Hope your Septembers are going better than Snape's February!

Chapter 27. Indignation

"Severus, I am glad to see you, my friend. It has been too long," Voldemort hissed enthusiastically as Severus sat down next to him. The dining table was oddly empty, given it was supposedly a celebration of his successful penetration of the ministry. It was one more Death Eater amongst those who held significant power, and it was another obstacle for the order to overcome. Narcissa had filled him in upon his arrival by floo that this evening's discussion would be focused on Draco's mission. Severus determined that this would be as good a time as any to broach the topic of the boy's relationship with Hermione. "Any news of our dear Draco?"

"He has a plan and has been pursuing it nightly I believe, my Lord. Something to do with the Room of Requirements but he has yet to let me be privy to was exactly it is. I assume his reasoning is in case it is another failure. I am prepared, however, to take over for him, as you suggested," Severus offered stoically, holding the eyes of his master who was smiling manically.

"And of the mudblood?" He remained emotionless, but the comment stung. He would have surely winced had he not been in the presence of many murderers, including himself, and forcing Occlumency throughout the meeting.

"I do believe that is a topic we ought to discuss. I have heard he has begun pursuing a relationship with her-" Voldemort barked with glee at the comment and looked at Bellatrix who appeared less than pleased. "and I would like to know what it is we are going to do with it? What are the next steps, my Lord?" He finished, watching Draco's aunt from his periphery as she seethed with rage, as if she were waiting to jump on them.

"Our little blood traitor, yes, such a good boy. I am hosting a little soiree of sorts other the Easter holidays and she will be our main attraction. He will come, unknowing of course, and we will kidnap the little filth before she reaches her muggle blood." Severus clenched his jaws, his heart-shattering at the thought of Hermione being tortured, or murdered, for show.

"And what will this serve, my Lord? Simply entertainment?" Severus coaxed, willing the dark wizard to take his words as enthusiasm rather than a challenge to his plan. He knew that the ego of the evil sitting before him was unmatched, but he was paranoid, and frankly, anything could be taken incorrectly at this point. Normally, he wouldn't dare risk questioning an order, but it was his Hermione at stake. His heart.

"Draco must know that love only weakens us, that those we love can only be used against us in battle. It will serve to strengthen his resolve, to harden him. The killing curse needs purpose, needs intent, and I intend on instilling it in him," Voldemort proclaimed with glee, Bellatrix nearly jumping from her seat in joy, clapping.

"Draco's a blood traitor! He will pay!" The nutcase of a witch exclaimed without regard for her younger sister who was near breaking as she stood behind them all. Narcissa was nearly melting into the wall, clutching her handkerchief tightly and breathing shakily as she held back tears.

"I will devise a plan to provide access to Miss Granger as she leaves Hogwarts-" Severus started, wracking his brain for a way out of it, anything he could do to stop it from happening. He was panicking, not just about the loss of his heart, but about the small thought that lingered at the back of his mind. She might be carrying my child, and if she is kidnapped- if anyone tortures her- they could both die. He felt as close to sobs as Narcissa likely did, but he was far better was forcing his shields down around the waves of dread and focused on the task at hand.

"Good, then it is settled. The mudblood will die," Voldemort declared. "And Severus?" The second he glanced up at his master's words, the cruciatus curse tore through his nerves. He yelped in pain, gritting his teeth and bearing down to suffer through it. He felt as though he were simultaneously burning alive and being torn apart repeatedly. His body writhed under the curse, which seemed to drag on as he felt the agony begin to bear into his mind. The wizard slammed his occlumency shields down and fought it, daring to keep his mind sound as he suffered. When he was finally released, he nearly collapsed onto the dining table. The shocks sending him into spasms. "Don't question my intentions ever again," Tom spat before waving him off.

Cautiously, Severus stood, stumbling over to the floo and giving Narcissa a glance before disappearing into the green flames.

Careening into his chambers, his mind continued to be bombarded with trepidation and doubt. He knew he had to seek out the Headmaster directly and inform him of the plot, as he would know best how to handle it and how best to protect her. However, he doubted the man's ability to act rationally given his adamant need to keep Harry safe at all costs, and his deteriorating lack of proper judgement due to his impending death. If Severus were to seek him out and have no alternatives to offer Albus, he would likely be reduced to accepting whatever it was the older wizard put forth. It had been the case when he sought him out over the initial conspiracy, but now someone's life was in danger. Hermione's life was in danger.

He sat down on his bed, summoning the cruciatus counter elixir and downed it quickly, feeling his spasms begin to mellow. Severus waited for a while, continuing to debate the direction he would take once he felt his strength had returned enough for him to stand. So when he finally got up, he knew exactly where it was he would be going. Instead of heading promptly to his controller, he took a pit stop into Minerva's chambers, knocking on her door. He knew it was nearing midnight and that she was likely resting up before class the next day, but her wisdom never failed to provide him with perspective. And frankly, he needed to vent.

"What is it, Severus?" She asked in a panic upon opening the door and registering who it was that had roused her from sleep at the awfully late hour. He didn't fault her for the worry, as the last time he had come to her was with a very frozen and unconscious student in his arms.

"I need some advice," he spoke plainly, eyeing her over his nose and sighing as the pressure built on his shoulders.

"Severus, surely it can wait till tomorrow?" Minerva's face twisted with worry and just a touch of anger as he shook his head in response. It could, but tomorrow I will have had to have spoken with Albus, and this is something you should hear first, he bemoaned internally, knowing he would have to be a tad more cryptic. He knew the witch continued to support the Headmaster, regardless of the actions he had taken against her suggestion, and he wasn't about to offer up his spite for the man when he needed her to remain on his side.

"It involves the life of a student of ours, and it's potential end." The witch's eyes widened at the statement and she quickly ushered him in, tightening her sleeping robes around her and sitting him down in her overstuffed sofa. He found it hard to get comfortable, his mind still clearly clouded by his fear for Hermione's safety, and opted to sit at the edge of the cushion. "I just had a conversation with Tom, and he is looking to ensure the death of a muggleborn under our care over the Easter holidays as punishment for Draco's feelings for her."

"And just who is this muggleborn witch?" Minerva prodded. Severus winced, continually doubting if he was making the correct decision by informing his friend of the situation. He twitched slightly when one of the cruciatus side effects passed through the serum's power, but he hardened against it and resolved to answer her.

"Hermione Granger," he sighed, avoiding the certainly shocked gaze of the witch. "She is to be captured as she leaves for Easter Holidays and murdered to-"

"I thought you might be here, Severus." Dumbledore's calm tone made the two on the couch stand immediately to face the new arrival. "Good evening Minerva, I'm sorry to intrude. How was Tom this evening, Severus?" The older wizard questioned, striding forward out of the shadows with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I found Severus in the halls, distraught, I brought him here to calm him down," Minerva lied easily in his defence. Severus could never thank the witch enough for all she did for him without question, how simply she came to his aid regardless of the person against him.

"Severus is not easily shaken, this must have been quite the meeting," Albus commented, a brush of disbelief in his tone as he approached them slowly. He eyed them over his spectacles and made Severus feel quite threatened. He knew they were hiding something from him, and he wasn't about to let them continue the conversation. It would have to be that he would share the plot with the both of them right then and there.

"Hermione Granger is to die by Easter Holidays, and I am to facilitate her capture," Severus explained. "I need to know how to fix this, what our plan will be," he nearly begged, eyeing Dumbledore cautiously. He didn't want to appear as he genuinely felt: helpless. But he needed to know how he was going to save her.

"And what purpose does Tom believe this will serve?" The older wizard inquired, likely having the same thought process Severus had when he was faced with the same information earlier that evening.

"Her death will be a reminder to Draco that blood traitors are punished and that love only makes us weak. But she cannot die," Severus barked. "Potter will need her, she is intelligent and resourceful and is probably the only reason he has lived this long," he proclaimed, attempting to play to the Headmaster's love of the boy-who-lived. The potions master was beginning to feel his shields weakening around his emotions, how they did whenever he was truly fearful for the life of someone he loved. The last time he felt this hopeless was when Lily was sentenced to death by Voldemort. Dumbledore didn't stop it then, why do I trust him to stop this now? His heart ached at the thought and he wanted to collapse, to find Hermione and hold her. He needed to protect her.

"Yes, of course, Severus, no student of mine should be forced to die for the greater good, I understand that," Dumbledore reassured, beginning a slow pacing in front of them. I wish I could believe you, old man, Severus spat mentally, clenching his fists. "We will come up with a way to save Miss Granger that does not blow your cover. Something as simple as keeping her here over the Holidays. It shouldn't be an issue, the Order will handle it." The older wizard seemed to brush off the matter as if it were simply a blip in the grand scheme of things. He acted as though the death of Hermione Granger was something to be handled passively, by doing very little and hoping for the best. And Severus would not stand for it.

As he opened his mouth to protest, Minerva interrupted. "Albus, you know very well that this is a serious threat. Tom would not let a simple thing as these castle's walls keep him from finishing whatever disquieting plan he has come up with," she argued, stepping forward in challenge. Severus wanted to smile, the protective nature of his Gryffindor friend was a quality he very well appreciated, especially when it came to defending someone they mutually cared for. "We must hold a meeting tomorrow night to discuss a plan! Bring in Alastor and the rest of the order, we must protect Miss Granger!" The witch barked, bracing herself for a fight.

"Headmaster?" Severus encouraged after the greying man stood in silence, staring at the floor in contemplation. He didn't want to give him the chance to come up with a change of topic or a witty retort. He wanted the truth and he wanted action. Now.

"I will set a meeting for this coming Friday. We have many weeks until the Easter Holidays, we will devise something by then. Until that time, we speak of this to no one. Granger must not know her life is in danger," Dumbledore responded calmly, squaring his shoulders and letting his gaze flutter between the two professors. "I am making myself clear?" He reconfirmed after the two simply watched him. Severus was attempting to come up with a reasoning against his decree, that while they had weeks, Hermione ought to know. Or they ought to start planning sooner. Something, but he simply stared, his jaw clenched.

"The students leave for Holidays on the 22nd of March, and so we have five weeks until action must be taken. If a plan isn't devised by then, I am kidnapping her myself, am I understood, Albus?" Minerva finally rebuffed.

"Yes, Minerva, we all understand," Severus finally whispered, staring off at the fireplace crackling behind the Headmaster. Dumbledore cared not for the lives of those under his care except for Harry Potter and he would not waste resources on anyone else. "We understand far too well."

-x-

Severus had managed to keep a distance from Hermione for the past week. However, they did pass notes like children through her feline companion which was enough to sustain him. He had opted to heed the Headmaster's warning and not share any information with neither Draco nor Hermione. He simply informed Hermione that she would have to continue keeping up appearances with Draco, which seemed to be taking as much of a toll on her as the anxiety from her ongoing pregnancy scare. Her nausea had died down since their discovery, which was helpful in calming both their minds as it was likely brought on by her severe bouts of stress. Her subsequent week appeared to be a benign one, from his perspective, and she had not mentioned any traumatic run-ins with Draco or troubling rumours in her name.

It was already Friday and his week had too passed rather boringly, which he did not object to. The constant worrying was getting to him and he ought to have at least one resolution later that day. He was eager to hear the Order's opinion of the matter because he was simply unable to come up with an option that did not result in his cover being blown. How could the Order know of the plot against Hermione when only those closest to Voldemort were privy to the conversation. The Dark Lord would surely know he had a mole in his inner circle if they were to suddenly descend upon Hermione as she was leaving Hogwarts to protect her.

So as he entered Dumbledore's office, he was shocked to find it nearly empty, save for the Headmaster himself. "Sir? Am I early?" He questioned, the dread washing over him as he noticed the empty teacups and half-eaten biscuits.

"Late, the meeting was held an hour ago, we have come to a decision," Dumbledore explained impassively, reaching for the teapot and pouring himself a cup. He placed the porcelain to his lips, sipping the tea as he looked at Severus over the rims of his half-moon spectacles. It took a moment for it to truly register what the Headmaster had said and he felt the anger begin to bubble in his gut.

"Why was I not informed as to the time change?" Severus tensed, grinding his teeth as the rage began to pulse through him. The younger wizard approached Albus calmly, squaring his shoulders and breathing deeply as he aimed to keep himself composed in his ire.

"I did not believe you could be objective," the greying man offered plainly, taking another sip of his tea and reaching behind himself to grab a biscuit that had yet to be touched.

"Objective? This is my position as your spy at stake! This is my life at risk! Without my input, you could not begin to imagine what could affect my cover," Severus barked, raising his voice for the first time in a while. He was firm, yes, but he never dared raise his voice and use volume to overpower his opponent. He was stronger than that. But not at this moment. Right now he was as close to using the killing curse as he had ever been on the conniving and malicious wizard that stood before him. Dumbledore barely flinched at the change of tone, staring off at an unknown object in the corner of his office.

"Severus?" Minerva's sweet tone called from behind him. Severus flipped around dramatically to face the witch, still seething with rage as he digested the betrayal, ready to set off on her too had she known. "Where is everyone?" Obviously, she was just as clueless as I about the time change, he decided, returning Albus to the main subject of his animosity.

"The meeting was held without us," Severus spat, storming past her and down to his chambers. He threw open the doors with the flick of his wrist, slamming it shut behind him. He summoned a tumbler and a bottle of firewhisky, downing three fingers worth before pouring himself another glass. It wasn't long before his floo came alive and Minerva stepped through, not even awaiting an invitation.

"I do not know what has gotten into that man's head," she vented taking the bottle from him and taking a swig directly from it. He would have been impressed had he not been suppressing the urge to punch something. He was angry, sure, but he would not succumb to the violent tendencies instilled in him from his father. He would not be an abusive husband, he would never hurt his child. Hope flickered in his heart, thinking about Hermione potentially carrying his offspring, but he extinguished it quickly with the alcohol.

"I will kill him, Minerva, don't you doubt it. That man deserves it far more than Hermione. That spiteful-" he bit his tongue, stopping himself from giving away too much of his overhanging mission. Yes. He would be killing Dumbledore, and the man had certainly offered him enough reason to mean it when he was to complete the boy's mission. No one knew, of course. He had been sworn to secrecy until the time came that Harry sodding Potter should be informed of Snape's true nature, of Potter's true nature.

"If you don't, I certainly will. Keeping us out because we're partial to the witch? And who isn't amongst the order! Hermione has been in each of our company, winning us over with her intelligence and wit, but no we are the ones who can't remain objective," she vented, taking another swig of the drink. Without making eye contact with him, she took the tumbler from his hand and refilled it before handing it back to him. "I'll find Alastor, he will tell me what was spoken about. I cannae deal with another moment of Albus tonight. I'll find you after I speak with him," she stated, handing him back the bottle. Without another word, she stepped back through the floo, likely to head to Alastor's quarters. He knew there was something going on between the two, as she was one to blush in his presence or speak just a bit louder to get his attention, but he didn't bother her about it.

He sat on the edge of his bed, taking after the witch who had just left and drinking directly from the bottle. The door to his chambers pushed open and in trotted the orange half-Kneazle, who jumped onto the bed beside him. Severus felt around the cat's collar and found the parchment he had been carrying, unravelling it and attempting to read through his blurring vision.

Meet me in the room of requirements tonight. We shall retest.

He wanted to sit and read her handwriting over and again, but more than that he wanted to hold her in his arms. He needed to see her. He needed to know once and for all what was going on. Severus would get the resolution he knew was coming, just not the one he was counting on. His anger had calmed from petting her feline and reading her note, so he summoned a sobering tonic and drank it hastily. Pausing to wait for it to take effect, he wrote Hermione a short note of his own to attach to their messenger's collar. Sending him off, he stumbled over to the mirror and assessed his appearance, knowing that he would have to be presentable. If he were to be a father, Hermione had to know she could trust him. Trust him to save her from conspiring wizards and murder plots. And he would, above anyone else. He would protect her.

He could lose his job, his position as a spy, his respect in the wizarding community for having an affair with a student, but he didn't care. He had long decided he would give it all up to be with her. He decided it the moment he pressed his lips against hers, or even before that when his love for the girl began. But if what kept her safe was adhering to rules and obeying commands, then that is what he would do. Right then, however, he would find her and finally know if he had something else worth fighting for. He may have been fighting the war on his own for the longest time, for a cause long since dead, but now he had someone very much alive and very much worth fighting for. And if that number doubled tonight, then he would double his resolve to live to see the end of the war.

The intoxication was beginning to fade as quickly as it had come on, and he exhaled deeply, flattening his robes and leaving his chambers swiftly.

I'm going to be starting work soon, so I'm not sure how frequently I'll be able to update/write, so it might become a once a week thing. Or I'll be bringing my laptop in so I can write during my lunch hour (which sounds like a super idea honestly). You'll find out the answer to Hermione's state before then, I promise!