The death of a git, the rise of a hero...

Severus looked around the crowded bar, his eyes growing accustomed to its dim light. He forgot which seedy residence he'd gone to, but he'd been sure it was underground and fairly empty, as not to rouse any suspicion. It was Muggle you see. And no self-respecting wizard went into Muggle bars, not even Deatheaters unless they were on a raid.

But you see, Severus Snape wasn't exactly in a self-respecting mood. He was in a need-to-get-pissed sort of mood.

There was one other woman there in the bar -aside from the bar maid- and she looked more sloshed than anything. She kept talking to herself, muttering and frowning until she yelled one final time, raising a defiant fist and promptly dropped her head on the bar.

Hmmmm. Severus thought rather blearily himself as he finished yet another tankard of what this barmaid called; whiskey.indiinding him of fire whiskey he'd taken a large amount, assuming that Muggle alcohol was less potent that the magical drink.

How wrong he'd been.

He took another look at the drunken woman, muttering in her sleep as a long string of drool made its way to the floor.

That reminds me. Miss Granger. Little brat. Can't believe Albus would listen to her side of the story when he had mine. Would I lie?

Severus had been at the underground Muggle pub for a good hour now, after leaving his own flat in a state of anger. He was vehemently furious at the way Granger'd been acting. Imagine.

He'd stolen some of her Muggle money from their wedding gifts. Her family had sent over a bunch of papery looking things, and all she could do was roll her eyes and go, "They never think to get the pounds converted into galleons."

'Pounds?' Severus had wondered, but said nothing. He noticed she put them in her schoolbag as she explained they were Muggle money. He had sneered and gone, "I know what a pound is Miss Granger."

Now in the bar he felt the notes in his pocket, wondering if he had enough for the alcohol he was consuming at an alarming rate. He didn't really understand this currency. He was still drowning in self-pity.

I'd wager they don't even know I'm gone yet. he thought miserably to himself as he downed the burning drink. Probably chatting right now in -my- room, calling me a git...after all I've bloody done for-

"What's the matter sweetheart?" said the barmaid, wiping an already dirty glass and looking to him tenderly. Snape looked to her bleakly, trying to remember her name and if she'd told it to him. "You look utterly lost." she added sympathetically.

"You don't know how right you are." Snape answered tersely, downing another drink and finding that the room had acquired a rather nauseating, spinning feel.

"I'd ask if you were from out of town if it weren't for the accent." the woman said, eyeing his robes and looking to him in question. He decided she had to be at least thirty, and her whilst her teeth could have a good scrubbing she looked rather pleasant looking. Who was he to judge on dental hygiene?

"What makes you think I'm from out of town?" Snape demanded, trying to sound authoritative but instead sounding more and more like a man with no teeth trying desperately to spout tongue twisters.

"The dress you're wear" Th" The woman answered gently, motioning to his robes as Snape looked down in horror. For a horrid moment he was certain that somehow he'd turned into Longbottom's Boggart. Thankfully there was no dress, only his teaching robes and his Deatheater robes that lay on the stool next to him.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The woman said covering her mouth in shock and speaking a moment later. "Did you leave some kind of cult?"

Severus eyed her, still utterly befuddled at what she was talking about. Where was she spouting this bollocks? It was then in his drunken haze that it all clicked.

"I assure you Madame." Snape said coldly, trying his best to be dignified under the circumstances. "This is not a dress. It's a very expensive teaching robe."

The woman looked like she was about to laugh but stopped, looking to Severus with pity in her bleary blue eyes. He noticed then that her eyes were much too close to her nose.

"I apologize." she said, turning and reappearing with a large glass. "Here." she said handing it to him, "On the house."

Snape took it grudgingly, not even muttering a thank you before downing the rest of the drink, looking to the woman over the top of the glass.

Hmm...Suddenly she appeared more attractive. Odd. This never happened with wizarding alcohol...what would these Muggles think of next?

"How late are you open?" Snape asked bitterly, "I don't wish to retire home until its completely necessary."

The barmaid looked over from her cleaning, "Three o'clock."

"Mmmm."

"Do you mind if I ask you something bud?"

"Bud? Who is this bud? I am Severus Snape P-...and fine, ask what you will."

"Severus, is it woman troubles?"

"No." Severus said lowly as he thought of Albus shaking his head at him in anger over the whole ordeal. Berating him and telling him Miss Granger was so this and that. Finally he uttered in a low voice into his drink; "Not exactly."

The barmaid looked to Severus interested. "Man troubles?"

"I suppose you could call it that."

"I should have known." The woman said with a shake of her poorly dyed blonde head as she went back over to Severus, looking to his robes once more. "What's his name?"

"...Albus."

"Hmmm." the woman said, Odd names on these ones. "Known him a long time?"

"All my life."

"Have you ever tried telling him how you feel?"

"Every bloody occasion I get!" Severus exclaimed, smacking his glass down on the bar's top and feeling his drink splash over his hand, leaving a foamy mess near him. "And he never listens!"

"Sorry to hear that." The woman said sympathetically, washing his hand with a dishtowel as she looked over to him, thinking he was an odd man all right.

"He's always convinced he's right, no matter what!"

"Men are like that."

"But does he ever listen?" Snape went on in his tirade, growing more and more furious over Albus' blatant favouritism for Hermione. "No. Always taking her side."

"Who's her?"

"My 'wife' if you can call her that." Snape muttered, ignoring the look of obvious astonishment on the woman's face. She raised a questioning eyebrow and looked to him in interest.

"You're wife?"

"Did I stutter?" Snape snarled, downing the rest of his drink. "Yes my wife."

"And Albus is-"

"My employer."

"Do you see him often?"

What a stupid bloody question.

"Of course I do. Every day."

"And-" The barmaid asked with a strange look on her face, "Does your wife know about this?"

"Of course she does." Severus answered flatly, "And now she's trying to worm her way in between us and I'll have none of that! I knew him before she did. He trusts me."

"And you trust him?"

"With my life." Severus said snottily as if the answer were obvious.

"And do you think that Albus may...like her?" the barmaid offered warily.

"He loves her." Severus answered miserably. "He loves everyone under him."

"Everyone, under, him?"

"Indeed yes."

"Even you?"

"I suppose." Snape said with a growl as he rubbed his temples irritably. "It comes with the territory."

The woman looked beyond perplexed as she looked to the man. "So, it sort of is woman troubles then?"

Severus let a low burp pass his lips before nodding slowly, his head feeling heavy all of a sudden. Yes it was woman troubles. He never thought he'd have to put up with them and there he was. Drunk in a bar over his...wife.

"My wife." he lurched out, "Is ruining my bloody life."

The barmaid looked to him, nodding and then went over to the still sleeping woman on his left. She prodded her awake then dragged the disoriented woman to the door.

"See you tomorrow Molly." she called gaily as she shut the door on her, locked it and put the 'closed' sign on the door. Walking back over to Severus, she climbed onto the bar stool next to him. He looked surprised to see her.

"I thought you closed at three." he said irritably, confused as she placed a hand on his arm, slowly closing the distance between them. Up close he saw just how seedy she was, and how she reeked of Muggle cigarettes and so forth.

"Severus, I don't normally do this." she said in a purring tone as he flinched openly. "But you seem just so lost and confused, and I really have a soft spot for guys like you."

"Do you?" Snape asked confused. She knew other wizards? "You've met many like me?"

"Oh yes." She said, tracing her hand up his arm a bit, making soft circular motions with her fingers. This was an odd occurrence. A Muggle woman that knew wds. ds.

"And you've helped them?"

"I like to think so."

"Hmmm." Snape thought about this a moment. Perhaps she knew how to tame the elusive Hermione. "How?"

Suddenly the barmaid stood, unbuttoning her blouse until it fell to the floor. Snape looked over in time to see the blouse fluttering to the ground before he stood himself, backing away to the door.

"There's been a misunderstanding." Snape growled in a panic, trying to reach the door, his Deatheater robes gripped tightly in his other hand. "This mustn’t ever happen. Stop. Just. Put your blouse back on."

"I know, you're worried about Albus and your wife." the woman said slinking towards him. "But I can make you forget all about them. You'll be a changed man."

"No you don't-"

Severus was about to answer that he couldn't possibly engage in such an activity with her. That he was married, and that he didn't want great boils on his privates if she as so much as inappropriately touched him. And that she was lovely –ugh- but he couldn't suffer that for anyone.

Sadly all words -slurred and otherwise- were soon lost as the powerful wizard Severus Snape fell into a drunken blackness, and consequently onto the floor below.

* * *

"I suppose I'll be off then." Albus said a while later. "I have much to do tomorrow and not enough time to do it in."

Hermione gave a wry smile and nodded as she saw the Headmaster to the door. They'd just reached it when Albus whirled around, looking to Hermione with a worried look on his face.

"Do try to be more patient Hermione." Albus said with a small frown. "I worry about Severus sometimes. Too often he confuses patronizing with empathy."

"I've noticed."

Dumbledore nodded and in a matter of seconds was gone down the hallway, leaving Hermione in the flat by herself. She shut the door, warding and locking it tightly before making her way back to the bedroom she and Severus shared.

She lay on her small cot, her stomach churning a bit as she glanced to the ceiling. For some strange reason she was ill at ease. It was strange to be in this bedroom without Professor Snape. Not that she enjoyed his company, but with him there was a small feeling of safety.

Odds are he won't be back until morning. Hermione thought with a small frown, Or he could be gone weeks.

She lay on her side, trying to stop the negative thoughts brewing about in her brain. It would do her no good to dwell over what may or may not happen to Severus when he was out with his Deatheater comrades, for surely that was where he went.

Finding it quite impossible to get back to sleep, Hermione pulled on her cloak and headed to the fireplace. Grabbing some nearby floo powder she stepped inside the hearth and called out; "Gryffindor Tower."

She arrived in the common room moments later, much to Harry's surprise. He'd been sitting on the common room sofa, playing Wizards chess with Ron (for the third night in a row due to his sulking) and had been daydreaming about her.

"Hello all." she said with a smile, stepping out to give them a hug as they rushed over to her. "How have you been?"

"How have we been?" Ron asked agape, "How have you been? How's the greasy git?"

"Pretty horrid." Hermione said, following them to the sofa and plunking herself down on it. "I'd hardly call it marital bliss." she looked around the near empty common room. "Where is everyone?"

"Hogsmeade."

"But it’s not a weekend."

"We're seventh years now Hermione." Ron said with a gentle rolling of his eyes, "We're fairly mature enough to handle the trip alone."

Hermione nodded, looking to her friends and holding in a sigh. "Why didn't you two go?"

"Harry's been mope- ouch!" Ron uttered as Harry elbowed him in the ribs harshly.

"We were tired." Harry finished, although Hermione scarcely believed him. He went on none the less. "So is he gone tonight? That's the only way I could imagine your Master would let out of your dungeon."

"He's gone." Hermione admitted reluctantly, "I don't know for how long either. And he's not my Master Harry."

Harry was fuming internally, looking down to his hands and frowning deeply. "Mhmmm."

"If it makes you two feel better, his face met with a rather angry plate of potatoes and gravy..."

As soon as Hermione spoke these words, Harry and Ron were enraptured, wanting to hear every detail as she giggled and recalled the events that had happened.

This went on for a good hour as Hermione told them of the happenings in the formidable dungeons. From Snape's greed regarding the presents, to the study she wasn't allowed in, to Lucius' present and so forth. She was sure to leave out the part where she walked in on a naked -and excited- Severus in the tub.

"Kama Sutra?" Harry asked laughing loudly as she arrived to the part of the lingerie and book. "What did he do?"

"Nearly bust a blood vessel!" Hermione shrieked with laughter, as Ron and Harry's own laughter boomed overtop. "You should have seen him! He went all stricken and went, 'I'm going to bed.'

They collapsed into more laughter until Harry's timid voice broke through.

"Did you wear it?"

"Wear what?"

"The lingerie!"

"HARRY!" Hermione said giggling, slapping him playfully and rolling her eyes. Harry's smile still stayed on though, for he could only imagine what she'd look like wearing it.

"To be perfectly honest." Ron said after she was done her tales and still giggling to herself. "He doesn't sound that bad outside of class."

"He's not that bad." Hermione admitted reluctantly, seeing Harry's disbelieving face. "He's just got a wicked temper."

"Sounds like Snape all right." Ron said reluctantly, yawning a bit as he saw the time. "I don't know about you two, but I'm going to bed."

"I should be off myself." Hermione added standing, "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow?"

Harry and Ron nodded, standing and heading off to bed. Hermione went into the hearth and threw her floo powder, finding herself dizzily in her (no, Severus') flat with a sudden headache.

At that moment Harry was walking up to bed, a worried look on his pale face. So, Snape wasn't all that bad was he? He was actually civil? Well, this was throwing a wrench into plans all right.

He crawled into bed, looking to the ceiling and frowning as he recalled the day’s events. He'd been sitting in the common room, reading as he longed for Hermione and her excited face of school lessons when Lavender and Padma's voices had reached him.

"She said that a lady doesn't tell."

"You know what that means."

"He's a demon in the sack!"

Harry's stomach had lurched at that one, for whom else could they be referring to? All in all the thought of Snape being anything in the sack was unsettling to him.

"He's really quite sensual looking when you think about it." Lavender had said giggling as Harry listened from a few feet away in the common room. "No wonder Hermione fell for him."

Now Harry knew that the marriage was a farce, and he knew that Hermione loathed Snape. But now, after all her tales by the fire he wasn't so sure. She even seemed to be warming up to the git!

Harry himself highly suspected a potion.

This meant that after all was said and done, and Hermione had fallen for Snape, the annulment wouldn't even come into question and she'd be stuck with that greasy old bat for the rest of her life! He'd never had her!

He couldn't stand the idea of Hermione actually copulating with the greasy git, and although he knew Hermione probably had better taste, he was horrified at the prospect that she'd be seduced by his older man appeal. Snape liked books. Snape liked intellectual stuff. Bollocks.

So, seeing that Hermione's chastity may be in danger, (and not by himself) Harry came to the most logical explanation he could regarding the subject.

He'd have to seduce her himself.

That way she wouldn't look twice at the decrepit fossil she'd married against her will. She'd have thoughts of him, virile, young Harry to get her through the long cold nights until Voldemort's demise and the Snape marriage annulment.

Deciding this was a good plan Harry snuggled back into his bed, feeling rather cheerful and deciding that he'd pop down to see Hermione tomorrow morning...just to get the ball rolling.

* * *

Snape awoke early the next morning with a gruelling hangover, and a lurching sensation within his stomach. Where was his hangover potion? Wait...more importantly, where the hell was he?

Oh God...if this is what a Muggle hangover is like I actually pity those pathetic creatures.

He tried to sit up but failed, deciding instead to look at sur surroundings. He was in a large four poster bed, it was familiar to him. A guest room. The large windows lead out to an impressive balcony that gave way to a resplendent backyard filled with foliage and shrubbery that none had seen like it.

He was at Malfoy Manor.

"You were summoned for a raid." Came the icy voice of Lucius beside of him. "When you didn't arrive I had to find and fetch you. Imagine. A Muggle bar of all places."

Suddenly Severus sat up straight, his eyes blinking rapidly as he looked to the man sitting on the chair next to the bed, smirking smugly. He was summoned? "Did the Dark lord know?"

"No." Lucius said with a sneer. "I told him that you'd already started. If he knew where you were, disobeying his orders you'd be dead by now you fool."

"Oh." Severus said with a heaving sigh as Lucius looked down to him with pity. They'd known each other a long time, and this was the first that he'd seen Severus so odd. Snape suddenly felt his stomach lurch again as Lucius looked down on him. "And the woman? In the bar?"

Lucius smirked, "She was getting ready to shag you senseless when I walked in. Thankfully for you I took over that role without a hitch and can safely say she enjoyed herself to death."

Severus wanted to say thank you but refrained. It seemed odd to thank one for shagging and killing another even if it meant that his privates stayed boil free.

"Why were you getting pissed at a Muggle bar?" Lucius suddenly questioned, looking all to haughty and smug for Snape's liking.

"I have my reasons."

"I know what it is." Lucius said dimly, and Severus felt his stomach caving in. This was it. He was dead. Lucius was going to put it all together and he'd be dead within a matter of moments.

"You're sick of that Mudblood of yours. You want a real woman. You want more raids. The thrill, the smell, the feel." Lucius said with a smirk as if he'd figured it all out as Severus held in a sigh of annoyance. Lucius walked over to the side of the room where a tea tray sat. He began pouring himself a drink, speaking casually. "Can't say that I blame you."

"Of course that's the reason." Severus sighed softly, "Of course."

"The Dark Lord is convinced that she is quite powerful Severus."

"You keep reminding me."

"I only do because I know how your temper can be." Lucius said taking a long sip of his drink. "We want the Mudblood to be on our side Severus. We need her trust. We can hardly do that if you're out getting pissed and roaring at her all the time."

"I don't know that she'll ever trust the Dark Lord." Snape said, rubbing his eyes roughly and sitting up with a strain.

"That's your job." Lucius said with a strange look on his face. "You've married her for a reason. To get her on our side so that we may harness her power."

"Of course." Severus answered bleakly, rubbing his neck then and trying not to sneer for it hurt his head when he did. "I'm quite aware of what my role is in all of this Lucius."

He stood, tumbling out of the bed and then standing upright once more as Lucius looked on in bemused wonder. How this bumbling fool ever became Voldemort's most trusted spy was beyond him.

"Have you had a chance to...use my gift yet?" Lucius said with a smirk as he glanced to the inky haired man a few yards away. Snape looked confused a moment and then forced a smirk on his face before he spoke.

"The...book and the undergarment?"

"What else?"

"Regarding the undergarment...we never manage to get it on before it's off...in truth, we haven't even managed to get it on." Snape said haughtily a Lucius looked to him impressed. "And as for the book...we don't need it."

"Well," Lucius drawled lazily, "I doubt you'll notice any difference when she does wear it then."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll find out soon enough." Lucius said, then with a careless wave of his hand he motioned for Severus to follow him outside to the hall. "Care for some breakfast?"

Severus nodded, following Lucius down the resplendent hallways as the man talked of his prior nights conquests. Snape didn't question Lucius anymore about the mystery of the lingerie, but he did know that he'd be sure to hide the garment from Hermione before she got her hands on it.

* * *

Hermione awoke the next morning, feeling a bit drowsy as well as upset. She'd spent most of the night and even early this morning gripping her wand in her hand, waking up to every small noise. She was sure that without Snape there in the room she was as good as dead.

She tried to sit up but found it most difficult, and instead laid back down, rubbing her head that felt at this moment, too small to hold her brain. It was as if it had blown up the size of a watermelon and her head was just too small.

Finally having the strength to sit up she did so, weakly. She was in no position to be going to classes in a few short hours. She was beyond reason, and decided she'd just get some notes from Harry.

Wait a minute.

She shook her head slightly and it throbbed. Her eyes were almost sealed shut. What am I thinking? Notes from Harry? Do I want to pass the class or not!?

With that she staggered to a standing position, wobbling a bit as she made her way to the bathroom. Running herself a tub she rest her body in it, making sure she still wore the red bathing suit. It was a short bath, quickly drawn and quickly emptied.

When she felt a bit more alert she stepped out, cleaning the bathroom and going to the empty bedroom with a sense of foreboding. She never really like the room much.

She padded in with her towel, placing her things on the chair by her bed and noticing the Kama Sutra book that had fallen to the floor as she arose that morning.

Blushing at nothing in particular she picked up the book, looking to its pictures once more in perverse curiosity. She felt the familiar tingles shoot through her as she flipped through the pages. Then deciding she'd had quite enough of that she took the book and hid it securely in-between her cot.

There. I won't be tempted again. Honestly, what if the Professor had caught me before?

Still clad in her forest green towel she went to her wardrobe for her uniform and opening the said wardrobe, held in a small giggle as she viewed the newest part of her limited collection.

There in all it's red and lacy glory hung the lingerie that Lucius had purchased for her.

She giggled a bit more, blushing as she looked to it. Evidently Dobby had cleaned the house for them. It was really quite an intriguing little ensemble, high and low cut all at once.

My...it is racy.

Hermione had never had red panties and such before. She was strictly a white, cotton type of girl (although on occassion she was known to wear that of a flower print.)

She let her hand reach out and touch the shimmery outfit, clad with ruffles. She was duly amazed at how soft it felt, for she had expected it to be coarser due to the lace.

Looking around as if checking that she wasn't being watched she reached inside the wardrobe and took down the ensemble, looking at its vivid colour and feeling it's texture against her fingers.

Maybe I could wear it under my school robes... Hermione thought devilishly, grinning a bit as she considered it. It would be like my own little secret.

She giggled a bit as she dropped the towel and pulled the shimmering lingerie on. She felt her breath leave her as she did so as it was quite snug she found, but that wasn't what made her breath leave her. As soon as the garment had been securely on her, she felt a shiver of sparks go through her, similar to those she garnered when reading her Kama Sutra book.

"My." she murmured aloud, trembling a bit inside the costume. "This is strange."

She wanted to go to the mirror for a better look anyway, and realizing that Snape didn't have any except a small hand mirror, had to enlarge it and set it up on one side of the room. When she’d placed it down and stepped back to look at herself she held in a gasp.

Oh my.

This little number left little to the imagination. The top cut down so low and so tight it brought her breasts right out there for the world to see, whilst covering enough to get ones attention. It was cut up to her thigh high, and it was if she was wearing a very fancy bathing suit with ruffles and shimmering fabric.

My my...what would Harry think?

She twirled a bit, looking to the enlarged mirror and feeling quite impressed with herself. She'd never had the greatest body, but now as she wore the outfit it all seemed to change. She felt that she looked good. With this on, she almost felt as if she was the most sensual being on the planet.

What would Snape think?

Suddenly thinking of Snape she ran a hand over her enlarged breasts, feeling the nipples poking through the fabric as a shiver passed down her spine. She crossed her legs as she stood, feeling herself shaking. It felt so good to touch herself and think of him.

What's wrong with me?

She suddenly tingled all over, her body pulsating with want. When had this happened? She suddenly remembered her book and another wave of pleasurable sparkles went through her. Suddenly, although Hermione hadn't the faintest what it felt like, wanted to be shagged senseless.

Right now she wanted a rough demanding lover, tossing her onto the bed and pumping into her like there was no tomorrow. She wanted him to rip the outfit off of her, get her under him and-

She stopped the fantasies, finding that she was becoming overcome just thinking about a mystery lover. A man, holding her to him as he thrust into her. All inhibitions gone, nothing left but extreme pleasure.

Right now the sparks that shot through her were becoming so intense she was quaking on the spot. The pleasurable shots becoming more intense, more erotic and more overcoming than anything she'd ever encountered. It wasn't quite pleasure anymore and wasn't yet pain.

She bit her lip at this thought, her eyelids fluttering about as he hands travelled downward, over her stomach that trembled at her caress, and then the curious hands went downward until..

Stop it. her mind screamed. You have to be to classes soon!

This only added to her enticement of naughty thinking and she looked to Snape's bed, its inviting covers and without a rational thought in her head she walked over to it, crawled inside and lay under its covers, making herself comfortable.

This is wrong. part of her mind screamed as she writhed about in the bed, wanting to touch herself but feeling herself stopping.You're on Professor Snape's bed! Get out! Get out before he comes home or someone catches you!

But Hermione wasn't listening to her inner reason. She felt as if she was on fire, and only the touch of a man would soothe her. Any man. Her thighs shook as she quaked about on the bed, biting her lip to keep the explosive cried inside her.

"Oh God." She eventually cried out as she gripped the covers of the bed, her back arching as an invisible touch engulfed her with desire. Suddenly the sickening realization had hit her.

Lucius' gift was spelled.

Sadly that was around the last rational thought that Hermione had in her mind, for now she was past reason and so forth, and was now yearning to be satiated, to be filled with the taste and feel of a man. One who knew how to make her feel anything and everything. One who would teach her about pleasure and desire first hand.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.