Chapter 10:
As they delved further into the maze, the hedges grew wilder in their growth, vines were rising across the paths, and they had to push and break them to get through. Hermione's hand stayed interlaced with his the entire walk. While walking, Hermione told him of her experiences since the war. She described how she rose into the position of Unspeakable and her many travels to uncover historical magic objects. He was interested in her discoveries, but mostly, she could tell he was simply fascinated by her. It made her insides twist in a way she couldn't put into words.
"Your mental walls were so thick and difficult to bring down that the only way the department could bring them down was by using magical objects to ease you into that state of relaxation."
He considered this, "That is understandable; my unconscious self would be unable to determine friend or foe, so the walls would have continued to harden over time. Magical solutions outside one's power would be the best way to soften those barriers. What did you use?"
"Azoth. I had actually never heard of it — Har— a friend of mine, mentioned they had arrested someone in possession of it, but the department had deemed it non-magical. I suspected otherwise despite the evidence proving their point. I took a chance in dousing you in it, and here we are…"
Severus had stopped walking at the mention of Azoth, and Hermione also paused.
"You used animated spirit?"
She nodded, worried at the expression etched on his face.
"I see… Well, this complicates matters some. It has been rumoured to save spirits, but only in exchange for the spirit of another; at least, that has always been my understanding."
He turned to face her, grabbing each of her hands.
"Hermione, you need to leave. If we face the end of this maze together, Azoth could decide to take your spirit in exchange for saving my own."
She shook her head, "I won't."
"Hermione, please."
"Severus, I have hope that this will work out in both our favours. Let's just keep going…"
Severus looked as if he was in fierce consternation, his eyes tightly shut. She couldn't tell what he was doing but felt a light tug pull at her middle, and she realised he was trying to push her out of his mind. He wasn't strong enough, though. His body was weakened, technically unconscious. There was no power to be wielded to push her out.
Stepping closer to him, she cupped his face in her hands. "You won't get rid of me, Severus. I'm with you until the end."
He looked down at the ground, unable to form words. She decided to pull him along the path despite the dismay he held. She wouldn't let him lock his mind away for the rest of the time on the off chance it would hurt her. They had been safe so far.
As their conversation ebbed, a new ball of light emerged from the hedge to their right, floating directly to them.
"I'm not leaving, Severus." She said it before he could even get the words out, and she reached for the ball of light with her free hand, the other gripping his hand tightly.
The memory enveloped them as Hermione found them once again faced with Voldemort and Severus, this time alone. Based on where they stood, she guessed they were on the edges of Hogsmeade. She could see the castle in the distance, lights glittering from the darkness.
"You have done excellent work, Severus. I summoned you here today to reward you for the prophecy you overheard."
A teenage Severus knelt before Voldemort; she could tell he was shaking beneath the robes and mask.
"I have discovered that the prophecy has two possibilities: James and Lily Potter's son or Frank and Alice Longbottom's son. I have dispatched my loyal followers to look into both families."
Hermione's eyes welled up as the teenager jerked his gaze up suddenly at the mention of Lily.
"My — My lord. If I may ask… Could you please protect Lily? As a… as a reward to me? I would prefer that in the placement of any other reward," he managed to stutter this out, and Hermione watched Voldemort's expression change to one of… mockery?
"Ah, have a taste for mudbloods, young Severus?"
Severus did not respond but chose to nod slightly in confirmation.
"Very well, I will endeavour to protect the little mudblood as a gift to you."
Voldemort casually waved his wand, revealing a shaking woman Hermione did not recognise. "This was the gift I had procured for you as a reward. But as you have requested something else, I think we will have to dispose of this one another way."
"Crucio," the wizard shouted, pointing his wand at the poor woman who shrieked as she fell to the ground, her body shaking.
"Your turn, Severus," he hissed. But Severus stood still, staring at the woman in shock.
Voldemort saw the hesitation in the boy's eyes, so he raised his wand once again, now pointed at Severus, "It's light work, Severus. You do this, or I torture you instead."
Severus shook as he finally pulled out his wand, "C—crucio." The woman shrieked, crying as she twisted and contorted.
Voldemort smiled as he did, "Excellent."
"Avada Kedavra," he spat, pointing his wand at the woman, adding, "Filthy muggle."
Severus was shaking again; she could tell he was likely crying beneath the mask. "Take your leave, Severus, and keep an eye on Dumbledore. I'm thankful you found a position in Hogsmeade. Keep up the good work." With that, he apparated away.
They watched as the teenage Severus ripped his mask off and fell to his knees, staring at the dead muggle woman ten feet away from him. He began to sob, retching as he did. Hermione supposed it was the first time he had ever cast an unforgivable curse upon another.
As she felt the urge to comfort the teenage boy, the memory faded, and they found themselves back in the maze.
She looked up at Severus, who stood blankly staring at the space in front of them, looking at nothing in particular.
"I betrayed her."
Hermione shook; she had hoped this memory would only come after he had seen his loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. That clearly was not going to be the case.
"No, but Severus, you—" he cut her off, dropping to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. "I'm the reason she is dead."
The muffled sobs came, and then, "Leave Hermione, leave!" His screams came but she couldn't, she wouldn't leave him.
"Severus, I—" she pulled herself close to him, crawling to wrap her arms around his shaking body. He did not push her away, but she knew it was likely because he couldn't bring himself to.
As she sat there, holding him, several things happened at once. A flash of bright white light led to the appearance of one of the most terrifying things Hermione had ever seen.
They both looked up, stunned, their eyes tear-stained but their fear evident.
"I am Azoth, the animated spirit, the embodiment of all substances, alive or dead. I contain all."
Each of them shook, taking in what floated before them. The mouth that spoke came from a round face that looked like it could have been the moon itself, but a mirrored face sat directly below it. A lion's head gripped a snake in its mouth, and this was what framed the two faces in a figure eight. The lion and snake did not move, they were simply there to outline the two disembodied heads that were staring at them, their expressions stern.
The smaller head, the one that was on the bottom half of the figure eight, spoke now, "Azoth allows two choices. At the end of this labyrinth, you will be presented with the option to move on beyond the veil you are currently in. Your other choice will be to live with what you have done. The decision lies with you."
With that, the creature, Azoth, faded into the white of the sky above them.
"What the fuck…" Hermione whispered.
She saw Severus shaking his head, unsure if he had fully processed what had just happened himself.