A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you for the awesome reviews. I think I got almost all of them answered, if I haven't responded yet, I will. Thank you for those still adding me to alerts/faves too.
Now, for the next few chapters you really need to pay attention to the date at the top of the chapter. I will be jumping back and forth between past and present. This one has a bit of both. If you don't see a date (though you should) then its still where ever I left off during the chapter before. I hope there isn't any confusion, but I'll be glad to answer questions if there is. Take care all and Please Read and Review.
Special Thanks: To Kristine Throne, my awesome beta. You've worked hard and I love all the help and support. Thank you so much.
Special Thanks as well: To PandaHeart, for giving this a final look over before I posted it. You did a great job.
Chapter 30
2000-Hermione's return
Hermione didn't know how long she sat there crying. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours. It could have been days.
It felt like days with how scratchy her throat was, how swollen her eyes and nose were. She felt dry and drained. She would have cried longer, but she just didn't have any more tears left.
She lay on the floor where she crumpled upon returning to her time, merely trembling and staring at nothing. She felt empty. Her heart was broken and nothing would fix it.
They were gone. He was gone.
She didn't care if she ever moved again either. She didn't feel the need to get up. Didn't feel like she needed to do anything but lie there.
What was the point? She wondered. She was alone. Sure, she still had Harry and Ron. Ginny and the Weasley's. Had Remus and Minerva. A few other friends as well. Like Luna and Neville. But even with them, she felt like she had nothing at all.
Neville and Luna were bound to marry after graduation. They had been inseparable since the end of the war. Ginny and Harry would marry too. Ron would probably do something stupid like marry Lavender. Remus…she shrugged she didn't know what Remus would do other than teach here at Hogwarts.
But everyone had a life. Everyone had already moved on from the war. Something she just hadn't been able to do before. Not until going back. Not until Severus. Now…now she was back where she started.
Only it was worse now. Now she was truly broken.
Hermione lay there for so long that her side started to ache from the unforgiving stone floor. It was the only reason that the thought of moving even entered her brain.
Sitting up slowly, her head started to spin due to her sobs having drained her so much. She saw a small puddle from her tears. She didn't think she had ever seen tears leave an actual puddle before. It made her wonder if she had just cried that hard with so many tears.
Probably. She thought dully.
She sat for a moment before pulling herself up and standing up straight. Her time turner swung gently from the movements and drew her gaze.
It would be so easy. So easy to spin the time turner back so she could just be with him. Say to hell with the time line and do whatever she had to so she could be with him.
But even as she stared at the necklace, she couldn't make herself reach for it. If she did…her reasons for leaving would have been pointless. She would have disrupted the time line and it could have serious repercussions.
If she did anything to change the past any more than she already did, her world would probably be lost. Voldemort would probably have won. She couldn't risk that.
Instead, she pulled her gaze from the timepiece after slipping it inside her school robes. She would give it to Minerva. Then, she was leaving. She didn't care about finishing her school year. She didn't care about her N.E.W.T.S.
She couldn't just go about her days like nothing had changed or happened, because it had. She had changed too.
There was no way she could wander these halls and not think of him. He was everywhere at Hogwarts. Having been both a student and professor here, he was ingrained in the school and in her memories.
She would walk down a corridor and remember him with her during his seventh year. She would go down by Black Lake and remember sitting with him there too. If she went to her potions class, she would end up in tears as she listened to the atrocious new teacher droning on about a lesson that Severus had already taught them before. Taught much better too.
No. She had to leave. Maybe she would come back after her wounds had healed somewhat and take her NEWTS. But for now…she just couldn't find it in herself to care.
But first, she had to give Minerva the time turner. That way she wouldn't be tempted to go back to him if the ache became too much for her to handle.
With heavy footsteps, she slowly made her way out of the Room of Requirement. She didn't bother trying to hide her tears. She didn't remove any traces of them like she would have before. She didn't care if people saw them.
She was halfway to the gargoyle statue when something she saw made her pause. She was looking at herself. She saw herself walking down a hallway right towards her.
Her brain might be a little sluggish due to her tears. She might not care about a lot of things right at that moment. But she remembered Dumbledore's warning about seeing yourself and that it could drive even the strongest minded wizard insane.
Though she never fully understood how that could be. She had been using the time turner for a long time now. Hermione figured that if she saw a duplicate of herself, she'd know it was due having used the time turner and move on. No big deal.
But still, with Dumbledore's warning in her mind, she quickly disillusioned herself and slipped into a shadow. Watching herself walk by with her nose in a book.
Obviously Hermione came back from nineteen seventy-eight too early. But the question was, how early?
Hermione had a sudden urge to call out to herself. To warn herself about Harry and Ron knocking into her. Thinking that if her past self didn't travel back to the seventies, maybe she wouldn't be in so much pain now.
She would never travel back. She would never fall in love with Severus. Then, she wouldn't feel so broken now.
Hermione opened her mouth. Ready to call out as the Hermione from her past walked by her, not even noticing anything amiss.
She drew in a breath to speak, and stopped.
I would never fall in love with Severus. Do I really want that? She wondered. Am I really willing to give up everything I had with him just so I wont be sad? Am I willing to take those months away from us both? He was happy when I was with him. He was never happy before. Can I really do that to him?
She knew the answer to that and closed her lips again. She couldn't take anything from Severus. She couldn't give up her time with him either. Heartbroken or not…at least she'd had some part of him briefly.
Saw something that she was sure no one had ever seen before. She had seen him smile. Seen him laugh. She saw the kindness he was capable of. The goodness. The tenderness. She couldn't give any of that up. She wouldn't.
Still hiding in the shadows, Hermione watched her slightly younger self walk down the hallway. Silently wishing the young woman luck in her upcoming travels.
When it was safe to move, she went back to walking to see Minerva. She might not be willing to give Severus up, even if all she had were memories now, but she still had to get rid of the time turner. She couldn't trust herself with it any longer.
At the statue, Hermione tried to remember what the password had been. It wasn't candy like Dumbledore's. Minerva had gone with something else. What was it?
She knew it was something pertaining to quidditch. The woman loved her quidditch matches. But since Hermione didn't know when it was exactly, she couldn't even begin to guess the password.
What the hell? It's worth a shot. She thought. Then, spoke the password Dumbledore had put in place just for her while she was still in the seventies.
To her complete surprise, the gargoyle started to move. It still worked. Though she hadn't a clue on why it would. Surely Dumbledore had changed or removed it after she left. If not, Minerva would have gotten rid of it when she became Headmistress.
But apparently neither had done so. They had left it for her.
She wondered if they left it in place for when she returned. Figuring that she might not know the password with how long she had been gone. Or in case it had somehow changed with her travels.
She slowly made her way up the spiral staircase. Pausing outside the door as she thought of the last time she stood at this door—just hours ago. It had been one the most horrible moments of her life.
Now she felt nothing. She still felt empty.
With a small sigh, she raised her hand and knocked. When she was bid to enter, she opened the door and walked inside.
Minerva was sitting at her desk, Dumbledore's old desk, while writing. It was strange to see her there after having seen Dumbledore sitting there for so many months.
The older woman glanced up briefly before going back to her writing, though she spoke. "Hermione, what brings you by my office?"
Hermione stood there simply staring. Minerva looked so old now in comparison to what she had just left. She understood that over twenty years had passed and that Minerva didn't look any different than she had before she left to go back to the seventies, but it was still a shock to her system.
When Hermione didn't say anything, didn't move any farther into the room, Minerva looked up from her writing. Curious as to why the young girl was just standing there.
That was when she really took in the younger woman's face. Saw how red and swollen it was. Saw the tear tracks down her cheeks.
Startled, Minerva stood. "Child, what's wrong? What's happened?"
Hermione continued to stare. Almost confused by her question. What's wrong? What's happened? Everything. Doesn't Minerva understand just how broken I am?
Confused still, Hermione said the only thing she could think of. "Pardon?"
Minerva moved around the desk over to Hermione. Took the young woman's chilled hands in her wrinkled ones. "Dear, what's happened? Is it Harry? Has something happened to Potter or Weasley?"
Hermione frowned, even more confused. How would I know? She hadn't seen them in months.
For some reason, it didn't even click in Hermione's mind that Minerva had no clue that she was not the Hermione from this time, the one that had walked by her in the hallways, but the one that had returned from the past.
"I don't know. I haven't seen them. I only came to give you this." Hermione said blankly. Pulling one of her hands away from the Headmistress to take off the time turner and holding it out for the woman to take.
Minerva frowned as she stared at the necklace. "But you were just with them a few hours ago in the Great Hall during lunch. What do you mean you haven't seen them? And why are you giving me this? You need it for your…" That was when she saw the ring on Hermione's right hand that held the necklace. The one she knew that Severus had given her so many years ago.
Understanding dawned on the older woman's face. "Oh…Hermione." She said softly, before enveloping the young woman in her arms. "You're back."
Hermione leaned stiffly against the older woman for only a moment before giving in and collapsing into a new round of tears. She didn't think she had anymore left in her, but apparently she did.
Minerva held the young girl in her arms as her sobbed out her grief. Knowing why she was crying. "My dear, I have so much to tell you."
Hermione sniffed as tears still leaked down her cheeks. "Me too. I'm leaving."
Minerva pulled back slightly. "What? But you just got here. No, you can't go. I need to talk to you."
Hermione pulled completely away. "No. I can't stay. I just wanted to give you this. I don't dare keep it. I might…" She trailed off as Minerva stood dumbfounded.
Hermione sniffed again before going on. "I need you to take it. Take it and either keep it or destroy it. I don't care, but take it. I have to go. I'm sorry." Hermione all but shoved the necklace at Minerva, who took it looking slightly dumbfounded.
She started to leave, but Minerva grabbed her arm firmly, but gently. "My dear, please just listen to what I have to tell you. If you still want to go, then, by all means go. But listen first."
Hermione nodded. "Okay, I'll listen. But it wont change anything."
Minerva smiled softly. "It might. Now come and sit down."
She led the young girl to a seat in front of her desk before taking her own again. With a wave of her wand two glasses of Fire Whiskey appeared in front of them. With another wave, all traces of Hermione's tears vanished.
"There that's better." Minerva said gently. "Take a drink first. You look like you need it and I'm sure you'll need it after the story I have to tell you."
Hermione picked up the tumbler of amber liquid and took a small sip. Grimacing as it burned its way down to her stomach. "Okay, tell me."
Minerva took a deep breath. So much had happened. So many things to tell her, but she needed to say a few things first. "My dear, first off, you're early."
Hermione gave a small smile. "I know. I saw myself in the hall earlier and had to hide." She wasn't going to tell Minerva that she almost warned herself to stop her from traveling back in time.
Minerva frowned slightly. "So…the other you didn't see you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. I disillusioned myself and hid in a shadow. I didn't even know I was there."
Both women paused as they realized how odd that sounded. Hermione smirked slightly and shrugged.
Minerva gave her a smile. "Well, if my calculations are right you're about eight days early."
Hermione sighed. "I thought I counted the spins correctly, but if you give me the necklace I'll fix it."
Minerva shook her head. "Let's finish talking first." Thinking Hermione might like having a few days to recoup from her trip. The girl looked utterly exhausted.
Hermione nodded and waited Minerva to go on. Minerva took a breath. "Now…with you being early, we can't have two of you running around the school. So I would suggest you hiding out. I have the perfect place for you to do it too."
Hermione didn't care. She was leaving anyway. She opened her mouth to say as much when she noticed something on Minerva's desk.
A tiny figurine from a muggle fairytale. It looked just like the one she had given Lily for Christmas. It was Little Red, from Little Red Riding Hood. It even held a tiny picnic basket.
Hermione had thought it was cute and a bit funny since Lily was friends with a werewolf. She had chosen it since she hadn't heard of Lily having that one. Harry had told Hermione that Lily had several but never mentioned her having that one.
Minerva realized that Hermione wasn't listening anymore. She was about to get the girl's attention again, when Hermione sat forward in her chair. She lifted her hand and reached out toward Minerva's desk.
Minerva realized what she was reaching for and quickly spoke. "Hermione, don't…" But it was too late.
Hermione had picked up the figurine and with a flash she was gone.
1997- 1998-The year of the final battle.
Minerva quickly sat Severus up. He looked weak, but at least he was breathing. "Severus, can you speak? Talk to me. Are you all right?"
Severus coughed a bit more. Grimacing at the lingering taste of the phoenix tears. He had never tasted them before. Had never heard of someone drinking them before. But they were extremely disgusting. They were salty, bitter, and left a nasty aftertaste in his mouth.
He tried to speak but there was a lump in his throat. Making him cough just a bit more to clear it. "I'm okay." He said, his voice hoarse still from the all the damage to his larynx that he could feel still slowly healing.
Minerva sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin. I was afraid I wouldn't get to you in time."
Severus frowned slightly, his hand at his still damaged, but slowly healing throat. "How did you know I would be here? How did you know to bring any of that with you?" His voice still scratchy but slowly gaining strength as the phoenix tears did their magic and healed him.
Minerva opened her mouth, but heard the sounds of battle outside. "We need to move. Get back to the castle. I'll explain everything in a moment."
She pulled her wand, trying to decide where the best place to take them too. Severus was supposed to be dead so no one could see him right now. Plus, if he was weak, he needed a safe place to be so her hard work wasn't in vain. She didn't need someone coming across him and killing him a second time.
She quickly apparated them to a section of the castle that the battle never touched. An old classroom that was almost forgotten about since it was never used anymore. Easing Severus down onto a desk chair for him to rest.
She knew she didn't have much time. She was still needed for the battle. "I need to make this quick. I knew because Hermione told me."
Severus closed his eyes. She had known about my death. His love for the wild haired woman growing even more.
Minerva saw him close his eyes. "Severus you have to listen. I have to go soon. There is still a war going on and I'm still needed."
Severus opened his eyes and went to stand. "Where's my wand? I need to…"
Minerva cut him off. "No. You are staying here."
Severus glared. "Like hell I am. You all need me out there. Hermione needs me. I have to…"
Minerva cut him off again, only serving to annoy him more. He hated people cutting him off when he was talking. "You have to stay here."
Severus opened his mouth to argue but Minerva just kept talking. "Severus, I don't have time to argue with you. You are weak. How much help do you think you'll really be? I went through a hell of a lot of trouble to save your arse so I'm not letting you get yourself killed. Again, I might add."
"But Hermione needs me. I can't let her fight on her own." Severus argued as he forced his body to let him stand. He weaved a bit on his feet, but grit his teeth and forced his legs to steady.
Minerva sighed. "If you go out there, you might just get her killed."
That made him stop. "What?"
Minerva glared at him for making her waste time in explaining. "Severus, you're supposed to be dead. I've seen her memories of this battle and she is just fine without you. If you go out there, not only will you get yourself killed in your weakened state, but also you'll change the time line that we all fought to keep in place. Hermione left to keep it in place."
She took a breath. "If you change the time line you might just get her killed instead. Do you want that?"
Severus ground his teeth in frustration. He couldn't just stay behind, but he couldn't endanger the woman he loved either. "You know I don't want to risk getting her killed. I've done all of this for her. I've done my best to keep her safe over the years." Rubbing again at still raw throat.
Minerva took his hand. "I know. That is why you have to stay here, out of the way. I'll be back to explain the rest of the plan to you."
She made to leave, but Severus held her hand firmly. "How can you expect me to sit here without knowing what is even going on? I can't just be useless Minerva."
Minerva knew she didn't have time to explain right now. But she had an idea. She flicked her wand and a stone bowl appeared out thin air. Next, a small rack of vials appeared too.
She placed everything on the dusty desk beside Severus. "Here. These are Hermione's memories on everything that happened. Watch these. It will give you a chance to see what has happened and what is happening outside. But you have to stay here. You can't be seen and you can't help. You've done more than enough already Severus. But for now you have to stay here. If you don't…I don't know what will happen. But I can tell you that it won't be good if anyone sees you."
She saw Severus wasn't happy about staying and looked like he was going to argue more. "Don't risk changing anything because you're stubborn. Don't risk her life because you want to keep her safe. You can keep her safe by staying here. She survives this war. But if you change it…"
Severus growled, though it made his throat ache to do so. "I understand Minerva. I don't like it, but I understand. I'll stay here."
Minerva nodded and turned to leave. Severus watching her reach for the door and called out. "Minerva."
When she turned to look at him, he sighed. "Thank you for saving me. I would have died without you."
Minerva gave him a small smile. "Thank Hermione. She loved you enough to share her memories. She begged Dumbledore to help her save everyone. She showed me so I could help her figure out a way to save you all."
Severus swallowed down the lump in his throat at hearing all of this. "But you saved me too. You gave me the phoenix tears."
Minerva nodded. "Your welcome. Now stay and watch those. Some of those are my memories and Dumbledore's memories too. It'll fill you on everything. I have to go. I'll be back. Don't let anyone see you."
Then, she was gone. He heard wards going up and knew she had locked him inside the dusty old room. Damn witch doesn't trust me to stay put. But she was right. He was weak. He wasn't up to fighting anyone. He could barely stand.
He hated knowing that all that fighting was going on and that he couldn't be apart of it. Hated that he was too weak to help in any case. But he wouldn't risk Hermione in any way. If Minerva was right, she had saved him. Again.
He owed her a lot. More than he had ever owed anyone. She had done nothing but save him time after time. During his seventh year, and now again.
He picked up the first vial and poured it into the stone bowl. Seeing it swirling inside, he took a breath and let the memory suck him in.
He saw many things, like her first year. Most of which he skipped over before pulling out of it. He knew all about her first year already.
He dived into the next vial. Her second year. Again he skipped over most of it. Learning a few things that made him again want to strangle her, but pulled out of it quickly as well.
Same with her third year. He saw himself in the ugly green dress and grimaced. Skimming over most of it again. However, even though he knew how it turned out, he still felt his chest clench when Remus in wolf form almost killed both Harry and Hermione before Buckbeak saved them.
He skipped her fourth year completely after seeing what it was. Her fifth year made him pause for a moment. Seeing her create the protean charm was impressive as he skimmed over most it.
Her sixth year made him sigh. She had seen him strike down Dumbledore. He didn't know how she had seen it first hand. As far as he knew, only Potter had been present. He still found it hard to believe that she still forgave him and loved him after what he had done.
He pulled another vial but this one turned out to be Minerva's memory. It was the memory of Hermione talking to Minerva the day after she gave the woman her memories. Hermione looked terrible, like she hadn't really slept and had done nothing but cry.
He saw them discussing how everything was too intertwined to save anyone. Heard that if they did save anyone, how it would cause problems with the time line.
He swallowed as he saw them discussing his attack by Nagini and his death like she remembered it. He was impressed by her knowledge, though he didn't know why he was surprised at all.
She knew so much, about so many things, why not this too? He thought to himself.
"I…I know he didn't look like he wasn't breathing or anything…but…I felt it. I felt that he wasn't dead yet. I felt just a hint of life still in him. I can't explain it either." Hermione said.
Severus frowned as he pondered her words in the memory. He wondered if she had really felt it or if in the heat of the moment it was just…her way of coping with it all.
Hearing the sadness and hopelessness in her voice as she told Minerva that it was impossible tore at him.
He watched her explain why Minerva had to pull her memories. Explaining that the knowledge they both had was why she couldn't stay herself. Though she was desperate to do so.
He smiled as he watched them arguing on when Minerva could see the vial holding the memories of the war. Hermione was very clever.
He paused to pay close attention when he heard Minerva ask if Hermione was going to tell him anything before she left. He had wondered if she ever thought of telling him. But then he saw in her eyes how much she wanted to warn him, heard her explain how much she wanted to.
I should have never doubted her. He thought with a shake of his head.
He couldn't believe that she thought he might hate her when he heard her say it. He could never hate her. Not even when she had been gone from his life before her first year at Hogwarts had he ever hated her.
But it was her next words that made him freeze. Made him pay extra close attention to what was said.
"Had I known he lived…it would have changed this too."
Hermione dug her fingers through her hair. "If I wasn't as warped as I am from the stupid war and so many lost lives, I might not have been like I was. I wouldn't have been in my dorm room that night. I wouldn't have pushed my friends and boyfriend away, not caring about anything but my studies, as boring as they were. I wouldn't have missed my meals like I had been. I wouldn't have been about to use my time turner. I wouldn't have been sent back here."
Seeing that part of the memory, he realized why Minerva shoved him in here. Not just because he was weak. Not just because he could get Hermione killed. Though both of those were huge factors in it.
She shoved him in here to preserve the time line. If Hermione knew he lived, she might not go back to his seventh year. If she hadn't gone back…she wouldn't have fallen in love with him. Nor he with her. Then, there wouldn't be any memories, and Severus would be dead.
Not only would he have to hide out now during the battle. He would have to stay presumed dead until after Hermione came back. He wouldn't even get to be around her until she came back either. He at least had been able to see her on a daily basis before this year.
When the memory ended, he pulled another vial with a sigh as what all of this meant weighed on his shoulders. He pushed it away for now. He could think about it later.
He watched memories of her seventh year. Saw her struggles as she and her friends searched for the pieces of the Dark Lords soul. He had heard things here and there throughout the year; mostly he just feared for her safety.
His heart ached for all she had been through while on her hunt. He cursed at the moronic Weasley for abandoning his friends due to his jealousy. His fist clenched at seeing the redheaded bastard leaving her without a backward glance. For hurting her and making it even more dangerous for the remaining pair.
He ached at seeing how hard it was for her during her hunt. Her fear, her hunger. He understood much about her already with what she had seen and faced over the years. But this just made things clearer for him. Made his love and admiration grow at seeing her deal with all the trials she faced.
When Weasley came back, he couldn't find it in himself to feel any gratitude. The moron shouldn't have left to begin with.
Then, he felt the air back into his lungs. They were caught. Captured and taken to Malfoy Manor. He had heard something about it, had feared for her, but…he didn't know all the details.
The only reason he hadn't gone storming in to rescue her was due to her letter; telling him that no matter what he saw, what he heard, or even what he had to witness, not to help her. Not to step in to save her in any way. It had to happen. She would be fine in the end. He had thought that meant that she was unharmed during her capture.
The memory of her capture sucked him in deeper.
The memory was a bit fuzzy at first, but then it started to clear. Bellatrix yelled at the other Death Eaters in the house. Three young students were tied together. Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Severus felt fear racing through him. Bella had her, and he knew exactly how sadistic the woman truly was.
Narcissa hesitated, and then addressed Greyback. "Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback."
"Wait," said Bellatrix sharply. "All except...except for the Mudblood."
"No!" Ron shouted.
Severus whispered the exact same word, at the exact same time as Weasley.
"You can have me, take me." Ron shouted again.
Bella hit him across the face. "If she dies under my questioning, I'll take you next. Blood traitor is next to Mudblood in my book" She said glaring at Ron.
Hermione was cut loose from the other two boys by Bella. She was dragged by the hair into the middle of the room and dropped on the floor. Hermione slowly stood when no one did anything but stare at her. She was shaking slightly, but still held her chin high. It was evident in her eyes that she had an idea of what was coming. She knew that in only a matter of moments she could be meeting her death. Still, she still held herself proud.
The sight made Severus proud of her courage. He had always known she had plenty of it, but this was more than even he knew she was capable of.
Bella circled her, studying the young woman. A sudden smirk crossed Bella's lips.
Severus wanted to call out, to warn Hermione, but knew it would be no good. This had already happened. This was only a memory.
"Crucio!" The mad woman shouted.
Hermione's legs buckled on her and she screamed as she hit the floor. The pain was more horrible than anything she had ever imagined.
Bella let up on the curse. "Where did you get this sword?" She asked, showing Hermione the sword that the trio had done their best to keep safe.
Hermione didn't answer, making the woman smile and shout the torture curse again. Hermione screamed and writhed on the floor. Bella put more anger into this one so it seemed that it had hurt much more than before.
Severus was clenching his fists as he watched. His breathing shallow as he witnessed the woman he loved being tortured so hatefully. He had been tortured himself before by Bella, he knew that woman could make the curse hurt worse than any other Death Eater he'd ever met. Only the Dark Lord rivaled her with the curse.
Severus felt like he had been watching the torture for hours, but knew it was minutes only before Bella stopped.
Bellatrix looked down at Hermione. "I'm going to ask you again. Where did you get this sword?"
Hermione was gasping for air. Her body was on fire. "We found it." She panted out. "We found it." She said again. Seeing the look in Bella's eyes, Hermione knew she was to be tortured again.
"PLEASE!" Hermione screamed.
The word having no effect on Bellatrix, but it sliced into Severus' heart.
Bella sent another round of the curse at Hermione.
Severus wanted to look away. He couldn't take seeing her in such agony. But he kept watching; knowing that if she was brave enough to withstand the pain, then he could stand watching.
Severus heard the shouts of her friends. Heard them calling her name as they heard her screaming. His short nails were digging into his palms as Hermione screamed again and again in pain as Bella continued to torture her.
"You are lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth!" Bella shouted at Hermione who was panting and on the floor.
When Hermione didn't answer fast enough, Bella shrieked "Crucio" once again. Hermione let out another scream of pain but still didn't say anything.
"What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I'll run you though with this knife!" Bella showed a sharp and curving blade.
The sight of it made Severus start to sweat knowing Bella meant what she said.
"I already told you. We found it. We haven't been in your vault." Hermione gasped out.
Bella let out a maniacal laugh. She bent down to Hermione, who was still on the floor. She moved quickly, and slashed several times down Hermione's forearm. Hermione cringed at the cuts, but after the torturing curses, the pain of the cuts wasn't that bad in comparison.
Severus winced at each cut he saw. He had always wondered how Hermione had gotten so many scars. Had wondered if he'd ever know. Well, he knew now where they'd come from. He was sure not all of them came from this moment in Hermione's life, but he was positive several of them did.
Bella sliced at her thighs and calves several times too. Drawing more and more blood when Hermione didn't answer the way she wanted her to.
"You will tell me, Mudblood. If you don't, I will slice you into tiny little bits. My knife is sharp now, but eventually it will get dull and the pain will be worse." Bella purred into her ear.
Hermione was on her side now in pain. Bella smirked and reached out and drew the blade down from just under her breast. Slicing not only into Hermione's shirt, but her skin as well. The blade curved down her side, to wrap around towards her back, where Bella dug the tip in just a bit more before pulling the blade from Hermione's body. Hermione bit her lip in pain but didn't scream as the blood leaked out of that wound too.
Severus knew in that moment that if he ever came across Bellatrix Lestrange again, he would kill her. Not only kill the woman, but he'd make sure it was a slow and painful death.
He had always wondered where that scar came from as well, but to see it happen, to see the agony in Hermione's eyes as she was slowly carved like a Sunday dinner roast was almost too much.
Bella cursed when Hermione didn't scream. Then, with a shrug, she stood and used her wand to torture the girl once again. Hermione's screams were echoing around the room.
Severus felt his stomach churning at the sights and sounds. He wasn't sure he could stand to witness much more. But he would. He had to see what she had been through. If she could take it, then so could he.
"How did you get into my vault? Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?" Bella shouted once again, her hair flying wildly around her.
Hermione had tears leaking down her cheeks. "We only met him tonight!" She sobbed out. "We've never been inside your vault."
Severus saw a flicker in Hermione's eyes before she spoke again. He knew that look. He had seen it many times in his past while in his seventh year. She was about to lie.
"It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!" She said, still sobbing.
Bella narrowed her eyes. "A copy? Oh, a likely story!"
"But one we can find out easily." Came Lucius's voice. "Draco, go fetch the goblin, he can tell us if the sword is real or not."
Hermione was tortured again as they waited for Draco to come back.
Severus felt bile rising in his newly healed throat as he watched her screaming in agony. He wished there was something he could do. Wished he had done more when he heard of her capture. But he hadn't known she was tortured, he had thought she was unharmed due to her letters saying she'd be fine.
The rest was a bit blurred as Hermione was starting to fade in and out of consciousness. Severus barely heard Griphook say the sword was fake before Bella cackled, pleased to learn it wasn't the real sword. Severus vaguely heard Bella say she was now calling the Dark Lord and felt his heart speed up. He knew that she survived this encounter, but he still feared what the Dark Lord would do to her.
Bellatrix glanced at Hermione's still, bleeding form. "I think we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her.
Severus felt more fear than he'd ever known fill him at hearing Bella's words. What would Greyback do to her? No, what had Greyback done to her? He thought as more bead of sweat ran down his skin as he watched.
There was a scuffle and suddenly Hermione was lifted into Bella's arms as her friends came into the room. Lucius was Stupified and the others shot spells at her friends who came to rescue Hermione.
Hermione looked unconscious but if he was seeing this, then she was still somewhat awake.
"Stop or she dies!" Bella shrieked as she held the same silver blade that had a little of Hermione's blood still on it, to Hermione's throat.
Severus moved to help her automatically, but his fingers passed through the hand that held Bella's knife, remembering suddenly that this was only a memory. He cursed and was forced to merely watch once again.
"Drop your wands." Bella said. "Drop them, or we'll see just how filthy her blood really is!" Bella pressed the knife deeper against Hermione's throat. The blade leaving a tiny slice in the sensitive flesh on Hermione's neck.
Bella grinned towards Greyback. "Take the filthy little Mudblood."
Her words making Severus growl in anger as more sweat beaded and ran down his back with his fear.
Suddenly, the chandelier creaked. Then, it came crashing down as Bella flung herself out of the way, dropping Hermione in the process. It landed with a loud crashing sound on top of Hermione and the goblin.
Severus winced at the sight of the heavy thing hitting Hermione after all she had been through already. He saw her clothes covered in blood from the cuts Bella had given her and she wasn't moving at all.
Ron quickly pulled Hermione out of the wreckage and apparated away with her. The memory was gone.
Hermione had obviously passed out at this point.
Severus was trembling in the aftermath of the memory as he sat at the desk in the dirty old room. She had suffered so much and never once asked him to intervene and help her. She was willing to live through it again simply to keep the time line in place. She was more brave and courageous than he ever knew.
He couldn't understand how she couldn't see her inner strength. She had told him that she wasn't as strong as everyone thought she was. But she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. Stronger than even he had known her to be.
He took a moment for his heart rate and breathing to settle before moving on to the next memory vial.
A/N: Okay that chapter got a little intense and there is still more to come as Severus watches more of her memories. I'm sorry if anyone didn't like that chapter but a large chunk did come from the book. I only changed a few things here and there. Okay, I changed a lot. But most of the torture came from the book. I just explained what the book only hinted at.
Please leave me your thoughts. More coming soon, take care everyone.