Part I, chapter 10
Chapter 10 of 28
averygoodunThe need to survive is ingrained within the human psyche, but where does self-preservation end and self-destruction begin? Hermione is captured by Death Eaters and is held hostage by Snape and Pettigrew, but she comes up with a plan to escape. Not a romance.
ReviewedAN: Thanks again to Southern the Magnificent!
She set the plates full of food on the table, gritting her teeth at the sight. Even though she wasn't eating, Snape was still making her cook. She had hoped she'd be able to sneak something while preparing the meal, but he'd watched her very closely the entire time. It was worse than Potions used to be.
She sat down across from them, trying to block out the sounds and smells of dinner, but Snape was being unusually vocal, the bastard. He was being as bad as Ron: sighing every time he took a bite, smacking his lips disgustingly, and audibly chewing. It was almost enough to destroy her appetite. Almost.
She was not going to go through the trash, though. She was not going to beg. She'd already apologized, and that was humiliating enough without begging for literal garbage to eat.
Her stomach growled again, painfully.
She saw Wormtail looking at her again.
“Let her eat, Severus.”
“She has chosen not to. Who am I to force her?”
Wormtail eyed her shrewdly. “It doesn't look like this is her choice.”
“Consequences, Wormtail, consequences. I know that's a big word, and it's difficult for you to understand, but she has chosen to suffer.”
“And what will the Master say when she dies of hunger?”
Snape sighed and shook his head pityingly at Wormtail. “She won't die. Why the concern, Wormtail? Are you feeling sorry for the girl? Have you suddenly tapped into a wellspring of house loyalty for her? Is this something I should report to the Dark Lord, that although you had no problem betraying your friends when they trusted you with their lives, you're showing signs of disloyalty for a girl half your age?”
Wormtail glared at Snape. “The Dark Lord knows I'm faithful to him alone.”
Snape's face twisted into a sneer, and he said with delicately intoned sarcasm, “Yes, and that's why he put you here.”
“Whatever you think, Snape, you're not my keeper.”
Snape just chuckled condescendingly. “Of course not, Wormtail.”
“Your arrogance will get you killed one day.”
Snape delicately wiped his mouth with his napkin. “And who will be my executioner? You?” He laughed outright when Wormtail continued to look at him hatefully.
“Wormtail, look at yourself! You're about as threatening as a flobberworm. Why do you think the Dark Lord doesn't keep you at his side where he can watch over you personally? He doesn't want to tarnish his reputation by having a weak idiot like yourself as a visible sycophant. It would give a terribly bad impression, after all.”
Wormtail turned red and stood up so fast his chair rocked back and fell over.
“Go fuck yourself, Snape.”
“Oh, once again such a clever comeback. Bravo.” Snape clapped slowly, mockingly.
Peter narrowed his beady eyes at Snape and left. He hadn't even finished his dinner.
Hermione looked longingly at the plate of food, and Snape noticed.
“Tsk, tsk. Such a waste.”
Hermione turned to him with fearful eyes and was not relieved when he smirked until he said, “Don't worry. That's Wormtail's fault, not yours.”
Relief flooded her, as well as a touch of gratitude for him being fair enough to recognize the truth. She barely noticed when he threw the remains of Wormtail's supper into the bin.
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This is far too easy. But enjoyable.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Traitor
307 Reviews | 7.44/10 Average
this is such a brave and daring story! i had read it before but i couldn't remember where it was posted so i searched through various sites and finally got lucky. this time i will add it to favourites without delay. thanks again for that jewell!
This was GRIPPING.
Wow! I am utterly and deeply moved. It took me quite a while to figure out what you were aiming at and that was a pleasant surprise in itself. There are not many stories out, where the end is not obvious from the beginning.I also liked to have Wormtail described as a human being and actually getting more than a few crucios out of his actions.Thank you for the wonderful story!
Holy mother of gods. That was just the best story I have read in a long time. I have stayed up till 2am reading this because I could NOT put it down... Your torture of her. The food. The sadistic/masochist tones... my god. Just brilliant. BRILLIANT.I have never read a story with wormtail in this character. I was almost sympathitic toward him.And when Snape finally had her! Why was that sOOOO hot to me? Shell
Wow. Brilliant I would rate this much more than 5...
Like a punch in the guts. Wow. I am breathless, horrified, amazed, marveled, disgusted, touched, numb, exhilarated. Thank you for believing in yourself and sharing your story with us!
How hard for Hermione, to feel that she is using Wormtail. You really depicted that so well. Sigh.
*melted to a puddle on the floor"*GASP!*Oh, Severus, you naughty boy!
Catching up with the story after a loooooong time (RL sucks!). Nice "intermission' chapter!
I don't know if I like thinking of Hermione being genuinely upset about Wormtail or Snape's letter acting like he tried to save Wormtail for her.... I jsut don't know what to think of it all... but regardless, the writing was good :)
It really is quite squicky to think of Peter and Hermione. I keep reminding myself that it is to ensure her escape but she seems to actually have concern for Peter at this point. Not caring but concern. And the fact that Snape doesn't seem to care is icky as well. Peter is so gross I'm surprised Snape didn't rip her off of him jsut out of disgust LOL
ugh... wormtail is soooo creepy. And knowing that HErmione is doing him often is just sickening. I hope she either gains what she's after or comes to her senses and ... I don't even know... jsut stops sleeping with Wormtail LOL
I was recced this... I like dark fics.. but that's a brutal way to start out. Well written and I can't say I'm looking forward to what's to come but I'm... interested??
I ended up reading this whole story in one piece, I just couldn't stop reading! :P I just love the way you writes Snape, he is completely believable in this story and so is the other characters. I think you should be very proud of this story, it was a joy reading it (except from the icky wormtail/hermione parts)!
Wow. I thought I wouldn't be able to go past the squicky parts, but... you got me reading for one hour non-stop. Excellent writing.
:x
I'm wondering if she's pregnant . . .
Wonderful story. I read it in about two hours. Just gobbled it up, really. I especially loved your portrayal of Pettigrew, and the way you ended the whole piece.
Long story short: this is amazing. Short story long: anything by Dickens.
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Thank you!
This was a wonderful story - but I might be just dim here when I ask you this question, but my Snape-fangirl-love wants to know who sent the letter? Did Snape truly defect from the Order, or was he happy that she escaped, wanting her to get away all along? Sorry if my Snape-love kept me blinded from any obvious hints you might have left in the story...
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Thank you. Snape sent the letter. For answers to the rest, I suggest you read "Closure." It's a little less vague. ;-)
It was the only way what? He wanted her to use Wormtail to escape?
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
That is the question. What was the only way? How? Why? And, most of all, who?
Response from KarenDetroit (Reviewer)
ARRRGGG!Don't you repect the Geneva Convetions on Torture????
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
*giggle* Is there such a thing in fiction?
That said, there will be a companion piece called, very appropriately, "Closure" coming up pretty soon. A lot of questions will be answered in there (though it's still vague-ish on that one).
Yowza. The sex with Peter/Wormtail was just so icky. And you got the ick factor just right - along with the reality that it wasn't, of all the things Hermione had to endure, really so awful in the grand scheme of things. And then when Snape watched -well, that was wrong and right and actually quite hot. And through it all you never lost the complexity of the emotions involved, the grey-ness of all the protagonists. Thanks so much for a thought-provoking and entertaining read.
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Thank you!!! I... Thank you.
Very well written story the whole way through. I really enjoyed it and was thankfull for the quick updates. The way you ended it was very exciting. Well done job all the way around.
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Thank you!
Hi Avery. Now that I have completed Shades (at least on SH and FF), I finally got the courage to read this story from start to finish. Actually, I started reading when you first began posting chapters, but I only got to chapter 5 before I stopped. To be honest, I found it extremely difficult reading. The words painful and profoundly distrubing come to mind. But I suppose that was the effect you were looking for. Don't get me wrong--your writing itself is excellent. Very descriptive, good characterization and not too wordy (unlike me...). I also applaud your emphasis on a strong theme as I think too many fanfiction writers just want to write something fluffy that will be 'popular'. It takes courage to do something like this. What I found most amazing is that my story could inspire such a piece. It is ironic that your Hermione essentilly makes the polar opposite choice from mine. She compromises nearly all her morals and principles in order to survive, making her a traitor not to Harry or the Light, but to herself. It was a weighty piece of work. Good job.Cheers and best wishes,
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Response from averygoodun (Author of Traitor)
Hey. Well, thank you for reading it! You're right, I was attempting to write something very painful and disturbing. I've read Stockholm Syndrome stories that really, really romanticize the situation and don't take into account that it is a disorder; the victim is ILL, and it is not a healthy, romantic situation.
What I wanted to explore as much as that, though, is that survival really can outweigh morals when it comes right down to it, and Hermione has not proven herself to be as strong as Harry is under pressure. Hermione will have a hard time of it because she knows she did betray herself, even if the trip to the betrayal was almost invisible.
Thank you both for the inspiration (amazing story, btw!), and for your thoughts!