Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Not my stuff. Just borrowing. No money made.

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Bang!

Lavender’s eyes widened as she saw Harry Potter rush into the room followed by Ron Weasley and others. Bellatrix wasn’t at home, but Rodolphus was, and he hadn’t a chance to react to the newcomers. He was quickly disarmed and bound by an Auror.

“We’ve found you,” Ron said, quickly moving towards her and pulling her into his embrace. “Are you all right?”

She began crying with joy. Ron had come for her! “Oh, Ron… it was so horrible!” she said though her tears, wanting him to pity her. In truth, her experience hadn’t been so horrendous that she’d be scarred for life. The worst part of her captivity was that Bellatrix, at times, was prone to dangerous mood swings. She’d learned quickly to not give the woman any cheek and to try to comply with all she’d been ordered. Luckily, Rodolphus had always been about to step in, not wanting his “plaything” harmed too much.

“Where’s Hermione?” he asked, looking around.

Lavender’s tears stopped abruptly, and she pulled back to look him in the eyes. How could he be worried about Hermione still? She decided to put an end to his fascination with the girl once and for all. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Ron, but…”

“But what?” he asked impatiently.

“Tell us now,” Harry said, taking an interest in their conversation.

“She was given to Snape.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Have you seen her recently? Is she alive?” Harry asked determinedly.

“Last I saw, she was sitting next to him of her own volition and… and snogging him.” Lavender brought and hand up to her chest dramatically. “I’m afraid she doesn’t want to be found. She’s obviously fallen for him.”

“WHAT?” Ron bellowed, moving away from her.

Harry said nothing, simply turning and going to the corner to question Rodolphus. Lavender took this moment to get closer to Ron. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I hate hurting you, but you need to know the truth.” She was pleased when he allowed her to hold him. “I knew you would come for me. Unlike Hermione, I knew not to lose faith in you.”

“Maybe he has her under an Imperius Curse,” Ron said sadly.

“No. From the first night there, he was kind to her and she to him. I… I overheard something.” She looked away. “No, maybe I shouldn’t say anything.”

“Say it.”

“Ron, if you must know… I think they’ve had relations before—during our sixth year at Hogwarts! They mentioned the nights they’d already spent together.” She smirked triumphantly when he blanched, accepting her lie as a possibility. “I love you, Ron. There’s never been anyone but you.”

He nodded and pulled away. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

Harry walked towards them. “Rodolphus has told me where to find Snape. Coming?”

“Hell, yes,” Ron said, dropping Lavender’s hand. “He’s going to pay for what he’s done. Twisted Hermione’s mind, he has.”

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A couple of weeks had passed and things had been progressing nicely for Hermione and Severus since Lavender had left. They’d worked diligently together and finally had some payoff when the spell they’d been working on easily counteracted the potion he’d designed.

He’d told her the truth about everything that had happened in the past and had even confided in her all that had gone on in his life from his childhood till the present. She, likewise, did the same thing and found that she was falling in love with him. What had started out as simply two people needing each other had turned into something more. What worried her was the future.

“I wish we could always stay this way,” she said softly, still sated and lying in his arms after lovemaking.

“Things will change. You know this,” he replied.

“Do they have to? Can’t we just go away together?”

“If I leave now, all that I’ve worked for will be for nothing. I have to make certain that Potter does not fail to get the Dark Lord. I have to make certain that I’m near to pass information on to the Order.” He kissed the top of her head. “I may be killed – I know this already – but if I can make certain that you are safe and that the Order wins, so be it.”

“No, don’t say that. There has to be a way to get you through this… to make sure that you live and are acquitted of all past crimes!” she said, clutching him tightly.

Suddenly, he sat up in bed and cocked his head as if listening to something.

“What is it?”

“Someone is trying to breach my wards. Shite! They’ve unwarded the first one.” He jumped up and began dressing hurriedly. “Get your clothes on, Hermione. Quickly.”

She did as he bade and was soon running out of the door after him. She stopped just in the doorway of their lab, and he quickly thrust a thick book into her hands. “Severus?”

“Page 469. The password is Hermione. Everything you need to know is there. Our documented work and other things.” He kissed her deeply. “They’ve come for you and will be through the wards shortly. I must leave you now.”

“No, wait, I’ll just tell them th—”

“That even though I’ve murdered and done other terrible things I did it for everyone’s good? It won’t work.” Hugging her tightly, he whispered, “We’ll meet again. Somehow.”

“Wait!” she cried. But it was too late. He was already gone. His distinctive pop of Disapparation was lost in the sudden banging and pops of the Order breaking through the wards and coming inside the house.

“Hermione!” Harry called, rushing forth, wand drawn as he looked around. He pulled her into a tight hug. “I was afraid I’d never see you again!”

She relaxed against him, clutching her book to her chest, and began to cry in earnest. She had so many emotions: sadness that Snape was gone, happiness that she was free, worry that Snape would be found and killed, and anger that things had to happen this way. Feeling another hand on her shoulder, she looked up and into the stormy eyes of Ron.

“All right?” he asked.

Nodding, she began to cry even harder. Seeing Ron again brought back all the hurt she’d felt with his betrayal and all the old feelings she’d had. ‘Things have just changed so much,’ she thought. ‘Why couldn’t things have been simple for us all?’

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A/N: Well, there’s another chapter in the works, and it will be out soon! Thanks go to Madam Goodsnatch for the beta!