Chapter 8: A Fate Worse Than Death
{A/N: Here's Another Update...let the monster rise...}
My Thanks To All My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy S.S.
{"I admit it, what's to say... I'll relive it, without pain...Once upon a time...I could control myself...Once upon a time...I could lose myself... Oh try and mimic, what's insane... I am in it, where do I stand?..."} Once, Pearl Jam
Warning: Acts of Violence and Abuse...Also contains allusions to spousal Rape...
TWO YEARS LATER...
Brawn Field, Unknown World...
Obsidian eyes blazed with a new found malice as The dark wizard Severus Snape stood in the center of a small rebel forces encampment. All around him vibrant flames engulfed everything in it's path.A wicked smirk filed across his face as he looked down at the carnage he had caused. His thoughts drifting back to his new acquisition, the prospect of the unruly girl being crushed that more of her friends have been slain was just too good to pass up. He aimed to beat some respect into the little chit, a feat that he never managed while at Hogwarts and given her attitude it was hardly a surprise she would end up being the gift that keeps on giving. Indeed the dark lord had chosen well, when it came to supplying him with ample entertainment. Granger had quite the fighting spirit. The blazing heat from the magically set fire continued to swallow the encampment in it's fury. Screams filled the uneasy air as quickly as the thick clouds of black smoke that towered above their heads. The yellow-orange glow of the flame catching the dark wizard's eye as he moved swiftly about the camp. His ebony robes billowing behind him as countless mangled corpses lay at his feet.
Third degree burns and smoke inhalation had been the very least of their worries. Feeling extra sinister, Snape decided to stomp one of the crawling masses of molten flesh to death to further punctuate his wicked appeal. The incredulous rush he had gotten from their collective misery had been enough to put him a close to good spirits, sadly once the final victim met their end, Snape was once again faced with boredom.
He immediately left the encampment in a bid to enlighten Granger on her groups latest blunder. The anticipation of her fury held new promise as the loud crack of thunder signaled his departure from the gruesome scene.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Snape Manor, Unknown Location...
The amber eyes of Hermione Granger narrowed as she took in the sight of her former friend. Two years of not a single sighting nor word...she believed Ginny Weasley dead these many years like the all her other childhood friends in the wake of the war aside from those that fought alongside her in the rebellion. The red head witch didn't seem all that surprised by their chance meeting. Come to think of it she didn't seem all that surprised by much of anything any more.
Ginny had remained draped in the strange silk robe that did little to cover her private bits and remained silent as she drew the bath. Hermione watched her dump expensive oils and luxurious soaps into the mixture as well as soft white flower pedals. The angry amber eyed witch stood in the center of the decadent bathroom trying her hardest not to imagine the amount of blood shield that fueled the cost of such a place.
"What are you doing here?" asked Hermione not at all hiding the rage behind her tone. "Why are you so cozy with Snape, after all he's done...you should hate him."
Ginny remained silent as she continued to check the temperature of the bath. Either, she truly had no words for Hermione or she simply wished to do her duty in a bid to appease her "Master". It didn't matter which excuse she used to Hermione, in the end she was nothing more than a stranger in this unnerving place.
"We really should get you cleaned up." said Ginny motioning to the tub.
The irate brown haired witch rolled her eyes. She could give a Niffler's shit about that bath when Snape was obviously out murdering thousands of innocent people. He had never been a man to rely false promise even when he had been a spy for the order of phoenix. It was one of the very few things about the man she could always count on.
"Ginny have you gone mad?" asked Hermione showing off her restraints. "Snape's a fucking murderer...have you forgotten what he's done to you and your family?"
Ginny Weasley simply looked blank at the ranting witch before her.
"My Master is a very kind man." she said in a sickeningly sweet tone. "You'll see Hermione...he'll treat you so good...if only you'd listen."
"I have no intention of getting cozy with Snape." spat Hermione bitterly. "In fact I have no intention of staying in this place at all."
Ginny sighed, her dark eyes filled with knowing.
"Suit yourself." she said turning her attention back to the bath in a bid to get it just right.
Hermione managed to undo her binds and open the door to the strange bathroom. Ginny didn't put up any protest, despite her "Master" being so unhappy with her given she had not followed his orders. A fact that the now escaping witch pushed to the back of her mind as she raced through the maze that had been the servant's quarters.
No sooner had she reached the outer door to the entrance hall where Snape brought her inside the manor, She was suddenly derailed as she ran into something akin to a brick wall except it had been draped in ebony robes smelling of smoke and ash and splattered with the crimson pigment of blood.
Upon meeting the gaze of this dark stranger, Hermione's amber eyes widened in a mix of fury and terror. Snape had returned and it had been Snape's robes she had come into contact with. A wickedly humorous smile filed across his sallow pale face. He reached down rather quickly and pulled the escaped witch to her feet.
"Going some where?" he asked in a dry tone.
"Let me go you son of a bitch." spat Hermione as she struggled against his grasp. "You should be dead you fucking bastard... I hate you!"
Snape chuckled darkly as he continued to haul the insult hurling Hermione back into the bathroom via the servants tunnel. Once they returned to the bathroom, Ginny immediately fell to her knees not daring to look into the eyes of her "Master". Snape moved passed her toward the tub and without warning threw Hermione inside. The witch shouted more brash obscenities as the warm water hit her battered skin and soaked through her atrocious attire.
"AHHHH!" she shouted as the water seeped into her numerous cuts and gashes.
Snape seemed delighted by her apparent torment. He held her in the tub firmly grasping her wayward hair as he summoned a ghastly yellow sponge and began to scrub the uncooperative witch splashing water everywhere.
Hermione had been scrubbed raw by the time Snape had finished. His obsidian eyes twinkling due to the darkness of his soul, if he could still be considered to have one. She hadn't been so sure anymore.
"I do so love it when you challenge me Miss Granger." he said almost like a purr. "That bottomless hatred lurking behind your amber eyes is so very alluring."
Snape's free pale hand stroked her soaked cheek and his long bony index finger trailed down to her lovely little mouth. Disgusted that he was even touching her to begin with, let alone in this slow sensuous manner, Hermione bit down on his finger hard causing her teeth to leave a mark in his milky white flesh.
The dark wizard grimaced and shoved Hermione underwater in reaction. She struggled against his hold and the burning sensation in her lungs. When at last she had been on the brink of unconsciousness, Snape pulled her from the water, a twisted snarl filed across his pale face.
"It seems Minerva has taught you well." he said twisting the knife as he pulled her into an unwanted kiss.
She had barely any time to gasp before he forced his tongue down her throat. He pulled back as she gagged both from the lack of oxygen as well as the grotesque occurrence.
"Disgusting pig." she muttered trying to clean herself from the filth of his mouth being against her.
"Do make up your mind Miss Granger, Am I a "murdering bastard", a "disgusting pig" or as you so cleverly put it, a "son of a bitch?" he asked in bored tone.
"How about all three?" countered Hermione with her amber eyes narrowed.
Snape smirked once more.
"I suppose my mother was indeed a bitch." he replied as if fondly.
Having had his fill of entertainment, he turned his attention to Ginny.
"I want her dressed and ready for bed." he said. "And see to it that you actually accomplish this, this time."
Ginny nodded dutifully choosing to remain silent. The apparent rage behind Snape's eyes had not been missed by Hermione who actually noted the kind of trouble Ginny would be in if she attempted to run again. Still the red head witch made no indication that she resented her choice.
"I shall hate to have to come dress you and tuck you in myself, Miss Granger." said Snape with a flicker of heat behind his obsidian gave when he shifted his focus to Hermione.
"I'll just bet you would." muttered Hermione knowing all too well that he wouldn't mind getting his hands on her again at all.
With a knowing smirk Snape made his way to the bathroom door.
"One more thing Miss Granger." he said.
The soaked girl glared murderously at him.
"What is it now?" she asked in a rather rude tone. "You killed some poor muggle woman and her children this evening?"
"Not quite but the night is still young." replied Snape amused. "You're little rebel sector in Brawn Field has been...tragically lost."
Upon hearing this Hermione suddenly froze. She had told them to get to the underground shelter and do not await her return.
"Go to hell." said she said clearly enraged the fury much more intense as it lit her amber gaze.
"Already been there thank you." replied Snape. "It's become a much anticipated vacations spot...you'd be surprised at how many come waltzing in."
Once he left Hermione's mind was plauged with the images of her faithful friends being cut down by the cowardous traitor.
"Do you see him for what he is now?" she bitterly asked Ginny as the tears streamed down her already soaked cheeks.
Ginny said nothing as she stared blankly across the room.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Snape's Bedroom, Snape Manor, Unknown Location...
Having been satisfied he had broken Hermione's spirit at least for one evening, Snape retired to the master bedroom of the Manor in search of his lovely wife. When he entered it had been dark as per the usual. He slipped off his coat and outer robes. Next went his dragon hide boots and last, his white long sleeve shirt unbuttoned and loosely hanging in the wake of his coat's removal. His lean muscular chest married by scars from his previous life's exploits. A figure clad in green silk stood in the dark with eyes glued to the drape covered window.
With swift movements, Snape had his arms wrapped around the figure, revealed to have been a heartbroken woman, and took in the shapely appeal of her womanly curves. Tears streamed down her aged cheeks causing a faint glow of wetness to appear in the pale light of the moon. The lengthy pale finger of the former Potions Professor trailed down the woman's cheeks and caught her tear before it landed elsewhere. A smile graced his sallow pale face as he licked it away noting the look of disgust behind her green eyes.
"It hurts to remember doesn't it?" he asked in a seemingly sympathetic tone. "So much pain derived from memories and extinguished hopes...would you like me to make you forget again?"
She dared not reply as the tears continued.
"Would you like me to make you forget again?" asked Snape becoming a bit impatient by the lack of obedience given he had been in a generous mood.
"S-Severus please." came her broken voice tainted by sorrow and humiliation. "Don't...don't do this..."
Snape for his part largely ignored the witch as he pressed his half naked form into her backside causing her to gasp in shock. His pale lips had been against her neck as he sucked the flesh rather gingerly. A low moan escaped her despite the humiliation and sadness. More tears streamed down her cheek as Snape walked her toward a large black four poster bed draped with black sheets of silk and elegant pillows.
"I am a generous husband am I not?" he asked as his pale fingers gripped the sorrowful witch hips in a possessive manner.
"Severus..." she said still trying to get through to him.
"Do I not provide you with everything one could possibly ask for?" he asked digging his hands beneath her green silk robe .
"S-Stop this..." she said brokenly.
"It was very clever of you to get that little message out to the silly chit Granger." said Snape. "If you had been from my Hogwarts house, I surely would have applauded your efforts, as misguided as they were...but alas you are a very treacherous Gryffindor and it is because of this...that you must be punished."
With a swipe of his hand, Snape sent the broken witch hurling toward the bed.
"S-Severus don't..." said the mad wizard's apparent wife.
But it was to no avail. There was no snuffing the evil in the Potions Master's cruel intent.