The Only Muggle-born Here

~o 16 o~

The Only Muggle-born Here

Hermione woke expecting to see Severus lying in the bed next to her, but the room was empty. She quickly freshened up in the loo and found her school robes lying on the bed when she returned. Checking her schedule, she pulled out her books for Muggle Studies and Potions and hurried down to Snape's office. He was sitting in his chair, reading a book, and stood when she entered. "You're ready?"

"Yes, sir," she replied as he walked over and looked down at her. His eyes narrowed slightly, and she wondered what she could have possibly done to displease him already.

"What? Did I..."

He turned, his wand pointed toward the stairs, and summoned her Blast-Ended Skrewt jewelry. "I thought I stated very clearly that you are to wear these at all times?"

Hermione looked at the necklace and bracelet as they flew into his hand, really hating what they represented. "I thought that inside the castle, since I'll be followed anyway..."

"No. Open your collar," he demanded. "Now, Hermione."

She slowly opened her collar, fuming, and he stepped behind her to fasten the necklace in place. "Why? It's not like I can Apparate on school grounds."

"Hermione, it's not only that," he said, grasping her wrist. She held it out, refusing to look at him. "I told you that you'd have to wear them, and the others know as well. Don't fight me on this." He tilted her face up to look him in the eye. "I did have them made to have some esthetic appeal by a very skilled goblin craftsman, and there are Charms on them; they repel spells – hexes, curses and jinxes."

"To protect me when I don't have my wand and Cillian isn't around," she stated, understanding his reasoning.

"Cillian will be around," he said with absolute certainty, one side of his mouth pulled back into a smirk. Snape touched his wand to the jewelry to activate the spells. "I'm referring to blind attacks. Your wand arm, head and most of your torso are protected. I'm of half a mind to create you a belt. I still have enough of the shell to do so."

"Won't that clash with the school uniform code?" she replied cheekily.

He glowered at her. "For you, I'd make an exception," he said with a sneer and ushered her from the office.

He guided her down the corridors, entering the Great Hall from a side door usually reserved for the staff. With a stiff nod, he turned and walked up to the Headmaster's chair while Hermione took a seat at the Gryffindor table as the rest of the students filed in. Cillian appeared, telling Neville to scoot over so he could have the spot across from her, and began eating. Neville scowled behind his glass, and Ginny gave her a quizzical look, but Hermione simply shrugged it off. MacCavish was sitting in the middle of the table, glowering at the students as they came in, as was Ivor Travers, sitting at the Ravenclaw table. On the other hand, Van Halal was again greeting the Slytherin students as if he knew them well. In contrast, Owain Rowle was trying to engage a group of Hufflepuff boys in conversation, but they were obviously uncomfortable with him, and those sitting nearest to him were keeping their heads down and eating quickly.

Snape stood, made a few morning announcements regarding the new school policies, and instructed all sixth years to remain in the Great Hall for their class schedules.

"Strange, that," Ginny whispered, indicating MacCavish with a subtle nod as she passed Hermione the bacon. "It seems each house has a Death Eater mascot this year," she whispered.

"From what I've gathered, they are here to try and weed out possible recruits and to keep discipline around the school. I've been warned about them. Be careful, too, okay?" Hermione warned as the owls swooped in with the morning mail. Hermione noticed that Cillian received four owls and a copy of both the Daily Prophet, plus what appeared to be a German wizard newspaper as well.

"I have a break after my first class. What about you?" Ginny asked, drawing her attention again.

Hermione hoped that Cillian was engrossed in his paper and not really paying attention to her and Ginny, although when she made a quick glance up at the high table, Snape was watching her. Hermione quickly looked away, turning back to Ginny. "Just the regular break. I have Potions after Muggle Studies this morning and Transfiguration after lunch," Hermione said softly. She saw Cillian's smirk as he turned the page of his paper.

"I have Potions first, so maybe I'll see you in the corridor," Ginny whispered. "Have you heard anything about Quidditch? Gryffindor doesn't have a captain yet. Ron was sent the badge, but he's not returning this year. Neither is Dean. Demelza, as you know, is here, and so is Jimmy Peakes. So I only have two Chasers and one Beater... but no captain."

"Sounds like you're captain, Miss Weasley," Cillian said, setting his paper aside.

Ginny blushed. "Professor McGonagall hasn't said who is going to be captain yet. But I'd be happy to do it if it falls on me."

"Gin, who else plays that's come to school this year?" Hermione asked, annoyed that Cillian had been listening in on her conversation with Ginny.

"Jack Sloper there," Cillian said, indicating a wiry, dark-haired boy sitting down the table next to Euan Abercrombie. "I know that Sloper's dad was coaching him pretty hard over summer holiday. He's a fair flyer."

"But he's right dangerous with a Beater's bat," Ginny stated pointedly. "And I don't mean that in a good way."

"His dad bought him the new Nimbus, and he's been practicing with something called a skeeter shoot," Cillian stated.

Ginny looked at him quizzically. "What's a skeeter shoot?"

Hermione burst out laughing as Cillian shrugged. "Dunno," he said, "but I overheard his sister bragging about it in T and T. Apparently Sloper is really good at skeeter."

"Skeet shooting is a Muggle recreational sport where Muggles try to shoot clay discs which are flung into the air at high speed from a machine. I know the machine can throw skeet discs about fifty-five to sixty-four meters at pretty fast speeds," Hermione explained.

"I can't see Harold Sloper using a Muggle machine," Cillian stated amused. "Or even knowing about one."

Hermione shrugged. "Makes sense to me. Wood used to throw golf balls to teach Harry how to fly after the Snitch his first year. The skeet machine wouldn't be too much different, except Mr. Sloper wouldn't have to throw the discs."

"So is it kind of like chasing after the apples my brothers threw for me in the orchard, then?" Ginny asked.

Hermione snickered at the comparison. "Yeah, only the clay discs are about twenty-five millimeters wide and kind of flat so they can fly far. They'd be harder to catch than an apple."

"Yeah, that makes sense, clay discs and apples?" Cillian scoffed. "So, Hermione, which position are you going to try out for?"

"The cheering squad," Ginny replied, giving Hermione a playful jab with her elbow. Both Hermione and Ginny hid their grins behind their pumpkin juice.

"You don't play?" he asked with the slightest hint of a frown.

"Hermione doesn't like brooms," Ginny said, and Hermione blushed.

"I don't like flying," she admitted.

"Too bad; I love flying," he stated, picking up one of his other papers.

Hermione smiled as she watched Cillian's reaction. "That doesn't mean I don't enjoy watching my friends practice." Ginny gave her an incredulous look. "What? I enjoy fresh air as much as the next person."

"Yeah, I suppose you could always read in the stands," Ginny said, snickering. However, both girls caught the curl of Cillian's lip before he buried his nose back into his paper.

*

Just before class, Cillian pulled Hermione aside. "Do you remember what I told you?" he asked in a hushed voice. Hermione looked at him, momentarily confused. "About the Carrows," he hissed. "Watch yourself in there. Keep your cool, and don't rise to his baiting. He will be looking for any reason at all to put you in detention. Don't give him any." He released her arm and ushered her inside the classroom.

Hermione entered the classroom for Muggle Studies with a sense of dread, watching Cillian take a seat from the back row, pulling it to the back wall, before turning to find Neville waving her over. "So you ready to learn about Muggles, Hermione?" Draco asked in an amused tone that lacked its usual sneer, although both Crabbe and Goyle were highly amused by his remark.

"Nah, she could teach the class," Crabbe snickered.

"Oh, bloody funny," Hermione snapped as she walked toward Neville. To her surprise, Alecto Carrow was standing up at the front of class instead of her brother, sneering at Hermione as she took her seat next to Neville and Seamus, stunned when Draco sat down on her other side. Neville looked over at Draco, confused, and then looked at Hermione as if expecting her to explain. Hermione simply shrugged.

Both Crabbe and Goyle took their seats, still staring at Draco and Hermione. "What?" Draco hissed, pulling out his book.

Crabbe scowled, pulling his book and dropping it on the desk with a loud thump. "Why sit with her?" he asked in a hoarse hiss.

"I told you why," Draco hissed back.

Hermione turned to glare at them. "If you want to sit by someone else, you're welcome to. It will not offend me."

Draco sighed. "Look, I want to, okay?"

"You're kidding," Goyle said as Hermione stared at him, her brow furrowed, saying, "As if I believe that," at the same time.

"Oh, give it a rest, Hermione," Draco said, then turned to Goyle. "No, I'm not kidding."

Professor Carrow cleared her throat, and everyone turned their attention to her. "In this class, you will be learning about Muggles. There are many misconceptions that have been taught in this subject in the past, and there are many misconceptions you have been told by witches and wizards that are infatuated by the Muggle world. I will attempt to correct those misconceptions." She came to a stop right in front of Hermione. "Ah, yes. How lucky we are to have our token Mudblood in our class," Professor Carrow said softly. "Take one and pass them down," she said to the class, dropping a stack in front of Neville, and walked to the next row of desks as she passed out her handout.

It was a thick packet with several pages stapled together which to Hermione was funny, considering that Alecto, who hated Muggles, would own a stapler. Neville took the top handout and gave one to Seamus, passing the rest to Hermione. She took her packet, looking down at it while passing the rest to Draco, scanning the contents. It was a list of fairytales with brief descriptions of the 'witch' or 'wizard' from the tale.

Professor Carrow strode back to the front of the classroom, flicked her wand at the black board and several pictures of witches with big warts, wearing pointy hats, cloaks and robes, and flying on brooms appeared. "This is what Muggles think of our kind. Today we will be learning exactly what the Muggle view of the Wizarding world is and how skewed their interpretation of us is by comparing their popular literature."

For the next half an hour, Professor Carrow expounded on the descriptions of the witches in several of the Muggle fairytales, concentrating on the portrayals of wicked witches and evil queens. She was especially incensed about tales of witches who supposedly ate children, baked bread from bones, and who were described as hags. Actually, Hermione found her interpretation of the fairytales to be amusing, if Professor Carrow hadn't kept putting her on the spot at every possible opportunity.

Professor Carrow turned and flicked her wand at the blackboard, making the drawings vanish, turning the board white. She turned, walked to the back of the room and summoned a projector to her. With another flick of her wand, the lights dimmed. Several students snickered, and Crabbe leaned over to Draco moaning a, 'Woo,' sound.

"Knock it off; it's not like that," Draco hissed at Crabbe.

"Silence!" Professor Carrow snapped. "This is an example of what Muggles think magic is." It was a show Hermione had seen once on television, about how magical tricks were done. The film started with a man in a suit and cape doing various card and coin tricks. The man was doing them in such a way that the slight of hand was visible while he did the demonstration. The only difference was that there wasn't any sound from the film, allowing Professor Carrow to talk disparagingly about the incompetence of the man and point out where the man was palming or sliding the object for the trick. The show ended with a similar demonstration of magic tricks using props. Again, each time the assistant was shown doing her part. Professor Carrow continued her commentary, pointing out the assistant's movements. Finally, the film was over and the lights came on.

"I will have each of you pick six of the fairytales I have given you to look up and compare to similar witchtales, and write a one foot essay on each. I expect a full analytical comparison and scrutinize all aspects of Muggles misconceptions of the witches, beings, creatures and people in these stories. You're dismissed."

Hermione said goodbye to Neville and Seamus and made her way to Potions without waiting for Cillian before exiting the doors. She was surprised when Draco caught up to her on the stairs as she headed for the dungeons. "Not trying to ditch me, are you?" he asked.

"Ditch you?" she asked, stopping, nearly getting bowled over by Goyle. "What are you going on about? Since when do you walk me to class?"

"Since this year," he said firmly. "Look, we are going to the same class, so let's go."

"Draco, what's going on?" Hermione asked, trying not to notice the looks form the others passing them in the corridor.

"Nothing." Draco kept walking beside her as if unaware of the curious stares.

"You gonna start carryin' her books for her too?" Crabbe snickered from his other side.

"Knock it off. I told you about it already," Draco hissed angrily.

Hermione stopped just short of the door to the classroom, turning on Draco. "I thought it was Cillian's job to watch me?"

Cillian leaned around her and smiled. "It is," he said as he held the door open for them.

She passed by Cillian into the classroom, surprised when Draco plopped himself down on the stool next to her. "So, what is this all about, then? Why – you cannot mean...?"

"Nothing, all right. I simply want the best partner for class," he said waspishly, grasping her arm and tugging on it, trying to make her sit at his worktable.

The four other Slytherins at the worktables to their right all started to snicker and whisper. Hermione pointedly ignored them as she stared at Draco. "You mean that you want to work with me – as your partner? Since when?"

"Since today," he said, pulling out his Potions book.

"Draco, you don't have to," Hermione stated, crossing her arms.

He turned to look at her angrily. "Don't make this difficult, okay? You're my Potions partner, and that's it."

"Give me one good reason," she stated defiantly. From the corner of her eye, she could see the other Slytherins still paying them close attention, amused by the scene.

"You got an outstanding O.W.L. in Potions, didn't you? And we did all right working together in Snape's lab, as I recall. Isn't that good enough, or do you want it spelled out?" he asked, kicking her stool out a bit further while indicating she should sit down. "Stop making a scene."

"Oh, by all means – spell it out for me," she replied sarcastically. "You can barely stand me, and you've never been friendly towards me in school. Why should I trust you now?"

"Look, I have to okay," he spat quietly.

Hermione was surprised, then narrowed her eyes. "Because of Professor Snape or because of him?"

"Yes," he admitted.

"Ahem, good morning class," Professor Slughorn said, drawing everyone's attention away from the argument between Hermione and Draco. Hermione pulled out her new Potions book with a frown on her face. "It's so nice to see so many of you returning for another year of Potions making. As seventh years, we are going to be brewing some of the more difficult and time demanding potions. You will also be learning how to set your potions in stasis and how to magically alter the brewing time to fit the steps into your schedules," Professor Slughorn began lecturing.

Draco smiled, looking rather smug.

"What?" Hermione hissed.

"Snape already taught me this," he stated.

"So maybe you should help one of the others," Hermione hissed back.

"Some of the potions you'll be making will require a day, some will have to be set in stasis until Wednesday when you'll have Double Potions, and you'll have at least one potion assigned to you the start of each month that will take a few weeks to brew. You and your partner will need to coordinate your schedules so that each step is done on time and precisely as needed, regardless of when the potion must be attended to," Professor Slughorn continued as he paced around the front of the class jovially. "For this reason you will all be given special passes which will allow you to be able to move about the castle, even after hours if – and I mean only if – your potion requires you to."

"Give it a rest, Hermione; you and I will be Potions partners," Draco stated firmly.

Professor Slughorn must have heard Draco because he stopped in front of him, his smile gone. "Mr. Malfoy, if you would please pass out these badges, giving one pair for each set of partners."

Draco walked forward and took the box, walking around the room handing them out to everyone except Hermione, as Professor Slughorn continued. "Some of the potions you'll be brewing will be Polyjuice Potion, Veritaserum, Amortentia, Felix Felicis and the Dagworth-Ameliorate Draught and Limb-Regenerate Potion, to name just a few. For those up to the task, Wolfsbane Potion, Dewitt's Elixir, Integro-Mederi Solution or maybe Reinvigorate Elixir. Today we shall be discussing the concept of brewing two or more potions at the same time. So, since each of you are already paired off, please sign your badges, and it will automatically add the name of the person sitting next to you below your name," Professor Slughorn directed the class.

Draco once again took his seat holding the last pair of badges. "Here's yours."

"Thank you," Hermione replied, groaning silently as Draco wrote his name on his badge as she reluctantly signed hers. The pair of badges glowed slightly, and Hermione noticed that where her partner's name should be now bore his signature. She caught Draco's smirk as she dropped it in her bag.

"So that makes it official," Draco stated smugly.

"Terrific," she replied as Slughorn began his lecture on placing potions in stasis.

~o0o~

As they left the classroom, Hermione saw Rowle and Travers walking down the corridor toward her, and as soon as they saw her, they both looked at her with ugly sneers. Hermione felt her heart skip a beat at the malevolence in their gaze, and immediately felt Draco step closer to her, his hand on the small of her back. "Keep walking," Cillian hissed before she could protest.

Both Crabbe and Goyle moved to the far left as the two Death Eaters approached. "Rowle, Travers," Cillian greeted them amiably, giving Hermione a nudge in the back to keep her moving, although she knew it was safest to just keep walking, especially since she didn't have her wand.

"Gwynek," Rowle said, nodding, his eyes flicking from him to Hermione and back, his wand held lazily in his hand. "See you've got guard duty." He and Travers blocked their path, Rowle's gaze traveling over Hermione's chest and down to her groin with a purely lecherous look. "Offered myself for the job, but Snape said you'd already been assigned for it. Envy you; she's a tight one."

"Well, you know how Snape is," Draco said politely enough. "He's right possessive of her."

"Isn't he though?" Travers asked, smirking, his wand held tauntingly in his hand. "Don't know as why. She's already partied with us once before. Wouldn't mind enjoying her company again myself."

"Guys, enough," Cillian said, moving forward and grasping Hermione's arm roughly, his wand also drawn, but held passively. "Snape's expecting her in his office for a few minutes before lunch, and I'm hungry. So I'd like to deliver her as soon as possible."

Both men smirked crudely. "By all means, wouldn't want you to miss lunch, would we?" Travers said, moving aside.

Cillian forced Hermione to walk past Rowle. "Thanks – just doing my job," he sneered.

Hermione was shaking uncontrollably as the meaning of what they'd said was sinking in, vague memories rushing at her in a confusing, meaningless mess. By the time they reached the stairs, she was near tears. "You all right? Do you need...?" Cillian was saying, although Hermione was lost in thought as fragmented memories of her beatings and abuse came to her, remembering the two men, two of the faces in a circle of faces, although there were huge gaps in her memory. "Shite! Draco, I'm taking her up to the Headmaster's office, you can go. C'mon, Hermione." He dragged her up the stairs and all the way to Snape's office.

Snape was on his feet and crossing the room as soon as Cillian pulled Hermione into the office, tears now sliding down her cheeks as her mind filled in some of the blanks. "What happened?" he snapped as Hermione flung herself into his arms. Snape instinctively pulled her close and glared up at Cillian.

Hermione closed her eyes, trying to draw comfort from his embrace, inhaling his scent, trying to push the fragments of memory from her mind as they rearranged themselves, forcing her to vaguely remember.

"Rowle and Travers confronted us in the dungeons," Cillian stated angrily. "Made some blatant innuendos."

"Why, those imbeciles. I'll deal with them." Snape pushed Hermione away and headed for the door. "Where were they headed?"

Hermione tried to reach out, needing him, her hands sliding off his clothes onto nothingness as he moved away from her, and feeling the weight of her emotions hit her.

"I think either the Slytherin common room or to see Slughorn," Cillian stated, but Snape was gone by the time he finished his sentence. Cillian turned and forced Hermione to sit down, then disappeared, leaving her alone with her tormenting memories.

She simply stared at his desk as the portraits rambled, sounding like a buzz in her ear, as her memories continued to ravel and twist in her mind. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks as she remembered the half-skull masks, malicious, malevolent eyes, and sneering grins... Hearing the Dark Lord talking to his followers, caviling and commending them for their deeds, as he paced around her... as she lay on ground, pinned by unseen ropes and barbs, surrounded... hands, fists...

Cillian returned, holding a glass with an amber liquid in it. "Brandy with Calming Draught – for your nerves."

"I don't drink," she started to say as he thrust the glass in her hand.

"Drink it," he said forcefully, brooking no argument. "It'll help. You're as white as a sheet, obviously upset, and still shaking." He leaned on the desk, watching her, the warmth of his eyes gone, replaced with anger.

She sipped the liquor, feeling the potion take effect as he stared at her. Hermione was struck by how intense his stare was, how so much like Snape's, although Cillian's eyes were a dark brown when he was angry, instead of deep black...

"Hermione, they were out of line, and," Cillian said, clenching his jaw as evident from the tick in his cheek, "he shouldn't have said what he did."

"They were there..." she started to say, but couldn't get the words out. She took another sip of her drink, the liquor warming her throat as she swallowed. She wanted Snape here to hold her and tell her she was safe. Where is he?

"If you're implying what I think you are – yes," he said simply, watching her every move.

Hermione saw in his gaze the same dangerous intensity Snape could get when really angry or annoyed. "They..."

"Yes." His eyes softened slightly, but she could tell he was seething. "Maybe, I dunno. I wasn't there. But they're the type that would." He looked at her speculatively. "You don't remember it, do you?"

Hermione shook her head. "Some – parts, pieces... Snape said he removed the memories but left enough so I'd know what happened without having to remember."

Cillian nodded and looked at the window. "I'd have done the same if..."

"If what?" she asked, watching the far away look on his face.

"No one. Nothing," he said, although still sounding kilometers away.

Severus entered the office, his robes billowing.

"I gave her Calming Draught," Cillian told Snape.

Snape nodded, a tick flicking in his cheek. "Time for lunch, Hermione," he said smoothly, touching her arm gently. "You'll have to face them. I won't be far, and they will be sitting at Slytherin's table."

She knew he was right and stood to face him. "I'll be alright," she said, drawing herself up, and she saw a quick curl of Snape's lip, almost a smile, that vanished just as quickly.

"That's my girl," he said softly, barely audible as she stood. When they entered the Great Hall from the staff door, Hermione immediately saw Rowle, Travers and Van Halal glaring at her from the Slytherin table. She watched as Snape walked away to take his seat while she found a place at the Gryffindor table. She noticed that the Carrows were glaring at her every move as well. And unlike before, Cillian sat next to her, keeping his front to the Slytherin table.

~o0o~

Transfiguration that afternoon was pretty much normal, with the exception of having Draco sitting next to her on one side and Seamus, Lavender and Parvati on the other, with Crabbe and Goyle directly behind her. Hermione was truly beginning to miss having Ron and Harry around and began to wonder where they were and if they were all right. She realized that not knowing was making her worry about them even more, although Ginny hadn't mentioned that anything had befallen them. Cillian had discreetly handed her her wand before class with a tilt of his head, telling her she'd have to relinquish it after class.

Professor McGonagall demonstrated the techniques of transfiguring her chair into a dog and back, explaining the differences of large objects verses smaller objects for inorganic and organic transfigurations into animal forms. "Now even though the dog will look like a dog, it is still not a living dog. In this case, it is still an object made out of wood. Whereas a gifted witch or wizard can animate the dog to behave like a dog, such qualities must be done during the transformation."

Everyone was given a large rock and asked to transfigure it into a dog, with extra points given if the dog could bark and wag its tail. However, with her concerns about Harry and Ron in her mind, and Lavender asking if she and Snape were truly married, inquiring as to why, if she was truly married to Snape, was she spending all her time with Draco, it was hard to concentrate on the lesson. Thanks to all the distractions, Hermione's dog simply sat, staring at the wall, then fell over on its side.

That evening at dinner, Hermione suggested that Neville and Seamus meet up with her in the library to work on their essays. Hermione was already familiar with several books on the wizard version of her favorite fairytales and had the books piled up in front of her when the guys sat down. Seamus wasn't at all familiar with the Muggle fairytales, so Hermione provided a comprehensive overview of the tales, answering all of Seamus' and Neville's questions about them. It was fairly easy to get the essays started on all six. When Madam Pince announced that the library would be closing, Neville asked if Hermione wanted to go up to the common room to finish.

"No, I have to get Mrs. Snape back to her tower," Cillian stated smoothly from behind them.

Hermione grimaced. "Maybe tomorrow," she said with a shrug. They compared their schedules to pick a time to finish the essays together, deciding after dinner would be best.

Cillian bade Hermione good night at the stone gargoyle, and Snape was sitting at his desk when she arrived. "So how was it?" he asked, rising.

"Bearable," she replied, trudging across the room for the stairs.

Snape followed. "I've already had a complaint regarding your behavior in class. Do you care to enlighten me?"

She spun around on the landing to the bedroom. "What?"

"According to Alecto, you were rather disruptive today in class. However, Draco informed me you were nothing of the sort," he said smoothly. "I informed Alecto I'd deal with your insolence."

"I wasn't! Really," she gasped, backing into the room. "So who are you going to believe?"

"Draco, naturally," he stated with an odd curl to his lips. "But I did tell Alecto I'd deal with you."

"And what do intend to do – have me scrub cauldrons?" she asked, dropping her book bag on her trunk, only briefly realizing it was her trunk, before the advancing form of Snape drew her attention back.

He stepped even closer and caressed her arm as he looked down at her. "No," he said firmly. "But I would like to kiss you." He pulled her closer as he leaned down, one hand gently cupping her face, his lips barely touching hers. "Let me in, Hermione," he breathed softly, his breath warming her face before he kissed her. It was a feather soft, tenuous caress, and Hermione closed the gap, pressing her mouth to his. "Merlin, I want to be within you. Please, let me," he entreated in his rich drawl, thick with need.

Hermione simply nodded, feeling flutters in her stomach from the intense desire reflected in his dark eyes as he pulled her with him to the bed. He undressed her slowly, pulling her robes and jumper off, his fingers making deft flicks over her buttons. She watched entranced, feeling self-conscious, as he undressed himself, watching her the whole time as he stripped.

He stepped forward and swept her up off her feet, nearly tossing her onto the bed before joining her, staring at her body, his hands slowly trailing down her every curve. His hand found her folds, and he began stroking her clitoris as his mouth suckled and laved her breasts. When she began to relax to his touch, his mouth moved down, kissing her stomach then her groin, before he finally licked her clitoris, sending shock waves through her. Soon he had her body craving him, her mind screaming from desire as wave after wave rippled through her, and she cried out, sure the portraits in his office could hear her. He pinned her bucking hips down on the bed, laving and sucking on her, headless to her pleas to stop, until Hermione thought she would explode. The fierceness of her orgasm left her gasping and her heart pounding in her chest.

He finally rose, grinning. "I think that will do for your insolence," he said in a nearly feral purr as he slid up her body, positioning himself to enter her. "But I'm hardly done with you yet."

She was still so sensitive she cried out as he filled her in one swift stroke. He moved within her, long and hard, rubbing himself against her with each downward stroke. Hermione felt the building of another orgasm surge, and she clenched her hips, grasping at him with her hands. "Oh my gods! Mother of Merlin," she gasped, and he began to thrust in her more ardently.

"Severus. Say it, Severus," he demanded, his thrusting relentless.

Hermione pulled her legs up, nearly wrapping herself around him, trying to squeeze her thighs to slow him down to no avail. "Severus, please," she groaned. He nipped at her shoulder, gripping her hips as he thrust. Hermione felt her body spasm even before the waves of her climax surged though her a second time. She dug her nails into his arms and cried out his name over and over until her body seemed to melt, and she felt like she had no bones left.

When she opened her eyes, Snape was lying on her, his body sweaty, his breathing ragged, and she tried to wipe the sweat from his face, sighing deeply when she saw his eyes were closed.

He sat up immediately. "Are you all right? Am I squishing you?"

"No," she said, tucking his hair behind one ear.

"Don't," he growled and shook his head. "I don't like that; don't do it again."

"Why?" she asked innocently.

He scowled and rolled over, lying beside her. "I just don't." He rolled onto his side and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. "Thank you," he said softly to her hair.

She felt his body relax, his arm around her became heavier, and his breathing became slow and even. "Are you asleep?" she asked quietly.

"No," he grumbled.

"If I were to ask you something, would you do it?" she asked and felt him shift his weight.

"It depends," he said groggily.

Hermione turned her head, nearly colliding with his nose. "If I didn't want to remember it, would you Obliviate me?"

He leaned up so he could see her better, his dark eyes narrowed questioningly. "Why would you want to forget?"

"So I don't have to remember what they did. Any of it," she said.

He sat up and looked at her, his expression becoming thoughtful. "You're talking about... It's been too long. If I Obliviate you now, everything from then to now might go too."

She was disappointed that he didn't want to remove the memories. "Why not? There has to be a way to remove what you don't want to remember."

"Something you saw is important, but I can't tell you what. Unfortunately, your mind is quick, and you'll piece together what happened, but I don't want to mess with your mind too much." He lay back down and pulled her to him. "Go to sleep."

~o0o~

Tuesday was a much nicer day, although Draco chose to sit next to her in Charms as well as partner with her in Herbology. Cillian had once again given her her wand before Charms and then demanded its return as they left the classroom. All through lunch, Hermione was fending off inquisitive questions about her relationship with Snape and Draco, who Cillian was and why he was following her everywhere, and questions about Harry and Ron. So she and Ginny shoveled down their food, and they tried to escape in the library, except Cillian, of course, followed them. Draco, seeing her leave, grabbed a handful of chicken legs so he could go as well. Hermione and Ginny tried hiding deep in the stacks, whispering quietly to each other, uncomfortably aware that they were still under the watchful eye of Cillian.

"You've really become popular, you know, Hermione," Ginny whispered. "I've been hounded with questions about you and Snape, Draco and Cillian all day."

"I wouldn't be surprised." Hermione wasn't sure if he was close enough to really overhear them or not. "So how are your classes?"

"All right. Yours?" Ginny said.

"Odd. Muggle Studies was rough. Professor Carrow kept glaring at me, making all kinds of innuendos, and Crabbe kept making faces. Draco has been determined to sit next to me in every class so far," Hermione stated. She couldn't help but sound annoyed.

"No!" Ginny exclaimed just as Draco appeared, browsing the books near them.

"Speaking of the ferret," Hermione moaned softly, then shrugged. She really wanted to ask Ginny what she knew about her friends, but kept her conversation with Ginny on benign things.

Finally, Cillian walked up to inform her it was time to head off for Ancient Runes. "See you at dinner," Ginny said, smirking as they parted ways in the corridor.

That night after classes, Hermione met up with Seamus and Neville in the library as planned. However the stares and murmuring from the other students, and constant glares and hushing from Madam Pince was unnerving Neville, so they left for the common room. No sooner had they sat down and began working on their essays than Lavender and Parvati hurried over.

Parvati sat down next to Hermione. "So how did you end up with Professor Snape?" Parvati asked as Lavender sat on her other side.

"How is he in bed?" Lavender asked, her eyes lit up in curious anticipation. "I've always wondered what he'd be like? Is he..."

"I'm not answering that!" Hermione exclaimed, incensed.

"You mean you sleep with him! Are you really married?" Breanna Enfield, another seventh year, asked. "To the greasy git?"

"He's not greasy," Hermione said, rounding on her angrily.

Hermione wanted to leave. At least in the library all she got were stares and murmurs. "Leave her alone," Neville said firmly, and Hermione felt a sense of pride in her friend.

"I thought the Prophet got it all wrong," Stephanie Adams stated, trying to nudge Seamus over to sit down. "But the picture was in Witch Weekly and The Quibbler too!"

"Blimey, you're his student," Breanna Enfield said as Jack Sloper stated, "Yes, it's true. They were bonded in a hand-fasting. I was there."

"What did he do; poison you or something?" Ernie Coppersmith, sixth year, asked.

"Not a poison – a potion, you wet prat! She's not dead," Breanna stated. "Well, did he?"

"No," Hermione snarled.

"What about Harry? Weren't you seeing him?" Breanna asked.

"She was seeing Ron, and no, Harry was seeing Ginny," Lavender corrected the girl. "How are Ron and Harry taking this?"

"Oh, this is bloody ridiculous! Hermione, get up," Seamus shouted, grabbing her books and shoved them at Neville before collecting his own. "I want to get these essays done and get started on Dark Arts!" He walked around the table, dragging Hermione to her feet. "We're going to my room." Cillian was on his feet and following them, blocking the others from tromping up the stairs, unbeknownst to Hermione. Seamus dropped his things on his bed, pulling up a trunk for Hermione to sit on. "Go on, sit."

"Thank you, Seamus," Hermione stated, relieved. "I really appreciate it."

"Well, I couldn't get anything done with that lot, could I," he snapped angrily, but she knew it wasn't directed at her.

Neville sat down next to her, looking at her curiously. "Hermione, have you spoken to either Harry or Ron?"

"Very briefly over the summer hols," Hermione admitted.

"Are they – is Harry still fighting You-Know-Who?" he persisted.

"Yes, I assume so," Hermione replied. "I haven't really been told anything much, except that the Dark Lord has taken over the Ministry, Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I feel like he's winning, and there isn't anyone standing up to him."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Seamus stated. "There is a lot of fighting going on, wizards in hiding, and people abandoning their homes."

"And followers of Dumbledore still make news in the papers. Do you think we should reorganize the D.A.?" Neville asked, looking earnest.

Seamus looked at him, gobsmacked. "Are you daft man? Don't say anything around her!"

"Why not?" Neville and Hermione asked.

"You'll tell Snape or that Death Eater who's always following you." Seamus hissed. Just then, Cillian entered the room. Seamus glared at him then averted his eyes.

"This is Cillian Gwynek, my bodyguard." Hermione really wished he'd just let her alone with her housemates. "Do you think you could give me some time with my friends?" she asked Cillian.

"Keeper more likely," Seamus said softly, under his breath. "Don't be too hasty; things are not the same around here. There is a reason that MacCavish is sitting at our table," he warned Neville.

"Believe me, Professor Snape would not like knowing you were alone in a boy's room without supervision," Cillian said, sitting down on Dean's empty bed. Seamus scowled, but kept quiet.

"Neville, I think we should wait on that. Seamus, no, I won't. You should know me better than that." They started discussing the last three fairytales, comparing notes on the corresponding witchtales. Every now and then, either Seamus or Neville passed her notes, asking what she knew about Ron and Harry, telling her about the underground – or what they knew about it. Cillian looked bored, leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed, although Hermione knew he was listening. There wasn't a lot of information, rather speculation, but she was glad that the guys were confiding in her.

I read your messages on the coin, Seamus wrote to her when Hermione tried explaining Little Red Riding Hood again. I still have mine.

Shouldn't we start the D.A. again? Neville wrote, turning his parchment so she could read it.

Seamus read aloud the part about the witch from the Woodcharmer's Niece as she wrote, Make inquiries, but please be discreet. Find out who's on our side, and be careful about it. Try sending messages to Harry and Ron, but be careful.

They will want to know about you, Neville wrote.

Hermione shrugged as she listened to Seamus explain the witchtale version of Repunzel, Petrosinella. Tell them I'm fine for now. Ask how the search goes and what they need. Maybe I can find things in the library that will help...

"Hermione," Cillian said, walking over. "Are you nearly done? I have to get you to your tower."

"Well, Petrosinella, don't keep him waiting," Seamus stated, rolling his eyes.

"Very funny!" Hermione smirked. "See you at breakfast. Neville, I think you're spot on, but Professor Carrow won't like it. I suggest that if you want to, do it carefully and with a lot of tact. Good night." Hermione turned and followed Cillian.

He turned to glare at her several times as they walked. "Don't start instigating trouble."

"What are you t..."

"I mean it, Hermione," he snarled, interrupting her. "I don't want trouble. I know you are Potter's friend, and you were one of Dumbledore's pets. I heard that you were being primed for his Order and that you instigated Dumbledore's Army. I'm not stupid." He stopped, grabbing her arm. "Do you hear me?"

"This is the other reason you are my bodyguard, isn't it?" she asked, angrily.

"Yes. No. Carrow, Rowle and Travers want to – they would like nothing better than to get their hands on you. Severus has his hands full right now. Therefore, I'm to protect you. I can't do that if you give them reason to come after you."

Hermione listened, surprised that Cillian was so well informed regarding her relationship with Harry and Dumbledore and that he knew about the D.A. as well as the fact she'd been primed for the Order. He was right, except it had been with Professor McGonagall, not Dumbledore, just as Ron had been given extra lessons with Professor Flitwick to learn advanced Charms and how to duel properly. Hermione wondered what else he suspected about her or if he knew who the other members of the D.A. were.

"Are you going to be good or what?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"I'll be discreet..."

"Not good enough," he snarled, sounding an awful lot like Snape.

"Harry and Ron are my friends. I am not a Death Eater, and I never will be. Yes, I am hand-fasted to Snape, but I cannot – do not want him to win. I'm Muggle-born. How long do you think the Dark Lord will tolerate me? I represent everything he despises. I know that as soon as I'm not useful as a pawn, he will kill me – hand-fasted or not! He – he said..." Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears. "I..." Her hands began to shake. Hermione simply turned and ran, stopping only long enough to open the door. She rushed past Severus and up to the bedroom.

*

Severus looked up from his desk, scowling, as Hermione ran by, followed by Cillian, who plopped down in the chair. Shite. Hermione is crying again, and Cillian looks murderous. "What happened?"

Cillian crossed his arms and kicked the leg of the desk with his boot. "You could have told me she was head-strong, willful, obstinate and half her friends are..."

"Yes? What did she do?" Severus asked and waited to hear the worst.

"Not her, that Neville Longbottom," Cillian said, sitting down. "He wants to instigate Dumbledore's Army. They were passing notes in his dorm room."

"Why was she in his dorm room?" Severus snarled.

"Tame your dragon," Cillian scoffed. "It was a study group – of sorts. Finnegan and Longbottom. Muggle Studies. They went up to the boys room because several girls started asking questions about your relationship – basic intrusive gossip. Finnegan stopped it by dragging Hermione upstairs. I blocked the gossip mongers from following."

Interesting. Severus set down his quill. Finnegan and Longbottom. Hermione wasn't friendly with Finnegan before... but they were the only two boys left in her year. "Do you think this will be a problem?"

"Dunno," Cillian sighed. "What was Dumbledore's Army anyway? I saw the list, but no one has told me what they did."

"It was a student organization to learn how to do defensive spells," Severus stated. "Hermione organized it, Potter led it. It was – effective." And if Longbottom gets them started again... I'll have to speak to Dumbledore's portrait about that and pass on this information...

"Great. Now I have to worry about her and her friends recruiting and instigating a rebel extracurricular club! I need a drink," Cillian grumbled.

Severus smiled and produced a bottle of Ogden's and two glasses from the desk. "I'm well stocked."

~~o0o~~

Author's Notes:

I now have two women to thank for their assistance. I want to express my gratitude to Southern_Witch_69 and Cocoachristy for helping to catch all my mistakes and the support they have given me on this story. Thank you so very much. I appreciate it more than you could possibly know.

The Integro-Mederi Solution is my own fabrication from the Latin, Integro: to make whole, heal, refresh; to renew, begin afresh, and mederi: to heal, to cure, assist, alleviate.

Another version of the Brothers Grimm's story Repunzel was Petrosinella or Parsley, written by Giambattista Basile in his collection of fairy tales in 1634, Lo cunto de li cunti (The Story of Stories), or "Pentamerone". In this version, a pregnant woman desires some parsley from the garden of an ogress, gets caught, and is forced to promise the ogress her baby. Unlike the tale by the Brothers Grimm, the encounters between the prince and the maiden in the tower are described in quite bawdy language. About half a century later, in France, a similar story was published by Mademoiselle de le Force, called "Persinette". Just as Repunzel did in the first edition of the Brothers Grimm, Persinette becomes pregnant because of the prince's visits.