The Healer

~o0o~

"Granger?" Someone was shaking her, his voice edged with fear.

Hermione tried to nod, but her head hurt, her hip and abdomen cramped in severe pain, and she felt nauseous and weak. The taste of bile rose in her mouth and she swallowed it back.

"Granger?" he asked again.

Hermione opened her eyes as a hand lifted her head and noticed that he was holding a cup to her lips. "Drink." The voice was soft and concerned, a rich, smooth masculine voice, her age. She sipped the tea in the cup and realized it wasn't tea at all. It tasted both bitter and sweet – a potion. "Drink all of it, Granger."

He is not, Snape; he is... He's Draco. Why is Draco giving me a potion? What kind of potion would Draco be giving me? Hermione tried to turn her head, afraid of what Draco would give her. He doesn't like me – he'll poison me. Hermione shook her head, the motion making the nausea worse, and she knew that she was going to throw up. She tried to roll off the bed. Somehow she managed to cover her mouth. Thankfully, Draco got the picture and conjured a bucket just before she vomited on the floor beside her bed.

"You stupid girl, it's your potion – the one Snape's been giving you," he snarled.

With a straining effort, she managed to roll onto her back again.

"Rule three, don't kill her – remember? Now drink." He lifted her head again, tipped the cup to her lips again, and she took a sip. "All of it, Granger," he growled. "Peren, she needs her pad-cup changed and clean her up. See to it while I get more of her potion," he said, his voice laced with fear. "Stay with her. I need to know if she passes out again."

She heard him walk away as a small hand pulled her knees open. "Miss must let me, please, Miss," the house-elf pleaded.

Peren moved efficiently and Hermione tried to help, but she hurt. Deftly, Peren replaced her pad-cup and then helped Hermione to straighten her legs. She felt herself lifted off the bed and realized that the elf had levitated her a few inches to remove something from under her, cleaned her up, removed the night-slip, then wiped her legs and hips tenderly, and then set her down again. A thin blanket was then pulled over her. The elf wiped her face and gave her a bit of water to rinse her mouth. The elf disappeared with a pop for a moment and returned.

"Thank you," she said as the elf stood next to her head, watching her intently.

Peren looked at Hermione with deep concern in her large eyes. "I do what I is told. I clean you because Master Draco say to." She smacked herself on the head with the cup Draco had used.

"I know, but thank you." The elf simply shook her head. Hermione tried to lift her head, and her abdomen contracted with a spasm that rolled over her body with stabbing cramps, and she felt woozy. The room seemed to pitch and roll as if she were on a boat, and her head fell back to the pillow. That's it. I'm on a boat. He's going to drown me, she mused, knowing that was ridiculous. She was not on Snape's bed; that much she could tell. Her fingers could touch the sides of the bed without moving her arms much. The room was cooler also, but not as dark as Snape's. When she opened her eyes, all she could see was plain, pale blue walls with heavy blue and white drapes around her. She closed her eyes, trying to relax and will the pain to go away. She felt like she was floating and she felt cold.

"Miss?" Peren asked. "Miss, is you pass out or just close your eyes? Master say to tell him if you is pass out." The elf hit herself in the head with the teacup again.

"I'm still here," Hermione tried to reassure the elf. "I just need to sleep."

"No, no, no! You is to stay awake so Peren can see if you is awake or is passed out," the elf said, alarmed. "If you is asleep, I won't know if you is pass out!" She picked up the teacup, breaking it over her head, and then leaned in very close to Hermione to watch her.

Hermione wanted to reassure the elf that she wouldn't pass out again, but she didn't have the strength. She closed her eyes and did not open them when she heard Draco's footsteps approaching as he ran back up the stairs. His steady steps stopped right beside her head.

"Oh, bloody hell," he snarled. "Reparo." Hermione heard the tinkle as the teacup reassembled. "Here, drink this," he snarled, lifting her head again.

She still didn't trust him. After six years of his calling her a Mudblood, his snide remarks and taunting, various hexes, curses, jinxes and such did little to inspire trust. "What is it?" she asked, refusing to drink.

"It's Blood-Replenishing Potion," he snarled. "You are bleeding, Granger; you've lost a lot of blood, and I can't stop the bleeding. Now drink." He tipped the cup and she took a sip. She'd never had the Blood-Replenishing Potion before, so she had no idea if he was lying. "All of it, Granger," he growled. "I didn't make this potion for an exercise. You need it."

"Why do you care anyway?" she asked. He doesn't want Snape mad at him. That's why he's doing this. Snape left him in charge. But why then didn't he stop Wormtail when I was screaming – why didn't he come and help me?

"I don't, but you are not supposed to die – yet," he said. "Remember – rule three – no killing her? I thought you were supposed to be bright?"

She opened her eyes and saw concern in his eyes. Oh that's rich! Little pureblood concerned over a Muggle-born. "Where am I?"

"My room, Granger," he said with his usual disdain, that still didn't reach his light, grey eyes.

He is just as afraid of Snape's anger as I am; that's all. That's why he's doing this... "Why am I in your bed?" she asked.

"You wish," Draco snapped, exactly as he used to do in school. "I wouldn't put mud like you in my bed. I moved mine over until Snape gets back. Drink this, you need more." He lifted her head and tilted the cup to her lips again. "Peren!" he yelled.

"Yes, master," she heard the elf's delicate voice again.

"Change her. She's soaking again." The elf lifted Hermione off the bed and changed her pad and something from under her, then lowered her gently back down. "Well, don't take all day about it."

At the sound of his comment, Hermione was mortified, thinking that he was watching as his house-elf changed her. She turned her head slightly, but movements made the room turn and dip again. "Thank you, Peren," she croaked. Peren laughed nervously and left quickly.

Draco laughed at her gratitude toward his house-elf. "Trying to free my house-elf, Granger?" She heard his boots on the hardwood floor as he reentered the room and realized he had simply waited in the hall for Peren to finish.

"No," Hermione replied, barely audible. "But I will if she asks me to." Draco snorted in derision. "Talk to me," she implored.

"I don't want to." Draco moved away from the bed, but Hermione didn't want him to go.

She had no idea where Wormtail was, or if he could get into Draco's room, although she doubted the Rat could. Draco wouldn't have wanted Wormtail in his room any more than Snape allowed him in his. "Tell me what you're working on with Professor Snape?"

"No," he snarled, sounding far away. "Wouldn't you like to know," he sneered.

"Is it a secret... What potions you're making?" she asked. "I might know them." She doubted it, but it was worth a try asking.

"I doubt it, Granger." He chuckled and knelt down to give her more potion to drink. "None of them would be found in the Hogwarts library."

She swallowed and looked up at him. "The Restricted Section..."

"Seriously doubt it," he snapped. "Why are you asking anyway?"

The sound of his voice gave her something to hold onto and not sink into the pain and the coldness. "How about just telling me about any potion you've made? Something we didn't get in school." Let him brag... He'd like that at least.

"Why?" he snapped at her.

"Draco, I'm dizzy. I feel like I'm sinking... maybe dying. I just thought – I could hear your voice... concentrate on you – so I don't pass out," she said, her voice shaky. This takes too much effort; I wish he would just talk.

He was silent, possibly considering her request. "Snape is continuing my N.E.W.T. level Potions lessons, of course. Beside that, we make what's needed. Healing drafts... mostly: pain potions, mood-altering draughts... antidotes – we make antidotes."

"To what?" she asked, trying to draw him out with the least amount of effort. Getting Harry to talk about the death of Sirius was easier than this!

"Potions, poisons... Snape has a collection of some rather interesting potions and poisons... and we are matching antidotes to them," he said, beginning to brag to her. "Most are potions that are not taught at Hogwarts – some are. Snape also has me helping him fulfill orders and requests. This isn't any of your business, Granger."

Hermione heard someone coming up the stairs and was relieved when Snape appeared in the doorway. "What in Hades is going on here!" he bellowed. "What happened?" Draco quickly explained. "Go get your family Healer! Hex him if you have to – but bring him here," Snape ordered curtly. Draco flew from the door, and she could hear his footsteps race down the stairs.

Snape knelt beside the bed, looking at Hermione, his eyes flashing dangerously. He pulled out his wand and swept it over her. "Do you have anything to add to what Draco told me?"

Hermione tried to nod, but could barely move her head. She tried to speak but only managed to open her mouth, which was suddenly dry with fear. "He pulled my hand... I fell on... the steps... I kicked him, but I couldn't get away..." she tried telling him again, but her words were merely scratchy croaks.

"For crying out loud," he said, annoyed. He gently turned her head to look at her eyes and a soft, caressing feeling opened up her thoughts to him. The images of the assault on the stairs played out for him to see as well as the events in Draco's room. Tears rolled out from her eyes as her mind replayed the attack. He pulled down the blanket, looking at her body with angry, dispassionate eyes, frowning at the bruises caused by Wormtail's silver hand. She was in too much pain, too cold to care or feel embarrassed anymore. She either wanted him to heal her or just let her die.

"Peren," he barked and the house-elf immediately reappeared. "Stay with her, I'll be back. I want to know the instant the Healer arrives."

"Yes, Master," Peren said, bowing low. The elf stood by Hermione's bed, stroking her hand. "Oh, Miss, I is worried for you," the elf said softly, smacking herself on the head with the teacup, shattering the cup again.

I'm not going to be the cause of the elf getting hurt. "Peren... does Draco... have a slipper?" Hermione asked, practically an inaudible hoarse whisper and the elf nodded. "Use one... his slippers... hit yourself... once... to punish your – self." She heard Snape coming up the steps and finally felt herself relax.

"Peren," Snape said as he swept back into the room. "Box and clean up Wormtail's room and move all of Draco's things in there for now. Make sure to get that dreadful odor out of the room first. The rug, bedding and drapes will need to be washed, I'm sure." The elf bowed low and scurried from the room. Snape conjured a chair and sat next to Hermione.

He pulled the blanket down and began rubbing a salve that felt cool and then warmed her skin. His touch, while he applied the salve, was gentle, but his administration hurt tremendously and she moaned in pain. He stopped twice to make her drink potions, and the pain eased, although only slightly.

Hermione was barely conscious when the Healer came and unable to open her eyes anymore. "That's Hermione Granger! She's been missing!" the strange man's voice said, amazed.

"I know," Snape said patiently.

She felt a tingle in her abdomen that swept up her torso and down her legs and then her arms. "She's been beaten pretty badly... recent injuries... This bruise is unusual... It – it looks like a – a hand? And this one on her hip – looks like the same object made it... Strange, very strange. Some healed bones – also recent. Her wrist is broken – I'll take care of that. She's been badly abused... Did you find her?" the kindly voice asked.

"In a matter of speaking – yes," Snape said calmly as he controlled the anger in his voice.

Hermione's awareness was fading fast. The last words she heard clearly were: "She's hemorrhaging badly... My guess would be that she's had a miscarriage...."

~o0o~

"Tell me whatever potions you need for her, and I will provide them," Severus stated, standing protectively over Hermione as the Healer examined her. "But you must heal her."

"I'll do my best, sir. The Malfoys have been under my care for years," the Healer said, nodding and trying to reassure the man. "I've never seen anything a Malfoy could do I couldn't cure, Master Snape. But she's in a bad state."

"You'll be here as long as it takes," Severus said in a tone that brooked no argument. He never shifted his gaze from the grey purplish-blue handprint on her abdomen, but his face was impassive and stern.

"But, sir?" Healer Trankner replied, alarmed. Surely, he cannot be serious.

Severus gave the Healer a hard, unyielding stare. "You will stay in this room, with her, until she is well," he said, his voice low and eerily demanding. The Healer blanched and rattled off a preliminary list of potions. Severus stood with his arms crossed, nodded once and left.

Healer Trankner was used to Lucius Malfoy's aristocratic airs and his unusual demands, especially when it came to Master Draco, however, having met this man Master Snape, he was an enigma. Healer Trankner was sure that Master Snape could be every bit as dangerous or generous in his own way as Lucius Malfoy was, maybe more so. Master Draco had told him to heed this quiet but oppressive man and to tend to his friend, Miss Granger. However, Healer Trankner wasn't sure that Miss Granger was in any way as closely associated with the Malfoys as Master Draco had led him to believe. Nevertheless, she was important to Master Snape; that much was apparent.

The Healer looked down at Hermione, assessing her injuries. The uterine hemorrhage was the most urgent, but the most painful, he decided, and I need the potions before I can heal that. The wrist would be a snap. He quickly fixed her wrist, noticing how she groaned in pain. At least she's responsive. With this amount of blood loss, that's a good sign. The next thing would be... the old breaks. He mended or reset them in procession. He marveled at the scars on her body; there were many that looked newly mended. Whoever did those did a meticulous job closing them. I don't think I could've done better.

Young Malfoy was back with the pain potions and a few of his requests. "Professor Snape is brewing the others you requested," he said, handing Healer Trankner several vials. "He said he'll bring all five up in an hour."

Healer Trankner looked at Draco in amazement, deeply impressed by the statement. Five – all five at once! The man must be immensely skilled to do that. "Thank you, Draco," he said, kneeling down to force the potions down Hermione's throat.

He waited as he let the potions take their effect and began the series of complicated spells required to mend her pelvic bone and femoral neck and stop the bleeding in her hip. Hermione moaned during the more painful spells, and the Healer cringed. He assessed the damage to her abdomen again. Whatever caused this strange hand-shaped bruise had to be magical – Dark Magic. I've never seen the like. The hematoma and tissue damage are clear down through the tissues to the organs beneath. He mentally listed the anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerative draughts he would need to make and the arterial and venous reparative spells to heal her. Unless... Master Snape's serious about keeping me here. No... He'd see if Master Snape could produce the required potions; if not, he'd just have to go home and try to make them. They're extremely difficult... The balance must be perfect...

He shook his head. He cannot possibly expect me to stay here... with her... Her injuries are serious, but I should be able to administer to her injuries with two maybe three house calls. Healer Trankner did some preliminary healing charms and then waited for the potions he'd requested. But Master Snape looked adamant. I truly doubt few people ever argue against him... and he doesn't look the type to be persuaded easily... Bogumila's really going to be furious about this.

~o0o~

"The room smells," Draco spat back angrily, jarring Hermione to awareness from a drug-induced fog. She tried to move, but her body wasn't responding.

"Then have the house-elf clean it again," Snape sneered.

"How much longer is she going to be in my room?" Draco asked irritably.

Hermione could hear booted steps pace on the floor in the hallway. If one of them is pacing, I'll bet Buckbeak's life it's Draco doing the pacing.

"Until the Healer says she has recovered." Snape sounded like he was fairly close to losing his patience with Draco.

"That could be days," Draco complained loudly. "Why can't we move her into Wormtail's room?"

"You're the one who put her in here in the first place," Snape said with a hint of amusement before his tone became icy again. "She will stay where she is until the Healer says she can be moved. For now you will use the front bedroom."

"I didn't have much choice at the time," Draco stated as if clenching his teeth. "I sure as hell wasn't going to place her in his room after what he did to her."

"You were the one that allowed him to attack her?" Snape's voice was dangerously cold, and Hermione cringed for Draco's sake.

"She was just going up to use the loo," Draco said, sounding frustrated. "What was I supposed to do? Go up and watch her pee?"

"You were to watch her," Snape said, his tone threatening. "I left her in your charge. The Dark Lord's angry about this."

"Where is Wormtail anyway?" Draco snarled. "I want to thank him for the inconvenience." Hermione was stunned that Draco would talk to Snape in such a manner.

"He was hiding under his bed as a rat when I came home," Snape spat. "He's in a cage on the back stoop – currently enjoying the weather." The hard edge to his voice indicated that he was extremely angry with Wormtail.

Good. So, Wormtail is stuck in a cage. Serves him right, Hermione mused. She tried to shift, to move her arms slightly or her turn her head, but her body felt engorged and way too heavy. From potions or from my injuries?

"So, who's going to feed the Rat? Me?" Draco asked, incensed.

"Only if you want to," Snape said with a hint of sarcastic humor. "I planned on having Peren give him the scraps from the cooking. I told her he was to be treated as merely a filthy gutter rat. She didn't look any happier about feeding him than you do."

Peren didn't want to tend to Wormtail either? Is she angry with him because of what he did to me? she contemplated. She tried again to get Snape's attention because the pain was coming back. Pain potion... please may I have something... for the pain...

"What if the Dark Lord summons him?" Draco said, rather un-amused.

"I'll deliver the Rat to him in his cage. Nagini can have him as a snack," Snape said sarcastically with a slightest edge of humor.

Draco laughed. "The Dark Lord would never permit that. He'd make Nagini sick."

Hermione opened her eyes and the light hurt. She closed them quickly, moaning.

"Eavesdropping, Granger?" Draco asked.

Snape moved from outside the door and knelt down beside her. He lifted her head and held a potion to her lips, and she drank the potion gratefully. "Go to the kitchen and tell the Healer she's awake." He stood up and moved to the door, leaning on the doorframe, waiting. Within minutes Draco was back, ushering a very tall man with a slight stoop to his shoulders and a mop of curly grey hair into the room and then left. The wizard had bright blue eyes and a wide smiling mouth.

"Miss Granger, I'm Healer Aralias Trankner," he said politely. "I need to examine you, my dear."

Hermione only nodded. His hands were warm as he palpated her abdomen under Snape's scrutiny. Hermione noticed that she was once again wearing one of Narcissa's night-slips. Healer Trankner lifted and opened her legs apart slightly and waved his wand over and between them, nodding as he read the color changes from his wand tip.

Healer Trankner smiled down at her, then looked up at Snape. "She's going to be fine. I've just a few healing charms to do, and then she should sleep. The bleeding has finally stopped." Snape nodded and stepped from the room.

Warm sensations filled her lower abdomen under Healer Trankner's hand. He uttered a few healing spells and rechecked her, nodding again. Immediately Hermione felt better. He used a cleaning spell on her, then gently closed her legs, and then palpated her abdomen and hip again, making sure of his prognosis. "Your hip and abdomen will be tender yet for a few days, and you may want to have assistance when you move, such as sitting up or getting out of bed for the next day or two. I strongly suggest that you stay in bed, and I strongly suggest that you don't cast any strong spells. You'll still need bed rest for the remainder of the week, Miss Granger," he said while covering her with the blanket. "You're a most fortunate girl."

"Am I?" she said, and a tear ran from the corner of her eye into her hair.

"Everyone's been most worried about you," he said quietly. "Your sudden disappearance was reported in the Daily Prophet. No one has any idea of what happened to you. I'd be happy to let someone know where you are and that you'll be fine?" he asked quietly.

"Please," Hermione breathed, feeling hope for the first time. "You could send an owl to the Burrow?"

"I'll do that," he said. "Well, I'll just go and tell Master Snape that you're in good shape now and that you'll recover nicely."

Snape swept back into the room, a smirk on his face. "Thank you, Healer Trankner. If you could simply let me know if she'll require any further attendance, I'll see that it is done."

Healer Trankner jumped, startled by Snape's sudden entry. "You're quite welcome. I think that the healing potions young Draco showed me would be more than enough, and that Bruise Paste, she'll need that until the discoloration fades. She'll also need another dose of the Blood-Replenishing Potion tonight, but I believe she'll start to improve by tomorrow. She should still have bed rest for at least a week."

Snape simply nodded. "Then may I see you out," he said with a polite wave of his hand. Healer Trankner patted Hermione's hand reassuringly and collected his things. When he stood up, he smiled at Hermione with a quick wink and followed Snape from the room.

Hermione lay in the bed, worried about how much, if any, of her conversation with the Healer Snape had overheard. More so, what he would do to her if he knew she'd asked the Healer to owl the Burrow. Snape's steady footfalls on the stairs sent a tremor of dread down her abdomen, and she suddenly wished that she had been given a Sleeping Draught.

Snape entered the room standing over her, his face in an angry scowl. "What did you hope to accomplish by that cute little stunt?" he asked, each word deliberately intoned with sarcasm. "You should've known that his memories – all memories – of this house call would have to be Obliviated."

His words sunk in with a harsh reality. She was his hostage. Snape's face twisted into a sneer. "Why are you doing this?" she managed to croak out, her mouth once again dry with fear.

"Why, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, his anger making his tone sharp and his face became even darker. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

"I – I w-wasn't really s-sure, sir," she stammered, frightened by his anger.

Snape's hard glare alarmed her. "I don't believe you. I think you knew you were or at the very least suspected that you might be." He looked rather offended, which only made her angry. "You should have told me."

It took every effort she could muster to answer him. "And what would you have done about it?"

He narrowed his eyes, and his face became a hard scowl. "I could have prevented this," he said, waving his hand indicating her current state.

She could feel his anger practically radiating off him, and she swallowed back a lump of fear in her throat. "You would have aborted it for me?" she asked in disbelief.

His eyes narrowed cruelly, and his smirk was almost as nasty. "Either that, or I could have ensured that the child would live. That is if you wanted a Death Eater's child growing inside you," he said with a sneer. "Of course, I'd have to perform a paternity charm to figure out just who the father was. I still could if you like?"

Her anger at him didn't diminish the embarrassment his words evoked. "No, sir, I wouldn't have – I don't want to know."

"Then why, Miss Granger, didn't you confide in me?" Snape asked angrily, obviously offended. "When have I ever done anything that wasn't in your best interest? You, Potter or Weasley?" Snape scowled at her and moved a step back from the bed, crossing his arms.

"You have barely spoken to me since the night you told me how long I've been here. It's not as if I haven't wanted to talk with you, but you don't allow me to ask questions. Remember? Besides, I wasn't certain... I thought that the potions..." Her voice trailed off. "I thought that what they did to me, that the potions made me late..."

"None of them would have done that," he sneered. "I was trying to heal you. If you had wanted the baby, some of the potions would have needed to be altered, but I assure you, Miss Granger, you were only given healing potions, salves and draughts, pain potions and some for sleep." He stood rigid, his arms crossed, looking over her at the wall.

She thought about what he'd said. It irritated her, but it made sense. "I didn't know I was pregnant. I thought I was late or missed my cycle due to your potions or the trauma... I was afraid to ask you." He turned away as if too angry too look at her, and Hermione bit her lip nervously. "You're not easily approachable, sir... at least – not for such – personal confidences."

Snape looked down at her curiously, his dark eyes narrowed in thought rather than anger. "I would've thought that for something such as this you would have at least tried," he said, his tone sharp, but Hermione could detect a hint of hurt behind his words. "You could have trusted me. I would have helped you."

"When I started spotting... I thought I was... starting," she confessed. Even telling him this much felt awkward. "I really thought that, with the trauma, possibly – of what was done – that maybe I simply missed my... cycle. You said I had been unconscious for three weeks – I assumed – that... I could have..." She just couldn't finish telling him. I just can't discuss this with him. He's not at all as compassionate and understanding as Professor McGonagall! He's just not... It's not... comfortable talking to him about this. How do the Slytherin girls deal with him and their needs?

He stood there silently looking down at her, watching her face intently. Once again, it seemed like he was actually reading her mind. "I see," he finally said, his voice soft and low.

I would have helped you, echoed in her mind. "Sir, why have you kept me – here?" she asked. The question had plagued her.

"Where else was I to take you? Malfoy Manor? The Lestranges' perhaps?" he snapped at her. "Dolohov wanted you, of course."

"But you could let me go," she said hopefully, trying to sit up. Her abdomen cramped and spasmed, and she fell back onto the cot. "You could take me home... to the Order headquarters – or the Burrow. You wouldn't even have to take me inside, just inside the wards, and they'd come and get me..."

He laughed at her, an actual real laugh. "No, Miss Granger, I cannot. You made that quite impossible." Hermione looked up at him, uncomprehending. "Oh, come now, Miss Granger, surely with your heightened intelligence you can reason this out." He stared down at her, his face impassive. "No?" he asked and then waited.

Hermione tried to recall what he had said. I landed at his feet, just as he'd been... summoned. Voldemort's Death Eaters were arriving in that grove... They abused and tortured me, raped me, and he has been healing me...

"You arrived just as the Dark Lord's entire inner circle was arriving into that grove of trees – right where we were summoned to meet him. I had no choice but to take you with me. The Dark Lord was curious about you, very curious. He knows, Miss Granger. He saw what I saw – that parchment, what you wrote and the answer. He was amused."

Hermione shuddered involuntarily.

"Yes, since apparently you think I am your heart's desire – your soul mate, the Dark Lord left it to me to decide what to do with you. The Dark Lord considers it appropriate that I either bring you around to our side – to be my consort, to make you completely obedient – or make you my wife. That, or he will kill you. I was asked for my update today in regards to how compliant you have become."

Hermione gasped. "Your consort – or your – wife! He thinks I'll – that I will be your wife?" She grappled with the idea as his words suddenly sunk in.

Snape raised an eyebrow, his cold black eyes mocking her. "Very good, Miss Granger, you are finally grasping the situation that you have put yourself in. Whether I choose to hand-fast with you or bind you to me, or simply just keep you as my consort is, however, my choice – not yours."

She stared at him, her eyes wide. "But I'm too... I can't! I... um..." she stuttered in disbelief. "Ron," she said under her breath, turning her head away. But I'm promised... I pledged myself to Ron.... "You don't even like me."

"That is apparently irrelevant. Among pureblood families, arranged unions are common. It ensures the lines, keeps blood pure. Certain spells, Dark Magic, are often used to identify a suitable match, and the arrangements are made. In our case, it was your parchment. Besides, the Dark Lord likes the idea of Potter's close friend in a match with his trusted spy. This arrangement serves his purpose." Snape leaned down, placing both hands on either side of her, his eyes roaming over her, before looking intently into her eyes. His voice when he spoke was smooth and silky. "So he gave you to me, Miss Granger – as a gift."

Her eyes locked onto his, unable to evade his stare. "What do you intend to do with me?" she asked.

He pulled off the blanket that covered her, scoffing when she instinctively laid one hand on her chest and the other to hold down the night-slip on her thigh as if to cover herself ineffectively with her hands. "Whatever I wish," he said in a slow silky drawl, his eyes glinting at her attempt at modesty. "As soon as you are on your feet, I am to bring you before the Dark Lord. He wishes to see you again." He lifted her from the cot. The movement and sensation of being carried by him mixed with her weakened state, made her feel light-headed as he carried her to his room and placed her gently on his bed. "From now on, I will have Peren come to you and help you dress after your baths."

"I will be allowed to wear robes?" she asked hopefully. "I won't have to parade around you and Draco in my night-slips and dressing robe?"

He drew the sheet up to cover her. "I doubt Draco cares what you wear," he said with a cocky curl to his lips. "But I will decide what I want to see you in. Narcissa was kind enough to provide clothes, I assume, because she didn't want you parading around nude in front of her son."

"Sir, why is Draco here?" she asked. "I mean, his father broke out of prison the end of May. Wouldn't he rather be back home?"

He looked at her, his dark eyes distant and thoughtful. "Draco was put under my tutelage because of a vow I made to Narcissa."

"Harry said something about an Unbreakable Vow," Hermione admitted. "I don't understand, sir; why you are still bound to Draco by that Unbreakable Vow? I thought it had to do with his being ordered to... um, kill Dumbledore..."

He glared at her, his eyes narrow and unfathomable. "I suppose Potter told you what he observed that night on the – tower," he said contemptuously.

"Harry overheard you talking to Draco the night of Professor Slughorn's party. He said that he heard you and Draco arguing... and yes, he told Ron and me what happened that night. I put it together," she explained. "But after that night, on the Astronomy tower, surely you fulfilled the vow... sir."

Snape's eyes narrowed and his back became rigid. "It apparently did not," he said, sounding livid, possibly because of the indiscretion of her friend. "Not that it concerns you, but I swore to protect Draco, to help him with whatever the Dark Lord ordered him to do and to keep him from harm."

"And you accomplished that," she said remorsefully, a hint of accusation in her voice that she immediately regretted.

Snape inhaled, and his jaw clenched for a brief second. "After the events on the Astronomy tower, the Dark Lord demanded an explanation. I had to tell him about the vow. Even though Lucius Malfoy and the others escaped from Azkaban, Draco is still my responsibility. Just as you have become."

"So, he is your hostage, too, I suppose," she said.

Snape laughed, a cold low laugh. "Oh, no, Miss Granger, Draco is free to come and go. He is not a hostage; he is an equal – of some degree. He is not in the Dark Lord's inner circle, but he has chosen to be a loyal follower. Your situations are quite different, I assure you."

"But what does Vol..." Snape's eyes flashed dangerously, and she remembered Harry telling her that Snape had gotten furious when he'd used Voldemort's name in front of him. "I mean, the Dark Lord," she amended and Snape's countenance softened slightly, "want with me?"

"Information on Potter, of course, and to use you as a pawn against him," he said, shaking his head. "Really, Miss Granger, you should have figured that out yourself."

"I will not betray my friends," she said stubbornly.

He laughed mercilessly. "You already have – once," he said, his lips curled into a cold smile. "You do not know Occlumency sufficiently. I have noticed that while you are completely unable to block me, you have a natural tendency to redirect your thoughts quite efficiently. Nevertheless, the Dark Lord is a master of Legilimency. You will betray them – I assure you."

~o0o~

Author's Notes:

To Southern_Witch_69: Thank you for everything. You have been so supportive, and the suggestions you gave me are really so very appreciated. So, again, thank you for everything.