Saving Grace

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. JK Rowling does

Note: sorry this took a while, but I’m starting to write new material so its going to be taking me longer to update. Hope you enjoy and as always thank you to my wonderful beta, GeminiScorp.

Saving Grace
Chapter 12

Hermione looked down to see two house elves beaming up at her and her mouth fell open.

“YOU HAVE HOUSE ELVES!!!”
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Without hesitation Hermione ripped off her outer robe and pulled off her sweater as fast as she could. Before her husband could move she thrust a garment to each of the two bewildered house-elves and shrieked, “BE FREE!

The house-elves burst into tears.

Severus yelled.

“Hermione you DAMNED IDIOT. WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING. THESE ARE MY SERVANTS.”

“SERVANTS!? You mean slaves! I can not believe you have SLAVES! I refuse to be married to someone who has slaves. Don’t you have a soul!?”

The two elves in question had fallen to their Master’s feet and were tugging at his pant’s leg and crying on his shoes. “PLEASE TAKE LIBBY AND SAM BACK MASTER. WHAT IS WE HAVING DONE TO DISPLEASE MASTER? PLEASE MASTER PLEASE MASTER!! DON’T BE PUTTING SAM AND LIBBY OUT ON THE STREET!”

“Hermione you stupid, stupid girl. Is this what you wanted? They were perfectly happy before and now look what you’ve done.”

“I AM NOT STUPID SEVERUS. I AM COMPASSIONATE!”

“THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL BEING COMPASSIONATE? REDUCING TWO HOUSE ELVES TO HYSTERICS?”

The house elves were still screaming and moaning and both humans were getting increasingly irritated by their frighteningly high shrieks. At the same time both Hermione and Severus threw up their hands and yelled, “BE QUIET I ‘M TRYING TO SAVE YOU!”

The house elves stopped screaming but huge tears continued to stream down their leathery cheeks. Hermione went down to her knees and tried desperately to reason with them.

“You’re free, you’re no longer bound to serve with out being paid. You can come and go as you please; you can use your power to do what you want. You’ll never have to ask permission again or punish yourself for anything. Doesn’t that sound good?” she said, her voice and eyes pleading with them to agree.

The slightly more masculine one spoke up, “But Mistress, all Sam and Libby is wanting is to work here. We is wanting no pay, only bad no dedicated house elves gets pay. Please Mistress please!” The other house elf nodded her head in agreement from behind her mate but was to afraid of Hermione to speak.

Hermione took a deep breath and Severus was positive she was about to launch into an hour long liberty speech that would have moved anyone…except house-elves. He snapped his fingers.

“Hermione be quiet. Now.” He said, looking pointedly at her. “Sam, Libby, put our luggage in the master bedroom, then prepare dinner…and get me my headache remedy. We will deal with this later. Go.” The house-elves burst into enormous smiles at being allowed to serve but knew better than to speak when Severus was irritated. They both disappeared with a pop.

“How DARE you order me around! I am not some child…” Hermione’s outrage was cut short. Severus stepped up to her quickly, completely overwhelming her with his presence. It was true; Severus Snape knew how to be imposing.

His face loomed over hers, mere inches away as he spoke, “Hermione Snape, I am your husband and don’t you ever forget it.” Severus made sure his meaning was not lost on her; he was the dominant one in the relationship. Hermione was shocked and rather scared. She nodded, afraid of him being so close and angry. He pulled back and started walking away. “Follow me,” he said, his voice low, gravely, and threatening.

Hermione felt like a scolded child. She believed she was in the right about the elves but for some reason he had made her feel very guilty. She looked at her shoes and caught herself before she said, ‘Yes, Sir.’

She followed him into a large, open, circular two-storied library that was lined floor to ceiling with book shelves. Two ladders rested near identical fireplaces on opposite ends of the room; the ladders pivoted a narrow pathway that encircled the second floor. There was also one staircase that wound up the wall at a gradual incline. Hermione was immediately in love. It wasn’t nearly as impressive as the Malfoy’s library, but it had a fairytale grandeur which Hermione found to be enchanting. In the middle of the room were leather sofas and chairs around a small table, similar to the furniture in his Hogwarts rooms. Against one side sat a large desk and two high-backed green velvet chairs. Severus went to the desk and sat down pinching the bridge of his large nose. Hermione sat down quietly in one of the chairs, looking around her.

“What you did just now was completely idiotic Hermione. I am a Death Eater and you are about to become one. Think for one second with that brilliant mind of yours and enlighten me as to how I am to explain to the Dark Lord why I freed my house elves.”

Hermione was immediately regretful. “I’m sorry Severus I didn’t think…”

He stoop up quickly, his anger rising. “That’s just it Hermione! You have to start thinking! I will not be there to tell you every step to take. You said you could do this, wanted to do this, and that means doing it right, even when they aren’t looking!” He did not need to clarify who ‘they’ were. “I had thought that you were mature enough to understand the magnitude of your task but obviously I was wrong. You must start acting the part or you will fail and die, and it will be your own fault.” He said the last part cruelly.

Hermione was fighting back tears. She felt tiny, stupid and insignificant and she knew he was right. “I’m sorry Severus, I’m really sorry, I’ll do better, I will, I just…this is all new. I know how important it is, and I do want to do this. Please just give me another chance.”

She looked down at her hands in her lap and Severus smiled on the inside. He knew that she would now put her all into it. He knew she would do anything to prove herself to him. He went to her and softly lifted her chin with his fingertips. “Good girl. Now, come on and I’ll give you a tour.”


Severus walked out and led her back to the entry hall to begin the tour. He started from the bottom, showing her his workroom and store room. They were cold, and dungeon-esqu but neat and filled with tiny touches of Snape’s unique personality. On the main floor there was a nice sized kitchen, where they found Sam and Libby hard at work preparing their dinner. They also toured the study, dining room, an austere sitting room and a guest suit before moving upstairs where there were two bedroom suits, including the master suit, and a smaller sitting room.

Snape’s manor had very few decorations, the walls were bare and the rooms least used had few personal items. The furniture was of fine quality but in no way inviting. The first thought that came to Hermione was that it was like a hotel room, clean and serviceable, but not a single personal touch. ‘No wonder he stays at Hogwarts.’ Hermione thought sadly to herself.

The master suit was the last room he showed her and she was glad to find it homier than the rest of the house. The furniture was large and made of dark, well-polished mahogany. A huge sleigh bed sat in the center of the room with two night stands on either side. An enormous wardrobe, a small writing desk, a fireplace with a comfortable chair placed in front of it, and double window paneled doors that lead out on to a balcony completed the room. Severus stood rigidly at the door, watching Hermione inspect his room by herself. Across from the bed was a door leading to a dressing room and a large bathroom. The bathroom was decorated in green marble with a large sunken bathtub but included a shower stall much to Hermione’s delight.

When she returned from inspecting the bathroom Severus was out on the balcony. He stood at the railing, his hands griping the wrought iron bar as he gazed out over his property. His manor was about a hundred yards from a cliff that fell sharply into the ocean. The sun had set and a million stars covered the sky and were reflected in the dark water. It was quite a beautiful view and Hermione found herself looking forward to watching the sun set on the water in the future. She stood next to him and put her hand next to his on the bar so that they touched. She noticed him glance down and then look back out at the ocean.

Though neither one knew it, they were both thinking of their wedding night; of the stars over the glen in which they were married. They had never spoken of it but both thought of that night a great deal. Neither could forget the intense connection they had felt when their eyes locked during the ceremony. Hermione remembered it with longing. She wanted to feel that again, to feel her spirit lock with his. Snape had been almost frightened by it; he had never felt such a link with a woman. The memory of their connection made him believe that there might be more to his feelings for her than just those of lust and a protective instinct.

“This view is lovely,” Hermione said softly, wanting to fill the silence.

“It’s why I chose to build my home here.”

“You built this house? I thought it was your family’s manor…”

“No…no that burned down…when I was a boy.” His eyes were distant and sad.

Hermione slowly slid her hand over Severus’. She looked up at the same moment he did and their eyes locked together.

She didn’t know what his thoughts were, but she knew hers; she wanted to kiss him. His dominance made Hermione weak with wanting. She looked at his lips and whispered “I’m sorry, Severus.” He didn’t respond with words but bent slowly and kissed her. She kissed back readily and he sighed hungrily into her mouth. He laced his right hand in the soft hairs at the nape of her neck, holding her in place, while his left hand caressed the side of her body then slid to the small of her back pulling her into him. Hermione wound her arms around his back, loving the solidity of him. Their kissing stretched on and on, neither noticing the passing of time.

He took a step, pushing her body with him. She followed his lead not knowing or caring where he was leading her, her eyes were closed, too entranced with the sensations of him nibbling her neck. He pushed her up against the side of the house, the coarse stone wall pressed against her thin shirt. He leaned into her to so that their bodies touched everywhere and she felt his hardness press into her stomach. His hand went under her shirt and made slow languorous circles on her back. Without her noticing he had moved his hand further up her body and undid the clasp of her bra with quick one-handed expertise. He was sliding his hand around and his thumb had just started to caress the soft lower curve of her left breast when a loud pop sounded in the bedroom.

“Master?” A high-pitched voice called. Severus abruptly stopped kissing her with a soft irritated groan and withdrew his hand. He rested his forehead against hers as both tried to regain their breath. The call came again and Severus shut his eyes and took a step back.

“Yes Libby?” He said not trying to hide the irritation in his voice.

“Dinner is served Master!” The house elf stated happily and disappeared with another pop. Hermione was leaning against the wall, looking up into the sky with a slap happy grin on her face.

“And what are you so happy about mademoiselle?” he asked, trying to sound stern. She looked up at him grinning and glanced pointedly at his trousers.

“The same thing you are, monsieur,” she said slyly.

Severus chuckled in spite of himself and then walked back into the room, calling to her, “I think I’ll meet you downstairs in a moment.” Hermione heard the bathroom door close and she laughed loudly.

“I bet you will.” She reached back and re-clasped her bra feeling very warm and happy, but nowhere near content. She wanted more. Hermione never thought she would really want her husband but she couldn’t help it. He was very talented with…well everything, and after the last Saturday she was no longer afraid of him in bed. She walked through the room glancing at the big bed and filled with desire.

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She practically skipped down the stairs to the dining room and found a fairly lavish spread laid out on the large dark table. Severus’ chair was at the head of the table and hers to the right. The china was old and not as fancy as the Malfoy’s but it was high quality and beautiful all the same. It had the Snape family crest emblazoned on it. The shield was very dark blue, almost black with a delicate and small silver snake twisted into an S on it. The snake’s mouth was open and long, sharp fangs hung down alongside the flitting forked tongue. Hermione traced it with her finger thinking sadly of all the dinners he must have eaten here alone.

She looked up and once again noticed the complete lack of decorations. No paintings, no pictures, nothing. This saddened and intrigued Hermione. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him; questions about his family, his past, his relationships, and their future. But she was afraid to ask. She remembered his face when he saw her in the pensive and knew that, at least for now and probably for a long time, she would have to wait to ask him anything. Severus was like a thousand page book and she had only read pages five-hundred to six-hundred. What came before? What had happened to lead to this point?

His family in particular intrigued her. She remembered distinctively the three references he had made to them. The first was that he would ‘not be like his father’ which made her think his father was abusive. That would make sense she thought and was filled with pity at the image of a child Severus, bruised and battered. The second was when he gave her his mother’s jewels. But not much could be gathered from that incident, as he didn’t actually speak of his mother, just her ownership. And then finally, possibly the most intriguing, was the fact that his house was in Ireland. What happened to his family manor? She wondered where his parents were. She assumed they were dead. She also assumed that he was an only child but really, how would she know? She hoped that he would open up to her but she didn’t want to push him.

Snape entered the room ten minutes later looking very relaxed and Hermione, smiling to herself, decided not to comment. Sam and Libby served dinner and retreated to the kitchen. She noticed that they were not wearing her clothes anymore. Watching them go Hermione spoke contritely, “I am very sorry for my short sightedness when we arrived. I realize now that we have to own house-elves…you do treat them well, don’t you?” She couldn’t stop herself from asking.

Severus looked up slowly from his fork and said matter-of-factly, “Well actually, I beat them regularly and hold them in irons every night” He scowled. “Hermione, I would have hoped you would have observed my conduct enough to know that simply because I am unfriendly does not mean I am cruel.”

Hermione regretted saying it. “I’m sorry Severus. I know you aren’t. I knew you wouldn’t have hurt them, it was just, startling. Knowing Dobby, I just…wanted to make sure.”

Severus nodded and lost his scowl, “Well I suggest you get used to having Sam and Libby as servants because later tonight we are going to reinstate them into our service.” He watched carefully for her response.

Hermione bit back her gut reaction. She needed to start acting her part and Death Eaters have house-elves. She put her fork down and asked quietly, “Will that entail a complete blood oath?”

Severus shouldn’t have been surprised that she knew the ancient ritual. Few people cared to learn it because the oath was passed from parent to child for both the elf and the human not needing to be renewed. “Yes,” he answered simply. Hermione nodded resolutely and Severus continued, “We have many things to accomplish this week. Tomorrow we start intensive potions lessons. I would like to test you first to see how advanced you are and then we can proceed from there. We don’t have time for review. Your parents are joining us on Wednesday, so will we need to discuss what we will be telling them before then.”

Hermione nodded and then innocently asked, “What about your parents Severus, have you told them?”

Severus’ face darkened, “My parents are deceased.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He paused, looking at the crest on the wine glass. “Like I was saying, we will need to prepare a guest room for them. Lastly, we need to begin your intensive training in the Dark Arts.”

Hermione sat up straighter; this was what she had been looking forward to. She was beside herself with anticipation to learn more, something no one else in school, except perhaps some Slytherins, knew.

Severs quirked an eyebrow at her obvious eagerness to begin learning, and in the back of his mind a small seed of worry was born. “For now I will be teaching you rudimentary spells and hexes and a few flashy ones to show off in front of the Dark Lord. There’s much I need to teach you about what you will be expected to do. So far all you’ve learned is the structure and history of the Death Eaters. There are many traditions you must follow and duties you will be expected to perform, so I must ready you for that. Also we will need to establish a thought mirage.”

Hermione inhaled sharply. A thought mirage was a creation inside someone’s head, a creation of lies and memories. If someone performed legilimency on you they would see these false recollections, rather than the real ones. But a mirage was dangerous, it was very easy for these lies to seep into reality until not even the person themselves knows the difference between the truth and the lie. “What will my mirage be?” Hermione asked, although she had a guess.

“Me, being cold and distant toward you. You, following me around begging for my teaching and being angry at the school and Dumbledore.”

‘Well, that parts not a lie.’ Hermione thought but didn’t say it aloud. She had never told anyone just how angry she still was with Dumbledore. He couldn’t even protect his own students from begin forced into marriage. He expected and wanted complete adoration and loyalty but gave nothing in return. What had he ever done for Harry? Sent him to the Dursleys? Ignored him and let Voldomort into his head? Hermione seethed in silent hatred.

Severus went on, “There are hundreds of details that must be covered, we cannot have a single discrepancy in this story. I would like to create the mirage sooner rather than later, as we need to have time to test it and let it cement itself in your thoughts. I think tomorrow night will be devoted to that endeavor. Now, if you are done with dinner, I need to look over some books before we take the oath.”

Hermione nodded and followed him into the library. Severus walked to the winding staircase on the left side and climbed it up to the top, then walked around the boarder of the room until he reached the book case directly above the door they had just come in by. Hermione followed and stood beside him. She studied the spines of the books and saw that most were about potions in which an amphibian was the primary ingredient. “These are your dark arts books?” She asked incredulously, and not just a bit disappointed.

Severus trailed his finger along the row just above her head, finally pulling out one whose cover read, ‘101 Magical Properties of the Horney Back Toad.’ “Hermione, the best place to hide things is in plain sight,” he stated in a teacher-like fashion as he opened the book. Inside, the pages had been cut away and another book was fit perfectly in the rectangle left behind. This book was black with old silver script in Latin that read “The Binding of Servants.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide in understanding. “But Severus, you don’t even have any wards on these books!” Even as she said it she reached and grabbed a random book, opening it to find another hidden dark tome.

“Exactly. Aurors can detect spells meant to hide and ward things, but not simple physical hiding that has no magical properties. Why, they would have to search every book in this library to find these. And why would they anyway?”

“Severus you’re a genius!” Hermione was flipping through page after page of dark spells, each more intriguing than the next. Severus huffed and then went back to studying the book he had retrieved. The book Hermione had picked was on glamour spells and was amazed at the scope of them. She had no idea that glamour spells could do half of the things the book said and she itched to try them out.

After a few minutes Severus closed his book with a snap. “Alright, I’m ready. We need to prepare a few items.” Hermione looked up at him, not wanting to stop reading. Severus sighed, the seed of worry growing a bit more – ‘these spells should be scaring her.’ He took the book from her and read the cover. “Well you won’t need to learn these for a while. If you want a book to read…” he turned and scanned the shelves. Hermione was impressed that could remember which potions book secretly held which dark arts book. . He picked out one and handed her the book inside, ‘The Dark Arts - An Introduction’ Hermione let out a giggle. “What’s so amusing?” he asked.

“I just can’t believe there is a book called ‘The Dark Arts - An Introduction’! They make its sound like something normal, like ‘Cooking - A Beginner’s Guide’.”

Severus didn’t get it. “Right. Shall we? Bring the potions book as well and make sure to properly hide the book inside it when you’re finnished.” Hermione nodded and obediently put the book back inside its cover, ‘The Newt and the Groganual Potion’, and followed her husband down the stairs.

Once there Severus sat down at his desk and Hermione sat in one of the chairs, pulled out her book and opened to the first page with rapt attention. While she read about the key difference in motivation between dark and light magic, Severus rewrote the contract to be signed between all of them. After a few minutes he put his quill down and looked over the book again. He pulled his wand from his pocket and said clearly, “Accio sacrificial knife.”

Hermione looked up quickly. “Did you actually just say ‘Accio sacrificial knife’?”

“Yes”

“You own a sacrificial knife?” Hermione was shocked that anyone would own an item specifically called a sacrificial knife. Severus didn’t respond but kept his eyes on the door, suddenly a large silver dagger came hurtling in the room. Hermione screamed and ducked. Severus yelled out ‘Retardo’. The knife slowed down and came to rest gently on Severus’ desk. When he picked it up, the candle light reflected off its wickedly curved blade sending a shiver down Hermione’s spine. The hilt was silver, not ornate but plain and roughly hewn. The only ornament was a glass bead imbedded on the side that had a red liquid in side of it. Blood.

“Are you ready?” he asked, standing up.

Hermione nodded and rose as well. They went to the middle of the room and stood. Severus snapped his fingers, and called, “Sam! Libby!”

Two consecutive pops sounded almost immediately, “Yes Master!?”

“Is it your wish to be dedicated back into the service of the Snape family?”

The house elves burst into joyous tears. “YES MASTER! OH THANK YOU MASTER THANK YOU!” They threw themselves at his feet, kissing his shoes.

“Enough!” Severus commanded, irritated. “Stand quietly while I read the contract.” He lifted the parchment and read aloud. It was short and simple, not having to deal with pay, hours, or benefits. The Snape family swore to feed and house the elves while the two house-elves in question and their line swore to serve the Snapes. Hermione shuddered; it was just like buying a dog. Once he was finished, Severus knelt down and spread the parchment across the low coffee table. “Sam, Libby, you must both sign your name in your own blood. Don’t be scared, it won’t hurt that much…”

“Oh no Master! Sam and Libby know! Sam and Libby want to sign!!” Their squeals interrupted him.

“How do you know? You’re great, great, grandparents signed the contract with the Snapes.”

“Oh Master, story is passed down many, many times. It is greatest honor to dedicate self to family!”

Severus and Hermione shared a look of wonder. Who knew the ways of house-elves? “Well then, give me your hands and I’ll make the cut.”

Both held out their tiny hands, giddy smiles on their faces. Severus cut a long, relatively shallow cut on Sam’s palm. Sam took up the quill and dipping it into his own blood, signed in child like letters, S-A-M. Severus made the same incision on Libby and watched her write her name carefully while Hermione watched Sam; he was holding the corner of his pillow case to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. It gave Hermione an idea.

“Severus, would it be alright if we gave Sam and Libby permission to heal themselves without asking if they got hurt for some reason?” Hermione was tentative. Meddling with his house-elves was enough of a mistake the first time.

Severus looked up in amazement at his wife. “That’s a good idea Hermione, I had never thought of that before.” Turning to the house-elves he said, “Sam, Libby, from now on whenever you get hurt I order you to use your own magic to heal yourselves as best you can.” The house-elves smiled, more at having an order to follow than at being able to heal their own injuries. Hermione watched as both looked down at their hands with a scowl of concentration and the skin reformed.

Hermione was silently impressed. ‘They don’t even need to say a spell aloud!’ She was suddenly wrought with questions on the extent of a house-elves power. Severus took her hand and surprised her out of her thoughts.

“It’s your turn Hermione,” he said gently and she nodded in acceptance. He carefully pressed the silver dagger down and drew it across her skin. It was so sharp the pain didn’t register until the blade was gone and the first beads of blood had appeared. She took the quill and dipped it into her own blood, signing Hermione G. Snape below Sam and Libby’s signatures. She healed herself while Severus finished the ritual. As soon as his quill lifted from the paper a small ribbon of gold light appeared between the house-elves and the Snapes. It unwound slowly and one end coiled around Sam and Libby while the other did the same to Severus and Hermione. It gradually shrank until it was completely absorbed into their skins and the connecting ribbon disappeared. Hermione looked up at Severus astonished but he merely shrugged having expected such a result. “Well Sam, Libby, that is all.” The two smiling house-elves thanked them both profusely and disappeared.

Snape grabbed Hermione’s hand, “Now then, you and I have something to finish.” Hermione giggled as she was dragged out of the library.

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Note: Thanks for reading, hope you liked it. Please review, I think I got a total of about 5 reviews from both websites last chapter. Right now you are probably thinking “I don’t have to review because some one else will.” Well, if everyone thinks that then no one reviews. So be the person that reviews and be heard. Mr T says don’t be a fool, review.