Title – Different Life
Author – Brittany McLean
Rated – PG -13
Disclaimer – I don't own the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling does.
Her black school robes were cascading down the sides of the bed of where she slept. Her lips slightly parted as she breathed softly. Her cheeks were tear stained and slightly pink. Her hair was strewn across the pillow in soft curls.
Severus watched her sleep for a moment before slightly shutting the door and locking it with a spell. He left a note on her pillow letting her know where he would be for the time being. He also explained why he had to lock the door.
He felt guilty doing this to her, but he had no choice. This was for her own protection. He was protecting her. He had to repeat this in his mind over and over to try and tell himself that what he was doing was right. He couldn't just take her and leave, he was risking his own life. This is where the fork in the road came. So what? He deserved to die! After all he's done in his life? But then…. Who was going to protect Harry, and help in the Order even though it was secret to himself. This life was so confusing and difficult.
Severus tried to ignore the protests in his mind as he made his way to the parlor of his home. He needed to apparate to the graveyard where there was to be another meeting held. Somehow he knew it involved Hermione. He shuddered to think of what it could be. This poor girl was brought into the middle of things by family ties.
'Stop it Severus, all these thoughts are clouding your mind. You could reveal yourself to the Dark Lord if you do not get a grip.' He scolded himself. He took a deep breath and apparated.
She shivered. There was a cold breeze on her back. 'Ginny must have left the window open again…' Hermione thought sleepily. Ginny usually always liked it cold and would sometimes forget to shut the window leaving Hermione unbearably cold.
She sat up about to scold Ginny about leaving windows open until a painful realization hit her hard. She was not at Hogwarts; she was in Snape's home in Diagon Alley. She threw the sheets off of her body and ran to the window that was open slightly. She shut it shut tightly and ran tried to pull the door open. It wouldn't budge. Again she tried.
'There must be some kind of charm on it…' She searched in her pockets for her wand and realized that Snape had taken it. She bit her lip in aggravation. Tears were starting to form. She ran over to the window pulling it open. She looked down; they seemed to be about five stories high from the ground. She had to at least try.
Taking a deep breath and wiping the now rapidly falling tears with the sleeve she placed her hands on the window pane. Just as she managed to stick her head out into the biting cold wind she felt as if she had been shocked throughout her body. She opened her eyes wide in surprise and looked down. The window was shinning bright pink. She was thrown backward into the bed.
"No!" She leapt to her feet. He had charmed the window also! She could only open it for air. "LET ME OUT!" She was screaming hysterically hoping that someone could hear her from outside.
She ran back to window and screamed to the people below, "SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME! PLEASE! ANYBODY HELP ME!" It felt like she was yelling for several minutes before she crumpled to the floor in a crying heap.
He had probably put a silencing charm on the room also. She thought miserably suddenly feeling hopeless. She sat up and wiped more tears from her sleeve. She wished she could write to Ron or Harry. She'll ask Snape when and if he ever comes back.
She slid up to the desk and sat down in the chair. A quill was sitting there already but she had to find some ink and parchment.
Dear Harry, Ron,
I want to tell you guys that I'm all right. I have some interesting news for you guys. Sadly it is bad interesting. You have to help me, I'm held hostage with the Death Eaters. I can't say much, just that I need help. And you'll never believe the news I have about a certain teacher. I need help as soon as you can. So far I am in no immediate danger.
Love,
Hermione
She folded the letter neatly and let it lay on the desk ready to be taken away.
She lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling. It felt like it's been years but in reality it has only been a few hours. She was drowsy but could not fall asleep. Her eyes and head hurt from the constant crying. It seemed as if she was still crying but had no tears left. She was starting to feel hungry but she wondered if she should even eat. Voldemort wants her alive. But what if he found her dead? What if Snape found her dead?
She tried to imagine what it would be like. Would he feel anything for her? Or would he feel scared for not coming through with his Master's plan?
Snape walked into his door finally. Everything was dark and quiet. He stumbled through the dark house. It was feeling eerily cold. His heart was starting to beat a little harder. Something wasn't right. A cold breeze came through the room Hermione was locked in. He rushed over to her door and muttered a spell that released its holds on the door. It was dark except for the blue glare from the moon. The window was open letting in the biting cold air into the small room. It was freezing in here.
Where the hell was Hermione? He thought silently.
But his body was ahead of his thoughts. He thundered into the bathroom waving his wand to light the room.
The shower curtains were halfway open…
Drip…
The bathtub was filled with pink water…
Drip…
Her hair was floating around her…
Drip…
Her eyes were open wide….
He took a step closer, fearing closing around his heart…
Drip…
The water tap was slowly letting small droplets of water loose into the tub of red water.
He looked down fearing what he knew…
Drip…
The razor was lying on the carpet next to the tub with shimmering blood still fresh on
it…
Drip…
Her wrists were cut on both sides. Blood still flowing freely from them. The water was ice cold. Hermione was lifeless…..
But that was all she could imagine. She couldn't tell what he was feeling even if she knew legilimency. The man was unreadable then any other.
She sat up on her bed feeling cold thinking about how chilly the room was in her thoughts; she stood up and strode over to the window. She looked out once before shutting it tightly.
Would she ever be free again?
Or would she be stuck in this room? Or worse, under the imperious spell by Voldemort?
Would she be his slave? One of his murderers? Is this the life she deserved? Or course not…. She let her knees grow weak and fell onto the floor leaning against the wall for support.
'Who does deserve this? Besides the Death eaters themselves?' Her head was swimming with thoughts. She felt guilty for asking herself if she deserved this. There were hundreds of people who do not deserve stuff, and yet they still get horrible things happen to them. Neville for instance…. His parents are insane because of Voldemort's followers. Did he deserve it? Of course not.
All of a sudden a plate full of hot food showed up on the night stand next to the bed. It was full of mashed potatoes with beef gravy poured perfectly on top of it, three slices of juicy ham, two buttered biscuits, mixed vegetables to go along with it, and a cup of Butter beer next to the plate.
She sat up instantly feeling her stomach growl at the smell of it filling up her nostrils. She picked up the fork and began to eat so fast that she knew if she didn't slow down she'd probably choke. She stopped eating for a second to take a swig of her Butter beer. Once she was finished eating she laid her fork down and it disappeared instantly.
Her eyes began to feel heavy. She lay down in the bed feeling comfortably warm. But she needed more warmth. She pulled the heavy quilted sheets over her body and let her eyelids close. She fell asleep just minutes after her head swimming with thoughts. Her dreams tonight would not be dreams, but filled with nightmares. And all she could think in these nightmares was one consistent thought. Will she ever get home?
