A/N: A long time coming, I know. It's hard to find time to write when life is turned upside down. I have just a few weeks left to get everything ready before I move 1200 miles away. Uff. I'm panicking just a bit. I'm not sure when I'll have time to write much. If I don't leave word on my profile, check my Twitter (georgesgurl117) for more frequent updates.

Anyway, I've pushed myself to get one chapter finished before travelling cross country. I hope you enjoy.

Bound to Him

Chapter 75

Caught off-balance, Severus choked back an exclamation of surprise as he all but stumbled into the witch presently holding his face hostage. He certainly had not been expecting events to meander in this direction, and the rapid, southward migration of the blood in his body greatly diminished his capacity to process the situation.

With a low growl in her throat, Hermione released the hold on his head and moved her attention to his linen shirt. Frustration twisted her features as she struggled to undo the small buttons. Before he could think well enough to make a suggestion, she grabbed a fistful of fabric on either side and tugged, sending the half-dozen buttons skittering to the floor. Her hands skimmed over the pale expanse of his torso, followed quickly by her mouth.

The wizard's mouth hung slack as she kissed, nipped, and suckled at his throat and down his chest. One hand rose to cup the back of her head but it paused mid-air as hers moved down to his trousers. His breath hitched when her fingers brushed against his erection as she made quick work of his flies. Detaching from his nipple, she leaned backwards enough to shove his pants and trousers down his thighs.

Severus barely managed to breathe before her mouth once again attacked his, and he could not help but awkwardly stagger backwards as she pressed into him. The backs of his legs came into contact with the bed, and, due to the restriction of movement caused by his trousers, he toppled backwards onto the mattress.

Hermione released his bottom lip from her teeth as he fell, and then retreated a few steps. Breathing heavily, she eyed his half-disrobed form and then smirked upon noticing he was staring back at her in curiosity. Her gaze dropped suddenly to his prominent erection, and she slowly stripped off her cotton knickers.

Gasping, the man sat forward to remove his boots as quickly as was possible. Before he could finish, however, she was standing in front of him. It took every ounce of willpower he had to splutter, "Hermione…wait."

"What?" she snapped.

His swallow nearly caught in his throat as he gestured to the bedside table. "P-potion."

The girl let out an exasperated groan as she stomped over to the nightstand. While she was briefly occupied, he hastily cast aside his second boot and struggled to rid himself of his trousers as well.

"You know that stuff is revolting, don't you?" Hermione muttered, pushing his shoulders as she climbed onto his lap. "And it probably doesn't matter anymore."

"I know," he whispered, drawing her against his chest as he sank back onto the bedding. "I'm sorry."

She bit his bottom lip before murmuring, "You'd better be."

Severus nodded slowly, but soon forgot the topic after her tongue slipped past his lips. Her fingers threaded through his hair as they frantically explored each other's mouths, and she ground her pelvis into his. Groaning, he slid his hands from her hips along her ribcage and toward the middle of her back. As he reached the clasp of her bra, however, she grunted sharply and batted away his hands. Abandoning the task, he moved his hands instead to her shoulder blades, pulling her forward slightly so he could trail kisses down her throat.

Hermione practically purred as he sucked at her pressure point and rocked her hips against him. A moment later she pulled away, sitting back on his pelvis. When his hands skimmed along her sides, she narrowed her eyes before knocking them aside. Kneeling, she held herself up with one hand and reached back between her legs to grasp his member. She lost her balance slightly while attempting to line herself up with him, but rejected his attempts to steady her with warning glare.

Upon impaling herself on his erection, her eyes fluttered closed, and her mouth opened in a groan. Watching her, the wizard swallowed heavily and fisted his hands in the bed coverings to prevent himself from grabbing hold of her. Her fingertips dug into his ribcage, pressing ever deeper as she worked herself toward orgasm. He was almost certain her short nails had managed to draw blood by the time she reached completion.

"Oh, god yes," Hermione whispered, sagging onto his chest.

Tentatively, he moved his hands toward her hips. She made no effort to remove them this time, but instead buried her face into his neck began to rock back on his member once more.

"Fuck," Severus groaned, sliding them backwards and lifting his feet onto the bed so as to provide her a better angle. Pain registered briefly when her hand tightly gripped his hair, but he ignored it as he met her movements with his own thrusts. Her muffled moans spurred him on until he felt himself nearing his own climax. Determined to bring her over with him, he redoubled his efforts until she came apart with a scream. He barely noticed she silenced herself by biting down on his shoulder before he finally exploded into her.

His heart threatening to pound out of his chest, the wizard stared blankly up at the ceiling as he struggled to breathe. After a moment, he shifted slightly and slid his hand up to his lover's head. "Hermione?"

Upon receiving no response, he frowned and extracted himself from beneath her. Propping himself up on one elbow, he moved the hair from her face and noticed she was already sound asleep. Given the night she had had, he doubted he could even wake her if he were to shout in her ear. With a relieved sigh, he slipped off of the bed, turned down one side of the covers, and then gently lifted her into his arms. After he placed her under the blankets, he took a minute to watch her sleep. When he was certain it was a peaceful slumber – he doubted her body or mind had enough energy left in it to dream – he slunk back into the bathroom where he set to picking up all of the healing supplies.

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Hermione awoke suddenly and held her breath as she studied her surroundings. Relief washed over her upon realizing she was in Severus's quarters and that he was asleep beside her. As her adrenaline died away, however, her bladder began to make its protests. Blowing out a deep sigh, she moved to throw off the blankets and barely stifled a cry of pain. Every muscle in her body, it seemed, was exceptionally sore.

Blinking back a few tears, the witch slowly slipped out of bed. Her legs nearly collapsed beneath her when she attempted to walk, but she refused to wake up Severus to have him assist her. Instead, she gritted her teeth and awkwardly hobbled into the lavatory. Never before had she been so grateful to sit on the commode.

The draft from the stone wall caused her to shiver, bringing to mind the realization that she was nude except for her bra. Though she was alone in the room, she self-consciously folded her arms against her stomach and stared at the bandages on her legs. She swore she could almost feel and smell her flesh burning as images from her duel with Dolohov flashed across her vision. In the back of her mind, she heard him laughing, calling her awful things, and describing all of the despicable things he would like to do to her. Her eyes hardened into a glare as she remembered standing over him, pointing her wand at his heart. Her hands shook as she recalled the power that flowed out of her, the crimson color of the curse, turning his laughter into screams. The bastard had been entirely at her mercy, and had the Dark Lord not interfered, she could have rid the world of his disgusting presence once and for all. If only she had been able to –

A knocking sound startled Hermione out of her thoughts, and she glanced toward the door. "Y-yes?"

"Is everything alright in there?" Severus asked.

Grimacing, the witch wondered how long she had actually been sitting on the toilet. "F-fine! I'll just be…out in a second."

As quickly as she could, she finished her business and glanced awkwardly around for any signs of her clothing. "Erm, are my clothes out there by any chance?"

There was a brief pause before he responded. "I had to burn them. They were beyond even a house elf's mending capabilities."

"Oh, right," she muttered, feeling stupid. Timidly, she opened the door and slipped past the tall wizard without meeting his eye.

"Granger…"

"I'm fine," she responded, stiffly walking over toward where she spotted her knickers.

"I do not believe that for a second," Snape grumbled as he paused in the doorway. "I will be out in a moment to redress your bandages."

Hermione gave a brief nod, waiting until he closed the door to attempt bending down. With a muffled squawk, she toppled over onto her bottom. Cursing under her breath, she tugged on her underwear and then leaned back against the bed. As the memories from the previous night continued to assail her, she pressed her quivering hands into her sides and tried to fight off both tears and nausea. She had nearly killed someone… with the Cruciatus.

"Granger?"

The witch squeezed her eyes closed and ducked her head. With a sigh, Severus padded over to her and knelt on the floor. He un-stoppered a vial of pain reliever and held it out to her. "Here. I imagine you're quite sore."

Exhaling a shaky breath, Hermione took the proffered potion and narrowly avoided spilling it on herself. As she set the empty vial aside and closed her eyes once more, the wizard set to work replacing bandages and reapplying salves.

"Anything else need attention?" he asked, wiping excess Bruise Paste on his pajama pants.

The witch shook her head and wiped at her eyes.

Snape grunted in response before collecting his supplies and returning them to the bathroom cupboard. Upon re-entering the bedroom and finding the witch still curled into herself against the bed, he rubbed his forehead as he again approached her. "Granger… please look at me."

After a few seconds' hesitation, the young witch slowly raised her eyes. Before they reached his face, however, they halted upon noticing a dark bruise peeking out from beneath his shirt, which hung open to expose his chest. Frowning, she forced herself onto her feet and then reached out to push back one side of his shirt to examine the wound to his shoulder. A gasp escaped her; it was unmistakably a bite mark. As her gaze quickly skimmed over his bare torso, she noticed a fresh collection of scratches and small bruises. Remembering the urges she had had to take out all of her frustrations on him, she began to tremble. "I… oh god… I did that…I…"

"Bollocks," Snape hissed, realizing he should have thrown on a different shirt when he had tugged on his sleep pants. Clearing his throat, he slipped his hands beneath her cheeks and forced her to look into his eyes. "Hermione, it's alright. You didn't harm me. I promise."

"B-but…"

"No. I am fine." He shook his head. "These will heal far faster and with far less effort than yours will."

Hermione swallowed nervously. "I'm sorry."

"There is no need for an apology." Sighing, the wizard tilted his head. "In all honesty, I was anticipating worse."

Her eyebrows lifted in confusion. "What?"

Severus opened his mouth to explain, but was distracted by the sound of the Floo activating in the sitting room. Upon hearing Dumbledore calling his name, he cursed under his breath and pulled away from the young witch. Closing the bedroom door behind him, he turned to face the elderly wizard standing in front of the fireplace. "Can I help you, Headmaster?"

Looking upon him with a shrewd gaze, Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Severus. I grew concerned when you did not come to me upon your return to the castle. Given Miss Granger's unexplained departure from the school grounds as well, I take it she accompanied you on your summons."

"That is correct."

"And based upon her absence from Gryffindor Tower, I presume she is here." After receiving a hesitant nod from Snape, the Headmaster gestured toward the bedroom door. "Perhaps she might join us, then."

The Slytherin crossed his arms and took one step further into the room. "Miss Granger requires rest, not a debriefing. She was not privy to anything beyond what I can testify to. I will provide you with all of the information you require."

Several seconds passed in tense silence while the two men stared at one another. When it was clear that Snape would not relent, Dumbledore reached for the Floo powder. "Very well. Let us take this discussion to my office."

"I will join you shortly."

Albus glanced back at him in surprise. "Severus, I have been waiting for –"

"Then you can wait another thirty minutes."

Activating the Floo, the old wizard fixed him with a trying look. "I expect to have your account ready for viewing in my Pensieve in ten minutes. Any longer, and I shall require Miss Granger's version of the night as well."

"Buggering fool," Severus hissed, glaring at the empty hearth after Dumbledore disappeared. After rubbing his hand over his face, he moved over to the fireplace to place a Floo call. "Minerva?... Minerva!... MINERVA!"

"Bloody hell, Severus…stop shouting! Do you have any idea what time it is? My father didn't even rise this early on a Sunday morning."

"Get dressed, and get over here."

"What? Why?"

"Because I have need of you!"

With a growl, he ended the connection and stormed back into the bedroom, wincing briefly when Hermione startled backward into the bed. Mumbling an apology, he ripped open his wardrobe. He threw on a clean set of robes before digging about in one of the drawers. A moment later, he pulled out a dark satin nightshirt, which he then draped over the girl's shoulders.

"This shouldn't irritate your wounds, and I couldn't be arsed to care if it gets ruined by salves," he explained as he helped her with the buttons. "I have to give my report to Dumbledore."

Wide-eyed, Hermione suddenly grabbed hold of his forearm. "Do you have to tell him about…about…"

"Your duel with Dolohov? Yes. Your use of the Cruciatus? I don't see that he needs to know about it, provided you are certain you can keep it hidden from him. It will not serve us well if he discovers I have not been entirely forthcoming."

"I can… I can keep him out. I won't let him see. Please."

Severus gave one nod as he removed himself from her grasp. "I will return when I can. Until then, I've asked Minerva to sit with you. If you need anything, she should be able to procure it for you."

As the girl watched him disappear from the room, an odd panic washed over her. She realized he had not made eye contact with her since Dumbledore had interrupted them… since Snape had admitted he had expected her to seriously injure him. The image of his shaken expression the night prior surfaced in her mind. Though he was good at hiding his thoughts, it seemed quite clear to her that he had been horrified by what she had done. He was afraid of what she could do.

"Oh, god," Hermione gasped, covering her mouth as nausea finally overwhelmed her and sent her stumbling into the bathroom.

In the sitting room, Severus reached the fireplace just as Minerva stepped out of it.

"An explanation, if you will," she muttered, wiping soot from her robes.

"Our illustrious Headmaster desires an audience with me, but I am uncomfortable with leaving Hermione on her own right now."

McGonagall grabbed his arm as he stepped past her. "What happened?"

"We were summoned last night. I don't have the time at present to explain the particulars, but I will later. Don't question her on it."

"Then what –"

"Just sit with her and make sure she doesn't do anything foolish. If she wants to talk, let her do so, but do not push her."

"Alright." Minerva nodded, watching him disappear into the fireplace. After expelling a deep breath, she turned toward the bedroom to see her student leaning against the door jamb. Her stomach clenched upon noticing the bandages, bruises, and withdrawn look on Hermione's face. The girl's pallor was further emphasized by the dark color of the nightshirt, which hung past her knees. "Oh, Hermione…"

The young witch flinched when her mentor reached for her and then dropped her eyes to the floor.

"I apologize," McGonagall mumbled, taking a step back. "I just… Is there anything I can do or get for you?"

Hermione shook her head as she slowly ambled over to the sofa. Dropping onto the cushion, she pulled her feet beneath her and leaned against the armrest. Though she heard her Head of House approach, she did not raise her eyes.

"Are you hungry?"

The girl grimaced, feeling her stomach lurch at the thought of food. "No."

"Tea, then. I can fetch you some tea."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Sitting back in his chair, Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "It seems your compatriots wish to watch me die."

Severus scowled at the term 'compatriots' and crossed his arms. "Apparently so."

The Headmaster contemplated the idea for a moment before giving a brief shrug. "I find myself unable to fault Riddle's insistence on this. It falls in nicely with my own –"

"What?"

Albus glared at the interruption. "Riddle needs to be absolutely certain of your loyalty, Severus. You cannot just kill me and expect him to take your word for it. It has to be indisputable… it has to be witnessed."

The spy closed his eyes for a few seconds. "And just whom did you intend for that role? Were you expecting me to slaughter you at breakfast in front of the student population?"

"Severus -"

"At a staff meeting? It worked so well the first time."

"Don't –"

"Or just in front of the Aurors, so they can strike me down before I have a chance to run?"

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore slammed his hands into the desk and stood up. "I have had just about enough out of you recently. Have you forgotten everything I have done for you?"

Snape snorted and looked down at his lap. "I assure you, I have not."

With a slow nod, the Headmaster returned to his seat. "We do not have much time left. I had not considered there would be additional Death Eaters present at my demise. I am not certain how best to allow them entrance without casting suspicion on your person. Perhaps you and the Malfoy boy might come up with some ideas."

"Perhaps," he sighed.

The elder wizard eyed him intently for several long seconds. "You should have come to me with this immediately upon your return."

"My attention was required elsewhere."

Dumbledore frowned. "Might I remind you that your priority is to the Order."

"You saw what the Dark Lord required of Miss Granger. Her injuries needed immediate attention."

"Then you should have come to me after you had seen to her wounds!"

Pinching his lips into a thin line, Severus bit back further argument.

"Do not forget your duty to me, Severus. To Harry. To Lily."

The Slytherin stiffened and averted his gaze to the wall.

"Do you understand –"

"I comprehend you perfectly, Headmaster," Severus snarled, snapping his eyes back to his employer.

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

"Severus, there you are!" Minerva exclaimed. "I was beginning to worry."

"Did you think the Headmaster might do me in? I doubt it, considering I am the one supposed to do him in."

The elder witch rolled her eyes and stood up from the armchair. "I just meant that it's been hours. Breakfast is halfway through already. I wasn't sure when you were planning to return."

"The Headmaster was magnanimous enough to excuse me from today's meals. Should anyone ask, I am brewing to fill an urgent need for the infirmary. Poppy will confirm."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she moved toward the fireplace. "She will?"

Severus nodded. "I had to speak with her regarding last night, and I finished the brewing Hermione had to set aside."

"I see. Well, should there be any shouting or stabbings, I will be sure to let you know. I meet with the Head Boy and Girl after lunch, but I will stop in again after that. Should you need anything beforehand…"

"I will send for you." As the witch Flooed to the staffroom, Snape focused his full attention on the girl silently sitting on the sofa. "Hermione."

Her eyes only briefly met his as he perched on the coffee table in front of her. He frowned at the untouched cup of tea she clutched in her hands. "What is it you need?"

Hermione only shook her head and closed her eyes. When he touched her arm, she yanked away from him, spilling her tea. Unable to control her tears any longer, she pressed her face against the back of the sofa and began to sob.

Severus picked up the teacup before it could be broken, and then moved on to the sofa. Sighing deeply, he wrapped his arms around her, refusing to let go when she struggled to get free.

"No!" she gasped. "Don't touch me!"

"It's alright, witch," he muttered, tightening his grip and pulling her deeper into his chest. "I'm not going to let go, so you might as well cease your protests."

After a moment, the girl stopped fighting and sank against him. Several minutes passed before her tears stilled and her breathing regulated. "He said I was like her."

The Slytherin tilted his head, uncertain of what she had whispered. "Pardon?"

"He said I was like her," she repeated. "Like Bellatrix."

Realization dawned upon Severus as he recalled the statement she referenced. Drawing back, he tilted her head up to look at him. "Hermione, you are nothing like Bellatrix… except perhaps in that you are both powerful, talented witches eager to expand your magical prowess. It is solely that which the Dark Lord referred to because he does not know enough of you to know better. You are playing a role for him, and doing so brilliantly."

"But –"

"What have I always told you about advanced magic?" he continued. "It is the intent that matters most, and that is where you and Bellatrix are as different as night and day. You do what you must because it is what is necessary for the greater good. Bellatrix does it because she wants to… because she enjoys hurting others. You do not."

"But I did!" Hermione exclaimed. "I did like it! I enjoyed–"

Snape silenced her by cupping her cheeks with his hands. "Everyone enjoys the Cruciatus while they're casting it. Power is addictive… seductive. That is why the Dark Arts are so dangerous… because they make you feel powerful, and with that power comes pleasure. But it's how you feel afterward that sets you apart. I can promise you that a sadist like Bellatrix Lestrange has never felt as you do now. She would not fear what it meant that she could use the Cruciatus. She would not feel sick at the thought of harming or killing someone, whether it be a despicable man or an innocent child. She would celebrate it, revel in it…before seeking out her next fix. You are not like her."

Tears spilled out of the girl's eyes as she tried to avert her gaze.

"No, don't…" The man caught himself in time and swallowed the rest of his would-be command. Instead he tried to wipe her tears with his thumbs. "You have no need to feel ashamed. You did what you had to do to survive. To keep us both alive. To keep our cause alive."

Hermione shook her head and closed her eyes. "You told me he would have been satisfied if I just made the effort. I only had to make an effort, but I… I… I didn't just do that. I…"

"Shhhh," he whispered, shifting their position slightly so that he could lean against the armrest while he held her. "You impressed the Dark Lord. You put us farther in his favor, which is exactly what I thought we needed to do. I know it frightens you that you could wield such power, but I am proud of you."

Her watery eyes finally met his. "You were afraid of me. I know you were."

"No." He tucked some of her loose hair behind her ear. "How could you think that?"

"I saw your face when… after…"

"I was…surprised, yes… concerned for your well-being, yes… but I was not frightened by you."

The witch frowned. "But you said you thought I would seriously hurt you."

Severus blew out a deep breath. "When you cast the Cruciatus, you held all of the power… it gave you a high. The Darker the magic, the harder it is to shake off its pull… especially when you have had no previous exposure to it. You felt pleasure when you were in absolute control, and then it was taken away from you. I knew that you would need to release that frustration by exerting dominance, and I was fully prepared to let you hex me until you finally exhausted yourself."

"What? You thought I would… attack you?"

"Honestly, yes. So the fact that you handled things… in the fashion that you did was a bit of a relief. I would have allowed you to do whatever you needed, but that was probably the most palatable option you could have chosen." He offered her a small smirk. "Had you felt nothing after casting the Cruciatus, I would find it much more concerning."

"Truthfully?"

"I swear it."

Taking in a deep breath, Hermione wiped at her eyes. She then tentatively placed her hand on his chest where she had bitten him the night prior. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know."

"I just… I wanted to kill him. Dolohov. I wanted him to suffer... I wanted to watch him die… and I wanted to be the one to do it." She took in a heaving breath. "I can't…how… how could I think that way?"

Severus moved his hand to cover hers. "Because he hurt you. Because you don't want him to hurt anyone else. Because you're afraid of him. Because you want to survive… to be strong. Because the Dark Lord is very skilled at manipulating fear, and anger, and injury, and all other sorts of emotion into whatever suits him best. He doesn't use brute force to sway you to his side; he makes you think and feel that you want it."

Sniffling, Hermione ducked her head. "I don't understand how you can bear to –"

"Because I've been there!" he snapped before regretting his tone. Inhaling deeply, he squeezed her hands. "The first time I cast the Cruciatus… I… I almost murdered my father."

"What?"

"He was… inebriated, unconscious on the sofa. I don't remember how I got home, or why I went there. After my mother died, I tried to avoid being there as much as possible. I just recall standing over him – the gods only know how long - pointing my wand at the back of his head, debating which curses I could use to show him exactly what I thought of him. To be perfectly honest, I'm not certain how I managed to leave without so much as breaking his nose, but I did. I left… and then blasted the hell out of an abandoned mill instead."

Blinking back her tears, the girl watched him carefully as he spoke. When he finished, she leaned closer to him. "Because you're strong."

"Pardon?"

"You didn't hurt him, though I think he likely deserved it, because you were strong enough to resist the urge," she explained, trailing her fingers over his jaw.

"As were you."

Hermione snorted in disbelief. "Would I have, though, if he were lying unconscious in front of me?"

"Didn't you?" he queried. "The Dark Lord and I left you alone with him for quite some time. You didn't harm him further."

Her eyes met his once again. After thinking it through, she relaxed and rested her head on his shoulder. "I didn't expect it to be like that… to feel so good. It was like… I don't know how to describe it, but it just felt…"

"Orgasmic," Severus supplied, stroking her hair.

Tears leaked out of her eyes as she nodded.

"No one really addresses why many find the Dark Arts so addictive when teaching students to defend against them. I understand why they wouldn't, obviously, but it is shocking when you first encounter its pull." He let out a deep breath and glanced at the empty teacup. "You haven't eaten anything yet. Are you hungry?"

Hermione shook her head. "I feel like I might vomit again. Food really isn't appealing right now."

"Again?" he asked, glancing down at her in concern. "When did you… when you woke up this morning?"

The girl pressed her lips together for a moment before attempting to answer. "After you left… after you said… I thought you meant…"

"That I had been afraid of you," Severus finished, wincing. When she nodded in response, he tightened his hold on her and pressed his nose against her hair.

"Does this feeling ever go away?" she whispered.

"In time, it does," he replied. "Your soul is hurting; it needs to heal."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

After politely dismissing the Head Boy and Girl from their meeting, McGonagall stood from her desk and stretched out several kinks in her spine. Glancing at the time, she straightened a few piles of parchment on her desk, grabbed a book, and then headed out of her office.

"Professor!"

"Oh!" She startled at the shout and turned back to see Harry rushing toward her. "Potter. Is there something you need?"

The boy nodded. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Hermione might be. She isn't on… I mean, I haven't seen her at all today."

"The two of you are on speaking terms again, then?" she questioned, stalling as she thought through possible excuses.

Harry grimaced and shifted his stance. "Erm, yeah… I think we are. But I haven't seen her since supper yesterday."

"I see," Minerva stated as an explanation popped into her head. "I'm afraid you likely won't see anything of Miss Granger today. She has been granted permission to leave the castle for a few days. I'm not fully certain when she shall return to classes."

"But why?" he blurted.

She sighed. "It is a family matter, Potter. Miss Granger has not given me leave to disclose the reason for her temporary departure. You may ask her upon her return, but I trust you will respect her privacy should she not wish to discuss it."

A frown appeared on his face, but he gave a hesitant nod. "Alright. Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, Potter," she replied. "I do hope you've finished that essay I've set and haven't left it for the last minute."

"Erm… It's nearly finished," Harry mumbled, running a hand through his hair. "I was just about to head to the library actually to –"

"I'm sure you were, Potter. Run along, then. Don't let me keep you." McGonagall watched her student hastily walk in the direction of the library, shaking her head in amusement. Recalling his reason for stopping her, however, she inhaled deeply and made her way up the stairs as well.

Shortly thereafter, the witch stood in front of the portrait leading into Snape's quarters. After taking a steadying breath, she cautiously entered the sitting room. The wizard's dark head snapped up at the sound of the door opening, but he relaxed. Noticing that Hermione was asleep in his arms, the Deputy Headmistress paused. "I can come back later."

"No." Severus shook his head. "Just give me a moment."

Carefully, he sat forward and lifted the sleeping girl into his arms as he stood from the couch. Gesturing for Minerva to follow him, he carried Hermione into the bedroom and tucked her into the bed.

"Mmsev'rus?" the girl mumbled.

The man's voice was unusually soft as he answered her. "Minerva and I shall be down in my office for a bit, but I shall return if you have need of me. It's best if you continue sleeping, though, so I'm going to give you a dose of Dreamless Sleep. Is that alright?"

Hermione sleepily nodded. Once he had given her a few drops of the sleeping potion, the wizard led his colleague down the private stairs to his office, leaving both doors open in case the girl were to awake in distress.

"Severus, we could have this discussion in your sitting room." Minerva glanced back at the staircase in concern. "We could keep an eye on her, then."

"I'd rather it be here," he replied, pulling open a cupboard door and taking out his small Pensieve. "And you can view it for yourself."

"You want me to…" McGonagall stared at him in astonishment. "Severus, I trust you. Your word is enough."

Ignoring her, the man began extracting copies of his memories and placing them in the bowl. "The Headmaster viewed them in detail; you should have the same opportunity."

The witch eyed the Pensieve uncertainly as she approached it. "Will you be coming with me, or must I view them alone?"

Surprised by the questions, Severus looked up at her. "The Headmaster views them alone."

"Oh," she murmured. "I understand if you do not wish to revisit things."

"That isn't the issue," he replied. "If you truly wish for me to accompany you, I shall."

"I do." Minerva came to stand beside him as he magically expanded the Pensieve. After exchanging a silent look, the pair lowered their faces to the shimmering fluid and fell through the darkness into the first memory. The witch shivered unconsciously as she took in the crowd of Death Eaters gathered in the brightly lit ballroom.

"Ah, Severus…"

The witch gasped at the sound of Voldemort's raspy voice and spun to face the tyrant.

"And you had been doing so well in not trying my patience…"

She tensed in anticipation of witnessing some form of cruel punishment as memory-Snape began apologizing, and her wide eyes flashed to Severus when Hermione jumped in to take the blame.

"I didn't expect it," he murmured.

The edges of her mouth lifted briefly in pride before concern once again replaced it. Minerva pinched her lips together as Voldemort ran his fingers down Hermione's face, and she choked back a gasp as he violently began using Legilimency, causing the girl to whimper in pain.

"I presume you are unable to see what she is showing him?" Severus asked.

"I cannot," she agreed, without looking at him, for she was afraid to remove her eyes from Hermione. "You can see them?"

"The bonding… allows for such a thing," he replied. "Presently, she is pushing forward pieces of memories that together suggest she is keeping Potter distracted from preparing for War by inundating him with teenage drama. She is also… allowing glimpses of memories which seem to imply that I have been convincing her of the superiority of the Dark Lord."

"Incredible," Minerva whispered. She jerked slightly when Hermione fell to the ground and Voldemort began to laugh.

"I'm certain you'll find this bit amusing. It seems Potter is quite preoccupied with the knowledge that your precious heir has been enjoying the wares of his Mudblood classmate."

The witch glanced questioningly toward Severus until Bellatrix began shouting and drew Voldemort's ire. She watched nervously as Voldemort detailed how he envisioned using Hermione to bring about Potter's downfall. When he called forth Antonin, her stomach plummeted and she grabbed hold of Severus's arm. "My gods."

Sighing, the wizard stepped closer. "Keep breathing, Minerva. She comes out alright."

"Does she?"

He paused briefly as he watched Hermione and Dolohov square off. "Relatively speaking."

"Christ alive," Minerva whispered.

"Ooh… Clever bitch, are you?"

"You bet your demented arse, she is," her Head of House growled, yanking her hand away from her colleague and folding her arms against her waist. A hiss escaped her when a slicing hex ripped into Hermione's shoulder, followed sometime later by a surprised chuckle when all of the Death Eaters gasped in unison. "I recognize that spell…one of the Weasley Twin's little inventions."

"What?" Severus hissed. "I highly doubt they were the originators. Their idiot younger brother knew it well enough to bungle it in his second year."

Minerva smirked when the first slug made its appearance. "Don't discredit them, Severus. Those devious bastards were inventing spells just as early as you were. Beginning of their third year, I let them spend a few detentions perfecting that spell on one another. Between vomiting slugs and cleaning up after it, I thought it punishment enough – Oh, bollocks!"

She held her breath while Hermione fought to keep Dolohov distracted long enough to get out of her burning robes. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as the girl continued to evade her opponent. "Come on, child…"

"BEHIND!"

"Bastards!" McGonagall covered her mouth with one hand and slapped the other against Snape's chest when Hermione fell. Her grip on his robes became tighter and tighter the more Dolohov closed in on the girl. Her knuckles had gone white by the time the Death Eater had been launched through the air, disarmed, and then petrified.

"She did well, Minerva," Severus commented, removing her hand from his robes.

The woman snapped her eyes to him as she shook her head indignantly. "I should say she did far more than that! My gods, Severus. That girl is… she never ceases to amaze me."

He nodded in quiet agreement before clearing his throat. "I would like to tell you that what you're about to witness... the Headmaster doesn't know occurred."

"What? You hid it from him?" she gasped, glancing wildly about the room. "Why? What happens?"

"My Lord," the memory-Snape called out as he stepped forward. "Due to the restrictions at Hogwarts, I have thus been unable to encourage her practice with the Cruciatus…"

"Oh, don't tell me…"

"I see. Well then, no time like the present."

"Oh, Severus," she gasped. Tears gradually began to form in her eyes as the witch observed her student manipulated into using the Unforgiveable. Anger and sadness warred with astonishment as she noticed the power with which Hermione cast her final attempt. It was not until the Dark Lord shouted for the curse to cease that Minerva realized she had been holding her breath. "That's why… she was so upset. She…"

"She is dealing with the aftermath," Severus confirmed.

McGonagall briefly closed her eyes and said a quick prayer before focusing on the conversation being held between Voldemort and the memory-Snape. Her eyes narrowed a few moments later as the memory-Snape passed by Narcissa Malfoy while leading a visibly shaken Hermione out of the ballroom.

"Did she pass you something?"

The spy nodded just before they swirled through darkness into the familiar office of the Hogwarts Headmaster.

"What are we…" Minerva narrowed her eyes before approaching the desk and to find a vantage where she could see both Dumbledore, who was bent over the Pensieve, and memory-Snape, who was bristling from his chair.

"It seems your compatriots wish to watch me die."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

Upon returning to the present, Severus stepped back from the Pensieve and cautiously eyed McGonagall as she regained her bearings. Apart from a brief flicker of a glance in his direction, she had not reacted to the revelation that he owed service to Lily's memory. He had battled with himself while Hermione slept on his chest about whether or not he should allow Minerva to know his true motivation behind joining the Order of the Phoenix. Surprisingly, it had taken more effort to argue against it than for revealing it. While he did not truly want the woman to know that he was the reason the Potters were dead, he also did not think it fair that she be left in the dark when Albus Dumbledore and Remus bloody Lupin possessed the truth.

But her lack of reaction suggested either that she did not understand the significance of the Headmaster's statement or that she already knew about it. Hermione had promised not to reveal what she knew, and he trusted her word above anyone else. Similarly, Dumbledore had been all too eager to agree never to reveal 'the best of him', so it was doubtful that he had imparted the secret to his deputy. Which leaves the wolf.

A gentle hand on his arm pulled him from his musings.

"You didn't need to show me all of it, you know. I trust you implicitly."

"You knew," he stated plainly.

The witch rubbed her lips together as she considered her response. "About Lily? I suspected it, yes… though I must admit it took far too many years for me to come to that conclusion. Truly, it has only been a fortnight since I realized the two of you had been close friends."

Severus snorted sadly. "It's been more than twenty years since we would have been considered as such."

"You became friends in first year?"

"No. We grew up less than a mile apart. There was a park between our houses; I met her there. I taught her about magic, and she… gave me the time of day."

Minerva offered him a sad smile. "I take it you had a falling out during your Hogwarts years?"

He nodded once.

"And yet, regardless of that, you still cared for her?"

"No, I never stopped caring about her," he murmured tensely.

"And Albus is holding that over your head."

"Essentially, yes."

The witch narrowed her eyes as she watched him sink into his chair. "What do you mean by essentially?"

Severus winced and looked down at his hands. "During our OWLs testing, I ruined our friendship. It didn't matter how many times I apologized; she was done with me. I swore I would make it up to her one day… and then a few years later, I sent Death after her."

"What?"

"I'm the one who overheard the prophecy. I'm the one who told the Dark Lord of it. Because of me, they were marked for death."

"My god," Minerva whispered shakily, leaning back against the desk.

"I begged the Dark Lord to spare her. I knew he wouldn't, however, so I went to the Headmaster and confessed it all to him. He… promised to protect them in exchange for my service to the Order. It didn't matter, though, because she died all the same. The only way I can attempt to make things right is to protect her son."

The Gryffindor Head sniffled softly and reached out to touch his head. "Oh, Severus. It isn't your fault they died. As much as I detest Sybil, Fate wanted that prophecy fulfilled. You did what you could to save her, and you've risked so much to keep that idiot boy out of danger. Albus has no right to dangle that in front of you; you've more than paid for your mistakes."

Snape blew out a deep breath and looked up at the woman. "And if I have to choose between protecting Potter and protecting Hermione? If it comes to that… I don't know what to do."

"I sincerely hope it never comes to that," Minerva replied, pushing a strand of hair out of his face. "But if it does…I trust your heart will lead you to the right decision."

"Because it's served me so well thus far," he sneered, pulling back.

"Well, I certainly think it has. Don't lose faith in it." Sighing, the witch folded her arms against her waist. "And thank you for showing me everything you have."

The wizard nodded slowly and remained silent for a few seconds. "I've been lying to the Dark Lord for nearly twenty years. In the past six months, I've been withholding information from the Headmaster. There needs to be someone to whom I am fully accountable. Presently, you're the only one I trust."

"Severus." McGonagall stared at him in disbelief and then pressed her hand to her cheek. "Oh, you have no idea how afraid I am to disappoint you. You have far more experience with making these types of decisions than I do."

Clearing his throat, he leaned forward in his chair. "You've always challenged me…denounced my questionable actions…and have never been afraid to put me in my place. We can't afford for you to stop now. I need someone with the authority, with the power to check me. I'm a spy, Minerva; I cannot be the ultimate strategist. Before, I didn't care what happened to me, but now…I'm doing my damnedest to survive. To do that, I need to play both sides… to some extent. I need someone to anchor me to one side, someone to whom I give full allegiance."

"I don't believe that you will ever –"

Snape interrupted her by launching out of his chair, pacing a few steps, and then whirling back to face her. "Minerva, in the matter of weeks, I will have to use the Killing Curse to strike down one of the most feared wizards in Wizarding history. Seeing how the power of casting the Cruciatus affected Hermione has reminded me how terribly it affected me the first time I had to use it. The Avada is even worse. I don't know how it will affect me, or how long it will take to overcome its effects. I don't trust that I will be able to make the right decisions on my own; you shouldn't either. The whole point of this is to ensure that the students, staff, and school will be protected. For that to happen, I need to know you are the one running the Order and that you are not just taking me at my word."

Straightening her spine, the witch gave a nod. "I understand. I have no intention of blindly following your advice, and I will never hesitate to call you on your bullshit. Now, with that settled, did Narcissa provide you anything useful?"

With the hint of a smirk gracing his lips, the spy dug out a folded piece of parchment from his robes and handed it to her. As she quickly read through its contents, her eyebrows raised. "Bellatrix doesn't hold much affection for you, does she?"

"A gross understatement," he sighed. "She never much cared for the attention the Dark Lord paid me before he fell. As a halfblood, she didn't think me worthy of the Mark. Furthermore, she was present when I approached the Dark Lord about Lily, and thought me disloyal to have not languished away in Azkaban like a good little Death Eater. My present successes are driving her to new heights of jealous desperation."

"She always was quite the entitled brat," McGonagall muttered, "even before the psychosis."

"I am ever grateful not to have had her as a student."

His colleague eyed him with a grimace. "As arrogant as your young Mr. Malfoy has been – or even his father, for that matter – it is tiddlywinks compared to the primary heiress of the House of Black. There was little we could do to correct her behavior, seeing as she was a personal favorite of Horace."

"So I have heard… in graphic detail."

"What?"

Severus shook his head. "A conversation for another day…or never at all."

"Alright," the Deputy Head sighed, returning her attention to the note. "So, she's the one who weaseled her way into a front row seat to Albus's execution… and to go after Hermione while you're distracted? Does she honestly think she could murder Hermione, claim it as self-defense, and stand unquestioned?!"

"She isn't sane any longer," he growled. "She doesn't think her actions have consequences. The Dark Lord would tear through her lies in two shakes of a centaur's tail, but that won't deter her. She thinks herself above all suspicion."

"If Vol—You-Know-Who is as accomplished a Legillimens as he seems to be, how has he not discovered this? Why has he not dealt with her?"

"Because, for the most part, she is correct in her exalted self-perceptions. She's also a personal favorite of his, and usually is above all suspicion." Snape huffed sharply and ran a hand through his hair. "I can't take this to the Dark Lord any more than I could to Dumbledore, because it is only through the house-elves' eavesdropping that we know this. We just have to prepare for it…which means that Hermione cannot be on school grounds when the blessed event takes place."

"Agreed." Minerva nodded. "I know you have to provide them access, but it makes me nauseous thinking about the Lestranges in any proximity to our students. Especially if Bellatrix will be expressing displeasure at not finding Hermione here."

The wizard let out a shaky breath and rubbed his face. "I know. Even if the Dark Lord commands them not to harm the students as he has promised me he will do, it will be far too great a risk. If we could ensure that the majority of the students were out of the castle…"

"Hogsmeade weekends are not going to be reinstated, per the Aurors," she murmured. "And the only way we can empty the school without drawing attention is to take advantage of an actual holiday. The Easter hols are nearly upon us, but it's too soon."

Severus bore a pained expression. "We may not have another chance. I don't believe the Headmaster will see June on his own power."

"Heaven preserve us," McGonagall whispered, pinching her eyes shut. "Then it'll have to do as long as you're prepared for it. We'll put it off as long as we possibly can, but it has to be done before the students return for the spring term. Will Albus agree to it?"

"More than likely. He wants me to protect the students as best I can as Headmaster, and I think he still possesses enough sanity to recognize that this timing best serves that purpose."

The woman nodded nervously. "Alright. We have just under a month, then. We will just have to prepare as best we can, and let the rest happen as it will. Now, is Hermione likely to wake soon?"

"Likely not for a few more hours."

Minerva stepped away from the desk. "Then might we revisit the Pensieve? Now that I know what to expect, I'd like to get a better sense of things. I'd like to have you with me, but if you have other things to do, I understand."

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he joined her at the metal bowl. "We go again."

XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX

An inexplicable sense of panic yanked Hermione from pleasant nothingness and left her fighting to escape her bindings. Large hands grabbed hold of her, followed by heavy limbs which pinned her down. Unable to free herself, she screamed in anguished frustration.

"Granger."

"No, no, no!" she cried, desperately trying to free her hands to find her wand.

Warm fingers gently pressed on her face. "Hermione! Open your eyes."

Doing so, she startled at seeing familiar dark eyes hovering over her in concern. "S-severus?"

"It's alright. You're safe," he murmured, stroking her hair a few times before moving off of her.

Struggling to catch her breath, Hermione blinked rapidly around the room. She was still in Severus's bed; it had only been the blankets that had become tangled around her. Rolling onto her side, she locked eyes with Severus, who was stretched out beside her. His hair was rumpled, indicating he had likely been asleep until she had woken him with her violent motions. Apologizing, she sat forward and rubbed her face. "What time is it?"

"Just after eight."

"At night?" she queried, squinting toward the dark window.

He grunted in confirmation as he rose. "After you use the lavatory, I'll check your injuries."

With a slow nod, she slipped off of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. A short while later, she sat on the commode as he knelt before her, removing her old bandages. "The burns are healing well."

Hermione let out a slow breath and then eyed the tub. "Do you think I could shower yet? I really want to shower."

Severus cleared his throat and nodded. Once he finished addressing her wounds, he cast an impenetrable charm over the bandages and leaned over to start the water running. He then put away his supplies and rose to his feet. "If you need anything, I will be in the other room. I'll leave the door ajar, so you only need give shout."

Biting back the urge to beg him to stay with her, she nodded and gingerly shrugged out of the pajama shirt. The wizard remained by the door with his eyes averted until she managed to strip out of her knickers and safely climb over the tube edge.

"I'll check on you shortly. Don't overdo it."

"I won't," she replied, watching him leave as she stepped under the warm water. Sighing happily, she closed her eyes, raised her chin, and let the water pour over her face. Her scalp tingled pleasantly, and tension began to ease out of her muscles. A hint of wood smoke wrinkled her nose as her hair became wet, and it unsettled her the stronger it became. With the humidity of the shower, the smell soon became almost suffocating, flooding her with images of charred floorboards and flames licking at her ankles.

With a gasp, she snatched up the nearest bottle without bothering to check if it was shampoo. Pouring the soap over her hands, she roughly lathered up her wet locks. When it seemed to do little to dissipate the smoky scent, she grabbed for the bottle again, only to knock them all off the tiled shelf. Crying out in frustration, she dropped down to her knees to pick it up.

"Hermione?" Severus pushed open the door enough to step into the room. "Hermione!"

"I have to get it out!" she hissed, frantically rubbing at her head.

"Get what out?"

"The smoke!" Soapy water dripped into her eyes, causing them to produce tears. "Get it out."

"Hey…hey!" He snapped, darting forward to grab her elbow. "Tip your head back…let the water clear it away, and hold on a moment."

As she followed his instructions, he pulled open his cabinet and dug through a collection of small brown vials. Selecting three, he knelt down beside the tub, uncapped the first one, and held it in front of her nose. "Breathe deep."

Hermione coughed at the pungent scent of tea tree oil, but took in several deep breaths of it.

"Better?" he asked, unscrewing the lids of the other two vials.

"It's in my hair," she whispered.

"I know." The man replaced the ampoule in her hand with the two he held. "Keep these two for the moment, and breathe in if you feel anxious."

Sinking back onto her bottom, Hermione felt somewhat calmer upon taking in the peppermint and lavender.

Behind her, the wizard picked up the half-empty bottle of shampoo and dribbled in several drops of tea tree oil. He shook the bottle briefly before starting to work a small amount of it into her hair. "I generally use unscented products so they don't interfere with my senses when brewing."

"Oh." She closed her eyes, relishing in the feel of his fingers moving gently over her scalp. Eventually, a soft moan escaped her, and she found herself wishing his hands might travel southward.

Severus swallowed heavily as she arched her back slightly. He forced himself to focus on rinsing the soap from her hair and not on the stream of water cascading off her erect nipple.

Biting down on her lip, the witch set aside the small vials of oil and tentatively reached for one of his hands. Glancing over her shoulder at him, she tugged it down and placed it against her breast. After a moment of hesitation, he rolled her nipple between his fingers. With a groan, she leaned into the side of the tub and pressed her breast further into his hand. "Don't stop."

His other hand trailed down her arm and then around her front to find her other breast. As she tilted her head back, the man leaned forward to catch her lips with his. Soon, she turned in his grasp, slipping her hands behind his head and deepening the kiss. His arms tightened around her waist, and he leaned further over the edge of the tub to relieve the pressure on her ribs. Gently gripping a fistful of her wet curls, the wizard released her mouth and pressed his forehead against hers. "Is this what you need?"

"Yes," she whispered, attempting to meet his lips again. "Please."

"Not in here." Severus slowly stood up and assisted her to her feet. Carefully, he gathered her up, lifted her out of the tub, and carried her into the bedroom. Laying her down upon the bed, he stripped out of his wet shirt before climbing over her.

"What about these?" The girl touched the top of his trousers.

"Patience," he replied, kissing her again. Eventually, his lips travelled down her throat, touching briefly at her scars and healing wounds before seizing her right nipple. Her hands settled on his head as one of his toyed with her left breast and the other delved between her thighs.

Hermione arched her back and moaned as he stroked her. Afraid of hurting him again, she removed her hands from his hair and placed them on the bed instead. Swapping nipples, he continued working her with his fingers until she finally cried out in release.

As she caught her breath, he removed his hands from her and began a trail of soft kisses down her abdomen.

"Severus?" She lifted her head to peer down at him when he kissed her inner thigh and used his fingers to gently part her folds. "What are… Ohhh!"

Her head dropped back, and she emitted a strange whimper as his tongue hesitantly moved against her swollen clit.

"Ohh! Holy…shit," the girl gasped, fisting her hands in the bed covers. When he paused momentarily, she whined, "More."

Smirking to himself, Snape returned to his task and slipped a finger inside her channel. Admittedly, he had not the least bit of experience with cunnilingus, but he paid close attention to her reactions. By focusing on the actions which prompted her to cry out and writhe the most, it did not seem very long at all before he brought her to orgasm. After briefly resting his head against her thigh, he slowly pulled away to strip out of the rest of his clothes before crawling atop her once again. Though he was painfully hard and wanted nothing more than to plunge into her body, he held still until she met his eyes.

Blinking slowly, Hermione smiled up at him and moved her hands to his face. Seeing the question in his gaze, she nodded and raised her head to kiss him. She moaned deep into his mouth as he pushed into her. She could hardly control her limbs any longer, but moved with him as best she could.

A warm fire burned at her center, coursing through her veins, flaring higher with his every thrust. It encompassed her with its white heat, comforting her, assuring her that things would be alright… as long as she had Severus. As long as they were together, they would be alright. They would be whole.

She needed more of him. All of him. Determined, she wrapped her legs about his waist, slipped her arms around his neck, and drew him as tight to her body as she could manage. She did not want to let go, and then, all too soon, it was over. He released into her with a loud groan, stoking the fire inside of her to its pinnacle and bringing it crashing down into embers that tingled pleasantly throughout her body.

Even when he rolled away from her, she still felt connected with him. For the first time in weeks, she felt content.

With a wide grin, Hermione turned onto her side to find the dark-eyed man watching her. Reaching out to stroke his face, she whispered, "Thank you."

A small smile graced his countenance as he pressed his lips into the palm of her hand. "It was my pleasure."

She giggled as she scooted closer to him and tucked her head against his shoulder. Taking his hand, she linked her fingers through his. Minutes passed before she tilted her head up to look at him. "Severus?"

"Yes?"

"I'm suddenly famished."

Giving a relieved laugh, Severus extricated himself from beneath her and lightly kissed her forehead. "Contraceptive potion first, and I'll see what I can scrounge up from the kitchens."