Chapter 25: The Right Of Privilege

{A/N: Here's another update...}

My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Throne Room, Death Eater Headquarters, Fortress Of Solitude, Unknown World...

Upon his arrival, Severus Snape knew all too well that the dark lord had fully intended to unleash his wrath upon him. None the less he walked with a refined quiet dignity through the rows of his fellow wizards of considerable power behind the likes of ivory and silver masks. His enemies within the ranks had not even bothered to boast of his incoming torment as even they feared where the despot's wrath would go. The silent wizard dutifully made his way toward the throne and fell upon his knees before the glowing red eyed tyrant who's rage was quite palpable due to the thick waves of tension in the air.

"I am at your command my lord." said Snape not bothering to meet the despot's angry glare for he knew all too well it would be seen as an act of defiance.

"You disappoint me S-S-S-Severus-s-s-s." hissed the serpentine wizard sitting on the make-shift throne, the apparent seat of his imaginary power and leadership. "I had plans for Potter's Mudblood and you interfered in them by taking her to bed before either of your more deserving brother's could have the chance to strike a decisive blow to the already taxed mind of the boy Harry Potter."

"I knew nothing of your plans." replied Snape lying with a good deal of ease.

"LIAR!" shouted one of the other death eaters from the row.

Snape recognized the voice as belonging to Rabastan LeStrange.

It seemed that Hermione Granger's virtue and very life had been promised to him once she came under the ruling of the marriage decree.

"I knew not your plans for the contemptible girl my lord, I had already planned to take her to sate my need for vengeance against Potter and her entirely." replied Snape still on his knees before the despot he called master. "In fact one of my brothers witnessed an exchange between us long before this day."

"Look at me...S-S-Severus-s-s." hissed Voldemort fully intending to force his way into the younger wizard's mind. "You stink of your little mudblood whore...at the very least you did not try to hide your folly."

Snape stood up knowing all too well that the despot wanted to witness his lesser being crushed by the weight of his own mental capabilities. Despite his current situation, The Potions Professor found it amusing that the despot was revolted by the scent of the witch whom he had pleased both orally and physically before being summoned. The dark lord's peering into Severus Snape's mind had been something rather barbaric and text book Voldemort to be sure and the dour wizard intended to deliver a story worthy of his unseemly master's inquisition despite the absurdity of it all.

With all of the subtle of a marching band in play, Voldemort thought himself powerful enough to shatter Snape's mind as he sifted through each and every memory pertaining to the fateful afternoon in which Xerius had taken it upon himself to interrupt a walk between the wizard and Hermione Granger.

Images of Snape alone with the witch in an intimate setting for months on end complete with study sessions, and after school Q&A had been before the very eyes of the despot. He could see that Snape truly had designs upon the Granger girl long before the marriage law had been decreed and used his position as her Potions Professor to get close to her in a bid to make her palpable to his manipulations.

For a moment he had been quite proud of the way Snape handled himself in bringing the girl to her knees and even noted the scene where she had in fact debased herself for the sake of earning his favor. These memories had been false of course, but a wizard as clever and adept in his own abilities as Severus Snape knew all too well that all believable lies had to be formed with a version of the truth especially where the dark lord had been concerned.

Once he had been satisfied with what he wished to see the despot pulled out of Snape's mind as forcefully as he had entered causing the younger wizard to collapse onto the cold stone floor beneath him.

"It appears-s-s that you did in deed have designs-s-s upon Harry Potter's mudblood." he hissed with a wide eyed expression. "But you have failed to seek my approval before pursuing her to begin with and for that gross error in judgement, you shall be punished."

Snape had no doubt that he was to be punished and braced himself despite his look of expressed shock when Lucius Malfoy stepped from the crowd and proceeded to magically strip him down to his trousers.

With a wave of his hand, the dark lord strung the raven haired wizard up by his wrists via tightening magical binds that glowed as red as his eyes for all of the others to see. Not even Rabastian LeStrange found amusement nor satisfaction in watching Snape be prepared for punishment.

"Lucius." instructed Voldemort in a rather harsh tone. "S-s-see to it that S-S-Severus-s-s never forgets his place again."

Lucius Malfoy nodded as he flicked his wrists producing a magical whip before the eyes of the despot and the other death eaters.

"In the future, S-S-Severus-s-s one must earn the right of privilege." hissed the despot. "And those who have not earned said right, shall suffer the consequences of their actions...I truly hope you've enjoyed bedding your little mudblood whore."

Snape didn't bother bracing himself, he knew it was coming despite Lucius's heartbroken expression. The sharp sensation of the magical whip cracking against his bare pale flesh echoed through out the silent throne room.

There was no telling how long it would be before the wizard got to return to Hogwarts or if he could.

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The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland, Wizarding World...

The moment her feet touched down upon the familiar green grass that lined the grounds, Hermione knew that she had returned to Hogwarts Castle. Her heart was racing and her body ached all over, between her thighs more so than the rest of her body but she had made the return. It was an altogether surreal experience to venture back to the familiar school and know all too well that everything had been vastly different since the hours prior to her marriage to her Potions Professor.

He had been right of course.

She was indeed a mere girl when she left the hallowed halls following breakfast that morning and now she had ventured into along the mysterious path of womanhood. It had been his doing and he saw it coming long before she did, never really processing what she had asked of him and what it would mean for the two of them once it had been done.

As she neared the castle, tears began to stream down her cheeks as she recalled the few brief moments she had shared with the wizard whom had become her husband and the overwhelming sense of fear that there would never again be any moments to spend with him. There was nothing particularly romantic about their current situation and she understood it now more than ever. Despite her intentions, she had handed Severus Snape, the man whom just a few short hours ago became her husband, a possible death sentence.