All the way IIII: Change

Hermione hadn't heard anything about Gary for the whole weekend. She hoped to Merlin he was alright, because if her husband went back to prison, she would personally murder Professor Swan for messing up her life.

She had asked Severus time and time again what 'blackmail' meant in Slytherin terms and if those terms included any type of violence, but he just refused to talk to her about it, smirking. She was worried about his state of mind at the moment. Not because she thought he was psychotic or anything, just that he was dangerously Slytherin when he was angry or jealous or looking for revenge. So, all three of those things together was basically a death certificate for the other person involved.

On Monday morning, however, Severus' smirk was almost a triumphant smile.

"What have you done?" She asked him before he went to his first class.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her, "Blackmail, my dear. Blackmail."

Bewildered, Hermione watched him leave their rooms. She slumped down on the sofa, rubbing her hands over her face; what was he up to? What did he know that other people didn't?

Deciding she needed something to take her mind off of whatever her husband was planning, Hermione sent Dobby away, telling him over ten times that she didn't need his help because she wanted to do it herself. When he finally left, she started making the bed and cleaning, not using magic, hoping to forget the events of the last few days.

When she had run out of things to clean and tidy, Hermione started to organize her wardrobe from the darkest colour to the lightest, and she was nearly done when Severus finished his class and came in for a free hour he had.

She went into the living room and looked up at him, "I don't even want to know what you're doing, but I don't want you to get into trouble or do something stupid. Do you understand me?"

"I won't be the one in trouble." He told her, that infamous smirk still on his face.

""""""""""""""""""""

"Can we go out?" Eileen asked, her head tilted slightly to one side.

"We can if you want," Sirius said, "But it's cold out there -"

Eileen shook her head, "No, I mean tonight. Can we go out tonight? Somewhere nice."

"If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do." He smiled.

She jumped up from the sofa, "I'll go and get ready, then!"

"But it's not even three o'clock yet." Sirius frowned.

Eileen shrugged, "Well, I’m a bit out of practice with make up and stuff, unless you want to go out with me looking like a tramp."

"You wouldn't look like a tramp even if you dressed up in a black bag." He said.

""""""""""""""""""""

Severus had just left for his class after lunch, when some one knocked on the door. Hermione opened it and froze.

"What are you doing here?" She asked Gary breathlessly. He wasn't bruised or scratched. He was... normal.

He scowled, "What has he done? What lies has he told her?"

Hermione frowned, "What?"

"Your perfect husband has told Minerva some lies and she told me at lunch to go to her office and six o'clock to 'review my situation and clear up some rumors'. Except, I know she doesn't think they're rumors!" He told her angrily, "So come on! What has he said? What has he done?"

"I don't know," Hermione said, completely bemused, "I honestly don't."

"Oh, for Gods sake, don't give me that!" He almost shouted, "You can't tell me that your precious husband would kick the shit out of me for you and then not tell you his little game!"

Hermione took a deep breath, "He hasn't told me anything. I am so sorry about the other night, but I warned you and you didn't listen. However... he shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

"I don't care." He hissed, pushing the door open wider, so that Hermione stepped back, "I want to know what he's said and you are going to tell me."

Hermione swallowed hard, "Please, I honestly don't have a clue -"

"Fine! If you won't tell me, I’ll find out on my own! ... Legilimens!"

Hermione wasn't sure what she was supposed to be seeing, but she suspected it was meant to be the same thing as Gary. However, she wasn’t. She felt very distant. Hazy. Floating. Light.

Some one was screaming. She could see her parents and her and the kitchen of their house and... Death Eaters.

And she realized it was her screaming.

"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I love them!

xxx