Chapter 18: The Product Of One's Master
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy S.S.
{"You made a monster of me...Through all your wicked lies...Forever tortured by you...Abandoned at death's door...Until I said no more...Don't look away...You're just a former regret of mine...And when you want, just look away...You're just a former regret of mine...Erasing now...You made a rock star of me...Gave me this wicked life...Paid to be tortured by you...A life I now abhor...And still I say, no more..."} Monster,Disturbed
Snape Manor, Unknown World...
Steel gray eyes met amber as Hermione Granger found herself face to face with Lucius Malfoy. His platinum blond hair as lengthy and unkempt as ever as he moved about the servants quarters. His face a hollowed mask of humiliation and emptiness. The young witch believed he resembled the version of Professor Snape back from her first years at Hogwarts. Curious as to how he managed to survive after his very public beating at the hands of the despot Voldemort during the final battle of Hogwarts. He had been a crumpled pool of blood and bone the last the young witch saw and at the time she thought it fitting.
"Malfoy." said Hermione stunned as she looked upon him whole once more but haunted in his manner.
"Well, it appears you have come out to play at last, Miss Granger." said Lucius in his usual smug Pureblood manner. "I trust that Severus has not roughed you up too badly."
The Gryffindor witch narrowed her amber eyes at her most hated enemy as side from Snape and the despot.
"What do you know?" she asked studying him for a moment.
"Sadly, I know a great deal about your little predicament." admitted Lucius in a bored tone. "My little brother has become something of a savage given his newly awakened appetites, was the Weasley girl not proof enough of this?"
Lucius walked over to Snape's study and poured himself a glass of firewhiskey.
"Why are you here Malfoy?" asked Hermione. "Last I heard this was Snape's twisted little harem."
The senior Malfoy chuckled rather darkly.
"I think Severus will enjoy playing with you the most Miss Granger." he said confident in his manner. "Alas, I have no such privileges when it comes to this house or the dark lord's bidding."
Hermione arched an eyebrow at this.
"So you're saying...Snape out ranks you." she said piecing his words together.
Lucius seemed to bristle at this.
"What I am saying Miss Granger, is that you have stepped into a world far beyond your brilliant little mind's comprehension." said the Senior Malfoy. "My little brother is infected with a darkness that makes even the dark lord tremble in his wake and now you have come into his grasp."
"I'm not afraid of Snape." said Hermione defiantly.
The handsome wizard smirked as he sipped from his freshly poured glass. His face took on a more serious expression and he sighed.
"Severus has...he has become unstable in the recent years." he admitted. "No doubt his madness is getting the better of him these days...do not...do not judge him too harshly Miss Granger, he was not always a monster."
"Like I'll ever believe that." said the young witch in a harsh tone.
"He saved my life." said Lucius gripping the glass he drank from tightly with his pale fingers. "I know not how to save his, but I have a feeling that you do...or you soon will."
"What makes you think I wish to save him after all he has done." hissed Hermione in a petulant manner.
"Because it was your precious Dumbledore that caused this in the first place." hissed Lucius in return. "Had he not cursed him, had he not pushed him so far..."
"I would not be the superior force of darkness that I am today." interrupted Snape with a smirk filed across his face.
The young witch balled her fists in a bid to ready an attack. Her amber eyes took in his sweat slick, shirtless form as he leaned against a nearby wall. His lank raven hair had been soaked and dangling freely in his face, much like it use to when he had been an awkward teenager moving about the dark corridors of Hogwarts Castle.
"Bonding already I see." said Snape mocking the concern Lucius had painstakingly shown for him. "And to think not long ago you were mortal enemies."
"Severus..." began the senior Malfoy.
Snape seemed to ignore him choosing instead to focus on the young witch whom dared conspire against him.
"You think yourself superior because of your precious code of honor?" he asked "You Gryffindors, are nothing if not amusing."
"And you Slytherins are nothing if not treacherous scum." countered Hermione narrowing her amber eyes at him.
Upon hearing her furthered insolence, Snape attempted to move toward her, only to be stopped by Lucius Malfoy.
"Severus please..." he said daring to stand between Snape's wrath and Hermione Granger of all people.
Snape's obsidian gaze fell on Lucius and a snarl escaped him.
"Count yourself fortunate that Lucius was here to ensure that I'd adhere to reason." he said coldly. "One never does truly know how long it will last."
He stepped away from Lucius and out into the hall. Hermione looked at the senior Malfoy for the first time. His weariness had been as evident as his sorrow once Snape had disappeared up the winding staircase.
"H-He doesn't know what to do with himself." said the handsome rugged wizard staring after Snape. "He's becoming..."
"What?" asked the young witch now curious.
"He's becoming cumbersome." replied Lucius sadly. "He has no place here and he knows the pain he's causing...he pretends it's amusing but it's killing him."
"And how do you know that?" asked Hermione not sure she believed that much about the bastard Snape.
"Why don't you ask your precious Dumbledore." hissed Lucius. "There's a bloody portrait of him here in the manor, Severus enjoys taunting him you see."
With that the handsome gray eyed wizard took his leave of the embittered young witch.
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Master Bedroom, Snape Manor, Unknown Location...
Minerva McGongagall had been enjoying the evident peace and quiet of the shadow filled room when the door opened. Her body grew rigid as she had known instinctively whom had been at the other side of it. A half naked and sweat drenched Severus Snape entered with a wild look on his sallow pale face. The elder witch had recognized it well as he stepped into the bedroom violently slamming the door behind him and ensuring that it was heavily warded. He made his way over toward the green eyed witch as she sat up in bed with the elegant and expensive covers pulled up to her chest. She wore a white silk night gown and her hair had been neatly kept in one long braid. The Potions Master had a brief reminder of the muggle story of Rapunzel as he made his way toward their shared bed.
Snape dropped his trousers and crawled between Minerva's aged thighs. Her tensing as his exposed pale muscular form pressed against her warm body beneath the elegant covers. She had very little concept of the length of time she had been his prisoner in this place but she had still not become accustomed to his blatant sexual advances. It had been difficult for her as she saw the young boy whom had first entered Hogwarts Castle unsure of his place in the grand wizarding world but just as excited as every other child that had boarded Hogwarts Express to be there.
"What happened to you?" she asked not sure she could wrap her mind around what had become of that shy boy.
Snape's obsidian eyes met her sorrowful green ones.
"There is beauty in sorrow, if only when tears come from your eyes." said the deranged wizard. "To answer your frequently asked question, I am the monster your precious Dumbledore created."
"Why do you blame Albus for your wickedness?" asked Minerva. "It was you that murdered him after all."
Snape gripped the bed as he slid his body against the warm elder witch whom he pressed against the bed.
"Your Albus, took something from me that I can never get back." he said still meeting the old witch's gaze. "I will revenge my injuries, if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear."
Minerva's eyes widened for a moment as her mind instinctively traveled back toward her childhood memories. She had known that story quite well given her own interests in muggle literature over the years, she had not been an avid reader like some but she did read perhaps for entertainment and given her status as Severus Snape's prisoner his various collections of books had been a welcome distraction.
"The muggle writer, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." she said blurting out the source of the quote.
"Very good." replied Snape with an eerie smirk. "And I was beginning to think you'd never comprehend the game."
"Game?" asked Minerva unsure if she wanted to know the answers to her own burning questions.
Snape said nothing more as he turned his attention to her breasts.
He rested his head against them as if he had been some weary child needing the embrace of his mother.
"The Granger girl is so much like you." he said without emotion in his tone. "If you'd like to see for yourself I shall un-ward the door for you."
Minerva had not been sure if this was another ploy or he was being serious. To prove his point Snape raised his hand and lifted the heavy wards causing the door to unlock on it's own accord.
"You can see her if it pleases you." he said.
"Severus." she said unsure of her own voice in this moment. "Please...don't...don't harm her."
Snape looked up at the elder witch his expression as impassive as always. His obsidian glare as cold as ice seeming to pierce right though the elder witch as his body became tense with fury.
"You are under the impression that I am capable of extending mercy." he said in a voice dripping with coldness. "I assure you Minerva I am not, what will happen to Miss Granger is what will happen unless she can do her job effectively."
"What do you mean her job Severus?" asked the elder witch suddenly confused.
"It is none of your concern." he replied. "Still, you may see the witch for yourself if you feel the need."
With that he rolled off the elder witch and onto his side of the bed. His exposed pale back to her as he closed his eyes. In truth he didn't require sleep but it was amusing to see how Minerva relaxed whenever she believed him to be. He controlled his breathing like always and ventured into the depths of his own mind completely aware of what was happening around him.
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The Study, Snape's Manor, Unknown Location...
Hermione Granger cautiously stepped into the rather large study of her captor Severus Snape. She did as Malfoy Senior had instructed and sought out the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. She had nearly given up hope of finding it when she heard a familiar pleasant and father-like voice call to her. The amber eyed witch had made her way toward the familiar voice and found herself face to face with Albus Dumbledore's magically kept portrait. The twinkling blue eyes of the former Headmaster of Hogwarts, viciously cut down by the devious Severus Snape had not seemed to change holding the same mystic even in death.
"Miss Granger." he said pleased to see her alive an well. "It has been quite some time hasn't it?"
Hermione could barely contain the tears that threatened to stream down her pale cheeks. She had seemingly lived several lifetimes in the wake of the old Headmaster's murder. Harry had been gone right along with Ron and any hope of peace given what Snape and the death eaters had done to the world since they seized power.
"It has been quite a while indeed Professor." replied Hermione.
Dumbledore treated her to a pleasant smile as he looked her over.
"Life has been quite difficult for you." he said observing her.
"I should say that it has." replied the young witch briefly reflecting on her current predicament. "Given all that Snape has done."
At the mention of Snape, Dumbledore's smile faded into a serious expression of worry and anguish.
"Severus...is he?" asked the older wizard.
"He's currently being kept busy for the moment." replied Hermione. "I don't believe we have that much time."
Dumbledore nodded.
"No doubt you are here because Severus has enlisted your help." he said knowing full well what she had been after.
"That's what I don't understand sir." said Hermione meeting Dumbledore's gaze. "Why would that murderous brute need my help with anything."
"That is precisely what I'd like to know." said the voice of Minerva McGonagall as the elder witch stepped into the room.
Hermione had been shocked to see her former Headmistress alive and in person for the first time in years.
"Professor?" she said not sure if this was another of Snape's tricks.
Minerva's green eyes had been warmed with the sight of her favorite student alive and well given all that Severus put everyone through. She had a good deal of questions along the lines of what was done to Severus herself.
"Albus." she said facing the elder wizard's portrait for the first time in years. "I want to hear it form you, what have you done?"
The elder wizard's expression had been deathly serious as he met the green gaze of his oldest and dearest friend.
"The condition in which our Severus currently finds himself in is the result of my past actions." admitted Dumbledore. "I cursed him shortly before my demise at his hands, in all truth I cursed him to bring it about."
Minerva's eyes widened as she listened to the wizard who's judgment she followed without question for all these years.
"What did you do to him?" asked Hermione suddenly feeling a spike of rage as she thought back to the condition Snape had been in years prior to his murdering Dumbledore. "He...he couldn't do it."
Dumbledore turned his attention to Hermione.
"I beg your pardon Miss Granger." said Minerva confused as the young witch continued.
"That's why you cursed him, he wasn't strong enough to willingly kill you." said the amber eyed witch.
"That is correct Miss Granger." replied Dumbledore. "Unfortunately, I did not foresee the ramifications of my act until it was far too late."
"You mean until Snape turned into a complete monster." muttered Hermione angered that Dumbledore of all people had been the cause of all of this misery. "I hated him for so long...I blamed him for what he did to you...and so did Harry."
Minerva had been silent as she recalled the look on Snape's face that final night at Hogwarts when she staged the coupe and crippled him savagely in The Great Hall.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked unsure she wanted to hear more.
Dumbledore met her gaze once more. It shamed him a great deal to see the well earned disappointment behind eyes that had once reflected complete and unwavering trust in him, perhaps it had been what finally drove Severus into the depths of his madness.
"Severus has been cursed with The Black Heart Blight." admitted Dumbledore.
Minerva's eyes widened as she heard those words. Hermione was confused by her former Head of House's reaction and the aspect of the curse.
"So he's been living with that curse for months while running the school." said the elder witch moving closer to the portrait.
"I'm afraid so." replied Dumbledore honestly.
Minerva seemed to be reflecting on quite a few things as she glared at the former Headmaster.
"H-How could you Albus?" she asked her voice dripping with rage and sorrow alike.
"I did what was necessary." replied the elder wizard. "He was needed to end Voldemort's reign."
"But you've created an even more serious threat than Tom ever was." said Minerva.
"I'll take that as a compliment." said the voice of Severus Snape as he entered the study.
He had been thankfully fully dressed in his usual trademark ebony attire.
"Severus." said Minerva looking over the Potions Master with newly sympathetic eyes.
"How perfect." said Snape making his way swiftly over toward the Transfigurations Professor.
"Severus don't..." started Dumbledore.
Snape ignored him and pressed his body against the elder witch.
"Has he told you yet love?" asked the deranged wizard. "Has he told you how agonizing such a dark curse can be?"
Minerva became tense as she reflected the horrors she committed against the poor younger wizard.
"You are still a monster Severus." she replied at last finding her voice. "No matter your origins."
"You wound me." said Snape taking a step back from her. "Good thing I enjoy pain."
He turned his attention to Hermione Granger whom had been without word since he entered the study.
"Such a young and supple thing." he said taking a step toward her only to be met with a letter opener to the throat at the hands of his ill-tempered wife.
"You will not touch her." said the elder witch tightly gripping the make-shift weapon.
Snape smiled rather cruelly as she placed the cool tip of the metal against the sallow pale flesh of his neck.
"Now...now love, we do still have company." he said. "Unless she wants a go as well?"
"With a sharp object and your useless carcass anytime." said Hermione narrowing her amber eyes at the ebony clad Headmaster.
"The girl's one hell of a flirt." said Snape as a flicker of amusement filed across his face. "You may have competition love."
"I meant what I said Severus." said Minerva. "Albus may have done terrible things to you in the past but nothing will stay my hand if you harm Miss Granger."
"Is that a challenge?" asked Snape not moving an inch as she continued to hold the letter opener at his throat.
"Do not tempt me." said Minerva still gripping her weapon tightly. "I'd consider it a service to the wizarding community given all that you have done."
"You Gryffindors witch always did have a way of getting my attention." said Snape with a flicker of amusement.
"Professor, what do we do now?" asked Hermione.
"You can return to your room Miss Granger." said Minerva. "Severus will not bother you."
"W-What about you?" asked Hermione unsure about leaving the elder witch with Snape.
"I'll be fine dear." replied Minerva. "Get going."
Snape smirked as his obsidian gaze became filled with heat as he watched the young witch go.
"I love it when you get all forceful." said the deranged wizard. "But you and I both know you will not and cannot stop me from taking her if I so desired to."
Minerva sighed. This much had been true but it proved that there was still a peace of the young wizard she once knew despite the effects of the curse.
"I didn't know Severus." she said removing the letter opener as soon as Hermione had gone. "Had I known I would have stopped him."
"That is kind of a moot point now isn't it?" asked Snape. "You did not know and you still work to undermined me...there is no point of pity...we both know how much you wish you could end my life."
Minerva had opened her mouth to protest but was silenced by a silent stunning spell. She collapsed and Snape caught her in his arms. The ebony clad wizard carried her back to their shared bedroom and heavily warded it once more.
His obsidian eyes looked over her unconscious body as he climbed back into bed with her.
"You were the catalyst." he said stroking her cheek as she slumbered. "You broke my will and made me crumble."
He tucked the sleeping witch into bed and rested his head against her belly.
"I wanted nothing more than to protect you." he continued. "But instead you tried to destroy me."
Snape's sallow pale cheeks had been stained with black tears as he continued to sit in bed with the still unconscious elder witch. His mind traveled to Hermione Granger and his many ideas pertaining to her amusing him in the coming days. He had been right, Minerva could not stop him...but neither could anyone else for that matter.