A/N: Hope you all "enjoyed" the last chapter. Just an fwi, that's my kind of writing. I started writing as a way to vent when people made me angry or hurt me. I'd write their deaths or tortures. I actually wrote a whole book to kill someone over a video game (it was middle school, but I do need to rewrite it). So just so you know, I relish in those little evil moments. I highly recommend it next time you're mad. No one gets hurt, but you can get all your frustrations out. Anyway, we'll have some small happiness at the beginning and then once again, it's going to get dark. Also, sorry about where I end this chapter. It was just getting dragged out and I couldn't think of how I wanted to keep writing it.

Warning: This chapter may contain themes deemed inappropriate by some.

Chapter 28

Severus was fighting back the shakes from adrenaline. He was livid that Bellatrix had been near Hermione, and terrified that she was tortured. He had failed to protect her, and their child. Along the walk, she had passed out and he spelled her arm to stay up despite the fact that it stopped bleeding. Narcissa followed behind him like a scared little mouse, looking behind them every couple of seconds. Severus shifted Hermione a little, just to hold her closer and protect her.

They reached the room she had been held in before, and Severus laid her on the bed. He grabbed her arm and reached into his pocket, pulling out a salve.

"Severus, if you don't go-"

"She is my wife and my student. I am a potions master, I can take care of her."

"If you defy him, and anger him, you won't be able to. I will make sure she is cared for and ready for tonight. But you must return to him, and apologize for that outburst of yours. He will punish you, but if you continue to defy him and stay here, it will be worse."

She was right of course, and Severus wanted nothing more than to ignore her. Instead he pressed the salve into her hand and walked out of the room. He swept down the hall, back towards Voldemort. This time, he knocked firmly on the door.

"Come in, Severus," and it was Bellatrix's cackling voice that called out. This definitely meant trouble for him.

Severus walked through the door, prepared to face whatever he had to. Narcissa was right, apologizing would mean a less brutal punishment, but it looked like Bellatrix would be dealing.

"My lord," Severus spoke as he bowed, "I must apologize for my outburst. I'm sure that Even Lucius would have acted the same if the roles were reversed. I was simply looking out for the well being of my child and the woman carrying it. Not to mention, Bellatrix was going out of her way to torture when she had the easiest method to get the information she wanted."

"I trust you left her in Narcissa's care."

"Of course, my Lord. I do not intend to cross you."

"Bellatrix, He is right, of course, however he interrupted your fun, and you may punish him. But only a little."

Bellatrix cackled in enjoyment and frustration. Within seconds she cast her spell, "Alium ceciderunt!"

Severus felt a force hit him, literally like a punch. And it kept coming at him. He was getting hit in his stomach, his ribs, his arms, all over his body. And he tried to stay standing tall. He stood, trying not to fall or bend to the hits. But they came faster and harder, and he began to feel his ribs crack, and a hit to the back of his knee put him down on one knee. Bellatrix was cackling.

"That's enough, Bella," Voldemort commanded, "Severus, Go back to your wife. You should be there for her. And you may take her home after tonight, so long as you promise to keep a tighter leash on her."

"Of course I shall, I plan on binding her, so that she doesn't make such rash decisions again."

'That would be wise, Severus."

Severus, bowed, more from pain, and left the room, standing as tall as he could manage. But the second the door closed, he doubled over in pain and staggered a little, having to lean against the wall to remain standing. For a wizard, he might not be old, but he certainly wasn't young like he used to be, and beatings like that took their toll. He regained himself, and limped down the hall, back to his wife.

He opened the door, as Narcissa was wrapping Hermione's arm, the girl still asleep, and he simply said one word, "Out."

"But-"

"Narcissa, please. Leave us be."

She looked from Severus to Hermione, doe-eyed and then nodded softly before leaving them alone. Severus spelled the door, and sat down next to Hermione, cringing in pain. He placed a hand on her stomach, and removed it almost immediately as she curled up in reflex. Instead he placed it gently on her arm and smoothed his thumb across her soft skin. He watched her sleep as she furrowed her brow and then relaxed, as she slowly uncurled out of her ball.

He watched her for hours while she slept. Until he knew it was time to wake her, and he watched her eyes open.

She jolted up and away, curling her knees up.

"Hermione, we need to talk."

"I don't want to speak to you. Ever."

"That might be very well, and you don't have to speak, but you do have to listen, you stubborn Gryffindor."

She neglected to respond and only glared at him.

"I am sorry," he started, because he truly was, "I am sorry I did not tell you. But I couldn't. If I had, and you warned everyone and stopped it, then what Bellatrix did you would seem like child's play compared to what would have happened to both of us. If it helps, no one was killed. And very few were tortured. It was simply a scare tactic. I didn't tell you because if I had, you would not have been safe."

"Only a few were tortured, that's supposed to make me feel better."

"Hermione, would you rather someone died? He only went to scare to them and capture your friend, Mr. Potter. When Potter escaped, he was angry sent a few hexes and left, bringing everyone with him. Then he immediately tabooed his name, knowing Potter is the only one, other than Dumbledore, who says his name. That's how he found you."

"No one was hurt?"

"I will take you by tomorrow, if you like."

Hermione didn't speak, but she did lower her knees.

"There's one more thing, Hermione," Severus paused, watching the fear hide behind her eyes, "Well two things actually. The first being that I will be the headmaster of Hogwarts."

"And the second?"

"I have to bind your powers. Not completely, but just enough."

"NO. You are-"

"Hermione, we both know you're a little quick to act when you're upset. Do you trust yourself to not just disaparate when you're upset? You do it all the time."

"Severus, you can't. Please."

"I'm sorry, Hermione, sed custodiat finire."

She felt her powers being held back, she could still use most of them, but not to the extent that she was used to, and some were not available.

"Severus, binding spells have an effect on the baby."

"Some of them do, yes, but there are some that are still perfectly safe."

She placed a hand over her stomach, looking down. She wanted to make sure everything was right. Even if Severus died, even if she died, she would do everything to ensure her child survived.

"Fine, but you're not cancelling Phantom."

"If you think-"

"You. Are. NOT. Cancelling."

"Fine. Now you-we have to get dressed for tonight. Let me see your arm."

She held out the bandaged arm for him, and he began to unwrap it. His salve would have healed it by now. But that ugly word stared at both of them, 'mudblood.'

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I should have protected you."

"Severus, it's just a scar and just a word."

"No, it's a memory. A permanent memory of what she's done. She's charmed the knife, so it leaves a permanent scar. A constant memory of the torture she inflicts."

"Severus, I stopped letting that word hurt me. It has no power over me," She spoke softly and placed a hand softly on his knee. He grimaced, in pain from the beating he had just received. "Are you okay?"

"I interrupted an interrogation, no matter the reason, no matter my ranking, I had to be punished. I'll be bruised but, I'm fine."

"Serves you right, for the wedding bit."

He gave her a half smile, because although he knew she was serious, he also knew part of her was joking.

There was a knock at the door, and Hermione was up faster than Severus, so she opened the door, to see Narcissa standing there.

"I brought some clothes. Severus, some dress robes from your room, and Hermione, a dress from when I was your age. The party will start soon."

"Thank you," Hermione said as she took the clothes from Narcissa and closed the door again.

Hermione placed the dress robes on the bed next to Severus and went into the adjoining bathroom to change. It was a simple, form fitting gown in black and silver with draping sleeves and a layer of sheer fabric. She certainly looked like she belonged there amongst the death eaters. When she walked out, she saw Severus struggling with his buttons. Whatever punishment he had endured had left him in a lot of pain.

"Let me help," She said as she moved his hands away and began to unbutton his shirt, revealing a scarred, yet surprisingly fit torso. She slid the sleeves down his arms and took the shirt away.

"Hermione, I can take care of the rest," He spoke as he forced himself to stand up and grab the dress robes without grimacing and heading to the bathroom. He was ashamed of his reaction, given their current circumstances and her reason for helping, at his bodily reaction to the simple act of her removing his shirt. He changed, although painstakingly so, as fast as he could manage. He emerged from the bathroom dressed and held out an arm for Hermione.

They walked down the hall together, her arm in his. And they entered, what Hermione could not have imagined. There were girls, wearing less than house elves, in chains. Some were simply along the wall waiting for whatever fate had in store, others were being tortured and others raped by one or more death-eaters. Some death eaters were getting high off a mixture of wizarding drugs.

"Severus, your bride looks lovely," Voldemort hissed as they entered. "What do you think of the festivities, Mrs. Snape."

"I've never seen anything like it before, My lord," Hermione said with a curtsey.

"Why don't you pick a girl?"

"My lord?"

"Choose a girl for your husband. Narcissa and Bellatrix chose for their husbands, you choose for yours."

Hermione swallowed, this was obviously a test and so she walked over to the girls chained to the wall. It sickened her, that they were there, but she had to do this. For her life and her child's. So many of the girls looked terrified, they definitely weren't there of their own free will. But some of the women looked confident, or at least experienced. She wouldn't have a hand in the torture of a young scared girl who was probably a virgin. Instead she grabbed the chain of one of the older women, one with blond hair and a cold stare.