Chapter 10

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Thanks to my betas, ladyinthecloak and charmed_nay!

Hermione felt as though she were being pulled in many directions at once, and she couldn't stop it, not for lack of trying either. There were visions...memories...all coming at her at once. It felt as if she'd been tossed into the spin cycle of a Pensieve at some Wizarding launderette. And then the spinning and pulling stopped.

She found herself at the Ministry during an obvious trial of Lucius Malfoy, for he was seated in a chair in the middle of the room below the Wizengamot and others. Upon looking closely, she saw herself in the crowd and moved in that direction. Everything was just as she remembered it. Why was she here? What was the point of this... dream?

"What's going on?" she asked out loud. Nobody turned in her direction or even seemed to hear her.

"You may step down, Mr. Malfoy," Kingsley said smoothly. He then looked in their direction. "Miss Granger?"

"Yes," Hermione said in unison with her counterpart, feeling ridiculous.

"Why don't you come up here first since you have someplace to be shortly?"

"Certainly."

Hermione watched herself as she quickly went to sit in the chair Lucius Malfoy had recently vacated and saw her primly crossing her legs and fixing her robes, a self-important expression on her face as she took a drink from a small phial. Good grief, do I really look like that? I almost look like Percy!

"Please enlighten us as to your first encounter with Lucius Malfoy."

"I was twelve, and he saw me with my family at Flourish and Blotts."

"And?"

"And he took a poke at Mr. Weasley for associating with Muggles, as if it were a dirty thing. He even made a remark to me about my parents."

"So, he wasn't pleasant."

"No."

"Excuse me," came a shrill voice. Hermione recognized it as one of Malfoy's solicitors. "What's this to do with anything? I don't think he's on trial for the opinion of one's family."

"What was the outcome of the meeting?"

"Mr. Malfoy put Tom Riddle's diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron. This caused..."

Laughter rang out from Malfoy's direction as his haughty solicitor stood once more. "Has this been proven?"

"I... no, but..."

"Then I suggest you stick with the facts, young lady."

Hermione looked away from the horrified and frustrated expression on her counterpart's face and looked over at Lucius. It was something she'd rarely done during the trial itself, but now, she found, she couldn't look away. Beneath his amused and calm expression, she could detect a hint of malice. His nose was slightly crinkled, and the coolness of his eyes articulated his loathing more than anything. How had she not noticed this before? How had anyone not noticed it?

The questions and answers continued, and she couldn't bring herself to stop watching him...his eyes, his mouth, his nose... even the grip on his cane. He hated her. Even as he sat there so long before, he'd started planning his revenge. It was plain he didn't appreciate her telling the Wizengamot all that she'd experienced at his hand and those of his friends. Even though it was the truth.

"What did you expect?" she asked loudly, wishing he could hear her. "I couldn't lie! They gave me Veritaserum. You saw that for yourself!"

Nor would she have lied anyway. She'd firmly believed that all he'd done had not been the product of an Imperius Curse. The man was truly foul, wasn't he? Look at all he'd done to her...coaxed her virginity from her, tricked her into marrying Snape, causing her father's near fatal accident.

In an interesting twist, his eyes warmed a little when she spoke on behalf of his son. Hermione turned to look at herself sitting in the chair, back straight and hands clasped in her lap.

"Draco didn't want to tell them that he knew exactly who we were. It was plain he was afraid, and later, he obviously tried to thwart Crabbe and Goyle's plan to take us to Voldemort."

"But he was part of their plan, was he not?"

"Yes, he was, but I don't think he felt he had any choice. His friends were quite... harsh towards him."

In the crowd, Draco bowed his head and couldn't look at the girl on the stand. Hermione remembered a conversation he'd had with her after it was over with.

"Granger?"

A simple nod was his reply, and then he was gone.

Draco was definitely his father's son, but he didn't seem to agree with everything the man had taught him. Hermione's eyes moved back to Lucius' again, and she noted that he now had a gleam in his eyes. Occasionally, he would gaze out into the crowd where Ron and Harry sat, slyly watching Ron's obvious attempt to support Hermione through lopsided smiles and nods.

"And here is where your plan originated," she murmured. "You knew at this moment that you would have me, knew that Ron and I would never be intimate."

She slid down to the ground, her back rubbing against the cool, cobbled wall of the room, and she sat there in a daze as everything she and the others had said about Lucius Malfoy was smoothly explained away. In the end, he was free and had slipped away from another stint in Azkaban.

How had he been so sure she wouldn't have sex with Ronald? Had he done something to her, put some spell on her? She thought of the times she and Ron had been close to consummating their relationship, and she cringed. She'd always turned him away...no matter how close they were to joining. It was no small wonder that he'd turned to that willing woman in Paris.

Or had he? Was that a trick as well? Those pictures could have been faked! What if he was being held somewhere in France against his will? What if he'd been killed? No, surely not! Lucius wouldn't go that far, would he?

"Oh, Ron, what have I done? Why didn't I trust you more? Why did I let him trick me?" Her heart ached for Ron, for what they'd shared, for what could have been, and for herself. She'd been a fool. And now she was married to a man who'd approved of this betrayal. She'd given herself to him willingly, had even hoped to find peace in a life with him, but that was about to change. How could she be content with someone who'd done this to her? Someone who'd been in on it with Lucius from the beginning?

As if on cue, she felt her body being tugged away from the scene before her and into another one. She was once again in the Shrieking Shack and staring at the horrible sight of Severus Snape bleeding profusely from gushing wounds in his neck, silvery memories pouring from his mouth, eyes, ears...

Again, her counterpart was there, eyes wide and horrified as she conjured a glass for Harry to place the memories in. The feelings she'd felt that night hit her once again as if she'd never left. She'd never seen someone die before. Yes, she'd seen dead bodies and had even seen maimed or injured people, but she'd never seen something so graphic, so personal. His blood pooled beneath him like a small rug of death, a portal from this world to the next, pulling his soul from within his body down into the Otherworld.

She felt sick, afraid, numb, and wanted to run away...just as she had the first time she'd seen him. He'd always been so cold and indifferent. How was it that he looked so vulnerable in death? The Hermione from the past gave Snape one last look...making sure what she was seeing was truly real...and she left, the others following.

Hermione walked forward and gazed down into her husband's pale face, eyes open and lifeless. She knelt down, not caring that her knees soaked up his blood, and placed a hand on his still warm cheek. "You didn't deserve this, you know." And she meant it. Even though he'd helped Lucius somehow, she didn't wish him dead. She took a little comfort in the fact that he'd live again, but exactly how had that been accomplished? Sure, she and Lucius had seen to it, but she didn't know everything. She had to find out the truth.

Rising, she stepped back, and only then did she notice a small piece of parchment sticking out of his robe pocket. She slipped it away and immediately recognized the handwriting to be Lucius'. She'd seen enough of it over the past few weeks to recognize it anyplace.

It's time. Drink this, my friend.

"Drink what?" There was no phial near his body, and though she hadn't been able to see much while they'd hid, she didn't think he'd had time to drink anything while talking to Voldemort. Had he done it before getting there?

She knelt down again and felt his pockets, hoping to find a phial, but before she could find anything, the room began to spin again. Perhaps she couldn't do anything more since she'd not seen anything more the first time she'd been there. After all, it was quite possible, she'd noticed the parchment sticking out of his pocket the first time, only hadn't realized what she'd been seeing due to her shock.

Bright light filled her eyes, causing her to shut them tightly for a moment and then blink rapidly. The stench of a musty, unused bookstore filled her nostrils, and there was something else as well. A fresh, woodsy scent that reminded her of... Severus Snape. A dark blur came into focus.

"You," she said, voice cracking.

"You'll need some water," he said softly. "Drink." He tried to place a glass against her lips, but she turned her head.

There was no way she'd allow him to drug her. Not after all she'd learned!

"You need water, Hermione. Now drink."

"No."

She felt his fingers grip her chin and tug at her face, making her look at him. "It's not poison, I assure you."

"I don't trust you."

He released his hold on her and sat back. "What are you on about?"

"I heard you talking to Lucius!" Her head thudded painfully, and she felt as though she might fall back into blackness. "Used me."

"There is more going on here than you can possibly understand at the moment. If you try to take it in all too quickly, it'll be worse." He leaned closer and placed the glass against her lips. "Drink."

Needing it, she allowed him to gently trickle the water into her mouth, and she forced it down her throat, feeling much better right away. When she was done, she turned her face away and took in their surroundings.

She was in a medium-sized bed in a small, dark, stuffy room. There were cobwebs in the corners, and everything seemed to be dust laden. "Where is this?"

"This is our home on Spinner's End."

"Our home?"

"Your hearing is impeccable, I must say."

"There's no way I'm staying here with you. Not after what I heard!"

He shook his head and placed the glass on a rickety bedside table. "As my wife, your place is at my side."

The room became fuzzy once again, and Hermione closed her eyes, though she spoke to him through clenched teeth. "You planned this. You knew he'd use me."

"You have no idea what it's been like." His voice was cold. "There are things that I did not know about and do not condone, but..."

"But you don't care so long as you get to live!" She opened her eyes to see his figure get up and begin to pace. "I had a life! I had plans!"

"And you still have a life. What's more, you've saved a life."

"But at what cost, Severus?"

"A most noble sacrifice indeed," he said acridly. "There are, however, more important things here..."

"Yes, yes, I need to learn my place and all that rubbish. I won't be anyone's doormat!" She tried to sit up but simply fell back against her pillow weakly. "Why me, Severus?"

Silence.

"Where are you going?" she asked in frustration as he walked out of the opened door.

She closed her eyes and tried to think of everything she knew.

"Severus, you knew I would choose her, and now you are trying to play the gallant knight? You forget, old friend, that I know you far better than that."

"Yes, that she is."

He knew something about what Lucius would do, but it was apparent that he hadn't planned on Lucius' seduction, which had been unnecessary it seemed. Her stomach quivered slightly. How many times in the past had she warned Harry about rushing into things? Here she was... doing the same thing. She shook her head. What would her parents say about all of this? Hermione brought a hand up to hide her face as if they could see her where she lay.

"That bloke who had that row with Arthur Weasley years back... at that bookshop, do you remember him?"

"It was that man...with the long blond hair, wearing a long cloak. He walked straight towards me and knew exactly what he was doing. If I hadn't swerved, I would have hit him with the car."

Lucius had had to act out the tome's threats, or else she might not have gone through with their plans. Severus had nothing to do with the tome. Lucius. Lucius was the culprit. "He's telling the truth," she murmured to herself. "There is something more going on." The not knowing was even worse than knowing what she did. She'd always been the curious sort by nature. To have something within her reach like this was nearly unbearable.

"The tome, it sounds as though you and I are to be on unequal terms, you lording over me. I don't want to live like that."

"I shall answer your questions, but I would like to look at this tome."

Overcome with feeling, Hermione began to cry softly. She didn't know what to think. Everything was so confusing. It seemed as though Severus was more involved than she'd believed, but it also seemed that he wouldn't have agreed with the way Lucius had gone about things. She supposed the first thing she had to do was hear what he had to say, but her mind was foggy and her head ached.

If she played her cards right, she could find out everything. He would probably tell her, and what he left out, she could decipher for herself. Nobody would force her into anything ever again. If she chose to stay with him, then she would, but bond or no, if she wanted to leave, she'd see to it. As soon as she felt better, she intended on seeing her family. They were probably worried about the way she'd left and the information she'd divulged about Lucius.

And what would Harry think? Had he noticed she hadn't been back yet? Did he still think she was taking time to herself? Had he found Ron?

"Hermione?" Severus had come back and was hovering in the doorway.

She turned slightly to gaze at him through narrowed, damp eyes. "Yes?"

"I... It felt as though you were needing me." It seemed he felt uncomfortable with the idea that someone depended on him for anything...for anything such as this anyway.

"Our bond?" It could be nothing else. She'd felt it when their situations had been reversed, too.

He nodded. "All right?"

There was a small sigh that escaped her lips as the last of her tears diminished. "I want to know everything."

"I will tell you when I can. Now's not the time." He moved closer, his severe expression softening slightly. "You were crying."

"Wouldn't you? How would you feel if you were me?"

He sat next to her uncertainly. "I am brewing a potion that will help clear your mind. It will be ready within the hour."

"It's not just the effects of whatever drug I was given. I've been manipulated, lied to, and used."

His scowl deepened again, but he said nothing.

"How long have I been like this?"

"Almost twenty-four hours."

"My parents..."

"That will have to wait," he said firmly.

"Malfoy, that...that prat! I'll..."

"That will have to wait as well."

"Owwww," she moaned, bringing her hands up to her temples. "It just hurts so much. I just...."

And she felt herself drifting back into a dark, misty place. Her senses taking leave of her one by one. That last thing she was truly aware of was the feeling of arms sliding around her, the feeling of being held gently.

When she opened her eyes again, there was no pain, and she felt warm and happy. The bright sunlight didn't affect her at all. Sitting up, she looked around in amazement. She'd been laid on a blanket on a pebbly, yet sandy, beach. Large boulders seemed to barricade her from any prying eyes. The tide rolled out slowly, leaving small wading pools in its wake.

It was then that she saw Severus. He sat beside a small pool with his feet inside and seemed to be hunched over, reaching into the water. When he pulled his hand back up, he held something shiny in his palm. However, that had nothing on the brightness of his expression as he looked her way, smiling triumphantly.

How could she have doubted someone who could smile that way? Shaking her head, she realized that she must be dreaming again. All that had happened couldn't be erased by a simple lifting of lips. Overhead, seagulls called out to each other as they circled the water. Why couldn't reality be like this? Filled with such peace?

"A Sickle for your thoughts," Severus said, dropping down to sit beside her.

Hermione gazed at him for a long moment and decided to be honest. What would it hurt? None of this was real. "I wish that we could live like this." She gestured around them. "Meaning that we wouldn't have the hate between us that we do."

He looked hurt for a moment before he recovered. "I don't hate you. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know what to think," she admitted.

"I've never hated you."

"Yes, you did."

His answer was a shake of the head before he lay back and put his hands beneath his head. "Look at all the clouds."

"I don't want to look at the clouds. I want to... I don't hate you," she said softly.

"Oh?" he asked without looking at her.

"Did you know he would ruin my life?"

Severus turned over and propped himself up on an elbow. "Is being my wife that bad? The equivalent of ruining one's life? I've said that I'll see you content. If I can change things about myself, why can't you accept that?"

"I had a future planned with Ron. I was content, and now... now I'm someone I don't even recognize anymore. I sold out everything I believed in for knowledge about the Dark Arts."

"To give life to someone and possibly others in the future."

She bit her lip and reached out to accept the shiny green gem he held out to her, enjoying its rough edges against her fingers.

"Weasley might be a good man, but it wouldn't have lasted. I know his type."

Her temper flared. "You only know him from classes, but you don't really know him!"

"That doesn't matter, does it?" Severus placed a hand on her cheek. "You and I will last. I've not felt this way since Lily...I want to protect you, cherish you, do anything for you. You will be glad that this choice was made for you one day. I swear it."

His words seemed so sincere. She leaned into him and placed her lips against his. "I'm so confused," she said when she pulled back. "Where do I start?"

"Trust in me," he said softly, cupping her other cheek as well and pulling her closer.

Deciding to enjoy the dream as long as she could, she nestled into his arms and kissed him back with everything she could, wanting to be as close to this Severus as possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How is he?" Harry asked as Ginny joined him in the kitchen.

"Well, he woke up. I gave him some water, and he went back to sleep...very restless." She went to the sink to splash water on her face. "I'm so tired." With a sigh, she added, "It's got to be nightmares he's having."

"We can't keep this up. It's been almost a whole day. We should contact his father."

"You just want to contact Lucius so you can attack him about Hermione and find out what she's doing!" Ginny accused.

"That's right," Harry admitted, "mostly anyway. I don't want Draco to suffer either."

"Maybe she's gone to see her parents again. Why don't you let me go over to see if she's there? I'm less apt to blurt out anything... unlike you."

"No, I'd rather you stay here with Draco. Your mum said she might pop round this morning. I don't want to deal with her and her questions again."

"Is discussing her daughter's future too much for you?"

"Trying to start a row, are you?"

"Do you want me to?" she snapped back, obviously frustrated with his attitude. "Maybe you should be the one to go at that."

"Gin... Ginny, come back," he called after her, but she left him alone. "Fuck," he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. He hadn't slept at all, and now he seemed to snap at everything she said, even though it was unwarranted. There was just too much he needed to know, and patience was a virtue he lacked...always had.

"Guess I'll go see Hermione's parents then," he said to himself. "And if Draco hasn't made any progress by the time I come back, I'll have to contact Lucius Malfoy."

That decided, Harry left Grimmauld Place and Apparated to the alley next to the Muggle hospital Hermione's father had been brought to. He quickly walked to the man's room only to find the bed empty. Alarmed, he went to the nurse's station.

"Excuse me? The man in that room, Mr. Granger, where is he?"

"Oh, he was released earlier today," she said with a smile, looking him up and down appreciatively. "Are you related to him?"

"Friend of his daughter's actually."

"Oh." There was disappointment in her voice. It was obvious she believed he was dating Hermione.

He didn't let her know of her error, not wanting someone's interest anyway...especially not a woman's. Ginny would have his arse and the lady's as well. "I'll just go knock him up, ta."

"You're very welcome."

Instead of feeling smug with the woman's flirting, he felt guilty. He'd been a right prick to Ginny and should apologize as soon as possible. She'd been right to get angry at his words about her mother. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk about their future, but he didn't appreciate being pressured.

"Maybe I should just go home. Hermione's dad is probably resting comfortably in his own bed now. It's obvious he's not in any danger still." He frowned, undecided on what he wanted to do. Would Hermione be at her parents' home?

Shrugging, he decided to return to Grimmauld Place. After they decided on what to do with Malfoy, they could go to the Grangers' house together.

However, when he entered his home, he found a tearful Molly Weasley sitting with Ginny in their kitchen. Both women looked up at him warily when he returned.

"What's all this?" he asked. "All right?"

"It's Ron," Mrs. Weasley said, pushing a crumpled parchment across the table towards him. "He wrote to me this morning, and I just..." Her sobs became loud and Ginny tried to soothe her.

Harry took one look at the note and dropped it as if burned. "What the fuck?" he roared. "Married! What about Hermione? That git!"

"I know, I know, poor girl, oh, Ron... how could you?" Mrs. Weasley cried between sobs.

Plopping down beside the two Weasley women, Harry wrapped his arms around both of them. His eyes met those of Ginevra's, and he mouthed, "Sorry about earlier. I love you."

She nodded, leaned closer, and kissed his cheek quickly and then turned her attention to her sobbing mother. Harry closed his eyes and held them closely, vowing to never hurt Ginny or Mrs. Weasley the way Ron had hurt his mother and Hermione.

Ron Weasley had a fight coming. He'd pay for what he'd done to Hermione and his family.

AN: More up soon, I swear! Thanks for reading.