Disclaimer: All characters belong to the very talented JKR. I am writing this for fun, not profit.

Without Question

Chapter 1: I'll Take the Secret to my Grave

Severus Snape pushed Hermione Granger against the dungeon's cold, stone wall, casting Alohamora on his office door as he did so. This left the room in complete darkness, apart from a single candle burning on his desk. He moved his callused fingers on his left hand so he was grasping Hermione's neck. The girl could feel herself choke, but managed to remain conscious.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Silencio!"

Hermione couldn't utter a single sound after Snape's spell. Snape moved his face so that it was inches away from hers. His voice became a malevolent hiss, his face a pronounced sneer. His eyes bored into Hermione's own, his Legilmency skills telling him that she was shocked and frightened. Maybe he didn't need Legilmency to tell him that. He forced a glass of milky-white liquid down her throat. Hermione winced at the heavily bitter taste.

"Never tell anyone about this, understand? If you do, I'll know. I'll bloody kill you."

Hermione had left her wand by her bed in her dormitory. She couldn't even scream out for help. All she could do was close her eyes as her once-trusted Potions master prised her virginity from her, their bodies joined together against her will. All she could do was wait for the pain to be over…

I gasped, hurting my neck as I shot up into a sitting position. It was a few seconds before I realised where I actually was. In a camp bed in Ginny's room. At the Burrow. Miles away from Hogwarts. I looked across to where Ginny lay, her sleeping untroubled. She didn't realise how lucky she was. I rubbed my neck surreptitiously as I reflected on my now-familiar nightmare. I hadn't had a night's sleep without it, without waking up cold and sweaty since...since the night the events in my dream took place in reality. I can remember every detail. I wish I could lock the memory up and throw away the key. But it doesn't work like that. I remember exactly what Snape said, what he did. Two days later, he killed Albus Dumbledore and showed his true colours as a Death Eater. I never got an explanation, an answer to the question: why? It didn't achieve anything. It caused someone agony, yet helped no one. As far as I can see.

But then destruction without purpose is what Death Eaters do, I suppose.

Even Ron's noticed how quiet I've been. I wish I could tell him and Harry what happened, but I am truly, utterly terrified to do so. I believe Snape would know if I explained to anyone about that night. And after seeing what he did to Dumbledore, I believe he'd kill me too.

I'll take the secret to my grave.

"Come on, Hermione - otherwise we'll all be late!"

Harry's voice sounded irritated as I put the finishing touches to my minimal make-up in cracked mirror hanging in the Weasley's kitchen.

"Just coming!"

I walked out the Burrow's back door to join my two friends walking down to Ottery St. Catchpole's village chapel, where Bill and Fleur's wedding was taking place. Most of the Weasley family was already there, with Charlie as Bill's best man and Ginny as one of Fleur's bridesmaids. I can't stand Fleur. She's all beauty and no brains, and the way Ron looks at her every time she comes into a room...

"You look great," said Harry, grinning. I gave a small smile back. Ron didn't say anything; he just stared at me with a strange look on his face. I was wearing a pale blue dress with a deep 'vee' neckline and a cut-on-the-bias skirt, with heels that Madam Malkin had dyed to match. I wasn't used to walking in them, and frequently stumbled over dips in the road or small stones.

We walked in companionable silence to the service (we'd almost definitely be spotted by a muggle from the village if we apparated). I felt so happy for Ron's brother, yet I felt so outside that happiness. Would my life ever get back on track? Two weeks ago, Snape had done something to me I thought even he wasn't capable of. Back when I thought that he'd redeemed himself after his years as a young man in Voldemort's service. Back when I thought he was a double agent – for us, not them. I felt dirty and used, empty inside. I shook myself mentally, forcing myself to think of something else. I watched Ron stop to tie his shoelace absent-mindedly. I could see the spire of the chapel poking above a beech tree. I was glad we were nearly there – my feet were killing me, why I always wear trainers.

We stepped inside the crowded chapel and sat in a panelled pew two rows behind Mr and Mrs Weasley and Fleur's parents. Fleur's mother was wearing such an enormous purple hat that it obscured the vision of anyone behind her. I shifted slightly so I could see, and amused myself by counting how many wooden carvings there were of angels on the ornate pulpit next to where Bill was standing at the front of the chapel. Boring, I know, but Harry and Ron seemed to be talking about Quidditch again, and I really couldn't care less.

"Prudence, look, someone thinks they saw Snape! Somewhere in Surrey, it says here…"

I jumped about a mile.

"Hermione, you Ok?" Ron asked in tones of concern.

I nodded, quickly turning away. An elderly witch I didn't know sitting on my right-hand side was showing her friend the front page of the Daily Prophet, with a large black-and-white photo of Snape scowling at whoever happened to be reading the paper. I suddenly felt dizzy and light-headed, and tried to regain my composure. My regular dream flashed through my mind…

…"I'll bloody kill you."

A loud Wedding March started to play on a magically charmed organ. I opened my eyes and felt sweat on my forehead slowly drip into them. No-one noticed however, as the entire congregation turned to see Fleur dramatically walk through impressive oak doors at the back of the chapel; accompanied by her bridesmaids Ginny and Fleur's sister, Gabrielle.

Fleur swept down the aisle wearing a long, white gown made of a gossamer material, clutching a bouquet of lilies in her hands. I glared at Ron, spying his open mouth and glazed-over expression out of the corner of my eye. Gabrielle and Ginny both looked gorgeous in matching pale gold dresses. Ginny glanced over at me and grinned, causing Harry to suddenly become intensely interested in the tiled floor. I wasn't that surprised when I heard they had broken up. I know Harry – he won't care about anything else until he's completely destroyed Voldemort. He wants to destroy Snape himself too. On the train ride back from Hogwarts, he told Ron and me exactly what happened, the night Dumbledore died for a fake Horcrux. I meant it when I assured him I'd help him as much as I could, find out who R.A.B. is. My rape has, if nothing else, made me even more determined to bring down Voldemort and every single one of his Death Eaters.

Every single one.

Applause rang throughout the Weasley's garden as Charlie finished his best-man speech. After an announcement that dancing would begin in half-an-hour, and that the guests were free to circulate, soft jazz music began to play with a surprising calming effect on me. I scanned the Weasley's garden, trying to find Harry or Ron, but only seeing smartly dressed wedding guests occasionally tripping over stray gnomes. I loved that about the Weasley's house. There was a pleasing imperfectness to it, something that my parents – both hygiene-obsessive dentists – would never appreciate. Failing to locate either of my friends, I was considering sneaking into the house to read a book on medicinal potions I'd seen earlier, when Ginny came sprinting towards me, her hair coming out of its up-do, her stilettos frequently sinking into the grass.

"Hey, Hermione," she said breathlessly. "I was stuck in a conversation with Fleur, so made an excuse about needing the loo and got away. Honestly, you should hear her: 'I iz so 'appy today, when I walked down ze aisle I was preetier zan I 'ave ever been in my whole life…' I mean how vain can you get?" Ginny's interpretation of Fleur was a little spiteful, but very accurate. "So I thought I'd come and talk to you!"

"Sure," I said. "You haven't seen Harry or Ron, have you?"

"No, sorry." She had reddened slightly at the mention of Harry's name.

"Hey, it could be worse," I told her, the older sister she'd never had.

"I understand why he broke up with me, of course." I'd apparently correctly interpreted her thoughts. "But I really miss just talking to him, Hermione!"

"If you only miss talking to him, he can't have been a great boyfriend!" I reply. We had a giggle. The first time I've laughed since…

"Hey, I know that it could be worse." Ginny interrupted my wayward thoughts. "Besides, what's going on with you? You've been so quiet all summer holiday, and I thought you looked a bit weird at the wedding ceremony. I know that what happened to Dumbledore was a bit of a shock, but…but I've never seen you so distant. Hermione?"

I'd already walked away.

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted across the garden.

"Just bugger off and leave me alone, alright? That it is, like, the millionth time someone has asked me that! There's nothing wrong with me!" Every single witch or wizard had turned to stare at Ginny and me. Spots of rain that had started to fall intermingled with the tears in my eyes as I stalked off.

"Well, really!" I heard Fleur's mother exclaim.

I hadn't meant to snap like that. The forbidden urge – my logical thinking – to tell someone, was eating at me inside. Besides, I've been so emotional lately. Even for a seventeen-year-old witch.

I gazed out of the tiny kitchen's only window. Harry and Ron seemed to be heading towards me, but Harry had been cornered by Gabrielle. She laughed at whatever his last comment was, touching him on the arm. Harry was unaware of Ginny looking on with a scowl worth of Sna…someone I used to know. Gabrielle seemed to be a mixture of two people I knew: with the looks of Fleur Delacour and the personality of Romilda Vane. Ron, looking a little put out that neither Fleur or Gabrielle was talking to him, he continued down the garden's path of paving slabs and opened the door to the room I was sitting in.

"Hi. This wedding's been fun, hasn't it?" he began sarcastically. "It's tipping it down with rain and by the look of things, Fred and George have stuck some Nosebleed Nougat into one of the mini sausage rolls. Mum's gonna be so mad…"

I continued to stare out of the window, but gave a wide grin as I noticed a tall male wizard in expensieve dress robes with blood running down his face.

I stretched my arms out to either side of me and Ron obligingly gave me a friendly hug. I breathed in, inhaling his scent that smelled, strangely enough, like fresh parchment.

He spoke with a serious tone as we broke apart. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, Hermione. I don't know if it's we're at a wedding, or…"

Was Ron Weasley about to say what I thought he was about to say?

"Well…I was just wondering if…"

Unfortunately, I didn't hear the rest of what he said, because I was forced to run to the Weasley's downstairs toilet and vomited into the bowl. Great. Just what I needed.

"Hermione?" Ron's voice came uncertainly from the other side of the door.

"I'm fine, Ron…I'll talk to you later."

That was so embarrassing! If he was going to ask what he sounded like he was going to ask, that's probably wasn't the answer he was looking for. Who am I kidding? Ron would never ask me out on a date. He certainly wouldn't ask outright. I'm dreaming. 'Him and me' is something that could never happen. He's my best friend!

That was strange though. I haven't been feeling ill. I haven't felt like I'm going to be sick.

I must have just eaten too much cake.

A/N: I have already completed this story, so I will not be abandoning this fic. I will update this about every three days or so (there are three more chapters and an epilogue to go after this first part). As always, constructed criticism is appreciated. Please review!

Best, glamur xxx