"It cannot be that bad." Ginny insisted, even as Hermione was tearing through another shelf of books in Flourish and Blott's. So much for her pleasant afternoon of relaxing.
"I have seen this design before.." Hermione muttered, pulling a book of Wizard family lines off the shelf and paging through it. "It is like an insignia. Purebloods usually have one professionally designed when they come of age."
"But its so pretty!" Ginny clapped her hands, looking at the intricate scrollwork.
"Pretty?" Hermione stared at her in disbelief. "That's like saying you want a Dark Mark tattoo 'cause it looks cool." Hermione slowed down, as she came across the motto scrolled at the bottom of the crest. "Right motto, wrong design though..." She muttered and moved on.
"What do you think it means?" Ginny bit her lip.
"Nothing good." Hermione swallowed. "I found it." She held up the page for Ginny to see.
"LUCIAS MALFOY!" Ginny shouted, causing other customers to stare.
"Yes..." Hermione was troubled, but then she felt another tug. The tugging sensation grew, and as she looked down she saw, instead of the crest, writhing whirls of 'ink' on her chest, as if the design was warring with itself. Her breaths grew more shallow as her chest tightened. "Can't breathe..." She gasped, and Ginny knelt to help her, dragging Hermione outside into the fresh air. The person behind the counter looked disapprovingly at the haphazard pile of books on the floor they left behind.
"We should get you to the doctor." Ginny said worriedly, while running her wand up and down Hermione in a general first aid scan. Nothing seemed to come up.
"I can breathe now." Hermione sat up, her eyes shut tight. "This is all so strange!"
"Ooooooooooh." Ginny said. "It's back!"
Hermione opened her eyes and scrutinized the Crest mark. "No, it's different." Hermione bit her lip, staring at it. It was so familiar- "I think I've seen this before, somewhere."
"Should we go back in and find whose it is?"
"No need to." Hermione stood, jerking her hand away from the mark. "It's professor Snape's."
And with a pop, to Ginny's surprise and horror, Hermione disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~
"Well Lucius, it seems your luck has turned." Severus glanced down at his three sevens, more than a bit surprised himself.
Lucius looked enraged, though his anger seemed more focused on the dice than on Severus. "You do not know what you have done." The blonde growled, standing and collecting his things. "One more roll!"
"Now now Lucius." Snape drawled. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"
"I could get you a hundred girls, all more beautiful than that wench. I can arrange it - you could do things to them, whatever lies in that black pit of yours, and no one would know or care."
"You are quite desperate, Malfoy." Snape stood as well. "I will see you again soon, I am sure." Briskly, he turned from the room, noting an itch on his right thigh but maintaining his posture and heading. Leaving the pub, he shook the tension from his shoulders and apparated to a spot near Hogsmeade Village.
There was a jarring motion that disurbed him as he landed, and then a crash.
"Whaa?" He heard a woman's voice cry out.
"Apologies Madam." Snape recovered his footing and held a hand out. He must have apparated too near the witch, although usually apparating made allowances for nearby people.
"What the hell is going on?"
Snape felt his hand being grabbed in a death grip. Reflexively he dropped into a stance, ready to fight back as he turned to face the woman. "Her...Miss Granger?" Snape's eyes widened and Hermione was rewarded with a look of genuine shock. From her half unbuttoned blouse he could see his own insignia branded on her chest, similar to his own dark mark had been. Quickly, he threw his outer cloak at her. "Cover that up." He ordered, realizing there was little time to think things through, and even less to get out without being seen.
Hermione found herself obeying, clasping the cloak about her neck even as she was puzzling things out.
"This way Miss Granger." Snape ordered, and Hermione felt she had no other option but to follow him down a familiar path – to Hogwarts.
~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~
Baby's crying
All alone
Mother far away
Don't bring milk
And don't bring toys
But mix a lock with clay
~from "Nursery Rhymes & Cradle Songs of the Ancient and Esteemed Houses", purchasable in Knockturn Alley at Tomes & Terrors for a mere 1682 galleons, 3 sickles, and 23 knuts.