Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I've borrowed some characters, but I'm making no money for it. Blast!

Thanks go to CocoaChristy for beta reading this.

A loud pop shattered the night's silence just outside of the Burrow. Harry and Ron looked at each other, drew their wands, and ran out the door. Harry's eyes widened as he took in the familiar stiff stance of Snape as he placed Hermione down before him out near the shed.

"Get away from her!" he yelled, wanting a clear shot at Dumbledore's murderer.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, pointing a shaky wand in their direction. "Snape!"

"Harry, no! Ron, wait!" Hermione said while twisting around and looking at them, arms extended in front of her to stave off their speedy advance.

"Get out of the way, Hermione," Harry said firmly.

Instead of doing as he'd asked, she looked back to Snape and nodded, allowing him to simply Disapparate away as she blocked him from the path of their wands. The last thing Harry saw was the mocking expression on his pallid face.

"What did you let him get away for?" Ron asked, moving towards her. "Where have you been? We thought... Fucking hell..."

Harry quickly went to her as she started to sway. He grabbed her just as she went limp and held her closely. "Ron, get your mum! Quick!"

As Ron ran off, Hermione mumbled, "He helped me get away. Snape helped." She sniffed loudly. "I'm free, Harry. I got away!" Her sniffling turned into genuine sobs that caused her whole body to shake. "Free... oh, God..."

He patted her back awkwardly in hopes of soothing her.

"D-don't touch me," she said, moving from his grasp.

When she nearly fell, he pulled her to him again. "Calm down, Hermione. It's just me. It's Harry. Snape can't hurt you anymore," he said softly.

"N-no, he's not..." Her cries grew louder again, and her words were jumbled together.

"When Mr. Weasley came back without you, we knew something was wrong." Harry slowly helped her towards the doorway. "I was afraid that I'd never see you again. We didn't know if Death Eaters had found you or... what."

"Pettigrew," she bit out. "He was Polyjuiced as Charlie. I was fooled into going with him..."

"Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley shouted, running up to help. "Oh, girl, we've been so worried. We've been searching for you everywhere. We feared that you were dead or worse..."

"Mum," Ron said, widening his eyes, "don't say that. She's fine." He looked at Hermione and tried to take over for his mother, hoping to help her inside. "A little bruised and dirty... but you're all right. Aren't you?"

She shrugged away from him, only to relent and allow her best friends to guide her inside. "M-mostly," she replied solemnly, sagging against both of them momentarily as they led her to a chair.

Molly gave her a handkerchief. "Here you are, dear."

"Why was that bast... er... Snape carrying you?" Ron asked, eyeing his mother's worried face.

"O-oh," she stammered, "my foot was hurt on my way out, and Snape fixed it, but he..."

"He killed Dumbledore!" Harry said, unable to contain himself. "If you'd just moved over, I could have hexed him and kept him here for the Aurors!" Noticing her worn expression and the new tears shimmering in her eyes, he lowered his voice. "I just don't understand why he would murder Dumbledore and then help you. It doesn't sound right to me."

Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder. "Do it."

"Do what?" Hermione asked.

"We should check to see if you are under the Imperius Curse," Harry said evenly.

"Boys!" Molly admonished. "She needs a cuppa first."

Pops of Apparition signaled the arrival of others. Moments later, Mr. Weasley, the twins, and Charlie came through the door.

"We came as soon as we heard. Minerva Flooed me just now," Arthur said. "Hermione! Glad you're all right!" he added.

Harry jumped when Hermione screamed, stumbled from her chair, and scooted back frantically, pointing at Charlie. Ron reached her and pulled her away while Harry drew his wand on Charlie.

"What are you on about, Harry?" George asked, pulling his wand and pointing it at Harry.

"Why's she upset to see Charlie?" Harry asked, backing towards the doorway where Ron had taken Hermione. He could still hear her panicked crying. Hearing Hermione reduced to a sobbing mess was something that was hard for him to bear. He should have been the one to go for her. He could have protected her somehow. When everyone paused, he added, "She said that Peter Pettigrew was Polyjuiced as Charlie. How do we know if that's the real Charlie? Or how did they get a bit of Charlie to use in the Polyjuice?"

"We've just come from St. Mungo's," Fred said, nudging George, who then put his wand away. "Charlie was attacked and hexed real good. Been in the hospital, he has. Dad didn't want to tell Mum because she was already worried so much about Hermione and the wedding being put off."

"You didn't tell me that MY son was at St. Mungo's?" Molly ranted. "Minerva knew, but I didn't? No wonder she acted so strangely! Why, she must have Flooed you instantly. I only just stopped talking to her in the grate when Ron told me the news!" She quickly hugged her son, giving him a scrutinizing once over.

"If Pettigrew was parading as me when she was captured," Charlie began, "then I don't blame her for not wanting to see me right now, especially if he... if he harmed her." He looked around. "Did he?" He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration when no one answered. "I'm going to go upstairs and get out of sight for right now. I'm the last person she needs to see. Tell Bill to come up when they get back."

"How do we know you are Charlie?" Harry asked, not putting away his wand.

"Put your wand down," Molly said firmly. "I think I'd know my own son if I saw him." She turned to him. "What did I tell you privately when you first came home days ago?"

"You said that I should have brought a date for my brother's wedding," he said easily.

"That's right. And?"

His eyes darted to Harry. "You said that I should at least give Harry a talking to about Ginny," he said quietly.

"Is that good enough?" Molly asked, looking at Harry's drawn wand pointedly. "Arthur asked him enough questions when he first returned to know that it was truly him, so don't go thinking that it might have been someone else."

"We'll talk about that later," Harry said. "Right now, it's Hermione who needs us. She's more important." Harry noticed a flash of red hair and the spin of a skirt as Ginny fled the kitchen; she'd apparently just entered and had obviously heard what he'd said. "I think maybe Charlie should do like he said." He nodded to the ceiling. "Go above until we sort Hermione out."

"We?" Molly asked incredulously. "I'll sort her out," Molly said, striding forward with a cup of tea. "She may very well need a woman to talk to, and seeing as her mother isn't here, I will have to do." She brushed past Harry and entered the living area. A moment later, Ron was pushed out, the door closing with a snap behind him.

"I couldn't make out what she was going on about," Ron said quietly, eyeing Charlie's retreating back as he and the twins left the room. Both boys leaned towards the door to listen.

"You two shouldn't be spying," Arthur admonished, placing his hat on the table before going to the stove to look in the pot.

"We won't," Ron said, beckoning for Harry to follow him. They went to the doorway near the stairs and sat down. Ron pulled a set of Extendable Ears from his pocket, offering one to Harry, who took it immediately. Together, they listened to Hermione's tale.

"I questioned him, and I really thought he was Charlie. I followed him down into Knockturn Alley because he said..." A few sobs broke through her words.

"It's all right, dear. We've all night," Molly said in a soothing voice. "Take your time."

"I was Stunned, my wand was taken, and I woke up in a dirty cell with Charlie...rather, who I thought to be Charlie. He was touching me. I was naked."

Harry saw Ron's thunderous expression and noticed his hands clenching tightly. Needing to show that he felt the same, he whispered, "Bastards will pay for this."

Ron merely nodded in reply.

Hermione's tale resumed. "I was bound and couldn't move." She sniffed loudly and blew her nose. "When he touched me, I'd hoped that my own protective magic would Disapparate me away or burn him, but it didn't. His hands were on me. I kept asking, 'Why, Charlie? How could you? You're Ron's brother,' not knowing that it wasn't him. He was so rough, so eager."

"No, Charlie would never hurt you that way," Molly said. "I can understand, however, why seeing him would be hard for you. This is still quite fresh in your mind."

"Yes, it just brought it all back, seeing him," she said sadly. "His hands were on me... in me. He touched me there and broke my hymen, saying that I should beg him."

"I'm so sorry, child, so sorry."

"When he tried to kiss me, I did the only thing that I could. I bit him as hard as I could, and he slapped me. I think that's when he was going to start hexing me."

"Did he not?"

"No, Snape came in and stopped him. He unbound me and let me get dressed."

"And then?"

"There were other Death Eaters and Vol... You-Know-Who. They were discussing killing me or just torturing me. Uh, and oh, pushing on me and debating my fate. Snape, he bought me some extra time by suggesting that I not be killed. He ended up hiding me and getting me away safely, p-putting the blame on Wormtail."

"Well, I don't know what to think about Severus. It's what I would expect of him normally, but after what happened at Hogwarts with the headmaster, I am just as surprised as Harry and wonder if there is more to it than him just being helpful." She sighed. "Would you object to us making sure you're not under any hexes?"

"No, I won't, but I found out that Snape was forced into doing what he did."

"Yes, he's a Death Eater, dear. You-Know-Who gives orders, and they obey them."

"No, Mrs. Weasley, that's not what I mean. Dumbledore knew that Draco was trying to kill him, and he..."

"He?" Molly prodded.

"I need some time to think," Hermione finished. "I'm exhausted, and I'd like a hot bath."

"Anything you'd like, Hermione," Molly said softly. "About your assault, would you like to go out to see a Healer and be looked over?"

"No, I'm humiliated enough. I just want to forget about this until I can deal with it properly."

There was a long silence next. Both Harry and Ron looked at each other, eyes blazing with anger and indignation, both making silent vows to destroy Peter Pettigrew.

"Mrs. Weasley?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want anyone else to know right now. Harry and Ron, they might do something reckless, and I don't want to be responsible for that. There are other things more important than this that we've got to deal with. My mum and dad, please, I don't want them to know."

"But, Hermione, they are your parents and deserve to know..."

"This is my personal business, and I will decide who needs to know...if anyone should need to know any details. I'm an adult, and I want you to respect my wishes."

"Of course... of course I will, and don't you dare keep anything from me. I'm here for you." There was some sniffling. Molly began crying and said emotionally, "I love you like a daughter. I know my Ron fancies you, and I just hope that this won't stand in the way of you becoming part of the family in name one day."

As both women apparently began sobbing in earnest, Ron put away the Extendable Ears and motioned for Harry to follow him outside. He began pacing immediately. "I'm going to kill him. That dirty, rotten rat had his hands on her! He hurt her!" He flicked his wand and zapped a nearby shrub, causing leaves to blast into the air. "She didn't deserve that!"

"And Snape..." Harry tried to think of the words to explain how he was feeling about the man he hated more than anyone else.

"At least the great git got her out of there and brought her here!" Ron defended.

"Yeah, I know that, but I don't have to trust it, do I? He's done things for us before and still ended up killing Dumbledore!" Harry returned adamantly.

"No, you don't have to trust it," Ron agreed, "but I can still be grateful. He could have turned the other way and let them all have her."

Harry nodded and began thinking about what they'd heard. Snape had saved her. Why would he kill the one man who had trusted him for so long only to save the life of a Muggle-born student he'd never particularly liked anyway?

"Another betrayal on Wormtail's belt, this," Harry muttered darkly, not wanting to think of Snape's betrayal any longer. "Only this time he had an actual hand in it."

"You overheard," Hermione said from behind them.

They both jumped slightly and guiltily turned about to face her.

"We did," Ron said defiantly, moving forward to draw her to him protectively. "We needed to know."

She cringed a little and shied away, but she allowed him to loosely hold her. "I just need to think about things." She shrugged. "Please, you two, don't do anything foolish. I know you want to go off and..."

"Find him," Harry interrupted, moving to her side.

"Kill him," Ron added. "Slowly."

Hermione sighed. "I think that we all need to have a private visit with Dumbledore."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Snape," she said simply.

Harry groaned in annoyance. "That..."

"He helped me, Harry. I've reason to believe that we've misunderstood some things. I think he could help us. Merlin knows we need it."

"No," Harry said firmly. "I won't ask him for help or accept it. He's a murderer, plain and simple. He can't be trusted."

"If it's the only way to defeat Voldemort, I think we should take whatever help we can get," Hermione said. "And maybe it wasn't exactly murder. Maybe it was something else." She frowned. "Tomorrow, when I'm up to talking more, I'll tell you the things I heard and what I gathered from a conversation with him."

"Maybe we should talk to Dumbledore's painting," Ron said with a shrug. "It can't hurt. We'll just have to figure out how to get McGonagall to let us do it."

"Yeah, she was right protective of the portrait last time."

"Agreed then?" Hermione asked, smiling unsteadily for the first time before moving from Ron's embrace.

"Agreed," Ron said immediately.

"All right," Harry muttered a moment later. "Just so you know, Charlie is upstairs, and we've checked him out. It's really him."

"I should apologize maybe," she said.

"He understands," Ron whispered. "Here," he extended his hand, "I'll go up with you to your room."

Harry nodded. "I'll come. I need to talk to Ginny." He followed his two best friends up the stairway with the latest event weighing heavily on his mind. What should he do? No matter what Snape had done to protect Hermione, he'd still have a score to settle with him. He didn't care what proof Hermione had. It wouldn't stop him from seeing the hate on Snape's face as he'd betrayed the headmaster. What should I do? He gazed at Hermione and frowned. Her shoulders were slumped as if defeated. She had an air of determination about her, false cheer...if one could call it that...but she seemed all right. Sort of. Confusion settled in. Dumbledore's portrait would know what to do.

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"Well done, Severusss," the Dark Lord said after hearing how the transfer went.

"It was perfect. She didn't allow Potter or Weasley to hex me." He grinned nastily, flashing his yellow teeth. "Granger trusts me completely, won't tell them anything more about what happened between us here, and will soon be gathering information to unknowingly pass on to me. We already made arrangements to exchange owls disguised as her parents' letters."

"You've already mentioned a cave to me from a conversation with her. That alone has been worth this ordeal, for I have a good idea already what old Dumbledore set Potter about before his death. Good plan." He paused, lost in thought, before smirking. "I can't believe the idiotic girl actually believed that you could Occlude your mind and hers at the same time, keeping your plans secret." He made a tsking noise. "Poor, naïve child. Those fake bruises wouldn't have even fooled Bellatrix, and she dares to think that you two have hoodwinked me?"

Snape nodded, smirking nastily. "Very naïve," he agreed.

"You are already my most trusted advisor. What more would you want as a reward?"

"Master, I would like the pleasure of being rid of Wormtail once and for all. I believe it would show goodwill on my part if he turned up bound and gagged for Potter's gang to seek vengeance against." Severus would love to have a part in the rat's downfall. "Completely Obliviated of anything important of course," he added quickly as he noticed a look of uncertainty on his Master's face.

"Do you think losing a loyal follower is worth this?" the Dark Lord asked, eyes boring into Severus' the entire time.

"I do, my Lord. I wasn't wrong about how easy it would be to manipulate the Granger girl." He paused for effect. "I simply acted the part of a guilt-ridden man, spouted some sentimental nonsense, and she was mine to influence." He pushed back a curtain of dark hair from his face. "Consider: I know them better than any other followers. Potter is likely still very suspicious. Weasley would be easy to sway; after all, I've saved his girl from Wormtail's clutches. And Granger, as you know, is already mine."

His Lord finished for him. "And sending Wormtail would be yet another brick removed from the wall blocking you from having Potter's... forgiveness and reluctant trust."

"Yes, my Lord," Severus replied with certainty.

"Wormtail is yours to do with as you will, Severusss," hissed the Dark Lord. "Nagini and I have business to attend."

"Good evening, my Lord," Severus said, smiling arrogantly, watching his Master's slow retreat. Once the Dark Lord was gone, his smile faded, and he sank down onto a nearby chair.

Author's Notes: The bad thing about accepting these challenges is that you intend to write a quick one-shot story, but it becomes something you'd like to develop even more. Unfortunately, I doubt I will go any further with this one, allowing the reader to decide for herself if Snape is "good" or "bad" here.

Hopefully, I've met the challenge guidelines. Those are listed below. Thanks for reading. This was fun. Cheers!

Andrian1's request: Something set right after HBP where Severus finds Hermione through Voldemort orders, dark and angsty and with smut. Whether he is carrying out those orders or has his own agenda is up to you. Implied, Non-con acceptable.