Chapter Text
Warsaw Poland
July 2001
3:00 pm
Hermione Granger wiped the sweat from her brow. These Runes were troublesome. She did not expect them to be fighting her back as much as they were. Luckily, or unluckily, Professor Severus Snape had been assigned to this case with her.
After the unpleasant realisation that her quick thinking, I.E. shoving a bezoar down the once dying professor's throat when Nagini had bit him, actually saved his sorry life. Had she not known what she knows today - there would be no consideration on her part. She would not dream of asking Severus Snape for help. Treating her like absolute shite was one thing, it was a whole other story to have walked a line of Double Agent for twenty plus years and not have the grace to save thing... Leave them all wondering until his very life was on the line.
She blew out a huff of annoyance. The man's concentration and patience was positively galling.
Beguiling.
That he exerted patience upon these pesky, nasty Runes, but could not do so for a former pupil. Oh, she was Gryffindorian through and through. She wanted to poke the bear, but he was prickly today. And, she was more worried about these Runes and what they were doing nearby a forgotten place.
One that haunted Muggles here.
Auschwitz.
The Concentration Camp that was really a Death Camp for the Jews sent by Hitler... and why these Runes were here? In an almost completely non magical neighborhood? That, that was worrisome. These 'incidents' were happening all over the place.
Outside of Great Britain and some Ministries were pleading with Minister Shacklebolt for help.
This was ominous.
Dangerous.
The low hum from these Runes were unlike anything she has ever come in contact with.
Surely, as Unspeakable Granger, she has seen her fair share of dark artefacts. Guessing that the newest budget cut had reason to make Snape surly enough - Hermione Granger was not about to ignite the caustic Professor's anger any further.
She rolled her eyes, the wand in her hand was not her original one.
No.
That had been completely lost or destroyed... Thanks to her torture in Malfoy Manor.
Now, the wand in her left hand (curiously, she was a left-handed, wand-waving witch,) was actually walnut wood.
The core was a hair from the tail of Thestral.
It was nearly 13 inches.
"Unyielding, this wand belongS to Bellatrix Lestrange. Treat it carefully..."
That was the one of the last things that old man Garrick Ollivander had said to the Golden Trio - before the Finale.
Before she watched both enemy and friend, family and loved one - Death Eater and Professor, fall and never rise again.
When she was still naive.
When she had clung to the hope that finally, finally Ron might actually see her.
When Harry told her, after she tried valiantly to save the Dour Potions Master's life..
"I think you have known it, too... Hermione."
She had told him she would go with!
That she would not let her best friend walk into the Forbidden Forest alone. That she would be there.
Until the End.
She AND Ron promised.
Where Harry goes, they do, too.
"No. Find the snake. Find it, kill it. Then it's over - then it's just Him."
"Dinner, Miss Granger - I quite like the red dress you've brought for this trip. Tell me, did you think I might give you something needed?" Came the unwanted acerbic tone of Severus Snape.
This was their game.
This love / hate/ sex/ pain and then they go on acting just like "friends."
He told her in the beginning. When he first took her to bed,
"I do not share, little Lioness. But I do not love you, either."
And that was okay - because Hermione Granger wanted to be possessed. She knew how Ron felt, saw how he completely ignored her once Voldemort was finished entirely.
How Ronald Weasley was snogging Lavender Brown the moment the Battle of Hogwarts was over -
And... How only two hours prior - she and Ron were about ready to jump each other in the Chamber of Secrets.
It hurt, the initial sting of rejection.
But then a darkness settled over her. In her very marrow.
She had been a fool, she was the Brains of the Golden Trio and with the War over... she was no longer needed.
Her comfort and all sense of personal safety and security were dashed.
When she learnt her parents had died... without memory of their daughter, it sealed something in her heart.
She no longer believed in the folly of love,
HOW overrated!
Instead, she worked herself to the bone, and fucked Severus Snape on the side. Because he gave her what she needed. Made her feel whole in pieces and parts of her soul that HIS darkness collided with HER own.
It was enough.
Until it was not.
She no longer had Harry... He married Ginny and the Weasley's didn't welcome her into the Burrow anymore - she did go to the wedding, but left before the reception really kicked off.
In the pouring rain, she found herself somewhere she never thought she would be -
Malfoy Manor.
Why the FUCK was she here??
What was she looking for -
Then, the Lord of the Manor opened the door.
What was a one off, left her more confused than ever before.
In her stupidity and anger, she went to Severus for punishment.
He did what she needed, but she whored herself out to Lucius FUCKING Malfoy -
Though, tonight... Tonight she would pretend that this was a date. A date with a mysterious, dark wizard who might have cared for her if things had been different.
So, she just grinned.
Or rather, plastered her smile on - sure enough that Severus Snape could not see through her mask of indifference.
The wine was great, Polish fare was actually quite tasty.
The conversation ebbed and flowed and like she knew it to be...
He took her to HIS hotel rooms.
"You are hiding something, Miss Granger."
She was.
But she was hardly ready to admit such.
He took her silence and fucked her any way.
Gods knew that he, too, needed pleasure tonight.
He did not hurt her this time,
Severus was gentle.
Tender.
Like a real time lover.
Hermione Granger used and took what she could.
These moments did not exist between them. They never could.
It was not his style and it wasn't what she needed.
But after,
A Ministry's Owl found them:
'Magical Disturbance Notice:
Malfoy Manor,
Be ready to leave on Monday morning.'
K. Shacklebolt.
It was not an official notice, so something was different.
Definitely off,
She sighed.
"You will not be going alone, Hermione."
Severus' voice was oddly laced in genuine concern.
"Come to care for me, Severus?"
He growled and pushed her to her knees.
Gripping her hair forcefully,
"Hardly. You know that the Lord of the Manor is still on house arrest. I would hate to be blamed for your death. Especially to have the Dunderheaded Duo attacking me... No, you are NOT going alone."
She sighed, relishing the pain and jolt of heat pooling in between her thighs.
"Yes, Sir."
He groaned.
"Good girl."