11 Jan 1999
Severus woke with a groan as Hermione wiggled her arse into his hard cock. He wanted to flip her onto her back, spread her thighs, and bury himself in her wet heat. He would wait as long as it took until she decided if she wanted to stay with him, but just because his mind said that didn't mean his cock agreed. She was still sleeping, but he had to wake her so she could get to breakfast on time.
"Hermione," he called softly. "Time to wake up."
"No," she growled out, "don't want to."
"You have to go to classes today."
She rolled over and hooked one leg over his hip. "Or, we can say we're sick and stay in bed all day."
"Witch, you'll be the death of me." He placed a quick kiss on her lips but pulled back when she tried to deepen it.
She nipped at his chin and pouted. "Just want you to remember that I still want you, Severus. Do I have to go to breakfast?"
"Yes. Dumbledore made the arrangements to explain why you were gone with no notice. You have been away with your parents because your father was in a motor accident. He will make a full recovery. You returned early this morning via Professor McGonagall's Floo."
She nodded and he watched as she crawled out of his bed and walked into the loo. The little minx had slept in nothing more than one of his old Led Zeppelin t-shirts and knickers and he bit back a moan at how edible she looked in it. Fucking Dark Lord and Bellatrix — giving him something as sweet as Hermione when he couldn't enjoy it. How he wished things were different.
He waited for her to finish in the bathroom before he got out of bed. He wished she could stay in his rooms with him until it was time for them to walk to breakfast together, but they couldn't risk being seen leaving his rooms. Instead, he walked her towards the Floo so she could get to McGonagall's office without anyone in the castle being any the wiser.
She was about to pick up the Floo powder when she stopped and turned around. Before he could register what she was doing, she was in his arms and snogging him like he was a teenager. He let the kiss last longer than he should have before gripping her hips and pushing back.
"I know, I know," she said. "Won't happen again until you're convinced I want you because I like you and not because of Bellatrix or the Dark Lord."
"Precisely," he answered. "And no more sexy stunts in class. Since he won't talk to me on his own. I will be giving you and Draco detention after class on Tuesday, so if you could do something to make that happen, I would appreciate it."
"Consider it done."
She waved at him before Flooing away. As soon as she had spun out of sight, Severus hurried into his bathroom, tore his clothes off, and stepped into the shower, hard cock already in his hand. Imagining Hermione naked and spread out before him, he pulled and twisted on his dick until his release fell at his feet. Waiting to have her again was going to be hell.
12 Jan 1999
Severus could have kissed Hermione for her performance in his class. He had them in pairs, practising an advanced Incarcerous Charm when she missed her partner Neville Longbottom, hitting Draco and wrapping him in cords even though he had been nowhere near her range of aim. Of course, Draco had no choice but to hex her. He still believed she was undercover for the Dark Lord and to not retaliate would have seemed out of character for him.
As soon as dinner was over, he was waiting for them to arrive in his office so they could assess Draco. Hermione had returned to his office the night before and they had spent hours talking, working through the things she had experienced since being taken by Bellatrix. With her permission this time, he had entered her mind and helped her lock some of the worst of the memories away.
Her mind was much calmer than the last time he had entered and he instantly recognised it as the British Library. He had placed the books that contained memories she would rather not think about in locked boxes and stored them away in a storage cupboard in the back of the large room. She would still be able to access them at any time, but it would take more effort.
He had been surprised when it came to the memories of her trip into Muggle London with Lucius and the Mabon ceremony. She didn't want either of them locked away in the cupboard, just placed on the same shelf as some of her other memories from her time in the Dark Lord's service, like time spent in the Malfoy library. When he asked she simply told him that those nights, including the orgy, might not be something that she would normally do, but they didn't go against her moral compass.
Once he had exited her mind, they had talked for hours about how she was feeling. The worry that her soul had been split from the murders was put to rest as soon as he entered her mind. Whilst there were some sections that were darker than others, there was nothing as dark and sinister as a split soul.
He'd entered the minds of killers before and each of them had one thing in common; deep ravines and cracks that ran through whatever landscape they used. Hermione's mindscape was whole and healthy.
He could only hope that his godson was as lucky as she was.
Draco had always been a spoiled brat, but he wasn't the cold-hearted killer he'd seen in Hermione's mind. Draco had hesitated on their first raid, but not after that. Severus was convinced that, like Hermione, Draco had been doused with potions over and over again. And each dose had made him more and more like Bellatrix.
He had to wonder how Narcissa and Lucius would feel about that if they knew. Lucius had been in Azkaban since before Draco returned home, but Narcissa had not been. He'd been shocked when she had shown up at his home in Cokeworth just one week after Draco was marked and asked for his help. He had wanted to tell her to run away, take Draco and flee the country. But Bellatrix had been there and he knew he had to keep up his appearances.
He could tell Narcissa had been hiding something but was it information on Hermione or on Draco? He wouldn't imagine she would be comfortable with either of them becoming Death Eaters. Narcissa might be a blood purist, but she wasn't a Death Eater and he knew without a doubt that she wouldn't have been happy about Draco becoming one.
A knock on his office door brought him back to the present and he flicked his wand, opening it. Draco and Hermione walked through, and whilst she looked calm, his godson looked livid that he was having to spend his evening in detention.
Guess we'll see how angry he'll be after I'm done with him.
Severus directed them to the chairs in front of his desk and stared at Draco. He looked healthier than he had the night of the R.A.V.E.N. Christmas party, but he could tell he still wasn't in the right state of mind. He still wasn't sure which was the best way to approach the situation. Hermione thought he should talk to Draco and then administer the antidote, but he thought it was better to just force him to drink it. If he wasn't under the influence of the potion, they could Obliviate him. If he was, they could help him.
Seeing Draco again, the anger in his grey eyes, Severus made his choice.
Flicking his wand, ropes secured him to the chair. Hermione gasped in shock but Draco was furious.
"What the fuck, Severus?" he yelled. "What are you playing at? Get these ropes off me."
He almost took house points for the use of his first name, but decided Draco was going to be angry enough without that.
"Miss Granger and I–"
"I didn't realise you called people you were fucking by their last name, Severus," he spat. "Seems a little kinky to me."
Severus shot Hermione a death glare that promised they would talk about the fact that Draco knew they had slept together later. He tried to address Draco two more times, but the boy wouldn't stop hollering so, unable to think of what to say to calm him, Severus hit him with a Full Body-Bind and Silence Charm instead.
"Severus," Hermione cried out, "what are you doing?"
"He wouldn't stop talking." He shrugged. It wouldn't kill Draco to be frozen in place for a little bit. "Plus, it will be easier to administer the potion this way."
Even though Draco couldn't move, his pupils dilated in fear at his words. His godson wasn't stupid and he could only imagine what was running through his head. Probably that Hermione was an Order spy, Severus wasn't a loyal Death Eater, and that they were going to poison him.
Only one of those was correct. For now anyway. He did not doubt that once everything with Draco was resolved and Hermione had spoken to Harry she would insist on becoming an Order spy. He had no reservations that she could do it. Her Occlumency was superb and if she acted right, Voldemort might not even think to check her mind. He couldn't find any memory of him doing so before.
Bellatrix had at the beginning, but he thought that had more to do with the witch wanting to make sure everything was going correctly. She hadn't looked in her mind since September. And Bellatrix was cocky enough that he didn't think she would ever imagine her plan hadn't worked out exactly as she wanted it to.
Poor, delusional bitch had no idea just who Hermione Granger was.
"Draco," he began, pulling the antidote from his pocket and holding it where Draco could see it. "Hermione and I believe that you have been given a potion by your aunt Bella and this is the antidote. If you haven't taken the potion, this won't harm you. If you have… we'll go from there."
Draco's eyes seemed to cloud with confusion at his words so he assumed his godson understood. Opening the phial, Severus used his wand to magic the potion down Draco's throat. As soon as he was sure it had hit his stomach, he lifted the Body-Bind but kept the ropes, just in case.
"Severus?" Draco asked, his voice sounding small and young. "What happened?"
"I will need to enter your mind to be sure, but if it is similar to Hermione, you were given a compliance potion by your aunt."
"Can you help me?"
Severus nodded and removed the ropes tying him to the chair. Motioning for them to stand, he led them through the door to his chambers. As soon as they entered, Hermione made herself at home on his sofa, going so far as to conjure a blanket to cuddle up under. Draco sat down in the middle and reached out to take her hand. Severus sat on the coffee table in front of them.
"Are you ready, Draco?" When he nodded, Severus lifted his wand. "Try not to resist me."
Draco's mind was nothing like Hermione's had been when he first entered and he could sense that everything he was seeing was the real Draco, not a mind that was tampered with. It was set up like Malfoy Manor and he glanced through a door to see Draco around age four sitting in his old playroom with Narcissa as she told him all about a mighty dragon slaying a princess.
He smiled at how young his godson looked before moving on. He asked Draco to direct him towards his more recent memories and he found himself the study Bellatrix had taken over when she started staying at the Manor.
The scene in the room was, thankfully, different from what he had seen whilst Hermione had been given the potion. Draco was fully clothed, half-conscious and sitting in one of the chairs. Bellatrix poured the potion down his throat then entered his mind. The view of the memory changed and Severus was seeing everything from memory Draco's point of view.
Bellatrix was in his mind, pushing all doubts about blood purity away, telling him that he was a faithful servant of the Dark Lord. She pushed the suggestion that Hermione Granger was loyal to their cause and to not question seeing her around the manor. She told him he was a ruthless killer and that he would do anything necessary for the cause. Even though he already knew what Draco had been assigned to do, his heart hurt when Bellatrix told him he would need to kill Dumbledore and that he would be proud when Voldemort gave him his task.
Unlike Hermione, Draco had not needed a full personality change. His aunt had just shifted things around enough that Draco would stop questioning everything and follow orders without hesitation. It saddened Severus to see that his godson had been growing into a more tolerant person on his own and his aunt had stolen that from him.
The next few months of memories flashed by and he saw glimpses of him and Hermione together, long talks as they built their friendship. Flashes of Draco crying as the task at hand was seeming more and more impossible. Him writing a letter and asking Bellatrix to secure the necklace that had made its way to Katie Bell instead of the Headmaster. He saw him Imperio Madam Rosmerta and had her poison wine that was to be gifted to Dumbledore. Severus made a mental note to ask about that as the Headmaster had not been poisoned.
He prodded Draco, mentally asking him about anything he ate daily and Draco showed him a room that opened to the Slytherin dorms which showed Draco opening his weekly package from Narcissa and a small box from his aunt. The chocolates in the box were the same as what Hermione had been eating.
Severus was happy to see, that like Hermione, Draco's mind was free from the signs that his soul had been damaged by the actions he'd done since joining the Death Eaters. It was clear that he'd already been questioning the Dark Lord's regime and that he wasn't the killer he had seen in Hermione's memories.
Slowly exiting Draco's mind, he sat back and looked him over. His face was white with tear marks streaking his cheeks. Severus looked at Hermione and gave her a small nod, letting her know that Draco had been given the same potion she had.
"Oh, Draco," she said, pulling him into her arms.
Draco hugged her back, pressing his face into her chest as he began to cry again. Knowing he would prefer privacy, Severus left the room, going to his lab to grab a phial of Calming Draught and taking as long as possible to retrieve it.
He had seen in his godson's mind that he really did care for Hermione. Severus had not particularly enjoyed watching them sleep together, but it was clear that Draco only saw her as a friend. A friend with benefits, but he had no emotional attachment to her beyond friendship. Snape wasn't sure what he would have done if Draco was in love with the same woman he was.
Figuring it had been long enough, he made his way back into his office and was pleased to see Draco was no longer sobbing. This would be hard enough on the boy without him wondering if Severus was going to judge him. Not that he would. Even though he never showed any in public, emotions were natural and he didn't think they should be suppressed if at all possible.
Unfortunately, as a spy for the Order, Severus didn't have the luxury of showing his emotions when he left his rooms. He had to keep his mind under control at all times.
"Here you go, Draco," Severus said, handing him a phial of calming draught.
"Thank you, Severus." Draco finished it and handed the empty bottle back. "How did you know?"
"He recognised me at the last Death Eater meeting before we came back to school," Hermione answered. "I think something happened when we did the ritual with Lucius because I began to have strange dreams and such. Next time Severus and I… met up, he was able to break through the surface level of the potion."
"That must have been one hell of a fuck."
"Draco!" Severus snapped. "My physical relationship with Hermione will not be talked about. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," he muttered.
"Now, we have a lot to discuss and I can't keep you in detention all night and we still have to go see the Headmaster."
After confirming that Hermione was already aware of the mission that Draco had been given, they talked through the progress that he had made. The necklace had not worked and Severus was unsure about the wine. Draco told him that he had instructed Rosmerta to only sell it to someone that was planning on giving it to Dumbledore. Snape tried to think of who had given the Headmaster wine for Christmas, but he didn't think anyone had.
Draco confessed that he had another plan, one that would bring Death Eaters into the castle, but it wasn't going well. Snape thought that if he and Hermione helped him, they could repair it within days if not weeks. But that wasn't his call. They needed to talk to Dumbledore. It was clear that these two weren't Death Eaters by choice and they needed to see what their options were.
Luckily, the Dark Lord wouldn't be summoning them until Easter because even for uni students, leaving the castle during term would be noticed so they had time to prepare them for what was to come.
He had a feeling Dumbledore would ask them to be spies.
Which meant he would be having a lot of private lessons with the two of them, teaching them advanced spells that weren't Dark and they both needed to improve their Occlumency. The Dark Lord might not look at their minds, but it was better to be protected, just in case.
But for now, they had to get over the first huddle; talking to Dumbledore. And no time like the present.
Dumbledore steepled his hands together and rested his chin on them. Severus had just finished telling him about the events that had taken place since the summer, Draco and Hermione filling in the details. He knew he could have just given the Headmaster memories from his students but Severus felt it would be healing for them to speak about it. The more they talked through their trauma, the easier it would be for them to accept what had happened and heal.
"I am concerned that I did not receive a bottle of wine for Christmas," Dumbledore finally spoke. "If Rosmerta sold it, the person who intended to give it to me either kept it for themselves or gave it to someone else."
Draco's face went white. "You mean, I might kill someo–"
"No." Dumbledore's reply was sharp, cutting him off. "Bellatrix might kill someone. You are not responsible for your actions whilst you were being controlled. Either of you."
His eyes darted between Draco and Hermione and Severus saw her instantly relax. It was as if she'd been waiting for Dumbledore to tell her that she was a Death Eater and was going to be expelled. Now that he had said he didn't hold anything against her, she seemed calmer.
"This information changes how we will fight this war. I trust you understand that you have a few options now. Either you can willingly serve Voldemort, which means the Order will hunt you down as soon as you leave school. You can serve the Order as spies and work from the inside of the Death Eater ranks to help the Light win. Or you can go on the run, try to stay neutral and take your chances with Voldemort or the Ministry, depending on the outcome of the war.
"I will not force you into your choice. If you choose to be a spy, Severus will train you. If you choose to serve Voldemort or go on the run, this conversation will be removed from your memory. I will need your answers by the end of the week."
"I will spy," Hermione said confidently and Severus' heart hurt. She was so brave and it filled him with pride, but he didn't want her to live the life he did. "I was always going to join the Order. Now I can be of more use than just Harry's know-it-all friend."
"Harry will still need you as a friend," Dumbledore told her. "And I am not sure he needs to know the events that have taken place. It will be better for him if he doesn't know the sacrifices you are making."
Severus stared at the Headmaster in shock. He didn't want her to tell Harry? He couldn't figure out the old man's reasoning. Personally, he thought telling the boy was the best thing to do. Yes, he had a mental connection with Voldemort, but Dumbledore was giving Harry private lessons and the Dark Lord was too afraid of entering Harry's mind again that he'd never even looked to see what they were discussing. He relied on Snape to tell him.
If Dumbledore was willing to give Potter information on how to destroy the Dark Lord, clearly the boy could know that his best friend was now a spy for the Order. Severus might not like the brat, but he thought he had a right to know. Especially since Potter relied heavily on Hermione and would only do so more once he graduated from uni and wasn't under constant protection.
"Harry should know," Hermione said forcefully. "They did this because I'm friends with him. Knowing will make him fight harder."
"Knowing will make him reckless and he will seek out Bellatrix," Dumbledore countered. "As a member of the Order, Miss Granger, you will have to follow my instructions at all times. Can you do this?"
Hermione was quiet for a moment and Severus wished he could slip into her mind and know what she was thinking. Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet. "I understand, sir. As an Order member, your word is final. When will I join?"
"There is a wand oath you'll take and there will be witnesses. I think Saturday will work. Gives me time to contact who I need to."
"That will be fine, sir."
Severus had a feeling she was up to something but decided to talk to her after they were free from the prying eyes of the Headmaster. He was currently questioning Draco who was unsure what he wanted to do.
"I don't want to be a Death Eater," he confessed, "but I am worried for my parents if I leave the ranks. My father has lost some of his status and my mother is not powerful enough to defend herself from them."
"If you are a good enough spy no one will know so your parents would still be protected," Dumbledore said.
Severus bit back his growl but he heard Hermione's grunt of annoyance. It wasn't like Draco would be a bad spy on purpose. He and Hermione were twenty-one, not five. And even though he didn't make mistakes, Severus knew how hard it was to be a spy. He'd almost messed up multiple times and that was after years of leading a double life. Not to mention the fact that he'd always had to hide things; from his father, his professors, his dormmates. Being a spy was like second nature to him.
"I will train you, Draco," Severus said firmly. "And if we need to, I can get your parents to safety in seconds. Albus, let him have until Saturday to decide. I will work with him to have plans in place if needed."
"Very well. But I will require a wand oath from you, Draco. Not only for everything we discussed here, but that you won't send any mail out of the castle before Saturday unless it is read by myself or Severus first. I can't have you repeating what you heard in here."
"What a fucking wanker!" Hermione yelled as soon as she, Severus, and Draco were back in his office. "Making Draco take a wand oath because he's a Slytherin. Notice he didn't make me take one."
She was huffing and stomping around his office, picking things up and slamming them back on his desk. He took an expensive jar of potion ingredients from her hand that had just arrived so she didn't break it.
Hermione glared at him but kept ranting. "As if there is anything wrong with wanting to make sure your parents are protected. And he can kiss my arse if he thinks I'm not telling Harry."
"But you promised," Draco cut in."You said his word was final."
"I said 'as an Order member' his word is final. I won't be an Order member until Saturday. So I just have to tell Harry before then."
Draco looked at Hermione with his mouth open. Severus had seen her words for the Slytherin tactic they were as soon as she'd said them. Not caring that his godson was in the room, he pulled her into his arms and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.
"Seems like you have a little Slytherin in you, after all, Hermione," he teased her.
"Not at the moment. And last I checked, it wasn't that little."
Draco pretended to gag. "You know I'm still in the room, right? I don't want to see that."
Hermione rolled her eyes but turned in Severus' arms so her back was pressed to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. It was nice to not have to hide his desire for his witch. Draco already knew and he wouldn't say anything to anyone but his parents. And according to Hermione, everyone in the inner circle already knew.
"I seem to recall that you liked watching me with other men, Draco," Hermione said, her tone light. "Or maybe you just liked to share me with them."
"I… er… Fuck off! It's been a stressful day."
Hermione held her hands out to him and Draco immediately hugged her. Severus, unsure of what to do, pulled his arms from between their bodies and ran his hands up and down Draco's back, soothing him the same way he had done when his godson was a toddler.
"We'll figure it out, Draco," Hermione whispered. "The three of us. And no matter what, we stick together."
"I promise, I'll protect you both," Severus told them.
And he meant it. He would protect both of them with his life if he needed to. Regardless of what Dumbledore said, he would never hunt either of them down; they didn't have the resources. Regardless of what Draco decided, he was Severus' godson and he had sworn an oath to do everything he could to be his protector.
For now, he needed to figure out what these new developments meant for the task Draco was given. Voldemort had ordered him to kill Dumbledore or get Death Eaters into the castle who would kill the Headmaster. He would know if Draco wasn't trying. Severus would need to work hard to make sure it still looked like Draco was doing so.