Part II, chapter 2
Chapter 15 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 to Southern for making the time for me!
“Granger.”
Hermione sat up, immediately awake. Snape loomed over her as usual, but there was something different about his air. She didn't know if it was her new confidence or a change in him, but he seemed less threatening.
“Good morning, sir.”
“That remains to be seen,” Snape replied in his usual snide manner. “Do you need any healing potions?”
Hermione blinked. Did Snape just offer her comfort, or was that a threat? She hoped the two sentences weren't related, as she really did want a healing potion. She was even stiffer now than she had been when she'd crept back into the room after Wormtail had fallen asleep.
“I would appreciate a healing potion very much, sir.”
He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her for a moment before nodding and stepping back. He walked towards the bathroom, indicating with a finger that she should follow.
When she caught up, he was standing by the sink holding a small blue bottle out to her. “Take this,” he ordered.
Still not certain that she trusted him, she decided it would be better to have him drug her than to suffer the consequences of doubting him yet again. With very little hesitation, she swallowed the dose and gave the bottle back to Snape, who nodded.
“Now bathe.”
Hermione flushed with embarrassment, but nodded and started stripping. Ever since that first bath, he had ordered her to bathe every day. She hated that he did it, although she understood why he did so; it was a highly effective demoralizing technique. She hated even more that she was affected by it. She wished she could just strip bare, bathe and towel off without so much as a blush as he watched her.
At least since that first bath he hadn't touched her again.
Pursing her lips, she decided that she wouldn't blush. She wouldn't let him terrorize her. Yes, she was his prisoner, but she wouldn't give in so easily. She would not lose herself.
On that thought, she straightened her shoulders and took off her robes, keeping her head held high. She turned on the shower and stepped into the cool water right away. She didn't look at Snape. Besides not wanting to see him leering or glaring at her, she didn't want him to see her resolve. She didn't want to give him any excuse to beat it out of her.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't know Snape had moved until he touched her lightly on the shoulder. Startled, she whirled around so quickly that she slipped on the wet porcelain. She had a sense of déjà vu as she started falling, especially when Snape reached out and caught her by the arms, steadying her until she'd regained her footing.
She locked eyes with him and just stared for a moment as the now warm water continued to beat against her skin. He released her arms and backed away, scowling, and offered no explanation for his touch.
She continued to stare at him until he raised a sardonic eyebrow and made a point of sweeping his eyes over her body. She instinctively crossed her arms, which only made his lips quirk. Annoyed with herself that she had let him get any reaction out of her, she turned back to the task at hand and quickly finished washing herself.
She steeled herself when she turned off the water. This was the part she hated most. She had to turn and walk towards Snape to get her towel. She had to either avoid his gaze or look at him watching her. Neither was an appealing option, but today she chose to look at him.
The worst part about looking at him wasn't that he was ogling her. In fact, that might have made it better. It was the fact that he looked her over with complete indifference. She didn't want him to be lusting after her, but his indifference, and occasional sneers, made her feel far more inferior than any of Draco's taunts of 'Mudblood' had.
Today was no different, except that he seemed to be in a worse temper than usual. She made a mental note to do her best to remain on his good side, if there was such a thing.
“Get dressed,” he barked. She headed to the bedroom wardrobe automatically, grabbing the ratty robe and slipping it over her head.
“Now come,” he said and took off for the potions lab, just like every other morning.
///////////|\\\\\\\\\\\
I can't believe I fell asleep! But her touch was so relaxing... Well, it won't happen again, not until I know what Snape is up to and why he's using Hermione as his weapon.
But, Merlin, that was the best night's sleep I've had in ages. Her hands are magical. I wouldn't mind finding out what those hands feel like in other places.
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
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!