A/N: It's the longest chapter yet. I wanted to share that I had started writing this story when I was away from home. Due to the lockdown, I could not come here. In those months, when I lived alone, I had gotten extremely homesick. I think by writing this story, I released some of those pent-up emotions. I could resonate with Hermione's plight on a personal level. Anyway, I'm home now, after months.
Chapter 5: Acknowledging The Terms
Half past three in the dead of the night saw a white-haired wizard sitting in the kitchen of Severus Snape's house. His gnarled hand was stroking his long, white beard and a pensive expression was worn on his face. Those who knew Albus Dumbledore would also have noticed that the familiar twinkle in his eyes was missing. A Pensieve sat in front of him with swirling memories of the night, a copy of Severus' memories for the Headmaster to keep.
Near the window, looking at nothing but the dark sky, stood Severus. His arms he had folded to his chest and his lips were tightly pressed together. He waited for the Headmaster's judgement.
"Where is Miss Granger right now?" The old wizard asked, his voice too calm for Severus' comfort.
"She is unconscious, I have tended to her injuries," he replied. Then, after a moment of thought, he answered the actual question, "She is in my living room."
"Are you injured, too?" Albus asked.
"Stop dawdling! Come to the point, Albus!" Severus snapped.
"It is important for you to tend to your own injuries, too, my boy," the Headmaster said softly.
"I am fine."
"I do not agree with you," Albus said simply. "You feel guilty."
Severus abruptly, yet smoothly, turned to face the other wizard. "Did you even hear what I told you? I have killed her parents. I have just gotten a student bonded to my person. For the love of Merlin, Headmaster, I am guilty!"
"Where I am looking from," the old wizard said, "I can only see you saved a student's life and provided her gravely injured parents a painless death—these are acts of kindness."
"That girl is barely of age, do you truly think it was kindness on my part to have robbed her of her free will?" Severus hissed.
"You did not have another choice," Albus said.
"No, but you had a choice," the Potions Master said accusingly. "I told you that the Dark Lord was planning to go after those who were involved in the Ministry debacle. You could have provided her protection!"
"We did send her a letter, explaining her vividly that she could be targeted," Albus explained. "A portkey was also sent to her in case an attack was to take place."
"A letter? Just a letter?" Severus slammed his hand on the table. "Couldn't you have sent a bloody Order member to inform her?"
"Nobody had the time-"
"I would have gone!" He snarled.
"You would have never agreed, Severus," the Headmaster said almost calmly.
"And when have you ever cared for what I agree to or not!" He turned back to face the window, not trusting himself to keep facing the old man and not lose his temper completely.
"Severus, the worst is past-"
"No, it is not." The Potions Master hissed.
After a moment of silence, Albus spoke, "You have not consummated the marriage, yet?"
Severus winced. "You mean to ask if I had stooped as low as raping the girl in her sleep, yet."
"No, my boy." No matter how he looked, Severus could not truly find genuine sadness in the old man's voice. Strategy he could sniff lurking in his employee's brain. "But if you do not go forward with it, Tom will know. He is the binder, after all."
"I have time until midnight, today." He announced rather unnecessarily as Albus was aware of the terms. He ran his hand down his face. "Where is Minerva?"
"I believe she is in her quarters, at Hogwarts," Albus replied.
"Call her, explain her the...situation," Severus said, grabbing his cloak from the back of a chair where he had tossed it. "Ask her to stay with the girl. There is a salve on the table, ask Minerva to tend to the girl. I have some errands to run."
"Where are you going, my boy?" Albus asked, getting to his feet.
Severus ignored his question. "Granger will wake up in an hour. There are Silencing Charms on the house, as well as locks on the door, in case she gets hysterical."
"I understand," the old man nodded though his tone suggested nothing close to empathy.
Severus fastened his cloak, ready to Apparate. "Albus," he said gravely, "Do not leave the girl alone—not even for a moment. Tell Minerva." The Headmaster took the hint and nodded. Severus hoped that the old man understood the gravity of the situation...
With that, he Apparated away.
UUUUUUU
Something had woken her up from her deep sleep. Hermione winced at the dull ache in her fingers—did I get hurt? There was a memory that was trying to occupy the forefront of her mind but she was subconsciously restricting it. All Hermione wanted to do was to go back to sleep. But it must be time for breakfast and Mum must be calling her downstairs.
She wondered what there was for breakfast. Shepherd's Pie? But that was dinner, wasn't it?
Dinner?
The doorbell?
The attack!
No!
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione screamed, bolting up on whatever surface she was laying on.
"Miss Gra- Hermione," A familiar woman's voice called for her. But it was not her mother's voice.
She looked up with horrified eyes to find her Head of House sitting by her side. "Professor?"
The otherwise stern woman held softened in her eyes, and that out-of-character trait frightened Hermione. "How do you feel, Hermione?"
"W-What happened?" She found herself at a loss.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Last thing?
Hermione closed her eyes, letting that memory come to her, to fill in the blank spot.
Avada Kadavra!
Green light.
Mum falling lifeless.
Dad stopped breathing.
Snape!
Colour drained out of her face. Her hands flew to cover her gaping mouth.
Her parents were dead.
Snape had killed them.
"He killed them." She whispered in horror. The words sent an ice cold pain through her every nerve. She would have welcomed a Crucio for that hurt lesser than...
She looked up at her Head of House, hoping against hope that whatever she remembered was a nightmare—a dreadful imagining of her own gruesome mind.
She hoped the Professor to tell her that her parents were safe, somewhere far away from the reach of the Death Eaters, from Snape, from Voldemort. That they were saved and rescued in time. That they were waiting for her-
Professor McGonagall's hand slowly came to rest on her shoulder. "Hermione, child..."
And by the despair in her voice, Hermione's last hopes shattered.
"So it's...it's true?" She asked in a voice that she didn't recognise. "Mum, Dad... Snape-Snape killed them? Killed them?"
Her ears started buzzing and hair stood on her neck. Tears were already rolling down her cheeks and an icy coldness had settled in her chest. It felt heavy—as if her heart was literally aching. A sense of loneliness such strong submerged her that she wondered if one could die only from grief.
She needed her mother's arms, her father's voice—to calm her down, to replace the coldness with their loving warmth, to tell her that it was just a bad dream, to tell her that they were still there—safe.
"I am afraid so," a different voice confirmed her doubts. She jumped and looked up to find the Headmaster looking at her with sad eyes. "I am very sorry for your loss, Miss Granger."
Her mind could not register a word that was being spoken to her, as if each syllable had lost its meaning. Each sound had lost its touch. Hermione felt like falling into a whirlpool of emotions, deeper and deeper into a numbness—where she could touch her sadness but could not feel it, as it there was a barrier between herself and her feelings. There was a void, so hollow that she could hear her cries reverberating in it, but could hardly feel the sense of pain that was supposed to accompany the tears.
The last thing she remembered was slumping back and maybe being caught by a set of hands.
UUUUUUU
It was Two in the noon when Severus finally returned to his house. His clothes were disheveled and so was his hair. He felt a bone-deep tiredness settle into him, but could hardly even think of taking a rest. His mind, too, was running on adrenaline, it seemed.
Apparating to the kitchen, he prayed not to encounter the girl. Severus did not even want to begin evaluating what that would be like.
"Severus." He met with the terse greeting. Turning, he saw Minerva sitting by the kitchen table, nursing a cup of tea. Albus was nowhere in sight and—thankfully—so was the girl.
"Minerva." He braced himself for the tirade that was to follow. Though he knew he would win a duel against the witch, somehow he didn't feel like standing up in his defence. Not only was Minerva the closest thing to a cohort he ever had, he believed he deserved her wrath and did not want to defend himself.
"Would you like some tea?" That was not what he was expecting, not even close. The shock might have flashed on his face, for Minerva said, "I know what happened, Albus showed me. I don't blame you, Severus, if that is what you're meaning to ask."
"Then, you should." He said curtly. He flung his cloak on the back of a chair and sat heavily on the other.
"I hardly think so," she summoned a cup of tea from the kettle on the counter and placed it in front of him. "Albus showed me the memories, you could not have done anything differently."
"Did you even witness what I said to her, what I did!" He spat. "I even manhandled her, among other things-"
"Had you not, she would have been dead," Minerva said firmly. "Of course, I do not condone any of it, never will. But it was important last night."
He refrained himself from retorting to that. He had not much energy left and there was still a heap to deal with. "Where is the girl?"
"I took the liberty of setting your guest room up for her," she said. Suddenly, Minerva looked old, older than she was, and tired, exhausted. "I took her to the room although I don't believe she would remember any of it—she was so disoriented when I took her up-"
"You have left her alone?!" He growled. "Are you insane, woman!"
"She is asleep, Severus," Minerva replied with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice. "I have left her with Monitoring Charms, I will know if she wakes up."
"Merlin." He inwardly cursed. Severus rested his head on the back rest of the chair and closed his eyes.
"What is that in your pocket?" Minerva asked.
Oh, he had almost forgotten. Severus buried his hand in the pocket of his robe and pulled out a moving creature. With his wand, he resized the creature into a furry ginger cat.
"A cat?" The woman said in disbelief. "I did not know you have a familiar."
The cat leaped down, looking around herself—himself?—frantically. "It is not my familiar, it is Miss Granger's."
"You went to her house?" She asked, watching the animal with interest.
Severus also retrieved several very small boxes and a miniature trunk from his pockets and deposited them on the table. "The Dark Lord might send someone to destroy her house. I gathered all that I thought could be important to her."
"Is there anyone else in her family?" She asked.
"I do not take interest in the ancestry of my students, especially not those who are not even in my House." He said bluntly.
She sighed. "Was there anyone else home?"
"Except for the obnoxiously obstinate cat, no." He announced, unconsciously rubbing his finger on the scratches on his hand.
"Miss Granger's familiar will support her in these trying times," she mumbled, taking a sip of her tea.
Severus watched as the cat made its way up the stairs, where Granger was currently asleep. He waved his wand over the miniature boxes and trunk on the table, sending them flying to the guest room, too.
"Did she say anything?" He asked.
"She mostly mumbled to herself and, of course, cried. Nothing coherent, though." She said. "She remembers the...her parents...but nothing of the...Wedding."
"The Dark Wedding," he hissed. "There is a difference."
Minerva sighed. "Yes, that." She cast a Warming Charm on Severus' tea, and then spoke, "Albus said you have only time till the midnight..."
He rubbed his temples where the headache had become too prominent to ignore. There was no known way of breaking a Dark Wedding, and he did not have enough time or resources to look for a way. But even the idea of...with a student... It sickened him. He could not! Not with a girl he had already wronged in so many unforgivable ways.
"You need to talk to her, Severus, before you run out of time," she said sternly. "I will not allow this madness without you explaining to Miss Granger all that she needs to know."
"What do you suggest I do? Have a jovial conversation over tea—tell her that the man who killed her parents is suddenly her-" He broke off with slamming the table in exasperation. The two tea cups rattled and some tea spilled from his cup.
"Would you rather she not know what is to happen to her?" Her tone was accusatory.
"Of course not!" He leaned his head back again.
"I believe Albus should also be present in the conversation," she said. "And, of course, I will, too. A figure of authority and somebody in her support will make her feel a bit in control, and will help her come to terms with the situation."
Albus and Minerva were already congizant to the situation. Minerva was her Gryffindor's confidant and the Headmaster could help prove that Severus was not merely taking advantage of the girl. "Is she of age?" He suddenly asked.
"Not yet," she replied.Merlin's- "But she will soon be, I believe on September Nineteenth," she informed him but it did very little to help. "I am bringing her down, you Floo Albus and call him here," she said, getting to her feet. "Be kind to her, Severus, she has a lot to deal with." He didn't reply, only watched her ascending the steps.
UUUUUUUU
Somebody was shaking her awake, a gentle voice had disrupted her dream, something about a car ride home from King's Cross... Hermione opened her eyes to find Professor McGonagall's face looming over her. A deep sense of despair suddenly engulfed her again.
Her mother was dead. And even though she knew the words held veracity, she could still not believe them. It was still a joke, prank that that had been extended too far.
"Miss- Hermione, can you come with me, please?" The lady asked softly.
Hermione looked around. She was in a room that she did not recognise at all. The walls were bare white with an armoire and the single bed she was sitting on, with a small cabinet beside it. A small study-table and a chair sat beside the armoire. Harsh sunlight penetrated through the narrow window on the side. Several cardboard cartons and her trunk was heaped at one corner. Something furry and warm was curled up against her. When she looked down, Hermione was relieved to find Crookshanks beside her.
"Crooks?" She whispered, running her down down her familiar's coat. In return, he purred contentedly.
"Here," Professor McGonagall offered her a glass of water. That suddenly made her realise how very thirsty she was. Hermione accepted the glass with a mumbled word of gratitude and downed the cold water ravenously. The lady took the empty glass from her hand and kept it on top of the bedside cabinet.
"Where...where am I?" Hermione asked, properly sitting up. "And...how did I...return...from..." A lump formed in her throat again.
"You will be told everything, don't worry," Professor McGonagall assured her. "Come with me, please."
Hermione looked at her with uncertainty for a moment before dragging herself onto her feet. The other woman kept a steady hand on her shoulder to steer her out.
Hermione realised that her body was not aching anymore, save for her fingers and left hand. She touched a finger to her face and felt the smooth skin where her lip had been split. But she felt exhausted...
They walked in silence out of the room, into a small corridor with only one other door across that of the room where she had been. Hermione had never been to this house before. Her teacher led her down the stairs, and into what seemed like an open-kitchen.
"Miss Granger, lovely to see you again." The Headmaster greeted her with his usual calm and gentle demeanour.
"Professor," she mumbled in greeting.
Her Head of House led her to a chair at the table. She occupied the chair right beside her student. Hermione looked at the two Professors questioningly.
"Miss Granger, we are both aware what-" But Hermione lost the track of Professor Dumbledore's words as her eyes fell upon a tall figure, wearing his customary black robes, standing in a corner. Such rage erupted in Hermione's veins that it threatened to burn her flesh—a rage even she did not know herself capable of mustering. The lifeless faces of her parents flashed before her eyes, the green light that had emitted from his wand danced in front of her eyes.
"You!" She screamed, suddenly getting to her feet, all fatigue forgotten. Hermione didn't bother about her wand. She could feel magic cracking around her. She pointed her finger towards her parents' murderer with such force that her magic emitted from her, wandless and Non-verbal, and caught the man off balance. He would have fallen to the floor, if not for counter he was leaning against.
Hermione still had the instincts of a Muggle. She didn't bother about magic, she stalked to where the despicable man stood in full rage. In a fit of pure, burning fury, she began assaulting the man with her fists and kicks—with all the energy she could muster. She was barely aware that she found no defence on the other side. But that didn't sate her anger.
Somewhere in the background, glass was shattering and wooden doors were jerking open and shut without a plausible force, but her incensed magic.
That man had killed her parents, she would KILL HIM! Yes! She had to! She could never see their smiling faces again because of what that man had done and for what? Pure joy? Ron's words came to her mind, telling her that the man could not be trusted; she felt anger over her own foolishness for ever standing in his defence against the better judgement of her friends.
She was dimly aware when arms caught her from behind, pulling her away from the killer of her parents. She kept struggling against the arms, still feeling the magic cracking around her. "I will kill him! Let me go! I will kill the bastard!"
"Hermione, no!" Somebody was trying to calm her but she was too far gone to listen to reason.
"Let her go, Minerva." The bastard still had the audacity to speak! The arms left her. There was no stopping her, then. Hermione didn't know how long did she vent her anger on the man who took her dear parents away from her. But it might have been long enough, for she felt drained of all energy that she had. Hermione slumped to the floor, burying her face in her hands, and bawling for all that was lost, for all that could never come back.
Familiar hands were rubbing her back but her cries could not cease. Her knuckles were aching, accompanied by the older ache in her fingers. But that, too, could not overpower the deep pain in her heart.
In the background, she heard someone mutter a couple of Episkeys and other such Healing spells. But she did not care—the last time she had talked to her father was about her career in Healing...was all that she could recall.
"He killed them..." She was dimly aware of muttering such phrases in between her heart wrenching sobs. "I can't go on without them..."
"Hermione..." But the soothing voice was not helping, nothing could help.
She cried and cried, until no more tears could she muster. Eventually, she was glad that when she lost all energy, Professor McGonagall was there to hold her.
"Hermione, take, child," she said softly, handing her a soft handkerchief. She wiped her eyes, taking shuddering breaths. The lady helped her up and led her to a chair again.
"Hermione, do you think you are feeling upto listening to an explanation?" She asked gently.
"Why is he here?" Hermione wanted to shout again, but could not bring herself to raise her voice above a whisper.
"Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore said, "I know you are very angry with Severus, and your anger is justified. But whatever you witnessed last night was done only in order to protect you."
"He killed my parents—in cold blood." Contempt and hatred rolled on her tongue. She wanted to hurt him, do anything to make him feel guilty, to make him feel how atrocious of a person he was.
"No, child, not in cold blood," Professor Dumbledore took the chair in front of her. "Your parents were already too far injured to be saved. Severus gave them a painless death."
She shot her head up, glaring at the Headmaster. "No, they weren't. He killed him because Voldemort asked him to. He is one of them, he is not your spy, he is just a Death Eater!"
"No, Miss Granger, give me a chance to explain, please," the venerable man said. "Hear me out till the end, it is important."
Professor McGonagall kept a calming hand on her shoulder, as the Headmaster began his explanation of how Snape had tricked Voldemort into believing that she, Hermione, could be the person to draw Harry to the edge, emotionally, and spy on him, and do the bastard's bidding. He also explained her that had he not killed her parents, the Dark Lord would have suspected his loyalties, and his cover would have been blown. The Headmaster went on and on about how Snape had only provided a respite to her parents, as well as saved her life. But when he explained that for the satisfaction of the Dark Lord, they had to be a part of a ceremony, called the Dark Wedding, Hermione again lost her cool.
"What do you mean by a Wedding?" She spat the word as if it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"A Dark Wedding is a...type of a bonding ceremony, Miss Granger," he said. "It is not entirely different from a marriage, but with the magic interfering in the bond."
"A...a marriage?" She gasped. Colour drained her face. "No, I have never heard of such an absurd thing before. He is lying, he is tricking all of you."
"It is a very old ritual, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said. "It is not in practice today, but it was, centuries ago. That is the reason you have never heard of it before. Severus- Professor Snape is not lying. He even showed us the entire memory of whatever happened last night."
"Look at your finger, Miss Granger," the Headmaster said softly.
When Hermione looked down, she was shocked to find a silver band on her finger, with a black stone in the middle. She had not even noticed it before. "No." She gasped again. She instantly started trying to take it off from her finger but as she was pulling it, the band only became more and more tighter against her finger and began burning. Professor McGonagall held her hand, "Don't, Hermione, it will only cause you pain."
"Take it off of me!" Tears again began rolling down her cheeks. Her life was reduced to a humourless joke, one that she could completely come to terms with. Hermione's mind could not register the extent of what she was told at once, she was baffled. "I do not consent to this absurdity!"
"Hermione, please, that was the only way to save your life, child," Professor McGonagall said softly. "There are certain terms of the Wedding that you need to follow or your life will be in danger."
"Then, I should have rather died than being...being..." She trailed off. "I can't do this. I can't."
UUUUUUU
Severus remained standing in the corner, leaning against the counter. He watched as Albus explained the truth of the night to Granger. He also observed how little she seemed to be trusting the Headmaster. But he never made a sound to remind her of his presence. Until the girl was past the initial hysteria, it was better he remained unnoticed.
He had healed the minor injuries that Granger's temper had inflicted and cleaned the blood from his nose. Severus knew he deserved it, every bit of it. At least, that way the girl had vent some rage. At least, she was listening to the Headmaster's explanation.
She became frantic at the mention of the Dark Wedding. Severus cringed when Albus called it a 'marriage' of sorts. Granger, too, reflected his reaction. He could see the greening hue on her face as she tried to take the band off. The one on his finger, too, slightly warmed.
More than once did the girl imply that she could not 'go on'. Severus had feared the possibility from the start. He was glad to have confiscated her wand already. He would have to ask Minerva to confiscate any other sharp or dangerous objects from her belongings. He would also have to put certain Charms on her room to notify him of any 'misadventures'.
When Granger calmed herself down again, Albus started, "Miss Granger, you need to be aware of the terms of the Wedding. We do not want to keep you in the dark any longer."
She was not meeting the Headmaster's gaze. Her eyes were fixed on the band, glaring at it with contempt. He huffed inwardly. What have I done!
"The terms are in order with the ancient beliefs," Albus explained. "Nowadays, a marriage is seen to be a mutual arrangement, where the consent and will of both the spouses weigh equal. But in the olden times, the views were more orthodox. They did not see both the spouses in the same light. The wife was considered to be...the weak-" Albus' eyes flickered at Minerva's stern face, "-the less important of the two. She had more responsibilities towards the husband. It was an era of rigid Patriarchy, so to say.
"So, the Dark Wedding used to be performed in those families where the woman was against the idea of marrying the spouse that was chosen by the family. Because of its binding nature, because it cannot be...broken."
Granger's face shot up at that, her lips were pursed. She did not say anything but her heated gaze was enough to express her thoughts.
"In the olden times," Albus continued, "Wives were expected to cook for their husbands, do their laundry, look after them-"
"She got the idea, Albus!" Minerva snapped.
"Yes, yes," he nodded. "What I am trying to say, Miss Granger, is that you are required to perform all those duties for Severus. Most of all, you cannot go against...an order given to you by Severus, or the bond will cause you...discomforts."
Severus ran a hand down his face. He never even wanted to have a wife for the fear that he might become as preposterous a husband as his Father was. But now, he was to truly treat the girl as his Father treated his Mother. When did I stoop so low?
"I will never do that!" Granger declared. Her voice was cold and determined. Suddenly, she didn't seem to be the vulnerable teen who was weeping on the floor. "I was always taught that I deserve respect. I will not become such o lose even the self-respect for my person. Nobody has the right to treat me like a slave!"
'It's my place, Severus.' His Mother's words echoed in his mind. That voice—so resigned, so resistant to go against the 'man of the house'—so unlike Granger.
"The bond will-"
"I don't care." She announced. "Even if the bond kills me, I will not do what you're saying. I am not a puppet to be controlled by anyone."
No, not kill. The bond would not kill her—not so easily, but it would give her excruciating pain. Such pain that would soon drive her into seizures, or lead her to insanity. It would be an extremely painful death. The bond would torment the girl in ways that she could not even begin to imagine.
"I am not afraid to die." She said coldly, almost callously. "There is not much left for me to live for, anyway. But I will not shred my self-respect into threads, too."
"The marriage was to be consummated before the midnight or the Dark Lord will know of Severus' disloyalty, Miss Granger!" Albus let out without a preamble.
"Albus!" He snapped angrily. You, fucking, birdbrained, old fool!
"C-consummated?" Granger froze.
"I beg your pardon but I thought you had gotten the idea, my girl," the Headmaster seemed embarrassed. Bloody, old-
"There is no way that I am to take a part in these gruesome schemes of yours!" Granger stood up abruptly, looking even more greenish and sick. "I don't care what happens, I don't care if his covers are blown!"
"Child, we will lose all intelligence if Severus loses his rank among Tom's coterie of Death Eaters," Albus tried to explain. "We will lose the war. Harry will-"
"Someone else can spy for the Order, then," she was not open to negotiations.
"Nobody else can gain the rank that Severus has, it will take a lot of time—the time that we do not have." Albus shook his head, but spoke calmly.
"Then, just tell Voldemort that I ran away or...or that I died, that I killed myself and so the...whatever it is...it could not be fulfilled!" She was blabbering frantically.
Severus winced at the name and clutched his marked forearm.
"Hermione, please, the bond will-" But she cut Minerva off. "I don't care. I will die rather than...rather than... I would like to die—that would be better!" Minerva was standing by her side, trying to calm her student, while Albus remained seated, at a loss.
"Hermione, Hermione, listen to me," Minerva clutched her shoulders firmly. "If you die, Severus will die, too, such is the nature of the bond."
What?
"What?" Granger froze.
Even Albus was gawking at her like a fool.
That was a pure lie! Nothing would happen to Severus if the girl... But vice versa was the case. If something were to happen to him, the girl would lose her magic, then slowly her mind, and gradually, she, too, would die.
Was Minerva genuinely mistaken or...
"Why?" Granger cried.
"If you die, Severus will, too, Hermione," Minerva repeated. "And if he dies, then you will. Your lives are connected to each other now."
That seemed to have shocked Granger so much that she dropped herself on her chair, completely silent. She buried her face in her hands again.
Minerva glanced at him, and shook her head. He mouthed, "Are you insane?" But the woman only looked at him with true grief. Severus understood that she knew what she had just told the girl was a lie.
UUUUUUUU
Hermione buried her face in her hands. She had thought she could not cry anymore, but her situation kept getting worse and worse.
She had actually considered killing herself than complying with such absurdity. But if her death would mean Snape's death...
She hated Snape! She would always hate Snape. No matter the reason, he had killed her parents. He had—and nothing could change that truth.
But how could she be the reason of someone else's death? How could she do what Snape had done to her Mum and Dad! No! There was a fine line of difference between them—she could not cross that. She could never become like Snape!
Her parents had always taught her to be kind—even with those who might not seem to be deserving of it. She complained to them inwardly for instilling such morals in her. Why was she supposed to care if the murderer lived or died!
But she knew where the boundaries were. Hermione could not...could not let Snape die because of her—no matter how much he abhorred him.
But that would mean being Snape's slave, that would mean...consummating the...
But the other option was to let the man die. No.
I can't do this, I can't...The ache in her heart was so all-consuming that even breathing felt like a chore.
"Hermione," Professor McGonagall said calmly, rubbing her shoulder, "These are hard times, but we will all help you to cope up with this."
I want to go home... Hermione didn't know if she had said it aloud or it was only in her mind. But she did want to go home... But her home would be vacant—her Mum, Dad were gone.
There was no home...
"What have you decided, my girl?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"How can you be so sure that this man is not working against you?" She asked in an accusatory tone.
"I have my reasons, Miss Granger." The Headmaster said with finality.
"But I cannot trust him without knowing your reasons," she was firm. After what she had witnessed the night before, she could never trust Snape again.
Professor Dumbledore glanced to Snape. "If you must know, Miss Granger, Professor Snape is bound by an Unbreakable Vow to me."
Hermione closed her eyes. She did not know what she was supposed to do, especially after that revelation. She still did not trust Snape! Maybe he had found a way to defy the Vow. But she knew that was a baseless allegation as an Unbreakable Vow could not be manipulated.
If she killed Snape, how different would she be than him?
She wiped her eyes with the proffered handkerchief and looked up. "I will never trust Snape—never. But I am not as wretched as he is, I cannot kill anyone—not even him."
"Oh, Hermione," Professor McGonagall mumbled, squeezing her shoulder with relief.
"But I have my conditions," she declared. She would not just play on Snape's orders.
"Of course," the Headmaster nodded, leaning forward on the table.
"I don't care what the terns of the...bonding says," she said firmly. "Snape will not give me any orders—ever. I will take no orders from him that I have to abide by."
"Alright." His cold voice said from where he stood by the counter. Hermione did not turn to look at his loathsome face.
"If you can trick Voldemort into believing that Snape is his Death Eater," she said, "You all can also find ways to trick the bond into believing that the terms are being satisfied."
"There is not enough time-"
"Am I addressing you?" Hermione said coldly—in a voice even strange to her own self.
"Miss Granger," the Headmaster said, "We do not have enough time to find ways to delay or cancel the...consummation."
She took a deep breath, telling herself that she could not kill Snape. "Fine. I will...go on with it—but only this time, this one time. Only."
"According to the terms, after the initial consummation, there are no obligations or time limits," Professor Dumbledore said. At any other time, she would have been blushing crimson on discussing something on those lines with the Headmaster. But now, nothing seemed to be affecting Hermione. "The terms say that after the initial act, whenever the husband demands of his wife-"
"I said," she snapped, "Only once! And he has no right to demand anything of me. I am not his property."
"I will, in no form, abuse the power of this bond-"
"I will also not do any of those things you said I am to, washing, cleaning, whatever," she didn't care what Snape was saying. "I am not his slave. Find other ways to trick the spell, I will not change my stance."
"Of course," Professor McGonagall agreed. Professor Dumbledore, too, nodded. Snape did not speak but that was better for she loathed even his voice.
"But you will have to stay under the same roof as Severus, Miss Granger," The Headmaster said. "When you are at Hogwarts, it will count as the same—because you both will live in the same castle. But right now, the school wards are being reset, you cannot come to the castle. I suggest that you stay here-"
"What place is this?" She asked.
"It is Professor Snape's house," Professor McGonagall replied.
Hermione ran her hand through her hair. "Why can't he live in my house, where I live?" As that escaped her lips, she regretted it. She could not even bear to step inside that house ever. Without her parents, the house would haunt her with its silence.
"The Dark Lord knows where your house is," Snape said. "It can be attacked. Again."
God, she hated every bit of that man! "Fine. I'll stay here until I can return to Hogwarts. But this man will stay well away from me. I don't even want to hear his voice!"
Silence fell over the kitchen. She had half expected Snape to retort but he didn't. Hermione was sparing him his life, of course he would be careful with her.
The Headmaster glanced at the man, then back to her. "Of course, my child. Anything else?"
"Not right now," she mumbled, suddenly feeling extremely tired.
"Why don't you rest for a while before-"
"Albus," Professor McGonagall said warningly.
But Hermione got what they meant. Before...before that wretched consummation could take place.
Hermione had always respected all her Professors. She had always kept them on a pedestal in her mind. But after what Snape had perpetrated, he had forever lost that position. Now, she even wondered if the man would inwardly be gaining some demented pleasure at the prospect of consummation.
"Where's my wand?" She asked. She had last seen it in her trunk, she remembered.
Snape answered, "I have it."
She abruptly turned to face him. "I will not stay here without my wand. And especially during-" She snapped her mouth shut, only glaring at him. The mere sight of his face brought back dreadful memories. Yet, his face was as devoid of emotions as ever—without even a tinge of guilt. Her magic again cracked around her. She vaguely heard some crockery cracking due to the pressure.
"Severus, her wand." Professor McGonagall disrupted the outburst. Hermione turned away from the man, while he handed Hermione's wand to Professor McGonagall. Her teacher kept it on the table in front of her. Hermione took the sleek wood into her fingers, feeling the familiarity.
She knew she couldn't use it outside of Hogwarts yet. But it was security enough. She stood up, "Excuse me." With that, she left the kitchen to find some solace away from the atrocious man.
UUUUUUU
"Was that wise, Minerva?" Severus asked accusingly, folding his arms to his chest. "Giving her wand back. She can be tempted to inflict harm upon herself."
"She won't, Severus," Minerva sighed. "That's why I lied to her about the nature of the bond. If she thinks it could harm you, she would never attempt anything."
Severus quickly cast a Muffliato around the kitchen. He went and sat on the chair Granger had vacated.
He still couldn't believe how, despite being so furious with him, despite loathing him to such intensity, could she still not be tempted to kill him if she believed that the act of her own suicide would kill him, too? He wanted to call it Gryffindor idiocy. But he knew it was far beyond the scope of a House-characteristic.
"What have you thought about her other demands?" Minerva asked.
"I do have some clandestine ways to fulfil the terms of the bond without her made to do anything for me, but I need to plan properly," he said, rubbing his temples tiredly. He fervently wished he could find some way to avoid the consummation, too.
Granger was not even of age yet. She was under his tutelage. He could never see a student—any student—in that light. Granger was not one of those women of Knockturn Alley, whom he paid for a night of pleasure, to forget all about it the next day. The women whose he did not even bother to know the names of.
Granger was the girl he had wronged. He had destroyed her life. She was a bright girl who had a chance of a respectable career, a fulfilling life. The girl had potential more than any of his student had ever shown. But now... She was stuck with him until one of them died. And even at his death, she would not attain her freedom back.
If there was a chance that his death would have freed her, he was almost certain that he was not going to outlive the war. The girl would have been free, but the developer of the bond was a twisted lunatic, obsessed with the idea of misogyny.
He summoned a potion for his headache and downed it in a go. "Minerva," he suddenly remembered, "Go through the girl's belongings, see if she has anything to harm herself with. Confiscate it."
"I don't believe so, but I will check, nevertheless," she said.
"I must take my leave, then," Albus said.
"Albus, don't inform anyone of this situation," Minerva said strictly. "They are already against Severus. They will not act differently than Miss Granger."
"I am aware, Minerva," he said. "The Order should not lose trust in their spy. This shall remain between us. But Miss Granger might want to confide in a friend."
"Who can certainly not at least be Potter because of the boy's connection with the Dark Lord," Severus said firmly.
"Severus, you cannot order her!" Minerva stated. "You have to be very particular with what you say to her, and how you say it."
Severus cursed himself inwardly. How was he supposed to keep his tongue in rein at all times!
"I do not believe the connection between Harry and Tom is of a mutual nature," Albus said thoughtfully. "After the brutality with which Harry had thrown Tom out of his mind at the Ministry, Riddle would not be foolish enough to try and possess Harry again."
"Be that as it may," Severus muttered. "The boy's reservoir of wisdom is nearing extinction, at any rate, to understand the gravity of the situation."
"Severus," Minerva set him with a glare that he ignored.
"Albus, if you don't mind, please send a house-elf here with some food," She turned to the Headmaster. "None of them has eaten."
"I am fine," he snapped, getting up. "See that the girl eats something, though."
"She has a name, Severus!" Minerva said irritably. "Stop addressing her as 'the girl'."
He rolled his eyes and turned towards the Cellar. He still had at least a few hours before the inevitable consummation. He could brew some potions that would indeed come in handy. Severus did not care to show the Headmaster to the Floo, he directly went to his Lab and locked himself inside.
Please let me know in the reviews if you want to read further and enjoying this. The next chapter will come out on Tuesday (1st Dec).
Thank you for reading and thanks a lot to those who take out time to review. :)