Hermione sat frozen at the kitchen table. The night and the strange breakfast had taken a toll on her. She still couldn't understand why her former professor had bought her. Actually, she didn't want to think about that night at all, but every second she wasn't busy, her thoughts returned there all by themselves.

The torture she had experienced through Bellatrix Lestrange had been far more painful, but she hadn't felt so dirty after it. And on top of that now came the fear. The dubious protection afforded by Lucius Malfoy ended with last night. Now, Fenrir Greyback could jump her at any time. Likewise, Draco Malfoy - his hatred boded ill.

The soft rustling of cloth made Hermione look up. Without her noticing it, Lucius Malfoy sat down beside her on the bench.

"Have you finished your breakfast?"

Hermione nodded slowly. She had no appetite in the morning, so her breakfast consisted only of hot tea.

"Good. I've got a new job for you," Malfoy informed her, "Come along. But wash your hands thoroughly first."

Mistrustfully, Hermione stood up and reached for the sponge from the crockery bucket. After she cleaned herself to her master's satisfaction, she followed him from the kitchen. To her astonishment, they did not go to the upper floor, but stayed on the ground floor. Confused, she walked through long corridors without windows, made several turns, and soon found that she had lost all orientation. Apart from the kitchen, the dining room, the manorial bathroom and her accommodation, she had not seen anything of the estate until now. The last corridor she turned into finally ended in a large, heavy double folding door made of solid wood.

"No house elf or other dirty creature has ever entered this place before," Malfoy explained in a serious voice, "I will always accompany you here and watch you for the next few days. If I do not like your behaviour, you will never set foot in here again."

oOoOoOo

Ginny Weasley stood in the small kitchen in the apartment of Severus Snape and made tea. Her master had been away overnight and had announced himself via Patronus for five o'clock tea. Ginny now knew that this obscure man was very fond of this old British tradition and would pay homage to it whenever the opportunity arose. It was summer holidays at Hogwarts, so Snape was at home all day, unless he had other business to attend to.

Hogwarts. With a longing sigh, Ginny thought back to her old school. It seemed so long ago that they had fought there against Voldemort and his army, and yet it was only a few weeks ago. Since that day, no one had seen her but Severus Snape. She did not know how Ron was or any of her other brothers. She did not know how Hermione was doing, for all she could squeeze out of Snape when asked was a simple 'good'. And she doubted that her best friend could be really well in the clutches of the Malfoy family.

Thoughtfully, she looked at the scones, which slowly took on a golden-brown colour in the oven. She had cried a lot during the first period after Harry's death. For the wizarding world the great, only hope had died, but for her, the man she had loved more than anything else had gone.

And yet ... after many days of crying, she decided for herself not to despair any longer. Voldemort had only killed Harry. The rest of the Order were still alive, and that had to mean something. She was sure that the last word in this war had not yet been spoken. If she could, she would finish what Harry had begun. That was her vow, and every night she repeated it.

A soft ringing announced that the pastry was ready in the oven. Carefully she took out the hot baking tray and arranged the scones carefully on a large, flowered plate. Together with a pot of tea, two cups, milk, jam and clotted cream, she brought everything into the small living room and placed it on the round table in front of the fireplace, where small spoons and knives were already waiting.

She had just brought the tray back to the kitchen when she thought she heard footsteps on the stairs. And before she could make sure of it, the master of the house was standing behind her.

Before she could begin to greet him, he had grabbed her and pressed her against the door frame with force. One hand on her neck, the other supported above her head, Severus Snape stared at her from close range. Ginny's heartbeat quickened. This behaviour was new to her, for Snape had never before shown himself violent. Something must have happened that night, something that he would now take out on her. Fear took hold of her.

"Are you afraid of me?" He sounded even colder and more detached than normal.

She nodded hesitantly. The grip around her neck tightened and the face of the dark-clothed man only came closer to her. Involuntarily her hands reached for his arm, trying to release the pressure, but in vain. Fear gave way to panic when Ginny realized she could no longer breathe. The man in front of her showed no emotion, he just stared at her impenetrably - and whatever he saw, he didn't like it.

With a frown, Snape hurled her into the kitchen. Without giving her another glance, he turned away and went into his living room, where he sat down in front of the fireplace. When he realised that Ginny was not following him, his gaze became even angrier.

"What are you waiting for? The tea is getting cold," he lorded her over.

Frightened, she picked herself up from the floor and followed him. With hands slightly shaking, she reached for the pitcher of milk and poured a sip into the cups, first for him and then for herself, before adding the hot, black tea. The master of the house waited until his slave had sat down, then he took his cup, stirred carefully once, took a deep sip and closed his eyes in a relaxed manner.

Immediately, Ginny relaxed, too. She knew that this gesture meant that everything that had happened earlier that day fell away from Snape and he returned to a state of contentment and balance. And so, she met his gaze without fear as he opened his eyes again and looked directly at her.

"Everyone is afraid of me. Even you, Ginevra, although I treat you well," he commented with a sigh.

Confused, Ginny looked at him. It was true, he treated her well, more like a maid living with him than a slave. But still, it was too much to expect that she wouldn't be afraid of a Death Eater, let alone the greatest traitor of all. Surely, he must have realized that.

"I really cannot complain," she replied seriously, "but you must not forget who you are. And who I am."

Silence spread between them and to bridge the silence, they both grabbed a knife and smeared a little jam on one of the golden-brown pastries. After a brief moment, Snape started talking again.

"I know what you want to say. It is normal to be afraid of your enemy. It is normal to hate a traitor, a murderer... a...," Snape faltered for a moment, then ended the sentence with, "Rapist."

Ginny's mouth became dry. She knew Snape was a murderer and a traitor, a Death Eater of the first degree. And she knew the crimes Death Eaters usually committed. But she felt sick when she realised that he, too, had raped women. This quiet, book-loving, tea-drinking person she had met in the last weeks, whom she was grateful for his kindness towards her - he had committed the most horrible crimes.

"I didn't mean to spoil your appetite," Snape said almost apologetically when he saw her drop her half-eaten scone. After another moment of silence, he dropped his as well.

"I've spoiled my own appetite. The best tea in the world can't make up for what happened tonight. I'm sorry," he whispered almost inaudibly.

Ginny's mind reeled. Had he not said the day before he would spend the night at Malfoys'? There was only one person he could be talking about.

"What did you say?" she asked slowly.

Snape looked up and seemed to realise what her reaction meant. "You are quite fast, Ginevra," he commented just as slowly.

Again, silence spread between them, as they stared at each other. Then, without warning, Ginny broke the silence with a resounding slap.

"You pig! How dare you?" she hurled accusingly at him. "Haven't you done enough? Is it impossible for you to just stay away form people? Do you always look for ways to make everything worse? I thought-"

Ginny stopped herself. What was she thinking? That he was a good man? That she could trust him? That he was different than the other Death Eaters? She definitely was not as naïve as that.

A tear rolled down her cheek. Suddenly she realised she had actually started to trust him. That she had gained the hope to turn him over. To win him back into the Order. He had lulled her with his kindness and given her a false sense of security. His outburst earlier in the kitchen, the violence - THAT was his true face.

She stared at him in disbelief. Again, fear crept up inside her, but this time it was much more real. She was alone with a man without her wand, who could do anything he wanted with his magic - and who had just obviously raped her best friend. She would have loved to run away, but there was no room in this house where she could hide from him. None of the doors had a lock, and even if they did - he had magic.

"There it is again, the fear," she heard Snape say. Without waiting for a reaction from her, he drank his cup of tea, poured himself a second one with milk, took it, and disappeared into his study without another word.

Ginny remained alone, confused and frightened, left in front of the fireplace. Although the fire was burning, she was suddenly freezing cold.