A/N- I know I left y'all with a cliffy last chapter and I would like to say that I'm remorseful, but it would be a lie. Therefore, I have done my absolute best to get you the next chapter as quickly as possible. Your feedback is phenomenal, as always, and I appreciate it more than I can say. Thank you to everyone out there who is supporting me in the massive undertaking of a story. Anyways, enough of that sentimental shite. On with what you've all been waiting for since I published the last chapter.
Trigger warning: Graphic torture.
***Thanks to AuntCori for being my 600th reviewer. Y'alls love just humbles me. ***
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. I have borrowed the characters and I'm positive that the story line has been done before. All hail our queen, J.K.R.
Chapter 24
December 26, 1995
All that Draco knew was pain. He was unsure of exactly how long he had been prone on the floor of his bedroom, but he knew that it had been hours. It hadn't even been midnight when his Aunt Bellatrix had shown up at his door telling him that she needed to teach him how to show proper pureblood pride in his blood line and he could see the sun peeking out over the clouds through one of his many bedroom windows.
Bellatrix was still cackling above him, her Azkaban robes hanging loosely around her skinny body. It was apparent that the woman had spent the last decade in prison; her eyes were sunk in, her skin pale and sallow, her hair a mess of matted-up curls that were now lined heavily with grey. Her skin hung off her bones from lack of nutrition. Draco had seen photos of his aunt growing up and he had always found her to be an attractive woman, much like his mother, but in a much more untamed way. To look at her now made Draco realize just how far gone the woman truly was.
The woman had been torturing him for hours, this he knew for sure. Bellatrix had put him through several different methods of torture in the hopes that he would finally admit that he shouldn't take up with trash like Hermione, that regardless of her parentage, she was undeserving of not only his name, but his seed. Even through the worst of it, Draco remained strong and held his convictions. He could only imagine how bloody proud Hermione and Harry were going to be of him. Fuck, he would probably never live down his one true Gryffindor moment. This act alone would probably keep in him blow jobs for the rest of his life. While this wasn't usually important, well, not overly so, it was something that he could focus on and keep himself going with.
Draco had come to despise the sight of her wand. Not only did she use the Cruciatus Curse on him more times than he could count, she used it as other tools of torture. His least favorite had been where she had turned the end of her wand into a bull whip and lashed his bare back with it. She had told him that she wouldn't allow the deep gashes in his alabaster skin to heal until he told her what she wanted to hear. While this would have frightened him any other time, Draco knew that Severus was coming for him in the morning. He simply had to hold on until then.
The young Slytherin had no idea how many lashes that his aunt had given him with her wand, but he could no longer feel his back. He could tell that he was resting in a pool of blood, all of it his own he knew, but beyond that he couldn't even begin to gauge the level of damage that she had done to him. After his back had been ruined and no longer offered any entertainment to the barmy witch, she had flipped Draco over and transfigured a quill into a dagger. The blond hadn't been able to hold in the screams when she had started to carve his chest. When she had finally stopped, obviously proud of herself, Draco had gathered the stones to see just what she had done to him.
Blood traitor.
Two words, fucking blood traitor, was carved into his fucking chest and Draco was livid. While he didn't stand by the notion of blood purity like he did before, he also knew that most muggleborns were simply not as strong as half-bloods or purebloods. He had always believed Hermione to be the exception, not the rule. That did not, however, mean that he wanted the words blood traitor carved into his chest. He could only trust that the scars would be treatable with one of the standard potions.
The Cruciatus Curse was by far the worst of the torture. She would hold it on him for different passages of time, differing the intensity as well. It was after spending time with Bellatrix that Draco realized that his father had always taken it quite easy on him when he used the curse as punishment. Bellatrix had always been an extremely powerful witch, far more powerful than his mother or Aunt Andromeda, and it was quite apparent that she hadn't lost her touch after more than ten years in a prison that was designed to make you mad.
Several times Draco could feel the quiet hum of insanity just off in the distance in his mind. He would fight the curse, struggling to stay in the pain because the very last thing he wanted was to end up like Neville's parents. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like for his parents or Hermione and Harry to have to come visit him in St. Mungo's. If they even would. This was a sobering thought, so he did all he could to remain in the realm of overwhelming pain, even though it was sapping his strength and magic as surely as his name was Malfoy.
Draco lay there on his bedroom floor, covered in blood and unsure that he was even going to survive this endeavor. He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and give into the sweet oblivion that passing out would afford him. Bellatrix was standing over him, maniacal look in her eyes and cackling like the crazy bitch that she was. He had almost decided to go through with it, to let Bellatrix win, to pass out. He had hopes that Severus would find him before he died. Draco had finally closed his eyes, causing his aunt to crow in triumph when the door blew open much the same as it had last night. His eyes flew open it was a welcome sight to see his godfather standing in the doorway, black robes swishing around him as if he never quite stopped moving when he blasted the door with his wand extended. The look on his face was frightening, one that Draco had never seen on his features before. He was getting ready to speak when Hermione, sweet, beautiful Hermione, stepped out from behind him and further into the room. Her face contorted in rage and in that moment, Draco knew that he was safe.
He let the darkness pull him under, knowing that his mate and godfather wouldn't let anything else happen to him.
-O-
Hermione hadn't slept well. She couldn't understand why since she and Harry had fallen asleep together in her bedroom, Harry's arm wrapped tightly around her waist in the possessive manner that she simply adored. Harry seemed to have absolutely no problems sleeping, snoring softly in her ear from behind her. The Gryffindor couldn't place just why she was sleepless, but she felt like there was something wrong, that there was something on the edge of her consciousness that was telling her that something wasn't right.
She had laid there the whole night, knowing that she wouldn't be able to do anything about how she felt in the middle of the night. She wasn't sure if anyone aside from Harry would believe her, but she was honestly past the point of caring. Her greatest fear was that there was something wrong with Draco, but she was unsure how she would be able to feel that. Therefore, in the wee hours of the morning before light had even begun to bleed into the sky, she decided that she would ask Severus to accompany her early to retrieve Draco. She was unsure how she felt about Harry going with her; if there was indeed something wrong with Draco, he could easily help her heal him like they had before, but she didn't want to expose Harry to the danger as well.
Hermione rose before Harry, slipping out of his arms with practiced ease. She was always the first one up in the Room of Requirement and she was able to extract herself from both of their embraces and not wake them up. She wrapped herself in a robe and made her to the loo, so she could shower and ready herself for the day. The Gryffindor didn't linger under the warm water like she usually wanted to, she was in and out, washed, and dried in ten minutes. She donned her robe once more, so she could make her way back to her bedroom to dress. Harry was just stirring as she entered, probably noticing the lack of warmth that both boys swore she brought to bed with them. She disagreed; it was them that were always warm. Harry gave her a sleepy smile.
"Hey, 'Mi, how'd you sleep? I didn't even know that you had got up." She gave him a small smile as she dropped her robe and began to go through the wardrobe that was now full of clothing.
"I didn't sleep. There is something wrong, I just can't tell what. I'm going to make Dad get up and take me to Malfoy Manor. I have a feeling that there is something wrong with Draco." Harry was instantly alert and on his feet.
"I'm coming with you." She grimaced because she just wasn't sure what she wanted to do about it. Deciding that he was able to make his own decisions, especially since he would be with both herself and Severus, she nodded.
Harry leapt to his feet and ran to shower off quickly. Hermione decided that she would wear witch's robes since she would possibly be facing not only her grandfather, but all his followers as well. She froze when she realized that there would be Death Eaters there that had never met her before. Would they hurt Draco if they thought that he was dating her? She trusted her grandfather to inform them that she and her mates were off limits, but she didn't trust them to listen. She suddenly moved much quicker.
Deciding on a pair of elegant robes the same ebony color as her hair, Hermione began to hastily dress. Harry entered and began to throw his own set of robes on. Hermione waved her hand over her hair, drying it completely so it would hang down in soft ringlets around her waist. Harry was already dressed, running his hand through his messy hair when Hermione slipped on her shoes so they could leave.
Harry took her hand and led her out of their bedroom just in time for Ronald and the twins to emerge from their bedroom. Their eyes widened at the obvious fact that the pair had spent the night together, but the twins remained quiet. Ronald, however, had no such inclination.
"I wonder what ferret boy would do if he knew you two were having fun with out him?" Hermione wasn't in the mood for the redhead's shit this morning, so she just ignored him. Harry, however, didn't. Truly, she chalked it up to his worry for Draco that he let Ronald rile him up enough to respond.
"Don't worry about Draco, it's not like you care if he's upset anyways. Fuck off." Ronald must have seen something in Harry's gaze to suggest that he was serious. He scampered off down the corridor and descended the steps, so he could make his way to the kitchen she was sure. Hermione laid a hand on Harry's arm.
"I know you're worried, I am too, but we have to remain calm so our occlumency barriers will hold. If we're going into the belly of the beast and there are people there that want to do us harm, we need to keep our tempers under control." Harry blew out a breath and nodded.
"You're right, I'm sorry. Come on, let's go find Professor Snape." Hermione gave him a soft smile and nodded.
Hermione allowed him to lead her through the corridors of their floor until they found her father's room. Hermione rapped on it harder than was necessary, but she wasn't in the mood to be careful of how someone reacted to her actions. When there was no answer in a minute's time, Harry clutched her hand once more and pulled her down the stairs towards the kitchen. Both Gryffindors were surprised to see that even though they had risen early, they were the last ones to grace breakfast with their presence. Everyone was seated around the large table that dominated the kitchen, most everyone yelling their conversations to someone across said table.
Sirius and Remus were having a conversation with Severus, something that she had yet to see since they had been there. Not that she was complaining, but it did throw her for half a second. Ronald and the twins had entered just before them and the former bounded up to the Marauders and Severus. Hermione knew that he was going to tattle like he was a first year, but she just couldn't make herself care. She couldn't make herself worry about Remus' protective sensibilities while she was worried about Draco.
"Hermione had Harry stay the night in her room. They were freshly showered, they probably showered together." Hermione wanted to laugh at the faces on everyone involved. Unsurprisingly, Sirius looked proud. Hermione could only shake her head at how much of a man whore he was. Severus looked at Ron as if he had asked him to pass the sausage. Remus looked concerned but didn't say anything even though Hermione was sure that he wanted to. Molly, much to Hermione's earlier predictions, flipped her lid.
"I will not condone this sort of behavior under my roof. You may not belong to me, but I have the right to not have my children around such loose and immoral behavior. You are fifteen and sixteen, it isn't proper." All three men seemed to realize that Hermione wasn't listening at all and there seemed to be something bothering her. Sirius turned to make eye contact with Molly.
"If you don't want your children around this kind of behavior, feel free to leave. Obviously, Severus doesn't seem to mind, he trusts his daughter. I trust Harry to not move too quickly and to treat Hermione with every bit of respect that she deserves. Truly, if you can't seem to manage with just asking your children to steer clear of our children's rooms, please go home. I won't stand for this. This is both their homes and they shouldn't have to constantly be judged in it." Molly fell silent, obviously surprised that she was being dismissed as easily as she was. Hermione wanted to cheer on the inside, but she had more important things to deal with now.
"There's something wrong, Dad. I can feel it. I don't know what it is, not for sure, but I think it's Draco. I want to go get him now. I'm coming with you." Her father grimaced as he spoke.
"Sweet, I know you want to go get him, but your grandfather has brought home the most rabid of his dogs. They will attack you, they were most displeased with the fact that you have been declared off limits. I fear for your safety." Hermione stood straighter and raised her chin.
"I have to go. He is my mate and I can't let him suffer. He is mine to protect. I don't want to fight with you, but I'm going whether you tell l can or not. I'd prefer you support me and have my back. I don't trust anyone in that snake pit to do so. Please, Daddy." Severus sighed and pinched he bridge of his nose.
"Very well. However, knowing who I know to be over there, I must insist that Harry stay within the safety of Grimmauld Place. I can't protect you and Draco, all while trying to fend off the Death Eaters that will most assuredly try to be killing The-Boy-Who-Lived." Harry made to argue, but Sirius stepped forward and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I agree, Prongslet. I can't let you go when they're going to try to attack you. I understand that what Hermione is doing in this playing both sides thing is important, but it's in the prophecy that you are the only one that can kill Moldyshorts. Please don't fight me on this." Hermione could see how truly upset Harry was, his eyes were shining with unshed tears. His hands clenched in frustration and fury and she could see that he was ready to explode.
"I care about Draco just as much as Hermione. He's become like my brother. I need to go to help keep him and Hermione safe." Sirius made him face him, so he could lay both his hands on his shoulders.
"Harry, I know you care about him. I'm not saying anything about the fact that you care for him. I just want you to be smart. How would Hermione and Draco feel if you went to go rescue him and were killed? The question you need to ask yourself is do you trust Severus?" Harry sighed again and when he spoke he sounded defeated.
"Yes, I trust him. I know he would never do anything to cause any of us harm if he could avoid it." Sirius nodded at him.
"Exactly. That means you must trust him to get Hermione and Draco out there in case things go south. One less person to worry about is going to mean it will be that much easier for him." Harry finally nodded his understanding.
"Alright. I'll stay here, but don't expect me to be good company." Sirius grinned at his godson and Hermione found herself relieved that he was staying.
"Remus and I will keep you suitably distracted." Harry nodded as he flopped down in the chair next to Remus. Severus seemed to realize that Hermione didn't mean that they would be waiting until after breakfast. He hurriedly wiped his mouth and stood, pushing his chair back far enough so he could exit. Realizing that they were leaving, Harry stood again and moved to embrace Hermione.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry's waist, taking in his scent and letting it calm her. She needed to heed the advice that she had given Harry earlier and went to work on clearing her mind. She pulled away just a touch, so she could reach up and twist her fingers in his hair and pull him down. Her lips met his passionately, Hermione putting all her emotions in the one single kiss. It wasn't long, or deep by any means, but Harry understood exactly what she was trying to portray. He pressed one last peck to her lips before he pulled away and gently pushed her towards her father. Hermione didn't think that anything bad would happen to her when she was righteously angered, but there was always a chance something terrible could happen.
Everyone else lifted a hand to wave at them as they left except for Sirius and Remus. Both stepped forward and gave Hermione a quick hug and admonished her to be careful and find her way back to them. They quickly shook hands with Severus and wished him luck. Severus then took her elbow in his hand and pulled her to the only apparition point that could be used in the house unless he used his Dark Mark. It would be much quicker to use his Dark Mark, but he didn't want to take the chance of splinching while bringing his daughter with him.
The pair landed outside the gates of Malfoy Manor and neither one of them paused in the slightest as the gate opened. They hadn't been in much of a hurry either time that she had visited in the past. This time, Hermione was trying to move so fast that she was beginning to stumble. Even though Severus was having no problems with the pace he had set, he slowed just slightly so she wouldn't face plant in the gravel. Just like every other time she had visited, Mipsy opened the door and gestured for them to enter. She usually didn't speak, but this time she did.
"Everyone is still asleeps, Mister Snapes." Severus gave her a nod before he continued his way.
"I'm here to pick up Draco for the rest of the holidays. Everyone is aware of our plans. If anyone asks about why we're here, send them to Draco's room." Mipsy gave a submissive nod as Hermione and Severus passed her and headed towards the stairs. Hermione had no idea where she was going since the only place that she had ever seen was the ballroom. Therefore, she followed closely behind her father as they made their way through the corridors and up staircases.
It was a testament to how big the house truly was when it took them more than five minutes to find his room at a brisk pace. Hermione could tell that there was something off, she felt progressively worse each step she took closer to his room. They finally reached an elaborate door that was marked with the word "Draco" in calligraphy. Even though Hermione wanted to be the first to rush in and make sure that her mate was alive and well, she knew that Severus would never agree. He wanted to protect both and since he had let her come with him with almost no argument, she decided not to argue with him in this instance. Her father knocked on the door and waited for Draco to call out to him.
When there was no answer, Hermione knew that something was wrong. She had had a feeling before, but now she was certain. Even though she would get in trouble for using magic outside of school, she slipped her wand out of her sleeve and into her hand. Severus glanced at her sideways and shook his head.
"Don't use that unless you have no other choice. I'm not sure if the wards here are strong enough to block out a tracing spell." Hermione gave him a nod while he turned to try to unlock the door. When the simple unlocking spell from first year didn't work, Severus waved his wand and tried another one. When it failed to give them access to Draco's room, Hermione was almost hyperventilating. There was something wrong and they couldn't get through the door. She was about to suggest just blowing the door off the hinges when her father motioned for her to get back.
"I can't get it open. I'm going to have to blow the door back."
Hermione obeyed and moved several steps back. She watched as her father cast what appeared to be a bombarda spell at the door, blowing it inward. Hermione couldn't see around her father, but by his stance, she didn't think that it was good. She hurried forward to step up next to him and was horrified by what she saw.
Draco was on his back in the middle of his enormous room, laying in a pool of what appeared to be his own blood. He was almost naked, only his boxers were in place, almost as if he had been caught while changing. He had the words "blood traitor" carved into the perfect alabaster skin of his chest and she could just see the edges of what appeared to be whip marks on the edges of his back that were visible. Draco appeared to be on the verge of fading from consciousness, like he needed to pass out, but he had been fighting it for far too long and was finally losing the battle.
Hermione was livid.
She moved to step forward but was taken by surprise by a spell almost hitting her from behind. Bellatrix seemed to still be focused on Draco, so Severus turned to shield their backs. Hermione caught glimpses of three full-grown, grizzled, almost starved Death Eaters. They look vaguely familiar, but she was unsure of their identities. As soon as Severus has his back turned, Bellatrix seemed to realize that they were behind her. How she didn't know before, Hermione wasn't sure, but she seemed to realize that she was there now.
Bellatrix abandoned her nephew on the floor with a final kick to his abdomen. That was the last straw for Hermione. Even though her wand was in her hand, Hermione didn't use it. Her magic burst out of her, dropping Bellatrix to her knees. She was screaming in agony and Hermione didn't care. She increased the amount of magic that was pouring out of her and she could visibly see the skin peeling from Bellatrix's arms and legs. Something in the back of her mind told her that she had done enough, that she should back off, but it was impossible when she just had to turn her head a fraction of an inch and see Draco, now unconscious, in all his bloodied glory.
Hermione finally managed to pull her magic back for just a few moments, knowing that she was going to end up killing her if she didn't. As much as the woman deserved to die, she didn't want Draco to feel guilty, like he was the reason that she was forced to commit murder. She would have been able to back off and let the woman catch her breath before she caused her more pain, but it wasn't meant to be. Bellatrix, how she was still functioning Hermione didn't know, managed to lift her arm and raise her wand long enough to fire a curse off. If it had been aimed at Hermione, it would have been one thing. Honestly, it very may well have been meant for the Gryffindor, but if Hermione hadn't been quick enough with her shield charm, whatever she shot from her wand would have hit Draco right in the chest.
The righteous rage boiled up within her again.
Hermione flicked her hand, wand and all, and the mad woman's wand exploded. She stepped closer to Bellatrix and she could see the pain in her eyes. When Hermione stood over her, the woman spit at her shoes. It was bloody and was too thick for it to be normal.
"Filthy mudblood, you will get what's coming to you, my Lord will save me and kill you in the most horrible way you could imagine." Hermione waved her hand at her shoe and scourgified it before she locked gazes with the woman.
"Your lord happens to be my grandfather, his own flesh and blood. I'm going to kill you and he isn't going to stop me. You were warned not to fuck with me and here we are. Enjoy your last moments of pain." Severus turned in that moment and made sure that she was still winning. She gave him a grim smile before she turned back to Bellatrix.
Her magic decided the fate of the older woman. Hermione wasn't sure what was causing Bellatrix to scream as if she was being torn in two, but she didn't care. The time for stopping was past. After a few moments, it was clear why Bellatrix was screaming the way she was. Her magic was literally ripping the woman open across her chest, bones could be heard breaking and blood was pouring out of the split down her sternum. She was horrified at what her magic was capable of, but there was no turning back. After several minutes, the older woman seemed to just explode from her chest, killing her instantly. Blood, gore, and who knows what else went in every direction, covering Draco, Hermione, his bedding and the walls.
Hermione didn't turn to help her father, he was an accomplished wizard that most of the Death Eaters feared on an ordinary day. She instead dropped to Draco's side, kneeling in his blood and placing her hands on his chest as she had done before when she had healed him. Now, looking back, she was saddened that they hadn't brought Harry. Now it would take longer for them to get Draco healed since they would have to take him to Grimmauld Place first. She could feel the beginnings of her magic flowing into Draco when a shout recalled her attention to the situation at hand.
Severus was still dueling two Death Eaters, all manners of spells and colors lighting up the shadowed corridor outside of Draco's room. The third one managed to slip just behind Severus as he turned to dodge a spell. Hermione was unprepared for the man to make his way into the bedroom while she was focused on Draco. Just as the grizzled man raised his wand to her, she saw her grandfather and Lucius enter the corridor behind the two men that Severus was still fighting. She felt an unexpected measure of relief at the sight of Lucius and Voldemort. She just wanted for the adults to take care of the problem with the Death Eaters so she could focus on Draco.
This relief didn't last long since the man that had raised his wand to her let a spell fly, purple in color. Hermione watched it soar through the air impossibly fast before she realized that it was going to hit Draco. Without the time needed to cast a shield, even when she could do so impossibly fast, Hermione did the only thing left that she could do without the aid of magic.
Hermione threw herself in front of the spell, where it stuck her directly in the chest. All she felt was horrific pain for several moments before her world went dark.
-O-
Severus felt his blood run cold when he saw Dolohov raise his wand at his daughter. Like his father had called her, the light of his life. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, although there was no way that he could move fast enough to save her from whatever fate the Death Eater decided for her. Severus didn't even think that surprised covered it when he saw Dolohov aim not for Hermione, but for Draco. When Hermione did the only thing that she could to save her mate, throwing herself into the spell before it could hit him, Severus felt his air tight control snap.
His fury was now feeding his magic and he had an inkling as to how Hermione felt when she said that she didn't usually think about what she was going to do when she lost control. Her magic was fed by her anger and it did things that she didn't always intend. This was exactly how Severus felt now. He swiped his wand a single time at Rodolphus and Rabastan, sending them both crashing to the ground screaming. For the first time, he realized that Lucius and his father approaching quickly.
Severus didn't care. He was going to make the man who hurt his baby girl pay. He turned away from Lucius and the Dark Lord, raised his wand, only to be immobilized in the middle of casting the killing curse. Instant fury burned even brighter when Lucius stepped forward and bound Dolohov as he cast worried glances toward his son and Hermione. The Dark Lord stood before him and that was the first time that Severus ever let his hatred for the man show in his eyes. The Dark Lord merely chuckled and twined the fingers of one hand in the hair on the side of Severus' head.
"I need to check over Isssabella and her young beau." Severus watched, helpless, as his father stepped forward and knelt at the side of his daughter and godson. He laid his hand on both of their foreheads for a few moments before he stood and spoke.
"Bella did a number on young Draco. He isss injured but will live. Isssabella was hit with one of Dolohov's ssspecialty curses. She doesn't have long. You must take her and Draco both to young Harry, make sure that they all ssstay together. It raises her chance at survival. You will need the following potions to ensure that she survivesss, granted that she gets them in her system soon enough. As sssoon as Draco wakes and is able, he and young Harry need to heal her as she healed Draco the lassst time that they were here." The Dark Lord rattled off twelve potions that Severus was quick to commit to memory. His father released his hair and stepped back.
"You will get your revenge, Ssseverus. As much as I care for the girl, she is your pride and joy. Make no mistake, you will make an example of Dolohov in front of all our followersss. As soon as you deliver your two young chargesss to the Order headquarters, return here and I will have them all gathered, and you may do asss you wish to Dolohov here as long as he'sss dead in the end. Hopefully, nobody will doubt your Isssabella after we parade them through here to see what'sss left of her." Severus felt better at his words. Now he understood why his father had stopped him from killing Dolohov outright. He wanted to ensure his daughter's safety by making him an example. As if sensing Severus' change of heart, the Dark Lord released him from the spell that was holding him immobile. Severus couldn't help it. He dropped to his knees and took his father's robes in hand, so he could kiss them. This was the one time Severus didn't mind.
"Thank you, Father." It was the first time that he had ever addressed Voldemort as his father, and while he had originally thought that he would detest it if he ever had to do it, he found that he didn't. Maybe it was because the man held his daughter's life just as dear as he did, even if it wasn't for the same reasons. His father laid his hand on his head as he spoke.
"Fathersss are here to make sure that their family is sssafe. While I didn't always do this for you, I would like to help you do that for young Isssabella. Go now, take her and Draco. Lay them in the sssame bed, keep Potter close. They'll feed off his ssstrength and remind them to heal her as much as they can once Draco wakesss." Severus rose fluidly and nodded before extending his wand to cast a featherlight charm on both his charges. With a last thought, he summoned a robe to wrap around Draco since he was only in his underwear. Lucius cast a worried glance at his son before he spoke to Severus.
"Please tell him to send me a message as soon as he's able. Keep him safe." Severus was surprised at the level of concern in his old friend's voice. Rather than speak, he nodded his agreement.
Without a backwards glance, Severus levitated his daughter and godson and guided them out the door of Draco's room. He had no doubt that his father would parade everyone through Draco's room and show them exactly what Hermione was capable of. He only hoped that the mess was cleaned up before Narcissa came to visit her son. He wondered if she would hold it against Hermione that she had killed her sister rather brutally. He rather thought not since the woman had been torturing her son, but who knew with women.
As Severus made his way through the corridors as quickly as possible, his thoughts turned to his daughter. Hermione had such a kind heart, a soft heart, that knowing what she had done to Bellatrix would likely eat her up with guilt. He remembered how he had felt after the first time he had tortured and killed under his father's tutelage. He hadn't risen from his bed for three days, racked with guilt that wouldn't stop consuming him. It had been Lucius that had rousted him from his bed and told him that guilt was something that every human lived with, the only thing that differed was the reason you felt it. Severus had known then that he had to pick himself up, deal with the guilt, and move on. He vowed to himself as he made his way up the gravel drive that he would do everything in his power to help her through it.
Once outside the gates, Severus grasped the arms of both Hermione and Draco. He gathered all his self-control, so he could focus on not splinching any of them. With the customary squeezing of apparition, the trio disappeared and reappeared in the front hall of Grimmauld Place. He decided that he would set them up in the library. None of their rooms would be big enough for all three of them and his father had been quite clear that they would all need to stay together for them to heal to the best of their abilities. It was clear that everyone had been waiting for him because he hadn't taken three steps when the door opened, and Harry, Remus, and Sirius entered. Sheer panic crossed the face of Harry while the two older men rushed forward, wands extended, so they could help.
"What the fuck happened to them? You were going to protect them!" Severus felt a stab of guilt at the Gryffindor's words. He had told them that he would protect the pair of them and he had failed. It was Sirius that hushed his godson.
"You don't know what happened, Prongslet. You can't blame him for anything yet." Severus gave him a grateful nod as he let Sirius levitate Draco.
"Take them to the library, Remus, go make a bed big enough for the pair of them at least. Then go floo Hogwarts, tell the Headmaster that I need these potions from my stores and Poppy to come tend them until I can return." He rattled off the potions that the Dark Lord had told him he needed to save his daughter. Remus seemed to remember them with no difficulty. By the time they made it into the library, Remus had already been in there and conjured a bed for the pair. Harry was going back and forth between Hermione's prone form and Draco's, obviously distressed at the condition of his mates. Once both of his charges were laid next to each other on the bed, Harry turned to him, anger still visible in his eyes, but more respect in his tone.
"What the fuck happened?" Sirius clamped his hands down on Harry's shoulders from behind, grounding him and keeping him calm. Severus was checking over both his daughter and godson, making sure that there was nothing he could be doing. He realized that Hermione's robes were wet in the front. Feeling like a pervert, he pulled the top of her robe off her chest, so he could peer down the top of them. Her breasts were covered in lacy bra, thank goodness, but that wasn't what distressed him. There was a deep gasp from the top of her left breast that bisected her chest, ending at the top of her right hip. It was an inch wide and was seeping blood at an alarming rate. Without a second thought to modesty, he ripped her robes open, exposing her bra and her wound.
"Get over here, Harry. You must try to heal this as best you can. I know you don't have Draco to help so I don't hold much hope that it will work, but you're the one that has the best chance of healing her." Harry instantly came forward and once everyone got a clear view of her torso, they gasped.
"Do whatever it is you did to Draco." Harry was quick to obey. He laid his hands palms down over the wound, blood coating his palms and fingers as he tried his hardest to concentrate. Even though Severus wanted to scream that he wasn't doing anything, that he needed to try harder, he remained quiet. This idea was a long shot since he was almost certain that while both boys may be able to do it together, neither one of them seemed powerful enough on their own to do so. Finally, Harry broke away from her body in frustration, nothing about the wound changing. Severus was already covered in blood, so he began to mop up the blood that she and Draco were seeping onto the sheets.
"We got there and found Bellatrix torturing Draco. She had been at it all night, he passed out as soon as we got there. We were ambushed from behind by Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Antonin Dolohov. I was dueling all three of them while Hermione took on Bellatrix. That crazy bitch didn't stand a chance. Hermione killed her, exploded her chest after peeling her skin from her body. It was when I dodged a curse that I gave Dolohov an opening. He pushed past me and sent the curse at Draco. There was no time to react and she threw herself in front of the curse. I lost it. With a single spell, I felled Rodolphus and Rabastan. I turned to kill Dolohov and the Dark Lord froze me while Lucius bound Dolohov. I have to go back because he's letting me make an example out of Dolohov as to what will happen to anyone who touches the three of you again." Harry let out a shuddering breath.
"This wasn't your fault, sir, I'm sorry I said that it was. When you say make an example…." Harry didn't finish the question but left it open-ended. Severus raised a single eye brown.
"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to, young Potter. I must go. Make sure that Poppy gives her every single potion on that list, they're all in my stores. They must remain in the same bed because of the bond you three share. You need to stay close, Potter. When Draco wakes, you need to cast the healing spell that you just tried, the Dark Lord was adamant that it needed to be done to guarantee her survival." All three of them were nodding their heads, a determined gleam in their eyes. Severus turned to Sirius and Remus with a serious look plastered on his face.
"I don't know how long I'll be gone. I plan to make sure that nobody touches these three again. Watch them and don't let any harm come to them while I'm gone. I'm trusting the pair of you with my daughter and my godson, the two people who mean the most to me in the world." Remus stuck out his hand for Severus to shake while Sirius spoke gravely, quite far from the norm.
"We won't leave them alone for a second until you return, Severus. You can trust us." Severus didn't trust himself to speak so he merely nodded before turning on his heel and making his way back out of the library. This time, he didn't bother with the Entrance Hall. He lifted his sleeve and pressed his wand to the Dark Mark, apparating away instantly.
Severus landed in the Malfoy ballroom and there were dozens of people present. The newest members that had been marked the day before were huddled towards the back of the room, clearly uncomfortable with what was about to happen. None of the other Death Eaters appeared to be enjoying themselves, something that was actually quite common amongst the lot of them, but he was sure that that was because Dolohov was going to be punished for harming the Dark Lord's granddaughter. Severus strode through the masses of people towards the front where his father waited with Lucius at his side. The blond stepped forward.
"How are the children?" Severus knew that his father was also listening, so he gave them as much information as possible.
"Young Potter tried to heal my daughter on his own, but without Draco he lacks the power. I sent for Poppy Pomfrey to tend to them both. Your son will be fine, I instructed Potter to have Draco help him heal Hermione when he wakes. I left Black to watch over them and keep them safe. He already adores Hermione and he doesn't seem to have any aversion to his young cousin. If he does, rest assured that Potter wouldn't let any harm come to him." The Dark Lord nodded.
"All will be well, Luciusss. Severusss cares for your ssson. He wouldn't leave him with someone that he thought would harm him." The blond sighed in relief before turning back to the situation at hand. Severus watched his father step up to the front of the room so he could speak.
"My followersss, I can't say loyal at the moment, but followers will cover it. I ssspecifically told you all that you were not to harm the girl known as Hermione Granger, as she is my granddaughter, or Draco Malfoy or Harry Potter. She is the sssubject of a prophecy, as are those two boysss. You were warned, and sssome of you failed to heed those warnings." He began to pace in front of the group at large, his voice getting louder as he continued. Dolohov was still on the floor before them, struggling against the bindings that Lucius had placed on him.
"Bellatrix sssneaked into young Draco'sss room and tortured him all night long for allowing my blood to sssully his name. Draco was strong, he refused to tell Bellatrix what she wanted, he refusssed to renounce my blood. You were all taken to his room to see just what exactly my granddaughter is capable of. She did all of that to Bellatrix without a wand sssimply because she hurt her mate. I suggest that from now on, you heed my warning. Bellatrix was one of my ssstrongest followersss and she didn't stand a chance against my sssixteen-year-old Isabella Rose." The Dark Lord paused once again for effect.
"Now, Dolohov here had arrived on the scene with Rabassstan and Rodolphus to protect dear Bella. You all watched as the Lestrangesss were dealt with by me. Dolohov, however, is Ssseverus' to deal with as he sees fit. Antonin used one of his signature curses and tried to kill young Draco. My granddaughter is bound to protect her matesss, so she willingly cast herself in front of the curssse. She is on the cusp of death right now and it is Severus' right to deal with Antonin as he sssees fit. I want all of you to know that this will happen to anyone who daresss to harm my granddaughter in any way again." He turned to Severus and swept his arm out.
"Please begin, ssson."
Severus stepped forward and he could see the fear in Dolohov's eyes. Severus didn't care. He remembered every detail of the attack in Draco's bedroom, he played Hermione throwing herself in front of the curse repeatedly in his head. He kept the sight of her split open chest in the forefront of his mind to give his curses more power. While he usually hated torturing people, this was going to be an exception. Nobody touched his daughter and got away with it unscathed.
Severus raised his wand, took a deep breath, and let the first curse fly.
-O-
Sirius didn't know what to do to make Harry feel better. He knew that he had made the right decision in making Harry stay home, but he felt terrible that he was now suffering because of the injuries that Hermione and Draco Malfoy had sustained. Sirius loved Hermione like a daughter, he truly couldn't imagine how Severus was feeling now.
Since they had been locked up in Grimmauld Place together for the holidays, Sirius could admit that Severus wasn't nearly as bad as he had always assumed him to be. He obviously loved his daughter without limit and it was clear that he would do anything for her. He strongly suspected that the gruesome torture and death of Dolohov was one of the things that he was doing to keep her safe.
While Remus didn't completely understand the concept of how the followers of the Dark Lord worked, Sirius did. He had been raised with it, he had been trained from birth that he was supposed to obey all orders and not complain. If you did wrong, you were humiliated and punished publicly. Sirius had lost count of how many times he had been hauled to some pureblood party as a child and tortured as a form of entertainment. He didn't think that Severus liked torturing people in general, but he had a feeling that he would get a sick sense of enjoyment out of Dolohov meeting his end.
Sirius wasn't any better. He loved Hermione desperately, she was the only reason he wasn't sitting in Azkaban with his soul sucked out. She was the reason that Dumbledore had finally come clean to the Ministry about who had really been the secret keeper to the Potter's home that fateful night in 1981. If Severus hadn't been wiling to teach the man a lesson, Sirius would have loved to. While he didn't think that he was a dark wizard in the least, the animagus could fully admit that he had a dark streak. He was a Black after all, they were known for being dark in nature and their signature insanity.
Sirius watched on helplessly as Harry went from side to side of the bed, checking over Hermione, making sure that she was comfortable and that she hadn't rolled, then checking over Draco, making sure that the words were fading from his chest and reassuring himself that the whip marks were slowly disappearing. Sirius felt sick at the Poppy's words. While Draco had been whipped and carved up like a Christmas ham, he hadn't had it done so with a cursed object. Most of his scars would fade with the potions that Severus had sent for them. Hermione, however, had been hit with an extremely dark curse that was resistant to normal scar potions.
While Sirius did consider himself a connoisseur of women, he did not prey on young girls. Well, he supposed that he did in his youth, but now that he was older, he didn't find the youth his godson's age to be sexually attractive. While he felt that Hermione was a very attractive girl, especially now that she had her true appearance, he did not find her sexy at all. Poppy had thrown a fit when she tried to heal Hermione's chest and Sirius refused to leave. After almost ten minutes of arguing back and forth, Remus agreed to leave if Sirius could stay. Sirius had no reason to anger Severus by leaving when it was clear that he had blood lust on the brain.
The mediwitch had removed Hermione's bra, baring her chest to the whoever was in the room. Harry had flat out refused to leave, told everyone that he had seen Hermione's breasts more times than he could count. Sirius had to chuckle inwardly at his admission; the girl in question might just hex him for revealing just what exactly they did in their private life. The wound was long, from the top of her left breast to the top of her right hip. Poppy had done everything that she could think of to heal it, but there was nothing for it. It was going to leave a horrid, ropy scar. Sirius could only hope that Severus may be able to lessen the mark with dark magic that he had learned along the way.
Poppy had left an hour ago after teaching Sirius how to spell potions directly into a person's stomach. She predicted that it could be a few days before Hermione woke, all dependent on how quickly she healed. After she had gone, the animagus had made Harry explain what healing he and Draco were supposed to perform on Hermione. While he found the whole concept unbelievable, he didn't think that Harry would lie, nor would Severus ask them to do it if it didn't work. He felt like he had underestimated the bond between the three children in front of him.
Remus had dozed off next to him, keeping a vigil just like he had promised Severus that they would. All the Weasleys had paid them a visit, they were in the library after all. The twins and Ginny seemed genuinely worried for Hermione and Draco, the little Lovegood girl as well. The other three boys had expressed their concern but were able to easily go back to their lives from before it had happened. Arthur had stayed for almost an hour, truly worried about how Hermione was faring. Sirius supposed that what surprised him the most was that the three Weasleys that Harry and Hermione seemed closest to were also what he would consider friends with Draco. He could admit that he had been skeptical when he had first heard of the pair's friendship/relationship with his cousin but seeing that he had won over even part of the Weasleys made him think that he needed to reconsider his opinion.
Sirius had just leaned back further in his chair and gotten comfortable when the door to the library opened quietly. Harry was fussing with the sheets around Draco, expelling nervous energy that simply had nowhere to go. Severus had come through the door, a haggard look on his face with his frock coat spattered in blood and gore. Sirius couldn't remember a time when he had ever seen the man look so tired.
"How did it go with Dolohov?" Severus produced his wand and waved it over himself, cleaning him of everything that was undesirable. He didn't speak as he made his way to both Hermione and Draco, checking them over as best he could. His shoulders slumped when he finally answered.
"Dolohov is dead. I doubt that anyone with a Dark Mark will ever harm these three again." Sirius could see guilt in his lowered head and soft tone. While comforting Severus Snape was something he had never done, the animagus really did want to turn a new leaf. He stood and walked over to where the man was leaned over his daughter.
"Did you make him suffer?" The Slytherin snorted.
"Suffer is an understatement." Sirius clapped him on the arm.
"We know you don't like doing that. You did what you had to to keep these three safe. I know it's easier said than done, but you shouldn't feel guilty." Severus snorted before he began laughing.
"That's just it, I did enjoy it. That rat-fuck bastard tried to kill my godson and, in the process, almost killed my daughter. The two people that I am bound to protect. I enjoyed every moment of pain I gave him, and I would do it all over again if I could." Sirius snorted this time.
"Join the club, mate. If you hadn't been willing to teach that scum a lesson, I wanted the job. Hermione is like my daughter, she freed me from Hogwarts and I'm free from persecution all because of her. If it hadn't been you, I would have been doing it. Now stop feeling like you're evil and all that rot. You're protecting your daughter and two boys that mean the world to you. Enough feeling sorry for yourself." Severus snorted again, his hair was hanging around his face like a curtain, so Sirius couldn't see exactly what it was that was flitting across his face. Finally, he wiped a hand down his face before he stood up straight.
"You're right. What did Poppy say?" Sirius was quick to fill him in, told him about the scar that would remain across Hermione's chest, that it would likely be several days before she woke, that Poppy had predicted that Draco would wake by morning. The Slytherin removed his frock coat and rolled up his sleeves, extending his wand, when Sirius stopped him.
"You need to rest before you try any intensive healing. You just tortured someone after a pretty grueling duel this morning. You need to recharge your magic. Who knows what could happen if you tried something serious while you're exhausted. Take a nap and try in a couple of hours." Severus dropped his arm and nodded dejectedly. The Slytherin pulled a chair away from the wall and dragged it up next to Hermione's side of the bed so Harry took up the spot next to Draco.
Sirius returned to his seat, stretched out his legs comfortably, shook his head at the fact that Remus could sleep through absolutely everything, and let Morpheus coax him into his care.
A/N- Errr Mrrr Gerddddd! I did not foresee this chapter being this long, it just kind of happened. I even tried to pare it down a little, but I just couldn't bear to. I hope you all enjoyed it and are no longer angry with me for the cliffhanger. I made up for it, didn't I? Anyways, leave me your thoughts, they keep me going and make me smile (((:
Next chapter, Hermione wakes up and deals with the aftermath of her assault on Bellatrix and a date for retrieving the horcrux is set.
Love,
Alicia