Author's Notes:
Warning! This story contains strong sexual content.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this story. All the positive feedback was really helpful.
Once again this chapter was beta'd by the fabulous Nakhash Makashefah. Her skills as a proofreader and content adviser have proven to be absolutely priceless. Which is good, because I'm not paying her anything.
Disclaimer. J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and Co. I own nothing.
The Improper Use of Potions
Chapter 04 Cravings.
It had been a full month since the accident in the Potions classroom. It had also been one of the hardest months of Hermione's life. She had spent over four weeks in a constant state of arousal. Every male above puberty she encountered presented her with a challenge. She had made weekly visits to the infirmary were Madam Pomfrey would give her another dose of Nightshade Morning-After Potion. The potion would only give her a brief two-day respite from her overly stimulated sex drive. She begged Pomfrey for additional doses, but was told that more than one dose a week would be dangerous to her health.
The only other form of relief she had after the Nightshade potion wore off was masturbation. She was now masturbating more than a thirteen-year-old boy who had just found his father's hidden stash of porn magazines. Hermione had defiled every phallic-shaped item she owned in an attempt to quell her desires.
Her need to touch human flesh wasn't the only thing bothering Hermione. After Professor Snape's disappearance, all kinds of rumors flowed though Hogwarts. Hermione was usually the subject of most of them. Somehow it had gotten out that Snape had confronted Hermione in the Potions classroom on the day of his disappearance. Everyone also knew she had to spend most of her holiday in the infirmary after Snape had gone missing. Hermione believed that it was Slughorn who had started the rumors. He was the one who had to clean up the classroom after the accident.
One of the most popular rumors was that Hermione had accidentally killed Professor Snape when a secret potion she was working on for Harry had exploded. Another one was that Snape had attacked Hermione when she accidentally entered the classroom while he was making a potion for the Dark Lord.
When someone would ask her what really happened, Hermione would simply tell them that she had no idea where Professor Snape was and the reason she was in the infirmary was for a very bad case of the flu. Some would believe her, but most didn't.
It was a Friday morning in the Great Hall and Hermione was rushing through her breakfast. She hated being around so many people in her condition; she felt like a fox in a hen house. She only had to get through classes today and then she could head to the infirmary for her weekly dose of Nightshade potion. Hermione desperately needed a break from her hormones. Her schoolwork had suffered since the accident. She planned to use this weekend to catch up as much as possible.
"May I have everyone's attention, please," Dumbledore called from the staff table. "I have a couple of brief announcements I wish to convey. I am sorry to announce that Professor Snape will not be returning as our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."
A huge cheer suddenly arose from three of the four school tables. The Slytherins were just looking confused. Hermione couldn't tell if they thought it was a good or bad thing that Snape was gone. She felt pretty much the same way. On one hand she felt guilty about causing the loss of a valued staff, and more importantly, Order member. But the truth was, she was a little relieved that she wouldn't have to face the man again; not after what had happen in the Potion classroom, anyway. It was bad enough that his image constantly appeared in her dreams at night. Everything that she used to find vile about Snape suddenly became very erotic to her. Even her daydreams weren't free of the dark man's presence.
After patiently waiting for the cheers to die down, Dumbledore continued with his announcement. "Professor Grubbly-Plank will continue to teach D.A.D.A until a suitable full time replament can be found. I'm also pleased to announce that Professor Slughorn has generously volunteered to take over the duties as Head of Slytherin House."
"Volunteered - that will be the day," Slughorn said with a snort.
"We will strive to find permanent replacements for both positions, but I'm afraid, in all probability, it will not occur until the next school term," the Headmaster announced. "In the meantime both Professors Slughorn and Grubbly-Plank have my full confidence to fulfill these positions adequately, for now. Thank you for your attention, you may all return to your breakfast."
Hermione gave Slughorn a cuatious look. She still didn't know if she should trust the man. He did invite her, a Muggleborn, to join his Slug-club. But Harry said there was something the old Slytherin was hiding. She would have to keep a close eye on the new head of Slytherin.
Hermione's third class of the day was Double Potions. Today's lesson was on the "Aqua-Moon Potion." If made properly, it could produce ten liters of clean water from only two drops of potion and a bucket full of sand; a very handy potion to have if you were traveling through a large desert. The Aqua-Moon Potion is a required Potion for all six year students. That meant the class was twice as big today. Hermione's advanced N.E.W.T level class would learn how to make this potion at the same time as the standard six year potions students.
Potions class had become almost pleasant since Snape became the new D.A.D.A professor. It was obvious that Professor Slughorn didn't have Snape's extensive and wide-ranging knowledge of potions. He had to refer to the texts on a couple of occasions. But his pleasing demeanor and willingness to answer questions made the classes a lot more enjoyable.
Only Harry's new found talent for potion making, thanks to his uses of the Prince's textbook, bother her. Hermione didn't know why, it just did. She knew nothing good would come from using the notes in that book.
The one drawback to not having Snape around was Neville. Snape's sharp eyes usually caught most of Neville's mistakes before they could cause too much damage. Now, Neville was truly becoming a menace. Twice in the in the last month his classroom had to be evacuated because of toxic fumes coming from Neville's cauldron. He seemed to blow up about a third of his potions. Professor Slughorn had become very frustrated with Neville. On numerous occasions he had insisted that it was impossible to cause an explosion with the ingredients provided. Many times he had accused Neville of purposely adding explosives to his potions. Hermione could only give Neville a sympathetic look; she knew first-hand how easily a potion could go wrong. Fortunately for Hermione and her N.E.W.T level classmates, they only had class with Neville once a month.
Hermione had finished her potion with plenty of time to spare and was putting up her extra ingredients when Parvati Patil tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Hermione, could you have a look at Neville's potion? He's done something to make it turn orange."
Hermione followed Parvati over to Neville's cauldron. Not only was his potion orange, but it was as thick as mud with a rotten-egg smell coming from it. Hermione would swear she was looking at a cauldron full of molten rock and not a water-creating potion.
Shaking his head, Neville said, "I don't know what went wrong. Everything was fine until I added the salamander blood."
"How much did you add?" Hermione asked.
"Just what was called for, half a cup," Neville stated.
"I think this potion's had it, Neville," Parvati said sympathetically, as she looked into the cauldron.
"I really thought I had this one," Neville said, sounding dejected.
Staring at his remaining ingredients he suddenly said, "I know what went wrong. I forgot to add the Cactus powder."
Neville picked up the bowl of blue powder and poured it into the cauldron.
"No!" Hermione screamed, but it was too late.
The potion erupted in a fountain of orange gooey blobs as soon as the powder made contact. The force of the eruption knocked Hermione, Neville, and Parvati off their feet. All three of them were covered in orange potion that had the consistency of human snot.
"Mr. Longbottom, I should have known," the Professor said, as he arrived on the scene.
Neville tried to get up but slipped in the orange mess and landed on his butt. Hermione and Parvati slowly helped each other to their feet.
"Mr. Longbottom, this is the third exploding potion in one week. I believe that's a new record for you, isn't Mr. Longbottom?" he asked, with annoyed look on his face. All the Slytherins in the room began to laugh hysterically.
"Five," Neville said, as he grabbed the side of his worktable and pulled himself to his feet.
"What?" the professor asked.
"Five in one week. I did that in my second year," he answered.
"Mr. Longbottom, just how is it possible you scored an Outstanding on your Potions O.W.L.?" he asked, giving him a very skeptical look.
"My Potions O.W.L was on an antiseptic burn potion. My grandmother has been making me that potion since I was five," he answered.
The Professor just placed a hand on the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Neville pulled his wand out of his robe and pointed it at himself, apparently about to cast a cleaning charm.
"Stop right there, Mr. Longbottom," the Professor ordered. "You should know better than to cast a charm on a unknown potion. You will have to clean yourself manually, I'm afraid. All three of you will need to bathe and clean yourselves right away," he informed them.
"You want us to go all the way up to our dorms like this?" Parvati asked, as she looked down at her orange covered robe.
"No, Miss Patil. You have my permission to use the Prefects' bathroom on the first floor," he answered. "I suggest that you three head there now and try to avoid any skin irritation if you can. From the smell of that stuff, I wouldn't be surprised if a rash broke out." Just the mention of a rash caused all three of them to sprint for the door.
A couple of minute later, they all arrived at the Prefects' bathrooms. Neville quickly disappeared into the boy's bathroom across the hall, while Hermione and Parvati entered the girl's.
"Wow," Parvati said, as they entered the large Roman-style bath. "This is bigger than our common room Hermione. It even has a pool," Parvati said. sounding amazed.
"It's nice, but no one ever gets to use it," Hermione said, as she looked around. "With all the extra duties we Prefects have, we never have the time."
Hermione walked over to the dressing room and rang a small brass bell hanging from the wall. After only two seconds a small female house-elf, wearing a red and white tablecloth as a tunic, arrived with a soft 'pop'.
"My name is Moopa, Mistress. How can Moopa be of assistance?" the little elf asked.
"My name is Hermione. How are you doing this afternoon Moopa?" she asked, with a smile.
The small elf instantly became nervous after hearing Hermione's name. "Mistress Hermione, Moopa not wish to be given clothes. Hogwarts is Moopa home, Moopa has nowhere else to go," the elf said, on the verge of tears.
This was not the first time Hermione had received this kind of reaction from one of the house-elves. She now realized that, to an elf, there was no difference between being freed of their enslavement and being banished from their home. It was true that the only reason their masters ever did free them, was to punish an unforgivable crime.
Hermione knelt down on one knee in front of the little creature and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I promise you, Moopa, I'll never give you clothes unless you ask me to. I do hope one day that you will. There's a really big and wonderful world outside of Hogwarts; you might want to see it one day."
The elf blinked her large eyes at Hermione and said, "Moopa is very small and like her small world. Big world is for big people."
"Very well," Hermione said, as she stood back up. "Moopa, would you be so kind as to bring me and Miss Patil a fresh set of school uniforms from our wardrobes? Some clean robes as well?"
"Yes, Mistress," the elf answered with a smile, and with another 'pop' she was gone.
"When will you learn, Hermione? They don't want to be free," Parvati said, as she began to unbutton her robe.
"It's only a matter of education, Parvati. Once they know what they're missing and not just what they'll lose, it will be a different story," Hermione said, as she began to undress.
"If you say so," Parvati said skeptically.
Hermione undressed down to just bra and panties. She placed her soiled clothes in the laundry chute and grabbed a white terrycloth robe and some towels off the shelf. When she turned towards Parvati, Hermione opened her mouth in surprise. Parvati had removed everything except her undergarments, as well. But instead of plain white cotton underwear, she wore the skimpiest set of black lingerie Hermione had ever seen.
"Where did you get that?" Hermione asked.
"Oh this," Parvati said coyly, as she turned sideways and slightly bent one of her legs. Hermione thought Parvati looked just like a model in a Victoria's Secret catalog. "It's from Paris. My mother got it for me. She works in the fashion industry there."
"I thought your mom was a witch," Hermione said, sounding puzzled.
"She is. Most fashion designers hire witches. You couldn't have a fashion show without one. It usually takes a wand to get the models in those outfits," Parvati informed her. "My mom plans to design her own line of clothes one day. She just needs a Muggle to front for her first."
"How long has your mother been in fashion?" Hermione asked.
"Since she was fifteen. She used to be a model; now she does choreography and prep work for all the big shows. Last summer, my mom let Padma and me model in one of her shows, but only dresses. She drew the line at bathing suits and lingerie."
It wasn't hard for Hermione to picture Parvati walking down a Paris runway in four-inch stiletto heals. Standing there, nearly naked, next to Parvati, Hermione suddenly became very aware of her own body. Compared to Parvati, she felt like she had the body of a twelve-year old boy. Feeling a bit inadequate, Hermione quickly took off her underwear and rushed into the shower-room.
The shower-room didn't have any stalls or shower nozzles; instead it had five, four-foot wide, individual waterfalls set along three sides of the marble room. Behind each waterfall was a set of knobs to control the waters temperature and flow. After hanging up her robe and towels on hooks on the opposite wall, Hermione stepped under one of the waterfalls. She turned the temperature up and the flow to full. She wanted to make sure she got all that orange goop out of her hair.
A minute later, Parvati entered the shower-room. She took the waterfall that was two spaces to Hermione's left. Even through the heavy steam had filled the room, Hermione could still see the teen goddess' perfect body. Unexpectedly, Hermione felt the fire in her blood begin to burn. This was first time she had felt this way around another girl. She had assumed it would only happen in the presence of males. She turned her back to Parvati hoping that would cool the lust in her blood. In her head, Hermione began to go over her essay on why the Goblins were defeated at the battle of Stink Bog. She tried desperately not to think about the beautiful, naked girl that was only about five feet away.
"Hermione, could you give me a hand?" Parvati asked.
"What?" Hermione asked, sounding both shocked and panicky as she turned back towards Parvati.
"I think I have some of that orange stuff on my back. Do you think you can get it for me, please," Parvati said, as she held out the large loofah sponge toward Hermione. "Come on, I won't bite."
Hermione almost laughed at how ironic Parvati's statement was.
She took the sponge from Parvati and stepped behind the girl. Parvati pulled her long raven hair over her shoulder to expose the nape of her neck. As gently as she could, Hermione placed the sponge on Parvati's neck and slowly moved it down between her shoulder blades. The temptation to reach out and touch Parvati's perfect olive-colored skin was quickly becoming irresistible. Hermione stopped the sponge when she reached Parvati's waistline; she didn't dare go any lower. As she moved the sponge back up, Hermione tried to flood her mind with the most anti-erotic thoughts possible: 'grandma's hairy armpits, Dolores Umbridge in a thong bikini, a bucket full of dead puppies, Hagrid in a Speedo, Professor Snape in...' the last thought caused the memory of what happened in the Potions classroom to play itself out in her mind. Hermione was losing what little self-control she had left as the memory of Snape's strong, slender hands caressing her body invaded her thoughts.
Unable to control herself any longer, Hermione pressed the sponge into Parvati skin until all of the tips of her fingers were touching bare flesh.
"That tickles," Parvati said; but Hermione paid no attention.
Instead of stopping at her waistline, Hermione continued south until she was at the top of Parvati buttocks. She watched as a stream of small soapy bubbles ran out of the sponge and disappeared down the cleft between Parvati's cheeks. Instead of bringing the sponge back up, she began to move it back and forth across the top of Parvati's bum.
"Uh, Hermione, what are you doing?" Parvati asked, in a slightly apprehensive voice.
"Just making sure you're clean," she answered, in a present business-like tone.
She then moved a little closer to Parvati. Hermione let her hand slip a little wider and a little lower, until she was making small circles with the sponge on Parvati's right cheek. She then gently placed her left hand on Parvati's left hip. Parvati sucked in a deep breath as she felt Hermione's touch.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to slip," Hermione explained.
"Uh...ok," Parvati answered weakly.
Unable to resist any further, Hermione slowly lowered the sponge between Parvati's cheeks. Parvati drew in another deep breath before saying, "Hermione, I don't think any potion got down there."
(Edited for content)
Hermione moved forward some more, until both of her breasts pressed into Parvati's back, and then she whispered in her ear, "Better to be safe than sorry."
She pushed the sponge forward, causing Parvati to spread her legs farther apart. Hermione began making long strokes with the sponge, from the top of Parvati's rear end, all the way to her pubic bone.
Parvati's breathing became more ragged; she leaned forward, placing both her hands on the wall in front on her. With stealth-like secrecy, Hermione slowly brought her left hand up along Parvati's ribcage, cupping her left breast in her hand, massaging it gently with her fingers.
Deciding that the sponge was too big a hindrance, Hermione let it drop to the floor, using her bare hand and fingers instead. Parvati caught her breath as Hermione fingers brushed over her sensitive flesh.
"Hermione, we can't do this," she said in a shallow voice, but making no attempts at stopping her.
"Sure we can. Proper hygiene is important," she answered
"OH MERLIN," Parvati cried, as the pleasure of Hermione's actions over-took her.
Hermione put two of her fingers to good use, something she had learned to do well over the last month.
"Ummmmmmm" Parvati moaned. Feeling a deep hunger within herself, Hermione placed her lips on the left side of Parvati's throat. She traced her tongue up along Parvati's neck until she reached the ear. Remembering what Snape had done to her, Hermione took Parvati's earlobe into her mouth. Just as she bit down on Parvati's ear, Hermione increased her motion adding a third finger to the task.
"OH, YESSS," Parvati screamed. She then brought her own hand down between her legs. After another minute Parvati suddenly started to shudder. Knowing that she was on the verge, Hermione quickened her tempo. Seconds later, Parvati arched her back and let out a loud scream of pleasure, "OOOOHHH, GODS."
(End of edit.)
With most of her strength gone, Parvati leaned against the wall. She turned around to face Hermione; she had a large smile on her face. Hermione was about to smile back at her when she noticed the large crescent-shaped bite wound on Parvati's left ear. The wound was steadily dripping blood.
Seeing the worried expression on her face, Parvati reached up to feel her ear. She grimaced in pain as she touched it. Looking at the blood on her hand, a sudden panicked look appeared on Parvati's face. She unexpectedly rushed across the room and grabbed her bathrobe off the hook. Without trying to dry herself, Parvati quickly put on the robe. She then raced into the changing room, grabbed her book-bag, and headed for the exit. "I have to go," is all she said as she disappeared through the door.
Hermione quickly ran to the door after her. Opening the door she shouted, "I'm sorry Parvati." But Parvati was already gone. Only a trail of wet footprints leading to the main staircase remained. Realizing she was hanging halfway out the Prefects' bathroom buck naked, Hermione quickly pulled the door shut. She walked back into the shower-room and sat under one of the waterfalls.
Placing both of her hands on her face, Hermione shook her head in frustration. She was angry that she couldn't control herself. She was angry that she hadn't found a cure for the potion yet. And she was angry that Parvati ran out without giving her the common courtesy of a reach around.
An hour later, Hermione sat on a bed in the empty infirmary. She had decided it was no use going to class in her current state. After leaving the Prefects' bath, she had rushed here to beg Madam Pomfrey for the Nightshade potion. Hermione was hoping to get her dose a couple of hours early. She also hoped that Parvati wasn't too freaked out about what had happened in the shower-room. With her luck, rumors of her being a Lesbian Stalker, attacking poor defenseless girls while they bathed, would be all over Hogwarts by dinner. Her only hope was that Parvati might be too embarrassed to mention it to anyone.
It had been twenty minutes since Hermione had last seen Madam Pomfrey and she was beginning to worry. The Matron had taken an extra-long time examining her. She left saying that she had to check on something, but Hermione could see the look of concern on Poppy's face. All kinds of horrible thing were running through her mind. What if her symptoms were getting worse? Maybe in a month she would be reduced to a drooling, sex-crazed animal. What if the potion turned out to be lethal? A dozen different awful possibilities occurred to her.
Just as her anxiety reached it's boiling point, Madam Pomfrey re-entered the infirmary with Professor Dumbledore behind her. 'This can't be good,' she thought to herself, as the old wizard approached her.
"How are we feeling today, my dear?" he asked, with a smile and a twinkle from his blue eyes.
"Not so good, Professor. My urges are getting even harder to control," she answered dejectedly.
"Well, not to worry my dear. Madam Pomfrey believes she has found the reason why your condition has persisted for so long," the Headmaster said.
"Really, why?" Hermione asked, as she looked up at the Matron.
Instead of answering her, Pomfrey unfolded a piece of red velvet cloth. Inside the cloth was a beautiful gold medallion attached to a gold chain. In the center of the medallion was a carved picture of the sun with a large crystal in it. As soon as Pomfrey lifted it up by the chain, Hermione could see that the other side of the medallion was not gold, but instead polished silver. The silver side had a carved moon on it with the same crystal in the middle.
"Let me see your hand, dear," Pomfrey asked, as she held the medallion in her right hand.
Hesitantly, she gave Pomfrey her right hand. Taking hold of her index finger, Pomfrey pushed Hermione's fingertip onto a sharp point at the top of the medallion. She whimpered as a single drop of blood dripped down onto it. The medallion absorbed the blood almost instantly. The clear crystal in its center turned the color of blood.
"Hermione, please lie down on your back," Pomfrey asked.
She did as the Matron ordered.
Pomfrey held the medallion over Hermione's stomach by its long chain. She pointed her wand at it and said, "Reperi Arcanum."
The medallion began to slowly spin counterclockwise. As it began to spin faster the crystal in the middle started to glow. A bright pink light came out of the crystal as the medallion continued to twirl. Pomfrey grabbed the medallion with her other hand; the light disappeared as soon as the spinning stopped.
"You see Albus, there's no mistake," Pomfrey said to the Headmaster.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, as she looked up at the old wizard.
Sitting down on the bed next to her, Dumbledore gave her a smile and said, "Hermione we think we know the why your potion is still affecting you."
"Why?" she asked.
"You're with child, Miss Granger," Pomfrey answered.
"WHAT? No, that's not possible," Hermione said in a panicked voice. "What about the Nightshade Morning-After potion? I've taken five doses."
"I'm afraid my Nightshade potion was no match for the one you brewed up," Madam Pomfrey answered.
"But I can't be pregnant; I just can't be," she said, on the verge of tears. Dumbledore reached out and took hold of her hand to try and comfort her. "I don't understand, Professor. How is this possible?" she asked.
"Hermione, the original potion was meant for the successful breeding of livestock. Not only did it have to put them in the mood to breed, but had to make them fertile as well," Dumbledore told her.
"What if I take a larger dose, will it work then?" she asked, sounding desperate.
"I'm afraid I can't give you anymore Nightshade potion, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey informed her.
"Why not?" Hermione franticly asked.
"Miss Granger, while birth-control is not illegal in the Wizarding World, abortion is. Now that we know you're pregnant, we can do nothing that will harm your child," Pomfrey answered.
"Are you saying, I'm going to be forced to have this baby?" she asked.
"No Hermione, you still have options available to you," Dumbledore said. "While it's true that abortion is not permitted in our world, it is a option in the Muggle world. Since you're of Muggle birth, our law does allow you to seek a Muggle solution to your problem."
"So if I want a abortion, I have to use a Muggle doctor?"
"Yes Hermione, and you only have a limited amount of time to decide. The law only gives you a thirty-day grace period to use the Muggle option," he told her.
"What about the potion? It's still affecting me. I won't be able to control myself without the Nightshade potion. What will I do?" she asked.
"The Nightshade potion is the reason your potion is still affecting you so dramatically," Pomfrey said. "I believe the potion reasserted itself to protect your pregnancy every time you took a dose of Nightshade Morning-After. It should become dormant in your system in a couple of days."
"Dormant? Are you saying the stuff is going to be in me forever?" Hermione worriedly asked.
"No dear, it should be gone as soon as your pregnancy is over," Pomfrey answered.
"I guess I'll have to owl my parents tonight. They'll probably know a doctor or a clinic I can go to," Hermione said.
"Poppy, would you be so kind as to give Miss Granger and I a few private minutes to ourselves?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course, Albus. I need to run down to the greenhouse and retrieve some healing herbs. I will be gone at least fifteen to twenty minute; will that be sufficient?"
"Yes Poppy, that will be fine."
Hermione watched as Pomfrey wrapped the medallion back in the red velvet cloth and handed it to the Headmaster. As she watched the Matron walk down the infirmary aisle and out the door, Hermione wondered what Dumbledore wanted to talk to her about.
"Hermione, I know this is a difficult decision to make, but I want you to consider having this child," Dumbledore said sincerely to her.
"You can't be serious, Professor. I'm only seventeen; I'm not even out of school yet," she tensely said.
"I realize what a burden this will be to you, Hermione. But I can assure you that you'll have all the help and support you ever need, if you decide to have this child. The full resources of Hogwarts and the Order will be at your disposal," Dumbledore said.
Hermione wasn't sure, but she thought the Headmaster was almost pleading with her to have this child.
"I can't Professor. It's not only that I'm too young, it's..it's..."
"It's the father," Dumbledore finished for her.
"Yes, sir," Hermione said, sounding a little ashamed. "I mean, it's Professor Snape. How can I have the child of such a vile, despicable man?"
"Hermione, you have yet to see the true Severus Snape. I can assure you that he is quite a remarkable person," Dumbledore told her.
"Are you saying he is a completely different person around other people? The mean, hateful man that had tormented and plagued my friends and me for years was all just an act?" she asked.
"No, I must admit Severus does have his abrasive side. I'm merely suggesting that there is a lot more to the man than he typically shows," Dumbledore answered.
"He was a Death Eater. I'm not fully convinced he ever stopped being one. He treats all the Slytherins like royalty and is absolutely cruel to those who fight against the Dark Lord. How can you trust such a man?" she asked the old wizard, with a distressed look on her face.
"If there is one thing I can assure you of, it's Severus's loyalty to the Order and the fight against the Dark Lord. When he was seventeen, in a fit of both rage and grief, he made a very bad mistake. Almost immediately, he realized his mistake; ever since then, he has dedicated his life to erasing that mistake. I would trust my life to Severus and have done so on many occasions."
"But he carries the Dark Mark. I just don't see how you can trust such a person," she said.
"I'm afraid I have little choice in the matter. You see Hermione, Severus Snape is my grandson," Dumbledore stated.
In the next chapter Dumbledore will explain his relationship to Severus.
Stay tuned.
Once again I had to butcher this chapter to make it fit ratings. If you want to read the uncut, unedited version, go to the link on my Author's page.
Please review. It's what I live for.