The War of the Tainted Blood

A/N: Forgive my grammatical and spacing error. I’m currently doing this with out a beta, mine usual beta is too busy to take on my writings. I will make certain to check for errors on more than one run through.

Chapter 4: An interesting predicament

Hermione stood abruptly, her stomach queasy. Unfortunately as she stood, she swayed and fainted dead away. The fall creating a slam of her head against the stone floor.

Harry and Ron sprung from their seats a moment later. Harry bent over her, calling out her name, but she gave no response and he began to panic. He hurriedly turned to call for help intending to direct the request at the head table but was suddenly pushed out of the way as Madame Pomfrey kneeled at the young girls side. The Headmaster and McGonagall were suddenly ushering both Ron and Harry out of the hall. While Snape had already began to levitate Hermione down the corridor.

When they made it to the hospital wing, Snape lifted the charm as soon as she was safely on one of the infirmary’s beds. Madame Pomfrey went about closing the curtains around the bed, while the three Professors; Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape turned to question the boys.

“What happened?” Minerva asked her charges.

“We don’t know, honestly, we were talking one minute and the next she was standing and then…she fainted.” Ron answered for the both of them.

Severus sneered at the insolent boys, directing his menacing glare at Harry “Well what were you speaking of?”

“I…” Harry cleared his throat, “I’m not sure sir, I wasn’t a party to the conversation.”

Snape quickly turned to stare at Weasley, “Well, boy? I don’t have all night!”

“Severus!” Minerva admonished.

“Well, you see she asked Ginny and I if we knew who…Geoffrey Weasley was.”

All three teachers stiffened.

“And you told her…I see, did she tell you why she wanted to know?” Albus asked softly.

Severus clenched is fist at his side, as the boy answered. “Well she only said that she wanted to know, she didn’t give any reason for it. I’m sorry Professor Dumbledore.”

Minerva turned a worried eye to Albus.
Severus Snape was not known for his patience and therefore when he entered the closed off curtains it was no surprise to either teacher and especially not to the boys. ‘The damn girl had to be up by now.’

Poppy grunted in surprise, “Severus! What are you doing?”

He rolled his eyes and glared at the girl now wide awake staring at him in fear. “Why did you want to know about Geoffrey Weasley?”

Poppy gasped and looked at Hermione in shock.

“I…I don’t want to talk about it, sir.” She said quietly though her voice cracked unsteadily.

Severus gestured for Poppy to leave and ground his teeth together, “Too bad.”

Hermione had a feeling he was going to say that and tears spilled over on to her cheeks. “I think…” She let out a sob, “That he may be my father.”

Severus swore under his breath, and pinned the girl under his gaze again. “What would make you think that? You’re a muggleborn witch, an offspring of two dentists.”

“My parents,” She broke off sobbing again. “Told me this morning that I’m not really theirs, that some old lady brought me too them, telling them that they had to tell me when I left for school the last time. I was supposed to inquire about…” She broke off and turned away from him refusing to speak again.

Severus flew out of the enclosed area and away from the girl as if she had burned him.

Albus looked up at him expectantly, “She believes that, she is that beast’s child.”

“Oh no,” Ron whispered hoarsely, as two sickening thoughts bombarded him. The first was Hermione might be his cousin and he had a crush on her. The second was that if she was in fact Hermione Wallace, then…that would mean she was…that she had too….with Snape, the greasy bat of the dungeons.

“I don’t understand, who is this Geoffrey Weasley?” Harry interrupted Ron’s thoughts.

“He’s my dad’s brother Harry. He did a really bad thing something that I’ll tell you about it later.” Ron looked at Dumbledore. “Can you use some sort of spell or potion to tell whether she is my cousin or not?”

Albus gave the boy a small reassuring smile and replied, “We’ll get things worked out, but for now I’d like the two of you to head on to your dormitory.”

“But, sir…” Harry began to protest and Severus glared angrily at the stupid boy. “Do as the headmaster said Mr. Potter.” The tone of his voice was soft and deadly and worked in his favor as both boys curbed their protests and left the infirmary.

Albus and Minerva turned too Severus which earned the both of them an icy glare from the younger man. “Don’t either of you say anything and maybe you’ll survive this night. Albus she can’t be, her! If she is I will hang myself. Hell I’ll slit my wrists. I will not fulfill any of those obligations with that obnoxious child!”

Minerva snickered, “ She is no longer a child anymore and I wouldn’t worry too much I’m sure she wouldn’t be too enthusiastic in fulfilling her end of the bargain either. You’re not exactly Circe’s gift to women.”

The dark man grew angrier and Albus interceded before the two head of houses began to pick each other apart by their teeth. “Really, if Hermione Granger is indeed Hermione Wallace then the betrothal contact that your grandfather and her great-grandfather contracted must be fulfilled. Its an arranged marriage that you’ll have to adhere to, unless you want to live as a muggle.”

And then Severus Snape did something that no Hogwarts student would be able to identify, but those who knew the proud man would know that he was…sulking.