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Redemption	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 10133 -:- 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.

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Redemption : Chapter 4

Hermione�s nightmares had returned with a vengeance after Lucius had visited the castle, regardless of how the Potion�s master brewed the dreamless sleep potion. Her nights became ones of endless torment with little sleep for either of them. As she became increasingly despondent and withdrawn, he became increasingly worried for her safety. On the evening of the fourth night, he suddenly realized that perhaps it was more than just nightmares that were haunting Hermione. When her body began to writhe on the bed and her pleading screams began, he placed the palm of his hand to her forehead. In an instant he could see what Lucius Malfoy was doing to her. This was no nightmare, Lucuis had broken into her mind and was mentally raping her from a distance.

�Damn HIM!� Severus snarled. He tried to wake Hermione, but the dreamless sleep potion was holding her under, preventing her not only from regaining consciousness, but from fighting Lucius�s advances into her mind. Severus punched the wall, leaving a gaping hold in it. He would kill that bastard if it was the last thing he did.

Stalking to his highly guarded supply cabinet, he retrieved the only thing he could think of that might help her��a mind-numbing potion. Lucius would still be able to invade her mind, Severus couldn�t stop that, but at least she wouldn�t feel the pain Lucius intended to cause her.

When she awoke the next morning, he gave her a calming tonic as well as a mind-strengthening potion. He explained to her what Lucius was doing to her. To his great relief, she took the news well and seemed relieved that at least she could stop being Lucius�s victim.

Over the next several days, Severus worked tirelessly with her on blocking Lucius�s advances into her mind. For the first few nights, he�d wake her as soon as the invasion began, commanding her to block Lucius out. Soon, though, she�d mastered closing her mind to him before she went to sleep.

One day as they sat together eating dinner, Hermione grasped at her forehead, wincing in pain.

Severus was beside her in an instant. �What is it?�

Her eyes still squinted shut, Hermione muttered, �He�s trying to get in. I can feel it. He�s very angry. He can tell I�m blocking him.�

�Good,� Severus said, �Good. Keep blocking him out.�

Hermione sighed as the attempted invasion failed. �I don�t know how much longer I can keep doing this, Prof� Severus. I feel weak from his invasions and the harder I fight him, the worse the headaches are.�

Severus studied her carefully. Indeed this would have to end soon. He would talk to Dumbledore first thing in the morning. She was right; she couldn�t hide in his rooms forever. And she certainly couldn�t survive having her mind broken into constantly either.

***

Severus awoke to the early morning sun and went to make tea for Hermione and himself. He was feeling much better now that both he and Hermione were sleeping peacefully through the night. As he looked out over the horizon, an unexpected sinking feeling took up residence in his gut. He could see the black speck in the distance, and the feeling only intensified as it got closer and closer. When the owl arrived at the window, he threw open the pane, dragging the bird unceremoniously inside before shutting the window. With a sense of dread, he pulled the parchment from the protesting bird�s leg. As he feared, it was addressed to Ms. Hermione Granger. He tore it open and quickly read the script before him.

Hermione,

I wanted to tell you how very sorry I am for all that has happened. I never wanted this. I never hated you either. Even when we were at school together and I was cruel to you, it wasn�t because I hated you. It was because I was jealous of you. You, a Muggleborn, and I, a purebred wizard. And yet you were the most intelligent witch in all of Britain. I�m sure you�ll never believe it, but I had a crush on you even then.

I know it was you who single-handedly turned the war against the Dark Lord, and for that reason my father sought revenge upon you. Some days I wish you�d have taken me up on my offer Hermione, maybe it would have saved us both a great deal of pain.

I am glad you escaped when you did, but I fear my father has not given up on finding you and, in his words, finishing what he started. I hope you are safe Hermione. I will do everything in my power to stop him, but I fear that will not be enough. He would no more hesitate in killing his own son than in killing a Muggleborn. I am suspicious that he knows where you are hiding. Please, Hermione, keep yourself safe. If you come back here, I will have to kill us both. I can not let him hurt you anymore, I can not let myself hurt you anymore, I can not bear it. He is a very powerful wizard and I am little match for him.

I never wanted to hurt you Hermione, please believe me. I am not asking for your forgiveness, for I truly do not deserve it. I only hope that you know that I would rather die than hurt you again. There will not be a next time, Hermione, not by my hand.

I am truly sorry. Please take care of yourself and may you be safe where ever you are.

Draco

Severus read and reread the letter. Then he requested Dumbledore�s presence in his chambers. When the headmaster flooed down to his rooms, Severus placed a silencing charm on his study and handed the letter to Dumbledore. Severus paced as he waited for the headmaster�s take on the letter.

�It could be sincere,� Dumbledore said, his eyes scanning the parchment.

�Or it could be a trap,� Severus snarled. �Perhaps Lucius is trying to flush her out into the open where she�d be an easier target.�

�Perhaps,� Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. �We can check the handwriting against samples in the school�s records.�

�And that tells us nothing. Even if it is truly Draco�s handwriting, he could be in on the trap, or Lucius could have put him under the Imperius curse and made him write it.�

�True enough. Was the owl followed?�

�It�s hard to tell. Hagrid is coming by to pick it up. I�ve told him to keep it under lock and key.�

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. �We could show Hermione the letter and get her opinion.�

�No.�

When Dumbledore�s eyebrows rose, Severus said, �She�s been through enough already. And even if it is Draco�s handwriting and his words, that doesn�t tell us anything.�

�If it is a trap,� Dumbledore said, considering his words carefully, �It may be best if neither of you leave these rooms for the next few days. If he knows she is here, he may ambush you and break through your wards.�

�That is unlikely, but a wise precaution nonetheless.� Severus rubbed his forehead as a stress headache was beginning to take root behind his eyes.

�There�s something else, headmaster. He hasn�t stopped trying to break into her mind. She can�t keep fighting it forever, it�s too draining on her. Maybe he�s getting desperate, reaching at straws. If that�s the case, he�s likely to make a mistake. Even so, we have to think about Miss Granger�s future. This can not go on forever.�

The headmaster nodded. �I know Severus, it�s all I�ve been thinking about. We must find a way to put an end to this, and soon.�

***

Hermione, the brightest witch in a century. How on earth was he going to keep this from her? Maybe he should just tell her. No, he didn�t want to worry her. When she inquired as to why they weren�t going to the dungeons to work on potions, he told her he had a headache and that he needed a break. She quirked an eyebrow at him, but did not push it. By the third day, however, he was running out of excuses. She had noticed that he didn�t ever leave her side and when she suggested getting a headache potion from the stockroom, he strictly forbid it.

�He�s found me, hasn�t he?�

�Hermione, I�m not going to lie to you. I don�t know.�

�But you suspect he has.�

Severus took a deep breath. �My suspicions are irrelevant. I am only following the safest course of action until we have more information.�

�What information do we have so far?� Hermione inquired.

�I received word that he might know where you are, that is all Hermione. Until we know more, I think it is best we remain in these highly warded rooms.�

Hermione sank down into the couch, her head in her hands. �You can�t protect me Severus, no one can. He will come for me. He won�t stop until he destroys me.�

Severus grabbed Hermione by the shoulders, his voice fierce. �Listen to me, I will not let him hurt you, not again. I will not let him near you, Hermione. I don�t care if I�m locked in these rooms with you for the rest of my life, that bastard will never come near you again."

Her eyes were large, round brown orbs looking up at him in shock.

He let go of her immediately and took a step back. He hadn�t meant to react so violently. He certainly didn�t want to scare her with his intensity. Closing his eyes, he said calmly, �I�m sorry, Hermione. I didn�t meant to react so strongly. I apologize if I frightened you.�

She seemed to relax a little at his words.

�He�s stopped trying to break into my mind. I think he�s changed tactics. I�m scared.�

At that he pulled her into his arms. Although he�d never admit it, he was afraid too, and fear was not an emotion he had room for. He would die to protect Hermione. And maybe Draco was right. If Lucius did find Hermione, maybe she would be better off dead than what Lucius had in store for her.
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Redemption