Strong Enough

CH 10 LIFE FOR RENT

O.k Constant readers, here’s the next one.
It’s much better now, thanks to my beta Zephyr!

Thanks and authors note at the bottom

Not mine. Hers

\"But if my life is for rent and I don\'t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine.
While my heart is a shield and I won\'t let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won\'t even try
Well how can I say I\'m alive\"

-Life for rent, Dido

Hermione was pacing up and down the corridor outside the infirmary like an expectant father from the 1940’s when Dumbledore stuck his head out of the room.

\"Come in Hermione.\" He said softly.

She followed him into the room, where the curtains had been drawn around Snape.

\"Hermione, I can’t thank you enough, if you hadn’t found him when you did I don’t think he would have made it.\"

\"Is he going to be all right?” She said quietly

\"I think so. Madam Pomfrey is still working on him now, but I’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything. In the mean time I have a favor to ask.\"

\"What do you need?\" She asked, suddenly needing to be of some use.

\"Will you take over his classes until he is well enough to return?\"

\"Of course I will.\"

\"I know that isn’t what you are here for but there isn’t anyone else proficient enough in potions.
I suggest you try to get a little rest over the weekend, let your team take over patrolling. You have a double lesson first thing on Monday and you know how trying those Gryffindor/Slytherin lessons can be like.\" He said, with a small smile.

She said goodbye and went back to her rooms, where she did not sleep a wink, because she was so worried about the professor she hated.

~*~*~*~*

Severus awoke, to find himself in a strange bed and realized that he was in the infirmary. Again. But strangely, not in too much pain.

He was amazed that he had gotten out alive this time. Ever since Voldemort had returned to his human body, Severus had spied on him for the order. Voldemort had trusted him less and less as time went on, seeing the revulsion in his face at what was going on around him.

He looked around to find the headmaster sitting by the side of his bed.

\"It didn’t work then.\" Said Albus sadly

\"Oh yes of course it worked, can’t you tell that I’m back in Voldemort’s good graces,\" said Severus, a little less sarcastically than he would have liked.

\"How long have I been out for anyway?\"

\"A little over forty eight hours,\" Dumbledore said frowning at him. \"What in Merlin\'s name happened Severus?\"

\"Oh this is my punishment, you see.\" He said.

\"Punishment for what?\"

\"For not delivering her to him.\" He said looking away. \"You see he already knew about the aurors being here, and that she was one of them. He’s known for a while what she’s being doing, and expected me, as his faithful servant, to present him with the ‘mudblood’ who has been killing all his deatheaters.” He paused for breath, \"And obviously I failed.\"

\"I’m so sorry Severus,\" said Dumbledore, looking away.

\"Well, I don’t want to kick a man when he’s down, but I did try and warn you that having Hermione Granger back under this roof was a bad idea.\"

He knew it wasn’t her fault. It was just easier to blame someone other than himself. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it coming.

(It had been a full meeting, all living Deatheaters had been accounted for; the death toll for the week for both sides had been totted up. As the meeting was finishing up, Voldemort turned his scarlet eye towards Severus.

\"Before we leave this evening\" he began in his high pitched voice \"I would like a report from the good professor.\"

They all turned to Severus, who had thought up until then, that he might get away without incident. His face showed no trace of emotion even though his nerves were humming with fear.
\"A report, my lord?\" He asked, not remembering Voldemort asking for any specific information.

\"Why yes Severus, I was expecting you to bring me a gift this evening, but as you have turned up without it, I am assuming that you at least have something to report.\" He said impatiently.

Severus was thinking fast. He had no idea what he supposed to have bought or what he was reporting on.

\"Well, my lord, There has been a development at the castle; you see the old fool has called in a small group of aurors to protect him.\" Severus sneered, hoping that would get him out of the tight spot he was in, like Dumbledore had said.

\"Oh Severus, you disappoint me.\" The Dark Lord said, his cold voice mocking. \"I knew about that before you did, I do have people inside the Ministry you know. No, it’s the people, or should I say person that they sent that I’m most interested in.\"

Severus was becoming increasingly nervous about the way Voldemort was smiling at him, it was pure evil. \"Person?\" he said blankly although he had a good idea what was going on.

\"Yes, Miss Hermione Granger.\" Voldemort said. His tongue darting out in a grotesque parody of licking his lips. \"The mudblood.\"

Severus froze. He knew now what he was supposed to have done.

\"I assumed you would find a way to bring her to me, after all the damage she has done to our army. She deserves to die like her parents, begging for life.\" Voldemort swooped down to where Severus was standing, all the other deatheaters moving away from him. \"The fact that you did not bring her here disturbs me greatly. If you were as loyal to me as you say you are, why is she not here, being taught a lesson?\"

Severus felt his insides turn over at the thought of what they would do her if they caught her. An angry thought started to well up in him. That he would rather slit her throat himself than see these animals get hold of her.

He heard Voldemort behind him. \"Crucio.\"

Then all he heard was the sound of his own breathing as he tried to stay silent as they tortured and beat him)

He was bought back to reality at the sound of Dumbledore’s voice.


\"You cannot blame her for this Severus and you know it. The blame lies squarely with me.
I thought that if he knew I’d called a small group of Aurors in, I could protect the school for a little bit longer, that he wouldn\'t attack while they were here and Harry wasn’t. I was running out of ideas believe it or not, I panicked a little.\" At Severus’s surprised look Albus continued. \"At the end of the day I am still only a wizard trying to look after my family. I was wrong.\"

\"As it happens you were not wrong, as much as I hate to say it. Before I passed out, I heard Lucius saying that the attack on the school was all set for graduation day. So, now you know.\"

\"Well you will not be going back to him again Severus, this was too close. From now on we will have to depend on the other spies.\"

\"I have to go back Albus; I have to make Voldemort believe that I am still faithful to him.\" Severus argued.

\"I said no, Severus. If I have to I will bind you to the castle to prevent you from leaving.\"

Severus sighed, \"I know you are right. As much as I hate it, if I go back again they will kill me and I will be of no use to you dead.\"

\"That is not the issue and you know it. I am not willing to let you be harmed by them anymore. Can you withstand the pressure of the mark when he calls?\" Albus asked with a concerned hand on Severus’s shoulder.

\"Yes, I have developed a potion, which numbs that part of my arm, it will be fine.\"

Dumbledore rose to leave as Severus’s eyes were starting to droop.

\"Albus\" He mumbled, trying to fight off the sleep that was threatening to overtake him.

\"Yes, Severus,\" said the older man moving closer to the bed.

\"I thought I was dead, earlier on. I came around, and I felt warm and protected. There was this woman, I think she…\" He trailed off, tired and embarrassed.

\"Think she what Severus?\" Said Dumbledore, wondering where Severus was going with this.

\"I thought she was an angel, Albus. She was so beautiful and she looked genuinely happy to see me, I can’t remember the last time that happened. Do you think I imagined her?\"

Dumbledore smiled, some of the old twinkle coming back to his eyes.

\"No Severus, I do not think you imagined her. I think she was very real.\"

He looked over to see that Severus was asleep.

~*~

Minerva was sitting up in bed reading and waiting for him when he got back to their rooms.

\"Is he all right Albus?\" She asked worriedly.

\"Do you know, I think he just might be,\" said Dumbledore, getting changed and into bed. \"I think they both might be.\"

I would like to thank the academy....

Rilla ; A chill? really? Thanks, that means a lot to me.

Zephyr ; you’re the best, big kisses!!

Melissa ; Wow, Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest.

Cookie ; Me too. I actually have bushy brown hair and have it chemically straightened, so I thought I’d save Hermione the trouble!! I’m glad you liked Snape’s ‘angel’ and things are about to change between them, big time!!

Nika ; O.k I havehave fucked up a little bit! There is a full explanation at the bottom!

PotionsMistressM ; I am so sorry for your loss, and hope you are o.k.
Thank you for the awesome review! I have never lost a parent, thank god, but I have lost family and friends, some, I am sad to say, through violence, and have based Hermione on a mixture of things I have seen and felt.
I am glad you like the song lyrics. I had most of them in mind of my favourite couple, before I had the idea to write a story and I think that they just set the chapters up nicely. Please keep reading and reviewing!

Fish ; My mental reviewer! You have returned!! Here’s a new chapter, now calm yourself, have a drink, have a cigarette or whatever, get yourself a good beta and your writers block will disappear as if by magic!! or something like that!

Mataji ; I’m glad you liked the first chapter, but what about the others?

Deb ; Thanks babe. That’s exactly why I wanted her to find him. She has to realise that he is human and not completely evil. Hope you like the next one!

O.k my lovelies, here’s the thing.

I wanted Hermione to have a team that I could use when I needed them, really just to move the story along and not to be part of the plot. I am, however, crap with making up original names and descriptions (which is probably why I don’t write original fiction!) and so I thought ‘I know, I’ll use characters from my favourite TV show’

So I randomly picked the character names and descriptions from ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’ not actually thinking about what the characters are like on the show and therefore, have confused some people into thinking that this is a Btvs crossover, and that I’ve buggered it up by including non magical characters. It is not. I apologise for the confusion.

Thank you again for all the reviews. I am actually addicted to them, and check constantly to see who’s reviewed me!! (once again, yes I know I need to get a life!)
So (She says slyly) the more you review, the more compelled I am to write! It’s worked so far!

This chapter was the calm before the storm.
Next chapter: It all goes a bit pear shaped for our favourite couple!!!!!