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Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31717 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
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A/N: I do apologize for this delay, I know my chapter is late because rl interfered. Thank you all for your patience and for your comments, follows and likes.
@Snapelicious - Thank you for your patience. I hope that this chapter was worth waiting for *blush* :)
In agreement with my beta – I’m posting this chapter unedited when she finishes with fixing the grammar and with me, I will re-post this chapter at a later date.
At that time, I do expect that some parts will be enhanced and there will be no grammatical errors.
I leave it to you to read it now or wait some more.
When I upload edited chapter I’ll remove this note :)
Lucius entered the room, taking in one glance the situation. Draco looked like he ran into the Hogwarts Express, hair tousled in every direction, on the right cheekbone reddish swell already shifting into a darker shade, one arm sporting a burn. He looks like a dark cloud.
Severus appeared worse than he did all these previous months. It wasn’t in the dark circles lingering around Severus’ bloodshed eyes that spoke volumes about the restless night his friend had. It wasn’t even in the tightly curled fists or singed edge of the comforter. Not even in the Hades who took refuge on the perched for drapes above the window.
No.
It was in the too tightly clenched jaw and the shoulders, tipped just a fraction towards the inside giving the impression that Severus tried to curl up. It was in the dullness hidden behind the glare. The glare that was more of a facial expression if one knew how to look.
“And what happened here?” he turned to Draco.
His son flinched and looked him in the eyes, stubbornness colouring his cheeks in pale pink. “Nothing special, some uncontrolled magic and my clumsy attempt of controlling it.”
“Hmh.” Lucius hummed and glanced at Severus again “Leave us.”
Draco didn’t argue, didn’t even utter a word. His son dashed out of the room, taking the part of the gloom with him. Lucius directed his attention to Severus, who still looked like he was about to spontaneously combust or shrink on itself.
He frowned, partially from the pain that was stronger these days, and partially because he was worried. Ever since that Mudblood menace left Severus was worse for the wear. Lucius could bet on all his fortune that his friend didn’t even notice, then again Severus for all his intelligence was never particularly adapted at recognizing feeling- his or from others.
Such a shame, the one capable of so much love can't even recognize it...
If Severus had that capacity, he would see through the other Mudblood in his life and save himself from so much pain. His friend wouldn’t waste his life. Lucius sighed, Severus might not even join Death Eaters, or if he did, he wouldn’t betray them. Lucius was still debating with himself, was Severus’ betrayal a good or a bad thing?
Voldemort could be destroyed only from the inside, and no matter how much the rest of the world glorified Dumbledore and Potter, Lucius, as well as the rest of the Death Eaters, knew better. They all knew how pivotal was Severus’ role in all of it. If Severus stayed on their side, the things would be so much different. Not better for anyone but different.
“What?” Severus snapped at him and he smiled.
Leaning heavily on the cane and resisting the need to groan every time he leaned on his bad side, refusing to voice his discomfort, Lucius slowly made progress until he was next to the bed.
“I bear gifts.” he replied lightly, and flicked his wand, another cane came floating through the air. “I made you one to match my own.”
Severus glared at him, and he chuckled, this was a glare.
“I thought that you might be bored of leaning on the shoulders of children and women” he added with a slight tease in his voice.
Severus growled but moved to uncover himself. Lucius waited until Severus’s feet touched the ground to hand him the cane. He watched as Severus inspected the cane. Cane’s head was made of silver and it resembled the raven, the cane alone was ebony.
“I'd like to see you say that in front of the named children or a woman.” Severus smirked.
“Yes, well, I do not have a death wish, not yet. I took the liberty of not making the space for the wand, I do remember that you prefer having yours in the sleeve.”
“The wand is not a crutch, Lucius, it is a part of you.” Severus grumbled standing up. Lucius moved a bit closer, observing Severus’ unsteady rise and first unstable steps. “The waste of good Galleons if you ask me, I won’t be needing this forever.”
“I know, but any Lord does need a cane.” Lucius chuckled again, he knew a “thank you” when it came from Severus. “Will you tell me what is bothering you?”
“Apart for being crippled and reduced to a Squib? Nothing much.” Severus smirked making a slow circle around the room.
“Oh, I’d say there is at least one more thing.”
“Enlighten me then.” the sarcasm dripped heavily in the Severus’ baritone.
“Oh, shall we say- one Hermione Granger, or lack of her?” and even if he kept his voice light there was a heaviness in his chest and abdomen.
Severus stopped, shoulders squaring, voice gruff. “If this is your idea of joking, Lucius, I have to say- it is a poor one.”
“I do have eyes my friend, and by the look of things, you do miss her. Admit it if you like or deny, but it is obvious.”
“And what might be so obvious that even you managed to see?” growled Severus pivoting on the spot, faster than would be reasonable, resulting in loss of balance.
Lucius dropped his cane and made an effort to catch Severus. They both ended up on the ground, Severus with a string of curse words and he with a painful groan. Misty popped into the room.
“Masters are not careful. Masters can injure themselves.” grumbled elf, and with a snap of her bony fingers, they were on the bed.
“Misty…” hissed Severus.
“Misty won’t help. Misty will prevent Master Snape for injuring himself again.”
And just like that Misty vanished, leaving them lying like two turtles on their back. The bed started to shake, soon after the barking sound came from Severus. He joined him in his laughter.
“Well, we are at the prime of our lives, I must say.” Severus barely managed the words through gasps of laughter.
“Indeed we are, my friend. Indeed we are.”
Severus sat in bed and he followed, he glanced at him. “But I was correct in my assumption.”
Severus stopped laughing. “Lucius, that is not a joking matter.”
“What? That you miss her? I’m not joking. I’m… Well, happy and not happy for you I suppose.” He rolled from the bed and hobbled to reach their canes. “I’m not happy because you tied yourself, once more, to the person so much below you, so unworthy of you. Then again, that might be an acquired taste do-- who am I to judge? And I’m happy, in my opinion, Miss Granger is, more manageable, stubborn but also could be manipulated. A trait I do know to appreciate.”
“Lucius…”
“With a bit of help she can be easy on the eye, and most importantly- she does possess some brain and affection towards you.”
“Lucius!” Severus whispered, but the strength he put behind his voice was as good as shouting.
“Do control yourself, Severus. I am not my son, I will pour water on you or reflect any magic coming in my direction.” he glared at his friend's thunderous face.
Lucius was sick of playing games. Between them there were no lies, well almost no lies- they were for the biggest part honest to each other. And he refused to allow his friend to keep his eyes closed. There was also the matter of very nagging portrait in his library, this wasn’t something he could just let it pass to Draco. His son would probably burn the portrait and bring shame to the family.
Severus snatched his cane and stood up in a threatening position, or what would be threatening position if Severus wasn’t shaking. “May I remind you that we had this conversation before?”
“I remember, I also didn’t agree with you.”
“So, you are going to pester me… Nagg me like an old spinster until I consent?” Severus snarled at him.
“Until you…” he started.
“She is-was my student, she is half my age. She is convinced that she knows everything, she is… You have no idea to what extent her misplaced self-confidence is going, you can’t even dream of what she’s…” Severus stopped, angry, his voice cracking.
It wasn’t just anger in his voice, there were bitterness and longing and something else, something Lucius couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Severus had a mask of anger, but beneath there was fear- genuine and honest fear.
“What did she do?” Lucius dragged the question. What could have she done? What could little goody-two-shoes do to make you so off balance? Whatever little Mudblood did it did seem to go along with his plans or attempts. She certainly did shake up Severus. Or was it all her doing? No, I’m not that lucky. Lucious dismissed the idea that pecked on the edges of his mind.
“She... She’s… Insufferable. Know-it-all. And for once in my life I had some luck coming my way. And that, my friend…” Severus slid from stuttering, so uncharacteristic to him, to a more common dangerous whisper “And that, my friend, was the day she left.”
“Yes. I heard that song before, Severus. You might want to- oh, I don’t know, widen the repertoire, perhaps?” he smiled politely, still wondering what that bit of a girl could do to Severus. Severus huffed, anger etching in his features. “Fine.” Lucius faked one bored huff. “I won’t mention little Mud…”
“Lucius!”
“Merlin. Right, Miss Granger anymore. I will, however, talk to you about your obligations as a Lord of a house.”
“My line dies with me, Lucius.” Severus waved his free hand and made a sluggish walk towards the window.
“I disagree. Do not mix up attraction or love with obligation. You have a duty to continue your family name.” he allowed a bit of harshness to sip in his tone. “I’ll admit it is much more pleasurable if there is love or at least some sort of compatibility, but it is not a requirement. You do not have to love or like her, just to produce an heir.”
“And pray tell, how do you suggest that to happen?” asked Severus, the sarcasm could be cut with the knife but Lucius decided to ignore it and play naive.
“The usual way I suppose. You do remember how to…”
“Sometimes I wonder, do you have a death wish, Lucius?” hissed Severus.
“No, not in particular, I prefer slow and agonizing one, as you may imagine.” he replied in the same light tone.
Severus glanced at him, frowning. “That is not a joking matter.”
“And I’m not joking. I do want to live for as long as it is possible for me. And I do think that you have to start thinking about future Lady Prince.” He raised a hand to silence Severus who opened his mouth to protest. “As I said, any sort of affection is not a requirement. She doesn’t have to be to your liking, not even to your taste, not your prefered gender or species - she just has to give you an heir.”
He hobbled to the sofa and sat on the edge, the pain in his leg crept up his spine weakening the hand he used to lean on the cane.
“I swore to myself that I won’t be with the woman I do not like.” Severus sounded tired, determined but somehow also defeated.
“That- might prove difficult my friend, given that she is not among living anymore.”
“No.” Severus shook his head, looking through the window again. “Not L- her. Later. After... “
“Do you think it will be possible for you to, find a woman you might like?” taking a great pain to keep his voice light Lucius teetered on the edge of excitement, this conversation sounded promising. He prayed that Severus won’t name anyone- that could ruin his plans.
“I am certain of it…” Severus trailed and Lucius felt his curiosity reaching its peak.
Slow down, let him come to you, then you can plot… “Who?” the question left his mouth before he was aware of it. Idiot!
“My Dream Lady.” there was a shade to tremor in Severus’ voice.
“Who?” if his eyes could roll out they would. Who in the name of Salazar is that now?
“It was… It is insane, it will sound insane, but I started to dream her, not too long after I wake up from the coma. She is- perfection. Everything I could wish and more.”
“She also isn’t real.” Lucius felt cold anger filling him. I might just convince a little Mudblood to marry him, knock him out and arrange for a marriage while he is unconscious.
“She is, a therein lies the problem. She is real and unattainable. She is… She’s not for me.” there was a definite note of defeat in Severus’ voice.
“Are you certain of that? Do you know who she is?”
“I do.”
“Would you be willing to share that information perhaps?”
“No, and I’d prefer if we stop talking about it.” Severus sighed. “I didn’t know who she is until last night, and now that I do - it is ten times worse. I was perfectly happy just dreaming of her, not knowing.”
“Is she married?” he tried again, but asking outright questions never yielded results with Severus.
“No. Change the subject, Lucius.”
“All right, I’ll drop it, for now. But I will leave you with the thought - if she isn’t married, deal with whatever problem you have and think about her seriously or prepare yourself to marry another. Any other.”
He watched as Severus’ shoulders hunched.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
After he spent a sleepless night and his outburst of wild magic this morning, this was the last thing he needed. He couldn’t think of anything more dangerous than Lucius sniffing around.
Most of the night he spent trying to figure out how he ended up getting so attached to the most unlikely person. He tried to place the blame on Hermione’ misguided attempt to help him, but he couldn’t lie to himself- his Dream Lady appeared before that. True the physical aspect didn’t help his own moral code, skewed as it was.
He knew himself well enough, but this was the one thing where he couldn’t force himself to dug his head in the sand, his biggest weakness - his heart. That traitorous thing that never could choose wisely, only this time it went straight to impossible.
Even if the girl would prove willing, he couldn’t force himself to… He couldn’t condemn her to himself. He couldn’t even accept the fact that allowed himself to develop feelings, any sort of feeling little less these for a - student.
Apparently, his moral compass was off more than even he believed.
Severus had the feeling that his head was splitting in two, his fingers twitched ever so often and he tried to control these outbursts of wild magic to the best of his ability, which at this point wasn't much.
Lucius’ words echoed through his head long after his friend left the room and after Draco returned. He wasn’t in the state which enabled him to consider himself suitable marriage material. Not to anyone really, the least of all her. Not that he was willing to even consider her.
How could he with the age difference and all the history, not to mention his own messed up history.
But she will return, and having her near will be a new kind of torture for him, he had to do something to send her away. As far away as possible, while he still had reason and strength. With a troubled sigh, he slowly walked back to the bed, he’ll have to submit himself to the healers. He has to find a way to get better - that was the only reason for her to go. Go before the damage was irreparable.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
There was sound, not one that could be heard by mortal ear, but Estelle wasn’t mortal- not anymore. She raised her head glancing around the darkened room, cold and covered with layers of fine dust. The walls were covered with frames, many of habitants snored.
Estelle hated this room, one of many reasons she tended to linger and nag to Malfoy. With the corner of her eye, she noticed the motion and smiled. She moved quickly, passing through other portraits until she reached the one she wanted.
An elderly lady in Mediwich uniform heavily sat on the stool.
“And? Did you managed to find out anything about the girl?” asked Estelle.
“I did. Quite a bit until the girl spotted me.” huffed the woman, her pale face tight even as a painting.
“And?”
“She is a strong and capable witch, very determined and strongwilled young girl. She does lack in manners, but she could easily fit into the family line. She spends a lot of time in the company of one of the male professors, her old school-mate, so I do not question her ability to fit in but her willingness to do so.”
“I was assured by a trusted source that the girl is positively in love with him.” Estelle frowned.
“Don’t be naive Ellie, no woman would wait forever until he makes up his mind. If you think they should marry, see that it happens. We need a strong heir in these halls.”
“I am doing the best a portrait could do. I do however think that I’ll rely on my new ally, he does seem to have a better grasp of the situation and the girl.” Estelle smirked.
“New ally?”
“The youngest Malfoy. He cares for Severus as much as the older one does, but the young one is at least convinced that the girl is suitable for Severus. Lucius can’t forgive the girl her heritage.”
“This is no time for details, the matter is urgent enough that heritage does not play the part.” Male voice joined the conversation. “Even the watered down blood is better than no blood at all.”
“If we listened a little less to you, we wouldn’t have this problem now.” Hissed Estelle. “I’ll keep you all informed.”
With those words, she returned to her frame and vanished, headed to the portrait in cosy Malfoy Manor. She had to find the way and talk to youngest Malfoy male again.
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed