Chapter 5

A/N: Many thanks to my betas who worked hard on this chapter: Snapekat51 and WriterMerrin. Here in this chapter is more violence from Tobias Snape. However, instead of Hermione, his anger is directed towards his wife and son. There is no abuse of a sexual nature, but child abuse and violence, nonetheless. Please read and review! I want to know your thoughts.

***

Hermione awoke to a woman's shrieks. "W-what's going on?" she mumbled. She looked out the window and saw it was dark.

"Severus!" a woman screeched. "What have you done? Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to come home at such short notice?"

Snape was out of bed and in the process of pocketing his wand. He looked tense and fearful. Hermione jumped up and followed him down the stairs. As they slowly descended, Hermione saw an angry woman with black hair pulled back into a tight bun. The woman crossed her arms imperiously in front of her severe black dress. A memory of Professor Snape glaring at her in Potions class, his arms crossed in the same manner, flitted across Hermione's mind.

The woman, who evidently was Mrs. Snape, appeared incensed. "I try so hard to keep the peace around here, and what do I get for my trouble? A son who can't seem to abide by my wishes! You are ungrateful, Severus Snape!" she shrieked.

Snape stood quietly as his mother continued to rage. "So, what have you done with him? I swear, boy, if you have done anything to upset your father, I will beat you until you are black and blue!"

Glancing at Hermione, she snapped, "Who is this chit?"

"Mother, this is Hermione," Snape said, with a confused expression on his face. "Don't you remember? Dumbledore wanted Lily and me to take turns having her over for the holidays."

Mrs. Snape's brows furrowed as she inspected Hermione. "Well, you seem to have made a nuisance of yourself!" she spat.

Snape jumped to her defense. "Hermione was just being nice! She had offered to cook and clean..."

"Oh, really?" she sneered. Mrs. Snape scowled, looking Hermione over as if she were a cheap slut. "So, it's your father's fault for falling for her wiles?"

As Mrs. Snape stepped closer to Hermione, she screamed, "You deserved what you got! You come into MY house uninvited and start taking over...GET THE HELL OUT!"

Mrs. Snape reminded her of the older Professor Snape she knew: angry and cruel. Hermione ran into the kitchen and saw the still unconscious Mr. Snape on the floor, slumped against the wall. Although he was in a full Body-Bind, Hermione crept nervously past him to retrieve her wand from where he had thrown it earlier.

When Hermione returned to the sitting room, she found Snape and his mother shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Get that little slut out of this house!" Mrs. Snape screeched. Her face contorted in fury, and her hands turned white from clenching them so tightly.

Snape yelled back at her, "She has nowhere to go! Lily is gone to France and won't be back for three weeks. It's not Hermione's fault he's a pig!"

Mrs. Snape's face went white with shock, as if her son had struck her. "I suppose it's my fault, then?" she whispered dejectedly. She glanced at Hermione and then at her son. Her hand rose to grasp her throat nervously, and she turned her head away as she spoke.

"You have no idea what he will do to me when he wakes up," she whispered in a small, frightened voice. "No idea! I can't survive without him. If he goes, I will die, and it will be your fault, Severus!"

She turned back to her son, her eyes brimming with tears. "You don't understand what he's been like since you left this year. He's going to kill me! Is that what you want? You should have just let him be!"

Hermione's mouth dropped open in rage. "How can you?" she screamed. "How can you? One witch to another...how can you stand there and defend what he did? He was trying to rape me! I'm only fourteen! How can you?" Hermione began to shake and sob. This was insanity. What kind of people were they?

Mrs. Snape emitted a noise of disgust as she blew past her son and Hermione, striding into the kitchen. Hermione sank onto the couch.

Snape knelt down by Hermione and rubbed her shoulder. Hermione looked at him, alarmed. "What am I going to do?" she whispered.

"I'll think of something," Snape whispered. "If I have to kill the bastard myself, I'll do it, I swear!"

Hermione looked at him. He had a murderous glint in his eye. Hermione felt strangely protected and cared about. "Thank you for being so sweet to me, Snape," she whispered in return.

He looked at her curiously. "I can't have anything happen to you, Hermione. Lily would never forgive me," he said matter-of-factly.

He got up and went into the kitchen. Hermione cradled herself in her arms trying to keep herself from falling apart. She was only important because of Lily. If Dumbledore had sent her here, and she hadn't been such a close friend of Lily's, would he have let his father rape her? He sure enough had taken his blessed time before hexing the bastard, that's for sure! Hermione's mind snapped into place. She was going to leave this hideous place and take care of herself. No one else could be arsed for her sake, so why stick around for the nasty bastard to wake up?

Hermione dashed upstairs to the bedroom. She had just closed the door when she heard horrible crashing noises and wailing cries. She didn't want to know what was happening. She grabbed her suitcase and raced back down the stairs. She was going back to Hogwarts if she had to walk every step of the way. Then, she was going to give Dumbledore the tongue-lashing of his life.

She opened the door at the bottom of the stairs that led into the sitting room, and the screams became sharper, and the shouts more bloodcurdling. She was so angry and disgusted by these people she wanted to hex the lot of them! She went to the front door and stopped. Damn the man! she thought.

She wasn't going to let this go down without taking a pound of flesh for herself.

She grabbed her wand, leaving the suitcase by the door. She peeked into the kitchen and nearly screamed at the sight of Snape's father beating his wife while Snape laid bleeding and crying on the floor. She threw open the door and screamed at the top of her lungs, 'STUPEFY!'

Mr. Snape was thrown against the far wall, the impact of the crash making a crack in the wall behind him. Mrs. Snape looked at her in shock. Her black hair was out of its bun, dress torn, and there was blood running down from her mouth. Her left eye was also swollen shut.

Snape was holding his head. Hermione went to work. She opened drawer after drawer until she found a clean rag to press against the gash in Snape's head and then went to attend to Mrs. Snape.

The witch looked at the young girl and said painfully, "There is a book on the shelf next to the cooler. It is a book of first-aid spells."

Hermione dashed over and retrieved it, flipping through the pages until she found the spells she needed to stop the bleeding. She went over to Snape, who was curled up in a ball on the floor, crying pitifully.

She touched his arm lightly. "Please, Snape, I need to stop the bleeding," she whispered.

He flinched from her touch. Hermione turned to Mrs. Snape. "Where are your wands?" she asked.

Mrs. Snape was silent, but pointed shakily towards the far wall. Hermione saw two wands in the corner, both snapped in two.

Hermione stood up. "Oh, no!" she moaned. She walked up to Mrs. Snape and said, "You MUST inform the Aurors! He's not going to stop. You have to do this!"

"What do you expect me to do?" the older witch said, looking up at Hermione furiously. "I can't keep this house without him. If he goes away, I'll be on the streets!"

Hermione was growing weary of this woman. "You'll be dead inside a year if you let him continue to beat you, and then where will your son be? How can you let him beat your child and do nothing?" she shouted.

"You know nothing about our life!" snarled Snape.

Hermione turned to him. "I'm glad you decided to join the conversation!" she snapped. She turned back to his mum. "I may not know about living under an abuser's thumb, but I know what's going on here is wrong and intolerable. Do you WANT to die?" she yelled.

Mrs. Snape lowered her head, and Hermione snatched up the book to find more healing spells. As she forcefully tore through the pages, she said, "I just can't believe how beaten down you all are!" Picking up her wand, she began healing Mrs. Snape's cuts and bruises.

"I'm sure that there must be some sort of assistance for you! Besides, even if you have to leave Spinner's End, wouldn't it be better in a one-room flat, safe and sound than in this place where you have to tip-toe around, not knowing when he's going to blow up!"

"I shall never give up my house," Mrs. Snape said darkly.

Hermione glared nastily at the unconscious man on the floor. And he just knows it, too! I bet he just smiles at that thought! She healed what she could for Mrs. Snape and then turned to repair Snape. He glared at her the entire time she mended him. Hermione didn't care.

"Snape, you must do something!" she hissed.

"What? It's not like they can send him to Azkaban! He's just a filthy Muggle!" he spat.

Hermione winced at the venom in his voice. He was angry, but there was contempt in his voice. It sounded as if he had contempt for more than just his father. Hermione was confused. She had thought for a while now, ever since Malfoy had called her a Mudblood second year, that Snape was a pure-blood. After all, he was a Slytherin. It had been quite a shock when she had found out that he was a half-blood.

"What are you saying, Snape? Am I just a filthy Muggle as well? Is that why you waited so long until getting your father off of me?" she seethed.

He looked at her angrily. "No!" he sputtered. "This has nothing to do with you, Granger!"

Hermione's fury and indignation exploded. "Well, that makes sense. So that's why you told me that it was because of Lily that you saved me? I'm not worth anything except being Lily's friend. If I hadn't been, you would have let him hurt me. You would have just sat there and turned a blind eye. All you love is Lily! Everything is about her!" she spat.

She got up, disgusted by the sight of him, and ran to the front door. She picked up her suitcase and took off. She didn't know how she was going to get to Scotland; she might have to go to the police. She should go to them and have that son-of-a-bitch locked up! She made it down to the corner when an Auror Apparated in front of her.

"Miss Granger?" a black wizard asked.

Hermione took a step back and gazed up at his dark face. He was a kindly person. She could see it in his brown eyes. He was tall and looked rather impressive. He held himself with restraint and had a sophisticated air about him.

"Yes," Hermione said in a small voice.

"I am Kingsley Shacklebolt, from the Auror Department at the Ministry of Magic. I need you to return to the Snape house with me," he said smoothly.

She followed him, but protested the whole way. "They are terrible people! The father tried to rape me, and his wife yelled at me as if it was my fault!" she said furiously.

"Don't worry about Mr. Snape," Kingsley said reassuringly. "He will be dealt with by the local authorities."

Kingsley led her back inside, and Snape looked at her guiltily. "Hermione, I-I am sorry," he whispered uncomfortably.

Hermione glowered at him. She turned to Kingsley and pleaded softly, "I don't feel safe here. I want to go back to Hogwarts!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Granger," Mr. Shacklebolt said sympathetically. He looked over at Mrs. Snape, who was speaking with another Auror. "Mrs. Snape is aware that we will be checking in from time to time," he said with a small smile. He reached into his robes and gave Hermione his card.

"You keep that and if you need help, just tap it and say 'Auror Office,' and I will get the message to Floo here immediately. Okay?" he asked with a warm smile.

"Okay," agreed Hermione, grudgingly. But her heart wasn't into it. As far as she was concerned, the whole Snape family could just sod off!

***

The next couple of days were full of tension. Hermione was still furious at Snape and was not ready to forgive him. Mrs. Snape was nearly paralyzed with fear. Every noise outside made her jump, thinking it was her husband coming home.

Snape tried to calm her. "Mum," he had reminded her while they were eating dinner one evening, "the Aurors said we would be informed if dad was let out of jail."

Mrs. Snape had nodded and tried to eat. She finally had pushed her plate away and howled, "I can't do without my wand!" She had placed a hand on her forehead and began to cry.

For the last two days, Hermione had been watching Snape. He was very uncomfortable with the more delicate displays of emotion, she had concluded. He didn't have a wand either and was still shaken up by the beating he had received from his father, but he had yet to show his fear...at least consciously. Hermione continued to be disgusted with his mum. The past two nights, Snape had been experiencing night terrors. Hermione had moved into the spare room next to his and could hear his screams. She was sure the whole town could hear him, but his mother had made no effort to soothe or comfort him. All she could think of was herself.

Hermione had taken the initiative to go into his room, kneel by his bed, stroke his hair and forehead while whispering encouraging thoughts. She repeatedly told him he was going to be all right, that she was with him, and no one was going to harm him. It had seemed to do the trick, and after a while, he would start to sleep soundly.

Hermione didn't know if Snape was even aware of her continuous nighttime visits. However, she wasn't about to tell him. The boy was fiercely proud. He wanted no pity or sympathy from anyone. When Hermione had offered to see if she could find a way to get his mum a new wand, he had blown up at her.

"We don't need your charity, Granger!" he had shouted. "I will take care of my mum. Just you keep out of it, you insufferable girl!"

Hermione blushed red. She had become accustomed to his blustering and ranting. He was just afraid she would think he was weak. After all, she had seen him bleeding and crying on the floor. She felt he wanted to keep punishing her for seeing him so vulnerable.

***

A week later, Kingsley Shacklebolt came, and he took them to Diagon Alley to get new wands. Hermione pleaded to stay behind at the Ministry. She didn't want to risk seeing anyone, especially if the Weasleys were out shopping. The fewer people she interacted with, better the chance she wouldn't upset her timeline too much. But she didn't tell Kingsley that.

"I would rather not go, sir. Snape has his pride, after all," she whispered to the Auror.

Kingsley smiled broadly and gave her a conspiratorial wink. He then left her there alone in a waiting room, and she curled up with a book.

They were back before she knew it, and with them were the beginnings of faint smiles and content faces. Hermione was so glad for them both. Kingsley explained to Mrs. Snape that she could get a fairly decent job at the Ministry, as a cleaning witch. Whatever money she still lacked, she could get in aid from the Ministry. It seemed Mrs. Snape would not need to rely on her husband's money for her survival.

***

The next week was much better for everyone. Mrs. Snape wasn't going to start work until Hermione left to return to the Evans family, so she took the time to really get the house clean and also teach Hermione cleaning and cooking spells.

Hermione and Mrs. Snape stood in the kitchen, and the older witch looked around disappointingly. "I've never been allowed to do the spells I've always wanted, Hermione. I don't know why Mr. Snape never seemed to like the idea of my doing magic. Well, he's not here, so I can do as I please," she said with a triumphant gleam in her black eyes. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hermione. "However, you seem to be bright and eager. Let's see what you can do!" She gave Hermione a half a smile. Hermione returned the smile, noting that Mrs. Snape probably hadn't had a reason to smile for quite a long time.

The witches went to work, and Hermione found she was a dab hand at cleaning spells. Snape pitched in as well and learned his fair share of spells. By the time Hermione had to leave, the house and Mrs. Snape fairly shone.

Snape walked Hermione back to Lily's house and remained silent the whole way. Finally, as they reached the door, Hermione said, "Snape, I made a promise to you that I would never tell anyone about what goes on in your house, and I won't. It'll remain between us. Nevertheless, I shall have words with Dumbledore about your father."

Snape's mouth dropped open in shock. Hermione took her suitcase and went inside. Soon, Lily was running towards her, hugging her tightly, and telling her how much she missed her. Then, she saw Snape and mumbled her excuses. Hermione watched Snape take Lily's hand, and they walked off together towards the park. Hermione closed the door and went inside to have a lie down.