This chapter was written especially for Mother of Tears, I can only hope that you like it… also a thank you to Poet for such kind words - I wouldn't have had much incentive to write this chapter without your advice, and also a word of thanks to A Lee En (cool name).
Answering the screams
Sunlight pierced through the dusted blinds, falling across his bed in slashes. He grimaced, coughing slightly as he inhaled stale air and gingerly pushed himself up on his elbows, the whine of screeching springs beneath him cutting through the muffled silence like a knife.
Skin bristling in the icy draught and hair falling limply into his eyes, he trailed along the darkened corridor toward a rather dishevelled door, it's paint peeling and hinges groaning as it gave way into a bare, stark-white bathroom. Well, it held the typical fixtures of a bathroom - a tin bath, a toilet devoid of such modern comforts as a seat and a well-rusted sink. The walls were stained with ancient condensation, the cold floorboards voiced complaint as he leaned over the sink, twisting the taps until they yielded and let a dribble of water forth into his cupped hands. He rubbed hard at his face, his nails scraping at the building fatigue and then reaching blindly for a small, greying hand towel.
The darkness pressed in on her as she stirred, a metallic taste consuming her senses and echoing the throbbing pain in her head. A glittering wave of shimmering light erupted hazily in front of her vision, the remnants of disorientation. Her eyes, so unaccustomed to pitch darkness, made meaningless shapes swell in the thick air around her.
She dug her feet into the hard floor and managed to push herself unsteadily to her knees, her hands, bound together with what felt like razor wire, clawing the ground, broken nails bleeding as they scraped the wooden boards, she struggled to move towards the thin streak of light that fell through the open door.
Light fell smoothly across the room, illuminating the huddled, struggling figure. He quickly admired Wormtail's cruel use of magic on her,having often wondered what use that vermin waste of humanity was to the Dark Lord. It bothered him slightly how such a small, innocent, naive boy had grown into that merciless, cowardly, uncompassionate fool.
'P-please p-professor'
'I'm not your Professor anymore Miss Granger…' he retorted curtly, leaning down to grasp her wrists and wrench her to her feet.
The telltale shuffling of footsteps echoed behind them and he turned quickly enough to catch site of Wormtail, who was eyeing the exchange with his watery eyes narrowed.
'What are your… err… plans for her' Wormtail inclined his head pointedly, a peculiar shudder passing through him as his eyes travelled over the girl.
'That will be the Dark Lords decision. As you well know, Wormtail… I suggest you find something else to do with your time… unless there is something else on your mind' Severus raised an eyebrow sardonically, watching Wormtail fidget uncomfortably and shuffle off, muttering decrepit words under his breath.
'why… Why..? She uttered the words through gritted teeth, staring up into his cold gaze defiantly.
'Why..?' his voice was soft and dangerous, woven with skill as he contemplated his words, his eyes were so dark… 'Because you chose to seal your own fate Granger…'
'I n-never… I-I haven't done anything-' she spluttered, shivering slightly and trying to pry her hands from his painful clutch, something flickered in those dark eyes as they found the dark stain on her t-shirt, but then…
'You insolent child. Dare you question the Dark Lords reasons' his eyes glinted malevolently.
'I question you Snape! I want answers' she broke away from him, feeling hot blood pulse through her-
'You!' she cried 'You k-killed Dumbledore! How..? How can you just stand there and..?' she broke off, one hand shielding her face, tears falling freely down her pale, gaunt face-
'I hate you' she managed to gasp, as white-hot rage tore through her in waves, blood pounding in her ears, yet Snape merely surveyed her coldly, with a slight hint of distaste-
Delirious, crying unrestrainedly, she wanted to hurt him, to make him feel some of what she was feeling-
Weakened with grief, she was unable to twist away from his painful grasp on her upper arms, as he shoved her roughly against the wall, she uttered the words 'I hate you… I-I h-'
'Listen!' he hissed, his face inches from hers, his dark eyes searing through her like acid-
'You know nothing! Nothing!' He shook her, hard, and she gripped his wrists in protest-
'Then tell me…' she pleaded, her soft eyes imploring into his, bright even in the darkest shadow-
'I k-know you… you didn't…'she shook her head, unable to phrase what she felt, she grasped his hands as though she could somehow convey her thoughts-
'No..!' he pulled away, releasing her, where she slid down the wall and crumpled to the floor. 'There's not much time left in the world you know Miss Granger… there is nothing you or anyone else can do but accept it. For your own sake, just accept it' he turned quickly on his heel, striding from the room and slamming the door shut, dowsing her once again in darkness.
'He's using her isn't he. To get the Potter boy' Wormtail stated, flexing his silver-stained hand absent-mindedly with beaming admiration. Severus kept his eyes fixed to the page in front of him, re-reading the lines over and over to distract himself.
'I believe that is the ah… eventual plan… however, I think there is more to it than that. Not that it is any of your business Wormtail' he added, in a casual low voice, seemingly bored.
He heard shuffling, Wormtail sighing exasperatedly, and closed his eyes momentarily as the short man managed to wheeze a few brave words 'I am one of his most trusted-'
Severus snorted, ending Wormtail's little speech in mid sentence.
'You d-don't treat me with the respect I d-deserve Severus. I am here helping you-'
'-serving me' Severus retorted with a slight sneer, finally raising his head to fix the short man with a cold glare. It was clear he was yearning some sort of attention.
'I c-could tell the Dark Lord many things Severus. Like how… courteous you are being to that little Mudblood' it was clear Wormtail was finding it hard to express himself. Severus wondered vaguely how he had ever made Gryffindor , fixing Wormtail with a cold glare.
'If you have any doubts of my allegiance. I suggest you take them to the Dark Lord… I have no time to listen to your incessant whining-'
Severus broke off, catching a glimpse of movement by the door. The girl looked more dishevelled than ever, barely recognisable for who she was, her face ghostly drained. Severus discerned coolly that it was taking her all she had to remain standing…
'I will be leaving shortly to attend to some business matters… Wormtail shall watch you while I am gone' Wormtail flinched at the mention of his name, eyeing the girl again with that peculiar expression that Severus could not place. The girl herself merely nodded, seemingly defeated of any argument, finding her way towards the sofa onto which she slumped on.
'So then girly, better not pull any stunts while Snape's away eh?'
Hermione cringed slightly, closing her eyes tight and shuddering as she felt his putrid breath hot against her neck.
'You know, I noticed your old Professor kinda has a thing for you… but then, who can blame him eh?' Wormtail shuffled closer, almost panting, she felt his sweaty hands grasp her shoulders.
Shudders ran through her whole body, as her skin burnt beneath his sordid touch. But she would not rise to him, would not give him the satisfaction of knowing…
'Look at me girl!' He wrenched her round to face him, his sharp nails digging into the seeping cut on her right shoulder…
'No!' she hissed, her teeth gritted as he leered nearer…
His lips pressed hard against hers, and instinctively she did the only thing she could - she bit down. Hard.
'Argh! You little…' the next thing she felt was considerable pain, as something silver and stone-hard connected with the side of her face-
She stumbled backwards, tripping haphazardly over a foot stool and crashing to the floor.
His footsteps echoed, closer and closer, for what seemed like a short eternity. Hermione rolled onto her back with extreme difficulty, clutching her throbbing head… how could this be happening to her?
'PROFESSOR!' she screamed shrilly, scrambling backwards along the floor, shards of broken glass shredding her palms-
'He's not coming girl… no one can hear you… apart from me' he was advancing slowly, savouring every moment of this new found power with relish, his face contorted in a vulgar expression-
'CRUCIO!' suddenly screams filled the room, agonizing, excruciating shrieks…
Hermione watched in horror as Wormtail dropped easily to his knees… curling up and tearing blindly at the air around him… a tall shadow fell over her and she glanced up at Snape, robes billowing in the doorway, hair flailing with the wind and his eyes-
His eyes flashed like fire as he stood over the scene… then, almost lazily, he lifted his wand and Wormtail's shrieks quelled.
'Come here' his voice was soft, edged with danger that was for once not intended toward her, and she started toward him, not safe until she could bury herself against his chest… not safe until he would hold her and take her away from this place…