A/N: Big thanks as usual to all of my reviewers and supporters, and I am glad that the last chapter recieved so many compliaments. I was worried that it was too dark and harsh, but I'm happy to see that you all enjoyed it. Phew!
decadentserenity: Yay Snape-Plushies, mmm mmm. And I'm glad your toes are still tingling, more scenes to make them curl coming soon.
Taste's Like Home: Speechless huh? Wow, what a compliament, never made anyone speechless before, I think I'm going to blush. And I am glad you liked the conversation between Severus and Lucius, though it was a brief conversation, I am attempting to develope my dialogue skills more, I think it really helps to solidify the characters. And I am sure that there will be many more conversations between the pair in the future.
wiccan-witch88: Isn't he though? But don't be too hard on our dear Potions Professor, I'm sure he will see the error of his ways soon, just don't hold your breath for an apology.
Velvet Storm: How delightfully insightful you are my dear! You hit it right on the nail, it is terribly hard for Severus to deny who he was when Lucius is around, and even harder for him to hold back the small part that remains of the monster he once was. I'm glad you're still enjoying it. No doubt, much more snarkiness and flashbacks to his former self to come.
thornblack: Thank you for the warning, it is immensly helpful when people point out the slips I make. It's hard for me to spot them myself because I am so immersed in the story, I think it is inevitable to some degree though, we all tweak things about someone else's character when we try to portray them in our words. I will do my very best to stay true to the characters however.
sallene: He he... better watch our for snarky Snape's lurking in the darkness. Boo! And yes, with time she is definitely going to discover much more about the man she is depending upon for her safety, but shh, no spilling secrets yet.
Sammy Cyanide: Well, I wasn't aware that I had made Hermione out to be moronically naive, and I am sorry if you feel she comes across that way. I have already stated that I do have a hard time pinning down her character correctly, there is just some spark of her personality that I am having a hard time grasping. As for her not knowing what is going on, I think it will soon become evident that she is quite aware of the game she has been thrust unwillingly into and may suprise you yet with her immense intelligence and Gryffindor sense of courage. Now moving on to your next point: Lucius. It would indeed be impossible for Lucius to not recognize such an important part of the Golden Trio, but really what use would there be for revealing his familiarity with the girl so soon? We all know Lucius is cunning, meticulous and calculating, he would definitely use the situation in a way that suits him most, gaining him more power and placing himself further into the Dark Lord's trust. I don't want to give too much away before you actually read this chapter, but rest assured he makes it subtly but at the same time plainly obvious that he knows exactly who she is and that he will use this knowledge to best serve his own motives.
Seph7: he he, thank you so much, glad to steam things up a bit for you.
Fairy of Fire and Fury: Don't worry, I won't let this one fall by the wayside if I start a new fic, I enjoy writing it too much for that. I'll let you know if/when I start the Hermione/Lucius fic. Oh, and I hope the golf course wasn't too bad today!
Okay, phew all worn out after that. So anyway, here is the next chapter, a bit shorter than the last, but hopefully not quite as intense and dark either, though I'm sure things will heat up again soon in more way than one. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews. Enjoy!
Hogwarts lay quiet and still beneath the early December morning light, the Whomping Willow swaying slowly back and forth in a soft chill breeze, no more than the distant squawks of ravens at the pumpkin patch and the odd flutter of wings from the owlery could be heard. A light snowfall had begun just before day break, small and delicate snowflakes fluttering down, covering the land in another blanket of crisp clean whiteness as though it could smother the pain and blood that had haunted the castle for centuries. The solid stone walls hide many secrets, silent cries still ringing in its drafty halls, the imprint of a thousand lies still lay within its massive stones, the sorrows of many years yet to come whistling through its empty rooms.
A deep rumble echoed up from the dungeons sounding like a terrible and fearsome beast prowling its dank and dark hallways, which would not really be so far from the truth. In a wingback chair beside a fireplace that had long ago grown dark and cold lay sprawled the figure of a dark and tortured man. Raven colored hair hung limply across gaunt and deathly pallid cheeks, eyes that would glitter darkly with anger for now lay closed, sunken deep into their sockets, the flesh around them ashen and shiny with weariness. Grating snores emanated from his broad chest, his breaths flowing over his thin, drawn lips in small puffs of spice scented air as he lingered in the smothering grip of a drunken sleep.
Giving a sudden jerk Severus sat bolt upright still tightly clutching the bottle of Fire Whiskey, only a few small mouthfuls swilling in the bottom.
"Keep your filthy hands off her Lucius!" he bellowed in a slurred and scratchy voice before he slumped back into the chair, his eyes once more drifting closed slowly as he began breathing heavily again. It was several long moments filled only with the sound of the wind whistling along the outer walls of the castle and his deep breaths before he stirred once again, cautiously opening his eyes, squinting against the light that flooded through the enchanted windows at his back, a deep groan of pain rushing out of him. Slowly he drew his free hand up to his face, cradling his throbbing head gently as he turned his head towards the fireplace, the other containing the almost empty bottle slipping from his lap, his grasp loosing until the bottle fell to the floor with a resounding clink. Wincing at even the small noise he grunted miserably, evaluating the current state he found himself in, flashes of tortured dreams skidding through his mind.
His jaw clenched painfully, his teeth grinding rhythmically as he remembered the dreams that had plagued him all night long, pitiful feminine screams puncturing the silence that had filled his mind, soon following by cackling and cruel laughter that chilled him to his core. With a shudder of revulsion he remembered the sorrowful and broken look in her eyes as she had looked up at him pleadingly, tears streaming down her face as she cried out for his mercy, for release from the pain as he stood numb and unfeeling, frozen in place as he watched a group of his fellow Death Eaters surround her. Her piercing screams had not lasted long, all too soon they were replaced by muffled sobs and then silence as she was violated, abused and broken in so many ways…
It wasn't until the others had grown tired of their sport and wandered away that he approached the small heap of tangled limbs and torn clothing. Lowering to his knees, his own pitch black robes billowing out around him as he laid the shinning silver mask upon the ground, that gruesome face staring back up at him with empty eyes tauntingly. Hesitantly he reached out a subtly trembling hand to stroke a shock of honeyed hair back from her face, a heated pain spreading through his chest as he looked down into the hollowed face before him. Her chocolate brown eyes that always glittered annoyingly with a brilliant intelligence and determination now showed an emptiness that cut him to the quick. Dull and listless they stared unseeing, lazily blinking out of no more than necessity. Her full and tempting lips were parted, cracked and bleeding as her breaths rushed over them, steady and unchanging as though she could remain in this soulless state for eternity.
Tenderly he gathered the limp and bruised body into his arms, the sweet metallic fragrance of her blood a vile scent in his nostrils as he gently stroked the tangled and matted mass of her hair. A quick crackling breath rushed over her lips, her voice broken, fighting against her to form the words she so desperately wanted to speak. Cradling her head to his chest Severus rocked her back and forth like a child, for that is what she was, an innocent child that had been raped, tortured and now pushed to the brink of death all in the name of sport. He felt the salty warmth of her tears sliding over his fingers as she wept silently, her arms hanging mangled at her sides, her fingers randomly twitching as the nerves sought to fix themselves, but it was hopeless, she was no more than a broken and discarded toy now, no amount of twine and stitches could repair her.
Again her voice came low and hoarse, her throat aching and raw from her terrified screams and unanswered pleas. It was more like a whistling breath than a collection of words, while Severus pulled her closer struggling to hear them.
"Please…. me…" she whispered, her eyes squeezed shut tightly with the effort to speak. Resting his cheek against her warm lavender scented curls he stroked a single hand down her cheek,
"What is it Hermione? What do you want to say?" he asked softly, straining to hear her words. With considerable effort and a choking cough that brought a crimson spot to blossom on her lip she spoke again,
"Please… kill… me." A rattling breath flowed from her as Severus held back a wail of agony, clutching her tighter to his chest, his shoulders shaking with the struggle to keep his own sobs at bay.
"No, Hermione, no. I can't…" he whispered against the small shell of her ear.
"Please…" she whimpered helplessly in a cracking and strained voice. "Please… kill me." Turning his head away and squeezing his eyes shut Severus felt the burning heat of his own tears sliding slowly down his cheeks, his teeth clenched tightly to stop himself from bellowing out in the darkness.
"I can't… please, Hermione I cannot do it…" he whimpered into her ear, feeling the residual tremors of the Cruciatus curse rippling through, her body going stiff as a board in his arms, her broken fingers clawing at the floor beneath her leaving bloody smears across the rough stone.
"It hurts!" she cried through her pain, a fresh stream of tears coursing over her swollen cheeks, dripping into the deep cut at the side of her mouth. "Please…. Please Severus, kill me…" she begged solemnly. Holding her tightly he rocked back and forth on his knees, letting the wetness of his tears soak into her hair before he gently laid her back upon the cold ground, watching a solitary last tear slip out and roll down her cheeks as she slowly closed her eyes and drew in a long and quivering breath. Rising to his unsteady feet he swayed for a moment, a cold numbness fighting against the burning rage that swelled within him. Swiftly removing his wand from the folds of his robes before he lost his gall Severus closed his eyes tightly whispering softly,
"I'm sorry Hermione, I'm sorry I could not save you…" his voice trailing off into an agonized croak. When he finally opened his eyes again he saw her lying silent and trembling, her twitching fingers curled at her sides, her chest heaving while her cheeks glimmered with her shed tears. "Goodbye Hermione" he breathed painfully as he bowed his head and pointed his wand at her while squeezing his eyes shut once more. "Avada Kedavra" he spoke vehemently wishing to Merlin that it was Voldemorte or Lucius in her place. He felt the power flow from the tip of his wand, a shrill scream ripping through the silence making him shake violently until it faded away, nothing but the echoes of it rippling back to him.
Opening his watery eyes slowly Severus watched the remnants of the flash of green light fading. Instantly full of revulsion he stared numbly at the girl spread unmoving on the stones before him, his wand slipping from his hand with a loud clatter as he fell to his knees beside her, pulling her body to him, the warmth already beginning to seep from her. He froze suddenly at the sound of her remaining breath slipping over her lips in a whisper,
"Thank you… thank you Severus… I forgive you." And then she was gone, nothing but a shell of the former bright and shinning soul, no more than a broken doll. A whirlwind of agony swept through him, forcing his spine to bow painfully as if he too were suffering beneath the Cruciatus curse, his hands wrenching through his hair, pulling it sharply from the roots as he bellowed in a voice hoarse with rage and the most excruciating pain he had felt in all his long years. "LUCIUS!"
Severus stared darkly at the empty fireplace, reliving the torture of his dream over and over again as he had all night long. His hand curled tightly around the arm of the chair, the wood creaking and threatening to splinter beneath his furious grip as he fought to hold back the howl that lay thick in his throat. A sudden flare of the fire caused him to draw his foot back quickly, the flames flickered a nauseating green just long enough for a letter to come fluttering into the room, before the fireplace grew as dark and empty as it was before. Eyeing the envelope suspiciously Severus watched as it swirled in the air, slowly sinking to the floor to land beside the Fire Whiskey bottle. For a long while he kept his eyes trained upon the empty grate, or at least tried to, his eyes periodically drifting to rest upon the untouched envelope at his feet. The seal that would reveal the identity of the sender lay face down, only the blank surface staring up at him, though it did not take a genius to guess who had sent it.
Grunting in irritation he quickly rose to his feet, wavering for an instant as his still drunken mind struggled to right itself as it swam about inside his skull as though the exceedingly large amount of Fire Whiskey he had consumed the night before had burnt through the tissues holding it in place. Once he was certain, or at least moderately so, that the meager contents of his stomach would not make an abrupt and unwelcome appearance and his eyes would not fall out of his head to roll across the floor he took several staggering steps towards his cluttered desk. Placing one trembling hand upon the top of the desk he bent forward slightly, the other hand grasping his pounding temples, a slick covering of sweat blanketing his face as he swallowed hard, sternly telling himself that he would not vomit. Easing himself slowly into the chair behind his desk he continued to cradle his head in his hand, feeling as if a mountain troll was standing behind him persistently trying to bash in his skull. Refusing to open his aching eyes for fear that they would indeed fall out directly in front of him on the desktop, he reached blindly with his other hand, pulling open the top left drawer, his fingers hovering over the neat row of small vials within it for a moment before he quickly plucked a single bottle from the drawer.
The small bottle contained a silvery iridescent liquid that shimmered and sparkled in the weak light as he brought it close to his mouth. Grasping the cork stopper between his teeth he quickly wrenched it from the vial, spitting the cork haphazardly on the floor and without another moments pause swallowed the contents in one gulp. Shuddering at the sour taste of the hangover potion Severus waited none too patiently for it to kick in, exhaling a long slow breath of relief as he felt his stomach begin to settle and the pounding in his head gradually subside. Yet again he found his gaze drifting towards the envelope beside his chair, the beige parchment appearing like a bright beacon in the otherwise dark room, the sight of it pulling at him, beckoning him to open it. Releasing a sigh he slowly rose to his feet, at least thankful for the fact that his brain no longer swam around in his head like so much mush, his steps slow and cautious as he approached the empty chair. Peering at the envelope a moment longer with a deep scowl upon his face he removed his wand from his robes and cast a revealing charm upon it.
Slowly a spot of ink emerged on the otherwise blank parchment, slowly bleeding across its surface as it gradually spelled out "S. Snape." Frowning deeply he bent and snatched it up quickly flipping it over to reveal the black wax seal on the back, a hissing snake forming an intricate M with its twisting and curling body. Groaning in frustration he stared blankly at the seal for a moment trying to decide if he should open it or simply burn it and be done with the whole catastrophe it was no doubt about to cause. Gritting his teeth to force back a growl he tore through the seal and after taking a steadying breath withdrew the enclosed letter.
Severus,
I thank you for your hospitality this past evening, and for the exquisite company you provided. I found your choice of entertainment highly amusing and intriguing, I do believe that it may be of some future use. The importance of this revelation has been passed onto our venerable Master as I am sure you would wish it so. As for our discussion of business, I am certain we can come to an amicable resolution.
Until our next meeting old friend.
Sincerely,
L. Malfoy.
Reading through the letter multiple times Severus became more and more infuriated with each passing minute until in a fit of rage he crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fireplace, a bright flash of flame suddenly engulfing the grate, crackling as heatedly as his fury. A seething growl rumbled out from between his firmly clenched teeth, his eyes flashing wildly as he stared at the flickering flames, their dancing orange light reflecting in the gleaming surface of his black orbs. Turning he stalked purposefully towards the closed bedchamber door, his anger bubbling beneath the surface of his skin, surging through his veins in a liquid heat until his entire body was alive with the tingling sensation, his nerve endings buzzing and his skin prickling. Pressing a palm to the door he rested his forehead against the cool wood as he listened quietly for any sign of movement on the other side of the thick slab of mahogany.
Taking control of his fine-tuned senses Severus listened carefully for a moment, hearing Hermione's soft and sleepy breaths, every now and then a soft whimper breaking the silence. Stepping back from the door he once again withdrew his wand from his robes and shaking his head at the knowledge that Hermione was indeed going to be extremely put out by his decision, he began casting a complicated and virtually unbreakable locking charm upon the door, effectively trapping her inside, but more precisely keeping others out. As soon as he was satisfied that the charm would hold no matter what she threw at it he turned on his heel and stalked towards his private laboratory and the small bathroom located within it.