1Haunted Memories

-Chapter Thirteen-

The Potion Master Returns

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K. Rowling's story.

Hermione gasped as a cold hand covered her mouth as she tried to scream. The other hand was set upon her shoulder, so that she could not struggle against her captor. Hermione tried to shake her head, but found the man before her applying pressure to her mouth, causing her to stop moving in order to breathe. She was hopeless and tears started to form in her eyes. Looking off to the right, she saw her wand a few feet away — if she could try to get to her wand. The man was looking around the room, completely engrossed in the surroundings, or looking for something. With all her might, Hermione tried to call her wand towards her. But this time, her wandless magic failed her. She was very frightened and the man started to lean down towards her face. Her muffled screams could not be heard through the hand on her mouth, but suddenly a surge of energy jolted out from her body and the man hissed loudly, letting go of her.

She couldn't move from her position on the floor but when the man stood up, the light fell upon her face and she froze. Dark obsidian eyes were set in a frown. His long shoulder length black hair cascaded around his face and his thin mouth was scowling at the moment. Overdressed in a black robe which was so dark, she couldn't see where the buttons were, Hermione noticed that he had a cloak on him, which melded over the robe and formed to create a much more billowy effect whenever he moved. Severus Snape was back in the castle of Hogwarts.

Her staring did nothing to unnerve the man as he stared at the mark on his hand, which had covered Hermione's face. Disgusted, he ran his wand over the hand, until the redness died down. Finally, he stepped over Hermione and continued into the room. His wand held high he whispered, "Lumos!" Scanning the surroundings with his wand, he nodded briefly to himself before turning back to Hermione. He frowned. "Miss Granger...kindly explain why you are in my quarters."

Hermione looked away. "Prof- Professor Snape," the man raised an eyebrow as she stuttered, "I was hop-hoping to find some clues."

"Clues?"

"Yes sir." Feeling like a school girl again, she cowered when he bent down, pointing his wand straight at her. Instantly, the ribbons uncoiled themselves from Hermione and snaked back into his wand. Hermione sighed as the circulation in her body came back freely. She dared not to move in case, she would make the man in front of her mad. Severus Snape stood staring at the woman laying on the floor. Finally he frowned, "Miss Granger, do you intend to become my floor mat, laying there all day?"

Her face red, Hermione tried to stand up but could not move her legs, instead she started to creep away, pulling herself up with her arms. When suddenly the blood started to rush to her legs, she cried out in surprise, almost falling, until she fell into the arms of someone clad all in black. She gasped as the tingling in her legs strengthened and she could no longer move them for fear of making the sensation worse. Unconsciously, she vaguely knew that she was now being held by the most feared Potions Master, Severus Snape. Now the man moved and she cried out again as her sensitive legs had not recovered yet. She held onto his robes with a death like grip and hissed. "Don't. Move!"

Severus Snape seemed to be taken aback by the tone in her voice. He froze and stared as the expressions on her face changed. He examined the change in the woman before him. When he had known her, she was a mere girl but now, he could see that she had changed physically. Her dark curly mass of brown hair was longer now, spreading across her shoulders in easy curls. He could feel their texture against his hands and he marveled at how soft each curl felt. Her face was pale and unblemished. He noticed the corner of her mouth was spread slightly upwards and her chin was set with determination. Her eyes held a warm glow and he saw how it sometimes changed from amber to a dark chocolate brown color. The woman's fingers were clasped like death grips on his robes as he supported her weight. The were so close, that Severus could smell the slight smell of raspberry coming off of the woman. He sighed as she continued to hold onto him. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Her scent was making him dizzy and he decided to act before he fell with the woman in his arms.

Grabbing her legs, which made her cry out loudly, he vaguely felt her small hands punch him on the chest several times. He couldn't help but smirk, trying to abstain from chuckling. Then he walked over the his bed and found that someone had been lying on it beforehand. He raised an eyebrow and put Hermione on the bed.

Hermione was surprised as the tingly grew in intensity and when her ex-Potions Master picked her up to carry her, she could have screamed out as the waves ran through her legs. She realized that he was heading towards the bed and she panicked, hitting him on the chest and hoping he would drop her so that she could run for it — that is if her legs would come back to normal.

Severus stared as she tried to move away from him. He noticed the fear in her eyes and realized what it must have looked like, carrying her to his bed. He looked around and mentally slapped himself. He could have carried her to the armchair in front of the fire, which by the way, was burning with a blue fire? He narrowed his eyes and looked back at the woman before him. She didn't move far from where he had set her. Grabbing her legs, she practically screamed and he sneered dangerously. Her skirt covered her long legs and Severus pulled it up slightly, she tried to kick him, though the pain was unbearable now. She grabbed onto the pillows and tried to aim it at the man's head. He dodged easily. But her struggles were annoying. Taking out his wand, Severus Snape bound Hermione's hands to the dashboard of his bed with some soft black ribbons. She screamed freely. Snape watched with amusement as the color rushed to her face and made her cheeks rosy. How easily excitable woman get.

He shook his head slightly before taking her leg roughly again, earning himself a weak kick. With her legs in his lap, he started a slow massage. Soon the screaming died down and Hermione stared at the man. His hands were rough before but now they were gentle as he gave his full attention to her legs. His hair covered his face and she couldn't see what the man's facial expression was. Or what he was thinking.

Severus Snape started from just below the knee and continued on until he reached the most sensitive part of her leg, her feet. His fingers expertly touched the sensitive spots on the bottom of each foot and started to rub her feet in slow circles. Eventually Hermione relaxed as the tingling sensation died down and instead the massaging relaxed her. It felt so good that she hadn't realized when she fell asleep.

In turn, Severus Snape had been engrossed on the woman's fair skin. It was so soft to the touch, that he hadn't realized when a good hour or two had passed. He looked up to see her asleep. He leaned closer to examine her face as she slept. The worry lines upon her forehead had disappeared and her face was finally peaceful. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he unbound her and let the ribbons lay on the bed beside her. Waving a hand over the fireplace, the fire burned out and she was left in the dark. Heading back outside the room, he turned to the portrait and stared at it intensely. It's occupant still had not returned. Severus wondered if there would ever be someone there. To his surprise, just as he was about to turn around, he heard the familiar voice of his mentor.

"Severus, my boy. Care for a lemon drop?"

His eyes widened as he turned and there sat Albus Dumbledore in his normal attire looking like he did in life. His wizened hands held a bowl of lemon drops and he was happily sucking on one, trying to get a few from sticking to the crystal bowl. Severus smiled.

"You're back Albus."

The former Headmaster nodded and pointed towards his room. "I heard a lot of commotion in there, what has been happening under my nose, Severus?"

Snape shook his head, drawing up a chair and sitting down. Looking up at the portrait he merely said, "Hermione Granger."

The wizened wizard's eyebrows shot up. "So that's where she's gotten herself. Minerva has been worried sick when she didn't show up for dinner."

Severus Snape chuckled which surprised the headmaster so much that he almost dropped the whole bowl of lemon drops onto his portrait's floor. This in turn elicited a laughter from the Potions Master. "It's good to see you again, Severus."

Severus Snape nodded and sighed. "Albus, about what we had discussed the last time we spoke."

The elder wizard nodded. "It will be hard, Severus. Do not blame yourself."

The man scowled. He looked at the portrait and sighed. "I did it, Albus. No one else had forced me to. I did."

Albus Dumbledore chuckled. "It wasn't your fault. You know as well as I do, it was for the best. Now let us finish this before Miss Granger awakes. I believe you must explain to her as well."

Snape frowned. "Why?"

Dumbledore smiled brightly, his customary twinkle evident in his eyes. "She has been looking for answers, dear boy. Even our Harry Potter has been wondering things out loud. His appearance is that he is looking for revenge but inwardly, Harry doubts you had any choice in the matter. The boy has cooled down enough to think clearly."

"Harry Potter thinks?"

The elder wizard sighed. "Please Severus. Don't."

Severus Snape looked away, the tone of voice that the other wizard had used was all too familiar for his ears. He stared down at his wand and sighed. "Sorry, Albus." He meant that in more ways than one. Albus Dumbledore smiled. "It's alright, Severus. I would never blame you for something like this. You have always had to make the difficult decisions, working for the Order. I put you into something dangerous. I am very sorry for that and I wish you to forgive me."

Snape shook his head as he looked at the man. "You have done nothing that I wouldn't have done myself."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Till next time, my boy. I believe the young woman in your room stirs."

Snape stood up and nodded as he walked back into his room, hearing a small whimper escape from the woman. She was having a nightmare. With a wave of his hands, the candles upon the wall flickered to life and Snape saw her tossing and turning on his bed. Striding purposefully towards the bed, he sat down on the edge. Unsure of what to do next. Should he wake her? Would she scream when she saw him?

Unfortunately, scream she did. Bolting upright and screaming, she buried her head into his shoulder, effectively surprising him and making him tense as her arms went around his neck. She was crying and her tears were starting to soak through the material of his robes. He stared in disgust at the wet mark on his shoulders. However he was unable to utter a single word and decided that to stop her eternal racket, he would have to comfort her. His pale fingers stroked the back of the woman until her sobs became mild hiccups. He was entranced as he fingers brushed the soft curls away from her face. Not a word was spoken between the two.

Finally, Hermione straightened up and wiped away the tears. She was appalled to see the tear stains that she had left on the man's robes. He in turn dried them and stared at the distraught woman.

"Dare I ask, what that was about?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Professor. I - I had a nightmare."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Hermione scowled and put out her hand, Snape stared at her fingers until he suddenly saw out of the corner of his eyes, her wand zipping towards her. With lightning reflexes, he grabbed onto the wooden stick before it could reach her hand. She scowled and struggled to wrestle it out of his hands. He sighed and held her down. Hermione stopped struggling as his hands closed around her throat, pushing her down into the pillow. She stared angrily at the man on top of her. "What will you do now, Professor?"

Snape sneered and bent down so that he could whisper into her ears, "Why I'm going to shut you up, Miss Granger. Especially since you couldn't stop yourself from speaking in my classes."

Hermione was about to protest, when he cast the silencing spell on her. In rage, she struggled against him. He laughed, which silenced her more effectively than the spell could ever do.