Dark Days

Dark Days Chapter One – Questions and Beginnings

A roaring fire flickered in the great fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Outside in the black dark of deep winter the wind roared and the rain lashed down from tormented skies.
In front of the fire stood a young girl of ten. She was tall for her age with jet black hair that cascaded down her back and piercing ebony eyes. She was staring at a photograph on the mantelpiece. It showed three people dozing peacefully on a couch in the very room that she now stood. The tall black haired man held a sleeping child on his lap and under his other arm was a golden haired young woman, whose head rested contentedly on his chest.
The girl felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to face her mother.

“Hi Mum.” She said in her quiet musical voice.

The woman took the photograph from the mantelpiece and slid her arm around her daughter, tears glistening faintly in the corners of her eyes.

“You were such a beautiful bablenalena.”

The girl smiled. “Mum, will you tell me a story before I go to bed?”

“Of course, what story do you want?”

“Tell me how you and daddy met. I mean, when you fell in love.”

“That’s a very long story baby.”

“That’s okay we have plenty of time.” The little girl smiled winsomely and seated herself on the footstool by the fire.

Her mother sat in the armchair next to her daughter and absently began to stoke her hair. Selena laid her head in her mother’s lap and waited expectantly.

“Your father was my potions teacher at Hogwarts for years before we loved one another. We never really liked each other very much. I thought he was mean and spiteful and he just saw me as an irritating know-it-all.” She laughed fondly at the memory, “He was probably right I suppose…
“Anyway, in my fourth year Voldemort returned and began to grow strong again. Dumbledore formed a resistance group known as the Order of the Phoneix, which I later joined. Harry, Ron and I were made leaders because of our previous encounters with the dark arts. I was given joint command of a team with Severus, much to my disgust, but I gradually grew to like him.”

“And love him?” Selena asked, interrupting.

“That took a lot longer, but yes, eventually we grew to love each other. It was about four years after I joined the resistance group that things began to happen between us, although I learned later that he’d been in love with me long before. I’ver ver even noticed… Anyway, Voldemort had led an assault on a muggle village in Scotland. Several muggles had escaped the attack and were hiding in the forests nearby. Several members of my team went up to rescue them. It was supposed to be a simple find and recover mission, but it turned out quite differently. I ended up in trouble and it was your father who helped me. But I’m getting ahead of myself.”

She sighed and cast her mind back.

* * * * *

They moved on silent feet through the trees and undergrowth. Twenty two people in all. The leaders in the centre, ten people on either side, spreading out to comb the woods.
Hermione and Severus leaned back against the trunk of a gnarled old oak to study their map. They carefully marked off the areas searched and chose another area to move into.
Suddenly a person appeared out of the greenery before them. “We’ve got a problem.” He called.

“What is it?” Asked Severus irritably.

“Death Eaters sir. Lots of them.”

Hermione and Severus exchanged glances as if to say, ‘I knew it couldn’t be this easy.’

“Get everyone here now!” Ordered Hermione quietly but sternly.

The young man paused for just a second before dashing off into the trees.

“We need a new plan.” Said Hermione.

“No? You think?”

“Don’t be sarcastic, I’ve got an idea.”

By the time everyone was gathered they’d formulated a plan.
Quickly Hermione drew eleven people aside and Snape took the remaining nine.

“Okay, this is the deal.” Murmured Hermione. “We’ve got Death Eaters coming in thick and fast. Now we’ve found the muggles but it’s only a matter of time before they do too. There are twenty two muggles and eleven of you. Everyone gets two muggles out, no more or less or there’ll be confusion. Make something into a portkey, a rock, a twig, anything. Get them to the rendezvous point and contact Dumbledore immediately. The rest of us will hold the Death Eaters off long enough for you to get away. Any questions?”

Silence.

“Good. Move. Now!”

A few metres away Severus was giving similar instructions to the others.

“Our job is to keep the Death Eaters away from the others until they can get clear. Don’t take unnecessary risks, there’s too many of them to go getting delusions of grandeur. Once the last muggle is gone you get yourself out. Don’t wait for anything or anyone, understood? Any Questions?”

“How many are there?”

“Enough. Forty at least. Anything else?”

No one spoke.

“Good. Go!”

They moved out in silence following the other group, fanning out to take defensive positions.

“Ready?” Severus asked Hermione.

She nodded her answer and they moved out.

* * * * *

The muggles were huddled in a group in a clearing not far away. They looked up in fear when the wizards entered the ring and it took a long time to convince them that they were friends.
Hermione moved out to the right to cover the perimeter and it wasn’t long before the Death Eaters broke through. The muggles were finally convinced that they were here to help and they began to disappear.
After that Hermione had no time to notice any more. Three large Death Eaters appeared in front of her and the rest of the area was filled with screams and curses and chaos.

“Petrificus Totalus!” She yelled and managed to catch two of the three with one spell. The third however kept advancing.

“Crucio!”

She dodged aside and scrambled away among the undergrowth, narrowly missing another ill-aimed curse. Dragging herself up she flung herself behind a huge beech tree.

“Come out pretty.” He slurred in a harsh voice. “Come on now don’t be shy. We’re all friends here…”

“I am not your friend!” She shouted back defiantly, crawling to a more defensible spot.

“Now, you’ve hurt my feelings now see…” He leapt around the tree where Hermione had been moments before. “Like that is it! Don’t you know that women should come when they’re called by their menfolk. Looks like I may have to teach you how to behave like a proper little whore…”

His crude words made her skin crawl and she sprang out from her hiding place, wand raised.

“Expellarmus!”

Her spell missed by inches and she leap aside to avoid another curse. This one caught her shoulder and she gasped as she felt her flesh tear. She bit her lip and ducked out of sight to catch her breath. Putting her hand up to the wound she felt a deep cut and her hand came away wet with crimson blood.

“Bastard!” She swore and jumped back out to face him. “Expellarmus!”

This time the spell hit and his wand flew out of his hand towards her.
With a growl he drew a long, wickedly curved dagger and continued to advance. Hermione dodged out of the way to late to avoid him cutting her with the knife. The pain that raced though her was unbelievable, moving quickly she brought her knee up until it made contact with his groin. A great satisfaction filled her as he doubled up in pain. However he was not beaten and grabbed her by the hair, bringing the knife up to her throat.

“Now then, why don’t we talk some more about how you women should behave?” Hermione felt his hand start to wander across her body. She screamed another spell and the man collapsed to the floor, yelling and cursing, the knife forgotten in front of him. One of the bones in his left leg poked through the skin. With his good leg he kicked Hermione to the ground beside him and attempted to pin her down. Angrily Hermione punched him full in the face and struggled to her feet.
“Stupefy!” The death eater lost consciousness in a crumpled heap on the ground. Hermione snapped his wand in half, set it alight and cast it at his feet.
“Wanker.” She muttered as she ran off to find the others.

The clearing was madness. Fires were burning in several places and two trees had fallen, one crushing a Death Eater underneath it. Only a hand now stuck out, still clutching an ebony wand. A severed head lay to onside of her, she didn’t check to see where the rest of the body may be.
As Hermione entered the clearing she saw the last of the muggles disappear and her companions begin to disapparate.

A sudden wave of nausea and dizziness swept over and she stumbsidesideways, clutching at a low branch for support. She shook her head to try and get rid of the fogginess. Dimly she saw several Death Eaters moving in towards her. Gasping she muttered the apparation spell and everything blurred.
She saw two places at once, their features all mingled. She knew that if she could just make herself to move to the other place. With a great effort she willed herself forwards, pushing towards the other place. She was temporarily in both places and then the features of one became clearer and the other faded away completely.

* * * * *

The rendezvous point was several extensive caves that had been discovered several years before by Harry and Hagrid. There was space inside for hundreds to lie hidden and food and medical supplies were stored inside. The muggles had been led to a cave near the back of the network, where there were beds and fresh water. Some were already receiving medical treatment for some minor cuts and bruises.

Severus stood by the entrance of the main cave talking to an older wizard called Ralph Hemingway. Hermione tried to walk over towards them but found that her legs could no longer support her and she tumbled to the floor. Her head hit the rocky ground as she fell and she blacked out. A small trickle of blood ran down her face and splashed on to the rock.
Severus heard her cry out as she fell and raced to her side, Ralph right behind him. Several other people gathered around, staring down at the young woman lying prone on the floor. Severus gently rolled her over on to her back and placed his cloak under her head.

“What’s wrong with her?” asked Ralph, his voice full of concern.

“I don’t know,” he answered shortly.

“Is she going to be okay? What happened?”

Severus glared at him. “If you’d shut up for a minute I’d be able to find out. Now be quiet, and get these gawping idiots out of my way.”

The crowd dispersed immediately and Ralph prudently left as well. Snape’s temper was well known and feared.
He lifted Hermione into his arms, carried her into an empty room and laid her on a bed. Semi-dried blood caked her cheek and her head lolled weakly against the pillow. Her breathing was shallow and laboured but aside from the cut on her shoulder he could find nothing wrong with her. Then he noticed another gash on her thigh which was emitting a peculiar smell that he could not quite place. All at once he realised what it was. Poison, and there was no question in his mind what it was, Athsat. A poison so deadly that unless the antidote was promptly received would slow down the heart until it beat no more.

Severus cursed under his breath. “How the hell have you managed this Voldemort? What have you and your cronies done this time?” He went to the door and called for Ralph.

“What is it Severus?”

“I have to get her out of here. The wound is poisoned and will be fatal if I do not act quickly. There’s no time to make the antidote, but I know where I can get some. You stay here and wait for Dumbledore, tell him what’s happened.”

“But…”

“No time for buts, just do!”

As quickly as he could he made a portkey, took Hermione in his arms and vanished.

“Yes sir, of course, three bloody bags full sir!” Ralph mumbled. “Arrogant git.”


* * * *

Two people appeared suddenly in a large hallway, causing a small house elf to almost drop her feather duster. Of course she was far too well trained for that and merely squeaked, “Master Severus sir!” and clutched her feather duster to her chest.

“Get a fire going in my mother’s room. It has to be warm and bright,” he commanded.

“Yes sir!” she squeaked again and ran off immediately. Severus walked behind as quickly as he could without jolting the girl in his arms.

When he reached the bedroom the fire was lit and the bed clothes turned back. He laid Hermione gently down and pressed his hand to her forehead. She was burning up and her breathing was becoming more and more laboured. He conjured up a silver bowl of cool water and a cloth and beckoned the house elf.

“Bathe her forehead with this,” he said. “I need to find the antidote and I can’t do both. If she gets any worse, summon me at once!”

Then he swirled his cloak about him and hurried out of the room. The house elf sat on the edge of the bed and held the wet cloth against Hermione’s brow. She began thrashing about, gently at first but gradually getting more and more violent. As the fever took hold she began to mutter and moan.

Five minutes later Severus returned with vial of thick black liquid. The house elf scurried out of the way and stood in the corner of the room, watching this unexpected event curiously. Severus pulled Hermione up into a sitting position and leaned her against his chest. She began to choke as he poured the icy liquid down her throat. He held her tightly as she thrashed about more violently still. Her cries echoed off the rafters of the great room.

Gradually her cries and thrashing subsided and her breathing became steadier. She was still feverish and her brow was wet with sweat, but it was no longer life threatening. Strands of golden brown hair stuck to her cheeks and fell in damp clumps across her shoulders. Severus laid her back against the pillows and pushed the hair away from her face. He pulled the blankets off the bed and covered her with a single sheet.

“Bring me a band aidus potion,” he asked the house elf, who promptly left the room in search of some.

He cut open her robes to look at the gash in her shoulder. His fingers gently probed the wound and he swiftly cleaned it up. Then he took his wand and stitched it up, before giving her a dose of the band aidus potion to help close the wound. Pulling the cover up over her shoulders he stepped quietly away from the bed.

“Watch her,” he told the elf as he left.

* * * *

Hermione lay in a fevered sleep for two days, watched over by Severus and the house elf. At dusk on the third day she woke to see pale evening light shining in through the window and a low burning fire in the grate. She groaned and unsuccessfully tried to rise. Her eyes fluttered open and wandered round the unfamiliar room. The door opened quietly and a tall man entered on silent feet.

“Severus?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Where am I?”

“In my home,” he said softly.

“How did I get here? What happened? I can’t remember,” her voice was dazed.

“The wound you received was poisoned. We didn’t have time to make the antidote but fortunately I had some here.”

“You had some here? What for? Why did you? What did the poison do? What was it?”

“Hermione calm down, you’re fine.”

“How…” she began.

“No more questions Hermione, you’re still weak. Now let me have a look at your shoulder.”

She struggled into a sitting position and found herself clad in an old fashioned white night gown. Severus slipped the arm down and removed the bandage. His fingers were gentle as they ran over the almost healed wound.

“There,” he said. “You’ll be fine.” There was a strange expression in his eyes that Hermione didn’t recognise. Tenderness? She frowned slightly trying to figure it out.

“What?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing.” She paused. “Thank you. “Wh “What for?”

“Looking after me,” she lightly touched his arm and that expression that puzzled her so flickered across his face once more.
He stood up abruptly. “There’s a bath ready for you if you want it. The house elf will show you.” He paused a moment before sweeping out of the room. The door closed quietly behind him.

Briefly he leaned back against the door. His heart was in his throat, they way she had touched him then….He allowed himself the smallest amount of hope that maybe one day she would feel for him what he had felt for her for several years now. But then that hope wavered as he told himself that all it had been was gratitude.

Hermione looked around the room, feeling stronger already. A small house elf stepped out of the corner.

“Would you like to bathe Miss?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you.” The house elf smiled and helped her out of the bed. Hermione began to take note of her surroundings. The bed was a large oak four poster with ivory drapes and pale pink sheets. The room was feminine, lacy and comfortable. There was a large old fashioned dressing table beside the window and a large oak wardrobe.
The house elf led her to a door beside the window which led to an elaborate bathroom. This room was also feminine and sophisticated, decorated in deep crimson and gold.

“What’s your name?” Hermione asked the house elf.

The little elf looked startled, “Tikki miss.”

Hermione smiled, “Would you put some bubbles in the water please Tikki?”

The room filled with a scent of lavender and violets, and huge bubbles filled the air and covered the water with a layer of crystal.
As Hermione slid her aching body into the warm water a cloud of rainbow bubbles shot up into the air. She winced as the water touched the not quite healed cut on her shoulder. After soaking for almost an hour she slowly climbed out and wrapped herself in a thick crimson towel. Laid out for her was a dressing gown of Ivory silk. When she had slipped into that she walked slowly back into the bedroom, wincing with every step.

Tikki had changed the sheets on the bed and opened the window, just enough to let in a cool breeze. Hermione curled up on the window seat and gazed out across the darkening world. A thick pine forest stretched away into the distance and purple mountains towered at the horizon. Immediately beyond the house were well tended gardens and a roaring stream flowed merrily to one side.
A knock on the door made her jump and a low silky voice asked, “May I come in?”

She pulled the dressing gown more tightly around her, “Of course.”

The door swung quickly open and Severus stepped in, his eyes widened imperceptibly as he saw Hermione clad only in thin silk and almost began to undress her with his eyes, then he gave himself a mental slap and crossed the room towards her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Weak and tired, but other than that I’m okay,” she replied.

“It’s understandable. You need to go back to bed and sleep some more.”

“How long have I been here?” she asked, trying to work out what day it was.

“This is the third day,” he answeredow cow come on, bed. You need rest.” He moved to help her up.

She stumbled as she rose and fell against him. His strong arms caught her as she fell and their eyes locked for a moment. She saw those hard eyes soften and the corners of his mouth curled up into a half smile. Then he picked her up easily and carried her to the bed. She rested her head against his shoulder until he laid her softly down. New emotions surged inside her as he covered her up and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. “Sleep,” he said and exited the room.

Hermione’s eyes followed him as he left and she found that she wanted him to stay. “Oh no you don’t missy,” she thought to herself. “Severus is a friend, nothing more. Don’t complicate matters.” But then she thought of the tender way he had looked at her and the soft touch of his hands and her resistance melted all away. She wanted him to come back; She wanted to feel his arms around her.

“Great Hermione! You really know how to pick them don’t you?” she said aloud to no-one in particular. Then she curled up in a ball and tried to sleep.