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Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31744 -:- 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
- 47
- 48
- 49
A/N: I know I told you Friday, but… it seems that tinkering with chapters does calm me a bit. I am still shaken up after the car accident we had on Sunday (no one was hurt, luckily, but I was and am still...flustered). So, if this continues, tomorrow may I may post another chapter.
Anyway, from this chapter on the things will start to progress faster, at least little bit. I can’t say that it will be all sun and roses from now on, it won’t.
@BlackRose "Why is Lucius so interested in getting Severus and Hermione together?" - that is the question, indeed. It is the Lucy after all and it could be any number of things. But for the real reason behind his actions, I am afraid you will have to wait ;)
To avoid further confusion:
Italic - Past, memories
‘Single quotation mark’ - inner monologue, thoughts
“double quotation mark” - actual speech
She walked to the sofa, tossing a passing glance at Snape. He glared through the window and she thought that he looked like the embodiment of the stormy cloud. His face impassive but the deep wedge between his brows told her otherwise. The disapproval rolled around him like a fog, he was emanating it. And that made him vulnerable in her eyes.
She pulled back on the sofa, so she could lean and tucked her feet beneath her, taking a book. She didn’t read it but used it as an excuse, one that gave both of them space to be quiet. Not that he needed an excuse to ignore her if he chose to.
She mulled over the conversation she heard. At first, she thought that now he would have at least some small reason to keep on living. Looking at him, she knew better. It wasn’t a reason, it was another complication. She still couldn’t make a peace with his end goal, she doubted that she ever would… even if things didn’t change. Even if he was still resentful Potions Master, she would care. But he wasn’t. Not anymore. He was so much more. A hero. The one who took on himself to work behind enemy lines and accepted the hatred of his side stoically. Seeing his memories, taught her so much about him, about the person he was. And his harsh words bothered her less and less. They weren’t real, they were a fence, a barrage to keep him safe from hurt.
Now, that was a novelty. Looking at him, she learned something about herself. She spent a night in the bathroom, two nights ago, after she woken up from one of his memories. She cried her eyes out, but… even if she was in school, and the war didn’t happen… she would still cry if she learned this. He dreamt about the night in the Shrieking Shack. What caused her tears… he wasn’t mad at them for knocking him out. He felt overwhelmed with inadequacy, with losing and not belonging. Devastated by the fact that even his students would defend his enemy. Defend the man who was responsible for the death of his love. Responsible, as much as he was. And yet… his enemy retained the love of others, while he continued to be the villain. That gutted her. To see Albus helping Sirius and at the same time put down and punish Snape... reminding him of his crimes and his duties. Fine, Sirius was innocent for that crime, but he wasn’t without guilt.
She cried that night because for the first time she openly hated Dumbledore. She recognised Albus for his faults and not his virtues. She couldn’t find it in her heart to mourn him like she did before. She understood one more thing…something was wrong with her. Poppy confirmed it, a day later, but told her not to worry and that she is getting better. For the first time after the war, she felt balanced, it was nice to learn, to keep her mind occupied. Strangely enough, this room was her safe haven. Malfoy Manor was, indeed, odd place to have a refuge – but she did. Even with Malfoy spitting insults left and right.
Malfoy’s, they were another puzzle she had to solve. Draco was… well, Draco. And in a way that was comforting. Mrs Malfoy had a sharp tongue and sharp personality. She did put her through the harsh drill, a crash course of elite etiquette. But behind all that, she found her time spent with a woman… surprisingly pleasant. Malfoy senior was another story. Mulling on today’s conversation with Snape… she wondered were his words aimed at her or not? She jerked when his words startled her
“Whom do you plan to poison, Granger?”
“No one.” She smiled “May I ask the question?”
“If I say ‘no’ will it stop you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then learn to ask without asking for permission. Rhetorics, however polite is counterproductive.”
“Malfoy...”
“Which one?” he cut her off
“Your friend.”
“That would be Lord Malfoy or Mr Malfoy if you desire to be impolite.”
“Malfoy.” She stated firmly “’Respect is earned.’ Your words, Snape.”
“Good.” The ghost of the smirk briefed against his lips “Finally, Granger, you are leaning.”
He surprised her, she expected lengthy tirade, not his approval.
“Why is he saying all those things? Why is he so….” He paused, lost for words
“Words are powerful, Granger. They can be a cure for the soul, powerful magic or a lethal weapon. If one knows how to use them. Lucius does. He often uses them as a weapon and wields them as such.”
“Yes…but they're not directed at me. At least not only at me. He casts them like a net and waits to see who tangled in that net. Am I correct?”
“Ten points to Gryffindor, Granger.”
“Hmh.” She nodded. If Malfoy didn’t aim his words at her directly... it was only the matter of not allowing herself to get tangled up and to reply in kind.
“Snap out of it, Granger.” She raised her head to look at his grim face. “Do you remember the chapter in the book I told you to skip it?”
“Yes…”
“You’ll need it now.” he paused and she could tell that he was struggling to say what he had to say “Lucius did something… stupid. And now I will pay for it. And you will as well, by association.” He paused again and she waited “He restored my place in my mothers family line…”
“The Prince family line?”
“You knew?” he sounded surprised
“In the sixth year.” She nodded “Harry thought it was a nickname you gave yourself even after... but I found the newspapers with the text on one Eileen Prince.”
“My mother.” He nodded, the line between his eyes deepening “The Prince line is old, noble one. One might argue it is in the same rank with Malfoys, Blacks, Longbottoms and such…”
“It is so much more! In the first almanach enlists the prince line as one of the first noble families.”
He remained silent. Distant in his thoughts. She studied his features. Wondering when she learned how to read even the smallest of his ticks and interpret them. Finally, he spoke again, carefully
“The silver lining, in this entire ordeal, is that now we have a means to repel most of the visitors tomorrow. This can be beneficial to both of us.”
“How?”
“Many of the visitors won’t follow the proper etiquette. Out of habit or pure ignorance, and that is exploitable. It would be your task to remove them from the room, once they make mistake. No matter how small mistake is.”
“Would that mean I will address you as Sir or Your Lordship?”
“Don’t be daft, Granger. You will act in the capacity of my…secretary. Which will put you on the higher ground. You will have to follow protocols and address everyone properly. But… you will also have no obligation to them for more than that. Your status spiked up.”
“That does not answer my question, Snape.”
“Correct.” He mulled on his answer “I detest you calling me ‘professor’, and as my secretary, ‘Snape’ won’t do either.” He frowned “I presume that the only acceptable solution would be to call me by my given name.” he didn’t sound happy at that prospect
“Severus?” she ground out his name, her heart beating like crazy. She didn’t feel honoured. Scared was the more appropriate description. With the permission to call him by his name… something shifted again. Certain walls erased from existence, and that scared her.
“Yes, Granger.” He breathed out
“Hermione.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If I am to call you by your name, you should do the same.”
His frown deepened even more, but he nodded eventually, begrudgingly. He didn’t like it, no more than she did.
“Now, on to the lesson…”
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Harry knocked on the door. It wasn’t like her not to wait for him in the corridor. He opened the door and peaked in the room. For an instant, he had a flashback from his school days. Snape asked the question and Hermione speed-fire the answer. It fitted both of them to act that way. He cleared his throat
“Hermione….”
They paused and looked at him. She smiled but turned to Snape.
“Go on, Granger. It is enough for today.”
“Thank you… Severus.” She nodded and walked to the door.
Once they were in the hallway she hugged him.
“Is all good?”
“Yes. Severus is teaching me.” She sounded happy
“You call him ‘Severus’ now?”
“He insisted. It is... complicated…”
“I have time.”
“And I have more important things to discuss with you.” She whispered and pulled him down, to sit on the floor, next to her. He observed her while she thinks how to approach the subject. That made him feel uneasy, she never beat around the bush.
“Hermione, you know you can tell me anything.”
“Did you know that something is wrong with me?” she looked him in the eyes
“I did, Poppy told me that you are unwell, but she didn’t tell me what is wrong.” That wasn’t a lie. He knew what is wrong with her, Snape told him. Poppy only explained that she noticed that Hermione had a problem and that she isn’t the only one. On his persistence, Poppy additionally told him that if she reports the problem they will place her in St. Mungo’s, to the Janus Thinkery award and feed her with potions to make her docile. She explained that that won’t solve Hermione’s problem. Poppy did the only thing she could and placed her where she is useful, far from prying eyes. Until Hermione could work through her problem.
“Yes, I asked her the other day, she didn’t tell me either. But she did tell me that my realisation means I am on my way to recuperation.” She sighed and smiled “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Staying with me. Even if I do have a problem. Which I do, and it is not a small one, either.”
“How do you know?”
“I attacked Malfoys, a few days back, Harry.”
“You did what?”
“I had a nightmare, and I attacked them. In fact, you showed up that morning.”
“Oh, that. They didn’t take that against you…”
“They should have. I… I had another nightmare. We… we're chased by the Snatchers… I heard Malfoy’s voice and… I defended myself. I am not safe for them to be around me. Whatever is wrong with me… it's connected to the war… and I am a danger to them.”
“I don’t think it is such a bad thing.”
“I don’t know.” She mumbled, again lost in thoughts “Harry, do you think I walk around half-naked?”
“I don’t” he replied carefully. He didn’t, but given that he did grow up in a Muggle world helped in that perception
“You don’t, …but, others do?”
“Most of the wizards around here are grown up in pure wizarding surroundings, even aurors. They all wear wizarding robes, all the time. Your outfit is… uncommon for them.” He did hear the whispers from Aurors and elves alike about her choice of clothing, but he ignored them “It is their problem Hermione, not your’s. You shouldn't listen to what they are saying.”
“I don’t know. I think it sends a… wrong message. But I can’t take care of Severus in wizarding robe.”
“If you want I can bring you your jogging suite.” He offered
“Yes, it would be the best.” She agreed quietly “Harry, how did you get used to wearing a dress all the time?”
“Well, for start… it helps if I think of it as a wizarding robe and not as a dress.” He replied with the smile and she giggled. Harry felt like a huge weight fell off his shoulders. She looked different, more like Hermione he knew. She wasn’t what she used to be, but… he will have to talk with Snape. It seemed to him, now, that Hermione being around him wasn’t such a bad thing. He opened his mouth to say something but call came from below
“Potter!”
“Sorry, Hermione, I have to go. It is insane today, tomorrow will be much worse.”
“It’s fine. Stay until the end and come to see me after the party tomorrow… I’ll need it. “ she smiled sheepishly
“Will do.” He called running down the corridor. He felt better than he did for months.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
She sat in bed, breathing heavily. It was pitch dark in the room. Like it wasn’t enough that she has to see his memories. Like it wasn’t enough that she had nightmares of her own. Now her mind forced her to realise what she did, while she was sleeping no less!
‘Gods! I kicked him in the groins! Twice!’ whined her mind and she fell back to bed, pressing her hands over her eyes.
It is not like she didn’t see him before. At least, until now she managed to avoid touching him… well… there. A hot blush crept up her cheeks, warming them up. She bit her lip to prevent a whimper. It wasn’t so much that his newly gained title provoked the memory or the feeling of uneasiness. It was much, much more complicated than that
‘Gods! I kicked Severus Snape in the groins! He will skin me alive when he recovers!’
But even that was not the problem. It didn’t scare her like it used to. She turned to her stomach and pressed her face into the pillow, muffling the groan.
- 47
- 48
- 49
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed