"Sir, Voldemort said when you were better you were to see him. I may be wrong, but it might be better to see him when you are still slightly weak, to show your dedication."

Hermione had told Snape of her visit to Voldemort with him in tow, and Avery's fate. He had been surprised, then concerned about his privacy. In the end, however, he felt that it had taken a lot of courage and had been the right move, especially considering what can happen from ignoring the Dark Mark. Now she was making this suggestion; he looked at her in approval, "How very Slytherin of you, Granger."

They apparated into Voldemort's throne room; Hermione held Snape a little more than necessary to make the most of his weakness. Immediately, Snape was on his knees, and Hermione was prostrate.

"Severus, we are very glad to see you have awakened."

"Thank you, my Lord."

"Severus' Woman," Severus' head snapped up at the title, "you may kneel." Hermione kneeled, but seemed to sense a change in Riddle's tone, as if some part of him regretted his decision to stop referring to her as a mudblood whore.

"Thank you … my Lord," she said calmly. She felt anything but calm. Voldemort was being too accommodating, too nice, ever since the ball. Why?

There was whispering. "Silence! This mudblood has shown Severus unbelievable loyalty. She has twice saved the life of my most valuable servant. You will not treat her as a mudblood whore. She is Severus' woman; let no one bother her or defile her. If you do, you will feel my wrath."

Both Hermione and Severus occluded all their feelings in regard to the announcement.

"Severus, how much longer until you are ready to serve me fully?"

"Right now, my Lord."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she stared at the floor and thought, 'Oh please. He won't be ready for at least five days.'

With a hissing laugh, Voldemort said, "Your woman thinks five days at least."

Hermione bit her lip, scared that she had not occluded those thoughts. How could she have been so careless? Even though her gut had warned her, she had somehow relaxed in Voldemort's presence. She cleared her mind. She looked sideways at Severus who was looking straight at the floor, expressionless.

"Let us compromise, I will see you in three days. Severus, send your woman home."

"Yes, my Lord."

Snape pulled a coin out of his pocket, pointed his wand and said, "Portus." He handed it to Hermione, trying not to show the trembling hand caused by using magic for the first time in almost two weeks. Hermione saw it though, and looked into his eyes with concern, but they were steel. She took the coin and was gone.

Turning back to Voldemort, Snape kneeled.

"Leave us, all of you!"

When they had left, the Dark Lord spoke again. "Come here to me, Severus." Snape moved slowly trying not to stumble as he got up from the long held position. He wobbled slightly, enough so that the Dark Lord actually rose and helped him up the dais.

"I am now saying four days. You are proud but still weak, and you should not have come to me so soon." In spite of the assistance, Snape waited for his Master to sit.

Voldemort looked at his robe, arranged it and said, "I am sure you know I avenged you."

"Yes, thank you, my Lord."

"They tell me Avery lost his voice at the end," Riddle said casually brushing off his sleeve with the back of his hand.

"My Lord?" Snape questioned.

Voldemort looked into his eyes, "from screaming of course."

Snape nodded and internally cringed, he could very well imagine.

"She saved you, you know. For a mudblood she is very intelligent and resourceful."

Quietly Severus answered, "Yes, my Lord."

"Do not be embarrassed, my son. I gave her a boon."

Snape looked at him, alarmed and surprised, "My Lord?"

"I see she did not tell you of this. I told her she could have a favor. She asked one on your behalf, to which, I of course, agreed."

"My Lord?"

"Well, the agreement packed my silence to you, but I will walk between the edges of this and show you; I vow this will be the only time."

Suddenly, Snape saw the scene in his mind; he was looking at Hermione. She was on her knees cradling him in her lap, and he was nuzzling into her chest. 'What was she thinking?' he thought, 'She could have asked for anything but freedom.'

"Yes, Severus, she thought of you: of your reputation and pride. She has my gratitude as you have seen. Severus, … is she your woman?"

"You gave her a boon, Master."

"I am a Slytherin. It was a chance to build trust. "

"Ingenious as always, Master."

"Severus, is she your woman?"

Snape looked down, "I do not know."

"This is also what she said. I will tell you what I told her, your actions speak differently." Snape's head remained bowed. "Severus, I have come to appreciate your attraction to this mudblood, but your relationship with her, whatever it is, can never take precedent over ours. Do you understand?"

"Never fear that, my Lord."

"Good! I would never want to have to remind you, whether directly or indirectly, where your ultimate loyalties lie … Now, go home my son, and rest."

"Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord."

888

Severus arrived in the living room. He looked around; the fire was blazing, the place was clean, homey, and the books and bookshelves dusted. He could smell something good cooking. Hermione popped her head through the doorway, "Sit down in here and I'll bring it to you…I think you can go right ahead and eat."

There was a hint of sadness in her voice, but he didn't have time to think about it. He was still thinking about Voldemort, the matchmaker. He thought, 'I didn't get it, until the last bit. He never had anything on me. He had no way to hurt me, other than to physically hurt me, but now …' Snape looked towards the kitchen, 'He thinks he has leverage.'

Snape made his way to the couch, snorting to himself, 'That old snake has no leverage. I care nothing for …'

At that moment, Hermione came back in the room carrying a tray; her cheeks were rosy, her bushy hair was tied back loosely, and she was wearing a scoop neck t-shirt and jeans. She brought with her a supper of light soup, bread and tea biscuits. "Here we are."

Severus twitched all over; she was literally a domestic goddess. Hermione put the tray on his lap, inadvertently showing him her now even more ample cleavage.

'It's a strange day, indeed,' Snape thought, 'when you look at a woman's breasts and not only does your dick twitch, but your stomach growls.'

"I hear that," Hermione said brightly. "You're hungry. Good."

"Quite."

Suddenly there was a clang. "Sorry," she said and bent at the knees to get the spoon. It was just out of her reach, so she had to get on all fours.

Snape looked at her denim-covered bottom, and the words rang in his head, "Is she your woman?" Before his brain had time to form a logical thought, his heart answered 'Yes.'

"Here you are," she wiped the spoon with her shirt. "Sorry about that … what?" she said when she saw how he was looking at her. Hermione felt self-conscious. 'I must look a fright,' she thought. 'He must be completely grossed out to see me when he is feeling better, especially when he doesn't really need me that much anymore…'

"It … it smells good," Snape said trying to recover.

"I'm glad," she smiled, but the smile didn't go to her eyes. "I'll be upstairs."

She confused him. 'Why would she be upset that I thought supper smelled good? She should be glad to be rid of me? … Maybe she's not.'

He began to eat while he was thinking, 'But she has to wean.' Then it dawned on him, 'She needs me now more than I need her. Doesn't she know?' Just as quickly he answered his own question, 'How could she know, Snape? You didn't even know.'

'Get a hold of yourself, man; you can't play the middle with her in tow. You need to cut her loose.' He thought the thoughts, but everything within him denied its necessity.

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