Out of the Silent Planet

Title: Out of the Silent Planet (7/39)
Author: moirasfate/ianthe_waiting
Rating: MA/NC-17
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter books and their characters are the property of JK Rowling. This is a work of fan-fiction. No infringement is intended, and no money is being made from this story. I am just borrowing the puppets, but this is my stage.
Genre: Plot driven smut, Darkfic, Romance, Drama, Angst...
Warnings: M/F, Bondage, slight non-con, Dark!Draco, and HBP spoilers.
Summary: Post-Hogwarts - Hermione Granger fulfills Severus Snape's final wish, to journey to Japan to ‘retrieve' something of importance. Set eleven years after HBP.
Author's Notes: This is my first DM/HG ficlet, so please be kind to the newbie! The title of this fic is taken from C.S. Lewis' book, first in the Perelandra Chronicles.

Many thanks to kazfeist for improving this fic!


Out of the Silent Planet
Chapter Seven – Of meetings, admissions and dark intentions.



Hermione paced about her room, the silver cane thudding against the matted floor as she walked. Hanako had not appeared in her room and Hermione was considering searching for the whimsical ghost.

It was clear to Hermione that Hanako had been protecting Draco Malfoy in some fashion. The ghost had lied about the Malfoy heir living in the ryokan and had tried her best to avert Hermione’s curiosity from a particular ‘Master Ryu.’ Hermione cringed as she stopped her pacing to look out through the bedroom window to the sun that was slowly beginning to set. Granted, Hermione had no real knowledge of the Japanese language except what the translator gave her, but had she thought about it, the name ‘Ryu’ translated to ‘dragon,’ as in Draco...

“Hanako!” Hermione growled impatiently, taking up her pacing again.

In her anger and impatience, she began her internal ranting as she always did when she was particularly upset.

‘Who would name their child Draco anyway? What a cruel joke! Did the Malfoys want their son’s name to sound that intimidating? The boy was a sickly pale little git! Only cowards and weaklings become bullies...spoilt, arrogant ferret! Oh, I’ll straighten him out and take him back to Britain if I have to pull him by the ear! Severus Snape, wherever you are, you owe me big!’

This rant went on for several minutes more as Hermione’s pace turned into a stomping back and forth through the room. Her mind was set and she grasped her cane, pulling her wand from the pocket of her yukata. She slid the door open roughly and stepped out into the darkening corridor. Wandlessly shutting the door, Hermione started down the corridor toward the two baths in the wing. Hermione huffed as she opened every door she found, only to find every room empty and the springs unoccupied by the living or the dead.

Returning to her starting point, Hermione paused, blowing a loose strand of hair from her face. She was utterly alone in that particular wing of the ryokan; the only thing she had learned was there were six large rooms besides her own, two springs, three storage closets, and one water closet.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione ambled down the corridor in the opposite direction. The second wing was much larger, with a second floor. Hermione peeked into all the rooms on her left side, finding the rooms to be slightly smaller and empty. On the right side, Hermione found the same: no Hanako, no one at all. When she found the steps that led to the second floor, Hermione hesitated. The steps were steep, and Hermione frowned, knowing that in her agitation and the events of the day, if she were to get to the second floor of the wing, it would be difficult for her to get down again.

No, Hermione shook her head. If she found Lady Kaori or Lady Fuumi she would simply ask them to summon Hanako since they were the mistresses of the house and likely had more power over the beings in the house.

Moving on, Hermione soon came to the entrance room and vestibule, also empty. She peered down to see her shoes resting on the stone floor a step down, the toes pointing to the door. Only three other pairs of shoes were lined next to hers, a pair of geta sandals, and two pairs of wet and muddy men’s boots. Hermione’s brow lifted in puzzlement, for one pair looked as if it had just arrived, and the snow and sod was still wet upon the rubber soles.

Gritting her teeth against a particularly painful throb in her left knee, Hermione continued and soon found herself back at the door leading into the large room she had been in earlier that day with Lady Kaori and Lady Fuumi. Much to Hermione’s dismay, it too was devoid of life or the floating embodiment of death.

‘Where do these people go during the day?’ Hermione wondered.

Further down the corridor, Hermione found other guest rooms, one outfitted as if for a king, having four rooms and a private water closet. Finding another entrance to a spring, Hermione peeked inside, only to see steam, not sensing any presences of the masters of the house. Further still down the corridor, Hermione came to another set of steps and the last door in the wing.

Hermione strained her ears and listened at the foot of the stairs. She could hear distant voices above her and picked out Lady Kaori’s voice speaking too low for Hermione to hear. Hermione placed her right foot on the first step, but hesitated. Surely the upper level of this wing was reserved for the masters of the ryokan, and Hermione did not want to intrude. Opening her mouth to call out, she stopped.

“...fetch some crackers, Master...” a voice sounded from beyond the last door in the wing, too distant to be heard properly, but Hermione recognized it was Hanako’s voice.

A low rumbling of a reply reached Hermione’s ears through the paneled door. Hermione set her face and moved to the door, her hand upon the small indented handle to open the door. Gingerly, Hermione slid the door open just enough to look inside. Hermione’s amber eyes widened as she looked into a sitting room of Western fashion, the walls lined with books and European paintings. What really caught Hermione’s attention was the view through the opened windows, the glass pushed back and opened to a roofed porch. The garden outside the room was lush and green, the grass like a carpet and the cherry trees beginning to bloom beyond a small koi pond. The scent of cherry blossoms, grass and herbs made Hermione unconsciously open the door wider.

Her eyes moved to two figures sitting on the porch, looking out toward the garden. One was Hanako, hovering as though to sit next to a male figure. Hermione frowned in confusion for this man wore black wizard’s robes and had a ponytail of silky black hair at the back of his head. The male figure was sitting with his bare feet hanging over the edge of the porch, gazing out into the garden.

“Hanako, greet our visitor,” the man said, his voice deep and somewhat familiar.

Hanako tilted her head toward the man and slowly turned to look back at Hermione, her eyes widening.

“Mistress!” Hanako exclaimed, rising up in the air in surprise.

Hermione bit her lower lip and stepped into the room, sliding the door shut behind her with her cane hand. But she kept her wand out, although she lowered the point to the floor.

“Forgive my intrusion, I have been looking for you,” Hermione said softly to the ghost as she floated toward Hermione with a shocked expression on her ethereal face.

“I thought I heard a voice calling for Hanako,” the male voice said from the porch and Hermione looked past Hanako to see that the figure had turned and was gazing back at her.

Hermione could not breathe; facing her was a copy of a young Severus Snape. Hanako, who had been wringing her hands, began speaking to Hermione, but Hermione could only hear one thing.

“...Master Yuki...”

Hermione nearly fainted. She had expected to find Draco Malfoy, but instead found Severus’ son.


* * *


“I have heard of you, Miss Granger,” Yukifumi Matsumoto intoned kindly as he passed Hermione a cup of green tea.

Hermione was overwhelmed and bit her tongue to keep from calling the boy by his father’s name. The resemblance was remarkable, but as Hermione studied the man, she began to notice subtle differences. Yuki Matsumoto had much fuller lips and his nose was only slightly hooked as compared to Severus’. The young man was several years younger than Hermione, but seemed older and very mature. His voice was similar to Severus’ but Hermione could not imagine Severus speaking formal Japanese. Yuki’s eyes were like Severus’ but almond shaped and intrinsically Japanese. All in all the man was dashingly handsome.

Hermione came back to Yuki’s last statement. “Might I ask where?” Hermione asked, holding the hot pottery in her hands.

“In Edo, at the University. Ah, but I haven't really introduced myself beyond my name, have I?”

Before Hermione replied, Yuki turned toward Hermione where she sat next to him on the small porch overlooking the enchanted garden.

“I am a research assistant to Professor Nakamura in Edo, have you heard of him?”

Hermione nodded, “I have. My colleague, Millicent Longbottom, has been corresponding with the Professor for sometime. Professor Nakamura has been collaborating with my friend to perfect certain healing spells.”

“Yes, that is how I know of you. I have been helping the Professor research some ancient Chinese treaties on healing spells. Although I am just an assistant, I am well apprised of your work, Miss Granger,” Yuki said kindly, a smile upon his face.

Hermione found it so strange, looking at the man, and trying not to think of him as his father. There were marked differences in personality, that much was clear, but the similarities remained and Hermione tried not to look too much at the man lest her tongue slip.

“I have put in an application to your firm, although you probably do not know it since you are a founder and co-president,” Yuki trailed before taking a sip of his tea.

“I am not over hiring, Mr. Matsumoto, but since you have mentioned it I will look into your application when I return,” Hermione began.

“Please, call me Yuki, Mr. Matsumoto is my grandfather, and it feels strange to be called by that name.”

Hermione smiled above the rim of her tea. She glanced to her left where Hanako hovered in silence, watching the interaction between Hermione and Yuki in odd fascination.

“Well then, Yuki, I will look over your application. Was there a particular department you were looking into?” Hermione asked, only risking a quick glance at the man who seemed to be gazing intently at her all the while they spoke.

“I have my certificates on potions and Herbology, but my main field of interest is spell analysis, and I do have my masters in Charms and Transfiguration. I do not want to sound arrogant, but I have many skills and my letters of recommendation come from Professors at both the Universities in Edo and Salem.”

“You studied in America?” Hermione asked, astonished.

“Yes, right after my graduation from the Salem Institute. My family thought it best that I be schooled there as a child. Granted, it was difficult for me at first, but I fell in love with America. I later went to University in Edo and have been working there ever since.”

It explained much to Hermione. Yuki had been sent away to America for school and had never had contact with Severus’ comings and goings at the inn. In fact, Hermione deduced that, eleven years ago, Yuki would have been in his final years at the Salem Institute when Draco had arrived. But still, did Yuki know of Draco...surely Yuki would have noticed that the Matsumoto house had a new member.

“But I was surprised when Grandmother told me that you were coming here, Miss Granger. I never would have thought I would have the chance to meet you here.”

Hermione blinked, slowly setting her cup on the porch.

“Lady Fuumi told you about my visit?” Hermione asked softly.

“Yes, and I know the nature of your visit.”

Hermione glanced at Hanako who had begun wringing her hands again. Slowly she turned to Yuki who was smiling gently, making him appear very friendly and handsome. Hermione felt her heart beat roughly for a moment. Was this the first stirring of attraction? Hermione turned her eyes to the grass of the enchanted garden.

“You know of Severus Snape and his dealings with your family?” she asked in a tremulous whisper.

“He was a friend of my mother many years ago. I only know him from his theses on potions making. But I am sad to hear that he has passed recently, for he was truly a brilliant mind, or so it seemed from his writings,” Yuki said softly moving slightly closer to Hermione, causing her to flinch unconsciously.

“You have never met him?”

“No, I have only heard stories...”

Hermione closed her eyes...the tragedy of it all was almost too much. If only, if only...

“But I forget myself, was something the matter when you called for Hanako?” Yuki asked, gazing at Hermione in concern.

Hermione opened her eyes. Yes, she had let herself get sidetracked. How could she have expected to meet Severus’ son? Slowly she glanced at Hanako who seemed to be silently working herself into a frenzy and Hermione smirked...she could ask Yuki.

“I have come here on a mission of sorts, set to me by my master and friend. It has recently come to my attention that a person, who has long been missing, is living in this house, or was here yesterday. I know this person by his given name, but it seems that Hanako calls him Ryu,” Hermione said clearly, seeing that Hanako was almost in tears.

Something then happened that Hermione did not expect; Yuki began laughing, throwing his head back and sounding more like Severus that made Hermione comfortable. If she had had difficulty differentiating Severus from his son, the differences were now growing less and less: Yuki laughed just like Severus, deeply, almost mockingly.

“So it has come to this...I’m delighted,” Yuki laughed, clutching his sides and curling up as if he were stricken were a Rictusempra hex.

Hermione watched Yuki in shock and waited until the dark man began to calm his laughter and amusement.

“I don’t understand...” Hermione began, but Yuki turned to Hermione, smiling, placing a hand on her shoulder familiarly.

“Let me start at the beginning then,” Yuki said with a slight chuckle. “During the summer of my last year at Salem, I came home unannounced. I found that my family had taken in a boy close to my age...a boy that I was told would be my brother...”

Hermione gaped unabashedly, but Yuki continued, his hand sliding down from Hermione’s shoulder to her back. Yuki’s touch was comfortable, but Hermione tensed.

“This boy my aunt and grandmother called Ryu, but I immediately knew that this name was not his own. My aunt was cross with me for returning so soon, and I knew it was because of Ryu. After a bit of whining, grandmother told me what she could about him. You see my family is under a vow so powerful that I could only learn my mother’s friend, Severus, had brought Ryu to our ryokan for safekeeping. If you have not already noticed, Miss Granger, this house is heavily fortified with wards and protections, not to mention its remoteness from anything civilized. It is a natural choice as a place to hide something or somebody... But during that summer I only met Ryu twice in the house, and only spoke once to him. My family will tell you that he is mad, and perhaps he is, but I find that he is more of a sad fellow, lost in his own world of guilt and delusion.”

Hermione blinked as Yuki removed his hand from her lower back and placed it with his other hand on his lap.

“I went back to school, haunted by Ryu. I barely knew him, and I pitied him. I could see that he was under such strong protections that no one would see his true face or his true pain. The next summer I returned here before heading off to University. It was that summer that I came to know Ryu as my brother, my darker half. In the year that I was gone, Ryu had improved. He moved about the house as if he had lived here for a lifetime. He took meals with the family and worked with my aunt to run the ryokan. He greeted guests and tended to the grounds, but I could tell that he did these things to distract himself from a deep hurt.

One night as I was reading in this room Ryu came to me. We talked through the night and Ryu told me what he could about himself. The protections placed upon him restricted him from telling me his true name or the place in which he was born, but I deduced much from his story. Ryu told me how he had lost his arm, how he had tried to cut it off himself in a fit of madness. He told me that he had once lived like a prince and that he had lost everything over a misguided decision. And as we began speaking about less serious things, I realized that Ryu was a powerful wizard, for I could feel it like a humming in my soul. I had never seen Ryu use a wand, and he told me he had none, Ryu used magic as if he were made entirely of it. I must admit it was a bit frightening, not unlike someone with telekinesis.

We became friends and soon talked like comrades. But it was just before I left for University that I first glimpsed the darkness that seemed to swell and move just under his glamourous exterior. Guests had come from Britain just at the end of the summer, like many do that time of year, but it was soon apparent that Ryu knew these people. He was uneasy at first, frightened that they might notice him. It seemed that these people had been familiar with Ryu and his family which he was never able to vocalize to anyone.”

Hermione opened her mouth in question, but Yuki kindly raised his hand for her to wait.

“The guests stayed only three days when they planned to stay a week. Ryu frightened them away... It was later that I learned that Ryu had...had raped the young woman of the party. He laughed about it, feeling no shame or remorse. He told me that he knew the girl, intimately...a young woman by the name of Pansy Higgs, the young bride of Terence Higgs.”

Hermione started. She had never liked Pansy Higgs nee Parkinson, and after the War Pansy committed suicide before she was tried by the Ministry for her crimes abetting Death Eaters to escape Britain. Terence Higgs was executed not long after for his part in the Battle of Little Hangleton. The Higgs were one of many family lines that were eliminated after all was said and done, along with the LeStranges, the Crabbes, the Notts, among many others. But Hermione could almost laugh at the irony of it, Draco supposedly raping Pansy on her honeymoon.

“My family never knew the truth about that incident, for Hanako and I took great pains that it never be known. But it does not matter, no charges were brought against Ryu, and I learned that the guests that had stayed here that summer were all criminals in your country. We do not discriminate in our clientele, we only assure privacy, and if a problem should arrive with a guest, they are asked to leave.

Ryu seemed to have a breakdown after that incident, and I was hesitant to leave him. I knew that Ryu could be mischievous, even wicked at times, but I had never expected him to act so violently and I felt as if I did not know my adopted brother as well as I had thought. We talked about the girl for a long while, and of people he had known as a boy and hated... I learned of Ryu’s prejudices, of which he himself blamed upon being raised as a brat prince. He knew that his prejudices were unjustified, but he would shrug and laugh, saying that he knew no better... That is how he was, a walking contradiction of hubris and moral consciousness...eternally battling.

I left for University. My life became very busy and hectic, and the next time I saw Ryu was surprisingly in Edo. I only thought Ryu was bound to the confines of our lands, but it seemed I was mistaken. Ryu came to see me in my little ramshackle apartment in Edo, drunk off wizard sake, his face bruised and his lip cut. But the most surprising thing was he was singing in English a strange little drinking song about fairies and women’s genitalia. He had found an English newspaper, the Daily Prophet, and on the front were the words: Lucius Malfoy Executed.”

Yuki paused and took a sip of his tea, his eyes distant, but his lips curled into a smile so familiar to Hermione it almost hurt to look at him. She was rapt with attention to every word Yuki said, and had only just noticed that Hanako was gone. Hermione frowned at this fact, but turned her eyes back to Yuki, who continued.

“So I learned who Ryu really was that night, but I never vocalized my conclusion. Ryu talked about the War. Although he knew very little, he made a fair guess about what had happened. Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort with the help of a group of people called the Order of the Phoenix. Ryu spoke poorly of Harry Potter, degrading the young man to the point of ridiculousness. I asked Ryu if he were jealous, and being drunk, Ryu broke down in tears... He hated the Potter boy because he was everything Ryu had wanted to be and could never be... He hated Potter’s friend, Weasley, I think it was...because the boy had the family Ryu had always wanted. And he hated...take no offense, Miss Granger, he hated you...” Yuki said, gazing down at Hermione who was sitting with her legs straight out before her, leaning back on the palms of her hands, her chin resting on her shoulder as she gazed at Yuki’s mouth.

“He always hated me, from the start... Those prejudices you mentioned, I was most likely the embodiment of that bias. We were rivals, not rivals like Harry or Ron, but rivals in the academic aspect of things. It seemed impossible that a silly little girl that came from nothing remotely magical could best him, he who came from long, inbred bloodlines of magic. He hated me because I was friends with Harry and Ron, and he hated me because I would not swoon when he passed by...” Hermione said softly, her mind picturing all the nasty episodes she had had with Malfoy at Hogwarts. “I suppose I hated him then. But now...”

Yuki nodded, looking up to the sky, which was turning a deep gold.

“You were sent to find him, weren’t you?” Yuki asked pointedly.

Hermione said nothing for a moment and the sat up, slouching with her hands in her lap. “In a manner, I suppose I was. But the vow your family took has prevented me from coming to this conclusion clearly for at least a few hours...” Hermione chuckled.

“Ryu did say that you were a brilliant witch, Miss Granger. But I fear that it will prove difficult for you to persuade him to return to Britain with you. Not to mention the fact that perhaps only you can see past the glamour cast upon him. I have never seen Ryu’s true face, and I will not say his name unless I want to tempt the powerful wards placed upon this house. I am content with the brother I have had these years, and if he does leave, I will miss him. He is cantankerous, crude, and unpredictable, but we have come to a deep understanding and found a kinship beyond the titles we may have. So, Miss Granger, I ask you to please be patient and understanding with Ryu. He might try to harm you, and I will try to prevent that from ever occurring... Ryu is stronger than any wizard I have ever known so my protections may not amount to much. But I also know, from Ryu and from what I have gleaned, you are also strong...and I can feel your strength... I am glad to have finally met you, Miss Granger and I hope we can be friends,” Yuki said with a bright smile, folding his hands in his lap and turning his body toward Hermione, bowing his head.

Hermione was at a loss for words and moved her lips uselessly. Severus’ son was offering his protection, his friendship and what could Hermione do but accept...

“I hope we can be friends, Yuki... I... I do not know what to say really... I am just grateful that you have shared your knowledge with me... But is...Dra-Ryu here now? Does he know who I am and why I am here? I...” Hermione stuttered, her brow moving in confusion. She felt like a fool...she had what she wanted...almost.

Yuki’s smile faded slowly, “He knows you are here, but is keeping his distance. Hanako tells me that he tried to come in on you last night...for what reason, I cannot say. But I fear it was not for a warm greeting... Most likely, Ryu is somewhere listening to everything we say, as has a habit of eavesdropping...”

Hermione tensed and looked back into the sitting room as if trying to see a shadowed Draco Malfoy peeking around a corner, but she saw no one. But Yuki’s words made her very uneasy...she should have cast a silencing charm on the walls, or an imperturbable charm... Hermione knew that Yuki had not warded the room, or even the area in which they were now sitting.

“I will speak to him, perhaps initiate some kind of communication. If he has not approached you by now, Ryu is planning something... He is so much like a child in a way, but not nearly as harmless... Miss Granger, let me be honest. You are in danger and I abhor the fact that no one has mentioned this to you until now. Ward your room at night, do not go anywhere alone, keep Hanako by your side and please keep your wand with you at all times,” Yuki said direly, his dark brow furrowing over his black irises.

Hermione nodded, her heart racing at Yuki’s words. Slowly she began to rise, but tensed as Yuki took her hand to help her to her feet. His hand was large and warm, sparse dark hair trailing from the top of his palm to his wrist, disappearing into the cuff of his Western robes. Hermione whispered a word of thanks when Yuki passed Hermione’s cane to her, and as she began to the door of the sitting room, pulling her wand from her robe pocket, she glanced back to see Yuki watching her. Hermione shuddered at the warmth in his eyes: it was admiration and it made Hermione strangely uncomfortable.

“Miss Granger,” Yuki called before she had a chance to open the door. She turned slowly, refusing to meet those warm eyes. “Let me call Hanako first so she may escort you to your room.”

Hermione sighed and again nodded, her hand still poised on the door. Hanako appeared at Yuki’s side, having slipped down through the ceiling. With instructions, Hanako floated to Hermione, her face full of remorse and her lips trembling. Hermione excused herself as Hanako floated out before her. Soon Hermione and the ghost were moving through the ryokan, saying nothing to each other. When Hermione entered her room it was to find the kappa laying out dinner. Hermione whispered thanks to the creatures as she motioned for Hanako to enter.

When the kappa disappeared and Hanako floated into the room, Hermione closed the door and moved to ward the room, making it impenetrable to surveillance. Slowly she moved across the room, her body stiff, but her stomach growing. Sitting down before her supper, Hermione finally spoke.

“Hanako... Is there anything you wish to add to Yuki’s statements?” Hermione asked, picking up her chopsticks, her tone like that of a scolding mother.

“Mistress, I beg your forgiveness... I promised Master Ryu that I would say nothing to you concerning him... And I was hesitant to bring attention to the fact that Master Yuki had arrived... I cannot justify my actions or my disrespect, Mistress,” Hanako wept, floating to hover beside Hermione, bowing her head to the floor, her silvery tears running down her pale cheeks.

Hermione smirked. She knew that Hanako did not expect Hermione to be so assertive, and Hermione knew that most people would who did not know her were always surprised to find her so headstrong. But the ghost’s cries were piercing to the ears and Hermione begrudgingly forgave Hanako.

“Why has Dra...no, Ryu, not met with me?” Hermione asked gently as Hanako began to dry her tears.

“He is nervous, Mistress...and wary of you. Honestly, I think that he tried to murder you last night...he was so forceful that I had to use everything in my power to prevent him from entering your room. Master has a furious temper, Mistress, and I have to call the kappa to help subdue him at times. Often times he is locked in his room when he is agitated...and when he saw you last night he became violent! It would be best if you left, Mistress...I hate to say such cold words, but I fear for your safety.” Hanako whimpered, again wringing her hands in the sleeves of her silver kimono.

Hermione paused before she put a bite of rice into her mouth. She could not deny that the thought had crossed her mind when she had been speaking to Yuki. But Hermione also knew that she was not one to leave things unfinished. Taking the rice into her mouth, Hermione chewed thoughtfully. At the very least she would try and speak with Draco, even though she knew that she was probably the last person he would want to speak to...she definitely had not been one of Draco Malfoy’s favorite people. But then Hermione thought about what Yuki had said about Pansy...

Hermione knew that Pansy had been grieved by Draco’s sudden departure, and Hermione knew that Draco and Pansy had been somewhat intimate even during the last year Draco was at Hogwarts... But then again, Pansy could have never known that it was Draco who had ‘raped’ her at this inn...how could she? Even the details of the vow restricted Draco from revealing himself.

Soon finished with her meal, Hermione realized that Hanako was still at her side, hovering silently, staring at a spot on the floor lost in her own airy thoughts.

“Hanako, will you keep me company while I bathe?” Hermione asked gently, hoping that her tone would soothe what ever distress she had thrust upon the ghost.

“Yes, Mistress.”

* * *

The stress, strain, and shock Hermione had felt throughout the day disappeared as she entered the healing waters of the hot spring. Hanako had made sure that no one was in the spring and that no one was observing the area, but Hermione cast her own wards as an extra measure. Leaning back into the murky water, Hermione let out a contented sigh. She could feel the minerals absorbing into her tender flesh, easing the muscles in her left leg and soothing the irritation in her joints.

It was only her second day at the ryokan, and already she had found what she was looking for...mostly. Frustration was turning into worry, and Hermione knew she had a new problem to face, and that was how to approach Draco Malfoy and finish what Severus had set before her as a final wish... It was all so unfair, in Hermione’s mind. Draco Malfoy could only wish her harm...or death, and Hermione was sure that there had to be someone better suited to the task of bringing the git home. But Hermione knew it was no use to wish for things that could not be. Who in Britain cared about Draco Malfoy? His parents were dead, his mentor was dead, his school friends were dead, and his only living relative most likely did not want anything to do with him...poor Tonks...

Pity him...

Hermione sighed and let her legs float out before in the water. Draco Malfoy had no one and Hermione only had Millie and Neville...

Her thoughts turned to Yuki as if some unseen hand had literally turned her mind. She had felt at ease, generally, around the man. He was handsome, intelligent, kind, but Hermione knew that she was projecting many of Severus’ qualities upon his son. It was still shocking to think that Snape had ever had a child, even a child who had grown to look so much like his father. But she could not deny that she was attracted to the man. Even Hermione had been guilty of harboring a school girl's crush on Severus during her days at Hogwarts, but that crush was quashed long ago.

Hermione quirked her lips. It had been a long time since she had been intimate with a man. Most people probably thought she was some spinster virgin, and she scowled. Of course her job was important to her, as was her research... But Hermione had never thought of marriage or living with a man except in the years when she thought she could have a future with Ron Weasley. She had later gone out with several men when she felt up to the challenge, but only a few had ended up as a true relationship, which, unfortunately never lasted long. Her longest relationship had been soon after her apprenticeship with Severus when Hermione had presented a paper at a wizarding symposium at Cambridge. There she had met Cliffton Raines, a much older wizard who worked both the Muggle stock markets and the wizarding markets. Hermione had been quite attracted to the man, thought him wonderful, but he wanted a wife more than he wanted a lover...a pretty bauble to hang on his arm to functions and someone to press his robes with loving care. The relationship ended in a continuing friendship, but Hermione was missing the sex more than the man.

It had been two years since Hermione had slept with anyone, and the last time had been a mistake born of too much alcohol, desperation, and an available Charlie Weasley who had just annulled his marriage and was looking for a quick lay. Granted their passions brought them to an explosive climax, but the next morning was just too awkward for Hermione to ever speak to Charlie again... Hermione found it a pity, but Charlie Weasley was just too opposite her for a relationship to ever work out.

Ever since then, Hermione tried not to think of her sad state of celibacy. Her work was too important to become wrapped up with some bloke just around for a good shag and too much drama. Besides, Hermione thought, she was young, not too bad looking despite her maimed leg, and had plenty of time to think about settling down after she found a comfortable place to begin to think of such things.

For the time being Hermione knew she had to resolve her task in Japan before she could move forward with her life. And with a smile, she thought that perhaps by fulfilling Severus’ last request it would close the final chapter of a part of her life that had been so painful for so long.

Rising out of the spring, Hermione felt wonderful, her leg no longer paining her, her worries lessened and her resolve set. She toweled off, still smiling and wrapped herself in her yukata, shivering slightly from the cold.

“Are you feeling better, Mistress?” Hanako said softly, having been watching Hermione all the while she had been soaking.

“Much. I feel sleepy, but comfortable. I am sorry I have been so short with you today, Hanako,” Hermione said, tucking her wand in her wash basin and tucking it under her arm.

“It is no worry, Mistress, today has been a busy and stressful day for you, and I apologize for being part of the stress,” Hanako replied softly, trying to smile.

Hermione shook her head. “It is alright.”

Moving to the door, carrying her cane instead of using it, Hermione opened the door, glancing back at Hanako with a smile. Stepping into the small dressing room, Hermione suddenly felt a hand upon her mouth, pulling her body in a direction it was not intending to go. With a crash of the wash basin and her cane hitting the floor, Hanako screamed.

Hermione’s eyes widened as her body fell against what she thought a hard wall. But as she glanced wildly about, she realized that she had fallen against a warm body. Hermione’s eyes moved to Hanako, and suddenly Hanako’s airy form was blown back from the door, flying over the springs and into the snowy sky as if caught by a whirlwind. Hermione began to struggle as a hissing voice began chanting a strange incantation that Hermione, in her frightened state, did not recognize.

With an elbow back into the body that held her, Hermione broke free and hurtled forward to the open door into the corridor. She tried to scream, but found that her mouth and lips moved uselessly. Suddenly she felt her body stiffen and she recognized that she had been immobilized by a hex and Hermione fell, unceremoniously on her face. If she could wince, Hermione would have, she felt several stings on her arms and face where the stone floor had scraped and cut her skin. She could not even take a proper breath, her lungs burning, as she had been panting out of fear only moments ago.

Hermione winced internally as she felt a grasping hand turn her on her back, fingers digging painfully into her flesh. Only able to move her eyes, Hermione looked up into a familiar, snarling face.

“Hello, Hermione, I hear you’ve come to visit me after all these years,” a cold voice rasped, deeper than Hermione remembered it, but the eyes were the same, cold and mercurial.

Draco Malfoy had grown up, but the face that glared down at her was not the face of Lucius Malfoy as Hermione would have expected Draco to look in his later years, in fact Draco looked like a blond version of the one portrait she had seen of Regulus Black, abandoned and torn in the attic of Grimmauld Place...angular with a strong jaw, wicked eyes and sculpted lips which were twisted into a nasty snarl. Hermione would not say that Draco was handsome, what with the stump of his left arm peeking out from the sleeve of his black yukata, his delicate features twisted into those of a madman.

Hermione fought against the magic that was crackling over her skin and managed to whimper softly. But instead of answering or releasing the spell that left her so vulnerable, the last thing Hermione remembered seeing before all went black was a large, pale fist, rushing toward her face.