Remorse | By : Ms_Figg Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 22984 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
Chapter 1 ~ Attempted Apologies
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger walked through a street bordered by dilapidated brick buildings. The setting was depressing to say the least. A dog barked as the wind shuffled bits of discarded paper up the street. The stink of a nearby river filled their nostrils.
"He lives here?" Harry asked Hermione.
Hermione nodded as she looked at the slip of parchment in her hand.
It had been two years since Albus Dumbledore was restored by a Horcrux he�d hidden in his Phoenix Fawkes, only after Harry Potter had killed Voldemort, their meeting facilitated by Severus Snape. Albus had such a reverence for life, that he felt anytime it was taken, regardless of the circumstances . . . it was murder. Each time he killed for the Greater Good, his soul was torn, so he had the ability to create a Horcrux because committing a murder was a requirement in order to fragment a soul. Albus� death at Snape's hand was part of an elaborate ruse to strengthen the Dark Lord�s faith in the Potions Master so Severus could orchestrate the evil tyrant�s demise.
Snape managed to do this, but not before spending a year in Azkaban after being publicly flogged for his presumed treachery. He was also very badly treated in the prison, raped and brutalized by the Azkaban guards. Several hours after Voldemort�s death, Albus Dumbledore appeared at Hogwarts, whole and strong, shocking everyone and expecting Severus to only have been imprisoned for a few hours, collected with the other Death Eaters. The old wizard was horrified to find out Snape had been caught over a year ago and was in Azkaban.
It wasn�t supposed to work that way. He was supposed to give himself up with the rest of the Death Eaters and Albus was to retrieve him.
Snape was released and the Ministry tried to make him a hero after the fact, the story coming out for all to know . . . but Snape refused the Order of Merlin medal they wanted to give him, and disappeared from the public view.
Harry and Hermione had been the ones to capture Snape, Harry Crucioing the wizard to the point of death before Hermione stopped him. She had stood by and let him do it, her hatred for the Potions Master stronger than her own humanity. It was only because she wanted to see him put on trial and punished that she didn�t let Harry kill him.
Snape had tried to tell them things weren�t as they seemed, but neither Hermione nor Harry was willing to listen. They tormented the wizard to the brink of death, then turned him over to the Aurors who exacted their own revenge.
When he was put on trial, the wizard�s appearance was horrible. He was bruised and beaten, but refused to speak on his own behalf. Voldemort was still alive and Snape couldn�t tell anything that could ruin the plot.
He was taken out and tied between two posts in front of the Ministry building, and with a cheering audience of thousands, cursing, spitting and throwing things at him, was publicly scourged. Everyone was disappointed however, because the wizard didn�t scream once. Snape was used to such treatment.
When Albus freed Snape, he offered him his old position back, but the wizard refused, saying he�d had enough of Hogwarts, dunderheads and people in general. Albus gave him a generous pension, and the Ministry also issued him a stipend that he would receive for the rest of his life. Snape retired to his home at Spinners End, a recluse.
Harry and Hermione had been absolutely horrified to learn the truth about the Potions Master concerning his role in the destruction of Voldemort. It was Snape who surreptiously left the clues where the Horcruxes could be found and who created the special port key that took Harry into Voldemort's presence so he could kill the surprised despot.
At risk to his own life, Snape had turned Voldemort himself into a living port key destination and placed the charmed ring behind the last Horcrux. When Harry destroyed it, he saw the ring. The moment Harry picked it up, he was transported to Voldemort�s presence. The despot had been asleep in his bed when a startled Harry arrived in his bedroom and when he realized he was looking on the sleeping form of Voldemort, cast the killing curse on him, then beating his head in with a heavy statue of a serpent to insure he was dead.
Full of guilt, Harry and Hermione worked on the Headmaster for several months, trying to find out where Snape was. Finally, Albus relented, telling them he lived at Spinner�s End, but would most likely refuse to see them. He gave them the address reluctantly. The wizard didn�t see any way the pair could make this up to the wizard and tried to dissuade them by telling them exactly what the former Potions Master suffered while in Azkaban.
Hermione cried buckets as she heard how he was brutalized, and Harry�s face was pale with horror. They had brought this on him. They didn�t want to hear anything the wizard had to say. They believed Snape had killed the most wonderful wizard Hogwarts had ever known and vengeance was the only voice they hearkened.
Now, they walked up Spinner�s end, their footsteps echoing on the cobbles as they passed abandoned and boarded up houses. To say the area was depressing was an understatement. The very last house was occupied. A dim light shined through the curtains in a downstairs room.
�This is it,� Hermione whispered to Harry.
Witch and wizard both stood there, looking at the sad little house, unsure of what they would say to the wizard who they brought even more pain to.
�Come on, Hermione,� Harry said, walking up to the door, shadowed by a nervous Hermione. Drawing a deep breath, Harry knocked on the door.
It opened rather quickly, but just a crack.
�Who is it?� a silken voice hissed through the opening.
�Professor, it�s Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. We want to talk to you,� Harry said loudly.
There was a moment of silence, then the door widened.
�Come in,� the voice said.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and each instinctively drew their wands, but held them at their sides. They didn�t know if Snape were going to attack them. They really couldn�t blame him if he did. Slowly, Harry led the way in, Hermione so close she was stepping on his robes.
They didn�t see Snape. He appeared from behind the door when they entered fully, closing it suddenly behind them. Both spun and faced him.
Professor Snape looked much as he did at Hogwarts, except that his lank black hair had grown longer and now fell over his shoulders. He had the same sallow skin, deep dark eyes, hooked nose and cruel mouth. Actually he seemed even paler than before, thin blue veins visible at his temple. He stared at the couple for a moment, then oddly . . . smirked, before walking past them with his trademark billow of robes.
They were in a tiny sitting room. It felt like a cell and the walls were covered in leather-bound books. A ragged sofa, armchair and table were grouped together under a candle lamp hung from the ceiling that cast a dim light. The air was close and rather stale.
�I was wondering when you two would show up,� Severus said softly, sitting in the armchair and gesturing them to the sofa.
Harry and Hermione both walked over and sat down, Hermione perched on the edge of it. They put their wands into their robe pockets, Hermione clasping her hands together in her lap as she looked at the wizard.
�You were expecting us, Professor?� Hermione asked.
Snape leveled his eyes on the witch. She was twenty now and her hair was curly, rather than the bushy locks he remembered. He picked up a glass of amber liquid and took a sip before answering her, his long pale fingers curled around the glass. Hermione remembered how dexterous and sure those fingers had been when engaged in brewing. The witch had for a short time, lusted after the dour wizard. But that changed once he killed Dumbledore. Snape put the glass down.
�Of course I expected you. You are both Gryffindors. I knew the guilt you both felt at causing my incarceration would drive you to seek me out sooner or later. And as brave as Gryffindors are purported to be, I knew neither of you could face me alone . . . and so, would visit me together in an attempt to ease your consciences and beg my forgiveness,� the wizard crooned.
�We didn�t know, Professor,� Harry said earnestly. �If only you had told us . . . �
"Told you, Potter?� Snape said, his voice harsh. �When was I to tell you? Between blasts of the Cruciatus curse? Or maybe between lashes when I was put on display in front of the Ministry?�
�But you didn�t say a word to defend yourself, Professor . . . even after you were arrested. Even when you were on trial,� Hermione countered.
Snape looked at her as if she were an idiot. As far as he was concerned, she was.
�If I had said anything, Miss Granger, then all Albus and I had planned would have come to nothing. Voldemort would have known there was a plot against him. I had to keep my silence,� the pale wizard said.
Harry�s eyes shifted toward the glass of Firewhisky and he swallowed reflexively. He could use a shot of something. Snape�s eyes glittered at him.
�We�re sorry, Professor,� Harry said lamely. Sorry was not enough in this case, and he knew it. They had caused the Professor more pain for less reason than anyone else in his life, including the Dark Lord.
�Yes, we�re sorry,� Hermione echoed.
Snape looked at them.
�And you believe saying �I�m sorry� is enough?� the wizard asked the two, his face sober.
�What else can we do, Professor? If there is any way we can make this up to you, just tell us. We�re willing to do anything,� Harry said.
Snape�s eyes narrowed and flicked from Harry to Hermione then back again.
�Your words are lies as always, Mr. Potter. You say �anything� without conviction, or meaning. Empty echoes of conscience. The same goes for you, Miss Granger. You too offer me empty words,� he said with a sneer.
Harry felt himself heating up. He always did his best to keep his word.
�They are not empty echoes of conscience. I mean it, Professor. I feel terrible about what happened to you because of me and I would do anything to make it up to you,� he declared.
�As would I,� Hermione added, frowning. She was also a witch of her word.
Suddenly, strong magic swirled around the both of them. They had such intent behind their words, they both invoked a Wizard�s Oath. They were bound to their words now.
Snape felt the magic and looked at the two of them, shaking his head slowly.
�Only Gryffindors would bind themselves to such a stupid sentiment,� he said, a slow, rather nasty smile playing across his pale face. �Now you are both obligated to fulfill your promise of doing anything to make up for your error. You cannot leave my presence until you�ve �made it up to me.��
Hermione�s stomach began to knot up as she met his eyes. Harry stood up and tried to walk to the front door, and found he couldn�t do it. He looked at Hermione, his eyes round.
�I can�t leave, Hermione,� he said to her.
Hermione stood up and found she was in a similar situation.
Snape smirked at them, then waved his hand lazily.
�Accio wands,� he said. Both Harry and Hermione�s wands flew out of their pockets and neatly into the wizard�s hands.
�Hey, give those back!� Harry cried.
Snape smirked at him, depositing the wands in his own robes pocket.
�They will be returned to you, Mr. Potter, when you�ve both made up for your crimes against me,� the wizard purred. �That is why you both came here, is it not?�
Both Hermione and Harry sat back down.
�Yes,� they said together.
Snape looked at the pair, tapping the tips of his fingers together.
�When I was in Azkaban, I often thought about the two of you . . . how I would like to reward you for my flogging and incarceration, not to mention being almost Crucio�d to death by you Mr. Potter, while you watched without saying a word, Miss Granger. I was particularly surprised at your venom, witch, considering what a bleeding heart you normally are. I imagine I didn�t even rate the respect a house elf deserved in your eyes,� he purred.
�I particularly thought about you, Harry,� the wizard said, shifting to using Harry�s first name. �when the Azkaban guards were having their way with me. It was quite humiliating . . . but, the mind is a marvelous thing and will twist a thousand different ways in order to help the body survive the horrors it faces. So after a weeks and months of such treatment I developed a taste for brutalization in order to keep my sanity. It worked until I was freed. I never reported the guards. I plan to seek them each out . . . in time and show them how much I appreciated them broadening my . . . horizons.�
Snape picked up his glass of Firewhisky and finished it, Hermione and Harry looking at him as if mesmerized. Snape continued.
�But I knew you two would come to me. I wouldn�t have to seek you out. Your own guilt would bring you . . . and bind you to an unnamed promise to me. Gryffindors are so predictable,� he purred, his fingers caressing the empty glass sensuously for a moment.
�I know your orientation, Mr. Potter,� Snape said to him. �You like cock. You always have.�
Harry colored. He had did his best to hide he was gay and keep his trysts secret. Of course, Hermione knew. It didn�t matter to her. Harry was her friend.
Snape�s black eyes shifted to Hermione.
�And you used to twiddle in your twat while breathing my name, Miss Granger,� he said to her. �Oh, I knew.�
Now it was Hermione�s turn to flush. Neither could say a word as Snape continued.
�I haven�t touched a woman since before I �killed� Albus. I haven�t touched a man since Azkaban. Yes, eventually I too succumbed to shagging men in an effort to show myself I still had some manhood left. I was forced to be a bottom by the guards . . . but I assure you that is not my natural inclination . . . �
The wizard�s voice died away for a moment as he looked at Harry and Hermione.
�I assume you are both not too dense to realize where I am going with this,� he purred.
Both Harry and Hermione looked at him, but didn�t respond. Yes, they did know. Snape wanted sexual payback and because of the oath they inadvertently took, they knew protesting would do no good. This was Severus Snape. He didn�t have a drop of mercy in his pale body.
�I am going to get my due from the both of you,� the wizard said smoothly. �An inch at a time. By the time you leave Spinner�s End, I will be satisfied and both of you, absolved.�
Snape stood up and waved his hand at the candle lamp. All but one candle flickered out. He turned and walked to the bottom of the stairs, then looked back at Harry and Hermione.
�Follow me,� he ordered, starting up the stairs.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, then at the front door. They knew the oath wouldn�t let them leave until they fulfilled it. They rose and followed Snape.
They had no choice.
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