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
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...The rush of air hit her face; she tightened her grip around Kingsley's middle. Her throat painfully tight, but she didn’t dare to close her eyes. Death Eaters were around them, curses buzzing through the darkness of the night.
Loosening her grip, she tried to fight, aware that Kingsley was doing a much better job at it and still leading the beast. Hermione felt slightly dizzy, pure undiluted fear ran through her veins and she did her best to suppress it, fighting with all her might not to gaze at the darkness below...
...The darkness morphed…
...She was clinging to the dragon, a dragon of all creatures! The poor beast was enraged, carrying them away from the Gringotts. When she could think, through waves of fear, the only thought that came to mind was ‘I robbed the bank, I’m a criminal’...
...Her hand trembled as she watched at the wanted poster, her own face looking back at her from the paper. She was officially “Undesirable No.3”. Hermione wondered should she be afraid or insulted, but she had no time to contemplate, not in this situation. She left her hideout and rushed to catch up with the boys.
Ron messed up, of course, he did, - that was what Ron would do if he weren’t given enough time to plan and think. At least they had the bloody thing, but now they had a ministry, Death Eaters and Dementors on their heels.
The potion started to wear off, and Hermione swore that she‘d scold both of the boys if they survive this…
...Space was claustrophobic, cramped up and smelly. Boards crashed behind them and they doubled their efforts to run. She reacted, more on instinct than anything else. The old lady morphed into a snake - worse even, the snake shed old lady’s skin.
She turned; Harry wasn’t beside her - a new wave of fear slammed at her chest like a cannonball. The snake was pressing on Harry, her teeth sinking into Harry’s arm… She felt the rush of fear, the memory of Arthur Weasley and his stay in the hospital, the wound that wouldn’t close and wouldn’t stop bleeding. She had to help Harry now, and worry about it later…
...Whispering voices drove her mad, words circled around her head ‘undesirable No 3’, ‘Dumbledore never said one word of praise to you’, ‘they don’t respect you, and they are only using you’.
On and on, whispers listing all that she did for Ron and Harry, for the wizarding community, and no one ever even acknowledged it.
Even now, she cooked, and still, Ron complained...
Ron chose Lavender Brown over her last year...
Harry siding with Ron on more than one occasion...
Harry taking Luna to Slughorn's party, leaving her to deal with McCormack...
Everyone ridiculing her S.P.E.W….
‘You know why is that, you are not worthy.’, ‘Your blood is impure, and they know it.’, ‘You’ll never be recognized for your achievements.’, ‘He left, he left both of you because you are unworthy of him, and he knows it.’
Voice kept on whispering and Hermione shook her head murmuring to her chin.
“It is this cursed thing, don’t trust it, Hermione.”...
...Curses flying left and right, she dodged them to the best of her ability. Hogwarts was in ruins, dead bodies all around her. She found Ron and grabbed his arm, yelling over the all-present noises.
“Where is Harry?”
“Don’t know, he just left!” replied Ron with a worried face and hurled a hex behind her back.
She swirled and continued to cast spells. The sounds of crashing, the screams, and the shouts - spells cast by both friends and enemies alike zoomed through the air. She tried not to look at dead bodies, at this point, she was beyond fear, - and she just fought to survive...
...Ron held her tight, his grip biting into her skin and her bone, pain and sadness ripping her insides. She wanted not to look but she couldn’t divert her eyes from the limp body in Hagrid’s hands…
...They were sitting at the gala, all dressed up, surrounded by smiling faces. The glass placket heavy in her hands and cold, so cold, she couldn’t understand how they all managed to smile; Hermione couldn't smile if her life depended on it.
Someone shook her hand. “Impressive, Miss Granger, praiseworthy but you had no business running with the boys.”
She returned the handshake, mumbled ‘thank you’, she felt detached from all that. It isn’t that they didn’t recognize her effort, but every single praise came with the same sort of comment that she was a girl, or too young, or...whatever.
She had the need to scream, to shout from the top of her lungs, to ask them where were they while she was fighting for their freedom? Who are they to tell her anything now, when everything was safe?
The sound of shattered glass came from behind her and she flinched, making an excuse she hastily walked to an empty corridor. Sliding against the marble wall, he took one shuddery breath, fighting the tears - frightened, self-derisive tears of a person who had no right to be alive and celebrate. And to celebrate what - so many deaths?
She glanced at the heavy glass placket in her hands. She didn’t deserve it, why did they give it to her? What did she do? She broke into the Ministry and caused havoc; she broke into the bank and stole. Out of necessity, but still…
I am a criminal with the award for it, where do we go. She thought with bitterness.
Hermione jumped when a hand touched her shoulder. Harry was looming above her.
“Are you alright, Hermione?”
“Yeah. Yes, I’m fine.” she nodded “It’s just…” she raised her eyes to meet his.
“Too many people at once. I know.” Harry nodded and sat next to her, taking her hand into his. She watched him lean against the wall and closed his eyes, he looked tired.
“Do you sleep, Harry?” she asked.
“Sometimes. You?” he replied, not opening his eyes.
“If I don’t dream,” she replied vaguely.
“Hermione, I have a favour to ask of you.” Harry cleared his throat and opened his eyes, turning to look at her...
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Severus opened his eyes, gulping for air, he felt like someone, or something was pressing on his lungs. Soft sobs came from the direction of the sofa. He clenched his fists, his throat tight; there was a distinctive sting in his eyes.
I should never have survived. What have we done…?
The gilt twisted on his insides, gutting him, tightening his airways. Was this his true punishment? To witness the ramifications of their collective action first hand. Her sorrow, her fear, and her tears - it was on his head. His and all of them - Dark Lord’s, Malfoy’s, Albus’s, all of them… He sighed.
“Hermione...” He called, sniffling and sobbing halted for a few moments. In the darkness of the room, he could barely see her shape but he could tell that she stilled.
“I...I’m sorry for waking you.” came her shrudery whisper, his insides contorted at the sound of her voice, the apologetic sorrow, as if it was somehow her fault.
“As you undoubtedly noticed by now, sleep isn’t my favourite activity as of lately.” He replied, in a weak attempt to alleviate her dread. Not that it ever was, to begin with, he added in his head. She sniffled again.
Closing his eyes, he debated what to do. He knew what would help but… Another muffled sob solved the dilemma; he couldn’t allow her to regress, not now, not when...
“Hermione, come here.” he called her softly, the sniffling and sobs stopped again.
“Ummm, I…” she tried to say something but it was lost in a whimpering inhale of breath.
“I would...appreciate - if you come closer.” He nearly choked on those words, but he forced himself to say them.
“But, we are alone and I don’t…” She sniffled again and he suppressed the groan. Was it bad or good that he forgot on rules he imposed? But, just like during the war, this wasn’t about what he felt comfortable - it was what needed to be done.
“Are you planning on molesting my person again if you are near me?” he asked, not harshly but not in a soft voice he used so far.
“N...no. But...” she stuttered, hiccupping.
“Then let me be the judge of what is acceptable by me and what is not.” Her reluctance grated on his raw nerves, this demanded too much of him.
However, that seemed to be enough for Hermione, he could hear her shuffling and soon bed flexed under her weight. She came near him but not touching him, in the pale moonlight he could see her red-rimmed eyes. Suppressing the sigh, he reached for her hand.
She was clutching her hands in her lap, and he covered both of her hands, squeezing them lightly. He could feel her shivering. She was shaken for a reason even he was shaken... This was the first time he got a glimpse of Hogwarts during the battle.
The images left him rattled. He wanted to see more - he needed to know more. It was similar to the tooth that hurts when you keep poking it with your tongue in spite or maybe because of the pain. However, more pressing necessity was to pull her mind away from those memories, not to dig through them.
“So, Hermione, what did you decide regarding Minerva’s offer?” he asked finally.
“Well, that depends on what Minister and Wizengamot say.” She replied slowly. “If they agree to let Draco be my temporary replacement - I will go to finish my education. If all goes well, you’ll get rid of me at least for short time.” her voice quivered.
This is going to cost me. Bad, bad deal, Severus, he groaned inwardly but tried to maintain light and soft voice. “Well, I won’t lie - you are not the company I would choose given the option, but all things considered - I could do far worse.”
“How can you say that?” came a sniffle from her, he was about to answer when she continued. “I...I...oh Gods! What did I do…?” she whimpered, and not in a good way.
The entire conversation was on a fast slide down. He tried again, gathering what strength he had. “Hermione….”
“Gods! They call you a criminal when all you did - you did to save us! And me! I’m called a hero but look what I did. I break into the Ministry and bank, I stole… I...even after the war! I attacked you, forced…” Sobs cut her panicked words and he gently tightened his hold over her hands.
“To my knowledge…” He tried, but another burst of words from her stopped him.
“I should be the one locked in Azkaban!” She was shaking now.
“Miss Granger.” He called her, using the tone he’d use in the classroom, as much as his thorn throat permitted, it worked, - she stilled. “Like I was saying before the interruption, I do not think that you deserve to even think about yourself as criminal.”
“But I…” she sobbed.
“You, Hermione, have a rather flexible idea of “right and wrong”, I believe a Machiavellian one, as we pre-established. For you, the cause justifies the means - and it’s not all that bad as you may think. Now,” he raised the other hand to stop her from talking. “If my memory serves me... The first year - you set me on fire. The second year - you, stole from me, not to mention endangered the health of your classmates.”
“I didn’t?” she protested.
“You didn’t steal from me?” he asked, his tone reflecting the irritation to both her protest and her constant interruptions.
“No, you know I did that - stolen from your supplies, I mean. I didn’t endanger…” she started.
“Do you want to tell me how Potter and Weasley came up with the fireworks distraction? I was your teacher and I knew they couldn’t plan something so elaborate in the second year. Or are you trying to convince me how I imagined dousing half of the class with the antidote to the Swelling Solution?” he allowed himself to sound incredulous. She hiccupped the chuckle.
Good.
“No, I...well, I guess I’m guilty of that too.” her voice hitched.
Oh, bollocks! This is going in circles.
“You were in the war, Hermione. There was no legal way, no other more socially acceptable means to fight. The government was corrupt. You were named an outlaw. Do you have any idea what would happen to you if they managed to catch you, to bring you in front of his feet?”
She inhaled sharply and twitched her scarred hand.
“Oh, do not delude yourself, little girl. What Bella did to you was just a warm-up. And believe me when I say - you do not want a point by point details. Enough to say, in the end, you’d desire death more than anything else, and be lucky if he grants you the same.” He admonished bitterly.
Images of carnage he witnessed made him sic, forcing the bile up his throat. Without his protection, he wasn’t able to deal with those memories.
“You - he would give me to you?” she asked shakily.
“No. He kept me for Death Eaters who angered him.” He replied softly and continued even softer. “But you would wish it was me. In my hands, at least you’d find some mercy. You see, Hermione, those like you had a tendency to die to son in my hands, I was - not invited to participate in the handling of the war prisoners, just to watch.” He had no desire to talk about that. “But, the point is - you did all you supposed to, all I see is a competent young witch who used her brain and skill to survive. More than that - - where you see a criminal I see very skilful and talented which, worthy of Slytherin house.”
“I’m a Gryffindor.” she complained.
Of all I said… He swallowed the growl “In my eyes that is a compliment, Hermione. Take it while I’m in the mood to give you one.”
She nodded, smile fought its way on her face, and her eyes glimmered through their watery surface. Severus forced himself not to growl or roll his eyes or sneer.
Dear Salazar, she is still the same. Merlin help me, I have to de-tangle myself from this conversation before she starts imagining that I’m courting her. “Now if we solved that, are you up for more sleeping?” he asked.
The girl was quiet for a long time, but her hands stopped shaking and he slowly removed his hand from hers. Finally, she sighed.
“I am.” she didn’t sound too sure to him.
I’m going to regret this tomorrow. “Good, you may stay here tonight.” he replied somewhat restrained. In the dark, he could see the whites of her eyes growing larger. “Ummm, wouldn’t that be - inappropriate?” She whispered.
Oh, I am going to regret this. “Propriety has a very blurry line in our case.” He carefully phrased the words. “Stay here if it will make you feel better. Stay on the covers, and refrain from touching me....” before he could finish she was curled up next to him, clutching his hand in both hers, and already sinking into a slumber.
I am going to regret this.
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed