Cherries

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Story: Cherries
Author: bubblybabs
Email: bubbalilly@gmail.com
Beta: Periculum
Total Word Count: 12,233
Chapter 20 Edit Date: 02/04/2009 (fixed an error found by AFF member soniab)
Clean-up editing and added additional verbage between Albus and Severus: 04/26/2009
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
roxie – Oh, you'll have to find out about the creaking! One never knows, does one? You have part of the dream stuff right with the darkness and feeling tricked. Let me know what you think of someone getting their comeuppance when you read chapter 21 – you'll have to wait for that chapter though! I hope this chapter pleases you in the Snape department. *Snicker* on your ideas for Kreacher!
*
WesleyY7 - As to user 1505627, I wonder if they've been reading this story since they made the request! Chapter 21 deals with some of Kreacher's other pupils! I had wondered what you all meant by my writing style – since this is the first thing I've ever written I had no idea I had a particular style. Hope I keep it! Oh my, you'll be angry with Sirius in chapter 21, I know you will! The other stuff was a drop in the bucket to what he does next. Yes, Sirius' rare time of choosing his own wants over Harry's needs becomes a big factor in this story. I got a chuckle out of your thoughts for the story – I hope the reread was pleasant!
*
soniab – Ah! You were close with your wondering about the dreams! Very close! Yes, Hermione is having more trouble with things as time moves on and her abuse continues. I keep wondering if anyone will guess what happens with the baby but I don't think anyone will be able to!
*
elphaba – Kreacher pretty much holds the ball in his court, doesn't he? I think Sirius will need some outside help, that's what I think.
*
JordenK – I'm glad you're enjoying reading the story. *blush* on your comment of this being one of your favorites – I hope it remains that way until the very last chapter! Oh, things aren't all that creepy in Bella's world!
*
Now, have I sufficiently built up chapter 21 in everyone's minds? *smile*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 20 - Hidden: Talents and Importance

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Story Date: March 1, 1996

Whispering could be heard from under the covers.

“Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday Dear Roooonnnnn [sniffle], Happy Birthday To Yoooooooooouuuu.” Hermione sniffled some more as she wiped her eyes, trying hard to remember exactly what Ron looked like and wondering what he was doing now. “And Many Mooooooore.” She rubbed her belly while laying on her side, feeling dispirited, in the bed.

“Ready, Mudblood? Mistress is waiting.”

She got up slowly, not bothering to change since she'd have to shower once she got back. Her negligee would probably be ruined anyway, either that or Mistress or one of the Death Eaters would keep it as a souvenir again. Again. She sighed in resignation. At least Master would comfort her when she got back, he'd touch her all over and help her forget the ordeal she was about to go through. If she kept in mind that she'd see Sirius later on, that she'd feel his touch before long, and that he'd kiss her hurts away as best he could; the tribulations she endured seemed to lessen somehow – she would never be able to explain how this was so, it just was.

She rubbed her belly again, wishing Ron knew about the baby. She straightened her back and rubbed the now exaggerated curve above her buttocks, feeling the babies weight shift as it rolled over, and smiled down at her belly. The baby gave her something to look forward to, and she so hoped it had Ron's red hair. The baby was also a source of great worry for her, with all of the volatile people around her, she feared for it's safety.

Hermione walked towards Kreacher, her head down and shoulders slumped. She never thought she'd hope to see Mr. Malfoy, but that's just what she was doing – Mistress was careful when he was present, and didn't hurt her like when Hermione was alone with her and her husband. For some reason, Master Rodolphus wasn't careful with her like the other men were and she found herself actually wishing there were Death Eaters present so that her time with them wasn't as agonizing. She feared how they would all treat her once the baby was born – would they all become like Master Rodolphus?

She thought about the baby being born. She was afraid of the labor, she had heard all sorts of horror stories from her mum's friends about how they were in agony for hours and hours, talking about how they couldn't wait to get an epidural inserted - there wouldn't be an epidural for her, that was for sure. She supposed that if she could survive Mistress Bella, she could survive the pain of labor. She just wished Ron would be there to see his baby born. She felt tears in her eyes when she thought of how proud he would be if he knew he was going to be a daddy.

She turned away from Kreacher so he wouldn't hear her, her whisper so low it was barely heard, even by herself. “I love you, Ron. Happy sixteenth.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Story Date: March 8, 1996

Sirius sat at the table listening to Albus relay the day's events of how Umbridge had fired Sybill Trelawney and how Albus had found Firenze to take her position. He had been desperate, he said, once he found out about Umbridge's plans to fire the Divination teacher, to find a replacement so that Umbridge could not hire a Ministry stooge in her place. Sirius snorted quietly; more like a Ministry spy than a stooge. He admired Albus for his quick thinking.

His eyes wandered over to look at Minerva; he had a new appreciation for her, as well. Considering Minerva had no respect for Trelawney, didn't really like her, and belittled her without remorse, he was impressed that she stuck up for and even attempted to console the woman. And had had words with Umbridge to boot. Sirius smiled. He would have loved to witness Minerva giving that old Toad a tongue-lashing. Minerva, bless her, was giving Umbridge a run for her money, along with the twins.

He loved listening to reports about the twins run-ins with the Toad, even if he had to hear Molly clucking in disapproval. He smiled, even Albus was amused by their antics, stating they knew just how far to push things but never going over the line that would get them in serious enough trouble to get them expelled. Sirius frowned a moment later, remembering how the old bitch had gotten a decree approved that would allow Filch to torture the students with whips and chains - until Albus got it reversed, that is. The twins had come very close to being on the wrong end of a whip.

He sat up suddenly, his mouth dropping open. The wrong end of a whip... He thought of Hermione cowering as she begged him not to whip her and swallowed nervously. His cold hands suddenly became very interesting to look at as he contemplated this sudden realization of what he was putting Hermione through. Why did it take so long for him to realize that if it was bad for the boys to be whipped, that it was also bad for Hermione? It would be one thing if she desired it, but it was quite another if she did not. And she had voiced quite plainly she did not want him flogging or whipping her. 'Okay, no more whipping or flogging. It hurts her and scares her.' He nodded his head in affirmation of his decision, his head coming up, allowing him to look about the room.

He eyed Snape, standing in the shadows, as usual; watching the meeting silently, his arms crossed over his chest, as usual. He continued to think about asking him to join him with Hermione, that fantasy still active in his mind, but afraid to because he was sure Snape would turn him in to Albus and the others just for spite. Yes, they hated each other while growing up, but Snape wasn't the pansy-acting arse he'd been back then. He had become dangerous and calculating, and Sirius was sure he'd be fun to share a little lady with in bed. He had never done that before, share a woman with another man (he didn't think an elf counted), but his magazines sure showed it enough; showing their power over the woman. True, the magazines usually showed a man sharing two women, and he could get into that – he paused at this thought, smiling a moment – he actually had done that with Hermione and Ginny. Since that day, his thoughts frequently strayed back to the erotic experience he had with the two girls, wanting to do it again. He just didn't want to deal with Hermione's emotional mess afterwards; the Imperius didn't wipe away the person's emotions once they could reflect upon what they had done after the curse had been lifted and the emotional repercussions were often immense. Maybe if he told her beforehand? Gave her time to deal with the thought? He'd think on that.

His mind turned to Ginny. She seemed more womanly of late, more sensual. She still wasn't exactly his cup of tea, but she did attract his attention. Did that day with them somehow change her even though he had Obliviated her? He remembered how he had wanted to hurt Ron when he realized his Kitten's love for the boy, wanted to make him do things that he knew Ron's psyche wouldn't get over with a simple memory charm, but he didn't think that what Ginny had to do was so bad that it would imprint deeply.

He looked at Snape again, and noticed the man was watching him as well, his dark eyes narrowed. Surely he hadn't just let his guard down enough to let Snape see into his mind, had he? He was pretty sure he hadn't, but he couldn't be sure.

He sat up straighter, trying to pay attention to what the others were saying. Arthur spoke about how the Ministry officials were trying to sniff out Dumbledore sympathizers and warned everyone who worked there to be extra careful with what they said and who they interacted with.

Sirius' eyes flicked towards Snape and saw that he had his head forward, his lank hair hiding his face, hiding his eyes. Maybe he could feel Snape out, find out if he'd be interested in sharing her? Sirius looked at Remus, dearly wishing he could have talked him into trying Hermione out. Now, that would have been fun. Hermione liked Remus, she didn't fear him, so he reasoned she would have taken to him, after the initial shock, just fine. 'Maybe I could try him again, but not when he's so high-and-mighty with his morals. Maybe talk about sharing girls, maybe get him to share a prostie with me, then slide into a conversation about Hermione. Maybe it would be better to try him just before or after the full moon? I guess I could always Imperius him, I'm getting pretty good with that now. That and Obliviating. But, it *would* be more fun if he came down of his own accord so we could share her often. We'll see.

He frowned as he thought about what Hermione would think of all this. He was pretty sure she'd agree to do Remus if he insisted, but he wasn't so sure about Snape. Besides, it was one of his fantasies to watch Snape force himself on her, basically rape her – he couldn't have her agreeable to that encounter if his fantasy was to play out like he wanted. But then, what would that do to her? For her to see that he allowed another man to rape her? And maybe join in? He didn't want Snape to hit her or cause her injury, but yet he pictured the man grabbing her and taking her forcefully while she fought him as hard as she could. Gods, he could get into watching that, kind of like in one of those porno movies he had watched a long time ago. The symbolism of what the man represented was a huge factor in his fantasy, he knew. He'd have to think on that some more, he didn't want to hurt her and scare her, and yet that fantasy kept cropping up whenever he saw the man.

He wondered why those thoughts kept pervading his mind. He knew she didn't like certain things, but yet he kept doing them. He knew it would upset her terribly if he brought Remus down to share her with him, but yet he kept thinking about it. He knew she feared Snape, and yet he kept thinking about bringing him down to her. What was with him, anyway? A year ago he never had such thoughts, now he was filled with them. As it was, it was going to be a struggle to keep from Imperiusing Ginny when she came to visit again; and, on top of that, he thought a time or two of bringing Ron down as well. He felt a sick fascination come over him at the thought of watching brother and sister doing each other while he and Hermione joined in; his cock twitched and begin to grow as his imagination grew around these thoughts and he struggled to get himself under control. He shook his head, trying to clear it of all these nasty fantasies he had, knowing they would be distressing to his girl. No, he'd better just keep things as they are. For now.

Again, Sirius noticed Snape looking at him, and he did not avert his eyes when he saw Sirius noticed. Maybe he does know what I'm thinking, and he's contemplating what to do about it. Better stop thinking about her.

Sirius struggled to turn his attention to what Molly was saying.

“That woman is being so horrible towards Harry and his friends! I don't understand why the Ministry would put up with all she does to him!”

“Because, Molly, they want to keep him quiet. The harder they make school for him, the more energy he has to use to deal with what's happening to him, the less trouble they feel he'll be. Also, they are trying to discredit him, in public as well as at school. It's as simple as that.” Remus' quiet voice sounded more tired than usual, the coming of the full moon in less than a week already starting to sap his strength.

“But, he's only fifteen! He's so young for them to be treating him like this!”

“I know, Molly, I know.” Albus had already voiced his concerns over Harry's ability to cope with all the stress, already discussing with Sirius ways to help Harry safely let off steam.

“If only there was a way to get Harry's story out, the real story, so people would learn the truth! Maybe then the Ministry would back Harry instead of tormenting him..”

“Molly, we have no way of doing that. The Prophet will only print Ministry dogma and nothing more. They're more interested in making Harry seem like a crazed attention-seeker.” Arthur patted his wife's hand, giving her a sad smile. He hated to see her so worked up, she worried incessantly about their families safety, and Harry was considered part of the family.

“Let's face it, it's Harry's word against the Ministry of Magic – who would you believe if you didn't know Harry personally? I don't see people taking Harry seriously until Fudge acknowledges Harry's story or until something really drastic happens.” Tonks' voice was uncharacteristically grave as she spoke, and she gave a small smile when Remus touched her arm reassuringly. She also gave him a look of concern, she had noticed he was very quiet lately, and reluctant to touch her as he had just done. She didn't understand it, he had been very amorous towards her before, even coming over to her place for some fun frolicking about, having her change her appearance as he enacted his fantasies.

She felt great sadness come over her, he seemed to be pulling away from her, just as they were getting close, truly close. She thought about the other night as they prepared for bed, when he wanted to leave before she even got her shoes off. His excuse was that he 'had been thinking' and felt that she shouldn't saddle herself down with a werewolf, that he should break this developing affection between them before it became too serious. She just didn't see that as a good enough reason, she was willing to deal with his few nights a month, at most, problem, so why wasn't he willing to give her a chance? She didn't see his problem as unmanageable, not at all, she was perfectly willing and able to work her life around him. She knew a good man when she saw one, and she was willing to fight for him tooth-and-nail.

She remembered his reaction when she had asked him if there was another woman - no sooner was the question out of her mouth and he was recoiling away from her, an almost panicked look coming over his face as he exclaimed 'no!'. Somehow, she wasn't completely convinced of his declaration that she was the only one he was seeing at this time, that she was the only one he would ever feel so strongly for (she noticed he didn't say 'feel love for', but she figured there was time for that).

She felt a pang of jealousy go through her that he may be in another woman's arms instead of hers at times, but she was willing to wait for him – he was worth it. And she knew she'd be the one he would choose in the end, she just knew it. Glancing past Remus' profile, she realized that Albus was now talking and tuned in to him.

“......said is true. But Molly does have a good idea, if we could only implement it. Any ideas?” Albus looked around at the people in the room, hoping, but not expecting, someone to come up with an idea to get Harry's true story out to the Wizarding public so that they would stop seeing him as an attention-seeking teen and start realizing the true danger they were all in. He sighed. “Well, if there are no more reports? Fine, fine, let us go then. And, please, everyone be careful. And don't forget to tell someone if you go on any unexpected trips. Report anything you feel is suspicious.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Story Date: March 17, 1996

“....Dilly's for that report, it was most informative and will help us with our plans to better protect the Department of Mysteries. Any questions or comments for Dilly's? No? Remus, you have Dilly's written report, correct? Excellent. If no-one has any more news they need to share? No? Good.” Albus Dumbledore looked around the room, taking a mental tally of the members present. “Oh, yes, there is one more thing. I forgot to inform all of you that Severus was summoned ju....” Albus stopped mid-word at a small sound coming from Molly. He turned to look at her politely.

Molly's hand had gone to her mouth, a look of concern on her face.

“Molly, what's your worry?” Moody's eye had stopped spinning, becoming fixated on the older woman.

“Well, I know everyone thinks Severus is so hard, so callused, but I worry for him, that he has to face those people and see things that would give us all nightmares. I do hope this was only a meeting and not one of those revels we hear about.”

“Molly, my dear good woman. You see far more than you realize in Severus. But, he's learned to cope with his life as a spy, though I must confess that I also worry about him each time he leaves the protection Hogwarts provides him, provides us all. He's a strong man, Molly, he will be fine.” Albus gave her a reassuring smile, the twinkle in his eye not as bright as usual. “Please remember that the revels you hear about are not called that often and Severus does not attend each one. Thankfully, the situation is not as deleterious for him as it could be.”

“Hell, I've probably seen more than him, Molly, and I don't have nightmares.”

Molly laid a hand on Moody's arm. “Alastor dear, you are a mess. A lovable, nervous-wreck of a mess, but one just the same. I worry about you as well, dear.”

Moody's voice was as gruff as ever though his face softened slightly. “Molly, you're a good woman. Arthur, you're lucky to have her.”

Arthur patted his wife's hand affectionately. “I know, Alastor, I know.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Story Date: April 1, 1996

“Headmaster.”

Albus looked up from his desk to see his Potions Master quietly closing his office door. Severus had a pensive look on his face and his walk seemed more tired than usual.

Albus thought about Severus' excursions to these meetings with Voldemort, always worrying that Severus would come back injured, or not come back at all. Albus knew most of the meetings were just for information gathering, but he also knew that some were more violent in nature – either for raids or to allow Voldemort's followers to practice their Dark Magic on some unlucky captives, at times allowing the men to entertain themselves in other ways as well. Severus never discussed the details of these Dark meetings, and Albus never pressed for more information, sensing and understanding the enigmatic man's disquietude hidden under his careful veneer of contempt and sarcasm.

When Severus was summoned, his mark burning, Albus' worries began and didn't end until the wards announced his Potions Master's arrival back onto Hogwart's grounds. He felt he was turning into Molly, constantly worrying over Severus, not only for his physical well-being, but his emotional and mental health as well. He appreciated the fact that Severus wasn't made of stone, that at times his service for both sides of the war had to be draining, and he knew there must be times when Severus suffered through moments of self-doubt, feeling completely overwhelmed, unable to go on. His pale blue eyes assessed the man as he moved, again noticing his physical weariness and wondering, once again, how much longer the man could continue feigning indifference to, while also personifying interest in, the atrocities he was forced to witness several times a month or more.

“Severus, it's late, I did not expect a report until the morning.” He watched as Severus lowered himself with unconscious grace into the chair he always occupied when they were alone, his right leg bending and coming over the other so that ankle rested on knee. He noted with amusement that when others were present, Severus always hovered in the periphery of the room, his tall frame unmoving for such long periods that he seemed to blend in with the background, effectively hiding him despite the fact that he was in full view. He was glad that Severus finally felt comfortable enough while in his presence that he could let his guard down, allowing him to drop some of his formalities and, to a small degree, curb his inherent overcautious nature.

“I have much to tell you, and it can all wait for the morn, but I thought this important enough to bring to your attention tonight.”

Albus inclined his head briefly, his eyes wary. “Go on.”

“I have heard rumors amongst the other Death Eaters that Bellatrix is keeping an important Muggleborn for use as a sex slave.”

Albus briefly gave Severus a blank stare, the news so unexpected he needed time to process the information. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “I take it that you believe this Muggleborn is Miss Granger?”

Severus nodded, his inscrutably dark eyes expressionless. “I do.”

“Your reasoning?”

Severus took in a deep breath, letting it out in a huff, his hand sliding along his leg, his long fingers wrapping around his ankle. “I overheard that the Muggleborn in question is best friend to Harry Potter.”

Albus closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as he leaned back in his chair. “If this is true, I can't imagine what the child is going through.”

Severus hesitated a moment, his mind on what he had overheard. “Unfortunately, I can. Their discussion was most frank and........descriptive.” He paused, thinking. “More than likely, the girl will turn up in St. Mungo's as bed partner to the Longbottoms. Assuming, of course, that she survives.”

“Elaborate, Severus. What are they doing to the girl.”

Severus' head cocked slightly to the side, his eyes narrowing. “Headmaster, do you truly wish to know? Death Eaters using a teen who belongs to the enemy for a sex slave should be more than enough for anyone's imagination. If you can think of it, it is being done.”

Albus looked at Severus sharply, his face showing a mixture of disgust and anger. “Is there anything you can do for the girl?”

The reply was curt. “No.”

Albus considered Severus' answer for a moment. His eyes lowered, his voice quiet when he spoke. “Have you seen her?”

“No. I have not been made privy to the secret. It seems Bella is being careful of whom she shares the girl with, although obviously not careful enough since I have chanced overhearing several unsuspecting tongues wag.”

The relief he saw on Albus' face annoyed him. He guessed that the Headmaster was worried his next step would have been to confess being forced to rape the girl. He took in another deep breath, releasing it slowly as he rolled his head on his neck a few times to relieve some of the tension that had been building up since he was first summoned.

“Would you be able to pinpoint her whereabouts?”

Severus shook his head. “No, not unless Bella decides to share the girl with me.”

Albus sat up straighter in his chair, his eyes riveted on Severus. “If she were to...”

“She will not.”

Albus held up his hand. “Severus, hear me out. If she were to decide to share her with you, would you go?”

“No.”

“Severus...”

Severus released his ankle angrily, his jaw tightening, his arms crossing over his chest. “I said 'no', Albus.”

Albus sat forward in his chair, staring intently into Severus' eyes. “You would be able to help us rescue her.”

Severus' voice was heavy with irritation. “And risk my position with the Dark Lord by doing so.”

Albus looked at Severus for several moments, taking into consideration the other man's words. His reply fraught with lament. “You are correct, Severus. Forgive an old man for wanting to spare someone's suffering without looking at the picture as a whole.” He hesitated a moment, his eyes scrutinizing the younger man before him. “But, you would not go? Even if you knew you were not going to divulge her whereabouts?”

Severus took in a deep sigh, letting it out slowly as he glared at the older man with cold eyes, his voice reflecting his annoyance at the underlying question. “I do not desire the Know-it-all. She turns my stomach, Albus. You know that.”

Albus gazed at Severus perspicaciously before looking down at his steepled fingers, his own voice tenebrous. “Yes, Severus, I do know that.”

They sat in silence for several moments, each lost in their own thoughts, the Muggle wind-up clock with intricate wood-carving Albus had on his mantle ticking time away relentlessly.

“Another piece of information.”

“Oh?” Albus turned, regarding Severus thoughtfully, noting how the dark man's eyes did not come up to meet his own. He watched as Severus uncrossed his arms, his hands coming together and interlacing on his abdomen, giving a false sense of calm.

“Miss Granger is reportedly with child.”

A moment of surprised silence. “Roldophus?”

Severus shrugged his shoulders. “Unknown at this point.”

“I don't suppose they would care if it were.”

Severus shook his head slowly. “No, neither of them care for children so it would be a moot point if the child were his, especially since it's half-blood. Depending upon how long she has been used in this fashion, the father could be any number of men.”

“Do you think it's possible Bella has been able to keep this a secret for so long?”

Severus considered this question a moment before giving his shoulders a half-shrug. “In truth, it's hard to say.”

“Do you, per chance, know how far along she is?”

“From what I understand, her pregnancy is advanced.”

Albus shook his head sadly. He took in a deep breath, then said the first sentence as he exhaled. “And she's so young. I doubt the child will be allowed to live once born.”

“No, I'd wager the child is barely free of it's cord before it's life is taken.”

“Merlin, what will that do to the girl?”

Severus did not answer, not wanting to think about her emotional state of the here and now as it was, let alone the future.

“Do you have any idea of where Bella would keep the girl? When she's not being......used?”

“No. I don't know where their place of residence is. I suppose I might be able to find out from Lucius, though it is doubtful, as well as risky. He knows how I feel about Bella and would wonder why I'm inquiring.”

Albus nodded his head in agreement. “True, true. The last thing we need is to raise even more suspicion upon yourself. Do you think Bella will lose interest in the girl once the child is born?”

“Perhaps, though, obviously, there's no way to know for sure until it happens. One thing I do know, however, is that Bella is using the girl's status as a pregnant sex slave as a selling point.”

“Interesting choice of words, Severus, most interesting. Would she, perhaps, be willing to sell the girl?”

“No. The fact that Miss Granger is Harry Potter's best friend, captive, pregnant, and being used as a sex slave is Bella's idea of thrilling entertainment. I doubt she would be willing to give her up. Once the child is born may be a different story, however, but I doubt it. She would rather see the girl dead than free.”

Albus' hands gestured into the air, as if encompassing the whole conversation within them. “Is Voldemort aware of all this?”

Severus shook his head slowly. “That, I do not know.”

Albus' eyes became unfocused as he mused to himself in hushed tones. “If he were aware, surely, by now, he would be using her as a hostage to negotiate with, using her to bait Harry.”

“Yes, I came to the same conclusion.”

Albus' gazed sharpened at the younger man's words. He sat forward in his chair, his hands dropping onto this desk, his lined face detailed with worry. “But, it is possible Voldemort is aware?”

“Possible, but not probable, given your conclusion.”

Albus' shoulders sagged wearily. “True. She would be a very big playing piece to use against Harry at this point.”

Severus' head dipped gravely in acknowledgement, his eyes solemn as they bored into Albus.

“In the mean time, Severus, keep an ear out for news about her. See if you can find out any more information that would allow us to retrieve her, impossible as it may seem, without giving away your position within the Order. Your position is, of course, paramount to the girl's rescue.”

Severus' nod was barely discernible, his face expressionless.

“She is dangerous in their hands. Very dangerous. She knows a great deal.” Albus' voice was heavy with unease.

Severus briefly bowed his head, a look of scorn adorning his face, his voice harsh. “I believe Azkaban has addled Bella's brains. She should have realized the importance of the girl and brought her to the Dark Lord for interrogation, but she has not, as far as I am aware. As a matter of fact, she is disobeying orders by not doing so. I am positive the girl would have been brought to my attention, if nothing more than to disillusion her belief that I am in league with you.” His eyes pierced Albus coldly. “I told you not to let Potter and his friends know so much, did I not?”

“Yes, Severus, I need no reminding. It was foolish to think they were protected enough to keep them out of enemy hands.” He paused a moment before continuing. “I over-estimated my ability to keep them all safe. But Harry needs someone to confide in, to help him understand, to be with him when things become overwhelming. Only a true friend can do that. And there is so much more for Harry to find out, so much more he doesn't know.” His eyes dropped sadly as he took in a deep, noisy, cleansing breath through his nose, exhaling through his mouth. “We will just have to hope that the girl does not come to the attention of Voldemort at any time soon.”

Again, the two men sat in silence, their eyes clouded over, their introspective minds heavy with trepidation.

“I have not heard, as of yet, how she came to be with Bella.”

“Mmmmm.” Albus briefly bobbed his head in acknowledgement of Severus' words. “It would be most interesting to find that out. Most interesting indeed.”

Both men stared intently at the orange and yellow flames aglow in the fireplace, continuing to contemplate the situation.

His eyes not leaving the fire, Albus' voice was firm. “We will have to keep an eye on Harry, just in case Miss Granger's status as a hostage becomes known. I think Harry would do his best to save her, even if it meant going behind our backs so we couldn't stop him.”

Severus inclined his head in agreement. He took in a deep breath, contemplating his words.

“I had an opportunity to see into Black's mind for the briefest of moments during the Order meeting the other day.”

“Oh?” Albus studied Severus' profile in the firelight.

“He has memories of her in a blue room. Erotic memories.” Severus continued to stare into the fire.

Albus paused a moment, trying to put together all of tonights information into coherent thought.

“Are you sure you didn't see into his fantasies?”

“They weren't fantasies.”

“Dreams?”

“No.”

“There aren't any blue rooms in Grimmauld Place.”

“I'm aware of that.”

“Then, hmmmm.”

Severus turned his head to look intently at the older wizard. “I know, how could she be with Black while also being used by Bella.”

“Precisely.”

Severus grunted.

“In time, I suppose, the mystery will be solved.”

Again, Severus nodded, then stood, turning to leave.

“Severus?”

Severus turned back to face Albus, a momentary twitch on his lip indicating his irritation.

“Headmaster?”

“If you do happen to see Miss Granger...”

Severus closed his eyes for a moment, his jaw set.

“Please, do your best to be gentle with her.”

His dark eyes giving nothing away, Severus acknowledged the Headmaster's words, then turned on his heel and swiftly left the office. Once down the spiral staircase, he took the hidden shortcut just outside of the gargoyles that guarded the Headmaster's office. This shortcut led directly to his dungeon domicile, allowing him quick access to and from his quarters without being intercepted.

He walked quickly, as if attempting to leave his anger behind for he was infuriated with the Headmaster. The impertinence of that man! How dare he insinuate he lusted after a student, and actually hoping he did so that he could help save her! And risk undoing what they'd spent nearly sixteen years scheming and manipulating for.

He arrived at his quarters, the stone door before him opening at his touch, it being spelled to know his genetic make-up and allow no-one else entrance, providing him safety as well as privacy. He felt his wards hum through his body as he stepped over the threshold, giving him a small measure of solace that his rooms had not been breached in his absence – not that he expected any such trespass. His wards were formidable, his rooms probably one of the most protected places contained within the walls of Hogwarts.

He heard the stone door close behind him, knowing that it would meld perfectly with the wall around it, making it invisible to all until he touched it again. He listened intently, his eyes scanning the room. His house colors were green and silver, but his rooms were not awash in only a deuces color-scheme. His contained a rich variety of color, though very few were on the bright end of the color scale. His rooms contained burgundies, navy blue, deep golds, greens, and browns in harmonizing shades of each color. Each room's walls within his quarters encompassed a varying hue of a calming burnt orange – the few who visited his rooms were often surprised that his walls were not all stone. His heels clicked on the floor, which was stone of deep gray, as was the ceiling, towering over sixteen feet high in great interconnecting arches.

His senses were attuned to each room's feel as he entered them systematically, feeling the wards they contained billow around his person, allowing him harmless ingress and egress as he continued his nightly vigil. Once satisfied that his place of residence was secure, he allowed himself to relax enough to think, his mind going back to the Headmaster's words.

Still irritated, he pulled off his heavy Death Eater robes of blackest black, spelling them so they were hung in his closet along with his mask, then went to the cabinet where he stored his booze. He stood there a moment, his eyes closed, remembering the overeager fifteen-year-old termagant with long, frizzy, caramel-colored hair, plain face, and nondescript figure. He supposed she was sixteen by now, her birthday coming not long after she disappeared. He snorted; luckily for the girl, Poppy had drastically improved her appearance when she magically fixed the overlarge teeth the girl had the misfortune to sport after Draco had accidentally hit her with a hex in her fourth year; a hex that made them grow preposterously, though amusingly, fast. He chuckled when he remembered the girl's hurt look at his flippant remark, her psyche so painfully insecure that she couldn't handle a few choice words tossed her way – he wondered how the hell she was handling what life was currently dealing her. The people she was with were dangerous, and would spare no sympathy for a Mudblood's feelings. If anything, they would go out of their way to violate her, both physically and emotionally.

His mind went back to her appearance, and he shook his head. It was one thing for a man to be unattractive, it was quite another for a woman to be so. He didn't understand the sexual charge that had rolled over the group of Death Eaters tonight as they spoke of the girl, making her sound nearly irresistibly gorgeous – the closest he could equate their description of her was as that she was nearly a Marilyn Monroe type of attractive to the other men. He attempted to view her in this light, but, try as he might, he could only see her as a skinny, sexless teen with hideously frizzy hair. He sighed. He supposed she wasn't truly ugly, it was that she just wasn't his type. He recalled some of the things the men had said, then thought that her school robes obviously covered her more attractive assets. He gave another snort. 'No wonder Albus insisted the students always wear their school robes when out of their dorms. A successful tactic to keep them all sexually neutral to the teachers, decreasing the chance a wayward teacher would hone in on a students physical attributes over their academic accomplishments.' He shook his head, the only thing he found appealing about the young Know-it-all was her superior intelligence, and that didn't override the fact that she had become best friends with Potter. She definitely wasn't something to risk tossing everything out the window over.

Severus sat heavily on his timeworn though comfortably soft leather couch, moodily swirling the glass of Firewhiskey he had just poured himself, he pulled his boots off and put his feet up on the couches matching faded dark chocolate brown ottoman. He wondered how Bella had gotten hold of Granger. Did the girl run away, idiotically wandless, the reason as yet to be verified, and run into a Death Eater? If so, why didn't the Death Eater take her to the Dark Lord immediately, as was ordered for if any of the trio were ever captured? Not doing so almost guaranteed a long, painful death. Only he was excluded from the order since his place at the school demanded he seem totally subservient to the Headmaster.

He drank half the glass of whiskey in one gulping breath, grimacing as the fluid burned its way down, and slouched in his seat. Why didn't Bella, of all people, turn the girl in if the rumor were true? Bella, the Dark Lord's most fanatical follower, withholding information from him – that just didn't sound like her. There had to be a good reason for her doing something so suicidal. But, what the hell could it be? And then, to share the girl? Increasing the risk of exposure? She knew better than that. She didn't think the information would eventually come to the Dark Lord's attention? All those years in Azkaban truly had to have addled her brains. He didn't like Bella, and relished the thought of her getting her dues, but not even he wanted to be anywhere near when the Dark Lord confronted her.

He contemplated, what would he do if he were presented a chance to fuck the girl? He truly had no desire for that piece of tail, and if he knew Bella, and he did know Bella, he was sure the girl was a quivering mass of mumbling nonsense by now, barely able to hold a decent bit of conversation. Where was the allure in that? He never understood his fellow comrades, always willing for a mindless fuck. Most of them, true, were married; but most also found sharing a particular juicy Muggle worthy of their time as they degraded their marriages and themselves with such frivolities.

He was far from being a prude, not by any means - he could buy his entertainment or snag one on a Muggle street corner if he needed release; more often than not, he was able to grab himself a piece of ass from a bar for free, never leaving with a woman too drunk to think or speak clearly, or one who couldn't walk a straight line. If a woman came with him, she was adequately au courant to carry on an intelligent conversation for the short amount of time he needed her, cognizant enough of his appearance so he didn't have to deal with the horrified look the next morning. He sighed, his brooding mind shifting back to the activities his fellow Death Eaters - his old schoolmates for Merlin's sake - enjoyed. He just didn't find sharing a terrified woman between a dozen or so men all that appealing – a sloppy second was one thing, but a sloppy sixth was just plain nauseating. He was thankful that the Dark Lord did not insist he participate in such festivities, taking into account his loyal service as a reason to indulge him in his own personal sexual tastes.

He pinched his nose at its apex, squeezing his eyes shut, feeling a headache coming on. He knew that Albus was all about losing a battle to win a war. The problem was that they both knew that Potter did not think that way. Bloody Potter would sacrifice himself to try and save the girl, only to wind up getting himself killed and ruining everything. Lily, if he weren't your son, I'd have let him die a long time ago and washed my hands of Albus and Hogwarts forever. The problem was, he liked Albus, the old coot; he was the only person who seemed to have respect for him and to have a genuine regard for him; and that did much to anchor Severus to him emotionally. Severus thought of Albus as a friend, of sorts; a friend you'd die for if need be. Severus couldn't think of anyone else he would say that about.

Severus rolled his head back and forth on the back of the couch. What should he do if he were told of the girl? Get some Brownie points by reporting to the Dark Lord? Go see her for himself? Take her? Fuck her, then report to the Dark Lord? He'd be expected to force himself on her roughly if he agreed to see her, knowing he'd never be able to take her in a gentle manner as per Albus' request, knowing he'd be required by an unwritten rule that he'd have to *use* the girl most thoroughly... painfully... shamefully in order to pass judgment by his fellow Death Eaters. He grimaced at the thought of having to fuck Granger. I suppose, if I silenced her and closed my eyes...

Each choice was a problem in itself. If he went to the Dark Lord, he risked her being thoroughly interrogated – leaving himself open to disclosure and casting further suspicion upon himself. If he refused to see her and say nothing, his motives might be questioned. If he saw the girl, he risked being condemned by the Dark Lord for not reporting her to him once he became aware her. If he fucked the girl and then reported to the Dark Lord, he'd be seen as a traitor to his fellow comrades because he knew Bella would take them all down with her. If he wasn't duly rough with her, his motives would be suspect. This was a no-win situation for him, and he considered himself fucked without K-Y Jelly no matter which way he turned. He took in a deep sigh, lifting his head so he could train his eyes on the fire in front of him. He sincerely hoped Bella continued to be suspicious of him so he could continue acting ignorant of the fact that she had a student of his captive.

He supposed he would just continue to listen carefully for more clues, and tread on dangerous ground if he found something solid to go by. Right now, all he had were a few men laughing with each other about a very used Mudblood sex slave. He thought back to the gathering of his fellow Death Eaters after a meeting – a time when they would form into loose groups and discuss things of interest before Apparating back to carry on with their lives and act as if nothing were amiss. He recounted in his mind what he had seen and heard as he unobtrusively browsed amongst the men, looking for any piece of information he may have missed.

“So, Antonin, what did you think of that little Muggleborn the other night?”

“Ah, Walden! Young and tight, obedient and eager to please...”

“More like eager to keep punishment at bay...”

“You think so, Thorfinn? For someone so fearful, she certainly had her own share of sweet-agonies while bustin' our nuts any way she could. Did you see what she was doing to Yaxley while Augustus was porkin' her shit-hole? Sure looked like she was enjoying herself to me.”

“Yeah! [Loud laughter] You'd think she'd have trouble doing that while showing so much. Made my tool hard just watching, I couldn't wait to fist that ball of frizz she calls hair and fuck her myself. Almost got to the point of bagpiping her if she didn't hurry up with Yax.”

“I dunno, Walden, kind of worried me about the brat she's carrying, even if it is a Mudblood. I thought you got kind of rough, myself.”

“Fuck that, Nott! You should see what Bella does to her – what we did was a drop in the bucket, I assure you. Besides, she's Potter's friend, how much better should she be treated for what she is? She only had to fuck three of us at one time so it wasn't all that bad, Nott. She wasn't beaten or hexed, so I think she came out of it pretty good.”

“You know, I often wonder if she ever corked Potter's bone, being she's one of his best friends. Would love to watch them do a forced-fuck before the Dark Lord finishes him off, eh?” Nott stood with his eyes closed, trying to envision the scenario he had just verbalized.

“Hey! Did you notice that collar she has on?”

“Yeah, Walden, I did. Beeeeee-u-teeee-ful pearls on that baby. I understand it's supposed to represent a Pearl Necklace, if you get my meaning. [Raucousness laughter] And she's gotten quite a few of them from me, let me tell you. You need to fuck those titties, Walden; they're the perfect size for a cock to ride – especially now with the Mudblood brat she's growing.”

“You've got me sold, brother. Next trip, I'll be sure to slide my cock between those two mounds. Does she use her tongue on your tip as it peeks out?” Walden mimicked holding a set of tits in his hands as he snapped his hips a few times, getting a few laughs from the crowd forming around them.

“If you want. Bitch'll do anything you tell her to, she's not allowed to refuse any request is what I was told. If she does, she gets punished – and I've gotta say, the girl works hard to keep from being punished by Bella, very hard. Yes, Walden, the girl's a dream come true, that cunt is. And, one better, the fucking whore's collar even has a little golden heart identifying her as an 'Extraordinary Sex Slave' - in French, no less!”

“Hahahahah! We've got us our own private French whore, that it?”

“Guess so, Guess so. Hey, another thing to ask for is for her to be walked. One of the elves was walking her around the garden the other day, had a red leash attached to that collar of hers and made her crawl on all fours. When the yard dogs came up to them, he forced her to open her legs wide and put her ass up in the air so they could sniff and lick her cunt and ass, I got so fucking hard watching, it hurt. Fucking dogs were all over her with those tongues, even licking her belly and tits after that elf made her get on her back, using her spread legs to raise her cunt about a meter or so in the air so her belly was waaaay up in the air with her back arched, looked like she was pretty much resting on her shoulders, the perfect height for the dogs to lap at her. Should have heard her moaning, fuck, it was so hot to watch. I swear she was dripping from those tits of hers and the mutts were enjoying the hell out of the shit. And she must have been a fucking cunt juice factory because the hounds were all crowding between those legs of hers, some even reaching over them to get at her.”

“No shit. Wow.” A man's voice came from the small crowd that had formed around the original cluster.

“Yeah, I kept waiting for one of them to mount her ass and fuck her, but all they did was taste her, even when the elf made her buck her cunt into their noses – they'd just lick her more, they even made her fucking cum. And you know how noisy she is when she cums, almost comical to watch her begging a fucking dog to keep going, ya know?” Nott's voice faded a moment as he remembered the very pregnant girl bucking and cumming while the dogs licked her clit. “I have to say, that elf did his best to get the stupid mongrels hard for her, but no go. Even made her go down on a few. Man, I'd love to have seen her force-fucked by a pack of mutts....maybe next time...I wonder what that would look like.” Nott's voice had become dreamier the longer he recounted what he had witnessed as he again closed his eyes, replaying in his mind the scene he was referring to. “That was so fucking hot to watch.”

One of the men whistled as Nott described the dog scene, the air around the men becoming palpable as they all formed pictures in their minds to Nott's words. There was a few moments' silence before the conversation continued.

“Speaking of forced fucks, have you had a chance to watch her gang-banging the house elves?”

“You've got to be kidding, Thorfinn! Fucking the house elves?”

“Not just fucking, she can take on way more than three dicks at once, I promise you. Extremely entertaining.” Thorfinn drawled out the word 'extremely', emphasizing it with a sneer.

“Man.... I'd love to see some of that action, will have to remember to request that bit of elf-exercise the next time I go to Bella's.”

The comment, “To be sure, the girl has some hidden talents that I doubt even Dumblydore knew about,” was greeted with much uproarious laughter and back-slapping.

Severus listened for several more minutes as the men discussed raping a pregnant teenager as if it was a sporting event. Their excitement over the dogs using the girl was particularly repugnant, in his opinion, and part of the reason he didn't want to recount the story to Albus. He may not have liked the girl, but he didn't agree with using her, or any other woman, in the way they described. Severus contemplated that thought. Before he had become a Professor, it wouldn't have bothered him in the slightest. He wasn't sure when his attitude had changed, not exactly, or why it had changed. Was it age? Experience? Both allowing him to at least empathize with the girl? If that were so, why didn't the other men feel as he did on the subject? He wasn't sure if being a Professor was what helped him have both empathy and sympathy for the girl – he couldn't stand the students and there were times when he would have given his left nut to do some of the torments to them that the girl was experiencing, just for self-satisfaction. Well, to at least fantasize about them, at the very least. He didn't really want that shit to happen to the students, it just gave him a bit of ruthless delight to imagine it from time to time.

Severus took in a deep breath, picturing her in the positions the men described while being so obviously pregnant; some of the positions he couldn't fathom her getting into, making him wonder if they caused her discomfort or even pain. He knew it was sick, but the fact that she was with child was very appealing, there was something about forcing a pregnant woman to perform nasty sexual acts that got many a man's dick hard; indeed, he found himself struggling to keep his own pants from tenting as he imagined the scene. He found it somewhat amusing, how he could think the details of what Granger was going through both abhorrent and arousing at the same time.

The girl was doing her part to stay alive, that was obvious. He had watched numerous captives suffer through torturous conditions and knew through observing their reactions to torture that nearly anyone would get to the point where their principles weren't enough reason to keep suffering the consequences of refusal. He was sure the girl was so brainwashed and in perpetual fear that she'd do anything for anyone just to stay pain-free. He knew Bella's methods of torture, and he was sure the girl had not been spared. He hoped that he, himself, never got to the point that he would allow himself to be prostituted in such a way.

Severus tossed down the rest of his whiskey. He needed to get some sleep before he had to get up for tomorrow's lessons. Having to teach students about a subject they weren't able to truly grasp was somewhat frustrating; it was infuriating at times, to watch them making a potion but not truly understanding the intricacies of what they were doing. Granger, he thought, was gifted enough to understand, and had actually enjoyed Potions, from what he could tell. She had brewed Polyjuice Potion in her second year, a feat unheard of in the history of Hogwarts. Polyjuice Potion was so difficult that even seventh years had difficult brewing it correctly, and she did it without instruction. He shook his head slowly, trying to envision a tiny second year student brewing that potion, a potion that took over a month to complete. Indeed, the girl's intelligence would be the only thing that would win him over to try and save her, the more he thought about it, because her mind and her abilities were so rare in the wizarding world that to lose her would be a tremendous waste. It was a shame she was from Muggle breeding stock – the Dark Lord and his followers would never accept her for more than a dick warmer. If he could just think of a way to sway the Dark Lord into thinking she was useful, he could keep her alive.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Albus stared morosely at the fire in his hearth for a long time after Severus left, considering the course of action he should take. Miss Granger was one of the most intelligent and gifted students to ever pass through the doors of Hogwarts, and it was a shame to see her wasted as a toy for the depraved followers of Voldemort.

Severus had no idea how important she was in the big scheme of things. He had fully expected her to assist Harry in his quest to beat Voldemort; her knowledge, skill, and loyalty would be needed when times got rough. He considered Harry's other friend, Ronald Weasley, who was loyal, but also selfish and, at times, a hindrance. Harry needed someone solidly behind him when he began his true quest to destroy the remaining Horcruxes Albus was sure were out there; sure of, but still without proof. Albus knew young Mr. Weasley would be of valuable assistance to Harry due to his loyalty, but he somehow sensed that Mr. Weasley would break under pressure whereas the girl would not. Miss Granger actually balanced out Mr. Weasley's shortcomings. The young lady, due to her unrelenting need for knowledge gathering and perfecting of her technique, was able to react well without thinking, a trait Harry shared with her though his ability was not as well-developed, mostly due to his being vexatiously opposite the girl in his own study habits. Albus was also depending upon Miss Granger to slow Harry down when he wanted to leap into something mindlessly; she was the brains of the three and worked to reason things out when there was time which would, in turn, give Harry time to come to terms with what he must do in the end.

Albus bowed his head. How could she have wound up with such a notorious Death Eater as Bellatrix Lestrange? The woman was sadistic and had no remorse. Severus was right, the girl would never be right if she ever escaped or was rescued. He stood hastily and paced, frowning as several scenarios flashed through his mind, trying to think of a way to remove her from the clutches of a mad woman without compromising Severus' cover. If Severus were told about the girl and she was suddenly rescued after being successfully hidden away for so long, it would look too suspicious. He sat down heavily. The girl may have to be 'left to the wolves', as the Muggles say; he would just have to find a way to make Harry's quest work without her. It was a shame, her intelligence rivaled his own; he knew that when she became an adult she would be a formidable force to deal with, both intellectually and magically.

He wondered, and not for the last time, if Sirius had taken her in the first place, as Alastor accused. If so, how did she wind up with Bella? He stopped his pacing, a tingling in his arse as the thought that perhaps Sirius was a turncoat and was spying on them flashed through his mind. He shook his head, if that were so, he had no doubt that Sirius would have turned Harry over to Voldemort long ago – Harry trusted him implicitly and would go anywhere with him. He considered the idea a moment longer before turning his back on it, his thoughts continuing to circle around the girl.

He hated the notion that one of his students might become bait for the enemy. Or a plaything. A sex toy, indeed. She was just sixteen, didn't have a taste of the world yet, and she was being forced into something as demeaning and pathetically cliché as that. Next he would hear Bellatrix was making money off of the girl. He shuddered to think of the things the girl had to endure. He sat back in his chair, his fingers on his right hand coming up to gently play with his mustache. Truly, the poor girl would never be the same again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Story Date: April 2, 1996 3:56am

“Master!”

A breathy intake of air, finishing off with a yawn, and the susurration of sheets being stirred about could be heard in the dark.

“Master!”

A mumbled, “Kreacher?” followed by further unintelligible mumbling.

“Yes, Master, get up!”

Another yawn. “Is it Hermione again?”

“Yes, she's back in with the nighties and won't come out.”

Sirius groaned as he wearily climbed out of bed and threw on some clothes. The girl's nightmares, or whatever they were, were coming on more frequently and he was definitely losing sleep over this new problem. She was now a very obvious eight months pregnant and he had begun to worry she would injure the child with her frantic crawling about and fighting in her sleep state.

Kreacher grabbed his arm and Apparated him down to the slave room. Sirius didn't hesitate, immediately going to the armoire.

“Hermione? Kitten? It's me, Sirius.”

He heard whimpering coming from the wooden closet, but she didn't say anything.

“Baby, I'm going to turn on the lights, then I'm going to open the door.” He paused a moment, his eyes not leaving the well-worn wood of the door where he knew Hermione was hidden. “Lumos.”

He heard the inevitable squeak come from the closet, then the frightened, muffled sobbing. He grabbed the door handle and pulled, listening to the squeaking of the hinges and the groan of the wood as he slowly opened the door, revealing the terrified girl as she tried to make herself smaller.

“Sweetie, you're going to hurt the baby, hon. Do you see me? Look at me, Hermione. It's Sirius, babe.”

“Sirius? Sirius! I'm lost! Help me! I'm lost!”

“Sweetie, look at me.” He waved his hand in front of her and she cringed back. Her hair was moist around her face and clung to the skin on her neck as she began to hyperventilate. “Hermione, it's me. We're alone, hon, no-one is here but you and me.” He began the dialogue he had learned to use to calm her enough to get her out of the closet, allowing him to inspect her for injuries and give her comfort until she fell back to sleep.

“Hermione, it's Sirius. It's only me, babe. Look at me. Do you see me?” She turned her confused eyes to look at him, tears starting to fall again.

Her voice was barely above a whisper, “Be quiet! Please! They can hear you! You have to be quiet or they'll find me!”

He whispered back, “Hermione, I'm here, I won't let them hurt you. They won't find you with me here.”

“Shhhh! You have to be quiet or they'll find me. They'll hurt me, I don't want them to hurt me!” Her eyes darted around, looking behind him for these hidden entities that terrorized her in her sleep.

“I know you don't baby, I won't let them hurt you, sweetie. Okay? Come out, they won't come with me here.”

She stared at him for such a long time that he wasn't sure she was actually seeing him. “Are you sure?” Her voice was tiny, frightened. “They're green, big and green. And they are loud when they yell.”

“I'm sure. They're afraid of me, babe. They won't come when I'm here.”

“You promise?”

He closed his eyes at her little girl voice, relieved that this night's session would end so soon. Some nights, this went on for over an hour as he tried to convince her to come out. Whenever she asked, “You promise?” he knew she was going to come out; it almost seemed to be an unwritten rule that once this was said, she was allowed to come out of her hiding place. And, so far, except for that first night, she always did, without fail.

“Yes, baby, I promise. Now come on out, honey, like a good girl.”

He reached in and gently grabbed hold of her hand, caressing it with his thumb. Clumsily, she climbed out of the closet and hesitantly slid into his lap, her arms around her chest as his arms closed around her protectively. He rocked her gently as she continued to scan the room for the source of her fear. He didn't know what these big green things represented, but he sure wished he could figure it out so he could help her confront her fears and make the damned things go away.

He picked her up and carried her to the bed, its linen strewn haphazardly upon it from her frantic thrashing as she scrambled out of it in her terror. He lay her down gently, then inspected her for cuts and bruises. Tonight they weren't too bad - just a scrape on her knee, a few bruises starting to shadow on her legs from her crawling, and one rather large bruise on her belly. He spoke to her gently as he rubbed the Healing Paste into her skin, feeling her relax and fall asleep as he did so. He rubbed her belly a while, giving the fading bruise a kiss as she slept peacefully. Nettled, he lay down next to her, spreading his hand on her belly, chance allowing him to feel the baby move as she turned towards him and snuggled, murmuring into his neck incomprehensibly.

Feeling thoroughly exhausted after his eleventh night in a row of dealing with her nightmares, Sirius put his head down a moment, then got up in exasperation when he heard the dratted Kreacher making his whining sounds. They had come to an understanding that once she had calmed down, Kreacher would immediately take him back to his room. After he had threatened Kreacher with his wand that first night, Hermione had been brutally punished by Bella the next day, necessitating he heal the distraught girl after she was sent back with a warning from Bella about what he should NOT do to Kreacher with his wand or Hermione would be the one to suffer the consequences. The girl's injuries had been alarming, being far more than what his paste could deal with, had been tricky to heal, and had taken a few days of painful recovery time before she was actually fit to leave with Kreacher again. It still galled him that Hermione had been punished for something that she had no control over, but it was effective because he hadn't pulled his wand on Kreacher since.

Once he figured out how to get her out of that elf's clutches, he planned to kill him and that bitch, Bella. No doubt about it, he was going to get them both.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Authors notes, you may freely skip:

Important dates from books, some things change because Hermione isn't there:
(Hint: look at the story dates and compare them to the dates listed below)
March 1, 1996 – Ron's 16th birthday (he was born in 1980)
March 8, 1996 – Trelawney fired from Hogwarts; Firenze hired by Dumbledore, angering Umbridge.
April 1, 1996 – Dumbledore's Army members would have been caught, Dumbledore would have been forced to flee which, of course, never happens because Hermione wasn't there to suggest the idea of the DA with Harry.
April 2, 1996 – The twins, Fred and George, never set up a diversion so that Harry could speak to Sirius about what he saw in Snape's pensieve via the fire in Umbridges office – the infamous day they set off those magical explosives on Umbridges first day as self-appointed Headmistress. All that never happened because Hermione didn't suggest the DA. Interesting how things can snowball, isn't it?
*
Within the next few chapters, Hermione goes into labor. *I* know what happens, my beta, Periculum, knows what happens, but can YOU guess? Hehehehe, bet you can't! Oh, and Periculum says “Mwa-hahahahah!” because she knows the outcome and you don't! *smile* Um, yes, a chapter or two before she goes into labor, some important stuff has to happen before then.
*
Retarded, I know, but I actually did a google on the term 'sloppy sixth' and didn't find it used pertaining to group sex so I do believe I can claim to be the first to use it with that particular meaning. Whoopie. You have to admit, it's kind of catchy. Trivia about me, the first time I ever heard of the term 'sloppy seconds' was when I was watching the movie “Dogma” for the first time last year; actually, there were quiet a few terms I had never heard of in that movie!
*
Speaking of “Dogma” reminds me of the dog part of this story. It's kind of hard to find a website that details how that feels, to have a dog at your privates and no, I'm not about to get some practice so I can be more accurate! I'm also not into watching that type of porn so I had to wing it when it comes to describing what the Death Eaters thought and saw. Hope it seemed real enough and not hokey.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *