Part II, chapter 5

AN: Southern rocks, ya'll!

“Granger, it's bedtime.”

Hermione looked over at Snape warily before risking a quick glance at the clock on the mantle. It was an hour before he usually went to bed. Her concern must have shown on her face, as he added, “Now come!” rather forcefully.

Meekly, she got up and followed him to the stairs, resolutely not looking over at Wormtail. She suspected he would behave in some suspicious manner, so she didn't want to compound it with her own. Snape was volatile enough without provocation.

“Awfully early for bed, isn't it, Severus?” Wormtail called out just before Snape took the first step up.

Snape paused and looked over at Wormtail, his expression completely shuttered. “Perhaps,” was all he said before motioning for Hermione to precede him up the stairs. Silently, she complied, still not risking a glance at Wormtail.

She entered the bedroom and heard Snape quietly shut the door. She turned to find him staring at her thoughtfully. After a moment, he shifted into his normal domineering pose.

“Strip.”

Swallowing the lump of fear that was rising, she did as he ordered. When the robe had fallen to the floor, she straightened her shoulders and looked at him resolutely. She was expecting the same expressionless mask he always wore when he looked at her nude form, but was surprised to find his mouth tightening in anger. It was gone quickly, but it had been there. She wondered what he was angry about.

She had thoroughly washed herself before Snape had come back, so there wasn't any hint of her copulation with Wormtail. She'd even wiped down the inside of the robe, just in case Snape's sense of smell corresponded with his nose size.

He hadn't made any indication that he knew what they'd done, but that was the only thing she could think of that might make him angry.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Snape took three large strides, coming up just short of touching her. He towered over her for a moment, peering intently into her eyes. She'd been no match for Voldemort, but she thought her Occlumency was good enough to keep Snape out, so she looked back nervously.

His mouth tightened just slightly as he glared at her, but then he stepped back and gazed at her indifferently.

“Where did you get the new bruises on your shoulders and left hip?”

Hermione frowned and looked down at her hip. Sure enough, there were six nasty bruises developing right where Wormtail had grabbed her with his silver hand. She supposed her shoulder bruises were from the massage, or the floor.

She wasn't sure what to do. Snape had viciously hexed her the last time she'd defended Wormtail, but it wasn't obviously a handprint at this point. Still, it would probably develop into a handprint by the next morning if he didn't offer her some bruise-healing paste or another dose of healing potion.

She looked down and chewed her lip. “Wormtail grabbed me, sir.”

“He's been molesting you?”

She continued to nibble her lip and look at her bare toes, still not sure how to best answer him. Obviously not happy with her demeanor, he grabbed her chin and jerked her face up to look at him. “Answer me.” His voice was as hard as his grip.

“No, sir.”

He raised his eyebrow in obvious skepticism. “Really? It's been blatantly obvious since he got you placed here that he's been lusting after you,” he gave her body another dismissive glance, “for whatever reason. He's an opportunistic little rat. I would have thought he would take every opportunity given to him to avail himself of you.”

She bit her lip nervously and shook her head in denial.

“I know you're lying, Granger. Tell me now what the rat is up to, and I won't practice my new hexes on you tonight.”

What Wormtail was up to? She did some very quick thinking.

“He thinks that you are... that you and I are... He believes you feel possessive about me, sir. I think he's trying to ingratiate himself to me in hopes that it will annoy you, although I don't follow his reasoning, and his logic is based upon a premise that is questionable at be--”

He held up a hand to cut her off. She was surprised to see a speculative look on his face instead of anger. He stared at her for a long moment.

“What have you told him?”

“I... not much of anything, sir.”

His lips thinned at that. “What have you told him?”

“I...” She didn't know what he wanted. He sighed in impatience. “I haven't really had much of a chance to talk to him, sir. If there's conversation, he's the one contributing the most. I really haven't said much at all.”

Snape raised his eyebrow again, but it was more an expression of amusement than disbelief. He then crossed his arms and raised a finger to tap on his lips. After a moment, he lowered his arms and took one step back from her.

“Granger, who do you think wields the power in this house?”

“Er, you do, sir,” she answered tentatively, not sure where he was going.

“Correct. Have you also determined that your health or lack thereof is at my discretion?”

She nodded her head, uttering a very faint, “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He paused, then smirked. “I trust you to keep that in mind when you interact with Wormtail.”

She furrowed her brow unsure of what he meant, but said, “Yes, sir.”

“Now use the toilet and get to bed.”

As she relieved herself, she smiled. Not only had he not hexed or molested her, but for the first time since she'd been taken hostage, he wasn't standing there watching her pee. Relief and gratitude overwhelmed her, and she thought that maybe Snape wasn't so bad after all.

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What is Snape doing to her? Does he suspect? He didn't seem suspicious at all, but what if he does suspect? Is he making her talk?

It doesn't matter if he finds out, though. Yes, he may be upset, but the point of her being held hostage is to torture Harry, and I doubt Harry would like it if he knew I was fucking her.

Yes, the Master will be on my side. I don't need to worry.

But what is he doing to her?