It\'s All Done With Mirrors
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Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
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Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
38
Views:
10,668
Reviews:
120
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 36 - Timing is Everything
A/N: I\'m absolutely exhausted, and I haven\'t slept all night. Patatita, this one\'s for you - you\'ll see why...
Chapter Thirty Six
Timing is Everything
Great Hall, Hogwarts, August 2010
Everyone looked up as Severus strode in, late, to Lunch. The Potters shot him a rather sickly grin, Albus bloody Dumbledore waved a forkful of lemon meringue pie at him by way of a greeting. Minerva blushed, Professor Sprout yelled “Severus, have you been after my mandrakes in Greenhouse Three? There’s a trail of dragon dung all along the rose-garden pathway!” and the three Aurors – Tonks, Lovegood and Longbottom, barely lifted their faces from their plates.
Lavender was sitting with his godson, but she didn’t seem to be eating much at all. Severus slowed his pace, and walked quietly over, eyeing the vacant seat next to her.
“Are you all right, Miss Brown?” he asked solicitously.
She snapped head uad up and demanded: “Where’s Robin?”
Severus shook his head. “I’ve no idea,” he replied, a little put out. “I thought he was with Luna Lovegood.”
Luna’s head rose from her plate. “Professor Snape, I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk to you.”
“We?” Severus began to walk towards Auror Lovegood, his good mood rapidly fading.
“Yes,” she replied, a little dreamily. “Robin’s dreams are – “
“Where *is* my son?” he snapped, tetchily.
Dumbledore put up his hand, now devoid of fork and pudding. “Severus, I think we really should have this conversation somewhere a little more private…”
“Dad! Where’s Mum?” Robin was running into the Great Hall, something brown and square wedged under his arm. His brown eyes were practically popping out of his head. He was as white as a sheet.
“She’s in the Dungeons…in our rooms…she’s safe, Robin. I locked the door after me.” Severus caught hold of the boy before he barrelled into the top table. His son was shaking like a leaf.
“Dad? Something’s up…look what I found in Hufflepuff!”
Severus looked down, and the whole of the top table stood and craned their necks. Robin knelt on the floor and opened the briefcase with trembling fingers.
“It’s Polyjuice, Dad! I can tell by the smell. I, er – oh never mind that, just look!\" With difficulty he stood up, grabbing something light brown from the case and ran over to Luna with it.
“Auror Lovegood. This is the hair! In my dream…one of them…’cos it kept changing…the man’s hair…that’s what the Polyjuice is for!” Robin tried to catch his breath, swallowed once, and turned to Albus.
“And there’s blood all over the floor! And I found a cloak…and some other clothes…the cloak, Professor Dumbledore! It had a hood…it was just like in my dream.” Robin Granger-Snape swivelled round to face his father. “Dad…we’ve got to get to Mum. He’s here.”
And suddenly his face went ashen, and he collapsed upon the floor in a dead faint.
Lavender picked up the thin, unconscious lad and held him to her, despite his father’s protests. She glared as Snape and said quietly but firmly: “You. Go and sort this out. I’ll look after Robin. Draco will help me take him to Poppy. Go on, now, GO!”
And Severus, accompanied by Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, and Nymphodora Tonks, ran like a huge black panther out of the Great Hall. Albus motioned to Professor Sprout, who rose, followed by Minerva McGonnagall, and the three of them made their way, rather more slowly but with no less haste, towards the Hufflepuff student quarters.
That left Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, who stared at each other in horror.
Luna broke the silence. “Ginny…I’ve got an awful feeling, but I’m not sure how right I am. Is there any possibility that your brother Ronald could still…be alive?”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
Ron examined his face in a small mirror, noting with satisfaction that he was once again, looking himself. He listened to the sound of the shower running, and smiled feverishly. She was here, with him, now. He’d give her one last chance…to tell him it was all a horrible mistake…that she didn’t love that overgrown bat…And if she wouldn’t come back to him, well…
He took the knife from its sheath, and the blade sang as it was released from the dragon hide. It was very sharp indeed, he knew that already. He decided to put it away for now, and instead make sure that they wouldn’t be disturbed.
He pulled out the magical Skeleton Key from a deep pocket in the grey overalls. Closing the blackboard door with a triumphantly-whispered “Boomslang Skin”, Ron then proceeded to place the key in the lock, turning it once, and leaving it in place.
He could hear her singing in the shower. His face burned, as if he was in a fever, imagining her soaping herself, wat water crashing upon her head, her skin dripping with moisture.
On a whim, Ron pulled the knife from its sheath again, and viciously slammed it on the head of the Skeleton Key, breaking it off. The ornate wrought-iron fell to the floor with a ringing metallic ‘clang!’.
The singing stopped. “Severus? Robin, is that you? Mummy’s just in the shower, sweetling. I’ll be out in a minute!”
Mummy? Ron’s eyes narrowed, as a lot of things suddenly became very clear to him.
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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
Pansy scanned the Daily Prophet, her face screwed up in agitation.
“Nothing!” she spat, thrusting the newspaper at Millicent, who took it, wordlessly. “Just a load of stuff about Pansy Malfoy’s miraculous escape from the Azkaban guards.” She preened a little. “Of course, normally I’d be ecstatic to make so much copy…but where’s the news I’m after? Where’s the news about Hermione mudblood Granger being killed by her husband, once thought dead? What the fuck is wrong with Weasel? He should have done it by now!”
She looked at Millicent’s bovine face, and got madder still. “Mill, this is getting right up my nose. All this excitement, and you just sit there like a loaf in the rain. I’m getting really pissed off with looking at your pathetic, ugly, fat, slack-jawed face!”
A tear rolled down Millicent’s cheek. Pansy smirked, slightly mollified that she was having an effect on at least one person in the Wizarding World. She crossed to the window, and pressed her grubby nose against the glass.
“I’m going mad in here, Mill,” she said, trying for some sympathy from the plump Witch. “I feel all cooped up like a chicken…all this not knowing…I wish I was there, in Hogwarts…”
Millicent Bulstrode rolled her wet eyes, and said nothing.
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Hufflepuff Common Room, Hogwarts, August 2010
Minerva McGonnagall looked at the state of the bloodstained parquet. Professor Sprout heaved a great sorrowful sigh, and leaned against a cupboard, kicking at the leg of a chair which had been drawn up against it.
“It’s Nathan Bulstrode’s hair, isn\'t it?” Sprout asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’m afraid so, Pomona,” Albus sighed. Professor Sprout let out an agonised wail.
“Calm yourself, Pomona!” Minerva hissed. The fat, squat Witch suddenly sprang away from the cupboard with another yell.
“Pomona! All this noise is quite idiotic, and it isn\'t helping – “
The three of them turned toward the cupboard Pomona Sprout had been leaning against. The door had swung open to reveal a naked body, one arm flung out. In his clenched fist, he grasped a few strands of red hair.
Minerva herself let out a sob as she went over and knelt by Nathan’s lifeless body.
A few seconds later, she looked up, amazement writ large upon her dour features.
“Albus…there’s not a scratch on him. And he’s unconscious…but alive.”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
‘Gods, that shower was just lovely,’ I thought, feeling refreshed and cleansed and…alive. And I was all excited to know that on the other side of the door was my darling boy.
I’d realised, as I was showering away, that my behaviour towards Lavender had been despicable. How could I have run rough-shod over her feelings like that? I resolved to greet my dear ones lovingly, order up a ton of hot chocolate and choc-chip cookies, and then go straight to find Lavender and go down on my bitchy little knees and apologise profusely.
I’d just been lashing out, I decided, feeling more than very guilty, as I towelled myself off vigorously. I reached out for my robes, going for my wand, so as I could quickly make my hair and face presentable, not to mention transfigure those robes back into a nice gown.
But the robes weren’t there. I must have forgotten to bring them in, and they and my wand were probably in an untidy heap on the floor. Way to go, Granger. Shrugging, I decided that I’d merely wrap the towel around my head like a turban, and borrow Severus’ sexy black satin dressing gown. Not exactly enchanting, but very real. Very normal. My family would just have to accept me the way I was…terrifying corkscrewing hair and all.
I tied the sash of the kimono, and wafted out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam.
And walked straight into the arms of my husband.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts, August 2010
Severus skidded to a halt outside the Potions Laboratory. He pointed his wand at the door, and shouted: “Alohamora!” The door swung open, and the four of them hurtled through the doorway into the empty classroom.
Severus pointed his wand at the blackboard, and intoned “Boomslang Skin”. Nothing happened. A blood-curdling howl resounded in the empty room, and Severus whirled round, before realising the sound had come fhis his own lips.
Harry and Severus both pressed their ears against the blackboard. There was not a sound coming from the room. Then suddenly they heard a piercing scream.
“Nooooooooo! Ron! Get away from me! What are you doing?”
Severus began to batter the door with his fists, but Harry pulled him away.
“Let me get to her, Potter!” the Potions Master spat.
“Severus, listen. You’re not going to be able to thump your way through a solid Merlin’s Oak door. We’re going toe toe to use magic to blast through,” Harry said, reasonably.
“Can’t be done. It’s all been hexed against blasting spells, opening spells, key-moving spells…you try to blast in, and it will do you no service. The oak will remain intact and you’ll end up in a thousand bleeding pieces, all plastered to the opposite wall. No wands!” Severus ran back towards the door. “HERMIONE!!!” he howled in despair, slamming his fists repeatedly again into the hard oak, Harry bellowing at him to stop.
Tonks looked at Neville. “I’m going to get Hagrid,” she whispered.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“Pleased to see me, Hermy?” Gods, his eyes looked deranged. I swallowed, my body tense and ready for flight at the earliest opportunity. If he ever eased up on the grip, that was.
He slapped my face, and I fought urg urge to cry out in pain. “I asked you a question, Hermy…Are. You. Pleased. To. See. Me?”
“What a silly question, Ron,” I stammered…not wanting to lie, but not wanting to answer the question truthfully, either. Hurting Ron’s feelings wasn’t likely to be the best plan in the world.
“It’s…um…good to see that you’re alive, Ron,” I went on…and that was true in a way. I didn’t want Ron to have been killed. Didn’t want him to be half throttling me and pointing a knife between my ribs either, but glad that Pansy hadn\'t murdered him in cold blood.
It occurred to me in the middle of all this that I was still married. A thin trickle of blood pooled upon the floor…I reminded myself that it was just a scratch. Hades, it wasn’t even a scratch on me! My husband had cut himself while pulling the blade dramatically from its sheath. It wasn’t the only cut on his hand, either. There was another, much nastier one, further up his wrist. He’d wrapped some dirty Hessian cloth around it, but it was deep, and had bled through.
“I don’t believe you, I’m afraid, Hermy,” Ron broke in to my thoughts. He sounded sad. Still standing behind me, knife pointed at my ribs, but not yet piercing the flesh, he whispered in my ear. His breath smelled of Polyjuice potion.
“I don’t believe you’re happy to see me at all, Hermy. And do you want to know why? It’s because I don’t think you’re happy to see your husband because you’ve just spent thst pst part of the morning fucking another man in the next room.”
I drew a breath, hardly daring to make a sound. Praying to all the gods that Severus was all right…that he had not met Ron and his knife already…
“So tell me, Hermy…how long has it been going on? I’ll tell you that, too. Long enough for you to have had…what was his name…? Robin…that’s right.”
No! I felt giddy. I choked, and the peach I’d eaten minutes before began to lurch within me as I struggled in his arms, and that was when he snapped.
Throwing me down to the floor, Ron Weasley, my husband, put a heavily-booted foot on my chest, and pointed the knife straight at my throat.
“Nooooooooo! Ron! Get away from me! What are you doing?” I screamed, hoping that someone would be able to hear me. I dared to move my head an inch, to get a look at the door. Surely Severus…or if not Severus – I suppressed a sob – someone…would come soon, and use the password…
I could hear thumping…perhaps it was the pain in my head.
Ron smiled down at me, an insane gleam in his eyes. “I’ve locked the door and broken the key,” he said in a sing-song voice.
I could dimly hear my name being screamed…was that really happening?
“There’s nobody here but Hermy and me…”
Oh, if only I had my wand…
“Nobody to listen, or care, or see…”
His maniacal stare was too hard to look upon. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I rested my head upon the floor, closing my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at the cruel, shining blade…
“Oh, how lonely Robin and Snake will be!” he finished, en his his nasty poem with a manic little giggle.
“Now, I’m going to help you get up, Hermy. And I think we’ll go over to the mirror, so you can look at your face while I cut your throat.”
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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
“It’s got to be happening now, Mill…I can *feel* it!”
Pansy was facing the mirror, smoothing her hair into sleek strands. She seemed to have calmed down a little, Millicent thought, relieved.
“When this is all over, I can’t be tried for murder, of course – because Weasel’s alive! So they can’t send me to Azkaban…rather, I will tell the Ministry that I went to Ronald’s house and Ronald tried to force my wand from me…but My Lord, I couldn’t allow him to so that!”
Mrs. Malfoy was off with the faeries again, thought Millicent, shaking her head as she watched Pansy’s theatrical performance. She was staring into the mirror, biting her lip dramatically, lost in her role as Star Witness for the Prosecution.
“So you see, My Lord, I tried to stop Ronald, but it was too late – he had already grabbed my wand, and was muttering the word “Annihilare” before I knew what was happening! I think his long time being Wandless had addled his brain, My Lord!”
She rounded on Millicent, her pale eyes full of excitement. “Oh!” she hugged herself. “I just…wish…I could be a fly on the wall!”
Millicent Bulstrode rose casually to her feet, and spoke for the first time in hours.
“Really?” she simply asked.
“Oh, YES, Millie!” Pansy nearly shrieked in titillation.
Millicent drew her wand and waved it at Pansy in one fluid movement. “Volucre Metamophosis!” *
Pansy disappeared.
Millicent Bulstrode watched the bluebottle buzzing around the room. She smiled her first genuine smile in weeks. The relative silence was, in a word, bliss.
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Hogwarts Grounds, August0
0
Nymphodora Tonks hared along the immaculate lawns of Hogwarts’ Grounds, dragging Xavier by the hand. For once in her life, she had neither tripped nor stumbled. In front of her, Hagrid ran, arm in arm with Olympe, both of them puffing with exertion. Tempus was way in front, followed closely by the twins, Verity and Prudence.
“Come on!” roared Tempus, his enormous bellcattcattering wild creatures for miles.
The rest of them hurried to keep up, their hearts pounding in their ears.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts, August 2010
Severus had collapsed from exhaustion. Harry kept going over to him every half a minute or so to check his vital signs. So far, so good. Between the two of them, neither Neville nor Harry knew a single healing charm.
Neville slowly slid out his wand. “I’d like to try to – “ he began, but Harry rounded on him.
“Don’t, Neville. I know you’re improving every day with that wand, and gods know we’re all astounded with your magical ability, now you’ve found it, but please remember what Severus said. No wands. It won’t work.”
“For the love of Merlin, Harry! All I’m asking is that you get Snape and yourself out of here and let me bloody well TRY!” Neville pointed his wand at the door, nervously.
“NO WANDS!” roared a voice from the doorway. Puffing, Hagrid, followed by his family and a red-faced Tonks, squeezed into the Laboratory.
“That old piece of oak has been Charmed to the ancient sap! Ain’t no way yeh’ll move it with magic! Now…stand back!”
His chest heaving with the effort it had taken to run, Hagrid hurled himself at the oaken door.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
Ron’s face was reflected in the mirror, behind mine. His eyes seemed to burn redly…and I wanted to shrink away from the stench of bile, sweat and Polyjuice.
“Any last words, Hermy?” he asked quietly, almost placidly, his tone belied by the hurtful arms fixed tenaciously around my ribcage and collarbone. I could feel my bones creak, and I struggled to draw in a breath.
“Just…a…question…Ron…” I managed, before having to take another painful breath. “Why…are you…doing this to me?”
Just for a second, he seemed to falter. ‘Perhaps…’ I thought, feverishly ‘perhaps I can talk my way out of this…’. Then my heart sank as his eyes caught my hopeful look in the mirror, and narrowed evilly.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts August 2010
“All together…one, two, three…NOW!”
Tonks watched, biting her nails, as Hagrid, Tempus and Olympe heaved themselves against the ancient oak, the three youngest adding to the weight. Neville and Harry pushed also…but the heavy door would not yield.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“Hermy, for a clever Witch you’re pretty good at acting dumb. I just saw you fucking another man, heard you call out to your darling son…and you want to know WHY?” Ron spat, and flecks of his saliva burned on my face.
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Opportunity Sq Off Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
Millicent spun the heel of her wand upon the palm of her hand. When it stopped rotating, it had become a supple bamboo fly-swatter.
“Now, Pansy dear,” she droned, as the tiny insect hurled itself against the window again and again, “What do you think would be the best way to make you buzz off entirely?”
The bluebottle flew towards a corner of the room, trying to get away from Millie. But it was too late. The wide paddle on its long cane swished once, and slammed against the wall.
“Wish granted, Pansy darling.”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“I’m not giving you any more chances for last words, snake-lover! I’m g tog to kill you now. Goodbye, Hermy!”
A solitary tear rolled down my cheek. I could hear the terrific noise coming from the other side of the doorway, but I knew there was no way they would be able to get in.
Ron raised the knife.
And then his arms began to tremble, and the knife tumbled out of his hands. I howled in agony as I felt it slash against my left leg, slicing into bone before clattering to the floor, the blade singing.
I leaned against the oak panelling, and watched, stupefied, as Ron collapsed slowly, almost gracefully, to the blood-spattered floor.
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* Volucre Metamophosis - (Volucre - flying insect, Metamophosis - Transformation)
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Chapter Thirty Six
Timing is Everything
Great Hall, Hogwarts, August 2010
Everyone looked up as Severus strode in, late, to Lunch. The Potters shot him a rather sickly grin, Albus bloody Dumbledore waved a forkful of lemon meringue pie at him by way of a greeting. Minerva blushed, Professor Sprout yelled “Severus, have you been after my mandrakes in Greenhouse Three? There’s a trail of dragon dung all along the rose-garden pathway!” and the three Aurors – Tonks, Lovegood and Longbottom, barely lifted their faces from their plates.
Lavender was sitting with his godson, but she didn’t seem to be eating much at all. Severus slowed his pace, and walked quietly over, eyeing the vacant seat next to her.
“Are you all right, Miss Brown?” he asked solicitously.
She snapped head uad up and demanded: “Where’s Robin?”
Severus shook his head. “I’ve no idea,” he replied, a little put out. “I thought he was with Luna Lovegood.”
Luna’s head rose from her plate. “Professor Snape, I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk to you.”
“We?” Severus began to walk towards Auror Lovegood, his good mood rapidly fading.
“Yes,” she replied, a little dreamily. “Robin’s dreams are – “
“Where *is* my son?” he snapped, tetchily.
Dumbledore put up his hand, now devoid of fork and pudding. “Severus, I think we really should have this conversation somewhere a little more private…”
“Dad! Where’s Mum?” Robin was running into the Great Hall, something brown and square wedged under his arm. His brown eyes were practically popping out of his head. He was as white as a sheet.
“She’s in the Dungeons…in our rooms…she’s safe, Robin. I locked the door after me.” Severus caught hold of the boy before he barrelled into the top table. His son was shaking like a leaf.
“Dad? Something’s up…look what I found in Hufflepuff!”
Severus looked down, and the whole of the top table stood and craned their necks. Robin knelt on the floor and opened the briefcase with trembling fingers.
“It’s Polyjuice, Dad! I can tell by the smell. I, er – oh never mind that, just look!\" With difficulty he stood up, grabbing something light brown from the case and ran over to Luna with it.
“Auror Lovegood. This is the hair! In my dream…one of them…’cos it kept changing…the man’s hair…that’s what the Polyjuice is for!” Robin tried to catch his breath, swallowed once, and turned to Albus.
“And there’s blood all over the floor! And I found a cloak…and some other clothes…the cloak, Professor Dumbledore! It had a hood…it was just like in my dream.” Robin Granger-Snape swivelled round to face his father. “Dad…we’ve got to get to Mum. He’s here.”
And suddenly his face went ashen, and he collapsed upon the floor in a dead faint.
Lavender picked up the thin, unconscious lad and held him to her, despite his father’s protests. She glared as Snape and said quietly but firmly: “You. Go and sort this out. I’ll look after Robin. Draco will help me take him to Poppy. Go on, now, GO!”
And Severus, accompanied by Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, and Nymphodora Tonks, ran like a huge black panther out of the Great Hall. Albus motioned to Professor Sprout, who rose, followed by Minerva McGonnagall, and the three of them made their way, rather more slowly but with no less haste, towards the Hufflepuff student quarters.
That left Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, who stared at each other in horror.
Luna broke the silence. “Ginny…I’ve got an awful feeling, but I’m not sure how right I am. Is there any possibility that your brother Ronald could still…be alive?”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
Ron examined his face in a small mirror, noting with satisfaction that he was once again, looking himself. He listened to the sound of the shower running, and smiled feverishly. She was here, with him, now. He’d give her one last chance…to tell him it was all a horrible mistake…that she didn’t love that overgrown bat…And if she wouldn’t come back to him, well…
He took the knife from its sheath, and the blade sang as it was released from the dragon hide. It was very sharp indeed, he knew that already. He decided to put it away for now, and instead make sure that they wouldn’t be disturbed.
He pulled out the magical Skeleton Key from a deep pocket in the grey overalls. Closing the blackboard door with a triumphantly-whispered “Boomslang Skin”, Ron then proceeded to place the key in the lock, turning it once, and leaving it in place.
He could hear her singing in the shower. His face burned, as if he was in a fever, imagining her soaping herself, wat water crashing upon her head, her skin dripping with moisture.
On a whim, Ron pulled the knife from its sheath again, and viciously slammed it on the head of the Skeleton Key, breaking it off. The ornate wrought-iron fell to the floor with a ringing metallic ‘clang!’.
The singing stopped. “Severus? Robin, is that you? Mummy’s just in the shower, sweetling. I’ll be out in a minute!”
Mummy? Ron’s eyes narrowed, as a lot of things suddenly became very clear to him.
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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
Pansy scanned the Daily Prophet, her face screwed up in agitation.
“Nothing!” she spat, thrusting the newspaper at Millicent, who took it, wordlessly. “Just a load of stuff about Pansy Malfoy’s miraculous escape from the Azkaban guards.” She preened a little. “Of course, normally I’d be ecstatic to make so much copy…but where’s the news I’m after? Where’s the news about Hermione mudblood Granger being killed by her husband, once thought dead? What the fuck is wrong with Weasel? He should have done it by now!”
She looked at Millicent’s bovine face, and got madder still. “Mill, this is getting right up my nose. All this excitement, and you just sit there like a loaf in the rain. I’m getting really pissed off with looking at your pathetic, ugly, fat, slack-jawed face!”
A tear rolled down Millicent’s cheek. Pansy smirked, slightly mollified that she was having an effect on at least one person in the Wizarding World. She crossed to the window, and pressed her grubby nose against the glass.
“I’m going mad in here, Mill,” she said, trying for some sympathy from the plump Witch. “I feel all cooped up like a chicken…all this not knowing…I wish I was there, in Hogwarts…”
Millicent Bulstrode rolled her wet eyes, and said nothing.
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Hufflepuff Common Room, Hogwarts, August 2010
Minerva McGonnagall looked at the state of the bloodstained parquet. Professor Sprout heaved a great sorrowful sigh, and leaned against a cupboard, kicking at the leg of a chair which had been drawn up against it.
“It’s Nathan Bulstrode’s hair, isn\'t it?” Sprout asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’m afraid so, Pomona,” Albus sighed. Professor Sprout let out an agonised wail.
“Calm yourself, Pomona!” Minerva hissed. The fat, squat Witch suddenly sprang away from the cupboard with another yell.
“Pomona! All this noise is quite idiotic, and it isn\'t helping – “
The three of them turned toward the cupboard Pomona Sprout had been leaning against. The door had swung open to reveal a naked body, one arm flung out. In his clenched fist, he grasped a few strands of red hair.
Minerva herself let out a sob as she went over and knelt by Nathan’s lifeless body.
A few seconds later, she looked up, amazement writ large upon her dour features.
“Albus…there’s not a scratch on him. And he’s unconscious…but alive.”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
‘Gods, that shower was just lovely,’ I thought, feeling refreshed and cleansed and…alive. And I was all excited to know that on the other side of the door was my darling boy.
I’d realised, as I was showering away, that my behaviour towards Lavender had been despicable. How could I have run rough-shod over her feelings like that? I resolved to greet my dear ones lovingly, order up a ton of hot chocolate and choc-chip cookies, and then go straight to find Lavender and go down on my bitchy little knees and apologise profusely.
I’d just been lashing out, I decided, feeling more than very guilty, as I towelled myself off vigorously. I reached out for my robes, going for my wand, so as I could quickly make my hair and face presentable, not to mention transfigure those robes back into a nice gown.
But the robes weren’t there. I must have forgotten to bring them in, and they and my wand were probably in an untidy heap on the floor. Way to go, Granger. Shrugging, I decided that I’d merely wrap the towel around my head like a turban, and borrow Severus’ sexy black satin dressing gown. Not exactly enchanting, but very real. Very normal. My family would just have to accept me the way I was…terrifying corkscrewing hair and all.
I tied the sash of the kimono, and wafted out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam.
And walked straight into the arms of my husband.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts, August 2010
Severus skidded to a halt outside the Potions Laboratory. He pointed his wand at the door, and shouted: “Alohamora!” The door swung open, and the four of them hurtled through the doorway into the empty classroom.
Severus pointed his wand at the blackboard, and intoned “Boomslang Skin”. Nothing happened. A blood-curdling howl resounded in the empty room, and Severus whirled round, before realising the sound had come fhis his own lips.
Harry and Severus both pressed their ears against the blackboard. There was not a sound coming from the room. Then suddenly they heard a piercing scream.
“Nooooooooo! Ron! Get away from me! What are you doing?”
Severus began to batter the door with his fists, but Harry pulled him away.
“Let me get to her, Potter!” the Potions Master spat.
“Severus, listen. You’re not going to be able to thump your way through a solid Merlin’s Oak door. We’re going toe toe to use magic to blast through,” Harry said, reasonably.
“Can’t be done. It’s all been hexed against blasting spells, opening spells, key-moving spells…you try to blast in, and it will do you no service. The oak will remain intact and you’ll end up in a thousand bleeding pieces, all plastered to the opposite wall. No wands!” Severus ran back towards the door. “HERMIONE!!!” he howled in despair, slamming his fists repeatedly again into the hard oak, Harry bellowing at him to stop.
Tonks looked at Neville. “I’m going to get Hagrid,” she whispered.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“Pleased to see me, Hermy?” Gods, his eyes looked deranged. I swallowed, my body tense and ready for flight at the earliest opportunity. If he ever eased up on the grip, that was.
He slapped my face, and I fought urg urge to cry out in pain. “I asked you a question, Hermy…Are. You. Pleased. To. See. Me?”
“What a silly question, Ron,” I stammered…not wanting to lie, but not wanting to answer the question truthfully, either. Hurting Ron’s feelings wasn’t likely to be the best plan in the world.
“It’s…um…good to see that you’re alive, Ron,” I went on…and that was true in a way. I didn’t want Ron to have been killed. Didn’t want him to be half throttling me and pointing a knife between my ribs either, but glad that Pansy hadn\'t murdered him in cold blood.
It occurred to me in the middle of all this that I was still married. A thin trickle of blood pooled upon the floor…I reminded myself that it was just a scratch. Hades, it wasn’t even a scratch on me! My husband had cut himself while pulling the blade dramatically from its sheath. It wasn’t the only cut on his hand, either. There was another, much nastier one, further up his wrist. He’d wrapped some dirty Hessian cloth around it, but it was deep, and had bled through.
“I don’t believe you, I’m afraid, Hermy,” Ron broke in to my thoughts. He sounded sad. Still standing behind me, knife pointed at my ribs, but not yet piercing the flesh, he whispered in my ear. His breath smelled of Polyjuice potion.
“I don’t believe you’re happy to see me at all, Hermy. And do you want to know why? It’s because I don’t think you’re happy to see your husband because you’ve just spent thst pst part of the morning fucking another man in the next room.”
I drew a breath, hardly daring to make a sound. Praying to all the gods that Severus was all right…that he had not met Ron and his knife already…
“So tell me, Hermy…how long has it been going on? I’ll tell you that, too. Long enough for you to have had…what was his name…? Robin…that’s right.”
No! I felt giddy. I choked, and the peach I’d eaten minutes before began to lurch within me as I struggled in his arms, and that was when he snapped.
Throwing me down to the floor, Ron Weasley, my husband, put a heavily-booted foot on my chest, and pointed the knife straight at my throat.
“Nooooooooo! Ron! Get away from me! What are you doing?” I screamed, hoping that someone would be able to hear me. I dared to move my head an inch, to get a look at the door. Surely Severus…or if not Severus – I suppressed a sob – someone…would come soon, and use the password…
I could hear thumping…perhaps it was the pain in my head.
Ron smiled down at me, an insane gleam in his eyes. “I’ve locked the door and broken the key,” he said in a sing-song voice.
I could dimly hear my name being screamed…was that really happening?
“There’s nobody here but Hermy and me…”
Oh, if only I had my wand…
“Nobody to listen, or care, or see…”
His maniacal stare was too hard to look upon. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I rested my head upon the floor, closing my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at the cruel, shining blade…
“Oh, how lonely Robin and Snake will be!” he finished, en his his nasty poem with a manic little giggle.
“Now, I’m going to help you get up, Hermy. And I think we’ll go over to the mirror, so you can look at your face while I cut your throat.”
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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
“It’s got to be happening now, Mill…I can *feel* it!”
Pansy was facing the mirror, smoothing her hair into sleek strands. She seemed to have calmed down a little, Millicent thought, relieved.
“When this is all over, I can’t be tried for murder, of course – because Weasel’s alive! So they can’t send me to Azkaban…rather, I will tell the Ministry that I went to Ronald’s house and Ronald tried to force my wand from me…but My Lord, I couldn’t allow him to so that!”
Mrs. Malfoy was off with the faeries again, thought Millicent, shaking her head as she watched Pansy’s theatrical performance. She was staring into the mirror, biting her lip dramatically, lost in her role as Star Witness for the Prosecution.
“So you see, My Lord, I tried to stop Ronald, but it was too late – he had already grabbed my wand, and was muttering the word “Annihilare” before I knew what was happening! I think his long time being Wandless had addled his brain, My Lord!”
She rounded on Millicent, her pale eyes full of excitement. “Oh!” she hugged herself. “I just…wish…I could be a fly on the wall!”
Millicent Bulstrode rose casually to her feet, and spoke for the first time in hours.
“Really?” she simply asked.
“Oh, YES, Millie!” Pansy nearly shrieked in titillation.
Millicent drew her wand and waved it at Pansy in one fluid movement. “Volucre Metamophosis!” *
Pansy disappeared.
Millicent Bulstrode watched the bluebottle buzzing around the room. She smiled her first genuine smile in weeks. The relative silence was, in a word, bliss.
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Hogwarts Grounds, August0
0
Nymphodora Tonks hared along the immaculate lawns of Hogwarts’ Grounds, dragging Xavier by the hand. For once in her life, she had neither tripped nor stumbled. In front of her, Hagrid ran, arm in arm with Olympe, both of them puffing with exertion. Tempus was way in front, followed closely by the twins, Verity and Prudence.
“Come on!” roared Tempus, his enormous bellcattcattering wild creatures for miles.
The rest of them hurried to keep up, their hearts pounding in their ears.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts, August 2010
Severus had collapsed from exhaustion. Harry kept going over to him every half a minute or so to check his vital signs. So far, so good. Between the two of them, neither Neville nor Harry knew a single healing charm.
Neville slowly slid out his wand. “I’d like to try to – “ he began, but Harry rounded on him.
“Don’t, Neville. I know you’re improving every day with that wand, and gods know we’re all astounded with your magical ability, now you’ve found it, but please remember what Severus said. No wands. It won’t work.”
“For the love of Merlin, Harry! All I’m asking is that you get Snape and yourself out of here and let me bloody well TRY!” Neville pointed his wand at the door, nervously.
“NO WANDS!” roared a voice from the doorway. Puffing, Hagrid, followed by his family and a red-faced Tonks, squeezed into the Laboratory.
“That old piece of oak has been Charmed to the ancient sap! Ain’t no way yeh’ll move it with magic! Now…stand back!”
His chest heaving with the effort it had taken to run, Hagrid hurled himself at the oaken door.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
Ron’s face was reflected in the mirror, behind mine. His eyes seemed to burn redly…and I wanted to shrink away from the stench of bile, sweat and Polyjuice.
“Any last words, Hermy?” he asked quietly, almost placidly, his tone belied by the hurtful arms fixed tenaciously around my ribcage and collarbone. I could feel my bones creak, and I struggled to draw in a breath.
“Just…a…question…Ron…” I managed, before having to take another painful breath. “Why…are you…doing this to me?”
Just for a second, he seemed to falter. ‘Perhaps…’ I thought, feverishly ‘perhaps I can talk my way out of this…’. Then my heart sank as his eyes caught my hopeful look in the mirror, and narrowed evilly.
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Potions Laboratory, Hogwarts August 2010
“All together…one, two, three…NOW!”
Tonks watched, biting her nails, as Hagrid, Tempus and Olympe heaved themselves against the ancient oak, the three youngest adding to the weight. Neville and Harry pushed also…but the heavy door would not yield.
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“Hermy, for a clever Witch you’re pretty good at acting dumb. I just saw you fucking another man, heard you call out to your darling son…and you want to know WHY?” Ron spat, and flecks of his saliva burned on my face.
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Opportunity Sq Off Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010
Millicent spun the heel of her wand upon the palm of her hand. When it stopped rotating, it had become a supple bamboo fly-swatter.
“Now, Pansy dear,” she droned, as the tiny insect hurled itself against the window again and again, “What do you think would be the best way to make you buzz off entirely?”
The bluebottle flew towards a corner of the room, trying to get away from Millie. But it was too late. The wide paddle on its long cane swished once, and slammed against the wall.
“Wish granted, Pansy darling.”
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Head of Slytherin’s Private Quarters, Hogwarts, August 2010
“I’m not giving you any more chances for last words, snake-lover! I’m g tog to kill you now. Goodbye, Hermy!”
A solitary tear rolled down my cheek. I could hear the terrific noise coming from the other side of the doorway, but I knew there was no way they would be able to get in.
Ron raised the knife.
And then his arms began to tremble, and the knife tumbled out of his hands. I howled in agony as I felt it slash against my left leg, slicing into bone before clattering to the floor, the blade singing.
I leaned against the oak panelling, and watched, stupefied, as Ron collapsed slowly, almost gracefully, to the blood-spattered floor.
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* Volucre Metamophosis - (Volucre - flying insect, Metamophosis - Transformation)
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