Love's Journeys *COMPLETE*

Chapter 27- Darkness and Hate


Severus was now pacing the infirmary while the others sat and waited. It had been over four hours since Hermione was brought in by Poppy. Severus was getting more and more worried by the minutes.


“When will we know something! I want to see my wife!” Severus growled.


“Severus, you must be calm. Hermione needs you to keep a level head. She will need you when this is over.” Albus said as he placed a hand gently on his shoulder.


At that moment the doors to the infirmary opened and two doctors from St. Mungo’s entered and headed straight to where Poppy was working on Hermione. Severus became even more worried once he saw them.


“I’m going in there.” Severus said.


By the tone he used the others knew it was pointless to stop him. Severus stalked to the back of the room where Poppy had drawn a curtain around Hermione’s bed. He slipped behind the curtain. The sight before him made his blood boil and run cold at the same time. He had never seen Hermione in such a bad shape.


“Poppy, we need to stabilize her vital signs. If we don’t she won’t make it through the night.” One healer ordered.


“I know. I’ve been trying, but nothing is working.” Poppy sighed sadly.


“Then let’s try this.” The other healer suggested.


The healer pulled out his wand and pointed it at Hermione. He muttered an incantation. After a minute or so her vital signs had finally stabilized.


“It worked. Now we can finish with her other serious injuries.” The first healer stated.


As the three of them worked on her Severus moved closer. He walked to the one side that was free. The two healers paid him no mind, but Poppy was not happy about it.


“Severus, please go and wait outside.” She ordered.


“No! I’m staying by her side this time! The last time she was in this bad of shape I couldn’t be there for her. This time I’m staying Poppy!” Severus hissed.


“What is this young woman to you sir?” one of the healers asked.


“She is my wife.” Severus answered.


“Let him stay. Besides, if anything goes wrong he could help.” The healer replied.


Severus nodded his head in thanks and sat next to Hermione. He watched as they worked on her trying to keep her alive. Finally after another two hours of waiting one of the healers turned to Severus.


“She will be fine. We’ve healed all her injuries. She should wake up in a day or so. She will be sore. I don’t want her out of bed until Madame Pomfrey here checks up on her. That should be in about two weeks.” The healer informed him.


“Thank you. All three of you. Can she be moved back to our quarters?” Severus asked.


“Yes, in a few hours. I take it you will be watching over her recovery?” He questioned. Severus nodded. “Very well. If anything goes wrong you can contact us at St. Mungo’s. I’m Healer Elerbranch and this is Healer Wellington.” Elerbranch said.


“Thank you again for all your help in saving my wife.” Severus nodded as he shook both the healer’s hands.


The healers shook Severus’s hands and left. Poppy closed the curtain and went out to the others. She approached the group and held up her hands before they bombarded her with questions.


“Hermione will be fine. She can be moved back to her quarters in a few hours. Severus will be staying with her, Albus someone will need to cover his classes for two weeks. She was severally beaten. She had many internal injuries. She was also raped at least 20 times. She has a concussion, and her face will be bruised up for at least a week.” Poppy explained.


“Can we see her?” Ron asked.


“Just for five minutes. I need to speak to the professors in private anyway. Go on.” Poppy replied.


Ron and Harry walked toward Hermione. They entered the curtained area and saw Severus holding her hand in his. He looked up as they sat next to him.


“Severus, we’re sorry. We should have been able to protect or at least get Hermione out of there. We let the both of you down.” Harry said as tears filled his eyes.


“No Harry. You three are no match for Alexis Martin and Jonathan Mitchell. Those two are very powerful. I don’t blame you two. There was nothing you guys could have done. All we can do is be there for Hermione when she wakes up.” Severus sighed heavily.


“Damnit! There has to be something we can do.” Ron snarled.


“There is. Harry, you have to find the Chamber of Light. Hermione should be up and around in about two weeks. Find the chamber and the wand. That is our only chance.” Severus stated.


Harry nodded. Poppy then showed up and told them to return to their rooms. Reluctantly they left the side of their best friend and her husband. Albus came over and sat beside Severus.


“Severus, Ron and Harry said that Alexis and Jonathan flooed away. They couldn’t hear where they were going, but we can trace them.” Albus said.


“Find them Albus. I want them dead.” Severus growled.


Albus saw the hate and the want for their blood spilt flash in Severus’s eyes. Albus could never remember seeing him this angry. Albus simply nodded his head and left the husband and wife alone.


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A few hours later Severus moved his wife back to their rooms. He sat beside her watching her. ‘Oh Hermione, please wake up and please be alright.’ Severus thought.


Finally exhaustion over took him and he fell asleep in the chair next to the bed.


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“Albus, we have found Alexis Martin and Jonathan Mitchell. Aurors found them in the outskirts of London.” Kingsley said.


“Excellent. Bring them here and I’ll go get Severus. Sirius, Come with me. You’ll need to stay with Hermione.” Albus nodded.


Sirius nodded and he and the Headmaster went to get Severus. They found him asleep in a chair next to the bed holding on the Hermione’s hand. Albus walked over to them and gently shook Severus’s shoulder.


“Hermione!” Severus screamed as he jerked awake. Severus blinked as he looked around him. He saw Hermione laying motionless on the bed and Albus and Sirius standing before him. “Albus, Sirius, what are you doing here?”


“We have found Miss Martin and Mr. Mitchell. They are being brought to my office. Sirius is here to stay by Hermione’s side. I know you want to be there when we question them.” Albus answered.


“If there is any change send for me immediately.” Severus growled.


Sirius nodded and Albus and Severus exited the room. They walked down the halls in silence. Once the two entered the office they found Alexis and Jonathan sitting there like there was nothing wrong. Albus sat behind his desk while Severus stood beside it.


“Miss Martin, Mr. Mitchell. You two are accused of kidnapping, beating, raping and attempting to kill Hermione Snape. Along with kidnapping Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. We are waiting on the Minister of Magic as well as a group from the council. Your trial will begin once they arrive.” Albus said.


Alexis and Jonathan did not flinch. As a matter of fact they looked rather smug. About ten minutes later Arthur and members of the council entered the office. Once everyone was seated Arthur began the hearing.


“I know that Professor Dumbledore has told you the charges against you. How do you plead?” Arthur asked.


Both students stood up and in unison they answered, “Guilty.”


Severus’s body went rigid. He was visibly shaking. Trying not to jump and kill these two for what they had done to his wife. Albus saw this and began to speak once more.


“Why did you attack three students and nearly kill one of those three?” Albus demanded.


“Because she deserved it. She is the reason the Dark Lord is dead. It would have been my pleasure to kill the filthy little mudblood. Too bad she lived. Oh and Snape, she was a very good screw.” Jonathon said smirking.


Snape leapt across the room and grabbed the man by his throat. “I would love nothing more than to watch your blood ooze out of your body. Then rip your arms and legs from your body. And the whole time you would be awake to feel all the pain. You would die a slow and painful death.” Severus snarled. He then turned and faced Alexis. “And you. You know what it’s like to be raped Miss Martin?” Alexis shook her head no. “I could show you. I wasn’t Voldemort’s right hand man for nothing. I would not be gentle. What this little fucker did to my wife is nothing compared to what I would do to you.”


No one in the room even stopped Severus. They all knew he needed to do this. Severus continued his speech. “You would be beaten. Beaten so badly that no one would recognize your face. I would break your arms and your legs. Then when I thought you had enough of that I would begin the actual rape. I would fuck you every way imaginable. When I got done with you I would then cut up your body so bad that you would bleed to death. From both external and internal injuries. Also, you would be very much awake during the whole ordeal. And the more you screamed the worse it would get. Does that sound fun Miss Martin?”


Alexis could only shake her head no. Jonathan meanwhile was shaking in fear at the man that stood before him. Severus then released Jonathan. He fell to the floor gasping for air. Severus returned to his place next to Albus.


Arthur was the first to speak. “You two are found guilty and sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss. It will be carried out once Mrs. Snape is well.”


Everyone in the room agreed. Alexis and Jonathan put on a straight face as if this was no big deal to them, but inside they were terrified. They were bound and lead away to Azkaban. Severus stalked out of the office and returned to Hermione’s bedside. He found Sirius there talking in whispered tones. Severus paused at the door to listen to what Sirius was telling her.


“Oh Hermione. How will you be once this nightmare is all over? I fear for you and Severus’s mental state once Malfoy is captured and punished. Please, please come back Hermione. We need you. More importantly Severus needs you. He is falling apart without you here at his side. I have never seen a man so much in love with a woman as Severus is with you. Come home.” Sirius whispered.

Severus entered the room. Sirius moved from the chair and pulled up another one.


“What happened?” Sirius asked.


“Alexis and Jonathan were sentenced to the Dementor’s Kiss. It is to be carried out once Hermione is well. I was lucky I was able to control myself. I wanted so bad to kill those two for what they did to Hermione.” Severus answered.


“I don’t blame you. I would have gladly killed them and willingly gone to Azkaban.” Sirius replied. The two men sat in silence as they watched over Hermione.


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At dawn Hermione began to wake up. She blinked and the first thing she saw was her husband asleep in a chair next to the bed. She tried to move but hissed in pain and fell back against the pillow. Sirius jerked awake. He saw Hermione was awake. He had made Severus take a sleeping draught so he could sleep. He moved next to Hermione.


“Sirius, what are you doing here?” Hermione asked.


“I’ve been helping take care of Severus. He hasn’t been taking care of himself since you’ve been hurt.” Sirius answered.


“Is Severus alright?” Hermione demanded.


“Yes. I gave him a sleeping draught. He hasn’t been sleeping well. He should be waking up any minute now.” Sirius replied.


At that moment Severus began to stir. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked up and found Hermione watching him. He sat there for a moment or two, thinking he was dreaming, before he spoke.


“Hermia? Hermione, are you really awake?” He whispered.

“Yes, I’m awake Severus.” She smiled slightly.


Severus leapt off the chair and knelt beside the bed. His hand quickly found Hermione’s left hand. He placed his forehead against her hand. He gently kissed her wedding band. With tears in his eyes he looked up at his wife.


“Hermione, thank Merlin you’re alright. When I went to you in the infirmary and saw you I was so scared. Poppy said she was having problems getting your vitals to stabilize. Two doctors from St. Mungo’s came. They said if you weren’t stabilized you would die. I have never been as scared as I was when I heard those words.” Severus said.


As he finished speaking the dam holding back his tears broke. He once more placed his forehead against her hand. Hermione reached out with her right hand, ignoring the pain shooting through her arm, and began to stroke his hair softly.


“Sshh. There, there Severus. I’m alive. Everything will be all right. It’s okay my love.” She whispered.


Sirius saw the pain on her face and pressed a vile against her lips. Hermione swallowed it and her pain vanished. Sirius nodded to Hermione and slipped out of the room.


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He made his way down the halls to Dumbledore’s office. He said the password, rode the moving stairs and knocked on the door. After hearing Albus say come in he entered. He found Minerva there as well.


“Hermione is awake. She woke up about five minutes ago.” Sirius reported.


“How is she feeling?” Minerva asked.


“She was in pain, so I gave her the painless potion Poppy left for her, but other than that she seemed alright. It’s Severus I’m worried about. He broke down right before I left. He was so scared she was going to die. She would have if it weren’t for those doctors.” Sirius said sadly.


“Severus has had such a hard time. He has had enough pain in his life. Now we must concentrate on protecting Hermione. If she is killed Severus will die. He will stop at nothing to kill Draco Malfoy then slip away and die.” Albus sighed.


“We must make sure that doesn’t happen. I watched as his both his parents were killed by Voldemort. Severus doesn’t know this. Analice made me swear not to tell him the truth. I will not watch as my Godson and Hermione die at the hands of Draco Malfoy.” Minerva growled angrily. They spent the night trying to plan how to better protect Hermione and Severus.


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Ron, Harry, Lavender and Ginny were making plans of their own. “Tomorrow, I’m going to talk to Hermione and Severus, as well as Dumbledore. We need to find the Chamber of Light and quick. Hermione almost died tonight. I will not let that mother fucker Draco Malfoy win. If I die alongside him then so be it, but Severus and Hermione deserve a long and prosperous life together. I will make sure that happens.” Harry snarled.


“We agree.” Ginny, Ron and Lavender said in unison.


“We’ll help Harry. They need all the help they can get. We are there for you guys. Tell that to Hermione and Professor Snape tomorrow.” Lavender said. Harry nodded. They finally turned in for the night.


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Severus and Hermione sat talking. “Severus, talk to me. What is wrong?” Hermione asked.


“Just…just…hold that thought.” He said. He got up and went to the fireplace. He called for Minerva. Within five seconds she was there.


“What do you need my children.” She said.


“Minerva, I know you know the truth about my parents. I think it’s time you told me. After what happened to Hermione today, I want to know. Plus Hermione deserves to know why I am or was the way I am. Along with why I joined the Death Eaters.” Severus said.


Minerva sighed and sat down in the chair next to the bed. “Severus, if I tell you two, I’ll be breaking a promise I made to you mother. She made me swear not to tell you the truth.”


“Minerva, I was never told what really happened. Only that they were dead and nothing more. Not even Albus would tell me anything. It has been 20 years. I think I deserve to know who or what killed my parents.” Severus demanded. Hermione placed her tiny hand on his arm to calm him.


“You’re right. Very well, I’ll tell you the truth. I just hope your mother and father forgive me for breaking the promise I made so long ago. You two might want to get comfortable. This is a long story.” Minerva sighed.


Severus climbed into the bed and gathered Hermione gently into his arms. Once everyone was comfortable and tea was placed before the three Minerva began her tail.


“This all began in the spring of 1975. Severus, you were in your 7th year here at Hogwarts.” Minerva started.

T.B.C