"Miss Granger, when you have quite finished prying around my home I have some important things to discuss with you."
At the mention of this Hermione immediately put down the hand cut wine glass she was holding, taking extra care to place it exactly where she had found it. She took to the seat in front of her, still in awe of her surroundings.
The formal dining hall, as Professor Snape had called it, was a long, yet wide room. Inside was a magnificently long carved mahogany wooden table; each chair also individually carved with eccentric designs. The large French windows on the left side of the room let in little light, due to the grand, black, silk curtains that engulfed them. The walls were painted in a ruby like colour, and the room would have seemed dreary, weren't it for the twilight candles scattered about the room; it looked almost gothic.
Severus cleared his throat and Hermione was once again brought back to reality. Still standing he began to pace around the room slowly, until suddenly stopping to face the girl beside him.
" About a month ago the dark lord announced to his most faithful followers of a plan to destroy Potter in another form. He instructed us to capture you, so that he could use your relationship with the boy against Potter. He is confident that Potter will not allow for his friends to be hurt, and so come looking for you; of which the dark lord will be ready for him." He paused. Hermione was yet to say anything.
" Of course I informed Albus of his plan, and it was decided that you should stay here, on the false pretence that I have captured you for the dark lord, whilst also being able to protect you, without compromising my position as a spy." Severus sneered through the last part.
" Lucius is one of the dark lord's most faithful followers. If he suspects anything is wrong, he will report it to my master immediately." He paused again.
"You will do exactly what I say Miss Granger, and you will play along with what ever I say."
Although constructing her argument in her head throughout the whole of his speech, Hermione took this opportunity to speak up.
"And how exactly is one supposed to act when captured by a deatheater." Hermione said with as much spite as she could muster.
"I have warned you before Miss Granger, do not take that tone with me. You will do as I say! I did not ask for this job!" Severus shouted at her.
"Well im so sorry to have been an inconvenience! But it wasn't my fault either…you were the one who dragged me here!" Hermione shouted back.
"Miss Granger I am a man of little patience and a fiery temper! Do not test me!" he screamed at her, now towering over her.
"You will do as I say for the entire evening, you will not speak unless spoken to, and you will act civilly to my guests. They will not treat you with respect Miss Granger. In their vie you are beneath them. But you will not retaliate, do you understand me? As far as they are concerned, you are nothing but a mudblood girl who must be maintained in order to serve the dark lords purposes…oh and my mistress." Severus spoke sternly towards Hermione the whole time, sneering slightly at the last part.
"Your mistress!! There is no way I would touch you!! I would rather be tortured and killed than be with a thing like you!! I will never give up to the likes of you!!" she spat at him.
"Miss Granger, I do not wish to have to use brute force, but if I have to I will use the imperio curse!" he barked at her.
You wouldn't…. Dumbledore would kill you…
"What Dumbledore doesn't know, Miss Granger won't hurt him!"
They both stared at each other; shock, anger and loathing mixed together.
"Master. Guests have arrived." Piped a house elf from around the door.
"Have dinner on the table in 15 minutes eli!" he ordered the elf.
"Shall we Miss Granger" Severus spoke whilst motioning his hands towards the door.
Reluctantly rising, Hermione made her way across the room towards the door…