When walking to the location that was inscribed on the photo, Severus had been filled with a sense of dread. More intense and anxiety-ridden than he felt when he was summoned by Voldemort the first time after his resurrection. When summoned he always had to be quick and clever. When he attended a meeting he always had to be cautious and aware of his surroundings. Expect pain every time he hid behind the mask. No matter what happened to him and no matter who he bowed to he had to remain in control. Say the right thing and hope to be punished lightly while still escaping with his life. To say thank you, my lord, after being hit with the cruciatus. This was different, this time it wasn't his life at stake.
When Severus entered the warehouse he tried to mentally prepare himself for the worst. He figured that Tobias would have kept Hermione alive so that he could kill her in front of him. But there was a possibility he was wrong, that he would have left her body for him to find. At least one thing he predicted his father to do, he did. He created a boundary around the building. Hired some wizards to draw protective wards around the compound. Wards that blocked the use of magic, similar to those that prevent apparating. He figured that his wand would be useless in this confrontation but he had brought it along just as a precaution. Tobias wasn't in the main compound where he set up his entertainment.
It was unfair, Severus thought. She wasn't supposed to get involved. She had nothing to do with his plight against his father. A never-ending war between the two of them. She was just a bystander. And now a casualty of war. And he knew right from the beginning that this would happen. He knew and he would be lying if he said otherwise. He should have fought harder to avoid her. He should have recognized the signs. He had been in love before, though it was different with her, his feelings much stronger. Falling in love with her was out of his control. But he chose to involve her in this the moment he kissed her. In all honesty as a man as intelligent as himself, he knew the best course of action would have been to have left her. To have walked away and to never look back. But he was selfish. Selfish for thinking that she could be safe with him. Instead, she was here tied to a table by his own father.
Taking stock of her she appeared to be unconscious. Though her breaths were shallow with the rising and falling of her chest. Her curly hair was damp while it laid spread around her head. There was dried blood along the side of her head. Her clothes remained intact to Severus' silent relief. Her hands were bound and chained to the table. Metal cuffs restrained her. Her skin was ripped into ribbons from the restraints. There were spots of blood on her skin as well as various bruises. A stark contrast to her fair skin. Severus was past the point of anger. Looking at her he only felt sadness and despair. Looking around to ensure Tobias wasn't present at the moment he began to pick the locks on her chains. A skill he luckily required over the years. Magic was a tool that wizards relied on. And sometimes they forget that there are other tools at their disposal, which they often shrug off as muggle antics. It didn't take long before they released her. Moving up to her face he covered her mouth with a hand. Her eyes immediately shot open. She began to pan and thrash against him.
"It's me," Severus said quietly and calmly. "You're okay," he said, his voice soothing her with every word. Realization set in as her eyes and body relaxed. "Just breathe." She closed her eyes as his words washed over in a healing balm. "I've got you."
Looking back around, he began to move his hand under her and helped her to sit up. It was difficult to pull herself into a sitting position as her body was unwilling to cooperate. Severus guided her upright slowly. There was no easy way to do it without causing her pain. Her eyes had dropped and her hands were involuntarily shaking. "We're going to get out of here," He said as he looked into her eyes, conveying his reassurance and promise. With her, on the table, they were the same height. She could directly see his sincerity. And she nodded slightly in agreement.
She whimpered when he helped her stand. No doubt her body screaming in protest. While unsteady on her feet, Severus' hands held onto her waist, keeping her upright. She most likely had a concussion and if it wasn't for Severus she probably would have passed out by now. Once he was sure she could stand Severus turned them to leave when he heard a pair of footsteps approaching. With Hermione's condition and the anti-magic wards, there was no way they could escape without a confrontation.
"Tobias," Severus said as his father approached them. He was just as he remembered. Even though he hadn't seen him for many years. He was large and cruel. His cruelness was still apparent in his eyes. Even though he would be well into his 70's by now he didn't show signs of his age. No limpness or slowness in his stride.
Boy," Tobias spatted in greeting. He rarely ever called him by his given name. Only when he referred to him in the presence of others. He always chose to call him something of inferiority; boy, bastard. Sometimes even son to mock him. Hermione was wobbly on her feet as she leaned heavily on Severus. His grip was strong on her as he assured her silently that he had her.
"I see that you've found your lost pet. A shame she is a little beaten down since you've last seen her," Tobias said while jeering. "Luckily she is still alive."
"No doubt to your displeasure."
"Not at all, we were having quite a lot of fun weren't we, my dear," Tobias taunted, with a menacing grin.
"We have very different ideas of fun," Hermione spat. She tried to mask her fear with anger.
"Most likely. Is this the part where you ask me to let her go?"
"Would you actually let her go if I asked?" Severus asked as Tobias walked closer to the pair. They only stood a few meters from each other. Severus couldn't help but tighten his arm around Hermione. Not for protection but to offer her a form of comfort.
"No. but I was curious to see if you would beg for her life."
"Is that what you want?" Severus asked, trying to move the game along. It was the same routine, the two always played. One edging the other on until Tobias snapped.
"No," Tobias said before he changed his mind. "Well since you mentioned it. I would like to see it. Beg me to spare her life." Tobias decided. "Go on, give me a show.
"Spare her," Severus said simply. He spoke in a monotone voice not wanting to give away how much he truly wants him to do as he asks.
"Oh come on you can do better than that."
"I beg of you, let her go. She has nothing to do with this," Severus said pleadingly. It was unusual for him to beg. Let alone for someone to hear him. Especially since it lacked the emotion one would think that a man begging for his lover to be spared would have. But he knew that Tobias was just toying with him. He wanted him to try since he knew that nothing he could say would make him let her go.
"Better, now tell me why," Tobias commanded, enjoying how he still held power over his son even after so many years.
"Because I love her."
"You love her, why?" He asked mockingly. "I mean she is pretty but plain. There are others with much more to offer in ways of looks. Plus she has been blemished, I mean I doubt she got that scar from a car accident. Someone laid a hand on her, who knows where else those hands have been. Sure she is smart but I mean how much of that is real and how much is an act. Oh, don't tell me that she is your way of redeeming yourself. Or maybe she is just a consolation prize. So tell me before I decide which one of you to kill first. Why do you love her?"
Turning away from his father he looked at the woman he loved. He never wanted to have to say this. He never thought that if he ever did it would be during a situation like this. But looking into Hermione's eyes. Her eyes were confused by his lack of response. He could tell that she was confused why he simply didn't lie. She wasn't expecting the truth. She didn't dare hope for an answer. He decided that despite the moment he wanted to answer. Not for Tobias. Not even for Hermione. He wanted to say this for himself. He didn't want to never have the possibility to say it at all. "I kept my head down and walked a straight and narrow path before you. You showed me how much better the view is with my head raised," He said as the words flowed through him. He had given the idea some thought before now. "I thought that all that was left in this world was shadows. You taught me to see the color. I tried to run and you walked beside me. You told me that the world forgave me. And I began to forgive myself. You told me that everyone deserves to be loved. All I wanted was to have yours. You told me that it was okay to be happy. And I became happy with you." He saw his reflection in her watery eyes. He could feel a tear slip down his cheek as he opened up his heart. Staring into one another, they were reminded of all of the unspoken moments between them where they let the silence sing their love.
"That was quite a performance. I almost believed that you were capable of loving her," Tobias said, clapping while Hermione and Severus remained with their eyes locked onto the other. "But you see we are quite alike you and I. More than just blood. I understand you. Just as you understand me and the rules of our game. Which is why you are cooperating as of right now hoping to get the better of me which you know you won't succeed. Or maybe you will. Maybe the two of you will leave here unscratched. Well without further damage." Tobias said as he gestured to Hermione who had drops of blood on the ground where she stood. Or perhaps you will sacrifice yourself and she will live. Or I just kill you both. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"Are you?" Severus asked as his words sounded like a whip silencing the air. Then without looking at her he said, "Hermione you are going to turn around and walk away. And you aren't going to look back." He said this confidently, sure that Tobias wouldn't interfere.
"No," Hermione said firmly. She wasn't about to leave him. If she left he would be alone with Tobias. The only reason he was even here in this mess was because Tobias had gotten the best of her.
"Interesting choice," Tobias said as he considered his son's words. He watched as the two fought back and forth. Fascinated by their dynamics and this woman's undeniable loyalty to his son.
"You are going to leave," Severus said as he looked at her.
"Severus I won't," She said shaking her head in denial. Her eyes were watering for a different reason this time.
"Hermione you won't look back," He said calmly. This wasn't Professor Snape ordering a student to return to their dorms after being out past curfew. This was Severus pleading with her. Pleading with her that she can't be in the way. That she couldn't help him, not this time. "It's okay," he said, cupping her face gently with one hand as his thumb stroked her cheek. "This is between him and me."
Slowly she turned with his guidance and began to walk away. Tears streamed down her face. She wanted to look back at him. To turn and see his face. But she needed to believe in him and that this wasn't a goodbye. That he had a plan and she was going to see him again. To be able to wake up and see how relaxed he was when he was sleeping. The amused half-grin he had when he was happy. The way he smirked when he teased her. The way he made potions with such care and precision. The same way he held her. To be able to tell him she loves him but more importantly to show him that for all of eternity. She trusted him and she had to trust that he saw their future too. That what he was doing was all in order to achieve it.
"It was, Tobias, said with a thoughtful nod "But you involved her." Suddenly he pulled out a gun from the back of his pants and aimed at Hermione. Before Severus could act a gunshot echoed as his finger pulled the trigger.
A dead flower without a hint of life.
For as the hour draws near,
the curtain closes.
You once promised me forever.
A day, a moment, a lifetime,
wasted,
Dearly departed.
A dead flower without a hint of life
This will be the last you hear from me,
gone into the night.
The darkness descends
scarred.
A flickering candle on the table,
a once scarlet body is all that remains
Nobody screamed when the gunshot rang out.
It didn't happen like in the movies where the main character falls in slow motion while the love interest screams in agony. Hermione simply dropped to the floor in a pile of weightless limbs. Blood pooling from her abdomen. She was unconscious but still breathing.
Severus barely registered that Tobias was lying on the ground a few feet away from them. His eyes open, cold; as life fleets from them. The blood was already starting to pool around him from the gunshot in his forehead. Thankfully, the moment Tobias died, whatever wards he was able to enlist to protect him died with him.
When he reached her fallen body he was relieved. Relieved to find that she still had a pulse. But now while sitting by her bedside at St. Mungos he was scared. She laid in a bed in a simple white gown with a simple sheet covering her. The blood was removed from her skin and her bruises had decreased in size and discoloration. But she would have scars from the encounter. People had come and gone including her mother and father. The only interaction he had with them was when David Granger put his hand on his shoulder and said that they did all that they could. And he couldn't help but agree. The plan worked. Hermione was rescued and Tobias was dead. A 40 year long waking nightmare was over and yet he still didn't feel any better. He was sure that Potter and Weasley were here. He had seen Auror Potter and Tonks-Lupin arrive no doubt to investigate what had happened. He didn't talk to them. Simply letting Hermione's father interact with them. He was sure they had questions for him. But he was in no mood to answer them. Especially since they would ask why he was here with Hermione. She hadn't woken up yet. She had lost a lot of blood despite his haste to apparate her to the Hospital. Her previous injuries sustained from Tobias were preventing her body from healing properly. Especially since it wasn't even five years ago that she was tortured by Bellatrix. Her body always carried a mark from Malfoy Manor and in a way it would always leave an impression on her. They believed that once she woke up that she would make a full recovery. But it was only a matter of her waking up at all.
When you are dying supposedly you see your life flash before your eyes. Severus wasn't sure if that was true or not, since he wasn't the one dyeing. And yet while looking at Hermione's pale face as she lays unconscious he couldn't help but think about all of the missed opportunities he had when he should have told her he loved her.
The first time she smiled at him, he knew he was a goner. She always was pretty in a simplistic way, it was her wild hair that gave her an exotic look. But when she smiled she looked utterly enchanting. Her smile shined brightly and held the warmth of the sun. It gave him the feeling of standing on a beach as the waves crashed while the sun setted. He knew that she was sought after by both males and females in the wizarding well. He was also aware on an intellectual level that she was moderately attractive. But it was when she smiled that he truly saw her beauty. What surprised him was that she wasn't smiling at him, she was smiling because of him. The thought that he could be the cause of something so extraordinary good, surprised him. He should have recognized the signs. He wasn't like most people who experience a flutter in their stomachs when they begin to develop a strong affection for someone. He grew comfortable with them, relaxed. There was no sign of anxiety or paranoia when he was with her. He should have realized that this was not something he could simply sweep aside and pretend like it never happened. Especially when he grew confident in his words as he spoke to her. Challenging her and teasing her. Engaging in friendly banter. With anyone else, he would never indulge in such flirtations. But with her he did. He should have told her he was falling in love with her. He should have warned her.
When he kissed her in the tunnels, he was unprepared. How the simple toughing of their lips would release a floodgate of emotions within him. He was also surprised at how quickly he became aroused by a single kiss. He knew that he loved her or what he was feeling was close enough to love that it was distinguishable from a passing fancy. The way she kissed him back excited him but also scared him. Whenever his thoughts turned to her he never thought that she would return his feelings. But she surprised him. And when she agreed to go on a date with him he had to walk away so that he wouldn't embarrass himself from the way his mouth curled into a smile.
He wished he could have said it back. When Hermione first told him she loved him, he wished he could have told her those words. He wanted to. He felt that way about her. But for some reason, he couldn't say them. Maybe it was because of his horrible upbringing, maybe it was because he never said them to anyone before. Or maybe it was because no one has ever said them to him. Over 40 years old and no one has ever loved him or expressed love for him. And dammit he was scared. Scared that he would still find a way to mess everything up. To lose something great that has developed between them. Three little words that she could easily say. But to him, it was impossible to pronounce. So instead he kissed her and hoped that she understood his message behind the kiss.
He was terrified that he had pushed her too far and that she would leave him. They were fighting. It wasn't like a simple argument or a challenging debate. They were furious at one another. Looking back he was the one that started it. He shouldn't have tested her patience and she shouldn't have lost her temper. When they started to yell, he thought that it was over that she was going to say she was tired and done putting up with him. He wouldn't have blamed her if she did. He was a difficult man to get along with. But somehow she managed just fine, for the most part. In his panic to prevent her from saying those dreadful words, he kissed her, hard. Mostly to shut her up. But that kiss spiraled the pair into trying to gain dominance with their bodies instead of words. To put it simply they fucked. Hard. He had scratches along his back, and she had bruises along her throat and waist. Both of their lips were bleeding from biting. Once they collapsed into a bed and caught their breath, they were able to calmly discuss what had happened. Their words in anger reached no solution. The sex while it too didn't solve their problems it did allow for a ceasefire. He should have told her how even though at the moment he was angry with her he still loved her. Even if she did leave that he wouldn't have stopped her. It wouldn't have mattered because he would have still loved her no matter what.
The first time he told her he loved her it was purely accidental, but it had felt right in the moment. He has always been a man of few words. At least the ones that truly mattered. It didn't surprise her when he said it. He was sure that she was able to figure it out by now due to his actions. But the way she gave him a small smile made him want to say it all over again. Just to see the way her face lit up in joy. And now that might have been the last time he had told her. Even in the warehouse, he didn't tell her he loved her. He told Tobias. And that quite frankly wasn't the same.
But none of that mattered now when her blood was on his hands.
