AN JK as Always no monies Harry Potter hers alone. I write for enjoyment. We learn more of Slightly and torture and hint of rape involved. Parents you are warned.
Chapt 9 Loyalties.
Severus sat on a fallen log after leaving Fireinze deep in thought. Finding Slightly was unexpected and complicated things. If Slightly did not report in a few days, Voldemort would be concerned. And when Voldemort became concerned he would be called in for something more than reporting mundane school details. He would be tied down, tortured, and when weakened, Voldemort woud force himself into his mind and learn everything, leaving him drooling with no mind. He might be killed, or maybe not. Left alive until he found Hermione and drug her in to gloat before doing Gods now what.
He could not let that happen.
Moving deeper into the forest, he moved to the Herd. Despite never meeting them again, he always sensed where they were due to the Pact he gained with them when he saved Bane's Queen and son long ago.
He heard a soft snort and turned around quickly finding a young Centaur holding a bow pulled back. "You should have come with Fireinze Brother."
"Fireinze told you what happened. I had to take care of a few things."
The Centaur snorted and put away his bow. "Follow me."
Severus followed and soon was lead into a clearing and found the entire hear standing at the edge of the clearing with Bane, his Seers, and Fireinze.
"I brought our Brother Father."
Bane chuckled. "No need to be so formal my Son. The man standing beside you saved your life as well as my Queens.
So this was Munir. The light of the full moon was bright in the clearing and the young Centaur's coat still shone in the moon.
"I see I named you correctly Munir and you still glow in the moonlight." Severus murmured.
Munir observed the wizard. "Our Bards speak of you as a powerful man in your world. Man who was able to save those greater than him."
Bane glared making sure the Wizard understood.
Severus held back a chuckle listening to the young stallion. Seemed like the young, no matter what race acted a certain way. "Young Prince, the stars called me and I could not defy them or the great king of the Herd. Though I am a small man compared to your father, he was gracious to allow one of my…." Glancing at Bane standing behind his son. "status to join your Herd."
"Enough!" Bane shouted out. "You have seen our Brother return to the Herd and I will find out why we are protecting his stallion and mare."
Severus watched the mares and stallions leave. "Come Brother for a walk and tell me why I have a mare and a stallion under my safe-keeping that is not from your loins as the Pact dictates."
They melted into the forest walking side by side.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Sebastion knew he could not allow Slightly anywhere near his mother. Father told him of many abandoned safe-houses left over from the previous war and he went to one far away. It was the one they decided to use if anything unexpected happened.
He dropped Slightly to the ground and heard a grunt. Pointing his wand he growled out "Langlock" So the assassin could not use silent magic. The wrapped wizard began to struggle, the silk web holding him tight began to loosen.
Sebastion noticed and soon the wizard was tied in magical rope.
Conjuring a chair, the young man sat down and watched the Assassin, taking a moment to tuck his free hand in his pocket and turned a coin.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus watched Bane after he finished his story and knew the large Centuar was mad and unexpectedly accepting of the news at the same time.
"What you would equate to a Great-Great Grandfather told the Seers hundreds of years ago. The witch Erin even visited us so she is not unknown. The spiral of Mars fallen begins." Bane snorted and growled at the same time.
Bane trotted and Severus followed him back into the clearing. Music was heard drifting from the forest. "The Bards are creating a tale of your return. Our history is repeated through the Bard's Lyre and not written. It sounds joyful but it will not be when I tell Glane the reason of your return."
Bane looked to the stars. "Some are coming into alignment and that means strife, pulling and pushing against one another." Bane whinnied softly, almost sad for one so fearless and caught Severus's obsidian eyes. "Long ago you told me that the stars, which is Fate for Man did not apply to you. I think you will find that different now. My Herd is yours when the time comes."
Severus watched Bane leave and felt burning in his pocket. Pulling out the coin he read the message and felt relief. Clever boy he thought, thinking a moment of destination and Apparated away with a turn of his heel.
Severus observed the door to a run-shack and waited a long moment before walking to the door and sounded a complicated series of knocks.
The door opened and Sebastion looked to his father in relief. "I was going to take him to the cottage but I felt uncomfortable with him being there with Mum."
Severus hugged his son for a brief moment and let go. "You have no idea how wrong that would have been." Telling him his thoughts while meeting with Bane.
"Keep your wand pointed at Slightly for he is the most dangerous wizard you have ever met face to face." Severus growled out.
They entered the room and Severus pointed his wand releasing the ropes but kept the Langlock in place. "Slightly what a surprise to see you strolling in the Forbidden Forest this evening." Grabbing the Assassin's wrist and placing a copper bracelet on it before releasing it and watched the wizard struggle to talk.
Sebastion kept his wand pointed and watched his father flick his wrist and listened to the assassin shout angrily. "You impede the command of our Lord Severus! I will tell him and well watch with pleasure and beg for me to make the first cut!"
"I do not think that would be a wise threat to one who holds a Life debt over you. The copper bracelet null your magic. Provided to me by Our Lord to quell certain unruly students." Severus smirked. "You have no power here Slightly. I hold the power over your life or death."
"Traitor!" Slightly snarled.
"No Slightly. I was forced into this after you found me alive fortunate that I saved you." Severus drily remarked. "Why were you in the forest tonight?"
The Assassin remained silent and Severus easily picked up the pocked man and caught his eyes and soon into his mind.
His memories covered two centuries just like his and Hermione's. He was maain piece in the past. The question was could he trust him.
Slightly's eyes narrowed and he smirked. "Find something in there that disturbs you?"
"Tell me about Julia. You've used her." Severus murmured and watched Slightly stand up in anger.
"Only little things Snape! I could have given everything away at any time but your wife begged me not to. She gave me this to prove should I meet you at the end of your wand." Pulling a ring out of his pocket and held it out.
Severus snatched it and turned it over, examining it closely. The ring was Hermione's wedding band. He dropped the wizard and moved away. The memories in the Pensieve were that Slightly turned. Slightly was with Voldemort.
Severus conjured two chairs and sat on one still holding his wand and another holding the wedding ring tight. "Explain how you came about this. I will know if you are telling the truth."
"Promise you will not kill me!" Slightly snarled back.
"I will…for now so speak as that is the best you'll get out of me."
Slightly sat in the empty chair across from him. "I think I was as confused as you, remembering the alternate pasts and all of the outcomes." Noting Severus's momentarily look of confusion.
"Okay, so you do not remember her deaths until she showed you her memories." Hastily continuing when he saw the wand in Severus's hand shake for a moment.
"I remember all of her deaths because I was the one that killed her every time." Slightly spoke and watched the wand held more to him.
"Severus if you want me to continue, give your wand to your son! I would hate to be killed before I finished my tale."
"You know of…" Severus snarled out and stopped. Hermione kept details to herself. He held his wand hilt first to his son. "Take it."
"Father! No!" Sebastion shouted.
"Take my wand Sebastion. You mother has held things away from us for a reason. Kill him if he as much as blinks."
"That's better. Gods I wish I had Firewhiskey for this." Slightly muttered.
Severus growled and Slightly held out his hands in retreat. "Okay, Firewhiskey later."
"I remember every time I killed her but none would be as horrific as the last time."
Slightly dragged Hermione, using the shackles on the restrained witch's hand, stilling her struggle with a slap to the face knocking the witch unconscious and brought her before Voldemort. "My Lord, the missing witch returned and I found her." Slinging the naked witch towards the throne and stepped on her to keep her down. You see by her state that I have….questioned her and she revealed nothing."
Voldemort leaned forward and held his hand, chuckling when the witch moved to get away and knocked down by his assassin. "Finally you reveal yourself Hermione. Can I call you that?"
The dirty, naked witch remained silent.
"Your husband is in my service and he does not know of your return. Tell me and I will reunite the both as long as you promise service to me."
Hermione remained silent.
"No joyful reunion then? Use the knife Slightly!" Voldemort commanded.
Slighlty immediately replied pulling her naked form to him and allowed he head to rest on his shpulder.
"Remember the ring Slightly." Hermione whispered. "Keep it with you always until you meet Severus just as we discussed."
Voldemort frowned. "What is she whispering to you Slightly?" He commanded.
The assassin cackled out. "She is begging me for her life and does not want you to hear my Lord."
"Enough! Knife play and make it last!"
"Your will My Lord!" Slightly cackled and lightly sliced the grove of her neck, moving slowly as blood weeped out of the wounds.
Slightly laid the screaming witch on the floor and leaned in, knife point at her stomach. "You tell Snape that I offered numbness potion and I did not touch you though it looks like it and you refused it. Be well in the Veil."
Six hours later Slightly rose, robes covered in blood and kicked the lifeless body of Hermione with his boot. "It is done my Lord."
Voldemort clapped his hand. "You will not tell Severus of his wife's return or demise. Take it away where it will not be found." Ponting at the dead body.
Slightly picked up the bloody body. "Your Will my Lord." He cackled out and left the throne room.
I brought her here barely alive and she wrote a letter in her own blood to you before reminding me again of the ring and commanded I place the letter in a cupboard over there." "Pointing a finger to a set of cupboards to the left. "She demanded that I put her out of her misery and I did so. A bright light flashed out when I slammed my knife in her chest and she disappeared."
"Sebastion!" Severus growled but there was no need as he watched his son fling open the doors and found a blood-stained parchment and held it out to his father.
Severus snatched it and read the letter. Tucking it into his pocket he whirled at the smaller wizard sitting in a chair looking back calmly. "Do I need to Obliviate you?"
"You have my wand Severus." The pocked-marked wizard reminded him and held a hand out.
Severus gave the wand back reluctantly for her letter was very demanding that he should do so.
"I'll tell him I followed a lead long ago because Hermione and Donovan visited the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest and it did not pan out. I continue to search."
Slightly went to leave and found Snape's son blocking him. Severus nodded that the wizard be allowed to live.
Slightly touched the handle of the door. "No doubt you've told Julia how evil I am. Tell her the truth. Bonds be damned but I do everything for her. Everything for a future together with only her."
Sebastion looked to his father.
"Come Sebastion." Motioning his son close to him and held him when the wizard was close enough. "I believe your mother has some questions to answer."
They arrived at the cottage and found Hermione in the large leather chair Severus preferred.
She placed he book she was reading down. "You've met with Slightly and he told you?" She whispered out.
Severus held the bloody letter to her. "No secrets Hermione! I will not be led like this, most of all by my own wife who should know better and remember the past." He growled out.
She rose and took the letter. "Sebastion, go to your room."
Sebastion cursed. "I am of age Mother and not a boy. I have been…"
"Still your words Sebastion. After I explain to your father I will talk to you." Hermione interrupted.
She watched her son go upstairs, hearing the door upstairs in anger.
"Don't blame me Hermione. There is more of you in the boy than me." Sitting in his chair. "Explain!" Holding her ring out to her.
She placed it on her left ring finger. "Tell me what Slightly told you."