A Crown of Thorns

**DISCLAIMER** All characters etc. belong to J.K. Rowling and I am making no money from this. Don’t sue because I’m sure that I don’t have anything that you’d want anyway. The basic plot for the story was a challenge presented by ArienAstera.


Chapter Eleven – A Little Slytherin

“How long has he been here?” Hermione demanded angrily, “I want to know, NOW!” She stomped her foot in irritation, looking back and forth between Lucius and Voldemort, neither of whom could answer her quickly enough.

“Well?” She asked impatiently, thoroughly annoyed at this point.

She had managed to maintain her composure in front of their guests as she had ordered Professor Snape to be taken back to the dungeons. But as soon as the celebration had gotten underway, she had told Voldemort that she needed to speak with him, immediately, and of course, Lucius had insisted on joining them.

She paced back and forth as she continued her rant, “From this point forward, I am to be told everything. I want to know exactly what each and every one of my Death Eaters is doing, where they are and whether or not they are being productive. If there is a spy, or a traitor or even a hint that someone might be contemplating betraying our Lord, I want to know about it. Punishment will come swiftly and severely.”

She stopped pacing and turned towards Voldemort with a hurt look on her face, asking quietly, “Do you not trust me, my Lord?”

Stepping forward, Voldemort took her hands and spoke to her with an almost pleading voice, “Of course I trust you my love. I just…” he stammered, “I just thought that presenting him to you would make a nice surprise for your birthday. Forgive me. Of course we should have told you of his presence immediately.”

Lucius goggled at Voldemort’s reaction to her. He watched in disgust as one of the most powerful Dark Wizards ever known was manipulated into asking forgiveness from a seventeen year old girl. She was good, almost too good. Perhaps she had a little Slytherin in her after all.

“My Lord, I would like to ask a favor of you?” She smiled sweetly at Voldemort and Lucius almost gagged as the fool took the bait.

“Anything, my love.”

“Over the past two years I have learned much about the Dark Arts from you and Lucius,” she glanced at Malfoy quickly, “However, I feel that there is one aspect of my training that is still…lacking.”

Lucius’ eyes grew wide as he realized where this was going.

“I would like for Snape’s life to be spared. He is a highly skilled Potions Master and I believe that I can learn quite a lot from him-”

Lucius’ face was now twisted into a mask of rage and he blurted out, “That is the most absurd thing that I have ever heard. Out of the question. He was found to be a traitor and can no longer be trusted.”

Hermione spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “Really? And exactly what proof, if I may be so bold to ask, do you have that he is a traitor?”

Lucius gave her a trademark Malfoy smirk, “If you must know, he spied on me for weeks in his animagus form, ambushed me in my own home, stripped me of my powers and then had the audacity to come before our Lord disguised as me.”

Hermione continued, “And…I’m still not hearing any proof that he has betrayed us.” She looked at Lucius suspiciously, “Tell me Lucius, did you ever actually see Snape transform from his animagus state back to his human form?”

Lucius stammered, “Well…no, not exactly.”

“What do you mean ‘not exactly’? Either you saw him, or you didn’t.” she demanded.

“No, Miss Granger, I never actually saw him transform.” Lucius became flustered at her interrogation.

“Then how do you know that it was him?” she asked simply.

She was enjoying watching Lucius squirm. He really was such a rat.

“Who else could it have been? I mean, come on. Just take a look at Severus,” Lucius sneered, “A big, black, greasy bird? Not exactly a far cry from the actual man himself, is it? He never was-”

“SILENCIO!” Hermione shouted at Lucius and he instantly fell mute.

She turned to Voldemort, “My Lord, it is apparent to me that Lucius has no grounds upon which to base these accusations. Did you ever actually question Professor Snape to find out why he ‘ambushed’ Lucius and came here in disguise?”

“Hermione, my instincts told me the night Severus came here, that something wasn’t right. I knew that it wasn’t Lucius, so I followed him back to Malfoy Manor when he left. When I arrived, I found Lucius bound to the bed and stripped of his powers. Severus was with him.” Voldemort explained.

“But why did he do it? Did you ever ask him why?”

Voldemort looked at her gultily, “No, I never asked him why.” Noting Hermione’s accusing look, he quickly added, “You have to understand, I was so outraged that I simply turned him over to Avery and McNair. I gave them orders to hold him until further notice.”

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh, “I still don’t understand, what made you believe that Snape had betrayed you?”

Voldemort glanced at Lucius and it dawned on Hermione, “HIM? You listened to HIM?” she pointed to the now silent Malfoy who was gesturing wildly and trying desperately to speak.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief, “My Lord, it’s quite obvious that Snape had his reasons for taking such drastic measures. Why don’t we just ask him?”

~~~~

Severus heard the door open again and footsteps coming closer. He didnven ven bother to lift his head, he was too weak. He sensed someone kneeling over him and felt a hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch.

“Professor Snape?”

The voice was so soft, so sweet, it must be a dream. He felt the hand move to touch his cheek gently and it reminded him of the night Hermione had touched him in the library. He struggled to open his eyes but they were still swollen shut.

“Professor, pleaseneedneed you to hold very still. Revalesco.”

Severus felt the pain slowly drain from his body and within moments he opened his eyes, blinking against the dim light. He turned to find himself looking into Hermione’s big, brown eyes.

“Welcome back.” She smiled broadly at him and in that instant Severus knew that he had never before seen such a beautiful sight.

Noting that they were alone, Severus returned her smile, “Happy Birthday Miss Granger.” He managed weakly.

She giggled and impulsively threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder.

She whispered in his ear, “Voldemort and Lucius are outside, waiting for us. It’s going to be alright, just follow my lead.”

She released him and stood up, offering him her hand. He took it and allowed her to help him up. They entered the hallway and Lucius glared at his old friend.

Severus ignored him and bowed to Voldemort, “My Lord.”

“Severus.”

Hermione began, “I believe that we have some matters to sort out,” she nodded to indicate McNair and Avery who were lurking nearby, “shall we find someplace more appropriate?”

The group made their way up to Hermione’s private library and settled in for what was going to prove to be a very interesting discussion.

~~~~

Over two hours passed before Hermione emerged from her library, triumphant. She escorted Severus to a guest bedroom in her wing and told him that she would return later to check on him and then she made her way back down to her birthday celebration, which was in full swing.

She took her place next to a thoroughly defeated looking Voldemort, and reached out to pat his hand, “You know that I wouldn’t have asked you to do this for me if I didn’t believe his loyalty to be genuine.”

He turned to look at her wearily and nodded, “I know my love. And I am willing to be merciful and spare his life, but only on the strength of your word. I hope that he will prove himself.”

She gave him a grin and squeezed his hand, “He will, my Lord, you have my word.”


A/N – The healing charm that Hermione uses on Severus is the Latin word “revalesco” meaning: to become well again, to be restored.