Things get a little AU from here on out but I'll try to keep the integrity of the original plot somewhat.

…

CHAPTER NINETEEN – TOO MUCH AND NOT ENOUGH

Severus woke to a world of pain and it took him a moment to separate the pain of the hangover from the pain of his left arm catching fire. He swore a few times, tumbling to the bathroom to rinse his face, tidy his hair and summon a hangover potion from wherever they were hidden in the house. He really needed to start brewing his own things soon, they were much better than using someone else's but today wasn't the day. Now that he felt restored, he trudged back to the bedroom and waved his wand, sending his new robes to sort themselves in the closet. He divested himself of the clothes he had slept in, which reeked somewhat of alcohol, and change quickly, using spells to clean up his hair and get rid of the bar smell lingering on him. He would shower later. He swooped down the stairs to the ballroom, which looked significantly less stunning than he knew it was. It was darkened and made bare except for the platform and stupidly large armchair the Dark Lord had conjured for himself. Most of the Death Eaters were already there, standing submissively in various semi-circles in front of the throne chair. The Dark Lord sat there, his eyes taking everything in, but he looked casual, lazy. It made Severus nervous.

"The time has come to take the fallen castle," the Dark Lord started, "Hogwarts in now ours. Carrows, you'll go to the school to make sure everything is enforced." He grinned wickedly.

The Carrow siblings both said yes, sirs and grinned maniacally at each other.

"But," the Dark Lord's single word returned the room to silence. "Hogwarts will need a new headmaster."

The silence in the room was tense. Anticipatory. Everyone wanted to know who would get this honor, and no one wanted to receive it.

"Severus, would you step forward, please."

Severus peeled himself away from the back wall and came to the front of the crowd where he stood before the throne, his hands behind his back, his head bowed. "Master?"

"How would you like to take our old nemesis place?"

"I would be honored, my lord." Severus kneeled and bowed his head deeper.

"Tell me, did you claim that mudblood wench Bellatrix left you with?"

"Yes, master." Fleetingly he hoped she was still asleep on the cot upstairs.

The Dark Lord laughed darkly. "I do imagine it will be a great joy to return to Hogwarts with your new pet and see the reaction of Harry."

Severus could see his point, Potter's relief that his friend was alive, and then the instant anger, the disgust, at knowing Hermione was Severus' property. It was a victorious little thought to Severus and it nearly made the assignment worth it. "I would be most pleased to show you that memory once the term starts, my lord."

Voldemort cackled with glee. "Perfect Severus! I would require that the filth stay with you in public, I want it to be known that you control Harry Potter's friend."

Severus dipped his head. "With pleasure, master."

"You may go Severus, you have a mud blood to tend to. Our business is complete."

Severus stood and bowed lowed. "Thank you, my lord, it is gracious of you."

Severus fled the room before the Dark Lord changed his mind and made him stay. With a glance over his shoulder he returned up the stairs to the bedroom and made sure it was heavily warded. He glanced around the room, everything was as he left it, then strode over to the curtain and peaked behind it. Hermione was still on the cot and he released his breath. He returned to the room, took off his clothes and went to the shower. His cleansing spells had been shoddy, and he was starting to smell of liquor again, and body odor.

Hermione tossed onto her back and woke, sitting up startled before she remembered the little room she had made out of the reading nook for herself. She figured it was better than being in the same bed as an irate Snape. Or worse, what if what happened yesterday morning happened again? She stretched and peaked out from behind the curtain. For a moment she wondered if Severus ever came back during the night, but she caught sight of the discarded clothes and heard the shower running. At least he had returned at some point. She pulled back the curtain and stepped out of her cot onto the cool floor. The chill raced up her bare legs and she hurried to grab the night robe from, the closet. She had to admit, wizarding pajamas were better than muggle ones, at least the ones Julian had recommended, woven out of threads that had been soaked in a sleeping draught. She had never felt better rested.

Severus turned off the shower and toweled his hair dry before wrapping the towel around his waist and casting a drying charm on his damp hair. He stepped out of the bathroom and froze, unable to back into the bathroom and shut the door, and unable to step forward and act. Hermione's top half was mostly obscured by the closet she was currently routing around in, and she was bent at the hips. He wondered if she was topless or if her shirt had fallen forward because her waist was bare and creamy against the black shorts. He couldn't blame muggle clothing for the sight before him because the black shorts with silver embroidery were obviously made by wizards, and there bloody well was not enough of them. Her round bum was currently eating the cloth and popping out the bottom and he remembered all too well how it felt to grind up against that crevice. He could fulfill his late-night plan now, he was already naked, he could walk up behind her push his way past those tiny little shorts, he bet she wasn't even wearing knickers underneath. Suddenly she was wearing far too much clothing and the painful ache in his groin begged him to take what little she was wearing off. He closed his eyes and breathed, remembering why he was mad the night before, imagining Julian making her laugh. He was furious by the time he opened his eyes and Hermione had put on a silvery silk robe that covered enough of her that he could stay mad.

She turned away from the closet and gasped. "Severus, you startled me."

His name from her lips almost cracked his resolve. She had shouted his name when she came in her sleep. But he pushed the thought away, only cocking his eyebrow and walking across the room to where he had discarded his robes. He could feel her staring again. He thought about his scarred, pale body and was suddenly blinded with rage that Hermione was so perfect, and he was nothing but flaws. He grabbed his clothes and headed back towards the bathroom, pausing long enough to give her a neutral once over and sneer.

"Pity. You wouldn't look half bad if your hair wasn't so ghastly."

Her facial expression let him know he succeeded in offending her and he smirked, striding into the bathroom to dress.

SHSHSH

Hermione had tried to storm out of the room and found it soundly locked against her leaving. Frustrated, she paused to run her hands through her hair, before taming it in a braid and getting dressed in the plain emerald robes she had picked out. They were quite lovely, with silver stitching and a matching silver-grey cloak with emerald stitching. She had never owned anything tailored before and she loved the way the robes looked on her. She transfigured everything in the nook back to what it originally was and sat on one of the chairs, summoned the elf and asked for breakfast, then waited.

Eventually, Severus emerged from the bathroom and paused at the sight of an elegantly dressed Hermione waiting for him in one of he armchairs, her ankles crossed, a cup of tea in her hands, and a tray on the table. He turned away from her, closing his eyes and sensing for a moment. The Death Eaters were all still downstairs, but it seemed like the Dark Lord left. He turned back to face Hermione. She raised her eyebrows and pointed her chin at the chair next to her. He came and sat, picking up the other cup of tea.

"Severus, listen to me." He closed his eyes against her lovely voice wrapping around his name. "What happened yesterday morning was unexpected, but we have been living alone in close quarters together for months. Let's move past it and continue our lives as normal."

He didn't think he could do that. His body wanted hers too much, it felt like a burning, aching permanent desire. Even now in her Slytherin robes – had she been aware of that when she got them? – he wanted her so badly he felt like the buildup was blinding him. He breathed deeply. "That would be the mature thing to do." He said haughtily.

She smiled knowingly. "Good. Does that mean I can return to the bed tonight? I'm very bad at making a comfortable cot."

Severus was certain he would die if she joined him in bed in those tiny little shorts. "Yes, you may return."

"Thank you, sir."

The teasing way she said sir made his member twitch. "There was a meeting with the Dark Lord this morning." That was an effective way to kill any desire he had growing.

"Oh, my. About what?"

"Hogwarts." He waited for her to say something but when she didn't he continued. "He wants to take control of the castle. He is sending the Carrow siblings in as enforcers. I am to be headmaster." He said the last part slowly and watched her eyes grow in size.

"I see. What about me?"

Severus sighed heavily. "You will come with me. We are to publicly display my ownership of you. I don't know if you'll be a student or just a mascot of the new regime, but you will be with me at all times when we are in public."

"I understand." She paused, finishing her tea and picking up a plate of food. "He thinks it will break Harry."

"Yes."

"Not a bad plan."

"What do you think it will succeed in doing?"

"Harry with be furious, and then he might be broken for a short time, but in the end, his anger and sense of justice will fuel him to do more, fight harder."

"Good. We continue sending letters back in time to you. If this movement fuels him to fight harder, then that's why we send these letters."

"Agreed."

They began their breakfast in silence, munching quietly on the crepes, fresh fruit, and eggs. "What did young Mr. DeLair want yesterday?"

Hermione's mind immediately went to what Julian had told her, that Severus had to fancy her. "He made me wonder if I would need to pay you back for the clothes and such."

"If we survive the war, then maybe."

She smiled a little. "And he wanted to take me out."

"I see." Severus said tightly. "Will you go?"

Hermione gave him a bewildered look. "I was unaware I was allowed to go anywhere alone."

"We could make an exception." He tried and failed to keep a muscle in his jaw from twitching.

"No thanks, I wouldn't go anyway."

Severus felt some tension leave him, disbelieving. "Why not?"

Hermione looked down at her plate, curling her braid in front of her face. Severus noticed she turned red. "Because, he's interested in the glamour of Madam Carlyle, not me." She said quietly.

Severus said nothing but nodded. He wasn't quite sure what she meant, but he understood. It would be a lie, and Julian would be attracted to a fake person that wasn't her. Severus wagered Hermione felt her glamour was prettier than he true self. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"When do we leave for Hogwarts?"

"A month."