Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Forbidden Rapture	By : Marionne25 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 49871 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and am not making money from this story.

Chapter List
- 70
- 71
- 72
Author’s Notes:
HI I’M ALIVE!!!
Okay before I post anything else I would like to say SORRY for being AWOL for about a month. Some life drama but everything is way better and is going forward the better path. Not easy and not in a fast pace but definitely getting there. So thank you for everyone at each end of the world who are reading this who have been sending me all the good vibes in the world.
NOW ABOUT THE STORY AND THE CHAPTER.
I have come to realize that it’s very foolish of me that chapter 70 and epilogue will be enough for this.
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I have come to see through my writing and editing (even way weeks before but I didn’t really follow my goddamn instincts) that this was going to work this way.
So now, I am separating the chapters.
Chapter 70 which should have been the final chapter before the epilogue, would adamantly be sliced into part/s while we would all end in an epilogue.
I’m not trying to prolong it all, but according to my edits I’m about almost page 30 and I haven’t even gotten to the highlight of the ending.
So I must be a terrible writer that way =(
I am thus, going to slice up this chapter before we get to the finale and epilogue.
I hope you understand.
I don’t want to vastly just end it for the sake of ending it.
As a writer, I believe that each story should end the way it should, given the time it should really have.
Okay. Enough of the drama.
Here’s the part one of the finale chapter and hope you like it.
Again, thank you for all the love and patience for this story. I love you guys from the moon and back infinity times.
Please, please do tell me how each of you are doing and comment anything anytime on my story.
I love hearing from you all at your end of the world.
With lots of love,
Xx

PS
Posting this at eastern time 746pm of April 12th, 2018
Have a good weekend everyone!!!

Chapter 70
The Revelation
Part I

The clock chimed twelve midnight.
He looked up from his long work table and stared at the old and almost broken grandfather’s clock in his workroom at the basement.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes as he lowered the two bottles in his hands.
He finished just in time.
His black eyes roamed the table as vials after another and parchments after another lay scattered all over the table.
Almost nineteen hours of working and brewing on the potion after weeks, months and years of trying to research and fully develop it.
Finally, he was done.
It was close to impossible but he did it, he made it – he had accomplished it as no other Potions Master or maybe wizard could have done so.
It could have taken longer and it was a blessing that Hermione had been very busy, very much caught up in arranging everything for their so-called wedding that he was able to be left alone in the basement to finish everything without her constant visits to bother him and ask him what he was doing.
“It’s for a client.” he would always answer whenever she would decide to see him or knock at the top of the basement’s staircase.
She had grown tired through time and learned to stop asking questions.
And tonight, he was able to accomplish what no other wizard could do so in just a very small span of time or rather, what no other wizard could do so in any other given time and circumstance.
He found a way to break the ancient and powerful magic of a Soul Bound.
Finally, Hermione was going to get her freedom back.
It may break her heart, the process he had to go through but he could finally bring her back her freedom that he had promised so long ago.
He could finally bring her back to Harry Potter and be where she truly belonged after all these years.

Snape closed his eyes, rubbing his temples with his thin and tired fingers.
Hot tears were threatening to fall back from his eyes.
He stared back at the pair of long vial and magically secured vial before him.
She wasn’t hers to begin with.
It was the thought that pushed him, that made to him move forward with this task that reminded him to do what little good was left of him.
He was going to bring her back.
He placed and secured it inside a tall black box and kept it in place for which it would be taken and used for its right and only purpose.
He had taken his fill of the potion ensuring that the Soul Bond breaks the moment it touched his lips whereas Hermione would have to take hers in the morning before the wedding takes place.
And while Hermione hasn’t taken her part of the potion, the breaking of the spell would yet to be complete however, Snape’s accumulation of his part of the potion would ensure that his magic is now disengaged from the bond that should anything happen to him, it would leave Hermione alive and unharmed but still protected by the bond until she’s taken it, whereas he would no longer be.
Should anything happen to him, Hermione’s life would no longer be connected to his so she would remain alive and yet still be protected by the enchantment and magic of the bond.
The glimmering magenta liquid from the pair of vials moved as he touched the black box as he closed and secured them into place.
One was full to its brim and the other contains only half of it.
He never thought he’d ever actually finish and accomplish it.
Two out of three of the things he had to do – the letter to Lupin, the potion to secure Hermione’s life by breaking the bond and tomorrow morning and the wedding that will secure her a will and testament that he would be leaving behind with all he had made and left for by Narcissa Malfoy once he surrenders himself at Azkaban right after the wedding.
Everything was smoothly planned.
He failed in a lot of things through the years, but not this time around.

No, not this time.

He could finally bring her back to them without the fear of the Soul Bound harming her should anything happen to him when the Auror arrives to take her back and bring him to Azkaban where he belongs all these years.
It was indeed a long ten years but tonight, at the eve of their wedding, he managed to secure and bring forth everything into their rightful places and ready to be executed for Hermione’s sake once the sun rises.
Finally, after ten years, Hermione could go back where she truly belongs with everything and more that she would need.

“No, Harry!”
There was a loud and insistent tapping over his window that woke him up with the echoes and sounds of his own voice screaming.
Lupin woke up in cold dreaded sweat all over his half-naked body from the dream he had been having.
It was about Harry.
He was about to jump off the Astronomy Tower and the moment that he was about to, some gigantic black raven came to catch him but it had quickly dispersed and was replaced by a smoke in form of a doe.
Lupin woke with a painful start and heavy breathing.
He stared up and around the darkly lit room of his small apartment.
The fire in the hearth was dying and the tapping over his window was still there.
Quick and agile, he grabbed his wand from under his pillow and jumped out of bed and stared over his window.
A large, black raven was flying outside.

A raven?

“Alohamora.” Lupin whispered and his window opened up and let the black raven in.
There was a letter bound to the bird.
That was peculiar.
Owls were usually the ones that delivered letters.
He moved closer his bed where the exhausted and thirsty looking bird landed weakly.
He waved his wand and a small bowl with cold water appeared over his bed and he moved the raven towards it so it could drink while he struggled slightly to disentangle the note from the raven.
The parchment was slightly damp telling him that the bird might have come from somewhere far with a hint of a place with water.
He took the parchment and his eyes moved closer the bird – watching it closely, observing it.
“Where did you come from?” he muttered as he reluctantly unfolded the parchment it was bearing.
The handwriting was very much familiar.
He was just about to fully open it and read its contents when he heard something else.
A blinding light suddenly came right up at the old and fireplace.

The fire had been completely extinguished and the power and light of the stag shaped Patronus came out of the hearth.
“What-“ Lupin muttered and before he could come close to retrieve the message, a few other lights came from his window and by his doorway.
Patronus more than one at the same time would only mean one thing – an emergency call of some sort from the Ministry of Magic.
Lupin folded the parchment away as he moved closer to the Patronus from the fireplace that immediately told him that it was Harry’s.
The message was loud and clear as the stag in its full glory and form lit before him – Harry was in great need of him at that exact moment and would only one very clear message with the Patronus:

“I have finally found them”

It doesn’t have to take a genius to understand what Harry meant or who he has found.
It was loud and clear.
It could have mean only one thing.
Panic and fear rose in Lupin’s being.
Harry could be in danger should he decide to go alone to an unknown place, an unknown abode, a place that time might have forgotten to rescue a beloved he was sure that could possibly no longer knew him.
He suddenly realized the possible meaning of his dream that woke him out of a terrible state.
Lupin’s heart raced faster at the realization.

“No.” Lupin whispered in cold sweat. “You will get yourself in danger..”
His mind raced at the possibilities of what Harry’s drastic plans could lead them to.
He was about to get into an unknown place for the belief that he had finally and possibly found Hermione after ten years.
“You can’t go alone..” Lupin breathed suddenly grabbing the nearest pair of clothing he could get his hands on. “You can’t go.. not alone. I’m coming, Harry.”
His mind and heart racing, Lupin grabbed whatever he could to change himself into as he looked around again for his wand with nothing else but worry in his mind for Harry.
It was only Harry in his mind and his urgency to send him a Patronus meant that he was about to do something with negligence out of his belief that he will find Hermione.
Lupin changed as fast as he could and left the dimly lit apartment as fast as he could to get himself to Harry’s immediate aid.
The father that he was, he had no one else but Harry Potter in his mind; forgetting everything behind including the letter that was magically brought in by a raven who travelled miles and miles from an isolated island in Beltane that bear a letter that would have changed different fates at the coming sunrise.

There were continued sounds of explosions, of loud and heavy sounds of running, the screaming voices with certain power and command and the lights from varied wands and the smoke that were left behind by the debris that were left by the crashing structure of the cottage.
It had been a few hours since Lupin arrived at the Ministry of Magic only to find Harry fully dressed and armed and ready to attack an isolated island with the rest of his team of Aurors.
He tried to stop him, to let him think and plan carefully before ambushing the place but he was relentless and reckless.
He had a great hunch that he would finally find Hermione, that this time the place they’ve traced magic was absolute and clear.
He emphasized to his father figure how strong the magic was that had been traced back there and how there were barely any wards at the island.
Lupin kept himself at a close distance to Harry – not just to lose sight of the boy but to ensure that whatever may take cover from their attack wouldn’t stand a chance to just kill the boy he had dedicated his life in protecting for the bestfriend who loved him like a brother.

There were screams and yells and there wasn’t much to see but the lights and smoke from the debris that had fallen and Lupin had no choice but to follow in suit of the spells that Aurors were attacking the place with.
Snape grabbed hold of Hermione, pushing her as farther as possible from the fallen debris and ensuring he protect her from all the spells and fallen parts of the cottage.
As he was slumped back down on the ground, face first he could hear the Aurors from all direction opening doors after another, scavenging the places for evidences of sorts, removing all the wards his placed all over the place, hurrying themselves to Hermione’s physical need and aid after she’s fallen across him from the crashed floor room and all other sorts and sounds of voices.
But above all of it, all he could hear then was that voice above him as magical ropes began binding his hands behind him, a wand painfully directed at the nape of his neck pushing his face painfully over the dust filled basement floor he was slumped and forced into.
He heard it and felt it in his ears but he couldn’t comprehend them.
He didn’t understand it – he was sure that his letter was very much clear.
He gave Lupin all the instructions and information he needed but requested one thing in return – to take her as gently as possible.
Lupin wasn’t daft and despite all their past and how horrible he must have been for the man through the years, he knew that Lupin was above a lot of things and he would clearly and definitely understand that request he had made of him.
He made sure that he understood the consequences of the possible action that they may do.
But what was going on?
He could only think of one answer:
Lupin never got his letter.
But how did the Aurors find them exactly?
There was obviously nothing ever so gentle about being attacked, ambushed and bound to the ground painfully while the Aurors attacked and disassembled the whole place.
All the years of investments he had at the place he had also learned to love with his life – the only place that ever held all the good memories he could have had in his coming time at Azkaban.
Snape could only close his eyes as he felt himself being pushed back down over the ground and being tied behind his back by magical bonds.
Something had gone wrong but then again, there was nothing right to begin with it the past ten years.
This was it, this was really it.
This was the end of it all.
All the good memories he had with Hermione at the cottage were now falling apart literally into smithereens as he heard the place being collapsed by spells from the attack.

It took a moment for the spells and smoke from the debris to clear and once it was, he could see silhouettes of about a dozen Aurors around them.
He could hear Hermione’s screams somewhere at the back of him as he was forced back over his feet and was being painfully tied and dragged on like some vicious and wild animal that could be set free.
He felt pairs of arms after another, searching for his wand around his body and when found it was quickly taken away from him and he heard the spell that sealed it or disentangles its magical power, property and bond to its owner.
And then that voice came to him, loud and clear.
“I, Harry James Potter-“ the voice sounded heavy, tight and almost dark in a way, “-By the power bestowed upon me by the Ministry of Magic – you, Severus Prince Snape – is hereby being arrested for the crimes committed as a Death Eater – “ Harry’s voice was breathless and filled with every bit of hatred running through his veins as he read out loud Snape’s crimes and rights, “for the deceit and treachery to the Order of the Phoenix, treachery and unlawful acts from the Ministry of Magic London and the Wizarding World Community and for the –“ he paused, as his fingers tightened around Snape’s shoulders as he stared down at him being dragged and tied around- “-for the –“ Harry could barely breath as his voice was caught in his throat by his throat and hatred for the man before him, “-for the abduction of Hermione Jean Granger for t-ten years – you, Mr. Severus Prince Snape, will henceforth at this very moment be stripped of your rights to use your wand. A Defense Council shall be granted and requested for you at the Ministry of Magic and by the Wizengamot – but until then, you have the mere right to remain silent until you are taken to Azkaban with further orders from the high court of the Wizengamot.”
Snape closed his eyes as he was silenced by Harry’s words and in a sudden understanding.
Harry might have intercepted the letter or the letter never really reached Lupin’s hands.

It was very clear – Lupin never got his message.

The wand he directed over his neck was then removed and when he looked up and stared up he saw that Lupin was holding Harry’s wand hand directed at him.
He caught Lupin’s eyes and the way the old Marauder stared back at him told him that he was as shock as he was with what was taking place.
“Let go, Harry.” Lupin’s quiet voice whispered as his eyes cornered Snape’s weakened form. “Let them deal with him.”
They could all still hear some of the Aurors moving around but above these, they could hear Hermione’s screaming voice somewhere in the cottage.
But Harry looked like he was more than ready to use all the Unforgivable Curses on the man before him.
“Harry.” Lupin’s voice called out again as he turned to the boy whose face was so red in anger and fists clenched at his sides. “Go to Hermione.”

But Harry refused to move.
He was staring at Snape with all the hatred he had bottled up in him through all the years.
He couldn’t believe his eyes.

After ten years – here was the Potions Master believed to be dead or lost in the war.
He had been right all these years – he was alive and he was the one who had taken Hermione.
“Harry-“ Lupin warned loudly as Harry took a step and had already launched his left free hand forward in an attempt of punching Snape.
“Let me go.” Harry muttered not leaving Snape’s unblinking gaze. “Just let me – let me at him-“
“Harry, please-“
“Let me at him!” Harry suddenly screamed, his eyes scary and different. “He took Hermione, you hear me?”
Lupin stared back at the boy he had known for so long.
But he looked different – he looked cold, murderous, evil.
“No.” Lupin said. “You’re not putting justice into your hands-“
“DO YOU NOT SEE? I TOLD YOU – I TOLD YOU! I TOLD EVERYONE – HE CANNOT BE TRUSTED!”
He pointed back at Snape with a shaking hand ready to punch him.
Lupin nodded at one of the Aurors to pull Snape away from them as he held Snape by the arms from the back.
“Not today, Harry.” Lupin gently said seeing Harry’s growing hatred and murderous glare. “Not today-“
“HE STOLE HER FROM ME!” Harry screamed back at him as he struggled to free himself to get to Snape. “He did – he took her from me – I will kill him! I will kill him! You will pay! You hear me – I will murder you- You will pay!“
“No.” Lupin whispered holding him back tightly. “Not today, Harry. Hermione needs you more.”

And these words seemed to have a big effect on the boy when he heard Hermione’s name.
His eyes softened as if he had suddenly remembered something very important.
Instantly, he broke his gaze from Snape and quickly left Lupin and ran towards the direction where two female Aurors were handling Hermione.
Lupin and Snape were left alone in the corner of the basement where other Aurors held him down with wands and the magical ropes.
Snape’s black eyes were still unblinking, cold and hard as he stared back at Remus Lupin.
There were too much question in the other’s eyes that was mixed with nothing but hatred in them.
But Snape’s black eyes remained undaunted, passive and cold – no sign of remorse as if he had been expecting this, as if he had hoped for this to happen.
A smile appeared then at his lips.

Perhaps, just two out of three of his plans.

Anger rose in Lupin’s expression.
Years of question, anger, hatred were etched at every line of Lupin’s aging face.
“Why?” he asked him in a restrained tone as he tried to gather courage and voice to speak to this man he had not seen for about a decade.
His fists clenched at his sides and he took two strides forward stopping only when he remembered that he couldn’t attack Snape because he had to be the good that Harry looks up to.

“Why?” Lupin’s clearer and louder voice asked him as he grabbed him hard and painfully held them by the collar of his wedding robes.
It was the only word that came out of him, the only one that seemed to match all the questions running in all of their heads.
Lupin was both angry and vulnerable at that very moment whereas Snape was just slightly confused yet calm inside him.
One look to Lupin’s eyes and he saw everything that he wanted to see.
He was angry, afraid and his recent memories told him that he had failed to embrace the meaning of the message he had sent because he had been distracted by Harry’s Patronus.
It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter now.
He had done his end of the deal and if this was his fate, then so be it.
He closed his eyes and nodded to himself – an agreement of eternal promise to what has been and what would never be.
“WHY?!” came Lupin’s angered voice again. “WHY SEVERUS?!”
It toned up nothing but anger out of betrayal.
But Snape remained quiet, silenced as if determined to keep all the ten years as they were – secret, never known to any other being.
“Wii you not speak! Will you not say anything about what you have done?!?” Lupin repeated, his whole body shaking as he tried his best to control himself from hitting the man before him.

He showed no sign of remorse at all.
Snape slowly looked back up at him, eyes meeting the other pair.
Lupin stared hard back at him and he could swear he saw something like a mixture of despair and relief in his face.
Something like a feeling of giving up passed his face.
But it had vanished as quickly as it had come.
A sneer, a flicker of the cold glint that was usual of his expressions reappeared in his face as he shook his head and gave him an insulting smile.
“What took you so long?” Snape’s quiet and hoarse voice asked him with a glimmer in his black eyes.
There was something that was an unmistakable smile at the sides of his lips as if he was mocking Lupin for being steps behind him again.
Lupin opened his mouth for a retort until he realized what Snape had said.
His expression changed.
He tried to comprehend it.
“What did you- what do you mean - “
“Ten steps ahead, ten steps behind, Moony.” Snape’s soft voice mocked him entirely. “Always the first in class, always the last one to know everything.”
Lupin remained staring at him, recalling this form of mockery from their childhood but he didn’t understand it.
“What did you say?” he asked him breathing hard and grabbing him closer and scaring him with a raised arm as if to punch him.
But Snape wasn’t scared; there was nothing to be afraid of and nothing to lose anymore.
Snape meant to say something but what was it exactly?
What was it that he was missing?
Snape only smiled at him.

“What did you say?” Lupin aggressively asked this time and as he reached the man, Kingsley immediately stopped him. “What did you say – you bloody filth-“
“Remus, we need to go.” Kingsley’s voice came and he nodded at the Aurors holding Snape down. “Remus Lupin, we need to go now.”
Lupin turned to the Minister himself who came down with them to this rescue mission.
In a blink, Snape had been secured magically in bonds and was being taken by the Ministry of Magic Aurors.
“Harry needs you.” Kingsley gestured as Harry was now hunched in a corner with a Hermione who was now unconscious after all the stress of the situation. “Harry needs a father right now.”
It took Lupin a while to swallow all that was happening before him and he slowly backed away from Snape without breaking their gazes.
There was so much question in him but Snape had gathered himself together and was able to block him out of his thoughts.
“I will deal with you.” Lupin quietly said and he turned to go back to Harry’s aid to help bring Hermione back out of the cottage and back into their world after ten years of isolation and abduction.

“You must go.” Draco whispered to Hermione who was still staring at Snape. “Hermione, you must go.”
His voice was suddenly filled with fear and urgency.
His eyes caught Snape’s and his godfather stared back at him with an understanding that Hermione easily missed out on.
Hermione shook her head and refused to move a muscle.
She was breathing heavily and her eyes bore nothing but hatred for Snape’s defiance to answer her or even pay the slightest attention to her as if he never knew her.
“Let go of me, Draco.” Hermione angrily spat but Draco only tightened his arms around her. “Don’t do this to me – I want answers – I want my life – I want justice – Draco, I want-“
“And I will give it to you.” Draco hoarsely answered her. “Please, but you must go now.”

If she wasn’t paying attention earlier on, Draco’s sudden change of tone finally caught her attention.
Her eyes moved back to him and she stared at the boy who held her protectively.
“I will give it to you. You don’t deserve the life you’ve lived this past years. Let me correct all that is wrong.” Draco whispered in a seriously tone.
Hermione stared back but no words came out of her mouth as she tried to focus her attention to him.
“What do you-“ Hermione croaked out at him. “What are you-“
“Take her, Draco.” Snape’s quiet voice came from the corner. “If you’re going to do this, do it now and do it fast.”
Hermione’s eyes sharply turned back at him but Draco grabbed her to face him once more.
He held her tightly to ensure she doesn’t attack Snape as they heard the ascending footsteps.
Draco’s grip on her tightened and when she stared at his eyes, there was a revulsion of what looked like a decisive decision in his eyes.
“You must go.” Draco repeated a little louder and more serious this time as he removed his arms around her and made her face him.
There was shock and confusion at Hermione’s face as if she had been shaken out of anger or stupor for Snape.
“What?” Hermione breathed out holding on his arms for support. “What? No, I – I can’t – I won’t-“
“They’re coming.” Draco said. “The Aurors will come soon.”
“No, I’m not going to leave you here.” Hermione said, eyes wide in panic as realization dawned upon her.
“No, no, I’ll deal with this.” Draco promised her although his mouth spoke the words, his eyes didn’t convince Hermione.
“You’re mad.” Hermione said. “I’m not going to – we’re going-“
“No, I’ll deal with this. You go. You must get out of Azkaban.” Draco said as he fidgeted back in his pocket for his wand in his attempt to think of a quick solution to get her out without the guards or Aurors seeing her.
Hermione stared at Draco’s contemplating face then back at Snape who looked quiet at a corner, at loss for words and thoughts.
He looked nothing like anything useful rather.
She turned back to Draco.

“You’ve got to go.” Draco whispered and the longer the time passed, the more that panic could be heard in his tone. “You’ve got to let me deal with this. I’ll see you - at your wedding-“
“At my wedding?” Hermione repeated incredulously. “Wait – we’re in this together, I’m not leaving without you-“
“You’re leaving now-“
“Not without you!” Hermione suddenly cried at him grabbing his hand painfully with her clawing fingers. “Not without you, Draco!”

Draco stopped and stared at her with wide eyes.
He had never heard her in desperate need of him.
He took a gentle hold of her but Hermione’s expression changed into hard defiance and she painfully shoved his hand away from her.
His eyes darkened at her unwillingness to follow him for her own good.
He grabbed her painfully then.

“You’re leaving and you’re leaving now.” Draco said grabbing her wrist painfully. “I can’t save you both if we’re all inside Azkaban and not outside.”
Hermione stared back at him in complete defiance.
“I’m not leaving.” she angrily spat at him. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“This isn’t an argument.” Draco sternly said. “You’re going out of this place. Now. Please.”

There was urgency in his voice as if he’d already made up his mind that he was staying there to clear up whatever they have done there and to ensure that if they get caught, he has a reason to be there as Snape’s Defense Council despite of the 24hours rule that no visitors are allowed 24hours to trial’s distribution of the case’s jurisdiction and decision.

“NO!” Hermione began to be hysterical. “NO, Draco – I can’t – “
“You can and you will.” Draco cut her short as he began dragging her back to the gates and was quickly pondering what kind of protection spell he’d have to cast on her to ensure her safety out of Azkaban.
Hermione grabbed his arm back and stopped him from waving his wand.
“I won’t leave you here.” Hermione determinedly said. “I won’t. You can’t make me.”
“You’re going to make damage more than it is already.” Draco said. “You’ve got to go-“
“I won’t let you do this alone-“
“No, not tonight. Tonight, you will listen to me. And when I tell you that you’ll go for all our sake’s, you’re going to go.”

And then there it was, a trigger word.
He would tell her what she was to do.
He was not asking, he was demanding her to do something that he was forcing upon her.

Force.

Hermione’s brows knotted as if she recalled something from the past.
Her breathing heavy and her chest suddenly painful.
A gut-wrenching of feeling helpless and angry at the same time came upon her.

Her eyes began to soften with tears and the hatred for Snape slowly dispersed as if he wasn’t even in the room with them.
She looked back at him, confused as ever.

“He raped me…” Hermione said suddenly turning to Draco with her face nothing but misery and helplessness, “he raped me.. he raped me.. he took.. he took everything.. everything..And I couldn’t even hate him for all of it.. for all of it.. for my life, for Harry’s life..”
Draco was frozen on the spot.
He looked down upon her, shaking himself at the reality that was dawning on Hermione and the possible feeling she was having right at that very moment.
He looked up and met Snape’s eyes.
He knew what he had said and knew how it would affect Hermione.
Snape quietly nodded at Draco.

His godson looked away from him and sighed heavily before reaching back at Hermione.
“Please..” he softly whispered. “I need to get you out of this place. If they see you, if they ever-“
“Please don’t leave me.” Hermione’s small voice said and she reached for him, clinging for dear life.
“Hermione- “
“Please…. Save us.” Hermione cried at him, clinging tightly around him as if her life depended on him.

And Draco knew it did.

He looked back down at her and back at Snape and back again.
“I will deal with this. I understand what you feel.. what he did..” he tried to avoid Snape’s eyes as he mentioned and motioned to him. “But right now, the only important thing is to get you out of here.. Please, Hermione.. please…”
“Help me..” Hermione whispered at him. “Help me, Draco…”
Something pierced in his chest.
It was like her old self, the Hermione that was abducted and kept helplessly for ten years – here she was, crying, begging and asking for help where someone could actually hear her – only a decade too late later.
She looked back at him, not ready to understand and accept things but was ready to give herself to what he wanted of her.
There was something in her tone, her words that Draco knew meant something else.
“I need to get you out. If they see you if they ever-“
“But what do we do?” she asked him fearfully. “Draco, I can’t- “
“’You must go. I will deal with us.” Draco whispered back at her kissing her forehead. “I will deal with this. Don’t you trust me?”
He asked her with a smile over his face
And out of nowhere, Hermione realized then how beautiful Draco was.

She clung back into him, arms tight around his neck as if it was the first time she’s seen him in a very long time.

How he had made her life worth something in the last few weeks – how he had been more than a Defense Council, more than a schoolmate, more than someone willing to help her and Snape out of their predicament.
She had found something special in Draco Malfoy out of the lives he had been trying to save for the past few weeks.
“Draco..” her voice was now softer, tearful.

Draco suddenly grabbed her closer and placed both his hands on either side of her cheeks making sure her gaze never left his.
“When have I ever let you down?” he asked her slowly with the same smile and glimmer in his eyes.
Hermione stared back at him, her heart thumping as fast as his and even if he was smiling back at her, even if she knew deep down inside of her that he has never failed her or let her down, something foreboding was about to happen.

It was beyond his smile, beyond the glimmer in his eyes that told her that something foreboding was about to happen.
He wasn’t telling the truth about something.
She pushed herself away from him, her eyes looking straight at him, searching for something.
“What are you going to do?” she asked knowing the look behind his eyes. “What are you planning?”
Her tone was accusatory but Draco’s face remained as it was.
He didn’t answer her but he only gave her an assuring smile as he reached for her but Hermione swayed his hand away from her.
“I asked you.” Hermione said clearing her face off tears. “You’re planning something – what is it?”
Something like fear momentarily passed his eyes but it quickly disappeared when he shook her slightly.

“No, no, don’t fear anything.” Draco whispered assured her with a smile. “I’ve got it all covered – Hermione, just trust me – just do as I say –“
“I can’t – you – you need to tell me “ Hermione heavily breathed at him. “You need to tell me – you told me I don’t just – I shouldn’t just accept things as I’m told and now, now I need to know-“
“I’ll deal with this.” Draco explained calmly to her gently touching her face. “I promise you, everything will be okay. But right now, ‘Mione, you have got to go. Please. We’re running out of time. They can’t see you here. I’ve got this, trust Hermione looked back at him and she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was going to happen right after she leaves that room.
But he was right.
The longer she was there, the more she was endangering whatever plans he’s got that could actually save Snape’s life.
If she remains there, she could complicate things further and everything would have been for nothing.

But what of Draco?
He held her tight and close with a serious expression and determination in his eyes.
He was ready to do absolutely anything at that moment to be the man he always hoped to be and always loved her for but was never able to do so.
“I’ve got you.” Draco assured her. “I’ve got you, Hermione Granger.”

“Is this everything?” he asked with a lace of poison in his tone.
“Yes, professor.” Hermione quietly answered as she stared at the stack of books she delivered at the Potion Master’s office.
Technically, she wasn’t failing Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts.
But technically as well, Harry had been advanced in his Potions and grades all throughout the year since professor Slughorn started teaching everyone.
Snape didn’t want to attend to Miss Granger’s request of helping her to gain some extra credit for a project from professor Slughorn but she had been an annoying twat who didn’t leave the outside of his classroom alone or left him alone in corridors waiting for him to finish a class or before he started a class.
He asked her then to bring the books that were required for the project that she needed for Slughorn.
“Not a word to anyone I’ve been helping you spoiled little chit.” Snape softly said as he opened up the list of books to make sure she got everything from the library.
“Yes, ofcourse not, professor.” Hermione said. “It’s our little secret.”
Something like a glint passed Snape’s eyes but he didn’t say anything.
Hermione quietly watched as his black eyes moved left and right as he read the parchment in his hand and rechecked the books with his fingers tracing the fine lines and spines of the books over his desk.

“Garnering your speed in reading you can finish half of this in three days. But since it’s nearly the weekend, you can finish these ones in no time.”
He took note on the three thick books at the bottom part of the stack.
Hermione nodded coherently mentally taking note of which ones to read first.
“Weasley has Quidditch Practice?” he asked her.
“Yes, professor.” Hermione quietly answered knowing Ron’s schedule.
“And Potter?” he slowly asked her as he opened one of the books in search of a page.
Hermione bit her bottom lip.
His eyes remained focused on the book but he could feel the suddenly tension in her breathing and the way her fingers shifted from beside herself to over her uniform.
She was fidgeting about something.
Hermione didn’t want to lie to the Potions Master knowing his capability to know truths, but she also couldn’t divulge that any day now, Harry was going out for something with or for the headmaster.

It was meant to be a secret that he promised to share only to the two of them for which the headmaster knew about.
“Library.” Hermione said unable to think faster than her mouth.
“Library?” he asked her slowly closing the book in his hand and opening another.
“The last place I saw him, professor.” Hermione quickly saved biting her lower lip again and avoiding to meet his eyes when he looked up at her.
He closed the next book and gently pushed the stack forward her and sat back over the large armchair behind his desk.
He looked at his hands then slowly up at Hermione.
“I’m offering you my time Miss Granger for something that I’m not even supposed to help you with.” Snape slowly told her making sure her eyes met his. “All I would be repaid with are your deceitful words?”
“I’m sorry?” Hermione innocently asked him blinking and making step forward the desk but Snape stopped her with a hand.
“Professor, I –“
“Do not lie to me.” Snape said. “If there is something you know, I really don’t give a damn. But do not give me lies. Half-truths are lies. Truths are truths. And lies are lies. Do you understand?”
He looked up at her with sudden hatred in his eyes that she didn’t understand.
“Y-yes.” Hermione nodded. “Yes, professor. I understand.”
Well she didn’t know where they were going – Harry doesn’t even know where they were going.
But she was sworn loyalty to Harry and to whatever the headmaster wanted because it would be for the defeat of the Dark Lord.

There was silence between them for a while and despite that Hermione kept her eyes over the books, she knew that Snape was watching her closely.
“I am well aware that Potter has a.. special project with the headmaster.” Snape slowly said in a very quiet tone that Hermione could almost not understand his words. “I do not know the details and I also do not wish to know. But you must relay to your bestfriend that this is a job that is not to be taken lightly.”
Hermione didn’t speak as Snape obviously provoked her for what she knew.
But she was loyal to the headmaster and loyal to Harry above all.
“Tell Potter that if he is determined to do this from now, he must be determined to do it until the end.”
“He is determined to do whatever he has to do.” Hermione said unable to stop herself from his grilling.
“At all costs?” Snape spat back at her, his eyes glinting. “Is he prepared to do it at all costs? Because this is what this job requires – to do what must be done until the very end at all costs – no matter what, no matter what it takes, no matter what he has to give, no matter the stakes, Miss Granger.”
His voice was filled with spite, with angst and with everything that Hermione never really understood of him.
“Is he?” Snape’s voice rang back at her. “Is he prepared to this at until the very end and at all costs?”
She blinked.
She couldn’t answer.
Harry knew what he had to do but he, like the rest of them, really didn’t know if they were all ready to do it at all costs.

“I’m loyal to the headmaster, professor.” Hermione said emphasizing the title. “We all are.”
A glint passed his eyes and he almost smiled at her lash at him.
“Loyalty is a valued trait, Miss Granger.” Snape whispered at her as he sat back again, fingers tangled against one another. “But to give oneself as a sacrifice is a priceless one. Now I ask you, are you all willing to do this until the very end and at all costs?”
There was challenge in his gaze and tone.
Hermione knew she doesn’t have to answer that because she knew the truth in her and that Snape was only mocking her.
He may be part of the Order but these were the times that she knew that Sirius and the others were right – he was still a Slytherin and a bastard in his own right.
“Aren’t we all?” Hermione asked him back unable to stop herself for feeling slightly angered by Snape’s provocation.
He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Aren’t we all loyal to the headmaster willing to do this until the end that would cost us everything?”
He didn’t answer.
He stared back at her with pure scathing.
Hermione almost smiled in satisfaction.

“Are we not all loyal to the headmaster, professor?” she quietly asked him. “Are you not loyal?”
He was silenced.
His black eyes glinted at her direction.
“I don’t think you would be back here after all those years just to teach spoiled dunderheads as you call us?” Hermione bravely spoke as if she was a match for him. “I don’t think you returned to serve Hogwarts. It’s very clear you’re here for the headmaster and have been loyal ever since. Isn’t that right, professor?”
His eyes turned into slits as his fingers slowly turned into a fistful curl.

“Get out.” Snape whispered at her. “Get out of my sight and bring all your books with you. Now.”
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but the door suddenly opened without Snape lifting his wand to it.
“GET OUT OF HERE!” he angrily yelled at her and she nodded quietly as she reached forward the table to get all the books she needed as fast as she could.
But before she could scoop them all back, Snape suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist painfully.
Her hands opened and the books fell out of her hands and thudded loudly back at the table.
She gasped and stared back at him with fear in her eyes.

“Professor Snape-“ she stuttered in fear realizing what she had done to him. “I’m sorry – I didn’t – please let go of me-“
“If you must know, you little twat,” Snape whispered with danger in his tone. “I have ever been loyal to the headmaster and would do whatever he asks of me and whatever the price must be.”
They breathed hard against one another and up that close proximity Hermione could clearly see not anger but sadness behind the black eyes that were staring down at her in a very dangerous way.
“You and Potter have no idea what loyalty and sacrifices mean so do not speak to me wearing it proud and clear over your Gryffindor head.” Snape whispered his fingers digging harder around her arm. “I am with the headmaster until the very end of all of these if that will calm your nosy head out of my way. I am about willing to do and sacrifice whatever I have to for the people I am loyal to. Are you ever, ever loyal enough to do it yourself?”
There was challenge in his gaze and Hermione couldn’t say anything with the heaviness of his words.
Snape shook his head and let her go.
“Do not talk to me about loyalty and sacrifices because you have yet to know and understand the real meaning of these words. You have yet to see the world as it really is, Miss Granger.” Snape spat at her as he straightened up and moved himself away from her. “Get out of my sight.”
And with that, Hermione found herself in tears as she gathered the fallen books and went as fast as she could out of the room.

There were clear sounds of wards going down and evident footsteps of about half a dozen of Aurors down Snape’s cell and corridor.
Snape was unmoving as he heard his cell doors being opened up and footsteps engaging inside his high security prison cell.
His black eyes moved up and saw a group of Aurors with wands at the ready standing before him.
He knew them – they were Potter’s closest team members.
And he also knew that they were there not for the Ministry’s orders but because of Potter’s.
He could almost know and understand what was going to happen right in a few hours’ time.
“Severus Snape.” said a tall Auror with dark hazel hair as he nodded to the others to take him from the floor. “WE are bringing you in another cell to await tomorrow’s decision for your case. In a few hours’ time, we believe you shall be executed as your punishment.”
Snape remained quiet, letting them drag him from the floor.
His black eyes kept staring on the floor, his mind barely there at the execution he was about to face.
There was nothing he could do, nothing Draco could do.

The Wizengamot wasn’t going to be fair – Harry Potter had each of the 12 council’s neck within his grasp.
And there was no point for trial in the first place – he was going to be executed whether there was or wasn’t a trial.
It was all for the show.
It was a mere display of power for Harry Potter.
He was never meant to get out of Azkaban and escape his fate, let alone be given mercy.
There was never a chance for him to escape the Dementor’s Kiss because Harry Potter made sure that he had justice in his hands.

Ten years.
Long ten years and the years he made the boy suffer.

How pathetic.

But the important thing was that Hermione would live a better life – it would be hard for her to move on, but atleast she would be in a better place.
And not with Potter – but with Draco.
He made Draco promise him that he would take good care of her no matter what, no matter the consequences of the trial.

Hermione no longer needed the will he left her behind – Draco could take very good care of her and there wasn’t nothing they’d ever need or she would ever need.
He could die peacefully at the thought of that.
It may take her a while to find her happy ending, but she would be happy and he knew of it.

Snape closed his eyes as he felt the Aurors dragging him painfully out of the cell and into the bowels and depths of Azkaban prison at the waiting room for the prisoners who were to be executed.
There were sounds of footsteps and then he heard another larger cell gate being opened.
He was roughly pushed inside and he fell face first down on the rotting floor of the cell.
It smelled and looked like it had not been occupied for a very long time.

“Ten years.” said one of the Aurors who was locking the gates with wards. “Severus Snape, Potions Masters of Hogwarts. You won’t remember me but you’ve taught me.”
Snape ignored him as he bantered on his name and that he was a Ravenclaw and he suffered under his teaching methods as well.
And then he commented how from his position at Hogwarts, he became the most wanted in the past decade and with a case so intriguing that it spread a wave of hatred at the wizarding community.
“I’m a man myself now and I am infatuated and am feeling very…sensual with girls.” the Auror commented. “But to have her, to take your previous student? To take her every night, every single day?”
Snape could feel hatred stirring inside of him at his description of the crime he knew he committed anyway.
“You’ve taken her at every night?” the Auror continued. “I’ve read the articles and news reports at our department.. How could you do that to your former student? You’re lucky they’re not extracting your manhood from you. I used to be inspired by you despite of the way you favored the Slytherins above all others..”
Snape remained silent, passive.
“But all of these?” his voice was as dark as astonished. “How could you take Miss Granger? She was your student. Did you never have a conscience? Did you never have anything in you? How could you turn into a monster, professor?”
Snape continued to ignore him.
He was being judged by this Auror like the rest of the world.
They didn’t know what happened in those long ten years – the things he had given up, the things he had sacrificed, the things he had to swallow and do in the name of saving Hermione and their holier than thou hero’s life.

They knew nothing of the ten years.

No matter how long the trial had been, no matter of the reports, the evidences and every piece of article that was written in form of papers and reports – none of the world knew of what the one decade had really been for them, for him.
Hermione didn’t even know half of it.
And he was going to bring these truths with him to the grave.
Just as Narcissa had said, he would eventually die and just as he told her, he would die and die alone.
But she wasn’t right at her thought that he was going to die at the precise time and at the way he would.
He loved her as a friend but he would defy her wishes to ensure that wrong is right at the end of it all no matter what it might have caused each and every of them.
Hot tears claimed his eyes as he was walked down the stench filled corridors of Azkaban as he was being led down to the justice hall where he would await his final fate.
He could hear the magical bonds and chains dragging across the floor, the coldness and eerie and haunting feeling of this godforsaken place all over him.
This was the end of him and there was nobody to be with him at his final moments.

To die was a tragic story, but to die alone and unloved by the world was a different one.
And the woman who had caused all these had been gone a very long time ago.
She claimed to have loved him but she loved no one but Draco and herself.
No, she had loved herself more.
Her twisted belief that she loved Draco more than anyone or anything else wasn’t true.
Snape’s chest heaved heavily at the truth dawning on him after all this time.
Everything he had done had been for nothing and something.

Everything that he was would forever be erased by time and he would be forgotten – never the hero the headmaster Dumbledore had always promised him he was.
He would never be the boy that Lily Evans loved.
He would also never become the man that Hermione thought she loved for a moment in time.

Severus Snape sighed heavily as he heard the wards locked down from the outside and the few hours’ reality that Hermione would live a new life and he would be erased, forgotten on the surface of this world.
Everything had been for an absolute paradox of what was, should have been and never will be.
He had given up everything for Hermione and he would never have her, she would never love him.
The gates and wards closed in and he was at the depths of Azkaban and once he was left by the Aurors, tears streamed down his eyes in an unstoppable cry of relief, hatred, regret and despair with the heavy heaving of his chest at the hours ticking by and the fate he had to face and face alone after all that he had done for each of the individuals that were no longer within his reach at that very moment.

He knew it would all come to an end and into this end.

He had let Narcissa use him after everything he had done for the woman, for her most loved son.

And he had let him.

He was about to die very much alone, forever erased in this world and all for the belief that he was doing the right thing, that he was sacrificing himself for the greater good, all for a woman who made him believe that he was a good man when all those years, she would say anything to gain for her advantage.

And Narcissa Malfoy, who had caused each of them all of these, had loved nobody else but herself.
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Forbidden Rapture