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
- 68
- 69
- 70
A/N: I know I’m late, and it is entirely my fault. Even if I have everything pre.written, I realised that I rushed the story to fit it into planned 75 chapters max. And I didn’t like it. So, instead just “tweaking” the chapter, I ended up first debating with myself to keep the story bit longer but true to the original idea. Second, rewriting the entire chapter.
@BlackRose "Ron needs a smack on the head." - indeed he does, but it is not so different from his previous behaviour, he needs to "run into the wall" so to say, in order to change his behaviour. "Severus and Lucius are just Slytherins." - yup :) But, do you think all that was only for Sev's benefit? He did keep Harry in the room, and he didn't really have to ban Ron from the house for that one visit. It is too many complications just so he could inform Severus that she is "free" ;) "Human are so complicated." - sadly, we are.
To avoid further confusion:
Italic - Past, memories
'Single quotation mark' - inner monologue, thoughts
"double quotation mark" - actual speech
…The cold hand of fear squeezed on his insides as he watched students leaving the train. Draco had a highly self-satisfied expression as he joined Pantsy. Granger was running like a headless fly annoying everyone with her enforcement of rules. Weasley blabbered about Quidditch. Potter, however, was nowhere on the site. As the last students left the train he turned on his heel and rushed to Headmasters office.
“Albus, did you sent Potter to school by some other means of transportation?”
“No, as far as I know, Harry boarded the train with the others. Why?”
“I didn’t see him get out of the train. Check with the others.”
Albus took his wand and conjured his Patronus, sending the message to the Order. Soon, the reply came in the unstable shape of the wolf speaking with the voice of Nymphadora Tonks.
“We put the children on the train. I’ll be at the school gates, Meet me there.” Patronus disappeared but burst again into the room only seconds later “Found him! We are going to the gate, meet us!”
“The Welcoming Feast…”
“Will start without me. You have to be there. I’ll go look for him. Undoubtedly, Potter found another way to make his entrance more glamorous.”
“Severus.”
“You put too much faith into the boy Albus, he is not as special or capable as you would like him to be. I’ll keep you posted, Albus.“
With that, he turned and walked from the office. But the moment he was safe from prying eyes, he speeded up his pace, rushing towards the gates. First time since he noticed the boy missing he felt that that the tension and fear are gone…
…The brat had not only the audacity to be terse and bash but to oppose his new post as DADA teacher. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to strangle Potter himself. Didn’t he understand how much knowledge is necessary to teach them how to defend properly? Death Eaters won’t go easy on them, he should have understood that last year with all Black fiasco.
Not that he mourned Black’s death. Still, it was unnecessary death caused by Potter’s rash actions and stubbornness. Underneath all, achieving his decade's old task came at a heavy price. The price which Potter would never understand…
…Why Albus insisted on playing a chess now was beyond him. The Old man did everything, bar twisting his arm, to coerce him to play with him. He had essays to read through, Draco, Potter and his patsy to follow, potions to brew for Poppy. By Salazar, did he had a list of potions to make. Students were particularly inventive in ways to hurt themselves or others this year. They already depleted potions reserves for the infirmary, and the year barely started.
“It is your move, Severus.” Albus reminded him
“Yes.” He glanced at the board and moved his pawn
“You are not paying attention, Severus. You sacrificed…”
The pain seared through his left hand and he hissed, standing up.
“I have to go.”
“Severus, please, let’s finish the game first.”
“I have to go, Albus. I’m summoned.”
“Use the floo to your room.” Albus motioned to the fireplace. With a nod, he grabbed the powder and stepped into the green flames. In the room, he summoned the robe and the mask. He had too much to do and no time to spend a night in bed, which would happen if he displeases or angers the Dark Lord. Casting a disillusionment charm he rushed to the gates.
The world stopped spinning and the uncomfortable squeeze of apparition spit him out, surprisingly, at the gates of Malfoy Manor. Practically running, he reached the main entrance of the Manor fast. Grayback growled at him but let him pass without the word.
In the drawing room, Narcissa was sitting in the corner, pale and quiet. He royal posture did not fool him, she looked worried to him. Bellatrix glared at him. She was standing near Narcissa, looking spiteful but tamed. Being related to the Malfoys didn’t boot well for her now when Lucius was in prison. His failure affected them all. At least now, Draco was safe in school.
He didn't greet anyone in the room. Reaching the spot where Dark Lord was standing, he bend slightly at the waist and lowered his eyes.
“My Lord.” He murmured
“Ah, Severus. You came quickly to my summons.”
“Not as quickly as I desired, my Lord.”
“I am aware that you have obligations to the school, and that you can’t apparate as quickly. You came fast enough.”
“Thank you, my Lord.” He bowed a bit deeper, unsure if this was a good or a bad start. One could never be sure of that these days, if ever
“Walk with me, Severus.”
He followed the slow walk of the Dark Lord, wondering what was the reason for his summon. The moments of slow stroll stretched, seeming indefinitely. He nearly sighed out loud when Dark Lord started to speak.
“I assume that everything is going according to my plan.”
“So far, my Lord, yes.”
“Good. That is good. You will be excused from future summons until I deem you unquestionably necessary by my side. Your task is more important than squabble I am forced to listen as of lately. Watch over my young recruit, see that he completed his mission but do not interfere. However, keep him from being expelled, should he prove to be skilled as his father in messing up. He has an important task.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“If anything occurs that I need to know, send that bird of yours. I am sure that he will bring the news and amuse me in process. He, after all, holds no love for Bella or Grayback. I trust him more than owls.”
“Yes, my Lord.” He kept his head low and his mind blank. There will be time for thinking and strategize later
“Now, this means that if my plan changes you won’t be informed timely. You can handle any change in the stride.”
“I can, my Lord.”
“Very well. You know what to do. That Old fool knows you are here tonight?”
“He does my Lord, I was in his presence when summon came.”
“Very well, you may tell him that I am displeased with some news which, I do not want to reveal. You may tell him that I summoned you to witness how I treat those who fail me. As a reminder.” softly hissed Dark Lord “You do not need reminders, do you, Severus?”
“No, my Lord. I will tell him as you instructed me, my Lord.”
“Do you have anything to report?”
“Only that Potter has private lessons with Dumbledore this year. However, everyone is in the dark what those lessons are, even his friends. The Old man locks the memories in the boys head, without attacking and damaging the boy's brain, I can’t extract them.”
“It is of no consequence. I have the means to find out without you exposing yourself and endangering your position at this moment. Your presence in the school is of utmost importance now.”
“Yes, my Lord, thank you.”
“Well, now, let us give you necessary material to bring back to the old fool. Dolohov!”
He kept his breath. The Death Eater in question was lower ranked one, and unfamiliar to him. He watched dispassionately as Dolohov butchered the poor wretch to death. Not feeling sorry for the man. Dolohov’s performance was, however, short, unimaginative and the Dark Lord did not seem to enjoy it. That brought him the small measure of satisfaction. He remained a step behind Dark Lord, not wasn't released, he did not want to enrage Dark Lord by moving away from him.
It was past midnight when he returned to his quarters. Albus left that infernal bird to wait for him. He sent a message to Albus using the bird as a messenger and sat in the chair. His head felt heavy. Not to be on beck-and-call for every Dark Lord’s whim was good. Being in the dark what Dark Lord plotted was bad. At least he will have more time to follow the children around the castle and to brew and teach undisturbed…
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
She modified her parent's memories and slipped out of the house. Pain constricted her throat, she knew what she was doing but it still hurt. Now, in their mind, she didn’t exist. Tomorrow, they will embark on a plane and travel halfway across the globe. Not knowing that they have a daughter at all. She wasn’t even sure if she can reverse the spell. In theory, it should be reversible… in theory. Suddenly, she felt sick
‘What if I survive but can’t reverse it?’
Her stomach lurched at her throat. She dashed to an ally and bend down, expelling everything that she ate that day. Retching dry, long after her stomach was empty. Finally, she managed to straighten up, cast an Aguamenti to rinse her mouth and wobble to the nearest coffee shop. Walking in a secluded separe, she ordered a cappuccino. Only when she was sure that no one will bother her or see her she started to cry.
It took her good half an hour to calm, stop crying and convince herself that she did a good thing. The right thing. Her parents are safe. Even if that was well planned, months in advance. Even if she did what she had to do to protect them, it still hurt. It still scared her. It felt as if they died. Blinking to stop the tears, she paid the coffee and dashed out. But, when she boarded the bus to the part of London where Leaky Cauldron was, the tears rolled again. She cried through the entire trip.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Severus blinked. The sound of sobbing woke him up. He turned his head and glanced at the sofa. Hermione lied curled up in a ball.
“Miss Gra… Hermione, what is the matter now?”
Quivering bundle on the sofa moved. It took her time to sit or turn to him. She moved like she was in a jello. Huge brown eyes blinked at him, large tears rolled from them and clung to the eyelashes.
“Nothing, just…a bad dream.”
“I am aware of that. To my misfortune, I can’t escape them now.” he sighed
Her eyes changed, from lost and sad they turned to angry and fiery in a split of a second.
“If you are aware, then kindly leave me be. If you are capable of being kind at all.”
“I may have agreed to call you by your name, that does not give you the right to address me as one of your peers.”
“I don’t care what you think.” She hissed “It is your fault! This is all your fault!!!”
“And how pray tell, is it my fault?”
“You…” she choked, hiccuped and jumped out of the sofa, pointing a finger at him “…you and your questions. You did this on purpose! You robbed me of my happy memory!”
“Happy memory? As much as I do hate to witness what you refer as a ‘happy memory’… And make no mistake, I wouldn’t call that happy by any stretch of the imagination. …I equally detest to wake up in the wee hours of the morning by your sobs.” He growled “Furthermore, I fail to see how did I rob you of your ‘happy memory’”
“You, you…made me think…re-think…” she stuttered, tears still rolled down her cheeks
“Yes, for a good part of my life I am guilty of that crime. Forcing a bunch of brain-dead dunderheads to use what little brain they have. With almost no success, regrettably. ” He growled at her “I still fail to see how that robbed you of your happy memories.”
“You… and he… and I…” it seemed to him that she tried to say more than few thing at once. Her attempt resulting in hardly coherent gibberish at the end
“One sentence at the time.” Drawled Severus.
He knew what she was referring to, but, given that she did not mention to him anything about her altercation with Weasley - he had to pretend. However, he thought that a nudge in the right direction wouldn’t go amiss
“I do believe that you did have a rendezvous with your paramour…”
“Stop!!! Stop calling him that! He is… he’s not my paramour. He isn't my anything!” she hissed, her voice falling to near whisper “He is as mean and… and… The two of you would get along quite well, now.”
“I doubt that.”
“He is as vile and…debasing as you and your…friend! You would get along just fine.”
“Be that as it may I still…”
“Before! Before… I could hold on to a few good thing I have left, no matter how small or weak they were. Now, I have…nothing! Now I am forced to relive…” she broke down in sobs once again
“I fail to see, how facing one's fears and regrets…”
“Don’t you even dare finish that.” She cut him off once again, she started to annoy him in earnest “You…you lived your entire life… like an ostrich! So you have no right to lecture me about facing my memories or actions or truth! You. Have. No. Right. I can’t even research now…”
“That is hardly my fault.” He growled “I did not ask of you to use me as your test subject. But I am going to lecture you.”
“No, you won’t! You are not my teacher any more – you made that clear. You have no obligations to teach me anything. And I won’t accept you preaching to me what to do when you do not listen to your own advice. It is hypocritical of you! I did try to help you…”
“You didn’t try to help me, you practised on me. What did you think, that I’ll help you with memory charm if you wake me up?” he whispered, his voice trembling with repressed anger.
The little hussy had the gall to use him and call him on it, blame him for her own misguided beliefs. She blinked at him.
“No…yes…no.”
“Make up your bloody mind!”
“No not at first, at first I just wanted to save you. To help you. Later, yes… I did hope that you would help me… but, but soon I realised that. After you woke up after I realised… It doesn't matter anymore. When I finally manage… it will be too late anyway. And now – I need all of my ‘happy memories’ no matter how undeserving you see them. I am sure that you can understand at least that.”
“Pray tell, what did you plan to use as a bargaining chip for my help?” he asked in a cold voice, this was it, the moment, his chance. At least he hoped it was.
She blinked at him confused.
- 68
- 69
- 70
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed