Part II, chapter 6

AN: Thank you, Southern!

“Granger, wake up!”

She sat up, immediately awake and aware of the man standing above her. Something was different about him, and it took her a moment to realize that he wasn't wearing a shirt, although one was in his hand. It took her another moment to realize that the light in the room was from the moon. That explained why everything seemed distorted and off.

It took her yet another moment to realize that she'd had another of those disturbing dreams featuring Snape, featuring him in a way she was not at all comfortable with.

“Get up, Granger. The Dark Lord is waiting.”

Hermione froze in the middle of her attempt to get off the bed.

He couldn't be taking her to Voldemort. Voldemort would find out about the plan and then...

“Get up now!” Snape barked, prompting her back into action. She quickly got up and put on her shoes – there was nothing else for her to put on – and watched Snape.

He looked tense. His mouth was pinched, and that line between his eyebrows was deeper than she remembered, even accounting for the eerie shadows. She wondered what this was about.

She saw him wince before he stalked over to her, grabbed her arm in a merciless grip and practically dragged her to the door. He led her down the hallway to Wormtail's room and pounded on the door.

Wormtail was obviously not quick enough in answering because Snape took out his wand and blasted the door open. He shoved Hermione ahead of him so hard that she lost her balance as she tried to stagger to the bed and fell hard onto her knees.

By this time, Wormtail was alert to the invasion.

“What's going on, Severus?” he asked with a nervous twinge in his voice. Hermione could see him glancing at her every few seconds as she slowly picked herself off the floor.

“He's in a bad mood tonight.” He winced again and snapped, “Don't let her out of your sight," before donning his Death Eater robes and disappearing.

Hermione heard Wormtail mutter, “Better you than me,” as he stared at the empty hallway for a moment and absently scratched his arm. He then turned to her and smiled. She smiled back, genuinely relieved that Snape had not been planning to take her with him. However, it did remind her that she'd been their prisoner for almost a month, and she needed to move the plan forward. Fast.

Wormtail had been screwing her every opportunity he got, which seemed to be happening more and more often lately. Snape had been called away very frequently the last few days. It made her antsy, wondering what was so urgent.

It also, supposedly, gave her more time to enact her plan, but it didn't seem to be advancing. Although her contact with Wormtail had increased, it hadn't noticeably affected his regard for her. It seemed that she was just his own personal whore and bitching post as far as he was concerned. That was not what she wanted.

“So, how long do you think he'll be?” she asked, lacing her words with promise.

His smile turned into a smirk. “Oh, if it's a night-time summons, it's usually a few hours at the very least.”

“Good,” she said, as she slipped off her shoes and started unbuttoning the robe. “Because I've been thinking of you.”

For a moment he looked surprised, but then his smirk was back in place.

“Have you now?” he asked, shedding his nightshirt as quickly as possible.

“Yes,” Hermione whispered, getting onto the bed and crawling toward him. “You seem to be on my mind an awful lot lately.” She hoped her attempt at a husky voice was working. She thought it might be, judging by the sheen developing on Wormtail's brow.

“Funny, that. You've been on my mind as well.”

Hermione just smiled and pushed him down onto his back. He looked up at her, surprise definitely outweighing every other emotion. She'd always been passive before. But passive wasn't getting her anywhere.

“Yes, that is funny, isn't it?” she asked and lowered herself onto him, making him gasp.

“Oh, God, Hermione. You feel so good!” he moaned, and she could tell he was on the verge of coming already. That would not do. She had to distract him.

“I've been wondering, Peter,” she said while grabbing a few of his chest hairs and pulling just hard enough to distract him, “why you saved me.”

She had been wondering that. Had it been lust, pure and simple? Was he just a sad, pathetic man who perved after a girl young enough to be his daughter? Or was there more to it?

Wormtail was panting, trying to control himself, but she could feel the tremble of his hips.

“You were just...” he said, his voice breathy with excitement. “Just so pretty and innocent. I remembered you from... from before...” The shiver faded to nothing. It seemed a nerve had been struck there.

“And that was all?” she asked, experimentally moving her hips. He seemed to be lost in memories, though, and wasn't showing any signs of becoming overexcited. She started moving a little more earnestly, wondering if she might be able to use him for her pleasure this time. It was getting very frustrating as her dreams became raunchier, but his performance stayed woefully poor.

“Yes. Well... no, not really,” he said. He looked up at her so earnestly that she stopped moving, realizing this might be a pivotal moment.

“You reminded me of my time at the Burrow, and not just because I remember you from there. You radiate kindness, Hermione. You remind me an awful lot of Molly. She took such good care of everyone. She loved them all so much, and she took care to make their small, pitiful home... home. I was a part of that home, even if I was a rat at the time, but I was included in it, and it reminded me of my... I... Well, you remind me of that.”

A lot of snide comments about the appropriateness of screwing her if that was the case popped into her head, but she refrained from saying them. Instead, she leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling softly at him.

He looked at her intently for a few moments before wrapping his arms around her and kissing her back just as gently. When the kisses started becoming too invasive, she started moving again, giving her an excuse to break away.

She continued to move over him until he came, crying out her name for the first time. He then drew her into his arms, hugging her fiercely for a few asphyxiating moments, before letting her slide over to his side, but no further.

She nearly gagged on his scent, but remained where she was, knowing that she was back on the path out.

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God, she's amazing. She didn't laugh at me; she just... just loved me – I could feel it.

Oh, Merlin, what is she doing to me?

End Part II