Time lost. ...EPILOGUE UP!

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…

Hermione blindly ran back to her room. She said the password and dodged into the bathroom slamming the door shut. “Are you okay Hermione?” She could hear Lily’s voice on the other end of the door.

“I’m fine.” Hermione’s voice sounded overly bright.

Hermione turned back to look in the mirror. Her eyes looked bloodshot and her skin was almost translucently pale under the harsh bathroom light. Her lips looked swollen and her hair was sticking up wildly about her face.

She looked conquered. She closed her eyes and slide down the bathroom wall, pressing her fingertips to her lips. Her thoughts traveling back to the final moments before he had ruined everything. She could smell him on her.

Lily knocked gently on the door again.

Lily’s voice was soft but excited. “Hermione? Someone is here to see you.”

Hermione jerked herself to her feet. “What? Just a minute.”

Hermione hurriedly ran water over her face and tied her curly haphazard hair back in a ponytail. Slipping a robe over her wrinkled clothes, she stepped out of the bathroom and walked to the door opening it.

Sirius Black stood there with a handful of wild flowers that he obviously stole from the green house. His lanky form was leaning on the door with arrogant ease and for a moment, Hermione felt confused. “Um, what are you doing here?”

Sirius smirked at her and offered the flowers with an exaggerated bow. “ For you. I wanted to know you answer about the Dance. Come on Granger. Have fun with me. It’s not all that serious… just a bit of dancing and flirting.”

Hermione numbly took the flowers and then handed them automatically to Lily who was listening behind the half opened door.
“I… um… No, I don’t think so.” She sighed and started to shut the door.

Sirius stuck his foot in the slot to prevent it from closing. “ Why not then?”

Hermione shrugged helplessly. “ I don’t dance.”

Sirius ran his eyes over Hermione thoughtfully before he turned a grin on her. “ I’ll teach you. Come on, it’ll be fun Granger. Please? I think I might die.”

Hermione snorts. “You’ll die from being turned down is more like it.”

Sirius smirks. “That too.. The Marauders reputation is at stake here. Besides, I DO like you. Your…kind of gutsy and I like your hair.”

Hermione laughs. “MY hair?” She realized that Sirius was making her feel much better and she bit her bottom lip.

Sirius whines like a dog. “Please? I will even let you tell me to behave. I kind of like that completely strict teacher nonsense you have going on. You can keep an eye on me so I do not do anything crazy. If you don’t, you will totally be responsible.” He nodded empathetically.

Hermione laughs again and she feel’s lighter then she has in days. “Okay. I’ll go to the dance with you.”

Sirius jumps up and gives a howl in triumph. “See you Friday Night!” He takes off for the boy’s corridor at a full run.

Hermione closes the door and looks at Lily. “Guess I have a date. No costume though.” She sits down on the bed gingerly as her body recalls the previous activities of the evening.

Lily smiles. “Don’t worry; I will help you figure one out. Something sexy. You will need it if you are going to keep Sirius by your side all night. That boy is a dog if I ever saw one.” Lily looked up as Alice came in and closed the door.

“Hermione has a date for the Dance.” Lily told Alice excitedly.

Alice grins slightly and blushes. “ I know, James told me Sirius was going to ask her.”

Hermione changed into her pajama’s listening absently to their chatter. She wondered if Severus would be sleeping a wink tonight. Probably. She sighed and looked up at Lily.

“Hang on, why would Potter tell you?” Lily tilted her head confused.

Alice turned slightly red. “Oh, because he is my date for the dance.”

Lily turned pale and gasped. “What? Why would he ask you? I mean, you are beautiful but he is such a thickhead, arrogant prat! I never would have imagined he would date someone so nice. No offense Alice.”

Hermione wondered absently if Lily realized she was battling with jealousy.

Alice stared at Lily as if she had grown two heads. “What a horrid thing to say. I think I am lucky a good looking, charming and talented man has asked me to the dance.”

Hermione interjected before the girls said something they regretted. “I think what Lily means is, you’re too good for him, literally. No, we should get some sleep. I have a test tomorrow in Transfiguration.” Hermione pulled the covers up to her chin and flicked off her light.

The other girls fell silent and turned off their own lights. No one slept for a while that night.


…

Severus likewise did not get much sleep. He was too busy working on the potion that Hermione had unknowingly helped to complete. He was having difficulty concentrating. So many memories flooded his mind at different times. The way she was breathing, her sounds of orgasms and the soft way she said his name post coital.

Severus watched the potion change to the appropriate color and he fell back into her chair in exhaustion. One potion in exchange for one tantalizing mudblood with bad taste in men. He hoped she would understand why he did it. Once he explains it was necessary to secure their future. Her life was at stake here. Lucius had an unhealthy fascination with Hermione. This was for her own good, though he would not able to tell her that. She would forgive him, eventually.

Hermione was like that, she would forgive him because she did not know how not too. She was so bloody good all the time. She made his Slytherin side want to boil. The goody two shoes Gryffindor was under his skin.

Severus looked up at a sudden noise at the window. A black crow flew through with a missive in its beak. Severus had received messages from the Dark Lord through this bird before. He gave the crow a blood night crawler from his collection. It flew off with a squawk.

The boy turned the parchment over. It was blank, which meant it was enchanted. Damn. With a sigh he reached over for one of his unused quills. He pierced the tip of his finger and blood bubbled up. The sharp pain made him wince as he stroked his finger onto the parchment. The blood seemed to thin and spread out revealing the message hidden within.


~~


Severus,

I have heard of the deflowering of a beautiful rose. You will recall my earlier missive. I do hope business is well and progressive. Lucius says that he is eager to display your rose in its proper setting. I am sure you will not mind lending it to him. It is just a flower after all and is delicate and doomed to a short life span regardless. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

TMR.


~

As the words formed, Severus’s eyes scanned the paper quickly before the words faded away forever.

Lucius was sticking his pureblood nose into his business too often.

It would seem that Severus needed to remind Lucius why he needed the Half Blood Prince, not the other way around.

Sure, Lucius would be able to have Hermione for a toy.

When Severus Snape was dead.

* * *



Draco headed back to the cave. Another exhausting day avoiding Granger, seducing Evans and passing clues to his Father. Draco had a stroke of luck when he was exiting the Slytherin common room after slipping a note to his father. He could hear a noise coming from what he knew was Snape’s room. Moans and the repetitive rocking of tupping escaping from the cracks in the door. Snape was breaking in Granger. Weird. Draco knew that it would happen eventually but the thought of his Godfather and Granger getting it on was too weird.

Snape would thank him for this. He had respected his Godfather greatly and his death was on of the many that Draco would change. Draco had thought long and hard about simply killing James and Frank, thus negating all of the events in the future. However, he could not bring himself to kill still.

No matter how much he hated Potter he could not summon the words. This way was less messy and was not a one-way ticket to Azkaban if he is found out. Draco walked through the trees and headed for the stream leading towards the cave. Snape had saved his skin once before. Draco would return the favor. Hell, he would even leave the mangy Granger alone so Snape could have someone to be with.

Stupid Mudblood was only fulfilling her own destiny by coming here. Time was a tricky thing. Even a girl as clever as Granger had assumed that she was changing everything. No, Granger had a destiny. Draco saw the way that Professor Snape had looked at her when she was not watching in class. Every cruel trick that Draco had played on her was to get a reaction from her.

Professor Snape had never responded to his cruelty but Draco saw the look of anguish in his gaze from time to time when no one was supposed to see. Draco never understood it then. He thought that the Professor was just a bitter old man who hated them all, and barely tolerated Draco. However, Professor Snape had been staring at the one thing he could never have. Hermione Granger. Draco laughed at the irony of all of it.

Everyone assumed Draco was an idiot in school because of the company he kept. He had higher OWL’s then Granger. He was top of his class until the end of the sixth year when everything went to hell. As a Deatheater, he had respect and was feared by all. It felt empty to him. His mother was wasting away in front of his eyes.

The Dark Lord had tortured his family since they had fallen out of favor. The school was full of brave little idiots that had all guts and no smarts.

It had been so easy to tear them all down. He hated them for that. Why weren’t they cleverer? Where was Granger when the students needed her to rally them? Off playing nursemaid to Potter and the Weasel. Draco felt sick thinking about the things that the Carrow’s had done to the students.

Did people really believe he liked casting the Cruciatius curse on children of dubious blood? What kind of monster do they think he is??! He remembered the taste of vomit in his mouth after he had cursed a small girl who looked a little like a young Ginny Weasley. She had cried and cried for days afterwards around the school, hiding in the shadows. Draco had watched her carefully.

Later, the same girl fell in the final battle at Hogwarts. He did not even know her name. Fenrir had been about to eat her while she was hurt and wounded and Draco could not take it. Poor little bit. He hexed Fenrir and fought him. His scar was a physical reminder of that battle. He could not save the girl. He was a weak ineffectual Malfoy. Not for much sooner though.

This was ALL Potter’s fault. If he did not have to be so damned special! All those people could have been stopped. Draco knew where the Horocrux’s were. He intended to destroy them before they ever got to this point. Draco was ready for a new world. One where Potter did not exist and his Mother was still alive. Before he was a murderer and a betrayer of everyone in school and his family. A new world where it did not sicken him to see his face in the mirror.

Draco’s thoughts poured over him as he made his way towards the cave. A scream broke through his thoughts and he flicked his wand up at the ready. His silver eyes narrowed as he ran towards the scream. He stopped just at the clearing before the cave in shock.

The girl from the other night was bundled tightly in silver webbing spindling down from a tree. The spider web was enormous. One of Aragon’s brood probably. The webbing was squeezing her tightly as she struggled to get to her wand. Anise’s arms were pinned down at her sides but her wand had fallen out from her pocket as she hung sideways. The wand was roughly a few feet below her hand entangled in the glossy thread.

The cause for the scream became obvious as an enormous black, hairy spider edged forward, its fang glistened a milky substance that Draco assumed was paralyzing salvia. Common enough for most spiders to have that to numb its victims and subdue them. Once she was bitten though, she would be dead. Unable to get her wand, the spider would simply eat her bite by bite. Probably alive.

Draco paused for a moment and then acted. “ Accio Anise.” He called on the magic to propel her forward from the webbing. Anise was flung in his arms and he almost dropped his wand. Draco started running for the mouth of the cave and he didn’t look back. He could hear the hiss of the spider at loosing its dinner. The click of its multiple legs as it began running after him. He felt the spider leap above him and he shuddered as the hairy legs almost brushed his head. The sickly black spider landed in front of him and it clicked its legs as it blocked the cave entrance. Draco dumped Anise to the ground without a second thought.

Draco faced off with the spider. His wand glowed and he arched his arm in a curve, throwing the one hex that would stop something this big. “Avada Kedavra!” The green sickly glow of the magic infused the spider and it shuddered falling over on its back as he blasted it. Draco could feel the hated darkness as it consumed him from the spell. The spider did not move again.

Draco cut away the binding with a knife from his pocket. Anise’s eyes were wide with fear as she watched him grimly loosen her. He said nothing about the Unforgivable he just used. It was self-defensive and the Spider would never have left him alone. He did not want it creeping up one night while he slept.

Anise watched him silently for a long moment as he untangled her bare legs. The moonlight hit them as he appeared from behind the trees. He saw what she was wearing for the first time. Muggle Clothes. A black t-shirt that was far too formfitting, with a purple plaid mini skirt combined with knee-high boots. She wore some strange netting on her legs under the skirt but they were ripped now. He rubbed a red mark on her calf where the binding had rubbed it raw under the netting.

“What are you doing here? Wont the school miss you?” Draco spoke quietly but there was an aggressive lilt to this tone.

Anise slowly was recovering from her shock at what happened. She shook her head numbly as Draco’s fingers rubbed her leg soothingly. She swallowed and looked up at her savior. Draco seemed withdrawn and guarded. His eyes narrowed and his hair fell into his face, blocking the scar she knew was there.

Draco’s hands were warm and calloused against her flesh and she shivered. Draco looked up at her. “Your cold.” He swept her up in his arms like a bundle of wood and carried her to the mouth of the cave. Anise was bewildered by his behavior. He was acting so protective and distant. Anise was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Once inside the cave, Draco started a fire and pulled out a blanket for her to sit on. He grabbed his satchel and rummaged through his bag, finally he withdrew a bottle of half-drunk firewhiskey. He tossed it to her.

Anise caught it and pulled off the top. She imagined seeing Draco’s lips on the bottle before and took a swig. Draco’s eyes followed the pixie as she took a rather large swig of the firewhiskey. The girl was strange and seemed a little lost. It was his bane to be stuck watching out for this little girl right now. After the nameless victim of Fenrir he could bring himself to let another girl suffer for his cowardice.

Anise handed back the bottle to Draco and he took it swilling it hard. She wet her lips watching him across the fire. “You seem sad.” Her voice sounded small in the cave.

“No, not sad. Just determined. Besides, its none of your business.” He sounded arrogant even to himself. He cursed under his breath and shoved the bottle back in her hand. “You’re in shock. Trust me, it will help.”

“Are you in shock often? This bottle is half empty.” Her lips quirked slightly.

Draco stared hard at the girl in annoyance. “Yes, it positively shocks me that you are sitting here with me. AGAIN. Thus, I need the fire whiskey.” His scornful voice broke across her and she frowned.

“You have a bad temper. What are you so angry about?” The girl took another swig and winced at the burning feeling in her guts.

Draco looked frustrated and he rubbed his forehead. “What did you say your name was?”

“Anise.” She giggled slightly and hiccupped after her third drink from the bottle.

Draco frowned slightly and took the bottle back from her. “Quite the lightweight. Anise what?” Draco wanted to know why this girl was following him around.

Anise felt fuzzyheaded and she shrugged to his question. “You wouldn’t believe me.”

Draco narrowed his eyes at that answer and he moved closer to her. Anise could feel him sitting closer, she blinked turning her head, and he was suddenly, directly in front of her. Inches away.

She wet her lips looking at his own with interest. She felt herself flush with excitement at the beautiful man who was so close to her. Her dream had started like this. Unable to help herself she found her fingertips caressing the silvery pale blond strands of hair that fell to his chin.

Draco started at her touch but then his eyes widened slightly as he realized she was aroused. She was probably five years younger then him. Her berry moist lips puckered slightly and she closed her eyes as she tilted her face up to him. It was a very virginal pose.

Anise’s cheeks were flushed with heat from the firewhiskey and she looked unbelievably lovely to him. It had been a long time for him since he had touched a woman. It had been almost two years since the fall when women began to be disgusted by him. Anise did not look disgusted. She looked fresh, clean, and distracting.

Draco ignored the offered lips and stared into the fire. “Try me.” Anise opened her eyes and saw him looking away from her.

A bit of her temper showed at his rejection of her offered kiss. “Potter. Lily Anise Potter.”





Dum da dum.

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