A Dark Scenario

Chapter 3 ~ Circumstances

Hermione and Ron had been abducted shortly after Hermione altered her parent's memories and Ron had convinced his ghoul to play his quarantined double. They were gone for an entire month before they reappeared. Hermione apparently had found her wand, rescued Ron from the dungeons and used a Port Key to escape the underground lodging where they were being held prisoners. Ron believed she had escaped Snape, and Hermione didn't tell him otherwise. To do so would have cost the Potions master his life.

Snape kept Hermione with him until he felt it safe enough to release her. He paid for her escape in stripes, but at least she was free to help Potter. He never touched her again after the public "rape." In fact, he barely spoke to her at all except to admonish her to stay in his rooms. Hermione took care of his other needs, cooking and cleaning for him. He gave her his bed and slept on the sofa. Hermione would try to engage the dark wizard in conversation, but he had little to say. He actually flinched when Hermione thanked him for saving her, not even saying she was welcome.

"Don't speak of it!" he hissed at her with such venom, that she never did.

Ron wasted no time telling of Hermione's rape, and it was added to Snape's list of perceived sins. Hermione couldn't tell them it was Snape that returned her wand and gave her the Port Key. It would have gotten back to Voldemort, who had ears and eyes everywhere. But she did try to say the dark wizard hadn't mistreated her, but Ron was too livid to even consider that.

"He didn't mistreat you? Hermione, he raped you! How can you say that?" Ron hissed. "You're just distraught. A little kindness afterwards doesn't change what he did, if he was even kind. What did he make you do anyway?"

Hermione wouldn't talk about it which made Ron think the worst. He also thought Hermione's head was screwed up from what happened to her. It had to be. Having Snape in total control had to have been awful. He was sure his brain would have closed down.

When they returned, they and Harry went in search of the Horcruxes and had a number of adventures and close calls. At the final battle, Voldemort tried to kill Snape, but he survived. Harry had received a large amount of the wizard's memories and finally understood the Potions master's motivations. Although Snape survived, he was rounded up with the rest of the Death Eaters and brought up on charges. Harry did speak up for him during the trial as far as Dumbledore's death went, but he was furious about the defilement of Hermione and still hoped Snape would go to Azkaban.

If not for Hermione speaking out, Snape wouldn't have defended himself at all. He would have just gone to Azkaban. There was nothing left for him after all and he wasn't about to lay his life bare to anyone for any reason. Giving Potter his memories had been bad enough. Let the history books say what they would.

Hermione couldn't let him go to prison for her, especially since he had been protecting her. Yes, he shagged her, but at least it wasn't cruel or particularly painful after the initial deflowering. She had no idea how the dark wizard reacted inwardly when he saw the blood on his organ. He didn't know she was a virgin, not that it could have made a difference, but that was part of the reason he didn't talk or interact with her as much as possible. He had taken something very precious from Hermione, and although it had saved her life, his remorse and guilt ran very deep. Contrary to popular belief, Severus Snape did have feelings. Every time he looked at Hermione, he saw that innocent blood on his cock and heard the jeering voices surrounding them. Her gratefulness made it worse, and she attempted to get close to him while they were together.

He wouldn't allow it. They had been close enough and he didn't want her to fall into the belief that he meant more to her than he did. Captives often developed feelings for their captors. Hermione had important things to do, so he treated her civilly but coldly until he could free her.

Snape thought Hermione wasn't going to tell the truth of the situation. He believed she had realized what he'd taken from her and hated him for it. He believed even his releasing her and Ron couldn't make up for that loss. He wouldn't tell the wizarding world she agreed to be shagged to save her life. That could be twisted to something else. Many would be of the same opinion as Ron, that it would have been better to die than to agree to something like that, regardless of the situation. People were so judgmental. He didn't want to sully her reputation on top of his other crime against her. Have no doubt, Snape believed it a crime.

But, a true Gryffindor, Hermione couldn't keep her mouth shut. As a silent Snape exited the Ministry, surrounded by Aurors, flashbulbs popping, and reporters shouting questions at him, he couldn't help but think his life would have been so much simpler in Azkaban.

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Snape was accompanied by the Aurors to Spinners End. There were reporters there at well, but Snape hardly registered them as he looked at the seared remains of what used to be his home. Someone had burned it to the ground. Only a skeletal black frame, the fire-kissed carcasses of books and half-consumed furniture remained.

"There was a fire," one Auror said unnecessarily as Snape stared at the charred structure. A large piece of a wooden beam that was little more than charcoal fell and landed on what was left of his ash-covered sofa, which already held the scorched candle lamp that used to hang from the ceiling.

Snape stood there for a minute or two, then suddenly Disapparated, startling both the Aurors and the reporters.

"Where'd he go?" one Auror wondered, scratching his head.


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Snape reappeared outside the gates of Hogwarts. There were no reporters here. No one imagined he'd have the nerve to show up at the school. He pulled on the cord that summoned the groundskeeper. Although Hagrid was a teacher, he still doubled as groundskeeper. Filch was up in years and it was hard on his old bones to walk the distance to the gates some days.

Hagrid trundled up to the gate, looked out at the somber Snape, then gave him a whiskery smile.

"Perfesser!" the half-giant said, opening the gate wide and looking genuinely glad to see him. "It's good ta see ya'! Glad ya' got off. I always knowed yeh wuz Dumbledore's man! Always knowed it, I did!"

Snape looked up at the half-giant soberly. Hagrid looked more relieved that he had been exonerated rather than as if he'd always believed in him.

"If that's true, then, you were the only person who did, Hagrid," Snape said quietly, walking through the gate.


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A/N: I know this was a lot of telling, but I didn't feel like pedaling backwards to show the past. Hopefully, what's ahead will be more interesting. Thanks for reading.