Broken & Abused

“What! I slept all day! You let me sleep all day!” Hermione got up from the bed and stared at him. “Wait, I slept all day? I haven’t slept all day in years.”

“I figured as much. You look more rested now.”

“I don’t understand. How is it that I can sleep all day down here, but the Dreamless Sleep Draught doesn’t even work anywhere else?” Hermione

“Because for some unknown reason you think you’re safe here. Why do you trust me? I have never even been nice to you.”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s because of the work you did for the Order. I just realized that you were mean and harsh with us because if you weren’t then it would put us all in danger. Besides, no one would have learned anything if you didn’t make an example of someone. Sure you were rather mean to me in my first year; but I was annoying.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Bloody hell, I was annoying.”

Snape smirked at her. They both heard a banging at Snape’s office door. Hermione looked at Snape questioningly. He merely looked thoughtful… then panicked. “Shit.” He jumped up from the bed and glided out the door. “Shit! Follow me.” He pointed his wand at her as she rounded the corner and muttered some spell. Hermione’s clothes slowly smoothed themselves of wrinkles as her hair braided itself.

“You have to teach me that spell.”

“Look. This is Mr. Malfoy. I forgot he was stopping by this evening. Sit in the chair across from my desk and don’t say anything. Okay?”

“Yes sir.”

Hermione settled herself into the armchair. Snape handed her a book on potions. She opened it and started reading. She stifled a gasp as Snape opened the door. ‘This book must be centuries old.’ She glanced at the cover once more before starting to read again more eagerly. ‘This book is banned for controversial potions. I never thought I’d be able to read this. Let alone a copy as old as this one.’ Thoroughly immersed in the book she didn’t hear a word they were saying.

“Good evening, Severus. I trust you are well.” Lucius drawled. He stepped past Severus and stopped short, turning to him. “What is she doing here?”

“Dumbledore has arranged it so that I’m stuck with her helping me with potions in the evening over winter break. Supposedly it’s giving her a view of what an apprenticeship would be like. The girl is insufferable though. I don’t know how I’m going to manage it the rest of my holiday.” Severus paused. “I’ll just go get the potion for you.”

Severus didn’t want to leave Hermione in the room with Lucius, but the war was over so it couldn’t be too bad for just a moment. Besides, he wouldn’t do anything in Hogwarts, would he? And he was only here for a potion to help his son. Draco had been hexed during the final battle and no one had yet to figure out what was causing him so much pain. He still needed a sustaining potion just to achieve what little activity he did. Severus made bottles upon bottles of Draught of Peace for the boy. And that seemed to work for a few days, but then he would recede back to anxiety and fear.

Lucius stared at Hermione as Severus left the room. He still hated the girl for always besting his son: in classes, examinations, and even for not getting hurt as he did during the war. He smirked at her while she continued to read. Slowly he stepped into her mind. But he was only there long enough to catch the smallest glimpse of one thought before he was thrown out forcefully. So forcefully that he was actually knocked back against the wall. “Why you little bitch!” He looked up to see that she was no longer reading. “You’ll pay for that one.”

Hermione panicked at he advanced on her. She had no where to run and she had left her wand in the other room. Lucius noticed her panic and lack of weapon and took full advantage. He cast a quick silencing spell at her. Grabbing her by the arms he pushed her at the wall. She hit back first with a loud thud. Before she realized what was happening Lucius had her dangling against the wall by her throat. ‘How much longer is Professor Snape going to be? I hope he comes back soon. He probably didn’t even hear any of this. His stores are two rooms away and with thick stone walls.’ Realizing that Snape probably wouldn’t be back in time, Hermione started struggling harder. Flailing her legs she managed to get his knee, but he only tightened his grip on her neck.

“Yes, struggle, Mudblood. Just the way I like them.” Lucius sneered down at her. “Nothing and no one can help you now.” Hermione’s eyes were starting to droop as she got weaker. “Ah. Not much of a fighter are you.”

Severus came back into the room just before Hermione was about to loose consciousness. “Lucius!” Startled into dropping Hermione, Lucius took a step back. “Need I remind that you are here requesting help for your son and that I need not help you with the potions?”

Lucius nodded curtly taking the potions offered by Severus. “You always were a softy. You’re weak!” With that he stormed out of the room to tend to his son.

Severus ran to Hermione as she tried to stand. He picked her up and carried her back to his bedroom. After laying her on the bed he ran his wand over her body, checking for any injuries. “Do you feel okay?”

“I was pinned against a wall for gods know how long; do you honestly think I could feel okay?” Hermione managed a weak smile while Snape glowered at her. “I feel weak and light-headed. But I don’t feel as if anything is broken and he did not hex me.”

“You’re going to have some lovely bruises on your neck. Now don’t go telling anyone that the ‘dungeon bat’ did this to you.”

“And what would that help me to gain? You’d be carted away. I’d be sent off to St. Mungo’s and I’d loose the only person left who has ever shown any concern for my well being.”

Severus smiled weakly at her. “You know, I’m sure Mr. Weasley cares. He’s just dimwitted and not fit to talk to a female. Growing up in a loving family whose only problem is money and one rebellious son, he would not even comprehend that a father could think what yours did. Let alone act upon it. But that doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t realize that you’re hurting. I don’t know how he misses it. You are a true Gryffindor. You wear your heart on your sleeve; I can see the pain and emptiness in your eyes most of the time.”

Hermione looked contemplative. She sat up and got off the bed. Severus looked confused and worried that she would be dizzy. She looked fine for a half a minute before she started to shake uncontrollably. Severus grabbed her shoulders. “Hermione, look at me. Can you stop shaking?” When she continued to shake Snape snapped his fingers in her face. “Hermione, guardilo!” The sound of the Italian language brought her back to the present. “Ora dicami che cosa è errato.”

She stared at him a moment before breaking down in tears. “Non so. Sono in modo da spaventato. Non desidererò essere solo più.” She leaned into his chest and cried in earnest. When her tears finally subsided she looked up at him curiously. “How did you know I spoke Italian?”

“I know a lot of things.” He smiled down at her and kissed her on her forehead.

~*~*~*~*~*~ Translations~*~*~*~*~*~

Dolore: Pain

Guardilo: Look at me!

Ora dicami che cosa è errato.: Now tell me what is wrong.

Non so. Sono in modo da spaventato. Non desidererò essere solo più.: I don’t know. I’m so scared. I don’t want to be alone anymore.