Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31713 -:- 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
- 27
- 28
- 29
A/N: Sorry about long break people, but I’m two days into my vacation and still working on finalizing the project. Hopefully, I’ll finish all by the Monday, which will give me more time to write and rest. :)

This is a bit longer chapter, and one that is a bit of a “Calming Draught” before all hell breaks loose and you start to hate me ;)
His footsteps echo dully against the stone floor, the castle is eery like this, deserted. He hates it. Every step, every stone, every chatty portrait, every of the numerous statues. He. Hates. It. The feeling of discomfort creeps down his back. ‘Get a grip of yourself. For the name of Merlin!, you were standing in the same room with the most ruthless, dangerous people in whole Europe! What a room full of your ex-professor going to do?’
He climbs the stairs, feeling like he’s done something wrong, expecting with dread the scolding that is due. Albeit, he never went to that room to be scolded by things he’s done, ending up there he usually meant that he was scolded for things others do to him. That does not improve his mood. He stands in front of the Gargoyle and murmurs the password. Stairs appear and he climbs them, coming to the door he knocks.
He wants to leave. Turn around and walk away, but then, walking away is not an option. The only thing standing between him and Azkaban is this job and the promise he gave to the Dumbledore. The door flings open and Dumbledore stands to greet him
“Severus, right on time.”
“As requested.” He nods, it is probably a bit colder than he should greet the man but he can’t muster the strength or will for something like that
“Come on, come along, we have a meeting to attend to. There is nothing to worry about. Most of them are excited to have fresh blood among these old walls.” Dumbledore sounds almost jovial “Toffee before we go?” the man offers and he shakes his head…
…He was never in this room before. The Large table in the middle, chairs around it. Towards the fireplace comfortable sofa and few two-seaters or armchairs. On the opposite wall, a cabinet set to serve coffee, tea, sweet and salty nibbles. Many of his old professors are in that room, just a few unfamiliar faces. He feels small once again, why? ‘My intellect matches their own, my skill is as good as theirs.’
“Merlin, Albus, is this your surprise!?” the stern voice of Minerva McGonagall causes the chatter in the room to a stop immediately
“Yes, my dear girl.” Chuckles Albus
“Dear me,” squeaky voice of Flitwick comes from his left, unseen “when you told us you have a perfect candidate I didn’t even imagine!”
“As you know, we are in a short supply of upstanding Slytherin’s.” Albus sounds pleased with himself “I did manage to secure for us one of the youngest Potion Master recognized by the Guild. And one of the best students Hogwarts ever seen.”
He has the desire to strike Albus on the spot. The nerve of the man.
“Potions Master? But I thought that you are looking for a DADA teacher. Mr Snape certainly had an aptitude for it, and as a spy, surely…” Minerva is confused, by bemused faces he can tell that the Old Goat never shared his plan with the rest of the staff
“Ah, my dear but we do want to hold on to young Severus for longer than a year, do we? This summer Slughorn handed me his resignation, a request to a pension if you like. So we stayed short of Potions teacher and Head of House.”
“Albus, isn’t that a bit too much for a lad?” this made him wary, he looked sharply at Albus
“Nonsense, Minerva, if anyone can handle it, it is Severus.”
“Handle what?” his voice is even, bordering or bored drawl
“I thought I mention it to you, Severus. Or at least some of your friends might.”
He shakes his head, no, Lucius never uttered a word to him about anything. What does the Albus play?
“Oh, well the cat is out of the bag now, anyway. You will be the new Head of House for Slytherin.” He gawks at Albus, is he lost his bloody mind? He is the last person capable to handle the house full of kids! He nods and strolls to the cabinet to help himself with a strong cup of tea. “Minerva, Pomona and Filius will help you to get introduced to your Head’s duties and your teaching duties.”
“Thank you, Headmaster.” He replies and turns to the mentioned staff “Thank you, professors.”
“Albus, you are positively getting forgetful. Come, Severus, join us. We are all colleagues here, so first names basis. If Albus wasn’t so keen on surprising us all, I could have already helped you with instructions. He tossed you in a bit of a fire now.”
“Thank you, Minerva. I much appreciate your help.” ‘He didn’t want to surprise you, he wanted to put me in my place.’ He thinks bitterly and joins Minerva and Pomona…
…He walks down the hall. Some students chatter in front of him, but older students do not even attempt to move. Many of them were in school with him. Whispers follow him like a tail that drags forever in his wake, he can hear everything from “What’s he doing here?” to “Traitor.”
A headache is forming behind his temples and he didn’t even have one class. After last night’s sorting ceremony and his introduction as a member of staff and Head of House, Slytherin kept him on his toes almost the whole night. From crying first years to spiteful seventh-years. He enters the classroom and walks to his office. Unlike for many professors, his rooms are not joined to the classroom but wedged in the middle of the Slytherin Common room and his classroom joined with each by the long corridor.
First two classes go well, first and second years are easy. But, next class is with advanced NEWT students, four Slytherin, two Gryffindor, One Hufflepuff and four Ravenclaw. They enter the classroom looking at him with spite like he does not belong there. He starts the class with reading their names.
“Today we will start with establishing what you know and learned thus far.”
“Why?” Hufflepuff
“Professor Slughorn never…” Ravenclaw
“Did I gave any of you permission to talk?” he snaps, his voice cold and stern “Let us establish some base rules. You are not to speak unless addressed to or given the permission. You are to follow my instructions to the letter. And given that this is elective subject for the sixth year, you are to demonstrate ample amount of knowledge of the subject without preparations. Did. I. Made. Myself. Clear?” Silence and rows of bemused faces. This is going to be long year…
Hermione pulled the cover over her and curled up. Another dream/memory. She is not sure if this one was so bad. She would think it wasn’t but the underlying feeling of emptiness and rejection, pain caused by that rejection, feeling of being trapped and forced made it difficult.
Poppy walks into the room, so she is pretending to be still asleep. The chair is dragged on the floor.
“How are you feeling this morning, Severus?”
“Alive.” there is so much bitterness in his voice
“Life is not a curse, do try not to sound so bitter.” She admonishes him gently
“Are you sure about that Poppy?”
“Oh, shush. You tied my hand's boy, tied them so well that I had to keep quiet and watch as they slander you for years. Don’t you think it is time to start living?”
“It is too late for me and you know it.” His voice is now broken “I lived for years on borrowed time.”
“And yet…”
“Yet you inflict this burden on me once more, enhanced it with encumbrance of…” he bits his words at the sound of Poppy clearing her throat
“The girl fought for you tooth and nail. She did what I wanted and what I was unable to do. I am grateful for that at least.”
“And if they convinced me? Sentenced me for a kiss? How grateful would you be then, Poppy? Do you know what would happen to little miss perfect if they Kissed me while she is stuck in my head? Or do you develop a knack for having a coma patient in your hospital?”
“Careful now Severus, one might get the impression that you care.” Chuckles Poppy
“I don’t. I am past caring for years. What I do not appreciate is forcing yet another crime on me. Using me as suds to wash away their own guilt.”
“Then rest assured, Miss Granger didn’t use you in that capacity. Her failed attempt came after you were awarded with the Order.”
“Is that supposed to make me grateful? She…violated me…more profoundly than either Albus or Dark Lord ever did.”
“Now, now. The girl had the best intentions at her mind.”
“Yes, my life is pawed and riddled with best intentions of others, lucky me.” He hisses “A true wellwisher might take into consideration what I would want for myself. Don’t you think?”
“And what that might be?”
“Whatever it is…it is taken from me now. at least for the time being.” He dampens, bitterly
“Then, I am glad that Miss Granger did make a judgement error in her abilities.” Reply Poppy harshly “Now, today we are moving you to the Manor,…”
She stopped listening. ‘What does that mean…why is Poppy glad that I made a mistake? What…oh, no!” she gasps. Sudden realisation forces her to curl up like a punch in the guts. She is taken aback by the way he talks with Matron, it sounds like a petulant child talking to a parent. That certainly explains Poppy’s dedication to seeing him better and healthy, she always thought it went beyond professional care for the patient. She sits in bed, rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning Poppy. Good morning Professor. Professor…”
“Not another word Miss Granger, or I’ll have you skinned alive.” he hisses at her and she snaps her mouth closed
“Well, I’ll take my leave now. Get up, girl, get ready. You’ll be moved to the Manor soon, Lucius and Potter will be here in an hour.” Poppy walks out and she jumps, running to catch the Matron. But Poppy can’t be found
She returns to the room and looks at disgruntled man on the bed
“Can I do anything for you, Professor?”
“You’ve done quite enough.” He growls and she turns to pack her things
“Would you mind if I go to the toilet, to freshen up a bit?”
“Do me a favour while you are there, Miss Granger. Do. Not. Return.”
“Sorry, professor. I'll be back in a jiffy.” She walks to the bathroom to wash her teeth and wash her face. Their conversation still playing in her head. Is she glad she is stuck in his head now? she expected him to be difficult, wanting to desert England or wizarding world… She never expected him to be…like that… What is she to do now? how is she to convince him to live? Quite literally… She always thought that he would be unwilling to resume his life fully, not to discard it completely… Not that she does not understand from where is all that coming, she truly does…but he cannot die.
When she returns to the room, Poppy is there again. The young St. Mungo’s nurse runs in the room
“He’s back Matron!”
“Who’s back?” the wand is in her hand before she realises it
“Remove that thing from your hand child, it is that blasting bird.” Huffs Poppy
“Bird.”
“Huge black bird. I can’t make it go away.”
“Raven?” she asks, his head snapped in her direction
“I’d say so.” Grumbles Poppy, before her professor had a chance to react, she cries
“Hades!”
“I beg your pardon?” she hears Poppy but she is already on the run, she opens a window where large raven is preached. The bird flies in and soars toward the makeshift walls of the Snape's private room. She follows it.
“Can you explain this?” grumbles Poppy, and she is not sure if the question is directed to her or to the professor, but she answers anyway
“It is professor’s bird, Poppy. Look.”
The raven is preached on the bed, above Snape’s head, it squawks loudly and pecks on the strand of his hair before starts to cackle quietly.
“It took you bloody long.” Grumbles Snape to the bird and the raven gives him one condemning glare “Well it did.”
The bird and the professor have identical look in their eyes, and she nearly laughs.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Harry watched as six Auror’s surrounded the stretch with Snape and large black bird. They are followed by Lucius and grim looking Hermione. He turns to Poppy
“Do you really think she will be fine there?”
“She will.” Matron is firm
“You know what happened to her there?”
“I do. And I think it is good for her.”
“But leaving her, in there, with…them?”
“They won’t harm her.”
“Can you guarantee that? We are talking about Malfoy’s after all.” He is not sure this is a good idea, but it seems that his power as Saviour of the World did not stretch to Poppy or Malfoy’s for that matter. He was certain Snape didn’t see him like that.
“If you shelter her now, Mr Potter, she won’t overcome her fears, never. She is a bright young girl, she does not deserve to be choked by fear. Besides, Severus will protect her if she lands herself in a danger.”
“Poppy, I am not sure if you understood correctly, but the biggest danger IS Snape.”
“Oh, poppycock, she can handle him. I bet you she can handle all of them. You do not do her justice Potter, I’m disappointed in you.” Huffs Poppy turns and walks into her office. He is - uncertain.
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed