Snape was resting, on his bed, when Madam Pomfrey pulled his curtains back to allow someone admittance. "Sorry to bother you Professor, but Mr. Crabbe says it's urgent that he talk to you." At Snape's nod of acknowledgement, she turned to Crabbe, "You have 15 minutes and then you have to go." Turning to Snape, she added, "I'll be right out here if you need me Professor" and giving Crabbe a stern look she departed, pulling the curtains closed behind her.
"Hello Anton," Snape said in the slow, drawn-out tone he used for what he considered "dimwitted students."
"Hello Professor," Crabbe said before taking the bedside chair that Snape had indicated. I'm surprised to see you looking so well after being on death's door and all. I guess...love, will do that to you."
Snape narrowed his eyes at Crabbe, and wondered what the older gentleman was up to.
Crabbe cleared his throat and withdrew a large envelope from his robes. "That's why...what I've come to show you...pains me dearly." He reached into the large envelope, pulled out several photographs and handed them to Snape, all while keeping a sad—if not apologetic—look upon his face. Snape snatched the photos from his hand, aggravated to be bothered by the likes of Crabbe. He looked down at the photos and his blood ran cold. They were all of Hermione and Ron Weasley. He flipped through each picture oblivious to Crabbe, who was watching him closely and enjoying the look of devastation upon his face. The first picture showed Hermione and Weasley holding hands, and her smiling up at him sweetly. In the second photo, she appeared to be crying while Weasley just stood there gaping at her. The next photo showed her in Weasley's arms holding him fiercely. The final photo pained him the most. It was a photo of Weasley and Hermione; walking arm-in-arm, the expression on each of their faces as they looked at one another, tore at his heart. He dropped the photos in his lap as he stared into space.
"Where did you get these," he asked absentmindedly.
"An associate of mine passed these on to me, says they were taken this morning out at a spot known for lovers to meet discreetly."
Snape closed his eyes and tried to block the image of the final photo—the look of love, and total devotion, Hermione had bestowed upon Weasley.
Crabbe went to reach for the pictures but Snape snatched them back up and held them to his chest. Keeping his voice calm he said, "I'm sure you won't mind if I keep these."
Crabbe had stood to leave, when Snape whispered, "Thank you Anton. I fear I owe you a huge debt."
Not wanting to push his luck, but feeling he had to make his point, Crabbe said, "Of course, Professor, just sorry I had to be the one to show them to you. My associate said that Miss Granger was begging Mr. Weasley to be with her." He paused for effect, "She said he would be better than her greasy, old Git."
Snape's head snapped up in shock and disbelief. Hermione would never call him that. Snape stared at Crabbe, suddenly tempted to use Legilimency on him.
"Sorry Mate, her words not mine," Crabbed called back as he beat a hasty exit reveling in the fact that Snape, the old bastard, seemed to be devastated.
Snape looked at the pictures that appeared to tell a story of lies and betrayal, and yet, he wouldn't let himself believe it. He knew Hermione was over Ron…she had told him herself. He felt in his soul that she would not do that to him. She was his, he felt certain of that now. Looking at them again, he could see two friends talking and laughing. Except for the photo of her crying, they all looked like two friends conversing. He looked at the photo of her crying again and it broke his heart to see her in so much pain. It was apparent that she was crying, almost hysterically, as she was speaking. What was she saying to Weasley that had her so upset?
He sighed and slid the pictures under his pillow. Hermione was coming to visit him later, and he would ask her about them. When he was a teenager, while being tormented by James Potter and his friends, Snape was humiliated and called Lily a terrible name when she came to his defense. She immediately stopped being his friend. He had to threaten to sleep on the floor outside her common room before she would even come out and speak with him. Even after he explained and apologized profusely, she still refused to forgive him. After that, things were never the same.
No, he would not jump to conclusions. He was going to give Hermione the opportunity that he had to beg Lily for. He was going to give Hermione the benefit of the doubt and allow her the opportunity to explain what the pictures meant. He wasn't going to throw away everything he and Hermione had over some pictures that didn't show anything improper; she deserved better than that. He smiled to himself as he wondered at this power Hermione had over him, which made him feel like a changed man. He couldn't even fathom a life without her.
Crabbe slipped out near the entrance of the castle and waited for his prey. It didn't take long for the young Miss Weasley and Miss Granger to pass him, talking excitedly. He cleared his throat, stopping them in their tracks.
"Good afternoon ladies, many happy returns on your upcoming marriages." Crabbe could really pour on the charm when he wanted. "Excuse me Miss Granger; I was wondering if I might have a word with you...alone?" At Hermione's quizzical look he added, "It's regarding the visit I just had with your Professor Snape." Hermione, suddenly concerned, handed her parcels and purse to Ginny and begged her to deliver them to their rooms. She assured Ginny that she would return to the common room as soon as she was through speaking to Mr. Crabbe. Ginny was hesitant but with a nod from Hermione, she turned and headed inside the castle.
Crabbe offered Hermione his arm and steered her toward an outside gazebo that had been erected for the reception. The ivy magically growing on the outside offered shelter from the sun and prying eyes, Crabbe noted.
Once inside, Crabbe yanked Hermione around to face him. Pulling her to him roughly, he placed his mouth on hers with a punishing kiss. He was taller and much broader than her; however, she fought him, suddenly frightened. He spun her around and pinned her arms painfully behind her back and placed his other arm around her neck forcing her head back to whisper in her ear. "You stupid bitch, you accepted that ugly, smug little traitor's marriage contract when you could have had me?"
Hermione suddenly remembered that Crabbe was one of the wizards who had put in a contract for her. "Take you hands off me you filthy inbred." Hermione said through clenched teeth, "Severus will..."
Crabbe tightened his grip on her throat until she started to see stars.
"Oh, no need to worry about him, my filthy little mudblood. After what I just told him about you, he has decided to call the wedding off. He doesn't want your filthy, mudblood ass any more. I on the other hand..."
Hermione shrieked as Crabbe yanked down the front of her sundress exposing her breasts. With his free hand, he groped her bare breasts and began twisting her nipples roughly between his fingers.
"Please, please stop this," she cried as he continued fondling her breasts. She cried out again when she felt him grind his hard cock against her backside. Her heart cried out in fear, begging for Severus to come save her. Crabbe was lying; Severus would always want to be with her.
Tears rolled down her face when he hissed, "I'll take you off that old bat's hands. My nephews and me will keep babies popping out of you until you're no longer worth fucking, 12 or so babies should do it." He lowered his pants and she screamed when she felt him reach under her sundress and rip her knickers from her body. With her arms still painfully pinned up behind her, he forcefully bent her over into a wall of ivy and she felt his hardness press against her opening and start to slide inside her, prompting her to scream for all she was worth. He kicked her leg out, spreading her legs farther apart and attempted to shove himself in deeper when she felt the ground rumble and shake. Suddenly released, she fell to the gazebo floor.
Hagrid who had been summoned by a hysterical Tippy had come running and yanked Crabbe off her shaking him so hard the man fell unconscious. Thinking of nothing except her desire to be with Severus—to feel safe—Hermione pulled up her sundress and ran with all her might towards the castle, even as Hagrid called out that she was safe now. She ran full speed, not stopping until she ran past a shocked Madam Pomfrey, dived through the curtain and threw herself at Severus who caught her up in his arms and pulled her against him.
"Hermione what's wrong, tell me what's happened?" He pleaded as she wept hysterically, in his arms. She was crying so hard that Snape was terrified of what could have possibly happened to her.
"Hold me, Severus," she cried pitifully, "please, please just hold me." Sobs were wracking her entire body causing fear to grip his heart. He knew something horrible had just happened to his Hermione, and she was in no shape to tell him. She was crying so hard she was gasping for breath.
"Hermione baby," Snape whispered tenderly, "I'm going to enter your mind, sweetheart; don't fight me, just let go and allow me to see what happened." Hermione started shaking and he kept whispering words of encouragement until he was able to enter her mind unhindered. Hermione cried in mortification and shame as Severus slipped into her mind and witnessed Mr. Crabbe attempting to rape her. He slid out of her mind, shaking with rage. He wanted to sprint out to the Gazebo and tear Crabbe limb from limb. How dare that piece of rotten flesh think he had any right to Hermione's body! The ugly things Crabbed had whispered in her ear made him sick to his core. He tightened his hold on Hermione, still whispering that she was okay now…she was safe with him and he would make that bastard pay for daring to lay a finger on his Hermione.
Madam Pomfrey entered the curtained area to see if Hermione was okay. She was surprised by the amount of fear she had witnessed on the young woman's face as Hermione raced past her. She approached the bed and Snape quietly explained what had just occurred as Hermione continued to cry uncontrollably. Madam Pomfrey put her hand over her mouth, alarmed that something like this could happen at Hogwarts.
Racing into the wing, Ginny called out, "Madam Pomfrey, two Aurors just dragged Mr. Crabbe out onto the lawn, they say you should come out…" Madam Pomfrey pulled Nurse Ginny into the curtained area and whispered to her what had transpired. With a look of horror, Ginny ran to get a vial of sleeping drought. Snape assisted her with pouring the sleeping drought into Hermione's mouth. Within seconds, Hermione fell unconscious against his chest, her breathing still ragged.
"Madam Pomfrey," Ginny said calmly, "the Aurors are waiting for you on the front lawn. They're asking you to please go outside and check on Mr. Crabbe. I'll take care of this…" She said indicating the unconscious Hermione.
Glad to have an assistant as skilled as Miss Weasley, Madam Pomfrey nodded and hurriedly left the wing to assist the Aurors. Ginny ran over to the cabinet and pulled out a rectangle shaped box and raced back to the bed.
"Help me turn her over, Severus."
Snape assisted Ginny in turning Hermione over so she was laying face up, her body stretched out on top of his, with her head resting on his chest. Ginny went to raise Hermione's dress, and seeing her lack of underwear her blood froze in her veins. Steeling herself, she pushed Hermione's legs up so her knees were bent and her legs spread. She was careful to leave Hermione's dress down far enough, so Professor Snape couldn't see what she was doing.
Seeing Snape's look of confusion, Ginny reached for the contents of the box and looked him in the eye, "It's a rape kit, Severus. I have to collect evidence for the Aurors." Snape fairly shook with rage. "Severus," she warned, "I need you to stay in control, Hermione needs you here now, with her, not out there pounding the life out of Crabbe. Besides, the Aurors seem to be having a hard time keeping Hagrid from ripping him apart." Snape took a deep breath and forced himself to relax as he looked down at Hermione's lovely, tear-stained face. His heart ached, when he considered what she had just endured. Sensing his attempt to remain calm, Ginny whispered, "That's better, Severus, thank you."
Ginny ran a swab on the inside of Hermione's Vagina, placed it in a container and sealed it. Then she inserted a long narrow tool partway into Hermione's vagina. Snape couldn't see what she was doing, but he didn't need to, he trusted Nurse Ginny's medical skill.
"The good news is that he didn't penetrate her far, there's some slight tearing but that looks to be a few days old," Ginny said as she looked up Snape with narrowed eyes. He looked away quickly hoping she didn't see the guilt written on his face. "However, it appears that her hymen is intact, so she's still a Virgin." Snape stared at Ginny in shock, before kissing Hermione on the top of her head thankful that neither he nor Crabbe had taken her virginity. "There are no signs of disease," Ginny said reading the display on the instrument, "and no semen present, so we won't have to run any tests for pregnancy. Thank God she was able to fight him off and get away from him."
"She didn't, get away by herself – Hagrid saved her." Snape whispered, his heart swelling with a sense of satisfaction when he once again pictured the sight of Hagrid shaking the life out of Crabbe. Although, he still had the uncontrollable urge to choke the life out of Crabbe, himself. Seeing the look on his face, Ginny reiterated, "I know you're angry, Severus, but Hermione needs you here with her now, just holding her, not out there punishing Mr. Crabbe."
Ginny sealed the kit and it disappeared from her hand. Then she used her wand to clean Hermione and pulled her legs back down. "I think she should stay here with you tonight, Severus. I don't think she should wake up alone. Don't worry..." she said holding up her hand to silence him, "I'll deal with Madam Pomfrey."
She assisted Snape in turning Hermione over so she was lying on top of him, like the first night he held her in his arms. Ginny covered Hermione with a sheet and then carefully reaching under the sheet, to maintain some of Hermione's dignity, she removed Hermione's dress, strapless bra and sandals. Everything was bagged before his eyes and then the bag disappeared. Leaving the sheet over Hermione's prone body, Ginny retrieved an extra blanket and covered both Severus and Hermione.
"She should have a gown." He murmured.
"She'll be okay, Severus, I don't want to jostle her anymore tonight." Ginny said as she turned to leave. Snape reached out to touch her arm, "Thank you Ginny. I'm glad my Hermione has such a caring friend like you."
There were tears in Ginny's eyes when she said, "You're welcome, Severus, thank heavens she has you. Something like this could…" She closed her eyes and then opened them. "Rape isn't about sexual attraction, or losing control, more often it's used to torture or humiliate and damage a woman."
Snape looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms and felt an overwhelming desire to crush the life out of anyone who dare hurt her. Ginny closed the curtain behind her. Snape held Hermione as he heard Ginny explain to Madam Pomfrey her decision to let Hermione stay with the Professor for the night. Madam Pomfrey agreed with Ginny's decision, wholeheartedly, having seen the state Hermione was in when she ran past her. The older nurse vowed to keep people out of the Wing overnight so the Professor and Hermione could rest. Madam Pomfrey suggested that Ginny retire to her chambers and try to get some rest, herself.
Snape heard Hagrid's rough voice, and assumed he was speaking to Ginny out in the corridor. Unable to hear Ginny's soft reply, Snape smiled when he heard Hagrid exclaim over and over how glad he was that Hermione had Severus and that she would be safe now.
Snape thought back to his meeting with Crabbe. Anton Crabbe had intended to hurt Hermione all along. The pictures were just a ruse to get close to her and to put doubt in Snape's mind.
The more Snape thought about the pictures, the more he worried. He couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing in those photos…why had Hermione been so upset? He looked down at Hermione and made a command decision. Legilimency often required eye contact. However, in some cases, where the individuals shared a connection... Snape concentrated on entering her mind as he whispered over and over, "What did you tell Ron today, Hermione?" He repeated this over and over until he entered her mind and viewed her memory.
He recognized the restaurant where he had arranged, through Arthur Weasley, for the group to have lunch. Arthur was supposed to accompany them but must have sent Ron Weasley in his place. Ron and a lovely blond woman who he figured must be Gabrielle were sitting at the table down from Hermione, not realizing that their voices were carrying down to her.
"You must speak with her, Ronald; it is ze only way to know for sure and put your mind at ease – before it is too late."
"Yes but I have no right..."
"Ronald," She gently chastised, "You are her friend...and her first love...do not let zis moment slip by or you will always blame yourself." She made a small tsk tsk sound. "She deserves to know zat you are happy and you must find out for yourself if she is truly happy with her choice in marrying ze Professor."
Ron sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. "How did I ever get so blessed to marry such a wonderful creature?" Ron whispered. They set like that for several seconds, their eyes closed, foreheads pressed together as if reading each other's thoughts.
Then she giggled and said, "It is I who am blessed to find and be marrying not once but twice the man of my dreams – you have my heart Ronald Weasley."
Snape wanted to look away but couldn't. He felt like an intruder, hearing their love talk and suddenly realized that Hermione must have felt the same way in that moment. So far it didn't look like a lover's tryst…anything but.
"And you have my heart, Gabrielle Weasley." Ron said as he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
He walked over to Hermione and held his hand out, asking her if she would join him for a walk. Hermione, at first reluctant, looked over at Gabrielle as if asking permission and, at Gabrielle's friendly nod, let Ron pull her to her feet.
Taking her hand in his, Ron and Hermione strolled up the hill, stopping as they reached the fence that bordered the restaurant's property.
Hermione looked out over the fence, out onto the open fields. "It is so lovely, out here. It reminds me of some of the places we camped that winter, when we were searching for a way to destroy Voldemort...except it was colder then." She laughed as the warm breeze stirred her sundress around her legs.
"Why did you do it, Hermione?"
Hermione looked at Ron quickly, as if she was not sure of his meaning.
"Why did you go back and save him? You didn't even tell us what you were doing. Didn't you trust us to help you?" Hermione bit her lip and turned away. She looked as if she was reluctant to answer, or perhaps searching for the right words.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds and then Ron asked, "Are you marrying him because of me, Hermione…because of how I broke it off with you?" Hermione started to speak but Ron rushed on as if he had to get it all off his chest, "because if that is the only reason, I will never forgive myself." Ron ran a hand though his red hair in frustration and kicked a rock with his toe absentmindedly.
Hermione turned away and looked out over the field as if looking for guidance. She appeared to be having a struggle within herself and then seemingly making a decision turned back to Ron and whispered, "I'm marrying Severus because he is my destiny…the reason I exist". Ron started to speak again but Hermione pleaded with him to please listen. Taking a deep breath she said, "I made a promise to Dumbledore…"
"Yes, yes, we all know about that…" he interrupted his voice sounding frustrated. "Saving a Half a Prince with a Princesses' kiss, blah, blah, blah, but…"
"Please let me finish Ron, let me explain without you interrupting me."
Ron sighed loudly then crossed his arms and nodded for her to continue.
"When I was at the Academy and received your letter breaking it off with me, I was upset…but part of me was also relieved. By holding on to you, I had been living a lie, Ron. When we kissed in the Chamber of Secrets, the last night of the war, I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. But, then I kissed Severus and that kiss still burned on my tongue. I tried to put thoughts of the night I kissed Professor Snape out of my mind but not a day went by that I didn't think of him. After I saw his life in the Pensive and I realized that Dumbledore had trusted me to save him…and I had failed…I became obsessed. I thought of him every day, the sacrifices he made for a woman, who never truly loved or appreciated him, and it broke my heart. I thought of the boy he kept safe all those years simply because he was her son—the many times he kept us safe...kept me safe. I knew he had been cruel and hateful to me, in Potions Class, but none of that mattered. I so desperately wanted him to love me like that. I began dreaming of him every night. I refrained from taking a sleeping potion, in the beginning, because I couldn't resist the desire to see him." She was looking at Ron but seemed to be staring off into the distance as if reliving that time all over again. "His voice became the voice in my head that pushed me to succeed in the Academy, the voice that told me I deserved better when you left me for someone else, and the voice that comforted me when I cried in my sleep." She looked away then, with tears in her eyes. "Whenever there was a challenging potion to brew, I could almost feel him with me – guiding me. My successes were his successes because he had become a part of me, Ron, a part of my soul." Ron looked at her in shock, not sure what to say. "At night I would dream that I had been able to save him and then weep bitter tears in the morning when I realized once again—it was just a dream. I had failed, Ron. I had failed to save the only man I knew I could ever love, and it was destroying me!" She was crying now and Ron reached out for her, but she backed away out of his grasp. "No, you must understand what I went through Ron… the agony of loving someone who would always be just beyond my reach. I knew it wasn't rational to be so obsessed with a dead man, but I couldn't help myself. I felt his presence everywhere and it felt as if I were going mad. Even on the hilltops, collecting supplies for my potions, I would hear his voice on the wind and when I turned towards his voice, I fully expected to see him standing there!" She was crying harder now, almost to the point of hysterics as Ron stood with his hands at his sides—witnessing a Hermione he had never seen before—her voice hoarse with raw emotion. "Don't you see, Ron? When I heard that he had survived, that he had awakened and wanted to see me, I had to go to him. I had to find a way to be with him, to be near him and never let him go. Kingsley mentioned the marriage law and I saw it as my chance. It was my one chance, Ron, to make sure I would never lose him again. Even if he despised me and couldn't stand the sight of me, one night a week he'd have to touch me and I could pretend, if only for that moment in time, that he loved me the way I had so desperately loved him—for so very long!" She stood there facing Ron, with her arms wrapped around her body, sobbing uncontrollably.
Stunned at such raw emotion, Ron reached out and swiftly pulled her to his chest in a comforting hug and held her tightly as she cried—patting her on the back until her gut wrenching sobs subsided. She clung to him fiercely as she laid her head on his shoulder, physically spent.
Still holding her, Ron cleared his throat, "Well, uhm…I was going to tell you that I'd found my soul mate too, but my story is not as…ah, dramatic as yours."
Hermione laughed and pushed him away, stepping back out of his reach. Wiping at her eyes she said, "Merlin's beard, I'm a mess. I don't know what Severus sees in me. I'm lucky he doesn't run from Hogwarts screaming whenever I get near him."
Ron looked at her incredulously, "No way, not a chance." Hermione looked at him questioningly and he continued, "If what Ginny says about him being…" He paused for effect and trying to imitate Ginny's voice said, "Absolutely GAGA" his voice returning to normal, "Over you, then you have nothing to worry about. Besides…" he said nudging her on the shoulder, "Except for my Gabrielle, you are the prettiest woman I've ever seen. Snape would be bonkers not to want to show up everywhere with you on his arm. Why the old git should be down on his knees everyday thanking creation…" seeing her look at him with her arms crossed, Ron stammered sheepishly, "Oh sorry Hermione, I guess he's your old git now and you don't want anyone saying that about him." Hermione rolled her eyes at him and laughed. She used her wand to remove the trace of tears on her face, so no one would know she had been crying.
"I'm really glad you're happy, Ron. Gabrielle is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside." Hermione said, taking his arm as they started back down the hill where the others were waiting.
"Thanks, Hermione that means a lot to me. I'm glad now that you were able to save Snape. I'd hate to think what would have happened to your state of mind...I mean, you said you were going mad...uhm, look, I just hope you know that no matter what...we'll always be friends." Ron finished sheepishly as she looked up at him, in admiration.
"We'll be friends forever, Ron...always."
Snape slipped out of her mind and realized he had tears running down his face. The raw emotions he felt radiating off of Hermione had touched him down in his very soul. To be so totally loved by someone that they were obsessed over you! His heart ached when he thought of what she went through; the longing and heartache she described. He could hardly believe that he'd once thought of himself as obsessed over his love of Lily. However, compared to what he just witnessed, his love for Lily was nothing more than a misguided crush. If he had died and stayed with Lily, Hermione would have, no doubt, slipped into madness and suffered a fate worse than death. He gasped. Those were Lily's words exactly…he would be given a chance to save her from a fate worse than death. Surely, dying would be more welcome than the torture she'd endured, alone, at the Academy. Remembering the picture from her folder, Snape realized he was the reason for that look of sadness and loss, upon her lovely face.
He decided that when Hermione awoke, he would confess to her what he had witnessed in her mind, beg for her forgiveness, and present her with the pictures Crabbe had given him. He would ask her to hold on to the last photo that showed her and Ron gazing at each other adoringly. He now realized it was a photo of two people who had let go of the past and had given each other permission to be happy.
Merlin's Beard! When did he become so understanding and sensitive to another person's feelings? He had to admit, though, thinking back…since the moment he woke from his comma, he could think of nothing else but this woman who was sleeping in his arms. At first extremely angry, bitter and full of resentment, he had been intent on punishing her, but somehow from that very first night, this beautiful woman had slipped into his heart. What was this power Hermione had over him? An epiphany hit him, and he felt as if he had been physically punched in the gut.
Severus Snape, from the House of Slytherin—who also happened to be the meanest Professor Hogwarts had ever known—was madly, deeply and with every fiber of his being, in love with Hermione Granger, from the House of Gryffindor.