A Crown of Thorns

Chapter Nineteen – Closer
Severus rolled over to find himself face to face with a peacefully sleeping Hermione. It was still very early and he knew that he needed to return to his chambers so as not to arouse any suspicions but he just could not manage to make his body comply with the orders his brain was giving. Burrowing himself closer to her beneath the heavy covers, Severus leaned in to place gentle kisses on her closed eyes, her long lashes tickling his bottom lip. Without opening her eyes, she snuggled into the warmth of his body, her breath hot against his shoulder. Hermione’s body pressed against his own, her soft skin barely brushing against his, causing a flutter in the pit of Severus’ stomach and he could feel himself becoming aroused.

Reaching further beneath the covers, his hand met her thigh and worked its way up the outside line of her body, tracing the gentle curve of her hip, letting silksilkiness of her skin caress his own calloused hands. The tips of his fingers danced across the flat plane of her belly, stopping only to circle the indentation of her navel.

Only half opening her eyes, Hermione greeted him with a sleepy smile and relaxed back into the soft pillows, giving him full access to her glorious body. Leaning up on one elbow, Severus lowered his lips to meet hers as his hand traveled up her torso, finding the swell of her breasts. He could feel her nipples tighten under his touch and she arched her back slightly, closing her eyes once again.

She kissed him back, slow and leisurely, tasting him and letting her tongue experience the contours of his lips. Breaking the kiss abruptly, she reached up to twine her fingers through his mussed hair, pulling him down so that his lips were inches from one of her hardened peaks. His tongue flicked out, much like a snake’s, and he barely grazed the tip, eliciting a low growl in the back of her throat. In one swift motion, Severus threw the covers back and was on top of her, pinning her hands above her head with his own, his knees on either side of her thighs. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he lowered himself just enough so that the tip of his erection was pressing lightly against her center and she wriggled her hips instinctively, searching for a way to relieve the welcoming ache that was now spreading throughout her body. Leaning back with a sly smile, Severus released his grip on her hands, leaving them above her head, and lowered his head, taking one nipple between his lips, alternately sucking and licking for a moment before pulling it gently between his teeth. He felt her jump, knowing that she had been unprepared for the slight pain, but when his lips quickly soothed the sting, he felt her relax. Hands still over her head, she turned her shoulders slightly, urging him to pay the same attention to her other breast, and with a silent chuckle he obliged.

Hermione opened her eyes slightly so that she could look down at Severus, watching as his lips and teeth worked her oversensitive flesh. Sensing her eyes upon him, Severus lifted his head and met her gaze. The rush of cool air that met her heated flesh caused a small gasp to escape her lips. Never breaking eye contact, Severus slowly slid himself down the length of her body, gently pushing her legs apart so that he was directly between her thighs with his lips hovering above her swollen clitoris. She watched him curiously as he stroked his fingers through the light dusting of hair that covered her and again, her hips lifted slightly, searching desperately for a release, but instead of touching her where she wanted most, he teased her mercilessly, touching her everywhere but there.

Her eyes fell closed and she pushed her head back into the pillows with an exasperated sigh, spreading her legs wider. Severus watched as she endured his touches with maddening frustration, and with a slight smirk, he finally spread her lips apart gently and lowered his mouth to her. At the touch of his tongue, Hermione groaned loudly and was sure that she was going mad, knowing that she had never before felt such pleasure. His lips and tongue were so soft and so wet and the sensation of them sliding over her sensitive clit as his fingers spread her wide was more than enough to send her spiraling dangerously close towards the edge. Any residual pain from the night before quickly dissolved as her body succumbed to the intense rush that claimed her body and Severus felt her muscles become taut beneath him. Both of her hands clutched at his shoulders and he felt her nails digging into his skin as she writhed beneath him, riding out the waves of pleasure that consumed her over and over again.

Only when he felt her grip relax did Severus look up to see her grinning down at him shyly, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing was somewhat ragged and there was a thin film of sweat glistening on her skin. She began to giggle uncontrollably at the sight of the most feared professor at Hogwarts looking up at her from between her thighs, grinning smugly.

Feeling a slight pang of annoyance, the smile quickly disappeared and Severus narrowed his eyes at her, “Would you care to share with me what, exactly, you find so amusing?”

Gasping for breath, Hermione looked into his eyes, seeing the flash of hurt in them. Quickly she stopped the giggles and reached down, pulling on his arms. He climbed back up on top of her, careful not rushrush her beneath his weight and she leaned up, kissing him gently, frowning at the taste of herself on his lips.

He looked at her with one eyebrow raised and the smug look returned to his face, “It is a bit of an acquired taste.”

Rolling her eyes at the evil grin he flashed her, Hermione allowed Severus to pull them over so that she was lying halfway on top of him, nestling her face in the crook of his neck. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent; sweaty and masculine, and drifted off to sleep.

~~~~

Sitting with a decidedly bored look on her face, Hermione watched as Draco slit the older man\'s throat and then returned to his place beside her, casually wiping the blood from his hands. There was a distinct ripple of excitement in the darkened room as the Death Eaters gathered around to watch the man who was now slumped on the floor. He gripped his throat in a futile attempt to stop the blood that poured from the gaping wound, his each breath becoming a ragged gasp, bringing small bubbles of blood to the corners of his mouth. With one final heave, the man\'s body went completely limp and Hermione observed as two of the newest Death Eaters scurried from their place in the shadows to retrieve the corpse.

She eyed them with disdain before speaking with more than a hint of irritation in her voice, \"Be sure to
dispose of the body correctly this time. We don\'t want any more accidents, do\"
\"

Both of the Death Eaters nodded in acknowledgement before retreating into the shadows. Hermione surveyed the room with a watchful eye, taking in the hooded figures before her. Nothing but cowards really, the whole lot of them, hiding behind their robes and masks.

A sneer of disgust formed on her lips as she snarled, \"That will be all, you may go.\"

Without looking back, Hermione made her way to a door that was hidden in the far corner of the dungeons and disappeared. Draco followed closely and when they were alone he reached out to grab her wrist.

\"Hermione-\"

She whirled around to face him, her eyes blazing in fury as she looked at him accusingly.

He stammered, \"My...my father...he ordered me to do it that way... I didn\'t have a choice...I\'m so sorry. \"

Hermione instantly felt ashamed of herself for thinking that Draco would have done something like that intentionally. Seeing the pained look in his eyes, she pulled him to her and embraced him tightly. In her heart she knew that he hadn\'t wanted to do what he did, but like her, he had a role to play. But that didn\'t make it any easier - for either of them.

Pulling away she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand, \"No, I\'m the one who should apologize. I know that if you could have done it differently, you would have.\"

The door behind them opened, startling them both, and Lucius appeared, pulling off his hood. He grinned
broadly at his son and clapped him on the back with a hearty chuckle, \"Well done Draco!\"

Draco turned to face his father and forced a Malfoy smirk, \"Filthy Muggle. That will teach him to meddle
in our affairs. And what about the girl?\"

Lucius\' lips curled up in a half-smile and he met Hermione\'s eyes as he spoke, \"The dirty little Mudblood?\" he asked, voice mocking. Draco felt Hermione stiffen at his father\'s words, \"Rest assured, the whore got exactly what she deserved.\"

Hermione knew that Lucius was attempting to provoke her. However, at this point she was beyond allowing
his trite jibes to unnerve her. She yawned openly and returned Lucius\' gaze with a look of utter boredom.

Lucius ignored her and turned to his son, \"Come Draco, the Dark Lord is waiting.\"

Hermione looked at Draco questioningly but he shrugged slightly. She nodded, indicating that he should go, and before leaving Draco bent to place a quick kiss on her cheek and squeezed her hand, whispering, \"I\'ll see you later then?\"

She squeezed his hand in return, \"Of course,\" she turned to Lucius and smiled graciously, her voice dripping with sarcasm, \"Lucius, always a pleasure.\"

The two men made their way up to Voldemort\'s study to find him sitting in a large wingchair before the fireplace.

\"Ah, Lucius, Draco, come in, sit down. We have many things to discuss.\"

~~~~

Severus looked out the window and watched as Hermione and Lord Voldemort walked through the gardens, noting to himself how frail the old wizard had become over the past few months. Severus knew that the Dark Lord’s days were numbered, even without the final battle approaching. He watched as Hermione took his arm, helping him up the stone steps that led back to the terrace, careful not to let him stumble on the hem of his long robes. To the unknowing eye, the pair could easily be mistaken for a loving daughter doting on her ailing father. How different things would be if only that were the truth. How much easier his life might have been.

Turning away from the window, Severus retreated to the laboratory to begin work on the potion that Dumbledore had requested for the final battle. The potion, appropriately called the Veneficium Draught, was going to play a vital role in defeating Voldemort. There were very few wizards who knew of the existence of this particular potion, and with good reason. The effects were such that the person who drank the potion would feel a temporary surge of power, however, when the desired effect wore off, the person was left substantially weaker as the true effect of the potion was to drain them of their powers. If administered on a daily basis, in small doses, the change in power would be subtle enough not to be detected until it was too late.

Surprisingly enough, it was a very simple potion and took less than two days to brew. Pulling out the tattered parchment that listed the ingredients, Severus began working.

~~~~

Hermione took Voldemort’s arm and helped him up the steps that led back to the terrace where the house elves had set out lunch for them. She pulled out Voldemort’s chair and helped him settle in, ignoring his attempts to brush away her helping hands before taking the seat across from him.

He smiled at her broadly as they began to eat, “I feel as though it has been ages since we have had a chance to spend some time together, just you and I.”

Hermione reached across the table and gently patted his bony hand, “Please, accept my sincerest apologies. I have been so busy lately with my lessons, the raids and with planning the battle, I feel as though I hardly have time to breathe.”

Voldemort smiled at her slyly, “I suppose that with the upcoming celebration, you will be even busier.”
Hermione’s eyes grew wide and she stammered, “What…how…how did you know?”

She shifted gears quickly so as not to arouse any suspicions, “Draco and Lucius told you, didn’t they?” She gave a disgusted snort and her voice became angry, “I told them that I wanted to tell you. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Voldemort chuckled, actually it was more of a hiss, and Hermione looked at him questioningly, “So you’re not angry then, that I didn’t tell you right away?”

“Of course not, love. On the contrary, I could not be happier. The Malfoy’s are pureblood and powerful, I will rest easy knowing that you will be backed by such a noble family. “ His eyes grew sad as he spoke, “I only wish that I could be here to witness your life with Draco because I have no doubt that together, you will go on to do wonderful things.”

Hermione put her fork down and wiped the corners of her mouth on the scratchy linen napkin before speaking, “My Lord, since my first days here you have treated me with nothing less than mercy, kindness, and respect. Fort, It, I will be eternally grateful to you. But what I am most grateful for, is the way you have treated me almost as…” She took a deep breath so as not to choke on her next words, “as a daughter.”

Her eyes filled with tears, not of joy or sentimentality, but tears of sorrow. Sorrowful because she should be speaking these words to her own father, not the hideous monster before her.

Taking another deep breath she found the words that were stuck in the back of her throat, “My Lord, would you do me the honor of speaking for me at my betrothal ceremony?”

~~~~

Slamming the heavy door behind her, Hermione flopped across her bed in an exhausted heap. Burying her face in the soft pillow, she allowed the tears she had been holding back all morning to fall.

Severus had heard her footsteps in the hallway and now stood outside of Hermione’s door, listening to her muffled sobs. It seemed like an eternity before they ceased and he knew that she had cried herself to sleep. Quietly opening the door, he made his way over to the bed and slipped off her shoes, placing them on the floor. Sensing his presence in the room, Hermione shifted onto her side allowing Severus to lie next to her. Sliding an arm around her waist, he pulled her to his chest, holding her as she slept.

It had been exactly one week since they had made love and Severus had seen her very little in that time. He knew that right now they both needed to be focused on the upcoming battle, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to be near her. They had decided that to spend any more evenings together would be putting them in even graver danger than they were already in. If Voldemort or Lucius were to happen on them together in such a compromising situation it would surely mean an immediate death for them both, and reluctantly, they parted ways each evening and returned to their respective beds.

That weekend, Hermione left for Malfoy Manor as a date had been set for the betrothal celebration and there were many preparations to be made in a very short time. Hermione had insisted that she wanted the celebration to take place before the holidays, and after much protesting from Voldemort and Lucius, Hermione had reigned triumphant as always. She had also decided to speak with Voldemort about Severus and about having his status as a Death Eater reinstated, stating matter-of-factly that Lucius had failed to ever present them with any sort of substantial evidence to prove Severus’ guilt as a traitor.

She had watched in anticipation as Voldemort thought over her request carefully. Knowing that he was not a forgiving creature by nature, Hermione had appealed to his lust for r byr by informing him of the potion Severus was working on, explaining to him that Severus wanted nothing more than to see the Dark Lord personally destroy both Potter and Dumbledore. She had seen a glint in his eye and ventured on, continuing her campaign, telling him that Severus would be valuable at the final battle since he knew the layout of Hogwarts so well, including all of the hidden passageways and weaknesses. There was another flash in Voldemort’s ruby-colored eyes and she had held her breath, waiting for him to speak.

In the end, much to Lucius’ irritation, Severus was forgiven by the Dark Lord.

A/N – ‘Veneficium’ Latin for “poisoning, magical”

Thanks again to all of you who have stuck with the story and taken the time to review. Many hugs!