A Looping of the Scales ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 85 ~ Oaths and Affectations

"Meditation? No meat? Learn chants? Oh, Hermione," Ron groused. Both Blaise and Draco looked disgusted. Everyone else just seemed resigned.

"It's important. Just as we have to purify our bodies, we have to purify our minds as well. And we ALL have to do it," Hermione said, her eyes narrowed. "And learning the proper chanting responses is important. A lot of Muggle magic is based on vocalization and tonal vibration. Sound is power. It flows through the ethers. One of their basic beliefs is that the entire universe began with a simple, powerful word. These faith-based demons are a part of that and respond to it."

Blaise snorted but didn't say anything as Hermione continued.

"If even one person doesn't follow protocol, the banishment ritual won't work and there could be repercussions. So, we're all going to have to take an oath to do what's required for the next seven days."

"This is ridiculous!" Draco hissed, scowling at Hermione. "I won't do this!"

"Then, you're free to leave, Draco. I want these premises cleared of demonic influence and if you aren't a help, then you're a hindrance," Snape told him coolly. "I thought you came here to strengthen your resolve—to face your fears. This is a rare opportunity."

"He's scared," Ron said witheringly.

"I'm not! I just don't like the idea of denying myself the basic pleasures I'm accustomed to enjoying," Draco responded depreciatingly. "Unlike you, Weasley, I am privileged and used to the good life."

"Unlike me, you're an arsehole who needs a kick in the trousers."

"Stop it, the both of you. Anyone who doesn't want to participate doesn't have to do it. But, as Severus said, if you aren't going to be a help, you'll be a hindrance. A weak link. Someone the demons might be able to use to disrupt the banishing. We can't afford that, so—if anyone wants out, now is the time to say it," Hermione said.

Everyone fell silent, including Draco. He didn't want to give these peons the idea he was afraid. He wasn't afraid. He just wanted what he wanted.

"Your goblin is going to have to comply, too, Draco. Call him in here," Snape said.

"What? You expect my servant to comply? He's not even part of this!"

"He's on the grounds, Draco, and goblins aren't short on vices by a long shot. Sharptooth's either going to have to comply or leave the premises as well."

"But, he's my servant!"

"That doesn't matter," Snape told him. "Either he's in, or he goes."

Draco looked sullen as Snape waited for his response. Hermione was smirking slightly, very proud of the way Severus was taking charge.

"What about the caretaker?" Harry asked.

"Ben Weatherstaff? He's not really a part of this. He stays on the grounds for the most part. We don't need him," Hermione said. "But Sharptooth has to be on board. Call him in, Draco."

Looking as if he'd sucked on something particularly sour, Draco left the kitchen, then returned with a sullen Sharptooth, who scowled at the group, particularly Susan.

Hermione cleared her throat and the goblin's slanted eyes rested on her.

"Sharptooth, you're aware of the demons that occupy Boleskine House, aren't you?" she asked him.

"I've heard the claim, but I don't sense anything evil in the place—"

The goblin's eyes shifted toward Draco for a moment, then back to Hermione.

"At least, nothing otherworldly," he finished. Draco furrowed his brow at the goblin as Hermione smirked.

"Perhaps, they aren't affecting you because you're already a bit—er—dark," she suggested.

"Perhaps they aren't affecting me because they don't exist and are nothing more than a Muggle myth," Sharptooth replied.

"They're more than myth, Sharptooth. Several of us have been affected, and Draco is being affected right now. He's usually not this—"

Hermione hesitated as she searched for a word that wouldn't be too offensive.

"Stuck up," Harry offered. "He had been improving, but now—he's acting like a little dictator. He's devolving."

"Devolving? How dare you—" Draco seethed.

"Look, Draco, you've been acting snootier and snootier. You even had Sharptooth pull you over the grounds in a rickshaw like you're too good to walk," Ginny said. "How stuck up is that? When you first got here, you didn't have a problem walking any place."

"I didn't have a servant, then," Draco responded.

"You don't need a bloody servant. It's the demons, Draco," she pressed.

Sharptooth looked at Draco consideringly. It did sound as if he had changed since being here.

"All right. So my master is being affected by something. What does that have to do with me? I simply serve him and earn my pay," Sharptooth said.

"Well, we're going to banish the demons, and everyone who occupies the house and is involved in the ritual has to purify themselves," Hermione explained. "They have to learn chants, meditate, eat no meat and not have sexual relations for the next seven days. This includes you."

The goblin blinked at Hermione, then looked up at Draco.

"You're on your own," the goblin said, then disappeared.

"What? Wait! Sharptooth!" Draco yelled, whirling around then running out of the kitchen to stare over the grounds. The sun was starting to set and there was no sign of Sharptooth.

He stalked back into the kitchen then snarled at Hermione, "You cost me my servant!"

"Not the first time I've heard a Malfoy say that," Harry said with a grin.

"Shut up, Harry!" Draco snapped at him for bringing up his father's words when he lost Dobby the House-elf. After killing the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry had given Lucius Tom Riddle's diary, hiding a sock inside it. When Lucius passed it off to Dobby to carry, he also handed him clothes, which freed the House-elf from service. Then, to add insult to injury, Dobby nearly blasted him out of his boots for pulling his wand on Harry. Harry always remembered that moment fondly. Seeing Lord Malfoy slide twenty feet on his arse was something to remember.

"What am I supposed to do without my servant?" Draco demanded. He was furious.

"Oh, I don't know. Go home?" Ron suggested.

"Take your meals in the gatehouses like everyone else," Hermione said. "You don't really need a servant if you think about it. You just want one because the demons are influencing you. You should really move out of the house, Draco. You'll feel much better and be less of a git. Blaise, you should move out, too."

"I'm not going anywhere," Blaise said firmly. "I'm comfortable there."

"But, you can't practice the chants in the house. You'll tip off the demons."

"Fine. I'll practice them elsewhere. But I think this is all a waste of time," the wizard said, frowning.

"I already know what you think, and I'm not interested," Hermione replied.

Blaise shrugged at her rudeness.

"Fine," he said shortly. "But, the only reason I'm staying is to watch you all make idiots of yourselves."

Everyone scowled at him.

"If you think that, Blaise, maybe you should just leave and let us go at it," Ginny said coldly. His dark eyes rested on her.

"I'm not ready to leave," he replied, his eyes glittering as he looked at her. "I'm going to participate in this insanity just to see what happens, if anything."

"Don't do us any favors," Ron said.

Blaise didn't reply. His eyes shifted to Snape, who looked back at him steadily.

"He's fine, Ron," Snape said, then he looked at Draco.

"What are you going to do?" he asked him. "Do you stay or do you go?"

"I'll stay," Draco said distastefully. "I'll move out of the house for a night or two to see if anything changes. If it doesn't, I'm going back. Blaise, will you help me get the boathouse in shape?"

Blaise nodded.

Relieved, Hermione let out a sigh.

"All right, we all have to take the oath to follow the instructions I've given. Are you ready?"

Everyone nodded and took the oath, magic swirling around them strongly.

"All right. We're done here for now," Hermione said to everyone. "Tomorrow, we'll meet at the main gatehouse for lunch and further instructions. I'll have the chants written out and your robes."

"I'll clear out the meat," Susan said. "That way there won't be any temptation. There's a few meat substitutes I could use in the interim. But I'll have to go buy them."

"Fine, you can come with me tomorrow morning," Hermione said with a smile.

"I want to go, too," Ginny said.

"Fine. It will be a girl's day out," Hermione agreed.

"And what are we supposed to do while all of you are gone?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. Play Quidditch or something. Go swimming. Explore the grounds. There's plenty to do other than be stuck under Susan all the time," Hermione said tightly.

If she were Susan, she wouldn't be able to stand how much Ron hovered around her. He wasn't like that when they were going out. It was a good thing, too. Hermione probably would have hexed him in irritation. But Susan didn't seem to mind it at all. She liked his attention.

"I won't be gone long, Ron," Susan said softly. "And we do have tonight."

"Yeah, that is right. Now, if everyone would get out of here, we could get started," Ron said. He and Susan were going to stay at this gatehouse. Harry and Ginny had the one by the main gate, and Hermione and Snape were going to take their old bedroom at Boleskin house.

"All right, we can take a hint, Ron," Harry said with a smile, rising and taking Ginny's hand to help her up. Blaise's eyes narrowed at this. He stood little chance of Ginny coming to him tonight, especially since she and Harry couldn't have sex for the next week, and Draco was moving into the boathouse. This just sucked.

"It wasn't a hint," Ron replied as Hermione and Severus rose, too.

"Come on, Blaise," Draco said, leaving the kitchen. Blaise followed.

Everyone departed the house, the couples intent on establishing a bit of privacy, and Draco and Blaise heading for the boathouse.

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AS Hermione and Snape slowly walked toward the house, their shoulders bumping together, Snape said, "You know, Hermione, we never got around to naming your virtues."

She shrugged.

"I don't really have that many," she said softly. "It didn't matter. I think the vices were more important to identify. I really think Susan is going to have to lead the ritual, with Harry as back-up."

"Oh, but you do have virtues, Hermione," Snape replied. "Charity, Diligence and Kindness."

Hermione smiled.

"I notice you didn't add Temperance, Patience or Humility," she countered.

Snape smirked slightly.

"You aren't particularly big on those, Hermione. I'm just being honest," he said. "But Brillance should be a virtue. You're pulling everything together. You're the glue that makes everything work. What would we do without you? What would I do without you?"

Hermione blushed.

"You'd get along," she replied.

Snape stopped walking and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her gently and sensuously, warmth creeping over her body as the contact. He pulled away from her mouth, looking down at her.

"No, I wouldn't," he said softly, his black eyes tender as he looked at her. "I wouldn't get along at all. Come on. Let's get to the house."

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Twenty minutes later, those tender black eyes were glittering at Hermione as the couple sat in the kitchen, enjoying the expensive and rather tasty tea Sharptooth had purchased for Draco.

It seemed the demons latched on to her immediately and with malice the moment she entered the house and she was busily extolling her own self-perceived virtues while putting down everyone else, especially Snape, who just listened.

"Really, you should have just told Blaise to leave. What are you thinking? He's dead weight, Severus. Don’t tell me that your Slytherin sensibilities are at work. The only reason I can even think of for you to want him to stay is because he's a fellow Slytherin."

"He's a powerful wizard, Hermione," he said tightly.

Hermione made a disparaging noise.

"Powerful to you, maybe, but I think he's just evil—maybe even Voldemort evil," she said to the shocked wizard. Comparing anyone to Voldemort was the worst insult possible, and although Blaise wasn't the friendliest fellow, he didn't deserve it.

"Are you finished with your tea?" Snape asked her.

"Do I look finished?" Hermione snapped back at him. She had a little left in the bottom of her cup.

Snape didn't say anything, but frowned at her. Well, he had hoped she'd get a little arrogant. He got what he wanted in spades. He wondered if physical acts could block or weaken the demon influence.

He planned to find out. He waited for Hermione to finish her tea then rose and left the kitchen, walking quickly toward the bedroom, the witch following him, still chattering away.

"It's going to be seven days until we can have sex again, Severus, so you're going to have to make this good," she said to him in a nagging voice.

Silently, he opened the bedroom door, entering it, Hermione walking in after him.

"Last time was a bit quick," she added, as he frowned. Yes, it had been quick, but that was because it had been extremely good and they both reached climax. She hadn't complained a bit. Now, she was bringing it up as if he hadn't satisfied her.

Not good, Hermione.

"I assure you, this time won't be quick at all," Snape said softly as he gave the command that unbuttoned the fasteners on his robes.

"Promises, promises," Hermione said in a voice that clearly implied she didn't believe him.

Two presences watched from the corner of the room, eyeing the shimmer around Snape as he and Hermione undressed.

Should we influence him too?

No. It isn't necessary. He already feels Wrath and Lust. Let nature take its course.

It isn't all nature. The girl . . .

Yesssss. She's so easy.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.