Darkness Consumes

Xenija: What do you mean Snape seems human? He is human! Even Daniel Radcliffe seems to think Snape is a good guy now... Thanks for liking the story, sorry for the delay as I had writers block, but here it is.



Lady Lynn: Update is here, I hope you like it. I am glad you liked it. The subject matter is a little squicky I know but it is something that does happen, unfortunately. When articles like this appear on the news I tend to either walk out of the room or close my ears. I hope I dealt with it sensitively.



GryfJr: I don’t know; but I think I must have it for when I saw you logged in I thought you had reviewed this story... creepy huh? Anyway, those links don’t work, so if you could send the links to me in an email then I would be most grateful. My address is bellasnape1@yahoo.co.uk okay.



cateye: As soon as I could! I had writers block. Here it is anyway. Sorry it took so long.



Skye: I think I had kept you waiting for long enough. Here it is. David Tennant is yummy isn’t he?



Annie: Thanks. I hope you like this one as much.



DB: Does this answer your question?



Dylan: I don’t know what you mean by her not putting up resistance, I read it again to try and see what you were on about but she did... she was trying to kick him in the balls, and she was trying to fight but he was too strong for her... so that has confused me a bit. Also I should imagine emotions and feelings would be conflicting in a situation like that. The answer to your last question is being answered in this chapter.



SmileZ: Nope, no threesomes, and no Slash. Sorry, that is not what I write. Thank you for reminding me of this again; that I worship the cyberground you type on! He is hot isn’t he! I liked Barty Crouch Jr before David Tennant got the part, and I love him even more now.



angel: There is more! Here it is.



The Continuing Nightmare



Hermione had woken up sweating. Five years ago! She thought to herself, that was five damn years ago. She laid back down on the bed trembling. Perspiration formed little pearl droplets on her forehead as she tried to sleep. It was impossible. Sleep was elusive; like trying to grab thin air. She grabbed hold of her pillow and hugged it closely to her body. She still suffered nightmares from that time.



It broke up her relationship with Ron. He had tried to be supportive but he had enough one night and decided to leave her. She was devastated when she reached out to hold him only to find he wasn’t there. Ron didn’t know what the nightmares were exactly as she never told him.



Harry was not much help either. He understood the nightmares and the dreams and how she must be suffering but as she never told him either he couldn’t help her properly. The only person that talked to her and supported her was Ginny. Ginny understood what it was like to be used and lied to.



She got out of her bed and walked to her kitchen and switched the light on. No, Ginny was not the only one that still talked to her, oddly enough Snape did to. Snape was helping their side still. He seemed to be keeping an extra strong eye on her. He was the only one that still talked to her; after Ginny had of course.



“Is this what I have been reduced to?” Hermione asked herself. “Am I such a coward as to fear a man who is to all intents and purposes – dead?”



She reached out for the fruit bowl and picked out an apple. She bit into it and looked around her gleaming, innocent seeming kitchen. It was a muggle kitchen with chrome taps, black sideboards, silver cupboards and black and white floor tiling. She wanted her home to be as much like her parents as possible to help her feel comfortable.



She walked up to the fridge and opened the door. She brought out a carton of apple juice and then found a dry glass on the sideboard. She poured out some apple juice and was about to drink it when something stopped her:



“Sure you want to drink that?” a cold voice said.



Hermione’s heart leapt in her throat. She spun around on her heel and was looking straight into the face of the man that she thought was dead.



“What?” she asked blinking.



“Remember what happened last time you drank something with me in the room?”



“You’re supposed to be dead!” Hermione exclaimed.



“Am I?” he asked. “Why am I supposed to be dead? Oh, you’re thinking of that little incident with the Dementor. Oh-ho,” he had his hands thrust in his pockets and he rocked back and forth on his heels. “What a ruse. Well, can’t stand here chatting. I’m here to collect you. I told you the Dark Lord wouldn’t forget me. I remain his most loyal servant.”



“What happened?” Hermione said.



“Can’t tell you that,” he replied. “Come on, where’s the offer of a drink?”



“Get out of my house!” Hermione exclaimed.



He began to laugh. It was slightly mad, and was it her imagination or did he have a slight red glint in his eye as he laughed?



“Oh, nice place, for a muggle. But you’re not a muggle are you? You went to Hogwarts, didn’t you? What does that make you, Missy?”



Hermione frowned. “Get out!”



“Answer my question. You used to be so good at answering questions, so answer mine!”



Hermione backed away. “It makes me a Witch,” she said coolly. “But if you remember rightly I grew up as a muggle.”



“I suppose so,” he conceded. “Well, the Dark Lord wants to meet you.”



“I’m sure he does,” Hermione said. “But I don’t want to meet him.”



“Quite frankly,” said the man. “You don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“What do you mean by that?” Hermione asked.



The man roved his eyes up and down her body and grinned manically. He looked into her eyes and his grin spread across his face.



“Didn’t anything I say that night get through you’re head, Hermione? You are my reward. I can do with you what I will. The offer still stands even five years after, my Lord is still pleased with me.”



Hermione opened a kitchen drawer and brought out a knife. She pointed it at the man. He rolled his eyes and sighed. He dragged his wand out from the inside of his jacket. He waved the wand and the knife turned it into a single red rose.



“That was my best knife!” she exclaimed.



“I’m sure you can change it back,” he said.



“That’s not the -!” Hermione was about to say point but stopped herself just in time. He caught onto it though.



“Oh the oldest pun in the book,” he said. “Now, where was I? Oh yes,” he flicked his wand at her and she remembered nothing.



~*~*~



“HERMIONE JANE GRANGER LET US IN THIS INSTANT!” Ginny yelled. She had brought Harry along the morning after to find out if the dreams were still troubling her. The doors were locked and the windows sealed. Neither wanted to blast their way through and they were about to leave when a shadow fell over the young couple.



“She’s not there,” the silky voice said. Ginny and Harry both turned around and groaned. Harry wrapped a possessive arm around his girlfriend.



“Where is she then?” Harry asked through gritted teeth. He still didn’t like this man, even though he was friendly with Hermione.



“She’s in the Dark Lord’s lair,” he sighed. “Something happened a few nights ago. Something that we all thought impossible.”



“What?” Ginny whispered.



“It seemed that the Dark Lord knew things that we didn’t.”



“What has this to do with Hermione?” Harry asked.



Snape sighed. He hated this boy but yet – so young, he was so young. And he had been through hell and back in his life. He turned his attention towards the young woman. She too was so young to have suffered what she had. She smiled a little weakly.



He stared around the ordinary suburban neighbourhood. “This isn’t the place,” he said. “Come to my house and I’ll explain it over a nice cup of tea, shall I?”



Harry and Ginny looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “That’s a sentence I never thought he’d say.” Harry muttered in Ginny’s ear. She snorted and covered her mouth. Harry turned a steely gaze back to his former teacher.



“Yes, all right then. Only I’ll make the tea shall I?” Harry said.



“You’re going to have to trust me one day, Potter,” Snape sighed. Ginny smiled and leant further into Harry’s side. Snape whispered the address in Harry’s ear and stepped away. Harry looked at his girlfriend.



“Well, let’s go.”



~*~*~



Hermione woke up in a strange bed. She didn’t have to look around to know that, as the mattress was soft. Her’s was hard. She felt she was drowning in it. The covers were luxurious. She dragged them up to her chin as she felt that she was naked.



The door opened and she peeked her eyes over the covers. She couldn’t believe HE was still alive, the snivelling, obsequious being that he was. So many strong, brave wizards had died and he was still alive cowering and simpering.



“Ah,” he said. “Awake then? Master was wondering when you were going to wake up.”



Hermione looked at this man. “I didn’t know Wizards could turn into house elves.”



“He wants to talk to you,” the rat said.



“Hmm,” Hermione said. She felt around her body and there was not a single bruise on her body, and she didn’t even have a headache. So, her tormentor had not hurt her. She raised the quilts and peeked underneath. Just as I thought, naked as a newborn!



“He say’s you should appear before him,” the rat said again.



Hermione could not act. That was something she was extremely terrible with. She’d only fooled Umbridge because she covered her face. She could tell no one else was fooled. Especially Snape. He played along though. She might be able to fool this rat but she knew that she could not fool the Dark Lord.



She glared at this piece of sputum before she got out of bed and winced as the cold floor met the warmth of her feet. The rat giggled in a weasley fashion as he looked at her naked body. Hermione grabbed the sheet of her bed and wrapped it around her body.



“Fine,” she said. “Show me to him now.”



The rat stopped smirking when she covered her body and he bowed low. He went to the door and opened it and she walked through it. The rat decided to do something. He sniggered as he stepped on the trail of the bed sheets causing them to fall on the floor. She turned around and glared at him. She went to pick up the bed sheets and began covering her body again when someone oozed out of the shadows.



“Oh, I’m sure he won’t object to seeing your naked body. Believe me, he’s seen worse.”



“Well, he may not object to seeing my naked body, but I object to him seeing my naked body.”



“What did I say to you that night? If I remember rightly I said you weren’t a person with rights... you are my reward. Now, be a good little girl and go and meet him, as you are.”



Hermione glared furiously at him. “You are scum.”



“Oh really,” he crowed. “I thought I was purity. It’s you that’s scum. But despite that I’m prepared to marry you.”



Hermione’s lips thinned. “I AM NOT MARRYING YOU!” she screamed. “And I am not staying here another minute. And if you think I am then you’re madder than the man you tried to imitate.”



“Brilliantly,” he said. “I did fool Dumbledore though, didn’t I? That old goat was supposed to be the closest friend and he was fooled. So much for being the cleverest Wizard in the world! He trusted Snape too didn’t he?”



Hermione clamped shut. The sooner I get out of here the better, she thought to herself. Clever Snape, how I worship you!



She did. She looked up to him and worshipped him since he promised to avenge her dignity. When he held her close to her body after that terrible experience she felt safe. Neither spoke of it when he was treating her; and neither brought it up since. They talked about other things but they didn’t bring up the second time Snape had held her close to his body. Hermione’s heart leapt at the thought of Snape. He’d help her. It leapt also for another reason. Snape was the man that she loved. He hadn’t deserted her because of the nightmares.



“All right,” she said. “If I have to. But I will cover myself up.”



The rat lifted his foot off the sheets and she covered herself up, the other man gloated at her body. Perfect, he thought. She’d be just perfect.



She turned to go down the stairs. The rat followed bowing all the way. He stopped outside a door.



“I have to announce your presence,” he said. “Please stay here.”



Hermione stayed outside the door and waited. The rat made his presence known. “He wishes you to enter.”



Hermione fumed. He acts like he is bloody royalty. Hermione drew her sheets about her tighter as she entered the serpent’s hole.



~*~*~



Harry had made the three of them tea. He sat next to Ginny on the sofa and smiled at her. Snape rolled his eyes.



“I trust you know about the nightmares that she’s been suffering,” Snape said. They nodded. “You know how she got them?”



“She said that she was physically abused sometime ago,” Harry said.



“She hasn’t spoken of the exact details?” Snape asked curiously.



Harry shook his head. “No.”



Snape rolled his eyes and looked at the young man. “Well, this may shock you then.” He sat back in his chair and sipped at the black liquid in his cup. “After the Yule Ball, Hermione was upset by something. I was about to comfort her when Mad Eye Moody went up to her. I knew there was something odd about him so I followed him. Unfortunately on the way I got distracted by Draco Malfoy fighting in the corridor with Pansy Parkinson; something about the way Draco’s jaw dropped on the floor every time she walked past him... anyway after sorting that spat out I made my way to the office. I was late though... something that I do regret. I walked in the office finding Barty Crouch Jr and -,” he choked up. The images had not truly left his mind either. “And Hermione. She was bruised, bloodied, and sobbing. She was also gagged. She was a shivering wreck, so I picked her up. She had been viciously raped by Crouch Jr!”



Harry looked at Snape; his eyes sea green, and his jaw set in determination. “If you knew Mad Eye wasn’t Mad Eye why didn’t you tell Dumbledore?”



“I did, but he didn’t listen to me,” he said. “I tried to tell him over and over again but all he did was offer me sweets and glint. I told him what he had done to Hermione but he didn’t take a blind bit of notice. I daresay if it was you he might have taken more notice.”



“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry asked narrowing his eyes.



“You know perfectly well what it means, Potter. And you know I’m right! He would have taken more interest had it been you or Weasley, he was just as elite as Malfoy, but in a different way.”

Harry sipped some more tea. He had conceded that point to Snape. Dumbledore did show his own brand of favouritism. Snape was a strong victim of that. Harry looked into his tea.



“Poor Hermione,” Ginny said raising a hand to her mouth.



“What’s this got to do with the fact that she’s not at home?”



Snape sighed. “Headstrong woman she is refused to live with me where I could protect her. I suppose she thought that she could try and cope with it. Barty Crouch Jr took her last night to the Dark Lords Lair. The Dark Lord returned Barty’s soul back to his body.”



“How?” Harry asked.



“Easy,” Snape replied. “He went through every Dementor he could before he finally felt the soul of Barty. He went into the Dementors mind to find out exactly where the soul of Barty was. He then pointed his wand and said Priori Incantatem. Barty’s soul floated out of the body of the Dementor and then he told him where his body was. Barty Crouch Jr then expected his reward. Five years ago he was promised a reward for doing all what he did, and he chose Hermione. He’s come back to claim the reward.”



Harry and Ginny looked at each other. “Did Dumbledore know there was a way to give people back their soul?”



“No, Potter, no Wizard no matter how dark they are or were would attempt such a deed. Only the Dark Lord. He had some affection for Barty Crouch Jr.”



Harry smiled. “He does have a weakness.”



“Oh it’s not that sort of affection,” the former Potions Master said. “He has affection for those that help him successfully. Barty did all he could to help his Master kill you that year. Even the Dark Lord had conceded that the fault did not lie with Barty Crouch Jr.”



“I don’t believe this,” Harry said burying his face in his hands. “And now Hermione is under the spell of the Dark Lord.”



“Only if the Dark Lord accepts her will Barty claim her as his reward,” Snape said. “I think I can safely speak for all her family and friends when I say that death would be a better thing.”

~*~*~



Hermione looked at the tall – man – before her. He spun around and stared at her. His red eyes were not particularly bright or blazing. The flame flickered nonchalantly:



“I have heard so much about you,” he said.



Hermione was tempted to reply, the same, but stopped when she realised how clichéd that sounded. “What did you want to see me about?”



He sighed. “I wanted to look you over, and see what it is Barty see’s in you. I think I can understand now.” He walked up to her. “You are pretty. Clever. Strong. Well, the list goes on and on. I understand you two have already mated?”



“He mated me without my permission,” Hermione said with a strong voice.



“Determined, and rather – spirited - shall we say, for the sake of a good well used cliché?”



Hermione chewed the inside of her cheek. “Possibly.”



“Why are you wearing those sheets?” he asked her.



“I have no clothes, sir.”



The Dark Lord’s reptilian grin spread wide across his face. He flicked his wand in her direction and the sheets disappeared. He roved his eyes up and down her body.



“You best get used to wearing nothing,” he murmured.



“What?” Hermione blinked.



“You are going to be nothing more than a toy for Barty to play with whenever he desires. Clothes would hinder the process.”



“I am NOT a toy!” Hermione exclaimed.



“Oh no?” the Dark Lord whispered. He flicked his wand and her feet and hands were chained together. “You have nowhere to go, Hermione. Your friends don’t understand you. You have no lovers and no job. I would say that you are not worthy of being free. BARTY!” He shouted out the name.



“Yes, My Lord?” Barty said coming into the room with his hands in his pockets.



“You may take your new toy and play with her if you want. Only,” he murmured. “Send her to me when you’re bored. I like to play sometimes.”



Barty nodded. He grabbed hold of her chains and led her out of the study. He would not get bored with her. Barty Crouch Jr did not share!



A/N – I hope you did like this, and yes I enjoy rare pairings... as long as I can put Snape or Lucius in there somewhere... so, what do you think?