Chapter 5: An Unexpected Visitor
"Why did we have to join Minerva and Albus tonight?" Hermione asked when they were alone later that night.
"Because I didn't want her to tell Albus, or anyone else, how she found us tonight. I should have been more careful and locked the door."
"Yeah, right." She laughed. "And she would have been through that lock in a heartbeat. Locks have no value in this school." Hermione looked lost in thought. "I wonder if it would help if we hung a Do Not Disturb sign on our doors every time we wanted to be alone. Then again, it would probably make people barge in anyway. Maybe we'll have to try to sneak out of the castle next time." She sighed, he was massaging the back of her neck and her shoulders.
"Shh . . . . You talk too much. Just listen."
"To what? There's no sound in this castle whatsoever. Except in the kitchen. Everyone is already asleep."
"Exactly." He nuzzled her neck. "There's no one around." His lips went a little lower, he was driving her crazy. "I don't think anyone is anywhere near the dungeons." His hands started to slide the top of her nightdress over her shoulders. "Hermione? I - - " Just then an owl flew to the window. They could see it had something in it's claws.
"Severus, hurry. Go open the window!" He ran to open it while she pulled her dress back over her shoulders. "What is it carrying?"
The owl flew in, dropped whatever it was holding on the bed, then flew to the top of the wardrobe. "What the . . .? It's a mouse!" She inched closer to the bed. "I recognize it! Grab a jar with a lid! Hurry!" She jumped up on the bed, grabbing the mouse.
"Here. Put it in this." Hermione dropped the mouse in the jar. "I'll be damned. I thought the traitor was dead! Hello, Peter. Fancy meeting you here. Isn't this the same place you were caught last time? Except it was down in the Whomping Willow, if I remember correctly."
Peter Pettigrew, who had been sent to Azkaban in Hermione's 5th year, curled up in a ball, trying to protect himself.
"In fact, I could have sworn that the Dark Lord had killed you himself." Hermione looked up at him, startled, when he said this. "I'll explain later." Then, to Pettigrew "Maybe I should just hand you back over to Voldemort" Pettigrew shuddered "and allow him to finish what he started. You know he doesn't tolerate traitors. In fact, I'm surprised you've managed to hid from him for the past two years." Now he turned to Hermione. "Let's go to the next room and I'll explain." She glanced at him, tucked Pettigrew's jar in the bookshelf with a heavy book on top of it, then led the way into the sitting room.
Snape watched her movements with a smile. She was so careful not to allow Peter a chance to escape. Then he wondered how he was going to tell Hermione about his past life.
"Severus?" She was shaking slightly. Please, don't let him be an agent for Voldemort! Don't let Severus work for the Dark side!
"I'm coming." He walked into the room and shut the door so Pettigrew couldn't hear them. "Hermione?" He went to hold her, but she backed away from him. "Hermione, please, sit down." She sat in the armchair across the room. He removed his cloak and set it on the table. The he took off his nightshirt, sitting it on top of the cloak.
Hermione stared in disbelief as he removed his cloak and shirt. When he turned towards her, she gasped. "The Dark Mark!" She shrank in her chair, trying to get further away from him.
"Yes, Hermione. The Dark Mark. But let me explain before you judge me. There is much you don't know." He stayed where he was, knowing she was terrified. "I have never been very determined as to make up my mind. When Voldemort came and killed my parents when I was your age, he took me into his services. My sister found me when I was 20 and demanded that I talk to Dumbledore. She dragged me to the castle and demanded entry to the Headmaster's chambers. You know Albus . . . he admits entrance to everyone. Well, she sat me down across from him and ordered me to tell him everything. So, I started from the beginning and told him everything I had done and what I knew others had done. I told him the names of all the current Death Eaters and of those we believed would most likely rise to our ranks. I told him the dates and times of all our meetings and what had transpired during them. I even told him of upcoming planned attacks. During all this he remained calm and collected, while my sister had gone pale and wept. I actually begged him to help me; if Voldemort found out what I had done, I'd have been dead within the hour. Dumbledore assured me that the Dark Lord wouldn't find out, then he offered me this position as Potions Master at Hogwarts."
Hermione stared at him in shock. "Even after you told him about what you did for a living! I can't believe Dumbledore would be that foolish!"
He smiled sadly at her outburst. "Yes, even after all I'd just told him, he trusted me enough to help me turn my life back around. I became a spy for Dumbledore; I had already infiltrated the Dark Lord's ranks, had already gained their trust in the two years I was with them. I was a prime candidate. We saved many lives after I became a spy. However, the Dark Lord began to grow suspicious that someone had turned traitor and was giving out information. He used Legilimancy on all of us. Being the only one among his ranks to know Occlumency, I managed to hide my secret. Satisfied that none of is agents was dishing out info, we continued the raids. When we sent our friend Pettigrew to Azkaban, Voldemort had two dementors bring him to our headquarters. With everyone knowing Peter was alive, he was of no more us to his Lord, so Voldemort used the Cruciatious Curse to punish him for being caught, then killed him with Avada Kedavra. Or so we thought." He put his shirt and cloak back on. "Come, we must consult Albus about this." He lowered his voice and mumbled something she could barely hear. "Every bloody time!"
Hermione couldn't help grinning at his crossness. Every time they were alone, something had to happen. She had already forgiven him for his past: he had already paid for it, let him bury it. She followed him into the corridor, then turned off the lights and shut the door.