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Dance with the Devil	By : JCB Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 9184 -:- 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 List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer: Do I still have to do this? Not JKR � if I was, I�d be working on Book 7, not writing fanfic�

Chapter Twelve: The Luck of the Devil

�Petrificus Totalus! Rodolphus yelled just as Snape lurched for his wand.

The spell caught him and he froze, crouching over Hermione.

Quick as a flash, Hermione whipped out the wand from under her frozen husband and screeched, �Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!� at the unsuspecting Death Eater.

She had thought that like the wand Severus had bought her, this one would be sluggish. To her surprise, it was as responsive, if not more so, than her old wand.

Rodolphus Lestrange was unconscious and had subsequently fallen back into the fire.

The smell of burning hair filled the room as she swiftly cast a Finite Incantatem on Severus who, being released from Rodolphus� curse, continued his fall and collapsed on top of her. Levering himself up on his arms, he peered over the back of the couch at his smouldering nemesis.

Hermione drew away from the malignant grin that spread across her husband�s face.

�A prize has been dropped into my lap,� he whispered and his tired face lit up with joy.

Leaping off the couch (and his wife) he held out his hand to Hermione for the wand, never removing his eyes from Lestrange.

She handed it to him, asking, �What do you mean?�

Gleefully, he turned to her. �It was one of the Dark Lord�s strictest rules that none aside from him, myself, my assistant, Draco and, of course, my wife, was to come to this cottage. Rodolphus has just disobeyed our master.�

He strode around the couch, elevating the burning Death Eater from the flames, before continuing conversationally, �Things are not going well for the Lestranges at the moment. This may be just what I need.�

He quickly cast an Obliviate on the powerless wizard before reaching up and activating the Floo. He turned back to Hermione.

�Return to your sleep, madam. We shall continue this conversation when I return.�

With that he floated Rodolphus� body into the Floo before following through.

Hermione watched impassively, before lying back down and drawing the sheets over herself and settling down to sleep.

Such incidents were becoming too common place to worry her anymore.

*~*

Severus triumphantly strode down the Ministry corridors, the inert form of Rodolphus Lestrange drifting along behind him. As he entered Voldemort�s room, he bowed low, both in fealty and also so that the Dark Lord could easily view Rodolphus� bobbing figure.

�What is the meaning of this, Snape?� Voldemort hissed.

Looking up, Severus saw that at this time of the night in the hours before the dawn, only the Dark Lord, Nagini and Peter Pettigrew were in the room.

�My lord,� he began obsequiously, �I come with grave tidings.�

Voldemort waved him on to continue, looking vaguely interested.

�This morning, after taking care of my assistant, I was preparing to fulfil my duties with the Mudblood when the Floo suddenly activated and Rodolphus stepped through. He threatened to tell you that I was planning to raise an army against you, due to the vow my idiot wife made in front of young Malfoy!�

�I see,� the Dark Lord murmured, stroking Nagini�s head. �And are you?�

�My lord,� Severus protested, �I never would. However, if I did, I would certainly choose soldiers more competent than my wife.�

Voldemort gave a short, sharp laugh whilst casually waving his wand. Severus accepted this gentler than normal invasion of his mind, calling up the many images he had banked up of Hermione failing to cast even the simplest spell.

�Interesting,� Voldemort noted as he broke the contact. �The Mudblood�s powers seem to have diminished since she spent time in the Muggle world.�

�Another reason why your plan is so good, master,� Pettigrew interjected.

Voldemort ignored him.

�I will deal with the Lestrange problem, Severus. Although, I must admit that I am amazed he can walk after my previous punishment,� the Dark Lord mused. �Whoever could have helped him to heal so quickly?�

Severus leapt in, using the opportunity to hopefully discredit another headache of his. �Percy Weasley was always an excellent Potions student, my lord. He also has access to the old Auror Potions� laboratories.�

�Interesting,� Voldemort noted. �However, now that you are here, Severus, I do have a question for you.�

�Yes, my lord?�

�What spell was Draco using in the Headmistress� study?� he asked, almost idly.

Severus was expecting this. He knew how the Dark Lord worked � punish one follower in order to make any of the other guilty associates worry about their own liability.

�It is rather embarrassing to admit, my lord,� Severus began, lowering his eyes. �Minerva McGonagall knows me so well that I often require � assistance � when sparring with her. Young Malfoy casts a spell of his own design on me � the equivalent of a Wit-Sharpening potion.�

Voldemort looked flatly at Severus, who met his gaze without flinching.

�It is as I thought,� the Dark Lord revealed. �It is one of the reasons why I did not punish our Headmistress. I was quite sure she was not aware of any spells being used in her presence. She never was very aware of others� subtlety or duplicity.�

Deep down inside, Severus let out a sigh of relief, whilst once again reflecting on the Dark Lord�s propensity to underestimate women. Except of course for Bella, whose skills he overestimated greatly.

�It does not explain why you did not tell me of the vow your wife made,� Voldemort continued on.

Snape sighed dramatically. �It was not a vow of which I was fully aware of the consequences until this night, my lord,� he lied smoothly. �Draco woke long enough to tell me of the ramifications of what the Mudblood had done.�

�Yes?� Voldemort queried, trying not to show that he himself did not understand the repercussions of the vow. �What have you found?�

�Unfortunately she has bound herself to me much like a medieval Muggle vassal,� Severus continued, resolving to leave out pertinent aspects of the bonding. �In return for me giving her a home and means to live, she has effectively become my chattel. However, I cannot release her or sell her to anyone until we break this bond.�

Voldemort�s red eyes widened slightly. �You only found this out tonight?�

Snape nodded. �Draco was worried about the consequences of witnessing such a vow,� he revealed.

The Dark Lord drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. �Is there any way to break this vow?� he finally asked. �I must confess, it is not one that I know a lot about.�

�It was only ever used by purebloods,� Pettigrew interjected, eager to share his knowledge. �No half-blood or Mudblood knew of it, really.�

Voldemort turned his glowing eyes to the silver-handed wizard.

�What are you implying, Pettigrew?� he hissed as Nagini slithered off his lap to the relative safety of the space beneath his chair.

�Nothing, master,� the old Gryffindor stuttered. Desperate to save himself he blurted, �But I know how to cancel the vow!�

Snape�s eyes opened in an appearance of shock.

�Well?� the Dark Lord prompted impatiently.

�If he gets the girl pregnant and marries her by the Ancient Rites, then the vow is broken,� Pettigrew finished, looking triumphant until he realised what the consequences of this marriage would mean.

�Idiot!� Voldemort flicked his fingers and Pettigrew flew across the room, crashing into a stone wall. �The girl will be of no use to me at all if that happens!�

As Peter gingerly stood up, Voldemort questioned him again. �Is there any other way of breaking the vow?�

�No,� Pettigrew slurred, reaching his silver hand up behind his head. When he pulled it away it was covered in blood.

Voldemort let loose a vindictive stream of Parseltongue before turning back to Snape.

�I do not blame you, Severus,� he allowed. �You were as unaware of the Mudblood�s duplicity as I was. However, you must not have her bound to you in such away.�

He rose from his chair and stalked around the room, hands locked behind his back as he delved deeply into his own thoughts. Severus was eerily reminded of Dumbledore � he had acted in the same way when he was working through a difficult problem.

Abruptly the Dark Lord halted and turned to his minion.

�I am sorry,� he began, true regret evident in his voice. �Once the girl is pregnant you must marry her by the Ancient Rites.�

�My lord!� Severus protested, whilst once again, deep inside, his heart leapt with joy.

�You will be able to father many children on her,� Voldemort tried to soothe him. �It will be abhorrent to be married to such a creature, but it must be done. Others cannot see that I have allowed you to have a follower.�

�I understand, my lord,� Snape murmured, looking appropriately reluctant.

�I have, however, thought up an adequate punishment for the Mudblood,� the Dark Lord continued.

Severus looked at him questioningly whilst his heart plummeted.

�Make her love you,� Tom Riddle instructed, his eyes unfocussed as his thoughts turned inwards. �Make her love you and then spurn her. Destroy her spirit, Snape, and make her wish she had never set eyes upon you.�

�I will do as you instruct, my lord,� Severus complied, understanding more than others some of the ghosts that drove the Dark Lord.

Voldemort nodded and waved Snape from the room.

As the reprieved wizard walked back down the Ministry halls, the screams of Rodolphus followed him.

*~*

Back at Emmeline Vance�s cottage, Snape gazed down at his sleeping wife and allowed a small smile to grace his lips. He would never have believed that the outcome of this dawn�s meeting would have ended so prosperously. At the most, he had hoped that Rodolphus would have been removed permanently from his life. The reality far exceeded any hope. Now all he had to do was get Hermione pregnant as quickly as possible. His smile turned raptorial � it was something he had to confess he was looking forward to. He suddenly realised that he no longer viewed her as a former, annoying student, or himself as a paedophile.

Life was working out pleasantly for him.

In most respects, he amended as that book came flying off the shelf towards him.

Sighing, he grasped it and headed into the bedroom.

A quick Enneverate awakened Draco and, after he had ascertained that the younger wizard was able to comprehend what was happening, Snape filled him in on the night�s proceedings.

�So,� Draco clarified, still struggling under the influence of the many potions he had taken, �you have now been ordered to marry her just as we have been planning to sneakily do all along?�

�Yes,� the older Death Eater confirmed.

�And the only punishment is to break her heart?� Draco continued, disbelievingly.

Severus nodded.

�Power has really warped him,� the blonde wizard muttered, sounding for once like the young boy he should have been allowed to be.

�Precisely,� Snape concurred.

�Is this a good thing or a bad thing?�

The former Hogwarts professor sighed and rubbed tiredly at his forehead. �I really do not know, Draco. In this case, yes. However, look what has happened to a former favourite of his � Rodolphus has been severely punished twice in the same amount of days.� He paused briefly before continuing. �The Dark Lord is not stable and that could be even more dangerous for us. We need to be more cunning in our approach and dealings with him.�

�You mean I need to be more cunning,� Draco mumbled.

Silently Severus reached out, squeezing the younger wizard�s arm.

�Are you going to tell them?� Draco asked, quickly changing the subject and motioning towards the book.

�About my new orders? Maybe. First I have to read the latest asinine plan that they have developed,� he qualified.

Flipping open the book, he read the message and snorted disbelievingly. He showed it to Draco, who winced.

�How are they still alive?� the younger wizard asked, amazement colouring his question.

�Purely due to the efforts of your good self, myself and Phineas Nigellus,� Snape revealed as he hastily scribbled a reply.

Holding out his hand, he clicked his fingers impatiently at Draco. Whispering a short incantation, the younger wizard handed over a previously concealed locket. Opening it, Severus tapped it a couple of times and waited until Phineas turned up.

�Headmaster Nigellus,� he said respectfully.

�Snape! Where is Draco?� Phineas answered, concerned.

�I�m here, Uncle,� Draco responded.

�Hmmm,� Phineas returned, hiding his relief. �You will be pleased to know that Dilys punished Dippet for his rampant stupidity. I wish I had been painted with my wand � that idiot would never dare to betray a member of my family ever again.�

�I need you to give a message to the Headmistress,� Severus continued, breaking up the heart-warming family reunion. �Tell her that the Dark Lord has ordered that I marry Miss Granger by the Ancient Rites as soon as she is pregnant.�

�What?� Phineas gasped in disbelief, his fa�ade of Slytherin arrogance abandoning him.

�Just do it,� Snape ordered curtly, exhaustion suddenly overwhelming him. �I will visit her once I have recovered from this evening�s events.�

�When?� the former Headmaster demanded. �I am not returning to her with such a vague promise. You know what that woman does to messengers!�

Snape snorted. �Not within the next twenty-four hours,� he clarified. �I need to sleep.�

With that he clicked the locket closed and handed it back to Draco.

�Glad to see my torture wasn�t a complete waste of time,� Draco grumpily muttered as he slipped the necklace over his head. Once settled around his neck, it disappeared once more.

Snape stood as his former student snuggled down in the bed.

�Are you staying here?� Draco asked hopefully.

Snape shook his head. �I will sleep in the library.�

�With her,� Draco snarled jealously.

�Yes, Mr Malfoy,� Snape sighed, �with my wife. However, I will leave you with this,� he continued, handing Draco the book. �You may commune whatever you like to whomever you like when you wake again.�

He left the room, ignoring the younger wizard�s blush and stuttering denials.

Honestly, only a fool would not know about George Weasley and Draco Malfoy.

Severus snorted.

To his mind that explained why none of the Order suspected a thing.

He really was looking forward to the day when Ronald Weasley was confronted with that little nugget of truth.

Transfiguring the couch to be slightly wider, he spelled off his clothes and crawled in under the sheets, spooning himself around his wife.

Smiling, Severus Snape cuddled Hermione closer and finally fell into a deep sleep.

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Dance with the Devil