Chapter 15

Disclaimer: Not my characters. Just having fun with them.

Thanks go to Charmed_Nay for the beta (she's always so busy!). I'd also like to thank amsev for giving this a read through as well.

Harry couldn't help himself. He wanted to see the memories McGonagall had given him once again. It had only been a couple of days since they'd had that talk about Snape, but he'd seen the memories many times, unable to stay away. The first one had been a shock to him, causing him to rethink things almost immediately.

Lily Evans packed her books into her bag slowly, as if waiting for something. Harry saw where her eyes were drawn: to Snape. Like McGonagall, he moved to the left side of the room to get a better look at her face. It was drawn and sad. Realizing he didn't have to busy himself and pretend to be uninterested, he walked forward just as Snape began to pass by his mother.

There was a minute nod before Snape began walking away. Harry watched as his mum beamed brightly and bit her lip.

Harry pulled a memory from one of the phials neatly lining the cabinet's shelves. This one was labeled as The Library's Tower. "Why do I do this to myself?" he muttered aloud. Taking a deep, calming breath, he leaned forward and allowed himself to be drawn into the memory.

McGonagall...in cat form...crept against the shadowy walls of the tower, getting as close as possible. Harry walked straight over to his mother and watched her as she gazed out across the lake of Hogwarts. She was very beautiful, her long hair blowing in the cool breeze, her lips lit with a bright smile, and her eyes glowing in the moonlight.

He knew from the way she looked that this was after the memory he'd seen in Snape's Pensieve. Why? Why would she want to talk to Snape after he'd humiliated her and called her Mudblood in front of everyone? That was the question that he couldn't stop thinking of.

Yes, McGonagall had explained that they'd known each other and had been friends before Hogwarts, but still... he'd called her a Mudblood! Tossed her friendship aside to save ugly face!

He heard the soft steps behind him and the swishing of a cloak.

"Severus, you came," Lily breathed.

"What is it that you want, Lily?"

"I want to talk to you."

"You've not wanted to talk to me in months. Why now?"

"Next year will be our last year at school, and I've come to realize that I don't want to go through another term like this past one...you and I on the outs. I miss you and hate not being able to speak to you."

"Lily," Snape said softly, stepping closer and gathering her into his arms.

Harry's frown deepened, as it always did, and he leaned against the ramparts in hopes he'd hear something new. Something that explained this better. Oh, he knew the truth, but he simply didn't understand it. His mother sobbed a few joyful tears and lifted her face to Snape's.

When she opened her mouth to speak, however, Snape pounced on her...lowering his head and pressing his lips to hers. Harry looked away. He'd seen the kiss many times: long, passionate, full of pent up longing. He strained his ears, hoping to hear some new whisper, but there were none of course.

Snape's shaky voice was the first to speak. "How I've longed for this."

"Why did you never tell me?" she asked, voice full of awe.

"I...I thought you knew all along," he admitted.

"I'd hoped, but then... that day."

"Don't speak of it."

They began to kiss again, both mumbling words of love, and as McGonagall left to give them their privacy, Harry, too, was removed from the memory.

She'd told him that she would show him more memories, but she'd only do that after he'd digested these first two and mulled over all she'd told him. He felt he was ready to learn more. There were so many unanswered questions.

His mother had started dating his father at some point in their last year. Why would she be with Snape like this in her sixth year? What had happened to change things between them, sending her to the one man Snape hated?

A tapping on the window drew his attention.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ O ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE EVENING PROPHET

Harry Potter Destroys Section of Hogsmeade Pub

Brought to you by Rita Skeeter

I have just returned from the Hog's Head pub in Hogsmeade where the proprietor, who demands to not be named, claims to have had to toss out the Chosen One, Harry Potter! He says that the boy was there in disguise, meeting with a certain red-haired friend. We can be certain that this is his sidekick, Ronald Weasley. It seemed they were fighting about a woman.

Where was the other friend who normally accompanies them? She was not to be seen. And she is possibly the woman who was cause of the argument that ensued and Harry Potter's rage! Remember back in his earlier Hogwarts years when I reported that Miss Hermione Granger had hurt our poor hero by leaving him coldly for the Quidditch star Viktor Krum? It's apparent she has done it yet again! Whom did she go to this time? Has she been leading both boys on? Our hero has enough to deal with already without the likes of her adding to his burden.

For patrons interested, the Hog's Head will be closed until tomorrow evening. All repairs should be made by then. It was an unknown hex Potter used to bring down part of the wall and ceiling, so it's taking a bit longer to fix...although it's been said he's paying for damages and has apologized. Stay tuned for more information as soon as I can get it! I'll definitely follow this up and stay on top of things!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ O ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I still don't see why we had to do it like that," Ron said uncomfortably.

"Because," McGonagall said, "Voldemort will think he's coming between the two of you and will believe that Harry's cracking under pressure."

"Besides," Moody added, "this will keep your friend safe. If he thinks her being a hostage is useful in this way, he'll keep her around."

Harry frowned. "I hope so." His eyes moved to meet his old head of house's confident gaze.

"We will know soon enough, won't we?" she said softly. After a small sigh, she asked, "Anyone else have any questions?"

Kingsley stood. "I think with the information the Malfoys gave us, we've a better idea of where some of these Death Eaters are hiding. By the end of the week, we'll have it narrowed down."

"Aye," Moody said. "And maybe Granger will be with them."

Tonks laughed. "Who'd have thought the Malfoys would have truly wanted to tell us everything. Perhaps they are trying to change."

McGonagall nodded. "Or trying to stay out of Azkaban."

"When do the boys have to stage something else?" Molly asked. "I don't like the negative feedback from this already." She nodded towards Ron. "We've got some owls that were rather nasty."

"Yeah, a couple have found me here." Ron stood and stretched. "Well, so long as it keeps Hermione safe." His eyes lowered to the floor.

Harry knew that he was thinking of what the Malfoys had said about Hermione having to share a bed with Snape. He hoped his friend would stay strong and be accepting of things. As soon as he could, Harry vowed to explain everything to Ron...the staged memories as well...

"Everyone is invited to come back to the Burrow with us. Molly's made her famous meatballs," Arthur said jovially.

"We 'ave uzzer plans," Fleur said with a small smile.

"Yeah, sorry, Mum. Maybe tomorrow we'll come 'round?" Bill added as he noticed his mother's frown.

"Oh, all right. Newlyweds," she said softly. "Ronald? You'll come, won't you?"

"Er... yeah, sure. Harry?"

"I'll meet you there," he said.

"Why? What's going on?"

"I thought I might go talk to Dumbledore...his portrait, I mean."

"Oh, want I should come?"

Harry grinned. "I'll go through the Floo with McGonagall and back the same way. You can go to your mum and dad's."

"Thanks, mate," he said. "See you there."

Minutes later, Order members began clearing out, leaving Harry and McGonagall alone.

"Is something wrong?" she asked immediately.

"Yeah, I got another batch of memories just before the meeting," he said, leading her to the locked cabinet that held his Pensieve and other memories. "If Ron's mum hadn't been here, he might have seen me get them."

"Quite close then."

He nodded. "I didn't look at them, but they can only be more of the same."

"If you'd rather not..."

"I have to. There might be something in there that's a clue."

She nodded. "In you get. I'll follow shortly after."

"Right then." In a practiced move, he quickly fell into the basin to live through the memories.

As before, Voldemort was waiting for him.

"Welcome, Potter," he said with a high-pitched cackle. "I heard some news that you aren't doing well." He made a tsking noise with his mouth. "Pity, that, isn't it?"

The man's red eyes seemed to pierce him, though Harry knew he couldn't truly see him. He felt hate and anger bubbling in his chest. One day, Voldemort would pay for everything he'd done in his life.

"Same rubbish as last time?" McGonagall asked.

"Yeah, he's going on about how it's such a shame that I was so angered and how good Snape's taking care of Hermione."

"Mmmm. I thought as much. Prepare yourself, Potter. We don't know what all we'll see."

"I'm ready."

As if on cue, the scene changed around them, leaving them again in the old building the Death Eaters had been using to seek refuge. This time, however, Hermione was kneeling over Rabastan Lestrange and applying some cream to his arm. There was blood all over his clothes, and he was obviously in much pain, writhing and flailing about.

"Hold still," she hissed, forcefully pulling his arm back to her.

"Let go of me, Bella!" Rodolphus yelled from across the room. "I want to see to my brother."

Snape leaned over the man. "Rabastan, what's become of Wormtail?"

"Dead," he said before moaning loudly.

"Please. Hold still," Hermione said tearfully.

He grabbed her by the front of her dress. "Nearly got killed meself!"

Snape pushed him back down while Hermione went about healing his wounds with the salve.

"Why's she helping him?" Harry asked. "She ought to let him die."

"It's in her nature, isn't it? To help those who need it."

"Yeah, but he is a Death Eater."

"And also a man who might die," McGonagall said. "Besides, if she did nothing, wouldn't it look strange?"

"Yeah, I expect it would," he agreed.

The scenery changed, and this time, Hermione was placing a bowl of soup next to a sleeping Rabastan Lestrange. "Severus says to give this to him. There's pain potion mixed in it as well."

Rodolphus nodded without looking at her, simply gazing down at his brother. Harry was shocked to see that the man truly cared for his brother. Bellatrix, however, was over by the fire reading a book and seemingly unfeeling about it all. Following Hermione across the room to Snape's makeshift laboratory, Harry had a strange feeling come over him.

She seemed at home, didn't she? He voiced as much to McGonagall but was hushed.

"He's still sleeping," she said softly.

"I suppose that's a good thing," he replied tersely.

To Harry's surprise, his friend placed a hand on his arm and squeezed it in a gesture of comfort. Snape looked down at it and then up at her again. In a move that was now familiar to Harry, Snape gathered Hermione in his arms, placing his chin atop her head.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Harry's gaze met McGonagall's, and he could see that she sensed something had changed as well, but the woman didn't speak, not even as the scenery altered once again.

"May I come in?" Severus asked, opening the door.

Hermione sank lower in the bubble-laden tub. "Yes, but I thought I'd locked the door."

"You did." He lifted his wand and shrugged. "I wanted a word."

As if he had the right to do so, he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bath, watching her intently while she shifted and faced him slightly.

"Is something wrong?"

"You've been a great help these past few days. My master is pleased and sees why I have chosen you."

"Severus..."

"Let me finish."

"All right."

"I want to know. Are you happy?"

"I don't like being a hostage."

"Do you feel like one?"

"Not exactly."

"Even Bellatrix is being kind to you."

"Yes, she ignores me completely now and has ceased calling me a Mudblood."

"And has brought you a gift as thanks from the both of them for your care of Rabastan."

"What? Soap to wash my filthy hands?"

"Robes... a few of them."

Hermione smiled. "I would like to wear something normal." She nodded towards what looked like a discarded sheet on the floor. "Those dresses... ugh."

Snape leaned over, and just as he'd done before with Lily, he seemed to pounce on Hermione...hands and lips on her face. Harry turned his face, not wanting to see any more. McGonagall continued to stare, however, and Harry saw a soft smile on her face.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked.

Hiding her smile, she coughed and said, "I'd bet that she's not naked under there."

"Well, you won't catch me going look, will you?"

"It's all staged still."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Looks sort of real to me. You can't say that she doesn't seem... happy...or him for that matter."

The scene began fading away, and they found themselves back at Grimmauld Place.

"Do you truly believe that?"

"Well, he looked at her like... like he looked at Mum in those memories you gave me!"

"So, you've been thinking about what I showed you then?"

"How could I not?"

"Are you ready to know more?"

"Yes," he said immediately. "I want to know why she met him that night, and if she loved him," here he made a horrified expression, "why did she end up with my dad?"

"She met him because she did love him, and the reason she eventually turned to your father... Well, she loved him, too."

"I'm confused."

"Things had changed too much by then. She disliked Severus' friends, and the feeling was mutual. Her friends certainly disliked Severus. They thought by meeting privately, they would be at peace."

"But someone found out?"

"Yes, Sirius Black."

"Oh." Harry thought back to the way Snape and Sirius had spoken to each other...extreme dislike on both their parts. He thought of the way Sirius had mistreated Snape in the memory he'd seen.

"Yes, exactly. Of course, there was trouble for them after that, and what with Severus' parents being killed, things were only going to get worse."

"Killed?"

"Yes, Muggle car crash. It was horrible...even made the Prophet."

"So, he lost both parents, too, then. Like me."

She nodded. "I'm going to leave you with a few more memories."

"You really like him, don't you?"

"I always did, yes. He was a studious boy, and sometimes, we professors wish to reach out and try to guide some students. He seemed to need our attention, as it was obvious he wasn't getting it at home." She frowned. "Never really let us get close though. Too proud, you see."

"If he's such a good man, why join Voldemort? Why kill Dumbledore? Why leave my mum?"

She looked at him appraisingly. "I think it's time you talk to Albus. I think you're ready to hear everything from him." She moved towards the grate. "Come."

Harry nodded and followed her, feeling relieved. He was about to find out the truth...finally. And he wouldn't leave Dumbledore's office until he learned the full truth about the tower that night either. He only hoped that soon enough they'd find Hermione and stop her from truly developing feelings for Snape. She was Ron's girl after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ O ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus had come to bed ten minutes earlier, and no sooner than he'd undressed and extinguished their lamp had the noise started...the noise being moans, grunts, and breathy gasps from across the room. It seemed that Bellatrix and Rodolphus were taking advantage of their conjugal rights. Hermione tried to keep still, but she couldn't help shifting and squeezing her thighs closer together every so often. The sounds they were making, coupled with the sexy section of the romance book that she'd just read, had her completely aroused. She wished that Severus would leave their bed so that she could touch herself, make herself feel some of what they were feeling.

How could he not be affected by the sounds of sex? Just the imagery was enough to heat Hermione's blood...even if it was those two. Imagining the heroine and her savior from her book was easy enough. However, the heroine's face kept changing to hers, and the hero... Why wasn't it Ron? She couldn't see a distinct face, but he had black hair, much like Snape's. She idly wondered if the elf-made wine had anything to do with her feelings. Severus had allowed her to have the rest of the bottle after dinner, and although it was only just over half, it was more than she'd ever had in one sitting, causing her to feel a little restless and giddy for a little while. They'd all had wine, toasting Rabastan's regaining use of his arm.

Movement. He was turning on his side to face her. There was only a small sliver of moonlight shining through the boarded windows, but it was enough to silhouette him, showing her that he was propped on his elbow and likely staring down at her. Could he see her face? His was shadowed, so it was possible that he could see her open-eyed gaze. She dared to move her head to glance at him fully and could just make out his nose.

A finger upon her lips startled her. It traced her bottom lip first, then her top lip, and then it moved along her jaw. Her body stiffened as his inched closer, his bare chest brushing her arm.

"Do you hear them?" he questioned in a light whisper, liquored breath close to her ear.

"Y-yes," she answered in kind. So... it did affect him.

His hand abruptly left her jaw and moved slowly down her throat, over her collarbone, and to the valley between her breasts, causing her to pull in a sharp breath and hold it.

"Let me fuck you," he said in a low voice, not exactly a whisper, but loud enough so that only she could hear it. Nonetheless, her heart began to pound within her chest.

Her eyes widened even more in surprise, and her stomach flopped and tingled. Just how much had he drank? She released the breath she'd been holding in answer. "No..."

"Yet you want me to even while you say no," he said, slight slur in his voice, hand now circling one of her breasts, teasing its peak through the fabric of her nightgown.

She said nothing, only closed her eyes against his silhouette, allowing his touch to continue and willing herself not to respond openly. When his mouth found her neck, just below and behind her ear, chills moved through her body, causing her to gasp in delight and grope at the sheet with her hand. However, instead of clutching the fabric of the sheet, she grabbed at the fabric of his underpants and his unmistakable erection.

"Oh," she said in surprise, releasing him quickly.

It was too late, though, for he ground against her hand and hip, vigorously tugged at her throat with his lips and tongue, trying to mark her as his own, and traveled down to the juncture of her thighs with his hand.

When she made no move to fondle him again, he commanded, "Touch me."

She still did not comply. This was wrong. They'd both drank after dinner and were simply aroused because of the moans of the other couple in the room. He didn't truly like her...they'd only be putting on an act...and she returned the sentiment. Mostly. He's a murderer, she tried to remind herself. But that Snape was long gone to her now that she'd been staying with him. God, his touch feels so good.

Beneath her knickers his hand slid, fingers curling in possessively, one finding its way inside of her.

"So wet," he murmured against her skin. He leaned over and bit at her breasts through her gown. "Get it off."

"Please don't," she pleaded in confusion. She didn't want to betray Ron, and yet... she wanted his touch to continue. She wanted to feel release. A naughty voice whispered, What's the difference? It wouldn't be the first time that he's touched you or enabled you to feel pleasure. What's another little touch? But this seemed different.

"Get it off... I want to taste your flesh," he said again, slur leaving his voice, replaced by a more needy tone.

She moved to tug up her gown, pulling it up and over her head. The moment she settled down against him again, his mouth fervently renewed its ravaging of her breasts, and his fingers, which never left her knickers, continued to explore and then delve into her and trace a path along her heated flesh, teasing her relentlessly.

"Ah," she gasped, pressing her skin against his mouth more firmly.

"I want to fuck you," he said, accentuating his words with a frantic movement of the pad of his thumb over her clitoris. "Just say the word..."

"J-just touch me," she heard herself say. "Nothing more."

He shifted, maneuvered his body, and kicked away his underpants, pulling her hand down and pressing it against his hard arousal. "Reciprocate," he purred.

Pushing away all thoughts of rejection and of her morals, she began touching him with the same intensity, pressure, and speed that he touched her with. It was as though he knew just what to do to light a fire within her body. Thoughts seemed to rush out of her mind, and then there was only the moment. The light dampness near the head of his shaft was spread over and used as a lubricant so that her hand could slide over it easier.

When his tongue began forcefully flicking over her hard nipple, coupled with the grinding of a digit against her clitoris, she cried out anxiously, wanting more and knowing that an orgasm would soon find her and take her away from reality briefly, making her feel free even though she was not. Faster and faster her hand moved over his skin. She wanted him to feel what she was feeling, and by the way he was breathing, she could tell that he was enjoying her firm stroking. She increased her pressure when she wanted him to do the same, and eventually, it brought about simultaneous results.

Her peak finally began to climb towards explosion, she moaned and panted to encourage it along, finally crying out exuberantly when she felt her body explode with sensation. Snape's fingers never stopped until she stilled them with her free hand and squirmed away moments later from over sensitivity. It was then that she realized that she'd stopped pumping him, but she knew that he'd joined her, as there was a sticky, hot wetness against her forearm and stomach.

The instant she tilted her head to attempt to see his expression, his lips descended onto hers possessively. While surprising, it was not unwanted. She returned the kiss with equal appreciation, thinking of how soft his thin lips felt as his mouth devoured hers. A final sweep of his tongue against hers and a last press of his lips chastely against hers ended their kiss.

He sat up, and she heard a smacking sound and what seemed to be a small groan of appreciation. What is he doing? she wondered briefly before realizing that he'd brought his fingers to his mouth to taste her. Had he done that the time before on Grimmauld Place when he'd touched her there? She wanted to talk to him, to touch him, to be close to him... if only for this night, but she felt the whisper of magic against her flesh, cleaning away her sin. He settled back down next to her, but instead of turning over, he remained on his side facing her and pulled up the duvet to cover them. Minutes of silence later, his breathing evened out as he succumbed to slumber.

How would he feel about what happened in the morning? How would she feel? This was something different than what they'd been doing...the pretending in front of the others and the staged intimacies. She didn't want to think about it. Instead, she craved some sense of comfort and moved as closely against him as possible. She was rewarded with one of his hands being placed on her stomach. It wasn't exactly a warm embrace, but she felt oddly satisfied all the same. Sleep finally came for her.

Southern's Notes: Hmm. So, things are definitely changing a bit for Snape and Hermione. It's a pity she's still his captive. Perhaps that will change soon enough, eh? Sorry this took so long. My beta has had a very busy RL lately.