How do you know?" he asked, knowing he was risking everything in that question.
Hermione took a tentative step toward him, but he backed away from her, his wand still clutched tightly in his hand. "I don't know why you joined. I don't care. All I know is that you're not going to hurt me. I know the thought of it is making you sick."
Snape raised his wand higher and Hermione forced herself not to flinch. "I could kill you right now," he said.
"But you won't," replied Hermione. "I'm offering you an out now. You don't have to be this person. But if you kill me, your soul will be lost forever. You know it will."
Snape lowered his wand, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging slightly open. "Who are you?" he asked quietly.
"I'm your last chance to do something good," said Hermione. They stared at each other in silence for several minutes. Hermione decided to take a different track. "Why did you want to take me?" she asked suddenly.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "I could send you back to Malfoy if you want."
"You could have left me with him," she countered. "He offered you Remus. It would have been the perfect revenge. I know you hate him."
"Maybe I thought it would torture him more to imagine what I was doing to you," said Snape.
"You still haven't answered my original question."
"Which was?"
"Why did you take me when Malfoy offered you Remus?"
Snape's mouth filled with an imaginary nasty taste. "Let's just say I've seen what Malfoy does to women he considers his inferior."
"And you didn't want him to hurt me?" asked Hermione.
Snape didn't respond.
"So you were protecting me?" said Hermione.
Snape looked away. "I... I just couldn't stand by and watch him do it to someone else."
"Malfoy's an evil bastard," said Hermione.
Snape took a deep breath. "We're all evil."
"You don't have to be," said Hermione, hope soaring in her chest.
"It's too late," said Snape.
"No, it's never too late," said Hermione quickly. "I'll go to Dumbledore. We can help you."
"I've already been to Dumbledore," said Snape quietly.
Hermione smiled. "I knew it."
"How did you know?" asked Snape. "Nobody knows. I was careful."
"That doesn't matter. All that matters now is getting out of here. Remus is..." she paused. "He's going to transform in less than three days. You know what they're planning. You have to help us escape."
"I can't," said Snape. "It's impossible."
"You have to do something," said Hermione desperately.
Snape began pacing. "I might be able to get you out of here. Maybe we could say you took me by surprise and overpowered me. I'll get you out of here now." Snape grabbed Hermione's arm and began dragging her to the door.
"No, wait. What about Remus?"
"There isn't time," said Snape abruptly.
"I'm not leaving him," said Hermione, wrenching free of his grasp. "We have to get him too."
"There isn't time," Snape ground out. "This may be your only chance."
"But what will happen to you?" she asked.
"That's not for you to worry about," said Snape coldly. "Now let's go."
"Not without Remus," Hermione repeated.
"Malfoy's guarding him. We'll never be able to get around him."
Hermione looked down at her feet and sighed deeply. "Then take me back," she said quietly.
"What?" exclaimed Snape. "You know what will happen in three nights if I do."
"I won't leave him," she said forcefully. "I can't abandon him."
"You're a fool," Snape spat out. "You'll die if you don't go. The Dark Lord is not bluffing, if that's what you think..."
"I know he's not bluffing," Hermione said angrily. "You don't have to tell me that."
"Then what are we waiting for?" questioned Snape.
"If you have to ask then I'll never be able to make you understand," replied Hermione. "Just take me back."
Snape threw up his arms in frustration. "Damn Gryffindors. You always think you have to prove something. You're brave, I get it. Now can I get you out of here?"
"And Slytherins only think about themselves," countered Hermione angrily.
"Yeah, well at least that keeps us alive."
"And alone."
Snape didn't respond.
"You better take me back now," said Hermione after a little while.
Snape nodded. "I've got to make it look like I was questioning you," he said quietly, approaching her.
Hermione took an involuntary step back. "What are you going to do?"
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I should rip your robes and maybe your shirt a bit. I have to make it look like I was questioning you," he repeated again, almost apologetically.
"I'll do it myself," she replied, setting to work ripping and rumbling her clothes to make it look like Snape had roughed her up. "Since when do the Death Eaters resort to muggle forms of torture?" she asked. "You guys sure made quick work of Remus. His face was a mess," she said bitterly.
"It's to demoralize the prisoner," said Snape. "And I had nothing to do with Lupin."
"Will Malfoy expect you to do the same to me?" she questioned.
Snape nodded. "Probably."
"Then you probably should leave a mark on my face," said Hermione. "It'll be the only thing he'll look for."
"I'm not going to hit you," said Snape, backing away from her.
"You have to, or Malfoy will suspect. And after you put me back in that cell, you're going to Dumbledore and telling him where we are. He'll send help."
"I'm watched very closely."
"Then you'll have to be careful," said Hermione angrily. "If you want out of the Death Eaters, this is your ticket. I suggest you take it."
"Has any ever told you that you're a bit of a know it all?" asked Snape coldly.
"All the time," said Hermione evenly. She pulled her hair back and turned her cheek toward him. "I'm only going to let you hit me once, so make it good."
Snape stared at her, not quite understanding the strange girl in front of him, but instinctively feeling like her plan actually had a chance of working. He raised his hand and struck her hard. She staggered and covered her cheek with her hand. "That hurt," she said through clenched teeth.
"Let's go," said Snape, gently taking hold of her arm.
"This is a show," said Hermione. "Make it good."
Snape grabbed her harder and magically opened the door. He pushed her back through the hall and down the steps to the dungeon. Hermione put on a good show of struggling, connecting several times with Snape's foot as she pushed her down the stairs. He cursed under his breath, knowing she was paying him back for the slap.
When they reached the cell, Snape and Hermione could see Malfoy standing over Remus. Malfoy looked up at them. "Damn Severus, it took you long enough."
"She proved stubborn," replied Snape coldly.
"So you got nothing out of her?" asked Malfoy.
Snape shook his head. "You get anything out of him?"
Malfoy kicked Remus in the stomach. "Not yet." Remus groaned, clutching his side. Malfoy took note of Hermione's red face. "I'm impressed," said Malfoy, nodding at Hermione. "I didn't think you had it in you."
"They won't talk," said Snape, ignoring Malfoy. "They're Gryffindors."
"I haven't given up yet," said Malfoy with a smile.
"Why don't we leave them in here for the night without food?" suggest Snape. "Maybe hunger will compel them to talk."
Lucius shrugged as if he didn't care. "I'm a bit hungry myself. This one will sit until morning." Snape pushed Hermione into the cell, then he and Malfoy left.
Hermione moved closer to Remus. He rolled onto his back. "Shh, don't try to talk," she murmured. "Help is on the way."
