Payback is a Witch

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 23 ~ Preventive Measures

Severus returned to Hogwarts and finished out his day. When his last class departed, he carefully locked and warded both his classroom and his office, then went to his private rooms. The wizard opened a panel of false book fronts, reached in and pulled out a very well worn set of what appeared to be muggle brass knuckles. He slipped them over his pale hand, flexed it, then made a fist. A grim expression washed over his face, then he removed the knuckles and put them in his wand pocket. He immediately disapparated for Vargas' manor. The wizard was going to answer for what happened to Hermione in blood. Lots of blood.

Severus reappeared in front of Vargas' manor just in time to see the wizard being led out of the manor in shackles by Aurors. 

Damn.

Ronald Weasley heard the crack of apparation, looked up and saw the Potions Master. He hurried down the stairs and walked up to the scowling wizard.

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor," Ron said suspiciously. 

The Auror wondered if Snape was in on Vargas' little operation. After being "properly conditioned' by Ron, both Jackson and Fletch spilled their guts concerning Vargas…giving up a large amount of information in the hopes of leniency when they were brought up on charges.

"I came to see Master Vargas about a personal matter," the dark wizard said, his eyes glinting maliciously after the wizard, who was demanding to see his lawyer.

"This personal matter wouldn't concern Hermione would it, Professor?" Ron asked him, his eyes hard. "Or any of the other Potions Masters whose work has been stolen?"

Severus looked at Ron. His face grew dark.

"Are you insinuating I have anything to do with Vargas' illegal activities, Mr. Weasley?" Severus asked him evenly.

"Well Professor, first you were at Hermione's and now you show up at Vargas' manor right after we discover he sent those two goons to her house. What else am I to think?"

"Possibly that I was visiting Vargas because he is also a Potions Master with whom I have been long acquainted?" Severus replied. "Why would I want any harm to come to Mistress Granger when she is my business partner and has the potential to make me very rich?"

"With Hermione's research, and her out of the way, you might be able to become even richer," Ron said, his blue eyes searching the wizard's face for telltale signs of deceitfulness. He didn't see it, but then again Snape had been a spy. He'd be able to hide his lies well.

"I am no thief, Mr. Weasley," Severus said coldly. "And if you are accusing me of being one, I may just have to call you out…as a civilian of course…if you are wizard enough."

At that moment, Vargas caught sight of Severus and paled. Suddenly he became quite cooperative with the Aurors. He knew he was safer in the hands of the Ministry than at his manor now. Ron noticed the change in the wizard and completely ignored Severus' thinly veiled challenge.

"Master Vargas seems frightened of you, Professor," he commented.

Judging by Master Vargas' reaction to the Potions Master, Ron thought this might not have been meant to be a friendly visit

"Frightened wouldn't be the word I'd use, Mr. Weasley," Severus replied, staring at the wizard before the Aurors disapparated with him. He turned his black eyes on Ron.

"There are many types of justice, Mr. Weasley. I believe Master Vargas has or will receive the less painful of the two set before him," the wizard said evenly.

Now Ron understood. The Professor had come here to punish Vargas.

"For criminals, there is only one kind of justice under the law, Professor. Master Vargas has been arrested and will pay for his crimes as directed by Ministry law. He'll have a fair trial," Ron said to the wizard.

Severus looked at the Auror.

"Mr. Weasley, do you expect me to believe for one moment, that if those two wizards had raped, beaten and possibly killed Mistress Granger because of a directive given by Vargas that you would allow the wizard to make it to trial? Because I don't. I believe you would find a way to kill him before he even made it to a cell. She is too close to you," Severus said quietly.

Ron studied the pale wizard for a moment. Snape had him pegged all right. But he wouldn't blatantly admit it.

"All right, that explains me…but what about you, Professor? By Vargas' reaction to you I could tell this was not going to be a friendly visit. You knew he was at the bottom of this, didn't you?" Ron asked him.

"I suspected," the Potions Master said, "but I didn't know for sure. I intended to 'ask' him about it."

Ron's eyes swept over the wizard.

"And if he admitted he had something to do with it?" he asked the Potions Master.

"You would have gotten him. Eventually," Severus replied, his nostrils flaring.

Ron didn't ask if it would have been alive or dead. He suspected the latter…and most likely the Potions Master would have gotten away with it. He scowled at the wizard.

"What I don't understand is why? Hermione is nothing more to you than a business partner…" Ron began…then his eyes widened.

"Oh no," he thought. "Shit."

Severus smirked as he saw the realization sweep over Ron's face. The young wizard knew he would not get involved in this situation in such depth unless he had a personal, vested interest. He was a Slytherin after all. He would have a selfish purpose.

"Slytherins protect their own, Mr. Weasley," Severus said silkily, his black eyes glittering with a dark mirth at the look of horror Ron was trying desperately to conceal.

Shit. Hermione couldn't be fucking Snape. He was probably worse than Vlad. Damn it. He should have broken it off with Susannah. He would have if he knew Hermione would turn to such a dark, cold man for sex. Merlin, what was the witch thinking?

"You consider Hermione your own, Professor?" Ron asked him frowning slightly.

"Close enough, Mr. Weasley, close enough," the wizard replied. "I have an interest in her continued safety."

And the wizard did. He couldn't fuck her if she were dead.

Several Aurors emerged from Vargas' manor with a number of files, parchments and notebooks. One walked up to Ron.

"We've collected what evidence we could find at the manor. A lot of this paperwork has the names of other Potions Masters on them and are dated years ago. He has another lab offsite that will have to be examined as well, sir," the Auror said to Ron.

"All right. Return to the Ministry. I'll be along," Ron said to him. 

The Auror nodded his head, returned to the others and they all disapparated.

Ron turned back to Severus and looked at him speculatively.

"I don't know what she sees in you, but I know that Hermione has a pretty dark side to her. You probably fit right in the shadows," Ron said a little bitterly, "but you'd better not do anything bad to her, Professor. I'll take it personally if you do, I promise you."

Severus said nothing. He just looked at the wizard.

Ron sighed. 

If Hermione wanted this greasy git of a dungeon-dweller, there was little he could do about it. Hermione became very volatile if he tried to tell her what to do. He'd had to dodge quite a few hexes in the past because he'd made that mistake. He wouldn't say anything to her. Well, at least Snape would protect her. She was safe…at least from others if not him.

"You may be called in concerning Vargas," Ron said to Severus. "So don't leave town."

Ron added this just to show he had some authority over the wizard as an Auror. It was his equivalent of kicking up dirt and walking about stiff legged. Severus' eyes narrowed, but he wasn't about to get in a pissing contest with Ron. The Auror believed he had Hermione after all, and that was a biggie.

"I will be about, Mr. Weasley," he replied.

Ron nodded and disapparated.

Severus looked toward the manor. A little house elf with a huge smile stood in the doorway. It didn't look very disturbed about its master being taken away in chains. The creature slowly swung the door closed.

Severus reached in his pocket, touched the cold brass knuckles, then sighed. Well, Vargas got away from him…but at least the wizard would do a very long stint in Azkaban for his theft of works and conspiracy with Fletch and Jackson. Without Vargas, most likely the Potions field would begin to show immediate growth. Vargas had been the main wizard holding advances back.

Severus gave a small smile at this thought, then disapparated back to Hogwarts.

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Hermione filed the Non-magical Aisle spell at the Ministry, then went down to Ron's office, where she filled out a detailed statement against Jackson and Fletch. She had to describe everything that occurred and it was difficult to relive Fletch's lewd attempt at raping her…but she managed to get it all down, including Severus' rescue. More than likely he would be brought in for questioning
too.

Hermione finished out her day and returned home. She felt some apprehension as she faced her dark house, and stood on the doorstep several minutes before unwarding the house and entering it, wand drawn, her amber eyes sliding from side to side, listening intently for any sound. She turned up every torch in the house as she carefully went from room to room, her heart pounding. Suddenly, she heard her name called.

"Hermione? Hermione."

She spun around but saw no one. The voice continued to call her. Wand pointed and wavering, Hermione walked back into the living room where the voice was louder. She walked toward the coffee table. The two-way mirror Severus had given her was there and the Potions Master's scowling visage in the glass. Relieved, Hermione picked it up and sat down on the sofa.

"Hello, Severus," she said looking at the wizard. She felt a bit more safe.

"Why did it take you so long to answer?" he demanded, "You are supposed to keep this mirror with you so I can contact you for business. It defeats its purpose if you don't carry it you witch."

Hermione arched an eyebrow at him.

"So you are calling me about business?" she asked the Potions Master, who looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Er…no. Yes. I was just check…calling to see that…if…if you filed the paperwork," he lied. 

Severus really called because he thought she might be out of sorts alone in the house after the robbery and attack on her person. It had been a traumatic situation after all.

"Yes, I did," Hermione replied shortly.

"Good," Severus said, a bit awkwardly. 

Gods, he just couldn't seem to get a grip on this connection thing. He was genuinely concerned about the witch, but didn't know how to express it.

Silence followed for a bit.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked her.

Hermione looked at the wizard. Had he called to just chitchat? Severus Snape? This was weird. But she was glad he called. But she would have been glad of anyone calling, the way she was feeling.

"I'm a little out of sorts," Hermione replied, deciding to be honest.

"Would you like me to come over and help you settle in?" the dark wizard asked her, his eyes going a bit too hot for her liking. If Severus came over, he'd do his best not to leave until morning…she knew this.

"No, Severus. I know the kind of settling in you probably have in mind," she replied, an eyebrow quirking at him.

The wizard smirked. He felt more relaxed now. Whenever things went slightly sexual, he felt more in control.

"Actually, I was concerned that you might be still feeling the effects of today's unfortunate events. It could be daunting to return to the house alone…there is bound to be some residual fear," he said evenly.

"It's a little scary, yes, but I've checked the entire house and everything seems in order," she said.

Severus nodded.

"Perhaps you should consider getting a pet for protection. A weredog perhaps. They are loyal and will eat anything and anyone that enters their territory uninvited," Severus suggested. "That way you wouldn't be alone."

Hmm. A weredog. That was a thought. . Maybe a weredragon. No. She'd have to fireproof the house and keep the temperature regulated because they were cold-blooded. Maybe she'd go down to the pound tomorrow and see what they had in the way of animals or homeless familiars.

"That's actually quite a good idea, Severus," she replied. 

Hermione wondered if she could teach it to shred Severus' robes on sight. That alone would make it worth having a pet. Her smile became noticeably wicked. Severus arched an eyebrow.

"I have been helpful twice today. I believe that is a record," he said to her.

"Yes, you have," Hermione said, then yawned.

"I see you are tired," the Potions Master said. "Get some sleep, witch. I will call you tomorrow."

"All right. Good night, Severus," Hermione said.

The wizard's sober face disappeared and Hermione found herself looking at her own reflection. She did look tired. She got up from the sofa and walked around the house, warding every window and door this time. Then she retired.

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The next day during her lunch hour, Hermione went down to the Ministry pound, where masterless familiars and other magical creatures were kept for adoption. If they weren't adopted then they were put down. She pulled open the door and entered. She could smell the animals and cleaning solution immediately. A kindly faced young wizard stood behind a counter.

"Can I help you, Miss?" he asked her pleasantly.

"Yes. I'm looking for a pet…for companionship and protection," she said.

The wizard looked overjoyed.

"Oh that's wonderful. We have a large selection of familiars of that type looking for homes," he said, walking around the counter and gesturing for her to follow him to a door on the distant wall.

"Right through here. You can check them out and tell me the ones you are interested in," he said, opening the door for her. Hermione walked through.

It was a kind of corridor with a number of magically warded cages on both sides. Parchments about the animal each cage contained were taped to the front. Hermione began to walk. There were a bunch of puppies with forked tails in the first cage. They all crowded toward the front of their enclosure, wriggling, forked tails wagging, looking as cute as could be. Hermione knelt.

"Aw, you are all so adorable," she said. Then one barked, and a long tongue of fire emitted from it, almost burning Hermione's face. She stood up quickly and read the parchment, which warned not to get too close to the pups because there was a danger of receiving third degree burns. She moved to the next cage.

A large weredog with baleful yellow eyes looked up at her quietly. He was huge, and his fangs showed even when his mouth was closed. He must have weighed two hundred pounds and was covered with thick brown fur and had a broad tail, which was wagging as he looked at her. Hermione read the name. Gabby.

"Hello Gabby," she said to the weredog, who pricked his ears forward and whined back at her, putting one paw on the gate. Hermione gave him a small, tight smile. He looked so ferocious though. What if he didn't listen to her and ate her when she got him home? Still she put him on her mental "possibles" list and continued on.

In the next cage was a large bird of prey with a great hooked beak and huge talons. It had dark eyes and seemed to glare at her. But that was the general way all birds of prey looked. It was white with black markings. It reminded her of Severus. It looked as if it could do some damage however. She read the parchment. Wereeagle. It required at least two hours of flight time each night as it was nocturnal and live food, preferably nifflers. Hermione shuddered. No, she wouldn't be able to feed it live nifflers. That was more Hagrid's thing. She moved on past an assortment of lizards, cats, bats and even a gryffon, which was huge.

She walked to the last cage, which contained a large black cat stretched luxuriously on a clean blanket. It wore a jeweled collar, had long curling fangs like a saber-toothed tiger and looked at her curiously with its golden eyes, flicking an ear forward as she read the parchment. It was a saber-toothed panther, and a familiar. Hermione looked at the beautiful animal. 

"Hello beautiful, " a soft male voice said to Hermione. 

The witch looked around but saw no one. She shrugged and looked back at the cat.

"Your eyes are almost the same color as my own. That makes us compatible, " the panther said in her mind. 

Hermione's eyes widened.

"You're talking to me? I understood familiars only talked to those they bonded with," Hermione said to the animal, who rose and stretched, extending its wicked claws, then walking up to the front of the cage and sitting on its haunches.

"Ordinary familiars, perhaps. But I am no ordinary familiar, witch. I am the only one of my kind and can speak to anyone I choose to speak to. I have been here three months and you are the only one I felt worthy enough to make myself known to, " the panther said, whisking his tail about. "I am from India. My name is Bagheera. I am named after another cat in a non-magic book."

Hermione smiled. "Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book," she said.

"Yessss, " hissed the panther, his beautiful eyes meeting Hermione's. "Why are you seeking a familiar witch? "

"I was attacked recently in my home…and…" she began.

"Wait, " the cat said, staring at the witch intensely. Then he snarled viciously, causing Hermione to jerk back in fear.

"I am sorry, " the cat said, its lips drawn up in displeasure. "I saw what happened. I have killed men like that in my native land. Cowards hunting females, forcing them to mate. "

The panther hissed angrily.

"How did you come to be here?" Hermione asked the panther, who began to pace.

"My mistress married an unworthy man, who thought of nothing but her wealth…and she would not listen to me. I was not friendly toward her husband and mauled him when he attempted to remove my collar for the jewels. He was lucky I did not kill him. That convinced my mistress to get rid of me. She sent me here with the hope someone would adopt me. But I have wanted none of those who've come here and remained silent and unresponsive. They plan to kill me soon. They think I am unadoptable. But I will not accept just anyone. You are kind and intelligent. You would not treat me as a showpiece or keep me on a leash or in a cage. Take me and I will protect you all my
days, " the panther purred.

"How are you so intelligent? Most familiars communicate in images," Hermione said.

"Again, I tell you witch, " the cat said, stretching again. This time Hermione could see the pawprint-like patterns in his coat. "I am no ordinary familiar. I can think and speak four languages. If I were not an animal I would be allowed to move freely through the wizarding world. But this is my lot in life. "

"I'm not rich, Bagheera. I don't live in the luxury you are used to and my house is very small," Hermione said to the cat.

"But your heart is very big. It will be fine, " the cat said.

Hermione stared at Bagheera.

"You certainly are beautiful, " she said in a soft voice. Bagheera bumped his head against the gate and Hermione rubbed between his ears with two fingers.

"Mmmmm, " the cat purred in delight. "Soft, supple hands…like my old mistress. Take me with you, witch. "

Hermione thought the cat sounded a bit dominant. He reminded her of someone.

"Will you obey me?" Hermione asked the panther, who looked at her with its golden eyes. "Cats are very independent."

"If you take me from this place, yes. I will always obey you without question. I am more than a cat, I assure you, " Bagheera responded. "My word is my life. "

Hermione stared at the cat. He was very intelligent…as intelligent as a human it seemed. He would be very good company for her, and with those claws and fangs, no doubt he could protect her.

"Wait here," she said, rising and heading for the office.

After work, Hermione turned quite a few heads as she walked to the apparation point.

It wasn't everyday that people saw a black saber-toothed panther with a jeweled collar being led on a leash through the streets of the wizarding world.

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A/N: Finally I got the chapter up. Vargas is gone and Hermione has herself a companion and protector now. Severus was something else, calling to check on her. Awwww. :::snort::: Still he wanted to help "settle her in". lol. Anyway, please review.