Chapter 6

Apparating into the alley behind the martial arts centre, Hermione double checked her disillusionment charm. She entered the building as unobtrusively as she could. Master Pall must be in his office. Following her instincts she removed the charm before approaching the office. "Master Pall, it's Hermione."

He exited his office at the sound of her voice." Hermione, come for a little rest and relaxation?" Master Pall teased.

Hermione bowed to her former master. "Rest and relaxation? Isn't that what your other students do?" Hermione said. "I'm sorry, I realise I'm being terribly rude Master Pall, but I came to retrieve the items I left in the locker-room." He assented, she bowed again before moving toward the locker-room. Making sure the coast was clear, Hermione pulled out her wand and unwarded the locker. A small pouch was inside, which she withdrew, stuffing it into her back pocket.

"Hermione, do you have a moment?" master Pall's voice startled her as he was close at hand.

"Master Pall, how may I assist you?" Hermione turned slowly.

"Spar. I'm afraid I haven't had anyone of skill to spar with since you stopped taking lessons."

"I accept." Hermione knew that she could use the practice and she was curious to see how she'd fair. "I'll need to borrow a uniform." She placed her items back in the locker, when Mark returned with the tunic and pants, "I'll be right out." She dressed quickly once he left. Going to have to make this fast.

Stretching and warming up her muscles, she kept an eye on Master Pall, in case he chose a surprise attack. After the initial formality they fell back into their old sparring stances. Each in turn suffered for carelessness and lack of speed. "You're out of practice. Still in shape though, I'll give you that."

"Give me? You needn't give me anything, I'm taking mine," she kicked him in the sternum, the breath was knocked out of him but managed to rolled backward into a defensive posture, unable to gain his feet. "You're pretty rusty yourself. Good workout."

"Thanks, I needed that," there was something wistful in his tone.

"I'll see you again,"Hermione promised after helping Mark to his feet. "I'm sorry I can't stay any longer. I need to shower and go. I'm sorry, but it has to be a flying visit."

"Mind if I join you?" Hermione's heart gave a pang from the request.

"Sorry Mark, I don't think that would be a good idea." Hermione was pleasant but firm." Thank you for the offer."

Hermione hummed to get ready and grab her stored items. "Things are mad right now, but I will come back to spar some more when all is back to normal." Mark acquiesced gracefully and they bowed to one another.

As soon as she could get her bearings, Hermione removed the protective spells before they disoriented her. Severus lay curled up on the ground. "Severus? Wake up please."

The gangly man came to full attention very quickly. "Hermione. You're back. The spells worked. They came through. I heard them talking to one another. But they couldn't locate me." Hermione turned around quickly replacing the spells. "How do you think they found where we went?" Hermione's mind worked thunderously.

"Maybe there is some kind of tracer on us or maybe they just got lucky." She was rather surprised when she turned back to Severus, who had his eyes clamped painfully shut. Fearfully, she shook him, "what's wrong Severus? Are you hurt?"

Severus didn't say anything for a moment or two. "You smell different."

Immediately Hermione realized, the shower. "I haven't done anything wrong." She couldn't deny her own guilty feelings.

"You're squirming," Snape accused, "who is he?" Severus' voice rose, full of anger and hurt. "What, Lucius wasn't enough?" He pressed his lips into such a tight line, her former head of house would have been proud of.

"Nothing happened," Hermione defended.

Snape snorted, "please just kill me, and have done with it. Take me back to Azkaban, and have them do it, if you won't do me the courtesy."

"I didn't do anything with Mark." Hermione pleaded. "Not one bloody thing." She didn't want to give her last master's identity away.

Severus' face twisted in anger, "you're telling me that you never gave yourself to him." Studying her expression, "I can see it on your face, there's no point in lying about it." Snape put his head in his hands, silently shaking.

"I didn't fuck him, Severus. I can't tell you why I had to shower, but I didn't fuck him. Now please, let us move on to other matters." She withdrew her wand and tried to restore his magic. It became clear very quickly that nothing she did was going to work.

Severus stood decisively, "let's go back to Azkaban."