Chapter 124: The Ancient Temple Of Vaermina
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
{"Here we go...Does it hurt...Say goodbye...To this world...I will not...Be undone...Come to life...It gets worse...All in all...You're no good...You don't cry...Like you should...I'll be gone...When you fall...Your sad life...Says it all...So I'll find what lies beneath...Your sick twisted smile...As I lay underneath...Your cold jaded eyed...Now you turn the tide on me...'Cause you're so unkind...I will always be here...For the rest of my life..."} Breaking Benjamin, What Lies Beneath
Temple Of Vaermina Ruins, Old Scotland, Wizarding World...
Hermione stood as close to Severus as she possibly could managed as she, Severus, Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius, Draco, Phaeron, Lily Potter, and Bellatrix LeStrange stood outside an old ruin in the middle of the old country Scotland. The search for Vaermina's mysterious torpor had led them all here. The final step in securing the final ingredient for the Dreamstride Potion. Phaeron had looked back n forth between his mother and Bellatrix. It had been some time since he had known the truth about her plans for him concerning his father. Snape had been watching the deranged witch as well. His obsidian gaze filled with a kind of understanding that seemed to transcend his bushy haired wife's rage towards her.
"This is it." said Bellatrix in a somewhat lack luster tone. "This is the fallen temple of Vaermina."
Hermione looked about the ruins as a coldness overtook her. She had not liked the looks of this place. As she studied the faces of those around her. She caught Severus looking over at Bellatrix and the deranged witch meeting his gaze. A part of her wanted to hex the smug bitch into next year but she calmed herself when Severus apparently noting how difficult this was for her, wrapped his arms around her.
"There's no need for that Mrs. Snape." he said softly as he pressed his body into her.
Hermione noted the slight look of irritation file across Bella's face before she turned away. Phaeron shook his head. This situation was awkward enough with Bellatrix being the only hope they had to complete the potion.
"Are you sure this overly covert dung heap is it?" chimed Lucius grumbling about being dragged out this early in the morning.
"Worried the spider will get into your hair?" asked Bellatrix unable to resist a quip.
"Bite me nutter." replied Lucius apparently snippy before he's had his morning coffee.
"You'd like that wouldn't you." replied Bellatrix. "Doesn't seem like this weather agrees with your mop top anymore than the spiders would."
Lucius narrowed his gray eyes at the deranged witch as she cackled following her retort.
"That's it.." said he said attempting to draw his wand.
Narcissa stopped him.
"Lucius...remember why we are all here." she said patting his chest to soothe the angry beast.
Bellatrix relished her minor victory over her brother in law.
Phaeron shook his head as he noted how interesting Draco's childhood must have been.
"Well Draco...come to give Auntie Bella a kiss?" asked Bellatrix turning her attention to her nephew.
"I-I'd rather not thank you." he replied not at all wishing to get close to the deranged witch fearing that her madness would rub off on him.
She flashed him a smile and glanced at Phaeron.
The heat behind her chaotic dark eyes made him blush recalling the many afternoons he had spent between her slender thighs. Hermione noticed this and had been about to hex the witch just as Lucius had.
"Now...now..." said Snape taking her wand arm and kissing her hand. "None of that."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Bellatrix whom had been delighted by the challenge. She licked her lips in a sensuous manner which made the bushy haired witch draw back in disgust. Snape looked back n forth between the two witches with promise lurking behind his obsidian eyes.
"Not going to happen." said Hermione knowing all too well what he had in mind.
"A wizard can dream can't he?" said Snape.
Phaeron rolled his eyes, it seemed somethings never truly changed.
"Alright." he said trying to keep things civil. "We just need to retrieve the torpor."
"We?" asked Bellatrix looking about the group with a kind of disapproving expression. "I really hate to be the bearer of bad news but none of you are welcome in Vaermina's temple."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione with an arched brow as if she had been ready for Bellatrix to pull some kind of trick.
"Bella..." said Narcissa with an inquisitive tone.
Bellatrix sighed.
"It's not my doing...for once at least." she said. "The temple is only accessible for those who serve Vaermina and one other."
Everyone looked at each other not at all liking this turn of events.
"So what are you getting at?" asked Lucius growing rather impatient.
"What I am getting at, dear Lucy...is that only one other and myself can enter the temple." replied Bellatrix.
'Then I'll go." said Hermione immediately volunteering.
"Out of the question." said Snape.
"I beg your pardon?" said Hermione turning her attention to her husband.
"You think I'm fool enough to let my wife and my former lover venture into a dark and dangerous place alone?" he asked. "That's not going to happen."
"Then I'll go." said Draco.
"That's really sweet Draco but with all the traps and challenges inside but there needs to be someone with actual combat experience." said Narcissa.
Draco opened his mouth to protest that he had combat experience thanks to the second wizarding war but the look in his mother's eyes told him to keep silent. She apparently had no intention of sending her only son to his possible doom no matter the reward.
"I'll go." said Phaeron determined.
"No." said Hermione flat out.
There was no way she was going to trust her son in Bella's company any more than she would her husband given their history.
Bellatrix got a kick out of her rage.
"Awww what's the matter muggle girl...afraid I might give him something he'd enjoy better than all the gold in Gringotts?" she asked taunting the bushy haired witch.
"Don't push it Bellatrix." warned Hermione narrowing her amber eyes once more.
"Any time you want another girl to girl chat I'm game." taunted Bellatrix her chaotic dark eyes flickering with malice.
"Phaeron, you are the only one that can brew the potion with your father in his current state." said Hermione trying very valiantly to ignore her husband's former lover.
"I suppose it will have to be me that accompanies the demented nutter." replied Lucius.
"Guess again." replied Bellatrix with a smirk.
Lucius narrowed his eyes at her.
"Lucius you can barely stand to be in her company now...how are you two going to be able to work together in there?" asked Narcissa.
"What about me?" asked Lily Potter. "I-I guess I can go?"
"Have you not been paying attention when the discussion of combat experience came into play." muttered Bellatrix. "This girl must be a Potter...it's like talking to a brick wall."
"And you must be the unflattering psycho bitch that murdered my father's godfather." countered Lily with wit no one knew she possessed.
Snape looked at a stunned Phaeron and shook his head. He knew his son was in for it now.
Bellatrix seemed amused.
"Such big words from a fragile little child." said the deranged witch.
"Enough." said Snape growing tired of all the bickering. "I will go into the temple."
"Severus you can't be serious." said Lucius earning a murderous glare from Snape.
"I have to second that." said Hermione. "You don't have any magic to spare...let alone combat anything lurking about in there."
Snape put a finger to Hermione's lips.
"That is the point." he said. "Vaermina will not see me as a threat...while she might sense the magic from any one of you and be less inclined to relinquish her torpor."
"And that is why Snapey is such a brilliant Professor." said Bellatrix with a giddy smile.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She couldn't stand the thought of Severus being inside those ruins with Bellatrix alone, especially as defenseless as he was.
"Severus..." she began.
"I'll be fine love." replied Snape before she even asked.
He kissed her rather passionately in a bid to ease her worries, at least for a time.
"Be here when I return." he said.
"Obviously." replied Hermione using his turn of phrase.
Snape smiled and unbuttoned his trademark frock coat. He placed it on Hermione's shoulders like some muggle football jock would in high school.
She smiled at the gesture despite still having her reservations.
The bushy haired witch then turned her attention to Bellatrix, her amber eyes ablaze with fury as she issued a dangerous warning.
"If something happens to my husband or if you do anything unsavory to him...I will not hesitate to kill you...and no one not even your sister over there will be able to identify your remains when I drop your lifeless corpse off the face of the earth." she said.
The seriousness of what was about to happen had gotten through to everyone as they watched Snape and Bellatrix venture toward the mouth of the ruins. Bellatrix smiled at Snape as he gave her his hand. She took her wand and trailed along the milky white flesh of his palm. He grimaced a bit as a result of the cut from her magic but allowed her to complete the ritual.
"From this moment forth you are my thrall...in the eyes of Vaermina...you will be as such." said the deranged witch with a serious expression.
Snape nodded his understanding.
With one last look at his gathered family, he ventured into the ruins with Bellatrix.
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Vaermina's Temple, Unknown Location, Scotland...
As they moved farther and farther away from the lit entrance, a feeling of haze filled Severus, hitting him with a strength of magical energy that he could scarcely describe. His vision had blurred and his body ached in different places. Each breath he took became more labored and his head became light. Bellatrix continued to move about as if she had been unaffected by what was happening. Snape continued to follow the deranged witch wondering if this had been some kind of plot that he had been fool enough to walk into. He thought of his wife and his children as they continued into the temple.
It had been strange...he knew he had been married and he knew he loved his family but for the life of him he couldn't recall their names or faces. Snape's eyes widened as he began to mentally panic noting his memories of his family had been taken from him. He looked at Bellatrix, she continued to move toward the main part of the temple.
Whatever was effecting him must have been due to him being nearly mortal in Vaermina's temple.
"Stay focused Severus." said Bellatrix at last breaking her silence. "No matter what happens...know that I will always have your back."
Snape didn't get the chance to reply as his body became heavy and his steps slowed.
His obsidian eyes took in the sight of Bellatrix before he collapsed onto the cold hard ground.
His vision lessened and he found himself unable to breathe as a distinctive dreamlike state took over him. His eyes rolled in the back of his head as pleasure and pain began to meld within him.
"Stay focused." Bellatrix had said once more before her voice faded into a kind of distant hum.
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Outside the Temple Of Vaermina...
Hermione had a terrible feeling wash over her as she pulled Severus' frock coat onto her and held on tight. Phaeron noticed the node of panic run across her face and he walked over toward her. Her knees buckled and he caught her before she hit the ground. Whatever was happening to the bushy haired witch had gotten everyone's attention and they quickly rushed over toward them.
"Mother!" said Phaeron cradling Hermione against him. "Mother, what's happening?"
Lucius had nothing to offer in terms of what could be wrong with Hermione but he gathered that there was definitely something wrong with Severus.
"Bellatrix." he said through gritted teeth. "I knew it was a terrible idea to trust her."
Narcissa shook her head as she aided Phaeron in attempting to rouse Hermione.
"I'm sure there is some other explanation." she said. "Bella was quiet adamant about not wanting any more to do with Severus."
Lucius scoffed.
"Are you not familiar with Vaermina's sphere of influence?" he said annoyed. "It doesn't have to be her doing."
"Father please.." said Draco. "I know that you are upset but let's not start bickering amongst ourselves...this is hard enough on all of us."
Lucius sighed.
"Perhaps you are right." he said. "But I for one am not going to just stand here while Bellatrix or Vaermina do unsavory things to Severus."
He drew his wand and made his way toward the entrance of the ruins.
"LUCIUS DON'T!" shouted Narcissa all too late.
Before her warning could register, the handsome blond Slytherin was electrocuted by some strange green force field. He was thrown back by the unsavory blast of energy from within the ruins and collapsed unconscious onto the cold hard ground.
Narcissa raced over to her husband noting that his heart rate had slowed considerably.
"What the hell?" said Phaeron stunned by what was happening.
{"You have to get them out of here."} said a voice in his mind.
"What?" asked Phaeron confused.
{"You have to get them all out of here...Vaermina is attempting to feed off their life force."} said the voice again.
The warning had come through loud and clear as Phaeron quickly lifted his fallen mother into his arms.
"EVERYONE WE MUST LEAVE NOW!" he shouted.
Narcissa and Draco grabbed Lucius as best they could while Lily assisted Phaeron with Hermione.
"We'll meet up at Malfoy Manor." instructed the raven haired Slytherin teen.
Never one to miss a hint in any form the Malfoys took off first. Phaeron secured Hermione and ensured that Lily would follow.