Chapter Seven

Thank you, peskipiksi, for smoothing this out and making me a better story-teller!

Severus and Remus followed close behind Albus as they made their way quickly down the darkened path to the main gates of Hogwarts. The snow-covered gravel crunched under their feet, marking their progress. Luckily, there were heavy clouds scudding in front of a waxing gibbous moon that hung heavily in the sky. Snow was flurrying around the men, adding to the lack of visibility. As they reached the grove of trees that led to the gate, Remus melted off the path and into the edge of the trees. Silently unseen, he shadowed the other two.

Albus and Severus neared the gate to see two figures huddled close together and frantically attempting to enter the gates. The taller of the two looked up at the men's approach, and called out, "Headmaster, please, you must let us in. We ask for sanctuary."

Albus looked bemusedly at the speaker and asked, "Who are you? Why do you seek sanctuary in this place?"

"Albus, it's Andromeda; Andromeda Tonks. Please, you must let us in. My home was attacked, and I barely escaped. Ted was still at work; I managed to get to him and send him to Nymphadora's flat, but when I tried to get to Nymphadora at the Ministry, Death Eaters attacked me in the open. I ran into my companion as I cleared the Floo at St. Mungo's, and we have been looking for a hiding place for three days."

Severus glared suspiciously at the two. "Who is your companion, and why come here?"

Andromeda turned pleading eyes to Albus. "Please, let us in, and I will tell you everything. Please!"

Remus appeared at Severus' side. "There's no one else here, Headmaster, and this is Andromeda Tonks. Polyjuice can't mimic a person's smell."

Deciding quickly, Albus waved his hand and the gates opened enough for the two figures to slip through. "An explanation in detail will be expected when we get to my office. But for now, I simply want to know who it is I am inviting into my school."

Andromeda nodded to the Headmaster. "Of course, Albus." And two hoods were lowered.

*****

The group left behind in the Headmaster's Office spent most of their time in silence. Only Luna and Hermione spoke, and that was in quiet discussion between the two of them. No one else seemed to be interested in anything but the doorway leading to the stairs. It seemed like an eternity before Hermione breathed a relieved, "Severus," and the others looked on in shock as he entered the room a moment later, Remus right on his heels.

They were followed by the Headmaster, who appeared deep in thought. After several moments of gathering his thoughts, he remarked, "Hermione, Luna, I believe that our greatest hopes have been fulfilled. The Summoning Spell worked, and the two Vale Ladies that were lost are now found. They fell into each other's company by accident, and when you cast the spell it drew them here. As soon as they have been seen to by Poppy and have eaten a meal, we will introduce them."

Hermione spoke sharply. "Alex?"

Severus took her hand and squeezed as he reassured her. "Alex is safe. Posey is with him in his nursery. We felt it would be best to take him to our chambers where there is less traffic, and more wards."

Hermione tilted her head in acknowledgement. "He is still sleeping?"

"Yes, I think you have a little while before your presence is demanded again."

Her chuckle was all the answer Severus' remark deserved.

Small conversations had sprung up around the room at this point, and Albus now regained control of the meeting. "While we await our guests, let us finish the story with which Severus and Hermione have been regaling us. I think we have almost caught up on Hermione's life at this point..."

Hermione arched a brow in response. "Certainly, Headmaster," she said. "There is not much more to tell."

"Pray continue, then, Madam Snape!"

*****

Hermione woke early the next morning. She didn't know why, because normally Eileen had to rouse her. Being blind had really thrown her internal clock into a tailspin. She couldn't see light; therefore she didn't wake unless someone woke her. Eileen attributed it more to the lack of sleep and near starvation she endured at the hands of the werewolves. She constantly told Hermione to take it easy and rest. Her body needed time to fully heal itself.

So waking up without Eileen or one of the house-elves in the room was a bit disconcerting. She rapidly got over that when she realised she had gone to sleep not knowing where Severus was. He was never late, and last night had disturbed the sheltered world she had been residing in. She was about to tug the bellpull when Eileen floated into the room in a cloud of nervousness and energy. She bullied Hermione up and into a set of comfortable robes, and then she brushed her hair 'til it snapped and sparked in retaliation.

"Library. Hurry. Severus... "

Hermione jumped in. "Severus, is he here?"

"Didn't I just say that? He's waiting in the library. He needs to speak to you urgently."

Hermione shrank back at those words. "Urgently? Oh no! Greyback has found me, or Bellatrix has. Please, please don't let them take me... " Eileen cringed as Hermione began to panic. Just as she was about to grab the girl, Severus stepped into the room.

"What in Merlin's name is going on? I heard shouting."

Hermione stood and attempted to follow Snape's voice, reaching for the Potions master. "Please, Professor, please don't let them find me. Kill me if you must, but don't let them have me!"

Severus closed the distance between them swiftly and took Hermione by the arm. "No one is going to find you. And you certainly aren't going to be killed. You are safe here, I swear it."

He looked at his mother, who sighed. "When I told her you needed to speak to her rather urgently, she panicked."

"Mother, why didn't you just tell her I was in the library? This was not necessary."

Eileen shrugged and slipped past them to the door. "I'll just check that Posey has tea in the library for you."

After a few moments of allowing Hermione to regain her bearings, Severus led her to the library and sat her in her favorite chair by the window. "The sun is shining today, would you like the curtain open?"

Hermione nodded, smiling shyly and thanking Severus for the warmth she felt playing along her cheek and throat. The sun shone through the leaded glass panes, and sparkled and shimmered on her skin, warming her slightly. She had been so cold that no amount of fire on the hearth or Warming Charms or even blankets and clothes could touch the chill she felt to her bones. The sun was the only thing that could chase the chill away, even for a short time.

After tea was served and finished and the pot replenished for later, Severus sat debating on how to break the news of the newest attack on her body to Hermione. She could feel the tension in the room and decided to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. "What's wrong? I can feel that there is something weighing heavily on you."

Severus looked at the girl – no, young woman – before him and chose to just tell her. "Hermione, do you remember the ritual potion?" At her nod, he continued. "It is a powerful aphrodisiac, and Bella and Greyback are trying to use it to draw you back out into the open."

Hermione sat in shock, not knowing how to respond.

"The purpose of this particular brew is to mate a human female with a werewolf. Such a dark act will lock away the human part of him as the wolf grows stronger and stronger. You were to be used to bind Lupin to Greyback and the Dark Lord. In fact, they used some of his hair to key the potion to him, ensuring that he took you no matter what amount of humanity he may retain."

Severus paused as Hermione, face in her hands, sobbed. "What can we do? I don't want to be used to hurt Remus or the Order. What can I do?"

Severus handed Hermione a handkerchief, shaking his head in bemusement. "In all my days, I have never seen a witch less prepared to deal with emotions."

If Hermione hadn't been crying her eyes out, she might have found that remark funny, but all she could think of was finding an escape. After some time had passed, Hermione got herself back under control and looked to her professor once more for guidance.

"Miss Granger." He paused, a flush of pink in his cheeks. "Miss Granger, I have searched and searched, but there is no antidote for this aphrodisiac other than to consummate a relationship."

Hermione frowned. "Consummate... "

"Yes, consummate... " Severus responded agitatedly. "You must lose your virginity and then the ritual potion will be null and void. If you will recall, they need a virgin for this to work."

"My virginity? But I'm not... "

"Not what? A virgin? But it was required... "

"No, I mean, yes, I'm a virgin, but I'm not ready to be with someone."

Severus took a deep breath. "You have no choice, other than on whom you might choose to bestow this gift. I will return to Hogwarts tomorrow and make the necessary arrangements. Unfortunately, I will have to take you to the Inn at Argante, as you can bring no one here. It will be dangerous, but you need to do the deed as quickly as you can so that the ritual will be lost to Greyback."

Hermione jerked her head towards the Potions master. "Arrangements; what kind of arrangements?"

"I will have to arrange a way to get the Weasley menace here without the Dark Lord or the Headmaster knowing. Thus, the arrangements."

"Don't call him that," choked Hermione. "He is a perfectly nice boy."

Severus's brow arched like a hissing cat. "Indeed."

"But, why would you bring Ron?"

"You were 'dating', were you not? At least, that is what your friends are saying. Weasley has been moping about the castle being pampered and coddled by everyone around him ever since they returned to school to find you missing."

Hermione arched her own brow at that. "We have never been more than friends. I love him like a brother. Why anyone would think that we are compatible I have no idea."

"Yes, yes, very good; so shall I collect Potter then? No? Please, tell me you don't hold a candle for that cauldron-exploding dunderhead, Longbottom." He hissed a relieved sigh as she shook her head, once again crying.

"There has to be someone I can bring. Shall I bring a random Muggle? What can I do? I'm trying to help you here, but I can't if you don't help me in return." Severus' eyes grew a bit wide, and he blushed again as another thought struck. "Oh, well, perhaps that isn't what you need? Maybe there is someone else, perhaps a... female."

Hermione just cried harder.

"Please, let me get one of your friends. At least you will know them."

"There is one other choice... "

Eileen's voice, from the doorway, startled them both, and they immediately gave her their attention. "There is one you haven't named." And she melted back into the hallway like she was never there.

"Mother, I'm trying to help her, not terrify her." He turned back to Hermione. "Are you sure I can't bring you Potter or Weasley; or is there a girl you prefer? There has to be someone you prefer. Hermione, please, or you leave me no choice! You MUST be rid of your virginity or we will lose you!" His normally silky voice cracked with loud emotion.

Hermione sobbed into her hands. "At last, a reason to be grateful I am blind. At least then I don't have to look at... "

A sharp breath halted Hermione mid rant. The resounding slam of the door shocked her into action, and she quickly rose from her seat and took a step forward. Unfortunately, the tea table she couldn't see caused her to stumble. With a frightened cry, she fell, and not being able to judge distance, couldn't catch herself. Her head struck sharply against the hardwood floor, and she never felt the broken shards of teapot that cut her face, or the hot tea that scalded wherever it touched her skin.

*****

It felt like she was drowning. An undertow was pulling her down and away from the shimmering surface she could see above her. Her lungs were beginning to burn from holding her breath, and she was quickly tiring. One last effort, one final push for the surface, and she broke free. Hermione woke herself gasping desperately for air.

It was deep in the night, and both Eileen and Severus had taken turns watching over the injured girl. They had healed the cuts on her face and hands and had done everything that could be done for the burns on her back and arms. They would heal completely; it would just take a little longer because of the new skin that had regrown on the wounds.

Eileen was sitting by Hermione's bed, reading, while Severus paced endlessly in front of the fireplace. No matter how she had hurt him, had torn at his heart and soul, he didn't want to see her hurt. The guilt he felt over her injuries did nothing for his temper or demeanour. And when she started to wake, thrashing about as if drowning in water, he joined Eileen at the bedside, holding one arm as she held the other to prevent further damage to Hermione's skin.

Hermione opened her eyes, but still couldn't see. However, she immediately recognised the Potions master's touch on her arm and his scent in the air. She breathed deeply, inhaling that unique aroma of herbs she recognised as his. He released her suddenly, but before he could get to the foot of the bed, she begged, "Please, you misunderstood."

He stopped at the end of the bed, but didn't turn around until Eileen touched his arm on her way to the door. "Call if you need me, Son." He simply inclined his head in answer.

Severus moved to the chair Eileen had just vacated and gingerly sat down. "I'm still here," he said.

"I never meant to hurt you, I only realised what it sounded like I said when you slammed the door."

Severus tried to interrupt, but Hermione would have none of it. "Please, hear me out, then we will decide what to do about my situation."

"Very well." She was pained by the flatness of his voice, but she soldiered on.

"As you were reeling off people who could release me from this ritual, I became aware of what I wanted, and would prefer. I know you don't have any feelings for me other than those of, dare I hope, friend. But I would gladly give myself to you, even if it was just for one night. I could only think of how grateful I was that I couldn't see the look I know was in your eyes. My being blind would save me from seeing how horrified you must feel to have to do this for me. Just one more burden a hated student has hung on your shoulders."

Severus stared, partly ashamed, partly awed, at the girl--no, the woman--who felt such a need to ease what she perceived as a burden on him. He was so accustomed to following others' directives, directives that normally never took him into consideration, that he couldn't wrap his mind around Hermione's heartfelt and teary declaration.

"Miss Granger... Hermione." He took a deep breath before plunging on. "If we are to do this, I insist that it all be above board. I cannot, in good conscience, take this gift you offer and not offer something tangible in return."

Hermione shook her head. "No, Prof... Severus, I can't expect a sacrifice like that. I am content to know that you will accept me just once, even though you have no reason to."

"Hermione, you don't understand the ramifications of what we must do. You can't have a contraceptive; they won't do any good because some of the ingredients in each potion cancel each other out. Also, several ingredients in the salve have built up in your blood and will react with the ingredients in the contraceptives making you ill, much like the Dreamless Sleep did."

Hermione was quick to respond. "What about the 'Charm'?"

Severus blew out an aggravated breath. "The ritual is a fertility ritual. As a werewolf is an animal, they don't mate indiscriminately. They mate to procreate. I am afraid nothing will protect you except sheer luck. I promise to do everything I can to ensure that luck has a fighting chance, but I want you to understand the consequences. This is why I only offered myself as a last resort. You shouldn't be tied down to me because you had no choice."

Hermione pushed up from her stomach and gingerly sat up in her bed. She pulled Severus forward and managed to touch her forehead to his without too much damage being done. "I have grown inordinately fond of you. I truly think, given time and other factors, I could fall in love with you. I understand that you don't feel this way, therefore I don't hold you responsible for me, or any child that might occur because you chose to save me."

"Hermione, listen carefully. I am inordinately fond of you too. I think that after things settle down, and if we give ourselves the chance, we could be content, if not happy. But if you don't agree to handfast with me, I will not touch you. I will not take a chance on fathering a child without some way of protecting both the child and his mother."

"His mother?"

"Of course, his. A boy with your nose."

Hermione laughed softly, imagining a small boy that looked like Severus, then she sobered.

"You are so worried about hurting me, being wrong for me, that you don't take into consideration my impact on you." Hermione lay back down on her pillows, taking care not to reinjure her back. "I'm so broken, Severus; after all this. Like a pane of glass, I'm shattered beyond repair."

Severus brushed a curl from Hermione's face and chased down the tear that tried to follow. "Oh, no, Hermione, never something so mundane. You may be broken, it's true, but the shards of your soul are as brilliant as stained glass. Even shattered, it is a sight to behold. Those stained glass shards have come together to form a vision so lovely, so strong, that it is painful to look at. You are perfection in your flaws."

Severus took Hermione's hand in his. "All I can do is ask that you trust yourself to me, as I will trust myself to you. I know only too well how difficult that can be. And, if you choose to accept me, you will have a family again. I told you when I first brought you here, that you would never be alone. I meant it."