The legacy of the Diary

Legacy of the diary
By Luciusfan


Chapter 20 - Snape\'s Medicine!

Hermione could hear her heart thumping in her chest as she thundered down the corridors and staircases inside Hogwarts. Where would Severus be? Had he gone straight to Dumbledore? Was he still there with Dumbledore or had their discussion finished? Time had stood still for her in that linen cupboard. How long had she been? She realised that she had not even gone back to see Harry and instantly felt guilty. What if Lucius had been to see Harry? Now Lucius knew that Severus had performed legilimency on Harry and had seen Lucius’ guilty part in the whole affair. What would he do to Harry – get rid of any evidence?

Hermione stopped running and leant against the wall, clutching a stitch in her side. She had reached a crossroads in the corridors. Should she go to the left and up the stairs to Dumbledore’s office, to the right and down the stairs to Severus’ dungeon rooms, straight ahead and down the stairs to her own rooms or back the way she had come, back into the grounds to apparate back to St Mungos to check on Harry? She wrapped her arms round herself and bent double, willing the pain to go so that she could continue.

Footsteps from the left made her look up as a black figure, striding slowly at first, suddenly picked up his pace and ran the last few metres towards her. She lifted her head, still clutching her side.

“Severus, I..”

“Hermione, what the hell happened? Your face…”

Hermione remembered the slap, which she now realised, was still causing the left side of her face to glow and sting. It had been forgotten in her haste to leave and in the pain of her stitch. Instantly she felt his arms round her, holding her, supporting her. She suddenly felt very weak, as though for the last few hours she had been running on pure adrenaline and she had now lain down on a bed, allowing herself to relax. She felt faint, her eyelids flickered and her legs began to buckle. Severus was swift in his response. In what seemed like the next second, her eyelids flickered open again and she was being carried in Severus’ arms. She looked up into his determined face feeling their bodies jolting together as they descended the dungeon steps. His leg raised as he kicked open the door in front of him and rushed her through. Finally she felt his arms leave her as she was lowered gently onto his bed. Her eyes closed again. She could feel the back of his hand on her brow and then his fingers gently stroking her cheek, his cold hands drawing the heat out of her slapped face. Her eyes flicked open again and she was looking up into Severus’ eyes. They stared at each other for a moment. A few seconds that lingered like an eternity, then his eyes closed and his face descended to meet hers. Hermione closed her eyes in acquiescence and their kiss was long and deep and hungry. She felt one hand reach to find hers as Severus’ other hand twisted and twirled strands of her hair. Kissing her as though he were performing some sort of medical treatment – reviving and replenishing her. Eventually the kiss broke and they both struggled for breath, opening their eyes and drinking in their partner’s face.

Severus sat up, releasing her hair but still holding on to her hand.

“We need to talk Hermione, tell me what happened. I can only guess who did this to you.”

“I’m ok, really!”

“No you’re not. You’ve obviously been hit, you’re trembling…what did the bastard do?”

Rage burned in Severus’ eyes, he looked angrily at Hermione but she knew he was not angry with her, but rather at what had happened to her.

“Nothing…nothing, really. He was just angry – he heard us talking. He knows what you saw in Harry’s mind…”

“Damn it – he’s on to us. Dumbledore was right – we must act quickly!”

“But he denied everything! He even said that he was close to finding out the truth – whatever he meant by that.”

“Tell me, what happened?” Severus took both of Hermione’s hands and she sat up, looking at him squarely. She told him about the surprise attack in the corridor and how Lucius had dragged her into the linen cupboard. She conveniently left out the second kiss, that kiss that she had wanted to dive into, to surrender herself to. She may have even played-up his aggression towards her. Severus drank every word, his anger rising in his chest.

“The bastard – I’ll kill him.”

“Severus, please, calm down. It’s done, it’s over and I’m ok!”

“Well, if he lays a finger on you again, I’ll kill him!”

Hermione began to feel a little scared of her elaboration – she had not intended to make the ordeal sound as bad as she had. Yes, it had been frightening – at first. But it had also been exciting. But the way Severus was looking at her now – like a precious gem, a rare flower to be treasured, a wounded animal to be tended and nurtured. She began to believe her own embellishments and Lucius reverted to being the evil monster she had once thought him to be – back when she was a young naïve second year Gryffindor.

When Severus’ arms opened to her – she went more than willingly, burying her head in his black flowing garments, hearing his heart beating in his chest and feeling his hands rubbing up and down her back as he planted kisses on the top of her head.
She seemed to get a second wind, almost euphoria as she began fumbling with buttons in her haste for them both to be naked. Severus joined in and quickly removed his outer robes and trousers while Hermione threw her own clothes to the floor.

Finally Severus’ shirt was the only thing between them, and she felt its soft, brushed cotton against her bare breasts as he pushed her back onto the bed and lay on top of her. Severus’ anger at Lucius’ treatment of her had been foreplay enough for Hermione and she reached a hand down, guiding a fully erect Severus into her.

After a few hungered thrusts, Severus could no longer bear the fabric barrier between them and arched his back, balancing on quivering knees, he pulled the shirt over his head, the whole action taking less than a second before he resumed his rhythm. The lovemaking was swift and passionate, them both climaxing, sweaty bodies clamped together.

Hermione began to feel faint again and Severus noticed her eyelids flicker once more as she lay on the bed looking up at his face, his penis still inside her. He withdrew, moving quickly to her side.

“Oh god, I’m sorry. I took advantage. I should never…” he broke off as her eyes slipped closed, and guilt took over him.

“Hermione!!” He shook her shoulders and her eyes opened again, a lazy smile on her face. “Were you sleeping?”
“No,” she half laughed as though in a drugged state. “I just don’t feel too…” everything went black again.

When Hermione awoke, she at once tasted the vile liquorice potion, which Severus was trickling, into her mouth. He was wearing his shirt and trousers again and had wrapped her in his cloak. He put the bottle down and reached to hold her hands in his.

“When was the last time you ate, Hermione?”

She looked up at him from the bed, swallowing the last of the mixture, a puzzled look on her face.

“Well, I… I don’t think I have today.”

“Then it’s no wonder you’re feeling so lousy – we never did have that meal I got us earlier.” He smiled and walked over to the fireplace where he ordered some sandwiches from the kitchens. The sandwiches and a large jug of pumpkin juice appeared moments later on the side table and Severus poured two glasses and carried the plate over to Hermione on the bed. They sat on the bed eating and drinking, saying nothing. Severus placed his glass and the plate on the bedside table as Hermione drank the last of her juice. She tipped the glass back and as she brought it down again, her eyes met Severus’, staring intently at her.

“I really am sorry, for...you know, before. I should never have done that. You were in no fit state…”
Hermione held a hand up to stop him.
“It was my decision as much as yours – in fact I believe I initiated it!”
“Yes, but it’s the sort of thing Malfoy would do. The sort of thing I’d criticise him for. I should have stopped you!” There was a pause. “Do you regret it?”

“I do not, Severus! I may have been a little light headed, but I was perfectly in control.” Hermione knew the last statement was a lie, she had not been in control, circumstances had overtaken her. She had felt vulnerable and had been protected by Severus – a situation she found highly arousing. Maybe a bit too ‘damsel in distress’? Yes, but maybe the emotional exhaustion and lack of food was to blame. Again. She thought of her first time with Lucius in the Room of Requirement. It had been the same. And yes, Severus had criticised him for it.

“It’s my fault…” she finally spoke, “I seem particularly open to suggestion these days, you, Lucius, that damn oil…”

“What oil? You mean the oil we used…” his voice trailed off with realisation.

“Oh god! You didn’t know it was the oil, did you?” She dropped her head to her hands, she couldn’t blame hunger any more – but maybe tiredness had caused this slip of the tongue.

“What do you know about it? Has he used it on you before…or since, for that matter!?”

“No…but he knows I have it…or had it anyway.”

“What d’you mean – you’ve used more of it? What does it do? Is that how he has had this affect on you? – Hermione…” he grasped her shoulders, causing her to lift her head and meet his gaze, her face crimson. “It’s a potion isn’t it? I realise now – your feelings for him are not real – he’s been playing you all along…” A smile played on Severus’ usually thin lips, he seemed to be enjoying the thought that Hermione’s feelings for Lucius were nothing but magical enchantments caused by the oil. His face turned serious.
“We need to find out as much as we can about this oil. In case he tries that sort of ploy again…you could do that while I work on proving his guilt.” Severus was lost in thought, now pacing the room, running his finger back and forth along his bottom lip.

“What if he’s telling the truth?” Hermione’s question was simple, Severus spun round and stared at her.

“Telling the truth about what? I saw him Hermione!”

“No! You saw a blonde in Death Eater’s robes – it might not have been him!”

“Ah, protecting him again are you? Just wait until whatever spell he has put on you wears off!”

“That’s a low blow Severus! Come on! You were a Death Eater – you must know if there are other blonde Death Eaters! Well?”

Severus continued his pacing until he reached the bed and sat down next to Hermione. “Yes, there were several blonde Death Eaters – for some reason blonde seems to be quite fashionable among upper class pure blood wizards. Never saw the appeal of it myself.” Hermione smiled at his remark – god, she certainly knew its appeal. No! This was not the time for a debate about hair!
“But it could only have been Malfoy – what reason would anyone else have? He wants you – and he’ll get rid of anyone who stands in his way. No doubt I’ll be next.”

“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic!”

“But Hermione, I love you! I would do the same!”

Hermione looked at the floor. The ‘L’ word again! It had seemed so easy to shout at Lucius, to tell him she loved Severus. Why? Was it because it wasn’t true? Had they been merely words, intended to wound Lucius? She looked up at Severus. “You love me?”
“Yes.”

With the thought of what Lucius Malfoy had done to her that night, Severus’ ideas that Lucius had been controlling her with some sort of spell or potion and now this declaration of love from Severus, Hermione’s heart and mind was a jumble of emotions. He moved closer to her lifting her chin with his hand and kissing her chastely on the lips. She responded by throwing the robe off from around her shoulders and pulling the wizard down onto the bed on top of her.

As the clock struck 2am, the pair were once again lying spent in each other’s arms, finally falling asleep after what had been a very long day.