CHAPTER 29
Pansy was looking at the guest with her eyes wide open. Was she dreaming? Merlin, she hoped so.
"Pansy… I am sorry for dropping in on you like this… But I couldn't think of any other place to go… I am so sorry…"
"That's quite alright, Mrs Snape. We don't mind. Do we, Pans?"
Millicent Bulstrode asked, her voice addressing her roommate to get the girl from staring while getting for Hermione a spare bathrobe and a pair of slippers.
Pansy was starting to get over the shock and was trying to work her vocal cords, without much success. That major headache also wasn't helping. The raven haired girl knew she was being rude, but her surprise was too great to get over quickly. All she could do was look and try to voice out that million and one question that were on the tip of her tongue.
To say that their guest looked frenzied and out of character was the understatement of the century.
The brunette looked dreadful! Her hair a mess, eyes red and puffy, face tear streaked and one lip slightly swollen.
Pansy frowned. 'What is Hermione wearing?' It looked too big for her frame. Was it… a male Pyjama top? Three guesses who's…
She watched as Hermione put on the bathrobe that Millicent gave her and took a deep breath. She needed to keep her cool.
"Accio Anti-Hangover potion!"
A dark blue vial flew into her hand. She needed to clear her head a little. The taste of the potion was as horrible as always. She grimaced. "Yack" 'Now to business.'
"Sit down, Hermione. Want anything to drink?"
The Gryffindor shook her head while sitting by Pansy's bed. The room was unpleasantly silent for a minute. None of the girls knew what to say.
"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"
The two Slytherins jumped a little as Hermione finally broke the silence. Immediately Pansy offered her a towel.
"All the stuff on the right side is mine. You can use anything you like… "
"Thanks, I'll just wash my hands."
"Yeah, sure"
"Could you close the door, please?"
"Sorry…"
Pansy closed the door carefully from the other side.
"Pans!"
"Arg! Gods Millicent, you scared me!"
Pansy Parkinson covered her heart with a hand as she noticed her roommate besides her and hissed.
"What are you doing?"
"I am not doing anything." Her friend hissed back. "Just trying to understand why out Head's wife is in our dorm at five in the morning."
"Good question…"
"What the hell happened?"
"Keep your voice down! How the Hell am I supposed to know? I was here remember? When I saw her last she was just fine."
"Well something had to happen"
"No shit. I'm more worried about why Snape is not looking for her… He is usually after her all the time..."
Millicent froze and stared at pansy for a minute as her mind made the connection.
"No… He wouldn't… I mean… Her?"
"Yes. Her. Did you see her face? How she was dressed? That shirt sure as Hell wasn't hers. And that lip…"
Millicent was still shaking her head.
"No way, He would never do that… At least not to her... What are we going to do?"
"Have no idea. You go to sleep; I'll try to talk to her."
"I don't think that she'll want to talk."
"I know. Most likely, she will be spending the rest of the night here."
"What if Snape is looking for her?"
"Let's just pray he isn't"
"I still think…"
The door opened softly and Millicent fell silent, not finishing the sentence. Her insides turned at the sight. It wasn't like it was bad. Hermione actually looked a little better with her hair combed and face washed. It wasn't that. It was how she tried to look strong. They could almost see the way she was pulling herself together and trying not to break down. Her attempted smile looked more sad than thankful. It was like watching autumn leaves fall. It was sad and depressing, but all you can do is watch and wait.
Both Slytherins averted their eyes from the Gryffindor. They did their best not to stare at her. Millicent cleared her throat.
"Well I think I will go back to sleep"
"You do that, Mills." Millicent glared for a second at Pansy. "I meant Good Night. Sweet dreams… Move already!"
"Good night Millicent. I'm sorry for waking you up… "
"No problem, always glad to see you, Mrs Snape"
Millicent smiled a sincere smile at her Head's wife.
"Good night…"
As Millicent closed the curtains over her bed and there was silence again. Hermione looked around the room. It felt a little weird to be in the Slytherin dorm. It looked much better than she imagined. Still gloomy though. Finally her eyes settled on Pansy. The raven haired girl was watching her closely.
"Sorry..."
Pansy sighed.
"You're saying that too often. It does make one wonder... What are you sorry for?"
"A great many things. Want a list?"
"No. But would I be right in guessing that marrying Him tops the list?"
"Maybe..."
"Yeah... Well, I guess you're staying here."
"If you don't mind..."
"You know I don't. Now I hope you'll be ok with bunking in with me. I could transfigure a bed for you, but we both know I am no good at transfiguration. I will get you a separate blanket and a pillow. Is that ok?"
"Yes, thank you. That'll be great."
"Good."
But the things that were running through Pansy's head were miles away from pillows and blankets and such. She was dying to know what happened. She knew she could simply ask, but Hermione looked like she as about to fall asleep sitting on the chair. Besides it was not in her nature to get directly to the point. Most of the time at least. So many feelings were running rampage within her. Curiosity, anger, pity and sympathy.
I was quite clear what had happened. The question was: how far had it gone? A few angry words? Shouting? Shattered dishes? Bruises? ...
Pansy couldn't imagine Snape in an argument. He always seemed right. Infallible. You said what you thought, he proved you wrong. End of story. Quick clear and uncomplicated.
"Nox."
Pansy listened as Hermione's breathing evened and the Gryffindor fell asleep. It happened fast. Small wonder. She was, and certainly looked exhausted. Half in shock. She was probably hoping that whatever happened was only a dream, a bad, bad dream.
But reality usually proved to be much worse than any nightmares you might have.
If Pansy was honest with herself she wasn't sure if she wanted to know what had happened. She looked at the sleeping form on the other side of the bed and sighed. Sometimes you just had to face the facts, and she would do that… Tomorrow.
The Slytherin girl was dreaming. It was one of those dreams that you can't make sense of. Dungeons, running. She awoke with a jolt and sat up straight in her bed. Cold sweat pouring down her back.
'It's just a dream..." With a relieved breath Pansy plopped back spreading her arms. Her right one connected with something solid.
"Ouch! Pansy, if you want me to get up, just say so."
Pansy jumped out of bed from hearing someone's voice in it. Her mind still fuzzy.
"Who's there?"
Her brain kicked in as soon as she saw the puzzled look on the other girls face.
"Pansy, you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah… Sorry… You scared me a little"
The Gryffindor chuckled softly while trying to comb her hair with her fingers.
"A little? You looked like you were having a heart attack Pansy"
"I did not!"
The Slytherin tried to look as normal as possible. 'That's it girl, project! You're cool, you're calm and you are collected'. Hermione didn't look convinced.
"Whatever…"
She noted that the girl was still holding a hand over her shoulder.
"I hope I didn't hurt you"
"What?"
Hermione followed Pansy's gaze and only now understood what she was doing. She quickly removed the hand, but in doing that she slightly pushed her shirts shoulder down. Pansy gasped and covered her gaping mouth with a palm.
"Oh ... My ... God..."
Hermione's shoulder had an angry looking red and blue hand shaped bruise. The Gryffindor blushed scarlet and tried to cover it up. Only to reveal similar marks on her wrists.
Pansy felt faint as she sat on the edge of the bed with her mouth still covered.
"It's not what it looks like Pansy, honestly!"
Hermione's voice was low and didn't sound at all convincing.
Her eyes were still fixed where she saw the bruise. Feeling sick to her stomach Pansy couldn't talk for a few minutes.
"Did... Did… Did he…?"
Her hands were shaking slightly and she couldn't get the words out.
"No! Gods no… We just… had an argument…"
"You don't say! Your shoulder!... "
Pansy didn't know how to express her outrage. There weren't enough words to describe how she felt.
"What the Hell happened?"
Hermione wrapped her hands around her knees and smiled half heartedly as if laughing at a bad joke.
"I found out why he has been such an ass these last few weeks..."
"And? Don't hold it! I am really having a heart attack here now!"
"He thinks… That I am cheating on him."
"He… What?"
Pansy really didn't expect to hear that.
"You're kidding … Right?"
"Do you see me laughing?"
"What... How... Why?"
"You will not believe it… I still can't wrap my head around it myself…"
"Out with it, come on!"
"Apparently I talked in my sleep," she leaned back against the head board, "I have the shittiest luck on the planet, you know that?" She sighed. "Well... Apparently I said... 'Crooks', and 'kitten' and oh I really don't know. Being the true Head of Slytherin that he is, he just jumped to conclusions."
"Who's Crooks?"
"My cat!"
"I didn't know you have a cat."
"My dead cat. He used to wake me up in the mornings."
"Wait... All that... You mean all that Hell was over a … dead cat? What did Snape say to that?"
"How he was going to find him and… fill in for yourself. He thinks that "Crooks" is a guy. You should have seen him yesterday…"
Hermione pulled the blankets up to her chin and shivered.
"You have no idea… I am afraid to think what might have happened if I hadn't made a run for it"
"So... he didn't… I mean... he didn't…?"
Hermione shook her head.
"If he had I would have run right out of Hogwarts and not just to your rooms. He just… The confrontation didn't go well, that's all I can say."
Pansy bit her lip. He stomach roiling, that it had been her idea… she shuddered.
"I am So sorry. I should never have suggested it... Gods"
"No, no it's not your fault. At least now I know what went wrong."
"What are you going to do?"
"What can I do? Rub the truth in his face and avoid him for as long as possible."
"He will look for you."
"I know"
"You can stay here if you want."
"Thanks"
"Oooor … we could go out."
"Out?"
"Hogsmead weekend. Remember? When was the last time you were out? Last year?"
"Last month"
"How nice. So it's settled. Well… you can't go dressed like this.
Pansy jumped up, it was better to do something.
"Haven't you been paying attention? I can't exactly go back and change"
"Oh, I have enough robes to dress an army... possibly more… So no problem there. But what are you going to do? About Snape?"
"Have you ever heard that one picture is worth a thousand words?"
"In your case there will be a thousand and one"
"I hope so"
"The question is how are you going to do it? You can't go yourself, and I am not suicidal enough to volunteer."
"I will ask for help. I hate to do it. They have far better things to do, but I am desperate… Winky!"
With a soft pop the small house elf appeared.
"Oh Mistress! Winky is happy! Mistress called for Winky and here Winky is"
The Gryffindor smiled at the elf's eagerness. They were all just so cute? But she had no time to dwell on that right now.
"Winky, how are you?"
"Well, Oh Very well Winky is."
"Good to hear that Winky. Now I want you to do something for me."
"Yes! Yes! Oh Yes Please"
Hermione Chuckled as Winky's eyes went wide in delight.
"Ok, now Winky, you know where my old trunk is don't you?"
"Of course Winky is knowing, Winky herself put it there."
"Good. Thank you for that by the way. You did a great job. So... What was I saying? Yes, the trunk… At the bottom of it there is an album. It's bright purple, can't miss it. In the album there are a lot of pictures... I want you to get one for me…"
Pansy nervously looked around as they left the main entrance to the dungeons.
"He is not going to jump out from around the corner Pansy."
Hermione somehow managed to mask her own nervousness as she walked the long corridors out of the dungeons. She just wanted to be out as soon as possible. Next to her Pansy looked as jumpy as the Gryffindor felt.
"If you two are going to argue like this all the way to Hogsmead. I will surely hex you."
Millicent stopped to give an exasperated look at the bickering girls. Pansy and Hermione had started to argue as soon as they left the Slytherin dormitory.
"The second corridor from the Transfiguration's class is the shortest way to Charms"
"You mean the longest"
"Have you ever tried?"
"No, it's always so crowded…"
Millicent was going to lose it some time soon. Who cared which was the shortest or the longest way to charms class? It still took ages to get there.
"Whatever" You two are So annoying"
"Sue us Mills, we are just talking."
"That's what you think. I'm surprised that Snape hasn't already heard you the way you are shouting."
At that, both girls fell silent for a long minute. None of them fancied seeing him right now.
As they passed through the gates heading towards Hogsmead, Pansy finally spoke again.
"How did you know he wasn't looking for you?"
Hermione shrugged.
"Don't know, I just did."
"I thought you would have asked Winky to bring you some clothes."
"She has better things to do instead of running around doing more of my errands, and besides, Severus has a nose for things like that. He'd notice if even a single thing was missing. He'd know I was out. And I really don't want to see him right now."
"How do you think he will react?"
Hermione sighed. "Badly!"
"Are you worried about it?"
"Yes, I married him remember? So yeah, his mood swings concern me. I just hope he'll feel as badly as I did yesterday."
Millicent watched silently as Hermione rubbed her shoulder. None of them were good at Healing Charms. So they didn't attempt to treat the painful reminder of the night before. She pitied the Gryffindor and admired her at the same time. Millicent, in her place, would have freaked out and run as far and as fast as she could. But then she was a Slytherin not a Gryffindor and there was no argument about which was the braver of the houses.
They walked down the wet path and talked about small inconsequential things, like where they were going to go, what they would see and various plans to stay away from the school for as long as they could.
CRASH!
A goblet of firewhiskey turned into a million little pieces as it connected with a stone wall.
Severus Snape was trying to calm down. Trying was the key word, it wasn't working.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
"I have never…"
CRASH!
An antique crystal vase joined the goblet.
"What are you talking about…?"
Merlin, he was furious. He had reached the very limit of his patience yesterday.
For the first time he regretted that Voldemort was dead. He wanted blood! Lots of it! Blood to wash away his anger with it… and the taste of her lips…
He was such a fool! What was he thinking? If he had been thinking at all… He had been so patient for so long only for her to continue to deny him.
"You are Mine Hermione, Only Mine!"
'How Dare she... That little bitch!'
He could still feel her skins softness under his fingertips.
It felt so good that it was driving him insane.
The sensation of her body as he pressed into her…
God how he wanted to tear that top from her and feel more. A man could only hold himself in check for so long.
'I have a right to shag my own wife!'
All the things from his desk flew in a scattered mess to the floor.
He could feel the jealousy running through his veins. It was an ice cold feeling, realization that someone wanted something, had taken something that was yours. That some man had touched her… Kissed her… He…
The pile of unchecked essays joined the growing mess littering the floor.
He was so angry that he actually felt light headed with it for a few seconds. Head spinning as his blood pressure rocketed.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
He felt like crying for a short moment.
Couldn't things, for once in his life, go easily? Once! Was that too bloody much to ask for?
Every single time he thought that things were going to be alright the gods above proved him wrong.
Well, the gods could fuck themselves. He wasn't going to leave it like this.
Severus took a deep breath, finally getting his temper under control. His mind gaining control over his wounded ego.
Things weren't too bad. Hermione was getting used to him, even if she was seeing someone behind his back.
Muscles in his jaw tensed so much it hurt.
'I will not lose control'
Who the fuck was he? Who could it be? Someone from Gryffindor? Not likely. Hufflepuff? No, surely not. Ravenclaw? Hmmm… He hadn't noticed anyone paying particular attention to his wife from that house. Slytherin? Surely no one in his house could be so think as to try something like that?
That meant it had to be someone from outside Hogwarts. The question was… Who?
He had watched her as closely as he could. She didn't meet with anyone except for her few friends. No secret notes, letters or assignations. Who the Hell was "Crooks"?
"Damn it!"
Truth be told, Severus had stopped caring who it was, as long as he could make the bastard suffer! And that was exactly what he planned to do. Make the son of a bitch who had touched his wife regret the day he ever set eyes on her.
The thoughts in Severus' head were a mess. The very air in his study seemed too heavy and it was hard to breath. Anger pulsing through his veins seemed to leave a sour taste on his lips. The bittersweet scent of Hermione's fear only heated the fire burning inside him.
"Severus, you're hurting me…"
Oh Yes… He wanted to hurt her! He wanted to make her regret betraying him.
No he wasn't going to raise a hand to her. He wasn't that kind of man… Well he was that kind of man. He was a Deatheater for Merlin's sake, for more years than he cared to remember.
Severus pulled his fingers through his raven black hair.
"Hermione... You are such a silly silly witch."
What had she been thinking? How could she have possibly thought she could pull it off? That he wasn't going to find out?
How far had they gone together? Kisses? Touches? …
He didn't want to think about it... They didn't go further than that though did they? Hermione claimed she was still a virgin. He would know if that was not true when they finally slept together.
His breathing calmed. Hermione wouldn't be able to fake that, no matter how smart she was. There were some things you couldn't hide when in the marriage bed.
It was good to know. He always liked logic; it kept him sane many years. The Muscles in his body slowly began to relax.
If they hadn't slept together, then things weren't quite that bad. But really, there was only one way to find out.
A small smirk crept to his lips. He wasn't going to force her. No, he was going to speak with her. Give her a much needed reality check. It felt good to have a plan, now that he was calm enough to not go berserk.
Where was she anyway? Severus' eyes caught sight of a clock on his study wall. Almost 11. He frowned. He hadn't thought it was that late. She wasn't dressed to be out so long, especially in the dungeons. She wasn't dressed to be out at all as a matter of fact. So where could she be? When she left it had been around 6. She wouldn't have gone to Gryffindor Tower. It was a long way. Too long for a barefoot and barely dressed witch. But if not the tower then where else could have gone?
The Slytherin shook his head. Only his wife could do something so reckless.
'She'll be back soon... Where else can she go? She'll get a cold; I bet… students should not be out now.' He smirked. 'She will not want to be seen dressed... or undressed like that. You know I'm waiting for you don't you Hermione? Giving me enough time to calm down. How nice.'
Despite his anger Severus was worried. He couldn't help it. She was his wife; he saw it as his duty to care for her. No matter what, Severus Snape had never tried to avoid his duties. Besides, he did care for the witch. Even now... Ironic wasn't it?
His life was one big ironic joke.
The wizard smirked again.
'Too bad that now you are stuck with me, my dear little wife, tough luck. Well, I'll be waiting for you. We definitely need to… talk.'
Severus looked around the room calmly before leaving. He was leaving some work for the house elves. He couldn't understand his wife's wish to free the creatures. It had to be a muggleborn thing; she just wasn't used to the elves cleaning everything. Some things took a long to get used to.
As he was about to enter the sitting room he heard a soft pop inside. The sound was as clear as day.
'A house elf? At this time of day? They cleaned everything yesterday.' As he entered the room nothing looked to be out of the ordinary. 'Weird.' He looked around the sitting room again. The house elves never disturbed them unless they were called. He certainly hadn't summoned one…
Something strange did catch his eye this time. Something was out of place. A piece of parchment was on one of the arms of the leather armchair he liked to sit in, in the evening. He came closer and picked it up. There were a few words written on it.
Crooks and me.
He almost choked on his breath in anger.
"The arrogant little…!" He didn't finish the sentence, as his blood suddenly froze in his veins.
Staring right back at him from a muggle photograph was his wife. She looked a little younger. It must have been taken at least a couple of years ago. She was hugging something and had a big smile on her face.
In her arms was a big orange cat.
'Crooks'
"Sweet mother of all that's holy…"
There was also a P.S at the bottom of it in Hermione's handwriting.
He died a year ago.
For a while all he could do was stare at the picture.
'I was jealous… of a dead cat?'
This wasn't happening, it couldn't be!
"Kitten"
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit." What must she think about him now? No wonder she had freaked and run out.
If anything happened to her because of this, it just didn't bare thinking about. She had to be scared. Scared as hell... of him! And she had done nothing at all wrong. Nothing at all to deserve this.
"Severus, what's wrong?" Her words from the night before, and the fear in her voice made him want to shrivel up and beg for mercy.
How could he have been so stupid? How?
He had to find her. Now!
Well? How was it? The author wants to know!