Severus frowned over the top of his sandwich. The girl had stopped eating, barely having finished half of her soup and only two bites of her grilled cheese. It was nowhere near what she should be eating but her not so subtle squirming seemed to be delaying her intake. She hadn't spoken much more since he'd put the food in front of her, taking her task with an extreme amount of concentration for something so simple.
"Will you be still?" Severus' tone was sharper than he intended and the small jump it elicited only made his irritation grow.
"It itches..."
"What?"
"My...my..." Hermione couldn't bring herself to say though many vulgar words did fill her mind she could never bring herself to repeat them. She ducked her head down curling up just a bit more while her fingers tore into the skin between her legs. It hurt but also felt oddly relieving, forcing her to continue even when she felt the tray that had been hiding her activity lift away.
She made a small face when the blanket was ripped back. Her knees snapped together as her hand slipped from beneath her pajama bottoms. She didn't know why but the normally calm man seemed extremely agitated by something and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of his wrath.
"I'm sorry...I-"
"Be still." Severus grabbed her hand that had blood at the fingertips before she had a chance to stain her clothes. It was taking all of his willpower to control his anger. The stress of the surgery and the trepidation over her mental state were grating on his already frayed nerves, "What did you do?"
"I was...just scratching..." Hermione wanted nothing more than to curl away from the man's growing aura. She didn't want to upset him, that had been why she'd try to eat instead of scratch unaware that she'd even stopped eating to complete her task.
Severus snarled slightly before releasing her completely, "Lie down."
Hermione let out a slow shuddering breath as she slipped herself down the pillows to lay more flat. Her brain was telling her not to be afraid, but other memories were trying to push through, called forth by her desire to identify his voice. To give him a name, a proper name. Her stomach fluttered when she felt his fingers slip into the band around her waist, releasing an entire flock of butterflies. Her hips came up as he pulled down, bringing the soft fabric to her knees before repeating the process once more with her underwear.
"You must have had a reaction to the oils in the bathwater last night...you've...gotten an infection." His hand caught her wrist as she came down to scratch at the red and flaking skin, his other having gently parted her folds, "Don't touch it. You'll make it spread."
A soft whine left her throat and her chin raised towards the ceiling as she forced herself to try and think of anything else. Why did this situation feel completely normal yet exceptionally violating at the same time? Why would her brain not leave her alone? He wasn't hurting her, yet still, she wanted him to. She wanted to feel his fingers, not just over her skin but inside her as well. The very thought made her entire body burn.
"Please..." Her word was a cross between a breathy sigh and a wanton plea that she barely recognized as her own, "It...itches..."
"I'll get you something for it...just...wait." Severus could feel his head growing a tad soft from the womanly-like noise that had passed her lips. He knew very well that she was much too young to have created such a lustful sound yet his body and his mind were on two separate playing fields. A sharp breath collected his logical mind and snapped his control tightly back in place.
His steps were sharp as he went to his alchemist's cabinet. He surely had a rash salve that wouldn't irritate such a sensitive area. The winter air was dreadfully dry and even he had trouble in certain times of the season. His eyes turned over the meticulously labeled jars, searching for just the exact one when he caught her hand slipping back down between her legs from the corner of his eye.
"Don't."
Another soft whine filled the room followed by a sharp huff as her hands went over her head to pull at her hair. When his attention returned to his cabinet he couldn't help but shake out his head. She was surely going to be the death of him one way or another. A small shift of a bottle finally eased his growing tension and he pulled out the bottle he'd been looking for. A small salve with what looked to be about half left.
"I'll have to put it on myself, your nails have grown too long. I'll cut them when I'm done." It was fair to warn her, as he couldn't trust her not to rub the salve in too hard in a desperate attempt to seek relief. He had hoped he'd never be put into this situation again but as always the fates were more than cruel.
"Can...you...inside?"
Severus nearly choked on his tongue as he took two fingers of salve. His eyes shot to her face that was turning more like her house colors with every second that passed. The memory of the last time he'd been inside her flared into his inner theater and his own palor face was starting to grow warm. His eyes rolled towards the heavens to give him strength even though he knew there was no one above looking out for him.
"Please...?"
Severus ground his teeth as he brought his hand down, deliberately ignoring her words to try and get him through. He didn't understand why the task had suddenly become exponentially more difficult. He hadn't had any qualms about caring for her needs when the Dual Dragon had been inside her. Why was now suddenly so different? Was it the fear of where her mind was? What would happen if his potion worked and she was finally able to see his face? Too many what-ifs clouded his normally linear mind making even the most simple of tasks seemingly impossible.
Hermione curled her bottom lip into her teeth when she felt the cold salve graze against her outer lips. A sharp hiss left her teeth but she tried to keep herself quiet as she didn't want to scare the obviously flustered man away. Even without being able to see him, his silence spoke volumes. Was she really so malformed? What sort of man wouldn't jump at the chance to touch a young female body? Others certainly hadn't had any qualms.
When his long fingers slipped down she couldn't stop the soft moan that slipped past her bit lip. Her hands curled tightly around her shirt hem as she tried to keep herself calm and still. He was just giving her medicine, nothing more. Nothing more. It was a mantra that circled around in her head until the words themselves became meaningless and her body started to react on its own.
Fire and ice set her senses ablaze when his fingers dipped inside. The salve making their journey smooth and painless. Her head felt light as though it was threatening to lift completely from her shoulders. Her hips raising to gain just a bit more inside. What would face look like? Who was he? Did she even care? Her body didn't. It just wanted more.
Severus turned his dark eyes towards her face when he felt her walls contracting around him. His own mind distracted by the whispering pants that slipped past her bit lips. How could the pain she caused herself garner such a strong reaction? Why was his focus shifting from seeing to her medical relief to affording her pleasure? Why was there even a debate?
Had Hermione been able to move her eyes without extreme pain she surely would have rolled them back. Even when his fingers pulled free her body pulsed for more. Her tongue, thankfully, could not muster enough coordination to make her plea understandable and when she felt the fabric of her clothes sliding back up her hips she found herself crashing rather harshly back into reality.
"Finish your lunch."
It took all his remaining strength to speak, even more so to walk away. his head was thick, foggy. He needed space—air. What was the witch doing to his perfect self-control? He had never so much as taken a second look at any student why was she suddenly catching his attention? It was wrong, more than wrong. There was no question. He'd allowed himself to become careless. To find comfort in someone so much his junior. It wouldn't do him well. Of that he was sure.
oOo
Ginny glared daggers at the man at the head of the line of students waiting to be searched before they could re-enter the castle. They were all required to line up by house, keep their conversations quiet and their arms at their sides. All in the guise of 'safety' in these 'troubled' times. Ginny knew what it really was. Thankfully, she'd already stashed her two-way parchment into her shoe.
"Ow!" Ginny rubbed her shoulder as Goyle thumped past her to get to the head of the Slytherin line. The beast of a boy merely snarled at her before turning his head back forward.
"You alright?"
"Yeah..." Ginny sighed softly rubbing her shoulder before looking back at Neville, who though had spoken to her, was looking across the lines at Luna.
"Do you think she'll be alright?"
Ginny frowned softly crossing her arms over her stomach as she regarded the blond more closely. She didn't look all too different, aside from the heavy circles under her eyes. Her stance and the dreamy stare that was often in place seemed unchanged. Though, as she looked closer she could see the darkness in her eyes, the small slouch to her shoulders. The way her head just didn't come all the way up like it used to.
"She's seeing Angels..."
"What?"
"In the headmaster's tower. I saw it too..."
"Angels?"
"Yeah." Neville turned his head up towards the tower but tried to keep his action inconspicuous, "Looked like...well..."
Ginny looked up at Neville through the corner of her eye, something about Luna's story that she'd told them at the pub was bothering her. She hadn't said much, just that she'd been taken from her house by snatchers before term began. She didn't go into detail on how Hermione came to be at the camp but she had been sure of what she'd seen. Though she'd spared them any full details, she had told them that she'd watched a snatcher strangle Hermione, though they both knew there was much more to the story.
"Neville...somethings bothering me about Luna's story." Ginny lowered her voice as they took another step towards the front doors, her eyes staying strickly on Amycus who was taking a bit more liberties with the female students than the boys.
"You don't think she's lying?" Neville couldn't stop the defensive tone in his voice from making his chest puff up just a bit.
"No, of course not. But someone is." Ginny gave him a small glance keeping her tone even. The date of Luna's capture couldn't have possibly lined up with the date written on the Death Certificate Harry had shown her. They were at least a month apart.
"Do you think...maybe...there's hope?"
"Next!"
"There is always hope Neville. Never forget that." Ginny gave him a small but powerful look before turning away to stand in front of Amycus. Her eyes were hard and her jaw was set as she raised her arms out to her sides. Her stomach rolled when his hands ran down along her sides feeling along her waist where her coat came to a stop.
"You know you're doing this like Muggles do."
"Quiet. Filthy blood traitor." Amycus kept his slurr under his breath but his eyes were sharp as nails, "Oh? What's this?"
Ginny's brow furrowed in confusion when he stepped back with a small cloth bag in his hand. She hadn't even felt him take anything, in fact, she was more than sure he hadn't. Her eyes darted over to the goon squad who were lingering by the door waiting for Draco to finish but were throwing her very suspicious looks. There was no question now that Goyle had slipped something into her pocket when he'd bumped into her. Question was, what was it?
"Oh, I think you're going to 'ave to finish these searches on your own." Amycus grinned darkly over at his sister before giving her a small look into the pouch that he held in his palm. The woman turned her eyes to Ginny, a slow crawling blood chilling grin forming on her face.
"I think it's going to be the last we see of this one."
Ginny barely had time to register what was happening before her arm was strongly taken into a vice-like grip.
oOo
Severus had taken to sitting in the far corner by the fireplace. Granger had resumed working her way through her lunch, staying completely silent. As cathartic as the silence was, the elephant in the room could not be ignored. Something between them was changing. The dynamic was shifting. For so long he'd been caring for a someone who could barely feed themselves. Now, he was well on his way of getting her fully functioning again. Problem was, was he ready for that?
Just as he was about to turn the page in the book he'd been fiddling with the chime requesting his presence in the office rang out," I shall return. Do not touch your patch, there is still one more hour."
A soft mumble of acquiesce followed him to the door. When he was through he adjusted the mirrors to see who was coming down the corridor. His frown grew deep as he watched Amycus dragging along a very angry looking Miss Weasley by her bicep. He had just sat down when a sharp noise of pain quickly raised his head.
Amycus had most assuredly purposely slammed the girl into an alcove pillar making her body swivel back as though she'd been struck. His hold, however, remained strong and he was sure that the girl would have a sprained shoulder if not a possible dislocation by the force in which he'd pulled her back to her feet. It was an obvious abuse of power, but there was nothing he could do.
"Enter."
"Got a bit of a problem 'ere 'Eadmaster." Amycus made sure to drag the girl in his grip along the path leading to the desk that would leave her with two options. Press into him, or run into one of the couches. She chose the later.
"Would you kindly stop making a mess of my office and explain yourself?" Severus pushed himself up from the chair with spider-like grace, his dispassionate gaze rolling to the girl who was presently rubbing her shin. The firey red-head glared up at him as though he was solely responsible for all the world's problems. For him, however, it was just the opening he needed.
Her mind was a quick read, so quick in fact that he was able to understand where she'd been, who'd she spoken to and what her next move was all in a matter of seconds. It was just the same amount of time that Amycus needed to make his way towards the desk to desposite a small sack into the center of his work. With a raised brow he plucked the bag up.
"What is this?" His drawling tone seeped with his forced apathy over the entire situation, though he did spare a glance to Weasley when she mumbled something that was most impolite under her breath.
"That's Devil's Kiss that is. Caught her trying to sneak it into the castle."
Severus' brow raised just a bit as he opened the small pouch, he already knew by the look on the girl's face and vindictive smirk on Carrow's that this was a set up, full stop. When he turned his eyes down he instantly knew that the candies were infact what was being claimed. A sort of magical version of the muggle date rape drug they were exceptionally powerful if only for a short time. It was definitely something one would find in a seedy Death Eater's possession. Another problem that he needed to fix inside the castle.
"I see nothing of the sort." A silent spell that most certainly saved the red head's life sparked through his hand before he tipped the bag out. The glamour wall disguising the candies as small similarly colored rocks.
"That's impossible! I know what I saw!" Amycus moved forward to look for himself but was just flabbergasted and agitated, "Well she still tried to sneak them in, that's a violation that is."
"Indeed." Severus casually swept the poison back into the bag before Amycus got the bright idea to shove one down Weasley's throat as punishment," I should think a permanent ban from Hogsmead should suffice."
"That's not fair!" Ginny could hardly contain herself. All of her plans were built about being able to get in and out of the castle. She had already been thinking of a way to hide the sword while they had been talking completely missing the slight of hand Snape had pulled to save her from expulsion. Her eyes had been searching the ornate shelves instead looking for the sword.
"Neither is wasting my time." Severus frowned deeply though he was partly grateful for the out he didn't much fancy watching Amycus flaunt his power so openly. It was an insult to his entire teaching career to watch it being done so carelessly.
"Please pass her off to Minerva and ensure that nothing actually dangerous has entered the castle." Snape scribbled down a note that would explain Weasley's ban, his tone for dismissal clear.
"Yes, sir " Amycus snarled and grabbed hold of Ginny once again making the teen let out a startled noise very similar to one Snape had become very familiar with.
While normally he didn't find any compassion for students who had broken the rules but this case was an entirely different situation. Someone was obviously trying to get her out of the castle, to what end he could only speculate but it was a plot nonetheless.
"Amycus, do mind yourself. It wouldn't do well to lose sight of our goal now would it?" His tone was dark, dangerous even. Surely had it been anyone else, someone not so close to the inner circle of idiots that made a point of making his life a living hell, he surely wouldn't have cared.
Amycus grunted softly, sharply releasing Ginny's arm to push her towards the door before following out behind her. He had been so sure he'd caught the red-headed she-devil this time. He had been so sure of what he'd seen. He'd already come across it inside Hogwarts. He knew its effects rather well.
Severus ran a hand down his face before dropping out a few of the candies into his palm, "Cleo."
An elderly house elf appeared instantly at his feet. In charge of the linens and moving of trunks the elf was well versed at knowing just what exactly lied within the castle walls.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"I want a full search of the dormitories tonight. You're looking for this." Severus held down the candy for the elf to take, his eye catching on the small inlay that marked the maker.
"What dormitory should I do, sir?"
"Slytherin."
"Yes, sir."
As the elf popped out Severus found himself sinking down into his chair. This game was becoming increasingly complicated. There was no way he could save them all.
oOOo
Hermione had found herself back in the small alcove. The sun having long gone away. The Medicine Man had not returned. Even after she'd finished her lunch. She had done well not to touch the patch but the pain had gone leaving her curious as to what lay beneath. The solitude had been calming, giving her time to try and sort out the plethora of memories that had suddenly come forth. A small timeline had formed in the forefront of her mind, filled in with the memories of hands, so many hands, tearing at her flesh.
Despite having had a bath recently she felt incredibly dirty. It was no wonder to her now why the man didn't want to touch her. She didn't even want to touch herself. She just wanted to walk through fire praying for the flames to burn away the filth she'd become.
Why had she been left behind? Why had no one come to rescue her? Were they all gone? Had their been a mass attack? Was this the world she would forever be subjected to? Was there any hope left?
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione didn't raise her head to the call of her name, her temple just pressed tighter into the tops of her knees. Why was she here? What was the point of all of this?
"Miss Granger, it's time to remove the patch from your eye." Severus approached with caution, the position he'd come to find the girl in spoke volumes to the vulnerable state she was in.
"Why...?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why am I here...? What does any of this matter?" Hermione spoke into her curled chest but her words were strong and clear.
Severus frowned deeply at the pure hopelessness of her words. Normally, he would have had a cutting remark to make the final blow with but he'd invested way too much of his time ensuring that the girl had lived to let her fall off the precipice now. So instead, he came closer taking a small bench from the wall to sit down beside the raised window.
"Because...this war isn't over."
"It's not?"
"No. It has only begun." Severus spoke from his heart, his words heavy but kindly spoken. When she raised her head from her knees he felt his heart lift just a small fraction. There was a hint of the girl who'd been left behind to die in that forest. A small look at the corner of her jaw that spoke of the strength he was sure she was capable of. There was something inside her, worth fighting for.
"Who...who are you?"
"Who. Are you?"
Hermione inhaled deeply at his words, the ones that he'd been having her repeat ad nauseam quickly filling her mind. A forced breath from her lips straightened her up even further and she turned herself more towards the direction she believed him to be in, "I am...Hermione Granger. A former student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...I am strong, I am powerful...and I am...unbreakable."
"That's right." Severus felt a small sense of pride welling in his chest that he'd at least done something. His hand came up to her cheek and she readily pressed into his palm, her lips resting against the heel as they each shared in the moment of vulnerability. It was possibly something he would never share with her again. Though there was only one thing left to know for sure.
"Alright...just hold still." Severus held his breath as he pulled his hand back. With a small tilt of her head his fingers gently released the small sticking charm before pulling the gauze away. A small glance to the white clothe showed only a small bit of blood and a bit of discoloration of excess potion, "Slowly now..."
Hermione took a slow nervous breath. The idea that she'd be able to see something. To possibly see the man who had rescued her from the pits of hell. It was both exciting and exceptionally fear-inducing. He was still close, the warmth of his knees pressing against her own. She told herself, that no matter who she saw, she wouldn't forget all they had done for her. All they had surely sacrificed for her.
"That's it..."
Hermione's eyelids opened as one. One eye a stark grey white with red coloring the white while the other, was a deep brownish orange that seemed to shine red in the candle light. The white of her eye was pink, but it was clear the color was fading out. The iris had been realigned and the large band of scar tissue was gone, leaving everything clear and sharp.
Her brain pulsed as light started to filter in around the edges. Her dark deep world giving away to a soft orange glow. It was as though she were looking through a bulls-eye. The center of her vision a large black disk blurring and darkening everything that laid beyond. While the outer edges started to create an image of two large broad black clothed shoulders.
When she raised her head, she caught a glimpse of long black hair and pale skin, though the center of their face was blurred and darkly shadowed she was able to make out just the smallest of defining features. Sharp nose, thinned lips, narrow jaw.
Then, slowly the image in the center gained more color, more definition. Though the haze around the edges of her vision remained, she was able to finally take in the face of the man who had stayed by her side all this time.
"Professor?"