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Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31717 -:- 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
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.
Finally, blissful peace.
His mind is quiet.
There are no thoughts.
No memories.
Nothing!
No pain.
No regret.
Just emptiness.
That is what he wanted. For the longest of time. For as long as he could remember. Without the feelings, he finally felt complete.
At first, he did not know what was going on with him. Was he dead? There were sounds around him but they were muffled by the white noise. There were light and dark but they seemed muffled as well - filtered. It took him time but he learned to distinguish.
The confusing white noise, the ‘whoosh-whoosh-whoosh’ sound – he finally figured it out – it was the sound of his blood roaring in his ears. He was - is - alive. The prospect of him being alive did not sound so appaling anymore, not now when he was at peace. In a manner, it was comforting to hear that whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, somehow shooting and reassuring.
He did hear noises, but they were distant. He could tell if it is a male or female voice. He could even tell if it was older or younger voice. He could connect the people with the sound. People but not the words. Words were obscured, floating to him like a distant echo, only in broken pieces.
He did not mind. The same way he did not mind silhouettes cutting through the blank canvas he was looking at. In his mind, after all the pictures, he could see… After all pictures, he did see… Blankness was welcomed. He could make a difference between night and day.
Darkness – night.
Glimmering whiteness – day.
Less activity – night.
More movements around him – day.
But, he – he was - is safe. There’s no need to worry or to leave the comfort of this peaceful place.
There were touches. But they won’t harm him. He can recognise who is touching him.
Deep voice, older, male, just occasional squeeze of the hand – Lucius.
Female voices, worried, tender, gentle touches – Narcissa and Poppy.
Male voice, concerned, on the verge of sadness, young voice and almost desperate touch – Draco.
And one more…
A female voice -tender, loving, worried, determined, expressive, younger, touch full of love and care – now he cannot connect that, and yet he knows that she does not mean any harm to him.
Maybe a Mediwitch or Miss Granger, perhaps. He does not understand why her name came up, it was not appropriate to think about his student. But in his mind, somehow, it could be her.
Or maybe, just maybe he did lose his mind completely. Maybe it was his dream girl. After all, she was caring, seductive, intelligent,…
She was mild yet determined.
She was seductive yet naïve.
She was intelligent and witty yet unobtrusive.
She was the promise and rejection.
She was everything he could ever want.
And he almost wished that he did lose his mind. That he will stay in this safe cocoon forever, hearing her voice and feeling her touch. If he had someone like her - if he… if….
From time to time there was a motion, made by others or by him. He did not mind. He didn’t think about it, it was probably only muscle memory. As long as they do not force him to leave this place, he is fine with it.
Whatever they do - he does not mind. It’s only body and boy heals. Body endures.
As long as they leave him to be here...
He… He was happy. Satisfied. Alone and yet not alone. Sometimes he would stand and sometimes he would float, or lie, or sit.
None of it really mattered as long as he was safe and at peace.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Draco sighed and briefly closed his eyes. His mother and Granger were holding Severus between them. At any rate, they were holding what left of Severus. And what left of him was a seemingly empty husk.
One could position him in any way he or she wanted and Severus would stay like that. Like a bizarre human size doll.
Severus wasn’t eating. Or rather, he would chew and swallow if someone placed the food in his mouth, but otherwise, he would not move to pick up the cutlery or eat on his own.
You could scream at him and he wouldn’t blink. No matter what one said to him – Severus wouldn’t react.
Severus wasn’t reacting even when Draco realised that bating duty was falling on Grainger's shoulders, along with exercises. Finally, begrudgingly, he offered – demanded was closer to the truth – to help her with all those duties. Granger grumbled but accepted his help.
If he was inclined to tell the truth, he’d say that he was feeling alone, abandoned in his need to help Severus. It wasn’t that all others deserted Severus – but to Draco, it looked like all of them just let the time pass by without really helping.
His mother and Poppy just claimed that these things take time.
His father left his private library only to visit Severus, and even then he would toss out both him and Granger.
Hermione was adamant for them to read all the Muggle books that Potter brought. They were helpful – up to the point, but useless in present situation. For them to apply any of suggested techniques, Severus should be responsive – which he was not.
Draco thought of all the times he saw Severus looking with blank stare through the window. Painfully aware that the man probably didn’t even see the window, little less the sky. But the serene expression on his face, with a hint of a smile on his lips… Draco wondered if they were doing Severus the favour by trying to figure out how to snap him out of this state.
For as long as he could remember - he saw Severus relaxed, even smiling, laughing or teasing – but he never saw him serene. Tension, the permanent tension was what he associated with Severus. It was so deeply embedded in Snape’s every move, every reaction – it almost seemed like his natural state.
The man wasn’t pretty or handsome – by any stretch of the imagination. Always too thin, too angular and sharp, too much of everything. But now, he was attractive in an odd way. He even caught Granger looking at him in wonder. Not that she would admit that.
And, whatever his personal feelings were concerning Granger, he had to admit – she did all humanly possible to help Severus. More than once he wondered…
Does Granger fancy Severus?
The sole idea sounded preposterous, but… not so much out of the realm of possibility. After few days, Draco abandoned wondering and decided that the question wasn’t Is she? But rather Is she aware?
After more careful observation, he decided that she wasn’t aware.
His brain returned to the idea he had before all this started. Maybe, just maybe Granger could be good for Severus. But his father had other plans, obviously… With a frown, he took the list of potential bachelorettes. He knew each and every name from that list. Neither one of them was even remotely suitable.
What were you thinking father?
He glanced at Granger. Her face tight but her eyes warm and worried. Her voice soft. Hands slightly trembling holding Severus in an upright position. Draco called into his memory every time they would be in the pool or on the floor. The tenderness and lightness almost like she was afraid to touch Snape, he would notice the same tremor when she did. The care she would dedicate to the washing of Snape’s hair. The gentleness in her voice when she would talk to Snape.
Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place. He jumped from his chair.
“Bucktooth, …”
“Draco!” His mother warned him sharply. “My apology Miss Granger, it appears that I failed to impart good manners to my son.”
“Yes, sorry.” He mumbled, a bit embarrassed by his mother's reaction. “Granger, mother – I’ll back soon – I – I have to speak to father. Urgently.”
“Is everything alright, Draco?” His mother raised her worried eyes to him and he smiled.
“Fine mother, I just want to arrange for Astoria to visit me here. It seems like a good time, that is all. You don’t mind, Granger?”
“We have at least half an hour of this, it is not like we need you now,” Granger replied, not impolitely but not too friendly either.
He exited the room and dashed to the father’s library, which was one floor down. Agin, he could hear the voices.
“…my magic can’t reach him.” female voice, same as the last time.
“I should think not, after all – there isn’t much you could do.” His father sounded almost smug. “The best you can do is to hope. Hope that little Middblood knows what she is doing.”
“I am sure that the girl knows. But time is of essence…” Draco shivered at coldness of female voice
“You have all the time in the world, unlike rest of us.” His father sounded respectful in a very unfriendly way.
“It is not my time I’m concerned with, but his.” Either female didn’t notice the tone of father's voice or didn’t care, she continued the conversation in her cold fashion.
“Certain things do demand time, even our limited time. If you do want your fresh blood you will have to learn to exercise patience in situations like this.” Now, his father did sound smug, almost gloating.
Draco snickered, quietly but it was enough.
“It seems that you have company, Lucius. We will continue this conversation. But don’t you forget…” female trailed off, but the last part sounded like a threat.
Draco straightened out and backed u a couple of paces. The door opened and his father’s figure filled the frame.
“You listen on a conversation if you are sure you could hide and not be detected or not at all.” Chastised him Lucius. “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you.” He replied calmly like he wasn't caught, faking nonchalance while his heart drummed fast.
“I have no time for idle chit-chat.” Replied Lucius with a tight expression on his face.
“I am sorry father, but you will have to find the time. I do need to talk to you now, and I don’t have much time.” Draco put all determination he didn’t feel in his voice.
Not waiting for Lucius to invite him in, he pushed past his father into the library. He did his best not to twirl around in curiosity, it was the first time in his life he was in this room. And he thought that he saw a ghost of a smile on father's face.
Lucius hobbled to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses, giving him wine while he took Firewhiskey. Lucius sat in one armchair pointing at another for him to sit. Draco felt out of place here, but he did his best to act like he was doing a most natural thing in the world.
“So, will you enlighten me, what was that about?” He asked with more bravado than it was wise.
“What was what?” Asked Lucius naively.
“The conversation I interrupted.” He replied, praying that he won’t trigger one of his father’s bad moods and put the stop to the conversation.
“No. It is none of your concern. You said you have to talk. Talk.” Sharply intoned Lucius.
“Very well. I figured you out. You are doing that on purpose.” He hoped that wague start will give him chance to milk information from his father.
“I am doing more than one thing on purpose, Draco, including breathing. I’m afraid you will have to be more specific.” Lucius was mocking him.
This isn’t going as well as I planned. “The girls you arrange to visit Severus. You are sabotaging him on purpose!” Draco took a sip of the wine like he is barely interested in father's reaction to his words.
The same ghost of a smile passed over Lucius’s face. “What gave you that idea?”
“You can pull the wool over Gryffindor's eyes, but not over mine, father.”
“Is that so?” Lucius raised an eyebrow.
“Indeed it is.” He smirked. It’s ok, you can play this game. “You actually don’t try to set him up with one of the pureblood ladies at all. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you are doing your best to set him up with Granger.”
He observed his father under the eye. Lucius was quiet but he looked almost amused with a hint of pride, while he was staring at the fire. After a long silence, his father finally looked at him. Eyebrow still raised, he could hear the concealed chuckle in father’s voice.
“And? By your estimation – is it working?”
“Your guess is good as mine, given the state Severus is in.” He shrugged. Even if Severus wasn’t out of his mind, the man was much harder to read on his worst day than his father was even on his at his best days.
“A good trap, Draco, is never set just for one pray.” Lucius sipped his drink.
“I am sorry to disappoint you father, but…” He deliberately paused, forcing Lucius to turn and look at him. Yes! Success! “…if the trap was designed to trap Granger as well, it is needlessly set.”
Lucius was quiet, but his face was still turned in Draco’s direction, so he continued.
“However, provoking a reaction is easy. Provoking a realization and acceptance of that realisation is another matter.” He sighed. “It isn’t the girl you should be focusing on. I am confident that Severus can seduce one naïve Gryffindor Muggleborn – if he desires so – with ease.”
“Indeed.” Smirked Lucius.
“But it is Severus who need to realise what he has by his side.” He continued.
“Indeed,” Lucius smirked again.
This was almost too easy. “There is a flaw in your plan, father.”
“Oh?” Lucius mockingly raised his eyebrows with a naïve face.
“Severus may come around. He may even realise. But, - how you are going to make him act on it? Think about it, father. I have to go, my time is up. Thank you for the wine and your time.” He placed a glass on the small table and raised from the chair.
Lucius didn’t try to stop him.
When he was at the door he turned. “Oh, not to forget. Astoria will come to visit us in two days time.”
Draco turned and left the library. In the hallway, he felt cold sweat tickling down his back.
Why does father want to push Severus in Granger’s direction if he wants to sacrifice her? He may not like Granger, but he love Severus, he wouldn’t do that to him. What is going on here? Who is that woman?
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed