Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31713 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 93
- 94
- 95
A/N: In agreement with my beta – I’m posting this chapter unedited when she finishes with fixing the grammar and with me, I will re-post this chapter at a later date.
At that time, I do expect that some parts will be enhanced and there will be no grammatical errors.
I leave it to you to read it now or wait some more.
When I upload edited chapter I’ll remove this note :)
@Demonchik83 - I am not giving up on the story, but my time for writing is limited due to my rl obligations and sadly, chapters are getting up slower than I hoped for. But I can make a solid promise that I will see this story to the end :)
Severus tightened the grip on his cup of tea. He glanced around the room with a solemn frown. Too many - too many people surrounded him when all he wanted were peace and quiet. And solitude. He felt disjointed, separated from the loth in his room. That was the only way he could cope with all of them cramped around him.
Not listening on the conversation he grunted in reply when Minerva addressed him. He was near the point where he would shout his throat raw or hex or even kill for the solitude.
The anger and annoyance battled the feeling of despair. If he could he would toss them out of the room. Even the bird could feel his distress. Hades took upon himself to settle on his shoulder, not touching still sensitive wound on his neck but from time to time pecking on his hair.
“You are not listening, Severus.” Minerva cleared her throat and he blinked at her.
No, he wasn’t listening. There was no point in that and he felt tired and deflated, the little strength he had he put into sitting quietly, trying to look as he always did. Another in a long line of deceits, acting was a skill he honed in the past years. That effort drained him faster than anything so far.
Minerva clucked her tongue with a stern frown, smoothing her features she turned to Narcissa. “Did you re-decorate? As I recall, that fireplace had a mantle.”
“We found that this is more suitable look under the circumstances. In time we will give this room a new look.” politely smiled Narcissa, glancing at him under the eye.
“Misty is grateful for new room Madam.” huffed an elf, she was popping in and out of the room, refiling plate with cookies.
Traitor, he thought gruffly.
Draco and Hermione snickered soundlessly. They both had at least enough presence of mind or decency to hide their smiles behind sips of tea. Lucius, on the other hand, had a smug face. He growled in his friend’s direction.
“Wild magic, I presume. Poppy informed me to be on alert.” Nodded Minerva, he frowned, that woman was quick on the uptake when it suited her. Minerva turned to him again. “Not to forget, Filius, Pomona, Rolanda and Albus send you their regards.”
He grunted, the sound between annoyance and disgust escaping from his partially constricted throat, breath slightly hitching at the mention of Albus’ name.
“He asked me to extend you an invitation, once you are better, to visit Hogwarts and talk to him,” said Minerva, her voice a bit stiff. Even if he wasn’t looking, Severus could tell that she disapproved of that request.
“I won’t set a foot to that place, Minerva - ever again...” he replied with all contempt he could muster, which wasn’t much.
“I do not understand you, Severus. You want to parton the school but you refuse to even visit the place. If you have a problem to talk to Albus, I can understand the sentiment, after all that he asked of you… But, surely…” she started.
Merlin, the woman is a dog with the bone.
He had no desire to explain to Minerva, of all people, why he wanted to leave that place behind, that prison, full of misfortune and misery - never to return. She wouldn’t, she couldn’t understand. Why don’t they leave him alone?
“Minerva, I have no problem with Albus. He was my confidant.” He attempted to pick his words carefully, not to raise the suspicion and maybe to force her to back down in disgust toward his callous nature. “I had full support from Albus, and I can assure you that he never asked of me more than I could handle. He never…”
“A lie. Don’t.” Hermione whispered and he stopped talking in favour of glaring at her with the warning.
She wasn’t looking at him, her eyes were firmly focused on her tea. Hermione shook her head, placing the teacup in Draco’s hand, the boy had a bemused look on his face. She sharply raised her head to look at him and repeated, much louder.
“Why do you lie? Why do you protect him?”
“Learn your place, Granger. And some manners.” He barked at her, but she ignored him. Her eyes furious and full of deep pain. His chest tightened. She shook her head, the moist gathered in her eyes, her voice vibrated with anger.
“He was not on your side. He used you, manipulated you, he was your worst enemy!”
Severus flinched, taking her words like a slap over the face. She had no right - no right to share his secrets, to shame him like that. He eyed the faces around the room, gauging the effect her words caused. Narcissa was sipping her tea like nothing happened, Lucius had a sly smile on his lips. His ex-students looked stricken and intimidated by her outburst. Minerva was shocked to silence. There was no help coming his way.
How typical.
Wasn’t it enough that she rutted around his head, his memories. Why did she felt urged to share them, to share his misery for everyone to see?
“Granger!” He bellowed in the desperate hope that calling her by her last name will shake her into proper, or at least suitable to him, behaviour. Shocked her or sting her in the same way she did wound him.
“I don’t care.” She glared at him, large tears rolling from her eyes. “Call me as you please, it won’t change the fact - Dumbledore was never nice to you. Never! So stop protecting him, he does not deserve your protection!” She was nearly screaming now.
Tightness in his chest intensified, sending bursts of pain down his back.
“Miss Granger.” Minerva called her sharply, but the girl was still focused on him, he wasn’t even sure if Hermione heard Minerva’s voice.
“He…” She started again and he interrupted her harshly.
“He did what needed to be done, and so did I.”
She watched him, blinking. Moments dragged to infinity. He was so tired, too tired to fight the willful girl. She started to walk towards him, shaking her head.
“Stop. Just stop. Stop lying, stop pretending. Stop demeaning all that you did, all that you would never do if it wasn’t for him.” Her voice was a mixture of pleading and anger. He wasn’t strong enough to deal with this, with her words, with her tears. He wouldn’t be ready if they were alone, even less so in a room full of people.
If she is so keen on jabbing the rusty dagger in my guts and twisting until I’m dead, then why doesn’t she let me die? Why is she so eager to drag on my misery?
His throat tight, too much for him to speak. Hades joined in, loudly voicing his opinion, digging his talons into his shoulder. He felt helpless, deserted once more by those who surrounded him. The need to run - run and hide, to give in to his pain at least once in his life was overwhelming.
Why don’t they just leave me be? The air around him crackled with static.
She stopped, gave him one look before she sobbed. “Fine, suit yourself. See if I care.”
With that, she dashed out of the room. Narcissa stood up and smiled at him in a relaxing manner. Hades continued to screech and flapped his wings, hitting and scratching him with them. He hissed at the bird and Hades fly to his perch, turning his back to him.
He was tired, too tired.
Narcissa directed her worried eyes to his face, she nodded to him and smiled. “I do not wish to sound rude, but I do think that this visit is over.”
Her soft voice snapped others from the stunned stupor.
“Miss Granger….” Started Minerva.
“Will be fine, I’ll talk with the girl, Headmistress.” Replied Narcissa mildly.
Lucius was already shuffling out of the room, the threat of yet another magical burst wasn't so appealing to his friend - he presumed. Draco placed both teacups on the table and reluctantly followed his father. Minerva stood up, her face pale and thigh.
“Well then, I’ll visit you some other time.” She nodded a bit stiffly.
“There is no need for that, Minerva. You got what you wanted, you needn't expose yourself to my company any longer.” He admonished, the last drops of his strength were giving out and he had to force them to leave him be, to live him alone before he crumbles. “Professor Longbottom. Miss Lovegood.”
Neville just nodded, pale-faced, and slipped out of the room. The idiot boy was still afraid of him. Narcissa gently urged Minerva with a friendly gesture, hooking her hand to Minerva’s and leading her out of the room. Lovegood still lingered on and he glared at her. She smiled her loose smile at him and tilted her head.
“Thank you for having us, Professor. Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul like I promised. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
The Lovegood girl left the room and he fell down on his back, rolling to his side and curling instantly. The thrum of magic dissipated into thin air. He plunged his hand under the pillow and twisted his fingers around the warm, smooth wood. Lovegood’s parting words, that small act of kindness cut him deep.
Alone, he was finally alone.
His chest painfully tight, he gulped for air, curling on himself, even more, pulling his legs and bending his head until his forehead touched the knees. His back screamed in pain, and he welcomed it. There was familiarity in it, an outlet for a different kind of pain - the kind he couldn’t control. Emptiness in his soul burned like acid.
Hades landed on his pillow and pecked the strand of his hair, crooning.
Severus didn’t know how long he was in this position, he was too tired to care. The door opened, soft whispers floated through the air, bed bent. He didn’t care. One small part of his brain screamed in alarm, he ignored it. Warm, soft hand caressed his face, smearing liquid over it. Was he crying?
It didn’t matter, he couldn’t muster enough strength to care.
Hand moved from his cheek to his hair. Severus just tried to curl more. Blessedly, he was left alone. Whispers continued to fill the room, but after some time they either stopped or he couldn’t hear them anymore. He didn’t care either way.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
…”They cannot see you, Severus.” droned the portrait, grating on his nerves.
“I know, Albus.” he replied, placing his signature on yet another in the seemingly endless line of detentions. He could swear that this school never saw more detentions than during this year, there wasn’t a student who didn’t have had at least one detention.
“ It is of utmost importance that they get that sword, Severus.” continued Albus.
“I know, Albus.” he answered almost not listening.
“That sword is the only… What are you doing, Severus?” He stood up, annoyed and started to prepare himself for departure.
“Taking the bloody sword to them, if that will make you shut up and let me work.” he snapped.
“And how do you think of doing that? The Carrows…”
He ignored the ever-chattering portrait and took the sword, fastening it to his back. He took his travelling robe, gloves and shawl.
“Severus?” yapped Albus
“I’m going to practice flying. After all, I have his explicit order to do so.” he informed Albus, talking to the front door in the direction where one of the extendable ears were hidden. Nowadays he kept portraits under permanent Muffliato, he could hear them - they could hear him, courtesy to the modification he made in the spell. No one else could - if he didn’t wish so…
....Landing in an ankle-deep snow, Severus swore. He untangled the sword and tossed it into the lake. Shivering from cold, he cast a spell and when a small ball of light appeared he followed it to the forest clearing. The frozen ground was empty but he could feel a thrum of magic.
Twirling his wand he placed all his hopes that his patronus would find Potter. Idiot boy will follow it. Still, he stayed, Disillusioned under the tree, suppressing the need to stomp his feet. It was bloody cold outside.
A few moments later he saw his Doe and Potter meandering through the trees. He followed silently. Potter squinted at the frozen water and then jumped into the lake. Fear, much colder than frozen night grabbed him.
‘Idiot, why didn’t he used his wand?’ he thought disgruntled.
He had no chance of saving the foolish boy and staying hidden. Closing his eyes he felt cold sweat running down his back. When he opened his eyes, prepared to blow his cover Ronald Weasley appeared out of nowhere. After struggle and lot of splashing, bot boys crawled out of the water. He breathed out and swirled into a black mist.
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed