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
- 64
- 65
- 66
A/N: @BlackRose "he would REALLY never get rid of her" - I like this analogy, but no, the truth is that it was one more task for him - nothing more and nothing less. He helped her because he had, not because he wanted to. Her gratitude is something he does not want for the task (in his mind it equals with doing a homework - it has to be done without expecting gratitude from the teacher).
To avoid further confusion:
Italic - Past, memories
'Single quotation mark' - inner monologue, thoughts
"double quotation mark" - actual speech
With the corner of his eye, he noticed Narcissa and Lucius slipping into the room. It was morning routine. Poppy would come, poke and probe and nod and hummed. They would be there, quiet and worried. Granger would sit on the sofa and watch Poppy like a hawk.
This morning, however, something was off. Granger was more attentive than usual and he wondered if that is even possible? Poppy nodded sharply
“You are recovering well, Severus. Better than I predicted. You gained muscle mass faster than I expected.”
“You released your dog on me Poppy, and you are wondering about my recovery rate? I am molested and tortured two times a day by this…”
"Now, listen to me, young man! That is not..."
“Matron, I am worried that he does not gain weight.” Quiet voice of Granger cut Poppy off in the middle of her scolding, he glared at her
“Nonsense girl, he is fine. He gained quite a few more than he had this time last year.” Poppy replied, her voice still sharp “How is your magic?”
“Not useful.” His throat felt clenched, as of lately he wondered what good was he alive to anyone? He couldn't use his magic. Tremors will prevent him from brewing. So why then even try to keep him alive? Unless this was his punishment, the ultimate one.
“Hmh, your magical core is strong and fully restored. Whatever issues you have unresolved… when you sort out through them, your magic will return to you. Full strength.”
That was relief of sorts. His issues had deep roots and he doubted he will ever resolve them. If… if he manages to regain enough balance to restore his walls, maybe then he could use his magic as before. After all, his ability to repress kept him alive for decades.
“Miss Granger, it is time to start working on walking. His leg muscles are strong enough. You will support him at the beginning… what is the matter, girl?”
“Ummm…he’s too heavy for me. I mean, he is not heavy… but he is…for me.” Granger stuttered and frowned
“I will help him, Poppy.” Lucius glared at the girl
“And how you plan to do that? You can barely hold yourself on your feet, and that is on a good day.” Poppy had no-nonsense voice that allowed no argument
“But I can and I will help Miss Granger. Surely, between two of us, we can follow your instructions, Poppy.” Smiled Narcissa
“Yes. Thank you, Narcissa.” Poppy smiled “Well, I have to run. Start today.” With these final words, Poppy stepped into the flames.
“Miss Granger, at your estimation when will be the best time to start?”
“In the morning. Now. I assist with other exercises, but they still tire him. I can do few short warming up exercises and we could…”
“HE is still in the room.” Hissed Severus. He felt like things started to spin out of his control more than they already did up to that point. Both women looked at him, while Lucius only chuckled
“Well, I’ll do the smart thing and remove myself from the line of fire.” With that Lucius walked to the door, leaning heavily on the cane.
‘Smart man.’ he thought fondly and glared at stubborn-faced Granger and determined eyes of Narcissa. He knew when he lost the battle, only this time there was no space for retreat and regrouping. He sighed.
“Now Severus, stop being so stubborn.” Narcissa reprimanded him lightly “Miss Grangrenger, you will walk me through what has to be done.”
“Yes. Madam Malfoy, please sit down until I do the warming up exercises with Severus.” Granger politely motioned towards the sofa and took her wand, placing the spongy padding on the floor. “Misty, I need your help, please.” She called
Misty appeared transferring him to the floor. This morning, however, they did it without a customary volley of grumbles. It was a nice change, one that he could get used to.
After a couple of minutes of light warming exercises, the ones that did not tire him anymore, Granger looked at Narcissa.
“We should straighten him up, in standing position. If he can make a step on his own, we will follow, but for now only standing will suffice.”
Without the word, Narcissa approached them and lowered to help Granger pull him up. Sitting up, with a bit of help, he wound each of his arms around shoulders of both women. They stood up, slightly wobbling.
Finally, he was... well... standing. If one could call it that way considering that he was slumped over the shoulders of Narcissa and Granger. He felt dizzy. The ground never looked further. He could feel a solid floor under his soles, but his legs felt useless. Somehow, too fragile and not supportive at all.
“Don’t force yourself.” Granger smiled at him, clenching the wrist of his hand that laid heavily on her shoulders and tightening the other hand around his waist.
He wanted to reply, to say something insulting... but his clenched teeth and hissing breaths were all that left his throat. Narcissa supported him silently for which he was grateful.
He felt utterly useless. A dead weight when he realised that his legs refuse to listen to his silent command to move. Carefully, he managed to wiggle his toes on the right foot. Cold sweat running down his spine. He was still able to move, it was the question of will and muscles.
“Do not push yourself, you spent months and months in bed. Standing with assistance is more than enough for today.” Granger almost cooed to him like he were a small child. He glared at her “Fine, suit yourself but if you exhaust yourself it won’t save you from pool or floor exercises.” Her voice turned from coo to a huff, insulted by his glare.
Finally, his strength gave out and his knees buckled. Narcissa and Granger carried him to the bed. Narcissa moved hair from his forehead, he avoided looking at her. Humiliated. Granger fussed around him, using a soft flannel to remove the coating of sweat from exposed parts of his skin.
“I have to go now, Severus, but I’ll be helping Miss Granger from now on.” gently whispered Narcissa and he moved his hand over hers, squeezing lightly. She smiled at him.
Once alone he turned to glare at Granger. She removed the padded pillows they used for exercises, her brow furrowed, her face determined.
“Granger.” Either he was too quiet or she ignored him on purpose, he cleared his throat “Granger!” she still didn’t react.
He observed her carefully, she acted insulted, not by his glaring but by the usage of her last name. Who did she think she is?
“Miss Granger, cease that immediately and come here.”
She paused her work and glared at him, with a sigh she obeyed him.
“What?”
“Do not use that tone with me, young lady. You are…were my student and I do expect proper amount of respect from you. You and I are not friends and it is unlikely that we will ever be.”
“Why? Why can’t we be friends? I am friend with Filius and with Hagrid and….”
“I am not interested in acquiring your friendship.”
“Oh, that’s rich.” She huffed at him, but she looked more hurt than angry “Fine. My apologies, Sir… or should I call you Professor.”
“Granger.” He growled, annoyed by her cheek
“Snape.” She bit back “Misty will bring breakfast soon... if you do not need me I’d like to read.”
“Do what you like as long you don’t bother me.”
She nodded making a small mock curtsy and stomped to her sofa. He felt angry, but annoyance and an odd feeling of emptiness soon replaced anger. It is impossible, and he is probably mistaken. He could not under no circumstances missing the discussions they had. Granger wasn’t his dream lady but she was interesting enough conversationalist. She did possess a sharp mind, even if she lacked imagination or boldness of thought. They spent a good part of the day in silence. He nearly jumped out of his skin, contributing his bad mood to the failed attempt of walking. Granger’s frowning didn’t help either. His nervousness reached almost a boiling point when Potter knocked on the door, peeking into the room.
To his and Potter’s surprise, Granger jumped to her legs, her curls flying out of the bun.
“Harry Potter, how could you?!”
“What did I do now?” Harry send him one bewildered look. Granger marched to Potter pushing him out of the room and slamming the door behind. The door clicked and slid open just so. He could hear Granger hissing at stuttering Potter.
“A Pensieve, Harry? How could you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“We were so mad at Snape for stop giving you lessons. Really? You looked at his stored memories! If I’d only knew…”
“But, Hermione, you know well that at the time I doubted him, we all did.”
“I didn’t. How many time I told you if Dumbledore trusts him so should we? But even if that wasn’t the case…you had no business…well, I can hardly blame Snape for not wanting to teach you after that.”
“Hermione… I just can’t believe he told you about that, I thought he doesn't…”
“He did not tell me, Harry, I’ve seen it. I think he hates that I’ve seen it more than anything else. But he can’t help it, no more than I can prevent seeing his memories.”
'You do not have to think, I detest it.' he thought bitterly
“Still… So what now?” there was a reluctance in Potters voice
“You will go this instant, Harry. You will apologize to him and you will mean it!”
He allowed a grin to spill across his face for an instant. She sounded like his student, one he detested. Bossy know-it-all. Those boys had their divine punishment in form of their best friend. How did he miss that before when it should have been obvious to him?
There was a knock on the door and he schooled his features into a grimace of bored indifference. Potter sneaked into the room with confusion written all over his face, he glanced at the door with a hint of fear.
“Good day, Professor.”
‘Professor, he didn’t call me that when he should but he calls me now. Irony at its finest.’ He raised an eyebrow “Potter, what are you doing here?”
“Well, you see…I…ha…came to apologize.”
“For?” he asked, enjoying in Potter’s discomfort
“Our last Occlumency lesson, the one when I….”
“I do not wish to talk or think about it, Potter.”
“I know. Believe me, I know. Neither do I, but Hermione…she…from your memories and she found out…”
“She found out how you came by to see my memories.”
“Ummm not exactly, you see I never told them why we stopped with our lessons. I never told anyone what I saw in that Pensieve.” Potter’s voice lowered to a whisper.
That surprised him, he was expecting that Potter couldn’t wait to blabber what he saw to his friends. He lifted one eyebrow.
“To be honest, Professor, I felt ashamed of what my father and Sirius did to you. Everyone always told me how great they were. The truth was…devastating. I hated you for destroying the image I had of them.” Potter rocked on his feet than strode to the window “Dudly, my aunt’s and uncle’s son… he was a bully. And, I was his favourite target. I…hated you more after that, not because what you said to my mother – that was a moment in which everyone would bite. I hated you because I thought that I felt more for you than for my own father. And that was wrong. I guess, what I’m trying to say is…”
“I believe you are trying to apologize. And not out of your own sense of guilt.”
“Well, yes.”
“Was she like this in school?”
“So you heard?” Potter turned to him, frowning. He just smirked “Yes, she was, worse even. She can be a slave driver when she puts her mind to something.”
“Then you already had an ample punishment.”
“Cruel one at that.” The boy smiled shyly “Ummm, I am wondering…should we continue to…”
“Yes, but not at the moment, Potter. The situation is even more complicated than it was before.”
“It is true then, now you can see her memories…”
“Yes.”
“Can I…ask for a favour… a plea if you like… Don’t use it against her, whatever you see…”
“That is none of your business, Potter. What I do with her memories is out of your reach. You may leave. Now!” he felt insulted. The nerve of the brath. What was there to use anyway, even if he tried he would end up with a witch in tears. He had no desire to listen to her sobs and sniffling, no more than he already did. He had so much of her crying as he could handle for a lifetime, two even. No, what he wanted was simple, to regain his strength, his magic, to get rid of her and disappear.
Potter didn’t leave as he ordered him. Instead, he walked to the door and stopped, turning, dark red colouring his forehead.
“Professor, may I ask one more thing? I… I have no one else to ask this, really.”
“Speak, Potter, and be quick about it.”
“Everybody says that Hermione… that she is much like my… my mother was. Is that true?” there was hope, reluctance and apology in equal measures in Potter’s voice.
“No, Potter. It is not true. They are as different as they can be. Now, if that is all…” he replied tersely, refusing to elaborate more on the matter. He may be annoyed with Granger’s know-it-all attitude and meddling ways, but in overall, Granger was different – better than Lily ever was.
The matter, and the name, still a living wound on what left of his heart. The question stabbed him, rubbing salt on that wound. The futility of all, his mistakes and his penance, glaring from the corners of his mind.
“Right. Thank you.” Mumbled Potter and walked out.
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed