Soul Bound – Black Hole Chaser

Team Notes: This chapter was written by Soul Bound.

Hermione sipped her tea slowly. It was her third cup, and she was trying to make it last as long as possible; she was fairly certain that pouring herself a fourth would just look desperate. She was just enjoying her lunch with Severus so much, and she didn't want it to end. The next sip, although small, brought the bottom of the tea cup into view, and she sighed.

Severus quirked an eyebrow, his amusement apparent. "Would you care for more tea, Hermione?"

Blushing, she replied, "No, I think I'd better not." She watched his lips turn upward in a smirk, and she hurriedly changed the subject. "At any rate, that twit Umber's presentation is tonight. We should be brainstorming ideas."

Severus frowned. "I thought we had settled this. Did you not agree to "volunteer" yourself this morning? He is expecting you at his room in..." Severus glanced at the clock on the wall beside their table, "...half an hour."

Hermione felt her eyes widen. "You actually want me to go?"

"Of course. This was the purpose behind our ruse. I was under the impression you wanted to see him taken down as much as I do."

"I do," she snapped. "I just didn't think... He's so..." she shuddered, "foul. I only agreed to meet in his room to get away from him. He was trying to lure me there with the implication that it would somehow hurt you, as if that would convince me." Realizing what she had just implied, she rushed on, hoping Severus wasn't dwelling on her last words. "He said I would be perfect for volunteering."

Severus snorted. "A mute would be perfect for volunteering, thus sparing the audience hours of meaningless confessions. However, I am quite certain that he will be asking for a volunteer during his presentation. This is the perfect opportunity for you to practice. We need to know how exactly the potion works...if it works at all, that is...and what to expect. If there is a way to shield oneself from the effects, then I am certain you will figure out what it is. What better way to discredit him?"

Hermione frowned, considering this. "That's true. If I go now, I don't imagine he'll keep me too long. He'll need to prepare for his presentation. That will give me time to research whatever I experience." He was right; this was the perfect opportunity, just what they had been looking for. "I'll do it."

"I expected nothing less." Reaching across the table, he grasped her hand gently but firmly, and she felt her skin begin to tingle, first in her hand, then her wrist, followed by the rest of her body.

Trying her best not to shiver noticeably, she focused her gaze on her empty tea cup. She felt so... warm with Severus. If only she didn't have to leave this moment so quickly to run off to that cretin Umber. Well, she did have a few more minutes... and it couldn't hurt. "You know, I think I will have more tea."

She squeezed his hand and was filled with more warmth when he squeezed back.

* * *

"One drop is all you will need, Miss Granger," said Umber, squeezing the dropper full of "super-serum" ever so slightly so that a single drop fell on Hermione's tongue. "Of course, to achieve the full effect, we would use five drops, but we can save that..." he smiled evilly, "...for the presentation this evening."

Hermione gulped, already wishing she hadn't agreed to this.

"We'll just wait a minute or two for the effects to take hold. You should feel a slight stinging sensation in your limbs, but it will pass quickly, and then we will begin. A slight headache to accompany the stinging is normal."

She was already feeling the stinging, but there was no pain in her...ah, there it was. Both the headache and the stinging reminded her of the time she'd been given Morphine through an I.V. after breaking her arm as a child. She wondered if there were some traces of narcotics in the serum. Of course, if that was true, there would have to be something else in the serum to amplify the mind-altering qualities...perhaps rose hips or maybe Kneazle hair. Some of the ingredients in Doxycide had been known to show stabilizing effects.

The stinging faded, followed closed by the headache, and she was left with just her anxiety at being in so vulnerable a position. So far, she felt completely aware and in control of her thoughts, and that was a good sign; with Veritaserum, the imbiber fell into a sort of trance immediately.

"Let's begin," Umber said softly, and Hermione didn't like the look in his eyes one bit. "What is your full name?"

"Hermione Jane Granger, though my mother did think about Jean as a middle name, but in the end she decided on Jane. I like it better than Jean anyway," she replied, then frowned. She hadn't meant to say all of that.

"What is your date of birth?"

"The 19th of September, 1979." This time she was aware as more words tried to crawl over her tongue, and she resolutely kept her mouth closed.

Umber smiled sickeningly and... waited.

After no more than ten seconds, Hermione's lips opened like a dam breaking. "I was three days early. My due date was actually the 16th, but my mother has always said I was in a hurry to get here. Always eager to get ahead." She took a deep breath and tried not to panic. If one drop was giving her a stream of verbal diarrhea to this degree, what would five be like? No one would stand a chance. The person under the super-serum might suffocate from not breathing between sentences! She closed her eyes tightly and tried to slow her heartbeat.

"Do calm yourself, Miss Granger. There is nothing to be alarmed about. We are just having a friendly little chat. In fact, I only have one more question."

Hermione opened her eyes to find Umber smirking at her, and she felt sick to her stomach.

"What are your feelings toward Severus Snape?"

She reached for her wand and prepared to Apparate away before she could answer, but her tongue was faster than her arm. "I'm falling in love with him. I have always respected him a great deal for everything he's done, but as I've been getting to know him, I've found that we have more in common than I ever could have guessed. He makes me feel safe, warm, challenged, and appreciated. I have always wanted for a man to value my mind, and he seems to. He's exactly the person I've been waiting for, and I never knew he was so close. It strikes me now that I should have realized how wonderful he is a long time ago. Once, when I was in sixth year, Harry and Ron snuck out to go to the Serpentine, and I stayed behind. It was a good thing I did because..."

"I believe that is sufficient, Miss Granger. Wouldn't you say? Swallow this." He reached forward with a new dropper, seeking entry to her mouth.

She choked uncomfortably as she did her best to hold her mouth open even as more words tried to form on her lips. She felt a single drop hit her tongue and swallowed reflexively. "...And he always protected us, even though he didn't have to, and so though he hated Harry so... much."

Taking several deep breaths to calm herself, she fixed a murderous glare on Umber. "You utter imbecile. What do you hope to accomplish with this? It would be no good in the field. Suspects would ramble on about everything so long that the Aurors would fall asleep. Just because you can make something more powerful doesn't mean you should. Regular Veritaserum works perfectly...without all the needless drivel."

"Ah, I must disagree. You've only experienced a taste of the full effect. With a full dose in the blood, the imbiber lets all sorts of interesting tidbits slip. With Veritaserum, one can lie by omission, especially if the interrogator doesn't ask the right questions. But with super-serum, everything comes out. Everything. But not to worry, Miss Granger. Renowned researcher that you are, no doubt you are eager to experience this first hand. You will get your chance this evening."

"This is insane, and you are insane if you think I will be going to your presentation," she sneered.

"Oh, but you will."

"Over my dead body."

Umber chucked. "That won't be necessary. It is as simple as this: if you don't attend my demonstration tonight, ready to volunteer, I will send my memory of this session, and everything you disclosed, to the Daily Prophet. I am quite sure a certain greasy professor would love to read all about your little crush on him."

Fury roiled in her stomach. "You... You... bastard!" This was turning out to be one of the biggest mistakes she'd made in years. It wasn't that she didn't want Severus to know how she felt; but it was so new, and of course he would push her away if he read that she was in love with him. It was too soon for that. They were only just getting to know one another. She couldn't risk it. "Fine, I will be there, but you will swear under Wizard's Oath right here and now that you will not ask me about Severus at all."

He smiled yet another evil smile and said, "Done." Holding his wand upright, he said, "I swear that I will not ask you, Hermione, about Severus or any other personal subject this evening." His wand flashed blue. "Satisfied?"

She was immediately suspicious that he had agreed so easily, but she couldn't find anything wrong with his wording. She nodded once and made for the door. "Mark my words, Umber. One of these days someone will knock you off your pedestal."

"You're welcome to try, Miss Granger."

She slammed the door as hard as she could and hoped it gave him a migraine.

* * *

She spent the remaining hours before the presentation holed up in her room, pouring through the books she had brought with her and trying desperately to think of a way to withstand the effects of the super-serum. If only she had a sample, then she could come up with an antidote, but it was too late for that now. She would just have to hope that Umber staying away from the topic of Severus would be enough to save her from total humiliation.

She doubted it would be.

* * *

After waiting until the last possible moment, she entered the auditorium. It was already full, of course. A quick glance around found Severus seated about half-way back from the podium on the right side. Both seats next to him were taken, and that was just as well. No doubt she was going to have to make a run out of the room when it was over. She took a seat on the aisle near the door and clasped her hands tightly in her lap.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my presentation. No doubt you have all heard the rumors of my new invention, but tonight you will see my super-serum put to the test. You in are for quite a show, my friends. There will be a period for questions after the demonstration, of course, but first... I will need a test subject. As it happens, I have just the right person in mind."

Hermione closed her eyes and swallowed, waiting for the axe to fall.

"Severus Snape, would you be so kind as to join me?"

End Notes: We hope you enjoyed this chapter...only one more to go!

The prompt words used this week were:

Doxycide

Stream

The Serpentine

Stay tuned for the finale, brought to us be Spiderwort!