"Ah-Ah-Ah. Wouldn't want your new master to lose his kitchen now would you?." Marxan grinned as he took a bite of his apple, standing as if he had no fear of the woman who was presently brandishing her wand at him.
Hermione's body was flushed with a mixture of fear and rage. She didn't recognize his face but his voice told her all she needed to know. Her brain did alert her that something was missing but it was too cluttered with memories to tell her exactly what it was.
Her eyes narrowed at his lackadaisical manner, "He's not my master." She raised the wand up higher but found herself unable to cast the spell that would send the horrid man from this world into the next.
"No? What is he then?" Marxan gave her a small look through the corner of his good eye as he began to move towards her, completely unafraid.
"He's my..." What was he? Her professor? Her lover? Her—anything? Her words trailed off as she watched the man's body phase through the island as though he wasn't really there. A mirage, a projection of sorts. Like a nightmare come to reality.
"Pretty interesting spell is it not?" He licked the corner of his lip, his eyes lowering down to her waist, "Lets me be in places I shouldn't be." He took the final piece of his apple, licking his bottom lip in a very slow and suggestive manner, "Did you really think you could kill me?" He lined his chest up with her wand, his crooked eyes staring directly into her soul.
"I will kill you." Hermione's voice didn't waver, but her wand did just a touch, "I will."
"Maybe. Maybe not." He grinned wider.
"Why are you here?" Her words were sharp, like a viper's hiss.
"I'm looking for something." He leaned his head just a bit closer, taking in a deep breath even though he knew he couldn't actually smell her. The spell that he was using only allowed him to explore an area but didn't actually let him touch or move anything. He could walk through closed doors but only if they weren't spelled closed.
"You'll never have me again." Hermione's jaw raised and clenched tight as she refused to look away. Searing the scared visage into her mind.
"You really think I'd risk my life for a mudblood slut?" His deep laugh chilled the room even further, the blade he still held in his hand lowering down to the brand he'd left on her skin, "I wonder...is it still inside you?"
Hermione snarled when he moved just a touch closer but her wand passed right through him when he stepped around her. Every hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she couldn't help but turn to see where he was going. "We destroyed it."
"Not a very good liar. What house were you? Hufflepuff? Ravenclaw?" His voice was taunting, his steps slow as he moved into the hallway, surreptitiously leading her towards the front door, "Gryffindor?"
Hermione's chest was tight as she forced herself to keep quiet, she could tell he was playing a game but to what end? She could taste blood in her mouth with the force in which she held her tongue. Her wand hand itching to cast a spell—any spell to expel this vile man from her presence. She moved closer towards the foot of the stairs, apparition or not, she wasn't about to let the man find his way to Severus. Of that, she was very certain.
Marxan grinned when he noticed she'd tried to take a defensive position at the stairs. Even without speaking, she was telling him more and more, "I tell you what." His steps slowed to just a few paces before the front door, "I'll give you the chance to kill me; if you bring me what I desire." He turned only partially, "And if you think you'll be able to find me without my aid, you'll be searching until the end of days. I am like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. I am only where I want to be and nowhere else."
"If I refuse?"
"Then I shall continue to seek it myself, " His jaw twitched as he suppressed the smirk over his lips. He'd caught her, "And I have no conscience. I will kill anyone and everyone who stands in my way." He glanced to the second floor to make sure that she understood him very clearly.
Hermione didn't know which way was right but she knew that he spoke the truth about killing. She'd already experienced his evil first hand, there was no question that he would do as he said. A slow grin curled over his crooked teeth when she started towards him. Completely overtaken by her will to protect, her desire to fight him, "When you are ready, send a raven and I shall meet you at your first conquest." He knew all about the fire at the black market, having lost one of his men to the fires. He was taking a small leap of logic in blaming her for the deaths, but her reaction to his words confirmed his theory.
"How long?"
"Mmm...I shall give you no more than six months. After that, every death that follows will be on your hands." It was a long time for sure, but he himself didn't know which way the war was going to turn. He had to make sure that his own life was secure. He'd taken a calculated risk in returning to this house knowing just whom the man inside served. He had time to wait, he had others to gather. If it meant staying under the radar then it was—to him—and acceptable amount of time to wait.
Hermione's brow furrowed with confusion. So long? Why so long? It didn't make any sense to her why he would give her so much time. She could possibly even amass her own following by then. It was like he believed himself to already be the winner. Something that she would make sure until her last breath would not happen. Still, her heart and body thirst for blood—his blood.
Her feet moved without her consent as he slipped through the door. Her hand coming down to the handle and before she even had time to think about the reprecussions—threw it open to the blinding light of day. A sharp hiss caused her to shield her face but her eyes and wand were instantly pointed towards the dark form across the street, hidden in the small shadow cast off by another derelict house. Before she could muster the syllables to reign down hell upon earth—he was gone.
A heavy breath left her chest but didn't ease the fury inside her heart. So close, she had been so close! So close to ridding the world of one more evil. Of saving the lives of countless innocent children. The adrenaline in her system spiked when she heard a creak overhead and her brain suddenly somersaulted backward. With a sharp snarl to where the man had been, she stepped back into the safety of the house, pulling the door closed with a heavy sigh.
oOo
"I'm sorry I'm not a very accomplished cook..." Hermione couldn't raise her eyes to the man who now sat up in bed, dressed in a few more layers as his fever had gone down to less life-threatening levels. She'd brought him a small sandwich made from the sparce meats she'd found in his icebox.
"It'll do just fine." Severus was less concerned about her offering and more concerned about the deep look of concentration that she was poorly hiding behind her hair. He had thought he'd heard voices when she'd gone downstairs, but his head had been so heavy he hadn't been sure what was real and what were mere hallucinations caused by his fever. The fact that she'd returned to him unharmed had eased his worry but only just.
Hermione's lip quirked just a little to his words but she didn't dare to look him directly in the eyes. Presently, she was debating on telling him about her encounter but she feared that it would make him wish to do something now when he could barely stand. She wanted to tell him, needed to, she just wanted to make sure he was steady on his feet first.
"So...I suppose this wasn't how you wanted to spend the day..." Hermione played with the fabric of the blanket before letting out a slow breath.
Severus' brow rose just a bit while he chewed, his stomach grateful for the addition, "Not one of the things on my list, no."
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle to his dry tone. How had she never noticed his humor before? It was exceptionally witty, "Well...the day isn't completely over, I suppose there's still time to come up with some gifts." Hermione raised her head just a bit more and licked her bottom lip.
His jaw paused mid-chew and he tilted his head for her to continue. He had no intention of giving or receiving anything for the wretched holiday. Albus was the only one who ever gave him anything and generally it was something for his potion's classroom or his stores. Never anything personal, "I don't see how I'll be able to make much progress on such an endeavor."
"Well...I have one thing that I've wanted for a while...perhaps you could give it to me?" Hermione curled her overly abused bottom lip in just a bit, chancing a glance towards his face to gauge his reaction.
"Depends..." He spoke cautiously, not entirely saying no but if she were to suggest what he believed her to want he was certainly in no condition to oblige.
"It's not that...though..." Hermione's face flushed brighter than her house colors and she took a moment to try and bring herself back into control, "I well- I've not heard my name...my first name...since I was captured and I...I was wondering...if you could begin calling me by it? In private of course..."
"Your name?" Severus never had really thought about it, he'd never really seen her as anything but a former student, it was natural for him to call her by her surname. Distance, even in language. Though he was quite sure he'd crossed any divide he had placed between them with his lowered inhibitions in the hallway. Something to which he was still trying to wrap his head around himself.
"Yes...It begins with an H?" Hermione greatly wondered if he'd even known it at all, given their history she wanted to hope that he did.
Severus' lip quirked just a little, "Helen?"
"No." Hermione's lips turned up just a little, she prayed to every fate above that he was merely playing with her.
Severus made a show of thinking, resting his hand under his chin, "Heather?"
"No." Hermione giggled just a little but a small bubble of hurt was slowly rising up her throat.
"Hestria?"
"No." Her smile began to fall, had he truly forgotten?
"Hermione?" Severus knew when the game had taken a wrong turn and very much didn't want to see any more of her tears.
"Yes." Her chest fluttered to the sound of it, the deep richness his voice brought to the syllables.
"I suppose it will take time to make the adjustment Miss-Hermione."
"Effort is always appreciated." Hermione took a slow calming breath running her hands down her legs, "Do you uh...want anything? For Christmas that is..."
"No...I have everything I need." He spoke truthfully, catching her eyes when he spoke.
"Yes...but is there something you'd possibly want?"
" A warm bath wouldn't go amiss."
"I can start the water and find some clean towels." It wasn't much, a memory in the long run of things but it was something she could give him after all he'd done for her.
Severus nodded his head before picking his sandwich back up, he'd need his strength to survive the rest of the day—he was sure of it.
oOOo
"Draco?" Narcissa knocked softly on her son's door before cautiously pushing it open. Her eyes ran over the darkened space before finding him sitting pensively in the corner beside the fireplace, "Dinner's about ready...your father and I would like it if you'd join us."
"For a mockery? A charade? No thanks." Draco scoffed softly, stretching his feet closer to the warmth.
"It's Christmas Draco...a time for family and-"
"Murder?" Draco had heard the screams coming from the cellar, more captured muggles for his aunt's entertainment. It hadn't taken too long for the insane witch to be back on her feet and hungry for blood.
Narcissa lowered her eyes with shame and slowly moved to take the seat across from him, "This won't go on forever..."
"Yeah? Just until Potter's dead? What then? What if Potter wins?"
"Don't speak like that Draco...you know you were chosen for a worthy purpose."
"Rape? Kidnapping? How are any of those noble?" Draco's words were sharp, carelessly cutting his mother's heart even deeper.
Narcissa closed her eyes tight trying to keep her own thoughts to herself. She didn't want Draco to go, to do any of the things that she was sure would be expected of him but what choice did she have if she were to save her son's life? To give him a future?
"Sometimes...we must do things because they must be done...not because they are right."
"It doesn't wash the blood from your hands."
"No...it doesn't...but it does give you one more day on this earth."
oOo
"Nice and easy?" Hermione wrapped her arm around Severus' back as he came to his feet. She could still feel the muscles twitching under her arm and wondered if he was in pain. She'd retrieved a few more potions from downstairs, no untoward surprises waiting for her this time, and had returned to start his bath. She'd let him sleep for a few more hours, hoping that it would give him the strength to make it to the bathroom under his own power.
Severus grunted his agreement. While he did feel significantly stronger than before, the residual tremors had not fully left his frame. He was sure that the bath would help to loosen the remaining muscles that had locked tight. The worst of them were in his calves making his normally fluid steps jerky. He tried to keep most of his weight off Grang—Hermione but she was holding what he gave her well enough.
"Have you eaten today?"
"I...uh had a bit of toast and jam as well as the pancakes you made this morning." The bathroom was a bit small but she managed to help him sit down on the toilet lid well enough.
"You need more."
"As do you." Hermione wrapped her arms around her waist. She hadn't really felt all too hungry but it was starting to become near to dinner time. Though she didn't want to leave him unattended in the bath, she didn't want to step too far over the line they'd crossed that morning, "I could...try and make something while you relax in the bath?"
"Worried that I might drown?"
"A bit...but you were able to walk here well enough so I think you could manage to keep your head above water for a little while." Hermione grinned before looking at the warm bath she'd run, "Though I am rather envious...your house is dreadfully cold..."
"It's old." Severus rolled his shoulders the bones snapping, "If you use the stove it should heat the house, there is a lever at the bottom, it'll let the heat go through the vents."
"Noted." Hermione licked her bottom lip, "Well I guess I'll...see you in a bit?"
"I'll be here."
Hermione nodded slowly before turning to take her leave. She looked back when she'd made it to the door then ducked her head and her body from the frame. She closed the door nearly all the way, not wanting to shut it for fear that if he were to call out for her she wouldn't be able to hear him. She paused just on the other side long enough to hear him start to remove the shirt he'd put on before his second nap and turned to make her way downstairs.
Coming into the kitchen, she rubbed her hands over her arms before turning toward the stove. A small stack of wood was beside it and she was glad she didn't have to go out into the snow to try and find more. It had begun to snow shortly after her encounter with Marxan, bathing the world in a silence only winter could bring. She had found herself gently lulled by it while she watched over Severus' rest.
She'd not gone far from his side but she did take the time to explore what little there was in his bedroom. She'd luckily found a book inside one of his bedside tables and had taken to reading it during her vigil. It hadn't been anything too exciting, just an old reference guide to the various magical uses of herbs. It had been excessively written in making some parts of it nearly impossible to read but the information that had been added had been invaluable to her idle mind.
She had decided that she was going to tell Severus about her encounter with Marxan, though she was starting to realize that going after a man such as that at the present would be a grievous error in tactics. The two of them were already walking a tightrope, her time spent out in the world jeopardizing not only her life but the Professor's as well. She couldn't very well go alone but she couldn't risk the entire situation being an elaborate plan to find out just which side Severus stood on in this war.
Her first and foremost priority was to keep the man who had done everything to make her life worth living, alive. She would follow him to the front lines if she had to and there was no hesitation in her heart that she would take a spell for him if the situation called for it.
Severus groaned deeply as he lowered himself down into the warm bath. His entire body slowly unwinding like a clock that was gradually ticking down. His head relaxed back against the cool porcelain before he pulled his arms under the water. His mind was slowly starting to replay the entire day, her kiss, his kiss, their kiss, taking center stage.
How unnecessarily complicated his life had become. He knew it was just as much his fault as hers. She had so much more to learn about him, about what he'd done to become the man he was and he was sure once she knew everything, she'd never want to be in his presence again.
Severus could feel himself falling through a darkness he had not found himself in for many years. So many emotions he had dutifully locked away—never wanting to ever feel again—coming free like pandora's box. He was a man who prided himself on his self-control. Yet this slip of a woman had done everything in her power to slowly unravel everything that he had built around him. He couldn't understand it, didn't want to understand.
A deep groan echoed around the room as he palmed his eyes. If Minerva ever found out he was sure she would have his bollocks hanging from the astronomy tower. A wry grin ticked at his lips when he let his hand lower back into the water. He was almost curious to rile the old cat's cage.
What laid beyond today? He wasn't so oblivious to her lingering touch, her wandering eye. He had known for some time now that she'd started to take an unhealthy taking to him as of late. He couldn't possibly understand why she was so dead set on figuring him out. She had so many other things to worry about.
He was just a man, a completely flawed man. He had to admit to himself that had he been about twenty years younger she might have caught his attention. As it was, he found himself intrigued by her drive for knowledge but constantly felt their age standing in the way. He had survived a war, seen the world turn from one end to the other well before she had even been born. What could they possibly have in common?
All of that combined with him literally having watched her grown from nothing but a lanky bushy haired mop into a tall lean woman did not help matters. He was quite literally old enough to be her father if he had been irresponsible in his youth he quite possibly could have been. As it was, he'd never found himself in the arms of a witch that had held his interest for more than a night.
Mistakes of his pain-ridden twenties aside, he'd allowed himself to grow cold in the years that had passed. Taking full responsibility for the wrongs he'd committed. It wasn't so easy for him to just forget what he was pushing so hard to survive for. The promise he'd made.
He wasn't kind, not by any stretch. Yet still, she had brought out something inside him that he hadn't even known he'd possessed. When she'd been solely reliant on his attention he had not denied her. He'd touched, cared for and cured everything that had befallen her. He'd done it all without a second thought.
Would it be said of him that he had a weakness for injured women? That he preferred someone who was incapable of protecting themselves? Did he have a twisted hero complex? Had he become everything he had so much despised in others?
"Se...Severus?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you have a large cooking pot? I found some cans of soup..."
Severus glanced towards the door where he could see the side of her arm and part of her jaw. He would have expected her to have poked her head through to sneak a peek at him but he was relieved to find that she was respecting his lack of dress.
"Yes, I should under the island."
"Thanks..."
"Of course."