Animal Magnetism

Disclaimer: I, sadly, own nothing of the Harry Potter 'Verse. I just like to play with them time to time. Especially Severus.

A/N: I didn't get as many reviews as I would've liked the last couple chapters, but here goes the next one...

Chapter 4

Objects swirled around the medical ward dangerously, air thick with energy. And she was in the grips of hell. She could feel every cell in her body as it slowly, excruciatingly died. The only explanation that made sense. Yet she felt so chilled here and now. Freezing. Rivers of ice sloughed through her veins, crackling and sharply breaking, disseminating through her. Her whole body was throbbing and sore- like she'd gone several rounds with an angry hippogriff. Even the rich Egyptian cotton sheets scratched, seeming as corrosive as sandpaper, every inch of her sensitized beyond belief. Painfully so. Something was coming. Something bad. She could feel it. From inside her.

And there was nothing she could do. She was trapped. And on top of it all, it felt like there were tiny needles prickling all over her… And that something under the surface restlessly clawed to get out as she writhed on the bed, powerless to stop whatever was overtaking her. Her lungs struggled for each breath, which came back out in short pants as if hyperventilating, the sounds rattling in her chest. Her throat was torn from screaming, and she thought somewhere in the back of her head this was how Ron must've felt in his captivity. Trapped in his own body and tortured relentlessly by a monstrous hand. Long, tapered nails dug into the mattress beneath her helplessly, bound by the wrists to [likely] stop her from hurting herself further.

She already, most alarmingly, bled from her pores- though they had found no marks on her when she was brought in from the Lake. Her eyelids fluttered wildly as she fought to free herself from this nightmare and wake up. Her life depended on it, she was sure. Otherwise she would be lost to the fanged demons that haunted her fevered, coma-induced visions. Suddenly her stomach clenched with agonizing pain and the sensation radiated upwards until it felt like something exploded inside her, making her arch off the bed. Her body strained, muscles locked and eyes wide and unseeing. A long, inhuman howl erupted from her, echoing through Hogwarts itself. 'We're in danger.'

The thought echoed from inside her, confusing her. But she didn't question it. Just fought the shadows and the languor as hard as she could. Needed to get up. Needed to help. Needed- "Easy," that silky, sweetly familiar voice murmured in her ear. "I got you. You're safe I won't let anything hurt you." A hand took hers again, pressing warmth into her, making her feel secure, powerful. Yes, he was there now. He'd save her as before. She relaxed. Then the objects that had been orbiting the small bed suddenly fell to the ground and she went limp, dropping back onto the mattress. And she was lost to the world again, mind unreachable.

"You are next," he shouted to the others, brandishing his weapon. Surprisingly they quickly scampered away. How long would they stay gone though? She wondered. They should move on. Instead she continued to stare, wide eyes brimming with something akin to admiration. And gratitude. He'd saved her life yet again. "Come here." She crooked her finger. He hesitated so she closed the distance herself, then gave him a huge hug, experiencing a jolt and hiding her gasp as she breathed in his scent. Delicious. Smiling, she led him to a rock. "Now sit. Let me take care of you." Sighing as she surveyed the gouges all over him, she tore several strips from her already tattered robe and knelt in front of him. Leaning in, she reached up and mopped the apparent blood from his face with one of the strips of cloth, and hoped she was getting it all from her shadow-man.

His delectable scent filled her nose, a midnight breeze that inexplicably reminded her of her home at Hogwarts. And when her fingers slipped from the cloth to brush his smooth, soft skin, he tensed. But as she maintained a steady, casual rhythm in cleaning the scrapes, he gradually relaxed. A rogue part of her wondered how much more she could get away with now. Shaking herself, she mentally chastised it, and switched her attentions to his right arm as she deemed his face free of the red stain. Concentrated on her task to keep from thinking about other things, she didn't notice the shades over him slowly lifting, melting away. Angry claw marks glared at her, and she knew they had to be hurting him. Not by word or deed did he betray it though. No, he actually seemed… more relaxed, blissful even.

"I'm sorry I do not have any medicines to ease your pain, or even my wand." "You have no reason to be sorry. I'm grateful for what you're doing and hope I can be there to repay you in kind someday." She sensed his smile under the sincerity, replying back, "You've saved me a dozen times over, so-" It ended in a gasped as she looked up at him now. His face… It was beautiful. Noble, Romanesque features, a strong jaw line, the hair dark as night [a complement to his pale skin] falling over his face in a rakish look… and ohmygod it was Snape. Only a, dare she say, seemingly softer, more youthful Snape. Finished with her ministrations, she settled her hands in her lap and just stared. She felt silly for being so surprised. He'd even asked her to call him Severus. She'd felt a little weird at that, especially sing it'd rung a disturbing bell, but she'd already chalked up so much to over-active imagination, like Black Lake, so…

Her mind immediately shied away from the aforementioned subject and she let it drop. But she'd noticed similarities in the eyes, the same coal black with the same strong yet stubborn gleam, the mouth that wasn't set in the same disdainful moue but similar enough, the lean build… Not that she'd spent so much time staring at her ex-professor it was easy to compare, that'd be absurd, she was just a very observant person and given how much attention she paid to all her teachers in her pursuit of education… Stuff popped in. And she knew a few other teachers' first names, heard around the halls and such, so yea she had Snape's in the back of her mind somewhere. So therefore she should've listened to her inklings better and not be so stunned.

Constant vigilance, right? Moody would be dreadfully disappointed, were he still alive. Her view now crystal clear, the shadows seeming to embrace him rather than cover and hide his appearance, firelight playing across him teasingly, her surprise was turning into curious scrutiny… which soon became admiration. She'd never realized what an impression figure he was. And, still in the same position she'd been in before, between his legs, she was starting to get ideas. Clearly the impishness lurking in her mind so often since the journey began had overtaken the logic. He did seem to enjoy having her hands on him…"May I ask you a question, Severus?" He nodded hesitantly. "You may do anything you like with me." Had he meant his words to emerge so sensuously? Surely not. Yet butterflies took flight in her belly anyway.

"Are you… do you like me?" He look away from her for a long moment and gave another slow nod. "More than I should," he muttered. Those butterflies morphed into ravens, flapping their dark wings wildly. "Then I'd like very much for you to kiss me." His gaze strayed to her lips, but he stayed where he was. "You are pretty, and strong, but there are rules, Hermione. One does not give into such things." "You admitted you liked me, you saved me at risk to yourself. Do you not find me attractive enough?" Doubt and insecurities entered into her mind, as well as repudiation for her thoughts and being so weak as to ask. That creature on the banks, the one who had looked so like her yet not [better in fact], he might've kissed her. But not plain ol' Hermione, not- Her dastardly thoughts were thankfully interrupted when she heard him shift forward.

As if he had read her mind, his face had gentled from that inscrutable mask with a smile and softly pressed his mouth to hers. "Exquisite," he whispered in the hairsbreadth between them, claiming her lips again more fiercely. She gasped at the taste, warmth tingling over her. Drugging warmth, electric warmth. Her lips parted and he swept his tongue inside. So sweet. Like a snowstorm after a millennium of fire. She agreed. Beyond exquisite. "More," she said aloud. "Deeper. Harder." "Sure?" "More than I've ever been." His tongue dueled with hers, rolling together, retreating then going back for more. She moaned when his teeth scraped her, her arms sliding up his chest- one anchoring around his neck, the other in his soft inky hair. "Like?" she asked. He merely nodded and pulled her closer. "Good. Me too."

Her lush breasts pressed into his chest, her nipples hard. Tremors rocked her, and her muscles tightened against the strain of remaining in her seat. With every touch, every breath her control was further sapped. She yearned suddenly to strip him, climb over him and have him inside her as his tongue was, thrusting and electrifying every cell. 'More, more, more. Have to have more. Have to have all,' something primal and animalistic growled in her mind, scaring her a little. The realization of her actions rocked her and she pulled away. "Demons," she panted, "We have to watch for demons now. And find a way out." Not saying another word, she stalked off, glad to be back on solid ground. It was another two mile trek before they came across something other than red parched desert- a cavern, to be exact.

A two mile trek thinking of nothing but his kiss. And cursing- herself mostly, the curiosity that started it, the fear that ended it. Sticking close to him as he'd advised, she nevertheless stayed quiet, just trooping along. Then taunting laughter and pain-filled cries immediately assaulted her ears. Gulping, her eyes darted about the large area. Had they been seen yet? So many demons… in every shape and size. Some were all bone and scales, some were half-man half-bull. Some were winged like dragons with snouts to match. Yet all of them crowded a stone slab. A moving slab? "Quick, pull your hood up and stick to the shadows," he hissed, moving in front of her protectively. She swiftly did as he ordered, horror claiming her in a bruising grip and nearly crushing her lungs. Humans lay atop the slabs. A few demons were ripping some apart, eating their insides. A few others seemed content on toying with them. Dear gods.

Unfortunately there was no peace for the damned. Only endless torture. Would she have been next up on the menu if not for him? She couldn't breathe. "Over here." He edged them to the side and out of the way, and she knew it was so that they could observe the happenings without drawing notice. "These creatures are minions, soldiers. They should be easy enough to avoid if we're careful." Minions, she knew, who enjoyed eating their prey's agony, their main focus fulfillment of a single, basic need: hunger. Sometimes two hungers at once- for she could see what some of the monsters were doing to their female victims as they fed from them. But better to run into minions than their Lords, who cared only for the agony. Prolonging it, increasing it to the depths of insanity. The more agony they inflicted, the more screams they elicited, the stronger they got. She paid attention in History of Magic. And church, having dutifully gone every Sunday with her mother as a child.

But unknown to either official source, Voldemort had struck a pack with such demons. That had been part of her nightmare/vision. And it had terrified her. It was much worse firsthand. "Something smells good. Like fear…" something suddenly rasped beside Hermione. "Mmm, I'm feeling hungry." Startled, she gasped. 'I've already given myself away?' Severus tried pulling her behind him, but she resisted. Something wanted her to fight, egged her on, sinking its claws deep into her heart so subtly she'd never noticed a change. 'You can't survive down here. Not and retain your sanity and humanity. You are weak. Let me help.' Suddenly that help seemed a lot more appealing, given her companions' injuries and her helplessness in this strange and scary terrain.

"Move away or die," she told the demon with more bravado than she possessed. 'Let me help you. Let me make you strong. Much stronger than them. Help us both.' The voice entreated again, just seeming to get stronger. Maybe this time she wouldn't sink into the background, letting everyone else tackle the physical, letting them take all the risks while she buried her nose in a book. It circled them, lashing out at Severus, who crumpled to his knees with a grimace. "I will kill you." It frowned at her. "You look like me, so you do you smell so good?" It licked its lips, fangs gleaming from the edges of its mouth. Pale, gaunt skin stretched over its bones. And while it appeared lean, she suspected unyielding strength rested in that frame.

A tremor moved her. 'You are the brightest witch of your age. Figure this out!' she screamed inside her head. It stepped closer, over the injured spy. "Taaaaaste." Something snapped in her, fiercely awakening. "You were warned." She said braced herself. The demon continued to inch towards them, claws lengthening. She was part of the Golden Trio; it was past time she acted like it. She didn't have a minute to spare in worry. Defeat would not be theirs. Any moment the creature would cease its stalking and spring. She knew it, felt it. Hermione reached inside herself as she angled her chin to stare deep into its eyes, surprised to find this power so easily accessible. She shouldn't have been surprised. It might've been suppressed before, under her doubts and insecurities and fears, but surely it had always been there?

Already she couldn't remember what it was like to be weak. The raging, churning sea of power in her eyes for all to see. A strange glow about her, she lifted her hands, "Stay," she snarled. The creature locked in place, its mind still active but every part of its physical form now hers to command. She drank in her handiwork- the creature's struggle, and helplessness, apparent in its murderous glare. "Raise your arms up, over your head." Instantly it obeyed, shooting both arms into the air without a word of complaint. But then, she had control over its mouth too. Satisfaction sang through her veins as she saw every demon in the cavern, including the ones several feet away, had frozen in place with their hands in the air. Even the tormented remains of the human souls had stopped writhing. There was no laughter, no cries. Only the sound of her own breathing.

She grinned toothily as Severus's eyes opened in wonder. "Now leave us. Warn all you see that we are out for revenge and all who head this way will intimately know the pain of their victims." Fear flashes in their eyes, and defiance, but within minutes they popped out of site one by one. She made sure, with her swirling golden eyes the image of their impending, gruesome deaths played over and over in their minds. Quick as a snap though, before she could gloat too much on her victory, a sharp pain sliced through her like every organ was being shredded. Holding her hands over her stomach, she just noticed the clawed scratches on her shoulders. "No," she breathed. She'd been touched by the demon. Possibly infected. Pain and shock rained through her like poisoned hail and curled her into a ball, swamped her with dizziness. So weak… Worse than before. Stronger, more aggressive. Dangerous.

Somehow she knew if she gave into this lethargy she would be consumed forever. "Hermione? Hermione! What's wrong?" The image of the professor clambered painfully to his feet, rushing to her. "Hurts," she panted. "Burning. Stabbing pains. Not gonna last long." She was dying, she knew it. "It's ok, I got you," he murmured, sounding so far away. She whimpered, wanting to beg him not to leave but not finding the strength. Finally she got out, "Kiss me?" Once last time. He hesitated and she grabbed him desperately, needing… something. Anything to get her mind off this agony. He instantly pressed against her, solid chest to soft breasts, hands pinning her arms, mouth slamming into hers passionately. His tongue thrust deep and she welcomed him, freeing her arms enough to wind them around his neck and arch into him.

His taste was decadent, wild and burning, like dark spices. His muscles were tensed under her palms. Up she moved them, until her fingers were tangled in his hair. The locks felt smooth as silk as they brushed her skin, causing her to shiver. As anticipated, the pain eased considerably, bodies undulating in ecstasy, twisting together. She hummed in approval. Oh yes, and he was hard. Hard and long and thick. But she really shouldn't be noticing things like that, she told herself. Or how delicious he smelled. Good enough to eat… And she was dreadfully tempted, eyeing his neck as she licked a path along his jaw. She could bite. Right now, and in the throes of pleasure he probably wouldn't even notice, wouldn't miss a few pints of- oh god, what was she thinking?

Biting him? Blood? She wretched away. "Sever-" A boom echoed behind them, sounding as if an explosion had gone down just behind them, rocks crackling and tumbling. "You should go," he shouted over the noise. She nodded her head strongly. "Yes, we need to-" "No, you! I have business left to take care of, you go. Be safe." She was about to interrupt him again but his looked immediately silenced her. "You'll make it back?" He nodded back. "But-" He pushed her towards a glowing portal with one last kiss, to quiet her. "Go." Then the vortex pulled her in, sank around her, and she knew no more. Except that as she fell she felt something cold and dark wrap around her. 'I've been waiting for you…'

A/N: What happens next? Stayed tuned to find out.

Next Chapter: One sharp-nailed hand was raised to strike [the other around their throat] and she looked at him, entirely unfocused yet snarling, fingers sparking with wild magic. Shock and a touch of fear radiated from the tall, gaunt young man as well as hurt. She reveled in it for a moment without recognition of what was happening. "Mione?" he whispered shakily.