You Had Me From Hello.
She was too late. Not only had they left. They'd left the crisp white function room like a death eaters tea party. He had truly turned. A celebration such as this would only be given to the highest regarded death eater. After at least ten years of seeking redemption, they had broken him. Voldermort had his best interrogator back. Hermione had let Ginny come to this?! There was a putrid smell lingering in the air. Blood? Sacrifice or just for entertainment. Did Ginny get out alive? There was so much blood and different scents that even Hermione's heightened sense of smell couldn't identify Ginny's. One thing of Ginny's she could identify was her watch. Her watch?! Hermione doubled back to the watch beside the upturned table. Was that her blood dripping from the table onto the watch? Hermione placed her bottle of memories on the table so she could fasten the straps of the watch around her wrist. The Weasley arrows began moving to different parts of the dial.
Hermione took a sharp intake of breath. Both Ginny and Molly were home at the Burrow. Safe and sound. McGonagall, Dumbledore? All the teachers from Hogwarts! They were invited. Were they safe? Hermione hoped to God they were.
My wand?! Hermione thought. How stupid she had been to come unarmed. She sat on one of the chairs of yet another upturned table hoping not to get any excessive amount of blood on her white summer dress. Where had she left it? Wards were good. However it meant she had become lacks and forgetful about the valuable wand. The shop. Of course, she had been working at Mr Olivander's since she left Hogwarts. She had taken ill two nights back and in her rush to get home she had forgotten her wand. Foolish, so very foolish. It had seemed so long ago. This morning had seemed so long ago.
"While your heart may betray, the darkness wills it so." Hermione whispered. Perched on the gold and cream chair. "Your soul stays pure. Beyond Corruption." A tear slowly trickled down her face. "The windows brave the light that sometimes blinds us." She sighed. Looking round once again for some clue of her Severus' survival. Nothing. "Goodbye my love." Hermione apperated back home. She was at the end of the street. She hadn't been concentrating. And it was now raining. At least the rain gave her an excuse for a wet face. She really didn't need to explain to her mother why she was crying.
Walking slowly. She'd never felt so alone in her life. All the time she thought Severus would come rushing up to her. Remembering everything between them. Had it just been denial. Trying to keep the thought that he would be there for her when she found out who raped her mother. Of course he didn't know that. Not that Hermione needed him. Not that every night she cried because she had been shown what was missing in her life and had it ripped away by a psychopath she knew he despised. What would happen when, if, he found out? Did he already know?
Completely drenched she slipped into her mothers house. In a few weeks Hermione was going to move out. Move to Scotland perhaps. Or Ireland. Somewhere away from magic. Hermione climbed the stairs. Glad her mother hadn't heard her come in. Her legs like lead she crossed the hall. Wanting to get out of her now see-through summer dress as soon as possible. Hermione decided, clutching her memories. She would destroy them. Her hand touched the cool metal of her door knob. She would remove Hogwarts from her memory. She opened her door to a silhouette figure who was pacing her floor. At the sight of her. They dropped to the floor.
Hermione flicked the light switch. Wishing she had her wand. Hoping that her mother was still alive. She held her breath. If she breathed she might wake up. It might not be real. There before her was Severus on his knees clutching a similar glass bottle in one hand, a necklace in the other. His eyes full of warmth and recognition. He smiled weakly and waved the bottle at Hermione.
"Wedding gift from Minevra. You can drink your memories apparently." Hermione closed her door with a snap. He remained on the floor while Hermione knocked her bottle of memories back. Hermione didn't know how much longer her legs could keep her standing, it was a shock to the system having memories flood back through you. "I remember Hermione." She collapsed in front of him. "I'm so so sorry." He cried. Wanting to kiss her. Hold her. But after what he'd done. She needed to know something. "I didn't go through with it. I didn't marry her." She kissed him. Her body yielding to him. Her hands brushed through his still long hair. The state of the function room wasn't a celebration. It was a hissy fit. "She made me open it before the wedding." Hermione sniffed.
"I've missed you!" She sobbed. "You promised you'd never leave me. But you did. I forgave you for everything you were going to do to hurt me. But-" Severus nodded. He remembered every single thing in fine detail. How he'd treated her. It brought him to tears.
"Hermione." He cupped her face. "Please forgive me. I love you and you alone. Hermione. I have been a bastard. But you enchant me! You've had me from hello. I've never thought of you as a chit-of-a-girl. I was just trying to convince myself it was wrong." He sobbed into her chest. "I left my own self-pity over rule my desires. My freedom." He placed his hand over her heart. "My Herm-" She's kissed him again. "Mion."
"I love you." Hermione replied simply. She hadn't loved him as long as he'd loved her. However her love was just as strong as his. "I want you in my life forever. I want to be your wife. I want your children. I want to grow old with you. I want to be part of your life, forever."
"One correction. Our life. My life doesn't exist without you. I don't exist without you." They kissed once again. Happy to be together again. Not wanting to bring up the matter at hand. She knew. And he knew that she knew. "And by the way. Are you missing anything?" Hermione looked bewildered. He dangled the necklace. From it hung a feather. A feather from her original wand. "Form of ployjuice." Severus blushed. "She was Rebecca." He explained. Hermione simply raised her eyebrow at his stupidity. "And she's mighty pissed at me, at you. At both of us."
"Is everyone safe?" Hermione asked after a while. Cuddled into Severus. Both propped up on the bed frame. He looked grave. "Who's gone?"
"You know who." Severus said simply. Yes she knew. Without saying it he nodded to her. Words couldn't say anything.
"He's one of them isn't he? They were determined to have someone new today weren't they?" Hermione sank deeper into Severus. He put his fingers through her short bob. He kissed her head softly and sighed.
"No. He wasn't a new recruit." Severus pinned her to him, he knew she knew. She fought him off. She stared at him as if she was his predator. Her eyes streamed with tears. Her hair wild his fury.
"No!" She whispered harshly. "No." He grabbed her again. "NO!" She screamed trying to pull away. Both too exhausted to put up a real fight.
"Albus-" He couldn't say it. He didn't want to say it. It was going to break his girl. A single tear rolled down his face. He knew Albus had no control. Rebecca was a strong witch. "Albus-"
"He raped my mother? Didn't he?!" She sobbed into his lap. He bent down and kissed the small of her back.
"I'm sorry my little witch." he pulled her onto his lap. "I wish I'd been there for you. It's not his fault Hermione. He's not himself." She clung onto Severus as he lifted her onto the bed and joined her.
"He consoled me! But he's taken so much away from me." Hermione looked into Severus' deep loving eyes. They felt her pain. "He took you away from me. He took me away from you. And you're defending him."
"He didn't do any of this. This is Rebecca's doing." He told her firmly.
"He's supposed to be the strongest wizard. He should have fought her. He shouldn't have done it. It shouldn't be him!" She wasn't really angry at him. She was angry at herself. How could she kill a man she once had respect for.
"Hush my sweet, please. You'll make yourself ill." He feared only blood would quench this anger of hers. He had a sinking feeling it was justified.
"I want to remove his guts and entrails with a spoon." Hermione whispered into Severus' chest. "I want him dead." He couldn't stop her. She pounded her fists into what ever flesh she could reach. Her energy lasted only a few seconds.
"In the morning." He whispered softly. "We'll sort this tomorrow."
"You won't stop me?!" She half asked, half told him. His leg pulled her into him and remained over her own petite legs that shivered with fear. Hermione, despite herself felt the world melt away.
"Hermione. You will be my wife! I will follow you into the depths of hell. You have freed me and if this is what you have to do to be free. So be it." He kissed her forehead. He feared she was about to condemn herself. No matter what Albus had done. Free will or none. If she killed him, she would be in the wrong. Albus was considered a good man. His murder would be unacceptable. Hermione's clothes were still wet. Severus performed a drying charm on the sleeping girl cradled in his arms. He deserved to be killed as much as anyone else. Yet she still looked to him for protection.
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A/N: I feel very bad about this chapter. Making Dumbledore a very bad man feels like sacrilege. Very, very dark stuff and I don't know where it can from. Please don't stop reading. I think there are only going to be two or three more chapters. This is where it was originally going to end before I added the sub-plot of her mother. Writing this almost had me in tears so don't hate me for this chapter. I have a horrible feeling I'm going to get a bad response for this one. *fingers and toes are crossed*
strega-in-progress: You like my Sev? Me too. However, what about my Dumbledore? Very scared about your response.
Crimson Regret177: Robin Hood *swoon* Rumours are he had his scenes cut because he was more popular than Kevin Costner. I'd have Alan over Kevin any day. lol. Hope you like this chapter.
bastet-the-cat-goddess: Hope you're still reading. lol. Very dark chapter I know. Very dark story. Almost near the end I think (Unless you can think of something else)
ivre: Here you go. I stayed up till 1 am to write this for you. hehehehe I was up anyway. Still want me to update?
Slim Shady: Like? Hate? *biting nails*
bunnyrabbit228: It was going to be covered in this chapter why he didn't. Will come up in the next chapter though.
punkrock pixie: your questions answered? Hope you like it. Hermione is going to kick major butt in either chapter 17 or 18. So if you thought the meeting with Lucius was bad.........
She was too late. Not only had they left. They'd left the crisp white function room like a death eaters tea party. He had truly turned. A celebration such as this would only be given to the highest regarded death eater. After at least ten years of seeking redemption, they had broken him. Voldermort had his best interrogator back. Hermione had let Ginny come to this?! There was a putrid smell lingering in the air. Blood? Sacrifice or just for entertainment. Did Ginny get out alive? There was so much blood and different scents that even Hermione's heightened sense of smell couldn't identify Ginny's. One thing of Ginny's she could identify was her watch. Her watch?! Hermione doubled back to the watch beside the upturned table. Was that her blood dripping from the table onto the watch? Hermione placed her bottle of memories on the table so she could fasten the straps of the watch around her wrist. The Weasley arrows began moving to different parts of the dial.
Hermione took a sharp intake of breath. Both Ginny and Molly were home at the Burrow. Safe and sound. McGonagall, Dumbledore? All the teachers from Hogwarts! They were invited. Were they safe? Hermione hoped to God they were.
My wand?! Hermione thought. How stupid she had been to come unarmed. She sat on one of the chairs of yet another upturned table hoping not to get any excessive amount of blood on her white summer dress. Where had she left it? Wards were good. However it meant she had become lacks and forgetful about the valuable wand. The shop. Of course, she had been working at Mr Olivander's since she left Hogwarts. She had taken ill two nights back and in her rush to get home she had forgotten her wand. Foolish, so very foolish. It had seemed so long ago. This morning had seemed so long ago.
"While your heart may betray, the darkness wills it so." Hermione whispered. Perched on the gold and cream chair. "Your soul stays pure. Beyond Corruption." A tear slowly trickled down her face. "The windows brave the light that sometimes blinds us." She sighed. Looking round once again for some clue of her Severus' survival. Nothing. "Goodbye my love." Hermione apperated back home. She was at the end of the street. She hadn't been concentrating. And it was now raining. At least the rain gave her an excuse for a wet face. She really didn't need to explain to her mother why she was crying.
Walking slowly. She'd never felt so alone in her life. All the time she thought Severus would come rushing up to her. Remembering everything between them. Had it just been denial. Trying to keep the thought that he would be there for her when she found out who raped her mother. Of course he didn't know that. Not that Hermione needed him. Not that every night she cried because she had been shown what was missing in her life and had it ripped away by a psychopath she knew he despised. What would happen when, if, he found out? Did he already know?
Completely drenched she slipped into her mothers house. In a few weeks Hermione was going to move out. Move to Scotland perhaps. Or Ireland. Somewhere away from magic. Hermione climbed the stairs. Glad her mother hadn't heard her come in. Her legs like lead she crossed the hall. Wanting to get out of her now see-through summer dress as soon as possible. Hermione decided, clutching her memories. She would destroy them. Her hand touched the cool metal of her door knob. She would remove Hogwarts from her memory. She opened her door to a silhouette figure who was pacing her floor. At the sight of her. They dropped to the floor.
Hermione flicked the light switch. Wishing she had her wand. Hoping that her mother was still alive. She held her breath. If she breathed she might wake up. It might not be real. There before her was Severus on his knees clutching a similar glass bottle in one hand, a necklace in the other. His eyes full of warmth and recognition. He smiled weakly and waved the bottle at Hermione.
"Wedding gift from Minevra. You can drink your memories apparently." Hermione closed her door with a snap. He remained on the floor while Hermione knocked her bottle of memories back. Hermione didn't know how much longer her legs could keep her standing, it was a shock to the system having memories flood back through you. "I remember Hermione." She collapsed in front of him. "I'm so so sorry." He cried. Wanting to kiss her. Hold her. But after what he'd done. She needed to know something. "I didn't go through with it. I didn't marry her." She kissed him. Her body yielding to him. Her hands brushed through his still long hair. The state of the function room wasn't a celebration. It was a hissy fit. "She made me open it before the wedding." Hermione sniffed.
"I've missed you!" She sobbed. "You promised you'd never leave me. But you did. I forgave you for everything you were going to do to hurt me. But-" Severus nodded. He remembered every single thing in fine detail. How he'd treated her. It brought him to tears.
"Hermione." He cupped her face. "Please forgive me. I love you and you alone. Hermione. I have been a bastard. But you enchant me! You've had me from hello. I've never thought of you as a chit-of-a-girl. I was just trying to convince myself it was wrong." He sobbed into her chest. "I left my own self-pity over rule my desires. My freedom." He placed his hand over her heart. "My Herm-" She's kissed him again. "Mion."
"I love you." Hermione replied simply. She hadn't loved him as long as he'd loved her. However her love was just as strong as his. "I want you in my life forever. I want to be your wife. I want your children. I want to grow old with you. I want to be part of your life, forever."
"One correction. Our life. My life doesn't exist without you. I don't exist without you." They kissed once again. Happy to be together again. Not wanting to bring up the matter at hand. She knew. And he knew that she knew. "And by the way. Are you missing anything?" Hermione looked bewildered. He dangled the necklace. From it hung a feather. A feather from her original wand. "Form of ployjuice." Severus blushed. "She was Rebecca." He explained. Hermione simply raised her eyebrow at his stupidity. "And she's mighty pissed at me, at you. At both of us."
"Is everyone safe?" Hermione asked after a while. Cuddled into Severus. Both propped up on the bed frame. He looked grave. "Who's gone?"
"You know who." Severus said simply. Yes she knew. Without saying it he nodded to her. Words couldn't say anything.
"He's one of them isn't he? They were determined to have someone new today weren't they?" Hermione sank deeper into Severus. He put his fingers through her short bob. He kissed her head softly and sighed.
"No. He wasn't a new recruit." Severus pinned her to him, he knew she knew. She fought him off. She stared at him as if she was his predator. Her eyes streamed with tears. Her hair wild his fury.
"No!" She whispered harshly. "No." He grabbed her again. "NO!" She screamed trying to pull away. Both too exhausted to put up a real fight.
"Albus-" He couldn't say it. He didn't want to say it. It was going to break his girl. A single tear rolled down his face. He knew Albus had no control. Rebecca was a strong witch. "Albus-"
"He raped my mother? Didn't he?!" She sobbed into his lap. He bent down and kissed the small of her back.
"I'm sorry my little witch." he pulled her onto his lap. "I wish I'd been there for you. It's not his fault Hermione. He's not himself." She clung onto Severus as he lifted her onto the bed and joined her.
"He consoled me! But he's taken so much away from me." Hermione looked into Severus' deep loving eyes. They felt her pain. "He took you away from me. He took me away from you. And you're defending him."
"He didn't do any of this. This is Rebecca's doing." He told her firmly.
"He's supposed to be the strongest wizard. He should have fought her. He shouldn't have done it. It shouldn't be him!" She wasn't really angry at him. She was angry at herself. How could she kill a man she once had respect for.
"Hush my sweet, please. You'll make yourself ill." He feared only blood would quench this anger of hers. He had a sinking feeling it was justified.
"I want to remove his guts and entrails with a spoon." Hermione whispered into Severus' chest. "I want him dead." He couldn't stop her. She pounded her fists into what ever flesh she could reach. Her energy lasted only a few seconds.
"In the morning." He whispered softly. "We'll sort this tomorrow."
"You won't stop me?!" She half asked, half told him. His leg pulled her into him and remained over her own petite legs that shivered with fear. Hermione, despite herself felt the world melt away.
"Hermione. You will be my wife! I will follow you into the depths of hell. You have freed me and if this is what you have to do to be free. So be it." He kissed her forehead. He feared she was about to condemn herself. No matter what Albus had done. Free will or none. If she killed him, she would be in the wrong. Albus was considered a good man. His murder would be unacceptable. Hermione's clothes were still wet. Severus performed a drying charm on the sleeping girl cradled in his arms. He deserved to be killed as much as anyone else. Yet she still looked to him for protection.
*************************************************************************************
A/N: I feel very bad about this chapter. Making Dumbledore a very bad man feels like sacrilege. Very, very dark stuff and I don't know where it can from. Please don't stop reading. I think there are only going to be two or three more chapters. This is where it was originally going to end before I added the sub-plot of her mother. Writing this almost had me in tears so don't hate me for this chapter. I have a horrible feeling I'm going to get a bad response for this one. *fingers and toes are crossed*
strega-in-progress: You like my Sev? Me too. However, what about my Dumbledore? Very scared about your response.
Crimson Regret177: Robin Hood *swoon* Rumours are he had his scenes cut because he was more popular than Kevin Costner. I'd have Alan over Kevin any day. lol. Hope you like this chapter.
bastet-the-cat-goddess: Hope you're still reading. lol. Very dark chapter I know. Very dark story. Almost near the end I think (Unless you can think of something else)
ivre: Here you go. I stayed up till 1 am to write this for you. hehehehe I was up anyway. Still want me to update?
Slim Shady: Like? Hate? *biting nails*
bunnyrabbit228: It was going to be covered in this chapter why he didn't. Will come up in the next chapter though.
punkrock pixie: your questions answered? Hope you like it. Hermione is going to kick major butt in either chapter 17 or 18. So if you thought the meeting with Lucius was bad.........
