Sugar and Spice
Chapter Fourteen
((Disclaimer: I'm sadly not making any profit off of this piece. I wouldn't mind getting some cash though…))
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"Dumbledore told me what you have to do to convince Voldemort that you're loyal to him." Harry said as the two sat across from each other around mid night in the common room. "I don't like it, 'Mione. I just don't think that this is going to work out between us."
Hermione held his gaze for a few more moments before silently nodding, muttering an 'I agree,' and heading off to a detention with Severus.
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That stupid Gryffindor had been on his mind since last night and Severus could tell that his thoughts and memories wouldn't cease haunting him anytime soon. Hermione was a student! Any feelings he could have for this seventeen-year-old is sick and twisted… but it felt wonderful to-
No! These types of thoughts are the kind that made Severus act impulsively. And spontaneous actions never resulted well when mixed with Hermione.
Severus sat behind his desk, mindlessly grading tests by the dimwitted third years. Seeing his tormented state, he was grading quite unfairly- but since when was Severus Snape fair?
A knock rang from the door, echoing throughout the stonewalls of the dungeon. "Enter." He said, not looking up from grading.
Hermione entered, looking at Severus oddly. She knew something had to be done about this modulating relationship or things would stay awkward and uncomfortable.
"Professor, if I may talk to you about our… 'conversation' when we last spoke." Hermione said. "And the cause for my detentions."
"I would rather not, Hermione-"
"Just hear me out, please." She was almost begging. Severus remained silent, yet his demeanor seemed foreboding. "I am undoubtedly attracted to you, Severus." What a way to start… "I, uh…" Hermione had forgotten everything she had planned to say now, when her eyes had met his her mind had gone blank.
"Hermione?" Severus didn't sound exactly caring, but more interested in hearing her conclusion to her confession. "Please, continue."
Hermione reminded herself that she was a Gryffindor, and she should be showing her true colors, not being timid and shy. "I think we should focus on returning Sirius and defeating Voldemort. Just… forget I said anything." She said.
Hermione had ultimately decided then and there that if she ignored her feelings for Severus long enough that they would eventually fade away. And a student/teacher relationship would certainly not work out, especially seeing as Severus was the King of Slytherin and Hermione was the Princess of Gryffindor. In this case, opposites most defiantly do not attract.
Severus did not say anything, but turned around to hide any emotion that could've leaked through his mask. Hermione, the beautiful, educated, intellectual Gryffindor was attracted to a bat like him? The greasy git who had been horrible to her for six years? This was difficult to comprehend for someone who was so unused to being confessed and attracted to.
"I agree Hermione." He said finally, turning back to her. "But Dumbledore requested that we go and visit him for a quick meeting."
Hermione nodded and followed him out of his office toward where Dumbledore's office was. Upon entering, the pair found the headmaster extracting a memory for his pensieve.
"Ah, Severus, Hermione, I'm glad you get my owl." Dumbledore said, closing the cabinet his pensieve lay in, turning toward the two Death Eaters. "Severus and I have come to the decision that Voldemort is the one who shall be taking Sirius' place behind the veil."
"But wouldn't some loyal Death Eater find another mirror?" Hermione asked.
"A very good question, Hermione." Dumbledore said. "You see, this mirror is the only one of this kind. There is a special spell cast upon it that makes it possible to retrieve Sirius. You may ask, couldn't one find what spell that was? The only person who knew of that spell was the mirror's creator, who died many years ago- a good friend of mine."
Hermione nodded understandingly.
"Should Remus be informed of our plan, headmaster?" Severus asked.
"He, of course, has already been, and cannot be here tonight due to the birth of his first child." Dumbledore explained.
"What?" Hermione said. "Is he married? Who is the mother?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Miss Granger, please calm yourself. Remus and Nymphadora Tonks were wed months ago. You were probably not notified under certain circumstances, seeing as there are more important events taking place."
Hermione nodded, now smiling happily for her favorite werewolf. A sudden thought struck her. "If we exchange Voldemort for Sirius, all of his Death Eaters will come after us-"
"I intend to have every ally with the Order that night. We will all be under invisibility charms until we're needed. We'll concoct an exact plan when we get closer to the event." Dumbledore paused. "I assume you'll suggest Voldemort being in the Department of Mysteries when he next calls you?"
Hermione's arm began burning intensely. "Yes, professor, he's calling now." She said, ignoring the pain. "I'm ready and will be back soon."
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Hermione entered Voldemort's lair confidently, with her head held up high. A glint of mischief could be found in her eyes, a glint she so expertly produced as part of the act. She stood next to Severus in the semi-circle around the Dark Lord.
"Welcome back, my faithful friends." Voldemort said, walking around the semi-circle and looking every one of his followers in the eye. "I trust no one brings any bad news?"
'No, my lord' echoed off of the walls.
"Good, good." He turned toward Hermione and Severus. "And how is our newest recruit doing, Severus?"
"Perfectly. That annoying Gryffindor spirit was easy to break and tame." Severus explained. "Potter is now an open book."
Voldemort smiled, revealing slightly edged teeth. "And what do you have to say, my Hermione?"
Though disgusted with the way he talked to her, Hermione hid it and spoke smoothly. "I have a way to kill Harry Potter, my Lord."
Murmurs could be heard amongst the circle. Even the Dark Lord himself seemed slightly surprised. "Silence." The room went deathly quiet. "And why the sudden change of heart?"
"He cheated." Was all Hermione needed to say. She quickly produced the scene in which she saw Harry and Ginny snogging as she felt Voldemort's presence enter her mind. He extracted himself momentarily.
"I see." He said. "And what exactly is your plan?"
"When Sirius black died, Harry was obviously crushed. The last relative of his, his only true alliance, blah blah. So he is desperate to get him back from under the veil, which he fell into two years ago. I'm uncertain about how he plans to do so or when, but I am certain that when he is ready, Harry Potter will be in the Department of Mysteries and extremely vulnerable. I am sure only Dumbledore will be with him." Hermione said, not taking her eyes off of the Dark Lord's.
He was silent for a moment, searching every part of her for any trace of lying or uncertainty. When he found none, he nodded, turning around and sitting down in his chair.
"You see how easily Severus broke her?" Voldemort said. "You see how quickly she became faithful? This is exactly how I imagined things to be going." He turned towards Severus. "I am pleased with you, Severus. When Potter is dead, you will be rewarded vastly."
Severus bowed lowly. "It is certainly my pleasure. It was easy, even amusing seeing the spark die from her eyes, my Lord." He said.
With a satisfied smile, Voldemort dismissed everyone.
As Hermione exited, she felt a hand wrap around her arm, pulling her back. Seeing as Severus was in front of her, it was certainly not he.
"Say anything and I swear your death will be by my hands." A cruel and familiar voice said into her ear. Lucius Malfoy tightened his grip upon Hermione's arm and leading her out into the night, hiding the two of them behind a few trees.
"What do you want with me?" She demanded, forcefully pulling her arm from his grip.
"Is it not obvious?" The evil glint from that night long ago had returned and was sparkling dangerously.
"Stay away from me…" Hermione whispered lowly.
"I will." He said. "Only for tonight. I will be back for you, Hermione, and this time, I have no intention of letting you go."
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A/N- Ugh, sorry for the long time-span between updates. I lost my plot ideas and there were loopholes that needed to be fixed, so I went back through every chapter and edited and refreshed my memory so that I could update. I'll try to get chapter fifteen out ASAP. Please review!