Time lost. ...EPILOGUE UP!

Hope its long enough..






Anise waded out from the murky water down at the end of the lake. It was freezing. Anise sucked in her breath and cast a warming charm on herself. Frank Longbottom had been under the lake in an alcove, stupefied in an underwater cave.

After a few close encounters with some unfriendly Gridleylows, Anise had succeeded in tugging Frank up to the shore. Draco had stupefied AND petrified him. Bloody Great.

Hopefully, Hogwarts had some Mandrake in that greenhouse of theirs. Anise needed assistance. Draco was still back at the Cave. He looked like he wanted to murder her in cold blood.

Furious, hot-blooded males always did it to her. Especially Draco, he was so vulnerable inside of that cold exterior of his. All that self-loathing was cutting her, every time she looked at him.

Anise dragged Frank forward and then sighed. Her wand was slightly faulty here and it made it dangerous to use arbitrarily. She needed someone to bring him to the infirmary, but it could not be her.

Anise could hear the music playing loudly from the ballroom, tinkling out from the inner grounds. Someone at the dance probably would be best. Anise pocketed her wand and headed up the hill towards the school.

Once inside the garden’s she looked around for students but everyone seemed preoccupied with dancing or other suspiciously adult activities. Who knew that Hogwarts was so hedonistic?

Where were the teachers for Circe’s sake? Anise spotted someone she recognized from a picture of her dad’s. The boy was named, Sirius. Sirius Black. He looked drunk, even better.

Anise ran over and grabbed his arm, shaking him. “Help me. A boy was found by the lake. I think he’s dead!”

Sirius blinked at the girl in front of him. His eyes blurred and the girl with green eyes spun slightly in his sight. “What Evans?”

“Frank, Frank Longbottom is dead!” Sirius blinked and a few other people nearby turned to look at her.

“By the lakeshore! I saw him there.” She yelled over the music.

People began to look scared and Sirius threw himself to his feet and began to run. Anise watched the others follow him and she leaned back against the wall with a sigh. One more piece of the puzzle. Back into place. Alternatively, perhaps as it always should have been.

Anise wiped sweat off her brow as she looked around the dance floor. People were moving slowly together, hypnotic as they moved. Anise waved cold air in front of her face and headed to the outside.

Just one more task.

Something that she knew she had to stay here for. It was unclear what it was, but she knew similar to how she knew about Draco, that some things were just meant to be.


----




Severus was feeling very confident right now. Hermione was here, next to him, and she trusted him to know what is best for her. Death Eater or not, she accepted him. Severus felt a swell in his chest and he hugged her closer to him.

Voldemort had the potion now, Severus assumed even now he was extremely pleased with the work Severus had been doing for him. Voldemort would never deny his request to keep Hermione.
What was one lover in exchange for the influx of power that his potions can provide?

Severus rested his chin on Hermione’s dark curls and pulled her closer. His eyes drifting off the sleep slowly. It was roughly around 2:30 in the morning. He felt exhausted. The little witch had worn him out.

Severus traced a finger over her cheek and marveled at the feeling expanding in his chest. Love. A foreign concept to him. Not entirely unwelcome, it made him feel more powerful then ever before. Strong in ways he had not been. Without the taint. The thoughts began to drift him off to sleep.

The door slammed open suddenly. Severus leapt up and swept in front of Hermione protectively. A Death Eater stood in front of the door.

“Get dressed Severus, the Dark Lord needs you. Bring your Mudblood.” Lucius’s silky tone poured out from the dark robes and Death Eater mask.

Hermione shook awake and felt like ice water had been dumped over her. She grabbed a sheet covering her body from Lucius’s view.

“Don’t get dressed on my account Mudblood. You have a perfectly lovely little body. I can’t wait to explore it.” Lucius said mockingly as his eyes glittered from behind the Skull Mask.

Hermione glared back at him and made the effort to pull on her dress under the sheet away from his leering gaze. She grabbed her purse and slung it across her neck.

Severus growled at Lucius and snapped on his robes quickly, his gaze carefully devoid of emotion. “This had better be bloody important.”

Severus looked coldly at Lucius and grabbed Hermione by the upper arm. “Let’s go. Stop leering Lucius, it makes you look vulgar.”

Hermione felt her stomach pitch queerly as she was ushered out of the room. Severus had a gentle grip on her upper arm and he ran his thumb over her skin, attempting to soothe her as they walked up the stairs.

Hermione knew this was it. What Voldemort had been waiting for, opportunity. She closed her eyes and concentrated on Severus’s touch as she was guided up to the Room of Requirement.

Lucius muttered a request and the door appeared. The door looked different from Hermione’s time. Almost more sinister, gargoyles opened their mouth in a sinister snarl on the knob.

Lucius entered and Hermione took a step inside behind Severus. The change of climate was immediately noticeable, close to freezing temperatures. A thin reedy wind blew from some vent above her and Hermione felt the coldness begin to seep into her bones. A deep shudder racked her body and she froze as Voldemort came from the shadows. If Voldemort was showing his face, then the time has come. She would be dead by morning.

Strangely enough, she felt strong. Hermione raised her chin and narrowed her golden brown gaze at the serpentinely attractive man, who was beginning to look waxen and decrepit. Tom Riddle, in the flesh. Hermione darted her eyes to the ground in supplication, and humility. She did not want to get herself killed for something stupid, like looking him in the face.

“Seeeeeeeeverus. You have pleased me tonight. Already I can feel the affects of the potion running through my veins, strengthening me. Show me your Mudblood lover.”

His tone switched and he stared hard at Hermione. His red eyes enlarging as he stared at her. Voldemort’s fingertip that was just on the edge of scaly, slid forward and hooked into the straps of her dress. Hermione was beginning to regret wearing this dress, A LOT. Hermione stared at her feet, trembling appropriately. Voldemort had such an aura of evil in him that it was tainting her skin as he touched her soft flesh beneath the strap.

Hermione froze rigidly at the caress. Voldemort laughed a dark sound that was part hiss. “Lovely. Such defiance, such bravery, how Gryffindor.”

A circle of robed figures, more Death Eaters slid forward to watch them. Hermione felt real fear course through and she began to tremble harder from it. Unable to stop the tremors, she bit hard on her lip, willing them to stop, from the distraction of her pain.

Voldemort tilted his head slightly watching the Mudblood try to control the violent tremors that fear was causing her. Her face pale from concentration as she bit her lip. Once, long ago he remembered another Mudblood, so eager, so helpful as to die for him. Voldemort smiled at the irony. The one thing that he hates most, would always be something that he needed.

Voldemort did not have to like it. However, he could respect the power it gave him. He saw the Mudblood weakened one of his most loyal Death Eaters. Voldemort was not a fool. He was prepared.

Severus watched the Dark Lord with a careful eye. He was nervous and feeling sick to his stomach watching him caress Hermione. His schooled features were getting harder and harder.

Voldemort suddenly ripped through the strap and let the dress fall to the ground. Hermione stood before them under the cold air, her body luscious and swollen from her previous encounter with Severus. She looked extremely lovely and terrified. Hermione felt her heart in her throat and she arrogant threw her head back, feigning indifference.

Severus moved forward unconsciously, his gaze blackening to rage.

Lucius stepped in front of him, with a finger waving gently. “ Ah ah…ah…”

“My Lord…” Severus pushed past him and threw himself to his knees before Voldemort in respect. “Please, I have a boon for the potion I gave you. Allow me to have the Mudblood. It is all I ask from you. I have…. grown fond of the convenience of her body.”

Voldemort laughed and gently stroked Hermione’s spine, trailing a fingertip down to her buttock. Hermione was reminded of a spider and had to choke back a sob of revulsion from his spindly touch.

“I can see how you would be ‘convienenced’ by such a pleasurable body. However, a Mudblood Severus? I don’t know about such a thing.” Voldemort’s tone was silky as he contemplated. “Besides, I have already given you a gift tonight. I gave you Lily Evans. Remember?”

Voldemort hissed slightly and Severus felt his stomach burn.

“I am grateful my Lord for your generosity.” Severus swallowed hard and carefully chose his next words. “However, Lily Evans was not pure. She slept with Potter already. Hermione’s purity made her a much better value to me. She still has much to learn and I relish the chance of training her to my hand.”

Voldemort seemed to consider this. His hands reached up and cupped Hermione’s breasts, carefully watching Severus’s face for a reaction. Hermione unable to prevent it, sobbed haltingly as the rough scaly hands grasped her swollen nipples tightly.

Severus flinched at the sound. Voldemort nodded in understanding.

Voldemort pushed Hermione towards Lucius Malfoy. Lucius caught her and she struggled against him as he pinned her arms behind her back.

Voldemort walked to Severus and leaned down. “I am a fair Lord, wouldn’t you agree?”

Severus nodded but he could not raise his eyes and reveal the pain in them.

“Because I am fair, I will give you a choice. You are loyal to me and I have always appreciated your keen wit and knowledge. I will do for you as you ask. However, you must make a choice. It should be an easy one for you. Regardless, it builds character to make hard decisions. I do them every day, make irrevocable choices and take my destiny in my hands. I want you to also know that while you choose this lovely morsel for yourself, another will suffer. Is that a bargain you can make? Can you selfishly choose to take what you want, and leave another in her place?”

Severus rose up from his kneeling position and Hermione saw his youthful gaze gloss over with determination. “Yes my Lord, it is fair. I accept your terms.”

Voldemort smiles suddenly. “A wizards oath. You will not rebel fro your choice you make. You willing let another woman suffer Hermione’s fate in her stead?”

Hermione knew that this would forever blacken Severus’s soul. Voldemort knew it too. It was a turning point for him. A tear slipped past her cheeks at the strength of Severus’s conviction and protection for her. Her chest felt thick and hard to breath but she tried to speak.

Severus spoke quietly. “I swear.” The dark magic seemed to swell around them both binding Severus to his choice. Voldemort looked pleased.

“We will celebrate. If you would only make your choice. Amusing really, but I loved the irony.”

Voldemort swept the curtain hiding behind the throne.

“So, Severus, which Mudblood do you choose? Hermione, your lover, or your childhood friend, Lily Evans?”

Severus felt the world bottom out from beneath him.






TBC ---


Please review… I cant go on, anymore. Must stop the plot bunnies from eating… me.


Ugh.