Chapter 12

A/N: Thanks to my beta, Shellsnapeluver, and all those who read and review. Thank you so much!

***

The day finally arrived for the plan to go into action. Severus waited in Knockturn Alley for Wormtail to take his weekly jaunt into the Apothecary that serviced only the darkest of witches and wizards. He watched from the shadow of an old wooden doorstep of an establishment that hadn't opened yet and watched the alley come to life. The cobblestoned street was echoing the sound of footsteps and wheelbarrels. Snape kept his eyes on the Apothecary as the morning fog began to slowly lift.

Snape saw the rodent as he nervously made his way to the Apothecary. Once Wormtail had walked safely inside, Snape smiled as he took out a fake Galleon and tapped it. Now, he only had to wait for Potter to arrive. He continued to watch through the grimy window as the rat made his purchases, waiting with his head constantly jerking around as if he were afraid of something happening to him.

Oh, yes, Wormtail. I know your fears. I know how much you loathe going out into the open. Never before have you been right. Well, this time, you have every reason to fear, Snape thought malevolently.

Within a minute, there was a small crack of Apparition, and a black-cloaked figure came walking slowly past Snape. The figure glided into the darkened passage between the Apothecary and the next establishment. The dark figure lowered his hood enough to show his identity to Snape before replacing it. Snape, who never needed to hide in Knockturn Alley, had insisted on Potter's discretion. It would do Potter no favors to have his reputation sullied by being caught here.

Wormtail paid for his purchases and walked cautiously out into the near empty street. Snape glided out of the shadows and blocked his path right next to the passageway where Harry stood waiting.

The rat spoke first. He was slobbering and sniveling, as he was wont to do when nervous.

"S-Severus!" he squeaked as he trembled. "W-What are you doing here?"

"I am here, the same as you, to make my weekly purchases," he said smoothly. "I thought how rude of me not to at least greet a former houseguest."

Harry came out of the dark and said softly through his hooded face, "Wormtail, come here."

A chill coursed through Severus' back. He really had to hand it to the blighter...he knew how the scare the bejesus out people when he put his mind to it.

Wormtail's eyes shifted around, and Snape could sense his desperation for an escape.

"You owe me a life debt, Peter," Harry said darkly. "I've come to collect."

Peter was helpless but to comply. He stepped inside the passageway, and Harry said, "Give me some of your hair, Wormtail. Then you may leave."

"That's all?" he said, looking happy. "O-Of course! Here you go." He took his wand, shredded off some of his hair and deposited it into a pouch Harry held out for him.

Severus stood behind Wormtail as the procedure continued. Once he was finished, Harry said, "I would wish for nothing more than to release you back into the waiting arms of your master. However, I cannot." He placed the pouch of hair into his robes and swiftly departed. Snape heard the crack of Apparition and knew Harry was safe.

Wormtail tried to ease his way out of the passageway, but was halted by Severus.

"I have waited nearly twenty years for this revenge," he whispered into the rat's ear. Although you have paid your life debt to Potter, you still have to pay for the betrayal of your friends, including the woman I once loved."

With that, he stuck a knife into the femoral artery in Wormtail's leg. Peter stumbled backward, crying in pain and holding his leg. Snape watched as the rat silently screamed for help. The look on his face was glorious. The rodent had never known whilst removing his hair for Potter, Severus had placed a Silencing Charm on him.

Within five minutes, he was dead.

Snape transfigured the rat into a rock and placed it in his pocket. A quick Scourgify siphoned up the blood, and no evidence remained. He took the rat's wand with him, shrunk his packages, placed them into his robes, and Apparated back to Hogwarts where Harry waited for him by the main gates.

"Come with me, Potter," he said as he led them down into the dungeons. He placed the rock into one of his pickled jars and smiled gruesomely.

"Now," he said as he swiftly turned around, "we have work to do. The Dark Lord will expect Wormtail back within the hour. I must prepare."

***

The difficult part for Severus was the fact he knew he looked like Wormtail. It was positively revolting; yet, it had to be borne. He transfigured his clothes into Wormtail's and grabbed his phial of Amortentia.

Potter shuddered as he looked at Snape as Wormtail. "Here, take this," he said to Snape as he threw his invisibility cloak at him. He must have looked at him confusedly because Potter said, "Look, I don't want you to get tackled by some lame arse thinking they caught the infamous Wormtail." He leaned back on one of the desks and crossed his arms. "Just, you know, do what you've got to do, and let me know when to send Ginny."

Snape took the cloak, wand, and packages and tucked away the Amortentia in his pocket. He slipped the invisibility cloak on, and Potter walked him out.

As they reached the main gates, Potter hissed, "You do have more Polyjuice on you, right?"

Snape glowered at him, but realized he was invisible. "Shut up, Potter," he mumbled as he went on his way towards the Apparition point. He took a breath, concentrated on his destination, and came around a hundred yards away from the Apparition point at Malfoy Manor. He readied himself and Apparated to the point where the real Wormtail would have. He made his way inside as he had watched him do a hundred times before. He walked into the opulent manor and made his way upstairs to the Dark Lord's bedroom. He knocked and opened the door slowly when given admittance. Snape did his best imitation of cowering before the Dark Lord...the way Peter would have.

"Wormtail," snapped the Dark Lord. "I am hungry. You will prepare my breakfast now."

"Your Lordship," Severus sniveled, "are you quite well today? You seem unhappy."

"Of course, Wormtail, I am unhappy," he yelled at him. Voldemort stood in front of the large French windows, staring out at the grounds, his magnificent robe pooling around his feet. He opened the doors and breathed in the morning air.

"I grow weary, Wormtail. I grow lonesome. When you are finished, I wish to speak with Lucius."

"O-of c-course, Your Lordship," he groveled as he bowed and scraped his way out of the doorway.

Severus kept a close look on his time. It was early enough that the house had not yet roused. The Dark Lord was an exceptionally early riser and wished to be fed and nourished before anyone else awoke so he would be fit and on point. Severus went into the potions lab and created the elixir that he had made years beforehand. In fact, it had been he who had taught Wormtail to make this concoction. Near the end, he poured in the fresh Amortentia with the blood of Ginny Weasley. He cautiously made his way upstairs and knocked lightly on the Dark Lord's door.

"Enter, Wormtail!" he shouted.

Severus looked at him as he came closer. The despot was unusually morose and low. He looked... sad. That could be interpreted in a number of ways. Soon enough, he would know just how miserable he was when he drank the potion.

Without a glance, he took it and placed it to his lips. He paused and said, "You have contacted Lucius, made him aware I require his presence?" he asked.

"Y-yes, Your Lordship," he answered. "He should be here momentarily."

Voldemort drank the potion and nearly tossed the empty goblet to Severus, who retreated slowly, watching and listening to the Dark Lord as he left. Voldemort went farther onto the balcony and breathed deeply, feeling his skin, and was enjoying the morning air.

Snape sighed as soon as he was out of the room. Soon, the effects of the Polyjuice would be waning and he would return to his actual self.

Severus took another swig of Polyjuice for insurance. God, he needed a different drink. Being Wormtail, even for an hour, was enough to make one sick for days. He cleared his mind and went into Lucius' office.

"Lucius," he said snidely.

Lucius was still is his dressing robe, looking over various parchments. He took off his spectacles. "Ah, Wormtail, has the Dark Lord requested my presence?" he asked absent-mindedly.

"Indeed he has," Severus replied. "There seems to be something amiss, Lucius. He is sad and not himself," he added. That'll get him talking, thought Severus.

"Very well, Wormtail, you may leave," he said with a wave of his hand. Severus went into a niche in the wall and Dissilusioned himself. He cautiously followed Lucius upstairs to listen to their conversation.

He peeked through the crack in the door where Lucius had not let the latch catch on the frame. He squatted and listened to their exchange.

The Dark Lord turned from where he was standing on the balcony and said, "Lucius, my most loyal servant! Please, come and stand with me. This morning is glorious," he said euphorically. "Look at the false indigo with the Angel's trumpets. Quite sedate and comforting. The blue petunias are also looking magnificent today. Narcissa has quite the eye for beauty and elegance as well as creating a relaxing atmosphere. You must thank her for me."

"Thank you, my Lord," he said happily to his master.

Snape stole a glance and noticed the Dark Lord was quite distracted. The paranoia that had been running rampant was gone. In its stead was a relaxed and unfocused serpent wizard who seemed to be on the precipice of an epiphany.

"Lucius," he began as he turned to face him. "I have been most unhappy. You know how much I have confided in you. However, I must tell you the extent of this malaise. I yearn for a witch that would never come willing to me. Only in her dreams has she opened herself to me. I realize now how much I need her. She is a pure-blood, and although I plan to defeat death, I am like any other wizard who desires a dynasty, a powerful family to build up and help control my world. I have only ever been close to one witch in my life, and I know she is now old enough to be taken as a proper consort. She is a poor blood traitor. However, I know I can woo her to my side. If she still is not convinced, I will have to steal her away."

"Who is she, my Lord?" asked Lucius quietly.

The Dark Lord looked at him angrily. "The Weasley girl, of course!" he spat. "She has been the only one of which I have spoken. Yes, she is poor and not respected in our world, but she is a pure-blood and she will give me sons and daughters to rule alongside me. She...Ginevra will sit at my side as mine. She must be brought to me, Lucius. Once I have a proper family, like any pure-blood, my dynasty can begin."

Lucius shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "How do want this accomplished, my Lord?"

"You will bring her to me. You will bring her here, and I shall have the proper Healers to assure me of her fertility. If she is fertile, I will take her. Even if she is barren, I will take her anyway, and in the morning, you will kill and dispose of her. I mean to possess and control her, Lucius. She knows too much."

He looked out again at the beautifully manicured lawn and flowers that lined the Manor. "I never dreamt when I was siphoning the life force from her that I was placing so much of myself inside her. She has a portion of my power, Lucius. She is like me. No other witch could ever understand my need for might and power. I must control her and dominate her magic...the magic that is of my own...and bend her to my will."

The revulsion poured over Severus as he listened to the words that issued from the Dark Lord.

"I know it must seem so...sordid. However, I cannot give in to the falsity and fickleness of love. Dumbledore sets much store by it. Moreover, I have no use for it. The longing I feel for Ginevra, the need to overpower her is too great. I had hoped to wait, but I cannot. You will bring her to me, Lucius, tonight."

Lucius bowed and turned to leave. Severus shifted to the side so he could still hear any last requests and not be detected. Lucius was almost out the door when the Dark Lord said, "Do bring her to me alluring and seductive. I do not care to see my future consort in tatters."

"Of course, my Lord," Lucius replied. He closed the door behind him, and Snape breathed easier, knowing he had finally pulled it off. By tonight, all of his reason would be gone, and the mere presence of Miss Weasley would be all that would be needed to unearth what the Dark Lord was hiding in his twisted and warped mind. Severus just had to make sure that Potter stayed far away.

***

Severus Apparated back to Hogwarts and went straightaway to find Hermione. He located her in the library and whispered to her that he needed her and Miss Weasley in the dungeons straight away.

Hermione was shocked by the urgency with which he was speaking to her. "Professor," she whispered. "You know that Ginny has been sequestered. It will take time for me to obtain permission to fetch her."

"Then do it!" he hissed, and he strode out of the room. Then he went to Minerva's office and tapped on the door.

"Come in," she said curtly.

He opened the door forcefully and closed it sharply.

Minerva was stacking parchments. "My goodness, Severus! You're acting as if the hounds of hell are upon you," she said, confused.

Severus walked close to her desk and loomed over her. "I need you to transfigure a dress for Miss Weasley. It's happening tonight. I have to make her available and dressed appropriately for when she is taken to the Dark Lord."

Minerva's face went white. "You have already administered the Amortentia?" she whispered.

"Yes. Everything is in place. Tonight, Miss Weasley will have to play her part. She must be convincing and ready to do whatever she must to make sure we uncover where all the Horcruxes are."

Minerva looked anxious. "You don't think he'll..." She swallowed and couldn't continue.

Severus looked at her gravely. "I am being realistic about this, Minerva. I do not think Miss Weasley to return to us unscathed. If she is careful and plays the game well, she may escape with her virginity intact. However, I can not give anyone any guarantees."

"Should we tell Potter?" she whispered.

"NO!" he yelled. "That idiot will ruin everything. Miss Weasley has to remember she carries the same magic inside her as Tom. He has poured into her a part of himself! She is not just a mere vessel for a portion of his soul. He considers her an equal to be feared. That is why he feels compelled to dominate her. I will speak with her about the subtleties she will have to use in order to bypass any damage he may try to inflict on her."

***

When Severus reached his classroom in the dungeons, Miss Weasley and Hermione were waiting for him.

He closed the door quietly and drew in a cleansing breath. He walked over to Miss Weasley's side and gave Hermione a reassuring look.

"Ginevra," he said as he took her hands. "Tonight is where you will play your greatest part in our war effort." He glided his hand through her hair. "Professor McGonagall will have a dress for you to wear. You will be going alone to the Dark Lord. I say alone since we cannot accompany you. However, Lucius Malfoy will be coming for you. Now do not be frightened. You are to go where we tell you and obey him when he comes for you. As for the dress, the Dark Lord has requested Lucius bring you to him in your finest."

Snape's eyes bored into hers. "He fears your magic, yet he longs for you. You have been the only person who has carried so much of his power. You are no Horcrux, Ginevra. You share a part of his ability to influence and it frightens him. In order to control his fear, he desires to make you his consort, meaning his slave. You will thwart his plan by encouraging him to open his mind to you and glean what we need from it."

Ginny began to tremble. "He's going to rape me, isn't he?"

Severus swallowed and said, "You can control the amount of pain he will inflict on you. Promise him the world, and he will believe you. Remember, he has imbibed the Amortentia Potion. You will find your mind shall be more powerful than his. But his urge to take you and make you his will be strong. You must do what you feel is best."

Ginny looked at Hermione. "How will Harry ever forgive me?" she whispered. He knows I'm a virgin. If after this night I gain everything we've ever needed to end this war, but give in to him and let him have me, Harry will never want me!" she said hysterically.

Hermione hugged her friend. "Ginny, you know Harry's love is deeper than the physical. Why else would you both have waited? He loves you, not just your body," she whispered to her.

Hermione's eyes met Severus', and he said as he placed a comforting hand on Ginny's back, "A man's true love does not rest purely on one area of a woman. It is her whole being, Ginevra."

Hermione smiled.

***

"Was it horrible?" Hermione asked Severus as they left Ginny to her thoughts.

"Being Wormtail for an hour was enough to nearly do myself in," he deadpanned.

"How was the Dark Lord? I mean, was he insane with lust and yearning?" she asked.

"Not yet. The Dark Lord is a powerful wizard. It will build up to it. But by this evening, he should become rather desperate," he replied as he helped her hop over the step with the bog inside.

"Will his need be purely sexual?" she whispered.

Severus looked at Hermione as he led her to the dungeons. As they began their descent on the stone stairwell, he stopped and opened a door inside the stairwell.

It was a small room, with books and a desk, a couch and a fire. "This is my private sanctuary," he replied. "No one knows it exists. It is my private sanctuary. For the last fifteen years, I have sought my solace in this room. I've read, slept, meditated and built some of my most precious dreams in this secret room."

He drew her closer and stroked her face with one hand. "You have become a part of me that is very precious. I have never wanted any woman to share my most innermost thoughts and spaces. If the Dark Lord were capable of love, he would treat Miss Weasley like this: open his heart and share all the beauty within. However, there is no heart in him, only darkness. Their night tonight will be one of bargaining, of seeing how far he can bend her to his will. But the tables will turn the moment he sees her. He will be at her mercy. His longing for her will be nearly unbearable; yet she will wield the power."

Hermione relaxed into his hand. "So, what of us, Severus? Who wields the power, and who is the one who longs?" she whispered.

He cupped her face with both hands and breathed against her lips, "As any good match, both the wizard and the witch will wield the power equally, and the longing they feel will only make them want to give in to the other, each one seeking the pleasure of the other above their own and relinquishing power to the other."

He kissed her and felt her respond to him. Their kisses were sweet, urgent, passionate, and yet tender. They took their time, learning to give and take in their pleasure. Hermione felt her mouth meld with his, and all she knew was the warmth of his mouth on hers and how wonderful it made her feel.

They paused, and Severus brushed her kiss-swollen lips with the fingertips of one hand. "You deserve to be seduced, slowly and sweetly," he whispered.

Hermione grew nervous and slipped away from him. "I think I need to return. Just have me called when Ginny returns," she replied.

She turned to open the wooden door, but a long pale hand laid itself upon the door and stopped her from her leaving.

She didn't turn around. Her eyes were closed and she said, "What are you trying to do, Severus?"

He leaned his taunt, lean body into her back. "I want you, Hermione. I want to make love to you."

"Not now," she whispered. "I'm not ready. Please don't force me."

He stepped back from her. "You think I would take you against your will?" he said angrily.

Hermione turned around, her back against the door. "No. But you know how I feel, and I know your ability to seduce. I don't want to wake up later regretting anything," she said honestly as she looked him in the eye.

"Fair enough," he whispered as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You may leave, if you wish."

Hermione could sense the hostility and hurt in his voice. "Please don't be angry, Severus," she begged him.

"You mistake a rebuffed ego with hostility, Hermione, and sexual frustration for anger," he said in a clipped tone. "Now, if you don't mind, I would very much like to be alone." He walked to the door, reached behind Hermione, and opened the door. Hermione jumped out of the way and stood at her full height.

"There's no reason to get nasty with me, Severus Snape," she spat at him as she pushed the door closed. "Just because I won't have sex with you is no reason to toss me out like garbage!" She looked at him haughtily and with pride. A small smile crept on his face.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "Now, that's my sweet one. You are right. No man or wizard should try to make you feel less because they can't have their way. It isn't right for you, Hermione. That makes it wrong for us to continue," he whispered softly.

He took her back to Gryffindor tower and kissed her hand. She shuddered as he walked away in a swirl of robes. Those lips that had touched her hands had already been on some of the most delicate and tender places on her body, and he wanted more. She knew she wanted much more, and the thought of that special intimacy with a wizard such as Severus Snape made her feel weak-kneed. When the time finally arrived for them, it was going to be incredible. No matter how their love-making played out. She was sure because she would at last be naked with him, and he would be covering her with his desire and love for her. She wanted nothing more than to experience the weight of his body on top of her. She wanted it. However, the thought of his strong arms and chest against her soft breasts and stomach made her tremble with trepidation. She had seen how he could drive a witch insane with longing just by using his voice. To have all of him at once was overwhelming. In time, she would be ready to handle it, and when that time arrived, she would be craving him.

She went into the common room and got ready for bed. She hoped that wherever Ginny was, she would return to them safe.