Bloodbound

Aftermath

Severus collapsed against the cold stone wall. He could not believe that she had the nerve to speak to him that way. After all his lectures about the importance of control and submission, he was dumbfounded that she had just ignored it all completely and lost her temper! He was Severus Snape! No one could get away with treating him this way! Not even Elizabeth! But she was not Elizabeth, was she? She meant more to him than the air he breathed. She meant more to him than Elizabeth or anyone could ever hope to mean to him.


He shook away the thought. Wife or no wife, she could not speak to him that way. Severus felt the familiar tug of his wife attempting to enter his mind. No. He could not allow her to see him so confused this way. He used Occlumency to block her from his mind.


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Dumbledore sat in his office, catching up on his correspondence, something he rarely had any time to do, when he felt the presence of Minerva McGonagall outside his office. He detected a very livid atmosphere around her. Curious, he waved open the door before she even had a chance to utter the password.

“Severus Snape is an absolute monster!!” Minerva screeched, storming into Dumbledore’s office.

“What has happened, Minerva?”

“I found the former Miss Granger unconscious on the floor is what happened! Her back was torn to bits, and she couldn’t even stand! I had to levitate the poor child up to the hospital wing! That despicable man is the cause of this! He beat her like a work mule and he nearly killed her!!” Minerva all but screamed at he headmaster.


“This is very serious indeed. However, I do not think it wise to interfere this time, Minerva. This is a matter between a husband and his wife--”


“Soon to be a widower at this rate! Albus if you do not do something about this, I will close the floo to my chambers!”


Dumbledore seemed to consider this for a moment.


“Very well. Let us proceed to the hospital wing at once. The pair walked briskly up to the hospital wing.

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Hermione lay on the surprisingly comfortable cot in the hospital wing. She was unable to sleep, and her mind kept wandering to a million places. She could feel Severus strongly, so she knew he must be thinking about her, but he would not allow her to enter his mind.


Hermione nearly jumped off of the cot as the doors to the hospital wing were thrown open. In stormed Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore.


“Hello, Madam Snape. Minerva informs me you have been abused?” Hermione’s face flushed at the word. She had not really thought of it this way, but she supposed it was true.


“In a manner of speaking,” Hermione whispered, not looking at the headmaster.


“And what would you like to be done about this abuse?” Dumbledore asked her, his twinkling eyes piercing her.


“W-w-well, um, I uh, nothing,” Hermione replied, looking very uncomfortable.


“Well. There you have it,” Dumbledore returned, proceeding to walk away.


“FLOO, ALBUS,” Minerva said very sternly. Hermione looked at the pair of them, bewilderment evident in her sad brown eyes. Dumbledore cleared his throat.


“Right. Well, Hermione we cannot allow Severus to treat you this way. Something must be done about this,” the old wizard said gravely. With that, he turned to leave the rather quiet hospital wing.


“B-but it’s my own fault, Headmaster,” Hermione said almost inaudibly. “I was disrespectful to him. I shouted at him,” she finished slowly, staring at her hands.


“Be that as it may, dear, Severus has no right to beat you this way. Discipline is one thing, but this is outright abuse,” Minerva said, anger rising in her voice.


“Professor McGonagall is right, Hermione. There is a fine line between discipline, and sheer wrath. Severus has crossed that line, and I fear should he cross it again, your life may be at stake,” Dumbledore added.


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Severus sat down on the floor next to the discipline chair. Hermione’s blood shone on the floor and the chair itself. Suddenly, Severus was filled with a deep seated feeling of remorse. What had he done? Now he would be lucky if his beloved bride ever enjoyed his touch or even his company again. He had to see her. Severus stood, and with a quick scourgify, he cleaned the blood. He exited the dungeons and proceeded towards Gryffindor tower. He figured she may have sough refuge in her former home.


Severus was just about to climb the winding staircase leading up to the tower, when he came face to face with Albus Dumbledore.


“I do believe we need to speak, Severus,” the aged wizard said, softly.


“In regards to what, Headmaster?” Severus asked him, curtly.


“I believe you are aware of the matter at hand,” Albus replied.


Severus was just about to respond with another cool remark when Minerva McGonagall walked briskly over to the two men.


“Now you listen to me, Severus Snape,” she snapped. “You may be a wizard, and the head of your house, but I will not stand by and allow you to beat that girl! I was utterly disgusted when I heard you had decided to take her as your bride, but I let that go. This cannot continue this way! I will hex you beyond your wildest imagination, make no mistake of that!” The witch screamed at the dumbfounded Snape.


“Severus, Minerva is correct in so many words. You cannot abuse that child this way. There are many who will interfere should you even attempt this again. I do not know if you are aware, but you nearly killed Hermione. Surely there are other ways to deal with insubordination that attempted murder,” Albus said, his blue eyes twinkling.


“Where is my wife?” Severus asked, still shocked at the tone Minerva had taken with him.


“That is none of your bloody business, you despicable worm!” Minerva shouted, clearly still irate with the dark man.


“Now, Minerva. If Severus wishes to make amends of what he has done, he cannot be expected to do so without gazing upon his wife,” Albus said gently.


“She is in the hospital wing, but I do not trust you to be alone with her, no sir! I will be right there to make sure you do not harm her,” Minerva snapped.


“Minerva, you would do well to calm yourself before you experience a stroke. I am aware of my actions, and I wish to speak to my wife regarding them. We do not need your supervision, as I assure you, she will undergo no further pain at my hands,” Severus said icily, becoming highly irritated at Minerva’s brazenness.


The witch opened her mouth to retort, but Albus interrupted her.


“Severus would not be so foolish as to attempt another beating on Madam Snape. I am certain even he can see the severity of the situation, and can certainly understand that another lashing at this point in time would surely kill the child. From here, Minerva, this is a matter best left between husband wife, and we shall not interfere further. However, Severus, rest assured this shall not happen again, or I shall take no measures in stopping Minerva here from hexing you into oblivion,” Albus said firmly.


Severus scowled heavily, but turned to go to the hospital wing, and see his wife.


Once the darker wizard was out of sight, Albus turned to Minerva.


“Was that effort enough to keep the floo open?” He asked her, eyes twinkling mischievously.


“This time,” Minerva replied, smiling at the older man.