THE WOUNDED
CHAPTER 6
THE LIONESS' DEN
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NADA, NUTHIN, BOOPKASS, DIDDLY, SQUAT AND NOTHING REGARDING ANYTHING HARRY POTTER EXCEPT FOR A FEW TRADING CARDS MY DAUGHTER PUT IN MY STOCKING THIS YEAR. (NOT INCLUDING ALL THE BOOKS AND ALL 3 MOVIES)
Chapter 6
Hermione sighed as the interrogation ended. Lucius seemed satisfied that he was not going to get a strait answer. That seemed to be what he was looking for. Finally the question came up as to his many injuries at the hands of the Order.
"You didn't get them from the Order," she replied with a sigh. "You got them from Wormtail. You were only stunned by the Order. Charlie Weasley was supposed to be your other interrogator, but Wormtail seemed to have his own plans," she responded. "I think he planned on warming up to whomever the Dark Lord would chose as his next right hand man." She shrugged. "Frankly Lucius, if you want to survive this war you need to be more careful whom you instill any trust in."
"Oh, and I should trust you?" he scoffed.
"Absolutely not, you should trust me least of all," there was a darkness in her voice that just sent chills down his spine. "Now what did you want me here for?"
"Ah, I had almost forgot," he said melodramatically. She saw where Draco got his flair from now. "Come, like I said, I have something for you. Severus, join us."
Severus stood and followed, not liking this at all. Then again, he never liked much of anything anyway. The lack of control he had over this situation made him more than uncomfortable. Hermione seemed to be running the show, and the part of Master of Ceremonies was something he was more used to having.
Lucius guided them down a hallway into a large parlor type room. Inside there were several boxes set into piles over the room. Severus gave Lucius a strong look. He recognized the seals on the boxes.
"Miss Granger, these are yours. For your new career, of course," he smirked. "Draco enlightened me that you were listed on his roster of teachers this year. I believe Congratulations are in order."
"What are you playing at Lucius?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing, these are not from me. What is in the box on the coach table is my present. These are from our Lord for your loyalty," he replied.
Cautiously she looked over the boxes, scanning them. They were harmless enough, each one bore the crest of an eagle over a shield, the crest of two snakes winding around the staff said that they came from some sort of medical facility? She opened one box, and slowly moved aside the tissue paper. Her hands recoiled as if she had touched something hot. Severus looked over her shoulder at the most elegant dress teaching robes he had seen in a long time. They were a dark blue with silver trim.
"These are too much, I cannot accept all of these!" she gasped.
"Nothing is too much for our Lord's favor, if you do not accept them he will be most offended," Lucius said with a smirk. That much was true. When the Lord bestowed gifts it was rarely done without reason. Severus had to raise an eyebrow how a muggle born witch had garnered so much attention to have seventeen boxes piled here. One so large it must have taken three house elves to get in here.
She moved to the large box and opened it. He heard her breath catch in her throat and she took a step back. "He was serious!" She swayed a bit and seemed unsteady on her feet. Lucius and Severus made quickly to each side of her as her knees gave and she sat down hard staring into the apparently offensive box.
Severus looked over and his eyes too became very wide. Inside was a golden set of marriage robes, complete with headdress and shoes. Lucius looked into the box and his eyes were wide.
"And just whom does our Lord wish you to marry?" he snarled out at her.
"Professor Snape," she said breathing difficultly. Severus' eyes traveled to Lucius, and Lucius gave him a hard look.
"I am sorry old friend, you deserve better than this used up woman for all your years of service," he said looking away. "Come Hermione, I will see that these are sent to Professor Snape's chambers. Do you hold those chambers now?"
"Yes," she said softly. "I haven't changed them, I haven't slept in the bed either."
"Then where did you sleep, silly chit?" Severus started on her.
"The couch, it did not seem right to take your bed, sir," she said still dumfounded. They lifted her up and she took back her footing. "I have to get back. Severus, I need you to go with me. I will be punished if I am not tending your wounds and tending you."
"Hermione, why do you have my quarters?" he said incredulously.
"Because I am the new Potions Mistress for the school, along with now one very snarky Master," she chuckled. "I apprenticed since you left with Slughorn."
"Oh dear, Merlin be merciful," Severus said as he assisted her back to the lobby.
"I will come by later, if that is acceptable," Lucius offered. Hermione turned and looked at him. "You sure you want to come to my den? I have plenty of my own Vertiserum you know."
He chuckled. "Then it should prove a most interesting escapade indeed. I must make sure Narcissa is well, then I shall join you this eve."
Hermione quirked a brow. She didn't know what he wanted, and when she looked to Severus, his look in his cold, obsidian eyes conveyed the same mysticism of Lucius' offer. It was best to get Severus alone so they could talk in peace about the subject.
"Until later, old friend," Severus said as he pulled Hermione by the waist against him. With a loud crack, the Slide Along Apparation tugged and pulled their beings to the gates of Hogwarts.
"Minerva is expecting us," she said as she headed toward the gates. He caught her by the arm and turned her to look at him.
"I do expect that I will get a full explanation soon," he said firmly. "This is not going to bode over well if you are not fully forthcoming."
"Why Severus Snape, I think you just threatened me," she said with a purr. "Good to see you are back to your normal self, but there will be no taking house points from me now. And you cannot threaten me with detention either."
"Yes, but a Death Eater's wife is something very few actually wish to be," he said with his tone low and menacing.
"There is nothing you can do to me that hasn't already been done," she snarled and ripped her arm free from his long fingered grasp and headed up the green toward the school doors.
"I am beginning to believe that," he sighed to himself.
--
The meeting with Minerva was excruciating. Due to the large influx of students she had deemed it best to keep both Severus and Hermione as teachers instead of one assisting the other. Since he had all of his degrees, Hermione and Severus came to their own arrangement. Although they would both have to be Professors, she would assist him. He was used to teaching 5 classes a day anyway. This way he would not have to take care of it all by himself and he could devote whatever time he needed to the Dark Lord's interests. In return for her assistance, he would begin coaxing the Dark Lord into handing possession of Hermione over to Snape. The add-on bedroom was added to Hermione's rooms, supposedly to belong to Severus, but Hermione moved her belongings into it instead. Again, it was his rooms first, and she would not intrude on his space.
Minerva seemed to believe that Hermione was out of her gourd to be accepting of the Dark Lord's proposition for her to marry Snape. She should be with that nice Weasley boy.
Yeah, nice Weasley, right, sure, whatever Minerva, Hermione thought to herself.
It was clear that Minerva had no clue to the extent that Hermione was working. Now they had to find a way to make Harry and Ron believe she was in love with the Master of Potions. Her day was just getting better and better.
By the time they made it to his quarters, she had a pounding headache. They both seemed to have the same issue because Severus' long strides beat her to the potion cabinet. When she asked him to retrieve a headache potion for her as well, he turned and looked at her with absolute mirth in his eyes. He did not laugh, but he understood. Handing her the vial, he downed one himself and set the vial for washing.
"Getting everyone to believe that we needed a Potions Instructor was easy. Now I have to convince Harry and Ron that I am so desperately in love with you that I am willing to go through eternity married to you? Gods I do not understand this world!" she sighed.
"I think there is a simple solution to this," Severus said quietly.
"And what would that be?" she said lifting her eyes to his.
"You are muggle born, simply insist on a muggle ceremony. It's binding in the wizarding world, and divorce would be easy enough," he shrugged. "Then you are not tied to me for all eternity."
"Are you crazy?" she said with a laugh. "And who is going to stand for you?"
"Well, I suppose Lucius…" he paused. "Point taken." Realizing Lucius would not go near a muggle ceremony for any reason whatsoever would cause ripples to the Death Eaters.
"Well, there are a few things we can do," she said quietly. "We are going to have to convince him that you are interested at all in me. Even as a "Death Eaters Wife". I doubt I can break your Occlumens like I do with most of the others to convince them they had the greatest time of their lives."
"You what!" his eyes turned dangerously on her. "You use Legilimency to …"
"You don't actually think I let them get their sick jollies with me do you?" she shuddered. "The only two that have had the pleasure are him and Rabastan, and Rabastan is dead now."
"What about the rallies and revels?" he walked over and sat next to her offering her a brandy. She took the proffered glass and looked at him with a stone cold look that rivaled his own.
"I make sure there is plenty of entertainment so I do not have to split my interest. Our Lord doesn't like to share at the revels," she replied.
"Why did you start doing this?" he said looking at her incredulously, disbelief rang true in those dark orbs.
"Did I have a choice?" she said with a huff. "No. I was blackmailed into it."
"What did you give them as ammunition to use against you?" Snape said raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't. After my capture, Moody threatened to put me in Azkaban," she replied. "You were too much of an asset to lose, so they needed an immediate replacement. Moody made sure I fit the bill."
"How did you know you were going to get brought back?" Snape said after a sip of the delicate brandy.
"Lucius saw to that, if you want to look at it yourself, I would allow it," she answered.
"And how do you know you can trust me?" he scoffed standing and moving to the fireplace.
"I don't. But if you do not know the whole scenario, the Dark Lord is true to know that I do not trust you. And if I do not trust you, he is likely to kill you rather than have the potential threat of you working for the other side," she said raising an eyebrow. "I proved myself when I retrieved Lucius and turned over Wormtail as a traitor," she answered.
"He knows you are working with the Order?" he turned his eyes back to her.
"Of course he knows," she said crossing her legs and leaning back into the couch. "There isn't much I could do to hide that fact."
"Miss Granger, this is very dangerous ground you tread upon," he said sternly. "You are so embroiled in this now there is no getting out."
"I did not ask for this, but what can I say, I am in up to my eyeballs," she said rolling her eyes.
A knock on the door startled them both from their conversation. Hermione rose and moved to the door to find Dobby standing there with all the boxes from Malfoy Manor floating behind him.
"Ah, thank you Dobby. Would you please put them in the spare room?" she said with a soft smile. He glared at her and walked past her, once the boxes were in place, she caught him before he poofed out of the room. "Dobby, why are you glaring at me?"
"Miss gets boxes from Mr. Malfoy? Miss doesn't like Mr. Malfoy does Miss?" he scolded her.
"I only received them as a gift Dobby, for helping Draco, do not worry," she said softly.
"Miss doesn't needs to help young Master Draco. He's a prats he is!" he huffed at her.
"You are right, he is a prat. But Dobby, you will see in time," she said running a hand over his ears. "I have my reasons, and none of them will result in my getting hurt. Not with a strong elf like you around, right?"
"Yes Miss," he said bobbing his head. "Any friend of Harry Potter is a friend of Dobby!"
"Of course, now I must change. Would you have two dinner trays brought for the Professor and I?" she asked nicely.
"Yes Miss!" he said with an enthusiastic bob of the head. A snap of the fingers later, Dobby was gone.
Hermione took her time sifting through the large boxes. Each one contained three sets of robes, some for teaching, some for social, some formal, and of course the wedding gown. That one was the hardest to put away. She hated the fact that now this was impending on her future far beyond anything the War would do. There was no such thing as divorce in the Wizarding World. This was definitely not her day. Not her day at all. Mark the calendar, this was NOT HERMIONE'S DAY, she thought to herself as she hurled the shoes into her wardrobe angrily. Future? What damned future!
Finally she came to the large wooden box that was Malfoy's gift. She had not the time to open it at Lucius' house. She sighed and brought it out into the sitting room with Severus. He looked at it, then to her.
"What is that?" he said raising an eyebrow.
"I do not know, it's Malfoy's gift," she said as she set it down on the couch. Severus cast a couple of charms to check for curses and such. There were no such things on the box or it's contents.
"It's safe," he said sitting down in the double wingback chair. "Open it, if Lucius gets here and you haven't opened it, he will be offended." He watched her shoulders drop and sighed. She seemed resigned to her fate, and that did not settle with him at all. He watched as her long elegant fingers, from years of wand waving and potions making, open the latches on the box. It was a long box, and from the way she was carrying it probably weighed about two stones worth.
Hermione lifted the lid, he could see it was lined with a dark violet velvet. She gasped and stepped back. He looked around her and saw a beautiful wand, crafted to a fine point, a note above it clung to the lid. Each end of the box held another square shaped box. This must be where the weight of the box came from. He watched her shaking hand reach forth and pull down the note, and crack the seal. She read it over, then handed it over to Snape for inspection.
Dear Miss Granger,
Please find inside the gifts I have had crafted for you. The wand was made to Ollivander's specifications, but crafted by a legal and reputable creator since our dear Ollivander is now with our secreted numbers. A dragon heartstring, but the wood was changed to a dark mahogany. The sterling silver and gold accents added atop are to assist you with potions, the length-13 inches was requested by Ollivander to assist you with your difficult transfigurations. He was certain you could handle with ease such a length. The handle is crafted from California Redwood. Ollivander was rambling something old powers enrapt in new bodies. The leather that binds the handle is made from dragon hide. I do hope it is not too much for you too handle.
Also the gifts on either side of the box are for you to wear at your leisure. I had originally intended on asking our "friend" if I would be allowed to keep you, but your status as Draco's instructor has now ceased that calling. Your status is going to be too well known for us to maintain any sort of relations now. Of course you understand.
Sincerely Yours,
Lucius Malfoy
Severus read the letter twice, checked it for hidden messages then threw it into the fire to burn away.
"What sort of relations is he talking about?" he looked at her with a harsh scowl on his face.
"You will see when I show you," she said as her voice shook slightly. Her fingers reached for the first box on the left of the box. Opening the well-crafted lid, inside she gasped. It was full of jewelry, and adornments of all sorts of magical quality. She moved to the right, and opened it, and inside she found jars. All sealed, full of some of the rarest potion ingredients. Again she gasped reading some of the labels. She looked to Snape and gestured him over to the box. Snape looked over the box contents and shook his head.
"Lucius always did believe he could buy everything he wanted," Snape said incredulously.
"That's just it, he never wanted me. So what is this all about?" she said looking at him trying to understand.
"Apparently he wants something, I just cannot tell what," he said. "Perhaps that is something to discuss with him when he comes back."
"I think I am beginning to figure this out," she said looking to Snape. "Oh Merlin! I have figured it out!"
"Show me," he said quietly, taking her by the hand and leading her to his room. She froze at the doorway. "I am not bringing you in here for any other reason than what you offered earlier. It is best to be comfortable while I do this."
She nodded and followed; her hand was still trembling slightly in his.
He sat her down on the side of his bed, and took both her hands in his. "Relax, let down the Occlumency, let me in. If there is something I do not need to see, I will bypass it. Fair enough?"
"I do not care. Look at whatever you feel you need to," she said raising her chocolate eyes to meet his. "I am ready."
--
He looked in on her past memories. He saw everything that had transpired up until he found her on the Astronomy Tower, then moved further back to the night she became property to the Dark Lord. The fact that Lucius never took her, astounded him. He had partaken of many of the whores and others that were taken.
He frowned on her bringing muggles to the revels. But then again, she was keen on whom in her world to touch and whom not to. It would make sense to have her go get the evening's entertainment.
Little secrets she had found out, like the contraceptive that was added to the champagne that had no effect on men, but was keen on women. The fact that he had not taken Narcissa since Hermione came into the game.
The fact that Bellatrix was seething with jealousy every time Hermione was summoned upon, that was interesting.
Hermione was indeed strong. She had endured much and was punished much harder than any of the other members. How had she withstood it and kept her sanity? He looked deeper. Potions, she had been working on potions to relieve her symptoms of her punishments. Excellent, he would talk to her about those later.
He was suddenly pushed into a memory from just after the Dark Lord took her. He heard her screaming and whimpering, darkness around her eyes.
Now now, you are his little toy now. That means I can take you whenever I want little Mudblood, he said. And with you down here in the dungeons, you can plan on it whenever I want it. You got that!
BLAISE NO! He heard her scream. I cannot do this! It will make him angry! Don't do this!
Shut her up boys! And suddenly the only thing was the pain. She knew her assailants, Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle. And it was a constant occurrence. No wonder he wanted Snape here with her. She hadn't finished serving her purpose yet. If they got carried away, she'd die before her purpose was done.
Now he moved to her most recent thought. It was almost a simple math problem.
Fact 1: The Dark Lord keeps nothing around him that is stronger than himself.
Fact 2: The Dark Lord is the strongest wizard alive, supposedly, now that Albus Dumbledore is dead.
Fact 3: Albus Dumbledore was a pureblood.
Fact 4: The Dark Lord is a Half Blood.
Fact 5: The Dark Lord preaches that Muggle Born Witches and Wizards are the bane of Wizarding Society, gaining much of the Purebloods' support.
Fact 6: The Dark Lord keeps Purebloods around him at all times, and thusly he believes them weaker than himself.
Fact 7: No attacks against Muggles or Muggle Born Witches and Wizards have been of anything consequential. They almost seem random and meaningless. Just ways to make the Death Eaters even more feared.
Fact 8: The attacks are enough to entice anger from the wizarding community as a whole, and thus demand the Dark Lord's death as well as all Death Eaters.
Fact 9: When the "final battle" happens, Harry Potter is supposed to destroy the Dark Lord according to prophecy. Is that in mind as well as body?
Fact 10: Harry Potter is already tied to the Dark Lord in power as well as mind and by blood as well.
Fact 11: If in the final battle, the Dark Lord is destroyed in body but he takes over Harry Potter, he will be a hero. All Death Eaters will be destroyed or imprisoned, and Harry Potter will be able to win anything he wants from the Ministry as a whole. Eventually he will even able to take over the Ministry with all of his popularity. Thusly, the Dark Lord wins.
Fact 12: Without most of the Pureblood lines to stand in his way, disbandment of the properties to the "victims" of the war will ensure that Harry Potter gains the most because he's lost his whole life to this war.
Fact 13: Keeping me, Hermione Granger, nearby makes sure that his disguise in his new body stays and nobody suspects Harry Potter of being Voldemort. Thus removing two birds with one stone.
Fact 14: Dumbledore's secrecy on everything about Harry has ensured that nobody will suspect anything about any changed behaviors after the war.
Fact 15: The Dark Lord, Voldemort, Tom Riddle, etc. will cease to exist in a new HALF BLOOD's body. Nobody will hunt him anymore, and he can start reaping the profits allowed because of his muggle heritage and gain favor in both worlds. Thusly all of wizardom loses, except muggle born witches and wizards, and a few half bloods that turn their back on the wizarding world.
Fact 16: The Dark Lord must have already thought of this, and probably has an entire group of people opposite the Death Eaters, made from half bloods, muggle borns and what few lines of pureblood he wishes to preserve or breed into the lines ready.
Fact 17: He identifies with Snape, due to similar heritage. This makes Snape a threat or a powerful ally. But since Snape has been treated just like any other Death Eater, and Death Eaters are food to the slaughter of public outrage, he can save him or crucify him at leisure by marrying him to me, Hermione Granger. If Snape is abusive, he will expect me to turn him over as a Death Eater. If Snape is kind, it will save him for the New World the Dark Lord intends to make.
Fact 18: The absolute reason why no one is allowed to kill Harry Potter other than the Dark Lord himself is because when Harry's blood dies, the Dark Lord's body will start to disintegrate. So, in the final battle, there must be a contingency plan for the body to survive. The only option is taking over Harry's body. No other arrangements, including his Horcruxes will work. The Horcruxes are simply a fall back plan.
OVERVIEW: By taking the path he is taking at present, the Ministry will be under his control, as will Hogwarts. He already has numerous followers from Russia and other Pureblood families that will all be destroyed when "Harry" reveals how to trace the Dark Mark. Thusly, all Purebloods involved will either be killed off before hand or die as a means to placate the public at Harry's command later. Those he wishes to keep are already somewhere else with his new followers, made of the muggle born and half bloods he has probably trained himself and has stashed away somewhere. They may or may not make an appearance at the final battle to "assist" Harry Potter.
Snape retracted himself from her mind and looked at her with a harsh stare. What she had worked out made perfect sense. It would be foolish to believe that the Dark Lord could not think this far in advance about his physical person. Were the Horcruxes enough to fool Dumbledore into thinking they were the key to his destruction? It didn't really matter now that they were all in the Dark Lord's possession. Snape's mind went into overdrive. Why hadn't he realized any of this before? Because you were too busy running from place to place, getting punished and healing, and trying to please two masters. Granger is only trying to please one master and get a job done. Thinking all the time is something she has done way too many times anyway, damnable Know It All.
Hermione Granger would be heralded as a hero for her work because she never took the Dark Mark. She would provide cover as the Dark Lord's new alias as Harry Potter. And if Snape was a good boy, he would get to bask in her sunlight? Of course.
How did Trelawney come up with the prophecy then? Could Trelawney be associated with the Death Eaters? No, she's too much of a lush to be trusted. Some sort of possession spell? That is entirely possible. Is that why the Dark Lord was so set on the prophecy's fulfillment? Of course.
Damnit!
--
The green flames in the study along with the whoosh sound let them know of Lucius' arrival. As he stepped through, he looked as elegant as ever. Dressed to the nines, and his demeanor was one of the cat that got the cream. Hermione knew the second he walked in that he had been talking to Draco.
She walked up to him and smiled with a welcoming gesture into the sitting room. Lucius took a moment to appraise her looks in her new robes, with his gifts of jewelry adorning her neck and wrists.
"You look lovely this eve, Miss Granger," he said appraisingly, before striding into the room.
"May I take your cloak, Lucius?" she said with a gentile smile. He removed it and handed it to her. She made away with it, putting it onto the hooks near the door. "How was your visit with Draco this eve?"
"Pleasant, and very informative," he said with a smirk.
"Scotch, Lucius?" Severus offered, pouring a brandy for himself and Hermione.
"Please, minus the Vertiserum, of course," he said with a chuckle.
"Of course," Severus agreed pouring the drink for him. "Here you are Hermione," he proffered a crystal chalice to her with the rich burgundy drink. She took it before taking her seat on the couch with all the grace she could muster for the oncoming conversation.
Bringing over the two other chalice for himself and Lucius, Severus took his seat in the armchair after Lucius sat at the other end of the couch. "So do tell us what was so informative?"
"Pneumonia, it's going around I hear," Lucius said with a smirk. "Yes, I know about how you and my son were healed. Now give me one damned good reason I shouldn't run to the Dark Lord about this."
"It does not matter if you do or not, he already knows," she said with a shrug in his direction. "He does not have as clear an image about Draco's health."
"I found that part the most intriguing," he said raising an eyebrow. "How is it that my son is so, well how to put this eloquently, in tact?"
"I am a very proficient healer, and Greyback missed, but just barely. The damage was all surface and skin damage. Nothing below the skin in certain, personal areas, was injured," she said sipping her brandy. "Ever get a cut on your finger? It just so loves to keep bleeding, even though the cut is small, it bleeds and bleeds. The genitals are no different that way."
"And Greyback assumed he had done what Wormtail told him was an order from the Lord himself," Lucius supplied.
"I assume so," she said raising an eyebrow. "I did not arrive there until after Greyback's punishment. Severus and I have not had time to talk just yet about what happened prior to my arrival."
"One does have to contemplate that," Severus said looking at the color of his brandy like it was a fine potion. Lucius' eyes were on him instantly. "How could Wormtail think that this wouldn't get back to our Lord? Truly an attack upon your family by Greyback would eventually get back to the Lord, especially since they left me intentionally alive."
"Even Pettigrew isn't that stupid," Hermione put her two Knuts in. "No, I think it is safer to say that you must be especially wary right now, Lucius. If the Lord is not involved in this, it goes much deeper than just Pettigrew."
"You would dare insinuate our Lord in such a way!" Lucius hissed.
"You would not considering it is the future generations of the last family directly descending from Merlin at stake?" she said incredulously. "Do you realize how much he boasts about your inability to breed appropriately?"
"Breed?" Lucius said as if it were an insult. "I, Madam, do not 'breed' according to the whims of anyone!"
"Right, especially now that you cannot," Severus interjected. "You took a Wizarding Ceremony with Narcissa. You can only procreate with Narcissa. And now she is barren." Lucius' face fell. "Unless of course it was Pettigrew's intent to kill Narcissa. Then you could procreate with whatever our Lord wished of you. But married you are now useless to the future generations. And now that Draco is equally sterile in our Lord's mind, your whole line is solely based on Narcissa's life."
"What in the name of Merlin are you preaching at?" Lucius said standing abruptly.
"Lucius, calm yourself this instant," Severus, said coolly. "We are not trying to upset you, we are simply putting together the facts as we see them. And we see them from both sides of the fence, so you may wish to put aside your pride and arrogance because the Dark Lord does not care if you have them or not. Keep in mind he makes you bow and kiss his robes, my friend."
"This is treason to speak this way," he snarled.
"True," Hermione said with a shrug. "But think about it, Lucius. You are here. Who is guarding Narcissa? The house elves? They were so successful last time. You might want to make a surprise visit home if you value her life. If I am right, I am sure we will speak again. If I am wrong, I am sure I will be before the Dark Lord begging for my life soon enough." Hermione finished her statement and rose to gather Lucius' cloak.
Lucius took in everything the woman had to say, Severus could see the wheels working in his head and realized that she was more than precisely right. He did not even bother to get the cloak on, before he was rushing into the Floo.
"Nicely played," Severus said once the green flames returned to normal.
"I thought so," she smirked.
"So you know of an attack on Narcissa?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I do," she said leaning back and sipping her brandy.
"You were sorted into the wrong house my little Lioness," Severus said appraisingly.
"I am not your Lioness," she spat at him, setting down the glass and storming from the room. "You would be wise to remember that Severus Snape!" He did not bother to watch her little tirade out of the room. She had worked her way into the potion lab, probably bent on venting on some of the potion ingredients. Poor flobberworms, he thought in mirth.
--
Two days later, Severus and Hermione had not been summoned. They had settled into a rigorous teaching and research schedule. Allowing each of them several hours in the evening to either continue their research or go about personal things such as her incessant need to visit her friends.
"I don't understand how Professor MacGonagall can expect you to work so closely with the greasy git," Ron said in almost a whine.
"That is Professor Snape," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "I have to work with him, I enjoy it and he is much more pleasant company outside of the classroom."
"That's not what Professor Spectra says about him," Harry said with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe that's because Professor Spectra was turned down flat by Professor Snape and she just does not know when to give it up!" Hermione said with a huff.
"Whoa, wait a minute," Ron said taking a hard look at Hermione. "Did you see that for yourself?"
"Sort of," she said with a sigh. "She came in and asked Professor Snape out to the Three Broomsticks for after dinner drinks. His sarcastic nature and harsh tones came right back into play as he not only turned her down, belittled her beyond repair, and almost chased her out of his lab. He hates intruders in his lab, and she just walked in like she owned it. It was extremely disrespectful for her to ask him out like that and do it right in front of me like that as if he would feel bad about it, I do not blame him for blowing up!"
"Oh," Ron said.
"What?" she looked at him.
"Well, you sounded like you kinda fancied him, that's all," Harry said, looking at her with a hard stare. "He may have gotten pardoned in all, but he did kill the one person who looked out for me."
"Harry, Dumbledore did not look out for you," she said exasperated. "He sent you back time and time again to the damned Dursleys' house! Oh that was looking out for you. Oh yeah. More like he was making sure you lived to do what it is you are expected to!"
"Hermione?" Harry looked like someone had just killed his puppy. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying Harry, is that Dumbledore, and most of the Order just want to make sure that the Dark Lord dies. They aren't looking at the consequences; they have no idea what they are doing. You need to trust me on this one, Harry. There are very few that actually have any clue, and Moody is not one of them," she said sternly.
"Oh, and you are," Harry spat at her.
"Yes, I most certainly am," she said firmly. "So are Severus and the others that are working very hard on this. Everyone has made you out to be the great Chosen one. Just remember that you are Harry Potter, and that means more than any name or title someone tries to put on you. Do not let them make your decisions for you, ever."
"Hermione, you are scaring me," Harry said as if all she had was a fever.
"My health is fine, worry about yourself, okay?" she said calmly.
"Alright," he said with a confused look in his sparkling green eyes. Harry wasn't dense; hopefully he got what she meant because if she was any clearer, someone might get a clue. She was just grateful Ron wasn't the Chosen One.
"Hey, 'Mione you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" Ron asked with a bit of a smirk.
"Yes, actually she is," a voice rang out from behind her as blonde hair swept over her shoulder and two strong arms pulled her in close against a strongly built chest.
She froze, eyes staring at Harry and Ron who were looking at her like she had five heads. Harry went for his wand, as did Ron.
"Don't!" she said quietly. "There is no way for you to hex him without hitting me, he isn't stupid. Just wait. What do you want Draco?" she said quietly.
"I just thought I would return the favor and save you from these torturous men," he said with mirth. Harry and Ron stared at her in wonderment.
The hint wasn't lost on her. Narcissa was fine, or okay at least. Lucius had been on time and was able to ward off the attack. Perhaps even take a few of the attackers. Good.
"They are my friends, quite unlike yourself so why would I need saving?" she said with a mocking "damsel in distress" feint in her voice.
"Draco? You are calling Malfoy by his first name?" Ron said, growing red around the face. Draco ignored him and continued talking.
"I'd like to take you to Hogsmeade tomorrow, would that be acceptable, Hermione?" he said with a wry grin sent at the two boys.
"If you leave those two monsters and Pansy at home, it would be alright with me," she said. "We can finish your Potions tutoring so you are ready for your NEWT's," she said giving Ron a pointed look.
"Good. You can talk Potions while I take you to Stella's Salon, I took the liberty of booking an appointment for you," he said smoothly. "Shall I meet you in the Main Entryway, say 9, after breakfast?"
"Fine Draco, I will see you then. Please unhand me," she said crossing her arms over her chest. "And do not forget your Potions work, or I am not going."
"I bid your leave, my Lady," he said dripping sarcasm. "Until tomorrow, Mudblood!" He strode down the hallway flicking his hair over his shoulder.
"Hermione!" Harry spat at her. "How could you agree to that?"
"Harry, when are you going to learn that bad things change people? Look at all the bad things that have happened to you. Would you be the person you are if they hadn't?" she asked tapping her foot impatiently. "Draco had to face his future and did not like where it led. He is not a Death Eater, just get it out of your head! Now I have class in two hours and Professor Snape and I have papers left to grade." She turned leaving the two boys to contemplate the bombshell she just dropped on them.
"She hasn't been the same since she was attacked," Ron said staring at her retreating form.
"Yes, you are right," Harry said. "I see the hurt in her eyes all the time, and she's acting so strangely, I barely know who she is anymore."
"Yeah, and since the attack she hasn't wanted anything to do with me," Ron said petulantly.
"Ron, she was beaten and raped by Death Eaters. You can't expect her to act like she used to! She's going to be different, especially the way she thinks about men. Not to mention she's an Instructor now, she cannot exactly date a student," Harry said admonishing his friend.
"She showed plenty of interest in Malfoy!" Ron whined.
"She cannot date him either, and you know how Hermione is about stuff like that! Malfoy walked up on her, not the other way around! Ron you are being ridiculous and jealous," Harry said shaking his head. "Getting that way will only drive Hermione away from you. She needs her friends, not some lovesick boy right now. I know you two were almost an item last year, but this changed things," Harry said. "She is right, bad things do change people. Just not all the time for the better."
"Yeah, it just stinks like a bad Chizpurfle contamination," he sighed. "And it's not what I want."
"That is just it Ron, it's not what you want. Time to think of someone other than yourself," he said. "That probably goes for me too."
"Where do you think she got the money for those awesome robes?" Ron said raising a brow. "Wow!"
"Probably from her parent's estate, since they passed and all," Harry said shrugging.
"Oh, yeah," Ron said shaking his head.
--
In her room, Hermione sat reading the Daily Prophet. Her hands were shaking and she was pallid white staring at the front page. She swallowed hard as the knock came fiercely upon her door.
"Enter," she said laying down the paper.
"Miss Granger, we have a… what is it?" he said looking harshly at her features.
"Malfoy Manor burned to the ground last night," she said flipping around the paper so he could see the photograph of the Manor engulfed in flames, the flames moving and licking over the ancient home. "They found two charred human remains and several burned house elves in the rubble this morning."
Severus took the long strides into her room and snatched up the paper.
"Someone needs to talk to Draco," she said smoothly. She remembered what he had said, but she didn't know if his message was before or after this happened. Only Draco's response could tell that.
Severus scanned over the paper and dropped it, making the fast paced walk to the door and out of her room.
"I cannot save you this time, Lucius," she whispered quietly and sunk down in her chair in thought.
--