The Fortress Within

Several weeks passed


Several weeks passed, time that
was filled with planning, potion brewing, and passionate nights. 
The end of November drew near and the castle was just starting to come
alive with the smells of holly, fir, and spice.


 


Severus began to notice his
Hermione was making fewer and fewer appearances.  Even in their bed, there were a few nights he found himself
sleeping (only sleeping) with the Deatheater, his Hermione nowhere to be found. 
As December 20th was approaching Severus had the sickening
feeling that he was losing her.


 


Along with the personality
changes, came appetite changes and sleeplessness as well. 
When pressed for an explanation, either form just said they weren’t
feeling well, were tired, or were stressed with the thoughts of what was to
come.   Severus didn’t press
the issue, since he seemed to be feeling many of the same things as well.


 


The night of November 28th
roared in with the burn.  Voldemowas was calling them for the first time since the Halloween revel. 
After a quick clothing change, they apparated to the feet of the Dark
Lord.


 


As was usual, Hermione instantly
rose to meet the demon.  “My Lord,
this is a pleasure. I have missed your company and was becoming quite concerned
that you had not called me forth sooner.”


 


Voldemort smiled the smile that
was only reserved for Hermione.  “Ah,
Hermione.  Never fear. 
Since, at your last appearance you were treated with such disrespect, I
decided to let you have ttlettle time to recover. 
I trust that you and Severus do have some information for me.”


 


At the sound of his name, Severus
rose to his feet as well, careful to stand a respectful step or two behind
Hermione.  “Oh, yes My Lord. 
We have made great strides in the battle planning.”


 


“Very well. Hermione, what is
the date you have decided on?”  Voldemort
once again looked to the woman swathed in tight black before him.


 


“My Lord, December 20th
will see the most reduction in the population of the castle. 
That evening would be the prime time for the attack. I will owl Malfoy
with the list of the remaining staff at the castle the night before the attack. 
They will apparate in at dinner time and take them all by surprise at the
Great Hall.”


 


Voldemort seemed please with the
prospect so far, but had a question.  It
was a question they, of course had anticipated, “What of the apparation
wards?”


 


Severus addressed him now, “My
Lord, I believe you are aware that I can breach the wards in my classroom for
short periods of time.  Time that
allows me to respond to your calls.  I
have worked tirelessly and perfected a spell that will allow your servants to
appear in my classroom.  From there,
they can proceed unhindered to the Great Hall.”


 


“Brilliant, Severus, just
brilliant.”  The Dark Lord was
fairly glowing with anticipation. 


 


Still Hermione expanded the
beautifully painted image in his mind. “Once the castle is secure, My Lord,
Lucius can return here and together, the four of us can make our appearance. 
I will fairly weep with happiness at the sight of that old fool lying in
a pool of blood, My Lord.”


 


Voldemort narrowed his eyes
slightly, appearing a bit agitated.  The
red orbs settled on Lucius Malfoy.  “Malfoy,
come, bow before her.”  Lucius
hesitated but a brief second, before coming to kneel before Hermione. 
“And what of this one, Hermione?  Can
you still work with him?”


 


Hermione crossed her gloved arms
in front of her. r ser several long
moments the only sound was her high heels, clicking on stone as she circled the
blond man slowly.  Stopping behind
him, she knelt down and with a vicious yank on his hair, pulled his head back. 
Her mouth near Lucius’ ear, she answered in a purr, “Yes my Lord, I
can work with him.  Anything for
you, My Lord.  Anything for the good
of the cause.”


 


Malfoy was suddenly hit with a
vicious knee to the back and found hlf flf face down, prostrate on the floor. 
Hermione stepped around the man, careful to grind one spiked heel in the
back of Malfoy’s hand as she walked forward to stand beside Voldemort.


 


“I expected nothing less of
you, my dear girl.  I am most
pleased and you will both be rewarded when this is over. 
I can assure you of things beyond your wildest dreams. 
Now, I will call you all again in two weeks tior tor the final
preparations.  My servants, you can
expect several meetings with Lucius in the final week before the attack. 
You will all have your assignments and will be prepared to secure
Hogwarts.”


 


“Now, everyone, your rewards
are arriving as we speak.  Please,
enjoy yourselves.  This is but a
taste of the things to come.”


 


The beat of music filled the
room, answered by the dizzying spin of hundreds of lights. Hermione moved
forward and smiled up at Severus.  One
hand rose between them, a cigarette appearing between her fingers. 
“Severus would you mind?”  He
slipped his wand from his sleeve and as his eyes fixed on her fingers, he saw
it.  Wrapped around her fingers were
several strands of blond hair.  He
quirked a smile at her as he lit her cigarette. 
“Well done, Granger.”  With
a bow from the waist, he moved backwards into the shadows to keep a vigilant
watch.


 


Hermione did not move about, as
had been her habit previously.  She
moved again to stand next to Voldemort.  She
stood proudly next to the Dark Lord and surveyed the activities going on about
them.  Severus noticed they spoke
quietly, and even saw the Dark Lord laugh a time or two at whatever she
whispered in his ear.  Severus was
amazed at the ease in which she wrapped the demon around her little finger.


 


After a time, Severus moved back
out, and worked his way up next to stand on the other side of Hermione. 
“My Lord, Hermione. Just wanted to see if you have decided what
pleasures you will partake in this evening.”


 


Voldemort turned and surveyed
Severus carefully before speaking to Hermi&nbs 
“My dear, I would like to have a word with Severus alone if you don’t
mind.”


 


“Not at all, My Lord.” 
Hermione moved off and began to socialize throughout the ro

 


When she was out of hearing
range, Voldemort began to speak, “Hermione has been filling me in on the
working relationship the two of you have developed. he hhe has nothing but the highest praise for you. 
I am very pleased.  At the risk of sounding the romantic, I daresay she may be a
bit taken with you.  Now, there have
been relationshimongmong my servants for many years now.  Alas it’s in our nature, is it not?  The carnal pleasures I can provide at my celebrations do
little in the dark of night. And she is beautiful. 
If I were not beyond that point in my existence I believe I would have
claimed her for myself.”


 


Severus could not believe what he
was hearing.  Voldemort continued
on, “But, such as it is, I just want you to know that you have my approval. 
More than that, I feel any child born of such a union would be quite an
asset to not only the two of you, but to myself as well. 
A most powerful witch or wizard, indeed. 
That being said, if you would like to claim your witch and remove
yourselves for the night, feel free to do so.”


 


Severus was caught a little
lacking for words.  He managed a
quick, “Yes, My Lord, Thank You, My Lord,” before moving off to find
Hermione.  Putting an arm around her
waist, he steered her toward the door.  “I’m
not sure what you told but but unless I’m mistaken we have been told to ‘go
forth and multiply’ by Voldemort.”


 


Hermione put the brakes on and
turned on him.  Severus could see
her face had gone white.  “What do
you mean by that?   What did he
say to you?” 


 


“Calm down, Granger. 
This is neither the time nor place for an argument. 
Especially since he thinks that we are lovers. 
On that basis we have been given a reprieve from the evenings activities. 
Now, make like my dutiful witch and lets get the hell out of here.” 
Severus grabbed her gently by the shoulders and spun her round.  With a playful swat on the behind she was propelled out the
door.


 


Hermilooklooked back over her
shoulder and hissed, “You didn’t just do that.”  Severus laughed and together they disappeared. 
They appeared outside the gates to the castle. 
ioneione was nowiousious.  “WHAT
did he say to you?”


 


Severus was taken aback at the
intensity of her anger, “I told you to calm down.  Voldemort’s got it in his head that we are perfect for one
another.  He also thinks that were I
to get you with child, the child would be a powerful tool for him to use. 
Now, we both know it’s not going to happen. 
Let him live in his little fantasy world, it will be coming to an end
quickly enough.”


They walked up the path in
silence.  By the time they reached
the doors Hermione had slipped her hand in his. 
“Severus?”


 


The familiar sense of relief once
again. “Hhhmmm?”


 


“Don’t ever smack me on the
ass again.”


 


“Ah, my dear, that is one thing
I cannot guarantee.  You do have a
tendency to rile me a bit,” he teased.  “I
can promise one thing.”


 


“What’s that, Professor?”


 


He leaned down, his lips brushing
her neck.  “Next time, my dear,
you will enjoy it.”


 


Hermione pushed his face gently
away.  “Promises, promises.” 

 


Later that night, Severus awoke
in their bed, naked and alone.  “Hermione,”
he called.  Silence was the only
response.  Grabbing a set of robes
he slipped them over his bare skin.  He
made a thorough search of the dungeons before moving on to the restthe the
castle.  He found her at the top of
Serpens tower, wrapped tightly in both a set of robes and her blanket.


 


Hermione didn’t hear his approach. 
She was standing, looking out over the Forbidden Forest. 
Her hair was loose and tendrils blew frantically in the cold wind.  Behind her lay a backdrop of a million tiny stars. 
Severus leaned against the doorway, just taking in the sight of her. 
When finally he saw her shiver, he stepped to her and wrapped her in his
arms.  His words were whispered only
to her, but the wind heard them as well.
 


 


She comes not when Noon is on the roses-- 
Too bright is Day. 
She comes not to the Soul till it reposes 
From work and play. 

But when Night is on the hills, and the great Voices 
Roll in from Sea, 
By starlight and candle-light and dreamlight 
She comes to me.
 


He felt her sigh, then she turned around to face him. 
He captured a waving strand of hair and tucked it gently behind her ear
before pulling her tightly against him.  He
tucked her head beneath his chin and stared out at the night. 
“What brings you up here in the middle of the night?”
 


She snuggled into his embrace,
arms tucked between their bodies.  “Just
thinking.”


 


“Care to enlighten me?”


 


“Just thinking how perceptive
he is.  He figures everything out. 
Yet, still we have come this far and are still alive. 
How is it he can sense everything, but the biggest thing?”


 


Severus pondered the question for
a while before answering.  “I
think it has to do with his arrogance.  He
just can’t allow himself to see that someone could actually pull one over on
him.”


 


She shifted to look up at him,
“ I suppose that makes sense.  Now,
what brings you up here in the middle of the night?”


 


“I lost something; something
rather important.  Just trying to
find it again.”


 


Hermione rose up on her tiptoes
and moved her mouth oh so close to his.  “And
have you found it?” she whispered in a raw voice.


 


He considered her lips for a
moment, gazing at them.  Right
before he took them he gave her hiswer,wer, “I believe I have.”  At the touch of his mouth she trembled slightly, reminding
him of the temperature.  He paused
to nuzzle her cheek,  “Are you
finished thinking?”


 


“Never, I’ll never stop
thinking.  But, I am cold. 
Let’s go to bed.”


 


Two hours later, Severus was the
one thinking.  In the dying
firelight he pondered the woman sleeping next to him. She had one arm around his
waist and her smooth legs teased the roughness of his own. 


 


A child.  A child born of his love for her.  Would the future ever be so kind as to grant him that gift? 
Maybe it was possible, someday.  It
just seemed like there were too many maybes. 
Maybe if they defeated Voldemort.  Maybe
if he could convince her to stay.  Maybe
if he could put her soul together again.  Maybe
if she loved him….


 


That was the biggest maybe. 
The one hardest to fathom.  It
was also the one that gave him the most hope. 
Deep in the night, he could allow himself to hope for her love.